Digital Edition - November 3, 2014 by SPOKENewspaper

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Artists in action Students take stab at carving. Pages 8, 9 Monday, November 3, 2014

Neruda Arts is a community-based organization which began in 2001 and has, ever since, been dedicated to connecting the community of Kitchener with music, drama and visual arts from around the world. Now, for the first time, they connected the community with the afterlife. Their unique new event is called the Day of the Dead. A celebration which dates back thousands of years, it was created in Mexico and has since been embraced by countries and cultures all around the world. While this festival holds similarities to Halloween, the two holidays are actually very different. As everyone knows Halloween is a time to dress up as someone you’re not, binge eat on sweets and scare people out of their wigs. Day of the Dead, however, is a much more spiritual day to get in touch with people beyond the grave. Held in Kitchener on Nov. 1, the celebration gathered together family and friends to remember and pray for loved ones who have died. The event typically takes place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 and traditions range widely. The most popular ways to celebrate, however, are to honour the deceased with their favourite foods and drinks, build private altars and even visit the graves of friends and family members to bring them gifts or leave their old possessions on their graves. It is a day to stop fearing death and embrace it instead. This is exactly what Neruda Arts officials hoped would happen with their first festival – that the typical Day of the Dead would be filled with art. “In Mexico, Day of the Dead is a festival and we are endeavouring to recreate that so Latin-Canadians and others can connect with and expe-

Conestoga men grow moustaches for charity. Page 3

A learning newsroom for journalism students

Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.

Day of the dead comes to Kitchener By MARYSSA MCFADDEN

Things are getting hairy

rience a community event that honours the dead with food, festivities and music,” said Arletta Murray, Neruda Arts’ communications director. Some of the unique attractions included a reflective photo exhibit based on mortality, dancers and singers, skull face painting, a DJ as well as ethnic eats and scary treats to take people back to the cultures where the celebration began. The aim was for the event to be festive yet reflective at the same time. Neruda Arts also held a workshop on Oct. 29 so people could help create 20 shrines to be dedicated to their lost family members or friends. They were lit with candles and placed at the entrance to the Day of the Dead festival. Murray had a close, personal connection to the ceremony, as her nephew passed away in May 2013. While some people may not regard a Day of the Dead festival as an appropriate way to honour the dead, organizers did not have a specific demographic in mind, instead welcoming everyone. “… I would say anyone who is interested in music, experiential arts and culture events, world music and people who are looking for a way to honour their deceased loved ones,” Murray said. The event was promoted for all-ages and it was left up to parents to decide if it would be appropriate for their children or not. Certain attractions, such as the skull face painting, were specifically adult-only. The original attractions were what brought many people to the festival. “It sounded like a lot of fun, something unique and different which is nice since Halloween events are usually all the same,” said Ryan MacDonald, who attended the event. Though this was the first Day of the Dead celebration by Neruda Arts, they plan to make it an annual event.

www.SPOKEONLINE.COM

45TH Year — No. 7

Ghosts busted for a good cause

PHOTO BY nicole nemeth

Kelly Chettle, one of the owners of Retro Rocket Comics in Cambridge, pretends to face off against Cameron Shaver, from Ontario Ghostbusters, a costuming group that participates in a variety of events in order to interact with fans of the movie and support charities. The pair were at the Halloween ComicFest at Retro Rocket Comics on Oct. 25.

conestoga going to the dogs

PHOTO BY carson deshevy-renouf

Conestoga students were paid a visit by service dogs as part of a fundraiser for National Service Dogs. The non-profit organization trains dogs to assist those with conditions such as autism and post traumatic stress disorder..

NEWs

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Monday, November 3, 2014

Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College If you were on death row what would you request for your last meal?

“A bucket of Popeyes and a 12-pack of Pabst.” Joe Dang, second-year television broadcast

“A black bean and sweet potato burger with all the fixings.” Rachel Cook, second-year public relations

PHOTO BY kali caudle

Jayne Hembruff poses with her children, Dhillon Tagger (back, left), Leela Tagger (middle) and Kia Tagger (right), during their fifth annual Spooky Tours fundraising event on Oct. 25 in Waterloo.

“My mother’s lasagna.”

Patrisha Dacosta, first-year protection, security and investigation

“Steak and lobster!” Ryan Lamont, second-year television broadcast

“An all-out breakfast with steak, eggs, pancakes, French toast and a glass of apple juice.” Allen Bezeau, first-year journalism - print

