fun & games
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Monday, November 24, 2014
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 24, 2014
Aries
March 21 April 19 Your moodiness will be your downfall. Take a breather and clear your plate and give yourself a fresh start.
Taurus April 20 May 20
You have been following an unknown leader for some time now. Maybe it’s wise to start creating your own path.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You have been caught up with your independence; and that’s good, but it might be time to gain help from a group.
Cancer June 22 July 22
Someone has betrayed you and you’re left feeling bereft and hurt. Don’t worry, pick yourself back up and keep going.
Leo
July 23 August 22 You have been a great help to your family and friends but it’s time that you work on yourself for a while.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You’re worried about so many things Virgo. Relax and let whatever happens, happen.
Woodpecker scalps, porpoise teeth and giraffe tails have all been used as money.
Libra
Shakespeare invented the words “assassination” and “bump.”
September 23 October 22 You have a hard time saying “no.” Don’t be shy Libra. If you don’t want to do something, it is perfectly acceptable to say so.
There is no solid proof of who built the Taj Mahal. Australian rules football was originally designed to give cricketers something to play during the off-season.
Scorpio
October 23 November 21 Your fear of failure will be the end of your sanity. Don’t worry, just do your best, which is the only thing that is requested from you.
The male seahorse carries the eggs until they hatch instead of the female.
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 having a battle against yourself every morning and it makes you late for class. Maybe it’s time to actually set that alarm at 6:30.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
Something changed in your life, and it wasn’t planned but that’s OK. Keep your head up and it’ll pass without fail.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
You have taken pride in knowing you can give a witty comment but be warned, your cleverness might get you in trouble.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 You have taken route too many count. Man up, reins and drive fame!
the easy times to take the to your
The universe is speaking to you.
Word Search
NEWS
Monday, November 24, 2014
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Conestoga grads getting jobs report finds BY ALEX RIESE
PHOTO BY Alex Riese
Conestoga College prides itself on its hands-on learning aided by industry professionals. Many students, such as first-year software engineering technology student Dylan O’Neill, are just beginning to realize what Conestoga can do for them.
a purse-suading cause for charity
PHOTO BY ian mcbride
The Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington celebrated their fourth annual Purse-suasion, a fashionable and fun fundraising event at the Waterloo Region Museum in Kitchener on Nov. 14. Melissa Henderson (left) and Dallas Borris stand in front of their vendor table for Thirty-One Gifts. For video go to www.spokeonline.com.
For many, postsecondary education is the first step to a career. And, according to Conestoga College’s graduate employment report, students at Conestoga are on sturdy ground. The report is collected on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to evaluate how effective post-secondary institutions are at preparing graduates for the working world. The most important statistic is the overall hiring rate, which details the percentage of Conestoga graduates who find employment within six months of graduation. The report also includes statistics for graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction with graduates and a breakdown of average starting salaries for each career. According to the graduate employment report, Conestoga College boasts an average hiring rate of 88.9 per cent, which exceeds the hiring rate of every college in southwestern Ontario. Additionally, 83
per cent of Conestoga’s graduates expressed satisfaction with Conestoga’s preparation for employment, which ranks first amongst Ontario colleges. Ninety-two per cent of employers also expressed satisfaction with the preparedness of Conestoga graduates they hired. Conestoga prides itself on that high graduate satisfaction rate. Among the satisfied current students is first-year software engineering technology student Dylan O’Neill, who thinks the college is adequately preparing him for a typical day on the job in the software engineering industry. “You have to know about computer coding. It’s a lot of writing, so they’re preparing us for that. They’re teaching us coding as well, so I think they’re doing a really good job,” he said. One of the largest factors behind the high hiring rate is Conestoga’s renowned cooperative education program. According to Pamela Healey, the director of Conestoga’s co-operative education and
career services department, the co-op program is one of the best in the province. “Conestoga has the third largest co-op program in terms of student numbers and the largest in terms of programs,” she said. The statistics for the report are compiled by a third-party research company called Forums Research Canada. The company telephones graduates with a small survey to assess their employment satisfaction. Unfortunately, Healey suggests some possible flaws to the method, which are reflected in the statistics. “The company calls graduates six months after employment and surveys them to determine how their search for employment is going. Unfortunately, not everybody has a landline and they may not have time to do a survey over a cellular phone, so they don’t get as many results,” Healey said. To access the full report, go to www.conestogac.on.ca/ career-services/grad-employment/index.jsp.
