The Fulcrum - Vol 76 Issue 24

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VOL. 76 ISSUE 24

mar. 24, 2016

This Week

IN THIS ISSUE...

Internationally invisible P.5 Exchange students take centre stage at GSAÉD elections

Spring fashion and beauty P.11 Catch the latest trends and the best vintage steals in Ottawa From study tips to excercise routines P.13 The Fulcrum Health Issue is here to help Disappointment from coast to coast P.21 Men’s and women’s basketball teams fail to capitalize at nationals Communities in crisis P.25 The multi-faced mental health issues facing Canada’s indigenous population Getting a bad rap P.31 A hip-hop past deters a political future

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NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

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

Low GSAÉD debate turnout in line with past election turnout Unopposed candidacy stems from bilingualism requirement, ‘10-hours rule’ Jaclyn McRae-Sadik Associate News Editor

T

he University of Ottawa’s Graduate Students’ Association (GSAÉD) held its first candidate debate on March 15 for the upcoming elections, however, to a very small audience.

The debate saw eight students in attendance, which is twice as many as last year, according to Shawn Philip Hunsdale, advocacy and communications coordinator for GSAÉD. GSAÉD has seen consistently low student engagement in a variety of areas for the past few years.

While there is no total voter count publicly posted for past election results, and GSAÉD doesn’t measure this statistic, Hunsdale said the voter turnout was around 100 for the 2015 elections.

As for the 2014 elections, which also don’t have a publicly posted total voter count, the highest number of votes

was for the referendum question regarding the bike co-op and sustainability centre, with 234 total votes. This was out of a total 6,604 graduate students.

This puts the voter turnout at around 3.5 per cent for 2014, with a further turnout decrease in 2015.

In the 2014 Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) election, voter turnout was 11.6 per cent of eligible students, according to the SFUO website.

“This is also one of the challenges of organizing graduate students on a campus because so much of the work that they end up doing—people work often exclusively in their labs and with a professor,” said Hunsdale. “The notion of student life isn’t quite the same.”

Kashif Masud, a PhD student completing his third year in electrical engineering, attended the debate and described it as “non-publicized” in a tweet.

Each candidate is running unopposed in this year’s election, while two races were contested in the 2015 elections.

Masud said many students

at the graduate level are from China, India and other countries in Asia. The bilingualism requirement for executives within organizations like GSAÉD are excluding international students like them and himself, who often don’t speak French.

Out of the 6,604 graduate students in 2014, 1,745 were foreign students, putting them at over a quarter of the grad student population.

Hunsdale said the ‘10-hoursa-week rule’ implemented at the university may also put students off from running for executive positions.

According to this regulation, graduate students may not work more than 10 hours per week at on-campus jobs, including teaching assistant and research assistant positions.

GSAÉD executive positions also fall under this regulation.

While some other universities also have this rule, many do not, said Hunsdale.

Hunsdale said that governments are very conscious of how they fund education.

“They finance post-secondary educational institutions to

Candidates William El Khoury (left), Kawtar Jaanid, Lindsey Thomson, Stéphanie Bacher, Warsama Ahmed, Matthew Lafrèniere.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

get people to get in, complete their studies and get out,” he said.

He said to understand graduate studies it’s important to understand the idea of time to completion, and that if a student is taking more than the specified time to complete their degree it can be seen as taking up resources, like time with professors, from other

prospective students.

“If it is demonstrated that you are working more than ten hours and there’s any delays in your program, the university could effectively say, ‘sorry, you’re not making progress at a sufficient enough pace, we point to this as the problem’ and you can be removed,” said Hunsdale.

Hunsdale said this is one

of the reasons they get few candidates for executive positions, because many students prefer to use those designated 10 hours to work on campus in their academic field, which may be more beneficial to their career.

The GSAÉD election will run from March 22 to 24, go to www.thefulcrum.ca for updated results.

International students take centre-stage during GSAÉD elections Campaigns raise concerns of foreign students’ welfare Jaclyn McRae-Sadik Associate News Editor

Throughout the Graduate Students’ Association (GSAÉD) candidate campaigns, there has been one common theme— international student issues.

“Each one of the executives, if they get elected they want to address this accordingly to their own responsibilities,” said Victor Hatai, candidate for university affairs commissioner.

Hatai is himself an international student, and said that one of the biggest issues he’d like to tackle is international graduate students not gaining enough job experience in Canada.

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“There’s a big problem in terms of career development,” he said. “Many graduate programs for example they don’t have the co-op program, so taking the perspective from an international student and he comes or she comes here—in Canada they lack what they call the Canadian job experience.”

Hatai said employment in Canada would make a significant difference for their career development if they chose to stay in Canada, like he and many of his colleagues are hoping to do.

Lindsey Thomson, the current GSAÉD external commissioner who is running for re-election, has addressed several problems she says inter-

national students face in her platform, such as healthcare.

While Canadian students are eligible for Ontario Health Insurance Plan, international students must apply through the International Office for University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). This is not the case in all provinces, such as British Columbia, where international students are eligible for the provincial governmentrun Medical Service Plan.

“It doesn’t meet the needs of our students and it’s not providing them with the access and quality of care,” said Thomson of the UHIP. She also addressed the issue of student fees. Canadian student fee increases in Ontario are currently capped at three

per cent, while international fees have no increase regulations.

“As an international student they’re not able to predict from year to year how much planning in advance they’re going to be doing financially,” said Thomson.

Irene Xia Zhou, head mentor at the university’s International Office, says students are often uninformed about all the fees they will pay because the information on the website can be confusing, and advises prospective international students to contact the office in order to better prepare them.

“A lot of the students probably felt that they were mislead because they didn’t really reach out to us and they didn’t

really know how to navigate the fees pages at the university because they are quite complex,” she said.

Tuition fees for international students at U of O masters level entering in 2015-2016 can be as high as $13,482.17 per term for some programs, like the MBA in English, putting the combined total for fall and winter terms at $26,964.34.

This doesn’t include the incidental fees or take into account that many masters programs carry into the summer term, which would add on another $13,482.17.

“I think that anyone should be allowed to come to university regardless of their country of origin, and should be allowed the same rights and

opportunities as students who are already here,” said Thomson.

There are also signs of change at the federal level. Immigration Minister John McCallum announced on March 14 that the government intends to ease the path to permanent residency for international post-secondary students in Canada, describing them as “the cream of the crop in terms of potential future Canadians.”

McCallum says international students have been short-changed by the Express Entry system, a computerized system that streamlines permanent residency for skilled workers while effectively excluding those from higher education.

NEWS | 5

SFUO’s fourth GA misses quorum by 167 students GA focuses on lack of student participation, healthcare, budget

VP Fianance Camelia Touzany (left), President Anne-Emilie Hebert, VP University Affairs Vanessa Dorimain, VP Equity Nicole Maylor, VP Social Hadi Wess, the meeting chair and Executive Coordinator Jesse Root.

Eric Davidson & Jaclyn McRae-Sadik News Editor & Associate News Editor

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) held their fourth General Assembly (GA) on March 15, at 6 p.m., but once again motions were not discussed because it failed to meet quorum.

The six motions filed will instead be put before the Board of Administration (BOA) at their next meeting on March 23, which is open to the public and will take place in Tabaret 083 at 5 p.m.

“There is a lot of space for students that were here today to be able to come to the BOA to and be able to express themselves,” said Roméo Ahimakin, vice-president of services and communications of the SFUO. “We always encourage students to come to the BOAs, the GAs are one time per semester, but we have a lot more BOAs.” The GA did finish the night with 141 in attendance, roughly

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three times the number of students in attendance at the previous GA, where no motions were filed. As quorum was not reached, the meeting featured an update from the executive, a presentation on the budget, and a 20-minute question period.

In the wake of recent accusations between SFUO executive members, a moderator at the GA told audience members that any questions pertaining to human resources or labour issues were off limits.

Announcements At the start of the meeting the SFUO executive spoke about the SFUO clubs and services available on campus.

Vanessa Dorimain, vicepresident university affairs, gave another update on the new summer U-Pass. She said the pass would run from May 1 to Aug. 1, and would cost $192.70, and would be available for full-time summer students only (a student registered for 12 credits in a session). She also confirmed that it would be val-

id for co-op students as well.

Ahimakin noted that the SFUO is in the midst of renewing their collective bargaining agreement with CUPE 4943, the SFUO employee’s union.

“What we’ll try to do for next time is learn from what was said, and we’ll be able to improve on promotion, outreach, and things like that.”—Roméo Ahimakin, vice-president services and communications of the SFUO.

Budget The main focus of the budget presentation was the healthcare fund. There were audible gasps from the audience when Camelia Touzany, vice-president finance, said that the health-care fund was $704,353 in the red.

Touzany was quick to add that since the recent healthcare referendum passed, that deficit will start to shrink. Touzany also said that the SFUO’s general fund was doing well, with a surplus of $7,180 as of January.

Other areas of large deficit include the student rights centre at $45,238, marketing at $70,724 and the U-Pass at $169,885. There were also some significant surpluses, with social boasting $107,579 and SFUO administration $269,835.

The SFUO takes in around $5 million from student fees every year. Touzany also acknowledged that while the budget numbers could give a general sense of the SFUO’s finances, they were not complete.

For one, she said, the levy paid by students for the winter semester had not been factored in. There were some smaller things as well, like the fact that some federated bodies had not submitted their financial reports.

She said once the numbers for the levy do come in, an updated budget will be posted on

the SFUO’s website.

As for SFUO businesses, Touzany said overall they were doing quite well. “When they ask how’s business, I say it’s booming!” She said to the crowd.

Going Forward After the exec updates, the event featured a brief question period. “I spent two hours, and I just sat there, that is not democracy,” said Alex Plant, a thirdyear history student at the U of O. “The fact that they only dedicated 20 minutes to answering questions without quorum is ridiculous.”

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

Although the event missed quorum, Ahimakin saw some positives. “I think it went well, we had a lot of participation,” he said. “What we’ll try to do for next time is learn from what was said, and we’ll be able to improve on promotion, outreach, and things like that.”

After a student brought up the high volume of followers the SFUO has on Twitter versus other platforms, and questioned why they didn’t use that platform to better promote the GA, Ahimakin acknowledged he could have done a better job of using Twitter and said he’ll try and use more promotion platforms.

When asked by an audience member about continued low voter turnout in the recent SFUO election, less than 8 per cent, and how it would be addressed, Ahimakin, said they were having discussions at all levels. He also said that a recent BOA meeting discussed online voting, and that they want to implement it if they can find a way to make it secure.

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Small increase in minimum wage, but not really Increase part of last year’s decision to tie wages to inflation Eric Davidson news editor

The Ontario provincial government has increased its minimum wage from $11.25 to $11.40, announced on March 18. However the new minimum wage won’t come into effect until Oct. 1.

This comes after the Liberal government’s decision last fall to tie minimum wage rates to inflation. The new rules stipulates that the minimum wage must be indexed to inflation every year and announced before April 1, with the necessary changes coming into effect annually on Oct.1.

According to Gilles Grenier, an economics professor at the University of Ottawa, keeping minimum wage indexed to inflation means that minimum wage will “remain the same in real dollars every year.”

“It’s always been a controversial issue in Ontario,” said Grenier. He said that indexing the minimum wage to inflation was a compromise between opponents and proponents of raising minimum wage.

Ontario isn’t the only province where minimum wage is indexed to inflation—this is standard practice in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

While the main minimum wage was increased to $11.40, some specific occupations will see a slightly different total.

Liquor servers’ minimum wage will increase to $9.90, and homeworkers’ minimum wage will increase to $12.55.

All of the information on these changes is posted on the Ontario government’s website.

Ontario annonced that its minimum wage will rise in October to keep pace with inflation.

Photo: CC Benson Kua.

Morisset’s got game

Library media centre’s new game library a step in learning culture Eric Davidson news editor

The University of Ottawa’s Morisset Library got some new additions earlier this March— but you can’t read them. You can, however, play them.

Morisset library now carries board games and video games—including cards against humanity, Super Mario Bros, and Minecraft.

