Hidden Valley Natural area in the centre core at risk. Page 6 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
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A warm welcome International students attend meet and greet. Page 7 48TH YEAR — NO. 13
Faculty strike looms BY TAYLOR PACE
PHOTO BY TAYLOR PACE
The possibility of a strike looms after Conestoga College faculty participated in a provincewide vote on Sept. 14 that resulted in a strike mandate. Negotiations between OPSEU, which represents faculty members, and the college’s bargaining team, continue.
A potential strike looms at Ontario’s 24 public colleges as faculty near the end of their contract. Professors, instructors, counsellors and librarians at colleges throughout the province, represented by the Ontario Public Services Employee Union (OPSEU), voted in favour of a strike mandate on Sept. 14. Conestoga College faculty members received an email from Lana-Lee Hardacre, president of OPSEU Local 237, stating that of the 782 eligible voters at Conestoga, 60 per cent voted in favour of giving the union a strike mandate. This included 313 partial load faculty or 40 per cent of the eligible voters. Across the province, 68 per cent voted in favour of strike action if needed. While bargaining has gone on for more than 10 weeks, little has been accomplished due to large discrepancies on what needs to change. In a news release from Ontario’s colleges, Sonia Del
Missier, chair of the Colleges’ Bargaining Team, said, “The parties remain far apart on key issues of salary, staffing, governance and academic delivery.” Hardacre said, “The people on the other side will not negotiate.” The main issues are academic freedom, collegial governance, fair treatment of contract faculty and more full-time staff. The union has also requested a 10 per cent salary increase over three years. However, they say money is not the issue. “Right now we’re fighting for much more serious issues that will have a long-term impact on what the college system looks like,” Hardacre said. Hardacre, who represents 782 faculty members at Conestoga, says these issues were raised in an effort to be proactive about the future of colleges in Ontario. “Our system is broken right now,” she said. “If we do not get a better ratio of full-time (staff), some academic freedom, and collegial governance, then
this will not be a place where academics are involved in the day-to-day running.” Conestoga College president John Tibbits disagrees. “Some of the information the union has put out is less than accurate,” he said. “The idea that somehow this would be a better college because the faculty unilaterally could determine the curriculum just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.” The college’s bargaining team has offered a 7.5 per cent salary increase over four years, with a maximum salary of $115,094, a lump sum payment as well as benefit enhancements. “We think the offer is fair. We believe that students are coming here because they want an applied learning education where they can get jobs. Surely we want the faculty involved, but it’s much more than the faculty,” Tibbits said. Hardacre said the number of full-time faculty has decreased from 30 per cent to 19 per cent in just three years. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Patio Party raises money for Shinerama BY VERONICA REINER
Conestoga Students Inc. hosted its annual Patio Party and Barbecue at the newly renovated Venue restaurant at Conestoga College on Sept. 6. The event featured games, vendors, entertainment, a live DJ and free food, as well as drinks for students of age. CSI President Aimee Calma said the purpose was “to show new students a little bit more of the space” as well as to show off the “recently renovated Venue, which now includes a full-fledged restaurant.” Calma was happy with the turnout, saying approximately 1,400 students were in attendance. The free food enticed students to come out, and featured burgers, vegetarian burgers and hot dogs. The entertainment included a Test Your Strength hammer game, a bouncy castle race
and a mini basketball game. There were plenty of vendors and even a fire truck. Brett Harrington, a second-year student in the supply chain and operations management program, attended the event and enjoyed it. “The Patio Party keeps getting better and better each year.” Calma said the newly improved Venue has some impressive new features such as expanded hours, “there’s more programming on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Trivia Tuesday and live music on Thursdays.” While the Venue was originally just a bar, there is now a food menu which includes a variety of wraps, sandwiches, starters and salads. Service was slower than expected, but understandable since the restaurant is new and it was an extremely busy first week for staff. At the Patio Party CSI asked for donations, with
the money going toward the charity Shinerama, which is a fundraiser aimed at raising money for cystic fibrosis research. Why Shinerama? “It’s an organization that works heavily with postsecondary institutions. For example, Laurier also works with Shinerama. It’s just something that we found works really well with college and university students.” According to Calma, there are opportunities for students to contribute to this cause. Other Frosh Week events included a Welcome Back Concert on Sept. 21, featuring Kardinal Official and Karl Wolff. It cost $5 a ticket, with all the proceeds going to Shinerama. Other upcoming events include the Toga Party on Sept. 28 and Polar Plunge in the springtime. Tickets for the Toga Party are available now in the CSI Service Hub in Room 2A122.