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SPOKE
Smokers under fire Ontario implementing more bans. Page 7 Monday, November 24, 2014
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Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.
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Movember nears end But there’s still time to donate. Page 8 45TH Year — No. 25
Single student card discussed BY JACK PARKINSON
Conestoga students will be happy to know that the college is considering consolidating its many required cards into one single student card. The initiative was discussed at Conestoga’s College Council meeting on Nov. 10. Currently, in addition to a basic student card someone studying at Conestoga needs a separate card or serial number to access the library, athletic complex and parking lots. In the case of a bus pass, the student card is modified with a special sticker which costs several hundred dollars. According to Mike Dinning, vice-president of student affairs, the college is aware of the redundancy and plans to fix it. “There are four or five services on campus that use cards,” Dinning said at the meeting, adding that a number of services at Conestoga are being reworked so one student card can be used. Ideally, students would not need anything but their student cards in order to use a majority of the college’s services. If all goes well, the plan will be in effect for the 2015-2016 school year. Also discussed at the meeting were the IT department’s work to integrate Microsoft Sharepoint into Conestoga’s technology
infrastructure, Conestoga’s Continuous Quality Improvement (a section of the Quality Matters program), and the success of the CSI leadership conference, which had about 200 attendees. Norbert Mika, one of the co-ordinators of the software engineering technology program, also brought up the topic of Conestoga’s security plan. Mika cited a recent email from a student to a faculty member, where the student had mentioned physical violence. Although nothing came from it, Mika was concerned that he only heard about the email through another faculty member, and that he should have been notified. College President John Tibbits fielded the question. “First, there is an investigation,” he said, stressing the importance of knowing the facts before reacting to any situation. “It’s important to work quietly in the background.” If there was a serious threat, the college would take any measure necessary, Tibbits said, adding he thinks that some universities and colleges overreact to threats. “Some institutions, they receive a phone call and the school is shut down. Two days later, the phone rings and the school is shut down again and again.”
wintry weather hits waterloo region
PHOTO BY justin ford
First-year health office administration student Angie Oliphant braves the first snowflakes of Kitchener’s first major snowfall.
PHOTO BY cassie tulecki
Gabby Magliarisi, a first-year health office administration student, donates blood for the first time at a blood donor clinic held at Conestoga College Nov. 13.
Giving the gift of life BY CASSIE TULECKI
Faculty, staff and students gave blood for a good cause Nov. 13 in the gymnasium of the recreation centre at Conestoga College. Last year the college was challenged to donate 72 units of blood at the blood donor clinic, and by the end of the day, 80 units were collected. The hope this year was the clinic would exceed that number. The process takes about an hour, from the time you walk in and fill out the required paperwork to the time you leave. The blood given is used within days to help save or improve someone’s life. Every donation makes a difference and donors can give every 56 days.
Before donating blood you are tested to see which blood type you have which can be one of four: O, A, B or AB. There is also an “Rh factor” which determines if your type is either positive or negative. It is important because your blood type affects who can receive your blood as well as which types you can receive. According to the Canadian Blood Services website, “Blood and blood products are a critical part of everyday medical care including major surgeries, medical procedures, cancer treatments and managing disease.” Many students who attended the blood clinic said it was their first time donating. There were refreshment stations with juice boxes and
various snacks for donors after their donation was complete. “I don’t mind donating blood; it’s the right thing to do,” said Sarah Rowsell, a second-year recreation and leisure student. “One day I might need blood and I’ll be relying on donors.” In order to donate blood you must be in good health and be between the ages of 17 and 23. “I don’t like needles, but this isn’t that bad,” said Gabby Magliarisi, a firstyear health office administration student. Anyone who wasn’t able to attend the clinic but is interested in donating blood can make an appointment by calling 1-888-2DONATE or visiting www.blood.ca.
NEWs
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Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 24, 2014
No glove no love
Random questions answered by random students
What did you want to be when you were a child?