But it’s not necessarily just for fun. It turns out these games could have a variety of real benefits for students as well.

Kelsey Schmitz, an education content specialist at Montreal educational game company Learning Bird who has a PhD in Education from the U of O, researches how people who play games, particularly video games, develop a “learning culture and digital identity.”

Schmitz said that the idea of using games, especially video games, in education has been gaining traction. “I think a lot of universities have explored the notion of adult social media and games,” she said.

Schmitz said that many universities have started look-

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Morisset Library’s Media Centre now has games.

ing into virtual classrooms, and the “gamification” of education—which she describes as “a rewards-based system with challenges and quests,” to help students learn better.

While these methods are

becoming popular, Schmitz said that simply letting students take games out of the library is still not common practice among universities.

“It’s not a mainstream thing,” she said, although she said it

could be a valuable asset to campus life.

“Once you start establishing a culture where researchers and professors can access materials (like video games), you really start to encourage

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

types of teaching that think differently,” she said.

Schmitz said universities can benefit from this change in thinking.

“There was a time where film or online courses was

never something that was the norm, or something that you were comfortable with,” she said. “It’s my hope and my belief that video games are just another piece of media and culture.”

Schmitz also said that, on the individual level, when a student takes a game out of the library the possibilities are great.

“You don’t know what they’re going to do with that game. They could play it—they could also write poetry based on that game,” she said. “That resource at the library isn’t just a weekend thing for your students to do, it’s a cultural object that those students are going to engage with, and it’s also something that the professors at (the U of O) can use to engage with their students.”

According to Schmitz, the trend of using games in a variety of ways to improve education is only going to continue.

“While we bring this kind of culture into our classrooms, games will be seen as these tools, these objects of learning, they’ll replace textbooks,” she said. “The digital is nigh.”

The full list of games available at Morisset Library can be found here.

NEWS | 7

U of O researcher uses glaciers to track climate change

U of O geography prof leads the way in research using images from space Diyyinah Jamora Staff Contributor

While most Canadians are happy to see the ice melting as spring starts, a University of Ottawa researcher is looking for some more ice—by studying earth’s glaciers from space.

Luke Copland, a professor in the Department of Geology at the U of O, and his team of researchers from the university, embarked on a joint project with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Parks Canada to research the ice dynamics of glaciers in the Yukon.

Glaciers are large, constantly moving bodies of ice formed from snowfall accumulating faster than it melts. Scientists around the globe are monitoring glacier patterns to help track climate change but, for these U of O researchers, the glaciers of the Canadian arctic are of particular interest.

“What we wanted to know for the first time is how quick-

8 | NEWS

ly the glaciers move,” said Copland. “Glaciers are like rivers in a sense, they flow out of the mountains down to lower elevation areas.”

He explained that ice moves as solid water, and the way it moves can depend on factors such as gravity, climate, and temperature. At the same time, glaciers are also melting.

“The speed at which they move tells us about the massbalance of the glacier. The mass-balance is how much snow accumulates on the glacier each year versus how much melts away.”

According to Copland, the rate at which glaciers melt is important in relation to climate change, because when the glaciers speed up it means that they might be much more affected by climate change.

“Glaciers are like a canary in a coal mine,” said Copland.

“They’re an early indicator of climate change. When we look at glacier changes on a

U of O research studies changes in the world’s glaciers.

global pattern, that gives us an idea what’s happening globally for climate change.”

Copland’s research, entitled Ice dynamics of the Kaskawul-

sh Glacier, Yukon, studied ice movement and changes using images captured from space.

The year-long process involved doing fieldwork, com-

Photo: CC_NASA.

paring satellite images, and then processing and mapping the data.

According to the CSA, this U of O study provides the first

complete view of surface ice velocity across the St. Elias Mountains. This is important because it also shows the effectiveness of observing glacier patterns from space.

Their observations showed that glaciers on the western side of the mountains, which are closer to the ocean, moved more quickly, at a rate of up to 5 km per year. On the eastern side of the mountains, however, the glaciers moved much more slowly at a rate of about 200 m per year due to lower snowfall accumulation.

The group is also doing ongoing research looking at glaciers in other regions of the North.

“In my research group, we’re looking at glacier changes across all of Canada and the Canadian arctic as well,” said Copland. “This project in the Yukon just comprises into that big picture of understanding how and when and why are glaciers changing.”

thefulcrum.ca

National News

Safe injection site proposed near Ryerson campus

Approval could reduce overdose, increase access to treatment services Nicole Schmidt The Eyeopener

Toronto (CUP)—After more than a decade of debate, the City of Toronto is planning on moving ahead with creating supervised injection sites, which would give users a hygienic environment to inject pre-obtained drugs. One of the proposed sites will be housed in the Toronto Public Health facility at Victoria and Dundas streets, beside Ryerson campus.

These sites are among several strategies that have been put forth to reduce overdoses and diseases, along with the amount of public drug use and discarded needles.

Michael Forbes, interim director of communications at Ryerson, said in an emailed statement that the university is aware of the proposal, which was released on March 14, but it has not yet been reviewed.

“We will need to see the specifics before we can provide comment,” he wrote. “As with all social initiatives in our precinct, the university looks forward to participating in open, transparent consultations.”

Canada currently has two

safe injection sites, both in Vancouver. In 2013, the City’s Board of Health approved a report from the Medical Officer of Health supporting these services in Toronto. This decision came after a 2012 study found the city would benefit from having multiple safe injection sites.

In addition to the Victoria Street location, plans have been made to create sites in South Riverdale and on Queen Street West. These locations, according to the report, were selected because they have high rates of injection drug use.

Although some people have expressed concerns about public safety, David McKeown, medical officer of health for the City of Toronto, said the sites are beneficial for the community. He added that harm reduction programs are already present at the selected locations, and have been for 20 years. “(Harm reduction programs) have been going on for quite some time with very little negative impact on the neighbourhood,” he said.

Injection drug use is associated with HIV and hepatitis C, transmitted through contaminated needles. Supervised

Photo CC, Zaldylmg.

injection is sterile and can increase access to treatment services. Providing a safe space for users also lowers the number

of people injecting in nearby washrooms and stairwells, said McKeown.

The proposal is still in its ear-

ly stages and will require municipal, provincial and federal review and approval before sites are created, said Forbes.

If the report is approved, there will be a community consultation process which Ryerson will be involved in.

Students react to S Club drink spiking letter

Preventative email draws criticisms of victim-blaming, lack of focus on perpetrator wrong message.

Reid Lodge is a gender rights advocate on campus, and he believes the email focuses too much on what the victim should have done, as opposed to the perpetrator’s role in drink spiking.

“The school is only targeting one audience, potential victims, when they send out messages like this, and it’s not the most effective audience to target if the aim is to reduce sexual assault or other offences,” said Lodge.

According to Lodge, educating potential offenders is particularly important when addressing sexual assault, which is often associated with drink spiking.

“The email and similar messages still only target, and thus only place responsibility on, potential victims when it comes to altering thoughts or behaviours in order to reduce the like-

Alex Corbett

The Brunswickan Fredericton (CUP)—The University of New Brunswick made headlines across the province last week after their warning to students about recent reports of drink spiking at the Social Club was criticized for victim blaming.

UNB security and St. Thomas University both sent out emails to the community, urging students to exercise caution and safe drinking practices.

Bruce Rogerson, head of UNB security, stated in the UNB’s email that there have been multiple suspected drinkspiking incidents leading to students being hospitalized, and that those who have had their drinks spiked are vulnerable to theft, sexual assault or other forms of physical harm.

Safety tips provided by Rog-

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A UNB letter advising students to take precautions against drink spiking has been criticized for victim blaming.

Photo: Brad Parker.

erson and the school include going out in groups, to be suspicious of people offering drinks and never leaving drinks unattended. The letter also advised those feeling uneasy or overly

intoxicated to find a trusted friend, Social Club staff or security member, and to be escorted somewhere safe.

However, some say that the UNB’s response sends the

lihood of an assault occurring,” said Lodge.

“No similar messages are delivered to potential offenders on how to alter their thoughts or behaviours in order to avoid creating a situation of nonconsent where an assault can occur.”

Lodge doesn’t believe that the UNB is actually blaming the victims for their circumstances, but that they don’t have a clear understanding of how victim-blaming plays into a wider social trend addressing sexuality and consent.

Lodge also notes that the email did not provide information to victims on what resources are available in case of drink spiking or related physical or sexual assaults.

Caroline MacIssac is the current University of New Brunswick Student Union women’s representative. She and Shea

McLachlan, the incoming women’s rep, appreciate the university’s information and practical tips, but agree that more can be done.

They wrote in a joint statement that they want to see more information disclosed about when and where the incidents occurred, a list of resources for students who’ve had their drinks spiked, and for the consequences for those caught spiking drinks to be made clear.

“We believe that it is necessary to shift the conversation from how to protect victims from incidents of physical and sexual violence, and instead focus on why these incidences continue to occur, and how to create a campus environment that takes action to ensure the safety and respect of all students,” McLachlan and MacIssac wrote.

NATIONAL NEWS | 9

A&C EDITOR Allegra Morgado arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE

(613) 695-0062 @allietate

U of O alumni partner on book challenging the Capital’s boring reputation ‘Ottawa may be the city that fun forgot, but we love it just the way it is.’

Anchal Sharma Staff Contributor

A

lthough many still view Ottawa as the “city that fun forgot,” University of Ottawa alumni David Ebere and Zainab Muse disagree with this sentiment— and are writing a book to prove it.

The duo, who met during high school and stayed friends while studying health sciences at the U of O, began the blogging website Wingd in 2013, the final year of their undergrad, when Ebere had the idea to start an online blog for intellectual discussion on global news topics. The bilingual website has a team of 15 writers and 10 photographers, most of them from Ottawa.

The book, in a way, will be an extension of the blog, but with more of a specific focus on the city that they love. “I’m the kind of person that hates a large crowd, (so) I think Ot-

tawa is just the perfect place for me and one way I could give back to the city was by taking on a project like this,” says Ebere.

The book will be split into two parts, with the first focusing on the travel, culture, and community aspect of Ottawa, and the second offering essays from Ottawa locals that encompass and relate to the city.

Ebere and Muse are hoping that this will represent more people’s view of the city, giving a deeper inside perspective of what it means to live in Canada’s capital.

“We’re from Toronto, so we have friends who say ‘Ottawa’s boring, Ottawa’s governmental, Ottawa’s the place that fun forgot’,” says Muse.

“Everyone talks from the outside in, we find that not a lot of people talk about the city from the inside out, so that’s what the book was about as well.”

Ebere, who is originally from England, also noticed how people talk about Canada’s capital differently from other capital cities and want-

ed to change the conversation.

“When you talk about the U.S. and the U.K., you always hear about the Capitals, but why is Canada different?

Why is Ottawa different?” says Ebere. “This city has a lot to offer.”

The idea for the book also stemmed from their desire to take their blog in a less Ottawa-centric direction, as it had become after its inception, while still yearning for a a place to talk about their love for the nation’s capital.

“It was interesting to just see the site gravitate from this very diverse content to being very linear about one place, about Ottawa,” says Muse, who ultimately decided that the website would work better with its original international focus.

The site was also recognized with a silver medal for Best Blog or Column at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards last year, putting them in the same ballpark as Maclean’s and the Globe and Mail, among a host of other Canadian news

David Ebere (left) and Zainab Muse (right), the co-founders of Wingd who are working on a guide to challenge Ottawa’s dull reputation.

Photo: Kim Wiens.

outlets. At the awards ceremony, Muse noticed how little representation there was from Ottawa, encouraging her even more to work on the book.

“Ottawa may be the city that fun forgot, but we love it just the way it is,” says Muse.

Whether it’s the NotreDame Cathedral Basilica on

Sussex, one of Ebere’s favourite local spots, or the Rideau Falls, which Muse assures readers is beautiful no matter what the season, the duo is hoping that to show people the variety of exciting spots Ottawa has to offer in their book.

Muse and Ebere are hop-

Ready, set, whoa: A Gee-Gee’s guide to England

Introduction: Why the move?

