The Fulcrum - Vol 76 Issue 16

VOL. 76 ISSUE 16

jan. 21, 2016

“It’s war out there” PG. 16

Gee-Gees 75 Ravens 73

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INTERNATIONAL WEEK

INTERNATIONAL WEEK

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This Week

IN THIS ISSUE...

Food for thought P.7 GSAÉD announces first breastfeeding room on campus

Do we hear wedding bells? P.11 U of O prof weighs in on Syrian refugee documentary Seeing through the smoke P.14 Do e-cigarettes warrant the province’s new regulations?

Here comes the cavalry P.16 Men and women’s basketball teams leave Raven’s nest victorious Outrageous pay raises P.20 Why the U of O needs to put a stop to exorbitant salary increases Two’s company, three’s a crowd? P.24 Di replies to a reader’s roommate revery

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

Eric Davidson news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0061 @Eric_Davidson93

Charges laid in sexual assault case of former U of O student

Alleged perpetrator leaves country before facing judicial repercussions NADIA DRISSI EL-BOUZA Editor-IN-CHIEF

C

harges have been laid in the sexual assault case of former University of Ottawa student Mélodie Morin, however the alleged assailant has left the country.

Morin first gained attention when she went public with her story of being sexually assaulted by another student near campus, and called on the police to re-open her case, which they then said had never been closed.

Morin did not wish to comment further on the matter, but did allow her friend Margaux Hunter-Moffatt to speak on her behalf, who said they were both “elated” when they first heard charges were being laid.

“The fact that charges were being laid this time around also proved to us that we had

been justified in our outrage when they originally tried to close the case,” said HunterMoffatt. “It had not been due to lack of evidence or ‘misunderstanding’, but because the original officer truly did not take Mel’s assault seriously.”

The alleged perpetrator has fled to Lebanon, so charges were laid in absentia.

While having charges laid is a victory, Hunter-Moffatt said they “are still extremely upset” that the alleged perpetrator has not been apprehended. “We believe that he is a dangerous sexual offender who will likely assault more women, yet he gets to walk free.”

The Fulcrum reached out to the Ottawa Police Service but they declined to comment because they “cannot confirm charge in a sexual assault matter where the identification of a suspect may identify a victim, and further victimize.”

Both Morin and HunterMoffatt plan to continue advocating for the rights of sex-

Three months after Mélodie Morin went public with her story of being sexually assaulted, charges have been laid. Photo: Kim Wiens.

ual assault victims. “Once the shock and the media attention for the recent developments in

Mel’s case have died down we plan to continue our work to help other victims.”

2016 SFUO general election preview Students to vote on three referendums in mid-February elections Jaclyn McRae-Sadik Associate News Editor

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) 2016 general election will take place on Feb. 9-10 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The SFUO has seen a tumultuous year with two sudden resignations from the executives, and a failed health-care referendum.

Voter turnout for the SFUO general election has hovered at around 12 per cent over the past few years. The February 2014 election had a voter turnout of 11.6 per cent, while 2015 had 11.47 per cent. Official by-election voter turnout results from October 2015 have yet to be

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disclosed. The SFUO’s Board of Administration has considered implementing online voting to increase voter turnout but it’s currently being reviewed by the election committee.

The SFUO has yet to announce where polling stations will be located.

But the most pressing issue remains the uncertainty of a health-care plan after the failure to pass the referendum question during the October by-election. The SFUO may be forced to gut the plan—which currently covers prescription medication and medical items, professional services, vision care, emergency transportation, travel insurance, and dental services—if the referendum fails a second time..

What are the positions up for

election?

The positions range from the six executive positions, Board of Administration representatives (BOA) , Board of Governor (BOG) representatives and seats on the University of Ottawa Senate.

The deadline to submit official nominations was Jan. 15, but it was extended to Jan. 19 for BOG and Senate positions.

The official list of candidates will be published on Jan. 29.

The “faces” of the SFUO are the executive positions. These include the president, vicepresident services and communications, equity, social, finance and university affairs.

The BOA elects a predetermined number of students from each faculty, while the Senate elects one undergradu-

ate candidate from each faculty and the BOG currently has one position for an undergraduate representative.

As for the referendum questions, the SFUO has added two new ones and adjusted the previous health-care question.

Summer U-Pass referendum Included in the new referendum questions is the SFUO’s proposition to enact a summersession U-pass for full-time students. The pass would run from May 1 to August 31, beginning May 2016.

However, vice-president of university affairs Vanessa Dorimain said that this pass would only be available to students attending summer classes full-time and not to students registered full-time during the regular academic year. The pro-

“If there’s one thing this experience has taught us, it’s that the justice system is not

currently serving victims of sexual assault properly, and that needs to change.”

posed cost of this pass is $192.70 with a maximum increase of 2.5% per year. The levy would also only be subtracted from summer students.

Refugee funding referendum Another new referendum question, which was proposed at the Dec. 6 BOA meeting, asks for an increase in the levy to support an additional refugee student.

Currently, undergraduate students pay a levy of $1.38 per semester to sponsor two refugee students to attend the U of O annually. The proposed increase would be $0.50 per semester, bringing the levy to $1.88, to support another refugee student.

Health-care referendum The previous healthcare question asked students whether they agreed “to increase the Health and Dental Plan levy by $35 and authorize the SFUO Board of Administration to increase the fee up to 8% per year to enhance benefits as needed?”.

However the referendum

failed with a 52% no to 48% yes vote. SFUO president Roméo Ahimakin said he believes the referendum didn’t pass because not all students were completely informed.

In a previous interview with the Fulcrum, Ahimakin said the SFUO conducted focus groups and the results from the surveys would determine whether another referendum question on health care would take place.

The new referendum question remains largely the same as the previous one, although the proposed increase is now $29 instead of $35. This would bring the total annual healthcare cost up from $180 to $209.

The current question also specifies several key points that the previous question, which includes insuring “financial sustainability of the plan” as the reason for the increase and clarifies to students that the current benefit levels would remain the same. Also added in is a reminder that students have “the option to opt-out with full reimbursement”.

NEWS | 5

Still waiting on a grade? Here’s why your marks might be late Students voice concerns about grading system online eric davidson News Editor

New Year’s has come and gone, and University of Ottawa students are slowly settling into the new year and new semester. However, many students are still waiting on thing from 2015—their grades.

A number of U of O students have taken to Twitter to comment on how they have yet to receive marks for some of their classes, even as the winter semester begins.

When will my marks be posted?

A common question raised was what the actual deadline is for the grades to be posted.

“This is something we find in the collective agreement of professors,” said Isabelle Mayrand, director of operations at the office of the registrar. “Professors have ten work days to submit their final marks after the date of the exam.”

The final day of exams was

Dec. 22, meaning that Friday, Jan. 15 was the last day for professors to submit their marks.

After allowing some time for the faculties to enter the data, Mayrand said that all marks should be ready for viewing by Monday, Jan. 18.

“Most faculties, when the marks are received, post them right away,” said Mayrand.

Some, however, take a bit longer. The common law faculty, for example, has a probation process. “At the time that they receive all the marks, they submit them to a committee to approve them before posting.”

Will I still have time to appeal?

Another common concern expressed over social media is that if it takes time to get marks back, there will be little or no time to appeal them.

“We count the days the students can appeal a mark as of the date the mark was posted,” said Mayrand.

There can still be some diffi-

Many students have been wondering when they will receive the last of their marks from the fall semester.

culties, according to Mayrand, for example if the student gets their marks back partway into the semester. “It might take a bit of time before the appeal goes through, and by the time

the appeal goes through it might be a little late to change courses.” However, Mayrand says such issues are rare. “If we have an issue, it’s exceptional.”

Was it like this last year?

According to Mayrand, the process for posting grades is no different than it has been for a

Photo: Kim Wiens

number of years. “It’s the same process,” she said.

According to the U of O website, last years deadline for marks to be posted for the fall semester was Jan. 16, 2015.

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6 | NEWS

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Graduate student union to open campus’ first nursing room GSAÉD to support students as they pursue academics and venture into parenthood eric davidson News Editor

The University of Ottawa’s Graduate Students Association (GSAÉD) is set to open the first nursing room on campus in the University Centre (UCU), which will be available for use to all female student parents starting on Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.

“The room is going to be for any female student parents on campus who want to breastfeed their children,” said Lindsey Thomson, GSAÉD’s external commissioner. The room can only be accessed by contacting GSAÉD, the Women’s Resource Centre, Community Life, or the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO).

According to Thomson, the move is in step with a number of graduate students associations across the country. “We’re working in collaboration with the National Graduate Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students.”

“The benefit of this room is that it’s central on campus, it’s

a safe and comfortable space,” said Thomson.

As well as comfort, the new addition to the UCU will aim to be multifunctional, as we;; as to accommodate busy routines.

“It’s just finally giving student parents a space that they need so they can meet their academic requirements, and care for their child at the same time.”

Thomson said that plans to open the room started in 2014, but that much of the time since then has been spent negotiating with the university.

“We really had to fight for student parents and their rights on campus,” she said.

“We had to meet up with them and present different research findings on the need and the proper practices of a breastfeeding room on campus.”

Thomson also noted that GSAÉD had some help in reaching its goal. “We received a lot of help from the SFUO in the beginning phases of this project,” she said.

GSAÉD also worked with the University Centre Management Board and the Community Life office, and the univer-

The GSAED nursing room will be in the University Centre.

sity itself.

“It’s actually the university that provided funding for the room, and GSAÉD were the ones to get everything up and

running,” she said. This included negotiating to get space for the room and planning logistics and accessibility.

Thomson says that depend-

ing on how much use the room gets, GSAÉD might open another one with a similar design.

“We’re in a trial phase right now, we’re going to test this

Photo: Kim Wiens

out for the next year or two,” she said. “If we find there’s a lot of demand, we’re going to look into opening up a second room on south campus.”

U of O alumnus-turned-entrepreneur works to provide transportation in the Yukon Jesse Cooke adapts to business in Canada’s North Savannah Awde Managing Editor

If you think getting to class in the winter is hard, think again—lack of transportation in the northern Yukon can make travelling near impossible in any season. However University of Ottawa graduate Jesse Cooke’s chartered bus service, Husky Bus, has been making moving around up North a little easier.

Cooke first travelled to the Yukon as part of a Glaciology course in 2006, and after experiencing travel difficulties first hand, Cooke started Husky Bus. Entering its fifth season of operations this year, Husky Bus was recognized with the Parks Canada Youth Tourism Entrepreneur Award at the 2015 Canadian Tourism Awards on Dec. 2, 2015.