PHOTO BY VERONICA REINER
Rajwinder Singh Dhillon swings a mallet at the Test Your Strength game at Conestoga Students Inc.’s Patio Party on Sept. 6. For more photos, see Pages 2 and 3.
NEWS
Page 2 s SPOKE
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College
Monday, September 25, 2017
FILBERT CARTOONS
Random questions answered by random students
If you were trapped in any television show for a month, what show would you pick? “Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters all have a really good time.”
SHOOTING HOOPS AT CSI’S PATIO PARTY
Keenan O’Donoghue, second-year part-time print journalism
“The Walking Dead.”
Colin Wright, second-year general business
“The Office (U.S.).” Bailey Davis, first-year computer programming
“Roadies.”
PHOTOS BY VERONICA REINER
Conestoga Students Inc. held a Patio Party on Sept. 6. Activities included a strongman challenge, free throw shooting, free food and a bouncy castle race. Below, firefighters and a fire truck were at the event.
Amandeep Kaur, first-year financial planning
“Prison Break.” Raul Ilie, first-year BScN student
“Rick and Morty.” Mike Peckover, second-year graphic design
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
NEWS
Monday, September 25, 2017
SPOKE s Page 3
Hurricane cuts vacation short BY TYLER MEDEIROS
As hurricane Irma blew through the Caribbean numerous people were quickly evacuated to avoid any injury. One Conestoga student, Juan Buitrago, was swept up in this event, cutting his vacation short. The third-year electronic systems engineering student’s trip to the Dominican Republic was derailed by the incoming hurricane, forcing his family to leave early because of the potential threat that Irma would come too close to their side of the island.
“
The wait was ridiculous but at least we all got home safely. — Juan Buitrago
”
With wind speeds of up to 130 m.p.h., Irma was rated as a category four hurricane as it blew through the Dominican Republic. “We were in the pool enjoying ourselves when a man approached us. He was an Air Canada representative and he told us we needed to leave as soon as possible because our hotel was being evacuated,” said Buitrago.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Claudia Osorio, left to right, and Jorge, Julian and Juan Buitrago enjoyed lunch at their hotel in the Dominican Republic before being told they had to evacuate due to Hurricane Irma. After being told to leave, Buitrago and his family packed their things and waited for a bus that would take them to the airport where they could board planes leaving as soon as they were full. As they waited more and more people packed into the airport and planes started taking off. Buitrago’s mother, Claudia Osorio, said, “I was very nervous arriving at the airport and I thought, ‘What if we don’t get on a plane or what if we are too late and
can’t take off, but mostly will my children be OK.”’ As they waited they quickly realized they would not be able to board a plane to Toronto, but instead to Montreal because all the planes returning to Toronto were full. After waiting five hours for his fight to take off Buitrago and his family made it safely to Montreal where they boarded another plane to Toronto. They waited another hour before being able to fly
PATIO PARTY DJ GETS STUDENTS PUMPED
home. “The wait was ridiculous but at least we all got home safely. If there is one thing I can say it’s that the airport staff were on top of their game getting everyone where they needed to be as quickly and calmly as possible. I think this really helped anyone who was stressing about their situation,” Buitrago said. He laughed about how he was more worried at the time about the wait than actually worrying about the incoming
storm. “I think the fact that the staff remained normal made it feel like it was just a regular day trying to catch a plane home.” Despite their vacation being cut short, Buitrago and his family said they are not afraid of travelling again and have already planned their next trip to the Dominican Republic for next year with the hope that the weather will favour a more relaxing and fun stay.
GRABBING SOME CASH IN THE CASH CUBE
PHOTO BY MIKE TURCOTTE PHOTO BY TYLER MEDEIROS
Students at Conestoga relaxed and listened to a live DJ from Denim Entertainment as they enjoyed Conestoga Students Inc.’s Patio Party on Sept. 6 during Frosh Week.