Cancer fundraiser is downright spooky BY KALI CAUDLE

The Spooky Tour was appropriately named, as intestines and blood were just two of the ghoulish sights to be seen. The fifth annual fundraising event was held from Oct. 24 to 26 in Waterloo. Children and families were invited to attend this year’s Mad Scientist-themed event. “It’s my children’s initiative, I just encourage them,” said Jayne Hembruff, a Waterloo yoga instructor. Hembruff cancelled the yoga classes she holds inside of her home to provide her children, Leela, 11, Dhillion, 13, and Kia, 15, with the necessary space for their Halloween tours. The suggested price for each tour was $1. With four levels

of spookiness to choose from, many children went through more than one level. After the tour people could enjoy a drink as well as a snack for an additional $1. The children had set a goal of $500 and, as of Oct. 25, were almost halfway there. Hembruff estimated that her children along with some volunteers from the community had raised $200 so far, with proceeds being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. Kia Tagger, event co-ordinator, said a family friend of hers was diagnosed with cancer at the age of three, and given a two per cent chance of living. He’s still alive today. “We want to raise more

money for miracles like that,” Kia said. Chloe McDonald, a volunteer for the Spooky Tour, said she hopes next year’s event will have a bigger turnout. “I hope that we can expand and hopefully get some more people involved.” Not only was their mother proud of them, but also the community and the mayor. Brenda Halloran, mayor of Waterloo, was inspired by the community’s spirit and the children’s leadership. “… I think it really does inspire people and it sometimes makes you sit back and reflect on, you know, how the world is a pretty great place and the children are leading the way so I’m proud to be here,” she said.

“A pizza with every type of cheese on it.” Steph Aires, second-year public relations

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

Canadian Diabetes Association

NEWs

Monday, November 3, 2014

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Growing awareness or a growing trend? BY RACHEL ROY

November is known for Remembrance Day, but also for its month-long men’s health awareness event, Movember. The month features men growing out their facial hair to bring awareness about men’s health, but is it actually working? Movember began in 2003 with two men in Australia who wanted to grow out their moustaches. No money was raised that year, but when Movember came to Canada in 2007, men and women all across the country raised $545,759. The Movember Foundation, which Movember Canada is a part of, is the leading global organization that is trying to raise money for men’s health. “Big Mo on Campus (BMOC) was the largest network globally in 2013 as 28,761 students participated across Canada,” said Tyler Small, community development co-ordinator at Movember Canada. With the number of participants growing every year, students across Canada are helping raise awareness. In 2013 alone Movember participants raised $33.9 million in Canada. But students at Conestoga

College seem to know very little about Movember, how it began and why it is happening. Most students think it to be a trend. “I believe that Movember is a trend that is happening because I have seen many guys do it but I don’t think they know what for. It’s just a cool thing that they have going on,” said Joe Wong, a second-year social service worker student at Conestoga College. Although many students believe Movember is just a trend, they still plan on participating this year. “I feel like it’s a bit of both, it is a trend but you don’t know how many people are actually donating to the cause,” said Sloane Irvine, a first-year supply chain and operation student at Conestoga College. In 2013, BMOC successfully raised over $2.8 million for the cause. All proceeds go to support prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health. “For those who do know what’s going on, I think it’s great awareness that they’re actually doing something about it and not just growing a moustache but raising money and awareness,” said Alex Miciak, a second-year social service worker student

PHOTO BY Rachel Roy

Sloane Irvine (left) and Jason Arteaga, first-year supply chain and operation students, show off their Movember spirit at Conestoga College. at Conestoga. Conestoga Students Inc. is encouraging students to enter their Movember photo contest. Participants are asked to upload a photo

VOICING YOUR OPINION CAN cause trouble

PHOTO BY beth crouse

Everyone has the right to their opinion, but not everyone knows the rules around freedom of speech. Jessica Hammer, a first-year journalism - print student, views an online book review blog where various opinions are given. For story, see video at www.spokeonline.com.

of their clean-shaven face between Nov. 3 and 7 to Instagram or Twitter using #moustachesofconestoga, or email it to jvoll@conestogac. on.ca.

Then, on Nov. 21, participants must go to the CSI office and have a “hairy” photo taken. Afterwards, three prizes will be awarded to the winners.

movember gets conestoga’s support

PHOTO BY Nataleigh McCallum

Javier Gutierrez, a first-year media foundations student, shows support for the Movember fundraiser. For video see www.spokeonline.com.

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NEWS

Monday, November 3, 2014

Long-awaited dream finally a reality

By IAN MCBRIDE

A vision that had been dreamt about for decades was finally realized with the grand opening of the Community Support Connections – Meals on Wheels and More Dream Kitchen. The Waterloo Region charity provides a range of supports and services that allow seniors and adults with disabilities to live at home with independence and dignity. The organization’s values are compassion, respect, dignity, integrity, community and courage. On Oct. 23, over 200 residents of the KitchenerWaterloo community came out to celebrate the grand opening of the Meals on Wheels Dream Kitchen located at 61 Woolwich St. N. in Breslau. They were fortunate enough to get a behind-thescenes tour of the new space, and had the opportunity to sample some fine cuisine provided by the chefs. Head chef Paula Ross and sous chef Tara Diletzoy were busy preparing food while people toured the kitchen and tasted various goodies such as pulled pork sliders and baked Alaska.

The idea for the Dream Kitchen has been percolating since the early years of the Meals on Wheels program. The organization’s resource development lead, Rosalind Horne, discussed the longawaited dream that finally came true. “Having our own kitchen has really honestly been a 30-year dream of the local Meals on Wheels program. But just in the last couple of years we made it a strategic priority for the organization,” she said. Partway through the event, Veronica Strauss, chair of the board, spoke to the crowd about the importance of the community in connection with Meals on Wheels, and the benefits of the Dream Kitchen. Longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer May Hicks had the honour of cutting a ceremonial ribbon, which signified that the kitchen was officially open. Hicks has volunteered with the program since its inception in 1974. Dale Howatt, the executive director, talked about the long-term benefits of the Dream Kitchen and how it felt to see a huge crowd at the

PHOTO BY ian mcbride

Head chef Paula Ross uses a blow torch on some desserts before serving them to guests at the event.

