The Fulcrum - Volume 78, Issue 12

VOL. 78 ISSUE 12

Nov. 20, 2017

STRIKE STALEMATE PG. 6 & 17

Like Pandora's Box, some things are meant to stay closed.

TEXTBOOKS AREN'T ONE OF THOSE THINGS. The eCampusOntario Open Textbook Library is a virtual resource that contains nearly 200 textbooks that are available at no cost. That's right, free. For everyone, forever.

So whether you need to use the library to fulfill a required reading, find research material, or support a personal interest, you'll find resources available in a variety of user-friendly formats, so you can study anywhere, on any device. They also make for great coffee table books!

Ask your faculty about adopting an open textbook for your class today.

Visit the Open Textbook Library at eCampusOntario.ca

In this week’s issue...

How the Algonquin strike hurts U of O students P. 6 Joint programs like nursing are facing problems

Campus style in the cold P. 9 How students stay stylish in the frigid fall weather Who pulls the trigger? P. 12 What role should AI play in warfare?

Gees conquor the Colonel By Classic P. 14 Men’s hockey team wins a nailbiter against Carleton at TD place College strike: who’s in the right? P. 17 Why the professors are justified in the strike

䔀堀倀䔀刀䤀䔀一䌀䔀䐀 䔀䰀䐀䔀刀䰀夀 䌀䄀刀䔀䜀䤀嘀䔀刀 一䔀䔀䐀䔀䐀 吀伀 匀吀䄀刀吀 圀伀刀䬀 䤀䴀䴀䔀䐀䤀䄀吀䔀䰀夀 䘀伀刀 䐀䤀䄀䈀䔀吀䤀䌀 䜀刀䄀一䐀䴀䄀⸀ 䘀刀伀䴀 䴀伀一䐀 䘀刀伀䴀 䴀伀一䐀䄀夀 吀䠀刀伀唀䜀䠀 䘀刀䤀䐀䄀夀 㔀䠀刀匀 䐀䄀䤀䰀夀⸀ ㄀㠀␀ 倀䔀刀 䠀刀 䄀䰀䰀 䄀倀倀䰀䤀䌀䄀一吀匀 匀䠀伀唀䰀䐀 䔀䴀䄀䤀䰀 䐀䤀刀䔀䌀吀䰀夀 䄀吀 ∀樀漀栀渀猀漀渀瀀愀洀攀氀愀㤀㐀㘀䀀最洀愀椀氀⸀挀漀洀∀

Tomato: Donald Trump, clad in pink, wreaks havoc on U of O campus P. 19 From the White House to Tabaret, the US president is now beefing with the SFUO

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR Anchal Sharma

news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0061 @anchalsharma_

Nov. 14 GA sees two last minute motions, no quorum

Executive updates show SFUO went over budget on 2017 ELE fest anchal sharma news editor

O

n Tuesday, Nov. 14, The Student Federation of The University of Ottawa (SFUO) held their fall General Assembly (GA) at the alumni auditorium in the University Centre. This GA did not meet quorum, with roughly 135 students in attendance. Quorum currently sits at 0.75 per cent of the student population, or around 230 students.

The GA started at 7 p.m. with a letter by the executives read by SFUO president Hadi Wess. The letter welcomed students to the GA and outlined some of the SFUO’ accomplishments so far.

The cut off date to propose motions was Oct. 31, and the SFUO shared to their Facebook event page that no motions were proposed. However, a few hours before the GA, a new post stated that two motions were in fact proposed and could potentially be voted on.

Despite not meeting quorum, chairperson and former SFUO president Anne Marie Roy agreed to read the motions that were sent in, at the request of multiple students. The first motion detailed caps on SFUO executive salaries, which was met with applause by many in the room, and the second outlined the need for student involvement in course curriculums.

However, without quo-

THEFULCRUM.CA

rum the motions could not be debated, and the SFUO executive went on to give their updates.

BUDGET PRESENTATION Vice-president finance Rizki Rachiq offered his update in the form of a budget presentation. The presentation outlined expenses from the overall budget since the start of the school year, as well as clubs, services, the health plan, the U-Pass, SFUO funds, the Board of Administration (BOA), marketing, the University of Ottawa Student Emergency Response Team, and events such as 101 Week and the Everybody Love Everybody (ELE) Fest.

For the most part, the SFUO’s total costs remained within or below their budgets, barring ELE Fest, which ran a deficit. The budget for the event was $135,036, but the total amounted to $220,278, resulting in a loss of $85,242. Rachiq and Wess attributed this to the city permits necessary for the event to take place, and the added expense of police officers on the premises—something they hadn’t budgeted for.

EXECUTIVE UPDATES Vice-president university affairs Axel Gaga offered insights into a new sexual violence campaign being launched by the SFUO called Change the Culture. He also addressed issues regarding mental health on campus, and detailed progress on the U-Pass front, with lines being much

shorter this year, saving money, and the possibility of combining the UPass with the university student card.

Vice-president equity Leila Moumouni-Tchouassi added that sexual violence prevention and mental health services at the U of O have a long way to go, and she plans on integrating a sexual violence prevention network to help survivors of sexual assault before the end of her term, and that conversations about sexual violence need to be intersectional.

She also talked about her role in the well being committee and the peer help centre, which she said can provide affordable tutoring, and a mental health phone line for those in need.

Moumouni-Tchouassi also expressed concern about accessibility on campus, and mentioned that the Centre for Students with Disabilities is working on improving the situation.

She also touched on upcoming events like Know Your Rights for international students, Woke Wednesdays, which will see different activities on campus like trivia nights to open discussion on equity issues, and a Trans Clothing Swap by the Pride Centre.

According to Moumouni-Tchouassi, the winter registration period for clubs starts on Monday, Nov. 20.

Vice-president services and communication Kathryn LeBlanc discussed the SFUO’s online growth, rebranding, and website optimization, as well as the introduction of blogs on the website.

Students joined SFUO executives and board at RGN on Nov. 5 to protest proposed motions.

Wess, who is still filling the vacant vice-president social portfolio said that this year saw one the safest 101 Weeks in history, with the least amount of ambulances called.

Wess further mentioned the social justice fair, and the SFUO’s work with the World University Service of Canada to sponsor student refugees, of which there are six this year.

He also talked about townhall meetings, which is a new initiative put forth by the SFUO to answer questions students may have about their executives.

Wess added that an Indigenous mural is in the works and will be placed in the University Centre.

QUESTION PERIOD A 20-minute question period saw students voice many of the same concerns that they had at the previous BOA meeting on Nov. 5.

Members of the pro life club asserted that their voices were being silenced, and repeatedly asked Moumouni-Tchouassi why their club status was revoked, to the same answer from Mou mou n i-Tc hou a s si ,

Photos: Parker Townes.

regarding other students’ concerns over disturbing images and doll parts displayed during their tabling.

One student asked if they could “have their $190 back” and no longer be part of the federation due to their club status being revoked and their loss of freedom of expression.

Other questions centered around the seeming lack of promotion for the GA, the budget, and plans for Black History Month.

A full GA report can be found on the SFUO website.

NEWS | 5

U of O nursing students organize rally in protest of College strike Algonquin College strike affecting nursing students in joint university-college programs Ellie Sabourin

associate news editor Students in the University of Ottawa’s joint nursing program with Algonquin College are facing a great deal of frustration as their classes at Algonquin have been cancelled for five weeks now due to the Ontario colleges faculty strike.

In response to the U of O’s lack of action, the students have organized a rally on Monday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. on Tabaret lawn.

Matt Stewart is a third-year student in the program, meaning that the entirety of his studies take place at Algonquin, despite being a U of O student.

In first-year, students take one class per semester at the college, more in second-year, and in third and fourth year all of their classes are taken at the college.

“Since the strike has started I’ve had zero classes,” Stewart said. “So far, we have missed 12 lectures, five labs, eight out of 12 clinical days, along with two

midterms, an essay submission, and a math test.”

Stewart, who had just finished his maternity placement but missed almost the entirety of his paediatric placement due to the strike adds that “it’s a real let down because clinical is where you really learn and grow as a student nurse.”

The main frustration among the students lies in the U of O’s response to the colleges strike.

“The University of Ottawa has done nothing,” said Stewart.

The bachelor of science in nursing program has two streams at the university, with one being the collaborative stream with Algonquin, and the other the full U of O stream.

“The university has a full Faculty of Nursing professors that are not on strike, and they have done absolutely nothing for us, when we believe we could have been moved over in the interim and be taught by them while we wait for the strike to end.”

The students in the joint pro-

gram pay tuition to the U of O and not to Algonquin College.

“The university should have set something up to ensure we do not fall behind, but they have not and have failed us,” Stewart said.

Students in the program say that they have had a representative from the group compose and deliver a letter on their behalf to the U of O. However, the university told the students that a response would not be issued right away, but rather in a week’s time.

“This obviously doesn’t help us at all, and shows that the university has no intention on helping us succeed in our studies,” said Stewart. “The students of theirs affected by the strike are not their top priority right now, when we should be.”

Overall, it has been the stress and uncertainty that has been the hardest on the students.

“We’re all stressed out and worried as to what it will do to our year, hoping it doesn’t delay us graduating,” said Stewart. “If

The U of O nursing students rally will be held on Nov. 20.

it delays our graduation, that will then delay when we can write our certifying exam to become a registered nurse, which then delays us starting our careers.”

According to the CBC, there are around 100 collaborative programs between universities and colleges across Ontario.

Neomie Duval, media relations manager at the U of O responded to these concerns with a statement on behalf of the university in an email to the Fulcrum.

