Getting it write Author helps others put pen to paper. Page 9 Monday, November 17, 2014
SPOKE
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Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.
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Crafts for Christmas One-of-a-kind gifts all the rage in Wellesley. Page 8 45TH Year — No. 24
Taking the time to remember
PHOTO BY BETH CROUSE
The Canadian Veterans Memorial in Veterans’ Green Park in Waterloo reminds passersby to remember the sacrifices made by the brave Canadian men and women who fought for our freedom. For more photos see Page 7. By Beth Crouse
A silence fell over Conestoga College’s Doon campus at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11. The silence was deafening as students, faculty and honoured guests stood at attention as The Last Post was played over the P.A. Then slowly, quietly at first, but then growing louder, O Canada resounded, marking the end of the Remembrance Day ceremony. Given the recent events where two Canadian soldiers were killed, this year Remembrance Day holds a special, deeper meaning as students, faculty and staff took time out of their lives to pause and give thanks to those who fought bravely to protect the rights and freedoms Canadians often take for granted. “It’s respect for the country
and the soldiers who died and are still fighting,” said Taylor Schweitzer, a first-year journalism-print student. “As Canadians, it’s important to show respect,” added Michelle Maisonville, a first-year journalism – print student. “We can give half an hour to show respect. I’ve had family in the war so it’s important for me to respect them.” As the ceremony got underway, people gathered in the lower atrium, the upper atrium and along the upper floor’s railing in order to take part. In attendance were veterans, Conestoga College’s president John Tibbits, CSI president Jeff Scherer, as well as Myeengun Henry, manager of Aboriginal Services. The iconic poem In Flanders Fields was read aloud, and video montages displayed
images taken from the First World War, the Second World War and present day conflicts where Canadian Forces are involved. “Everyone as individuals should take time out of their day, not just at Conestoga, but on an individual basis. We should be extremely grateful for what the brave men and women have done for us,” Scherer said. When asked why it’s important to remember, retired Lt.Col. Gordon Greavette, who is the chair of the School of Liberal Studies at Conestoga College, said, “It’s important because of the willingness of the members of the Canadian Forces who gave us the freedoms we enjoy at sometimes great inconvenience to themselves or they even paid the ultimate sacrifice. We owe our freedoms to their sacrifice.”
PHOTO BY beth Crouse
An estimated 20 million poppies were worn this year in remembrance of the more than 117,000 men and women who died serving this country.
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 17, 2014 NEWs Tibbits talks shop about a new plan for conestoga
Random questions answered by random students
Is there anything about the opposite sex that you can’t comprehend?
“Everything? You guys are confusing.” Valerie Kerswell, second-year digital merchandising
“Their sassiness, I guess.”
Mitchell Walker, first-year marketing
PHOTO BY carson deshevy-renouf
Conestoga President John Tibbits began giving presentations this month on a new strategic plan for the school. The plan highlights changes that will be made to improve the experience of students. For more on this, see video at www.spokeonline.com.
“They can get moody.”
THERE’S ONLY 37 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS
Jade Loehle, first-year marketing
“They’re really demanding. Any time they start a sentence with ‘first of all,’ make sure you run away.” Uza Khan, first-year marketing
“Thought processes.”
Grant Morin, first-year green management PHOTO BY maryssa mcfadden
“There are lots of things that I find confusing about people, and making it a gender binary doesn’t make sense.” Caitlin Henderson, first-year general arts and science
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Christmas shopping is incredibly stressful, especially as December approaches. Megan Cunningham, a Walmart employee, holds up a sign which shows there are only 37 shopping days left. For the full story, see video at www.spokeonline.com.
CORRECTION A photo in the Nov. 3 edition of Spoke had incorrect information in the caption. It said first-year journalism – print student Emmie Siroky was worried about Ebola, when in fact, she has no such concerns. Spoke apologizes for the error.
