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Stuck on selfies Social media is causing insecurities. Page 12 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015
Despite a heartbreaking loss in the regional finals to Humber College, the coach of Conestoga College’s varsity women’s rugby team has been named the women’s rugby overall coach of the year by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. Lori Artinger – who started coaching at Conestoga as an assistant in 2011 – has been playing rugby since Grade 9. “I love playing rugby, so after some surgeries on my knee, I just couldn’t give the sport up,” she said. “I figured coaching is the next best thing.” Artinger coached at the high school and club level before joining the Conestoga squad for its inaugural year in 2011. In that season, the Condors fought their way to the gold medal game, where they lost
Exhibit explores Cuban-Canadian relationship. Page 8
A LEARNING NEWSROOM FOR JOURNALISM STUDENTS
CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT.
Rugby coach wins coach of the year BY JOE WEPPLER
Havana Dialogues
by the skin of their teeth. This year, the team finished the season with a record of 5-1-0, once again taking home an OCAA silver medal. “Watching them develop as players and people and seeing how they grow is great,” said Artinger when asked about her team. “Teaching a skill one day and seeing it being implemented the next, you think – hey, we’re getting somewhere!” “She’s always positive and very understanding,” said first-year pre-health student and varsity rugby player, Kyla VanderSlagt. “She’s motivating and has taught me so much about rugby. I couldn’t thank her enough for everything she did for me and our team this season.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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46TH YEAR — NO. 24
SANTA COMES TO TOWN
PHOTO BY SEAN MALINOWSKI
Santa Claus waves at parade attendees on King Street on Nov. 21, bringing an end to Kitchener’s 2015 Santa Claus parade. For more photos see Page 6, and for video story go to www.spokeonline. com.
CSI selects new board of director BY MIKE STROMME
PHOTO BY MIKE STROMME
First-year business administration management student Justin McLaughlin stands outside the CSI office 12 hours after winning the 2015 CSI board of directors byelection.
Conestoga, meet the newest member of Conestoga Students Inc., Justin McLaughlin. On Nov. 19, CSI selected the first-year business administration student to serve on their board of directors for the next five months. McLaughlin was one of 12 Conestoga students vying for the position. “I am actually amazed that I am able to be in this position in my first year at this college and to be in a position to make a positive difference,” said McLaughlin immediately after winning the 2015 CSI board of directors byelection. Candidates brought a variety of platforms to the byelection. Suggestions to improve public transportation costs, pub days and other social events, parking costs, student communications, seating around campus and even
washroom cleanliness were all issues raised by prospective board members. “There were a lot of good candidates this year,” said CSI president Jeff Scherer. McLaughlin’s platform focused on improving communication between CSI and Conestoga students through media. Some of the ideas he plans to raise in board meetings are: replacing the traditional posters that promote CSI-related events with televisions that promote CSI events with video, improving the CSI smartphone app by sending out notifications with increased regularity, student surveys that can be accessed through the app, and to engage students on a regular basis through face-to-face interaction. “Many students (don’t) know what CSI (is),” McLaughlin said during his pitch to the CSI selection committee. “A
lot of students (don’t) know what (is) offered around campus.” McLaughlin was the final candidate to make his pitch to the board. Due to a prior commitment, he was unable to make it in person. He was prepared to drop out of the race entirely. Instead of having his entire campaign be for not, Scherer allowed McLaughlin to make his case to become a member of the board using gotomeeting.ca, an online video conferencing service. His face was projected onto a screen in the Sanctuary on the same stage his adversaries advocated their worthiness. His virtual presence made his pitch that much more difficult. “I could barely see anybody,” said McLaughlin. “I couldn’t see the reactions to anything I was saying.” The selection meeting was
open to all Conestoga students. However, the number of students in attendance peaked at three. This might be McLaughlin’s first year at Conestoga, but it isn’t his first post-secondary experience. He previously attended the FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Fla. out of high school. After graduation, he was hired as a pilot for Air Canada. He flew routes all over Ontario, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania before deciding that lifestyle wasn’t for him. “I was home maybe 10 days a month,” McLaughlin said during his speech to the board. “It just wasn’t for me.” The position that McLaughlin and all the other candidates campaigned for is an interim position. In April, there will be an election to decide new board of directors for the 2016-2017 school year.
NEWS
Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, November 30, 2015
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do?
“Go to Europe and travel.”
Sydney Crofts, first-year bio technology technician
“Skydiving.”
Megan Pries, first-year design foundations PHOTO SUBMITTED
“Explore caves.”
Jesse Morre, first-year protection/security and investigation
“Go to Hawaii.” Jessica Heaysman, first-year pre-health
“Learn to ride a horse standing up.” Mary Lyle, first-year general arts and science
The Conestoga varsity women’s rugby team finished the 2015 season with a 5-1-0 record, barely losing in the regional finals. Coach Lori Artinger, left, was named both the west division and overall OCAA coach of the year.
Two players make all-star team CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Artinger, who also won the western division coach of the year, emphasized the importance of teamwork and creating relationships when asked about her coaching philosophy. “Your teammates are your family. You work hard as a team and you do everything in your power to help your teammates succeed,” she said. “Camaraderie is a huge aspect in the sport of rugby, so I always try to encourage
HYPNOTIST COMES TO CONESTOGA
“Get a tattoo.”