Anthony Latka

Fulcrum Contributor In September 2015, I moved across the pond to Great Britain from Ottawa to begin studying towards my LLB, or Bachelor of Laws degree, and ever since I’ve been asked the same question too many times to count—so, what brings you to England? If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me this, I could probably pay off my entire tuition for the year. However, I guess I could answer one more time...

To get started, I’ll clarify something that often gets con-

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

fused—I am not an exchange student. Rather, I have put my degree at the University of Ottawa on sabbatical. I am instead starting a whole new degree for three years. Although this may seem like an odd move, I have several reasons for packing my bags and flying off to England.

As with most people who study abroad, there is of course the adventure side of the story. And no, I’m not talking about Frosh week, although you would think doing it over again would be fun (it really isn’t). Who wouldn’t want to

University of Sussex. Photo: CC Hassocks5489.

live in Europe for three years and experience a whole new continent in their early 20s?

However, even more than that, there is also a practical and mental side to this tale.

Unlike in Canada and the U.S., a law degree in the United Kingdom is considered an undergraduate degree, meaning that I don’t have to go through four years of my undergradu-

ate degree back at the U of O and then apply for three more years of law school. Makes sense, right? Skip the two remaining years I had left and then start my law degree immediately—it’s a no brainer!

Now for the more mental side of my degree choice. While studying Conflict Studies and Human Rights at the U of O, I decided to join the Reserve

Force of the Canadian Army. I saw this combination as learning the theory of war in class and learning the practical side with the crimes committed during war, and the worst part is I would go home and end up playing Call of Duty with my roommate all evening.

It was non-stop war and death in both my program and the military that I was exposed

ing to have the book, which they are raising money for on their website, published by July 1, 2016, and have it available everywhere. They also encourage U of O students to share their own stories about Ottawa by emailing info@ wingd.ca with a maximum of 200 words by April 8.

to for two years, causing me to be drained mentally. After being diagnosed with a host of mental illnesses, some of which I still can’t pronounce, it was brought to my attention by my mother that I could move to England for a fresh start, as my cousin is also studying here.

I applied to the University of Sussex in early January 2015 and got accepted two weeks later. So after the year finished, I took a military posting in the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre Meaford for four months and moved to the UK the following September.

Although it’s been an adjustment, my time in the UK so far has been that of an adventure.

From success to failures, from terror to happiness, the people I have met here and the events I have experienced have shaped my life dramatically.

I look forward not only to the coming months, but the coming years, whether it’s returning to the U of O or continuing my adventures elsewhere.

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Playing with style and creating conversation in Different Every Time U of O alumna exhibits new work at Studio Sixty Six Graham Robertson Staff Contributor

Art is more than just pictures on a wall—it’s a medium of expression, and every artist has a unique way of expressing themselves and transforming their ideas into something tangible and meaningful.

However, art also communicates who the artists themselves are, and oftentimes the artists learn about themselves while creating a piece. For University of Ottawa visual arts alumna Shelby Dawn Smith, her latest exhibit Different Every Time was all about challenging herself as an artist and creating pieces which reflected her personal growth.

“I found myself after university kind of being stuck and being burned out and not really knowing what to do, so I gave myself this challenge of making paintings that were different,” says Smith.

Smith says that the title accurately reflects the nature of the work—each piece incorporates different colours, different mediums, different actions, “different starts and different finishes.”

Due to the wide range of visuals in the paintings, and their lack of following a spe-

Some of the pieces featured in U of O alumna Shelby Dawn Smith’s solo exhibit Different Every Time.

cific pattern or formula, Smith named the exhibit, Different Every Time. Most notably in the artwork, Smith points out, are the “binary scenarios”—some paintings are very quiet and soft, while others are louder and more vibrant.

“Soft, hard; fast, slow; bright, dark; geometric, organic— working with those different

push-pull scenarios to try to create a conversation, almost, an argument, but to come to some kind of balance or harmony.”

This “conversation” reflects the changing nature of Smith’s work, and her overall growth as an artist. This transition can be seen upon comparing the defined brush strokes and ges-

tures featured at her grad show, to the layering and fluidity she showcases in this exhibit.

“I think overall (these paintings) are more complicated, they’re more mature (in) design and more developed. There’s always an underlying naïveté with some of the paintings, but it’s more complicated,” she says.

Smith also reflects on how

CAMPUS STYLE

Photo: Kim Wiens.

her upbringing in Northwestern Ontario influenced her work, especially those that resemble landscapes.

“It’s difficult in that area to be exposed to art and culture in the scale as somewhere like Ottawa. Mostly artists would have been landscape painters and that kind of thing.”

Smith also shared how she

The Fulcrum gives you six beauty trends and three major looks to try this spring

Christelle Musambi, Fulcrum Contributor

Photos: Christelle Musambi.

Spring

is finally in the air. Gone are the days Glossy Skin and Flushed Cheeks: of oversized wool jackets and lugging around For those of you who prefer a no-fuss, fiveheavy-duty winter gear—it’s time to embrace minute makeup routine, these are the two the easy, breezy beauty of spring. spring trends for you. On the runways, it was

This

spring, we’re embracing a diverse colour palette that will satisfy both the girly-girl and the punk-rock diva—nothing is off-limits.

An array of bold and punchy hues were seen on the runway and here the Fulcrum shows you the six major spring beauty trends in three key looks.

Baby Doll Eyes

and a

Pink Pout:

This look is for your inner girly-girl. It incorporates two big trends: blue eye shadow, and pastel lips. For a subtler look, you can try a baby blue shadow, but if you’re more daring, a cobalt blue may be right up your alley.

Pastel pink lips are also making a comeback. This beloved 60s trend compliments the 80s-inspired blue shadow perfectly, and with such bold colours you’ll want to avoid a heavily made up face. Opt for a rosy blush and wispy lashes to complete the fresh look.

Product recommendations: L’Oréal lnfallible Eye Shadow in All Night Blue at $7.96, L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint in Elude at $4.99, NYX Pinched Blush at $8.99, and Ardell Wispies Lashes at $6.50.

thefulcrum.ca

Metallic Eyes Pout:

all about glossy and luminous skin, and skin care is key when trying to achieve a flawless base.

You’d first want to exfoliate and hydrate your skin with a moisturizer. Use a BB cream or lightweight foundation, then use your fingers (like we said, no-fuss) to mix it in with a liquid illuminator. The warmth of your hand ensures that the product really sinks in.

Continuing with the finger play, warm up a vivid cream blush on the back of your hand and add a touch to your cheeks and to the tip of your nose. Then apply a cream highlighter to the top of your cheekbones, cupid’s bow and inner tear duct. Finish off with spraying a skin mist. You’ll want to avoid using powder for this look to maintain the luminosity.

Product recommendations: St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Face Scrub at $4.57, MAC Strobe Cream at $12–$40, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse BB Cream at $8.96, L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator at $13.96, N.Y.C. Blushable Crème Stick at $4.99 and NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray at $10.99.

struggled to find her identity as an artist growing up in a small town, due to the lack of artistic influences.

“It was hard to find my own style at the time without anyone to base it off of so I struggled for a long time because of that (in) finding a style that would be mine.”

Combining the nostalgia of her childhood—the landscapes and scenery—with her own spontaneity, Smith was able to formulate her own identity as an artist and create pieces which reflect her vision.

“I get nostalgic for it sometimes, the landscapes, and I think that comes out a little bit, bringing me back to (a) childlike or young or free sense of painting. I try to let go when I paint— I don’t have a plan in mind for when I’m doing a painting, so I’ll do something and react to it and go with the flow.”

Smith’s work in Different Every Time showcases her journey of searching for a style to call her own, to creating art at the intersection of her small-town upbringing and passion for producing art that truly is different every time.

Different Every Time runs until April 9 at Studio Sixty Six on Muriel Street. Admission is free.

and a

Loud

This is the ultimate end-ofsemester party makeup look.

When getting ready for your end of exams celebrations, pull out all your glitter eyeshadows and boldest lip colours. This look is far from the usual colour palette for this time of the year.

Alongside the pastels, we’re making room for hot pink, violet, neon orange and burgundy lips and glitter shadows ranging from bronze, to gold, to silver to help your eyes pop.

Product recommendations: L’Oréal lnfallible Eye Shadow in Gold Mine at $7.96, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen at $8.99 and Wet n’ Wild Megalast Lipstick in Purty Persimmon at $2.99.

Now you’re all ready to toss out your heavy moisturizers that have been helping your dry winter skin and embrace the warmer weather.

Happy spring!

ARTS & CULTURE | 11

Spruce up your spring wardrobe with vintage clothing The Fulcrum gives you tips to save money and look fresh this spring Mercedes Cant

Fulcrum Contributor The first time I went shopping at a thrift store, I was looking for an oversized, ugly grandpa sweater.

Yes, this was in fact in 2012, and yes, I did go because of that Macklemore song. For a few years, ugly sweaters were all I bought at thrift stores— until one day, while browsing for my newest Macklemoreesque find, I realized there were about fifty other racks of clothing whose contents weren’t smelly or scratchy. So began my vintage clothing obsession.

When your goal isn’t buying the ugliest thing in the store as an ironic statement piece, however, you have to be a lot more selective and careful.

When shopping for spring thrift clothing, fabric is key.

Shop with your hands—don’t be afraid to touch the clothing on the rack and feel the fabric. Look for light, soft, and breathable pieces and try your best to avoid polyesters because you will sweat, and it will be ugly. Especially with delicate materials like silks,

always check carefully for pulling and tiny holes in the garment that could grow after a wear or two.

This leads me to my next point—always scrutinize the clothes carefully! Higher-end shops like Ragtime Vintage Clothing on Flora Street and The Clothes Secret on Bank Street will carefully curate their clothes, so you can worry less at places like these, but if you’re shopping at Value Village or the Salvation Army Thrift Store, always check for tears and stains. Make sure to check around hemlines, in the armpits of shirts, and the crotches of pants.

My last big tip is tailoring.

If you find a piece that you love but it’s a bit too long or frumpy, tailors are your best bet to get your outfit looking perfect on you. There are tons of tailors in Ottawa, so it’s best to shop around to find your best fit.

In a big city like Ottawa there are a lot of vintage and consignment stores that range in price and style, so it’s easy to find something for everyone.

Ragtime Vintage Clothing specializes in vintage and

Ragtime Vintage Clothing on Flora Street is one of the best shops in Ottawa to shop for your fresh spring wardrobe.

brand name clothing, whereas The Clothes Secret is more focused on consignment from the latest seasons, so it’s a great bet to save some money and still get the latest styles.

Bigger chain thrift stores, like Value Village, have more of a mix of everything, so they are

great if you have the time, but can be a bit tedious if you don’t have hours to search through the racks.

If you crave something bigger than a few vintage stores, the holy grail of vintage shopping comes to Ottawa twice a year—the Ottawa Vintage

Clothing Show. Admission is only $10 and gives you access to thousands of carefully selected vintage pieces. The spring edition is taking place on April 10 at the Shaw Centre, so check it out if you want to discover different Ottawa vendors all in one location.

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

Now that you’re equipped with the best vintage knowhow, go forth and revitalize your spring wardrobe. Sometimes you won’t have the best of luck or you’ll regret a purchase later on, but as the great Macklemore once said, “but shit, it was ninety-nine cents!”

fun. • Aim and Ignite | Nettwerk Music Group Allegra Morgado

Arts & Culture Editor

Why you haven’t heard it: Indie pop/rockers fun. made it big with their 2012 album Some Nights, which went platinum in the U.S. and lead them to win two Grammys, but Aim and Ignite, their 2009 debut album, is where it all began.

The band is made up of Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost, and Jack Antonoff, who has become well-known as actress and writer Lena Dunham’s boyfriend. When Ruess’ former band The Format broke up in 2008, he formed fun. for a new musical outlet, but they didn’t get a lot of traction in the mainstream prior to Some Nights’ release.

Why it might be tough to get through: Although Aim and Ignite is undoubtedly an indie pop album, it has a unique sound that differentiates itself from other pop music, including fun.’s later work. It has a theatrical sound in some of its songs, including “Be Calm,” the album’s opening track, which is not everyone’s cup of tea.