Cooke, an Environmental Studies and Education graduate, found inspiration for his startup in Dawson City, Yukon, a town he describes as transient but very isolated— it’s also the starting point of

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“The entire Yukon has a population of about a few city blocks in Ottawa. As an entrepreneur that means that I’ve got to get very creative.”— Jesse Cooke, U of O alum and Husky Bus founder. his route, which ends in the capital, Whitehorse.

“Since the time that I’ve been living here there’s been no way to get here except the airplane,” said Cooke “When I first came I hitchhiked to get up here, like so many others.”

He said this is a widespread problem for towns that lie in northern regions of Yukon, and that “a lot of these communities are totally offline.”

As an entrepreneur in the Yukon, Cooke faces some unique challenges. He often grapples with making ends meet while serving a small market of people.

“The entire Yukon has a population of about a few city blocks in Ottawa,” he said. “As

an entrepreneur that means that I’ve got to get very creative.”

In the Yukon it can also be challenging to simply get people from point A to point B. Load limits in the springtime and extensive construction are necessary inconveniences in the Yukon, where some roads, including the one Husky Bus operates on, experience freezing and thawing periods with the permafrost found in northern terrain.

According to Antoni Lewkowicz, a professor at the the U of O’s Department of Geography, this thawing effect on roads is a pattern that will worsen with climate change.

“You’ve got the asphalt on

U of O alum Jesse Cooke (centre) recives the Youth Tourism Award from members of Parks Canada.Photo: Courtesy of Jesse Cooke

the top... and then you have the part that’s basically gradually thawing,” Lewkowicz said.

He explained that the ice is not distributed uniformly under the asphalt, so during thawing periods there are roads that suffer from “waves and depressions.”

While global warming won’t pose immediate threats to the operation of services

like Cooke’s, it suggests that future initiatives in Yukon transportation could face greater barriers as the permafrost thaws.

“Places where right now there might not be a problem there might start to be a problem,” said Lewkowicz. “There are places where right now there are problems, and those places will get worse as a re-

sult of climate change.”

Despite the challenges of entrepreneurship in the north, Cooke doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. With plans to rebrand Husky Bus this year as Klondike Experience, Cooke will be expanding his services to adventure tours.

“It’s the kind of place that keeps drawing people back, and that’s why I’m still here.”

NEWS | 7

News Briefs

Court rules against police, favours telecom customer privacy The Ontario Superior Court ruled on Jan. 14 that police warrants that force telecom companies to give cellphone records of customers to the police violates customer privacy, and goes against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In early 2014, Peel region police got a court order asking for the names, numbers, addresses, and banking information of every person whose cellphone signals bounced off of certain towers

during multiple jewelry store robberies.

Rogers and Telus challenged this request which would have disclosed the personal information of more than 40,000 customers.

With the new guidelines, police will need to provide more specific criteria when asking for information.

—Andrea Zehr

On Monday, Jan.18, the government of British Columbia unveiled its plan to integrate computer science and coding into its kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum.

B.C premier Christy Clark told the Globe and Mail she hopes coding “doesn’t just become an opportunity for every child to take part in, but

to ultimately make it mandatory for every child from kindergarten to grade 12 to learn about coding and how it works.”

Clark hopes the move will bolster the province’s tech sector, which is facing a skills shortage.

—Eric Davidson

B.C. looks to crack the code for education

8 | NEWS

Netflix has no chill Netflix has announced that it plans to crack down on viewers who circumvent the system to watch content not available in their own countries, though they have yet to specify how.

In a blog post, Netflix vice-president of content delivery David Fullagar said that many viewers currently use tools like proxies and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to get around geographic content restrictions.

He continued that Netflix has always been against these practices.“Those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the

service in the country where they currently are.” He did not specify how the company would thwart the use of proxies and VPNs. Fullagar wrote that Netflix hopes to eventually make all of its content universal, but that licensing laws currently prevent that. “We are making progress in licensing content across the world,” he wrote, “but we have a ways to go before we can offer people the same films and TV series everywhere.”

—Eric Davidson

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National News

Ryerson pro-life student group takes RSU to court after club status rejection SFLR mandate violates RSU women’s issues policy, says student union Nicole Schmidt The Eyeopener

Toronto (CUP)—After being denied official club status on campus, a pro-life student group made its first court appearance in a lawsuit against the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) on Dec. 18.

Students for Life at Ryerson (SFLR) applied to become an official group through the RSU at the beginning of the 2014 school year, but their application was rejected one month later. The RSU board of directors upheld the rejection after an appeal in February 2015.

SFLR was denied club status because of their mandate, which goes against the RSU’s women’s issues policy. In an email sent after the rejection, RSU president Rejean Hoilett wrote that the RSU does not support groups that promote misogynist views towards women and ideologies that promote gender inequality, challenge a woman’s right to bodily autonomy or justify sexual assault.

SFLR’s vice-president, thirdyear business student Carter Grant, said the group is an educational resource and a support system. According to Grant, the club aims to give students a safe space to learn

RSU lawyers say pro-life group hasn’t suffered without club status.

about issues surrounding abortion, and to help anyone facing difficulties. “We’re not there to force ideals on anyone, we just want to start a discussion—a healthy discussion,” he said.

According to an article on LifeSite, the group’s lawyer, Carol Crosson, argued that the RSU acted with “improper intentions and bad faith.”

Photo: Farnia Fekri

SFLR claims that the rejection violates Ryerson’s policy to protect freedom of speech on

campus.

RSU lawyers Alexi Wood and Jennifer Saville, argued

that official club status “is a privilege, not a right, and that the pro-life group suffered no

adverse consequences by being denied club status.”

But Grant said that not having official status has created challenges, mainly in matters of funding and finding space on campus.

In order to run events, the group raises its own money.

“The time we spend fundraising means we have less time to focus on our mandate,” said Grant.

He added that the group has booked space to host events in the past, only to be bumped at the last minute. “Not having official status puts you at the bottom of the totem pole,” he said.

The case is expected to cost upwards of $20,000 for SFLR and has been funded primarily through donations—the student group has raised around $15,000 thus far.

A final decision regarding the club’s status is expected to be made in court sometime within the next few months, as the legal proceedings come to a close.

RSU president Rejean Hoilett wrote that the RSU does not support groups that promote misogynist views towards women and ideologies that promote gender inequality, challenge a woman’s right to bodily autonomy or justify sexual assault.

Trudeau in Waterloo to unveil federal spending on water research Investment to benefit water management systems, reduce energy consumption Kaitlyn Severin The Cord

Waterloo (CUP)—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the University of Waterloo on Thursday morning to unveil the federal government’s plan to invest $12 million in the Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC).

SOWC is a group of postsecondary institutions in Ontario dedicated to researching and developing water services and technologies. The organization includes nine other strategic partners, including Wilfrid Laurier University.

The $12-million investment will go towards 10 post-secondary institutions, including UW, to advance clean water

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and technology while reducing energy. Trudeau noted the investment will help create hundreds of jobs across Ontario.

According to Trudeau’s official government website, the investment will advance up to 80 water-related projects, benefitting up to 90 businesses in Southern Ontario.

The investment will help these companies compete internationally and also support developing technologies that will help municipalities in Ontario manage wastewater while reducing energy consumption.

The investment will be received by the University of Waterloo, SOWC’s lead partner, through Federal Economic Development Agency for

Southern Ontario Investing in Commercialization Partnership initiative, which supports business-led partnerships while developing international innovative platforms to demonstrate commercial value.

During the announcement, Trudeau said he hopes to protect the environment while benefitting Southern Ontario’s economy by creating new jobs.

“Above all, we’re investing in the future,” Trudeau announced.

Trudeau toured the UW Science Teaching Complex and Velocity program, and later received a tour of Google’s new Canadian headquarters in Kitchener, and Blackberry’s head office in Waterloo.

Justin Trudeau received a tour of Google Canada’s new headquarters in Kitchener on his trip.

He praised the region as an “extraordinary hub for in-

novation,” according to the CBC, and said the region is “at

Photo: Ramona Leitao.

the cutting edge of the global economy.”

NATIONAL NEWS | 9

A&C EDITOR Allegra Morgado arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE

(613) 695-0062 @allietate

David Bowie says farewell with Blackstar Ryan Pepper

staffcontributor

R

eleased on music legend David Bowie’s 69th birthday, his 25th studio album Blackstar defies all expectations.

Two days after the release of this album, David Bowie passed away from an 18-month battle with cancer.

Neither his lengthy career of over 50 years, nor his age, have made this album uninspired, quiet, or boring. Instead, Bowie is relentless, giving the listener an insight into his brilliant mind and endless talent as a musician.

For his first studio LP in three years, Bowie teamed up with an NYC-based jazz trio led by saxophonist Donny McCaslin and long-time producer Tony Visconti, a legend in his own right. Blasts of saxophone weave in and out of songs, with McCaslin at times underpinning Bowie’s still-powerful vocals, and at other times taking centre stage.

Blackstar is his swan song, his parting gift to a world who adored and worshipped him for decades. It’s a fitting farewell, and may be one of the best rock

albums produced in a long time.

Bowie leaves us with comforting parting lines in “Lazarus”, letting the listener know that “Just like the bluebird/Oh, I’ll be free/Ain’t that just like me?”

“Lazarus” and the albumcloser “I Can’t Give Everything Away” are easy-listening, jazz rock tracks, that feel like affectionate farewells to his fans, featuring lines such as “Look up here, I’m in heaven” in “Lazarus”. They shy away from the space-vibe that much of the album has, with soulful sounds that make them easy for any listener to get lost in.

If those two are for a wider audience on earth, then the almost 10-minute title track is music for another world. The song goes from a dark jazz flavour, to a sunny ballad, later returning to the darker drumbeat sound, and the music video for the track is even more disarming.

The video is a short film of sorts, and features many eerie images, but one of the most notable is a skull that appears to be that of Major Tom turned into a macabre relic, thus completing the legacy of one of rock’s greatest characters.

Visconti’s masterful production pushes Blackstar into orbit. Filled with electronic

beeps, this album is reminiscent of Bowie’s space-themed early work such as Space Oddity (1969) and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). With his years of experience, Blackstar takes it to the next level, making it an unearthly album.