“The University is aware of the students concerns and understands the impact that the suspended classes could have

Photo: Eric Davidson.

on the semester. The University is currently working on several options to limit the impact on the courses and placements of the students affected by the Ontario college strike.”

The U of O nursing students rally will be held on Monday, November 20th at 1 p.m. on the lawn of Tabaret Hall.

U of O law professor appointed to federal court

Sébastien Grammond replaces Justice Simon Noël as federal judge Ellie Sabourin

Associate News Editor A professor in the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, civil law section, Sébastien Grammond, has been named Canada’s newest judge to the Federal Court.

The announcement was made on Friday, Oct. 20 followed by a tweet by the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, that read, “Proud to announce Sébastien Grammond is appointed a judge of the Federal Court. He has led notable reforms on child welfare legislation. He has also led reforms on services in First Nations communities, customary adoption and sex assault victims’ rights.”

Grammond has taught at the U of O for 13 years and also served as dean of the university’s Faculty of Law from 2009 to 2014. His areas of research expertise include Indigenous identity, In-

digenous legal systems, and contractual justice.

Grammond holds a degree in engineering, as well as a bachelor of laws and a master of laws from the Université de Montréal. From there, he went on to complete his doctorate in law at the University of Oxford in 2004.

According to the Department of Justice, “Grammond’s pro bono advocacy led to a ‘historic’ human rights judgment on discriminatory underfunding of child welfare services in First Nations communities.”

Over the course of his career so far, Grammond has earned the Quebec Bar Merit Award, the Mundell Medal and the Ontario Bar Association President’s Award.

In his new position, he replaces Justice Simon Noël, who elected to become a supernumerary judge, meaning he’ll work on a part-time basis only, effective Sept. 1, 2018.

The announcement was made on Friday, Oct. 20.

6 | NEWS

Photo: Courtesy of Sébastien Grammond.

THEFULCRUM.CA

U of O student’s discovery may advance genetic disease treatment

Student’s new findings are shifting ideas on spinal muscular atrophy eric davidson editor-in-chief

Marc-Olivier Deguise is no stranger to spending time in hospitals. The combination of a peanut allergy and an overprotective mother meant he spent a lot of time with doctors when he was a kid.

While Deguise says his condition was easy to manage, spending the time in the hospital opened his eyes to the struggles other children were facing.

“There were a lot of kids that weren’t as lucky as I was… I had the sense at this point that I wanted to do something that would help children,” said Deguise. “Being in a hospital, medicine came out very quickly.”

Now, Deguise is doing a joint PhD-MD program at the University of Ottawa, and hopes to help children who are in the hospital with serious conditions. Working in Dr. Rashmi Kothary’s lab at the Ottawa Hospital, Deguise has been studying a genetic condition called spinal muscular at-

rophy that often targets very young children.

“Spinal muscular atrophy is a pediatric disorder that affects children, generally under two, and usually they die before their fifth birthday,” Deguise said.

Deguise has been working with the disease at Kothary’s lab for five years now, but it was during a routine process that he saw something he didn’t expect.

“It was just an observation as we were dissecting (mice) for a muscle project, I noticed that we couldn’t find the spleen and one of the immune organs,” he said.

“When we looked closely, it was because the spleen was actually very small.”

This observation sparked a whole new project, where Deguise and the lab looked at different immune organs in mice.

Deguise’s recent findings will also have an impact on a long-running debate on the best way to treat spinal muscular atrophy.

“The central dogma of the (spinal muscular atrophy) community used to be, ‘let’s study motor neurons,’” he said.

“But now a lot more people are accepting that there are problems in other organs… that was very fulfilling for us to see that people are slowly changing their train of thought.”

After Deguise published his results, he said that other members of the academic community came out with similar findings, adding credibility to his research. After this, Deguise said that he realized that his work would take on a larger role in the discussion on how to treat the disease.

“I was super happy,” said Deguise. “This was not going to be a study that a few people would hang on to and after a few years would just get forgotten.”

Deguise said that there will have to be more research into how this could affect humans, and that his lab is preparing to collaborate with clinicians to work with spinal

Marc-Olivier Deguise studies spinal muscular atrophy.

muscular atrophy patients and study their spleens. “We’ll see whether our mouse models are telling the truth.”

He added that the he and others in Kothary’s lab

are trying to identify what causes the smaller spleens he observed.

As for Deguise, he plans to become a doctor specializing in pediatrics or pediatric neurol-

Photo: CC, Mortadelo2005.

ogy. But he says research will always be a big part of his life.

“I am not letting research go,” he said. “You have a life question you’re trying to answer, it gives you a bigger goal.”

SFUO votes to allow comptroller general to run in general elections Comptroller general “blindsided” by regulations preventing her from running Eric Davidson Editor-in-Chief

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) held a last-minute Board of Administration (BOA) meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in Montpetit Hall.

There were only two items on the agenda. First was the second reading of governance review motion brought by the SFUO at their last BOA meeting on Nov. 5. As it is a constitutional change, the motion required two readings. The second item on the list was a time-sensitive motion to allow the SFUO’s new comptroller general to run in this year’s general election.

The governance review, which looks to rejig and clarify the roles of executive positions of the SFUO, passed fairly easily, though some board members were unclear about how all the requirements listed would be enforced. SFUO presi-

THEFULCRUM.CA

dent Hadi Wess said that the language requirement would be tested, but as others are more difficult to test, they would be used more as guidelines for those who are trying to decide if the position is right for them.

Now that the governance review motion has passed its second reading, it will officially become part of the SFUO’s updated constitution.

The second motion saw longer discussions. Last year’s SFUO general elections saw a previous comptroller general, Tanner Tallon, running against the current vice-president finance Rizki Rachiq. Rachiq said at the Nov. 15 meeting that Tallon abused his powers as comptroller general to audit his opponents and cast doubt over the election results once Rachiq won.

After the election, the BOA voted to remove Tallon from his post in a session that was closed to the public.

They also voted at another meeting to enforce a “cool down period” where the comptroller general has to wait a year before running in SFUO elections.

However, current comptroller general Pamela Bader said that she was not told of this rule when she was accepted the position. She added that as the constitution posted on the federation’s website is out of date, there was no way that she could have been expected to know that she would not be allowed to run in the next general election.

Because of this, members of the BOA put forward a motion designed specifically around Bader, saying that she would be allowed to run for an executive position on the SFUO this coming election. They did this at a special meeting because the nomination period for the election begins in December.

Bader said she wants to

Photo: Eric Davidson.

run in the upcoming election, though she did not specify which executive position. She added that she was “blindsided” by the news that under current rules, she would not be allowed to run.

Several members of the current executive, including

Wess and Rachiq, said they wanted the motion to pass, as it was unfair to Bader that she had not been given the accurate information.

After some debate, the motion passed.

However, this motion deals only with Bader’s case.

Members of the board said

that they will bring motions to deal with how comptrollers general can run in SFUO elections in future years at their BOA meeting in December.

The next BOA meeting will be held on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. with a location to be announced at a later date.

NEWS | 7

A&C EDITOR Ryan Pepper arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE U of O student explores technology, trauma in new art exhibit (613) 695-0062 @pep_ryan

Painting Now explores the relationship between tech and art Marina Ghebrial Fulcrumcontributor

A

tticus Gordon, a third-year bachelor of fine Arts student at the University of Ottawa, is exploring time, space, technology, and trauma in his new solo exhibition, Painting Now.

The exhibit, which opened on Nov. 16 in Gallery 115,“deals with the language of painting and the old forms that make painting, but at the same time some new technological aspect: a projection, a phone screen, or a printing of the actual work itself,” Gordon explained.

“There is an exploration of the relationship between new technologies and painting.”

The piece “Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction” consists of three seemingly identical paintings—a building in the distance being photographed by a man in the

foreground—and below them are pictures of those respective paintings, being projected onto the wall.

The difference between the actual paintings and the digital manifestations of the paintings are made clear; the caution lies in the false sense of experience. The painting is inspired by cultural theorist Walter Benjamin’s essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Its Mechanical Reproducibility,” which deals with the authenticity of art and mass reproductions.

“How often do we actually see the original piece?” Gordon said.

“We usually see it as a digital copy or print copy in a book.” He wants us to ask if the authenticity of works of art is lost when technologically reproduced.

Gordon’s collection seems to suggest that it isn’t. In fact, the pieces combine painting and technology to enhance and introduce a new contemporary art form.

Technology allows the paintings to extend across space and time. For instance, one piece features within it two cellphone screens, showing a

time-lapse-like progression of that same painting being made.

“War Painting After Otto Dix” explores themes of trauma, space, and authority. Gordon is interested in history and catastrophic events like wars because they reveal the limits of human experience and human endurance—a theme he finds potent in the work of Weimar-era painter Otto Dix. The painting features the entrance to a home seemingly in ruins, with a hanging skeleton above the doorway, cloudy landscape, a scene of chairs instead of a sky, and a person in the foreground painting a portrait of it all.

To Gordon, a space can convey meaning and especially express trauma.

“If we were in this hallway and there was a horrific conflict here, and this hallway was partially destroyed, we would read that space a lot differently,” he said.

Showcased via the miniature projectors that hang over the piece are photographs of buildings which suggest a sense of authority and austerity.

One of Gordon’s pieces on display in Gallery 115.

Photo: Parker Townes.

The majority of Gordon’s paintings include a person painting or photographing, which acts as a commentary on painting itself to initiate a discussion: What is painting’s role?

Are its structures still validated or have they shifted overtime?