It has also been described by some as being a part of the “baroque

12 | ARTS & CULTURE

pop” genre, a type of pop that infuses elements of rock and classical music, like a less mainstream version of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.”

Although this makes the songs more dramatic and lively, featuring an array of string instruments and vocalists, it’s different from conventional pop and definitely not for everyone.

Why you should listen to it anyway: If not simply for Nate Ruess’ incredible range as a vocalist, Aim and Ignite is a fantastic album with a variety of tracks that demonstrate the band’s immense talent. The album has everything from syrupy sweet love ballads like “The Gambler” to “Benson Hedges,” a song that begins with gospel elements that signify Ruess’ love for music more than any religion or deity.

Ruess has also been compared to Queen’s Freddie Mercury for his vocal ability, and the band has clearly been inspired by the British rockers, with nods to their well-known harmonies on “All the Pretty Girls” and “Light a Roman Candle With Me.” If you’re a fan of Queen and are looking for something more upbeat and modern, give these songs a listen.

Fun. facts: The track “The Gambler” is about Ruess’ parents relationship, and his father’s cancer diagnosis from his mother’s perspective. Many fans speculate that it’s a reference to The Format’s track “On Your Porch,” which was told from Ruess’ father’s perspective.

Although the band only officially consists of three members, Aim and Ignite featured 19 other musicians as guests on different tracks to achieve their baroque pop sound, including fashion designer Rachel Antonoff, who is band member Jack Antonoff’s sister.

Best lines and songs: “All the Pretty Girls” is one of the singles from the album and is a lively pop track about the difficulty of finding someone new after a breakup, and how no one else compares when you’re still in love with your former fling.

“I swear when I grow up I won’t just buy you a rose/I will buy the flower shop, and you will never be lonely” from “The Gambler”.

thefulcrum.ca

etimes. Don’t Being a student can be a hazardous job som let anybody tell you different. d pressure ever y Not only do you deal with spikes in bloo per cent, but the 10 time textbook prices inexplicably jump e job, and a so-tim part strain of trying to balance school, a ty. sani cial life can really take its toll on your exam season, so This dynamic gets cranked up to 11 during etimes manisom ents much so that these strictly mental ailm . well fest themselves as physical ones as mon exam related As such, here are some of the most com ersity students for univ of boo-boos that have been the bane generations.

d e t a l e r Exam o t s e i r u j in r o f t u o look son Kyle Darby itor Features Ed

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

puter accessories Likely cause: Lack of ergonomic com pads, resulting in se mou t across campus, such as sufficien kind of . But really, any arm fore pain, numbness, and swelling in your nerve ian med the hing reac and nerve endings from poor computer set-up that blocks blood flow in your wrist can do the trick. work in studying and applying cold packs always Treatment: Taking frequent breaks from your e wrist som awe e thos of one could always spring for a pinch. Or, if the pain gets really bad, you splints that make you look like Spider-Man.

Eyestrain

r screen n… studying way too close to the compute Likely cause: Netflix and chilling… er, I mea s. ache head and n, watery eyes, blurred visio for hours. This has been known to cause successmy! At least temporarily. People have been dum Treatment: Look away from screen, es, so angl rect ing glow big e out the assistance of thos fully studying for exams for decades with it shouldn’t be that much of a stretch.

Bruxism (teeth grinding)

season. that comes hand-in-hand with the academic Likely cause: General stress and anxiety espees, selv them s test al can spike during the actu However, these instances of teeth grinding s. hour e thre of a dozen essays in the span cially when you’re asked to produce half utensil. Try on a pen, pencil, quill, or any other writing n dow Treatment: Refrain from chowing your teeth, g turin frac you of cuts down on the chance sucking on them instead. This technique on mints ing suck try , thing . If pen flavour isn’t your and it enhances the flavour at the same time or candies while you work.

Scalding burns

no sleep. your lap after an all-night study session and Likely cause: Spilling piping hot coffee on Treatment: it in saran warm water for 10-20 minutes and cover Short term—run the burned area under luke wrap (don’t use ice or creams). d (emor some other cold, caffeine enriched liqui Long term—switch to drinking frappuccinos brace your inner basic white girl).

Splinters

yellow tioned number two pencils may be bright, Likely cause: On the surface, university sanc rushis who eone som of s s—especially in the hand and innocent looking. But in the wrong hand from i cact den woo little into nds to go—they can turn ing to fill out a bubble sheet with 30 seco hell. or tape if water, extract the splinter with tweezers Treatment: Clean the wound with soap and g in the enin happ from this ent once it’s out. To prev necessar y, and apply a bandage or antibiotic ay. ers are for wimps anyw future, switch to using pens exclusively. Eras t for a subscription to WebMD, so that should coun have do I but P.S—I’m not a medical professional, something.

abandonns that students all over campus will soon be Finals are just around the corner, which mea y sessions. ing steady exercise in favour of solitary stud pulled off a few simple workout routines that can be are here tion, So, to help balance out this equa e. spac y stud t, quie fully oh-so cramped, but hope when you’re trying to study for finals in your

Wa ll sitting/air chair

nique is g. My favourite way of pulling off this tech One of the oldest tricks in the book is wall sittin wall sit. read while I’m in the middle of a righteous trying to see how many pages of notes I can until your body your r lowe and back flat against a wall For those new to this exercise, just put your for as long as you can. legs are at a 90° angle. Maintain this position room, doing the fake chair sit in the middle of your try and wall If this gets too easy, don’t use the out the wall to support you. which is essentially the same exercise but with

Squ ats

g strong legs. SquatThis technique is the Holy Grail of developin them with or without ting is my favourite because you can do the deep burn you’re you give still weights in any location and they’ll looking for. g a break from studySimple squatting is great when you’re takin seat and stretch your ing, as it gives you a chance to get out of your having post-it notes by is g min legs. The way I squat when I’m cram at eye-level, so that of whatever subject I’m studying on the wall skull every time I my into on I’m constantly beating this informati stand up. off with your heels Go as low as you can and make sure to push face. and not your toes, so that you don’t fall on your you’re feeling exif or, es lung You can easily replace these with the ground and off push you re ceptionally racy, jumping squats whe jump.

Textbook tricep extension smost expensive—textbook, and

t i f g n i p Kee s l a n i f r fo nes outi r t u o k r o W rm o f r e p n a c you ing y d u t s e l i h w Dhindsa r Anoop Kau utor b i r t n o C m Fulcru

Pick up your heaviest—and probably prepare to feel the burn. to do for tricep extensions at the gym. All you need This is a great alternative to doing weighted one side on bs thum your with ally, and hold it horizont this at-home workout is grab a heavy textbook and fingers on the other side. e, extend your head. When your arms are in a 90° angl Lift the textbook and make it hover behind titions of this , and then back down again. Do a few repe them, lifting the textbook above your head a rest. according to your comfort level and then take stay within your limits. ys alwa and Be careful not to injure yourself,

Desk push-ups

with your and sometimes being up-close and personal Let’s face it, not all of us can do push-ups, dirty carpet isn’t very appealing. grab the yone. Locate a sturdy desk or counter top and So, here’s an alternative that works for ever angle, the er steep The e. angl 60° to body at about a 45° edge with your palm flat against it. Angle your bring your e sure you’re on your toes and then start to the harder it is. While grabbing the edge, mak chest to the table and back up. y schedule at desktop so you can keep up with your stud Be sure to leave those review notes on the the same time. as well.

If you don’t have a desk, the wall works just

Happy studying!

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ven though we all know we should prep for finals throughout the semester, no one really does that, right?

So, in order to make up for this lost study time, here are some scientifically proven methods on how best to tackle those pesky final exams.

Take study breaks Although you might be tempted to spend six straight hours reviewing a whole semester’s worth of calculus notes, you’ll retain a lot more information if you alternate between 45 minutes of studying and 15 minute breaks.

These numbers are based on a study performed in 1967, which found that the decision making ability of an Air Force radar operator was compromised after about 45 minutes of continuous work.

While most of you don’t have the same level of responsibility of someone in the military, taking breaks is still a good idea. During these temporary reprieves, you should leave your enclosed study environment to reset your brain. Go outside, phone your grandma, or make a snack.

Don’t just re-read your notes Going over notes that you’ve already taken might help you memorize the information, but that isn’t going to help you when you’re asked to think critically and analyze something complex during an exam.

In reality, the best way to prepare for exams is to test yourself. To put this into practice, download some free flashcard apps, or write out some questions and have a friend quiz you.

Research has shown that recalling information through this method strengthens your knowledge of the subject and helps you retrieve it later, meaning it can counteract blanking during exams.

Sleep and eat properly We all want to turn into insomniac hermits during exams, but that kind of approach definitely has a negative impact on your ability to absorb information.

Sleep deprivation has been shown to decrease brain activity, especially in the areas of the brain that deal with language skills. It also weakens your immune system, and decreases your body’s ability to metabolize sugar.

The food you eat has a big influence over your brain function as well, so don’t skimp on some serious study time snacking. Some of the foods that have been shown to improve brain function include fish, tomatoes, broccoli, and nuts.

Don’t highlight It might seem like you’re doing work, but highlighting text in green or yellow or pink doesn’t actually require you to read and process that information.

In fact, a report released by the Association for Physiological Science suggested that highlighting offered no further benefit from reading the text, and could be detrimental because it may disrupt the process of making inferences or drawing connections.

Stay optimistic Positive thinking is linked to lower stress, a stronger immune system, and an increased lifespan. Just think about how happy you’ll be when you finish your final exam and summer is finally here!

That should do the trick.

5

Foods to avoid during

Lindsay MacMillan Fulcrum Contributor

Exams

With exam season creeping closer every day, it’s becoming increasingly necessary for students to take care of their physical and mental health.

Unfortunately, much of the traditional student diet is horrible for the brain during exam time.

Besides the obvious advice of “don’t knock back tequila shots before your tests”, below you’ll find a list of food items and ingredients that can really hinder your brain and body throughout this hellish time of year.

Avoid the following foods, and you might actually stand a chance of getting through the oncoming academic onslaught relatively unscathed.

Trans-fats

One thing you need to avoid to keep your brain healthy is foods that are high in trans fats.

A 2012 study in Neurology showed that eating large quantities of trans fat led to brain shrinkage and less processing power. Additionally, a diet high in trans fat can increase the risk of depression by up to 48 per cent, according to a study published in PLoS ONE. Foods that are high in trans fat include frozen pizza, coffee creamer, and microwave popcorn.

Replace it with: Foods with a lot of Vitamin K, which increases brainpower and cognitive function. Green vegetables like kale and broccoli are brimming with this brain-boosting vitamin.

Sugar Sugar, while sometimes stimulating, also hits the brain pretty hard (and not in a good way).

A 2015 study in Neuroscience proved that mice on a high-sugar and high-fat diet suffered cognitively. Not only was their long-term and short-term memory reduced, but their ability to solve problems also suffered.

What makes sugar even more inconspicuously harmful is how seemingly healthy foods—like yogurt, whole wheat bread, juice, canned tomato sauce, and dried fruit—is loaded with the stuff. So be vigilant with your meal selections.

Replace it with: A study at Tufts University showed that blueberries improve short-term memory by repairing damaged nerve cells. The study also said that strawberries and spinach provided the same effects to a lesser extent.

Caffeine Glorious, energy-producing caffeine is a staple in any university student’s diet.

Unfortunately, the cost of consuming coffee, soda, or energy drinks to stay up during an all-night study session is high.

Caffeine creates energy by blocking the sleep-producing chemical adenosine from entering your nerves. While this works to provide a short boost of energy, its long-term effects can be harmful. The lack of sleep caused by caffeine may cause the body to undergo symptoms of anxiety, like heart palpitations, insomnia, and shaking.

Replace it with: Sometimes all you need is a little hydration to boost your energy and feel awake. Don’t hesitate to chug back a glass or two of water to hydrate and energize your cells.

