SPOKE
Gifting gadgets Techies sure to love latest offerings. Page 7
A learning newsroom for journalism students
Monday, december 2, 2013
Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.
A home for the holidays BY MARK LORENTZ
It looks like Christmas morning; decorations, presents and a turkey in the oven. Yet for 10 young mothers with their newborn children, weighing heavily on their mind is the fact they are in a homeless shelter. They realize that “looks” and “feels” are two completely different things. Marillac Place, located within walking distance of Kitchener City Hall, opened its doors in 1987 as a safe haven for women looking to escape abusive relationships. In 1992, there was a shift in direction. Instead of catering to women from abusive relationships, they began focusing on pregnant or young mothers. Today Marillac Place has 10 private bedrooms for both newborn baby and mother, with shared living quarters. “I just remember thinking – she’s homeless? I mean, you just assume that someone would be looking after a pregnant woman. Sadly that isn’t always the case,” said Julie Hause, business manager at Marillac Place. At any given time the shelter can hold up to 10 women and 11 infants. They can stay
for a year, or until the baby is two years old. For liability and safety reasons Marillac Place cannot house toddlers. Women come to the shelter for various reasons, from court orders to having no other place to stay while pregnant. Regardless of religious affiliation, culture or background no women is rejected provided rooms are available and they are 16 to 25 years of age. “As soon as the mom comes in, our first priority is to get them on the housing list,” said Karen Gilmet, residential director of Marillac Place. When asked about what makes a woman succeed there, and what makes her job rewarding Gilmet said, “Success for me is different for everyone; a mom comes in who struggles with addiction, and her first week here she’s completely clean, that’s a success, compared to a mom who comes in, completes high school and goes on to post-secondary. Success to me is so broad.” There are approximately 2,700 affordable rental units in Waterloo Region, with most of those already having tenants in them. continued on Page 6
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44TH Year — No. 25
GET CRAFTY tHIS christmas
PHOTO BY TASHA LUNNY
The Christmas holidays are synonymous with cookies, cooking and crafts. Above, Kayla Lunny shows off her DIY Christmas bulb wreath on Nov. 23. For story and additional photo see Page 6.
Don’t purchase a parking pass being resold BY JOSH BURY
It isn’t uncommon to see or hear about students trying to sell their parking passes. The cost for an annual pass at Conestoga College’s Doon campus is $462, which doesn’t stack up favourably against a lot of other colleges in the province. Parking on Fanshawe College’s London campus, for example, costs $323.50 for two semesters. Conestoga Students Inc. president Jason Wright has been spearheading talks to have the cost reduced, and while he isn’t giving up, there have been no concessions made by the school so far in the price of parking passes. But Jeff Hannah, director of Safety and Security at Conestoga College, says that permit resale isn’t the answer,
because buyers could end up footing the bill for both the pass that they purchased and a parking ticket. “As soon as a permit is displayed in a vehicle that it doesn’t belong to, it becomes invalid. It’s as if there wasn’t a permit there ... it becomes an invalid permit.” The elevated price leads some students to consider alternative avenues for getting permits, such as resale and fraudulent passes. But the risks, should you be caught, aren’t worth the possible savings. “We don’t permit resale because we maintain control of parking sales, we keep records of all the vehicles and people who buy permits ... what that allows us to do is to associate a vehicle with a permit,” Hannah says. In the case of resold passes,
the pass is only valid for the original owner’s vehicle. This means the pass will be confiscated by the school and the new owner of the pass will then be ticketed for not having a valid permit. The school also reserves the right to remove your vehicle from the premises. This linking of the vehicle to the pass also allows Security to offer some additional flexibility to students, Hannah says. “If you happen to forget your permit one day, you can call us and let us know ... and we’ll put you on a list and not give you a ticket.” Instead of trying to sell the pass to another student, Hannah says students should turn it in to security for a refund once it is no longer needed. Security provides a pro-rated refund based on the date it is returned.
For example, an annual pass refunded on the date of publication of this edition of SPOKE (Dec. 2) would have 60 per cent of the pass’s cost refunded, minus a $30 processing fee, for a total refund of $247.20. Pro-rated passes can also be purchased when available. Students pay only for the time they will be using the lot. But many students aren’t aware that they can receive a refund. A student selling his pass on an unofficial Conestoga College Facebook page was asking $200 for one in November, when he could have actually received a larger refund of almost $300 for an annual pass. Hannah says that allowing students to resell passes without restrictions could create unfair conditions and encourage unlawful behaviour. “When you create a secondary
market (by allowing resale of passes), you incentivize theft.” It’s not hard to see why. Imagine being unable to purchase a pass at the beginning of the semester due to demand, or being admitted late to a program due to a newly opened seat. Then, someone who doesn’t drive, but bought a pass anyways, is willing to sell one for twice the going rate. A secondary market is in no one’s best interests, according to Hannah. “No one comes out ahead in that black market.” Stolen permits are even worse. A student who is in possession of a stolen permit is in possession of stolen property, and will be referred to the police to face possible theft charges. continued on Page 6
NEWs
Page 2 s SPOKE
Monday, December 2, 2013
Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College Random questions answered by random students
If you had to face down a horde of ravenous, man-eating zombies, with one fictional or non-fictional figure, who would that figure be and why? “Probably a Pokemon trainer, so you could be like,”Hey, could I borrow your flaming mammoth and ride it through town?” Jeff Hobbs, college co-operative education program
“I say Arnold Schwarzenegger, because of that Terminator technology.”
PHOTO BY Randi Clarke
Conestoga College students Marcie McClure, right, and Ashley Cathcart help transform the lower atrium at Doon into a giant Candy Land board on Nov. 22.
