The Running Dead Runners flee zombies in 2nd annual race. Page 7 Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Evergreen Award
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A L E A R N I N G N E W S R O O M FOR J O U R N A L I S M S T U D E N T
Conestoga College, Kitchener, ONT.
www.Spokeonline.com
44th year - ON. 18
Color Me Rad colour bombs city’s core BY HAILEY MERKT
With a slight scent of worms lingering in the early morning air, a gentle mist and thick sheet of fog, the morning got off to a gloomy start. The sky was grey, the streets were grey and even my nails were painted grey. As I arrived at Kitchener City Hall, I realized a few things. First, that looking cool meant looking cold, which isn’t actually that cool. The sharp wind pierced through my Lululemon leggings and retro tank, making me feel as though I wasn’t wearing any clothes at all. Second, that I should stay at the back of the pack so less people pass me, making me feel slightly more fit than I truly am. And third, that no matter the weather, I was going to have as much fun as possible. Minutes before the race’s start, hundreds of Color Me Rad runners herded together on King Street East for a lastminute stretch. Volunteer Zumba instructors stood on a stage near the doors of city hall, trying their best to pump up the crowd. A mix of reggae and ’80s classics blared from the speaker facing the street. As I looked around, my excite ment grew. There were hun dreds of colourful characters (pun intended) around me. Then a roaring backwards count from 10 got the race off to a quick start. A sea of white shirts rushed through the street, which would soon
be ruined. As I began to jog, the music faded behind me and the fog thickened in front of me. I quickly approached the first kilometre marker, which appeared to be an orange, ominous cloud with no end. I took a deep breath in, and entered it at full velocity. In the cloud were several colour bomb volunteers tossing the chalky powder into the air. They all had bandanas tightly fastened around their faces to comfortably breathe. I wish I had thought of that. I came out of the cloud doused in a tangerine powder, already declining in speed. The last 4 km of the run con sisted of a lot of speed walk ing, but I felt this was justi fied because I was a journalist so I had to walk slow enough to take clear pictures. Or at least I used this as my guiltfree excuse. Once across the finish line at Victoria Park, everyone was celebrating their fin ish through song, dance and photo-ops. A stage built near the clock tower boomed with music and colour cannons. An announcer came on stage with a fire extinguisher in hand and asked everyone if they were feeling rad. I think everyone replied yes. This exchange bounced back and forth between the announcer and crowd a few more times before she doused the crowd with a vibrant green fume. Color Me Rad is loosely based off of the Hindu Festival
PHOTO BY HAILEY MERKT
Four Color Me Rad racers rest after completing the five-kilometre run on Oct. 6. They are Victoria Ecclestone (green glasses), Reece Kent (yellow glasses), Katie Rosem an (orange glasses) and Erin Green (blue glasses). For m ore photos, see Page 6. of Colours known as Holi. It has been attracting colour cravers all across Canada and the U.S. since January 2012. Color Me Rad has sold out nearly every race and is even gaining popularity overseas. The race is coming soon to
Asia and the U.K. According to their website, colormerad. com, the race has “no winners or official times.” It’s for pure enjoyment. A portion of the proceeds raised always go to a charity in the community of the run.
The Kitchener event’s pro ceeds went to Triton Sports, a full service sport and event management company in Kitchener, which uses the money to assist youth who can’t afford equipment and supplies to join sports teams.
Student ticked at being ticketed BY CASEY SCHELLENBERGER
A Conestoga student, who parked in another lot after finding his lot full, is he upset because he was ticketed. John Hsu, a first-year busi ness administration supply chain and operations manage ment student, sent an email to Spoke on Sept. 24 com plaining how he received a ticket for parking in Lot 11, the daily parking lot, that same day. Hsu had purchased an annual parking pass for $462, which allows him to park in lots 12, 13 and 14. “I have a schedule with most of my classes in the middle of the morning, three days at 10 a.m., one class at 11 a.m. and
one in the afternoon,” Hsu said. “For students like me, it’s extremely difficult to find a parking spot because it’s packed already. “If you observe the parking lot during the middle of the morning, you can find students driving around in circles, cross ing their fingers and hoping they can hit the jackpot.” The problem seems to affect some lots more than others. “I haven’t encountered that problem myself. I’ve been able to find a spot,” said Cam Lavack, a part-time busi ness software applications instructor, who parks in Lot 1. “(However,) I was here today at about quarter to 10 and the lot was pretty full.” Hsu has since emailed
Spoke again saying he was told by Security and Parking Services that “after a few more weeks the parking situ ation will improve, and it’s actually better now.” Attempts to contact Security and Parking Services for information on the parking regulations and how they plan on improving the park ing situation in person and through email were unsuc cessful. However, Conestoga College does have its official parking regulations available on its website, one of which is “no vehicle shall be parked on campus other than in a pre scribed parking lot.” For other regulations, visit conestogac.on.ca/security-services/regulation.pdf.