PHOTO BY ian mcbride

Sous chef Tara Diletzoy and head chef Paula Ross prepare some pulled pork sliders at the grand opening of the Dream Kitchen on Oct. 23. opening. “The Dream Kitchen gives us greater value and flexibil-

ity. It allows us to adapt to the needs of clients and their personal circumstances. It

was tremendously gratifying to see such a huge turnout at the grand opening,” she said.

PHOTO BY ian mcbride

Kitchener resident and longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer May Hicks cuts a purple ribbon to signify the official opening of the Dream Kitchen.

Monday, November 3, 2014

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COMMENTARY

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Monday, November 3, 2014

Parliament needs more security BY Heather stanley

Canadians were shocked on Oct. 4 as the parliamentary centre of our country was invaded. Around 10 a.m., Parliament Hill in Ottawa was attacked by a gunman, leaving many citizens wondering about security. The shooter was identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, who was armed with a 30-30 rifle. He was born and raised in Quebec and had a history of offences throughout his adult life. Most were robbery and drug offences in Montreal and in British Columbia. Zehaf-Bibeau started his rampage at the National War Memorial where he killed Hamilton reservist Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24. He then made his way into Parliament’s Centre Block by hopping over part of the fence that surrounds it. At this time, MPs were gathered for caucus meetings. Upon the arrival of the shooter inside the compound, Parliament and its surrounding streets went into complete lockdown. After injuring two people inside the area where the meetings were taking place, Zehaf-Bibeau was shot dead by House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms and 29-year RCMP veteran Kevin Vickers. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and party leaders Thomas Mulcair of the NDP and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau were all in the building at the time. It was only in due course that Parliament would be targeted. With various breaches of security at the White House over the years, we should have taken heed and strengthened our own defences. There have been improvements — more video surveillance cameras were installed last year and in 2012 retractable barriers capable of stopping a speeding vehicle were installed at all vehicular entrances. However, there is never too much security when it comes to protecting our leaders. Before the attack on Parliament, the grounds around the buildings were open for public use. Yoga classes took place on the front lawns once a week during the summer and thousands celebrate Canada Day there each year. Also, tours are available most days. This can no longer be the case. Security must be beefed up, ensuring no one enters the building without going through a metal detector. As well, soldiers at the National War Memorial should be armed and equipped with bulletproof vests. We must be better prepared, because we all know this won’t be the only attack against democracy. 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. Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.

Stress is taking its toll on students.

‘It’s 2014,’ but that makes no difference There is a saying that you hear often nowadays: “It’s 2014.” It is always said to make the point that we as a society are tolerant and accepting. “It’s 2014, there is nothing wrong with having depression,” for instance. This saying is used so often that you would think that those who do say it, and even those around them, would understand the issues they claim we are so tolerant of. Things like mental illness, sexual orientation or religious belief are all subject to this phrase. The thing is, it is 2014 and it turns out, although we are leaps and bounds better than the generations before us, we are not saints of tolerance and acceptance. There is a reason that people find it easy to claim that the time we live in is so ahead in accepting things that used to be unacceptable. It is because, in reality, they aren’t entirely wrong. There have been some substantial steps toward making the lives of those who were once upon a time considered “different,” easier. However, that doesn’t make it all right to

Carson DeshevyRenouf

Opinion pretend that stigmas don’t exist. Focusing more on mental illness, common things like depression are often treated like an explanation. Let me clarify, depression is like attention deficit disorder, not in function, but in the fact that many people do suffer from both but it is also something that people regularly and routinely selfdiagnose to fill in the blanks when defining how they act or how they feel. The most common instance of this that I have found is people claiming that they have obsessive compulsive disorder when in reality they don’t even know what OCD stands for. It has become very easy to talk about mental illnesses but equally difficult for those without first-hand experience to understand. You’d be surprised how many people who adhere to

the saying “it’s 2014 …” also refuse to see professionals for assistance with their own mental turmoil out of fear of seeming “crazy.” There is still this weird, thick blanket of misunderstanding over most of the issues that hold sway in our lives. Whether that is surprising or not is really up for you to decide. I do understand mental illness more thoroughly than I do other issues since I have first-hand experience with it. I also know how difficult it is to try to understand what someone close to you is going through. What I don’t understand is why people have to be afraid to admit that they are not OK. I don’t understand why someone will lie about something as serious as mental illness out of fear of being judged. The point is, in a society where it is common to insist that you will be accepted, there shouldn’t be a constant and ominous fear of the exact opposite occurring. True social acceptance is difficult, if not impossible to achieve, but a sense of self-awareness is not.