Candy Land fundraiser
Phil Marques, first-year TV broadcast
“Daryl from The Walking Dead, because he seems to be doing a pretty good job of zombie killing so far and he’s the best at keeping alive in small groups.” Alex Fleetham, electronic engineering technician
“I’d probably go with Goku, because he can kill everything and everyone. Also, he never really dies.” Carlos Remedios, media foundations
offers sweet treats By RANDI CLARKE
The lower atrium at Conestoga College was turned into a life-size Candy Land game board, Nov. 22. First-year recreation and leisure services students including Marcie McClure and Ashley Cathcart were there, outside of Aboriginal Services, setting up the event, which was held to raise money for KidsAbility. The organization serves children with a wide range of special needs. Including those with developmental disabilities and delays related to premature birth, medi-
cal syndromes such as Down syndrome, co-ordination disorders, autism, physical disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and communication difficulties in language, articulation, fluency and voice. Recreation and leisure services students don’t always sponsor this particular charity. It’s up to the students who run the yearly fundraising event to decide who they want to support. KidsAbility provides rehabilitation services for children from Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington from birth to 18 years of age. They
are one of 20 children’s treatment centres in Ontario and they are accountable to the Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Services. “They do the activity every year, but you get to choose what you want to do,” Cathcart said. “You just have to raise money for a foundation.” The students’ Candy Land fundraiser featured lots of different candy and a draw for a $15 Timmies card. Students were encouraged to participate in the game and to try to win prizes. Check out other events at Conestoga at http://blogs1. conestogac.on.ca/events/
“I would fight them with Freddy Mercury because he could sing down to the hordes with his magical voice.” Shayne Noel, media fundamentals
“Goro from Mortal Kombat obviously, because he could wield like four AKs at once.” Liam Newell, college co-operative education program
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!
Nov. 9 Nov. 14
Men’s Rugby Women’s Volleyball
@ Humber @ Humber
Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 17 Nov. 23 Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Nov. 24
Men’s Volleyball Men’s Rugby Men’s Volleyball Women’s Volleyball Men’s Volleyball Women’s Volleyball Men’s Volleyball Women’s Volleyball
@ Humber VS Trent VS St. Clair VS St. Clair VS Boreal VS Boreal VS Cambrian VS Cambrian
Brandon Innis Elisabeth Galbraith Chris Irving Jacob Robertson Alen Brcanovic Ena Hasanagic Dylan Cropper Mallory O’Hara Justin Reyes Leanne Sinclair
Staying Composed Most Blocks Most Kills Man of the Match Top Passer and best Defensive Player Setting Effeciency Efficient Offense Most Points Solid Passing and consistent offense Determination
NEWS
Monday, December 2, 2013
CSI chair resigns BY JOSH BURY
The chair of Conestoga Students Inc.’s board of directors has stepped down. It is not known why Paul Oniga, a second-year business administration – marketing student, no longer holds the position, as attempts to reach him for comment by SPOKE were unsuccessful. When CSI president Jason Wright was asked via email to comment on the resignation of an elected member of the CSI board of directors, he said, “This is a matter that doesn’t need to be discussed in the paper, we will not be commenting on this matter.”
Oniga had a history of critical analysis of board decisions. At a board of directors meeting in June, he voted against the year-todate financials, which were ultimately approved by the board. The discussion of the financials included points about the addition of an outreach budget to help board members gather opinion from the student community, and a discussion of staff phones and parking costs. At another meeting of the board on Sept. 25, Oniga raised concerns about two points in CSI’s governance policies which were tabled for future consideration.
Conestoga College students lined up to test their passing skills during Conestoga Students Inc.’s Grey Cup football toss marathon held on Nov. 20. The event ran across all three campuses, being held on Tuesday at Waterloo campus, Wednesday at Doon campus and then Thursday at Cambridge. “Students get 10 throws to try and sink (the football) into one of four holes,” said CSI program co-ordinator
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I won a $15 Bon Appétit gift card. — Dan So
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Rebecca Saba. “The four holes are numbered and depending on which one you sink it into you get a prize.” “The first hole you can win a $15 gift certificate, the second hole you can win a $25 gift certificate, third hole $50 and fourth is $100 gift certificate.
STUDENTS GIVE GIFT OF LIFE
According to these governance policies, the chair “assures the integrity of the board’s process” and “represents the board to outside parties.” However, SPOKE was told by Wright in October that only he should be contacted for comment on CSI-related stories, thus reducing the role of the board’s chair. Cameron Jones, former vicechair of CSI’s board of directors, is now the chair. At CSI’s leadership conference, which took place at Bingemans on Nov. 17 and 18, SPOKE learned that Hayley Press had been named the board’s vice-chair.
Students practise passing BY COLE FROUDE
SPOKE s Page 3
It’s been a lot of fun and surprising to see more girls winning than boys.” Some students missed completely, some students came oh so close but at least one student got lucky. Dan So bounced his ball into one of the holes. “I had the ball, I threw a nice spiral but it dipped too early to be honest and it bounced and I got lucky,” said the second-year business management student “It was a dirty goal if you want to call it that, but I won a $15 Bon Appétit gift card.”
PHOTO BY COLE FROUDE
Conestoga College students participated in a Conestoga Students Inc. football toss on Nov. 20 at Doon campus. Gift certificates could be won, ranging in denomination from $15 to $100.
PHOTO BY ASHLEY KOWITZ
Students wait to donate blood during the Canadian Blood Services’ donor clinic on Nov. 20 at the rec centre at Conestoga College.
Canada is behind on climate change Canada’s reputation when it comes to climate change doesn’t look too good, if the word during this year’s United Nation’s climate change convention is anything to go by. The 19th annual United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which was held in Warsaw, Poland last month, received quite a bit of coverage over its two-week duration. One of the things I have noticed is that Canada is in the back of the pack when it comes to rankings in a climate change report. This report was not just about how much a country is polluting but also about the policies and action being taken to reduce pollution. In this regard Canada performs poorly. I found it quite disappointing to see Canada ranked so low. We are ranked near last in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) report that was released to coincide with the climate convention. In it Canada was ranked at 58 out of 61 countries, only ahead of Iran, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. This report and these conferences to me are about the future and Canada’s inaction or at least the perception of our inaction is disturbing. Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq was quoted in a government press release as saying: “Canada is taking a leadership role in international climate change efforts by focusing on delivering significant
Jody Anderson Opinion
environmental and economic benefits for all Canadians,” and adding “the government of Canada is committed to establishing a fair and effective climate change agreement that includes commitments by all major emitters.” Stating that Canada is taking a leadership role in international climate change efforts while being ranked near last in the CCPI doesn’t make much sense. Even the things we have agreed to aren’t on track to pan out. The Canadian government agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020 as part of the Copenhagen Accord in 2009. Now, however, it looks like we won’t be able to. Breaking promises is bad for the environment and is also bad for Canada’s reputation on the international stage. Committing to that goal wouldn’t solve the climate change problem but it would at least be some form of action Canada could put its name on. This country’s name was dragged through the mud by the press covering the convention. Hopefully politicians will be embarrassed and will start addressing the concerns with a bigger effort.
