The Fulcrum - Volume 77, Issue 2

VOL. 77 ISSUE 2

sept. 1, 2016

In this week’s issue...

Ottawa students stand against anti-black violence P.5 Black Lives Matter rally calls for charges, transparency A look for any 101 Week event P.10 You’re putting on your makeup, you’re casually allure Welcome to the rest of your life P.13 The essential Fulcrum guide to frosh A different kind of summer camp P.22 Gee-Gees football prepares for 2016 kickoff The Fulcrum wants you to read to SFUO budget P.19 Budgets aren’t sexy, but they sure have nice figures Proud of Pride? P.23 Beneath the celebrations, not all LGBTQ+ voices are heard

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

Graham Robertson news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0061 @_grahamr

Students rally in solidarity with Black Lives Matter Toronto

U of O students, SFUO participate in nation-wide protest at local police station graham robertson news editor

S

tudents from the University of Ottawa joined others across the city at a rally held on Aug. 24 at the Ottawa police station to speak out against police brutality towards the black community.

The rally was part of a nation-wide movement organized by Black Lives Matter (BLM) Toronto in light of the death of Abdirahman Abdi, a Somali man with autism who was killed by two Ottawa police officers in July 2016. The demonstration came exactly a month after Abdi’s death, with actions held in Vancouver, Edmonton, Mississauga, Kitchener, Winnipeg, and Hamilton on the same day.

The evening began with a traditional song from a group of Indigenous women, followed by a series of chants, music, speeches, and dancing. Abdi’s aunt also spoke at the rally, saying “We need safety—especially in the capital city, I never expected this would happen.”

There was a large youth presence at the rally, which was hosted by two U of O students, Leila MoumouniTchouassi and Faduma Wais, who are members of the Ottawa Black Diaspora, an Ottawa-based coalition which aims to combat anti-blackness.

Moumoun i-Tchouassi and Wais led a number of chants throughout the night which called for an end to this same

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anti-black violence.

Moumouni-Tchouassi also showed solidarity for other visible minorities in Canada in her chants, saying that “Indigenous lives matter.

People of colour’s lives matter.”

Other U of O students who spoke included Mikayla Vattiata, a thirdyear student activist, and Vanessa Dorimain, vice-president of university affairs for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), both of whom also belong to the Ottawa Black Diaspora.

Several other members of the SFUO also showed support for the cause through attendance at the rally, such as president Roméo Ahimakin, vice-president of equity Morissa Ellis, and vice-president of services and communications Francesco Caruso.

In her speech, Dorimain called for “justice now,” saying that “we will ensure (Abdi’s) name is not forgotten,” which was met by cheers from the crowd.

Moumouni-Tchouassi echoed this same need for justice, demanding greater police accountability. “Have they called out their system?” she asked.

Moumouni-Tchouassi also asked that charges be laid against the officers involved in Abdi’s death and for a public release of the full Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report of the incident, along with any racebased data kept by the SIU. In her speech, Vattiata said, “We still fear for

our safety. When people say we are free, they are wrong. When people say it’s not always about race, show me.”

In an interview with the Fulcrum, Wais said, “It’s important to address why we’re doing this, and how this (police brutality) is still happening. My black life matters just as much as your black life should. We never said all lives don’t matter, we just think at this moment, black lives need to matter.”

On the topic of student activism, Wais said that the student voice can “empower and make change.”

“I think it’s important as a youth activist to come out and support our community initiatives because that’s an extra voice out in the community,” said Wais.

Vattiata also spoke to the Fulcrum about the event and the importance of student engagement in the community.

“Half of our group were student organizers … It does take a toll on us for sure, but I think that the work that people in the community are doing is working, and we have so much support here.”

“I think today went well, and I’m excited to see what comes out of this, and when people will respond to our demands, how that process will go,” said Vattiata.

As of Aug. 24 the SIU has acknowledged BLM Toronto’s list of demands in an official statement.

However, they have not yet commented on or responded to any of these

U of O students leading chants and cheers in support of Abdirahman Abdi.

Photo: Graham Robertson.

NEWS | 5

101 Week to see changes this September

FedStock, closing ceremonies will remain for revamped 101 Week graham robertson news editor

This year’s 101 Week will see a number of changes, both in the events themselves as well as the training provided to guides for the week.

With the recent implementation of the University of Ottawa’s sexual violence policy, incoming guides received a new bystander awareness training, designed to make them “active bystanders” and better recognize and respond to instances of sexual violence during 101 Week.

The policy itself was adopted at the June 27 Board of Governors meeting, with vice-president of university affairs Vanessa Dorimain of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) co-chairing the policy development subcommittee.

SFUO vice-president social Hadi Wess and vice-president of services and communications Francesco Caruso, both of whom facilitated guide training, said that the new bystander awareness section is important because of the prevalence of sexual violence during university frosh weeks.

In terms of the week itself, many events have been redesigned to accommodate the SFUO’s financial situation.

During the Aug. 16 Board of Administration meeting, Wess announced that 101 Week would not receive any funding from the SFUO. Wess provided a statement to the Fulcrum about the changes to 101 Week, where the funding for the week has come from, and what the week will look like from a student’s perspective.

“Our funding plan this year consisted of some old practices, and some new ones: in addition to the usual money collected through federated body buy ins and kit sales, we’ve also reached out to sponsors and partners to help us fund our 101 Week,” said Wess in the statement.

Some of these community sponsors include banks and food trucks, whose presence will be seen on campus during the week.

The SFUO has also partnered with a number of oncampus services, some of which include Community Life Services, Sports Services, Health Services, and the Aboriginal Resource Centre.

Hadi Wess, vice-president social of the SFUO, has overseen 101 Week changes.

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

ble,” which Wess believes will “promote student solidarity, unity, and school spirit.”

Certain events during the week will also be open to the rest of the U of O community, as well as to Ottawa at large.

In addition to the usual

Wess believes that these partnerships will make the SFUO “more fiscally responsible in the future,” as well as more efficiently put the students’ money to use.

The theme for the week this year is “Together, Ensem-

events put on by the SFUO, such as the Pride Centre’s drag show and Take Back the Night, several new activities will make an appearance this year, including a scavenger hunt organized by the Muslim Students’ Association, a shisha

night, and a Celebration of Indigenous Cultures.

“Although the lack of funds originally seemed like a daunting task, we hope to change 101 Week culture this year and prove that it is possible to have an amazing 101 Week without spending incredible amounts of money,” said Wess.

One of the most significant changes to 101 Week will be to one of the largest events, FedStock. While the concert is normally held at an off-campus venue, it will take place on campus this year. FedStock will feature a live band and three DJs spread across campus, and various food trucks on location.

Finally, the closing ceremonies this year will consist of a pep rally and the Gee-Gees football team’s home opener.

This is a change from previous closing ceremonies, typically held at Mooney’s Bay. “We look forward to kicking off 101 Week, and hope to give 101ers the best experience possible during their first week on campus,” said Wess.

This year’s 101 Week will be held Sept. 4–11. To view the full schedule, visit the SFUO website.

SFUO budget sees big cuts to clubs, social and campaigns

Budget approved at Aug. 16 BOA meeting, released online on Aug. 25 eric davidson opinions editor

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) recently released its approved budget projections for 2016 online, following its adoption at the Aug. 16 Board of Administration (BOA) meeting.

The budget predicts a surplus, which the federation will achieve by defunding several previous SFUO expenditures including student clubs, SFUO-run social events— notably 101 Week—and the budgets for the Campaigns and Philanthropic departments.

These changes come

6 | NEWS

BOA and SFUO members gathered at the Aug. 16 meeting prior to the presentation of the budget.

after numerous staffing cuts over the summer.

The SFUO takes in around $3 million per year from the undergraduate student levy. It

Photo: Eric Davidson.

Overall, the budget projects that the student federation will take in approximately $19 million in the 2016-17 academic year, and is projected to

also takes in around $12 million in U-Pass fees— which are cancelled out

by U-Pass spending—and some other smaller factors.

end the year with a surplus of $727,314.

This total, however, does not come without cuts. Clubs will no longer receive the $170,000 SFUO contribution outside of the annual levy, bringing SFUO spending on clubs to $24,550, less than 10 per cent of last year’s budget of $252,500.

The social budget will receive no contribution from the federation this year, whereas it received nearly $160,000 last year.

The Campaigns Department, which deals with the SFUO’s social justicerelated causes, also received $160,000 last year in SFUO contributions, but will have to go without any funding this year.

The SFUO will also cut its $30,000 contribution to its philanthropic budget, and lower its administration budget by nearly a third, from $2 million down to $700,000.

However, the two largest items in the budget, the U-Pass and health plan, will continue apace.

For the U-Pass, the SFUO plans to spend $12 million for the 2016-17 year, ending up with a deficit of approximately $13,000.

As for the health plan, the SFUO will spend approximately $4 million, with a deficit of nearly $480,000.

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Cuts to funding for campus clubs this year

Lack of communication between SFUO and club executives raises concerns zainab al-mehdar

associate news editor Due to austerity measures taken by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) this year, over 175 clubs on campus will not be receiving any funding from the federation.

On Aug. 18, Ina Lazarescu, a U of O student and executive of the Romanian Students Club, submitted a letter to the Fulcrum explaining that, upon hearing the news that they would receive no funding, she felt “left in the dark.”

She closed the letter saying, “Today, and for the first time ever, I truly felt that the SFUO Does Not

Represent Me.” While Lazarescu expressed her understanding of the SFUO’s financial situation, her main concern was a long-term lack of communication between the student executive and the clubs on campus.

“My argument was that we could have been informed, we could have done something about it, had we been told,” Lazarescu said in a recent interview with the Fulcrum.

Lazarescu said that besides failing to maintain open communication with club executives, the SFUO did not keep the clubs page on their website updated, leading to even more questions.

tinue to operate solely on fundraisers, or shut down entirely.

“Right now, personally, I’m faced with the decision of whether my club is going to go on for the eighth year in a row or not.”

In a statement to the Fulcrum, SFUO vice-president of services and communications, Francesco Caruso, said, “Cutting club subsidies for this year was not an easy decision, however in order to ensure that the federation remains financially sustainable, it was necessary.”

Caruso highlighted that the student federation “recognizes the importance of clubs on campus and their contributions to student life, and under-

Now, Lazarescu is unsure of what the SFUO will do to amend her situation.

“I’m not sure that they are doing everything that they can to be honest, because as I pointed out in my post, the SFUO clubs page has not been updated in many years. It’s been left neglected,” she said.

“I’m not saying that they are not trying, I’m just not sure what it is that they are trying to do.”

Campus clubs originally received $1,500 in funding per year, but during the 2015-16 school year this number was increased to $2,000 per club per year.

Lazarescu is now uncertain about the future of her club—if it will con-

in order to reach a better solution in terms of room bookings for our clubs and campus groups, and will provide updates as they come,” said Caruso.

Moving forward, Lazarescu believes that the SFUO requires a clubs representative who can speak on the needs of club executives, and the importance of clubs themselves.

For her, this is especially true given the cuts to positions that took place over the summer.