Alex Mason, first-year general arts and science
Conestoga Students Inc. featured X-rated hypnotist Tony Lee in the Sanctuary on Nov. 18. For one of the acts, shown at right, Lee made the participants believe they were driving a Lamborghini and about to hit an animal. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY MICHELLE MAISONVILLE
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
that both on and off the field.” As important as that bond is, Artinger admits that her favourite part of coaching is winning games. “There’s that adrenaline rush you get when the team walks off and they’ve just won – you see the smiles on the girls’ faces and you know exactly how they feel,” she said. One of Artinger’s players and second-year print journalism student Marissa Cuddy said Artinger definitely deserved the award. “She’s very humble and she
coaches in a way that each person is impacted and each person is doing what they should be doing,” said Cuddy. “She pushes people to do their best, but she’s a really friendly person and it’s easy to just go up and talk to her about anything.” The OCAA announces awards and nominations every year. Two students from Conestoga College’s women’s rugby team, Scarlett Jarquin and Nicky Madill, were nominated this year as OCAA west region women’s rugby all-stars.
NEWS
Monday, November 30, 2015
SPOKE s Page 3
Budgeting for future success
BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Students enrolled in postsecondary education understand that there is one thing scarier than their future: student loans. Once Canadians are finished high school getting an education costs money. At least half of students in Ontario receive some sort of financial support that has interest charges. According to an article published by CBC on their website, the average student debt load is around $20,000. So, how do you pay off your student loan? How do you budget during the time you’re in school to be able to do so? CanLearn, the Government of Canada’s web page geared toward helping students plan and pay for post-secondary education, has a few tips. CanLearn suggests making lump sum payments before
and after the end of the sixmonth non-repayment period as well as making larger monthly payments. The site says the best way to pay off student loans is to put as much money toward them as possible. This is just common sense. There is no quick fix button to magically pay off the loans, they have to be paid with your hard-earned money. There are a few things you can do in order to prepare yourself to make those monthly or lump sum payments. The first is to understand your loan. Look into the exact terms and conditions of your repayment schedule. Is there a six-month grace period? What exactly does that mean? Some loans begin accruing interest the day any of the money is used. Others advertise a non-repayment period, though the loan does
collect interest during those six months. Something else to look into is what happens if a payment is missed. There may be fees attached to missed payments, increasing the amount you now owe on your loans. Missing multiple payments in a row may result in your loan going into default and being sent to the Canada Revenue Agency for collection. “The best way to make sure you aren’t penalized is to know your loan backwards and forward,” said Samantha Holter, a finanical planner. “Penalty chargers are a pain, no one wants to pay more because they are struggling to make the payments they are already expected to make.” Consider jobs that offer to assist with student loans. Some companies are willing to send employees to school and pay for their education.
Others offer assistance in paying for student loans as long as the person agrees to work for the company for a set number of years. Keep in mind that planning ahead and budgeting can be a huge help. Mitch and Whitney Shaw, Guelph residents, are currently trying to pay off Mitch’s student loans while Whitney is completing her final year of her undergraduate degree. The couple hasn’t figured out an official detailed plan, though Whitney has one simple rule to follow: “I rarely pay full price for anything.” As a student, budgeting can be a huge help. The Shaws do simple things that slowly add up. When they choose to go out for dinner they skip the $5 beer or the $6 martini, water is free. They opt for going out for lunch more often than dinner because lunch is often cheaper than dinner
even though the meals are the same. “I think that when I have to start paying my loans I will have a well-paying job but also continue budgeting the same way,” said Whitney. “It’s a really effective way to save money.” Finally, plan now for when you are done school. Some student loans will offer more money than is actually needed to pay for tuition. If you’re able to live on the money you are currently bringing in don’t take the entire loan being offered to you. It may make things even easier now, but it will have to be paid back in the future. If you have to take the full amount of the loan put the part that you don’t currently need in a savings account. You might as well collect interest on that amount to help you pay the loan when it comes due.
Syrian Awareness Day also a fundraiser BY JOE WEPPLER
According to Immigration Partnership – a group of more than 100 local organizations and community members focused on supporting and integrating immigrants – planning is underway to prepare for nearly 1,150 Syrian refugees who are soon expected to start arriving in Waterloo Region. On Dec. 3, Conestoga NDP will be hosting a Syrian Awareness Day in the Sanctuary from noon to 1 p.m. at the Doon campus to generate support for refugees and to shed light on their situation. “It’s to educate people on what’s happening in Syria, what the refugees are going through and what it means to be a Muslim,” said Jordan Ellis, the president of Conestoga NDP and the chairperson for the Waterloo Region’s NDP youth wing.