Conestoga students entered CSI’s cash cube on Sept. 13 in the Atrium for a chance to grab some Condor cash. The ‘money’ can be used at various places, including food service outlets, the Bookstore and at vending machines.
COMMENTARY
Page 4 SPOKE
Monday, September 25, 2017
Strike looms
The College
BY MIKE TURCOTTE
It’s not uncommon to hear in the news about teachers wanting to strike with demands like increased wages and less work. We immediately think of the big school strike that happened in 1997, where more than 125,000 public and Catholic school teachers were off the job for two weeks. It seems that another major strike may be on the horizon, this time at Ontario colleges. According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) website, “Sixty-eight per cent of college faculty represented by OPSEU entrusted their elected team with the ability to call a strike if the College Employer Council refuses to budge on key issues.” This is a scary thought, given that if a strike were to happen, many students would be forced to miss classes and possibly miss some of their education. Students have paid money for their tuition, books, tools and accommodations, they shouldn’t be expected to have a shorter semester. While there are points made on both sides of this conflict, the union is using students and the threat of a strike to get what they want. The cost at which it would come to the students simply can’t be ignored and shrugged off for the “greater good.” Ultimately, while it’s the opinion of the majority of the faculty that the potential strike will be beneficial and potentially necessary, it was unfortunate that in none of the union’s communications was there even a single mention about the negatives of a strike, nor of the damages and hindrance it would cause the hundreds of thousands of students. Students are not ammunition to be used to threaten and coerce into giving you what you want. Schools in whatever form, at any level of education, are there for one major purpose, to benefit the students and their lives and futures. Yes, it’s important that those who are employed at the schools are taken care of and treated fairly, it’s a career and job too after all, but it’s the students who truly should be the focus of everything, and it’s the students whose futures are being toyed with when things like this arise. It’s ultimately the students who should be considered over anything else. Remember that any time a student is forced to stop learning, stop being educated, their future could be altered, and there is more risk of them straying from the path they sought and paid to be on. “A parent gives life, but as parent, gives no more. A murderer takes life, but his deed stops there. A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams, U.S. historian, journalist, novelist and educator 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
The Union
Students
Students
Once again students are being used as pawns in the college/union contract dispute.
Minimum wage will be our downfall The problem with a government-enforced minimum wage is it will create a domino effect. If you raise the minimum wage, then it’s going to raise the price of products and services and small business owners will have to lay off staff to still be profitable. Larger companies are automating to reduce staff numbers. So, some employees will make more money, but others won’t have a job. When it comes to the morality of minimum wage, it is not vicious, cruel or immoral for an employer to make you an offer that you consensually agree to. In fact, it is vicious, cruel and immoral for a third party, like the government, to get involved in that relationship. If employees don’t like the wage or benefits being offered by the employer, then they don’t have to work there. The three deciding factors in getting a decent job are: to not have kids before marriage, to get and maintain a regular job, and to graduate high school. With these three steps, and
Rebecca Soares
Opinion these three steps alone, not only will you remain out of poverty but almost definitely, get better paying jobs. With this in mind, an economy can be created with either an enormous level of low level and low wage jobs or an economy in which growth from position to position is actually possible. We should all be able to agree that wages need to increase. The difference is the way to make wages increase is to have a fully consensual relationship between employer and employee. The root of the morality is: you should never force an employee to work for an employer at a given wage. By the same token, you should never force an employer to pay a given wage to an employee. Because that is a lack of consent on part
of the employer and violates basic principles of fairness as well as freedom. Capitalism and a free market is in essence forced altruism. Because if I don’t give you something that you want, then I will starve. I need to be able to offer a good or else I cannot survive; this is the basis of a free market. People must arm themselves with some kind of knowledge of a skill that other people need, and usually the rarer the skill, the more you get paid. A job as a store clerk that a large majority of the population could do given minor training should not be equivalent to that of someone who can design complicated infrastructure. One problem people often mention is income inequality. The CEO of Walmart makes $20 million annually. Since Walmart employs about two million workers, if you cut down that salary to zero then you just gave everyone an extra $10 for the year. You cannot make the poor richer, by making the rich poorer.