Fried Food Tuna Usually, people consider fish to be a brain food. After all, the DHA fatty acid found in many fish has been linked to improving memory.

But since fresh salmon isn’t exactly in the average student’s budget, tuna is often seen as a viable alternative, since it is much cheaper. However, the reality is that tuna can severely damage the brain.

Years of industrial pollution has tainted oceans—and the tuna that live in them— with high concentrations of mercury.

High levels of mercury in the body negatively impact cognitive function, and can also damage other organs like the heart.

Replace it with: If you really crave that DHA for some brain power, other fish like mackerel, salmon, and sardines offer high amounts of the fatty acid without as much mercury.

Everyone knows that fried food is bad for you due to their high levels of saturated fats and cholesterol. When you’re studying and don’t have time to cook, ordering some takeout or snacking on chips can be appealing. After all, you can just work it off later, right?

Unfortunately, junk food—especially fried foods—have a negative effect on the brain.

Dr. Martha Clare Morris told Huffington Post that saturated fats and cholesterol can block blood from entering the brain, reducing its power. Build-up of these compounds over a long period of time can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Even in the short term of exam season, fried foods should be avoided to keep the brain healthy.

Replace it with: A long-term diet high in folic acid and folate can improve memory and slow the aging of the brain.

Some “folic-y” foods include citrus fruits, beans, lentils, and avocado.

The best kind of study break

Mobile fun Memory tricks

Feeling tired of memorizing mundane facts? Spice it up by using sexual mnemonic devices to refresh your brain.

For instance, to use a classic example, you could try and better remember the names of North America’s great lakes (Superior, Michigan, Erie, Huron, and Ontario) by composing a sentence like “Sam Must Eat Harriet Out”.

Relate everything you’re studying with something that turns you on. During your exam you can more easily conjure images that help you remember. Just don’t get too lost in the fantasy!

During exams it may be difficult to allocate some time for you and your partner to be in the same physical room together. But this is 2016, so don’t be afraid to call up your partner for some hot phone sex.

Despite them not being physically present, I’m sure you’ll still feel the heat.

Library hanky panky

When you’re studying long, late hours in the library, take a quick break for a steamy make-out session with your partner in a dark corner or a secluded aisle. If you’re flying solo, why not head over to the washroom and rub one out yourself?

Incorporate sexual play into your study session

If you’re studying with a partner or a group of people, you can create fun, sexy games that will really test your knowledge of certain subjects.

For instance, if you get one right answer you get a kiss. For your second correct response, you get a kiss somewhere else.

If you ace the quiz with flying colours, then the clothes come flying off as well.

Dear Di’s guide to sexual harmony during exams

W

When exams roll around, a lot of us tend to put sex on the back burner until the smoke clears.

Unfortunately, this is one of the worst things we could do, since frequent intercourse has so many benefits that may actually help you do better on your exams.

Of course, while stress negatively impacts our immune functions, sex produces immunoglobulin A, an antibody that can help fight off certain illnesses. Sex has also been known to boost your self-esteem, which can come in handy when you’re going into a real ball-breaking fourth year physics exam.

On top of that, sex is a natural painkiller, and a great way to release the tension from your muscles—a great antidote to sitting in a chair all day.

Lastly, many students suffer from insomnia during exam season, and a sultry roll in the hay can help regulate your internal clock and increase the production of chemicals that cause sleepiness.

Of course, you can’t completely ignore the responsibilities of school work in favour of more carnal desires. It’s probably in your best interest to balance both.

So here are a few ways to incorporate sex into your busy exam-time study schedule.

Good luck with your exams!

Love, Di

Fulcrum study With final exams on the horizon, students across the country are going to need every weapon in their arsenal to come out on top. Luckily, most of you already have the key to academic success sitting right in your pocket.

As such, here’s a rundown of different phone apps that can keep your mind and body sharp for the upcoming exam season.

Also, all of the apps mentioned here can be downloaded for free, so there shouldn’t be any hesitation to at least give them a trial run.

Quizlet

7 Minute Workout

Most experts recommend that you should take a short break after around 45 minutes of continuous studying.

What better way to fill this time then with a quick workout?

7 Minute Workout is the perfect way to facilitate this function, since it is designed around the idea of getting your blood pumping and endorphins rushing in a short period of time.

While this app flaunts 72 different exercise routines, none of them require any equipment (except a chair), which—coupled with its simple instruction tutorials— makes it the perfect workout tool for newbies.

However, the custom workout features are complex enough so that veterans can get in on the action as well.

—Kyle Darbyson

Nike+ Running

At this point in the academic year, there’s no shame in running away from your problems, especially since a good jog has been known to boost your brain power.

If you’re looking to get the most out of this activity, Nike+ Running is probably your best bet since it expertly records and catalogs the distance, time, pace, and location of your every run.

The makers of this app also know how to tap into positive influence that music has over your athletic performance, since they offer up a “Powersongs” feature, which kicks in whenever your pace is slacking and you really need a fire lit under your ass.

This app’s social media functionality also comes in handy, since one of the best “get fit” motivators out there is watching your friends get more attractive while you’re still struggling to get out of sweatpants.

—Kyle Darbyson

Study

If you’re having trouble staying focused because of loud roommates or distracting siblings, this app from the Sound Agency is just what the doctor ordered.

Study can provide you with soothing sounds and background music that are scientifically designed to lock you into focus.

To accomplish this, the application flaunts a 45-minute soundscape that will help you power through that tedious chapter you’re dreading to read.

The app also allows you to put the soundscape on repeat to allow for more of a continuous flow of information into your brain.

—Zainab Al Mehdar

The time is coming when most students will be drowning in paper notes and flashcards. But fret not, Quizlet will help you sort through the mess on your bedroom floor and surely spare you from the panic of organizing your physical notes.

Simply put, Quizlet allows students to make their own electronic flashcards, or choose from a ton of sets created by others.

And that’s just the surface. It also provides effective review tools like quizzes and study games.

You can also add in additional images and audio to listen to when you’re on the go, which can be super handy if you have to commute across town for your final exam.

—Zainab Al Mehdar

Don’t Panic

But if you do, here are some services on campus that you could check out Walk-in Clinics (100 Marie Curie Private & 316 Rideau Street) When you have a strange lump on your neck and you really want to make sure that it’s just an ingrown hair before exams start.

Student Rights Centre (UCU, Room 101) When your prof wrongly accuses you of cheating and you don’t have anybody to turn to.

Peer Help Centre (85 University Private) When you really don’t trust your roommate to proof read an essay that’s worth 80 per cent of your final mark.

University of Ottawa Student Emergency Response Team (UOSERT) When you need someone with medical equipment on standby after your history exam goes catastrophic.

On-campus dental clinic (100 Marie Curie Private) When you realize that all those late-night carbonated study aids are really taking their toll on your teeth.

Student Academic Success Service-Counselling and Coaching Services When you feel like normal exam-time stress is crossing over into the realm of depression and/or anxiety.

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Murdock sports@thefulcrum.ca

@SpencerMurdock @FulcrumSports

Gee-Gees men’s basketball disappoints at CIS Final 8 Sixth-place finish highlights late struggles, provides lessons for retooling next season Spencer Murdock Sports Editor

T

hey say every dog has its day, and the poetic beauty of playoff collegiate basketball, is that at any time, the underdog can have their day.

The Gee-Gees men’s basketball team spent the majority of the 2015-16 season as the top-ranked team in the nation.

But a semifinal loss to Carleton in the Wilson Cup Final Four should have raised more concern than it did at the time— something went wrong, and the team never really figured it out.

In a back-and-forth quarterfinal affair with the Dalhousie Tigers at nationals in Vancouver, the Gee-Gees had their national championship hopes dashed in a heartbreaking fashion on March 17. The loss is the team’s lowest exit in four years, as the team came away with a bronze in 2013, followed by two consecutive silvers.

Dalhousie played incredibly tight defence, while the Gee-Gees flirted with various leads throughout the game.

Sloppy ball handling lead to a damning 24 turnovers and, despite shooting better than the Tigers, the Gees had to quietly exit their push for a national title.

Fourth-year forward Matt Plunkett led the team with 17 points, followed by fifth-year point guard Mike L’Africain with 16.

Dalhousie advanced to play Carleton in the national semifinal on March 19, while Ryerson took on Calgary on the other side of the bracket.

Carleton was given all they could handle by the Tigers, but in the end they advanced to their sixth consecutive final.

Ryerson was upset by Calgary, allowing the Ravens to walk their way to another national title in the finals, the emptiest of them all with a 101-79 final score.

In consolation competition, the Gees took on the Thomp-

son Rivers Wolfpack, defeating the team from Kamloops B.C. in a 78-77 thriller.

Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin elected to not play any of his graduating players in the match so the team could begin getting accustomed to life without L’Africain, forward Vikas Gill, and guard Mehdi Tihani.

The Wolfpack shot at a better clip than the Gees, but in crunch time fourth-year forward Caleb Agada stepped up for the Gees and willed the team to victory.

Leading 78-72 in the final minutes, the Wolfpack’s late push was not enough to hand the Gees their second upset.

Agada led the team with an impressive 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Second-year forward Mackenzie Morrison had 16 points coming off of the bench, showing his maturity in the Gee-Gees’ system.

On the following day, the Gees took on the host UBC Thunderbirds in the consolation final. After a fire alarm delay to begin the game, the

The team’s disapointing finish at nationals only motivates them further for next season.

Gee-Gees came out flat once again, and after six lead changes throughout the match UBC walked away with a 93-76 win.

Plunkett and Agada continued their solid performances in the tournament, both scoring 18 points for the Gees, and third-year forward Brody Ma-

racle also added 12 points off of the bench.

In the end, it was an incredibly disappointing end to the season, and despite the accolades and highs that the year brought, next season has the makings to be just as good—if not better.

Photos: Rich Lam.

There will be some shifts in the lineup as L’Africain and Gill graduate, while the return of Tihani is still up in the air.

Agada will be a force for the Gees in his final year, and the team will likely also rely heavily on Plunkett, Brandon Robinson and Mackenzie Mor-

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rison.

The biggest additions to the team next year will be the services of two elite transfers, forward Jean Emmanuel Pierre-Charles from Carleton and point guard Adam Presutti from McMaster.

Pierre-Charles averaged seven points and just under five rebounds per game for the Ravens last season, however his numbers took a hit as he was largely overshadowed by the Ravens’ Scrubb brothers.

The forward shot an astonishing 58 per cent from the field and an even more impressive 58 per cent from three.

Presutti is a massive addition as well for the Gees as he has averaged nearly 10 points per game, along with three rebounds and two assists per game. He will be an excellent facilitator for the Gee-Gees while he and current first-year guard Calvin Epistola replace L’Africain.

Although this season did not shake out as anticipated, the Gees still hold loads of potential for success in their next season.

Sports | 21

Gee-Gees women’s basketball drops thrillers at nationals Early loss spells end to fantastic season, hope remains for future David Agbaire Proofreader

For the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team, the 2015-16 season has been about defying expectations.

The Gees travelled to Fredericton with high hopes for a run at the national title after nearly defeating Ryerson in the conference finals.

In a wide open tournament this year, the Gees left empty handed.

However, the team’s disappointing finish in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport National Championship tournament was not representative of their impressive season.

When their competitive season came to an end, they were only a matter of minutes away from upsetting the second-ranked team in the nation in the quarterfinals at nationals.

The Gee-Gees got off to a thunderous start with their signature defensive pressure, limiting the Huskies to just 12 points in the first quarter.

However, despite a third quarter push which saw the Gees lead 49-48, the team was un-

able to withstand the Huskies for the length of the game.

The Huskies proved to be too big and strong for the Gees as their fantasy season ended, shattering hopes of bringing the Bronze Baby back to Ottawa for the first time in the program’s history.

Ottawa had an especially hard time containing Saskatchewan’s fifth-year veteran forward Dalyce Emmerson, who terrorized the Gees frontline scoring 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

Kellie Ring was the Gees’ highest scorer with 19 points to go with 8 rebounds, but she shot just 9-22 in the game as she and the rest of her team struggled offensively, hitting just 32.5 per cent of their attempted field goals.