“
We’re hoping the event will get her the money she needs ... — Jordan Ellis
”
Ellis, a first-year general arts and science student at Conestoga, was noticed by the Ontario New Democratic Youth for his work and was put in charge of setting up a regional NDP youth group. One of his first goals as president of Conestoga NDP is to aid with the Syrian refugee
PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLER
First-year general arts and science student Jordan Ellis shows off the New Democratic Youth logo at Conestoga College’s Doon campus on Nov. 19. Ellis started the Conestoga NDP, which is hosting a Syrian Awareness Day on Dec. 3 to raise money and donations for Syria. crisis. One of the main reasons for the event is to raise awareness and donations for Siba Al-Khadour and her sister, Awatef Al-Khadour, who are attempting to send blankets and clothes to their homeland of Syria. Siba and Awatef are members of Najda Now, a humanitarian organization collecting donations and aid for Syria. Siba, who came to Canada in 2004, is planning on sending crates filled with clothing, blankets and other aids to
Syria. The crates are 40 feet long and cost $4,200 each to ship. “We appreciate any help,” said Siba. “They really need it.” Siba will be the keynote speaker at the Syrian Awareness Day event at Conestoga, where she will explain her mission and what’s happening in Syria. “We’re hoping the event will get her the money she needs,” said Ellis. “If not, there’s always the potential of bringing it to other schools.”
Plans for other speakers include one from the Muslim Association of Canada to help shed light on what it means to be a Muslim, and, for diversity’s sake, one from the United Trinity Church. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to accept 25,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq by the end of the year. Though most agree that work must be done to help refugees, many think that the Liberal’s timeline is too ambitious and could lead
to problems with resettlement. Experts such as those at the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance believe that Trudeau should reconsider the timeframe for resettling refugees, instead amping up the help sent overseas to those struggling to live day-to-day in Syria. “We’re hoping to help people understand just what they’re facing over there,” said Ellis. At the end of the event, a petition to help the refugees will be circulated.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, November 30, 2015
LRT won’t benefit Conestoga students BY MATT LINSEMAN
With growth comes growing pains and this is true with the planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Waterloo Region. Despite the frustration felt by students who have to use public transit to get to Conestoga, the arrival of the LRT won’t help matters. According to the LRT’s official website, stage one is expected to cost $818 million which includes construction, design, finance, operation, maintenance and insurance. This is only the cost for the first of three stages. It’s partly being funded by transit fare revenue and a 1.2 per cent property tax increase that started in 2012 and will go until 2018. Some funding is also being provided by the Ontario and Canadian governments. The implementation of the LRT in the region won’t benefit Conestoga students because it will cost them in more than one way. It’s possible that an expensive fare rate could be put in place when the LRT starts running and/or an expensive multi-transit pass, usable on both the GRT and the LRT. Students are already under a lot of stress with crippling student loans and huge workloads, not to mention the need for a part-time job along with that. They do not need to be burdened once more with more expensive transit. Students from Conestoga College already pay more for a four-month bus pass ($227) than students at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, who pay $90 for the same service. Will things change when the LRT is completed and running? Conestoga College is off the transit mainline and is an extra bus ride away from Fairview Park Mall. This makes it harder for students to get to the college and more costly as well for both them and the region. The LRT currently doesn’t have any plans to extend the rail service to the college. Cambridge also won’t be receiving any LRT service, only express buses. Students who commute from Cambridge daily won’t majorly benefit from this either. When planning improvements in transit, the region must keep Conestoga students in mind. The college population is growing in leaps and bounds, and we shouldn’t be treated as second-class citizens. 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
Starbucks accused of being anti-Christian after removing Christmas graphics from their cups.
History must not repeat itself
In light of the attacks on Paris and Beirut, there has been a lot of talk about refugees, and people who are against allowing them to emigrate from the countries they’re living in. People have been fuming about refugees on social media, writing posts blaming them for the attacks and expressing the opinion that they don’t want to allow them into their countries. “... close borders, return socalled refugees. Process and return those allowed in so far, none deserve a better life in Europe,” read one tweet by @ artronpumps. Another tweet compared allowing refugees in from “the land that just bombed us” to drinking water poisoned with acid. The question I’ve been asking myself is, why are people blaming the refugees of these countries for the actions of the extremist groups that they’re trying to escape from? They are people, just like you and I. Why refuse them? Because of where they’re from? Their religion? The fact that they may ever-so-slightly resemble the extremists who committed these acts? That is racist. When will society fight back against the racist stereotypes
Brea Bergen
Opinion that currently surround the Muslim religion? It starts with refusing refugees. Next, returning them? That didn’t seem to work well for Canada the first time the government targeted a certain ethnic group. There was a time when Canada tried to force all Asian people out of the country. After the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, Japanese people in Canada were ordered to leave their homes for “national security” reasons, even though they posed no military threat. The government became completely discriminatory – Asian people were denied the right to vote, they were paid less, etc. According to thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, “In 1942, 20,881 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry, 75 per cent of whom were Canadian citizens, were removed from their homes,