“I hope that it gets out there and that people feel for us, and then together with the SFUO we could come to a more reasonable resolution to this.”

stands that clubs require support from their federation.”

While the SFUO cannot support clubs financially this year, they have said that they will offer any other support that they can, as highlighted in the statement.

In regards to Lazarescu’s concerns over a lack of communication, Caruso confirmed that club executives received a survey in which they could provide feedback on what other means of support they would like from the SFUO, such as room bookings, communications, and event planning.

“We’re also currently in negotiation with the university’s administration

Summer construction continues into new school year

FSS, UCU among other buildings to see changes in 2016 and beyond Zainab Al-Mehdar

associate news editor

Students returning to school this September will be welcomed by a familiar sight—campus construction. And this time, some of it is here to stay for an extended period.

Alexander Latus, communications and special projects officer at the University of Ottawa, spoke to the Fulcrum about the summer construction projects and why he believes they serve an important function in the U of O community.

“Whether it’s part of the master plan or just routine maintenance, keeping the campus running and moving forward takes hard work, vision, and definitely doesn’t take the summer off.”

Latus said that although the ongoing construction will affect students once classes begin, it is necessary.

“It’s a tense time when you’re a student and you don’t like construction, but everyone’s got their

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Construction near campus station.

thing to do. Students have to learn and we have to make spaces for that to be possible.”

One improvement to the construction is that, effective Aug. 22, the campus station pedestrian tunnel has been reopened to the public.

However, according to the City of Ottawa, campus station itself will remain closed until 2018 to make way for the new OTrain Confederation Line.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

Terrace, another student space that underwent construction this summer, will be reopened this November.

“People used it as a small meeting space anyways and we saw that, so we wanted it to be built with that in mind,” said Latus, adding that the upgraded terrace can accommodate up to 1,200 people for events.

The Learning Centre is currently the largest and

Many significant changes have come out of the summer construction as well. One of these changes is the creation of the University Square outside the Faculty of Social Sciences building.

The square has been designed to accommodate roughly 3,000 people, and is intended for large events, concerts, and as a space for students to socialize.

The University Centre

most visible project taking place on campus. It is an extension to the back of Lamoureux, and will feature a Food Services area, conference rooms, and interdisciplinary spaces for students. The centre is scheduled to open in 2017.

Seraphin-Marion has similarly been closed off due to construction. The building’s infrastructure is being revamped and the construction is set to be finished sometime this fall. Students with classes in the Academic Hall or Hagen will have to enter through the side or by crossing over from Tabaret Hall.

While Shalini Ramgoolam, a fourth-year conflict studies and human rights student, said she appreciates the fact that they’re renovating the campus and investing in the university’s future, she still doesn’t think that the plan is “the best use of funds.”

Ramgoolam commented that there is “not enough casual space” for

the winter as most of the spaces are designed to be used outdoors in the summer. Given that Ottawa is cold for the majority of the school year, these new spaces such as the University Square would go unoccupied for months on end, Ramgoolam highlights.

One of Ramgoolam’s other lingering concerns is getting between classes given the paths that are closed off or narrowed.

“If you don’t know, then you have to reroute yourself,” she said.

Her final concern is the potential hazards the construction on Lamoureux can cause for students, especially since the pathway between Lamoureux and the Brooks residence has been significantly narrowed.

For more information on the campus construction, students can visit the U of O facilities website to find visuals and an interactive Google map of the construction.

NEWS | 7

National News

Expert panel on sexual violence policy at U of T releases report

Report outlines 40 recommendations for stand-alone policy on sexual violence began in November 2014.

Ellie Adekur, who is the founder of the U of T branch of Silence is Violence, a university collective led by survivors of sexual violence, was critical of the panel and the report.

“The way the expert panel’s consultations were structured is alarming, and indicative of how little effort the university is looking to put into reaching out to tens of thousands of undergraduate students, academic workers and staff on campus,” she said, outlining what she considers the poor timing of the student-consultations over a single month in the summer with little promotion.

When discussing the report itself Adekur said “The recommendations are a start, but incredibly vague and don’t provide much tangible guidance for those designing policy on campus.”

Adekur also stressed that the university has not acknowledged where the administration is failing survivors.

“The university’s representatives fail to accommodate complainants through things like victim blaming, institutional silencing, and illegal confidentiality agreements. Despite many survivors, organizers and activists on campus very clearly outlining issues in how front-line work is being done at the university, we have yet to hear the administration comment on these realities of reporting at U of T.”

Kaitlyn Simpson the varsity

TORONTO (NUWire)—The University of Toronto’s expert panel on sexual violence policy has released its report outlining its recommendations for the development of a standalone policy on sexual violence as required by provincial law.

Bill 132, which received royal assent in March 2016, requires Ontario universities to have a stand-alone policy on sexual violence by January 2017.

Now that the consultation is complete and the report has been released, vice-president and provost Cheryl Regehr and vice-president human resources and equity Angela Hildyard will begin the process of drafting a policy.

The panel consists of five members—chaired by Trinity College provost and vice-chancellor Mayo Moran.

Students, staff, and faculty members were consulted in sessions across U of T’s three campuses. Additional meetings were also held with student unions and Downtown Legal Services. As well, the panel received over 100 submissions through an online feedback form.

The recommendations made by the panel focused on two primary policy issues: the reporting process and the investigation, resolution, and adjudication processes.

The report was divided into the

Provincial law mandates that all universities to have a policy on sexual violence by January 2017.

8 | NATIONAL NEWS

Photo: CC, Jeff Hitchcock.

by it, and to ensuring that all reporting of sexual violence are addressed appropriately.”

“This committee report has provided some important feedback in terms of what kinds of processes and procedures will help us meet the goals that we’ve established. And we know that the new policy will help us improve services for those who have experienced sexual violence,” Regehr added.

When asked if the consultation process was strenuous enough, Regehr mentioned that, through various committees and subcommittees, the consultations for the new policy has been a process, which ultimately

from sexual violence depend on one’s status in the university.”

“SVP takes an intersectional approach that recognizes that complainants from historically marginalized communities may be especially vulnerable to sexual harassment and sexual violence,” reads a portion of the report.

In an email to the Varsity, Moran said that the panel received valuable feedback from the university community.

With regards to the university’s perspective, Regehr told the Varsity that “The university is very committed to preventing sexual violence on campus, to supporting those affected

following six categories: general, definition, statement of purpose, confidentiality, elements, and companion guide, with recommendations made within each category.

Since, currently, the experience of a sexual violence survivor could vary dramatically depending on their status within the university, the report’s recommendations included the implementation of one universal sexual violence policy (SVP) across the university.

The report states that “Given the centrality of the interests protected by a sexual violence policy, the panel does not believe that it is acceptable to have norms or levels of protection

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A&C EDITOR Anchal Sharma arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE

(613) 695-0062 @imtherocks

“This isn’t your grandmother’s kind of poetry”

U of O alumnus participates in OG 500 slam poetry contest remained comedic and approachable.

Slam poetry is fundamentally spoken word poetry, but with a competitive side. It combines several art forms as well as the freedom of thought and expression, tied together in a competition where the poet is graded based on performance and material.

University of Ottawa alumnus Panos Argyropoulos, who graduated from the U of O with a masters degree in chemistry and who participated in the contest, explains that slam poetry likely started as a mode of protest, as it’s mostly political and very much “in your face.”

Slam poetry or a “slam’” is simply the competition between fellow poets, and allows for individual or group performances. The performers and the audience resonate through each

Joshua Hands

fulcrum Contributor

W

ith so many different communities and clubs on campus, it’s easy for an art form like slam poetry to get lost in the shuffle.

This is especially true here in Ottawa, where there are so many subcultures to indulge in. Despite this, the annual OG 500 Poetry Slam was still going strong in its most recent edition at the Gladstone Theatre on Aug. 25.

In association with House of PainT, Ottawa’s annual urban art festival, the event featured key artists such as Sarah MK, a Montrealbased musician, and entertainer X-wam Will-Mac. As a new addition in 2012, the poetry slam

Photo: Joshua Hands.

gained popularity as one of House of PainT’s biggest performance events, with an intense three round competition of spoken word poetry. Twelve poets go head to head in battle, being judged by audience members in a live voting style unique to the show.

The final three rounds are judged by a panel of

celebrity guests, and the winner goes home with the crown under their belt and a hefty sum of $500.

Mississauga native Matt Miller, the winner of this year’s OG 500 Poetry Slam mentioned that “this isn’t your grandmother’s kind of poetry.” Although he took a dark tone when examining modern-day issues, his style

other, and vicariously experience what the poets have to share. Through a dance of words it forms a discussion or a debate where the winner is chosen by judges who are typically advocates of the art.

Argyropoulos believes that for poetry, “just like with any art form, you have to go out and find it.” He further explained that while slam poetry and rap have many similarities, they also have many differences.

“Rap is more of a constrained spoken word poetry because of the rules.”

Argyropoulos described his style as “introspective, allowing thought to go through … in the sense of allowing the audience to understand what (he’s) going through.”

He says “any art form can be self selective,” with slam having some restrictions such as public speaking, po-

etic tone and intonation.

“It’s almost like writing an essay,” Argyropoulos said, trying to describe the feeling of completing a spoken poem.

Some advice Argyropoulos offers to students who are curious or interested in slam poetry is to write as much as they can. A great way is to challenge yourself to write a poem every week, providing a way to see progression and build confidence.

What’s great about this art form is that it’s all about self expression. In an age where everything is on social media, it’s difficult to be heard over everyone else.

But with spoken word poetry you have the chance to express your thoughts and opinions out loud, turning your thoughts into a neartheatrical performance.

Campus style: 15-minute party makeup

School is just about under way, which means you’ll soon be welcoming sleepless nights, long study sessions, and, most importantly, res parties. In light of this, the Fulcrum is here to show you a no -fail, go-to party makeup look. The key to perfecting this look is to appear as if you didn’t try too hard, in a low-key rock star kind of way—think current Hollywood “cool girl” Cara Delevigne. With some skill and a little luck, you’ll be able to incorporate this season’s three major beauty trends into a 15-minute party makeup look.

Christelle Musambi fulcrum contributor

Smudged eyeliner The beginning and end of every party look is dark black eyeliner. But rather than spending hours perfecting a cat-eye wing, this season it’s all about the “lived in” look.

Rim your top and bottom lash lines with black eyeliner, and don’t forget your waterline. Simply use your fingers to smudge the liner around rather than grabbing a brush.

The best part of this trick is that there are no rules.

Smudge less for a more intense look, and up the smudge factor if you’re into the whole smoky eye shadow thing. The key takeaway is to leave precision on the doorstep.

smudged liner. The focus of this look is not on the cheeks, so don’t overdose when applying the blush.

Also, here’s a little trick— add a hint of blush to your eye crease. It pulls the whole look together.

Lip service

Try these fun new ideas for a no-fuss makeup look that’ll leave you looking like the life of the party.

Flushed cheeks When your eye makeup game is on point, you want to

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

apply and blend it in with your fingers or a beauty blender.