PHOTO BY CASEY SCHELLENBERGER
Parking lot 13 is shown on Oct. 4 in the late morning, which is a tim e John Hsu, a first-year business administration supply chain and operations m anagem ent student, said is one of the hardest tim es to find a parking spot.
NEWS
Page 2 ♦ SPOKE
Tuesday, October 15,2013
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College Random questions answered by random students
The guys share their best pickup lines and the women share the worst ones.
“I like you: you’re funny, but not funny looking.” Rogaid Elgadi, first-year general arts and science
“Excuse me, did you fart?”
Rachel Fuller, second-year advertising and marketing PHOTO SUBMITTED
Qasem Najem (top left), a third-year student in the electronics engineering technology - telecom m uni cations system s program, poses with the fam ilies of Kyla Rowentree (left), Jennifer Shoniker, Stefany Piovesan and Aim ee Smith after completing the CIBC Run for the Cure on Oct. 6.
“I had to talk to you. You’re just too good-looking for me not to say anything.”
FIG H TIN G B A C K
Jacob Fernandes, second-year marketing
“You’re not drunk enough to think I’m hot yet, so can I buy you a shot?”
Education and support are the heart of Breast Cancer Awareness Month B Y K A T R IN A E P L E F S E N i
Stephanie Joy, second-year early childhood education
“You’re so beautiful; you made me forget my pickup line.” Nathan Bowern, first-year business foundations
“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” Jacky Linthorne, second-year
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Pumpkins or turkey, cos tumes or cranberries, every one thinks of something dif ferent when October comes along, but it is also a time for fighting back against breast cancer. According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, over 23,000 women and 200 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone in Canada. October is the month where people rally together to fight back. Every October survivors, family members and charities all come together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month to increase awareness of the dis ease. Some people participate in the events as a way to remem ber lost loved ones. Secondyear journalism broadcast student Kail Walters lost her mother 15 years ago because of breast cancer. “I remember seeing all these women who looked like they could be the mother, aunt or grandparent of another little girl like me - all waiting to do the same tests my mother
was doing,” Walters recalled. To this day Walters remem bers her mother as a strong woman who never let the cancer slow her down. “Never once did it appear to me like she was afraid,” Walters said. “I looked up to her - she was just as con fident taking me out to the park for a walk as she was skiing down this big scary hill.” The month after her mother passed away, Walters and her family did their very first Run for the Cure. This year the 22nd annual run was held Oct. 6. This 5-km or 1-km walk or run raises funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year it raised over $30 million, all of which went to funding research, education and awareness. I feel that these events and contributions are so impor tant because you never know whose life you could have changed for the bet ter,” Walters said. “I believe these events are part of the reason I can proudly call my grandmother, who got cancer when I was young, a
survivor.” One thing a lot of people for get is that you don’t have to be a survivor or a family member of someone with breast cancer to participate in any of the events held throughout the month. Qasem Najem, a thirdyear student in the electron ics engineering technology - telecommunications sys tems program, participated in this year’s run. Though he has not personally been impacted by the disease Najem sees the run as a way to support those with the cancer. “I always believed that we all share our community. It’s everyone’s responsibility to help others and support peo ple in need,” Najem said. “Support is to show them that we are there for them; to show them that others still care. And to spread awareness in public to pre vent cancer as much as we can.” For more information on breast cancer or to find events near you, go to www. cbcf.org/central/Pages/ default.aspx.
NEWS
Tuesday, October 1 5 .20 13
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Disco’s dead CSI’s disco night turns out to be a huge disappointment BY COLE FROUPE
It was a disappointing turn out for Conestoga Students Inc.’s Thursday Night Disco Pub held on Oct. 3, proving that disco is dead. The lights were dimmed, the coloured dance floor lit up squares to the beat of the ’80s soundtrack and Saturday Night Fever was playing on a screen in the background. However, at 9:30 p.m. there were only five people in the Sanctuary, all of them CSI board of directors. As the night wore on two other people - Wesley Hardy and Ethan Wynsma - walked in and everyone cheered as they approached the dance floor and danced. At 10 p.m. CSI program ming co-ordinator Becky Saba decided to shorten the night by one hour, ending it at 11 p.m. instead of midnight.
