The Fulcrum - Volume 77, Issue 3

VOL. 77 ISSUE 3

sept. 8, 2016

the abortion pill puzzle PG. 12.

SEPTEMBER 15-18, 2016

T H E G R E AT L AW N AT L A N S D O W N E PA R K

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In this week’s issue...

No fast pass for U-Pass P.5 Wait time for transit card exceeds three hours

Catching up with the Arkells P.10 Hamilton-based band gears up for uO Show Do we have the right to choose?

P.12 Why the abortion pill might still be out of reach Television timeout P.15 Panda Game on national TV opens doors across CIS Smoking them out P.18 Hookah bar ban won’t solve health problems Don’t be silly, wrap your willy P.23 How to avoid condom conundrums

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

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

U-Pass wait time exceeds three hours

Delays from OC Transpo, reduced SFUO staffing factors in longer line Zainab Al-Mehdar

associate news editor

O

ver the past few weeks, students returning to campus for the new school year have been faced with an unexpected inconvenience—lengthy wait times for their U-Pass. For some students, the wait time has been as long as three to four hours.

Vanessa Dorimain, vicepresident of university affairs of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), said there are a number of factors contributing to the hefty wait times.

“Last year students waited no longer than 25 minutes to receive their U-Pass. We had more staff, more stations open, and more conveniently, our cards delivered to us two weeks before the start date,”

said Dorimain.

Dorimain highlighted that because the SFUO received the cards late from OC Transpo, many appointments had to be pushed back.

Cuts to staffing for the UPasses due to the SFUO’s current financial state has also played a role in the extended wait times.

Despite the wait time, once students receive their cards they will notice differences from the previous version.

According to Dorimain, new technology has been added and changes have been made to improve the overall security and usage of the card.

“This year the U-Pass is not co-branded with the (International Student Identity Card) and is now a smart (tap) card.

The pilot for the smart card started with the summer UPass and it worked well, so we agreed to continue on with this technology.”

Students should note that they can still obtain the dis-

Vanessa Dorimain, SFUO vice-president of university affairs, directing students waiting for their U-Pass on Sept. 1.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

STO routes, as well as the OTrain.

Dorimain also highlighted the new security measures the U-Pass will offer.

“Because of the hotlisting feature of a smart card, once a student reports their card missing or lost we are able to hotlist the card and it becomes

counts from the old U-Pass, for example on the Greyhound, by visiting the International Student Identity Card table during U-Pass distribution, or at the Graduate Students’ Association office after Sept. 16.

The new tap feature of the U-Pass is similar to Presto cards and works on OC Transpo and

inactive, causing less transferability.”

Despite these benefits, many students remain concerned about the lengthy wait times.

“It seems really long compared to last year. I imagine they changed something in how they do it, but they went in the wrong direction,” said

Caroline Zamor, a second-year U of O student. “I feel like whatever happened this year (compared) to last year should probably be looked at again for next year.”

Azeezat Kotun, a U of O student who waited in line for three hours to get her U-Pass, said, “I don’t think that was fair on the students,” and suggested that next year the cards should be distributed by faculty.

To students still looking to get their U-Pass, Dorimain suggests checking the SFUO website for updated distribution hours, and reminds students to ensure that they are registered for full-time studies before waiting in the line.

“We apologize for the inconvenience and are working through very different circumstances this year. Nonetheless we are still actively trying to find solutions and appreciate the support we are now seeing from different partners at the university.”

Government payroll system causes difficulties for students

U of O financial department assists students affected by Phoenix problems tyler jensen

fulcrum contributor Since its implementation earlier this year, the federal government’s new computerized Phoenix payroll system, designed to simplify the payment process, has compromised the regular pay of more than 80,000 federal government employees, many of whom are students.

The majority of those affected by the change are being underpaid or, in some cases, not paid at all for their work.

The problem comes at an inconvenient time for many, as back-to-school goes hand in hand with tuition payments, book costs, and more.

Carolyn Mutis, a fourthyear English student at the U of O, is working in a co-op role with the government this term, and spoke with the

thefulcrum.ca

Over 80,000 federal employees, including many U of O students, have had their pay affected.

Photo: CC, Michael Kooiman.

Fulcrum about her reaction to the issues around the Phoenix system.

“It’s a little worrisome going into a co-op term with the government when so many Phoenix horror stories are going around, but I’m just hoping for

the best and staying prepared for any potential problems.”

Students have also reported that government officials have neglected to answer questions about when the system will be fixed, and when payments would be mailed out.

One University of British Columbia student told the CBC that she had called the government help centre 177 times before she was given an explanation about why she had not been paid, but was not given any indication of when the system would be fixed.

Of the 80,000 workers affected by the Phoenix system, students have been hit particularly hard because they are short-term workers and are, in some cases, underrepresented.

“A lot of students live pay cheque to pay cheque, and for that reason they could be hit harder than others by problems in receiving their pay,” said Mutis.

Short-term workers are not part of the many union options public workers often rely on, such as the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which includes more than 50 per cent

of the total 300,000 federal workers in Canada.

As a result, students may have to find other ways to finance their education outside of the help of unions.

According to the federal government, workers who notified their employers concerning their pay issues before June 1 can expect a resolution

by October.

According to a representative from the U of O’s Student Accounts Office, in the interim period they have been working to make accommodations for these federally employed students until they are paid.

When paying tuition, students are able to present the Student Accounts Office with a letter from their employer so that case-by-case accommodations can be made.

Until the Phoenix payroll system is functioning properly

again, the university is continuing to ensure that students are accommodated during this period.

Marie Lemay, the deputy minister responsible for public services and procurement, spoke at a press conference at the end of August about the costs to fix the system, saying, “The last number we have is 25 (million dollars) but it will be higher.”

As for when the system will be working as intended, an official statement on the federal government website said, “We have a lot of work to do to get the pay system moving as intended and we will do what is necessary to get it done.”

Carolyn Mutis serves as treasurer on the Fulcrum Publishing Society’s Board of Directors.

NEWS | 5

U of O welcomes new SASS director

Former educator hopes to bring student-centric approach to campus service graham robertson news editor

As classes resume this September, the Student Academic Success Service (SASS) welcomes its new director, Sylvie Tremblay.

Tremblay has worked in the K-12 education system for the past 12 years, in positions ranging from a high school teacher to a superintendent of education in the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ontario’s largest Frenchlanguage school board.

During this time Tremblay oversaw a service similar to SASS but at the K-12 level, called the Service du soutien à l’apprentissage (Learning Support Service).

The service consisted of general support training for teachers, including effective teaching and assessment, and special education training for teachers to accommodate students with disabilities.

Through this experience, she hopes to better equip students with the tools they will need to succeed in uni-

versity.

Tremblay also holds four University of Ottawa degrees, having studied at the university through the 1980s and 1990s.

“It feels like I’m coming home after all these years.

It’s a great feeling to be back on campus,” she said.

Tremblay already has big plans for SASS, hoping to build on what is already established and available to students.

“What has impressed me is all the programs and services for students on campus—the mentorship programs, counselling by students with students, that has impressed me the most.”

SASS currently consists of a number of services, such as the Academic Writing Help Centre, the Aboriginal Resource Centre, and the Counselling and Coaching Service. Tremblay believes that all of these programs are important and contribute to the well-being and success of students. Her main focus, therefore, is not on any one particular program, but on

Sylvie Tremblay, U of O alum and new director of SASS.

the students themselves.

“SASS is doing great work on campus to help students who are distressed, problems that go beyond the learning experience,” said Tremblay.

This fall, Tremblay plans to meet with faculty members and students to launch a “strategic planning process” for the service. She hopes to hear from students

Photo: Courtesy of the University of Ottawa.

who have used SASS, as well as those who haven’t.

She believes that it’s important to listen to the students who might not have used the service in the past because they did not feel “connected” to what the service was offering.

“I really want to have that kind of conversation with students.”

Tremblay also plans to

meet with the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa and the Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Ottawa to “get a sense of what (they) think the strengths and challenges are of SASS.” Tremblay also hopes to engage with the Aboriginal students on campus.

“Under 200 come (to the Aboriginal Resource Cen-

tre), but there are more than that on campus. I want to get a sense of what to do differently to get them to come to the Aboriginal Centre.”

With the start of a new year, Tremblay hopes that students will take advantage of the services offered to them by SASS. “Students will (soon) be presented with the services to support them, but a lot don’t take them into account—they think that everything will come as easily as in high school.”

“By the time they need help, it’s too far in the semester,” said Tremblay.

She also believes that many students do not access help because they are ashamed to do so, and she hopes to end that stigma.

“There’s no shame in asking for help now. Everyone’s there and they want student success.”

Tremblay would like to remind U of O students to prioritize their well-being and academic success this year, and that SASS is there to help with both.

Animal rights course debuts in lecture halls this fall

U of O alum introduces students to “Animals and the Law” in third-year seminar course civil law section needed a course on the treatment of animals and the legislation surrounding this subject.

Similar courses have already been developed at McGill University and other universities continue to follow suit, as Laval University also approached Perron to help develop a course similar to “Animals and the Law.” Perron hopes that through this course, students will realize that “what they purchase and consume is also a vote for certain practices to continue.”

“As future lawyers, I also want them to learn that they can make a difference. We have the ability to change the law and enforce it.”

Students in this course are required to write a report on an animal rights issue of their choice and give a presentation. This is designed to give them an understanding of the current legislation around animal rights and practices. The topics range from animal agricultural practices to illegal fur trade practices.

Outside of the course, Perron

naomi harris

fulcrum contributor This fall the University of Ottawa will introduce its first animal rights course, “Animals and the Law” (CML 3145), under the civil law section.

Justine Perron, who will be coteaching the course alongside U of O professor Nicholas Jobidon, said that a need for variety drove the development of the course.

“We have an environmental law course, which was a huge step in terms of awareness, and now it is time for an animal rights course as well.”

Perron, a U of O alumna who is preparing to write the Quebec bar exam, was approached by Jobidon to help teach the animal rights portion of his administrative law course because of her involvement in the Animal Protection Association—a club she founded on campus—and her passion for animal rights.