NEWs
Monday, November 17, 2014
SPOKE s Page 3
Kindness brings out the best at Conestoga By NATALEIGH MCCALLUM
Something as simple as having the door held open for you can put an instant smile on your face. If this random act of kindness is done by a complete stranger, it’s even better. Conestoga students experienced this during the seventh annual Random Act of Kindness Day on Nov. 7. RAK Day, as it has come to be known, was created by the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) in 2008 to encourage citizens to perform small acts of kindness and generosity. The initiative is now celebrated across the country. A number of booths were set up all over the campus encouraging random acts of kindness. There were free hot beverages, candy and cards saying things like “I appreciate you” and “I respect you” that students could give to friends. There was even a booth where students could wear a funny hat and mask and have their photo taken while holding a white board on which was written a random act of kindness someone did for them.
“I think Random Act of Kindness Day means a more relaxed school environment because ideally everyone would be focused on the needs of others rather than themselves,” said Jordan Bajar, a second-year registered practical nursing student. Laura Black, Student Life programmer and the coordinator of the event, said it is the little acts of kindness that can really make the world of difference to someone. “Random Act of Kindness Day is really important to Conestoga College. It’s really about building community and it’s about bringing everyone together,” Black said. Students just had midterms, winter is starting to hit and all of the stress is starting to compile, so reminding students that kindness really does make a difference is important. But should there be only a day dedicated to random acts of kindness? Should it not be an everyday occurrence? “I like to think that this (the annual event) is just a reminder, that this is a day we focus on it but really we’re doing it every day in our
PHOTO BY Nataleigh Mccallum
Otegbolade Mariam, left, and Francesca Pedler handed out candy at a Random Act of Kindness booth on Nov. 7. lives,” Black said. And that’s exactly the purpose of the event, to do something kind and not expect anything in return other than they do something nice for someone else.
“It’s the fact that everyone decides to be nice for one day, even though they should be doing it every day. It is one day of recognizing each other’s kindness,” said Natasha Bolden, a second-year fitness
and health student. So even though RAK Day has come and gone, hold a door open for someone, offer to grab someone a coffee or even just smile. It truly does make a difference.
“What I like about this particular unit is that it is very easy to use, very safe,” said Ashley Kelly, an emergency medical response worker and also an advance emergency care instructor. After calling 911 and opening the AED case, the unit will provide a step-by-step sequence. The AED’s internal surface also has visual steps surrounding the monitor screen which take you through the entire CPR and AED process. The first step, after clothing is removed, is to place the shock pads on the person’s chest. Conveniently, the pads have pictures of where specifically to place them. The AED will then analyze the patient’s heart rhythm and, if it can’t detect a beat, it will advise CPR be started instead. The AED will only administer a shock if it detects an abnormal heart beat. For CPR it will emit a beat that represents every time you should press down on the person’s chest. It will also tell you whether you need to press harder. As the pace increases, you will count to 30 until the AED says to stop and back off, since it is analyzing the heart’s rhythm once again. If a beat is present but
irregular, it will instruct you to press the button that will release a shock and notify you to start CPR again. “After every shock, it resets the heart but we don’t know if it’s actually come back into a normal rhythm. What you are going to do is help it climb that hill, so start doing compressions. Help get it to the top so that it can start on its own,” Kelly said. Because of AEDs’ high success rate the Heart and Stroke Foundation wants to have them within 25 metres of each other so that in case of an emergency, there is always one close by. Conestoga College’s four AEDs on the Doon campus are located by the bookstore, the security offices, in the ATS building and in the recreation centre. The fifth one coming soon will be placed in the E-wing. There is also one located on the Guelph campus and two at the Cambridge campus. In addition to having AEDs on site, they must be kept in good condition. “Security does three patrols per day and during those patrols they ensure the green checkmark is visible, meaning the unit is functioning,” Maher said. For more information on AEDs go to www. aed4life.com.