SPOKE
IS PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED WEEKLY BY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS OF CONESTOGA COLLEGE Editor: Taylor Pace Assignment Editor: Austin Wells Advertising Manager: Christina Jonas Spoke Online Editors: Mike Turcotte-McCusker, Josh Pederson Production Managers: Melissa Horton
Photo Editors (print): Lucas Hutteri, Tyler Medeiros Photo Editors (online): Veronica Reiner, Peter Swart Social Media Editors: Ashley Sprague Circulation Manager: Becky Soares
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 Email: spoke@conestogac.on.ca Website: www.spokeonline.com
The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.
NEWS
Monday, September 25, 2017
SPOKE Page 5
What makes a good roommate? BY AUSTIN WELLS
Every new school year, many students move in with another person, often someone they’ve never met before. Sometimes these roommates turn out to be nothing like who they expected, and can create a difficult living situation for everyone involved. Some roommates are messy or unclean, some are rude, and others don’t even stay in the rooms, as one Conestoga student, second-year public relations student Josh McKee, experienced. “At first I was excited about my roommate. We texted for about a month and it seemed like we would become great friends,” McKee said. “The first night was when I knew we weren’t going to be great friends, because I saw him for five minutes and then he left to go to the Commons … He rarely if ever stayed at the place.” Poor roommate situations are common in colleges and universities across Canada. Some people just can’t get along with others in a living situation, or their personalities are complete opposites. In some instances, the whole experience is just nightmarish, as Fanshawe College student Abigail Soares of Kitchener experienced with one of the roommates in her house. “She was very unwelcoming …. Some of us would have friends over and she’d give them dirty looks for no reason,” Soares said. “It was just a lack of respect thing, and later we started to notice she’d steal from us. At first it was just food, but then spare change and large bottles of alcohol would go missing as well. It reached the point where if someone left a $20 bill out it was at risk of being stolen as well.” Another Conestoga student, Owen Feliz, also in public
relations, struggled with his roommate’s uncleanliness. “He never showered and smelled awful,” Feliz said. “He never cleaned his room either, so that smelled awful too, and he would be constantly screaming at 3 a.m., as well as leaving garbage out in the kitchen all the time.” While theft, hostility, absence and uncleanliness are awful things to deal with, Conestoga Residence’s staff said they are available to listen to complaints and act as a mediator between students and their roommates in the event of conflict. “I would talk to both of them, to figure out what’s wrong, and to see if it’s something that we can deal with,” said Joenna Chung, a front desk attendant at the residence. While conflict is sometimes unavoidable, both parties can try their best to avoid conflict and be good to each other. How can you be a good roommate? “Try again and again to make plans,” McKee said. “You have to live together for a long time, and it will be a lot better if you are good friends. If things don’t go well, be the bigger person and don’t make it a battle. Forgive easy, because there’s nothing worse than living with someone you absolutely hate over something small and meaningless.” “Don’t steal, and return the kindnesses and favours that your roommate does for you,” Soares said. “Make sure your roommate is comfortable and aware of the guests that you may bring in to avoid unpleasant surprises.” “Be considerate of others,” Feliz said. “Don’t blast music or be loud late at night when other people are trying to sleep.” But most importantly? Clean up after yourself as much as you can.
Conestoga College’s Residence and Conference Centre, located across from the Doon campus, houses hundreds of students each year. Sometimes these students don’t get along. PHOTO BY AUSTIN WELLS
FEATURE
Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, September 25, 2017
PHOTO BY ASHLEY SPRAGUE
Hidden Valley is a 200-acre property located between the Grand River and Fairway Road in Kitchener. It is home to ‘species at risk,’ rare flora and more than 110 species of nesting birds. Friends of Hidden Valley want as much of the 200 acres as possible to be classified as an environmentally protected area. To bring attention to this special area, an art exhibition was organized, and is currently on display at the Homer Watson House and Gallery.