Spoke

is p u b lis h ed a nd prod u ced weekl y b y t h e j o u rn a lism s t u den t s o f C ones t o g a C olle g e Editor: Beth Crouse Assignment Editors: Alex Riese, Maryssa McFadden Advertising Managers: Jack Parkinson, Jordan Johnstone Spoke Online Editors: Carson Deshevy-Renouf, Cody Mudge, Ian McBride

Production Managers: Cassie Tulecki, Carmen Ponciano

Social Media Editor: Nataleigh McCallum, Matt Howell

Photo Editors (print): Nathan Brown, Kali Caudle, Justin Ford Photo Editors (online): Josh Kennedy, Nicole Nemeth, Heather Stanley

Circulation Manager: Rachel Roy 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, November 3, 2014

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CSI wants election process revised BY JORDAN JOHNSTONE

Students will no longer have a voice in selecting the president and vice-president of Conestoga Students Inc., if the student association has its way. CSI held its annual general meeting on Oct. 21 in the Sanctuary with higher than average student turnout (approximately 35 students). Attendees were told that the organization wanted to amend its bylaws regarding the hiring of the president and vice-president. For most of the college’s 47 years, CSI has selected the president and vice-president from current members of the board of directors, except in the last two years. In 2013 CSI changed its policy to allow anyone from the student body to run for these positions. However, CSI wants to revert to the original format, stating in a suggested bylaw amend-

ments document that “after trial it has proven to not be a viable option.” “By having executives chosen who are student elected, we have had some major issues with transition, training and knowledge, with a lot of our traditions being lost,” said Sheena Witzel, assistant general manager of CSI. Witzel also stated that electing the executive positions from within helps ensure that a consistent, knowledgeable person is hired, who is willing to take on the responsibility and risk of being the CEO and head of a $5-million corporation. With some schools, such as Humber College, having lawsuits pending against subpar student boards and other colleges removing the student councils completely due to issues, CSI thinks it is a gamble to hire the executives from the student body. “Best example I can offer

is, after I was elected in February, in May I could have refused to sign for the rec renovations and that project would have been scraped,” said Jeff Scherer, CSI’s current president. Currently, in addition to voting on these two positions, the student body elects all board of directors. CSI officials think students should trust this board to choose the executive positions. They also believe that since the president and vice-president receive a salary, that this is a personnel issue and, therefore, shouldn’t be part of a student vote. At the meeting student Zoey Ross asked if this was just a way to exclude the student body and avoid rogue, risktaking candidates being voted into the positions. “It’s not about us being afraid of risk, it’s because there were major issues and it has caused problems. It’s

not a matter of being afraid of risk, it’s the fact we were exposed to it,” Witzel said. However, in a stunning twist after all the discussion about bylaw amendments, a student from the Cambridge campus, at his first CSI meeting, pointed out to the board of directors that under their own bylaw policies, section 7.12, that quorum had not been reached. Requirements for quorum mandate that 10 per cent of students vote, either in person or by proxy, to change the bylaws on executive positions. Since CSI had received only 333 votes they could not hold a vote on the proposed amendments. The student association will now have to schedule another general meeting and gather 1,100 proxy votes. This meeting must be advertised at least 21 days before its scheduled date. In other business Scherer

Massage therapy offered at Doon BY CASSIE TULECKI

Massage therapy is offered at Conestoga College to provide relaxation and stress relief to students, as well as to treat various aliments they may encounter throughout the school year. “The massage therapy service has been offered on campus for over the last eight years,” said Janie Renwick, the general manager at Conestoga Students Inc. Students communicate with therapists to ensure that they will receive the best treatment required to help them in their rehabilitation process. “This service was implemented to allow students to have a relaxing massage in between classes to help them with their overall health and well-being while at college,” she said. Students interested in receiving a massage must complete a few steps before they receive any treatment. During the first visit to the wellness office, located in Rm. 2A100, students must fill out an information form including a health history. Students are also required to have a doctor’s note stating what the massage is for. “The student will not be treated if they are ill or have a fever. The student will complete a health history form prior to the appointment and the therapist will review the form with the individual at their first appointment,” Renwick said.

PHOTO BY Cassie Tulecki

Ashley Hummel, a student in the personal support worker program, enjoys the massage therapy services offered at the Doon campus. Prices for a massage vary depending if the student is covered under the CSI Health Plan or if they opted out. For a standard half-hour massage under the CSI Health Plan the massage costs $11. It costs $55 if a student has opted out of the plan. “I heard you could get a massage at the school for 10 bucks, but then I went there and they told me that I had to have a doctor’s note to get it. I thought it was ridiculous,” said Ashlyn Thompson,

a community and justice services student. By visiting the on-campus doctor in Rm. 1A102, you can be assessed for free and receive a note that will allow you to book and receive massages. The wellness office is open Monday to Friday except during major holidays, winter break and Reading Week. “There are peak times during the year where the individuals won’t get an appointment on the same day, how-

ever, students will be able to book an appointment within the week they are looking for,” Renwick said. It is important to plan to make sure your preferred time and date for a massage is available. “I go every two weeks for my migraines and I love it, it helps me so much,” said Ashley Hummel, a personal support worker student. “My migraines have gone down a lot since I started getting massages.”

updated the student body on the recreation centre’s renovations and removal of the rink. “We are adding a triple gymnasium, renovating the top spine area, we are going to turn it into a student lounge area,” Scherer said. Another food vendor will be opening in the upper area once the renovations of the rec centre are complete. CSI listened to the student body’s request for a healthier option on campus, initially having Booster Juice on board before that company walked away due to concerns about foot traffic in the new lounge area. Now Scherer said he is almost certain Pita Pit will be the new vendor. Scherer also stated that the new rec centre will have a 5,000-square-foot multipurpose room, bigger varsity change room, retractable bleachers in the new gym and a chiropractor and massage therapy office.