Conestoga faculty and staff learn how to save lives BY CARMEN PONCIANO
Thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the federal government, 2,000 automated external defibrillators (AED) are being installed across Canada. The $10-million, four-year plan started in 2011 with the goal of getting AEDs in arenas, recreation centres and public buildings. Conestoga College’s Doon campus will soon receive its fifth AED. The Heart and Stroke Foundation held a training session for faculty and staff on Nov. 5. “We are a large public building and are very happy to have received these units from the Region of Waterloo EMS (emergency medical services) through the Heart and Stroke Foundation,” said Nancy Maher, Conestoga College operational safety supervisor. “They require very little maintenance and it’s great to know that we have the equipment and training necessary to save a life.” This device has the potential of saving thousands of people who experience a sudden cardiac arrest. Forty thousand Canadians experience cardiac arrest every year. That’s about one every 12 minutes, and without fast treatment, only five per cent survive. By
PHOTO BY carmen ponciano
Conestoga College will be receiving a new automated external defibrillator which will be placed in the E-wing at Doon campus. combining CPR and an AED, an individual’s chances of survival can go up to 80 per cent since the AED can tell if the heart has stopped beating and restore it to its normal rhythm. The AED models that have
been given to Conestoga College are one of the few AEDs that coach you through the process by providing visual and audible instructions, meaning anyone can use them in case of an emergency.
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Body modification becoming the norm
COMMENTARY
Monday, November 17, 2014
BY cassie tulecki
In the past decade tattoos were seen as a sign of gang involvement or associated with criminals who broke the law. Today they are part of our culture; for younger generations they are a sign of expression. Body modification, including tattoos, piercings, sub-dermal implants and even stretching of the earlobes, is accepted in most social circumstances. However, in the workplace many standard dress codes prohibit body modification. Many employers see it as unprofessional and, therefore, choose not to hire people based on that, which is legal. It is time Canadian laws changed. Two people with the same skills and education will be seen differently if one has a visible tattoo or a facial piercing. We believe the person without a visible tattoo will likely be the one who gets the job. If an employer decided to withhold a job promotion because the employee was female that would be considered discrimination. Any company that refuses to hire an individual based on race, ethnicity or religion would be open to a lawsuit. We believe that there is a change coming when it comes to having tattoos and piercings in the workplace. Some will always believe that tattoos are “dirty” and for criminals and do not belong in the workplace, however, as tattoos become more mainstream, the bosses themselves will have them. Still, current generations and even future ones will have to work hard to overcome the stereotypes in society. George Lewis, owner of the downtown Kitchener tattoo shop, Déjà vu, said since he started his career more people get tattoos because they want to stand out and be different from the rest of the world. “People like the idea of wearing something on their skin to just express who they are as a person,” he said. “The stigma of it has been taken away. People used to think girls with tattoos were nothing but tramps, but that’s gone now. Now girls have more tattoos than guys these days.” “It has been forced into acceptance,” he said, adding he has friends who weren’t allowed to work for certain companies because they had tattoos. People need to remember that tattoos and piercings are an art form, so, instead of being critical, they should accept and encourage others to express themselves in a creative way. 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.
Brace yourself, winter is coming.
We should have the right to die
If you were told you had six months to live, and you had to endure insufferable pain throughout those six months, what would you do? Would you decay in a hospital bed, leaving your family behind with the medical bills? Or would you do whatever you could within your legal rights to leave this world? On Saturday, Nov. 1 Brittany Maynard chose to say goodbye to her family and friends instead of facing months of pain and suffering, hospital beds and hospital bills and the reality of literally withering away. The 29-year-old died in the comfort of her own home in Portland, Ore., surrounded by her loved ones Maynard was a resident of California, but she moved to Oregon because of the state’s right-to-die options. Abiding by Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act, Maynard chose to have a physician inject her with life-ending medication. These end-of-life options only exist in five U.S. states, and here in Canada, Quebec is the only province to have passed right-to-die legislation.