Capturing the beauty of Hidden Valley BY ASHLEY SPRAGUE
There are so many beautiful spaces in this world that are being destroyed by urbanization; so many places that should be preserved and not taken for granted. We have one of these beautiful natural areas in Waterloo Region. Just southeast of Kitchener’s Fairview Park Mall, tucked away between a subdivision and a movie theatre, is an incredible 200-acre piece of land called Hidden Valley. This area is home to over 120 acres of mature forest, a huge wetland and several special species including what is quite possibly the largest group of Jefferson salamanders in southern Ontario. It is also the last undeveloped natural area in the centre core. In 1981 there was a plan to build a road through the centre of Hidden Valley, which would ruin the natural state of the land. Daphne Nicholls, a Kitchener resident, would not let that happen. In 2003, after an announcement was made that Waterloo Region would proceed with the road, Nicholls, along with her husband Gord, created an organization called Friends of Hidden Valley, which, to this day, is still fighting against the urbanization of the area.
Nicholls was an environmentalist, an artist and someone who cared deeply about the preservation of Hidden Valley. In 2006 she came up with the idea to have an art show showcasing the beauty of Hidden Valley. The show was a success, and many people began inquiring about the nature area. Hidden Valley was the talk of the town for several years after that, but dropped off the radar after Nicholls was diagnosed with cancer. She and her husband put their focus on her health, so not much was heard about Hidden Valley for many years. However, last year, despite being extremely ill, Nicholls proposed holding another art exhibition, leaving the show in the works when she died in August 2016. Her husband and good friends decided to continue with her plan. The show is currently on display at the Homer Watson House and Gallery, 1754 Old Mill Rd. in Kitchener, and will run until Oct. 22. Eightyone artists have submitted their works showcasing the natural beauty of Hidden Valley. Many of them are paintings but there are also some sculptures and more natural pieces made of leaves and bark. “There are some fantastic submissions, they are
beautiful,” said Anne Morgan, a longtime friend of Nicholls. “They show Hidden Valley in all the seasons and in all people’s eyes when they walk through it. It is doing a great job of bringing attention to the general public about Hidden Valley, it is what she would have wanted.” Nicholls and her friends and family fought for over 12 years to have Hidden Valley preserved and her friends and husband said they will not stop until it is. “I think it’s fair to say that Hidden Valley is a very special, beautiful piece of property that, if preserved, would provide the future citizens of Waterloo Region, especially those living on the new LRT line, with a place for repose and restoration,” said Gord Nicholls. “Preserving natural land is critical. We’ve destroyed so much natural habitat it’s horrible,” said Morgan. In respect to the art show, there will be a wall dedicated to Daphne Nicholls and Homer Watson, a Canadian landscape painter who died in 1936, with both of their art pieces showcasing Hidden Valley. This exhibition is an excellent way to honour Nicholls, along with a piece of trail along the Bruce Peninsula that is dedicated to her.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Daphne Nicholls, the founder of Friends of Hidden Valley, an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, is described by her friend, Anne Morgan, as ‘one of the kindest, most generous people’ she has ever known.
NEWS
Monday, September 25, 2017
A warm college welcome
SPOKE s Page 7
Conestoga’s international student population increasing BY LUCAS HUTTERI
Aleks Mivonenko laughed trying to reach a name tag that had been placed on her back. “The people (of Canada) are so friendly and kind, and the nature, it’s so beautiful. I love looking down the streets and seeing all of the trees and bushes.” A first-year web design and development student hailing from Russia, Mivonenko is one of the many students who attended Conestoga College’s International Student Welcome Reception on Sept 15. Students from around the world mingled with each other in the rec centre to get to know one another. “Freezing, but it’s awesome and clean. It’s great, everyone here is so friendly,” said Wesley Vilsan, a cheery firstyear student from India as he explained his experience in Canada thus far. Every student in the gym held a simple white sheet of paper, with Ice Breaker Bingo printed at the top. Each box on the page had a certain quality or trait written in it with a space to jot down the names of newfound friends who possessed those certain qualities or traits. Some boxes read, Has a pet or Speaks more than two languages. “Last year we did a soft launch, as a test sort of. It was only one line, but this year we added prizes for a full card,” said Julia Villemaire,
PHOTO BY LUCAS HUTTERI
A crowd of international students dance, wave their hands and sing along to the music in the rec centre’s north gymnasium during Conestoga College’s International Student Welcome Reception on Sept. 15. the activities co-ordinator at Conestoga’s International Office. The Ice Breaker Bingo was a big success. Students of all different backgrounds enthusiastically shuffled around the room participating in the bingo, all the while forming
friendships to last a lifetime. Music and laughter filled the gymnasium as students began to dance together in large groups. The crowd danced and waved their hands along to Bob Marley’s One Love. Despite the drastically different backgrounds, there was an
PHOTO BY LUCAS HUTTERI
Volunteer Harsh Shah hands a student a box of Kraft Dinner as a prize for spinning the wheel at the welcome reception.