COMMENTARY
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Monday, December 2, 2013
Slow down and give thanks BY Mark Lorentz
It’s the most wonderful time of year – for retailers. The holiday season is upon us and more than likely your chequing account is going to take a hit, but it doesn’t have to be a large one. Across Canada, less money is being spent on the holidays as we become conscious of our spending habits. According to a poll conducted by RBC in October, shoppers overall are planning to reduce the amount they spend on gifts by about three per cent, to $608 this year, down from $628 last year. From the outside a $20 drop doesn’t seem like much, however, a steady decline in spending has been occurring since 2011, and that’s not a bad thing. The holiday season has become a spectacle, from neighbours taking plays out of the Griswold’s book of having the best Christmas displays, to families of four having enough presents around their trees to hide the floor under a blanket of gifts. Long forgotten are the roots of the holiday season. While technically incorporating traditions from Biblical times, Christmas has always been about friends and family coming together and simply enjoying each other’s company, no gifts required. Children will continue to be spoiled, thanks in large part to jolly ol’ Saint Nicholas, who, even when money is tight in the household, manages to find a way to get that special toy, whereas adults are content with good food and drinks amongst friends. There are plenty of other ways to spend the holidays, including spending time at a local homeless shelter or seniors home, instead of spending money in the mall. Homeless shelters across Waterloo Region are always looking for volunteers, with some even being open Christmas Day to feed the less fortunate in our community. If you really want to feel the “spirit of Christmas” go down to a local soup kitchen, and don’t just prep food or wash dishes, but take a few minutes and talk to the people there. It might be a small impact on their lives and yours, but you will always remember that one Christmas Day when you shared stories and a laugh or two with a complete stranger. It’s important for us as a society to step back from the holiday rush, and really consider what the really important parts of the holidays are. The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.
Letters are welcome Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contacted for verification. No unsigned letters will be published. Letters should be no longer
than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Email letters to: www.spokeonline.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.
Fear not Mo Bros, it’s Decembeard.
Canadian Blood Services discriminates After 30 years, Canada finally lifted its ban on gay men donating blood. For a moment you may rejoice. It’s a step in the right direction you may say. Or is it? The ban may have been lifted, however, there’s a new rule in place. Men must abstain from sexual relations with a man for five years. This is a rule that most say is discrimination. It’s a rule that needs to be changed.
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Keeping the risk of HIV in mind should apply to all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
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Yes, HIV is still more likely to be passed through men who have sex with men. In 2011, the Public Health Agency of Canada released a report that estimated 46.7 per cent of those who were living with HIV were men who engaged in sexual intercourse with other men. The report also shows that 17.9 per cent contracted the virus through heterosexual contact.
Ashley Kowitz Opinion
However, it doesn’t take five years for HIV to be detectable. According to research, HIV will develop detectable antibodies within two to eight weeks of sexual contact. In even the rarest cases, it takes only six months for them to become detectable. In light of those facts it just makes a lot of us wonder why the wait times are so long. And the questions don’t stop there. What about men who only practise safe sex when engaging in sexual intercourse with other men? The five-year rule still applies to them. What about men who have been in a monogamous relationship for countless years with another man? The same restrictions apply to those who have been with the same partner regardless of the number of years they have been monogamous. They are
not able to give blood until they abstain. Of course, to pass the questionnaire men could just lie. It’s as simple as that. But that’s not the point. They shouldn’t have to lie. They should have the same rights as everyone else. The rule is absurd and needs to be changed. Keeping the risk of HIV in mind should apply to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. The United States still hasn’t removed their ban on gay men donating blood. However, Britain and Australia have changed their rules to allow men who haven’t had sex with another man in a year to donate blood. Canadian Blood Services knows that people find this rule ridiculous. The vice-president of medical, scientific and research affairs at the organization has been quoted many times saying that she is aware the rule change is unpopular. She says that this is a step forward and over time it will be reviewed again. Come on, Canadian Blood Services. This isn’t the ’80s. You need to step it up and join the rest of Canadians in 2013.
Spoke
i s p u bl i s h ed and prod u ced weekl y b y t h e j o u rnal i sm s t u den t s o f C ones t o g a C olle g e Editor: Steph Smith Assignment Editors: Casey Schellenberger, Josh Bury Advertising Managers: Brandon Hommel, Kelsey Dunbar Spoke Online Editors: Ashley Kowitz, Greg Stamper, Tyler Batten, Mark Lorentz, Cody Steeves,
Bruce Chessell Production Managers: Scott Dietrich, Cole Froude, Randi Clarke Photo Editors: Spencer Beebe, Aaron Creces, Katrina Edlefsen, Devon Hayes, Laurie Snell, Hailey Merkt, Tony McLellan, Tasha Lunny
Social Media Editor: Jody Anderson Circulation Manager: Callie Wrigglesworth, Becky Sheasby Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas
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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, December 2, 2013
SPOKE s Page 5
Information technology gets innovative BY AARON CRECES
PHOTO BY Aaron Creces
Guelph Mercury Managing Editor Phil Andrews talks about news globalization and the future of journalism at Conestoga Nov. 20.
Professors and students in the information technology innovation and design program at Conestoga College invited others to get innovative during a talk hosted by the program. Called “Global, Social, Mobile,” the presentation featured four talks having to do with creative social and business ventures using current mobile technologies. The event kicked off with an introduction by IT innovation and design students and Randall Kozak, computer sciences professor at Conestoga College. Kozak said mobile apps have absolutely exploded in recent years, creating a slew of new social and business applications to explore. “Once mobile apps came around it became easier for people to develop smaller IT apps. Suddenly you have smaller companies and a greater need for entrepreneurship in the IT field.” Kozak then introduced the speaker lineup, which consisted of Phil Andrews, managing editor of the Guelph Mercury, Ray Brunsting of the Tula Foundation, Collaboration Architect Howard Lenos, as well as Andreas Kyriacou and Andrew McGivery of the Systems Integration and
PHOTO BY Scott Dietrich
health-care initiatives in both Canada and Guatemala. Brunsting said he and a team have developed a mobile app that tracks pregnancies, making it easier for Guatemalans to get healthcare workers out to women with impending deliveries, the goal being to save moms and kids. “The app is tracking hundreds of pregnancies all over the country,” Brunsting said. “If you’re pregnant and miles from health services, which so many Guatemalan women are, people with some training who have been given a phone and the app can find out and assist you with delivery, or getting to the nearest hospital.” Following Burnsting, Howard Lenos regaled the group with his presentation dubbed, “Design Principles and Innovative Technology for Accelerating Collaboration in Knowledge-Based Industries.” Lenos was then followed by Andreas Kyriacou and Andrew McGivery, who discussed innovation service delivery at Conestoga. The presentation closed with some last remarks from IT students and Randall Kozak. For more information on the Information Technology Innovation and Design program at Conestoga, visit www.conestogac.on.ca.