As Bowie has always been a genre-definer, and at times a genre-changer, he has always been adaptable, and has proven that he’s capable of taking what is popular and making it his own. “‘Tis a Pity She Was a Whore” has a definite indie rock vibe, and could easily blend in with the many indie bands dominating the airwaves today, save for the 1980s-esque saxophone solo.

It’s difficult to compare Blackstar fully to any other album, even those in Bowie’s own discography. Bowie proves he was still a man who could take the avant-garde and enthrall mainstream audiences with it.

Are there weirder albums? Of course. But not from any artists with Bowie’s popularity.

For all the experimentation, Blackstar is not as inaccessible as it may first seem. It combines a multitude of genres, making it appealing to many different music-lovers. It’s a delight for jazz lovers, a treat for left-of-

centre indie kids, and a new adventure for people who want a taste of art in their rock and roll.

Bowie croons on the title track that he is the “Great I Am”, and with this mind-

blowing, genre-breaking final album, it would be difficult to challenge him on that. He has always been more than just the leader of the pack, and, fortyseven years after Major Tom first went up into space, David

Bowie is still light years ahead of his contemporaries.

Thank you, David Bowie, for all that you have done. And as you’ve said, you may not know where you’re going, but it sure as hell will not be boring.

Lansdowne Park going up on a Saturday

SFUO hosts ‘Frost Week’ show featuring ILoveMakonnen and DJ Mustard Allegra Morgado arts & culture editor

Coming back to campus after a relaxing winter break can be a difficult adjustment, and without the excitement of 101 Week offered in the fall semester, it can be hard to get students pumped up for a new semester. Fortunately, the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) had the perfect antidote to beat those winter blues—FROST 2016.

“It’s cool that we have our own ‘Frost Week’ which is sort of equivalent to 101 Week in the winter, and also to welcome back (students) after the break,”

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

said vice-president social of the SFUO, Hadi Wess.

FROST 2016, a concert headlined by ILoveMakonnen and DJ Mustard that took place on Jan. 16, was hosted by the SFUO in collaboration with AVX Live, JUMP! 106.9, Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa, and Carleton University’s Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA).

“This is something that hasn’t happened in awhile, something between the University of Ottawa and Carleton,” said Wess. “One of my platform points was to open that kind of communication between campuses, because at

DJ Mustard performing at FROST 2016 for an ecstatic crowd. Photo: Marta Kierkus.

the end of the day we’re all students, we all serve as a student body, as a student government, we all serve the same cause, and one of our big causes that we care for is entertaining stu-

dents.”

The show sold out of online tickets hours before the event itself and took place at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Lansdowne Park. The concert also had a

philanthropic aspect, with a portion of the ticket sales going to the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa, a non-profit social service agency.

Although the opening acts, Iggy Smalls and Foster, drew smaller crowds, the energy turned up when ILoveMakonnen took the stage around 10 p.m. Playing his hits like “I Don’t Sell Molly No More” and the Drake-featured “Tuesday”, ILoveMakonnen had fans jumping, dancing, and singing along. The artist said goodbye by telling the crowd to “keep turnin’ up” as they waited for DJ Mustard to take the stage.

DJ Mustard, a famed west

coast producer who has worked with everyone from Kanye West to Young Jeezy, spun mega-hits like YG’s “My N*gga”, which he produced, and The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”. The DJ kept the energy in the venue high over his entire set, occasionally talking to the crowd during song transitions.

Wess said collaborating with other organizations helped them draw in bigger names for Frost 2016. If putting aside our rivalry guarantees concerts with big names, I suppose we can make a truce with Carleton University students a few times a year. Only for the love of the music, of course.

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Documentary film captures unique story of refugee migration OWFF to hold documentary screening, discussion with U of O professor Graham Robertson fulcrum contributor

Although the Syrian refugee crisis may have seemed like the hot topic of 2015, it has in fact been ongoing for almost five years. And in 2014, three filmmakers made a documentary that follows a group of five refugees who escaped Syria in an unusual way—as a fake bridal party.

Directed and written by Antonio Agugliaro, Gabriele del Grande, and Khaled Soliman al Nassiry, On the Bride’s Side tells the story of five refugees who travel to Sweden from Syria in search of a new beginning.

The film will be screened at the ByTowne Cinema on Jan. 28 by One World Film Festival (OWFF) and One World Arts, followed by a discussion on the war in Syria and refugee support.

The discussion will feature David Pepper, member of the Refugee 613 steering committee, and founding member of Capital Rainbow Refuge, an Ottawa-based refugee sponsor group that focuses on members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The event will also feature Dr. Rouba al-Fattal, a part-time professor of Middle East and

Arab politics at the University of Ottawa, and member of the Rotary Club of Ottawa, a humanitarian organization combatting the Syrian refugee crisis.

Al-Fattal was approached by Gerry Schmitz, a volunteer for the OWFF, to be a part of the screening, and after viewing a pre-screening of the movie, agreed to be part of the discussion.

“What I liked about the movie was that it puts things into a human context,” says al-Fattal.

“Many movies about refugees are too violent, so they’re difficult to watch, but this movie didn’t have that, which was something I enjoyed.”

The film highlights the difficulties faced by refugees, and the challenges of migrating.

Along the journey, the group faces arrest and deportation, while those who come to their aid are almost prosecuted.

Aside from political threats to their safety, the group also encounters dangerous travel conditions, such as crossing a cliff using a rope, and climbing through a hole in a border fence.

Al-Fattal believes this movie is of great importance at the moment because it addresses

The film, which was screened at festivals around the world in 2014 and 2015, documents the lengths people go to to escape their war-torn home.

common questions people have about the refugee crisis, such as why these crises start, and what the “human costs” of migrating are.

“It’s important for students to watch this film because the youth are the ones who drive social change,” she says. “They

have the energy to act as engines of social change, and can do a lot to help refugees.”

“We share one sky, one nature, one earth. Why are we putting so many obstacles between us?” says al-Fattal.

“There is a new energy in the Canadian government, and

we need to keep this momentum going.” Although Canadians, and many other countries around the world, opened their borders and welcomed refugees, there are still hundreds of thousands who will require help in 2016. Through films like On the Bride’s Side, and the

Courtesy of Marco Garofalo.

work of concerned citizens, Canadian steps appear to be in motion to achieve justice for those in need.

On the Bride’s Side will be playing at the ByTowne Cinema on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 6:45 p.m, followed by a discussion. Tickets are $12.

Staying cute and cozy this winter

The Fulcrum helps you stay warm and fashionable, no matter what the weather Maitland Shaheen-Akins staff contributor

It’s that time of year again.

The ground is white, the wind is bitter, and half of the campus staircases are blocked off—yup, it’s winter!

And with winter weather comes winter… well, I’d hesitate to call it fashion.

Style seems to grind to a halt throughout the winter months, which is unfortunate in a city that’s cold for almost half the year. Fortunately, the Fulcrum has a few tips for you to stay warm without sacrificing style during these next few chilly months.

Layer it up First, let’s talk about layering. Layering an outfit should be strategic—don’t just match your colours and prints. You also have to consider the textures and silhouettes of each piece you put on. To keep an

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outfit interesting and stylish, don’t layer too many pieces with similar fabrics and lengths.

For example, try pairing a basic t-shirt with a slightly longer plaid shirt, a cropped chunky knit sweater, and your favourite faux fur winter jacket. It sounds like a lot of clothing, but the varied textures and lengths break up the lines of the outfit, and keep it from looking overwhelming—and, most importantly, this kind of look is incredibly warm.

Beanies, and mittens, and scarves— oh my!

Now that we’ve talked layering, let’s move on to accessories. Every Ottawan knows that a hat, mittens, and scarf are necessities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them as a style statement.

For hats, bigger means

warmer, and they’re the first thing people notice about you in the winter anyways, so go big or go home. Think thick beanies with huge pompoms, fur trapper hats, and other statement toppers to insulate you in an eye-catching way.

With most hats, it’s best to wear them a bit further back on your head than you did as a child—showing a bit of your hairline keeps you from looking like a bald egg.

Since mittens cover your hands, it’s best to go truly practical here. You can get warm, cheap, tech-friendly gloves almost anywhere these days, so you can keep scrolling through Instagram while staying warm.

For scarves, your best bet, like hats, is to go big. Blanket scarves, a definite trend this season, is the way to go.

There are a few ways to wear blanket scarves (folded into a triangle, draped poncho style,

wrapped around your neck like a giant fuzzy boa constrictor, etc.), but for maximum warmth, tuck the ends inside your coat.

From your head to your toes In terms of shoes—honestly, don’t even try to be creative here. Just buy the warmest waterproof boots you can find, and in a neutral colour. No one can see your feet through a foot of snow anyways, and you’ll thank yourself later when your friends are complaining that their more fashionable boots are ruined by the excess salt on the ground, and barely keeping their feet warm.

Hopefully these tips help you stay warm while braving the cold for the next few months. Failing all that, just avoid going outside. I wonder how long I could live in the U of O tunnel system?

Photo: Kim Wiens.

ARTS & Culture | 11

Beauty commandments for the new year The Fulcrum gives you four beauty tips to start the winter semester off right Christelle Musambi fulcrum contributor

In December we overindulged to celebrate the end of a semester, and quickly followed that up with an onslaught of holiday parties. Fast forward to 2016, and the damage is done.

So why not use the momentum that comes with a new year to restore and rejuvenate. It’s a new year, a new semester, and good time for a (cue cliché) a new you! Here are four beauty commandments to live by in 2016 to ensure a beautiful year.

Thou shalt invest in thy skin: As fun as celebrations are, they only do one thing when it comes to your skin—wreak havoc. Dehydration and sallow skin is a testament to the fun we had during the holidays, but there comes a time when you have to commit to taking care of your skin.

To do this you simply need to stock up on three things: makeup wipes for the nights you’re too tired to head to the sink, moisturizer for a luminous glow, and sunscreen because—al-

12 | ARTS & CULTURE

though we tend to forget the sun’s existence in the winter—when you’re hitting the slope, so are the sun rays.

That’s it, you only require three skin care items to start off the year right.

Thou shalt be fearless: We often want to try a bold new lip colour or new ‘do, but fear can step in, making you doubt whether you can actually pull off the look. This will be the year where fear and beauty can’t hang side by side. Try all the looks that you may have been too scared to attempt in 2015.

Purple lipstick? Why not! A trendy bob? Let it be your new thing. All’s fair in beauty and style—you can break the rules and make your own.