“There’s really nothing like it— putting paint on the surface and

creating something,” Gordon said. “I think I’ll always stick with painting, but I really like installation. Installing stuff dealing with space—I think that’s fun and interesting.”

Painting Now at Gallery 115 is free of charge to University of Ottawa students and professors until Thursday, Nov. 23.

ALBUM REVIEW: Taylor Swift• Reputation | 8/10

Perushka Gopalkista fulcrum contributor

It’s been two years since Taylor Swift released her retro-inspired pop album 1989, and it’s now clear her daring shift from country music to pop was just the beginning of her artistry.

Swift’s humble beginnings in country soon led to her successful albums Fearless (2006) and Speak Now (2010).

In 2012, her music started to diverge into the pop direction, resulting in the release of Red. In her latest release, titled Reputation, Swift explores her complex, edgier side, which came as a surprise to fans when a teaser of the “new Taylor” appeared on her Instagram account. The 15-track album encapsulates a range of diverse songs, including electronic pop as well as hip-hop beats. The album also features longtime collaborators Max Martin, Shell-

back, and singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.

The album opens with “...

Ready For It,” which features Swift rapping over an electronic beat, to which she acknowledges the effects that her past relationships had on her: “I was a robber first time that he saw me/ Stealing hearts and running off and never saying sorry.” Ed Sheeran and rapper Future appear on the hip hop inspired track “End Game,” where Swift sings about wanting to be someone’s first love.

As the album progresses, Swift continues to establish an eclectic range by incorporating 80s infused sounds within songs such as “Gorgeous” and “Getaway Car,” which salute the new beginnings of love as well as the mistakes that happen along the way. These tracks may have been inspired by Swift’s retro-driven album 1989.

Apart from reflecting

8 | ARTS & CULTURE

on her previous mistakes with love, Swift doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to creating so-called “diss” tracks against the media. On heavily produced tracks such as “I Did Something Bad” and “Don’t Blame Me,” Swift dismisses criticism from the media of her highly scrutinized love life while at the same time embracing her new reputation, repeatedly singing, “They think I did something bad/Then why’s it feel so good?”

Swift subtly acknowledges her beef against her rumored rivals as well as establishing the “new Taylor” image in the album’s lead single “Look What You Made Me Do.” This track creates an ominous yet unique sound as Taylor lets the listeners know that the old Taylor is “dead.”

The ballad “New Year’s Day” brings the album to a close. It encapsulates the hardships and memories of

Reputation is available in stores now.

an intimate loss, as she sings, “Hold on to the memories/ They will hold on to you.”

Taylor also recently performed this track on The Tonight Show as tribute to Jimmy Fallon’s recent loss of his mother.

Reputation serves as a mas-

terpiece filled with energetic sounds and meaningful lyrics that strengthen Swift’s new image, of which fans can’t seem to get enough.

From her effortless shift from the country music world to being a revolutionary pop star, Taylor Swift

Photo: Big Machine Records.

constantly proves that she is an ever-evolving artist in today’s fast-paced music industry.

Reputation is available now on iTunes and in physical copy.

In keeping with her past decision, the album is not available on streaming services.

THEFULCRUM.CA

CAMPUS STYLE: Bracing for the cold

W

ith fall in full swing at the University of Ottawa, we students must adapt to the chillier weather. The Fulcrum went around and found some stylish individuals who maintain their sharp looks as the mercury goes down.

Justin Chang, third-year chemistry What are you wearing?

DKNY outer coat, Y3 sweater, NMDs (shoes), and a Zara turtleneck Do you think there’s a point to dressing up for school?

It’s not important, but I feel happy when I dress nicer, in a better mood.

Any fashion advice?

If you don’t know what to wear, go with black. Just black with some other colour..

Photos: Parker Townes

Ryan PepPer

Arts & Culture Editor

AMANDA second-year political science and public administration What are you wearing?

Everything I’m wearing is from Aritzia, except for my boots, which are Blundstones..

Do you think there’s a point to dressing up on campus?

When you’re on campus, you’re presenting yourself to your teachers and to other students, and you might run into other professionals … so when you’re interacting with adults especially, I think it’s a good idea for students to be dressed in a way that expresses themselves but is still … appropriate.

Are turtlenecks what are in right now?

I think they’re cozy for the winter.

I think women generally look good in turtlenecks.

THEFULCRUM.CA

GEORGE

Michala Iannetti, fourth-year human kinetics & Tara Clifford, fourth-year biochemistry and psychology What are you wearing?

MI: A good collection. A collab. My coat’s from Aritzia, Coach scarf.

TC: I work at Dynamite, so everything that I wear all the time is from Dynamite.

Is there a point to dressing up just to go to class?

MI: I personally never wear sweatpants.

TC: It’s not about really looking cool on campus, I just like being put together. I also work in fashion, so I like to experiment with different outfits.

Is it tough to strike a balance between the temperature inside and outside?

MI: I layer.

TC: A simple t-shirt, layer it, then you look put together if you have a nice jacket and scarf.

Aicha Louidor, fourth-year criminology and women’s studies & Christopher Laguerre, fourth-year psychology and criminology What are you wearing today that you want to point out?

AL: My coat, it’s from Zara.

CL: That only brand I’ve got on is Puma.

Today was a Puma day, I felt like it.

Is there a point to dressing up for school?

AL: For sure, that’s what wakes me up in the morning, that’s why I go to school. Just because it’s almost my identity.

CL: I think that what you wear reflects on your mood, helps you channel your energy, makes you feel good.

George Kolaff, first-year health Fashion advice? sciences AL: Be weather appropriate. That’s What are you wearing? important.

Nike Vapormax shoes, a Guess jacket.

Is it important for people to have a personal style?

I do (think that), a little bit.

Personality is pretty big, and to express yourself through style … that’s the first thing you notice, it tells you a lot about someone.s.

TARA & MICHALA

EMMA

Emma Richardson,

JUSTIN

third-year commerce What are you wearing?

J. Crew rain boots, black leggings from Aritzia, and a button-up daisy print top from Topshop. J. Crew rain boots, black leggings from Aritzia, and a button-up daisy print top from Topshop.

Is there a point to dressing up for school?

When I feel dressed up, I feel more put together and ready to tackle things.

Do you think profs notice?

I think definitely in Telfer it’s a bit more prominent.

What are the big trends?

Grey overcoats are very in, leggings are still always in, Aritzia style is very in right now for girls, especially in Telfer.

ACHAI & CHRISTOPHER

Amanda Packer,

ARTS & CULTURE | 9

U of O hosts video game tournament for Ottawa 2017 Ottawa 2017 sponsored event to support local tech sector Eric Davison

Fulcrum freelancer On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the south wall of the University Centre at the University of Ottawa was lit up with the lights, sounds, and high energy commentary of a live video game tournament. Part of a week-long event sponsored

by Ottawa 2017, the king of the hill-style tournaments hit post-secondary institutions across the city in the leadup to a championship event taking place at Ottawa’s Makerspace.

Sponsored by some of Ottawa’s local tech talent, the Ottawa Video Game Competition and Expo seeks to draw attention to the city’s established and developing tech companies, and will feature many of Ottawa’s indie game developers. Catherine Busson, an organiser for Ottawa 2017 and the video game expo, feels that the general public is unaware of how prevalent Ottawa is in the game development industry.

“A lot of people don’t realise that a lot of really big game companies have bases in Ottawa. A lot of the games students are playing at home every day were developed here, and the city and people don’t even know that,” said Busson. “We will have local studios come in with their demos, and people will go, ‘oh, I have that game, I had no idea it was developed so close to home in Ottawa.’”

Despite being a drop-in event at the university, the stakes were high for contestants, with prizes befitting Canada’s 150th birthday, ranging from Via Rail round tickets to $150 Roots gift cards. But what might seem like light-hearted fun is only part of the lead-up to a final allday event on Saturday featuring a $5,000 prize pool.

Young people have often criticised Ottawa’s tech sector, as much of the work done here involves backend systems like payroll managers, medical record tracking software, and wireless radio technology

optimisation. While these are indispensable parts of our modern world, they often lack the flashy, Silicon Valley-innovation culture that draws many into computer science.

Busson is working to change that perception.

“So one of the things we’ve done is ... every single night, including the weekend, we are showcasing Ottawa-based companies. So if someone came, they would get to learn about Snowed In studios, which is developing games for Nickelodeon, a worldwide company,” she said.

The daily events went beyond many of the competitive gaming staples and included everything from Nintendo’s new mainstay party game Arms to a slew of more artistic experiences from local talent, like Windforge, a nostalgic steampunk experience drawing inspiration from Terraria and classic high fantasy tropes.

U of O students have reacted favourably to the event, with

many seeing it as a welcome development from a campus with a reputation for being dull.

John Quinn, a fifth-year computer science student, welcomed the event’s spontaneous

nature and the sense of life it gave the campus.

“You just kind of round the corner and there is this big screen, flashing lights, and an announcer,” he said. “Peo-

ed on behalf of child soldiers and for mental illness, served as a senator, and written several books.

Dallaire’s most recent book, Waiting for First Light, is haunting. His two previous books focus on conflict: first his experience in Rwanda, and second, on the use of child soldiers and the trauma they experience. Waiting for First Light turns the focus on Dallaire himself and is a breathtakingly uncensored collection of his experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The book frequently brings up examples of the atrocities Dallaire witnessed in Rwanda. The events are discussed in terrifying detail, and are part of what make the slim book hard to read, but eyeopening and captivating for those who are able to do so.

Dallaire advises readers that this is not a guide on how to cure PTSD, and is

open about the fact that he continues to struggle with the illness. The book discusses the failings of the Canadian military to recognize and treat mental illness among combat veterans until forced to do so following a series of suicides, and touches on the difficulties of adjusting back into civilian life.