Head coach Michael Kam has also introduced an incentive to train harder at practices. Team members must show up to every practice in order to be invited to tournaments to represent Conestoga. In addition, before each tournament, team members will play against each other and only the strongest players will represent the school. Kam says keeping an open roster rather than having a strict roster has helped to encourage competition and hard work amongst the players. “Basically we hold tryouts just before the tournaments to see who would be the best players to take to each tournament,” Kam said. “So that way it gave players who maybe weren’t as strong, but were really dedicated, room to grow and improve.” The addition of assistant coach Justin Imbeau has been part of the training reform. When Imbeau came in, he introduced training a n d c o n d i t i o n i n g drills that are starting to pay dividends.
Imbeau says that being able to hit the bird is important but if you don’t have good conditioning you will fall behind the competition. “I believe that footwork in badminton is probably one of the most important aspects of the sport,” Imbeau said. “It’s great if you can hit the shots, but if you can’t get to the bird and can’t keep up in the rally then you’re going to lose the game.” The team has yet to really make a mark at OCAA tournaments; however, at the last tournament at Fanshawe, the team had two players, rookies Jacob Lickers and Taylor Lightfoot, reach the semifinals in the consolation draw of men’s doubles. The consolation draw is for players who lost in the first round but may have faced a very tough opponent, and are given another chance to win games. The team hopes to keep improving their results, as they look forward to their next tournament at George Brown.
Badminton team whips itself into shape BY SCOTT DIETRICH
Members of Conestoga’s badminton team participate in cardio drills by jumping in a clockwise formation. Footwork and cardio drills have been an important part of the team’s training this year.
Innovation Department at Conestoga. The first speaker to take the stage was Andrews, who discussed the impact of the globalization of news on outlets such as the Guelph Mercury. Andrews was determined to convince his audience that news outlets are not dead or dying, just expanding. “We’re going from a medium that is entirely dependent on circulation, to a totally digital medium that just requires a few shares to get seen,” Andrews said. “We hear about fewer newspapers, but our readership is still going strong. One in two homes in Guelph has read the Mercury in some way, online or print.” Andrews encouraged his counterparts in the news business to go online and mobile in addition to print, as it is starting to look like the smart thing to do. “People who are calling themselves smart newspaper companies should call themselves smart media companies and expand their horizons,” the editor said. Next up was Ray Brunsting, who works alongside the TULA Foundation to improve health-care using mobile technology. TULA is a Canadian, family-owned organization that is active in equity and
Conestoga’s badminton team has adopted a new philosophy for this current season, shape up or ship out. Footwork training and conditioning have been an important part of the team’s weekly practices and members of the team said they have seen dramatic improvements to their game. “I feel faster now,” secondyear team member Steve Rudzinski said. “I may not be in better shape because of the beer, but I definitely feel faster.” Last year the team would warm up by running a couple of laps around the gym before going right into playing games. This year they are doing footwork drills and intense cardio training in practice before they even think of picking up a racquet. “Last year it was only playing games at practice,” Rudzinski said. “This year I would say we do 40 per cent footwork and cardio drills and 60 per cent playing games.”
news
Page 6 s SPOKE
Monday, December 2, 2013
Glue, glitter and good times
By Tasha Lunny
A small white pompom is glued to my fingertip and the pain is hot and scorching. “Go put your hand under the tap,” my mother said as she took the glass jar and glue gun out of my hands. “By the time we finish tonight, I won’t have any fingerprints left,” I retort while cool water runs over my red digits. I look around and I see the mess I have made. Glitter covers our tabletop and small strings of webbed glue hang off everything and everyone. We have only just begun and I have already learned one thing – Christmas crafts are way harder than they look on the Internet. Do it yourself is a popular way for people to get creative and accomplish tasks on their own without having to buy merchandise from a store or get a professional’s help. The Internet has exploded with websites and blogs dedicated to guiding the average Joe or Jill in their attempts to do everything from house renovations to making homemade facial scrubs. During the Christmas sea-
Photo by Tasha Lunny
Marilyn Nufer (left) and Kayla Lunny glue together a homemade Christmas wreath. son, sites such as Pinterest overflow with how to make your own wrapping paper, easy gift ideas and create your own festive home décor. I decided to take on the DIY attitude and get creative in making a Christmas wreath and snow globe. It seemed simple enough, the website
Students can get parking pass refunds From Page 1
“You don’t have to be the person who stole it, but if you have it and you know it’s stolen, you’re committing a crime in Canada.” Students caught possessing or displaying fraudulent or falsified passes will be fined $250 in addition to the normal penalties for not having a pass. When you look at the cost of an annual pass, the risk just isn’t worth it. Hannah declined to give specific numbers, but says that incidents involving fraudulent passes are way down – and he credits the increased fees. “We’ve had a pretty good downturn, actually ... this is the first year we’ve been issuing fines for permit fraud.” Security received authorization to issue the fines directly to students and to have the Department of Student Affairs log the infraction on the student’s file to cut down on paperwork and handling time. Unpaid fines can lead to revoked parking privileges, even with a valid pass, and even a financial hold that will prevent students from receiving their diplomas. The college also reserves the right to pursue criminal prosecution or further sanctions. “Every time we find a fraudulent permit, we’re pulling the strings and trying to find out where it came from.” He adds he doesn’t have a lot of sympathy for people who get caught because it’s “the type of crime that requires a lot of pre-planning.” It’s easy to get caught up in all the rules and consequences, but Hannah says the rules are there to protect the honest students who pay for their passes. “Anybody who plays by the rules and accepts that driving is a privilege ... should applaud this. Because the people who are committing fraud are stealing from them.”