Go ahead and give yourself the freedom to have some fun in the beauty department, and make 2016 the year you just go for it.

Thou shalt be mindful of beauty ticks: Some of us may love school, but it would be a lie to say that we are always fully immersed in every lecture. Unfortunately when boredom strikes, so do careless beauty habits—think nail-biting and mindlessly touching your face.

This year, let us help you find alternatives to kick those bad habits to the curb. To stop biting your nails in class, make sure that your hands are always polished and manicured. You’re less likely to want to dig in after all of the money or time you spent perfecting your nails.

For the face touching, just remember that when you’re doing this you could be transferring bacteria that could lead to a breakout. If you really can’t help yourself, keep some hand sanitizer nearby to aid in maintaining a clear complexion.

The Fulcrum gives you tips and tricks to help follow your beauty resolutions.Photo: Christelle Musambi.

favourites, like that cream foundation you’ve owned for two years that shouldn’t go anywhere near your face, and look for the little jar with a number followed by an “m”—that’s the amount of months that makeup lasts after opening.

Take a few minutes to do a thorough check of your beauty inventory, and toss out anything that is past its expiry date.

The beauty of purging is that it

Thou shalt travel light: Do you really need 82 lipsticks?

Or another black eyeliner that you swear is blacker than the last (is there really a difference between carbon black and black anyway)? It’s not so much about the quantity, but the quality of the products you own.

Check the labels of your beauty

makes room for all the new products you’ll be experimenting with this year.

Remember, these commandments are all about small, incremental changes. No need to overhaul your beauty routine, but simply inject it with a dose of what is new and bold.

Be mindful of your beauty routine and any negative habits that may have crept in. Let’s start 2016 in style, happy new beauty year!

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Mixes with Mack The Nisker

1 ½ oz Vodka ¾ oz Apricot or Peach Schnapps ¼ oz Simple Syrup ½ oz Lemon Juice Mix ingredients over ice in a cocktail mixer. Shake for 15 seconds. Pour into an old-fashioned glass over ice. *Little known fact, this is probably the favourite drink of Canadian electronic musician, Peaches (Merill Nisker).

Mackenzie Gray fulcrum president

What’s in the drink?

Vodka – Whatever you do, don’t buy Smirnoff. My go-to is Tag NO.5 ($26.35 for 750 mL).

It’s made in Oakville, Ontario and lacks the rubbing alcohol taste and smell that is synonymous with cheap vodka, but without the expensive price tag of some other top-shelf brands.

Apricot or Peach Schnapps – I used Pecsétes Barack Apricot Liquor ($31.10 for 750 mL, 43%), a Hungarian liqueur that is considerably stronger and less sweet than most schnapps available.

If you’re on a budget, turn to Dr. McGillicuddy Peach schnapps ($11.95 for 350 mL, 21%). But beware, not all schnapps are created equal! Dr. McGillicuddy, McGuiness and Bols are all are thick and full of sugar, which often lead to horrible hang-

overs.

Simple Syrup – This is a staple for anyone who wants to have a home bar. Mix equal parts water and sugar in a pot and stir on low heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Keep it in the fridge and it’ll last for roughly four months.

Lemon Juice – As always, it’s best to use fresh ingredients. I guarantee you will be able to taste the difference between real lemon and the at Market Organics (126 York fake stuff, which is loaded with St) which sells 100 per cent sugar. I buy mine pre-squeezed bottled fresh lemon juice at

Photo: Mackenzie Gray.

Pro tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, check out the Vintages section of the LCBO on Rideau Street for international and nontraditional spirits. That’s where I found the Pecsétes Barack Apricot Liquor. around $7 for a 1L bottle.

And if you want the freshest juice possible, buy a lemon

and squeeze it yourself, either with your hands or a citrus juicer.

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Twelfth Night

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Bruce Dow

As imagined by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop

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ARTS & Culture | 13

Up in smoke

“It was no longer about reducing smoking as a way to achieve that, it was a matter of saying ‘We want to attack anything As the e-cigarette debate in this industry makes or anything Ontario heats up, is the whole made by anybody who even point of smoking cessation looks like this industry.’”—David being lost in the shuffle?

Sweanor, adjunct professor of Pamela Yan & Kyle Darbyson law from the U of O. Fulcrum Contributor & Features Editor

T

his is bound to be an exciting year for anti-tobacco advocates in Ontario.

On one hand, the national smoking rate is at an all-time low, with only 15 per cent of Canadians choosing to light up. On the other hand, one should also consider the skyrocketing popularity of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), products that—depending on who you talk to— could potentially revolutionize the way people kick the habit for good.

Kayleigh Holden, a secondyear criminology student from the University of Ottawa, knows about this first hand.

Since high school, Holden was a pack-a-day smoker, a habit that left her in mental and physical disarray.

“It affected everything. It affected my health, it definitely affected my bank account, my motivation, my ability to have any kind of patience with people. I was completely unable to deal with stressful situations unless I had a cigarette or I was able to

go out for a cigarette.”

After several failed attempts to butt out over the years, Holden finally found salvation in October of 2015 by switching over to e-cigarettes. While these battery powered devices still contain nicotine, they are completely lacking in tobacco, tar, polonium-210, or any of the other thousand harmful ingredients that are responsible for the death of around 37,000 Canadians every year.

According to Holden, the switch from smoke to vapour has made a noticeable difference in her day-to-day life, even over a short period of time.

“When you’re a smoker your smell, your taste is completely desensitized, and with the ecigarette you get that back,” she said. “I still do feel a little bit of tightness in my chest, but it’s nowhere near compared to the pain, the chest pain, and the heart pain you get when you are smoking cigarettes.”

Despite testimony from users like Holden, the prospect of uti-

lizing e-cigarettes as an aid to quit smoking is a divisive subject among lawmakers and health care professionals. Many are uneasy about the fact that the longterm effects of using e-cigarettes are not known, since these devices have only been on the market since 2004.

In this light, the Ontario government is looking to play it safe when it comes to this issue, as they are currently in the process of trying to ban vaping in public places through the Making Healthier Choices Act. But is this move justified?

Should e-cigarettes be treated the same as your typical overthe-counter smokes? Or should the provincial government recognize them as a “healthier” or—at the very least—less dangerous alternative to the world’s leading cause of preventable death?

Fear of the unknown It’s easy to see where this apprehension surrounding e-ciga-

rettes comes from.

After all, even though these products have been circulating in the North American market for barely a decade, the e-cigarette industry has been growing wildly and is now worth $140 million in the Canada market alone. Some even predict that e-cigarette sales will eventually surpasses that of tobacco products.

As with most rapidly expanding technologies, e-cigarettes are shaking up the status quo—a situation which has left politicians scrambling to come up with federally mandated laws and regulations.

Aside from a totally impotent ban issued by Health Canada in 2009, e-cigarettes are regulated from province to province—and sometimes city to city— leading some to refer to Canada as “the Wild West” for vaping manufacturers and retailers.

This “Wild West” mentality even extends to information about these products, as the scientific community grapples with

conflicting studies and information, mostly stemming from the fact that they only have access to short-term data about the benefits and drawbacks of ecigarettes.

This lack of long term research is particularly concerning to medical professionals like Dr. David Stewart who, as the Head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Ottawa Hospital, is expected to make decisions based on empirical scientific evidence to ensure his patients’ safety.

When asked if he would ever recommend an e-cigarette to a patient to help them quit smoking, Dr. Stewart said he wouldn’t without having more data that proves it is more likely to be successful.

“I’d be willing to guess that cigarette smoke itself is more harmful, but the nicotine itself can drive tumour cell growth,” said Stewart. “So… it’d be better still if people quit completely rather than going to e-cigarettes.”

Even those who benefit from e-cigarettes are wary of the po-

tential long terms effects.

Holden comments that she’s in favour of the Ontario government’s proposed ban, at least when it comes to vaping indoors.

“Regardless of whether it’s ‘bad’ for you or not, it still smells.

It smells like whatever flavour you have,” she said. “So I’m in favour of it just purely because of the fact that if I was not a smoker I would not want my personal space intruded upon like that.”

Some health websites also point to the four ingredients that are typically found in e-cigarette liquid as a point of contention.

Most of the attention is paid to one ingredient in particular, propylene glycol, since it is a main ingredient in antifreeze and a known irritant when inhaled.

There are also concerns that vaping attracts more of a younger crowd, especially since a recent national survey revealed that 20 per cent of Canada’s youth have tried e-cigarettes (compared to the 15 per cent smoking rate).

“I have friends who bought vapes with no nicotine in them just to practice smoke tricks,” said Holden, reflecting on this concern. “And then they hit their friends’ vape that has two milligrams or four milligrams of nicotine and you get… a bit of a throat kick, like a little feeling in your chest and a little buzz.”

“The addiction starts from there,” she said.

The Ontario government is using these kinds of sentiments to fuel their latest legislation, an act that will largely put e-cigarettes on the same legal standing as the combustible variety.

Harm reduction One of most vocal opponents of this ideology in Canada is Da-

vid Sweanor, an adjunct professor of law from the U of O and a member of the university’s Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics.

Sweanor laughs off his critics who say that he holds any kind of sympathies towards Big Tobacco, since he has been a renowned and leading expert in tobacco control for the past 30 years.

As such, his main reason for supporting the growth of the ecigarette industry stems from his belief in its value as a method of harm reduction.

He likens e-cigarettes to public health staples like condoms or seat-belts, products that are designed to lessen the damage that could be done in potentially dangerous situations.

“The death rate on our roads now, per mile driven, is down by over 80 per cent since the time I was a teenager. We did that, and we did that on a range of products,” he said, referring to automobile safety innovations such as collapsing steering columns and safety glass. “We change things. We didn’t ban (cars). We facilitated a change to less hazardous products.”

Sweanor also points to the fact that an “abstinence only” approach to smoking cessation is not realistic for the majority of the smokers who are addicted to nicotine, as studies have shown that only four to seven per cent of people are capable of quitting without additional help. Instead, Sweanor believes that e-cigarettes provide a weaning off effect that is much more effective.

This is largely the same method that allowed Holden to lower her nicotine intake and kick her pack-a-day habit.

“My e-cigarettes still contain nicotine, because the way I’m doing it is that I’m slowly cutting back. Every time I go buy a new

bottle of juice I go down between two and four milligrams, so I have been able to be more tolerant towards people, be more patient, be able to deal with stress a little bit better.”