incredible sense of unity and togetherness in the air. At Conestoga College, there are between 3,000 and 4,000 international students in attendance with 70 per cent of that population coming from India. There are also students from China, Korea, Vietnam, Ukraine, Russia, Nigeria and more. Roughly 450 to 500 students attended the welcome reception. According to Villemaire, Conestoga’s International Office does everything it can to make Conestoga a home away from home for these students. Unfortunately, visa issues plague many of the students. Due to the massive influx, visas are bottlenecked and many students haven’t received their visa, and are attending classes two weeks late. Staff in the International Office do their best to streamline the experience for them. “Health insurance, we help them find housing, help them with airport pickup, if they have any kind of crisis, like if they can’t get money from their home country, we have staff who deal with that,” said Villemaire. The office also works to help students out with their studies, finding work, getting co-op placements and helping them volunteer. Many of the
volunteers at the Welcome Reception were international students. The International Office also takes it one step further. “If they have families, we try to help their families understand what’s going on,” said Villemaire. Aside from potential visa issues, the biggest hurdle for the international students is culture shock because this is the first time in a new country for a lot of them. Many of the students used to be told by their parents what to do in life, but they are off on their own and may feel very nervous. “We tell them in the orientation that it’s normal to feel this way,” said Villemaire. It’s a very new experience for the students, and one could argue that there is more learning required in adjusting to Canada’s culture than the classes themselves. “In the orientation we go over plagiarism and understanding Canadian laws. We give them a student handbook that tells them where to get food and groceries,” she said. International students need a Canadian friend to welcome them and help them get comfortable in Canada. Even a friendly smile or “Hello” will help.
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Monday, September 25, 2017
ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, September 25, 2017
SPOKE s Page 9
Competition fierce at Guelph gaming lounge BY JOSH PEDERSON
With the existing popularity of retro and modern video games along with the relatively new trend of esports gaining widespread mainstream media attention, international, national and local dedicated gaming organizations have sprung up and pounced on the opportunities of this new and prosperous market. One Guelph company in particular is putting its face on the map and gaining some serious attention from oldschool gamers and the newer generation alike. “We see some people in here in their 40s, but most gamers are teenagers or in their early 20s,” said Chelsea Martin, supervisor at Afterlife Video Game Lounge. Martin also said she sees an equal number of male and female gamers. Located in the heart of downtown Guelph at 101 Wyndam St. N., Afterlife Video Game Lounge offers a fun and unique experience for all lovers of video games to enjoy. “We have a more modern section in the front with Xboxes and Play Stations and in the back, is our retro section with classic Nintendo (consoles) and an Atari,” said Martin. Whether you fancy playing some classic Zelda on the Nintendo 64, Call of Duty on the newer Xbox One or simply enjoy watching a live League of Legends game while having a drink at the bar, the Afterlife Video Game Lounge has you covered.