“For a while I wanted to be a teacher.” Michelle Maisonville, first-year journalism – print
“I wanted to be a professional hockey player.” Jordan Ahnond, third-year business administrationaccounting PHOTO BY Nataleigh mccallum
“I wanted to be a marine biologist.”
Alex Wittshire, second-year paramedic
“A doctor. I thought it was really cool.” Austin Soper, first-year financial planning
“I had this thing where I wanted to sing songs to people (which I thought) would change their lives somehow.” Kayla Paakkonen, first-year human services foundation
“I wanted to be a professional wrestler.” John Gagne, second-year radio broadcast
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Health and Wellness Week volunteers Ash Lowenthal and Stacey Jacobs encouraged safe sex on campus by handing out condoms to students on Nov. 13.
NEWs
Monday, November 24, 2014
Diabetes needs its own day
Friday, Nov. 14 was World Diabetes Day, but you may not have even known that. Deadly diseases have days – and sometimes even months – where people advocating for those affected try to raise money and awareness. I’m sure everyone’s heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now, and NFL fans all over the world know when Breast Cancer Awareness Month is, but why doesn’t diabetes get as much attention? Simply put, it’s underappreciated. Conestoga Students Inc. wasn’t even aware there was a World Diabetes Day when I asked them if anything would be done at the college. Granted, they’re probably quite focused on Movember at the moment. Diabetes is a disease that doesn’t get enough attention, and based on how deadly it is and how many lives it affects, it definitely deserves more. November is also National Diabetes Awareness Month, but even that takes a back seat to mustachioed men. “Diabetes is a serious disease that has reached epidemic proportions in Canada,” Krista Lamb, communications manager for the Canadian Diabetes Association, said in an email. “Currently, more than nine million Canadians, or one in
Justin Ford Opinion
four, are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes – a number expected to rise to one in three by 2020.” Diabetes sets in when the pancreas stops producing a sufficient amount of insulin, or when the cells in the body stop responding properly to the insulin being produced. There are three main types. Type 1 diabetes, which is sometimes known as “juvenile diabetes,” is when the body isn’t producing enough insulin and the cause is unknown. Type 2 diabetes, which is often referred to as “adult-onset diabetes,” begins with an insulin resistance, and as the disease progresses, a lack of insulin may also develop. Gestational diabetes is the third kind which affects pregnant women with no previous history of diabetes who develop a high blood glucose level. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90 per cent of all cases worldwide. Through technological advances in health care, diabetes has become more treat-
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able. Still, there are serious long-term complications that often arise such as heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, foot ulcers and damage to the eyes. I knew a girl in high school who had diabetes and she seemed like a typical teenage girl. She never seemed uncomfortable or in any kind of pain. Actually, she was a very pleasant and bubbly person. Maybe it’s assumptions like these that lead people to forget about how serious diabetes is and ultimately put its importance on the backburner to things like cancer and heart disease. After watching this girl live her seemingly normal life, I never gave it another thought, until a friend of mine’s grandfather died from the disease. “People with diabetes may develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than individuals without diabetes,” Lamb said. “It is estimated that having diabetes can potentially shorten a person’s lifespan by five to 15 years.” World Diabetes Day doesn’t come with a snappy catchphrase, pink sweatbands or videos of people dumping things over their heads, but that doesn’t mean raising awareness about the disease is any less important.
Networking WITH professionals
PHOTO BY Cody Mudge
Randall Kozak was one of the organizers of an IT event held on campus on Nov. 13. The event featured talks from industry professionals and networking opportunities. For the full story, see the video at www.spokeonline.com
Stop the Stigma campaign launched BY JOSH KENNEDY
PHOTO BY Josh Kennedy
Retired police sergeant Debbie Bodkin talks about her post-traumatic stress, which she developed while on the job, during a meeting about mental health Nov. 14 at the college.