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FEATURE

Gourd-geous!

Monday, November 3, 2014

heir weapons of construction included markers, serrated knives and scoops. Their battleground was the Sanctuary. Their prize was glory, and some cash. A Conestoga Students Inc. pumpkin-carving contest took place in the Sanc on Oct. 28 and showcased some students varying takes on the classic jack-o’-lantern. Six students took over the stage and tightly-wrapped tables as they battled wits and the clock to carve the pumpkin of their choosing. The pumpkins were donated by Chartwells, the company that oversees food services at the college. The judges consisted of members of CSI who were looking for a couple of things in a winner. Samantha Schwier, CSI programming co-ordinator, was the voice for the judges’ panel, and described what she was looking for in a first-place pumpkin. “Creativity, cleanliness and how pristine the cuts are. That’s what I’m looking for,” Schwier said. The participants, who were given only 90 minutes to create a masterpiece, looked intensely at their pumpkins as they made their cuts and incisions. Some had friends there for moral support, while others wore headphones and seemed almost in a Zen-like state. Kristen Woodfine, a design foundations student, chose to mingle and get advice from a couple of her friends while she worked on her math-inspired pumpkin that featured the symbol for Pi. “It’s pumpkin pi,” she said with a huge grin. Other contenders were going for a more artistic look like Steven Curtis, a first-year bachelor of design student. “I’m actually working on Edvard Munch’s The Scream in pumpkin form,” he said. The tension rose as the deadline approached. Spectators were making their own choices for which pumpkin should win, as they walked back and forth in front of the six contenders. Finally the moment everyone was waiting for happened. The announcement of the winners brought a rare hush over the crowd. First place and $100 went to Derek (who didn’t want his last name used), a second-year business marketing student, whose jack-o’-lantern resembled a tribal war god with horns. When asked what he was going to do with the winnings, he replied with the cheeky answer of “buy more pumpkins.” Second place and $75 went to Woodfine and her “pumpkin Pi,” while Sandy Pham, a first-year intro to business management student, took home third place and $50.

Pumpkin carving wicked at Conestoga

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATT HOWELL (Top left) Bart Piekarski, a first-year practical nursing student, and Devan Steele, a second-year personal support worker student, were all smiles as they worked on their Bart Simpson pumpkin. (Top right) Mary Lyle, a second-year radio broadcast student, stares intently at her pumpkin that included guts spewing out of its mouth and seeds coming out its eyes. (Middle row, from left) Sandy Pham, a first-year intro to business management student, took home third-place with her Sleepy Hollow-themed jack-o’-lantern. The winning pumpkin was a little scary with its jagged teeth and horns. Bart Simpson made his Halloween debut thanks to Bart Piekarski and Devan Steele. Steven Curtis, a first-year bachelor of design student, went with a classic theme with his Edvard Munchinspired pumpkin and Kristen Woodfine, a design foundations student, created a Pi pumpkin.

fun & games

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Monday, November 3, 2014

Useless Facts

Oh Cliff!

Horoscope Week of November 3, 2014

Aries

March 21 April 19 Lately you have been battling your own insecurities and it’s weighing you down. Do something that makes you feel good, maybe you’ll see something new.

The average life of a tastebud is 10 days.

Libra

In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital suspended workers for betting on when patients would die.

September 23 October 22

Dibble means to drink like a duck.

The people around you believe that you’re perfectly fine, you know better. Stop fighting your feelings. Let them flow.

It was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland.

Scorpio

Taurus

A B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building on July 28, 1945.

October 23 November 21

April 20 May 20

Something has changed in your life and it’s throwing you off balance. Don’t be upset about change, it may just bring you greatness.

Gemini May 21 June 21

Don’t judge a book by its cover. These people might surprise you.

Cancer

You’ve been in the dark about certain things for a while. Try lighting your own candle and figure things out on your own.

Sudoku Puzzle

Sagittarius November 22 December 21

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.

Your head is in the clouds again, come on back to earth. It’s time to put your time and energy into your work.

Capricorn

June 22 July 22

December 22 January 19

You’ve been worried and filled with unease lately. The best remedy for an over thinking mind is a hot bubble bath and a good book.

You’re worrying about something that in the long run doesn’t matter. Your hard work and dedication should prove your worth.

Word Search Name:

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker

Aquarius

Leo

January 20 February 18

July 23 August 22 You’ve been doing great these last couple of weeks, but nobody seems to be acknowledging that. Not to fret, Leo, in time someone will praise your skills.

Virgo

August 23 September 22 You’re over thinking again. Relax, everything will work out in the end. Maybe take up a new hobby to keep your mind at ease.