Every Tuesday the business hosts its weekly Super Smash Bros. 4 tournament where dozens of avid fans of the game gather to hone their skills and put their abilities to the test as they battle others on their own or with a partner. Entering the tournament is $10 of which $5 is added to the prize pool. Martin said the money is divided three ways. “Sixty per cent goes to first place, 30 per cent to second and 10 per cent to third.” Competition is fierce and while rookies and newcomers are encouraged to come join in on the fun and learn, the gauntlet may prove overwhelming to first-timers if they are hoping to win some money. Observing the tournament as a whole is no easy task as there are multiple simultaneous screens running at the same time in order to conserve time and make sure competitors get to play as much as possible. Rory Sutherland was one of those competitors. Looking at his pre-tournament game play, Sutherland was a force to be reckoned with. Having contended in three previous tournaments, he was eager to take home his first win. “I have been playing Smash for three years. My favourite character is Captain Falcon. He can deliver some pretty punishing combos and does really well at knocking people off the stage while denying them the ability to get back on it,” he said. His statement could not have
PHOTO BY JOSH PEDERSON
Brandon Sharer (left) and Rory Sutherland discuss strategies at a Super Smash Bros. 4 tournament held at the Afterlife Video Game Lounge in Guelph on Sept. 4. been truer. While watching him play against Brandon Sharer who considered himself a casual player, Sutherland took advantage and right out of the gate pummelled Sharer’s Zelda with a barrage of attacks, inflicting some severe damage. There is no health bar in Super Smash Bros. 4, so instead damage is inflicted as a percentage bar in the bottom left corner that does not cap at 100. The higher your percentage, the farther you can be knocked back and the longer you can be grabbed
Contract expires Sept. 30 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Tibbits argues that at Conestoga alone, more than 107 full-time employees have been hired in the last five years. “That’s a significant rate of hiring. And we will continue to grow and we will continue to hire,” he said, noting that faculty could never be completely full-time. “You need to bring in some specialty people from industry. They already have fulltime jobs.” However, there are two things both sides seem to agree on: they don’t want a strike and they don’t want students to worry. “No student has ever lost their year,” Tibbits said, adding, “We’re going to do everything we can, not to have a strike.” The protocol for how students’ time is made up after a strike varies between colleges, but both sides are confident that students will be able to complete the academic year.
Tibbits encourages students to speak up. “They should make their voices heard, and let their faculty know they’re not happy about this.” Hardacre said, “We’re hoping this just puts some gas on negotiations and everything is resolved by the end of September. And, of course, we’re not expecting that we would get everything, but right now we’re not being offered anything by the employer.” Del Missier said in a press release, “The colleges remain committed to achieving a negotiated settlement, which is fair to our faculty while being affordable and responsible for the colleges. But we need practical proposals from the union to be successful.” The union is legally obligated to notify the colleges five days before they can go on strike. In total, more than 12,000 college OPSEU members could be off the job. The current contract expires on Sept. 30.
on to by your opponent. A life is lost when your character gets knocked out of bounds or, if you’re just unlucky, by falling off the stage. A match is won and a victor is decided once a player has run out of lives, also called stocks. In this tournament’s case two stocks are provided to each player. Unfortunately for Sutherland, although he was able to defeat Sharer and make it past the first few rounds, the tournament’s winner was Garrett Lyons, a
seasoned veteran who looked to be an amazingly skilled player, performing feats of miraculous proportions with his main character, R.O.B. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the staff along with the friendly but fierce competitiveness of the tournament at Afterlife Video Game Lounge bodes well for its future. Mario Kart tournaments are hosted on Thursdays with more tournaments of different games being expected to be introduced in the near future.
FUN & GAMES
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Monday, September 25, 2017
Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of September 25, 2017
Aries
March 21 April 19 Are you thinking you might consider exploring a new possibility? Some time this week you will make a decision that sticks with you for the rest of your life.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Your wise advice is that soon you will discover a fact that was once considered absurd or silly, and it will make you rethink things.
Gemini May 21 June 21
If you’re going to do one thing this year, then trust your instincts, if you’ve thought about the decision enough.
Cancer June 22 July 22
This week you should do some volunteer work. If you can you’ll know what you really want. Things are sure to get more interesting for you.
Leo
July 23 August 22 Consider making time to sit for five straight minutes without worrying about the world. Once this is done you’ll finally be able to realize your potential.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 If you’re looking for direction, then think not about if, but when to take that step.
Only one in two billion people will live to be 116 or older.
Libra
“Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt”.
September 23 October 22 There is always time to do something just for yourself. By doing this, you will earn the clarity you so richly deserve.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.
Scorpio
The house fly hums in the middle octave key of F.
October 23 November 21 If you’re not sure what direction your life is headed in, it might be time to take the plunge. Hesitate if you must, but know you can do anything you want in the end.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
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.