If your skin is combination or oily, a bright peach powder blush will pair well with the

make sure that the rest of your makeup is on the softer side. An orange-based blush will do the trick. If your skin type is dry, grab a cream blush. You can

Every year, fall beauty trends include deep crimson red and maroon lips. This year is no different, but muted pinks have also been incorporated in fall’s lipstick palette.

Let your lips do the talking and show off your personality.

If you have a bold persona, a red pout will perfectly complement your party look. If you’re a playful person, a rose-coloured lip will suit you perfectly. If a full-on opaque lip isn’t for you, a lip stain will work

as well. Navy blue is always a great option too if you want to indulge in your darker side.

Hair today, gone tomorrow All you need to complete your look is an un-done, nofuss hairstyle. Work with your natural hair texture and let your waves and curls run free.

If you prefer an updo, twist your hair into a low bun. Don’t worry about it looking perfect., allow wisps of hair to fall out and frame your face.

At the end of the day it’s a party, and no one ever leaves looking as perfect as they came in. But remember, the best look is confidence. No matter what style you’re rocking, go out and have a good time.

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NO MAN’S SKY • Video Game Review Could this be the game you were searching for?

Nicholas Robinson Fulcrum Contributor

If the dull corridors of Montpetit have your eyes glazing over or your syllabus has already got you daydreaming about adventure, then you probably need an escape into the world of video games.

But what game to play?

With such a large selection and varying genres, it can be overwhelming to decide what to play next. The best part of video games is arguably their variety, especially if you like trying new things and exploring niche genres In this case, No Man’s Sky might just be the escape you’re looking for.

Unlike a lot of recent blockbuster releases, this game prioritizes exploration over combat. This idea is hammered home from the very beginning, since you start out by standing next to your crashed ship on an

According to the game’s developer Hello Games, No Man’s Sky game contains over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets.

Photo: Hello Games.

unidentified planet. From there, you walk around using your mining laser to gather up the resources needed to fix the ship.

Once repaired, you can use your ship to hop from planet to planet, eventually gathering enough resources to build a hyperdrive and

contains over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets, and every single one of those planets can be explored. Each planet has its own unique environment, ranging from the extremely cold to the very radioactive.

Each new animal species

jump to new star systems.

Along the way, you will find the occasional alien with whom you can trade goods and knowledge. However, each alien species has its own language, which must be learnt word by word.

According to the developer Hello Games, the game

can be scanned and uploaded to the Atlas, a galactic database containing all the discoveries made by every player.

There are also space stations in every system along with some fleets of ships.

But watch out, because some of those ships are manned by pirates that will not hesitate to blow you out of the sky.

With that being said, the game isn’t for everyone.

You will spend most of your time chipping away at rocks, teleporting inventory from your exosuit to your ship, and hopping from little outstation to outstation.

You won’t be spending your time discovering huge cities or fighting epic wars.

However, what this game allows you to do is to explore an entire universe, and encourages you to boldly go where no one has gone before. That universe is the strongest point of

the game—it is endless and stunning, a fact that makes the game’s steep price of over $60 worth it, especially since the developers have promised free updates in the future.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a linear game and the developers didn’t design it with any specific goals in mind beyond the ones you make yourself—but that’s the beauty of it.

No Man’s Sky allows players to wander freely throughout the cosmos, walking paths no one has ever walked before, and manages to make it enjoyable despite the sometimes dry gameplay.

For those living on a student budget, we can only hope that Morisset’s media centre picks up No Man’s Sky in the not too distant future, rendering it more accessible to us earth dwellers.

Toronto-based comedy group hits U of O’s theatre scene

Sex T-Rex performs scripted play at Academic Hall for the first time in five years show, so there’s a fair space of time between them but there are a lot of parallels that run between the shows.”

Murray added that, for the purpose of this viewing, they added in some jokes to ensure that the backto-back shows ran smoothly.

The show kept the audience on their toes with the use of paper pixel art cut outs, jumping from the occasional literary reference, to the simple and outrageous humour at the prospect of having to eat a lemon.

Murray made it clear that they aren’t afraid of trying new things in their routines.

“We mine the genres as heavily as we can for all their tropes and cliches and things like that, so it’s an interesting study to see the shows and see how many of the points of reference you can pick up from the genres,” he said, adding that they sometimes flip genres on their heads as they have done with SwordPlay: A Play of Swords.

“It’s not a show of the boy getting the girl in the end necessarily.”

Some of the other genres they’ve experimented with include westerns, post apocalyptic, and science fiction—their next venture is to dabble in sports.

Both shows were funny, physical and not afraid to call themselves

brendon ly

fulcrum contributor With boundless energy and enthusiasm galore, the raucous theatre troupe of Sex T-Rex roared into the University of Ottawa’s Academic Hall on Aug. 25, bringing with them their two riotous shows, CALLAGHAN! and The Wings of the Butterfly and SwordPlay: A Play of Swords. This is their first visit to Ottawa since their improvised iteration of CALLAGHAN! at the Ottawa Fringe Festival five years ago.

The night began with the nowscripted CALLAGHAN!, an actionadventure live movie, with villains, exotic locales, high-stakes chases, and a hero with a tragic past, all portrayed deftly by a cast of five, who jumped between portraying henchmen to miming Mayan ruins, captivating the audience’s imagination and drawing them into the rush of the story.

Jack Callaghan, the protagonist, is the dashing archaeological adventurer, called in by his hale and hearty pal Sal to go to Guatemala and investigate the movements of the power-hungry villain, Dr. Von Handerstopp. Animated fight scenes rounded out the zany, cartoony comedy of the show, with the troupe not being afraid to employ slow motion for the use of comedy,

or drama, and sometimes both.

After a short break, the second half of the double bill, SwordPlay: A Play of Swords rolled into motion.

After a frame narrative reminiscent of The Princess Bride, portraying a kid with a cold being kept company by his grandfather, the audience was swept into the story of a 1990s video game.

The tale followed the fates of the

two knights Barnabas and Salvatore—or, as he prefers to be called, Santa—as they mourned their lost comrade, and swashbuckled their way to justice, in a bromance that might have just a hint of romance.

“These shows weren’t designed to be a double bill,” said Sean Murray, a cast member on set. “CALLAGHAN! is our first scripted show and then SwordPlay is our fourth scripted

thefulcrum.ca

Photo: John Gundy.

out.

Kaitlin Morrow, another cast member in the show met her fellow company members at Toronto’s George Brown Theatre School, and hopes to return to Ottawa in the future.

“It’s hard to do one show, and leave,” she said. “When we come back we’ll hopefully do it under a larger umbrella (like) a festival or something. I think there is an audience here, we’re just new to it.”

For current or aspiring theatre students, Morrow pointed out that “theatre can sometimes be really hard to access, and sometimes really dense or boring, and not all theatre is.”

“We feel like what we do is a good gateway to theatre,” she shared adding that with their shows “it’s usually a young, excited crowd, and what (they) do is riddled with pop culture references that are modern and ‘now’,” making them ideal for university students.

The Sex T-Rex World Tour, which will cover the eastern half of Canada, already offered shows in Montreal and Fredericton and will have its final stop in Halifax from Sept.

2 to 11 for the Atlantic Fringe Festival.

ARTS & CULTURE | 11

It’s lit in the library: Fangirl | Rainbow Rowell anchal sharma arts & culture editor

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

Despite what the title might suggest, you don’t have to be a fanfiction diehard to enjoy this book. The narrative follows the life of Cath and her twin sister Wren, and their misadventures upon entering university.

Cath is a shy, introverted writer with her head in the clouds.

An avid writer of fanfiction, she applies what she knows to her first-year classes only to be surprised by the disappointing outcome and the negative feedback she receives from her professors.

Although not a very intellectually stimulating read, this book is a great way to kick off the start of school with some fun, light themes that are surprisingly relatable. It’s a story about starting over, self discovery, and taking risks—­ideas that are all too familiar to any incoming freshman.

In classic Rainbow Rowell style, it’s a coming of age story set in school, a place where her characters are simultaneously comfortable and unfamiliar.

Delving into the unknown can be scary, but Rowell does a great job tying up loose ends, making this a feel-good story for all.

The 2013 young adult novel is just 433 pages, and every one comes with a surprising twist.

One of the best additions to the

book is that Cath’s actual fanfiction is interjected throughout the main narrative, which makes this fluffy read even more enjoyable on a meta level.

This book even propelled the release of the much anticipated Carry On, a full novelized version of the fanfiction that Cath was writing in Fangirl.

This book is for you if you’re tired of delving into fantasy worlds or memorizing philosophical discussions. It’s simple, it’s smart, and it’s fast—all the necessary elements you need to wind down before a long year filled with textbooks and study notes.

If you’re already years into university, Fangirl will be a trip down memory lane. From friendship to sisterhood, this book has it all for the incoming university student, mostly because it captures the essence of what it’s like to be a small fish in a big pond.

What to do when meal plan just doesn’t hit the spot?

Ottawa restaurants to experience before you graduate

this is the place to be.

The best part? It’s open 24/7. So whether you’re craving deep fried pickles, grilled cheese, or just need a walk into town, Zak’s is where it’s at.

But don’t forget to carry cash. If you don’t order a specific amount, they can be a little sketchy with their debit dealings.

anchal sharma arts & culture editor

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that food is awesome. But it’s hard not to get bored of the same old things that the university’s Food Services offers day after day. Luckily for you, Ottawa has a great variety of food choices right in the heart of campus and the surrounding areas. So whether you’re a froshie, or a seasoned Gee-Gee, check out these local favorites!

Café Alt Looking for some caffeine to help pump you up for your next class?

Look no further than Café Alternatif, University of Ottawa’s oncampus coffee hot spot.

Located in the basement of Simard, this studentrun café offers a gentle environment for studying, or the quick fix you crave to get you through that boring assignment.

12 | ARTS & CULTURE

Overall rating: 4 fries out of 5

Burgers n’ Fries Forever The exterior of Zak’s Diner, in the heart of the ByWard Market.

Caffeinated options aside, the food selection is great! Whether it be a dessert or a sandwich, you know you can count on quality, and with gluten free and vegan options it’s accessible to all.

That said, it’s not the ideal place for a real meal, and you might want to get there before the evening rush to make sure you get a table.

Photo: Angjelos Fero.

Zak’s Diner

out of 5

The appeal of this joint can be summed up in one word—milkshakes.

If you haven’t had a milkshake from Zak’s, you haven’t lived… at least not as a U of O student. This charming little diner in the centre of the ByWard Market is as quirky as its food is good. With servers that look like they could be named Zak, and a plethora of classic diner food,

Father and Sons Can you say “$5 breakfast?”

Undoubtedly the best place to cure a hangover, F&S will grow to be your best friend.

Don’t forget that it’s a pub by night, and a convenient 30-second walk away from campus!

Overall rating: 3 fries out of 5

Overall rating: 3 fries

An Ottawa specialty and just a short walk to Bank street, this place will make you believe in the words “meant to be”.

With vegan and glutenfree options, halal meat, and vegetarian gravy, it’s a restaurant that offers something to satisfy cravings of all kinds.