farms and businesses. More than 8,000 were moved through a temporary detention centre at Hastings Park in Vancouver, where the women and children were accommodated in the livestock building.” They were shipped to camps and sugar beet farms throughout Canada, and those who resisted were shipped to prisoner-of-war camps in Ontario. The government sold their homes and property without their consent. They had nothing. For what? Being Japanese. Looking back, compared to what our country has come to be today, that may seem hard to believe. It seems preposterous to think that Canada, as a country, would do something like that. And although the Japanese people of Canada had no ties to the attack, other than their race, society blamed them. They say the past predicts the future, and if that’s true, you’ll see why we have to react differently this time. We cannot continue down the path we’re on, blaming the Muslim religion or all of the people who follow it for terrorist attacks. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
SPOKE
IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Paul Boreham Assignment Editors: Leah Morrow, Garrett Burchett Advertising Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Sara Sasila Spoke Online Editors: Kandace Gallant, Joe Weppler, Christel Allison, Matt Linseman
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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 30, 2015
COLOURING YOUR WAY TO INNER PEACE AND A PINT
SPOKE s Page 5
Culture celebrated BY LEAH MORROW
PHOTO BY SARA SASILA
THEMUSEUM, located in downtown Kitchener, hosted their second Beer & Colouring event that took place on Nov. 18. Dozens of people attended, having a drink and relaxing, all the while colouring an adult colouring book for stress relief. For more on the story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
Get to know your Condors Have you ever wondered about Conestoga’s varsity sports program? Or, are you a fan of a player or a team? Or maybe you just want to try and win some great prizes. To promote varsity sports, a competition is being held until Wednesday were varsity players will be in their sports attire walking around the Doon and Cambridge campuses, hoping students will notice them and engage them in conversation. Students can ask them what varsity team they play for and how their season has been going. Students should then take a selfie with the varsity player and tweet the picture with the following hashtags: #GetToKnowYourCondors #ConestogaCollege #AthleticsandRecreation. Students must engage at least one varsity player in order to meet competition requirements. The winner will be revealed at a Get to Know Your Condors day on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the rec centre. Billed as a fantastic opportunity to get to know the college’s varsity athletes, the Get to Know Your Condors day will have participants going head-to-head with varsity players in some excit-
ing sports and recreational games. Matt Maguire, manager of the Student Athletic and Recreation Centre, said, “We want to raise awareness of our varsity teams and to create student engagement with varsity players and the Student Athletic and Recreation department. “Studies show student engagement leads to student success. We are here to support the success of our students inside and outside of the classroom.” Students can sign up as a team or individual to take on varsity players in various sports. One match already arranged is the rugby team taking on firefighters in volleyball. Games will be played in a round-robin style and each game will run for 10 minutes. All games will be played indoors in gyms 4 and 5. Full-time Doon and Cambridge campus students and faculty will gain free entry into the gym but must register first by emailing Teddy at thiadzi-cc@conestogac.on.ca or Ilana at iromanow@conestogac.on.ca. Registration must be completed by the end of Wednesday and is capped at 100 participants.
Conestoga College is home to over 1,500 international students representing 73 different countries. Twice a year an entire week is dedicated to celebrating different cultures and promoting unity. Crowds gathered in the Lower Atrium and Student Life Centre of Conestoga’s Doon campus on Nov. 23 to kick off Cultural Diversity Week. The event has been a tradition at the college for seven years. Each year it is greeted with the same enthusiasm and excitement from students. “The purpose of this week is celebration,” said Laura Black, Student Life programmer for community initiatives, during her opening ceremony speech. Kicking off the week was a dance performance by the Condors Bhangra Crew. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Bhangra is a type of music combining Punjabi folk traditions with that of Western pop music. Everyday from Nov. 23 until the 27 Conestoga students were able to participate in a wide variety of different culture-based events, ranging from all day henna tattoos in the Sanctuary to scavenger hunts. There was also interactive display booths in the Student Life Centre and
tips on international business management. “There are so many different cultures within the school, I think we actually forget that we are not the only ones,” said Jelena Bulatovic, a third-year accounting audit, information technology student, who was celebrating her Montenegrin heritage with a display showcasing what traditions they practise during the holiday season. Maureen Murphy-Fricker, professor of liberal studies and communications, thinks it is important for students to learn about culture in a hands-on manner. “In order for students to learn more about culture, instead of just sitting in a class learning the theory of it, they can practise intercultural communication,” said Murphy-Fricker. “They can share cultural information with the public and the public can share information with them. It is a really good way to teach about cultural diversity.” She said students are exposed to diversity every single day in their social lives and workplaces. She said Cultural Diversity Week helps students and faculty become more open and globally conscious. “It should be an all-day, everyday event.”
TASTES OF MONTENEGRO AT CONESTOGA’S CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK
PHOTO BY PAUL BOREHAM
Jalena Bulatovic, a third-year accounting student, explains the customs of her home country, Montenegro, to Shaunnasee Janssen, a fourth-year community safety (community criminal justice) student, at Conestoga’s Doon campus at the start of Cultural Diversity Week. The opening ceremony took place on Nov. 23 in the lower atrium, with booths set up showcasing a variety of countries. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.
NEWS
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Monday, November 30, 2015
The Kitchener Santa Claus parade, hosted by the Lion’s Club, took place on Nov. 21 and featured floats, bands and other participants. Highlights included a giant inflatable snowman and beaver and two special guests – Rev. Walter McLean, the Lions Club of Kitchener’s Citizen of the Year, and grand marshal Mandy Bujold, the Pan Am boxing gold medallist.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Members from the Kitchener Fire Department took part in the parade. Some carried flags while others dressed in emergency gear.
Members of the Kitchener Rangers displayed their giant inflatable mascot.
Young girls and boys from a dance crew grooved their way down the street to songs from The Grinch while dressed as Whos.
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY NEQUEST
Princesses from Fantasy Fables waved to children in the crowd.