Justin Ford
Opinion This young woman was suffering, she had an inoperable brain tumor and could no longer deal with the extreme pain she faced every single day. Yet, this story has been generating controversy since day one. We, as humans, all have a right to live, so why do we not all have the right to die? People who are terminally ill and going through unbearable pain should have the right to leave this world, regardless of who they are and where they live. Imagine you’re in a car driving down the highway. Out of nowhere, you’re sideswiped by another vehicle sending you into a frantic tailspin in the middle of the crowded highway. Suddenly, time almost comes to a standstill. You become extremely self-aware as you continue to spin and spin as cars intermittently fly by
you at high speeds. Time is barely moving, but you know how this ends. You know the pain that’s just around the corner from the blue Hyundai barrelling toward your driver-side door. You know as soon as the black pickup rear-ends you that your seatbelt is going to dig into you and crush your rib cage. You know once your car has finally spun its way toward the median that your skull will fracture in several places once your head smashes off your steering wheel on impact. You know you’ll bleed out and die before help arrives. You know your life is over. Maynard’s life-ending car crash came in the form of terminal cancer. Time slowed down and she saw the bleak road ahead as she spun out of control. The pain and suffering had already begun and she had no control over the wheel. Her death certificate was signed, so she ended her life in the most modest and legal way possible. Her death was engulfed in controversy, but at least she got the delicate conversation started. We should all have the right to die.
Spoke
i s p u b l i s h ed a nd prod u ced weekl y b y t h e jo u rn a l i sm s t u den t s of 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 17, 2014
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Student-parents face challenges By Nicole Nemeth
Being a student is difficult enough without the added responsibilities of being a parent. Fortunately for Conestoga College students there are a ton of services to help them achieve success. Different services include counselling, health services, financial aid and daycare, all of which are on Conestoga’s main campus in Kitchener. Krystle McGuire knows all too well how difficult it can be raising a family and attending college. She received her registered practical nurse diploma earlier this year with distinction. During her second year at college she had a three-year-old daughter and was pregnant. Now she’s continuing her education at home by taking an online program, perinatal nursing, through Conestoga. When asked what her biggest challenge as a student-parent was McGuire said, “Trying to juggle being a good student as well as a good mother.” For student-parents who find themselves feeling overwhelmed there are counsellors available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, for students who need someone to talk to about personal or academic needs. Common concerns pregnant
and parenting students discuss with counsellors, according to Lynn Robbins White, a Conestoga College counsellor, include medical issues, finances, continuing with academics, community resources, dealing with stress, balancing life at home, daycare and the different options they have. Robbins White hopes she can help struggling students who are parents. “As long as we can help them move through the process of what they want to do, narrow down what it is they want and open up all the services that they can use.” There are also doctors on campus who students can see for a number of reasons such as pregnancy tests, prenatal care up to 26 weeks and birth control. Although it’s best to try and book an appointment ahead of time, same day appointments are sometimes available and a walk-in clinic nurse is available on-site during office hours. Health Services is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Part of the college tuition automatically goes to health benefits through CSI. If a student wishes to add a dependent to their benefits through the student association there is the optional family add-on. However, it will cost extra money and has to be done
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Nov. 11 should be a holiday Recently the federal government has started to take a second look at whether or not to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday and there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the topic. Some people believe that making it a holiday will take away from the actual holiday itself. They fear that if kids aren’t in school or adults aren’t at work, they won’t take the time to remember the sacrifice our troops have made for us. Personally I don’t think this would be the case. I think if more people had the day off, more people would go to their city’s Remembrance Day ceremony. It is my hope that if kids aren’t in school their parents will take them to their city’s Remembrance Day ceremony and make a tradition of it. I, for one, know that if it does become a statutory holiday that I will not forget. I will be at my city’s ceremony remembering my troops for all that they have done for me and future generations to come. Lest we forget. Michelle Maisonville, first-year journalism print student
before the cut-off date which depends on when the student starts school. “While we don’t have any financial aid specifically set aside for pregnant and/or parenting students, family size is one of the key variables that we use to determine the degree of financial support needed for OSAP as well as for awards, scholarships and bursaries,” said Patrick Bennett, Conestoga’s financial aid and awards manager. Bennett also said that during the OSAP assessment, students who have dependents are eligible for the Canada Study Grant for Persons with Dependents, which provides non-repayable grant support. Fortunately for Conestoga students there is a child-care centre on the Doon campus. The child-care centre is open to college faculty, staff, students and the local community. Since spaces are limited and operate on a first-come, first-serve basis it’s important for any student, or person considering Conestoga College, to put a request in right away. Subsidies are also available to qualifying families and it is recommended that anyone interested in more information on fee subsidy call any one of the childcare centres for more information. Conestoga College operates a number of cen-
PHOTO BY NICOLE NEMETH
Krystle McGuire, a Conestoga registered practical nursing graduate, knows all too well the struggles student-parents face. tres including Silverheights Child Care Centre, Glencairin Child Care, Driftwood Park Child Care Centre and Doon Campus Child Care Centre.