The following day, the Gee-Gees had another tough matchup in a consolation semifinal after the Saint Mary’s Huskies stunned the Alberta Pandas the day before. The team’s fourth game in under a week was another close fight for the Gees, but it resulted in a 69-60 loss.

The loss was mainly due to Ottawa’s fourth quarter stall, scoring only four points in

Gee-Gees’ Sarah Besselink fights through tough Alberta defence in the consolation matchup.

the final frame. Alberta capitalized on this, putting up 24 points to bury the Gees.

Key to the team’s recent demise was their inefficient shooting, particularly from

the three-point line where they made just 13 of 48 attempts throughout the tournament.

Ring, Besselink, and forward Catherine Traer all had

Photo: James West.

solid games scoring 16, 16, and 18 points, respectively.

Ring also pulled down nine rebounds in what may have been her last game in garnet and grey.

With the loss, the team will return to Ottawa, heal, and work on building upon their impressive season and young core of players for another finals push in 2016.

Gee-Gees athletes among big winners at national awards

L’Africain, Agada, Van Slingerland, and Bouchard all recognized in top honours for mental health issues plaguing athletes.

Van Slingerland had her first season for the Gee-Gees last year after struggling with her own mental health issues while attending Carleton. This season she expanded her program further, while working on her masters and playing for

Spencer Murdock Sports Editor

After cleaning up at the Ontario University Athletics basketball awards, Gee-Gees athletes also got their fair share of representation on the national level.

In men’s basketball for the second year in a row and in school history, a Gee-Gees player has been awarded the Mike Mosner Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year.

This year it was fifth-year point guard Mike L’Africain following in Johnny Berhanemeskel’s footsteps.

The win caps off a remarkable career in garnet and grey for L’Africain, as he gained the highest national recognition for his impeccable performance in his departing season.

L’Africain has been the Gee-Gees starting point guard for all of his five years and has matured into one of the best leaders and all-around players in the nation. There is no weakness in scoring, assists,

22 | SPORTS

the team.

In women’s hockey, GeeGees centre Mélodie Bouchard was awarded Rookie of the Year, a first in U of O history.

Bouchard was an absolute force for the Gees this season, scoring an impressive 10 goals and 22 assists.

In the first 19 games of her

career, Bouchard has catapulted herself to the attention of all women’s hockey supporters across Canada, and has potential to be a massive asset to the Gees going forward.

Bouchard was also named to the All-Canadian second team, as well as the national all-rookie team.

L’Africain stepped up his production and leadership this season, giving him is first Mosner Trophy.

Photo: Kim Wiens.

rebounds, and defence with the 6’1” scrapper.

Fourth-year forward Caleb Agada also received major recognition as he was awarded Defensive Player of the Year.

A well-deserved award for the Gee-Gee star, as he has become the biggest defensive weapon on any team in the nation.

Agada can guard players of all size and ability, and possesses the skills to shut his matchup down and render them a non-factor in the game.

With L’Africain’s departure, Agada will be handed the reins to the team as he will need to become their vocal

fifth-year senior leader.

An award like this on his resumé, Agada is primed to not only take L’Africain’s leadership role on the team, but also possibly have his own Mosner Trophy this time next season.

In women’s basketball, fifth-year guard Krista Van Slingerland was honoured with the the Tracy McLeod Award for spirit and perseverance by an athlete. Van Slingerland dedicated massive amounts of time and energy into creating the Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative and becoming an ambassador

thefulcrum.ca

CFL draft has CIS athletes’ best interest in mind A key point of difference from the U.S. provides better training for future pros Dylan Yegendorf Staff Contributor

With draft day just around the corner, the best players in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football—including some of the University of Ottawa’s own Gee-Gees—are looking to fulfill their pro football dreams.

However, for these Canadian athletes, a selection on draft day doesn’t have to mean the end of their collegiate careers.

May 10 marks the day of the infamous—though some might call it “quirky”—CFL Canadian Draft.

The head-scratching process has perhaps gained notoriety for being rife with pitfalls, commonly losing top-notch Canadian talent to the NFL Draft, and losing mediocre talent to traditional career paths.

With all of its shortcomings, one major positive element of the CFL Draft, often gets overlooked.

In co-operation with the CIS, the CFL Draft offers a sort of security blanket for its Canadian college draftees. It’s a safeguard, so to speak, which allows for CFL-drafted Canadian collegiate athletes to return to university even after being

drafted, if they so choose, and continue playing football at the CIS level.

In other words, declaring for the CFL Draft and being drafted by a CFL team doesn’t spell the end of an athlete’s CIS football career.

Such a system in place carries with it several securities and benefits from a player’s perspective, chief among them being that it eliminates the major risk that both Canadian and American college athletes take when electing to go pro.

A CIS athlete who declares for the CFL Draft and is selected does not run the risk of abandoning university and giving up their scholarships, only to be cut by the CFL team that drafted them.

When a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) football player declares for the NFL Draft, whether they are drafted or not, their college football career is over.

From a development standpoint, this system benefits CFL draftees such that they may continue to train and play at the university level, and return to the pro team that holds their rights when they are fully developed and prepared to make

Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel is a player that has benifited from the CIS-CFL relationship.

that jump. In this way, a ‘farmsystem’ of sorts is created between the CFL and its players still in the CIS. Furthermore, while players are still in school they are allowed to sign training camp and preseason contracts with CFL teams, allowing them to benefit from the coaching and players at a higher level.

This is a perk to the CFL Draft system that Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel has taken advantage of for the previous two seasons with the Ottawa RedBlacks.

If Wendel is any indication to the success of the system it would be telling, as the fourthyear tossed a record-breaking 3,136 yards and 24 touchdowns

last season.

The player-friendly and easygoing nature of the CIS and the CFL Draft calls attention to their polar opposite American counterparts: the cutthroat business of the NCAA and NFL Draft.

Already known for its blatant disregard of its athletes—a multi-billion dollar industry

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

fuelled by unpaid, uncompensated, and often mistreated athletes—the NCAA manages to push the envelope even further when it comes to exploiting its football athletes and NFL hopefuls.

With the CFL Draft, as baffling as it may be, makes more sense in at least one respect: the treatment of its draftees.

Weight a minute, that’s too much protein

Growing adolescents consuming excess protein are damaging their bodies, not building them David Agbaire Proofreader

Every year, the rapidly approaching summer induces swathes of people to obsessively work on their bodies in hopes of being beach ready in a hurry.

For some people, this involves long sessions of pounding weights at the gym followed by hundreds of dollars in protein shakes to ‘bulk up’.

The recommended protein intake for Canadians is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, so the average male who weighs 180 pounds should consume approximately 125 grams of protein per day, while the average female who weighs 150 pounds should consume approximately 102 grams of protein per day.

The commonly held belief is that the process of turning fat into muscle will be sped along by consuming more protein.

With the explosion in popularity and availability of protein

Downing too many protein shakes can lead to some seriously negative side-effects.

powders and shakes, there is more temptation than ever for people to use and abuse these fitness supplements.

However, this ultimately begs the question, are these fitness-conscious folk putting

too much protein in their bodies?

High-protein diets can often be excessive and intense when employed by novices, and some of these regimens can cause serious health risks.

Photo: Kim Wiens.

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted that based on self-reports, males in late adolescence and young adulthood are eating significantly more protein than recommended.

First, eating too much protein can lead to weight gain.

Regardless of what you eat, the most important thing to consider is your caloric intake.

A 2012 study tested this theory out on 25 people of ‘normal weight’. Each participant was overfed by 40 per cent of their recommended daily calorie intake and participants were either given low-protein, recommended intake, or highprotein diets for eight weeks.

The results showed that those on the high-protein diet gained 13–14 lbs in comparison to those with the low protein diet, who only gained 7 lbs.

Second, eating too much protein can have dire effects on your kidneys. Diets high in protein can often leave people dehydrated as the kidney goes into overdrive to filter out the nitrogen from the protein.

Many body building websites like BodyBuilding.com and MuscleandFitness.com re-

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main skeptical about the perceived risks of high-protein diets. They maintain that they are fine as long as they are accompanied with an active lifestyle—in other words, if you sit around a desk all day, then a high-protein diet probably isn’t for you.

It should go without saying that the key to a healthy body is a healthy and wellbalanced diet, but it’s too easy to take nutritional guidelines verbatim. It’s important to remember that different bodies absorb nutrients differently.

Metabolism, the process by which your body breaks down nutrients to obtain energy, varies from person to person, so it’s a good idea to know your body before trying any drastic diets.

Although it’s important to want the best for your body, it’s much better to be realistic in your routines and not chase a size and lifestyle that could do more damage than good.

Sports | 23

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OPINIONS Overhaul of mental health services

OPINIONS EDITOR David Campion-Smith

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

needed for Indigenous communities Band-aid solutions are ineffective for systemic crisis Ellen Galupo

Fulcrum Contributor

M

any communities across Canada have felt the pain of suicide.

Children, siblings, cousins, friends— suicide does not discriminate—or does it?

The rate of suicide amongst Canadian Indigenous youth in particular is five to six times higher than the national average, and within that group, Inuit youth have the highest at 11 times the national average.

Numerous Aboriginal communities have declared a state of emergency in the past, and the latest is the Pimicikamak Cree Nation of Cross Lake, Manitoba on March 9. The declaration captured the media’s attention rather fleetingly as it was more like old news, a shadow of past headlines that made news several years ago.

Traditional quick fixes, like counselling, don’t apply here— the government must increase their provisions in rehabilitative and social assistance, like employment opportunities, in order to improve the overall socio-economic status of Indigenous communities Yet, the fact that suicide is still rampant in Aboriginal communities today should still be alarming, despite the promises of reform to come in mental health programs. The government’s method of assistance should be re-evaluated so that it’s geared towards providing a solid and sustainable social structure.

There are several factors that have contributed to this epidemic.

Firstly, most of these communities are located in northern and remote parts

Graphic: Kim Wiens.

of the country. Not only that, but many of these communities are fly-in.

This means that there are no roads going in and out.

The only way to access the community is through an airplane, or frozen river road in the winter—that is, if the ice is thick enough.

This is why it’s also integral that the government provides greater infrastructure, such as roads, which can in turn provide enterprise opportunities with neighbouring towns.

While the permafrost up north is an obstacle to infrastructure-related projects that we wouldn’t have to face in southern or eastern Ontario, it’s worth investing in research and development and employing chemical engineers to find a solution to this longterm problem.

Furthermore, the loss of a rich culture that was stripped from the Aboriginal population through residential schools and the need to conform to the rest of Canadian

society can further fuel the deterioration of one’s sense of identity. Education is also limited as many high-schools are without academic-level courses.

Without education, people are restricted in what they can do for the betterment of their community. Academic courses, which can lead to higher education, should be funded and implemented. Social and monetary assistance should be offered to students transitioning from remote to more ur-

ban areas for post-secondary education.

Although there is federal funding to provide post secondary education to First Nations, not all First Nations applicants are eligible, and many are denied funding. This denial cannot be fixed by mental health counselling alone, it can only be solved by the government honouring the First Nations’ treaty right to education.

Aboriginals are also facing the struggles of racism, and

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are commonly labelled with negative stereotypes relating to drug and alcohol abuse, high suicide and incarceration rates. This can simply be amended by better education for the rest of Canada.

People need to understand that these negative stereotypes are symptoms of a broken system, that is the result of the past injustices towards the Aboriginal population.

Understanding the dark history that has been inflicted upon Indigenous people is key to eliminating discrimination.

As such, it is necessary that Canadian history courses emphasize this shameful aspect of our nation’s past starting at the elementary school level, rather than suppressing it in the name of national pride.

Years ago, there were programs in place to prevent suicide. There were many workshops, and counselors were sent to communities in hopes of making a positive difference. But with the current tragic state of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation prevailing over these efforts, it’s evident that such programs are only band-aid solutions to a larger underlying problem.

The government should aim to build a healthier north by providing sustainable solutions to communities—and that means enough funding for social assistance, adequate infrastructure or research to drive this project, and initiatives that bridge the gap in education.