NEWS
Monday, November 30, 2015
SPOKE s Page 7
Toronto’s laneways: From drab to fab BY JESSICA PETT
Most people don’t even bat an eye at the boring passageways or alleys in and around the city they live in. One not-forprofit organization in Toronto has set out to change that way of thinking. Michelle Senayah and her co-director Ariana Cancelli of Toronto’s Laneway Project are taking on the responsibility to change the way citizens of Toronto view the city’s laneways. According to thelanewayproject.com, these alleyways have untapped potential and when planned and designed effectively, can be an integral part of the public realm. An idea that has been executed in several other cities around the world, including Melbourne, Seattle and Chicago, it is now emerging in one of the most populated cities in Canada. The Laneway Project connects with community, groups, organizations and city officials in an effort to change the face of the sometimes scary walkways
throughout Toronto. Senayah and Cancelli were noticing the surplus of uncultivated spaces around Toronto and wondered why nothing had ever been done to change them. “Over the course of the other projects that we were doing in the city, we became aware of all the space around us; we were noticing these laneways that weren’t being used, weren’t doing a lot and we just wondered why,” she said. On Sept. 27 the Laneway Project hosted Toronto’s first “laneway crawl,” where over 30 different groups lead different activities along a kilometre and a half of laneways in Bloordale. Some of the activities along the Bloordale Laneway Crawl included a kite-making station, live garage mural painting, dance demonstrations and workshops, as well as food trucks, and live music. Susan Levinsky from 18 Blocks, an online neighbourhood hub, ran the kite-making station, which engaged the children who walked through that day, allowing them to
experience their neighbourhood in a way that is more meaningful to them. Levinsky was pleased with the reaction the event received from the community during the crawl.
“
There’s room to make use of these spaces in a more intelligent, more complete way and that’s what prompted us to start The Laneway Project. — Michelle Senayah
”
“On that particular day it was great to watch the Bloordale community take that space and really own it and sort of transform it into something that will foster that community engagement going forward,” she said. Another participant in the Bloordale Laneway Crawl was the Steps Initiative, which has a mandate to bring people into public spaces through
HEALTH AND WELLNESS WEEK AT CONESTOGA COLLEGE
art. Vera Belazelkoska, the manager of community projects for the STEPS Initiative, whose passion is to use underappreciated spaces through art, was interested in how laneways could do just that. “I just feel like they are such an untapped resource. They sometimes lack a sense of safety because of vandalism, etc., so I think they could definitely be advanced,” she said. “If people are already going to be using some of these throughways we better make them more safe and interesting and interactive.” Christine Walker, owner of Walker Dance Studios, created a dance routine to Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk which she and other dancers performed throughout the Bloordale event. She plans to continue her relationship with The Laneway Project because she has so many ideas for future events. “It was nice, we’re creating a community and I think a lot of people are looking for that especially in this evergrowing economy and city like
Toronto. It’s a great thing and I would love to be a part of it, I would love to take it to the next level. There are so many ideas I could create for the next one. It was a great community event and I support it all the way,” said Walker. The idea of changing the back alleyways of this massive city can seem daunting, one that many haven’t even considered, however, the price of positive community relationships is what drives The Laneway Project to continue doing what they do. Senayah said the project has been quite a success so far and is surprised that there haven’t been any naysayers. “Everyone has been eager to work with us and to see positive change in the city’s laneways,” she said. There are more than 2,400 laneways in Toronto. The Laneway Project is on a mission to tackle as many of those spaces as possible. Several more laneway events will take place in the new year; a full list can be found at www.thelanewayproject.ca.
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS JINGLE ALL THE WAY
PHOTO BY KANDACE GALLANT
Jane Hamilton Wilson (from left), Conestoga nursing faculty, Linda Juodvalkis, social service worker program faculty, and Wendy Azzopardi, nursing faculty, were in charge of the chair yoga activity that ended Health and Wellness Week. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK OPENING CEREMONIES
PHOTO BY JASON MOTA PHOTO BY LEAH MORROW
The Condors Bhangra Crew dance group poses for a quick photo before their performance at the opening ceremonies of Cultural Diversity Week at Conestoga College on Nov. 23.
Runners in a 2.5-km Jingle Bell Run cross the finish line, bells jingling, on a snowy Nov. 19 morning. The 25th annual run is held by the Chaplin Family YMCA in Cambridge. For video story, go to www. spokeonline.com.
NEWS
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Monday, November 30, 2015
Exhibit explores Canada-Cuba relationship BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer/ Questioning (LGBTQ) community is constantly in need of a voice. One that lets people know that there’s nothing wrong with their sexual orientation. Dr. Mariela Castro Espin, director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, strives to be that voice. Castro Espin, the daughter of current Cuban President Raul Castro, spoke at THEMUSEUM on Nov. 23. She is one of the speakers participating in the Havana Dialogues that opened on Oct. 28 at THEMUSEUM. Her lecture was titled Raising LGBTQ Awareness Through Art. The Havana Dialogues explores the unique CubanCanadian relationship over the past 70 years. The photograph-based exhibition features two black and white photography collections, the
first on loan from the Cuban Embassy in Ottawa, and the second a series by Canadian photographer Nick Devlin. The photographs depict Cuba’s relationship with Canada, as well as Cuban history and culture. “I am an advocate for sex education in Cuba, and have been working towards creating positive change for almost 30 years,” said Castro Espin during her lecture. She added that it is baffling to her that with all the resources available in Canada, people are still discriminated against enough to make them want to take their own lives. She wondered just how bad it was because in Cuba, where the resources are limited, people don’t give up that easily. She encouraged people to not be hard on themselves and not let what others have to say break them. “With this exhibition, we’re looking to solve conflict through dialogue,” Castro
Espin said. At the beginning of the event, David Marskell, CEO of THEMUSEUM talked about Castro Espin and the part THEMUSEUM plays in the cultural and art sector. “We are excited and honoured to welcome Dr. Castro Espin to THEMUSEUM as part of The Havana Dialogues,” said Marskell. “We strive to provide fresh, cultural content from around the world, and this event is a perfect example of the unique programming that makes THEMUSEUM the cultural hub of southwestern Ontario.” About 70 people attended the lecture and prior to the event, Castro Espin met with members of the local LGBTQ community for more in-depth discussions and a private reception. After the lecture, those in attendance were able to appreciate the art before calling it a night.
PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISON
Dr. Mariela Castro Espin speaks at THEMUSEUM on Nov. 23. She was one of the speakers participating in the Havana Dialogues. Her lecture was titled Raising LGBTQ Awareness through Art.
The importance of sleep and why you should be getting more BY ETHAN KOMPF
This is the first of a threepart series about sleep. This part covers the importance of sleep and the negative effects of lack of sleep. The second and third parts will cover the barriers to sleep and how to overcome them and the cultural shifts in sleep patterns.
PHOTO BY ETHAN KOMPF
Sleep is extremely important for our health, yet it is often neglected. Seven to nine hours a night is important to function at optimal capacity.
Sleep is one of the parts of our lives that little is known about. Scientists know what happens when we sleep, but they don’t know a lot about why we sleep. Intuitively, people know the importance of sleep, yet when time is short and they become busy, sleep is often the first thing to go. It’s strange that this culture is one in which people who only sleep three hours a night are seen as hard workers, when a lack of sleep has such devastating effects on our lives. According to Stephanie Dance, the manager of community education and outreach services at Accq Sleep Labs, which has clinics in Waterloo, Paris, Ont. and Owen Sound, sleep is extremely important. It’s necessary to improve memory, because knowledge is put into long-term memory during sleep. It helps people get better when they’re sick and repairs the body. It affects stress levels and metabolism. A consistent lack of sleep can increase a person’s chances of stroke, heart disease, type-
2 diabetes, depression and many other problems. “Our cortisol levels are controlled by a good sleep routine,” said Dance. “When we go to bed our cortisol levels should be dropping and when we wake up they should be rising. If you’re not getting that seven to nine hours consistently per night and you’re sleeping at (different) times … your internal functions are confused … which will put your cortisol levels out of whack … (You) will be a lot more stressed out than (you) need to be.” When people try to improve their health, they often focus on diet or exercise. These are both extremely important, but without sleep improvement becomes much more difficult. According to Dance, a lack of sleep leads to more eating and less healthy eating later in the night. This is problematic because there isn’t enough time for those calories to burn and according to some studies, one night without sleep can make people as insulin resistant as a type-2 diabetic. “Sleep is a force multiplier,” said health expert Shawn Stevenson during an interview with Jordan Harbinger, host of the Art of Charm podcast. It can either help or hinder your results.” Sleep is important to have enough energy to exercise and to repair the body after exercise. It is important for nutrition because proper sleep leads to stronger willpower and less of a desire for unhealthy
foods. In turn, better nutrition leads to better sleep, creating a virtuous cycle. Sleep is also important for testosterone production. Men need more than women, but it is important for both sexes, because it has been shown to decrease body fat, increase muscle mass, increase bone density, maintain sex drive and improve cognitive function according to the United States National Institutes of Health. One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that after just one week of getting less than five hours of sleep a night, testosterone levels in young men decreased by 10-15 per cent, the equivalent of aging 10-15 years. Getting a good night’s sleep is especially important for students. The constant learning means that a strong memory is important and juggling school with a job, as many students do, requires energy which can only be gained through sleep. Yet many students find it hard to get the right amount of sleep. “(I consistently) get four to six hours (of sleep) a night,” said Matt Bentley, a secondyear journalism broadcast student at Conestoga College. “I barely want to get up in the morning … I usually sleep on the bus to make up for that … I’ve tried to go to bed earlier but I’m so used to going to bed later that my sleeping schedule has adjusted to that.”
NEWS
Monday, November 30, 2015
Giving back this Christmas
BY MARISSA CUDDY
Christmas isn’t just about getting presents, it is about spending time with family and giving back to others in need. There are many organizations in and around Kitchener looking for donations this month and next. Giving back doesn’t just mean donating – there are lots of other things people can do like open a door for a stranger, help someone across the road, smile or volunteer somewhere. Many of the places accept donations year-round, but they promote it more around Christmas. However, some local events are specifically held during the Christmas season including Operation Christmas Child, Stuff-A-Bus, Loblaw Companies National Food Drive – Winter 2015, and Coats for Kids. The Food Bank of Waterloo Region receives the donations from the Stuff-A-Bus event at the Laurentian Power Centre Zehrs and Loblaw Companies National Food Drive event located at all local Real Canadian Superstores, Zehrs, No Frills and Valu-Marts in the area. “We are a 100 per cent nongovernment-funded charity; all of our food and funds come from the community,” said Marlene Matthews, an administrative assistant at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. “Food is a basic need that everyone can identify with and understand. The food bank is a trusted charity with a reputation for innovation, collaboration and efficiency.”