“It’s such a great accomplishment to be a parent, or become a parent, and still continue through school,” Robbins White said.
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Monday, November 17, 2014
News
Monday, November 17, 2014
SPOKE s Page 7
Downtown Kitchener gets a little artsy
By Jack Parkinson
To most people, a night shift is a time to work. But once a year in Kitchener, the night shift becomes a time of art and recreation. Night\Shift 2014 came to downtown Kitchener Nov. 1. Festival organizers had two goals: to provide thought-provoking art experiences for the average citizen, and expose local artists to a wider audience than normal. Night\Shift is organized and hosted by the Alternatives Journal, an environmental publication which has been operating since 1971. There were 40 one-nightonly attractions spread out across downtown Kitchener. The air was chilly but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from attending the event, which included interpretive dance, a montage of short films projected on the side of a building, a game of Pong with tire-sized controllers, flash mobs and live music performances, to name a few. It was a perfect fit for Matt White, whose play entitled Andy Warhol presents: Valerie appeared at Night\ Shift, with several showings that ended past midnight. The play is a fictionalized account of the titular artist’s relationship with Valerie Solanas, the extrem-
PHOTO BY jack parkinson
A turtle made from recycled plastic bottles sits on the ground outside Kitchener City Hall at Night\Shift. The turtle was one of several aquatic sculptures created by a group of grad students in an effort to ignite discussion about the environmental consequences of choosing single-use bottles. ist feminist who ultimately shot Warhol. White’s intentions with the play are to be “entertaining, but hopefully while we entertain you, we challenge something,” he said in an interview. White is originally from Kitchener, where his career in theatre started, but he moved to Toronto because that is where there are more opportunities.
“When I was starting out there really wasn’t enough work to sustain a career,” he said. “Toronto felt like New York at the time.” White spent many years in Toronto, but returned to Waterloo Region in August 2013 because he said there was much more happening in the area by then. Andy Warhol presents:
Valerie was first performed in July the following year and met with a very positive initial reception. The same was true for Night\Shift. “What I saw with Night\ Shift was a whole new radical audience,” said White, and he looks forward to bringing more invigorating theatre to the region. But there was more at the festival than just art – many
restaurants, cafes and food services were at the event, with staff making sure everyone had the option to appreciate the art on a full stomach and to stay warm on that chilly November night. Victoria Kent, owner of the Yeti Cafe, spoke highly of the event. Kent and her employees were part of the hot drink passport offered at the event, which allowed attendees to pay $9 in exchange for several hot beverages at a variety of booths. Regular service was also available – as regular as things get at the Yeti, anyway. The cafe’s passport drink was “dirty yeti milk,” a mixture of cinnamon coffee, almond and coconut milk, and raw honey. Keeping with the theme, one of Kent’s employees was wearing a yeti costume she had found in her boyfriend’s father’s basement. Something clicked, because Kent and her staff ended up serving more than 500 cups of coffee that night. “It was a scramble to keep up,” she said. And that is what Night\ Shift is all about – a mad scramble to keep up with all the insightful art happening in Kitchener’s downtown. For more information about Night\Shift, contact the Alternatives Journal or go to www.nightshiftwr.ca.
E-CIGARETTES A FIX FOR SOME
Remembrance day a time to pay our respects
PHOTO BY JORDAN JOHNSTONE
E-cigarettes are becoming a booming business. Jason Vickers (left), owner of Ponyboy Vapes, an e-cig and liquids business in Waterloo, and Mat da Silva, a partner, let off some steam at the shop on Nov. 5. For video, go to www.spokeonline.com.