Some of the most heartrending moments in the book come from Dallaire’s discussion on the the burden of command and the impact it had on his mental illness.

In the book, he talks about how as a commanding officer he feels he has a duty to his troops, and thus is devastated when interacting with subordinates who suffer from PTSD. Command also leaves him feeling cut off, as his peer network—those who understand combat—is reduced, since he feels it’s inappropriate to discuss his thoughts of suicide and depression with

those serving under him.

This book is not just about PTSD, or even combat. Much of what Dallaire discusses boils down to the complex relationship between those suffering from a mental illness and a society that can’t understand what they are going through. This book is deeply, almost unbelievably personal, and, at times, reads more like a diary than a book.

For anyone who has ever suffered from mental illness in their life, there is an element of commonality here, an element of a loss of control, of recognizing you are not yourself and yet being unable to change your behaviour.

This book is a look at mental illness from the inside, from the mind of someone suffering. This is not a cheerful read, but it will give you plenty to think about, and it might just leave you feeling inspired.

Dallaire is the author of Shake Hands with the Devil. Photo: Random House Canada.

The new Super Mario Odyssey was projected outside the University Centre.

Photo: Parker Townes.

ple are curious, so they check it out, and you get a crowd. I think it would be great if the university did more events like this, it really gives a sense of community.”

IT’S LIT IN THE LIBRARY: Waiting for First Light • Roméo Dallaire david campion-smith opinions editor

During the school year, when you feel like readings are piled up to your ears, reading for fun can seem like a ridiculous idea—but it shouldn’t. Reading is the fastest way for you to make an escape into the world of your choosing, and expand your vocabulary without even knowing it. The underappreciated world of literature offers endless benefits, so without further ado, check out this week’s read.

Roméo Dallaire should be a well-known name to many students, especially those in the social sciences. He was the force commander of the United Nations peacekeeping mission during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and went on to have a distinguished military career, has advocat-

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

THEFULCRUM.CA

WHERE DOES CANADA’S AI TECHNOLOGY FIT INTO Erica Endemann MODERN WARFARE? fulcrum contributor Illustration: Christine Wang.

U of O prof, research team call for a federal ban on AI used for killing When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), the average citizen may not know what developing this technology means for Canada’s place in our world. For the Canadian government it means progress, which is why in the 2017 budget they administered $125 million to the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy for research.

But as AI becomes more advanced, questions arise about its applications in modern warfare. One such expert with ethical concerns about AI is Ian Kerr, a University of Ottawa law professor and Canada Research Chair in Ethics, Law, and Technology. On Nov. 2 Kerr wrote a letter, in collaboration with other researchers, asking that Canada’s government take a position of leadership at the upcoming United Nations (UN) Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in creating a ban on the use of AI in military warfare.

But is AI just a natural progression in the tools required for modern warfare and national defence?

Would a ban place Canada at risk? This week, we sat down with Kerr to ask these questions and more.

The Fulcrum: Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, and Bill Gates have all been quoted saying that artificial intelligence is like “summoning a demon” and “is a fundamental risk to the existence of civilization.” How would you react to that statement?

Kerr: I think it’s been important for people who are lightning rods to the media as these three that you mention are, to come out and speak about the dangers of artificial intelligence. I think one of the things that’s happened is that it’s permitted a discussion to happen that might not have happened, had they not have said these things.

That having been said, none of those people are actually people who study AI for a living, or are experts in the field of AI. And one of the things that has happened as we’ve watched over the past few years ... is that there tends to be an alarmist tone to the warnings.

I’ve done hundreds of interviews in this subject, and almost every time it’s in the media, they run it with a picture of the Terminator. And I beg you not to do that.

Because it contributes to this kind of rhetoric that’s there, and my response to that ... is it sensationalizes the issue, and it paints it in the lens of science fiction.

What I think most people in the artificial intelligence community believe, is that we are years, not even decades, but years away from technologies which would automate warfare—in other words where we could weaponize artificial intelligence—in ways which could cause serious potential dangers.

But the point that I would make is that there are so

many issues that are crucial, not even in the context of militarized weapons, and war, but across the field of ethical issues to do with artificial intelligence, that we have plenty of real issues to occupy ourselves. We don’t have to worry about summoning the demon. And while there’s maybe a cautionary tale there that’s useful, it in fact distracts the actual on the ground policy issues of the day.

F: Have you found that there are any institutions or nations that have successfully regulated AI in warfare?

K: Regulation means different things in different contexts. In this context, it’s getting harder and harder to think about regulation at the domestic level, if you don’t have a global form of regulation, especially in the context of warfare. So it is true that countries like the United States and Canada have internal policies about what they will and will not do, and a number of countries still say that you need some kind of human involvement.

Our ban calls for a ban of any weapon for which there is no meaningful human control. The U.S. government, for example, currently has a policy in place, which is not a law, that they want appropriate human judgement involved in these decisions. But it’s a lower threshold, and it’s only a policy. So, a ban is a way, through an international treaty, where you can actually make lines in the sand to try and regulate this technology. And currently, there isn’t any form of international regulation that binds a series of countries to any particular sanction.

It’s at that discretion of the individual countries to say, our policy is this, we’ll do this, we won’t do that.

Now, there are broader sets of international humanitarian laws with which all technologies must apply.

We’re suggesting that we need a particular treaty that contemplates these technologies where we delegate the kill decision to the machine, and there’s no meaningful human control—that’s where we draw the line and say we need a ban on this.

And the point of a ban isn’t to have, well aspirationally it is to have universal compliance, but any time we ban something or prohibit something, we don’t necessarily do that with a view to universal compliance and we don’t use that as the measure of success.

Think about any modern Criminal Code like Canada’s.

We ban murder, murder happens every day in most cities. We don’t consider it a failure of the Criminal Code that we have a provision like that, and that doesn’t stop us from enacting provisions like that, or from enforcing provisions like that.

To the contrary, by having a stated prohibition as part of your law, you’re setting a normative threshold, that you believe actors within, whatever community it is, must adhere to. And if they fail to adhere to that, there are sanctions, it’s punishable. And so the same is true in an international setting. No ban is meant to say that you have this iron clad ability to stop people from doing things. But it sets a normative threshold, and it provides a trigger for sanctions, for those who declare a foul of whatever the normative rule that you’re setting in place is.

Q: What is the expectation of you and your research team to how the government is going to respond to the letter?

A: So, this past year the Canadian government devoted $125 million of its budget to AI research. And the thought was AI is something that Canada is already on—we’re leaders in the field. And part of this strategy of throwing $125 million at the AI research and development, to universities that promote this kind of research, is the recognition that Canada will be, not only a world leader in this, but it would really be a lever to Canada’s economy.

F: Not all countries are on board with this. Russia, China, and the U.S. are a few examples. If other countries went ahead with this technology, is that something that could leave us vulnerable?

And so, with that in mind, what’s so interesting is that the community of AI researchers has said it’s great that the Canadian government is willing to invest this much in our industries, research and development, but it’s not enough to be world leaders in the development of AI. We need to be branded in Canada. Our brand should be responsible AI. Our brand should be ethical AI. And the world should know us as leaders in the development of that way of AI.

K: Well, you know that’s often the most present argument you hear on the other side which is like anything that you ban, it can still take place in the black market so to speak, and as such it then leaves those who don’t use the technology at a disadvantage. The other claim that usually goes hand in hand with that is, you can put any ban you want in place but that won’t stop countries like China and Russia from going through with this.

So, with that in mind, it’s very interesting that the Canadian research community is asking the government to put limits on the very technologies that are building and forwarding the research agenda. That’s very unusual and unheard of. And I think what we expect, is for the government to play a leadership role, in not only helping Canada develop its AI brand, but really in foddering Canada’s brand as a moral leader on the global stage.

And so what the AI community is excited about, to come back to your question, what it expects of Canada as a government, is to say it’s not good enough to throw some money at AI, we have to see leadership in how AI is used, which includes in this case the militarization of AI, and the desire by the Canadian research community to call out for a ban on the employment of autonomous weapons systems that use AI. F: There are other experts in the field who have said that they are not concerned about a “Terminator” situation because there’s a fundamental difference between the idea of intelligence and the idea of sentience or consciousness. Do you believe that this distinction is what could make AI so dangerous in warfare?

K: The issues of the day are not issues of sentience and consciousness. I mean if we ever go down that road and that becomes the issues, we won’t be sitting here in a coffee shop. It would be a fundamental change in the fabric of the universe.

This is the stuff of science fiction. The issues before the UN are on the ground, real and very crunchy issues that have real life human consequences and have nothing to do with robot sentience. These are issues about machines that we depend on to our detriment.

Or, machines that we hope we can program to carry out certain operations that, in fact, have unintended consequences … those are real issues that we have to figure out with AI. The whole point of machine learning is to “teach” the machine system to go beyond its own initial program. If we have a driverless vehicle, can you imagine a programmer having to guess in advance and program so that the machine can recognize all the objects that might cross its path? It becomes impossible to pre-program in advance everything that might happen.

But what we also start to see, is that what was once just an instrument that humans used, like a steering wheel being an instrument we use to assert our intentionality on the road when we drive, we start to see that a machine learning blurs the distinction between instruments and actors. So when the car is driving and the human is a passenger, in what sense is the human even a driver anymore? That changes our whole schema about how we think about safety, and liability in the context of driving which is only one social activity.