“Nobody has shown up yet for disco night,” said Daniel Hickey, a first-year health and fitness student, who was taking tickets at the door. “It was supposed to be awesome. We have a lightup dance floor, a great DJ, drinks. I don’t know how you could go wrong with that com bination, but I am pretty dis appointed right now. I am hoping that a bunch of people are just pre-drinking at resi dence.” At 10:30 p.m. a group of people came and every one cheered, but they left shortly after they arrived for unknown reasons. Despite this the few in attendance had a good time. “The ’80s night was very enjoyable, and the music was enjoyable and groovy,” said Wynsma, a first-year IT inno vation and design, student. “Also, the dance floor was awesome.”
PHOTO BY COLE FROUDE
Ethan W ynsm a, left, and W esley Hardy, both first-year IT innovation and design students, had a good tim e at the Conestoga Students inc. ’80s disco night pub on Oct. 3, despite a poor turnout.
Business is 'Worth a Second Look’ Local store gives new life to old furniture while helping the less fortunate BY TONY MCLELLAN
On the outside, the Worth a Second Look Furniture & Housewares building looks like every other quiet, sim plistic, two-storey brick building located on Victoria Street in Kitchener’s down town core. One step through the steel double doors, however, and the scene changes signifi cantly. A plethora of furni ture can be seen, including a colourful collection of couch es, cabinets and cupboards that cover the large, open space. Although some show signs of use, the vast major ity appear well maintained, and some even look new.'But every single item has been used, and many would have been destined for the dump ster if not for Worth a Second Look (WASL). The inventory does not include clothing, large appli ances and computers but does include “any kind of furni ture, any kind of housewares, any kind of electronics. You want it, we got it,” said Don Gingerich, one of the driving forces behind WASL. The store focuses on commu nity, especially on giving the less fortunate an opportunity to furnish their homes.
“The intent of the program is to make it possible for any body on any kind of income to get some of what they need,” Gingerich said. “We’re not in it to make money, but to help people out.” Gingerich’s words ring true upon closer examination of. the prices of the various pieces of furniture and small appliances, from hair curl ers to blenders. Gently-used couches that would have nor mally cost up to $300 are’ sold for $50, or sometimes even less. The same goes for the rest of the store’s inventory; both large and small items, all well maintained, are sell ing for a fraction of what they would have been sold for in a chain store. The store’s reputation is known by many in the immediate community and, subsequently, many items that the store receives are donations from the public. Many items are also those salvaged by volunteers from sidewalks. Gingerich believes that “we’re a society that has too much. If we don’t like it today, we can get another one tomor row. But where does that other one get thrown out?” In recent months, however, the donations and reclama
tions have become too plenti ful, with almost all available space in the building taken up. This is both a primary concern and a great source of joy to Gingerich. “If I could see more space in the store, which I can’t, I’d say we could double the size of the store” he said. “There’s just that much stuff.” “The place is really run by the volunteers. There are three paid people who work here, while there are almost 35 unpaid people who work here every week.” To say that the staff is com mitted would be an under statement. Last year alone, the volunteers at WASL put in more than 24,000 hours of unpaid work. At a store paying minimum wage, this would have cost $246,000. Worth a Second Look is located at 97 Victoria St. N., in downtown Kitchener. You can contact WASL at 519-5697566, or email don@theworkingcentre.org. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week days and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. If you have furniture that you would like to donate, you can deliver it in person or wait two weeks after contact ing them for volunteers to come and collect it.
PHOTO BY TONY MCLELLAN
Sim one Fougere sets the price for a cabinet. The piece is going for $55, in sharp contrast to what it would have gone for anywhere else.