It is a well-known fact that one in five young people in Canada have a mental illness. The sad part is that two of every three of them are not getting the help they need due to the stigma surrounding it. This causes people to hide the fact that they are ill This is why the Canadian Mental Health Association launched the Stop the Stigma campaign. The campaign’s main goal is to change people’s perception of mental illness, particularly the belief that somehow it is a choice or weakness. Organizers also want to stop the stigma which prevents those suffering from seeking help. Public relations students at Conestoga held a meeting on Nov. 14 in the blue room to bring awareness to mental health issues and the Stop the Stigma campaign. They partnered with Mega Health at Work Inc., a company that helps other companies build a new business model with the goal of changing cultural barriers mainly within high stress occupations such as
fire, police and paramedics. According to Emma Schmidt, a public relations student at Conestoga, the meeting was geared toward “first response students such as police, paramedics and firefighters.” The guest speakers were Debbie Bodkin, a retired police sergeant of 24 years, Holly McDonald, a probation and parole officer, and Mark Dunn, author of the book 3p’s in life: Potential, Passion and Purpose. “Our main focus was to provide information about the importance of removing stigma in both private and public workplaces,” said Shelka Czako, co-founder and CEO of Mega Health at Work Inc. “We plan to raise discussions and provide open dialogue with people who are entering careers.” Czako said over the last six months, 26 responders in Ontario have taken their lives because they did not receive any help due to the stigma. Stop the Stigma campaign organizers hopes their campaign will encourage people to get help so they become mentally healthy instead of becoming a statistic.
Commuters fed up
Conestoga students, faculty and staff who park in the commuter lot just up the street from the college are being asked to park somewhere else. According to a notice in the weekly email message board put out by the college’s Corporate Communications department, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation recently contacted Conestoga to express concerns about drivers using the commuter parking lot on Homer Watson Boulevard/Fountain Street as an alternative to paid parking available on campus. The lot was built for people who want to carpool, which in turn reduces the amount of traffic on Highway 401. The ministry said it is receiving complaints from commuters who cannot access the lot because all available spaces have been taken by those participating in college-related activities. According to the email, staff, faculty and students who use this lot are being encouraged to respect its intended purpose by using on-campus parking or making alternative parking or transportation arrangements.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, November 24, 2014
Peeing on the palace By Rachel Roy
In Amsterdam the Dutch royal family uses the Royal Palace in downtown Amsterdam as a working palace. Even though they don’t reside there, it is still an important icon. The building has dark arches, gray bricks and large windows. It also has a historic atmosphere and is a grand tourist attraction. It is so fine that people find it to be the perfect spot to relieve themselves. After a multi-million euro renovation of the palace was completed in late 2011, there have been reports of people urinating in the darkened archways. This prompted authorities to put up a fence. The fence would have worked but, the Interior Ministry called it “unworthy” of the palace and it was taken down. Now they are putting up lights and motion sensors to deter people from peeing on the palace. The government also reminded citizens that urinating in public is against the law and they can be fined 140 euros ($175 Cdn). If these newly installed features fail to deter people then Amsterdam authorities will consider installing a urinal near the palace that rises out of the ground at night and goes back underground in the daytime. Now, this problem definitely should be taken seriously, but actually installing a urinal, giving these vandals a place to pee, doesn’t seem like a great solution. The goal here shouldn’t be to find another place near the castle for people to pee, it should be to stop the urination problem entirely. A urinal just encourages the practice. Posting more security guards, cameras or guard dogs would be a better solution to the problem. The instalment of a urinal would also be a large waste of money. In addition to installing it, Amsterdam authorities would have to hire someone to clean it and repair it if something goes wrong. There is also the problem of someone possibly pranking the authorities by going number two in the urinal. Then they’d have a whole new problem to deal with. This idea may have seemed like a good one in the beginning but it has many flaws. Amsterdam officials shouldn’t waste their time building a urinal but instead work on discouraging people from peeing. Perhaps taking their photo and posting it on a public board would do the trick. The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.
Letters are welcome Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contacted for verification. No unsigned letters will be published. Letters should be no longer
than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4
Winter has come!
Relocate where you light up Smoking is a gross habit but is the newest smoking ban going a little too far? As of Jan. 1, 2015 yet another smoking ban will come into effect. The new ban will be provincewide and prohibit smoking on restaurant and bar patios and within a 20-metre radius of any playground or sports field – that’s right, you will not be smoking and enjoying a beer on any patios this summer. Oh, and if you’re running low on smokes and visiting a friend at a university campus, don’t think you will be buying them from the little store on campus after Jan. 1 because that will also be prohibited. My opinion? No matter what the government tries to do people are going to get their nicotine fix – they might just have to take a 20-metre walk away from a playground or leave their friends on a patio. Yes, I understand smoking causes cancer and cancer is most definitely not something you want. But almost everything in our daily lives can cause cancer. If I micro-
Nataleigh McCallum Opinion
wave a takeout container there is a risk that the plastic could melt and potentially leak chemicals into my food and be cancerous. My genetic makeup could contain a mutation, leaving me at risk for cancer, asbestos or the sun. Everything I come in contact with could potentially lead to cancer.