gave pictorial directions and I had already recruited some family members in my task. My first bump in the road was equipment cost. Turns out some of these “affordable” crafts are not as inexpensive as you might think. The small things added up fast and before I knew it my crafts just became more than
my monthly car insurance payment. We started with an easy project – a snow globe. All I needed was a mason jar, a small plastic tree, a few pompoms and enough glitter to make Lady Gaga envious. I individually glued every ball to the bottom of the jar to create snow, then the tree. A
handful of glitter and some water and my small blizzardlike scene became a jar of swirling bliss. Three burnt fingertips and 45 minutes later, I had managed to fashion a small winter wonderland. The other task was not going to be as easy, which is why I brought in a professional – my sister, the craft queen. The wreath I had chosen was going to be built out of a coat hanger and a plethora of Christmas bulbs. After hours of positioning and gluing and positioning and gluing we finally were successful. We built a wreath worthy to be sold in stores. Unfortunately, it cost $100 so I decided to let my mom hang it over her door instead. By the end of the night we were all dazzling and it wasn’t only because of the glitter that covered all of our faces. We had spent a whole night working together and enjoying each other’s company. The crafts might have been expensive, time consuming and at times physically painful, but what we really created was Christmas spirit. That’s something you can’t find online.
Shelter helps women in need From Page 1
There is at minimum a twoyear waiting list to get into one of those units, something Gilmet said is “grossly long.” It’s hard to imagine living in a homeless shelter, even more so during the holiday season. Some of the women do have family they visit during that time, for others the staff at Marillac Place try and make it as festive as possible. “It’s focused on what they want to do for the holidays. We present them with the ideas that have worked in the past; letters to Santa, decorating a tree and kind of go from there,” Gilmet said. She added over the years she has even adopted some of the women’s traditions into her own home. “They go out to the mall with their babies, taking them to see Santa for the first time, and they come back and just want to spend 10 minutes talking about it,” Hause said. During the holidays, people and businesses from around the community come together and donate toys, food and other supplies for the shelter, babies and mothers. Some families even go so far as to get specifics for each woman staying at the shelter, finding out her clothing size
PHOTO BY MARK LORENTZ
A mother sorts through holiday toy donations for her newborn son on Nov. 21 in Kitchener. and personal wish list. tle campaign.” It involves colMarillac Place accepts dona- lecting loose change and filling tions of money and gently used a baby bottle with it. Volunteers goods. The only item which they will then collect and count the cannot accept is used baby seats spare change when the fundbecause of safety concerns. raiser ends on Father’s Day. There is a basic needs list This past year, Marilllac Place provided on their website, from raised almost $60,000. diapers to bus passes. To find out how you can make Their biggest fundraiser of the a donation or volunteer, go to year starts on Mother’s Day, www.marillacplace.ca or phone and is known as the “baby bot- 519-571-0722.
feature
Monday, December 2, 2013
Tech gifts for the holidays
BY SPENCER BEEBE
’Tis the season for giving; the holidays are fast approaching, and it’s time to start purchasing gifts for your friends and loved ones. Most people have a few tech savvy friends on their list, and finding the perfect gift for them isn’t always easy. What sort of gift should you buy for a gadget-lover or a tech savant? A new phone? A smart watch? A GPS system for their car? Well, look no further – your friendly neighbourhood SPOKE newspaper is here to save the day with this list of popular tech gifts for the 2013 holiday season. Roku 3 The Roku 3 is a streaming video box which connects to your television and allows you to stream over 750 different channels and services directly to your home – including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO. The Roku 3’s easy to use interface and fast processor make it the quickest and easiest to use streaming box on the market. “Not every TV is equipped with smart features – this sort of device creates those capabilities without replacing your TV,” said Danny Santana, assistant manager
of Best Buy in Cambridge. This device would make an excellent gift for someone who wants to improve their television. The Roku 3 costs $109.99. iPhone 5S Apple’s newest addition to the iPhone family is an elegant and powerful smartphone that improves on the previous model by polishing older features and adding new ones. An improved camera, fingerprint censor, a motion tracking chip and a next-gen CPU are just a few of the new additions. The iPhone 5S comes preloaded with iOS7, the newest operating system for Apple smartphones and devices. It costs $229.99 with a two-year service plan. Fitbit The Fitbit is a wonderful gadget for anyone interested in staying healthy. It is a wristband with sensors and a display that tracks your fitness throughout the day, recording your steps taken and connecting your information directly to your phone or computer so you can track your daily activity. “The Fitbit is another exciting addition. I’m seeing a lot of interest from students all the way to seniors - easy to use and practical technology can really
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make a difference in someone’s lifestyle,” Santana said. This wristband costs $129.95. Playstation 4 and Xbox One
The two newest video game consoles on the market will make fantastic gifts for gamers. Both systems have a strong lineup of games available (such as Call of Duty: Ghosts and Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag) with more being released every day. Both systems are shipped with dozens of bonus features, including the PS4’s Blu-ray player and Netflix support, and the Xbox One’s voice-controlled interface and live TV integration. Keep in mind that neither system supports the games of the previous generation – the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Sony’s PS4 costs $399.99 while Microsoft’s Xbox One costs $499.99. Sony Smartwatch 2 This is an interesting gadget that would make a perfect stocking stuffer for any Android phone user. The watch connects to your mobile phone and screens phone alerts, email and call information in real time directly to your wrist. Note that this device is not yet compatible with iOS products – so anyone with
Internet Photo
Having trouble coming up with gift ideas this holiday season? These tech gifts will please any gadget-lover on your list. an iPhone should check other smartwatch selections. It costs an affordable $22.99. Plantronics Backbeat Go2 This small and light wireless Bluetooth stereo headset is a step up from the previous model, with improved sound quality and battery life. The in-ear buds keep outer noise to a minimum, and they include a protective travel case with a built-in battery charger. These high quality headphones would make a great gift for any music lover or Bluetooth user. They cost $74.98. Garmin HUD Navigation Display Here’s a great gift for some-
one who loves their car – a transparent GPS heads-up display that attaches to their car’s dashboard. It gives turnby-turn directions to drivers and allows them to keep their eyes on the road and off their phone’s GPS. It requires the Garmin HUD smartphone application to connect and function. The device projects GPS information onto your car’s windshield and is easy to read and follow. It costs $136.84. All of these gifts can be found at electronics retailers across Canada or can be ordered online through Amazon or other online stores.