COMMENTARY
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Tuesday. October 15.2013
Think, don’t text BY CALLIE WRIGGLESWORTH
Cellphones have quickly become a prized possession, and for most people, considered a necessity. It is not often that you see a person walking down the street, sitting in a waiting room or in line at the grocery store without seeing them scrolling through their phone or taking calls. It is one of the main accessories that many won’t leave their house without. They appear to be attached to everyone’s hands. People have mastered the technique of texting while participating in other tasks, including texting while having a conversation, weaving through crowded hall ways and eating at the dinner table. This issue is espe cially dangerous when texting while driving. Though people think they can focus on the road and their sur roundings, they cannot be fully aware while they are in “another world” talking with their friend about the party they will attend on Friday. As of Sept. 27, it is now illegal in Ontario to be hold ing any wireless device while operating a vehicle. This includes hand-held GPS units, MP3s and mobile phones. The only time a driver is permitted to touch a device is to push a single button to activate or deacti vate a hands-free function. According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, using a cellphone while driving is a key factor in acci dents. The ministry states, “Drivers who use cellphones are four times more likely to be in a collision than a driver who is focused on the road.” The Ontario Provincial Police website states, “Distracted driving is cited as a causal factor in 30 to 50 per cent of traffic collisions in Ontario, but is probably much higher due to under-reporting.” People argue that there is no difference between tex ting while driving and drinking a coffee or having a cigarette. In fact, there is a massive difference. When people text they are not just using their hands, they are using their brain too. So the government stepped in, making it illegal to not only make a phone call or send a text, but to touch a phone. Hopefully this will prevent many more unneces sary collisions and people will be less tempted to use their devices. Drivers caught breaking this law could face up to $500 in charges. Citizens of Ontario should take this matter more seri ously, and realize that this new law is there to benefit them. 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 contact ed for verification. No unsigned letters will be published. Letters should be no longer
than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.
CrackBerry has lost its edge The “CrackBerry” habit is finally out of everyone’s sys tem, and the local economy is really feeling the withdrawal. At one time, having a BlackBerry provided con sumers with an urgent and addictive sense of global connectedness. Having the world at their fingertips at any moment introduced the now irrelevant nickname, “CrackBerry.” But the mar ket has expanded greatly over the years, with Apple, Samsung and Sony surpass ing the former giant. Rebranding the Waterloobased company from Research In Motion to their popular smartphone name, Blackberry, was a feeble attempt to heighten their business profile this past January. The name change and release of the model 10 have also done nothing to get back in business consumers’ good graces. The release of the RIM 850/950 smartphone in 1999 was directed at the busi ness sector, and with rapid technological advancements, professionals became increas ingly captivated by the ease and accessibility of the data device. Emails, phone calls, a web browser and text mes-
Laurie Snell Opinion
saging with a handy keypad established BlackBerry as a dominant force in the mobile marketplace. Consumers were initially hooked, but now, with every BlackBerry model released, the company’s ego takes a hit because the device does not satisfy the market’s constant craving for technological innovation. These features, that once defined the busi ness, are now mandatory for all phones in this age of social media and intercon nectedness, causing the Waterloo-based company to lose their upper hand. By focusing on improving touchscreens, introducing applications and keeping up with current trends rather than enhancing and embrac ing the core business ele ments, the time for renaming could not have been better. BlackBerry’s research is no longer in motion, it just keeps the products average
at best. Current products are made to appeal to anyone, rather than the once-dedicat ed professionals who helped financially sustain the corpo ration for well over a decade. Rogers - one of the first mobile carriers to back Research In Motion in its early years - initally announced they would not carry the newest model, the BlackBerry Z30. The Z30 is expected to be the most expensive touchscreen phone on the market when it is released this week. However, executives at Rogers changed their mind after receiving flak from consumers, and will now sell the phone. However, this type of publicity, along with the announcement of 4,500 lay offs and steadily declining sales figures, is not what Blackberry needs. When a company docu ments large quarterly losses, PlayBook launch failures, significant layoffs and plum meting stocks, it is time to throw in the towel. Instead, BlackBerry is introducing one of the most expensive touchscreens as their last legacy before the inevitable pitfall.
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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
Tuesday, October 15,2 013
SPOKE ♦ Page 5
Workshop attracts new ‘cats’ B Y C O D Y S TEEVES
On Oct. 5 a new tradition started in Waterloo, helping support the growth and development of artists who play a more seasoned style of music. The Jazz Room, located within the Huether Hotel on King Street, was the site of the Grand River Jazz Society’s first jazz workshop. The workshops are designed to help sup port the growth of local jazz musi cians and also to provide them with the opportunity to get up close and personal with professionals. Those who attended the workshop ranged in age from university stu dents to the elderly. The workshop was casual and taught in a lecturestyle format, however, it was more like a conversation where onlookers were asked to give their opinions and views on topics at will. Russ Nolan, a New York City saxo phonist, was the first featured profes sional jazz artist who spoke on compo sition as improvisation. Nolan has an extensive career in jazz, playing the saxophone for over 25 years and has been teaching and holding workshops since 2005. In addition to the lecture/demo component, participants had the opportunity to play along with Nolan. “I was impressed with the students today,” Nolan said. “They played within their current letter (and) they weren’t trying to play what they don’t have down yet just to impress any body. To me that is a more valid state ment.”