Your observations have proven to be well known, but be careful. Don’t forget about the people around you.

Pisces

February 19 March 20 The battle between your gut and your heart is a strong one. Maybe you should give your heart and feelings a try.

Whispering Waters wishes you waves of fortune.

Halloween E

W W

T AUTUMN BATS B BLACK S CANDY T CAT COSTUMES S DRACULA O FRANKENSTEIN H FRIGHTEN GHOSTS G GOBLIN L HALLOWEEN R MONSTER MUMMY L OCTOBER M ORANGE PUMPKINS I SCARE K SHADOWS W SKELETON SPOOKY C TRICKORTREAT A WITCH

NEWs

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Monday, November 3, 2014

PHOTO BY CARMEN PONCIANO

Scott Groleau (left) and his son Kyle pose in front of their home-built 3D printer. 3D printers will have a huge impact on a number of industries.

The new revolution: 3D printing BY CARMEN PONCIANO

Humanity has experienced huge technological breakthroughs over the last decade, from innovative smartphones to incredible microprocessors. It is no wonder that we are in what some call a third industrial revolution. One device in particular is making international headlines – the 3D printer. It has the potential to change the manufacturing and medical industry as well as many others. Though the technology for 3D printing has existed since the mid-’80s, it has now developed into something everyone can access. In fact, the words personal and desktop are becoming

more common in the world of 3D printing. One of the companies that opened the gate was MakerBot Industries, located in Brooklyn, N.Y. According to the documentary Printing the Next Legend, Bre Pettis, who is the co-founder of MakerBot Industries, said, “We are taking mainframe technology, stuff that was the size of your refrigerator, things we can’t afford, and we are putting them on desktops.” 3D printing at home is a form of home manufacturing where you take a digital file and make it into a solid object. By using the digital file, also known as a computer-aided design (CAD), and by using a 3D modelling pro-

gram, one can create a 3D object by having the printer extrude the plastic and build it layer by layer. Personal printers range in price from $1,500 to $6,500, depending on how large it is, and you don’t have to be a genius to use one. There is also the possibility of building your own personal 3D printer thanks to websites like Repetier that have what they call an open source community in which they post information ranging from how to build one, to ways that you can improve them. Scott Groleau of Kitchener and his son Kyle did just that. By using different types of metal scrap, a mini computer which acts as the brain

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of the printer, 240 volts and an application called Slic3r (G-code generator for 3D printing), which you can control from your own phone, they have successfully built their own printer and have fully printed an object. “It’s not your ordinary 3D printer, it has four printing heads and can print four different materials and colours at the same time. It’s liquid cooled and is controlled by WiFi,” Groleau said. But it has not been an easy project. Father and son have had to make room on their upper floor to build the printer since it is large, about three feet wide and six feet high. Not to mention the technological process behind this

specific design. “We had printed with another (printing) head but we had to do a lot of different changes. It worked but the inaccuracies would show and it would be transferring along and then just stop, load more data and continue,” Groleau said. So far they have been able to successfully print a boxlike object with a 3D triangle inside along with other small shapes which sit on Groleau’s desk. He hopes to be able to print using different types of materials like carbon fiber and wood fiber. In addition, he would like to expand on his printer design by adding a touch screen for easy navigation.

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Monday, November 3, 2014

ebola scare CAUSES ALARM

GRAZING ON GRASS WHILE HE CAN

PHOTO BY JUSTIN FORD

Conestoga students, including first-year journalism – print student Emmie Siroky, believe it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to Ebola. For story, see video at www.spokeonline.com.

ENJOY A COLD ONE AT THE SANC

PHOTO BY josh kennedy

Conestoga Students Inc. holds two pub days a week. Above, bartender Corey Patey pours a drink for a thirsty student. For more information see video at www.spokeonline.com.

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PHOTO BY cody mudge

A horse at Fire Fly Stables, located at Trussler Road in Kitchener, grazes while enjoying some of the last warm days of the year.

NEWS

Monday, November 3, 2014

Santa Claus is coming to town

BY NICOLE NEMETH

Santa Claus will be coming to Cambridge early, and he intends to bring peace, joy and happiness along with him. The Cambridge Santa Claus Parade will be held on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. It will follow the same route as last year, starting at the intersection of Hespeler and Dunbar roads and ending at the intersection of Hespeler Road and Langs Drive. Organizers are striving for a 90-minute event. The evening parade allows

the groups to prepare floats full of colour, light and sound. Prizes are awarded in different categories to encourage creativity. Now in its 42nd year, Cambridge Santa Claus Parade organizers are expecting to entertain approximately 50,000 people lined up along Hespeler Road. There will be around 85 groups and 14 bands involved. “Many others are from local businesses and the rest are community groups,” said Dave Howell, this year’s chief organizer for the parade. “The prep for the parade is going

very well.” Last year several entries were turned down because they registered late. This year organizers expanded their entry list to try and accommodate as many as possible. Registration and volunteer sign-up ended on Oct. 31. This year they expect to have about 100 entries and 75 volunteers to help with parade lineup and street security. “We will also be featuring a new look for Santa’s float,” Howell said. Once again Mrs. Claus will join Santa on a float. It

says on the parade’s website, “For all the hard work Mrs. Claus does in helping Santa, we felt she should be here right beside Santa, greeting all the children with her Christmas wishes!” She has been a part of the parade for almost 10 years and will continue to be. Just like previous years children are able to bring their letters for St. Nick. Canada Post will be walking the route with their bags for collection. The proper address to put on envelopes is Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO, along with a return address.