Students, faculty, staff and veterans gathered in Conestoga College’s atrium on Nov. 11 to take part in a Remembrance Day ceremony. Left, retired Lt.-Col. Gordon Greavette, chair of the School of Liberal Studies, was one of two veterans in attendance. photos by beth crouse
NEWs
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Monday, November 17, 2014
Getting crafty at Christmas By HEATHER STANLEY
That jolly, joyful time that is the Christmas season is now upon us. Decorations are starting to adorn buildings, winter-themed movies are airing on TV and people are checking their shopping lists more than twice. To find unique items for Christmas, many went to the One-of-aKind Christmas Craft Show in Wellesley on Nov. 8. There, only handmade items were sold from the region’s local crafters. The event made its debut this year with around 20 tables inside the local community centre. Customers could buy crafts that ranged from wreaths and jewelry to knitted clothing and engraved wood panels with messages. Although some items were regularly seen at a bazaar, there were items that were out of the norm. These included six-foot measuring boards to determine a person’s height and knitted bowls and hotplates. If patrons wanted to make something themselves, there was even the option of painting ornaments on wood or on the traditional bauble, otherwise known as a Christmas ball. “I moved to Wellesley last year and I couldn’t find a venue to sell my stuff,” said crafter Pauline Simpson, the event organizer. “I participated in the farmer’s market this
summer and met a lot of very talented neighbours there and said, ‘If I put on a winter craft show, would you participate?’ And they said yes.” Simpson said there were no third-party or imported items allowed at the event. As well, to have more variety of items, only two vendors of a particular type were present. This ensured that all items sold would be from the businesses of local crafters and would give customers plenty to choose from. One vendor sold her homemade jewelry and her mother’s porcelain Santa Claus and angel head ornaments. Her necklaces, earrings and rings were handmade and were all hand engraved. They were each made from an ingot of recycled metal. “I do silver and gold work and my mom does porcelain work,” said Rachel Ramljak, a metal smith. “It starts from an original design that she sculpts. She makes a mold and does a limited production run. She hand paints them as well. No two are alike. They are all unique. Same with the jewelry.” She and her mom, Sharon Rae, also work together on creating bottles made from porcelain and silver that could hold perfumes or essential oils. At the bazaar, they showed off their prototypes. Susan Prange, who sold her mother’s knitted aprons and hot plates, said there was
PHOTO BY Heather stanley
It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas at the One-of-a-Kind Christmas Craft Show in Wellesley on Nov. 8. no previous craft show in Wellesley. She said Simpson had got all of the vendors together, including her mom, and that it ended up turning out fabulous. The community was made aware of the event though Facebook groups and through
Russia’s anti-gay law shameful A Russian memorial to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was taken down just one day after Tim Cook, Job’s predecessor, announced he was gay. The more than six-foot-tall iPhone statue was placed on Saint Petersburg University in January 2013 by a Russian group of companies called ZEFS. It was removed on Oct. 31 because, according to ZEFS, it violated Russia’s law against “gay propaganda.” The law, which was passed last year by the Russian government a few months after ZEFS put up the iPhone statue, prohibits educating minors about homosexuality. The “gay propaganda” law caused a huge uproar right before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and is thought to be the cause behind an increase in homophobic attacks. Not only was the memorial dismantled, but Russian politician Vitaly Milonov called for Cook to be banned from entering Russia because he
Nicole Nemeth
Opinion is gay. No matter who someone is, whether they’re a well-known name or an average citizen, their sexual orientation should not negatively affect them or their day-to-day life. The sad truth is that it often does. Apple has been a great company of innovation as well as supportive of equal rights to all, with Cook giving many speeches, writing columns and even standing up to Congress in his quest for equal rights. It is shameful that in our society today there are people who are hateful toward other people for something like sexual orientation. I hope, as the Olympians did when the anti-gay law passed in Russia, more people will
stand up against homophobic acts and comments, and that Cook’s coming out will continue to encourage and inspire people despite the hateful comments from Russian politicians. Unfortunately Russia isn’t the only country that opposes gay rights. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association lists 78 countries with criminal laws against sexual activity, some of which have the death penalty for homosexual acts. There’s no way to really tell if Cook’s coming out will have negative effects on Apple, but I hope it doesn’t. “Let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” he wrote in an essay titled Tim Cook Speaks Up, published in Bloomberg Businessweek on Oct. 30. “I’ve made Apple my life’s work, and I will continue to spend virtually all of my waking time focused on being the best CEO I can be.”