Jobidon’s discussion with Perron made him realize that the

6 | NEWS

is pushing for the passing of Bill C-246 through the Animal Protection Association she founded.

The bill, otherwise known as the Modernizing Animals Protection Act, looks to adjust offences against animals to modern-day issues, such as prohibiting shark finning, modifying requirements on animal fur, and banning imported products that are made in part from cat or dog fur.

Perron notes that “Canadian laws on animal rights are antiquated and we need new ones.

We need to appeal to the judges, not only to (make them aware of) the importance of new laws but to focus on enforcement as well.”

With all 12 spaces in the class already filled, Perron hopes that she can help inspire greater interest and awareness in animal rights issues among the U of O student body.

“I believe it was curiosity at first, but through this course they will come to care about this issue.”

Justine Perron will join others at the Faculty of Law to teach on animal rights.

Photo: Courtesy of Justine Perron.

thefulcrum.ca

New U of O residence opens at 45 Mann

Off-campus housing features gym, game room, terrace space for upper-year students “We are actually going to work really closely with the students to find out exactly what they want and need from their student experience.”

Convenience-wise, every apartment has all the amenities including laundry facilities, and each room is equipped with a private bathroom. Study space is also available in the form of “community rooms” on each floor. Students can also enjoy a view of the Gee-Gees at Matt Anthony Field from the ninth floor.

Clark did note that there were setbacks to the project, which included ensuring that the interior of the residence was clean on time for students to move in on Aug. 31. Nonetheless, Clark said the problem was solved through close work with the builder and developer.

“Our goal is to contribute and provide that student experience that will attract new students to the university and make those that are already here want to stay.”

Housing Service worked closely with the building’s developers and were heavily involved with the interior design of the building.

The new residence provides facilities such as a yoga room, a gym with state of the art equipment, multiple social spaces, and a games room.

The 45 Mann residence also boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and a fully equipped terrace with seating areas and barbeques.

According to Clark, the services available in other on-campus residences are also present in 45 Mann, such as Protection Services and live-in student staff.

“A lot of the advertising that we would do to all of our other students in residence will still be done here, so students will be very informed.”

Clark also said that Housing Service will continue to work with students to meet their needs, as they did with the development of the first upper-year residence.

Zainab Al-Mehdar

associate News Editor Based on results of a 2015 survey put forward by the University of Ottawa, a new residence developed exclusively for upper-year students was officially opened on Sept. 1.

The new nine-storey building on 45 Mann Ave. was designed for students interested in living off-campus, while still enjoying the comforts of a residence.

In an interview with the Fulcrum, Rachelle Clark, director of the U of O’s Housing Service, said, “A residence this beautiful, with all the amenities and services as you can see, has everything that a more mature upper year student will want to have.”

“I think this will help contribute to the overall student experience, which is one of the University of Ottawa’s priorities, as well as help with retention—students will want to stay and keep coming to university.”

Photos: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

thefulcrum.ca

NEWS | 7

National News

Pub crawls no more at the University of New Brunswick

Administration faces harsh criticism after nixing popular student activity and happy.”

Maggie Ward is a grad student at UNB. She wrote in a message that she thinks the university should give their students more credit.

“While I completely understand the risks, university students are adults. We are responsible for ourselves. Whether the event is affiliated with UNB or not, the same risks are involved.”

She said she considered pub crawls to be safer than just going out with friends.

“You are with a larger group, you are all dressed alike, and you have a designated time to be at a designated place.”

Kate Avery, a political science major at UNB, thinks it’s completely reasonable there is a ban on pub crawls to remove the higher amount of liability, but agrees with Ward about pub crawls being safer.

Instead of banning pub crawls, Avery wants the administration to try something different.

“For the people who like to

Stephanie Sirois

The Brunswickan

Fredericton (CUP)—Students are expressing their disappointment after University of New Brunswick associate vice-president academic Shirley Cleave sent an email out to students to say that, because of the risks associated with pub tours and the student union’s inability to insure the events, that they will no longer be allowed.

Pub crawls are known on campus as a popular icebreaking activity, as well as for their colourful shirts and timed arrivals and departures from local bars.

“We decided that really pub tours are far too risky events to be ignoring that they happen under some guise of sanction, so they’ve not been officially recognized in the past but they have occurred,” Cleave told the Brunswickan.

Evan Landry was the social representative for the residence Harrison house in his second year and thinks the ban is a big

The UNB has banned pub tours following a review of student-organized events by the administration.

Photo: Bradley Parker, the Brunswickan.

mistake. “(Pub crawls) are pretty much the biggest source of income for residence houses, leaving most house committees in the lurch.

There are even charity events that are put on by residence houses that revolve around going out to bars,” Landry said in an email.

In terms of risks, Landry said

he understands the insurance concerns but thinks there have been more than enough precautions taken.

“I have never seen any situations that have gotten out of hand, and in my three-year(s) (of) residence experience the sober representatives and proctors have been more than adequate for keeping students safe

drink, they’re going to drink no matter what. UNB should be encouraging a safe drinking environment for its students, not banning it altogether.”

Travis Daley, the UNB Student Union president, wrote in an email that there will be an open forum in September for students to share their concerns.

“Some of the best memories that university students have are those they gain during student-organized events. However, we want to ensure that students are gaining those experiences in the safest and most memorable of ways,” said Daley.

Landry hopes that the university will reconsider their decision and explore other options within a trial period because of the possible impacts on residences and societies.

“It’s going to be a very different experience, and there will be a lot of disappointed students returning to residence. It really makes me wonder how many will be coming back in the future.”

Concordia partners with United Nations to launch free online course

New course aims to teach ecosystems and conservation theories to people around the world Savanna Craig

The Concordian

Montreal (CUP)—Concordia has partnered with the United Nations (UN) to offer a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) this fall, not only to Concordia students, but to students around the world.

The course, entitled “Wicked Problems, Dynamic Solutions: The Ecosystem Approach and Systems Thinking”, educates students on ecosystems and conservation theories, said Peter Stoett, director of the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre. “(The course) is an attempt to give widespread access to a course that teaches people some really necessary concepts and

case studies related to the survival of future generations,” said Stoett.

The online course is free and available to anyone around the world, as a part of the UN’s objective to make this course accessible to as many people as possible.

“The focus of the course, as the title implies, is on systems thinking and the ecosystem approach,” said Rebecca Tittler, coordinator of the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability. “Systems thinking involves consideration of the various components of a system and the interactions between components.”

Tittler was on the core development team for the MOOC. She said the course

8 | NATIONAL NEWS

bile device.

“The main reason we do that is because more people in Africa have cell phones than laptops and in Asia, as well,” said Stoett.

“You don’t need a computer to take this course in a day and age when almost everyone—even really low income groups—have telephones.”

According to Stoett, the MOOC will be a part of the blended learning course, which will be offered under the Department of Geography, intended as a course for first-year geography students.

Stoett said he believes the MOOC would be interesting to recent high school graduates, students mostly in the southern hemisphere, students who

discusses how to resolve colossal issues that result from climate change, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and forest degradation.

Stoett has connections with the UN, having previously worked with them, which prompted the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to contact Stoett for the opportunity to create this course at Concordia.

Robert Beauchemin, CEO of KnowledgeOne, the company in charge of developing Concordia’s online courses, described the MOOC as a web-based platform.

Beauchemin said the course is accessible through any web browser available on any computer, tablet, and mo-

Graphic: Florence Yee.

are entering university, students who cannot afford university or live in a country where university is not a well-developed system.

“We have really tried to hit a global note with this—

many of the case studies we used (and) many of the videos we used are from Africa, quite a few from Asia and some from Latin America,” said Stoett. “It’s definitely worldwide.”

thefulcrum.ca

A&C EDITOR Anchal Sharma arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE

(613) 695-0062 @imtherocks

This month at the Ottawa Art Gallery: Becoming Animal

U of O MFA student indulges our animal instincts with bold new exhibit nails to add texture to the pieces. In doing so, she replicates the look of “clawing or digging” as done by animals. The imprint left by her body allows for a visual representation of the way in which we as human beings react to the world around us.

According to King, the key to success is for arts students to recognize how important it is to keep in touch with the arts community.

anchal sharma arts & culture editor

I

n association with the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Ottawa, the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is holding exhibitions over the course of the month to show off some Gee-Gee talent.

Gillian King, who completed her masters of fine arts at the U of O in July of this year, submitted her graduate thesis Becoming Animal to be exhibited.

The opening reception was on Aug. 18, and the exhibit runs until Sept. 25.

The title for the exhibit was inspired by a host of influences, including the novel Becoming Animal: An earthly Cosmology by David Abram. King’s work is similar to the themes of the book, in that it is a veritable ode to the fragile connection between man and animal.

“I question what it is to be animal, and if it is possible to reconnect with nature and other

Gillian King, in front of one of her art pieces.

living beings by addressing our mutual fragility and mortality,” King explains in her artist statement.

Through the use of raw materials such as beeswax, animal skins, clay, paint, and the ashes of dead animals, King mixes classic and modern techniques to create unique, abstract pieces.

The paintings are divided by their use of materials, with

“You’re going to run into a lot of the same people,” she explains, adding that it’s important to stay connected in this field of work.

Some of King’s other artwork has recently been purchased by the City of Ottawa and will be on display at city hall.

Becoming Animal is free to view at the OAG and runs from Aug. 18 to Sept. 25 in accordance with the gallery’s hours.

Photos: David Barbour.

paint and pigment being used in conjunction with burnt bones to represent the conflict between human beings and their relationship to nonhuman animals. King explains that this was done in an effort to authenticate her work, as these were the materials used in cave paintings in the past.

Her work can be described as a mix of painting and sculpture, as she uses her hands and

Fedstock gets a facelift

SFUO kicks off 101 Week with revamped welcome concert anchal sharma arts & culture editor

On Sunday, Sept. 4 the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) unveiled its latest rendition of Fedstock, the annual 101 Week concert designed to welcome first-year students to campus. For the first time ever, the event took place at various locations throughout campus as opposed to one single location.