“
No matter what the government tries to do, people are going to get their nicotine fix.
”
That is life. Cigarette smoke is carcinogenic – which in retrospect can cause cancer – but that does not mean every person who smokes will get lung cancer. Actually, only one in 10 smokers will be
affected. We live in a world where the air we breathe is filled with toxins, so why would a smoker think twice about the chemicals he is inhaling when lighting up? Yes, many kids do take up smoking thinking it makes them cool, or it will make them appear older. But who is to blame for this? Parents. If parents smoke there is a greater chance that their children will smoke. Children born to a smoker are not only more likely to smoke, but more likely to become a heavy smoker. I completely understand the bans. They seem logical when looking at it from the point of view of communities as a whole – children, elders, the health risks of people inhaling second-hand smoke, etc. – but the bans are not going to stop smoking or second-hand smoke. They are just relocating where a smoker is going to light up. Smoking is not going to stop completely – it has been around for centuries. But when will the government go too far and prohibit smoking entirely?
Spoke
i s p u b l i s h ed and prod u ced weekl y b y t h e j o u rnal i sm st u dents o f C onestoga C ollege 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 Photo Editors (print): Nathan Brown, Kali Caudle, Justin Ford Photo Editors (online): Josh Kennedy, Nicole
Nemeth, Heather Stanley Social Media Editor: Nataleigh McCallum, Matt Howell 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.
Monday, November 24, 2014
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NEWS
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Monday, November 24, 2014
Students demonstrate their designs BY CARMEN PONCIANO
Despite innovative devices for pouring coffee and transferring doughnuts to plates, Tim Hortons won’t be calling anytime soon. At the Heath Robinson Demo Day at the Cambridge campus on Nov. 13, students in the second-year engineering technology program built elaborate sequence mechanisms that could, in the end, pour coffee into a cup and place a doughnut on a plate. However, the contraptions were far from simple or efficient. William Heath Robinson was an English cartoonist and illustrator who was known for drawing ridiculously complicated machines for achieving simple objectives. As part of their problemsolving and design class, the students were put into eight different teams and were told to design and build a Heath Robinson structure in four weeks. Each team constructed their design by using a variety of materials such as wood, cardboard, string and cups. Some even added dominos. A minimum of eight sections were incorporated in each of the team’s designs and additional marks were given if extra steps were integrated, as well as if the students didn’t have to help during the process. The teams used software called Arduino. By writing code beforehand, the Arduino electronic boards that were attached to the structures initiated the
PHOTO BY CARMEN PONCIANO
Graem Paterson, Marc Ovsec and Dylan Wakutz, all second-year engineering technology program students, add the finishing touches to their Heath Robinson design before having to put it through its paces on Nov. 13. various steps. Each mechanism started by having a ball pushed by a small plastic arm, starting the entire sequence. Some designs were complex, like team seven’s. They built their design to mimic an assembly line. Some were very creative, such as group one’s, whose design integrated a small roller-coaster twirl-like section. But it wasn’t an easy process. It was challenging getting each mechanism to
run consistently. The teams quickly learned that the only thing consistent was trial and error. “It’s always the small things that cause trouble,” said Graem Paterson, a group member from team one. “You think that doesn’t happen very often, but trust me, it builds up. It really is a challenge getting repeatability to work.” The judging began at 9:30 a.m. as Henry Kastner, the professor of the problem-solv-
ing and design class, inspected each team’s structure. He also kept track of the students who had to help during the process, as well as how long the sequence took. Other faculty members and students from around the campus curiously observed each of the team’s projects. Ballots were handed out to the faculty members so they could vote on their favourite Heath Robinson design. As the event went on, the ballots were counted and team
six was declared the winner. Group members Egzon Ozmani, Mohammad Qasem, Tyler Cressman, John Balsillie and Ali Zahovi were happy but surprised that they had won. “We had a blast,” Ozmani said. Group members joked about the sleepless nights, since it took them 12 hours to build the mechanism. It was clear that team six, along with the other teams, enjoyed the project and its challenges.