The organization provides people in need with a variety of fresh, frozen and non-perishable foods that are donated by the community. Matthews said about five per cent of Waterloo Region receives food support. Another organization looking for donations this time of year is West 49. By donating to the company’s Coats for Kids campaign, West 49 gives you $50 off any winter jacket in their store. The donated coats go to local charities such as The Salvation Army, The Boys and Girls Club, United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Each store chooses one charity within their community. With the purchase of any Yea.Nice beanie from West 49, a donation of a beanie will be made to a homeless shelter on your behalf. The beanies are a collaboration between Yea.Nice and West 49 called BEANIES 4 LIFE. “West 49 started doing this to help give back to the community, and to help those who aren’t fortunate enough to be able to buy warm jackets,” said Laura Borcsok, the marketing co-ordinator at West 49. “It also benefits the customer since they get a new jacket and they can also help someone who isn’t able to buy a new jacket for the wintertime.” Operation Christmas Child is another program that many places, such as churches, get involved in. The organization provides the churches with shoe boxes to fill with toys and other items for children and then sends them to a Third World country. Their mission is to give presents to children who normally don’t get anything at Christmas. The donation week
PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDY
Conestoga students donated their old textbooks to CSI’s Textbooks for Change, which, in turn, will be donating the books to Africa. Erica Newbigging (left), a second-year police foundations student, and Dita Dragusha, a third-year business administration management student, stand by some of the books that were donated at the Doon campus. was Nov. 15 to 22, but you can still donate online. “Some families don’t have the ability to be together during the holidays and generosity from the community gives them the feeling of connectedness,” said Jeff Scherer, president of Conestoga Students Inc. Conestoga College also has a few ways to give back. One of
Trees for toys a fun fundraiser BY JENNA BRAUN
Each December, approximately 1,200 people from all over Waterloo Region gather inside 508 Riverbend Dr., a seemingly typical commercial office building. Garlands and sparkling décor hang all over the large, open reception area with twinkling yellow lights trickling down the spiral staircase. Realtors from Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty (CBPBR) invite their clients once a year to join them at their brokerage for a good cause: Trees for Toys. Genuine trees and wreaths are purchased from Drysdale Tree Farm by the CBPBR realtors, then given to clients as a “thank you.” Clients are encouraged, but not required, to bring in new, unwrapped toys in exchange for their trees and wreaths. There is no minimum price required.
“It began with a similar event in the U.S.,” said Dave Tidd, a CBPBR realtor. “A group of realtors here that wanted to give back liked the idea.” According to Bev Hepburn, residential sales manager, the previous residential sales manager partnered with Dave Tidd and a few other realtors to begin the event that has now become a tradition at CBPBR. Though bringing in a donation is optional, the realtors collect about 400 toys of all kinds during Trees for Toys, which are donated afterward to local families in need for the Christmas season. “We have pictures with Santa, pony rides and face painting for the kids,” Tidd said. “The fire department is also on site with the fire safety house and live fire safety demonstrations.” Hundreds of people endure the cold weather and watch as trained firefighters light a tree
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on fire, then put it out, teaching young and old about the dangers of fires during the holidays. “My favourite part is seeing past clients,” Tidd said. “Everyone is smiling and the kids love it.” Clients bring their friends, spouses and children with them, making it a loud and colourful place to be. There are treats, drinks and volunteers dressed in Christmasthemed costumes. This year will be the ninth year the event has run, and will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5. To donate a new, unwrapped gift to a family in need this holiday season, one can bring it to either Fairview or Conestoga Mall in December, where large donation boxes are situated for drop-off. To donate or see volunteer opportunities during the holidays, visit www.houseoffriendship.org.
them was CSI’s Textbooks for Change, where students donated their old textbooks which are then sent to Africa. They also have the Christmas Wish Tree. Students can donate a new present that isn’t wrapped until Dec. 4. The presents will go to children of Conestoga students. Presents from sponsors will be accepted in the
CSI main office. On CSI’s website they say they hope to ensure “every child has a present under the tree.” “I like to believe that the holiday season is a season of sharing and an opportunity for those who want to give back to others that may be less fortunate,” Scherer said.
CONESTOGA’S MR. CLEAN
PHOTO BY CHRIS HUSSEY
Peter Voss, 62, works as a janitor with Compass Group Canada, the organization contracted by Conestoga to handle housekeeping duties. He is also deaf, and is well known around the Doon campus for his animated body language. For video story, visit www. spokeonline.com.
FUN & GAMES
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of November 30, 2015
Aries
March 21 April 19 You’re a very demanding person. Relax and stop pressuring everyone around you. They will come when they are ready.
Taurus April 20 May 20
You are a secure person who loves to be kind and to show your appreciation. Why not take a friend or significant other on a trip to one of your favourite places.
Gemini May 21 June 21
You lack open communication in your life. Open up more! Go on an adventure or spend some time away from your house, make it a personal holiday!
Cancer June 22 July 22
Impulsive buying is a big problem for you. You have a lot of trouble trying to decide what you need. Take a break from shopping and watch movies with friends.