We could roll this out in the context of medical diagnostics, where we let the machines decide how to treat the cancer, or robotic surgeons … in each of these cases, we have what is now a blurring of what used to just be an instrument of human action, to what is now becoming more and more the machine carrying out the action. And that distinction between instrument and actor is one example of a huge number of issues that are going to come up that have nothing to do with robot sentience.

F: Are there any other technologies we’ve introduced to warfare in the past that we’ve not exercised caution with, in the way you’re hoping to do with AI, that we’ve followed a less responsible path on and could learn from?

K: I think we learn these lessons over and over, sometimes maybe we don’t learn the lessons and the scenarios continue. I wrote an opinion editorial for the

Globe last week, and in that op-ed I specifically refer to Albert Einstein and the precursor work that he did which led ultimately to the scientific foundations for what would become the Manhattan Project, which ultimately lead to the atomic bomb.

Well that technology was originally pursued because of the recognition that atomic energy could change the entire way that we are able to provide energy to the world in a very peaceful context. And only during the War was it decided that we could also capitalize on this by leveraging atomic energy for the purposes of bomb building. After the War, and after the Manhattan project was finished, Albert Einstein was a key player in what was called the emergency committee of Atomic Scientists, who then went around and talked about how we could use those technologies for peaceful means.

And entire groups of peace organizations came out of that set of technology, of those lessons learned, and recognized how we had to limit these tools for peaceful applications. I think you’ve seen the same thing in the community of chemical scientists and biological scientists who don’t want these chemicals used for biological warfare.

So it’s not uncommon that the science communities that have the insights into these potential deadly applications, have this recognition of the power that they have created, and then a further recognition that they should be working to other uses. And in some cases to support these political moves, to say let’s not go down that road.

F: In Canada, is there a push-pull dynamic between scientists who want to contain their technologies to peaceful use and governments who have a different vision?

K: I think often, especially these days, where governments don’t pour a lot of money into scientific research anymore, they kind of rely on scientific communities to do the science. They don’t necessarily create the vision for how that scientific research should be carried out. But what they do get interested in is what we call “technology transfer,” and the idea

of how that science will then be applied.

So the government will decide, do we want to throw our money into AI and be a leader in driverless cars? Or do we want to throw all of our money into weapons research? So governments do make choices on what they want to do and that’s why we’re calling on Canada to make that choice.

I guess I would say that I wouldn’t describe it as much as a tension between science and government, as it is … some want these technologies to be used as engines of creation and some want them to be used as engines of destruction.

And some countries decide that it’s worth capitalizing on some of those visions that are perhaps ethically problematic. I don’t think of Canada as ever taking that as their overt, main strategy. But I do see Canada as in a situation, in a position in the world, where very often, its main trading partners have certain political concerns and want to leave their options open, and don’t want to take that moral leadership that we were talking about. And Canada has to decide, do we align with our trading partners, and take the position they want to take, or do we do what’s right, if we think something is right?

F: Do you have anything you would like to add?

K: The idea is that we are delegating the target and kill decision. And it’s that delegation of decisions of life and death that we think crosses a fundamental moral line. If you keep in mind that machine learning is meant to generate results that go beyond the initial programming, and therefore always contains the possibility of decisions that we either don’t expect or can’t explain, then those possibilities leave open the possibility that delegating the kill decision to an autonomous weapon, is kind of like playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.

And do we want to be a country that permits that?

We want the Canadian brand to be a brand that is ethical and responsible. And it’s good for business too.

You don’t have to decide if you’re on the side of business or the side of ethics.

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR sports@thefulcrum.ca @FulcrumSports

Gee-Gees win a tight game at Colonel By classic Tensions rise as rival hockey teams clash at TD place Daniel Birra

FULCRUM CONTRIBUTOR

O

ver 2,000 fans packed the TD Place arena on Friday, Nov. 17 to see the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees defeat their crosstown arch-rivals, the Carleton Ravens, by a final score of 4-3, with many students from both schools coming to show their support.

Many considered this duel to be the “Panda Game” of hockey, the football game of that name being played annually at the nearby TD Stadium, which is also home to the Ottawa 67’s junior hockey team and is located at Lansdowne Park.

Although the first period did not see any goals, the crowd was still entertained, seeing a lot of action at both ends of the ice.

Scoring chances and shots were at a high on both sides with the Gees creating a couple of turnovers.

Both teams played great defensively, and the visiting Gee-Gees had a slight edge in the shots sections after the opening 20 minutes, at 11 shots to 10.

Both goalies, Ottawa’s Graham Hunt and Carleton’s François Brassard, had a great period. A lot of physical action could also be seen as a scrum started between a few players at the end of the period, following which the referees handed Carleton a twominute penalty to start the second. The Gee-Gees would not able to convert, however, as the Ravens’ penalty kill ended up being too strong.

Ottawa and Carleton both had great chances offensively, but it was the Raven’s defenceman Joshua Burnside who was first to find the back of the net for the hosts around the 14-minute mark of the second period. But the GeeGees would not give up, as they multiplied their offensive work after the goal and finally found the back of the net a little more than a minute after the Ravens did, on a shot from below the goal line by forward Patrick White.

As everyone thought the two teams would go back to the locker rooms tied after forty minutes of play, Adam Chapman’s

“It’s definitely a great atmosphere drawn by the fans, I greatly appreciated the energy and the encouragements from the crowd.”

—Gee-Gees forward Connor Sills shot from the right circle beat Hunt with half a minute to play, and that proved to be the difference-maker thus far.

Ottawa came out strong to start the third period, with two goals inside the first three minutes of play.

Down a goal, Carleton chased the game for a big part of the period, creating favourable chances in the U of O’s end. It would be the Gee-Gees’ defence coming out strong, and Kevin Domingue would ultimately give his team a

4-2 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the game on a point shot that hit the glass behind goalie Brassard before bouncing off his back and entering the net, a goal that hurt the Ravens—and their fans.

This would end up being the game-winner for the visitors, as Carleton scored one last time with five seconds left. The Ravens lost their third game of the season and currently post a record of eight wins, three losses. For the Gees, it was their first win after four consecutive losses, and they now have a 5-6 record. The final shots on goal were 30-30.

Of both teams, Carleton were the ones with the most fans, as they were loud, entertained, and positive all night long. Screams and chants were coming from both sides to encourage their favorite team as much as they could, in what really seemed to be a very special game for everyone. “We are very impressed by this crowd, we honestly didn’t think there would be that much fans,” said Siavash Ghazvinian and Sophie Routhier Leblanc, two U of O students attending the game.

Emotions and excitement from players were at their high all game long, as they were happy to have the chance of participating in this event with such an intensity. “It’s definitely a great atmosphere drawn by the fans, I greatly appreciated the energy and the encouragements from the crowd,” said Gees forward Connor Sills.

Gee-Gees head coach Patrick Grandmaître said he was proud of his players’ performance, who had lost at home against

.

the Ravens a week earlier.

“We have been struggling in the past couple weeks to put up complete games, so I’m very happy for the guys, they played a hard one here tonight.”

Both teams had a total of four chances on the power play, but Ottawa was the only team to convert on

Photos: Remi Yuan.

theirs, with one goal. “I would say our power play wasn’t clicking, but we definitely had some good zone possession, and good shots on net. To me, it was good enough, but could be better,” said Grandmaître.

Ottawa had their next test Saturday night against the visiting Royal Mili-

14 | SPORTS

tary College Palladins.

Their next game is now this coming Saturday, Nov. 24, against the Ryerson Rams, at the Minto Sports Complex. Meanwhile, the Ravens played against the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières on Saturday, and they will play hosts to the York Lions this Friday.

THEFULCRUM.CA

THE BOXSCORE: COLONEL BY CLASSIC BASKETBALL(W) BASKETBALL(M) HOCKEY(M)

HOCKEY(W)

FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2017

FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2017

FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2017

FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2017

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

vs

western

52 39

vs

western

67 62

4

at

AT

3

CARLETON

1

CONCORDIA

saturday, NOV. 25, 2017

saturday, NOV. 25, 2017

FRIDAY, Nov. 24, 2017

Friday, NOV. 24, 2017

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

Gee-Gees

AT

lakehead

TBD

TBD

AT

lakehead

TBD

TBD

vs

ryerson

TBD

at

TBD

McGill

2

TBD TBD

For detailed game coverage check out the Fulcrum’s website at www.thefulcrum.ca.

Gee-Gees frustrate Western’s offence on route to big win

Veteran Jen Crowe paces Gees with 12 points in strong performance Zack Goobie

Associate Sports Editor The University of Ottawa Women’s basketball team took on the University of Western Ontario in a rare morning game at Montpetit hall on Nov. 17.

The Gees were trying to respond after getting blown out by Carleton in the Bytown classic, which has been an all-too-familiar theme for the Garnet and Grey.

The result was a great defensive effort that continuously stopped the Western offence.

Six minutes into the first quarter, the Gee-Gees led 7-5 in a very tight affair.

Ribarich gave the Gees a 13-8 lead with a minute remaining after a close jumper in the paint. The Garnet and Grey were good on the defensive end forcing four steals and limiting the Mustangs to 21 per cent

from the field. They led 13-9 after the opening 10 minutes.

Two quick three-pointers for Western to go up 16-15 with seven minutes left in the second quarter. Maia Timmons responded with two threes of her own to put the Gees back up 2120 with a minute to play.

Western took the lead late to go up 24-21 going into the latter half. Timmons led the Gees with six points and four rebounds.