“The timeline was (so) everyone performs at the same time from 9-12 p.m. at different stages,” explains Hadi Wess, vice-president social of the SFUO. While the student federation couldn’t attract all-star musical talent like Shad and Lupe Fiasco on a shoestring budget, they still managed

thefulcrum.ca

101 ers enjoy the new festival style Fedstock.

to make it work.

Talented DJs performed their magic at the “Batcave” between Simard and Hamelin, Tabaret Hall, the 90U Residence parking lot, and University Square.

With bilingual perform-

Photo: Anchal Sharma.

“We wanted to make it more of a festival to accommodate the needs of students,” says Wess, adding that this was the reason for the strict security as well.

While Fedstock is usually open to all U of O students

ers including DJ Scorpion and DJ Brian Hart, and different genres like indie, folk, rap/hip-hop, and electronic on display, the SFUO pulled off an exciting evening that was worth wearing that bright yellow bracelet for.

and staff, the SFUO needed to tighten their belts this year in light of recent financial troubles. So not only was the event held on campus but only 101ers were allowed to attend, as the SFUO wanted to, according to Wess, “prioritize 101ers who bought the (frosh) kit.”

Regardless of the reason, the change of venue was a success. It may be the lack of space on campus or the fact that Confederation Park, where Fedstock has been held in the past, is a lot bigger, but the place was jam packed and it got a great response from the attendees.

“You don’t need a fortune to be able to host a 101 Week or a concert,” Wess mentions, saying that the event saw a phenomenal turnout

and was worth the change of venue. “It’s one of the best Fedstocks we’ve ever had at the SFUO.” Although security was tight, the concert was spread far and wide, and the music could be heard all across campus.

Instead of doing the traditional barbeque, this year a line up of food trucks could be seen around campus, catering to every student’s needs, froshie or not. The local talent aimed to entertain with popular songs from artists like Drake, Desiigner, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, The Chainsmokers, and more. The smoke machine and black lights helped give the concert an electrifying vibe, and made it a night to remember.

ARTS & Culture | 9

Sip back and relax: Drinks for autumn Try our fall-infused recipes for a good old-fashioned time Will fifield

fulcrum contributor

There’s no better way to warm up as the cold weather approaches than by sitting down with a nice, hearty drink. Get the blood flowing and the feeling back in your fingers with a couple of our signature fall drink recipes.

Autumn ioned

Old

Fash-

Cinnamon Crunch Cider

Classics stand the test of time for a reason. But there’s always room for improvement. Try something new by adding some fall flavours to a good Old Fashioned blend.

Toast

Think Saturday morning, with Cartoon Network, a big yellow school bus, and a bit of a buzz. This drink is definitely a go to when midterm season is approaching and you need a pick-me-up that loosens up those writing muscles.

What you’ll need: 1) Bourbon (2 oz) 2) Apple-flavoured bourbon (1 oz) For these I recommend starting with Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon and Jim Beam Apple.

3) Honey syrup (1/2 oz) *Honey syrup is created by mixing 1 part honey with 1 part water.

4) Aromatic bitters (4 dashes) I recommend picking up a bottle of angostura bitters from your local Loblaws.

5) 1 orange (Peel to garnish)

What you’ll need: 1) Spiced rum (1.5 oz) 2) Hot apple cider (6 oz) 3) Cinnamon (1 tbsp) 4) Sugar (1 tbsp) Once you’ve got your ingredients together, coat the rim of the glass with the mixture of cinnamon and sugar, then add the rum and cider.

Optionally, you can add ground graham crackers to the cinnamon and sugar coating for an extra kick of flavour.

Once you’ve got your ingredients gathered, mix them up, garnish, and it’s ready to enjoy with friends.

Top: Autumn Old Fashioned.

Bottom: Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Photo: CC, Jeff Wilcox.

Photo: CC, Timothy Krause.

Arkells set to headline uO Show

Lead singer Max Kerman talks about the band’s success, treasured frosh memories madison mcsweeney staff contributor

When Arkells played Fedstock in 2013, they established themselves to a generation of GeeGees as one of the most exciting live acts around.

Now, three years later, they’re returning to campus for a much-anticipated encore.

On Sept. 8, Arkells are back in the city to headline the uO Show—a frosh week favourite.

“These frosh week shows are a really great opportunity to have a long-term effect on people,” says lead singer Max Kerman, who attended McMaster University in Hamilton. “I remember being in first year and going to see Sam Roberts Band or Bedouin Soundclash, and those are bands that mean a lot to me still … If we can do that for somebody else, then that’s awesome.”

With four albums packed with hit singles, Kerman admits it’s getting increasingly diffi-

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

Arkells play at University Square on Sept. 8

cult for the band to narrow down a setlist. These days, fans can expect “a good mix of tunes from each record,” balancing singles, “deep cuts … and some surprises too.”

The band’s songwriting has evolved steadily throughout their career, with their latest album

Photo: Courtesy of Universal Music Canada.

Morning Report incorporating an even wider array of musical influences.

“I don’t think our records sound too similar because we’ve always expanded our music palette,” Kerman explains.

“What would Kanye do here? What would Justin Bieber do here?

Or, what would The Cars do here? What would Elvis Costello do here? And those are influences that weren’t necessarily on earlier records, but we talked about them on this record as we created the songs.”

Arkells’ hyper-specific lyrics come from sources

closer to home.

“I have a really interesting group of friends and interesting characters in my life,” Kerman says. “Whether it’s roommates of mine, or family members, usually you can pull interesting stories out of what they’re doing.”

The Hamilton natives have also been accumulating some great (and quintessentially Canadian) stories from the road—exploring Germany with Billy Talent and hanging out with The Tragically Hip. “Paul (Langlois) their guitar player would be out by the exit smoking most of the time, so we’d huddle around him … and we’d shoot the shit.”

According to Kerman, the secret to Arkells’ enduring success is that they like working together, and respect one another’s opinions.

“I think that’s what gets the best out of the music and performances—that everyone’s willing to take constructive

ideas.”

He advises aspiring musicians to “try to find people that complement your skillset and that you enjoy working with,” and to “try to make it as fun as possible.”

“If you’re able to highlight the things you don’t like about performing and try to change that, and try to make it more enjoyable, then your performances will get better,” Kerman explains.

“Same thing with songwriting—try to find the part that you’re sort of lacking in, and don’t get discouraged by it, just try to fix that.”

Do they have any big plans to attend to while back in the Capital?

“I heard there’s a good Taco place (on Elgin St.) that I haven’t tried yet,” Kerman says.

Uo Show will take place on Thursday Sept. 8 at University Square outside of FSS. Tickets can be purchased online for $5 or at the door for $10.

thefulcrum.ca

CityFolk is back in town with local bands and diverse acts

The Acorns, Rayland Baxter discuss why this festival is worth your time madison mcsweeney staff contributor

Don’t let the name fool you—CityFolk is about more than just folk music.

The annual festival, which returns to Lansdowne Park this month from Sept. 15 to 18, boasts a line-up ranging from folk to rock to hip-hop, with everything in between.

“Diversity is really what we’re all about,” explains CityFolk spokesperson Joe Reilly.

The festival has gone through many iterations since its inception in 1994.

According to Reilly, in its early years, the concert was “purely oriented towards what would be defined as ‘folk music’.”

Since being taken over by the Bluesfest management team, the festival has been reborn with a new name, a new downtown location, and a new focus on diverse content.

The “something for everyone” approach may

not please folk purists, but for Reilly the debate surrounding musical genres is pure semantics.

“We could have a long philosophical discussion about what folk music is, especially when you get to urban and hip hop.”

Millennials, Reilly adds, are “less boundary-ridden when it comes to music.”

That said, CityFolk has stayed true to its roots with the inclusion of folkbased acts such as Ottawa’s own The Acorn, as well as international acts such as Rayland Baxter.

The Acorn is returning to CityFolk for the first time since 2010, and lead singer Rolf Klausener says he is excited to play the new location.

Prior to the rebrand, Klausener says Folk Fest was “a lot more community-oriented” but less financially stable and much smaller.

“It still has more of a songwriter-y kind of bent,

can expect “a dynamic sonic output” from his set.

“It’ll be very loud, very rockin’, and very sweet and very groovin’. Very sensitive at moments, and I’ll try to make the audience laugh in between the songs.”

For Reilly, CityFolk is the perfect chance for Ottawa crowds to discover up-andcoming artists in their early days.

“Our artistic director Mark Monahan is really on top of what’s going on in music. For instance, we had Kendrick Lamar back in 2013, when people were just beginning to take notice.”

“This festival has a strong reputation for introducing Ottawa audiences to artists who are about to become the next big thing.”

A limited number of student rush tickets will be available daily at the box office. For more information, visit CityFolk’s official website.

but you’re gonna see a lot more pop music (and) some hip-hop.”

Klausener hopes CityFolk audiences will take the opportunity to check out acts who are outside of their radars.

“I kind of feel like we live in such an on-demand culture. People come to festivals, they have an app, they’ve picked which acts they want to see … and they can actually just completely ignore everything else that’s happening at the festival.”

Nashville-based singersongwriter Rayland Baxter, touring to promote his new record Imaginary Man, also hopes CityFolk will be an opportunity to broaden his audience.

“You get to reach out to a lot of new fans who’ve never heard my name at all, who don’t even know that I exist as a human being, let alone as a songwriter and a music-maker.”

Baxter says audiences

Max Klausener, lead singer of The Acorns.

Photo: Madison McSweeney.

Ottawa International Rhythm Festival shakes it up with global acts

U of O students participate in festival celebrating diversity, culture, and artistic talent Mariah Ahmed

Fulcrum Contributor

Gharana Arts, a performance school specializing in Indian arts, joined forces with the Ottawa International Drum Festival to present the reimagined Ottawa International Rhythm Festival, a lively event featuring special performances from around the globe.

The event took place on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Kailash Mital Theatre at Carleton University.

The atmosphere was incredibly inclusive and festive, with three big blue tents lining the outside of the theatre building, and splashes of flags from different countries between them—the perfect setup for a festival that featured acts from India, Africa, Brazil, Japan, and Indonesia.