Ashok Thirumurthi, a director on the board of directors of the Grand River Jazz Society, led the registra tions and setup of the workshop and helped put everything together. “It’s very interesting, it is a very focused scene,” Thirumurthi said. One of the many goals he hopes to see accomplished is to bridge the gap of having no formal jazz programs in local colleges and universities. The closest university to offer a degree is located in Toronto. During Nolan’s workshop he covered how to communicate effectively dur ing a solo with the rhythm section and how to produce a good harmony and melody within a solo. Those who brought instruments then did two dif ferent styles of playing on the stage. The first style was to play what they believed would fit as a solo with the current rhythm and melody. The sec ond style was to play back by ear what Nolan played. A younger audience is welcome at the workshops, whether skilled as a musician or just learning. Thirumurthi said he believes the current jazz scene in Waterloo con sists of roughly 15 per cent teenagers and that the current base can only grow. The next workshop is scheduled for Oct. 19 with Montreal’s Chet Doxas. Tickets are $5 at the door for the workshop and participants are wel come to stay for that evening’s show which will feature Doxas. Admission for the show is $18. For all upcoming workshop dates PHOTO BY CODY STEEVES and performances, visit www.kwjazz- Russ Nolan, a professional jazz artist from New York City, leads Grand River Jazz room.com/workshops. Society’s workshop on Oct. 5 in the Huether Hotel in Waterloo.
College students’ priorities are a bit off B Y G R EG S TA M P E R
Do you leave things to the last minute and then com plain when you have no time to do them, or spend money on things you don’t need and then notice your bank account is bone dry once it’s time to pay the bills? Of course you do, it’s an unwritten code for college stu dents. Students’ priorities, espe cially for students living away from home, are for the most part, completely backward. Instead of buying groceries, paying bills or simply saving their excess money to help pay off student loans, most students spend their money on alcohol, restaurant food and anything else that brings them entertainment in the short term. “I buy alcohol four times a week, it costs me about $80 to $90,” said first-year fitness and health promotion student Greg Dawkins. Despite the high costs asso
ciated with partying and eat ing out, most college students are not worried; with ease of use usually outweighing the smart choice. “It is more convenient and easier (to buy alcohol or res taurant food), you don’t have to do prep work or plan any thing,” said first-year office executive student Megan Ziegler. With the number of choices life presents to students on a daily basis, it is easy to be tempted to do the wrong thing; however, as students progress through school and get used to living away from home, priorities do start to improve. “Education is above fun and friends for me, it is my second time around (in school), but it was not my priority the first time,” Ziegler said. Not all students are as eager to spend as some of their schoolmates either. First-year health science foundations student Jenn Woods admits to going out
Mike Darling, a fourth-year accounting, auditing and information technology student, shows in this photo illustration that he prefers the new Grand Theft Auto V video gam e to hom ework. for sushi “a lot,” but also keeps a certain level-headed ness that younger students should think about. “It is important to stay focused and get an education,
(however) it is also good to be social and interact with people.” Don’t fret, college students, you will grow out of this mind set at some point and start to
see your bank account steady itself, hopefully. In the meantime start think ing about the right choices, and enjoy the free spending while you can.
FEATURE
Page 6 ♌SPOKE
Tuesday, October 15,2013
PHOTOS BY HAILEY MERKT
Hillary Crouse (clockwise from top left), Kaitie Jones, Jenna Lee and Caitlyn Carter m onkey around at Victoria Park in Kitchener after com pleting the Color Me Rad race on Oct. 6. Th ey joined hundreds of other colour-coated racers that afternoon.
Trevor Kearns, a third-year civil engineering student at Conestoga College, joins m e in celebration after finishing the race in good time.
Rad racers em erge from an orange cloud of coloured cornstarch at the first kilometre m ark on King Street East.
FEATURE
Tuesday, October 15,2013
SPOKE ♦ Page 7
PHOTOS BY BECKY SHEASBY
Tw o zom bies lurk at the starting line of The Running Dead race at Bingem ans on Sept. 29,
RUN FO R Y O U R LIFE!
Zom bies take over Bingem ans at the Running Dead race BY BECKY SHEASBY
The Zombie apocalypse is upon us! Run! Run for your life! People did just that at Kitchener’s very own Bingemans as it was swarmed by hundreds of lurking zom bies in search of tasty souls on Sept. 29. Mind you, if these had been real zombies, I would not be here to report on this story, I would have either joined their ranks or booked it up north with a hammer. This zombie apocalypse was staged as part of Bingemans second annual The Running Dead race, a 4-km run built to push participants mentally and physically to “survive.” “Running from zombies will be great motivation,” said Maria Code, a Kitchener resi dent who frequently partici pates in various kinds of races. The 4-km distance is packed with various obstacles. Runners have to pull them selves across a murky pond on a tiny raft, venture through a haunted house undoubtedly infested with a frightening number of ghouls, and throw themselves down a massive slip and slide with nothing but zombies and mud to greet them at the bottom. These are just a few of the hellish obstacles runners have to pass through. “Runners always really
Caged zom bies snarl at The Running Dead participants. enjoy it, it’s not what they expected, it’s better than they expected,” said Andrea Conyers, Bingemans amuse ment operations manager.