Firefighters’ FUNDRAISER RAISES MONEY FOR CANCER CHARITY

PHOTO BY MARYSSA MCFADDEN

Jon Pinheiro (left) and Ryan Ali, both students in the pre-service firefighter education and training program, sell pie and candy at a bake sale on Oct. 23. The event raised money for Danny’s Plane, a charity which takes children in southwestern Ontario to Disneyland. The program’s physical education teacher Colleen Holmes started the charity after losing her four-year-old son to cancer in 1997.

LIMITED SHOWINGS FOR LOCAL FILM

PHOTO BY Nathan brown

High Rise Studios’ premiere of their local, full-length film, Extraction Day, has limited local showings. Above, Jeremy Ninaber, the star of the movie, was at the premiere. For story, see video at www.spokeonline.com.

#GAMERGATE MOVEMENT

PHOTO BY jack parkinson

Jamie Hari, founder of the Marvel and DC Database Projects, is an avid video gamer and has been following the #Gamergate movement since its inception in August. For video, visit www.spokeonline.com.

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Other upcoming events to celebrate the holiday season in Cambridge include Music and Lights in the Village, CPR Holiday Train, Candyland, Central Park Skating and Lights, Christmas in Cambridge Market, Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night and the Family New Year’s Eve Party. To find dates and times visit cambridge.ca. The Kitchener-Waterloo Santa Claus Parade will take place on Saturday Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. and travel along King and Erb streets in Waterloo.

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Contrasting colleges and universities BY ALEX RIESE

When looking into post-secondary institutions in Canada, international student Hazma Nadeem only researched universities for his education. He has since come to wish that he’d looked more into colleges. “Looking at the course load right now, I’m not able to handle any other part of my life apart from my studies,” Nadeem said. The second-year mathematics student chose to enrol at the University of Waterloo two years ago. Since then, his personal life and work life has taken second fiddle to his school life. “In 24 hours, apart from eight hours sleep, the rest is studying,” he said. Nadeem’s story is a typical story for a university student. With class sizes averaging between 75 and 200 people, the method university professors choose to deliver course content is via lecture. These lectures span from 50 minutes to three hours and use either a textbook or a PowerPoint presentation as supplemental tools for lecturing. Unfortunately, this method has been criticized as being biased toward one learning style, and a student’s understanding of course material can live and die by the professor’s ability to relate to the students. Additionally, the large class sizes mean that many professors are not available for individual study time with students, making it the student’s job to understand subjects that others spend lifetimes trying to discover. Understandably, it’s common for students to attend a university program only to become frustrated with the learning styles used in university and apply to college. That was the route Rachel Kirk, a first-year television broadcasting student at Conestoga College, took, and she hasn’t looked back since. “I just wasn’t a big fan of the learning techniques. I also decided that I didn’t want a career in psychology. As much as I loved it, I’d rather do something a little more positive, which is why I chose to attend Conestoga,” Kirk said. Unlike university, college class sizes can be as low as

20 people per class, which means that students can get a lot more individual time with professors to ensure they understand the course material. As well, course content is often delivered using a mixture of traditional lecture techniques and hands-on training to ensure a student gets actual experience with the subject matter in the program. Smaller class sizes also give college professors the ability to get to know their students on a more personal level, allowing them to cater their lessons to their students, a fact that Kirk appreciates. “I feel it’s more personal. Here, the professors know my name. At university, I felt like I was more of a number,” Kirk said. However, universities also use labs as methods of instruction to supplement lectures. These labs give students the ability to work with equipment that would be used in a typical day on the job. Natasha Amsden, a thirdyear kinesiology student at the University of Waterloo, expressed an appreciation for these labs, saying that they’ve really helped her understand some of her course material better. “The labs are extremely useful. We did a biophysical evaluation lab in first year where we got to do a lot of hands-on evaluation. The lab sizes are a lot smaller so you get a lot of one-on-one interaction with the teacher’s assistant, and you get a lot of experience with the tools you’ll use later on, which is better than lecturing on the theory behind everything,” Amsden said. Reputation of a school is also hugely important. The University of Waterloo’s reputation around the world is one of the biggest reasons why so many people choose to go there, including Nadeem. “The University of Waterloo is ranked 23rd in the world for mathematics and third in the world for sciences, so I know the job market will be in my favour after I graduate,” Nadeem said. “I’d have a mid-career salary of about $119,000 per year. That’s why the University of Waterloo is justified for me.”

PHOTO BY ALex Riese

Hazma Nadeem, a second-year mathematics student at the University of Waterloo, is one of many students who contend with a highly demanding study schedule to meet with the academic demands of their programs. He wishes he had checked out colleges before deciding on a school.