Ladies celebrate their successful launch
Savannah Pluzak and Alya Alves hand out cake at their “HerCampus” website launch party. Pluzak and Alves are campus correspondents for the online magazine.
PHOTOS BY Rachel Roy
Nate Manns (left to right), Ainslie Moors, Tasnia Nasar, Alya Alves, Savannah Pluzak and Mitch Forster relax after the party. HerCampus.com features style, beauty, health, life and career content.
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Monday, November 24, 2014
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Ontario smokers told to butt out BY BETH CROUSE
As of Jan. 1, a smoking ban will see bar and restaurant patios, publicly-owned sports fields, ice rinks and playgrounds added to the list of places where smokers aren’t permitted to light up. Those who forget or ignore the ban could be fined $250. In a Nov. 7 Toronto Star story, Associate Health Minister Dipika Damerla called the regulations a “patchwork” at best. What he means is that across Ontario each municipality sets its own rules regarding smoking, but now the government has stepped in to make smoking regulations province-wide. The changes will also ban the sale of tobacco on college and university campuses, which won’t affect Conestoga because cigarettes are not sold here. Jeff Mehlenbacher, a Waterloo resident, said, “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. First we weren’t allowed to smoke inside restaurants so we moved to only smoking outside, but now we’re not even allowed to do that. “Soon the government will
be making regulations that say when we can and cannot eat,” he added. Mehlenbacher was concerned about the government’s stance on smoking. He pointed out that as a tax-paying citizen of Ontario he should have the right to make his own decisions. “I made the choice to start smoking, and although I do understand that not everyone wants to be around smoke, it’s ridiculous for the government to put rules on the outdoors,” he said. Chris Hussey, a first-year journalism – print student, said, “As a non-smoker, I think banning smoking from public places is a good thing, but I also understand because it’s hard to tell other people that you can’t do this; there’s a fine line, but if you want to smoke and you’re on a patio, then it’s not hurting anyone so then why not.” The new ban will also ensure that people who wish to smoke around playgrounds, public sports fields and similar areas such as ice rinks must be at least 20 metres away in order to keep children and athletes clear of second-hand smoke. Restaurant patrons will
photo by beth crouse
Paige Verschoor (left) and Charlotte Hauxwell, both first-year supply chain and operation students, aren’t happy with new smoking ban that goes into effect Jan. 1. not have the same luck when it comes to a 20-metre zone. Damerla has assured the restaurant industry that the new ban will not hurt business, and by giving advance notice, patrons will have time to adjust to the chang-
es before the spring season arrives. By imposing bans on smoking on patios, servers and patrons will have less exposure to second-hand smoke. According to the government, tobacco kills 13,000
Ontarians a year and costs the health-care system $2.2 billion annually. With tougher restrictions on tobacco, Ontario has seen a drop in the number of smokers from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 18.1 per cent today.