" I would much rather be a zombie than be the per son being chased." - Denise Ponte
“They don’t necessar ily think it’s going to be that challenging, it’s , not that it’s a hard race, it’s that they have obstacles ... and they get really dirty, REALLY dirty.” Of course, not only are the runners forging through obstacles, but they are con stantly dodging, ducking and sprinting from flesh eaters. Each contender is strapped
with a belt of three flags which represent their soul. The zombies chase the contes tants and do their best to eat (grab) their souls. After all, they are hungry. If a participant brings a donation for the Kitchener Food Bank, they are given a fourth soul to try and hold onto for the duration of this deadly race. Runners who cross the finish line with at least one soul left are award ed a medal for staying alive. The participating zombies are just along for the ride, as being a zombie is its own reward. I approached some staggering dead with hesitation, as I have seen The Walking Dead too many times and their makeup was far too convincing. I asked them why they volunteered to be zombies. “To be undead for one day and not have to do our hair,” said Denise Ponte, a
Zom bie Miss Oktoberfest growls at the cam era during the Running Dead race. Kitchener zombie. “Plus, there are some clowns here that are pretty righteous, I wouldn’t want them chasing me, I would much rather be a zombie than be the person being chased.”
If you’re interesting in pit ting yourself against a horde of raging zombies next fall, check out www.bingemans. com /screa m p a rk /ru n n in gdead/index.php for more information.
NEWS
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THERE IS NOTHING BETTER t h a n
f r e e b ie s
Tuesday, October 15,2013
It’s the battle of the books B Y A S H L E Y K O W IT Z
PHOTO BY COLE FROUDE
Zach Dodge, director of communications with Conestoga Students Inc., gives away free bags filled with swag to students in the hallway.
COMPANIES PUSH THEIR
PRODUCTS
PHOTO BY GREG STAMPER
Conestoga College often has businesses on campus selling their services and products. Recent booths included a travel company and Conestoga Students inc.
Each year a committee of Ontario librarians nominates the best Canadian works of both fiction and non-fiction for the Evergreen Award, which goes to the favourite book as voted by adult library patrons. The list of books is narrowed down to 10 prior to the voting. This year, as part of the Forest of Reading program, the Waterloo Public Library encouraged readers to come out and participate in an event called Waterloo Reads. It had local celebrities defending some of the nomi nated novels, trying to get the audience to vote for their book. They gave compelling and often amusing arguments as to why their book deserved to win. “The question we were asked was, why would a Waterloo reader want to read my book?” said Susan Cook-Scheerer, co host of Daytime on Rogers TV. She told the audience that the ties between art in both our region and in the book, The Little Shadows, are one of the main reasons why she believes readers should take an inter est in reading and voting for the book she was championing. While tied in the final round for first place with Mandy Brouse, co-owner of Words Worth Books, it was Richard Hepditch, deputy fire chief of the Waterloo Fire Rescue, whose book Indian Horse by Richard Wigamese came out as the winner at Waterloo Reads. While Hepditch may have won the local competition, the event was held to bring attention to the nominees and bring awareness of the award to Waterloo library patrons. Voting continues this month, either online or by going to the Waterloo Public Library or any of its branches and filling out a ballot between Oct. 20 and 26. The Evergreen Award and the Forest of Reading pro
PHOTO BY ASHLEY KOWITZ
Deputy fire chief Richard Hepditch reads a passage from the book he was defending at the Waterloo Reads event at the McCormick branch of the Waterloo Public Library. gram are run by the Ontario Library Association to bring attention to Canadian fiction and non-fiction and to encour age a love of reading. The winner of the Evergreen Award will be announced during the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in February 2014. For a complete list of the local celebrities and the books they championed, or for a link to vote for your favourite nom inee of the Evergreen Award, visit www. wpl.ca/2013/10/ evergreen-awards-and-waterloo-reads
PHOTO BY ASHLEY KOWITZ
Justin Smirlies defends the book Triggers by Robert J. Sawyer.