The Gee-Gees continued to struggle, stopping Julia Curran in the paint as she scored her 12th point of the game, but a triple by Kellie Forand and a jumper by Hachey kept their deficit to 31-28. An open three-pointer by McAlear cut into the Western lead to bring it down to 33-31 with five minutes to play. An 11-1 run for the Garnet and Grey gave them a 39-34 lead as they looked rejuvenated on

The Gees won a big victory against western on Nov. 17.

the offensive end.

A late moving jumper by Western cut into the GeeGees’ lead, but the U of O took a 39-36 lead into the final frame.

Jen Crowe continued to

pace the Gees with her 12 point of the game for a 4336 Gee-Gees lead with 6:40 to go. A huge three-pointer for Forand gave the Gees a 48-38 lead with 3:30 left in the fourth.

Photo: Parker Townes.

Sparks talked about how his offensive started to click. “I thought Jen Crowe was really big in that game, Jen and Kellie, they are fourth and fifth year players out there, and I think

THEFULCRUM.CA

they showed a little bit of character out there.”

A huge defensive stand for the Gee-Gees in the fourth quarter kept Western to three points and let them pull away. The overall performance was very solid, limiting Western to 27.5 per cent from the field, 20 per cent from three and forcing 21 turnovers. The Gees turned defence into offence on many occasions and ended up taking the game 52-39 against the Mustangs.

Coach Andy Sparks talked about what he liked about his team’s defensive game. “If you give up 39 points at this level you’re defending ok,” said Sparks.

“I was pretty happy overall with the defensive end of the floor.”

The Gee-Gees next home game will take place on Jan. 5 against the University of Toronto at Montpetit hall at 6 p.m.

SPORTS | 15

Gee-Gees come up clutch to move to 4-2 on the year Jean-Louis comes up big off the bench with 16 points to pace Gees Zack Goobie

Associate Sports Editor The University of Ottawa Men’s basketball team took to home court following a 74-53 loss to cross-town nemesis the Carleton Ravens at the Raven’s nest, a result Gee-Gees fans have come accustomed to hearing.

But the Gees were looking to respond at home against the University of Western Ontario Mustangs on Nov. 17 following a disappointing effort at Carleton.

Both teams went back and forth early on. Western led 8-6 four minutes into the game. Alex Muise hit a nice three-pointer from a great pass by Calvin Epistola to cut into Western’s lead.

Turnovers were hurting the U of O in the first, they had eight giveaways in the first eight minutes and trailed 12-9.

Coach James Derouin talked about his team’s early struggles. “It was a grind out there tonight, it was an emotional week. That’s our fourth game in seven days,” said Derouin. “Western de-

fended our stuff really well, they gave us problems all night. Our turnovers really let us down.”

The first quarter wasn’t kind to the Gees as they struggled with ball control and missed a few easy shots on the offensive end.

Western started with a quick three to draw their lead out to 17-11, but Gage Sabean came right back with a three of his own. Kenny Jean-Louis started to catch fire in the second quarter with six points in a twominute span. The Gee-Gees had a 20-19 advantage with 6:39 to play.

A big three-pointer by Brandon Robinson as the 24-second shot-clock expired and gave the Gees a 23-21 lead with five minutes left to play. A good defensive block by Chase Tynes resulted in a three-pointer on the other end by Mackenzie Morrison. It continued to be a tight affair, and the GeeGees had a close 30-28 lead with 1:30 left.

Despite a rough start, the Gees looked to improve as the game went on, outscor-

ing the Mustangs 19-14 in the second quarter on their way to a 30-28 lead at half.

The Garnet and Grey were winning the battle on the boards with a 23-12 advantage, but Western had the ball control advantage, forcing the Gees to turn the ball over 13 times.

Turnovers continued to plague the Gee-Gees offense, but they remained in the game trailing 33-32 with 6:40 to go. Robinson showed great hustle to run the floor and swat a Western layup off the glass.

Eriq Jenkins was continuing to hurt the Gees with 15 points, giving the Mustangs a 46-42 lead going into the final quarter.

Jean-Louis got the Gees started in the final frame with a big drive and layup.

Sean Stoqua hit a corner three to tie the game 49-49 with just under eight minutes to go. Sabean hit a corner three to give the Gees a 52-49 lead with less than seven minutes remaining.

A Pierre-Charles layup from Robinson gave the Gees a 57-54 lead with three

The Gees took home a win against the Mustangs on Nov. 17

minutes to play. A Jean-Louis three gave the Garnet and Grey a 60-56 lead, but Western responded with a drive to cut the lead to 60-58 with 1:26 to go.

Another big three from the Gees, this time from Epistola on a great feed from Stoqua continued to help put

the game out of reach for the Mustangs. A Pierre-Charles and one with 17.8 seconds left ultimately put the game to bed.

Big shots and stops were made when they needed to be, coach Derouin said of his team’s clutch play. “We made big buckets and big stops

14 | SPORTS

Photo: Parker Townes.

when we needed to tonight, Kenny obviously gave us a great lift off the bench, and Calvin hit a big three down the stretch.”

The Gee-Gees next home game will take place on Jan. 5 against the University of Toronto at Montpetit hall at 8 p.m.

THEFULCRUM.CA

OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR David Campion-Smith

opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @davidcs96

Facebook’s plan to stop revenge porn is the best we have

Having staff examine a photo is better than using algorithms Connor Chase

staff contributor

R

evenge porn, the practice of people posting intimate photos of a former significant other on social media, has become terrifyingly frequent in recent years. It’s a moment worthy of fear and condemnation, since social media is a platform which includes all of the people you are closest with. Having such photos displayed publicly for everyone you know and care about to see is humiliating and emotionally damaging.

Beyond this, photos posted online can exist in the ether forever, and impact a person’s quality of life and job prospects.

The question then is how far should social media sites go to prevent such acts? Facebook has proposed an answer, and so far it seems to be the best one available.

Facebook users in Australia will have access to a program specifically designed to preemptively stop the proliferation of revenge porn. If you’re worried about risqué photos being posted online, you can submit an application form and answer questions on Australia’s eSafety commissioner website and send yourself the picture on Facebook. Facebook will then essentially remember the photo, and will prevent it from ever being uploaded to the site, whether it be on the news feed or in a private message.

There is, however, a crucial step in the process which can cause anxiety. Before a photo can be pre-emptively excluded from the site, a Facebook employee will have to see the photo to confirm that it is an

explicit image. Their reasoning for having a human confirmation is to combat censorship; someone has to confirm such photos because if not, a user could flag any photo they don’t like as revenge porn and have it removed from the site.

The use of human confirmation in this intimate scenario is unfortunate, but it is the best answer. The idea of a Facebook database filled exclusively with revenge porn seems like a disaster waiting to happen. As last week’s Paradise Papers have shown, nothing on the internet is entirely secure, and such a database could certainly be accessed by the wrong people.

The new program must be assessed for its effectiveness.

Facebook’s solution seems imperfect, because it is, but it’s the best one available on the market. If you really are worried about a malicious ex posting intimate photos online, then you face a tough dichotomy; do you want one person you will

Facebook is unveiling a new plan to combat revenge porn.

never know or meet to see such photos, or everyone you know, and don’t know, to see them on a daily basis? The gradations of humiliation in these two cases is enormous. The thought of a stranger seeing your photos will surely make you uncomfortable, but the alternative is enough to make you sick.

And hacking such a database won’t be straight forward

either, as Australia’s eSafety commissioner confirmed that “they’re not storing the image” but rather “storing the link” to it. This means that illegally accessing such photos won’t be as easy as merely downloading a bunch of pdf’s, as extra steps will be required to actually view them.

Facebook’s attempt at ending revenge porn is one wor-

Photo: Dasser Kamran.

thy of our admiration. The inconveniences proposed by the solution are far outweighed by their utility. It’s easy to scorn the seemingly unnecessary human intervention, and to worry about the fragility of a revenge porn filled database. But for those who face this problem such a service is perhaps a step in the right direction.

College strike is in long-term interest of students

Teachers who receive proper support will do their job better nadia helal

Fulcrum Contributor On Oct. 16, thousands of college teachers in Ontario went on strike. Their demands included the need for more full-time faculty, job security, and equal pay.

So far, every deal offered by management has been rejected. As the strike moves into its sixth week, more than hundreds of thousands of college students remain out of class.

The latest predictions are that if a deal is agreed to immediately, classes will run until Dec.22 with students only getting a week off for their winter break.

The fall semester will then resume in January, and the study break in February is being cancelled by La Cité collégiale and possibly by Algonquin, too.

This obviously consti-

THEFULCRUM.CA

tutes an unfair punishment of students as none of them opted to take all this time off. Many have presumably booked trips home for the holidays, and now through no fault of their own are being forced to change their plans with no consideration of their financial situations.

However, I am in full support of the teachers.

More than 12,000 professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians launched this strike—not to defend their own career interests, but above all to put a stop to prevailing practices where educational outcomes are measured in terms of money. And while the students are absolutely blameless here, they should understand that in the grand scheme of things the teachers are ultimately fighting for the students’ long-term interests as well,

and, above all, for the future of the post-secondary educational system.

That being said, there are a number of ways that instructors could have better handled the situation.

They could have limited the number of assignments or tests, put in fewer classroom hours, or, better yet, they could have tried negotiating with unions in other provinces so as to make their campaign a federal issue, and thus strengthen their case.

The Algonquin College website includes student and employee updates on the current situation, with many of the students being active on social media. One can easily read thousands of comments, mostly opposing the strike.