Derek Young, the manager of the local e-cigarette outlet SirVape-A-Lot, frequently observes this kind of behaviour in his returning customers, stating that they don’t necessarily like the taste of tobacco.

Young’s survey of his clientele also challenges the pervasive fear of e-cigarettes acting as a gateway to real cigarettes for minors.

“I would say 99 per cent of the people who walk through that door are smokers,” he said, mirroring a recent report by Public Health England that found that most e-cigarette users are conventional smokers rather than curious newcomers.

“Yes, there are the one per cent who… may not smoke and we usually try to suggest that they may not want to pick up some sort of habit like this.”

Even discounting the potential health benefits surrounding vaping, former smokers like Holden will tell you that e-cigarettes are also much cheaper than traditional cigarettes.

Holden is already reaping the rewards from this economic reality, claiming to save $60 every week after switching to e-cigarettes. Sources like Time and Nerd Wallet back up this claim, calculating that packet-a-day smokers like Holden could potentially save an average of up to around $1,200 a year.

So, while figures like Sweanor, Holden, and Young don’t pretend that e-cigarettes are the equivalent of an hour-long workout at the gym, they do recognize their potential to cushion the blow of a dangerous habit, especially when it comes to your body,

your nerves, and your wallet.

Moralistic vs. practical However, in Sweanor’s mind, the government’s plans to put e-cigarettes on the same level as regular cigarettes is not just uninformed, it could be downright dangerous.

By reinforcing the social stigma that e-cigarettes are just as bad as the real thing, Sweanor believes that Ontario lawmakers are betraying the very idea of public health and harm reduction.

“The vast majority of those people who are going to die this year have been saying for a long time ‘I wish I didn’t smoke.’

They’ve been trying to quit. Many of them are addicted to nicotine to the point that they’re not going to be able to quit,” he said, referring to the fact that nicotine, despite not causing cancer, is still one of the most addictive drugs in the world outside of heroin and crack cocaine.

“Why are we trying to make it harder for them to do what they want, rather than trying to find a way to facilitate it?”

This stance echoes a pattern of behaviour that he has observed amongst many of his anti-smoking colleagues in the field of public health over the years, where they “decided it was a moral issue rather than a public health one.”

“So it was no longer about ‘I want to reduce death and disease’. It was no longer about reducing smoking as a way to achieve that, it was a matter of saying, ‘we want to attack anything this industry makes or anything made by anybody who even looks like this industry.’”

“Sadly, the collateral damage from that is the lives of the untold

thousands of smokers who could have otherwise been helped through the application of the sort of harm reduction principles that we apply on every other health issue.”

New year’s resolution Ironically, while the passing of the Making Healthier Choices Act aims to create consistent legislation for tobacco-related products, it’s already starting to make things more complicated for Ontario lawmakers.

Sweanor points out that the province’s plans for vaping are already butting heads with the Trudeau government’s federal mandate to decriminalize recreational cannabis, a factor that caused the proposed vaping ban to be moved from Jan. 1, 2016 to later in the year.

“How can you be advising people who are using marijuana to vape it while trying to prevent people who are smoking from vaping to get their nicotine?

There’s a huge inconsistency there,” said Sweanor.

In terms of the e-cigarette business, Young is concerned about the economic ramifications of this vaping ban, but remains convinced that his business has room to grow.

“We have a great clientele, we get feedback every day that people love our service, we’re friendly, we’re helpful… we fully expect to expand.”

Between all these talks of regulation and harm reduction, hopefully most lawmakers and health care advocates can at least keep one goal in mind—the goal that a former smoker, like Holden, might be working towards.

“I do want to stop vaping eventually, because my goal is to not be smoking anything.”

Art: Kim Wiens.

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Murdock sports@thefulcrum.ca

@SpencerMurdock @FulcrumSports

Gee-Gees find redemption in conquering of Ravens

Thrilling battle between nation’s elite prove Gees are the team to beat spencer murdock sports editor

W

hat was once a great tale of David vs. Goliath has now morphed into something greater.

On Jan. 16, the Gee-Gees toppled any notions of the Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team being the unequivocal best team in the nation. The teams traded slim leads nine times throughout the game, all coming to a head with a last minute Gee-Gee push to secure a 75-73 win.

The Garnet and Grey have lived in the shadows of the Ravens through an unparalleled streak of dominance spanning nearly 15 years. But there’s no other team that wants to beat Carleton more than the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

While the attention of the masses has remained fixated on the Ravens, there have been brief but powerful flashes of light for the Gees that came to define the team’s identity. Head coach James Derouin knows all too well about the rivalry between schools and the GeeGees’ ever present struggle to top their foes from Carleton.

“When Ottawa plays against Carleton, it’s not even the same sport—it’s war out there.”

After being the numberone-ranked team in Canada for the first five weeks of the season, the Gee-Gees were dealt a blow when the voters dropped them to third after suffering a single loss to the Laval Rouge et Or in an exhibition game over the holiday break.

For the first time in recent history, there was an extended period of time where people truly believed the Gee-Gees were better than the Ravens— they just had to prove it. Those same people were quick to stop believing in the Gees, and it was up to the Garnet and Grey to change their minds again.

Carleton’s Ravens Nest was packed with fans of various allegiances, all brought together to watch the titans clash.

16 | SPORTS

Gee-Gees point guard Mike L’Africain drives to the net on Ravens defeders during the key win.

Photo: Rémi Yuan

“When Ottawa plays against Carleton, it’s not even the same sport—it’s war out there.” — Head Coach, James Derouin.

The game of so much significance to both sides was all it had been heralded to be. The teams traded blows for a full 40 minutes and, when the dust settled, the Gee-Gees came out on top.

The efforts given by Caleb Agada, Mike L’Africain, and Matt Plunkett in the closing minutes of the game were pivotal to the Gees’ win.

A three-pointer by Plunkett helped the Gees crawl back into the game and led to backto-back buckets from L’Africain and Agada. With 1:59 left on the clock, the momentum had

fully shifted into the Gee-Gees’ favour.

A charge taken by Plunkett put the ball in the Gees’ hands, and Agada then sank three free throws to tie the game. As the clock ticked to one minute remaining, L’Africain took the ball, spun and nailed a turnaround jumper for the lead.

Carleton took the ball to look for a win but ran into staunch defence from their bitter rivals, a deep three-pointer was off the mark as time expired.

Gee-Gees players and fans stormed the court in excitement and the Ravens slumped

away, waving goodbye to their unbeaten record and likely their number-one ranking.

The troubling moment in the victory was Agada rolling an ankle while driving to the hoop. He showed visible pain while gutting out the final seconds on the floor and had to be assisted to the locker room after the game.

Agada is a contender for both the Most Outstanding and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and his 23-point, 10-rebound performance was the driving force behind the win.

Fifth-year point guard Mike

L’Africain also had a landmark game with 17 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

L’Africain’s performance, culminating with the gamewinning basket, was slightly hindered after a dishwashing incident led to two stitches in his right hand.

“These are the games you can’t sit off for,” said L’Africain.

“It’s a statement win, but to us it doesn’t mean anything until the other ones. We’ve been here now, so the only one we’re worried about is the last one.”

For Coach James Derouin, the game means another step in the right direction in pursuit of the school’s first national championship.

“This is the third in three years against them,” said Derouin. “I’m hoping that our veterans that have been there for all three wins understands that good job, we might have to go into Toronto without Caleb

next weekend, so the job is not done.”

The Gee-Gees will take the win and enjoy sole possession atop the Ontario University Athletics’ North Division heading into a trying stretch of schedule.

The team is off to Toronto to do battle with the middle of the pack Varsity Blues and their fifth-ranked rival Ryerson Rams, with likely limited to no services from Caleb Agada.

Upon returning to Ottawa, the Gee-Gees will prep for another clash with the Ravens, this time in front of over 10,000 at the Canadian Tire Centre for the Capital Hoops Classic on Feb. 5.

Could this be the year that the Gees finally step out of the shadows of Carleton and into the spotlight? That remains to be seen, but for now, the GeeGees are just enjoying the view at the top.

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Gee-Gees women’s hoops continues dominance over Carleton Julia Soriano dazzles as ninth-ranked Gees down Ravens

Gees’ guard Julia Soriano dribbles away from Carleton pressure.

spencer murdock sports editor

In the latest matchup on Jan. 16, the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team overpowered the more physically imposing Carleton Ravens for a 69-56 win.

The Gee-Gees improved their record to 7-1 on the season and are proving game-by-game that they are among the nation’s elite.

The rivalry between the Gee-Gees and Ravens women’s basketball teams is mostly a product of proximity rather than emotional and physical battle.

On the men’s side of the ball,

things are very different—for the last handful of years, when the women play the Gee-Gees are the favourite just about every time.

This year was no exception as the women’s team entered the game fresh from a return to the Top 10 rankings, beginning the new semester ranked ninth in the nation.

Fourth-year point guard Julia Soriano turned in a careerdefining performance to ensure the win. Soriano is likely the smallest person on the court at any given time, however she might have had the most tenacity of anyone playing that day.

Photo: Remi Yuan

Always fearless and attacking, the Gee-Gees’ slight leader poured in 23 points and snapped up three steals in the win. At times, she took over the game, with quick dribble-drive slashes to the hoop leaving defenders reaching as she laid the ball in.

Soriano’s running mate Kellie Ring also booked a dominant performance, as per usual, stuffing the stat sheet with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

However, rather than acknowledging her own performance, she made sure to give Soriano the praise.

“Being ranked is good, but top eight teams go to nationals, ninth is not good enough,” —Guard/Forward, Kellie Ring.

“Julia Soriano was just incredible for us,” said the fifthyear veteran Ring. “We play tough and I think that was the key to the game.”

Carleton managed to make the game interesting early in the fourth quarter, but the closing ability of the Gees’ was on display as they continued to pour it on until the final buzzer.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries this year so we’re trying to get our pieces together,” said head

coach Andy Sparks. “These kind of games are really important for that, this is a midseason game, a lot of stuff is going to happen between now and the end of the year… we just have to try to get better every game.”

With the Gee-Gees downing big teams, there is a rising sense of legitimacy with the team and the national rankings are reflecting that. The team did not see a rise in this week’s polls and for the coaches and

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players, where they are is not going to cut it.

“Being ranked is good, but top eight teams go to nationals, ninth is not good enough,” said Ring.