By giving Aboriginal people these resources, Canada can create an environment where the Indigenous community can ultimately become selfsufficient, stronger, and confident in their cultural roots, and not feel like third-class citizens.

OPINIONS | 25

Female genital mutilation is archaic and harmful Culture shouldn’t be stagnant, human rights take precedent over tradition Hoda Egeh

fulcrum Contributor Another International Women’s Day has come and gone, reminding us of the tremendous strides that women around the world have made for their rights and freedoms.

Those strides haven’t accounted for all basic freedoms—female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that’s been around for thousands of years, and still violates the rights of a significant percentage of African, Asian, and Middle Eastern women.

As someone of Somali background, FGM’s presence in Somalia has disturbed and angered me. Being born and raised in Ottawa, I grew up oblivious to this practice— though that might not have been the case had I been born in Somalia.

FGM involves cutting and/ or removing a female’s lower external genitals from a young age. These procedures can range from removing the clitoris, to removing the clitoris, inner and outer lips. Despite its longevity in various cultures, FGM is child abuse and serves

no medical purpose.

The percentage of women and girls who have undergone FGM between the ages of 15 to 49 ranged from one per cent in Cameroon to 98 per cent in Somalia. At its core, FGM seeks to promote purity. It’s about preserving a girl’s virtue and making sure that she remains untouched until marriage.

This turns women into objects, guarded closely until given away to future husbands.

With FGM comes the implication that sexually active women, women who have been raped, or uncut women are impure or “used goods”.

This implication hinders the progression of women’s sexuality in Somalia, and other countries that practice it.

Aside from the emotional and psychological effects, FGM causes problems like severe blood loss, painful menstruations and childbirths, and uncomfortable sexual experiences, among many other issues.

Most of these women understand that uncut girls have fewer marriage prospects, so cultural acceptance takes precedence over physical pain.

With a taboo subject like

Illustration: Kim Wiens.

FGM, most people feel more comfortable avoiding it —keeping their opinions on other cultures to themselves. But when this becomes a global mindset, tiptoeing around FGM in order to be politically correct becomes a major disservice to the millions who need protection.

Culture is a vital aspect of society, and while it may be important to uphold cultural

traditions, citizens should be willing to acknowledge that reform is needed when cultural practices harm their own people.

One of the saddest aspects of FGM in Somalia is that it’s women who perform the act.

While the men in the community contribute to keeping the practice relevant when they search for a woman to marry

or match with their sons, it’s women who keep FGM alive.

Any change must begin from within the Somali community. Since men and women in Somalia are responsible for enforcing and passing down the tradition of FGM, ultimately they can be the ones to end it. By refusing to subject their daughters to FGM, they’ll be empowering young women,

and teaching men that a woman’s value doesn’t lie between her legs.

Despite my luck, it’s hard to feel at ease knowing that FGM still continues in Somalia and other countries. It’s difficult to forget that much of the older female Somali population in Ottawa has undergone FGM. These are women who have not only gone through such a traumatic experience, but also lived through a civil war and struggled to find safety for their family.

It’s unlikely that they’ve received the mental and physical help needed to heal from their experiences, as FGM is rarely discussed in the diasporic community. Perhaps this is because it’s so embedded in Somali culture that women feel speaking out against it would change little.

I am hopeful that one day these women won’t have to feel uncomfortable raising their voices about this topic. I am hopeful that FGM will one day be a thing of the past. Then, women around the world will have one more reason to celebrate on International Women’s Day.

Sexual assault survivors deserve effective legal aid

Money too often a barrier to justice, low-income women most likely to face sexual assault Allegra Morgado Arts & Culture Editor

When it was announced that Erin Andrews, American sportscaster and television host, was awarded $55 million for her civil suit against Michael David Barrett, the man who stalked and filmed her through peepholes at the Nashville Marriott and Radisson Airport Hotel, it seemed like a victory.

The problem, however, is that the $55 million value isn’t actually $55 million. Instead the Andrews verdict will turn into around $6 million, according to TMZ, as only about half is coming from Marriott and the other half is coming from Barrett, who most likely will be unable to pay her in full. This is before legal fees, which usually comes out to about 40 per cent of the recoverable judgment.

Andrews presumably makes an upper-middle class salary, which would allow her to afford a lawyer even if

26 | OPINIONS

Photo: CC, Emdx.

she didn’t win the suit. However this is not always the case when it comes to sexual assault survivors, in fact, according to multiple Canadian General Social Survey studies, survivors are actually more

likely to be unemployed or have lower incomes.

If survivors are already having trouble coming forward in sexual assault cases, as less than one per cent of these offences get reported to

the police, money acts as another barrier to justice. This is why sexual assault survivors should have access to free or discounted lawyers for civil suits.

Considering the fact that

only three of every 1,000 incidents of sexual assaults in Canada lead to a conviction, civil suits do seem the way to go, and have been recommended by experts as a good alternative to criminal suits.

The problem is that they can be expensive, and therefore inaccessible to many survivors.

The provincial government is on the right path. At the beginning of March it was announced that Ontario would launch a pilot project to give sexual assault survivors in Toronto, Ottawa, and Thunder Bay free legal advice, in order to encourage survivors to come forward about their experiences and become more informed about their options.

While these are positive strides, legal advice can only do so much. If this pilot succeeds and is eventually implemented provincially and nationally, it will help many survivors, but money will always be a factor that prevents

survivors from being able to fully find justice and move on from their assaults.

Even if lower-income survivors received the pro-bono aid first, it would encourage more survivors to come forward about their assaults and help not only these individuals, but the legal system to re-evaluate how it deals with sexual assault.

Currently, so few survivors come forward that it’s difficult to know exactly how many assaults take place and what should be done to help reduce sexual assault and better help survivors.

Offering free legal aid to survivors of sexual assault will allow us to talk with survivors about how they can be helped, how to prevent sexual assault in the future, and ultimately shift away from norms that encourage survivors to keep quiet about their assault towards a culture that supports them in speaking out about it.

thefulcrum.ca

Heckle

Annual spring garbage thaw David Campion-Smith Opinions Editor

Spring is finally here, which means that the sun is out, the snow is melting, people are getting cheerful as the light at the end of the long winter tunnel comes into view—and the streets of Ottawa are awash with trash that has spent all winter accumulating in snowbanks.

The University of Ottawa’s environmental awareness has been formally recognized, with the most recent recognition in the UI Green Metric World University Ranking, where the U of O placed second in Canada and 27th in the world.

But regardless of our international standing on the issue, seeing litter everywhere speaks volumes about our poor attitude towards the environment.

Apparently littering is fine when you can cover it up with snow and act like it isn’t there.

Unfortunately, while the snow melts away in spring, the garbage doesn’t simply disappear.

Garbage is far from a natural phenomenon. People make garbage. The problem isn’t that we produce non-biodegradable waste in the first place, but how we carelessly dispose of it, especially when it’s so easily avoidable.

I understand that throwing out your garbage isn’t fun.

Sometimes trash cans or recycling bins are scarce in certain parts of the city and you have to carry a gross, sticky wrapper for blocks until you find one.

But that is still a much better alternative than looking at the mess outside.

The problem of littering

isn’t just a matter of staring at a few rusting cans and plastic wrapping in the street.

All of those products and the chemicals within them have harmful effects on the environment.

Whether it be cigarette butts or plastic bags, the chemicals within this debris can leach into the ground, and from there into the water.

From there it can go almost anywhere, so the problem of littering goes far beyond the single piece of garbage.

The easiest way to handle this problem is more garbage bins. Both the City and the university need to have more garbage bins out and available. If there are more places for people to throw their garbage other than the street, people may be more inclined to throw their garbage out properly.

But with or without more garbage bins, people still need to get better at making the small effort to throw out their garbage. How is it acceptable in this day and age to just throw your trash in the street?

Please walk that extra block with the used napkin in your

Illustration: Brennan Bova.

Edits: Kim Wiens.

back pocket so you can throw it out. I know there isn’t going to be a parade waiting there to thank you for throwing it out, but it’s a small price to pay.

At this point, I think we’ve

all just gotten used to seeing our trash from last year come back and ruin the first weeks of spring. There are some things in life that we have to get used to, but piles of garbage

should not be one of them.

Let’s stop ushering in the “season of rebirth” with piles of discarded cigarette butts and Styrofoam coffee cups clogging up our sidewalks.

Ottawa brought to its knees as Loblaws ketchup conflict escalates

Multi-brand battle for dominance takes toll on citizens Eric Davidson News Editor Tensions were high in Ottawa after Loblaw’s announced it’s decision to stop French’s ketchup, made from Ontario tomatoes. Not long afterwards, mayor Jim Watson was hit in the face by a spurt of ketchup— reportedly Heinz—and chaos erupted throughout the city.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decried the assault. “I think the unprovoked ketchup attack was unconscionable, and I would like to offer my condiments to mayor Watson for the way he handled it.”

The public outcry over ketchup divided Ottawa into two factions, the French’s Fighters and the Heinzmen.

While the Fighters soon took control of most of the city, the Heinzmen captured the Rideau

Illustration: Marta Kierkus.

McDonald’s—and its supply of Heinz—where they remained entrenched for several days.

The Fighters claimed moral superiority due to their prod-

thefulcrum.ca

uct’s provincial provenance.

Heinz supporters however, deny this. “It’s all lies,” said one Heinzman, who couldn’t be identified as his face was cov-

ered in red paste. “How could the tomatoes possibly be Canadian, it says French right on the package!”

The French’s forces were led

by Colonel Mustard, a seasoned veteran.

After attempts at a UN-brokered ceasefire fell apart, the French’s Fighters decided to take control of the Rideau McDonald’s from the Heinzmen so they could replace the ketchup stocks there, and initiated a siege.

The task fell to the French’s commander, and Mustard took to it with relish. In the end, there was no topping Mustard, the pace of his a salt and his peppering of attacks was too fast for his opponents to ketchup to. Ammunition driven up from Leamington tomato farmers also helped to turn the tide in their favour.

Unfortunately there were several civilian casualties, as people were accidentally hit by condiment packages amid the attacks. It appears that the consumers were the real losers in this ketchup war.

As the Fighters frantically searched for knives to scoop out the goopy ammunition, an unheralded force marched towards them along Rideau Street—it was the PC brand Battalion. Feelings were mixed for this brand since it’s ketchup is made in Ontario by Californian ketchup.

“I don’t like it cause it’s not Canadian ketchup but it’s better than not Canadian ketchup.

How should I feel about this?” said one bystander.

In the aftermath of the battle, allegations arose that the PC brand battalion had fomented the conflict between Heinz and French’s to weaken their numbers, so that they could capture Ottawa’s lucrative ketchup market, for themselves.

When asked what the truth was, PC brand general Galen Weston just said, “You say tomato, I say tomato.”

THE TOMATo | 27

FEATURES EDITOR Kyle Darbyson

DISTRACTIONS Dear Di,

Dear Di

I have this best friend. He’s straight and I’m not.

Our friendship began with a lot of vulnerability, and he knows practically everything about me.

We began to get closer as my first long distance “boyfriend” and I were drifting apart.

In February, I told my best friend that I had feelings for him, and he said we should have some time apart. I find it hard to be away from him, yet we’ve at least established a plan to make our friendship healthier.

A part of me has accepted our strictly platonic friendship, and another part still wants us to end up together. Is this all a reasonable course of action?

-Steamy Wire Sessions Dear SWS,

Dear IC,

Love, Di 28 | DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di, I’ve always wanted to try phone sex… but I’m scared that I’ll sound ridiculous instead of sexy. My partner is leaving the city for the weekend and I really want to give it a shot. Do you have any tips on how to make phone sex steamy and not cringe-worthy?

-It’s Complicated

Let me start off by saying that it takes a lot of courage to express how you feel about someone.

I believe that it’s always worth knowing you took the risk, rather than wondering “what if”? At the end of the day, you took a chance and that’s worth celebrating.

However, establishing distance is a good way for both of you to process how you’re feeling and to start moving forward as just friends. It will be challenging, no doubt, but you will need to get some closure with your feelings for your friend before you can return to your totally platonic relationship.