An educational system run like a business will yield nothing more than entitled

Colleges in Ontario have been on strike for over a month.

graduates who will then perpetuate this unfair, exploitative system. Step into the shoes of a teacher for more than a day, and you might discover that they are, by nature, among the most caring, patient, and

compassionate people. A society where teachers constantly have to worry about their job security while struggling for work/life balance is not and never will be in the best interest of students. It will, ultimately, fail

Photo: Eric Davidson.

the future generations of those accessing education.

If Algonquin College’s mission really is to “transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success,” it can start by showing more compassion to their teachers.

OPINIONS | 17

Hollywood needs to openly address sexual violence

Awards ceremonies should not be exempt from talks on rampant sexual assault Anchal Sharma news editor

The lesser known of Hollywood’s glamourous awards ceremonies, the Governor’s Awards, took place on Saturday, Nov. 11, and this smaller event ignored a very large issue.

The awards ceremony is the first of many steps leading up to the Oscars, and honours winners with humanitarian awards, memorial awards, and honorary Oscars. It heard from prominent stars like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lawrence, and made for a grand ol’ time, with pictures to prove it.

What it didn’t do, however, was mention the onslaught of sexual assault allegations currently littering Hollywood.

An article published by the New York Times addressed this issue perfectly, writing, “it seemed during a few moments as if the Governors Awards were taking place in a parallel dimension where the torrent of sexual harass-

ment allegations against male stars, producers and directors did not exist.”

Now this isn’t the first time that Hollywood has been under fire for a social issue. Just off the top of my head, I can already think of the whitewashing of various racialized characters and the overwhelming lack of people of colour starring in major blockbusters, leading to the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. But at the very least, some of those concerns were addressed by their perpetrators. Steps have been taken to right past wrongs; take the casts of the new Lion King, or Aladdin live action remakes for example.

But when it comes to sexual assault, people are a lot more uncomfortable, and rightfully so. Sure, it could be the fact that it’s a criminal offence, or it could be the fact that celebrities know that the power they exert over others has consequences, that no one is ready to confront.

That’s why on Nov. 11,

Photo: CC, Ahto Sooaru.

when Dustin Hoffman, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, took to the stage at the Governor’s Awards, he was met with applause.

Hollywood influences our world in many ways, from the way we dress to the way we engage with our peers. By not condemning these problems publicly, the message is

loud and clear. We’d rather not talk about it. We’d rather pretend it didn’t happen. And if celebrities and political figures are immune, then why should the general population be held accountable for their actions?

The #MeToo movement on social media made waves for a reason. Sexual misconduct

isn’t just something we see on screens, or behind them.

These are real issues faced by real people on a day to day basis. People often look to Hollywood to lead by example; whether it be the latest hairstyle or fashion trend, celebrities are role models across the board. It’s up to them to use their platform to talk about

things that really matter, and not just on Twitter.

Actors have a responsibility to their fans, whether they like it or not, and they should be expected to condemn sexual violence where people will listen, and where perpetrators will be present, even if those people are sometimes their friends.

Peterson’s proposed course list website is deeply flawed

Courses on proposed list offer valuable insights on society David Campion-smith Opinions editor

If you haven’t been keeping up with Jordan Peterson, the University of Toronto psychology professor infamous for refusing to use gender neutral pronouns, I wouldn’t blame you.

But his latest proposed project is worth discussing. In June, Peterson proposed creating a website that would allow prospective students to search classes and professors to see if they fell into what he views as corrupting radical social justice classes.

Most feminism and gender studies classes, as well as other social sciences classes, would probably land on Peterson’s list.

After significant backlash to this idea, Peterson has announced that he is scrapping the project.

While this is good news, the seed has been planted among his supporters that this is something our university system needs—a list of teachers and classes that “indoctrinate” students, a list that cer-

18 | OPINIONS

tain students may want to avoid simply because of the ideas that are presented in these courses or by these professors.

Ironically enough, such a list contradicts much of what Peterson is advocating for in terms of freedom of speech on campus. Shouldn’t students take the classes they want to and then see how the information presented impacts them? Part of university is engaging critically with course content, and you can’t do that if you avoid taking classes with ideas you don’t agree with.

The idea that there are a series of classes that are indoctrinating students and churning out a cohort of dedicated activists is laughable. This is an idea not just advocated by Peterson but by many other conservative columnists as well. Students are smart enough to analyze information that’s presented, and not just blindly agree because it was taught in class.

The types of classes that Peterson wants to see removed are important to offer to students.

University professors and classes provide a way of viewing and understanding the world through a certain perspective. Gender studies classes are not trying to “indoctrinate” students, but rather provide a way of understanding a traditionally male-centric and dominated lens through a gender equitable perspective.

Different perspectives aren’t things to be afraid of, and if they frighten you that much than perhaps your view of the world is too fragile, or has no concrete data to support it. Diverse beliefs allow us to reevaluate our worldview, and ask important questions that help us to gather support for, or to change our worldview.

Creating a list of classes containing ideas that Peterson disagrees with is anathema to the type of learning environment that campuses aim to create. Even if the idea were effective, the classes that he would have added to his list are valuable, and provide the necessary skills to create a more balanced society.

Jordan Peterson is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto.

Photo: CC, Adam Jacobs.

THEFULCRUM.CA

Donald Trump enrols at the U of O Latest Boardashians episode highlights antics of US president

Graham Robertson Managing editor

Security at the University of Ottawa has increased tenfold over the past few weeks, including a number of men in dark suits and sunglasses, leaving many students wondering if this could mean the presence of a high-profile visitor.

“Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that we have a new student joining us. He just moved here all the way from the Washington, D.C.,” Peggy Duvall, a professor in Canadian history told her first-year class on Tuesday, Nov. 7. “His name is Donald. Donald Trump.”

The U.S. president will be taking time off from his golf excursions and occasional visits to the White House to attend parttime classes at the U of O for the 2017-18 academic year.

Some students have shown excitement towards Trump’s enrolment at the university.

“One time, Donald Trump punched me in the face. It was

awesome!” said Brittany Byrd, a third-year political science student who volunteered for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

However, many other members of the U of O community have expressed concern over having such a polarizing figure on campus.

“I’m not sure if having Mr. Trump here is such a good idea, considering his repeated threats to human rights, and, well, the stability of the international community,” Smith Davis-Champions, a fourthyear international development and globalization student told the Tomato.

Trump, who had been passing by Tomato reporters during the interview, said, “Stop trying to make human rights happen!

They’re never going to happen!”

Trump has also called for the closing down of two other campus newspapers, the Fulcrum and la Rotonde, calling them “fake news.” This

media censorship has led to many questioning whether the U.S. president is restricting freedom of speech on campus, or perhaps if he has something to hide.

“That’s why his toupee is so big. It’s full of secrets,” said Anjie Karma, a third-year communications student and news editor for the Fulcrum.

A recent episode of the MTV hit Keeping Up with the Boardashians also showed Trump at odds with many members of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)’s Board of Administration.

“Raise your hand if you have ever felt personally victimized

by Donald Trump,” said SFUO president Wadi Hess at the board’s Nov. 15 meeting.

The entire room raised their hands.

“Perhaps our university administration should consider whether allowing such a problematic individual on our campus is such a good idea,” said

Donald Trump called for the closing down U of O newspapers.

Hess.

Pushback from the federation, and student groups across campus, has led to a series of angry tweets by Trump.

“Why would Wadi Hess insult me by calling me ‘problematic,’ when I would NEVER call him ‘corrupt and questionable?’

Photo: CC, Jeangagnon, The White House. Edits: Christine Wang

Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!”

The university administration has yet to make a formal decision on whether or not to expel Trump. However, many students have expressed that keeping him at the U of O could

prove beneficial, as he will be unable to pass damaging legislation at the White House.

In a confessional during the latest Boardashians episode, Trump said, “I’m sorry that people are so jealous of me, but I can’t help it that I’m so popular!”

Students feeling sting of poppy pins after Remembrance Day Reports of pins in beds, backpacks are still plaguing students Veronique Therrien tomato contributor Remembrance Day may have been over a week ago, but it’s still leaving a mark on some students. While poppies have been the symbolic flower to celebrate the day, there has always been a slight issue with the decorative red flowers. The issue is the long, sharp pin that has stung so many.

“My poppy stabs me whenever I try to put on my coat, sometimes it even makes me bleed!” said second-year engineering student Ella Vader.

While one poppy pin may not be that difficult to deal with, some students are reporting that their collection of pins is somehow multiplying. James Pond, a thirdyear psychology student at

THEFULCRUM.CA

the University of Ottawa, is at a loss to explain this phenomenon. “Every time I reach into my bag, I feel the prick of at least three poppies. I don’t even understand where they’re all coming from!” he said.

This phenomenon is spreading beyond just backpacks and has moved to other areas of students’ lives. This includes the inside of their clothes, and some pins have even been found in their beds between the sheets. “I found one under my pillow,” said second-year economics student Frie Cook.

“I have one in the pocket of my pants, but I can’t get it out because it pokes me every time! It’s been in there for days!” said Anna Graham, a third-year political

A week after Remembrance Day and students are still finding poppy pins.

science student. “I think it’s making a home for itself.”

People have been taking unorthodox measures to

keep themselves safe, with many of the best involving the protective use of magnets. “I’ve started running a

Photo: Christine Wang.

magnet over my bed before I go to sleep,” said Cook. “I’ve even heard of a company that’s selling gloves made

out of magnets to help keep people safe, but they’re pretty polarizing.”

It is not just the students who are affected by this poppy epidemic. The U of O’s cafeteria staff have found them in their work areas. Lynne Gunie, head waffle maker at the cafeteria, spoke up about her intriguing interaction saying, “I was reaching to find a pot in one of our drawers, and felt a small prick. I pulled my arm out and found five poppies stuck into my arm!