The Gee-Gees will continue their pursuit to nationals on Jan. 22 and 23 with an easier test against the Toronto Varsity Blues, followed by a true gauging of power against the second-ranked team in Canada, the Ryerson Rams.

Sports | 17

U of O’s Director of Sports Services resigns after 10 months spencer murdock sports editor

The highest-ranking office of the University of Ottawa’s Sports Services division has been left vacant after Director Marc Schryburt stepped down due to an undisclosed reason.

Marc Schryburt was heralded as the leader to steer the Gee-Gees as an organization out of the choppy waters that closed Luc Gélineau’s time at the helm.

Julie Tam, the Assistant Director, Communications, Marketing and IT will step in to serve as Acting Director until the vacancy is filled.

“The reasoning behind the resignation can’t be discussed because it is a personnel issue,” said Tam on Jan. 13. “(Schryburt) had been on leave for

the past few weeks and this morning I found out that he had resigned and I would step into my role as Acting Director.”

Tam clarified that Schryburt’s absence was not vacation, but rather an official leave.

Schryburt’s resignation comes at a precarious time for Sports Services.

The university recently hired a private investigator to examine claims made by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) that there was an alleged sexual assault committed by varsity athletes within a SFUO athletic club.

The U of O has not released any information on the status of the investigation. There is also no a present link between the investigation and Schryburt’s resignation.

“We still want to move forward and deliver the quality of services that people expect of us.”— Julie Tam, Acting Director of Sports Services.

18 | SPORTS

“We still have a responsibility to provide programs to our students and student athletes on campus and in the community,” she said. “We still want to move forward and deliver the quality of services that people ex-

pect of us.”

Tam says she is “extremely passionate and driven about the GeeGees” and that the student experience is paramount to her and her team.

The timeline and decision towards

the hire of a new director is in the hands of university administration.

The Fulcrum reached out to Schryburt for a comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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Swimming teams shine at Eastern Cup

Quick Hits

Strong performances pave path to championship efforts David Agbaire Proofreader Photo: Marta

Gees women’s hockey loses in shootout

Ninth-ranked squad falls just short of upsetting #1 Carabins Dylan Yegendorf Staff Contributor

The Gee-Gees women’s hockey team was two minutes from victory over the firstplace Université de Montreal Carabins, that was until they squandered a chance to begin the new year on a two-game win streak.

Riding a 5-4 victory at Concordia on Jan. 10, the GeeGees returned to Montreal on Sunday to face off against the Carabins in a game that began slowly with no scoring in its first two periods.

Despite the scoreless opening two periods, the highpowered Carabins dominated the shot column 28-11 over the Gee-Gees. As they so often have, the Gees depended on the outstanding play of their goaltender, Marie LévesqueRyan to keep them competitive.

The third period began and Montreal’s mounting scoring chances finally materialized— and quickly—as they broke the scoreless standstill with a go-ahead goal by Catherine Dubois in the period’s opening minute.

The offensive woes that plagued the Gees for most of the game continued into the third, as they failed again to generate many scoring chances, only producing five shots on goal throughout the final period.

However, they made each shot count, to say the least, scoring twice in the frame—on the power play by Roxanne Rioux and then by Melodie Bouchard at even strength to take the 2-1 lead with three minutes remaining in regulation.

An upset victory in sight, the Gees desperately attempted to ward off the Carabins’

last-ditch scoring efforts, but Montreal’s Dubois would again prove to be a thorn in Ottawa’s side, beating Lévesque-Ryan with her second goal to tie it up with 1:42 remaining.

Tied at 2-2 the teams headed to overtime, which resulted in another scoreless period of play. This game—unsurprisingly—would have to be resolved in a shootout.

Dubois continued to frustrate the Gee-Gee cause, contributing one of the Carabins’ two scores against Ottawa’s one in the shootout. Montreal would claim the 3-2 victory over Ottawa.

The fourth-place Gee-Gees return home on Jan. 23 looking to shake off the heartbreaking loss, and prepare for a pivotal matchup against third-place McGill with a great opportunity to advance in the standings.

The University of Ottawa’s swimming teams were in action this weekend, as they competed in the Eastern Cup at the University of Toronto from Jan. 14-17.

It was a weekend to remember as the Gees put in a valiant effort to finish sixth out of nearly 40 other competing schools and club teams. The Gees recently returned from a two-week training camp in Hawaii, and it looks to have paid off.

Fourth-year biomedical science student Carolyne Godon had a standout performance for the women’s team, as she placed fifth in both the wom-

alled in three different races.

Bonomo had two bronze medal finishes in the men’s 50m and 100m freestyle, as well as an impressive second-place finish in the 50m butterfly.

The Gees are firmly placed on the ‘must-watch list’ for many enthusiasts of the sport, as Bonomo, Michie, Champagne, and Godon had already qualified for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Qualifiers en route to the Ontario University Athletics and CIS Championships.

Two other Gees, Marie-Pier Daigle and Erin Power, have also qualified for the tournament.

This is the face of change.

OPEN HOUSE

2016

Another impressive showing highlights a strong year in the pool for the Gee-Gees.

Kierkus

en’s 50m and 100m breaststroke.

The men’s team also dished out solid performances, with swimmers Montana Champagne, Connor Michie, and Robert Bonomo finishing in podium positions for many of their races.

Champagne finished second in the men’s 200m medley and secured top-10 placing in the men’s 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly.

Michie contributed to the team’s success with a silver medal in the 200m backstroke, to complement his fifth-place 100m breaststroke finish.

Robert Bonomo had another excellent meet, as he med-

Discover our Graduate Studies: • Canon Law

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ustpaul.ca | 223 Main, Ottawa ON 613-236-1393 | 1-800-637-6859 Women’s hockey team is on the road to being a force in the playoffs.

Saint Paul University is the founding college of the University of Ottawa (1848), with which it has been academically federated since 1965.

Photo: Marta Kierkus

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Sports | 19

OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR David Campion-Smith

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

Ontario needs to further regulate pay raises

U of O raises to upper admin is unacceptable David Campion-Smith Opinions Editor

A recent lawsuit launched by the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa (APUO) against the University of Ottawa regarding some of the pay raises gifted to members of the upper administration has raised concerns about how much those who run our universities are making.

In light of this situation, it’s become clear that a salary cap, to ensure that administrative salaries stay below the president’s, could keep tuition lower for students as well as reduce legally questionable pay raises.

The APUO is taking legal action against the U of O and Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Reza Moridi, because they believe

meet certain government or personal goals, reduce costs or if they’re authorized under a current compensation plan.

While students and parttime professors are counting every penny to make ends meet, tenured profs and administrators are consistently raking in six-figure salaries.

A more substantial freeze on pay rises is in the best interest of both taxpayers and students, who provide the vast majority of funding to the university. In the breakdown of U of O’s preliminary budget for 2015-2016, the bulk of the university’s funding comes from tuition fees and provincial grants accofrding to university documents.

Students have the right to push for a salary cap because we are a primary source of

for public officials has been brought up in the past, most recently by the Ontario NDP who proposed limiting the pay of employees of publicly funded companies to twice the salary of the premier of Ontario.

This proposed requirement would have limited salaries to $418,000, but was never actually implemented.

There is an important distinction that must be made when talking about salaries at the university. While some tenured professors and administrators are making large amounts of money there are other personnel who aren’t making anywhere near as much.

Assistant professors for example can make a maximum of $107,019 while associate professor salaries stop at $148,432.

Graph: Reine Tejares

The pay raises that have been given to these two employees aren’t small cost of living increases, these are large raises. Below is the average pay raise for employees of the U of O between 2004-2014,

the same time period that saw nine years of tuition increases.

A salary raise in a time of constant tuition increases is insulting to students and taxpayers alike as more and more money goes to paying salaries.

Establishing a firm limit of $394,999 on salaries, and instituting a freeze on increases is long overdue, and might even be enough to give us our first year in a decade without a tuition increase.

Graph: David Campion-Smith

Breakdown of university revenues the salary raises of Dr. Mona Nemer, the vice-president of research, and Dr. Jacques Bradwejn, dean of the School of Medicine, violates Ontario’s 2010 Broader Public Sector Accountability Act. The Act establishes certain limits on the salary and benefits increases available to public sector employees. After March 31, 2012 increases can only happen if employees

20 | OPINIONS

funding for our university— and our teachers shouldn’t be making unconscionable amounts of money while our tuition fees are being raised every year.

This is a questionable use of such funds, seeing as the U of O has announced its third consecutive financial deficit, and tenth consecutive tuition hike in May. The idea of a salary cap

Even limiting salaries to below what the president makes is quite generous, since Allan Rock, the president of the U of O made an average salary of $365,907 from 2008-2014 according to the Ontario sunshine salary discussion. Having this threshold will still allow Ontario universities to remain competitive when trying to attract the best and brightest.

Graph: David Campion-Smith

Average raise for u of o employees

thefulcrum.ca

Heckle

Millennials, we need to talk about nostalgia Kyle Darbyson Features Editor

At this point in the year, many of us have already given up on our flimsy resolutions to lose weight or finally finish writing the Great Canadian Novel (although I might be projecting a little bit).

However, there is one New Year’s Resolution that I, and every other Millennial, should strive to achieve in 2016—to ditch our obsession with nostalgia.

Of course, a generation longing for an idealized past is nothing new. However, this kind of experience should be of concern as our generation has unprecedented access to information and file sharing via the Internet.

Thanks to this new digital age, binging on your favourite old TV show or getting your

hands on a long lost toy is as easy as buttering your toast.

However, some people take these new capabilities a little too far.

These days, my social media feed is clogged with obnoxiously nostalgic hashtags like #tbt, and #fbf, as well as BuzzFeed quizzes about classic Nickelodeon cartoons.

I love these throwbacks as much as the next ‘90s kid, but the volume of these posts is unbelievable.

And this kind of social media activity hasn’t gone unnoticed either.

Every year it seems like more and more corporations are using this metadata as a launching pad to sell us the same cheap crap with a different paint job. In 2015 alone, companies like Pepsi, CocaCola, McDonalds, and KFC all resurrected dead mascots and

old brands in the hope of making a quick buck. Sports teams are also guilty of this when they release classic or vintage jerseys of their teams.

This creatively-bankrupt money-making scheme even extends to our entertainment properties. Increasingly, movie studios only put serious capital behind a project if it has a distinct nostalgic edge to it.

And why shouldn’t they?