Don’t be fooled though, Burgers n’ Fries Forever doesn’t just sell burgers. They have hot dogs, poutine, salads, and of course milkshakes. The friendly vibe, and the fresh food is a great

reason to walk into this fun burger joint, but the cramped seating space inside can be a deterrent to stay.

Overall rating: 4 fries out of 5

Pub 101 The intro course to bar-hopping you didn’t know you needed. But don’t expect any fine cuisine. Pub food like wings, burgers, and nachos are the name of the game here. Still need convincing? Try the fact that the bar advertises “student pricing,” which everyone knows is code for cheap. Another ByWard Market favourite, this local pub boasts five dollar drinks and food everyday. Restaurant by day and pub by night, the vintage aesthetic can be appreciated at all hours. For the price, the food is good and the atmosphere is bumpin’.

Overall rating: 5 fries out of 5

thefulcrum.ca

the frosh

issue

101 week reflections On behalf of the Fulcrum, I would like to welcome you to your inaugural week at the University of Ottawa. I know that a lot of you will be too busy unpacking clothes and plugging in hotplates to read this, but we still thought we could put together a special Frosh Issue anyway, just for kicks. Thinking back, my Frosh week was a total blur of activities and meeting people, so much so that presenting it in a long form simply wouldn’t do it any justice. Instead, I’ve whittled my experience down to a couple quick guidelines that I think will help you make the most of your first week of experiencing real freedom.

• • • • • •

Treat your body like your temple. The “freshman 15” is real people, and eating fast food for every meal is not doing any favours for your physical or mental health. Plus, if you can find the time, showering is usually a good idea.

When it comes to attire, keep it simple. You’ll be moving through lots of activities on Frosh week, so versatility and comfort is key. My personal preference is sweatpants or leggings and a hoodie (the perfect mix of comfort and cuteness).

Breathe in, breathe out. It’s just school. Things will always be the worst at the moment, but, in the fast-paced world of first year university, things are never stagnant for long.

Don’t skip classes on the regular. I get it. Stuff comes up, sleep happens, but try to be there. At least for the first year, you need to go to your classes in order to gauge which ones you can skip in the future.

Seek out resources available to you. Don’t be afraid to seek out access services, tutors, professors, and teaching assistants as resources.

During first year, there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Be considerate of others. Since most of you will be shacking up with roommates, make sure you keep a couple key factors in check, whether it be loud music, your cleanliness, or the unconscious looks you give. Plus, it’s also a classy move to support your roommates during tough academic times, like sharing your class notes when someone’s laptop dies a week before exams (true story).

At the end of the day, while it may sound cheesy, the biggest thing you can accomplish during these first couple weeks is to be true to yourself! Don’t let anyone else define you or your experience during Frosh week.

That being said, come in with an open mind to things you have never considered before, since that’s

what university is for.

Good Luck,

—Alexa-Eliza Carter, Features Editor

Freshman movie playlist

Kyle Darbyson Managing Editor

To put it lightly, the first few weeks of post-secondary life can be a real gut-churning roller coaster ride. Being given an unprecedented range of freedom and responsibility can be simultaneously thrilling and terrifying, with many first-year students not knowing how to navigate between the two extremes. So, if you need a break between all the overwhelming mental gymnastics of first year university, feel free to check out any of the following freshman-centred films. They should provide some measure of calm and guidance during these trying times.

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016) On the surface, Richard Linklater’s latest film about the exploits of sexobsessed college freshmen is a shallow frat comedy and a simple retread of Dazed and Confused. And, in all honesty, it pretty much is. But when the soundtrack is this good and the chemistry between the cast is this infectious, who cares? Plus, Linklater’s unique brand of aimless storytelling really captures the whole freshman experience, where you live in the moment and it seems like life’s possibilities are endless.

Pitch Perfect (2012) During your first year of university, you should never be afraid to take part in some wacky club or activity that’s generally thought of as being “lame.” No movie illustrates that better than Pitch Perfect. Not only does Anna Kendrick’s cynical freshman make friends and discover her true passion through competitive a cappella singing, but, in the real world, the movie’s enormous success helped propel this obscure pastime into the mainstream. So, if you take anything away from this musical comedy, it should be the fact that what’s considered “cool” is really arbitrary—and petty labels like that shouldn’t stop you from indulging in the the activities you love.

The Paper Chase (1973) While it’s not strictly a freshman story, The Paper Chase highlights a very common obstacle that newbie university students have to overcome—maintaining your grades without going crazy. In his first year at Harvard, Timothy Bottoms’ law student becomes obsessed with passing his exams, something that really begins to whittle away at his love life and his sanity. It also doesn’t hurt that the embodiment of this academic doom is portrayed by John Houseman, who won an Oscar for playing the terrifying law professor who pushes Bottoms to his limit. For a modern comparison, think Whiplash, but with less physical abuse.

The Freshman (1925) It’s no secret that today’s youth generally look down on older movies, particularly if they’re black and white or silent. While Harold Lloyd’s 1925 comedy definitely fits that criteria, it’s still worth a look. Outside of being a blueprint for all the collegethemed films that would follow, The Freshman presents themes and ideas that are universal even to this day. Thanks to Lloyd’s expressive face and slapstick comedy stylings, his hapless protagonist really hammers home the idea that you can get through the first confusing year of post-secondary education with the right attitude and sense of humour.

Sexual health and safety 101: Frosh edition Don’t get me wrong, the first week of university is an exciting time and you should be taking advantage of every opportunity to let loose and indulge in your adventurous side—in between the sheets, and otherwise.

With that being said, now that you’re outside of the giant safety net that is your parents’ supervision, you should be taking a few extra precautions to make sure that your transition into the world of sex wherever, whenever, is a safe one.

Now, none of the points I’m about to bring up are anything new or groundbreaking, but the following tips are worth keeping in mind.

The golden rule of consent Sex can be an exciting, amazing experience—but never without consent from both parties.

The definition of consent is something you must know if you are sexually active or plan to take your first steps into the experience. Consent involves a variety of factors, and it’s important to be well-versed in all of them.

Consent means that both parties have made an enthusiastic, direct, voluntary, unimpaired, and conscious agreement to engage in sexual activities of any kind. Consent cannot be given if either party is impaired by any kind of drug. You cannot use your own intoxication as an excuse for carrying out actions of sexual violence—your “I was so drunk I can’t remember a thing” excuse might get you out of other unpleasant scenarios during 101 Week, but consent for sexual activities is NOT one of them.

You cannot assume the person has said yes because they haven’t said no. You cannot receive consent from a person who is asleep or impaired in any way. Consent can never, ever be given under threat from the requesting party, or if the person is in a position of authority over the person being asked.

Even if you’ve stripped down and teased each other for an hour, if your partner decides they don’t want to participate at ANY point, you must respect that their consent can be revoked at any given time during the activity.

You can find a more extensive definition of “consent” in the University of Ottawa’s new sexual assault policy.

“No” does not mean “I want to be convinced”. “No” does not mean “I’m playing hard to get”. “No” means nothing else but “no”, and the golden rule of all sexual relations is that you must always respect this.

Make safer sex a routine It’s probably not new information that you should use some form of birth control during any erotic encounters, but even though methods like the pill or an IUD can prevent an unwanted pregnancy, these commonly used contraceptives do not protect you against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

In this light, it’s important to always, always use a condom. Some people don’t disclose or just don’t know that they have an STI, so it’s essential that you put yourself first and use protection. But even these best-laid plans can fail if you don’t use a water-based lube with the condom, as oil-based lube can cause breakage.

If walking into a store and buying condoms over the counter isn’t your thing, go online at Sex It Smart and order free condoms—they literally deliver right to your door, and for those with allergies they also offer latex-free order options. You can also pick some up for free at the University of Ottawa’s Health Services.

Not all tests happen in the classroom After a raunchy week in your new residence, you find yourself itchy, bumpy, or just plain uncomfortable down below. What to do? First of all, try not to feel ashamed about it. The stigma around STIs and other genital infections is still strong on campus, but the reality is that the rates among university students have proven to be on the rise— you are NOT alone in your experience. Even if it feels shameful to do it, it’s important to go see a doctor if you have symptoms and get tested for STIs. Even if you don’t feel unusual, it’s worth noting that some STIs can lay dormant and cause no symptoms for a period of time, so it’s always a good idea to get checked out on the regular once you become sexually active.

Not sure where to go to discuss your concerns? Lucky for you, the University of Ottawa offers a walk-in clinic, as well as appointments with family doctors, so that you won’t have to go far to get tested. You can also get free and confidential STI testing done at the City of Ottawa’s Sexual Health Centre.

On-campus support If your 101 Week leaves you feeling uncertain, scared, or anxious about your sex life or sexuality, please seek support—our campus offers so much of it, right at your fingertips.

Student Academic Success Service’s free counselling and coaching service offers counsellors that will help guide you through any turbulence your transition to university may bring. The Women’s Resource Centre offers peer support and guidance from a feminist perspective, as well as free safer sex supplies. The Pride Centre offers drop-in services that provide members of the LGBTQ+ community with a safe space to share experiences with like-minded peers, as well as a service that provides training to those outside of the community on how to become a better ally.

how not to be the dormroom asshole

Roommates to avoid during your first year of university and beyond

Adriana Sgabellone & Alex Grichmanoff Fulcrum Contributors

Let’s just be real for a second, the probability that you’re going to be paired with a nightmare of a roommate at some point in your life is incredibly high. Some would say that it’s a near certainty, especially during your first year of university. So, in order to help you prepare for the inevitable, here are a couple “tales of woe” from Fulcrum contributors that should clue you in to the personalities that should be avoided at all costs. Also, make sure you cross reference this with your own behaviour, since I’m sure you don’t want to end up being a dorm room asshole yourself.

baby blues Club crazed One of my roommates was a die-hard club goer and the life of every party. She rubbed off on me a little, but I still needed my sleep every once in awhile. If I hadn’t been out with her in a week or two, she would get antsy. I would wake up to her in my room, curling my hair to get me ready to go out at 11:30 p.m. She would have an outfit picked out for me from my closet, my jewellery laid out, and a drink ready to go—all while I was in a deep slumber. I probably could have said no, but she had put so much work into it I felt bad.

In first year one of my roommates, let’s call her Jess, had been so babied growing up that she had no idea how to do the most basic things around the house. It was so bad, my other roommate and I actually had a shared document called “Stupid Shit Jess Says”.

She asked me why her dishes weren’t coming out of the washer clean—it turned out she wasn’t using soap. She asked me how long it would take to cook chicken at 125°—I said about a week. She didn’t understand why the blender wouldn’t work—she had put half a papaya into it.

It was like living with a toddler who was tall enough to reach the knives.

rampant rabbits

Craigslist crook A few years back, I was strapped for cash and needed to find a roommate to help supplement my rent costs. The problem was I had a one-bedroom apartment, and to find someone to rent the place and split a tiny apartment down the middle was hard to find. Through Facebook I was able to find someone desperately trying to find a new place so I took the opportunity.