flyers made by Simpson. Prange hopes that the event will run again next year. “A lot of the old don’t go into town anymore,” Prange said. “They won’t go into KitchenerWaterloo. They’ll go to New Hamburg, Baden, something very close. Being able to just
go down the street is fabulous for them and being able to support their fellow townsmen is great.” Simpson said she was quite happy with the turnout and that she would consider doing it again next year if she received some help.
game on in the den
PHOTO BY Kali Caudle
Conestoga Students Inc.’s Den has gaming consoles once again. Above, Zack Dodge, CSI communications co-ordinator is overseeing the consoles setup. For more information see video at www. spokeonline.com.
NEWS
Monday, November 17, 2014
SPOKE s Page 9
Author helps get creative juices flowing BY RACHEL ROY
The hardship of picking up a pen and turning your thoughts into a story are difficult but Larry Brown, an American author, provided what aspiring writers needed to know to keep their thoughts flowing. Brown has written 10 works that have been published but he is known for Dirty Work, Father and Son, Joe and Big Bad Love. On Nov. 8, in the Clemens Mills branch of the Cambridge Public Library, Brown held a seminar for writers having a hard time finding their way through their pages of ideas. All that could be heard in the small seminar room was the scratching of pens against paper as Brown walked several people through the process of developing a story. “He just comes up with things that I’m not expecting to even write about. I find it really stimulating and I come up with all kinds of ideas I would like to write about after all,” said Lin Thompson-Knoll, a writer who attended his seminar. Brown challenged attendees by giving a scene which they then had to write about.
These exercises are used to form a base so that writers can use their own imagination to conjure up a story. In one exercise, attendees had to incorporate the words “too salty” in their writing. “I thought it was braindraining inspiration. Very thought-provoking, very enlightening and inspirational,” said Cindy Burrows, another aspiring writer who attended the seminar. Brown decided since he had done some teaching in his past and is a successful writer, he should help people around him. Three summers ago, he went to his local library in Brantford and asked if he could conduct seminars and writing workshops within the library. Since then, Brown has been travelling to out-of-town libraries to give writers his advice and expertise as well. “A lot of people don’t realize what a story is or how small detail can blow up,” he said. Brown encourages writers to push their abilities; therefore, he puts their ideas to the test with several different
CSI crowns
PHOTO BY Rachel Roy
Cathy Darlington, an aspiring writer, attended author Larry Brown’s writing seminar at the Cambridge Public Library on Nov. 8 where she got her ideas down on paper. challenges. Brown said there are only two things a writer needs to create a successful short story and they are tension and
detail, specific detail. For those who are interested in getting help with their writing, a six-week short story writing class will run
Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m. at Clemens Mills from Feb. 4 to March 11 for free. You can register by calling 519-740-6294.
Flowers Made For Random Act of Kindness Day
Rock, Paper, Scissors champion
PHOTO BY Cody Mudge
Samantha Ramirez won a $50 gift card in the Sanctuary after she went undefeated in CSI’s Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. For the full story see video at www.spokeonline.com.
PHOTO BY Matt Howell
Brittany Brown shows some students how to make paper flowers as part of Random Act of Kindness Day that took place at Conestoga on Nov. 7. For video, go to www.spokeonline.com.
fun & games
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 17, 2014
Aries
March 21 April 19 Your insecurities are dragging you down this week; relax and take a step back, everything will be alright.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Someone really close to you is having a difficult time. Keep close to them and make sure they’re OK.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Something crazy is going to happen this week; use your skills to overcome this sudden excitement.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Your feelings are over powering your clear thinking; sit back and look at your problems from afar.