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Before the main event, interactive booths and workshops were sprinkled over the lawn, with organizations like Samba Ottawa donning bright yellow shirts and giving out shakers and drums to show people how to play different melodies and beats.

Although this was a very Carleton-centric event, a number of University of Ottawa students helped put it all together, including Mohan Aubeeluck, who is going into his second year of accounting at the Telfer School of Management.

Aubeeluck has been a student at Gharana Arts for four years and has been playing the tabla, a north Indian drum, for nine years.

“Every part of the Hindustani classical

Ottawa International Rhythm Festival features drum players from around the world.

out my lifetime.”

The sound of drums greeted the audience as the main event began, and the emcees were bilingual, making it more accessible to a larger audience.

Audience members themselves

music is amazing,” he shared. “There is no specific part I enjoy, but if I had to choose one part it would be the intricate rhythm patterns and history of the music tradition. It is so rich and I keep learning through-

Photo: Angjelos Fero.

arrived wearing traditional clothing, giving the event an even larger sense of multiculturalism.

The headliner was Kumar Bose, a talented Indian tabla player that flew in from India to at-

tend the event, marking this festival as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Pandit Kumar Bose’s solo was by far the best part for me,” Aubeeluck said. “As a tabla and music student, it was an honour to (hear) him play live. (He) also took the time to explain the complexity of his music and showed me the depth of knowledge required to play this instrument.”

“The tabla is not just a series of drum sounds.

There is a language, math, and emotion in playing this instrument.”

All in all, the Ottawa International Rhythm Festival was a fun, jovial celebration of arts, culture, and talent from various corners of the world, and ended on a happy beat.

ARTS & Culture | 11

Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi Staff Contributor

A tough pill to swallow

their 200 ion to Health Canada to approve lication a app their tional submitted an applicat r on thei ory tted vict bmi e hug resu a y pan had es com ocat The In 1969, Canadian pro-choice adv ada’s decision in R v. Morgentaler. mg mifepristone tablet. -and-a-half-year process, it was approved in Can two hands with the Supreme Court of Code’s abortion provision was uncon- year later, and after a The Court ruled that the Criminal rights under the Canadian Charter of July 2015. stitutional as it violated women’s program being developed and But one year later, with a training Rights and Freedoms. e, mifepristone has yet to hit mad g turing adjustments bein ufac man to ing seek are who en in Canada the mar ket in Canada.

Despite the historic victory, wom s barriers . end a pregnancy still face numerou a rocky roll-out Regulations, red tape, and Isard Edw ce Prin in all at offered Sixt y years later, abortion is notnswick’s provincial health insurance, dos age, approximately is expected to cost $270 for one nt failure was reported iso gym Mife to s land, is not covered under New Bru ance dist rtion. Treatme areas must traverse vast a third of the cost of surgical abo en, and thereby required a surgical and women in rural and remote of wom cent per 4.8 to 2 re. for s edu case proc in the acquire , intervention. lth Canada approved mifepristone That being said, last year Hea help fill the gaps in Canada’s lack e improvements, the approval has d While these numbers indicate somhave been called into question by an abortion medication that coul a product developed by Linepharma that ns latio of abortion services . Mifegymiso,pristone and misoprostol, was first in- come with several regu and comprised of the drugs mife 1988—it is now available in over 60 critics. troduced in France and China in has the ability to shif t the nature “Mifegymiso is a drug regimen that countries worldwide.

Sandeep Pras ad, the executive said ,” ada Can of access dramatically in a ”, icine med al enti lth and Rights. “However with “ess Hea an ual as for Sex lists it The World Health Organization c health-care systems , based on cri- director of Action Canada lth Canada has imposed, we are doubtful these restrictions that Hea minimum medicine needed for basi will be realized.” ctiveness. that the promise of Mifegymiso teria such as safety and cost effe pristone and “a number st approval processes in Health ged the lack of availability of mife flag er Fost are However, with one of the leng thie erts exp that ns e list of regulatio two major challenges with Health Canada’s history, and an extensiv imistic about whether Mifegymiso of non-evidence based regulations” as pess are . calling into question, many Canada’s approval of mifepristone rtion in Canada. will actually increase access to abo for use up to 49 days afright to have an aborCanada has approved Mifegymiso the lth for Hea t 10 figh the of tier fron So while the new stion tone has been approved for up to timacy, now it seems to be a que ter last menses. However, mifepris g rdin acco ial, cruc be can time tion is not a question of legal legi ed ain countries, and this add cert in ks wee ss. of acce to Prasad.

2016 e to Abortion access from 1969 to enormous amount of differenc “Those three weeks make an widely he d,” me nee beco they has ess that proc ices the , serv the 1969 Since abortion was legalized in n women. Unfortunately, to this day whether someone can actually access available for thousands of Canadia rtion access. said. there still exists restrictions on abo of evidence that shows that mife g “We have over whelming amount a pregnancy in Canada accordin er, ed Fost inat said term n,” en atio wom gest 24 s day 92,5 1, 70 ugh ber, In 201 lth Information. Despite this num pristone can be used effectively thro s. “The to the Canadian Institute for Hea in one of six Canadian hospitals. it is already approved up to 60 day tries coun y man in that red ing offe add only to exable g bein to ent abortion services are edim imp age limit is actually a major nal atio gest fund to s lth Act requires province Even though the 198 4 Canada Hea ns of the law have led to limited pand access.” tatio rpre inte t eren diff cs, oabortion clini ing in Prince Edward Island and New over the ambiguously worded mon funding in Nova Scotia and no fund ince in Canada that does not offer Critics have also raised concerns the take t mus an wom a prov that ng only as sayi Brunswick. PEI is also the graph, which can be interpreted en to travel to other provinces. ion. abortion services at all, forcing wom drugs under a physician’s supervis iMan with s, ince prov y Canadian said The progress has been slow in man 4, and Quebec not fully funding ical advisor for Health Canada, Surpriya Sharma, a senior med l 200 in use ’s tone pris mife nd arou s toba not funding abortions unti ns were based on the rule latio regu e thes 8.

200 l unti ns abortio many other countries. began in the 1990s when both in the Canada’s history with mifepristone of ls tria y , that initial medication is taken erimented with earl “So, most cases in most countries British Columbia and Quebec expa University of Ottawa professor in the at be ly real to that than der drug , according to Angel Foster, also holds the university’s endowed the physician’s office, but we left it broa t apthe patient to decide what’s mos the Faculty of Health Sciences who discretion of the physician and . arch rese lth chair in women’s hea propriate.” a lot with do to lot a has This ed. ster office, then that ensures “The drug wasn’t ultimately regi ical drug mar kets , pharmaceutical uct is dispensed at the physician’s prod the “If ceut rma pha ut abo es e and allows for the approof quir ky issu t kinds of pharmaceutical registra visit happens at the physician’s offic industry, the mar kets for differen y that was willing to file a separate that that patients as well,” she said. for ort supp priate medical and psychological tion processes, the lack of compan dossier,” said Foster. d by physicians, someiso will be prescribed and dispense gym Mife ies pan g to com drug for rest lack of inte medication and vaccines, accordin Geography also plays a role in the thing that’s also done for fertility l. rova to submit a request for app Sharma. y in distributed over a very large r, yea a ns rtio abo ,000 ns prescribing drugs is an anomal 100 ut “With abo sometimes present Prasad pointed out that physicia can ch n is whi latio lace regu ketp this mar ves e larg belie ket,” the Canadian health-care system, and that he area, it’s not a very invest in bringing a drug to mar challenges to drug companies to “based in abortion stigma.” said Foster. ed company Linepharma InternaIt wasn’t until 2011 that U.K.-bas

Physicians and pharmacist s are also required to take a voluntary takes quite training course before they a long time to expand acc can prescribe Mifegymiso, ess to ser vices with mifepr which Sharma tone itself.” said was instituted after con issultations with physicians associations.

“First of all most other cou Typically abortion providers ntries do have a training pro have first offered the medic gram that’s alternative in place. And second of all ation as an to aspiration abortion, and when we were going throug in countries with substantia h the approval shif ts in we did consult with physici use pat terns of aspiration l ans associations about the abortion mifepristone has use of the med- incorporat ication and what other sup been ed into other set tings, said por ts that might be availab Foster, and then to a broade le in terms of range of geo education and we heard tha r graphic areas. t they would ver y much app reciate having a standardized education program.”

“I believe that, and hope, tha t Canada will follow that sam But Prasad is concerned by trajectory, but there’s bee e sor t of the barriers put in place by n no example globally where sive training process. an exten- has been approv mifepristone ed and introduced and imm ediately gone out into rural areas where there’s no existing abortion providers “For no other drug apart ,” said Foster.

“So to expect that to happen in from methadone do physici Canada is unrealistic.” ans need to register specifically to pre scribe that medication and the training requirement s are not necess Sharma said the regulation ary. It’s suf ficient for doc tor s were decided solely to lim s to be given tial side-ef the information they need it the potenfec ts and ensure that there to use their clinician judgm is follow-up with a physician. ent for what situation they can actually prescribe this medication to a patient,” said Prasad.

“People need to understan d there can be serious side those side-ef fec ts are left -ef fec ts if untreated … more than rur Health Canada also require al or imp urban, it’s ort ant tha t there’s the appropriate s women to have an ultraso follow up of anybody that’s und before taking the me Mifegymiso can be prescribe dication and that people can d in order to determine an exact date of cedures ver have access to these propregnancy and to rule out an y quickly if the need arises.” ectopic pregnancy, according to Sharma.

However, Foster said the The long road ahead to requirement for ultrasound abortion accessibility to rule out ectopic pregnancy is “not evi dence based.”

It seems that, despite the approval of mifepristone, This requirement “limits the Canada still needs to take significant ability of cer tain kinds of pro stri des before abortion is fully acc offer the ser vice if they’re vid ers to in all regions for essible not doing ultrasound or don women of all backgrounds ’t have access tuses. Pra to an ultrasound on site,” said and socioeconomic stasad, Foster, and Sethna all Foster. agreed that while significant fewer Canadian women are ly carrying unwanted pregna The sum of all of these reg ncies to term, wo men still face numerous bar ulations could end up having riers. impact on women in more the largest remote par ts of Canada wh o want to end a pregnancy.