The two big movies that the most people went to see this year were Star Wars: the Force Awakens and Jurassic World, both being derivative retreads of previously existing properties. Hell, even Netflix, one of the best modern curators of original TV programming, is capitalizing on people’s blind nostalgia goggles by airing a sequel series to the abysmal ‘90s sitcom Full House in February.

Millennials love to make fun of Baby Boomers for their pedantic “back in my day” rhetoric. But how long before this becomes our mantra as well? How long before we start putting a halt to societal progress and artistic innovation in the name of clinging to an idealized version of the past? After all, many of us have already committed a lot

of our disposable income to this ideal, so who’s to say this won’t evolve over time?

At the end of the day, it must be said that indulging in nostalgia can be enjoyable or beneficial to your health— in moderation. In fact, many

physicians have found that sharing memories of the past can help counteract anxiety and foster a stronger bond with friends and family.

Just don’t forget to take off the rose-tinted glasses every once in a while, to make sure

that your current life is in order and that you aren’t being taken advantage of by shady corporate schemes.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to purchase a wicked Johnny Bravo themed laptop decal that I found on Etsy.

Government shouldn’t get free pass in online attack identification Microsoft move highlights need for transparency on security breaches over year.

With such an increasing amount of attacks there’s an increasing need to keep users up to date with their account security. The most important time to alert users is when an attack originates from a government.

With increased rates of government surveillance online it’s more important than

ever for citizens to know the strength of their virtual identities, especially because of the potentially murky legality of online tracking.

Files released by whistleblower Edward Snowden last year showed that the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) holds onto millions of emails sent to the Canadian

government according to the CBC. There were also incidents of Canadian security organizations exploiting weak links in mobile browser UC to acquire personal information.

Citizens are under more and more online scrutiny than ever and companies have an obligation to alert users if they have the information to do so.

Photo: CC, Wikileaks.

David Campion-Smith Opinions Editor

Microsoft announced last month that the company would begin alerting users of their e-mail service, Outlook, when a government is responsible for a security notification on their account.

With major tech companies paving the way, this practice might eventually become an industry standard—a move

that is long overdue. This isn’t a disruption to industry standards, seeing as major companies like Google have been alerting clients since 2012.

Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter have also begun warning users in recent years. Users have a right to be told when the security of their online accounts is in question so they can take necessary steps to recover any important files lost, deal with damage and increase the secu-

rity of their account.

According to Symantec, a software security program, there were 552 million identities exposed in 2013 by security breaches and 29 billion spam emails sent per day. As large as those numbers are, the number of security breaches are growing as more and more companies move online. According to Cisco, the number of threat alerts grow 14 per cent year

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OPINIONS | 21

Université d’Ottawa

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Council holds emergency meeting to debate costly project

City of Ottawa votes on building massive freezer to freeze Rideau Canal David Agbaire Proofreader The City of Ottawa has called an emergency council meeting to talk about City plans to purchase a giant freezer to insta-freeze the Rideau Canal. The emergency meeting to vote on this issue is expected to be held on Jan. 28 at city hall. This ambitious project would require buying a giant freezer, and closing off downtown streets to give more space for cranes needed to support the freezer.

Councillor Mike Standstill was the driving force behind this initiative, and believes that the city would enjoy numerous benefits if the proposal goes through.

“I don’t think it can be disputed that winter in Ottawa doesn’t exactly scream ‘tourist hotbed’, but we can’t ignore the extreme popularity of the canal. We need the canal up and running as soon as possible so that thousands of people can show off their skating skills for 20 minutes before getting off because it’s too cold.”

There are already some

strong supporters of this idea.

Among them is University of Ottawa student, Noelle Snow, who has been living in Ottawa for five years and has grown tired of the ski-hill nature that Ottawa’s streets take on in the wintertime.

In an interview with the Tomato she said “anything they have to do to get the canal open sooner is fine with me. I can’t keep roller skating through Sandy Hill to get my skating fix. ” Of course there are some naysayers to this idea, including councillor Troy Hawthorne, who said “I can’t believe we’re even considering this! Where will we even find a big enough freezer to get the job done? And I’m supposed to vote to dip into the light-show lightbulb budget for this?!”

One U of O student whose father spent 25 years in the refrigerator maintenance business, Lou Roles believes the project can be done. “I guess it all depends on what size the freezer is. We could have a large unit that could quickly freeze small areas of the waterway but would have to be

Photo: Spencer Murdock.

disassembled each night to drag it to a new location,” said Roles. “Or we could have several small freezers on some sort of rope and pulley system.”

Mayor Jim Watson was somewhat impartial to each side of the issue, saying briefly “I don’t get it, but if it’s what the people want, well...”

Despite logistical concerns and the potentially astronomical costs associated with this project, the proposal is expected to be approved and work

could be started within the next two weeks. No word yet on whether the City will let people store their food outside under the mobile units.

Fauteux closure leads to discovery of water park in progress U of O expansion plans roll forward with aquatic playground

Eric Davidson news editor The recent closure of the Fauteux and 1 Nicholas buildings on campus seemed innocuous at first, but in fact heralded the university’s most ambitious expansion plan to date.

The university has decided to create a waterpark in the space to attract more international students.

The university had hoped to keep the plans under wraps, but the information— much like the pipes—leaked early. And after the Fauteux incident prompted a flood of questions, university admin-

Photo: Eric Davidson, Edits by Kim Wiens.

istration decided it didn’t give a dam anymore, and told the truth.

“Alright, yes, it’s true, we’re building a water park,” said U of O president Allan Rock.

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“We haven’t seen enough international enrollments, and we’ve finally found a way to turn the tides.”

“There will be some sacrifices,” he said. For example, the

Stanton residence will have to be torn up and replaced with a giant water slide in order for the development to succeed campus-wide. “It won’t be a huge change, that place was already going downhill,” he said.

The news leaked when Tom Ato, a worker sent to fix the main water break, noticed discrepancies in the university’s story upon his arrival at the scene. “They told me there was a ruptured pipe in the basement of Fauteux,” he said.

“But when I got there, something just didn’t seem right.”

He took the stairs down to the basement, where the water level was up to his knees.

That’s when Ato stumbled onto the university’s latest surreptitious scheme. “There was a loud bell, it sounded like an air raid siren,” he said.

Then the water began to slosh back and forth with increasing speed, until he was being buffeted by waves. “It was then that I realized it was a wave pool,” said Ato. After an hour of aquatic frivolity, Ato emerged from Fauteux to understand what the wave pool was about. It was then that he ran into Allan Rock. “I asked him straight up, ‘why is there a wave pool in your law building?’” Ato said.

“I didn’t know what to tell him,” said Rock “I think I told

him it was part of a marine law class.” But Ato’s suspicions were confirmed when he found a log flume in the Brian Dickson Law Library behind all the stacks.

“Honestly, we thought people would discover that sooner,” said Rock. “Lucky for us, it seems that no one ever goes in there.”

As for funding, Rock said that the university had received a generous subsidy from the government. “We’d like to calm any concerns that this project will break the student levee,” he said. “We’re very excited about it, and we’ve received an outpouring of support.”

THE TOMATo | 23

DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di,

Last night my boyfriend and I had crazy, wild sex. It became so overwhelming that at one point I squirted all over him. He seemed to enjoy it, but it kinda freaked me out. So, where is this liquid coming from?

And is it normal?

Dear Di

-Squirtle Power

Sex Columnist Di Daniels

deardi@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @dear_di

Dear Di, My girlfriend and I have been fantasizing about asking my roommate to join us in the bedroom. She has always wanted to be dominated by two men, and I’ve always wanted to explore a man’s body, but we’re not really sure how to bring up this subject without making my living situation extremely awkward. Any advice?

-Three Way Performance

Dear SP, Firstly, squirting is perfectly normal and is experienced by a lot of women.

Squirting is caused by stimulating the G-spot, an erogenous zone located on the upper wall of the vagina. By applying pressure to this sensitive area while fully aroused, you are stimulating the Skene’s gland, which normally drains into the urethra.

So, going past basic anatomy, squirting is often believed to be synonymous with female ejaculation—which is definitely not the case! Female ejaculation involves a small amount of milky white fluid being released during climax, while squirting entails a large amount of clear fluid gushing out from the urethra. In reality, squirting is more in line with peeing.

In a recent study conducted by Dr. Samuel Salama and his team, women who reported consistent squirting during sexual stimulation were asked to participate in an experiment to locate the origin of this clear fluid. Each woman’s bladder was empty before sexual arousal, but as sexual stimulation began the bladder started to fill up. After the release of clear liquid the bladder was empty once again. Testing the clear liquid also concluded that it had nearly the same composition as urine, but with higher levels of prostate-specific antigens, an enzyme that is secreted from the prostate gland.

So in the end, squirting is just the involuntarily release of fluid from the bladder during sexual intercourse. It’s not harmful in any way (urine is sterile after all) and can be a new and exciting addition to your sex life.

However, if you’d like to cut down on the involuntary water sports, not much is known on this front, but sex educator Betty Dodson recommends avoiding heavy thrusting inside your vagina and stick to good old clitoral stimulation.

Love, Di

Dear TWP, These situations can be tough, especially with a roommate. My advice would be not to mix “business” with pleasure. Instead, it might be wiser to find someone outside your immediate living arrangements. Besides, there are a number of websites that could help facilitate your threeway fun.

However, I can understand the thrill of wanting to engage in such a potentially explosive situation. It adds a level of excitement and naughtiness to your sex life, but it can also end quite badly and leave you feeling uncomfortable in your own home. If you’re seeking that thrill of asking a person who has not put themselves out there, it may be best to probe a stranger at a bar, or a casual acquaintance. At least if they say no, you’re likely not going to see that person again and have to deal with any extended discomfort.

Remember, the most important thing when introducing a new partner into your bedroom is explicit consent. Make sure that the individual knows what they are signing up for, and be sure to establish boundaries. Are they okay with anal penetration? Are they comfortable engaging with men as well as women? Ask these questions before you participate in sexual play so that it’s clear what is okay to do and what is not. Lastly, always remember to use protection with any new partners.

Love, Di

Spice things up: sex tips to try out in the new year 1.

Talk about sex with your significant other! Discussing what gets you excited can let your partner know how they can improve in bed and better satisfy you.

2.

Develop sex signals. It’s not all that sexy to shout out “Hey, let’s fuck”. Instead, find a code word or signal that only the two of you know. That way, when you’re at a public event like a dinner party you can tease the panties off one another.