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Monday, November 3, 2014

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An innovation to the way we learn BY CARMEN PONCIANO

As we continue to find different ways to improve our everyday lives, Desire2Learn (D2L) has created a new platform which is bettering the way students learn. Since the company’s inception in 1999, it has won numerous awards including the Top Canadian Employer for Young People and was named one of Deloitte Canada’s Best Managed Companies. It has become a leader in online learning solutions thanks to designing learning platforms that meet the new requirements that come with the technological advancements we have today. For example, D2L generated the platform (called eConestoga here at the college) that many college and university faculty use to post course content, grades and assignments. The system’s purpose is to build a connection outside of the physical classroom. Rather than looking at how students learn and making it better, D2L has taken a different path, which has led them to create a personalized learning platform

that fits every person’s needs, called Brightspace. It also gives instructors the flexibility to design their own courses and lets the students learn the content at their own pace. With the power of technology, Brightspace takes the traditional face-to-face way of learning and makes it accessible at anytime, in other words, online. However, what has made Brightspace a leader in the industry is how it can enhance student outcomes by monitoring, evaluating and predicting learner performance to improve retention and outcomes. This adaptive application takes a variety of data such as lesson plans, progress and efficiency in order to provide the most effective course of action. Brightspace was first introduced in kindergarten to Grade 12 classes. It now has Higher Education and Enterprise platforms as well. “The end goal of all educational institutions, whether they are K-12 or higher education, is really to firstly deliver skilled, quality graduates into the field. And second, to develop college and

#Gamergate targeting female gamers

career ready learners,” said Michael Moore, D2L’s senior advisory consultant analyst, during The Age of Big Data in Education webinar Oct. 22. And it looks like D2L is not slowing down. In July they joined forces with IBM, one of the world’s top analytical companies. This partnership will help ensure continued innovation in the educational field, helping institutions recruit the right kind of students to the right programs and again, to envision the right path that individual could take to have a more successful future. IBM will focus on collecting data from students’ profiles to identify patterns and needs, while D2L will handle the educational side. “Our job is to figure out how to help you begin to take this enormous amount of information and begin to apply it,” said Robert Dolan, manager of industry solutions, IBM Big Data and analytics. However, one of the challenges IBM and D2L faces is were to draw the line when it comes to accessing information. “It is something that insti-

PHOTO BY Carmen pONCIANO

Desire2Learn has created a new personalized platform that betters the way students learn. tutions have a big obligation and responsibility for. They are being entrusted with the data about the learning behaviours of their students, so we always have a very conscious eye towards security and awareness and protecting the fidelity of that data and, when we are reporting,

especially to outside entities, making sure that we are abstracting the data up to where it’s not personalized, it is aggregate or in other ways anonymous so that individual learner data can’t be extracted back out of it,” Moore said. For more information visit www.brightspace.com

Women, gaming needs you Canadian game development is severely lacking a woman’s touch BY Cody Mudge

internet PHOTO

Women in the gaming industry, such as popular gamer, actor and nerd media darling Felicia Day (pictured here), are being threatened and belittled via social media because of their involvement in gaming. Female gamers have had their personal information leaked and are receiving death threats.

Where have all the girls gone? For an industry born out of a relatively progressive age and whose products have nearly universal appeal, gaming has a serious problem with attracting women to the burgeoning field. Gaming has become an incredibly robust entertainment industry with economic clout rivalling and even surpassing the movie and music industries in many countries. And the field has been growing steadily, especially here in Canada, where employment in the industry rose by five per cent in 2012 over 2011, according to a study conducted by Nordicity, a consulting firm focused on economic analysis of media and creative technology sectors. Canada boasts the third largest gaming industry by employment, behind only the traditional powerhouses of Japan and the United States. This growth has been fertilized by government subsidies and the continuing interest of youth in the field. The same Nordicity study found that as many as 97 per cent of new

graduate hires came from within Canada. Why then do females represent only a meagre 16 per cent of people employed by game developers or publishers? Michael Winter, computer programming professor and director of the upcoming GAME program at Brock University, suggests a systemic problem with our society and education which discourages girls from pursuing technical careers. “In my computer programming classes I’m lucky to ever have a female student enrolled,” he said. The disparity between the number of women who play games and the number employed in the industry is staggering. Most polls of serious computer and console gamers show anything from an even split between males and females to 60-40 male majority. If you switch that metric to social or mobile games the roles nearly reverse with women using their phones or social networks like Facebook to play more often than their male counterparts. Gaming has already reached unprecedented levels

of success and it has done so by enticing men. Adding the genius and creativity of the other half of the species can only benefit everyone as new ideas and techniques are pursued to push the industry even further. At the very least the demand for graduates with a working knowledge of game design and programming, which sparked the creation of programs like GAME, means that employment opportunities exist for young people in a market predisposed against them. Winter said Brock and other universities specifically target girls with certain marketing events but if they don’t show up there’s little they can do. We need to let our young girls know that it’s OK to break into a male-dominated field because there is simply no reason for it to be male dominated. How can we fix this problem? Academics like Winter suggest encouraging female students as early as primary school to pursue technical and scientific courses. Whether this will actually get done is another matter. “I hope so,” Winter said.

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