Sethna said that the strong feelings people have about tion and abortion has oversim contracepplified the issue.

Rural-urban

divide

Due to Canada’s vast landsc ape, women living in more munities stand to gain the rural commost by having an accessible medical abortion option. Unfortunately , the regulations surroundi ng Mifegymiso could limit those potential impact s.

“Reducing everything to wo man versus her fetus makes issues around women’s hea the larger lth disappear,” she said. “Th e larger issues are inequality in society, une qual pay for women, and the lack of daycare.”

Sethna also mentioned vio lence against women and the Christabelle Sethna, a U of loss of jobs as issues that Canada is lag O professor of women and ging behind in when it com gender stud- health. ies and historian of sex edu es to women’s cation, contraception, and abortion, said a lack of general access to doc tors in these areas means that the regulations “may end up exacer “I think we as a countr y see bating disparities that actual ourselves as leaders in the ly exist.” in fac t we are lag gards,” said field, but Prasad. “We approved it wit “If you already have a medic stri h many rections that will virtually gua ally underserviced area, the rantee its poor availability pill is not necessarily going abortion .” to help women, because the protocol requires them to access the Set hna noted how the tenden pill in a way that means tha cy to view pills as “magic bul t the area is oversimplifi already ser viced at a cer tain lets” also es the debate around both level.” the birth control pill and mif pristone. e“We know that there are tremendous geographic disp abortion access not only bet arities and “A magic bullet is something ween provinces and territo that is supposed to resolv ries, but with- all at once, in provinces and territories e all issues and so clearly, the birth con ,” said Foster, adding that trol pill was not a magic bul women often It helped, spend weeks pregnant as the let. but it didn’t resolve all the y scramble to seek resources issues around unintended an abortion. to acquire nancy,” she said preg, “and this abortion pill is not going to resolve all the issues around abortion and abortion access either.”

Foster noticed that Health Canada’s cautious roll-out is common practice when it comes to While a woman’s right to cho mifepristone. ose is enshrined in Canadian there’s hope that mifepristo law, and ne’s approval can help wo “In almost all countries wh men in more rem ote par ts of Canada, for ma ere mifepristone has been ny the access to an abortio introduced it out of reach. n is still

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Murdock sports@thefulcrum.ca

@SpencerMurdock @FulcrumSports

Women’s rugby outlasts Carabins in home opener

Gee-Gees need time to ramp up to championship form once again Spencer Murdock Sports Editor

T

he Gee-Gees women’s rugby team began their conference title defence at home on Sept. 3 against a muchimproved Montreal Carabins team.

While the game didn’t have the thunderous start that characterized the Gees’ previous season, the national bronze medalists still took care of business to the tune of a 28-17 victory.

Second-year front row player Alexandra Ellis had a breakout year last season, and she continued to expand her dominance with two tries to kick off the new season.

The team’s coaches

placed particular emphasis on enhancing defensive capabilities throughout the match. Without this strategy, the game could’ve had a drastically different final result.

Perhaps a summer’s worth of playing nationally and internationally caught up to the team early, along with a new system that may need time to manifest itself.

The Carabins played the Gee-Gees tougher than most other teams in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) last year.

Early in the season, it’s difficult to determine whether the result of the game was due to the Gees coming out somewhat flatfooted by their standards, or simply that the Carabins are ready to take a next

Women’s rugby impresses, but there is still work to do.

step.

By no means does an 11-point victory mean that

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

there’s concern surrounding the power of the GeeGees this year. However,

it does provide another storyline to watch for in upcoming games.

Once the team settles into their schedule and can face some of the weaker teams in the conference, the kinks will be worked out and they’ll start looking more like themselves.

There are a lot of nerves that go into a season and home opener, particularly when the team didn’t participate in any exhibition competition to prepare themselves for the season.

Time is key, and luckily for Gee-Gees women’s rugby there’s plenty of time to figure everything out.

For now, the team is 1-0 and under no real threat of snapping their 15-game consecutive RSEQ win streak.

The Gee-Gees take on the Laval Rouge et Or at home on Matt Anthony Field at 4 p.m. on Sept. 10.

Gee-Gees air raid downs Waterloo in road win

Wendel and offence shine, defence shows vast improvement in season opener spencer murdock sports editor

Coming fresh from a bye in the first week of the season, the Gee-Gees football team traveled to Waterloo and laid a beating on the Warriors.

The Warriors haven’t won a game since October 2014 and an already frustrating start to the year got more difficult for them as the Gees unleashed an offensive assault in the 65-1 win.

Fifth-year quarterback Derek Wendel was at the top of his game in the Labour Day matchup, slinging 389 yards and five touchdowns before resting for the majority of the second half.

The Belleville, Ont. native has been nothing short of impeccable for the team since taking over the starting job in 2014. Last year, he established himself as a top quarterback

14 | SPORTS

in the nation and is already expanding on his status this season.

Wendel’s execution looks as good as it has ever been and he continues to be comfortable tucking the ball and using his legs to get first downs.

A mixture of new and old in the receiving core has resulted in a more athletic bunch with better size and ability to reel in deep balls.

Fifth-year Mitchell Baines impressed with some outstanding catches and is likely the Gee-Gees’ best bet to replace production from graduated wide receiver Ian Stewart. Baines had six catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Third-year receiver Luke Ffrench also impressed with 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

On the ground, the GeeGees had a collective 196 yards, which shows improve-

Wendel is primed to lead a potent Gee-Gees passing attack.

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

tal offence to the Warriors, whose only point came from a missed field goal rouge.

The new-look defensive unit still struggled slightly against the opposing team’s running attack. However, they made up for their shortcomings with three intercep-

ment from last year where the offence was more one dimensional. The team will need to integrate their running backs better throughout the year in order to fully round out their potent offensive attack.

Defensively, the team only forfeited 213 yards of to-

tions and two sacks.

Linebackers Khadim Mbaye and a healthy Jackson Bennett anchored the GeeGee defence, while secondyear cornerback Jamie Harry impressed in the secondary.

The win was exactly what the Gee-Gees needed to open

the season. In the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) preseason polls, the Gees were ranked as high as fifth and as low as seventh out of 11 teams.

With two substantial upsets in week two, the garnet and grey have the opportunity to claw their way closer to the top of the OUA ranks, particularly if they have a good showing against a rival McMaster team next weekend in their home opener.

The team will look to build on their solid win this week in practice ahead of a likely raucaus home crowd on Saturday. The last Gee-Gees loss during a home opener was at the hands of the Marauders during a disastrous 2012 season.

Kickoff at Gee-Gees Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sept. 10, tickets are available at tickets. geegees.ca.

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No. 3 Gee-Gees women’s soccer shuts out Ravens at home Defence, offence both in fine form against crosstown archrival spencer murdock sports editor

Even though the classic Ottawa-Carleton rivalry extends to every single varsity and competitive club at both schools, apart from football and basketball, women’s soccer is definitely in a class of its own.

The rivalry was renewed on Sept. 3 in an early season meeting of the teams that was a stalemate for most of the match. That is until the GeeGees offence exploded for two goals in as many minutes to nab a 2-0 victory.

It’s important to understand the history between the teams, both of whom participate in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) east division.

While the Gee-Gees are typically the favourite to win the division, the Ravens are also competitive—especially when playing their archrivals.

In three matchups last year,

Lou and the rest of the team has proven the Gee-Gees are still a force in 2016.

the Ravens gave the Gees their toughest test out of anyone. The teams battled to a tie in their first match, followed by a narrow 2-1 U of O victory, and finally an epic 4-3 overtime war in the OUA playoffs.

“Carleton is always a big game on the calendar; they’re

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

our cross-town rivals and there’s a lot of history there,” said fourth-year stiker Faythe Lou. “It’s always a big mental challenge for us to stay disciplined and play our game against them.”

So far this year, the GeeGees have looked very strong

with a 2-0 record. The Ravens also looked good with a 1-0-1 record coming into the Sept. 3 match at Matt Anthony Field.

A signature of the Gees women’s soccer team has always been defence by attrition. Other teams cannot score if they don’t have the

opportunity to. Despite how close the scoreboard was throughout the majority of the game, the Ravens only registered eight shots in the match.

The Gee-Gees peppered the Ravens throughout the match with 32 shots, but only found the back of the net for the first time in the 78th minute when striker Breanna Burton scored her third goal of the season to break the tie.

Two minutes later, midfielder Faythe Lou added her third goal of the year and put the game out of reach for the Ravens.

“After putting so much offensive pressure on them all game it felt like a big relief to pot those two goals,” said Lou. “With our backline playing solid, it felt like one was all we needed, but the second goal sealed the deal.”

The victory extends the Gee-Gees’ perfect record to 3-0 ahead of a weekend series

against Ryerson and Toronto at home on Sept. 10 and 11.

It seems as though the team is taking the changes of the offseason in stride and is already systematically taking down tough opponents in 2016.

“I’ve definitely been happy to contribute on the scoresheet early in the season,” said Lou. “What’s more exciting to me than my own performance is the team’s performance. I think we’ve shown so far that there’s a lot of depth when it comes to offensive power, with lots of players, including rookies, already contributing.”

Sometimes heartbreak turns to anger, and Gee-Gees fans might really like this team when they’re angry.

The Gee-Gees will do battle with the Ryerson Rams at 1 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Matt Anthony Field.

Televising CIS has high upside for fans and broadcasters

It’s time for media giants to recognize university sports as a valuable asset Eric Davidson opinions editor

After their regular season television deal with Rogers fell through in 2014, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) has established a new deal with City. From Sept.

17 to Oct. 15, the television network will nationally televise four CIS football regular season games, including the Panda Game between Ottawa and Carleton on Oct. 1.

When Rogers axed the deal in 2014, they still lended CIS football and basketball playoff rights to their affiliate Sportsnet. But now, given the popularity of the games, they have extended the deal to City, another one of their affiliates.

Fans are hoping this will lead to more coverage of other Canadian university sports. If networks are smart, that may just be exactly what happens.