3.

Go to a sex shop and explore their inventory together. Even if you don’t find anything you like it can still be a fun afternoon for the two of you.

4.

Have morning sex. It’s a great way to start your day and—since sex is a great workout— you’ll be revitalized for the next 12-14 hours.

5.

Step up your role play scenarios. For example, go to a restaurant or a bar and try to pick each other up. It’s super sexy and it will give you those thrills you get when you meet someone for the first time.

24 | DISTRACTIONS

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Jan. 22 to jan. 28, 2015

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC arts Sports FUN Thinking

Friday, Jan. 22

The Howards, featuring U of O professors Nick Gazzola and David Paré, support goes towards Syrian refugees, Café Nostalgica—8 p.m.

Cannes Advertising Festival, opening day, Bytowne Cinema—9:25 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23

Ottawa’s NoodleFest (3rd annual), Shaw Centre —5 p.m.

1Night: Learn the Art and the Artist, highlighting performance artists from across Canada, Origin Studio—6:30 p.m.

Gee-Gees Women’s Hockey vs. McGill, Minto Sports Complex—7 p.m.

Winter Comedy Contest, BuzzOn Vapour Lounge—9:30 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mayfair Theatre —11 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 24

Ottawa Senators vs.

New York Rangers, Canadian Tire Centre—3 p.m.

Sunday Night Roast!Miley Cyrus, Pour Boy Pub—6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 25

Winter Comedy Contest, Swizzles —8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 26

Bedtime Stories: Performing Arts Showcase, free admission, Alumni Theatre—7:30 p.m.

The Murder Room, Ottawa Little Theatre—7:30 p.m.

Open Mic TUNESday night, free admission, LIVE! On Elgin—8:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

From Paris to Ottawa:

a debrief from COP21, presented by EnviroCentre, Hotel Indigo—7:30 a.m.

Twelfth Night, sets, props, and costumes designed by Calgary’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop, National Arts Centre—7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 28 Brent Butt live, Shenkman Arts Centre—7 p.m.

Tony Lee-the XXX Hypnotist, The Observatory, Algonquin College—8 p.m.

Going Home Star-Truth and Reconciliation, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Arts Centre—8 p.m.

80’s Dance Party with DJ Remi Royale, House of TARG—9 p.m.

Cannes Advertising Festival, last day, Bytowne Cinema—9:15 p.m.

rd

$12

Student Tickets Season sponsored by:

The Murder Room Jan. 12 - 30

One Flew Over The Cuckoo`s Nest Feb. 23 - Mar 12

Calendar Girls Mar. 29 - Apr. 16

ottawalittletheatre.com

thefulcrum.ca

DISTRACTIONS | 25

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Between A. Rock and a Hard Place

Over the past two years, student group Fossil Free uOttawa has been calling for The University of Ottawa to divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in more sustainable alternatives. Divestment (a tool most commonly known for its role helping to end South African apartheid) has been shown to be an action that students have used to organize for change around a variety of issues.

Last semester, the campaign saw huge victories: In September, the Board of Governors’ (the University of Ottawa’s highest decision making body) made a formal agreement to look into divestment from fossil fuels. At the December board meeting, representatives of Fossil Free uOttawa presented a mock cheque to the Board for $21.5 million dollars – the money that (according to a new Decarbonizer tool released by Corporate Knights and the South Pole Group) the University could have saved by divesting from some of the Top oil, coal, and tar sands companies. The fact that millions of dollars can be gained shows that there is a strong financial argument for divestment.

The University of Ottawa claims to be a leader in sustainability, yet still invests massive amounts of money in companies that put front line Indigenous communities at risk, fund disinformation campaigns, contribute to climate change denial, and ultimately profit from wrecking the climate. And it’s not just students that are organizing for divestment: over 100 uOttawa professors have signed on declaring their public support for the campaign, on both moral and financial grounds. uOttawa isn’t alone: campaigns across Canada and the world have been working to achieve divestment from fossil fuels before it’s too late.

Most recently, UofT 350 organizers at the University of Toronto were met with a report from the President’s Advisory Committee on Divestment from Fossil Fuels, recommending targeted divestment. This comes after several other huge successes for the movement towards a fossil free future. Countless numbers of institutions have divested, among them being the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the University of Glasgow, and the University of California, and others. The University of Ottawa needs to be on the right side of history – now more than ever students need to push Allan Rock and the Board of Governors to divest. To get involved in the campaign, sign the petition, email fossilfreeuottawa@gmail.com, or visit the Sustainable Development Centre office in UCU-215 F. Chloe Rockarts fourth-year Communications.

Campaigns Organizer, SFUO

26 | LETTERS

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EDITORIAL Volume 76, Issue 16, jan. 21, 2015 Being on time for church since 1942.

Phone: (613) 695-0061 | Fax: (613) 695-9006 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this paper or we’ll tell the Goblin King.

Nadia “Rock and Roll Suicide” Drissi El-Bouzaidi Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Devin “The Man Who Sold The World” Orsini Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Savannah “Starman” Awde Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Eric “Life On Mars?” Davidson News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Allegra “Ziggy Stardust” Morgado Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Oh! You Pretty Things” Murdock Sports Editor, Rap Correspondent sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “The Man Who Fell To Earth” Darbyson Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca David “Heroes” Campion-Smith Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Reine “Let’s Dance” Tejares Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Kim “Modern Love” Wiens Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “Where Are We Now?” McRaeSadik Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Marta “China Girl” Kierkus Staff Photographer photographer@thefulcrum.ca Zach “Moonage Daydream” Verret Multimedia Coordinator multimedia@thefulcrum.ca Nicole “Five Years” Rutkowski Associate Features Editor associate.features@thefulcrum.ca David “Young Americans” Agbaire Proofreader Deidre “Dancing In The Street” Butters Advertising Manager ads@thefulcrum.ca Dayne “Magic Dance” Moyer General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca Mackenzie “Rebel Rebel” Gray President board@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

Andrea “Ashes to Ashes” Zehr Christelle “Changes” Musambi Maitland “Suffragette City” Shaheen Graham “Space Oddity” Robertson Ryan “Lazarus” Pepper Dylan “Man Who Sold The World” Yegendorf Rémi “Jean Genie” Yuan Pamela “Golden Years” Yan Graham “Under Pressure” Robertson Mercedes “Lady Stardust” Cant Cover photo: Remi Yuan. Edits: Kim Wiens

There’s more to a capital city than just looks A

nother week, another article lamenting about Ottawa’s apparent lack of fun, flavour, and all-around awesomeness.

Ottawa Citizen columnist Andrew Cohen has gained a lot of attention for his latest op-ed titled “Ottawa is the worst capital in the G7”.

Cohen has taken aim at Canada’s capital city numerous times over the years, but his latest piece begins its criticism on the width of Ottawa International Airport Parkway.

“So the City of Ottawa will not widen the heavily congested Airport Parkway for another four years. Or, eight years, say planners. Or, 10 years,” writes Cohen. “In this feckless city, you never know.

There is no urgency about anything—and certainly not about addressing this critical, clogged artery running between downtown and the airport.”

From this point Cohen further criticizes Ottawa, escalating to calling it “the worst capital in the G7” (In comparison to Washington D.C., Paris, Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, and London).

The Light Rail Transit system and Lansdowne Park also fall victim to Cohen’s wrath.

He criticizes the former for not stopping in Confederation Square (although it does stop 300 metres away from it) and the latter for a lack of innovation.

The last issue in Cohen’s article to be discussed is his ire of the lack of a central library which, incidentally enough, the National Archives announced plans to rectify on the same day Cohen’s article was published.

What Cohen fails to acknowledge, which Maclean’s journalist Paul Wells points out in his rebuttal entitled “World-class whine: Why Ottawa’s haters are wrong”, is that it’s not a fair comparison.

Wells points out that Canada’s history as a federation left little room for our forefathers to construct monuments to

thefulcrum.ca

Some stunning shots from the “worst capital city in the G7.”

themselves.

“Ottawa does not have wide boulevards because the capitals that do were built by autocratic rulers who hoped at some point to march a victorious army down those boulevards,” he writes.

History influences the types of monuments that are built in a city, and Canada is lucky enough to have not fought in enough wars to pepper the city sidewalks with striking statues.

Secondly, Canada’s issue has always been finding ways to unite Canadians from Sea to Sea. Concentrating efforts on beautifying the centralized capital wouldn’t do much to reach out to British Columbians and Maritimers alike.

As Wells writes, “Canada is also a country with, by and large, a long and profound

attachment to the liberal European idea that the state needn’t build monuments to itself because it would prefer to invest in citizens’ human capital when it is not simply letting them keep more of the money they earned.”

Ottawa’s homeliness should be a point of pride, not a badge of shame for Canadians. One can find a bit of beauty in every Canadian corner, not just boiled down into its powerful core.

The next vital reason is simply time. The first European settlement of Ottawa was created on March 7, 1800, by six families and 25 labourers.

Washington D.C. began as a settlement in 1699, Tokyo (known as Edo before the Meiji Restoration) began to take shape as a seat of power in the 1700s, Berlin’s begin-

nings date back to 1192, London was a Roman capital founded in 43 AD, Paris became a permanent settlement around 52 BC, and Rome’s legendary founding dates back to 753 BC. That’s correct, Cohen is criticizing Ottawa for not being as developed as a city that is more than 700 years older than the modern calendar. So sure, Ottawa may not be the most beautiful city, but the rest of the G7 has had a hell of a head start.

What Ottawa does come out on top of in comparison to the other capital cities is safety and cost. It’s significantly cheaper and safer to set up shop in Ottawa than in any of the other G7 capital cities.

While we can agree that Ottawa’s not the most visually striking city, there’s a lot to

Photos: CC,Tullia, CC,Selbst Erstellt

love once you get off the Airport Parkway. First off, you don’t have an hour-long trek to get to the city centre, like most major cities. When it’s not -30 degrees out, Ottawa’s city centre constantly beckons you outdoors—in the winter or summer months—with running trails, outdoor rinks, or glow-in-the-dark bike festivals, if that’s your thing.

Plus, if you’re a Canadian history buff, you can’t do much better than living in the nation’s capital. Hell, you can’t take a walk around downtown or the Byward Market area without tripping over something that was crucial in shaping our cultural heritage.

Ottawa still has a lot of rough edges for sure, but we should at least give the city a little more time to smooth those edges out.

EDITORIAL | 27

JDC uOttawa 2016

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