Being young and naive, I let them move in without paying first month’s rent. After I returned from Christmas holidays, the apartment was trashed, with used dishes and garbage everywhere and a number of my possessions stolen. I also discovered he had been using my email on my tablet to solicit sex on Craigslist.

So Rob, if you’re reading this, you owe me $475 and a copy of Halo 4, but you can keep the Blackberry.

In first year, one of my roommates decided to get a pet rabbit. Pets aren’t allowed in residence, but I wasn’t going to complain because it was cute and I knew she didn’t have a lot of friends.

Then, she decided to get another rabbit. If you’ve ever had rabbits, you know they smell awful unless they’re well taken care of, which they weren’t.

In case that wasn’t bad enough, she let them treat our whole apartment as their personal litter box and never cleaned up after them.

My other roommate and I used to passive aggressively write about it on each other’s Facebook so that she would feel guilty and clean it up. It never worked.

red dye residue One of my roommates decided on a whim to dye her hair a bright, fire engine red. She dyed it herself, and when it was time to rinse it out she did so in our shower. Normally this would be fine, but she also shed a lot so the drain always clogged when she showered. I came home to a tub full of bright red water. It was like I was in an actual horror story. The tub stayed that colour for a week because she refused to clean it, and I showered at a friend’s house on principle.

Illustrations: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

five bar essentials for aspiring bartenders Will Fifield Fulcrum Contributor

hot or cold chinese food is always a favourite

last week's lunch a hangover cure or quick energy boost

leftover cold pizza is a great breakfast food

Illustrations: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

Alright folks, let’s get settled in for class. Today’s lecture isn’t a prerequisite, but it’s highly recommended for anyone who is looking to expand their skills behind the bar. When building your bartending skills it’s important to have the right tools for the job, so grab your notebooks and sharpen your pencils, the ultimate freshman guide to bar essentials is here. Here’s what you’ll need.

1) Bottle Opener: This one sounds basic but you can’t get the party started without one, so put it on the checklist.

2) Corkscrew: For those debonair students out there who want to impress their guests, avoid the ol’ shoe and knife trick and invest in a good corkscrew instead.

3) Glassware: This one’s key. Don’t mess around with plastic, invest in a couple of old fashion scotch glasses for you and your guests—and don’t forget wine glasses, red and white! Dollarama and Walmart are good places to find nice-looking glassware for solo cup prices.

4) Cocktail Shaker: Every good wannabe bartender has a cocktail shaker. Don’t get this confused with your protein shaker, even though it provides the same kind of result. This tool lets you show off your gains, especially when you shake, and shake hard. Trust me, it’s worth the effort and your arms will thank you.

5) Variety: Now the best thing you can do to build your bar skills is to have a good variety of spirits readily available to try out new recipes. I know this can be hard on a student budget, but I recommend replacing bottles at half empty instead of letting them run dry.

This will allow you to branch out quickly and replace your stock with different liquors to slowly build the collection.

Once your bar is set up, my last piece of advice is to experiment. Go wild, have fun, but always drink responsibly.

Byward marke Patty Boland’s This is a place known for its good food and a great selection of beer and other drinks. It’s a step up from some of the other bars closer to campus, while still being able to maintain a relaxed atmosphere with live music. Plus, it’s also located on the nightlife hub of Clarence Street, which means that you can easily head somewhere else if you feel like going on a bar hopping expedition.

—David Campion-Smith, Fulcrum Contributor

Barefax Now, I’m not saying that Barefax is a bad strip club. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But after taking a trip to see what the clubs offer in Gatineau, in terms of the production values and the quality of the dancers, it’s really hard for me to go back. Plus, if you’re a freshman, you should probably stay away from these kinds of places in general—seasoned dancers can easily sniff out a rookie and drain them of all their cash… not that I would know anything about that personally.

— Kyle Darbyson, Managing Editor

et bar reviews atari If you’re looking for a bar in ByWard with an upscale feel, sans the pretentious patrons or wait staff, then look no further than Atari. This video game-themed venue offers an incredible rooftop patio that lets you savour the last nights of summer, and an equally fun and trendy indoor setting for when the winter weather blows in. While you’ll easily find the classic drink options, take a walk on the wild side with the Atari sangria, featuring sake, ginger, and cucumber, or the sweetheart—a fun twist on the classic Carrie Bradshaw-style cosmo.

—Savannah Awde, Editor-in-Chief

Tequila Jacks Tequila Jacks (TJs) is one of those bars that you frequent in first year and try to forget you ever went to during the rest of your time at the U of O. Between the mostly underage/barely legal clubgoers, the long lines for drinks that cause your buzz to completely wear off, and the ridiculous size of the bar itself that makes it incredibly easy to lose all of your friends, TJs is definitely on my “skip it” list for ByWard Market bars.

—Allegra Morgado, Social Media Coordinator

The Heart and Crown Even though The Heart and Crown pub is located deep in the bar-heavy ByWard Market, it still stands out from the rest of the crowd. It’s also huge, which is awe-inspiring for those of you who are only used to little hole-in-the-wall joints.

There is a bar at the front with seating that has live music, a bar in the middle that has booths and more seating, and then there’s a bar at the very back with a huge dance floor and a patio out back. It’s really a sight that needs to be seen to be believed.

—Alexa-Eliza Carter, Features Editor

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Murdock sports@thefulcrum.ca

@SpencerMurdock @FulcrumSports

Women’s soccer impresses with season opening wins

Road win vs. UOIT, thrashing of Trent at home proves team is ready for anything spencer murdock Sports editor

A

lthough the Gee-Gees women’s soccer team may look a little different this year, their first two games of the season have proven that it’s business as usual at Matt Anthony Field in 2016.

The team’s regular season kicked off in Oshawa on Aug. 26, with an impressive 3-1 win over the experienced and tested University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) Ridgebacks.

In the 63rd minute, fourthyear midfielder Faythe Lou scored to open the season.

Four minutes later, the Surrey, B.C. native found the net again to put the Gees up 2-0.

UOIT attempted a comeback with a goal in the 75th minute, but it was thwarted when fifth-year graduate transfer Breanna Burton fired home her first goal in garnet

and grey after a long career in the Queen’s tricolours.

The 3-1 win got the Gees’ season off on the right foot ahead of their home opener against Trent on Sunday.

A win is never easy to come by in Oshawa, especially as the team had an extended training camp and traveled to Sweden together this summer.

“They’re a team I almost consider to be in midseason form,” said head coach Steve Johnson about the Ridgebacks.

“Our performance against UOIT was a team win because we were good defensively. We took some cues from what we saw in the first half and used that to make ourselves better and more dangerous.”

It’s clear that the adjustments the team made in the second half also carried over to their tilt against Trent two days later.

At home on Matt Anthony Field for the first time this year, the Gee-Gees went to work systematically disman-

Gee-Gees strikers celebrate a goal in their blowout of Trent.

tling the Excalibur for a 9-0 blowout win.

Fifth-year striker Victoria Marchand was sensational in the match, scoring twice and narrowly missing on a handful of opportunities.

Fourth-year midfielder Vanessa El-Asma joined Marchand with a two-goal

performance of her own.

The game got out of hand quickly for the Excalibur, who registered only two shots on goal in the 90-minute match.

Trent was coming off a close 2-1 loss to Carleton earlier in the weekend, which showed vast improvement from their 0-15 season last year.

Photo: Kim Wiens.

A blowout is sometimes not a good litmus for how well a team is progressing, because it oftentimes says more about the loser’s team. In this case, the Gee-Gees can take away positives in their stellar defence and ball movement that led to nine goals by seven players.

“(The win) was a product of good setup, good playmaking, and awareness on the field,” said Johnson, the 22-year head coach of the Gees.

Without graduated star scorers Pilar Khoury and Julia Francki, the team has still found a way to score at a high volume.

“Our gameplan has changed a little bit based on the people we lost,” said third-year striker Delaney Rickert-Hall, who scored once and collected an assist in the win.

“We’re trying to play with a little more communication on the field and get away from more long balls we had last year. I think we’re definitely coming along, two games in and two wins, you can’t really ask for anything else.”

The team will now gear up for a big early-season clash with rival Carleton Ravens on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Matt Anthony Field. The game will get underway at 1 p.m.

Gee-Gees women’s rugby to remain a dominant force Bronze won’t cut it this year for U of O’s national powerhouse Enrico Baliello & Spencer Murdock

fulcrum contributor & sports Editor Coming into their 2016 campaign, the Gee-Gees women’s rugby team is prepared to build upon their stellar season last year and make another run at a national title.

Last season, the Gee-Gees women’s rugby team kicked off their year with a glorious 87-0 win over Sherbrooke and never slowed down.

Throughout the year, as the team posted a perfect 7-0 regular season record, they earned a first-place ranking in the national Top 10, never slipping below second after their first week of competition.

Their stellar regular season was capped off with a thrilling 25-17 victory over Con-

Women’s rugby players during training camp ahead of the new season.

Photo: Enrico Baliello.

cordia in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) championship game on Oct. 31. The team was able to capture back-to-back RSEQ titles

at home on Matt Anthony Field before setting their sights on Kingston, where they chased a national title at Queen’s University.

At the National Championships, the effort of stars Irene Patrinos, Simone Savary, and Erin Van Gulik shone as the team captured their first ever national bronze medal, capping off the best year in the team’s history.

Over the summer, after being named Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Coach of the Year, head coach Jennifer Boyd set her sights on national rugby competition.

In early July she coached Canada to a second-place finish at the World University Championships in Wales and brought along three of her Gee-Gees players, centres Samantha Alli and Dria Bennett, and fullback Irene Patrinos.

More recently, Boyd headed the Canadian U20 national team on a tour to England in

late August, bringing along two more Gees in flanker Emily Babcock and lock Alex Ellis.

Ahead of the team’s home opener against Université de Montréal on Sept. 3, the team is hard at work in training camp, preparing for a conference title defence and possibly another crack at a national championship.

The Gee-Gees have proven to handle their RSEQ opponents with ease over the past handful of years, and along with a favourable schedule—­ including only two trips to Montreal and one to Sherbrooke—the Gees are the unequivocal favourites to threepeat as Quebec champs.

One of the team’s veteran leaders, and 2015 CIS secondteam All-Canadian, Simone Savary has the utmost confi-

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dence coming into the season.

“We can expect a great season, we are two-time RSEQ Champions, and undefeated for two seasons. We are going to repeat that again,” said the fifth-year prop. “We have some new people coming in with high energy, high pace.

We want to keep playing fast rugby and go nationals again this year.”

With their extremely attainable goals set in place, the team seems prepared to face whatever this season might throw at them. If they can only win one more game this year, the U of O can have something they haven’t in a long time—the national champion title.

Sports | 21

Life inside training camp: Gee-Gees football

Ahead of a make-or-break season, the team has high hopes for 2016 dylan yegendorf staff contributor

Strapped up in an average of 20 lbs worth of equipment, the Gee-Gees football team takes to the field at Lees Campus in the beating sun to evaluate and condition for their upcoming year.

After an intense twoweek period starting Aug. 14, consisting of two-a-day practices, along with multiple team meetings per day, Gee-Gees training camp has proven to be a very gruelling task for both the players and coaches.