Leo
July 23 August 22 Your generosity can sometimes be taken for granted. Instead of doing things for other people all the time take a break and explore a city you have never been to.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 You spend a lot of time thinking about other people and taking time to work on their problems. You need to spend time on yourself and stop over thinking your problems.
Apples, potatoes and onions all taste the same when eaten with your nose plugged.
Libra
Ketchup was originally a fish sauce originating in the orient.
September 23 October 22
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
It’s very hard for you to lie to someone’s face. You need balance in your life; why not take some time and have a mini spa day!
The average lifespan of an eyelash is five months. Most lipsticks scales.
Scorpio
October 23 November 21 Sometimes spending too much time on yourself can be overwhelming Call up a friend and get together to talk about what they have done recently.
contain
fish
Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a Friday the 13th.
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.
It is OK that not everything happens at the exact moment you want it to. Slow down, focus more on what’s happening instead of what you want to happen.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You are always determined to get the job done as fast as possible, but sometimes you don’t take a moment to see what’s around you. Spend some time outside.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
You need to smile more! Stop being so serious all the time and good things will happen to you this week.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 A lot of the time you are stuck in your own world. This week stop procrastinating or you’re going to be stuck with something you don’t want to do.
Ephram Strange dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension on a regular basis. He also enjoys young adult novels and taxidermy.
Word Search
Monday, November 30, 2015
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Matt Damon shines in The Martian BY LEAH MORROW
PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Michelle Demerchant, a first-year educational support student, scrolls through Instagram on her phone on Nov. 18. Social media can cause anxiety and stress as students try to have the perfect image online.
Social media makes students feel secure and insecure BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZER
Texting, tweeting and posting photos via Instagram can leave students with mixed emotions, including insecurity. At Conestoga College, some students believe that feeling secure on social media depends on how they feel about themselves. “I have felt self-conscious about myself before on social media because of the certain photos of myself posing with friends that are posted online,” said Khrystyna Wilson, a first-year educational support student. Making a picture-perfect “selfie” can leave students feeling insecure. “It almost feels like a competition all of the time to be sure that your hair is done up all nice or your face looks perfect in all of your photos,” Wilson said. Realizing your insecurity as a young person is the first step to stopping problems on social media and elsewhere. “(Look at) the result of this social competition we’re seeing before us,” said Jon Negroni, a critic conspirer and writer at Apple Inc. “Kids are getting on Instagram and seeing pictures of people they know doing something that they aren’t. It can be over-
whelming for someone at a young age to feel like they are missing out on something.” There are different things you can do on social media to make you feel good about yourself like posting positive comments on friends’ profiles. This can make you feel good about helping others. “I always try to post positive comments on my friends’ photos because it can really put a smile on their face,” said Michelle Demerchant, a first-year educational support student.
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I always try to post positive comments on my friends’ photos because it can really put a smile on their face. — Michelle Demerchant, a first-year educational support student
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Lifting other people up can raise their self-esteem and make them more confident as a person. Sharing your feelings with the people you trust and listening to how they feel is important and strengthens friendships.
With Ridley Scott sitting in the director’s chair, how could moviegoers expect anything less than incredible? From the director who brought the world the classic sci-fi thriller Alien (1979), now comes The Martian. Scott is a genius, especially when it comes to science fiction movies. With the help of screenwriter Drew Goddard, he brought Andy Weir’s 385paged, New York Times bestselling novel to life on the big screen in a way that no one else would have been able to. The Martian follows the story of astronaut and botanist, Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon). Watney and his fellow crew members are in the midst of finishing a month-long scientific expedition on Mars. A violent sandstorm (that calls for an emergency evacuation) separates Watney from the rest of the crew, who assume he perished in the storm. When Watney wakes up, he is covered in sand, injured, almost out of air and completely alone. After scarcely making it back to the now abandoned living quarters, he realizes that the radio antenna was demolished during the storm. Watney knows this means that there will be no communication between him and NASA or the crew, who are on their way back to Earth. Watney is forced to rely
INTERNET PHOTO
The Martian, starring Matt Damon, follows the story of an astronaut left on Mars and the effort to rescue him. It is a film not to be missed. solely on his own knowledge, ingenuity and sense of humour to survive. While listening to an all disco playlist (the only music left behind by his estranged crew members) and refusing to accept the fate of dying on Mars, he sets to work. Using the power of science, a video diary and a little too much hydrogen, Watney creates a how-to guide on how to survive in hostile lands. Damon shines in the role of Watney. For most of the film, Damon is alone. Having no one to bounce lines off of or draw energy from, he gives a
riveting performance worthy of an Oscar. The deserts of Jordan, where the film was shot, act as a visually spectacular backdrop and perfect representation of what Mars might look like close-up. This two and a half hourlong film is something that no one should miss out on. Seeing the movie in 3D, though a few dollars more, adds an extra dimension and sense of realism that one might not get while watching it in the standard form. I give this movie five out of five stars.
BOOKBINDER AND BOOK ARTIST
SHOWCASES HIS WORK IN KITCHENER
Dan Spezza, a member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, holds one of the many books he made. Most of the books in front of him he made by hand. Spezza gave a lecture about the evolution of bookbinding on Nov. 18. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY JESSICA HAMMER