FEATURE
Tuesday, October 15,2013
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PHOTOS BYTASHA LUNNY
Left, Spirit Halloween em ployee Rae Olivia stocks shelves in preparation for the Halloween season. Above, Steve and Jessyca Majek look at a Halloween m ask Oct. 4 at the store, located in Kitchener. Below, Jessyca transforms into a zombie.
Halloween is not a dying day BY TASHA LUNNY
The essence of Halloween is alive and well throughout the halls of Conestoga College. A survey of 25 students was done to see if the spooky holi day still remained an interest after childhood. The results concluded that 92 per cent of students still participate in what some consider the most superstitious and eerie holi day of the year. Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago, from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. Nov. 1 marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that in the dark night of Oct. 31, the veils between the living and the dead would be raised, letting spirits walk on earth again. To commemorate the evening
the Celtics would have large bonfires while masked in cos tumes. Today's traditions have changed since the early years of All Hallows' Eve, as it was originally referred to. Firstyear business administration management student, Scott Patterson, said the holiday has become an excuse for kids to eat candy and college stu dents to party. “I don’t see any particular real value in it. Christmas is about giving and being gen erous to people, Halloween is just getting into a cos tume and giving out candy,” Patterson said. “At some point there was a value to it ... but that’s not anywhere near what it is today.” Though the holiday has evolved, some traditions have stayed true. During All
Hallows' Eve, children began dressing in costume and walk ing to neighbours' houses ask ing for money or food. They would carry a carved out tur nip as a lantern. Today this is commonly known as trickor-treating, and the hollowed out turnip has transformed into a jack-o'-lantern. It has been commonly said that Halloween is a child’s holiday and, according to Statistics Canada, in 2012 over three million children ages five to 14, trick-or-treated for delicious sugary snacks. In comparison only 20 per cent of surveyed Conestoga students said they still con tinue with the tradition as an adult. Instead, many have found new ways to participate. Whether it's heading out for a night on the town, themed
parties or just dressing up to hand out candy, adults are taking back the night. Patti Hicks, manager of Kitchener's Spirit Halloween, said people of all ages come in to get Halloween supplies, costumes or effects. “A lot of adults come in and buy decorations and even costumes to go to parties. Students as well come in to dress up and have fun ... it’s (a holiday) for everyone,” she said. Spirit Halloween is a store only open in the fall and is dedicated purely to Halloween supplies, which has proven to be quite a lucrative business. They're not the only ones reaping the benefits. Statistics Canada reported that in October 2011 more than $355 mil lion of candy, confectionar
ies and snacks were sold at large retailers. This was $79 million more than average monthly sales. It's not just a season for candy makers, costume stores or pumpkin farmers to have sweet sales, many other industries thrive dur ing Halloween. Second-year visual merchandising stu dent, Sable Martino, believes it’s also a time for people to get artistic. “A lot of merchandisers make such a profit on Halloween ... it's their big holiday for cre ativity,” Martino said. More than half of the stu dents surveyed said they wait until a week before Halloween or even less to get their cos tumes in order. However, the best advice is to do it way in advance before all the best ones are gone.
NEWS
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Tuesday, October 15,2013
Who likes short shorts? BY MARK LORENTZ
Hollywood may have the household names today, but Waterloo Region just might have the up-and-coming directors of tomorrow. The first round of the Berlin Shorts occurred Oct. 3 at the Registry Theatre on Frederick Street, less than a kilometre from Kitchener’s downtown core. Six short films were shown, ranging in length from one min ute to the maximum five minutes. After each film, the audience would vote on whether they wished to see more films from the direc tor, helping them move onto the second round, which will occur Jan. 30, 2014. Berlin Shorts was first held in 2009. It was created by Sam Varteniuk when he moved here from Edmonton, Alta, where he had already established “Metro Shorts,” which was just starting to become popular when he moved to Kitchener. “Kitchener loves new things,” Varteniuk said, add ing, “When I came here, I wanted to bring with me what I started in Edmonton. We did five rounds there. Here in Kitchener, we’re still getting started, so three works well.” Torin Langen, a film tech nician for the Berlin Shorts, said having a low budget or none at all actually helps with creativity, to make something out of nothing. Langen also said that events