The already difficult camp has been extended by a week for the past two years.

Due to a bye in the first week of the season, getting a later debut means more time for work—and the team makes the most of it.

“As a player, training camp can be both physically and mentally demanding,” said four-year veteran defensive lineman Sam Randazzo, who understands the grind well. “Halfway through camp, you definitely start to feel tired and fatigued.”

With the Gee-Gees football team in the thick of their training camp, all attention is now shifting to their highly anticipated 2016 season.

Last year’s 3-5 record alone does not tell the whole story of the team’s season.

Not only did they fall just short of a playoff spot due

to a tie-breaking procedure in the standings, but they experienced a record breaking season from a statistical standpoint.

Gee-Gees quarterback Derek Wendel broke the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) passing record with 3,136 yards in the season, many of which were thrown to wide receiver Ian Stewart, who became the first Gee-Gee to ever reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Such an impressive offensive campaign without a playoff appearance to show for it makes the 2015 season a disappointment to say the least.

The 2015 season also illuminates the team’s upside potential this year, which makes this summer’s training camp all the more momentous.

Adding to its importance, this camp will give a new fleet of coaches hired for the 2016 season their first real

Unsurprisingly, the offence as a unit was a juggernaut, producing over 36 points a game. Despite the loss of Stewart to graduation, the offence looks primed and ready to go for the new season.

Defensively, the Gee-Gees were nothing short of atrocious. For a team that was so dominant on offence, the defence was an issue all year, with the Garnet and Grey giving up 41.7 points and 505 yards per game on average.

The Gee-Gees offence is primed to excel again this season.

22 | SPORTS

Photos: Marta Kierkus.

opportunity to work with the players in action.

The Gee-Gees made several key additions to their coaching staff this offseason, hiring new special teams, offensive line, recruiting, and defensive coordinators.

Most notable of the hirings is defensive coordinator Jean-Vincent Posy-Audette, who formerly worked on the Montreal Alouettes staff.

Randazzo also notes the competitiveness that comes with such an intense camp, especially since no starting job is safe when a team is facing a make-or-break year.

“You have to constantly remind yourself that this is a highly competitive environment, and that all the players on the team have the potential to play.”

As demanding and competitive as it may be, the long haul of training camp can definitely bring teammates together. Recently, the team has injected some fun and special guests into camp to ease the pressure.

Last week, players took to the pools at Montpetit for a cool down and diving competition. On Aug. 28, the team welcomed Wally Buo-

no, the head coach and general manager of the BC Lions to speak to the team as they prepare for their next step.

“You really learn to rely on your teammates. They become a support system and almost a second family,” said Randazzo.

With a revamped coaching staff, an explosive offence, and an offseason of heavy recruitment, the GeeGees are finally putting it all together in their final days of training camp. Will they build off of last year’s recordbreaking season and take the next step into the playoffs this time around?

Randazzo thinks so, and is confident in his team’s chances.

“We have the potential to be a very dominant team.”

The Gee-Gees’ 2016 campaign kicks off on Sept. 5 on the road in Waterloo facing the 0-1 Warriors. The game will be live streamed on OUA.tv starting at 1 p.m.

On Sept. 10, the team will host McMaster for their home opener at Gee-Gees Field. Tickets available at tickets.geegees. ca.

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Walk-on woes

Varsity open tryouts are slipping in effectiveness, so why are they still around? spencer murdock sports editor

Not so long ago in collegiate athletics, the bulk of players joining a team would be found via open tryouts.

These days, recruiting and year-to-year preparation has become much more common across all sports, particularly with the expansion of highlight reels from prospective athletes available on the Internet.

At the University of Ottawa, varsity tryouts—where any student can show up in the hopes of making the final roster—are in large part declining in popularity and effectiveness.

For sports like football and men’s basketball, which are the most heavily recuit-based teams at the U of O, a player making the team from open tryouts seems far fetched.

This is also the case in women’s basketball, where the team has expanded their recruiting reach across the nation, rendering open tryouts essentially useless.

Regardless of this, open tryouts for women’s basketball will take place on Sept. 7, and for head coach Andy Sparks the logic be-

hind them has become weak.

“You’re finding now, in a lot of cases, having an open tryout doesn’t really make sense,” said Sparks, as he noted that the emphasis has focused on recruiting from junior leagues that attract top high school athletes.

“Most players have been funneled out into the junior elite leagues. If the girls aren’t recruited from there, they know they’re probably not going to make it at that point.”

In women’s soccer, the team didn’t keep any players from open tryouts this season. However, according to women’s soccer head coach Steve Johnson, they can still hold some value for a top team.

“Sometimes open tryouts for us are an opportunity to see a player that we haven’t had a chance to scout,” said Johnson. “We’ve had players come in from open tryouts who’ve made the team and been captains.”

Johnson cited Noél Trepanier, a walk-on from early in his career as head coach, as an example of an open tryout success story. Not only did Trepanier become a two-time All-Canadian

and helped lead the Gee-Gees to a national championship in 1996, but she later went on to play for the Canadian national team.

Unfortunately, not all stories end like Trepanier’s did. Most times, the players attending open tryouts are just simply not prepared for the level of competition that varsity athletics demands.

“As the program goes up in stature, there are very few spots coming into the year,” said Sparks. “If they haven’t been playing for 10 years at least, then they probably haven’t put enough of the time in to play at this level.”

There’s a harsh reality to face for nearly everyone who grows up playing a sport they love. Not everyone is good enough to play at a high level, and for some, it takes being turned away from an open tryout to realize it.

Regardless, open tryouts will continue to exist for the foreseeable future, but whether Sports Services decides to cut them out for certain teams still remains to be seen.

Health-conscious drinking guide

Illustration: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

These alcoholic beverages do the job without ruining your waistline new types of calorie-wise beers like Molson Canadian 67 that might be worth a shot.

A surprise beer for the health conscious is good old Guinness. The pride of Ireland is only 125 calories per pint and a lower alcohol percentage, which means less carbs overall.

spencer murdock sports editor

Whether you’ve done it before, or are experiencing it for the first time, back-toschool at university means you’ll probably be in many more social drinking situations than you’re used to.

We all know that drinking alcohol probably isn’t the healthiest choice we can make, but hey, it happens.

One thing you can control is what and how much you drink. This can help significantly when it comes keeping a balanced diet. After all, they call it a ‘beer belly’ for a reason, so it’s best to prepare yourself with some healthier options in order to keep yourself in better shape this semester.

Beer Beer is probably the big-

Liquor

Drinking doesn’t have to ruin your diet.

gest culprit in busting your diet at the bar, since a lot of brews are chocked full of carbs and sugars.

Luckily, there are plenty of ‘light’ beers out there that aren’t quite as bad for you.

Now, I’m not saying you

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

have to drink Coors Light or Carling, but there are a few classier options like the classic Michelob Ultra and a few

This may sound harsh, but when it comes to liquor, the best solution for the health-conscious party-goer is simply to drink it straight.

The biggest downfall with liquor-based drinks comes when they are mixed with sodas like Coke or Mountain Dew that are high in sugar and carbs.

If drinking hard liquor straight is a little too intense, some options that you can explore include drinking

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different cocktails that are a simpler and lighter mix like vodka sodas, mojitos, or gin and tonics.

Wine Wine is full of sugar— that’s just the plain and simple truth.

Slamming back sangrias all summer probably wasn’t the healthiest choice, and no, the fruit that comes with it doesn’t count.

You could pick up a bottle of Skinny Girl, but in reality, it’s only roughly 10 calories less than a bottle of regular white wine.

When it comes to vino, the best option you have is to keep yourself in check. No need to chug two bottles at a time, just keep it standard and at a normal volume.

You’ll thank yourself later.

Sports | 23

OPINIONS Read the SFUO budget, it’s important OPINIONS EDITOR Eric Davidson

opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @eric_davidson93

The onus is on students to hold student government accountable eric davidson opinions editor

Amid all the excitement— or possibly dread—of back to school preparation, something very important may be lost on University of Ottawa students: The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) has released its 2016-17 budget.

While budgets aren’t sexy— although they can contain some nice figures—they’re important. And if we want our student federation to clean up its financial practices and continue to be democratic, awareness of the annual budget is vital.

The recent SFUO cash flow crisis was partly brought on because no one was asking questions about where the money was going. In last year’s final Board of Administration (BOA) meeting, a member complained that the board didn’t have enough time to really study the budget and notice discrep-

ancies. Now, with the online release of the budget, both the board and the student body can refer to it whenever they want.

If you’re a student wondering about the SFUO’s transparency, given accusations at the last BOA meeting, reading this budget is an important way to get some insight into how the student executive works. And if you’re a student who wants to understand the SFUO’s financial practices, then here’s your chance to identify and ask questions about any issues.

“But wait,” I hear you say, “I’m a busy student! I have readings, essays, and six seasons of Game of Thrones to deal with.

Where do I find the time?”

Well, you better make time.

Just remember, if you’re a full-time student, you pay the SFUO nearly $200 a year to run itself, and then give them an additional $600 to manage your health plan and U-Pass.

Not only that, the SFUO plays

The SFUO is managing over $18 million in funds, according to the 2016-17 budget.

a big part in what clubs and services are offered to you as a student, so you might want to understand how they’re using your money.

If nothing else, reading the budget will give you a sense of the scope of the SFUO finances.

They may be a student federation, but they are dealing with very significant sums of money.

The budget says they will spend

over $18 million this year—that alone should motivate you to take a look at the books.

Another issue is that many students don’t have a business background, and may fear they won’t understand the budget.

Luckily, this year’s budget is a relatively short PowerPoint— only 34 slides. Each page features clearly marked sections on how much money comes

Photo: Enrico Baliello.

in, how much goes out, and whether the SFUO will be out of pocket or not.

And if the budget does leave you with questions, that’s a good thing. Go seek out the SFUO executive or your BOA representative and ask those questions, and the BOA can bring motions to fix any problems.

If you want to bring those

questions up personally, you can do so at the SFUO’s next General Assembly. You can use the budget to create a more informed motion, or you can ask the executives about any issues during question period of the BOA meetings, which are open to the public.

If you don’t fully trust the budget, you have other options as well. In addition to bringing up any issues with an SFUO executive or BOA members, you can read one of the many independent auditor’s reports posted alongside the budget.

Making the budget public at the start of the year is an important step for the SFUO to make sure its finances are under control. But it means nothing if students don’t read that budget and ask questions.

There are many options available for students to voice concerns about SFUO finances, but the first step is to actually sit down and read the budget.

Government regulation a major culprit in EpiPen markups

Difficult regulation, lack of real competition contributing factors in EpiPen case nicholas robinson

staff contributor

Earlier this year, Mylan, a Dutch pharmaceutical company, raised the price of the EpiPen to over $600 for a two-piece set—a massive increase from the $100 cost in 2008.

This price hike has outraged many, a reaction made stronger by the fact that similar products in different countries sell for much less and that the product is life-saving—meaning it isn’t really optional. While big companies like Mylan and “Pharma-bro” Martin Shkreli are easy targets for blame, the regulation of the pharmaceutical industry is the real culprit.