ENTERTAINMENT
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Monday, December 2, 2013
Miley comes in like a wrecking ball
BANGERZ isn’t exhibitionism, but instead an introspective, emotional piledriver BY KELSEY DUNBAR
Miley Cyrus has been receiving a lot of publicity due to her racy behaviour on award shows and in day-to-day life, but not a lot on her latest album BANGERZ, probably because her album isn’t as atrociously trashy as her publicity stunts. The album is definitely an emotional album, and reflects her recent break up with Liam Hemsworth. The album covers all the typical stages of breaking up; shock, desperation, anger, denial and finally acceptance. In songs like her latest hit Wrecking Ball, Cyrus expresses how she was shocked by the end of the relationship but loved like a wrecking ball. Unlike her lover she was the one wrecked after the breakup. If you can get the image of her music video out of your mind, and listen only to the lyrics and the tone in her voice, this song is extremely catchy and a must to turn up on the radio. In a lot of tabloids, many reporters are calling Cyrus desperate for attention, however, this is a normal part of breaking up and moving on.
CD Review
Her songs SMS (Bangerz) featuring Britney Spears, Love Money Party, 4x4 and her first hit off the album, We Can’t Stop, are all about acts of desperation and seeking attention from others, which is obvious when you lose the attention of the one you love most. That love is reflected in some of her emotional ballad love songs on the album. Of course, some anger is involved in a breakup, and luckily for us anger can give songwriters inspiration for some pretty great songs. In the song FU featuring French Montana, Cyrus sings of accidentally seeing a few things on her lover’s cellphone, and not being surprised. Instead, she experiences pure anger which she channels in her delivery of this song. I don’t really have much to say, I was over it the second
Odds are in Catching Fire’s favour By DEVON HAYES
The long-anticipated Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, has finally arrived, and to generous – and rightfully so – reactions. The film, which is an adaptation of the second book of a three-part series, features Katniss Everdeen (Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the two winners of the 74th Panem Hunger Games, during the aftermath of the first movie’s events. During the first half of the film, Katniss and Peeta struggle with being haunted by memories of the events, and Katniss has the added stress of avoiding romance with both Peeta and her best friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth). This time, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) feels threatened by the unprecedented outcome of the 74th Games and fears an uprising, so to reiterate his power, he forces Katniss and Peeta along with other winners from previous Games back into the arena to fight for life and the love of Panem’s people. While the series is popular for its young adult readership and its comparison to novels like
Movie Review
Twilight, Catching Fire widely focuses on the socio-political “chinks in the armour” of a dystopian government, and not so much the romance, which for the most part, takes a backseat. The film features a starstudded cast, including Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz and Stanley Tucci, who do an amazing job in their respective roles. Hutcherson shows off his acting chops strongly in most scenes, while Hemsworth gave a weak performance. Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence gave herself the chance to shine bright. Lawrence ditches the quirky, funny-girl attitude for a more reserved, pained persona as Katniss Everdeen. Though she has been nominated for one Academy Award for Winter’s Bone in 2010 and won the Oscar for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook in 2012, Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss may be her best. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
that I saw her name. I got two, ooh letters for you, One of them’s F and the other one’s U, Cause what you gotta do, is go get yourself a clue. In the first song on the album, Adore You, Cyrus tells about how much she loved her past lover, and even sings they were meant to be in holy matrimony. Some may see this as denial of her relationship being over. Nevertheless, it is an extremely emotional song and Cyrus had tears in her eyes while performing it. After every breakup each person has to reach a point of acceptance. In the song, Maybe You’re Right, Cyrus sings about moving on and accepting the breakup. You can blame me for who I am, It’s too late for us to try and be in love right now. Cyrus can put on many fake faces in the media and on stage, however, this album shows some true emotions from someone who is picking herself up after being broken. BANGERZ is relatable, and again, if you can get past the crazy images of Cyrus’s music videos, this album can be enjoyed by all.
NEW MOVIES COMING SOON December 6: Out of the Furnace (Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana) December 13: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch) December 20: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell) American Hustle (Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence) December 27: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt) 47 Ronin (Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Kô Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano) Grudge Match (Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kim Basinger, Alan Arkin)
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Miley Cyrus’s recent time in the media spotlight could lead potential listeners to pass her latest album up, but don’t be misled – it offers real emotional insight into the mind of this controversial and talented pop star.
Young actor helps bring sci-fi epic to new heights By KATRINA EDLEFSEN
Movie Review
Bad books make bad movies and good books make good movies, so a great book should make a great movie. It should come as no surprise then that a great book like Ender’s Game would become just that, a great movie. Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by American author Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game takes place in a future where Earth is attacked by an alien species called the Formics. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, played by Asa Butterfield, is an unusually gifted child who is sent to an advanced military academy to prepare for a future invasion. Directed by Gavin Hood, whose most recent work was X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ender’s Game first hit theatres on Nov. 1 and boasts big names such as Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley. Fans of the original book helped give the movie a strong opening week but it has since dropped down in the box office charts. The breakout performance
of the movie goes to Asa Butterfield who perfectly shows the mixture of emotions in Ender as he battles with his sense of humanity while fighting as a ruthless commander. Throughout the movie, the audience finds themselves rooting for Ender no matter what he does Originally set to be a franchise, the beautifully crafted and executed movie will likely not be reaching Harry Potter status as its powerful message may be lost on younger viewers. Rated at 14A, I would not recommend bringing anyone under the age of at least 10 to see this movie. A lot of the emotional issues are quite intense and the subtle nuances of the character’s psyche and the message of the movie would be lost on younger viewers. Overall the movie deserves a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
NEWS
Monday, December 2, 2013
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Oh Fudge offers sweet treats at Conestoga
PHOTOs BY Katrina Edlefsen
Maddie Perette, a first-year visual merchandising arts student, looks over the selection of fudge offered by Oh Fudge at Conestoga College’s Doon campus.