With that being said, I do think that it will make your friendship that much stronger if you are able to acknowledge this moment (don’t sweep it under the rug) and work from there. I’m glad to hear you and your friend have created a plan, since proper communication in any relationship is the key to its success.

As you mentioned, your relationship grew stronger at a particularly vulnerable time for you. Your friend was really there for you when you needed him most. So even if you can’t end up together, you’ll still have a valuable friend who supports and cares about you, and that is certainly worth overcoming any obstacle for.

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

Increase your chances of orgasm 1. Know your body-Spend some time with yourself. Explore all your nooks and crannies and find out what really puts you over the edge.

2. Be open with your partner-Far too often we don’t communicate about what we want in sex. If talking about arousal is too difficult, you can always show your partner by guiding them to certain parts of your body.

3. Lose the stress-Stress and anxiety can really hinder an orgasm. I know that this can be a tall order during exams, but try incorporating meditation or yoga into your daily routine to help get rid of all that stress and tension.

Phone sex is a great way to make your far away lover feel like they’re right there in bed with you. Since it’s not something most of us are used to, the first time can definitely feel a little awkward. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be moaning and groaning over the wire like a pro.

If it’s your first time and you’re feeling a little nervous, you can always make yourself a cheat sheet with dirty phrases ahead of time so that you’re never at a loss of what to say. Also, before you call, it’s a good idea to send your partner a sexy photo and some naughty texts to get them in the mood.

If you’re on the phone with a male partner, make a point of vividly describing what you’re wearing—or not wearing. Men tend to be more visual creatures, so the more descriptive you are the better. If you’re dialing a woman, emphasize how much you’re craving her body, and what you’d like to be doing to her at that moment.

Make sure to speak slowly and incorporate lots of sound effects (i.e grunting & moaning) into the call. Your partner on the other line wants to know you’re enjoying yourself as much as they are.

The great thing about phone sex is that it’s an opportunity to try out all those dirty words and phrases you’ve been too shy to say face to face. Even if your first session doesn’t go so well, you should still give phone sex a second try. Sex isn’t meant to be perfect. There will always be bumps and hiccups along the way. All that matters is that you and your partner are trying new things.

Love, Di

To get all your sexy and saucy questions answered, email Di at deardi@thefulcrum.ca ;)

thefulcrum.ca

mar. 25 to apr. 7, 2015

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC

Friday, March 25

The Zolas, Zaphod Beeblebrox—8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 26

Canadian Improv Games-National Tournament & Festival, finals, National Arts Centre—7:30 p.m.

Johnny Reid, TD Place—7p.m.

Drake Night, Babylon Nightclub—9 p.m.

Sunday, March 27

Korol Lir (Russian version of King Lear), Shakespeare 400, Bytowne Cinema—1:30 p.m.

Monday, March 28

arts Sports FUN Thinking

Bugs: Outside of the Box, last day for exhibit, Canadian Museum of Nature—9 a.m.

Tuesday, March 29

Calendar Girls (stage adaptation), opening day, Ottawa Little Theatre—7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30 The Smartassociates with Steve Patterson (host of CBC’s “The Debaters”) Centrepointe Theatre—7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 31 Autism Awareness Centre, opening day, Shaw Centre—8:45 a.m.

Friday, April 1

2016 Poutine Festival, last day, FSS terrace—11 a.m.

Nature Nocturne-Under the Ice, Canadian Museum of Nature—8 p.m.

Saturday, April 2

Ottawa Antique & Vintage Market, The Fieldhouse at Carleton University—10 a.m.

Ottawa’s Taco Fest, Shaw Centre—5 p.m.

Garth Brooks, Canadian Tire Centre—7 p.m.

Sunday, April 3

World War Women, last day for exhibit, Canadian War Museum—9:30 a.m.

Bill Burr live, TD Place—7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 4

The Taming of the Shrew (1967 version), Shakespeare 400, Bytowne Cinema—8:50 p.m.

Tuesday, April 5

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

Wednesday, April 6

Make Them Suffer (Australian metalcore band), Ritual Nightclub—6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 7

Ottawa Senators vs.

Florida Panthers, final regular season game and fan appreciation night, Canadian Tire Centre—7:30 p.m.

thefulcrum.ca

DISTRACTIONS | 29

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The $7.6 million dollar question Last week I attended the SFUO General Assembly. Without a doubt the narrative is going to be about how the GA fails to make quorum for a fourth consecutive year. I agree there is legitimate concern that so few members of our union take this opportunity to engage in its democratic functions, but after this (my first) GA, I have some thoughts as to why.

After a rushed, but thorough report by the executive on what they have done this year, the GA is opened to the members for questions. This once in a year opportunity to ask your student executive in a public forum about union business should not be taken lightly. A real opportunity to hold your elected representative accountable, and it was squandered in almost its entirety.

I am not a supporter of the proposition that “there is no such thing as a bad question.” There are bad questions, and they were asked. One student used his question to grill the executive, asking why there had been no ‘tweets’ about the GA in the previous four days. Another who is slated to take a position on the Board of Administration, used his to discredit the entire democratic process of the SFUO referring to the elections, democratic mandate, and student engagement as ‘pathetic.’

Maybe there should have been more tweets, and sure election turn outs aren’t

great, but do you want to know what question I would have asked if I had been given the chance? “What is the SFUO going to do when the University of Ottawa tries to raise my tuition in order to cover their $7.6 million budget deficit.”

After 10 years of consecutive increases you would think UOttawa students would be outraged, but they remain complacent.

Last years budget deficit was $1.9 million, and administration increased tuition by 3 per cent. What’s going to happen this year?

Students will start showing up to the GA, when they feel invested in their union.

I can’t deny that SFUO contributes a great deal to the student experience on campus through events and services, but I find their advocacy lacking.

With the support of the Canadian Federation of Students our executive should be knocking down barriers to education, and advocating an accessible education agenda.

Resources should be put in place to mobilize and engage the membership to make it happen. In sum, you can poster and tweet all you want about a GA, but members won’t engage in our democratic institution, until the members are engaged on issues that matter.

Lee Chitty 1st year Common Law Common Law Representative–Elect on the BOA

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thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL Volume 76, Issue 24, March 24, 2015

So reckless in our Givenchy dresses since 1942(stylin’).

Phone: (613) 695-0061 | Fax: (613) 695-9006 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this paper or we won’t seat you in the front row.

Old rap lyrics stir up unwarranted political controversy for Wab Kinew

Nadia “Factory Girl” Drissi ElBouzaidi Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Devin “Lampshade” Orsini Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Savannah “Babydoll” Awde Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Eric “Top Hat” Davidson News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Allegra “Trilby” Morgado Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Yeezy Season 3” Murdock Sports Editor/Rap Correspondent sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Zoot Suit” Darbyson Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca David “Grunge” Campion-Smith Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Reine “Chelsea Boots” Tejares Webmaster online@thefulcrum.ca Kim “Winklepicker” Wiens Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “French Twist” McRae-Sadik Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Keds” Kierkus Staff Photographer photographer@thefulcrum.ca Zach “Wellington’s” Verret Multimedia Coordinator multimedia@thefulcrum.ca Nicole “Peter Pan” Rutkowski Associate Features Editor associate.features@thefulcrum.ca David “Youthquake” Agbaire Proofreader Dayne “Teddy Boy” Moyer General Manager & Advertising Rep manager@thefulcrum.ca ads@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

Andrea “Bohemian” Zehr Zainab “Hoop Skirt” Al-Mehdar Diyyinah “Fringe” Jamora Rémi “Crinoline” Yuan Christelle “Chopine” Musambi Graham “Plume Boom” Robertson Mercedes “Corset” Cant Anchal “Hobble Skirt” Sharma Anthony “Monocle” Latka Dylan “YMCA” Yegendorf Anoop “The Bob” Kaur Dhindsa Kaya “Chuck Taylors” Gaudet Janoah “New Look” Willsie Hoda “Power Suit” Egeh Ellen “Flapper” Jane Galupo

Board of Directors

Mackenzie “Pork Pie Hat” Gray, President board@thefulcrum.ca Simon “Bell Bottoms” Gollish, Vice-President Katelyn “Pillbox Hat” Murray, Chief of Staff Jonathan “Ambush” Rausseo, University Rep Lindsay “Poodle Skirt” MacMillan Fulcrum Staff Benjamin “Go-Go Boots” Miller, Student Rep Carolyn “Cloche” Mutis, Student Rep William “Blue Suede Shoes” Hume Student Rep Cover: Kim Wiens

abcd

A

uthor, rapper, aboriginal rights activist, and newly established politician Wab Kinew is at the centre of a media firestorm as he begins his political career with the Manitoba NDP. Kinew has been well known for his activism and has worked with the CBC on various programs. He gained relative fame with his rap career, even though some of the lyrics he used in the past are now coming back to haunt him, making Conservatives and Liberals alike question his credibility in the present.

According to the Toronto Star, these lyrics included references to slapping female genitalia, a slur for gay men, along with sexual conquests, chasing skirts and of having made “panties drop.”

In the grand scheme of things, these lyrics don’t define Kinew as a person, or even a politician.

As a musician, and particularly as a rapper, there is a creative license that comes along with speaking on vari-

thefulcrum.ca

ous topics. The reason hiphop is so pertinent is because of its lack of filter. Other types of music will insinuate all of the same topics, but rap comes out and says it blatantly.

People seem to forget that not everything an artist says in their songs is true.

In the early 2000s, at the peak of Eminem’s fame, he was under attack as countless groups dissected his lyrics and painted him to be a homophobe that promoted sexual assault. In reality he was just a normal guy who was playing a character through his music.

At one point in 2000, Jim Flaherty, Ontario’s then attorney general, called for Eminem to be stopped at the border prior to his Toronto show and attempted to ban him from performing in Ontario due to his lyrics.

Flaherty did not get his way and the show went on, but it caused a controversy that continues to manifest itself in today’s society.

In a 2000 performance at the Grammy Awards, Emi-

nem performed the song “Stan” accompanied by Elton John. The two hugged at the end, and with John’s support Eminem proved a lot of his naysayers wrong.

In the 2002, Eminem tackled the lyrical issue in the song “White America”: “That’s why they put my lyrics up under this microscope/Searching with a fine tooth comb/It’s like this rope, waiting to choke, tightening around my throat/Watchin’ me while I write this, like I don’t like this, nope!”

Kinew’s lyrics, by comparison, are fairly commonplace among many hip-hop artists and they are nowhere close to the severity of Eminem’s.

Many rappers would never think twice and an apology would be compromising of their work.

The key difference is that while the Conservatives and Liberals take shots, Kinew had already apologized for his lyrics.

Kinew first addressed and apologized for the content of his music in his 2015 book

The Reason You Walk. According to the Star, in a statement on Facebook he once again fully apologized and accepted responsibility for the lyrics, reinforcing his commitment to “helping bring about the societal change necessary to end misogyny” and “address gender based discrimination.”

Whether or not this was a purely political move doesn’t really matter in the long run.

He still acknowledged the problematic messages he promoted in his music.

For those that paint a portrait of the man and candidate with six year-old lyrics, you’re also choosing to fundamentally ignore the positive things he has accomplished since then.

Kinew has also used his status as an advocate to launch an investigation into missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. He has also become well known for being a voice within his culture and Canada’s indigenous community at large.

Music, like all art, is a form

of limitless expression and although the lyrics Kinew used may not please everyone, it fundamentally doesn’t disqualify him from being a public servant.

In many ways, the argument against Kinew is as much an argument against hip-hop.

Similar to when right wing media was outraged over Common being invited to the White House in 2011, and Kendrick Lamar’s recent performance of “Alright” at the 2015 BET Awards.

The uneasiness that people still have with the genre appears time-and-time again when it comes to serious matters.

Save for a few examples, all rappers have said things in their music that may not look great when taken out of context and dissected by an out-of-touch media elite.

In this case, it’s best to accept his apology and let him run based on the merits of his ideas and policy. And on the lyrical front, can’t we all just let sleeping dogs lie?

EDITORIAL | 31