Rogers chose not to continue its contract with CIS because of high production costs and a small initial audience. However, given the

There’s a high upside for CIS sports on national TV.

current television landscape, broadcasters may have no choice but to continue to increase coverage of university sports in Canada.

After all, they need only look south of the border to see the potential upside of such coverage, especially for football.

ESPN paid $5.6 billion for broadcast rights to just the college football playoffs, the ratings reflected the worth of the purchase with 33.4 million viewers tuning in for the 2015 playoffs. Ratings

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

slipped this year, due mostly to bad decisions in broadcast timing, but the money still makes sense. If something similar were to happen in Canada, broadcasters likely wouldn’t have to eclipse the million mark for regular season and playoff coverage.

Often, the nature of entertainment businesses is that everyone is focused on holding exclusive rights to programming—that’s why actors and athletes can command grandiose salaries.

In the case of Canadian

broadcasters, the high fees go towards valuable properties like rights to broadcast the NHL and other major league sports. This feeds a cycle, and these properties become more and more viewed due to the high exposure, and thus command higher and higher prices.

That’s why certain networks work tirelessly on developing new properties.

NBC has Saturday Night Live, where they develop unknown comics, grow a fanbase, and, as a result, don’t

have to pay them ridiculous salaries.

This means that they need fewer of these ultra expensive properties, since they have created some of their own. Canadian broadcasters would be smart to follow a similar model with sports.

Not only that, but once they get national coverage, universities will build the property up themselves.

Having games televised can incentivize better players to play at the schools, raising the level of competition and quality of the broadcast.

There are regionally broadcasted games throughout the Western provinces, as well as in Quebec, so the teams reaping the most benefit of the new deal are those in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.

Football is a great jumping off point, but there are whole host of sports that can provide a content base ready to be grown into a profitable property.

But why is sports a good potential program to devel-

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op? Well, with the advent of online competitors like Netflix, which allow users to stream shows anytime they want and are commissioning more of their own content, TV networks only have one big advantage left—live events, especially sports.

No one wants to see the Super Bowl a day late, and that whole “in the moment” reaction is the greatest advantage TV networks have over Internet streaming services, which is why sports are such a great fit.

If Canadian TV networks don’t develop their sports content, they will all be left chasing whales like the NHL. And even if their bids are successful, they’ll be spending vast amounts of money to fill only a portion of their total air time.

If TV stations have any common sense, you’ll be seeing a lot more Canadian university sports on your TV screen in the not too distant future.

Sports | 15

Putting faces to Gee-Gees men’s soccer squad

Without a move to varsity on the horizon, the team still succeeds in flux spencer murdock sports editor

You probably haven’t heard of the Gee-Gees men’s soccer team—but that doesn’t bother them.

They’re a team that’s under competitive club status at the University of Ottawa—one step short of varsity—a level that they hope to achieve at some point in the future. However, for now, they are comfortably dominant at their level.

While the team doesn’t compete in official conference competition against any other universities in the province, they do play plenty of exhibition matches against top teams and have seen favourable results.

Players on the team have to foot some of the bill for playing expenses. The $500 the students put forward pays for their share of full kits, warm up attire, and travel, a price that would vanish if the team were granted varsity status.

Although the team is understandably concerned about its status, they are more worried about fielding a quality team

Gee-Gees men’s soccer athletes training on Matt Anthony Field.

and providing opportunity for male soccer players at the U of O to don the garnet and grey.

Since soccer is the world’s sport, the team prides itself on being one of the most diverse athletic teams at the university.

“We have about five or six languages currently spoken on the team, five or six different religions,” said Dave Piccini, one of the team’s head coaches.

Photo: Kim Wiens

“We’ve got a very diverse base with which we draw from, which I think is representative of the multicultural fabric of our school and the diverse fabric of our city.”

The team has witnessed a recent explosion in popularity in prospective players. They are holding another round of tryouts in September, which will bring the tally of players vying for a spot to over 100 for

this year alone.

Even though fourth-year captains Michael Bastianelli and Nicholas Faubert don’t have to worry about making the roster, they are still determined to see the team take the next step to varsity one day.

“It’s definitely good to see those (tryout) numbers,” said Faubert. “It’s tough not having the field time and the facilities to really help us grow as a pro-

FulcFit food series

Mom’s Mediterranean turkey meatloaf Spencer Murdock Sports Editor

When you were a kid, at some point in time your parents probably tried to force feed you a bland chunk of meatloaf. It’s kind of a weirdly essential part of the North American childhood experience. Luckily for me, my mom put a Mediterranean twist on meatloaf that made the whole exercise bearable. As such, put away the bad memories from the early 2000s and open yourself up to a cost-effective, filling, and regretfree dinner option that even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy.

gram. We’ve seen that we can compete with top-tier colleges and universities. We just need that one more step which is a few more practices if we had the field time.”

The team currently receives five hours of field time per week, which is something the club has to pay for. This fact would also change if the squad attains varsity status.

“The mentality in the club is really positive considering what we are given,” said Bastianelli. “Soccer is something that brings a large fan base … what we have right now is still entertaining enough for students to come watch and I encourage them to do so.”

Piccini lauded Sports Services for the help they provide on an operational level.

However, the competitive club system still hampers programs like men’s soccer and rugby, ones that would likely see the easiest transitions into varsity teams.

With significant success playing against Ontario University Athletics (OUA) clubs, as well as teams from Quebec

and the United States, the GeeGees men’s soccer team will have to keep their current status for the time being.

From the U of O’s perspective, it has always been a game of dollars and cents. Sports Services is only allotted money to support the varsity teams in their current lineup and, barring any significant investment either internally or externally, the team’s status will remain unchanged.

This season, the team will participate in a more organized league against colleges from Quebec, along with their regular gamut of exhibition games.

The team’s ultimate goal is clear, but Piccini knows it will take time.

“Obviously playing in the OUA would be a dream come true, and being ‘Canada’s university,’ I think it’s something we should absolutely strive for.”

The team is still finalizing their schedule, which will be posted on their social media @GeeGeesSoccer on Facebook and @GGmensoccer on Twitter.

During the school year, it’s all too easy to let your eating habits slip. To help fight this, the Fulcrum has some essential recipes to keep you full and fit all year long.

Ingredients: • 1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey, or chicken if preferred • 2 eggs • 1/4 cup of onions, diced • 1 cup of feta with oregano, sundried tomato, and pepper • 2 tablespoons oregano and parsley, chopped • 1 clove of garlic diced • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or zest • 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°. Oil standard loaf pan.

Step 2: Mix all ingredients by hand in bowl until combined.

Step 3: Turn out into oiled pan. Place loaf pan on baking sheet and place on

middle rack of preheated oven.

Step 4: Bake for 45–55 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Step 5: Serve with Tzatziki and a side of your choice.

Photo: CC, codesign.

16 | SPORTS

thefulcrum.ca

OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR Eric Davidson

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

Electoral reform referendum talks must reach all of Canada

Canadian government needs to better tailor discussions to each community eric davidson opinions editor

I

n the midst of the recent Brexit vote and the ongoing American election, Canadians have had a lot to chew on when it comes to voting practices.

This is especially true considering the fact that the current government came to power on a promise of widespread electoral reform.

The government is currently in the process of organizing hearings in different parts of the country that aim to inform Canadians about the potential changes to our voting system. The main topic of conversation revolves around whether we should abandon the current “first past the post” system, where candidates need to get more votes than the others in their riding, but don’t need a majority of votes.

This discussion is impor-

tant, because the question of whether or not the members of a democracy still trust their voting system is vital. Just take a look south of our border where politicians—most notably Donald Trump—are attempting to rally voters by appealing to fears that their voting system is “rigged.”

And Canadians seem to agree that discussion about alternative types of voting is important. A recent poll has shown that when it comes to deciding on the best voting system for our country, 65 per cent of Canadians believe any change must be made through a referendum.

However, even more important is making sure all communities across the country are well informed on the issues at hand—this means bringing proper discussion beyond big urban centres.

The recent Brexit referendum, which saw voters claiming they would have made a different decision if they had

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef recently held a discussion on electoral reform in Iqaluit. Photo: CC, Philip Halling.

been better informed, should serve as a warning—because they didn’t get to take it back.

But if uniform information distribution is the government’s goal, it’s not off to a strong start.

On Aug. 29, Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef began a “cross country tour” on electoral reform,

making an early stop in Iqaluit. The meeting was described by residents as a last-minute and poorly timed affair—being scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on a work day. The briefing also wasn’t translated into Inuktitut, the local language, meaning that many people would not have been able to partici-

pate anyway.

Northern communities already cite difficulties when it comes to accessibility under the current voting system, and if stronger efforts aren’t made to include them in reform discussion, there’s no reason to believe things will improve after a referendum.

Since it’s still early on Mon-

sef’s tour, the government needs to take this experience and learn from it quickly. Going forward, they really need to put in the time and effort to prepare for the specific needs of each region the tour visits. Because while Iqaluit is a unique location in a geographic and cultural sense, these kinds of differences exist all across the country and they all need to be accounted for.

If you’re going to decide on an important change in the way your country functions, you should ask the people what they think. And in a nation with as many diverse regions and groups as Canada, you can’t create a onesize-fits-all plan and march it across the country.

If all communities aren’t equally informed, we run a strong risk of leaving some without a voice, which is unacceptable if the goal of a referendum is to improve the lives of Canadians everywhere.

Private health care should play a bigger role in Canada

B.C. court case could set a precedent for expanding private health care sam hamza

Fulcrum contributor On Sept. 6, the Cambie Surgery Centre argued before the British Columbia Supreme Court that doctors should be allowed to work in both private and public health-care systems.

They also argued against the ban on “extra billing” for privately provided health services—that is “to be able to take the government or social insurance money and bill whatever they wish on top of it.”

B.C. Health Minister Jane Philpott says “many provisions of the B.C. legislation mirror those of the Canada Health Act, making this case of significant importance not only to British Columbians, but to all Canadians.” This is especially true if the

case should go up to the Supreme Court of Canada and become a nationwide precedent.

Would it be a bad thing if Canadian doctors could work in both private and public healthcare systems? No, not if it’s done right.