like this help filmmakers network, finding people who are better at a certain aspect of filmmaking to help each other out in various up-and-coming projects. The winner of the first round was determined by audience vote, as well as a confidential vote by three local judges: Jenn Norton, a digital media artist, Randy Johnston, mid-day radio host of CKWR, and local playwright Gary Kirkham. The filmmakers stood in front of the judges after their short was screened and received instant feed back, via constructive criti cism and what the judges liked. Greg McCann thought his film The Eyebrow didn’t have a chance, afterall it, was barely a minute long, had very little dialogue and the voice-overs were record ed around a kitchen table. Varteniuk thought other wise, saying that animated films typically do well in short films. McCann ended up winning the first round. He received not only brag ging rights, but a trip to the next rpund, and a one-ofa-kind finger-painting done by Varteniuk’s two-year-old daughter. “I was surprised, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was my first time enter ing anything like this,” McCann said. Kirkham was surprised as well, saying that other films had more polish, and looked
PRO LIFE PROTEST
PHOTO BY MARK LORENTZ
Gary Kirkham was a judge of the first round of the Berlin Shorts, a short film contest held in the Registry Theatre in Kitchener, Oct. 3. a lot more professional, but at the end of the day it was about telling a story in a short amount of time that was engaging and creative, and McCann’s short did just that. McCann now has to come up with another film for the second round. Varteniuk has the top three finalists come up with an entirely new entry for each round, "It’s a kick in the butt to get their creative minds going,” Varteniuk said. McCann joked after win ning that he felt obligated to continue, and said, “I just hope I didn’t peak too early.” For more information on upcoming events, the Berlin Shorts or how to submit your own films, visit www.registrytheatre.com
a t g r a n d r iv e r h o s p it a l
PHOTO BY LAURIE SNELL
Ashley Grootenboer (from left), Rob Hum m elen and Ed Grootenboer, all with K-W Right to Life, pro test abortion outside Grand River Hospital on Oct. 6.
NEWS
Tuesday, October 15,2013
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College residence gets facelift BY STEPH SMITH
The Conestoga Residence & Conference Centre is, and has been, undergoing renovations over the last few months to update the building for its res idents and hotel guests. The kitchen has new floor ing and new sinks - one at regular height and one that is more accessible to those in wheelchairs, where before the kitchen only had one sink at regular height. With the new sinks also came a new coun tertop, however, the three old stoves remain. “Everything in the kitchen has been replaced, except for the stoves. We’re hoping to get new ones when the bud
get allows for it,” said Michael Ching’anda, general manager of the residence. “The patio has also been upgraded, except for the fence.” The patio, which is located out back through a pair of double doors leading from the kitchen, has had a new cement foun dation poured and it is now equipped with a covered grilling station and some new wrought iron circular picnic tables. “Some of the rooms have been upgraded as well, but it’s a work in progress over about a 10-year span,” Ching’anda said. “It’s generally one floor and one wing every year.” Ching’anda added that room upgrading will be from the oldest wings to the newest,
starting in the old building. The upgraded rooms have new furniture and carpeting and had the wallpaper replaced with paint.
" How do we make student life better? We want everything to be accessible and that all standards are met." - Steve Prentice
Some rooms that haven’t had the full upgrade have had things done in stages, such as kitchen and bathroom upgrades. These upgrades include new back splashes and countertops, light fixtures and new glazing in the bathtub. The bedroom areas have new bed frames and mattresses, as well as new 20-inch LCD TVs, which replace the old, nonLCD cable sets. “We just finished upgrading the TVs, but some students are saying that they aren’t big enough,” Ching’anda said. The upgrades are based on a priority initiative. “How do we make student life better? We want every thing to be accessible and that all standards are met,” said Steve Prentice, the Residence Life co-ordinator. Both Ching’anda and Prentice said the study rooms are being converted as well,
PHOTO BY STEPH SMITH
Caution tape was put up around the storm gates at Conestoga Residence & Conference Centre on Oct. 1 while they’re being repaired after residents dam aged them. adding that the one on the second floor, traditional side (where the rooms are openconcept like a hotel room) is almost finished and will resemble a boardroom atmo sphere. “The hope is that students will be able to connect their laptops to the big screen TV in order to share presentations and information,” Prentice said. In addition to the building upgrades, the residence has
STUDY SESSION o n
also upgraded their signage in order to better represent Conestoga College. Ching’anda said that the renovations will be on going and that there will be contrac tors in and out of the building over the course of the school year in order to work on some projects which include general maintenance, such as chang ing light fixtures and replac ing air conditioner vents* and other building upgrades
a s u n n y a u tu m n d a y
PHOTO BY CALLIE WRIGGLESWORTH
Anastasia Reznichenko studies by the pond at Conestoga College on Sept. 26. Thanksgiving is a stressful time of year for students. With midterms and family events, the sunny weather is welcomed.
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Tuesday, October 15,2013