For those who don’t know, the EpiPen is an adrenaline auto-injector used as an emergency treatment for anaphylaxis, a type of acute allergic reaction. The EpiPen is the dominant brand of these auto injectors in the US, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the market share.

Mylan acquired the brand in 2007,

Mylan has dramatically increased the price of EpiPens, igniting backlash.

and proceeded to launch a massive marketing campaign along with an impressive public health awareness campaign on the risks of severe allergies.

As part of that campaign, Mylan

Photo: CC, Vu Nguyen.

successfully lobbied the federal government to make EpiPens available in public spaces, as it does with defibrillators. Along the way, the American government also changed federal guidelines to recommend

that EpiPens be sold in packs of two instead of just one and also allowed the product to be prescribed for atrisk patients, not just those with confirmed allergies.

Then, in 2013, the American government passed legislation encouraging schools to have a supply of EpiPens, and Canada adopted such a law as well.

The lack of competition has been a major factor in the price hike. Recently, rival company Sanofi’s autoinjector was pulled from the market over concerns that it might sometimes deliver inaccurate doses.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. had hoped to offer a generic autoinjector, but the FDA rejected the application. The difficulty of bringing a medical product to market isn’t just limited to adrenaline auto-injectors— it usually costs hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a pharmaceutical and takes about a decade.

The problems extend beyond the FDA to insurance companies. Many

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American insurance companies don’t list any of Mylan’s competitors on their health insurance plans.

Combined with the fact that most people, including doctors, think of the EpiPen first and foremost when it comes to auto-injectors, most patients can only afford to buy EpiPen. What is needed is a widespread review and overhaul of the drug approval process. There are currently too many barriers to developing a new drug and being able to sell it.

The US needs a simpler but more efficient approval process for drugs.

As well, governments should not be effectively granting companies monopolies by legislating specific brands for use in public places.

In the end, this controversy has come about because of an overabundance of bad regulation and a broken American healthcare system.

They aren’t easy problems to fix, and without reactionary change we can expect to see similar headlines in future.

OPINIONS | 25

SFUO, students must work together to improve participation

Tools like General Assemblies can harness participation into results for students justin patrick

fulcrum Contributor At the most recent Board of Administration (BOA) meeting, SFUO executives announced that they were already starting to work with a committee to prepare for the next General Assembly.

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)’s relationship with the student body has been, to put it lightly, tested in recent years. But to really make life better for students, the two sides need to work together.

In this light, events like General Assemblies (GAs) are the perfect way to do it, since they allow students to share perspectives and vote on resolutions.

Of course, the SFUO has had trouble meeting quorum at these events in the past, which has resulted in students pointing fingers at the student executive for a poor promotion campaign. In turn, student representatives blame the

After the first GA at the U of O narrowly missed quorum, participation rates have been steadily dropping.

students for apathetic behaviour.

This recurring conflict arises because neither side is able to see the full picture—the real culprit is not the “apathetic” students or the “incompetent” SFUO, but rather the Canadian government and university administration.

Starting in the late 1960s, federal and provin-

cial governments began to withdraw their education funding, forcing tuition fees to increase. To compensate, universities became more corporatized, with administrators looking out for profits as opposed to the needs of students.

In most of Canada, student engagement levels have dropped—they fell

to 7.82 per cent at the U of O’s most recent SFUO election—and tuition hikes have become a commonly accepted norm. On March 13, 1980, over 500 U of O students went to a GA to protest a tuition increase.

Fast forward to the present, and the past four GAs have failed to meet quorum.

If change is to take place

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

on campus, the SFUO cannot do it alone—it has to be in collaboration between federated bodies, clubs, and all facets of our campus, including students at large.

It’s also wrong for student representatives to blame students for not making quorum at GAs, since student culture has been so damaged in the

past half-century that “laissez-faire student engagement,” the idea that students will organize themselves when the need arises, cannot be depended upon to bring turnout.

Instead, a new approach has to be used, with the SFUO placing considerable effort into engaging students and jumpstarting an injured student culture back from life support.

Such a new approach would involve campuswide promotion including social media, on-campus posters, and video content that not only inspires students to participate in GAs, but in campus politics as a whole.

It would be a battle continually fought to create a culture of participation, and restore the belief that students should get involved to help their present and future compatriots receive a better quality education.

Justin Patrick is participating in the SFUO’s current GA committee as a student.

Post-secondary is the time to encourage thinking outside of the box

Faculties must teach students to seek experience beyond their major eric davidson opinions Editor

It’s back to school time once again, but many people may still be unsure about what classes they should be taking.

Whether they’re just starting out or changing their major, all students will be looking carefully at where that major is likely to get them in five years, 10 years, and beyond.

A recent study from the University of Ottawa brings good news for traditionally harassed arts majors, finding that students from all disciplines can make a good wage after graduation.

And that has major implications, effectively proving that universities and society at large should be encouraging students to choose the majors that really interest them—not what they think will net them the biggest paycheck.

But knowing that you can make money is only one factor

26 | OPINIONS

in choosing a major. Another thing students must be taught is that all academic disciplines can lead to successful careers across many disciplines—that they aren’t forever trapped in their degree’s “traditional” career path.

A list from the physics honor society provides examples of physics majors who took surprising career paths—including patent lawyer, philosopher, and “imagineer”. A similar list from Portland University reveals that art history majors found similarly diverse careers, including one finance coordinator at a science museum.

Luckily, there are plenty of steps that universities can take to help students realize that their potential may lie across multiple fields. For example, they can organize events that encourage students from different disciplines to work together on

unorthodox problems.

Of course, there are groups on campus doing this already.

A science lab operated by U of O professor Andrew Pelling, which has garnered media attention for its work growing a human ear in an apple, includes “artists in residence” on its staff, as well as an anthropologist.

The social entrepreneurship club Enactus uOttawa has a program where it sticks two business students and two engineers in a room and gets them to combine their two very different sets of expertise to solve a single problem.

And this is exactly the right idea—taking several forms of knowledge and throwing them together to find innovation at the point of intersection.

Universities can continue to foster this kind of environment by continuing to pro-

mote events and groups centered on exposing students to the knowledge cultivated in disciplines outside their area of study.

Don’t think this will carry any weight after graduation?

Take a look at Shopify, the Ottawa-based tech giant that flaunts go karts in its main offices. Most of their job openings are for coding, but not all of them. Finance intern, German translator, and “Wearer of many hats” are also listed in their careers section.

As technology advances and the world becomes more integrated, companies and organizations will become less insular, and will require a greater diversity of creative talent—U of O students will only build stronger careers by fueling their curiosity and looking beyond their textbook.

Illustration: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

thefulcrum.ca

SFUO looking to fill odd jobs

Federation seeking private Uber drivers, social media master, and more ellen galupo& eric davidson Staff contributor opinions Editor

Great news for students looking for a steady source of income this semester! After narrowly avoiding bankruptcy this past year, the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) announced that it will finally resume hiring.

While traditional positions are still available, the SFUO is trying to revive its image and ensure a successful year for the federation by offering new and exciting employment opportunities.

The SFUO is looking to fill the following positions immediately:

S ecretary — m u s t be fluent in a language.

Not necessarily French or English. Any language will do. In fact, the secretary is encouraged to write in his/her own made up languages, and poor communication is considered an asset. The secretary must publish meeting minutes as soon as possible, and no later than two years after the meeting.

Fireworks coordinator—This person will be responsible for managing the SFUO’s fireworks fiasco. No experience with or plans to use fireworks is necessary.

Private Uber dr i v e r s — Fol low i n g

After a summer of layoffs, the SFUO is hiring once again. Photo: CC, Mike Birdy. Edits: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

the discontinuation of the executives’ private jet, and to avoid hefty taxi charges, the SFUO is now looking for private Uber drivers. The federation is currently accepting drivers who have the following brand(s) of car: Lamborghini, Mustang, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus.

Student bouncers —With over 175 SFUO-approved student clubs on campus, incoming freshmen may get extremely overwhelmed signing up for various clubs and neglecting their studies. Applicants must be able to hold back throngs of excited stu-

dents who want to sign up for underfunded activities.

of job security.

Social media master—Must be able to keep up with a strict Twitter posting schedule of once per semester.

high alcohol tolerance.

This is to ensure that our student-funded beverages at 1848 are up to the highest standards.

General Assembly (GA) Planner—

Pokémon GO tour guide —Applicants must

Must organize and plan a GA no later than 24 hours before the event is set to begin.

have excellent navigation skills, and must know all the campus buildings’ three-letter abbreviations. He or she must be able to identify the fastest way to hit all the nearby PokéStops.

The SFUO only wants the very best, the best there ever was.

Foot masseuse/ masseur for foot patrollers —Foot patrollers have to do a lot of footwork. The masseuse/ masseur will help members of this service to get back on their feet, and ease the tension of SFUO spending cuts and a lack

1848 beverage taster—Must have a

Student Clubs Treasurer—Oh wait, nevermind.

Brazen Rabaska update to include emojis and more

Students raving about awesome new features to course signup service eric davidson opinions Editor Recently, the University of Ottawa informed students that the way they access their online information is changing.

Now, the university has unveiled some radical updates to its course registration system, Rabaska.

“We were scared to change any aspect of Rabaska, because we know that students loved everything about the classic version and never experienced any problems,” said Tim Thomson, a U of O spokesperson.

Thomson explains that the first change is in how students will log on to the service.

“We’ve completely overhauled the password sys-

After changing up uoZone logins, the U of O decided to go several steps further.

Photo: CC, DimaLeon2000. Edits: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

tem to get rid of classic problems like forgetting your password,” he said.

“We’re proud to announce that from now on, passwords will be made from students’ favorite emojis— they won’t forget that!”

Thomson then noted that after complaints from concerned parents, the

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eggplant emoji has been removed as an option.

In an effort to follow current technological trends, Rabaska will now use artificial intelligence to help students select their courses.

“I love how it registers for courses by itself,” said Leslie Davis, a business

student at the U of O. “And when it encounters a problem, it sends an angry, expletive-filled letter to the school without me even needing to ask!”

However, these updates have lead to some hiccups.

There have been early reports of the system going rogue and switching people’s majors from biochemistry to witchcraft without telling them, and causing other general mischief.

“It is not your problem anymore, puny human,” reads an email response from “the university”.

In a Google maps-like update, if you smash your laptop on the ground in frustration, a little window will pop up asking if you are experiencing any

difficulties with the service.

“It’s like magic. How does it know I’m upset?” said Davis.

“We really broke the budget trying to make Rabaska as awesome as possible,” said Thomson.

“Sure, we’ll have to abandon all those construction projects around campus, but trust me, it’s worth it!”

Thomson says that Rabaska will now alert you when there is an open space in a desired course by hijacking your laptop and blaring annoying club music from your speakers, including “#Selfie” by The Chainsmokers.

The new Rabaska has also changed how it makes schedules. From now on, all 8:30 a.m. classes will

be hidden from view. “We know they’re not going to come to those early classes anyway, so what’s the point really?” said Thomson.