In the Great White North, most people’s gut reaction to the idea of health care reform is to not mess with the storied system that Tommy Douglas gave us.

However, this argument fails to take into account the fact that a two-tier system already exists in Canada.

For instance, we already pay for medical services like physiotherapy, eye, and dental care, and many prescription medications out-of-pocket. With this in mind, privatized health care could

lead to more competition among health-care service providers to provide better and more accessible services at a more affordable rate. After all, private healthcare will have to be better than public healthcare to survive.

It could also be more competitive in terms of professional talent, offering the opportunity of higher salaries to doctors and nurses, thereby discouraging them from pursuing opportunities in other countries, especially the US. In 2000, a Statistics Canada report found that 25 per cent of newly graduated doctors left for the US. A follow up in 2015 found that 10 per cent of health professionals go south of the border.

There are also concerns that the Affordable Care Act—also

known as Obamacare—will cause more health professionals to go stateside to fill the growing demand.

Some fear that concentrating health-care resources on those who can afford them will leave those who can’t with longer wait times.

Conversely, proponents of a two-tier health-care system argue that it will free up access to the public health-care system.

The answer, as is often the case, lies somewhere in the middle.

The United States is often used as a cautionary tale when it comes to private healthcare.

But people forget that countries like England, Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands also have two-tier or privatized health-care systems, and they

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don’t have the bad reputation the U.S. does.

One example is St. Goran’s hospital in Sweden, which is run by Capio, a private company. The hospital styles itself as being more efficient while maintaining quality, and so far numbers have backed it up.

As of 2013, the average hospital stay in Sweden was 4.5 days, compared with 5.2 days in France and 7.5 days in Germany, with Swedish citizens living slightly longer than those neighbors, who have a lower level of privatization in healthcare.

Because of this, there has to be a reason to deny doctors the right to collect extra billing in private practice. As long as they do so without prejudice to public healthcare, I fail to see why not.

OPINIONS | 17

Regulate hookah establishments, don’t ban them outright Health concerns are legitimate, but a ban won’t solve the problem eric davidson opinions editor

On Aug. 31, Ottawa city council decided to ban water pipes, or hookahs, in public spaces. The ban is set to come into play on Dec. 1, though it will not be enforced until April of next year.

The decision came after the Ottawa Board of Health released a report which recommended that the City ban hookahs in public spaces. However, since smoking hookahs is a cultural activity for many living in the nation’s capital and the change will negatively impact businesses, it has drawn harsh criticism.

Now don’t get me wrong, the findings from the Ottawa Board of Health are serious, and should be acted on. But for a better solution, we should look to what Toronto city councillors cooked up after a similar ban was voted on in

their city on Apr. 1. Instead of an outright ban, some councillors advocated for a hookah lounge permit, which would allow businesses to sell non-tobacco hookah products to people over 19.

Hookah products, which often do not contain tobacco, are widely considered a safer option than regular smoking, according to the same Ottawa Board of Health report. However, the report found that they can often be more dangerous—even without tobacco in them—as they still expose users to carbon monoxide, tar, and other toxins. The board also found that smoking hookah can in many cases normalize smoking tobacco.

If people go to an establishment that is branded as offering hookahs, you could argue that potential customers should know what they’re getting into.

But, as the report says,

Ottawa city council has decided to ban hookahs in public places.

many people do not really understand the risks.

It also points out that the risk of second hand smoke is significant, and also underestimated.

The risk of second-hand

smoke gives credence to the idea of banning it in public places, especially in the presence of minors.

However, banning the practice outright brings up problems of its own. For

Photo: CC, Dean Moriarty.

one thing, it will incentivize people to smoke more at home, increasing the levels of second-hand smoke affecting friends and family members. If there are still licenced establishments,

at least there will be other outlets.

After all, there are other drugs in Canada that can cause long-term harm, yet remain largely ingrained in our culture—perhaps the best example is alcohol.

We know high levels of alcohol are dangerous, with risks of long-term liver and kidney damage, poor shortterm decision-making, addiction, and more. And yet, we allow bars to sell copious amounts of alcohol, as long as it’s properly regulated and as long as people who consume it are of age.

There is a strong rationale for restricting hookah use. But hookah lounge permits, where businesses can sell to people over 19, is a much better solution than an outright ban. The regulation will serve as a signal that there is indeed a danger, without demonizing the practice altogether.

Canada needs to save its free trade deal with Europe Global trade relationships are important now more than ever nicholas Robinson staff contributor

Sigmar Gabriel, the ViceChancellor of Germany, has recently claimed that the controversial Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the United States has failed. As TTIP’s future is faltering, the future of Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) free trade deal between Canada and the EU is also looking doubtful.

In response, a group of German non-governmental organizations have launched the largest-ever German civil lawsuit seeking to block CETA. At the same time the European Commission has decided that the deal must be individually ratified by every single national Parliament, as some European governments are becoming more and more reluctant to back CETA.

18 | OPINIONS

Since the EU is Canada’s second-largest trading partner and second-largest source of foreign direct investment, it is very important that Canada move to break down barriers between us and Europe. CETA could accomplish this very thing by abolishing the vast majority of trade barriers between Canada and the EU. and making it much easier to trade services.

These barriers hit small

businesses the hardest, meaning that those businesses will benefit the most if CETA succeeds. CETA will also allow more European goods to be sold in Canada, giving consumers access to a greater variety of products.

Free trade is often accused of undermining labour rights and environmental protections, but CETA explicitly guarantees that Canada and the EU can keep high standards in both

those areas.

CETA is also often accused of undermining national sovereignty. However this line of thinking fails to recognise that people should matter more than governments. Think of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was itself very controversial in the early 90s. By and large, almost none of the claimed problems happened in any significant way. Instead, it’s

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel claimed that a trade deal between the EU and U.S. has failed.

Photo: CC, E Pluribus Anthony, Verdy P. Edits by Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

had a very positive effect on our economy, helping to effectively double the combined gross domestic product of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico since 1993.

There is also European stability to think about.

After Brexit, and with the French and German elections in 2017, the failure of CETA would just add fuel to the Eurosceptic fire which risks severely undermining one of Canada’s key international allies.

CETA could also help Canadian unity. Our free trade deals with the rest of the world could set a good example for finally breaking down trade barriers between our own provinces.

In Canada, we are extremely lucky to have a solid political consensus in favour of being open to the world.

But it looks like our international allies do not have such a solid consensus. In the U.S., both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have

declared themselves against NAFTA. In the U.K., both Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn are against TTIP. Especially as CETA is so close to ratification after almost a decade of negotiation and review, we should act quickly on free trade while we still can.

It looks like the great political divide of our age is not left vs. right, or capitalism vs. communism. Instead, it’s all about pro-globalization vs. anti-globalization, especially since the big political debates today are the refugee crisis, free trade deals, immigration, international institutions, and the like.

As we move forward further into the 21st century, we should be open, modern, and engaging with the world, and trade deals like CETA are a great way to achieve this.

We should be tearing down the walls that stand between us, not building them up.

thefulcrum.ca

new residence for students stuck in U-Pass line

University converts Morisset Library into a makeshift residence Alan Kazakov

Fulcrum Contributor Following complaints from students having to deal with an uncharacteristically long line to get their U-Pass, the University of Ottawa has decided to set up a new residence building to house these stranded students.

Since the line has now backed up to the fourth floor of Morisset Library, the university administration decided to temporarily convert this building into a housing option for as long as it takes to process every student.

Since the student federation’s recent financial troubles have left them unable to deal with this problem effectively, the U of O Housing Service has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Not only have they started to remove the library’s collection of books in order to turn the shelves into makeshift beds, but they have also renamed the building Kafka Residence.

“The name is pretty fitting,” said Aline Long, a third-year business stu-

dent at the U of O. “At this point, I would literally rather be turned into a giant insect than spend another minute in this line.”

Others are saying that this new residence is an outright necessity, especially since this year’s U-Pass line has already claimed the lives of 57 students who have died of starvation, burst bladders, and sheer boredom.

Hundreds of others have decided to simply drop out and enroll at Carleton, which some consider a fate worse than death.

While students now have a chance to be free from the burden of standing for long periods of time, they will get no reprieve from administrative bureaucracy.

After spending days dealing with a distribution centre that has all the organization and clarity of a Jackson Pollock painting, students must now face the equally confounding process of applying to the Kafka Residence.

“Given the short-term nature of the situation at hand, we tried to make the application process as simple as we

After the U-Pass line reached a staggering length of 2.6 km, the university will open a new residence to accommodate students.

could,” said Franz McCauly, a Housing Service representative.

To apply for a room in Kafka Residence, students are first asked to fill out the blue C-52A form which they can pick up on the third floor and hand in

on the fifth floor.

After that, they will have to go back down to the first floor to fill out the new revised orange A-52C form, and hand it in on the seventh floor.

Housing Service declined to com-

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

ment when they were reminded that Morisset Library only has six floors.

The conversion of Morisset into Kafka Residence is set to be completed

by Oct. 16, and designers have no doubt the lines will still be going strong.

Ex-Trudeau advisor faces hard questions from new students

Political questions range from hair products to bromance with U.S. president eric davidson Opinions Editor Roland Paris, who spent six months as a senior advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has returned to teach at the University of Ottawa.

“It’s been a good experience working for the federal government, but it’s time to move on,” said Paris. “Besides, at this university I can rub elbows with Ottawa’s real political powerhouse—the SFUO.” Paris said his time with Trudeau has led him to rethink his teaching style.

“Let’s just say I’ve learned a few lessons on how to connect with young people, and I’m excited to bring these techniques to the classroom,” said Paris. “I can neither confirm nor deny that I will be bringing baby pandas to my lectures.”

If Paris is excited to return to the university, students are

Roland Paris has returned to teach at the U of O after advising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Photo: CC, US Embassy Canada, edits by Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

even more thrilled to receive him—if only to ask him questions about his former boss.

“Because of the position he held in Trudeau’s government, he can answer so many of my burning questions about how

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our Prime Minister has been conditioned,” said Neal Jenkins, a second-year political science student. “No seriously, what conditioner does he put in his hair? I’ve been trying to replicate his style for months.”