NEWs
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Monday, November 24, 2014
Movember promotes men’s health awareness BY HEATHER STANLEY
December is fast approaching, which means Movember is almost over. The annual event encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness about men’s health issues, particularly prostate and testicular cancer. According to Movember Canada, the average life expectancy for Canadian men is four years less than women. One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem each year and about two in five will develop cancer. However, “avoidable mortality accounts for 74 per cent of premature deaths among men.” The best way to get involved with Movember, besides raising funds, is to openly discuss and understand the health issues that men face. For both men and women, there is a reluctance to discuss their health and to take action. “Movember is a basic trend which is becoming a big thing these days,” said Kevin Peters, a first-year human service foundations student. Peters has a moustache but doesn’t
shave it. “I think it does help the cause. Mine doesn’t grow back at all really fast. That’s why I don’t really do that much, so I shave my beard because it grows back fast. But for the point of awareness I believe it’s a good thing to do.” At the college Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) held a photo contest for men from Nov. 3 to 21. The contest encouraged men to shave their facial hair in support of Movember. After they shaved they were to send in a photo of their clean-shaven face via Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #moustachesofconestoga. On Nov. 21 contestants had to go to the CSI office where a photo was taken of their facial hair. The before and after photos were viewed and voted on, with the men having the top three ’staches receiving a prize. The winner won a television, second place received a gift card pack and third place won a “manly gift basket.” Another way Conestoga has been increasing awareness is by raising funds, with proceeds going to the Movember foundation via the CSI Service Hub. According to Movember
PHOTO BY HEATHER STANLEY
Kevin Peters, a first-year human service foundations student, holds up a Movember-themed moustache in the Sanctuary at Doon campus on Free Food Friday, which was held on Nov. 14. Canada’s website, over 28,000 “It’s not only about the funds see the doctor, to have those students from universities but more about the conversa- conversations that most peoand colleges across the coun- tions,” said Josh Hillis of KW ple don’t like to have and then try raised over $2.8 million Movember in a recent inter- to be active in the community.” last year. The current amount view with 519 Online News. Students can donate to the raised this year so far, as of “Women can get involved by cause either through CSI or Nov. 16, is $736,132. encouraging their men to go online at Movember Canada.
Conestoga is tearing up the decks
PHOTO BY Matt Howell
The DJ Club has started up again at Conestoga. Experienced and novice DJs are encouraged to come out and have some fun. For more information watch the video at www.spokeonline.com.
it’s all fun and games
PHOTO BY Nataleigh McCallum
Sarah Petch, a second-year protection/security and investigation student, tells students about the recreation centre renovations and upcoming varsity sports and intramurals.
NEWS
Monday, November 24, 2014
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The space odyssey of the year By Nathan Brown
It all starts with a wormhole. Opening in theatres Nov. 7, Interstellar hit the big screen with a bang. Written and directed by the legendary Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception), the sci-fi thriller boggles the minds of moviegoers, but also leaves people craving more. Set in the future, Earth is running out of its natural resources. Cooper (played by Matthew McConaughey), a former pilot for NASA but now a farmer, discovers a gravitational phenomenon in his home, which leads him to stumble upon a top secret NASA installation. Cooper discovers that a wormhole has been placed beside Jupiter made out of pure gravity, suspected by NASA to have been created by an alien intelligence so humans can travel through it to find a new planet to colonize.
Accompanied by Amelia (played by Anne Hathaway), Cooper sets off to see what’s on the other side of the wormhole to try and save the human race from extinction, but is not prepared for what awaits him on the other end. The movie attacks problems scientifically, making sure to explain things to the audience, such as figuring out the difference in hours and days from planet to planet. The lengthy scenes of talking help explain what’s going on and why things are happening. The filming and cinematography for Interstellar is phenomenal, bringing a new light to the realm of sci-fi. From water-covered planets to frozen-over terrains, the film makes you feel like you’re standing with McConaughey on a desolate planet in the far reaches of space. Shockingly, in a few theatres around the globe, customers have expressed con-
cerns about not being able to hear the dialogue. Nolan went on the defence on behalf of his blockbuster space drama, saying, “The soundtrack was mixed this way, with an emphasis on the music.” Nolan has outdone himself. He has not only successfully tackled the sci-fi genre, but has created a new way for people to view space movies, with new age special effects and scientific possibilities that will make you wonder what’s out there amongst the stars. Interstellar kept me on the edge of my seat, with plot twists left, right and centre and dangers thrown at the characters that make you fear for their lives. Although it is a little hard to follow in some scenes, the movie still delivers with extravagant cinematography and an incredibly interwoven plot through time and space. I give this movie four out of five stars.
hearing is a sound investment
Internet Photo
The filming and cinematography for Interstellar is phenomenal, bringing a new light to the realm of sci-fi.
birds of a feather celebrate together
PHOTO BY Carson deshevy-renouf
Hearing instrument specialist students held their program’s annual hearing assessments in November. Above, second-year student Katarina Petrovic was one of the many students conducting the tests. Due to the demand for assessments, more will be conducted in December. For more information, see video at www.spokeonline. com.
PHOTO BY Jordan Johnstone
Ellen Jakubowski, a nature interpreter at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, celebrates Cheecho the parrot’s birthday on Nov. 15. For more see video at www. spokeonline.com.