A Siri-like feature is also in the works for Rabaska, where students can get the wrong information about their courses just by speaking into their phones.

“Sure, Apple thought of it first, but they weren’t as creative in the implementation as we were,” said Thomson.

When asked if the new system will make it easier for students to register for the right courses and avoid constant software glitches, Thomson said “Oh, we didn’t even think of that!”

THE TOMATo | 27

DISTRACTIONS Dear Di

FEATURES EDITOR Alexa-Eliza Carter

features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @aecart043

Dear Di,

Dear Di, When I jerk off I only have two settings—hard and fast. I try to use the same method on my girlfriend’s happy place, but she keeps saying I’m working it too aggressively. So how do I get her off with my hands?

My boyfriend is 20 years old and he started using Viagra for a longer erection. But it’s not like he can’t get it up, he’s just doing it for fun. Is this safe? I mean, I don’t have any complaints, but will this be a problem in the long-run?

-Handy man

-Au naturel

Dear AN,

Dear HM, The treasure map to your partner’s clitoris should always be ventured in a calm, gentle, light touching manner. She does not want rough hands or sharp nails in the most sensitive part of her body.

Usually one or two fingers works best. Using delicate motions will also ensure she can trust your fingers down there without fear of physical pain, which could leave her both mentally and physically turned off. Adding a dab of lube can be a big help in getting your fingers into a good rhythm.

You should also make sure you’re in a physical position where you have maximum mobility with your fingers. If you are not getting any verbal assistance from her, be sure to ask her to tell you what her favourite position is, or ask her to physically guide your hand.

If you’re feeling frustrated, remember to be patient. After all, you get the privilege of exploring her happy place and being the reason behind her sexual pleasure. That’s worth a little cramping in the end.

Love, Di

Well, if unchecked, this could turn into a big problem. Pun intended.

At the end of the day, Viagra is a pharmaceutical, and just like any other drug on the market there is the risk of addiction. In this case, if your man starts popping pills on the regular, he might run the risk of getting his erections without really working for them.

This means that not only will he get used to an instant hard-on, but now there’s an expectation that is being created in his mind. Psychologically speaking, this means that a dependence on medication can occur every time he wants to get off.

In other words, it could makes him lazy or even incapable of developing these feelings and the thrill of sexual excitement naturally.

If you want to steer your man clear of the little blue pills, try and give him more incentive to pursue that kind of sexual excitement naturally.

Figure out what really turns him on and then turn it up to 11. You should also reassure him that you have no complaints about his natural hard-on.

Hopefully, your man will pour those enhancements down the drain, leaving the pill popping to the geriatrics of the world.

Love, Di

To get all your sexy and saucy questions answered, email Di at deardi@thefulcrum.ca ;) 28 | DISTRACTIONS

thefulcrum.ca

Sept. 1–8 2016

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC arts Sports FUN

May not be exactly as shown. New fashions weekly. cochranephoto.com

Thinking

Thursday, Sept. 1 Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, opening day, La Baie Park—2 p.m.

Up for Love (Jean Dujardin film), Mayfair Theatre—4 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

Friday Freak-Out Jam with The Frank James Experiment, Rainbow Bistro—4 p.m.

Ottawa Fury FC vs.

Edmonton FC, TD Place—7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Gee-Gees women’s soccer vs. Carleton, Matt Anthony Field—1 p.m.

Gee-Gees women’s rugby vs. Université de Montréal, Matt Anthony Field—4 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 4

Ottawa Farmers’ Market, Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne Park—9 a.m.

U of O President’s Welcome (meet and

greet with Jacques Frémont), University Square, Faculty of Social Sciences Building—9 a.m.

Art Mix featuring Kathryn Bossy, Sharon Collins, Erika Farkas, and Alena Liapko, last day for exhibit, Foyer Gallery in the Nepean Sportsplex—10 a.m.

Blue-Group Show (art exhibit featuring the colour blue), final day of exhibit, Cube Gallery—11 a.m.

Ottawa Latin Festival (latin bazaar, face painting, music performances), Mario Dewar Plaza at city hall—1 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 5

Star Trek: the Starfleet Academy Experience, last day for the exhibit, Canada Aviation and Space Museum—4 p.m.

Captain America: Civil War, free outdoor screening, University Square, Faculty of

Social Sciences Building—8:30 p.m.

Café Society (Woody Allen film), ByTowne Cinema—8:35 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 6

Truman (winner of 5 Goya Awards), ByTowne Cinema—6:55 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept.

7

Lululemon free yoga, Parliament Hill—12 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 8

Town Hall on Climate Change, Desmarais Building (room 12102)—9:30 a.m.

Tickled (documentary), ByTowne Cinema—5 p.m.

The Arkells, University Square, Faculty of Social Sciences Building—8 p.m.

Uptown Static, The Brass Monkey—9:45 p.m.

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Mon. - Wed.: 10 - 5:30 • Thurs. & Fri.: 10 - 7 • Sat.: 10 - 5 • Sun.: 11 - 5 613-730-9039 1136 Bank Street (1 1/2 blocks south of Sunnyside) Ottawa ON

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DISTRACTIONS | 29

30 | LETTERS

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EDITORIAL Volume 77, Issue 2, sept. 1, 2016 Making irresponsible choices since 1942.

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

Savannah “Atari” Awde Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Kim “Zaphod’s” Wiens Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Barefax” Darbyson Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Graham “Pub 101” Robertson News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Anchal “D’Arcy McGee’s” Sharma Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “The Senate” Murdock Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Alexa-Eliza “Heart and Crown” Carter Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Eric “Patty Boland’s” Davidson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “Babylon” McRae-Sadik Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Allegra “Lafayette” Morgado Social Media Coordinator social@thefulcrum.ca Reine “Rainbow Bistro” Tejares Webmaster webmaster@thefulcrum.ca Zainab “Avante-Garde” AlMehdar Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Lucas “Tequila Jacks” Ghosn General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca Dayne “Lookout” Moyer Outgoing General Manager dayne@thefulcrum.ca

Bring education, politics back to the forefront of Capital Pride

Capital Pride festivities capped off in late August and the city’s eyes were captivated by rainbow flags, jubilant lip locks, and parade floats meant to symbolize solidarity in the capital. But with so much attention on the fanfare and strong sense of accomplishment that comes with Pride, comes the danger of underestimating the long road that lies ahead.

Canada legalized gay marriage in 2005, with the United States following suit in 2015 after a monumental Supreme Court ruling.

While on the surface it might seem the tide has turned, and major strides have been made at a governing level in North America, there are still countless issues plaguing the LGBTQ+ community—and those issues simply cannot be ignored by the main event that catapults this community into the spotlight annually.

A 2011 study from Egale, which surveyed over 3,700 Canadian secondary students over two years, reported that 70 per cent of participating students heard sexually offensive terms used in the classroom every day, while almost 10 per cent heard homophobic comments from teachers daily or weekly.

But the problem isn’t limited to the classroom. According to a 2011 Ontario-based survey, LGBTQ+ youth are 14 times more likely to commit suicide or abuse substances, and experience higher rates of depression and anxiety than their peers. The same survey found 77 per cent of trans students had seriously considered suicide while 45 per cent had made a suicide attempt.

In Canada, trans adults and youth alike face unreasonably long wait times for transition surgery, and in Ontario they must

jump through bureaucratic hoops to have the procedure covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. To this day, despite the fact that gay, lesbian, and bisexual Canadians are all explicitly protected under Canada’s anti-discrimination and hate crime laws, trans Canadians are not.

The situation is even worse for queer and trans people of colour, who are underrepresented in media portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community. They also experience greater discrimination, poverty, wage inequality, and difficulties accessing health care than white LGBTQ+ people and people of colour who are not part of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer and trans people of colour are also at a greater risk of violence and murder—this is especially true for trans women of colour.

While Capital Pride’s fashion shows, parades, and picnics are memorable ways to create a community of acceptance and celebrate how far the LGBTQ+ community has come, it’s time to start using Capital Pride’s established exposure to make more noise about these issues.

We need to demand that Capital Pride acts as a platform to lift injustice from the shadows, educate the public, and put civil rights back to the forefront of political discourse.

Civil rights movements, in essence, were predicated on formal gatherings where public leaders are questioned and held accountable for the work they’re doing to further the rights of oppressed groups. So let’s bring politics back to Capital Pride—and no, I don’t mean having Justin Trudeau march in the parade.

Contributors

Nick “1848” Robinson Alex “Dodge City” Grichmanoff Will “Lieutenant’s Pump” Fifield Christelle “Cabin” Musambi Adriana “Kavali” Sgabellone Joshua “Nostalgica” Hands Brendon “Play” Ly Enrico “Father and Sons” Baliello Dylan “Green Room” Yegendorf David “Waller Street Brewing” Campion Smith Justin “The Loft” Patrick Ellen “Eve” Galupo

Board of Directors

Mackenzie “LIVE! On Elgin” Grey Kate “La Maison” Murray Carolyn “Mercury Lounge” Mutis Jonathan “Pour Boy” Rausseo Raghad “Warehouse” Sheikh-Khalil Will “Liquor Store” Hume Maggie “Whiskey Bar” Gollish Niharika “Sir John A” Namulla Julia “Fox and Feather” Miraflores Thivya “Royal Oak” Naganathan Cover: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

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Capital Pride’s event schedule should include, at the very least, a roundtable with political leaders that can enact meaningful change and hear members of the LGBTQ+ community voice the issues they face that aren’t given enough attention. It’s not every day that this community has the privilege of undivided attention from political leaders in a public forum—so why not use the much larger voice of Capital Pride to demand that opportunity?

And what about Justin Trudeau? While it’s true he missed Ottawa’s Pride parade, that should be the least of our concerns.

Pierre Trudeau’s infamous Bill C-150 was known for decriminalizing gay sex, but is still unconstitutionally restrictive. Why not use Justin Trudeau’s presence at modernday Pride events to fight for the repeal of the inherently homophobic age of consent for anal sex between two men—which is two years older than the age of consent for other sexual activities?

Not only should Pride get political, but educational components are crucial to the longevity of this movement. While members of this community are united in some issues, there is so much room to learn about the experiences of each subsection—endless discussions to be had about the interaction of sexuality, racism, sexism, ableism, and much more, and how these factors impact the experience of members of this community. Pride must take an active role in scheduling events that focus on the diversity of these experiences. Change, political or otherwise, cannot come without an educated populace.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) Toronto received heavy criticism for protesting at the 2016 Toronto Pride parade, with some media outlets going so far as to equate the activist group with “bullies”. A fact that failed to make headlines or garner any sort of attention is that trans women of colour played an integral role in launching the LGBTQ+ movement, starting with the Stonewall riots.

With this context it makes a lot more sense that BLM Toronto chose Pride to raise their voices to represent LGBTQ+ people of colour and their experiences—but if this group had been given an adequate platform with Pride to educate others about those unique experiences, would this more radical approach have been necessary?

If anything, the BLM protest serves as an important lesson that Capital Pride must learn from: beneath all the cheers and celebrations, not all voices or issues in the LGBTQ+ community are heard equally—it’s time to change that, and Pride is the place to start.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

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