The power of a stylist They turn clothes into statements
BY BRANDON HOMMEL
The personal stylist is one of the hottest jobs out there right now, but how many people actually know what a stylist does? Let me school you. The stylist is in charge of creating a look that will be seen by millions of people every day. From award shows and magazine shoots to everyday out and about living, a stylist can make someone worthy of watching. So my question is, why don’t stylists get the respect they deserve? In the fashion world, the stylist is judge and jury. What they say goes when dealing with a client. However not only do stylists have to deal with their clients’ opinions, they have to deal with the media’s, other celebrities’ and stylists’ and the most critical critic of all, YOU. It’s easy to say an outfit is ugly while you’re snuggled up on the couch, with a bowl of popcorn wearing your, “comfy clothes.” But when it comes to actually putting an outfit
together, it’s more work than you think. Now you may buy a cute pair of jeans at the mall and remember an awesome shirt you have at home that will just match perfectly, and think you have the outfit of the year. But sadly, it’s not that easy for a stylist. A stylist has to think about brands, colours, accessories, makeup, the season, the event and new fashion trends. He or she has to create “style,” so to speak. But it’s hard to do so when you have hundreds of people a day telling you that your designs are no good, or, “You should do this instead.” Imagine if someone came into your workplace, and said you were doing your job incorrectly. You would be quite the unhappy camper, wouldn’t you? Now imagine you’re Brad Goreski, the hottest celebrity stylist right now, and you have clients such as A-lister Jessica Alba, and WWE Diva Stacey Keibler. It’s now your duty to dress them for The Oscars. You have to put them
both in dresses that complement their body types, as well as fit their own personal demands, whether it be nothing sheer, or no lace or floral prints. Definitely not as easy as just pulling a dress off a rack. Above all the stylist’s main goal is simple; Get their clients on the best-dressed list. That is the pinnacle in the stylist world. That is like winning the Super Bowl, receiving a championship ring and winning the Tour De France, all in one, but without the drugs. At the end of the day, while you’re flipping through your favourite magazine, looking at your favourite celebrities’ dresses and suits, just remember they weren’t alone when making their choices. People like Goreski are behind them every step of the way, making sure they look presentable for YOU. If it wasn’t for them, the outfit you were inspired to buy at the mall may never have been commercially made.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 In the Lower Atrium from 10am–1pm
fun & games
Monday, December 2, 2013
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Useless Facts
Oh Cliff!
Horoscope Week of December 2, 2013
Elephants only sleep for two hours each day.
Aries
In space, astronauts cannot cry, because there is no gravity, so the tears can’t flow.
March 21 April 19 Stay on task and that hard work may pay off. You’re almost there. This weekend: Finishing strong.
Taurus April 20 May 20
Keep focused on what you have instead of what you don’t, you may find more than you expect. This weekend: Perspective.
Gemini May 21 June 21
Keep your eyes peeled for a familiar face you haven’t seen in a while. They could have something interesting to tell you. This weekend: Catching up.
Cancer June 22 July 22
An academic opportunity could present itself if you pay attention and are open to it. This weekend: Eyes open.
Leo
July 23 August 22 It’s easy to lose sight of the few important things with so many unimportant ones obscuring your view. Stay on target. This weekend: Clarity.
Virgo
August 23 September 22 Trying something new could result in finding a new favourite. Be enthusiastic about what you find. This weekend: Open.
Libra
September 23 October 22
Hara kiri is an impolite way of saying the Japanese word seppuku which means, literally, belly splitting.
Being social can be a good idea this week once your work is done. Let people know how much they mean to you. This weekend: Good times.
An Olympic gold medal must contain 92.5 percent silver.
Scorpio
There are 240 dots on an arcade Pac-Man game.
October 23 November 21 It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it. Switching up your approach to things this week may make improvements. This weekend: Change-up
A duck has three eyelids.
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.
A financial decision could have a lasting impact, even if minor. This weekend: Treat.
Capricorn December 22 January 19
It isn’t what you’re going to do, it’s what you’re not going to do. Be mindful of how you affect other people. This weekend: Seek feedback.
Aquarius January 20 February 18
If you feel uncertain, it’s probably because the board and the pieces have been moving. Try to take a moment for yourself. This weekend: Resolution.
Pisces
February 19 March 20 Your friends are worried about you, but things aren’t really grim. You’re just giving off strange signals. This weekend: Hot seat.
Ephram Strange deciphered the Da Vinci code with a stolen hotel pen and an old copy of Tiger Beat. Yuri Fontaine has beaten a stolen tiger at Da Vinci-related trivia.
Word Search
Fashion
Monday, December 2, 2013
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High-end for low temperatures
BY Brandon Hommel
When winter arrives in Canada, a silent beast is awakened. A faint but glorious gobble can be heard, not only down the halls of Conestoga College, but in every province, street and back alley Canada has. The Canada Goose is here. What is Canada Goose? It is a high-end winter jacket company that was founded in 1957 by a polish immigrant named Sam Tick. Canada Goose was originally called Metro Sportswear Ltd. but changed its name to Canada Goose in the early 1990s. Since the name change, Canada Goose has become the biggest, most recognized winter trend in the world, says GQ Magazine. The popularity of these jackets hit a record high in 2009, making over $100 million in sales alone. But that’s not hard to do when just a basic Canada Goose jacket runs $800. The company doesn’t stop there; they now sell gloves, scarves and hats, which all include the signature 2x2, Arctic Program logo the company is famous for. The patented logo can be found on the upper left sleeve of the jackets and on many youths in Canada. The logo is trendy making it a musthave jacket. To many of the people who own a Canada Goose jacket, it’s a symbol
of being stylish and staying warm in the winter. And to others, it’s their cult badge, to let everyone know that they too are in the club. But it’s not all about the logo. It’s also about the warmth and comfort of the jackets, which they are famous for. That’s the reason first-year insurance student, Nathan Beers, wears a Canada Goose jacket and no other. “I wish the jackets weren’t so trendy. But the warmth, comfort and quality they have is like no other jacket I have tried on before.” Every Canada Goose jacket is down-filled with geese and duck feathers. The hoods have real coyote fur, which make it waterproof and wind resistant, making it the warmest winter jacket in Canada. Jackets have different warmth levels, measured by the company’s TEI, or, Thermal Experience Index, which range from -5 C to -30 C. When Mike Vaughn, a sales associate at Channers, an upscale men’s wear company in Waterloo, was asked why he thinks Canada Goose is so popular, he said, “It’s all about the kids. Look at Justin Bieber. Sure he is talented, but if he didn’t have every girl in the world swooning over him, he wouldn’t be that famous. It’s the same with the jackets, it’s a statement piece that says look at
me, I have a thousand dollar jacket on and you don’t. I’m better than you. And it works! It makes people want them.” Canada Goose does have competition though. Another Canadian company called Moose Knuckles sells highend winter jackets as well, that are more stylish and more expensive than its competition. If a Canada Goose and a Moose Knuckles jacket were put side by side, a regular person wouldn’t be able to tell the difference because the similarities are just too uncanny. They both have real fur hoods, an eye-catching logo located on the upper left shoulder, and are downfilled with geese and duck feathers. But, where Moose Knuckles has Canada Goose beat, is in their jacket selection. Moose Knuckles sells very popular pea coat and topcoats, whereas Canada Goose does not. At the end of the day, it’s all about what is hot and trendy right now. Who knows if Moose Knuckles is the next Canada Goose? But the one thing Canada Goose has that most popular brands don’t, is that they talk the talk and walk the walk. Not only are they popular because of their name, but what they sell is actually worth buying, if you have an extra $800 lying around.