It was the strangest thing I have ever seen!”

The Government of Canada is recommending that everyone take care with where they place their hands and to approach any poppies with extreme caution.

THE TOMATO | 19

DISTRACTIONS DEAR DI

FEATURES EDITOR Savannah Awde

features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @s_awde7

Dear Di,

My boyfriend loves ass play but the idea of licking someones asshole sounds gross to me. Is there a way I can do this hygienically? I want to experiment, but am a bit turned off by the association with poop.

Help me!

—Analingus Anxiety

Dear AA,

First things first, you don’t have to do something you’re uncomfortable with to make your boyfriend happy. If you’re really turned off by ass play—and that’s totally fine—you should talk to your boyfriend about how you feel. You can still find other ways to spice things up that’ll get both of you all hot and bothered.

Dishing with Di: This (penis) is Sparta A man’s sperm has some super features to help it make the trip from the penis to the uterus. First off, when a man ejaculates it shoots out sperm at 45 km/h!

Also, one teeny teaspoon of a man’s cum holds on average 300 million sperms. They even come prepared for the journey, containing major nutrients such as protein, carbs, and fat.

20 | DISTRACTIONS

Now if you’re as into getting your beautiful booty into the action as your boyfriend, I have some tips for you! One of the easiest ways to add some ass into your sex life is using dental dams. These babies are rectangles of latex rubber that can be used for cunnilingus as well as analingus. You can buy ready made ones on the cheap or even get them for free, or show off your DIY skills by making a dental dam out of a condom.

What’s awesome about dental dams is that they help protect against STIs, something that people usually aren’t considering when going down on their partner.

You can use a little water-based lube to make things more comfortable, but apart from that, you just fit it over the vagina or anus and then eat away! Don’t let the dental dam flip over, and use a new one if you’re switching from vag to anus or vice-versa.

In terms of hygiene, it’s completely understandable that you’re feeling anal about your partner’s anus’ recent activity. One thing you can do is jump in the shower before you two crazy animals have sex. Helping scrub your boyfriend clean will help you get in the mood to get him all dirty again.

Now when it comes to rimming, remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Be careful as the skin around the anus (particularly the perineum) can be pretty sensitive. Start slow, with a few kisses and licks up and around his anus, before giving him the full force of your tongue. You can also try a finger or two up his ass, if that’s something you’re both comfortable with.

When it comes to position, doggie usually makes things the most accessible. You can also slide your hand around to your boyfriend’s penis to make him go wild.

Or if your partner has a vagina, get their favourite vibrator in hand and stimulate their clit while you work on their booty.

Going backdoor can open up a whole new world in you and your partner’s sexplorations!

Love, Di

THEFULCRUM..CA

NOV. 20-NOV. 26, 2017

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC EATS SPORTS FUN THINKING ARTS

Monday Nov. 20 Muggy Mondays, free coffee for whoever brings a reusable mug, Faculty of Social Sciences building 2nd floor landing—8:30 a.m.

Free Yoga, 90 University, room 140—5:30 p.m.

Vu kitchen (between Thompson and Morisset)—9 a.m.

Guided Meditation, 90 University, room 152—5 p.m.

Thursday Nov. 23 Volunteer Ottawa’s Volunteer Expo, meet with representatives of non-profits and Tuesday Nov. 21 charities in the who need Women, extractivism, region help, Ottawa and life sustainability your City Hall, Jean Pigott in Peru, Faculty of Place—10 a.m.

Social Sciences building, room Screening of 4006—11:30 a.m.

After Spring, a fundraiser for Clear writing (English film refugees, Bytowne only) workshop, Cinema—6:45 p.m.

Tabaret Hall, room 119—9 a.m.

Friday Nov. 24 Wednesday Nov. 22 Preparing for Finals, come and learn Free home-cooked, about effective study healthy, and vegan strategies, Simard meal, hosted by the Hall, room 123—1 People’s Republic p.m. of Delicious, Deja

THEFULCRUM.CA

Zukerman and Beethoven by the NAC Orchestra, National Arts Centre—8 p.m.

Saturday Nov. 25 Night Lights art and light show, Little Italy is creating a bright spot in dark November evenings, first day, 301 Preston Street—7 p.m.

Annual Catmas Craft Fair, hosted by the Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue—10 a.m.

Sunday Nov. 26 Open Table November meal, free monthly homecooked meal for students and young adults, The Open Table—5:30 p.m.

Queer and Trans Yoga, Venus Envy, free session—7 p.m.

DISTRACTIONS | 21

22 | DISTRACTIONS

THEFULCRUM.CA

EDITORIAL Volume 78, Issue 12, Nov. 20, 2017 Snaking around since 1942.

Phone: (613) 695-0061 | Fax: (613) 695-9006 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this paper or Taylor Swift will snake you.

Eric “Boa Constrictor” Davidson Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “Coachwhip snake” McRae-Sadik Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Graham “Taylor Swift” Robertson Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Anchal “False Cobra” Sharma News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Ryan “Pit Viper” Pepper Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Savannah “Anaconda” Awde Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca David “Patchnose” Campion-Smith Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Christine “Cobra” Wang Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Dmitri “Moccasin” Bakker Social Media Manager social@thefulcrum.ca Ellie “Green Mamba” Sabourin Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Desert Death Adder” Drissi El-Bouzaidi Associate Features Editor

WHEN YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

After a long strike that has left Ontario college students out of class for the past five weeks, some students are starting to sue their colleges for their lost tuition money.

The fact is, it shouldn’t even come to that. There should simply be a policy in place to refund students tuition when there’s a protracted loss of class time.

One argument against refunding students is “hey, they’re probably just going to extend the semester, so you’ll get the value back anyway!”

But this doesn’t take into account the other effects on students’ pocketbooks. Depending on the timing, it could mean students have to spend more on rent and food. And if they have a specified amount of money, through OSAP for example, it could really squeeze students and cut into their budgets.

In this particular case, the current plan is to extend classes into the winter break. For students who planned to work over the break,

this will mean a significant loss of revenue and make it harder to finance further studies. But why didn’t they just work during the strike? Well for one thing, it’s hard to find a job in such a short period of time, especially when you can’t tell your employer if you’ll be working one week or six.

The fact is, strikes like this create a lot of uncertainty, and it’s hard for people, especially students, to make plans to accommodate that at the last minute.

Moving classes around can create varying levels of financial strain on students, and advice like “just find a way to adapt, and while you’re at it stop spending all your money on avocado toast,” won’t lead to a productive solution. Making sure students know they have financial recourse to the major disruption will.

Aside from the monetary aspect, throwing students’ schedules, both school and work, out of whack for an indefinite amount of time causes

a lot of stress, something that postsecondary institutions should not be adding more of. Knowing there’s a policy in place to take care of the financial side of things would go a long way to reduce the stress on students that comes with the uncertainty of a strike.

Not only is it necessary for students, but there are more selfish reasons colleges might want to guarantee students who miss a lot of class get their money back. Many colleges are suffering from declining enrolment in Ontario. So if they want to entice students, they should make them feel like their investment in their own future doesn’t carry the risk of random financial insecurity.

One argument against giving students their money back is that taxpayers pay about half of students’ tuition costs, and it’s unfair to ask them to pay more. But the reality of the situation is that colleges, due largely to falling enrollment, are

needing to ask for more and more money from the government, i.e. taxpayers. If nothing changes, a Pricewaterhose Cooper report says that an additional $1.9 billion could be tacked on to the provincial budget.

Losing the trust of students (and more importantly, potential students) isn’t going to make students want to enrol in Ontario colleges and buck this trend.

Perhaps one of the biggest problems with the current system is that it can make students feel powerless.

The professors can strike, the colleges can lock students out of classes, and what options do the students have? Sit back and watch while losing their money?

A system that doesn’t give students any modicum of power isn’t likely to yield an ideal result for the student population. At least making sure colleges need to refund their tuition puts students’ interests on the map during the negotiations.

Zack “Pygmy Python” Goobie Associate Sports Editor associate.sports@thefulcrum.ca Parker “Buttermilk Racer” Townes Staff Photographer photographer@thefulcrum.ca Videographer videographer@thefulcrum.ca Chafik “Hopi Rattlesnake” Kassis Head Web Architect webmaster@thefulcrum.ca Lucas “Black Mamba” Ghosn General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca Kaylum “Coastal Taipan” Bobal Advertising Representative ads@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

Connor “Carpet Viper” Chase Erica “Eyelash Viper” Endemann Daniel “Mole Viper” Birra Nadia “Undulated Pit Viper” Helal Marina “Water Moccasin” Ghebrial Perushka “Rinkhals” Gopalkista Dasser “Aruba Rattlesnake” Kamran Eric “Persian Rat Snake” Davison Veronique “Beauty Rat Snake” Therrien

Board of Directors

Raghad “Mandarin Rat Snake“ Sheikh-Khalil Katelyn “Eastern Racer” Murray Jonathan “Mexican Racer” Rausseo Fadi “Macklot’s Python” Azzi Spencer “Pygmy Python” Murdock Kim “Reticulated Python” Wiens Marguerite “Blood Python” Gollish Cover Credits: Eric Davidson.

THEFULCRUM.CA

Photo: Eric Davidson.

EDITORIAL | 23

étudiez avec study in

style

meublé et juste à quelques pas du campus chauffage, éléctricité & internet inclus gym ouvert 24 h loyer à partir de 699$ par mois fully furnished, steps from campus utilities & internet included 24 hr fitness facility starting at $699 a month

appliquez aujourd’hui apply today 613-912-9800

1eleven.ca