Leo
July 23 August 22 You’re bored, it’s that time of year again. Make your own fun and create a new adventure for yourself and your friends.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Something has been scratching at your back lately. Don’t over analyze the situation, Virgo. Things happen for a reason.
Camels chew in a figure eight pattern.
Libra
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
September 23 October 22
A cat’s jaw cannot move sideways.
You have lost control of reality lately. It’s time for a relaxing bubble bath and self-reflection.
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
Scorpio
October 23 November 21 There is a kerfuffle around your group of friends. Use your super power to calm the problems between them.
The world’s youngest parents were eight and nine and lived in China in 1910.
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.
You’re taking your emotions too seriously. Something was said that bothered you, but don’t worry, it’s not meant the way you think it is.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Your patience is paying off. You will be given a great success within the next couple of weeks. Be proud of yourself.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
You’re focusing too much on what might happen instead of what could happen. Things will be OK. Trust your instincts.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Trust your gut feeling when it tells you something is wrong. Fight your opinion. Don’t be afraid of the consequences.
Whispering waters wishes you waves of fortune.
Word Search
NEWS
Monday, November 17, 2014
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Fundraiser Focuses on family violence
PHOTO BY JOSH KENNEDY
It’s time to get shopping for the holidays. Many stores have great gadgets for everyone on Santa’s list. Above, customers check out some of the latest tablets at Staples in Waterloo. Images at bottom show some fabulous technology from Best Buy, from gaming consoles and LEGO robots to receipt scanners and iHome speakers, and even a smartphone-controlled learning thermostat which adapts to your family’s routine.
Tech gifts popular
BY JOSH KENNEDY
With the holiday season just around the corner, many people are trying to think of good ideas for Christmas gifts. For your gadget geeks, stores such as Future Shop and Best Buy always have many tech gifts on sale, ranging from laptops to video game consoles. Stores such as Chapters, which started off selling books, are also getting in on the action, selling electronics as well, such as e-books and iPads. “I think people like buying new technology because it is the way our future is. People want to get the new gadgets so they don’t get left behind,” said Owen, a tech employee at Staples in Waterloo, who wouldn’t give his last name due to store policy. Electronics stores have many different gadgets being sold that remain popular each and every year.
“Tablets are our most popular selling gadgets, especially iPads, Samsung Notes and Microsoft Surface,” said Abdu, the supervisor at Staples in Waterloo. “E-readers, GPS, headphones and locked cellphones are also quite popular at our store.” Holiday flyers have already been mailed out despite Christmas being 37 days away. Future Shop also has their holiday gift ideas posted on their main website. These ideas come in different categories. For men, cameras, headphones and watches are gift suggestions, while gift ideas for women include iPhones and juicers. For children, remote control cars and battery-powered robot toys are recommended. Some stores have some strange but convenient electronics for sale. For example, Best Buy is selling a number of odd-looking computer mice, including a Cyborg R.A.T.9
Laser Gaming Mouse for $169.99. They also have a Mad Catz R.A.T. M Wireless Bluetooth Laser Gaming Mouse for $69.99 and a Thermaltake Level 10 Optical Gaming Mouse for $79.95. Other gift ideas include a curved TV from Samsung for $2,399.99 which is described as having a “wider field of view.” Another odd item includes the Wieser Kevo Bluetooth Deadbolt Lock, which allows you to lock and unlock your door simply by touching it. This is quite convenient for people who constantly lose their house keys. They can just touch the lock and the door opens. It sells for $219.99. Abdu from Staples said that the holidays are their busiest time of the year and pointed out that with all of the new ideas coming out every year, he doesn’t expect this gadget craze to end anytime soon.
PHOTO BY Ian MCBRIDE
An Evening with Wendel Clark, a fundraising event for the Family Violence Project, took place at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener on Nov. 6. The event included a conversation with the former Toronto Maple Leafs player, a silent auction and threecourse meal. Staff Sgt. Greg Fiss of the Waterloo Regional Police Service was at the fundraiser, discussing the issue of domestic violence in Waterloo Region. For story, see video at www.spokeonline.com.
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