PHOTO BY Brandon Hommel
Canada Goose jackets may cost a lot of money but they will no doubt keep you warm during the winter months.
Men’s winter jackets have some variety With cold months ahead there are a number of coat styles to choose from to keep warm BY BRANDON HOMMEL
So many teeth chattering days ahead, so many chances to freeze to death. But being cold doesn’t mean you have to pull out the long underwear just yet. Thanks to various jacket styles for men such as pea coats, topcoats, parkas, bombers, trench coats, duffels and aviators, a man can stay warm and be stylish at the same time. For the longest time, a man’s outerwear options have been limited to the same styles, in the same hues with little to no design whatsoever. But in the past few years it has really picked up, resulting in fresh styles and more choices. Regular topcoats, with the same drab colour schemes and design, have been revamped and shown in a new light. Showcasing fur collars, for the more daring man, with a slim-fit body
cut, these are the must-have jackets this winter. It doesn’t stop there, the topcoat’s second cousin, the pea coat, isn’t too far behind in the facelift department. Bringing back double-breasted buttons, dual-slanted pockets, higher collars for windy days and working shoulder epaulettes, these coats are very attractive. Parkas, as well, are making a comeback this season. A slimmer comeback that is. Sticking to original roots with a furry hood and down filling, parkas have just trimmed the fat, bringing to life what was once everyman’s typical winter jacket. Parkas are now being worn over suits, still making the suit look classy and sharp, thanks to the new form-fitting look and the dynamic colours they are being offered in. Fairview mall’s Stars Men’s Shop’s manager, Chris
Gaudette, is wearing a mint green topcoat this season, featuring leather accents. The jacket hangs just past his knees, showing off the pointy, narrow angled cut. “Picking a coat is hard. You have to love it or you really won’t want to wear it again, even if it’s freezing, I feel. My philosophy is this, if you don’t love it in store, you won’t love it at home. Buy what feels comfortable and don’t worry so much about the brand,” Gaudette said. Buying the jacket is the easy part. Finding the jacket is a whole other story if you don’t know where to look. To be trendy you have to think trendy. As Ryan Gosling said in Crazy, Stupid, Love, “Be better than the Gap,” and that’s what you have to do. Stores such as Zara and Topman, both located in the GTA, carry a variety of trendy jackets as well as many of the ones listed
above. Topcoats and pea coats range from $100 to $300 at Zara, while at Topman they are less expensive, ranging from $100 to $200. Danier Leather sales associate in Fairview mall, Dan Fernandes, is wearing a chocolate brown lamb leather bomber jacket this season. This jacket features a slim fit look, as well as two chest pockets with fully functioning zippers. “It’s all about your style and what you’re trying to let people know about you when you walk by them. I wear the bomber jacket because it gives off a tough look. You’ll be stuck in the same jacket all winter, so if you’re preppy, let everyone know and feel confident,” said Fernandes when asked for tips on choosing a winter jacket this year. Let’s not forget about shopping online. It may sound foolish to shop online for an item that definitely needs
to be tried on, but online shopping sites now offer a thorough size chart, listing approximate lengths in inches of each desired jacket size. Companies also allow any items bought online to be fully refundable in store, as long as the garment being returned comes with all tags, stickers and a proper receipt. With that being said, jackets online typically cost less because of online promotions and discount codes given out by the retailers. Thanks to the new takes on the time-tested styles of winter jackets like the topcoat and pea coat, winter is becoming less about the cold and snow and more about what you can wear to really bring out your own look this year. So, go find an old-style jacket that has been given a new life and make it into your own. Embrace the frigid weather with a daring new approach.
NEWS
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Monday, December 2 ,2013
Letting their creative spirit soar BY ASHLEY KOWITZ
Their motto is “let your creative spirit soar.” The Arts and Soul program provides a friendly as well as therapeutic place for people facing challenges to their sense of well-being. The program celebrated its 10th anniversary on Nov. 16 at the Cambridge Galleries. “We’re not there to teach. We’re there to facilitate and mentor. There’s a big social aspect,” said David Hurst, one of the organizers of the Arts and Soul program. The anniversary celebration had many ways to get involved, such as a tree where guests could write things that make them feel well on leaves to display. There was also a station where guests could decorate feathers that were added to the wings of an angel beneath the slogan “let your creative spirit soar.” They also offered refreshments to give visitors a chance to chat and get to know other people in their community. “It’s a very diverse group, a very non-judgmental group.
And a lot of them have financial problems, so to offer a program that is affiliated with the gallery is wonderful,” Hurst said. To help support the continuation of the program there was artwork by those who participated in the program on sale. “It’s quite awesome when you see the final artwork,” said Alfonso Espinos, a local comic book artist who volunteers with Arts & Soul working with the participants in his speciality, cartooning. Local artists such as Espinos volunteer their time to work with Arts and Soul participants. They focus on the process of creating art and not the finished product. “One of the best aspects of this workshop is that it brings out the creativity of every single participant,” Espinos said. In the main entrance of the library and gallery, Hurst gave a speech to all who attended. He looked at the past and present of the program and spoke of the future goals they hope to achieve.
PHOTO BY ASHLEY KOWITZ
Dafi Gilad teaches printmaking among other activities for the Art and Soul program. Above, she decorates a feather to add to an angel pictured below the program’s slogan, ‘Let your creative spirit soar.’ He also said they hope to add music and dance to the Arts and Soul program. The Arts and Soul work-
shops take Wednesday either the Studio in
place on the first of the month at Queen’s Square the Cambridge
Galleries or Riverside Print Studio, 7 Melville St., both in Cambridge. For more information contact 519-621-0460.