This week you will uncover something you never knew you deserved, and it will start to mean something to you. Now you know, so take action.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
You should consider a distant but cherished family member to answer a difficult question. Don’t take any big risks that you may regret. You already know the right thing to do.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
Seek the advice of a co-worker you don’t necessarily think about to guide you through difficult times. Make a commitment to yourself and take at least one step toward it.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Are you thinking about contacting someone from your past? This week will be the right time to make something big happen.
Diodonna Winona dabbles in forces beyond mortal comprehension. She also enjoys people watching and coffee.
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Monday, September 25, 2017
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Comic book series on Kickstarter A former Conestoga College student is looking to kickstart a career in the comic book industry. Marc Hulet recently launched a Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise funds for the comic book series The Nuclear Family. The series takes a humorous look at the family dynamic after a superhero marries a super-villain. “Henry and Cecile love each other dearly but they’re constantly at odds over how to raise their two children,” the 40-year-old father of three said. “Henry is constantly trying to sway them to the right side of the law whereas Cecile is forever trying to interest them in a life of crime.” The plan for Nuclear Family is to run a collection of fourissue mini-series with small breaks between each set to allow artist and co-creator Stanislav Andreev to catch his breath. “His artwork is so detailed, so amazing that I don’t want him to burn out. Everyone who sees his artwork is just in awe of it – myself included,” Hulet said. “Plus he’s got his career and family to focus on.” Andreev and Hulet met on an artist networking and portfolio website called Deviant Art. After spending his entire life in Ontario, Hulet never expected to pair up with an artist that resides in Bulgaria. “Even though we’ve never
officially met, we just clicked. We both share a passion for the medium and have young families,” he said. “We’re not in this to get rich or famous. We just want to tell great stories, entertain people and leave a legacy for our children. I want my kids to have something to show their kids and say, ‘This is what your grandfather did.’” The Nuclear Family project will remain on Kickstarter until Oct. 13. If the project meets its funding goal, the funds will be used to pay other contributors to the series, such as a colourist, as well as production costs. None of the proceeds will actually go to Hulet or Andreev. “People who choose to help fund the project will receive different thank-you gifts based on the level of the donation,” Hulet said. “Rewards include items like an original, autographed character sketch and one of the original penciled pages of Issue 1. There’s even an option to create a character based on you. “Who doesn’t want to be turned into a superhero or super-villain?” If a traditional publisher is not found, Hulet has other plans. “We’re fully committed to self-publishing this series if we don’t find a traditional publisher,” Hulet said. “However, we’ve already received some interest from established publishers and having the majority of the
IT’S 2017... BUT NOT IN WATERLOO
THANKS TO THE MEDIEVAL FAIRE A court jester entertains guests on Sept. 16 at the Royal Medieval Faire in Waterloo Park. The interactive festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with vendors, hands-on displays, food and beverages, games, Celtic music, magic, swordplay and authentic costumes and decorations. For video story, visit www.spokeonline.com. PHOTO BY MELISSA HORTON
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Marc Hulet, a Conestoga print and broadcast journalism graduate, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to support his comic book series, The Nuclear Family, which he created with an artist from Bulgaria. series completed with all contributors already in place will only make us more attractive to a publisher.” The pair is eyeing the digital publisher Comixology as an outlet for their series. “They have contracts with pretty much every comic book publisher in the industry to digitally produce copies of every book you see in print,” Hulet said. “They’re also huge supporters of self-publishers.” He began drawing his own comics as a teenager shortly after starting Grade 7. His final O.A.C. English project was a comic book, which he
both wrote and drew. “All through school – from Grade 1 up – I can remember doodling in the columns of my notebooks and all over the covers of my binders,” Hulet said. “My friends would hang out on weekends and I would be at home in my room creating superheroes and storylines. “I actually had one high school English teacher who kept a test of mine that I had doodled on. He said he was going to tuck it away and pull it out again after I was a famous artist.” Eventually, though, Hulet
realized his writing was developing more quickly than his art so he mostly abandoned the latter skill. He went to school for print and broadcast journalism at Conestoga College and spent three years not only writing for the student newspaper but also creating editorial cartoons. If you’re interested in helping fund The Nuclear Family, go to www.kickstarter.com/ projects/703855141/nuclearfamily-volume-1 or visit Kickstarter and search for the project by “Nuclear Family” or “Marc Hulet.”