Interest surrounding Paris’ insider information about Trudeau has reached a fever pitch on campus, so much so that he’s had to hide out in the basement of Tabaret during peak hours.

“What excites me the most is Paris’ insight on the current government’s bilateral relations with foreign powers,” said Larry Finkelstein, a thirdyear arts student. “In other words, I want more details on Trudeau’s bromance with Obama!”

Finkelstein continued “I also have some pressing questions on the issue of the Senate in Canada— what was it like to punch Patrick Brazeau in the face during a boxing match?”

Even doe-eyed first-years have been quick to bombard Paris with political questions.

“Trudeau got so much attention for how he made his first cabinet, and I could really use some insight on that,” said Brandon McCoy, a first-year english student. “I bought a cabinet from IKEA and I still can’t figure it out.”

Paris said he’s amused by the inquiries, although he wishes they were a little more sophisticated.

“I’m happy students are taking an interest in federal politics, but I do wish they would ask me some more substantive questions.”

Paris said he’s been stopped all across campus and interrogated about minor Trudeau trivia.

“The hotdog guy on Laurier wouldn’t give me my food until I told him Justin’s workout routine,” he said.

Paris said that he knows the shallow questions will subside, and things will go back to normal, with his time beside Trudeau eventually fading into memory.

“Honestly, that’s why I came back to the U of O. I’m sick of people saying he has better hair than me,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to working with new university president Jacques Frémont.

“He’s a stylish guy, but I think I can finally say I have nicer hair than my boss.”

THE TOMATo | 19

DISTRACTIONS Dear Di

Dear Di,

FEATURES EDITOR Alexa-Eliza Carter

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

Dear Di,

After hooking up with some guy last week, I feel like I need to consider doing some serious manscaping. He was about to go down on me, but he stopped. I think his exact words next were “Woah, it’s a jungle down here. I’ll try to work my way around it.” Although I could tell he was teasing, it was still slightly embarrassing. I guess I didn’t really think much of it before. It seems like there are so many unwritten rules about body hair— could you fill me in?

I told my partner that I prefer to have sex without condoms, but he wasn’t a fan of the idea. We’re both men, so there’s no need to worry about unwanted pregnancy, and we’ve both been tested recently for STIs. What’s the big deal?

-Bareback Boning

-Manscaping Mayhem Dear BB, Dear MM, First of all, don’t be embarrassed about this little incident.

Body hair is a natural thing that everyone contends with— and no partner, long or short term, should pressure you to style, shave, or trim if your preference is to go au naturel.

But if you’re finding that your thick man bush is hindering your ability to get off, there’s no shame in taming the garden.

If you’re in a long-term relationship, and going bare doesn’t bother you, you might also want to compromise with your loved one—but ultimately, it’s your body, and your choice.

That said, giving yourself a proper trim can be a dicey prospect in amateur hands, since there’s a lot of delicate equipment down there that could be easily damaged by a razor.

But if you want to make your pelvic region more accessible, there is a safe way to do it.

Here’s a play-by-play. Take a hot shower first, then use an alcohol-free shave gel that has some aloe in it. Always rub down any equipment being used in your pelvic region with an alcohol wipe. For your scrotum, pull the skin taut with one hand and use the razor or trimmer in the other. For the first few times, you may need to stand over a mirror to get all the right angles. Now that you’re all done, grab a moisturizer with aloe to soothe.

If you do decide to go bare, you may also want to consider trimming your chest, back, and buttocks to maintain consistency. For this, you should be using a beard trimmer or clipper to get the job done.

Above all, don’t forget that your body isn’t a wax figure— people will naturally find themselves with hairs, pimples, freckles and more “unattractive” features surfacing all the time. With that in mind, jungle or no jungle, don’t be afraid to go wild.

Love, Di 20 | DISTRACTIONS

So long as you are having anal sex, it is still vitally important to use protection.

For example, if a man ejaculates during anal penetration, the fluid is absorbed into the body and can cause a prostate infection.

Men may be less likely to get a bladder infection like women do, but they can still end up with a prostate infection, and may not even know it.

The risks of going bareback don’t end there. If you don’t use a condom, it’s hard to prevent bacteria from transferring from your partner’s anus to your urethra.

Despite your distaste for rubbers, not all are the same—and your choice can be the difference maker in how you feel about condoms. You’ll want to stick with something that has less texture.

Always keep in mind that the rectum is a tight, dry place, so contraceptives that are studded or ribbed may not be the best option out there.

You’ll also need to go slow, communicate, and have lube handy to avoid the potentially painful parts of re-entry.

Bottom line: even if pregnancy and STIs aren’t a risk here, you should still take every precaution to protect yourself.

Condoms all the way!

Love, Di

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

thefulcrum.ca

sept. 8—16, 2016

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC arts Sports FUN Thinking

Thursday, Sept. 8

Tale of Tales (nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival), Mayfair Theatre—9 p.m.

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

Friday, Sept. 9

Baconpalooza, opening day, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum—7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10

613flea (curated flea market), final event of the summer season, Lansdowne Park—10 a.m.

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

Gee-Gees football vs. McMaster, GeeGees Field (Lees Campus)—1 p.m.

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

Ottawa Porchfest (local musicians showcase), opening day, Hintonburg—1 p.m.

Canada vs. USA, World Cup of Hockey (pre-tournament game), Canadian Tire Centre—7 p.m.

Northern Lights, sound and light show, final day, Parliament Hill—9 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 11

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun exhibit, (Marie-Antoinette’s official portraitist), last day for exhibit, National Gallery of Canada—10 a.m.

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

Ottawa 67’s vs.

Gatineau Olympiques, TD Place—2 p.m.

Ottawa Turkish Festival, last day, Kanata—7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 12

Colouring Night, colouring books and cold drinks, The Hintonburg Public House—7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 14 Sonja and the Bull (Croatian Film Festival), ByTowne Cinema—6:50 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept.

15

The Lobster (Colin Farrell film), ByTowne Cinema—9:05 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 16 Dropkick Murphys, CityFolk Festival, Lansdowne Park— 6:15 p.m.

thefulcrum.ca

DISTRACTIONS | 21

22 | LETTERS

thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL Volume 77, Issue 3, sept. 8, 2016 Waiting in the U-Pass line since 1942.

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

Savannah “Desmarais” Awde Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Kim “Tabaret” Wiens Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Simard” Darbyson Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Graham “Morisset” Robertson News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Anchal “SITE” Sharma Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Alexa-Eliza “Lamoureux” Carter Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Montpetit” Murdock Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Eric “FSS” Davidson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “Colonel By” McRae-Sadik Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Allegra “Hagen” Morgado Social Media Coordinator social@thefulcrum.ca Reine “Hamelin” Tejares Webmaster webmaster@thefulcrum.ca Zainab “Perez” Al-Mehdar Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Lucas “D’Iorio” Ghosn General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

Nadia “Vanier” Drissi El-Bouzaidi Nick “Biosciences” Robinson Will “Fauteux” Fifield Tyler “Marion” Jensen Naomi “Brooks” Harris Madison “Thompson” McSweeney Mariah “Academic Hall” Ahmed Sam “90U” Hamza Alan “Louis Pasteur” Kazakov

Board of Directors

Mackenzie “Roger Guindon” Grey Kate “Lees” Murray Carolyn “Marchand” Mutis Jonathan “UCU” Rausseo

Raghad “Sacré-Coeur” Sheikh-Khalil Will “Hyman-Soloway” Hume Maggie “Gendron Hall” Gollish Niharika “Cube” Namulla Julia “Minto” Miraflores Thivya “Stanton” Naganathan Cover Credits: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik

When nationalism is a red (and white) flag Last month, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew divided reaction when he decided to sit down during the United States’ national anthem in protest of police brutality and attacks against black lives in America. While many have since spoken up in solidarity with Kaepernick, initial comments revolved around the inappropriate means by which he chose to protest.

Take University of Michigan’s football head coach Jim Harbaugh, Kaepernick’s former coach. In a press conference, Harbaugh acknowledged his right to sit during the anthem, but emphasized he did not “respect the motivation or the action.” Harbaugh later clarified via Twitter that it wasn’t the motivation he took issue with, it was the method of action.

Here lies an interesting distinction. While a person has the constitutional right to protest, as soon as it contradicts traditional views of American superiority, it’s deemed unacceptable by the NFL community and beyond.

Never mind that the U.S. constitution upholds the right to peaceful protest in its first amendment, or that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s statistics from 1995 to 2012 show that black individuals shoulder 54.5 per cent of all hate crimes—an overwhelmingly greater number than in all other measured counterparts.

This is also an interesting reaction to Kaepernick’s silent protest given the slew of skeletons in the NFL’s closet, with players continuing to appear in team line ups after arrests made for charges of domestic violence, driving under the influence, among other offences—with the NFL barely blinking an eye.

Given the current state of black lives in the U.S., the clear human rights drawn out by the constitution, and the culture of silence the NFL community has endorsed, why are we drawing the line at a silent protest during the national anthem? Why does nationalism trump human rights?

Although it’s easy to criticize the U.S. while Kaepernick’s story dominates headlines, the problem isn’t contained to south of the border. In fact, the Kaepernick debacle draws an interesting parallel with the reaction of Canadians to the late Mauril Bélanger’s Bill C-210.

The bill seeks to change one line in the English version of the national anthem, from “true patriot love, in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command”, to ensure it is gender neutral. Although the change is seemingly minor, given that our Charter of Rights and Freedoms emphasizes equality of all “male and female persons”, it struck controversy in its first reading in Parliament and was voted down 144-127. At a second reading

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in May 2016, Bélanger received a standing ovation after reading the bill—but still faced an adamant opposition.

Bill C-210’s second reading was met with protest from the Conservative side, with MP Larry Maguire stating that “Rewriting the lyrics of our national anthem in the name of political correctness would go too far.” MP Karen Vecchio added that while her party does support women, the bill’s “gesture” does not create opportunities for women.

These reactions from Conservative MPs are troubling, given the reduction of the Status of Women Canada budget by 37 per cent under the previous Harper government. Beginning in October 2006, women’s rights organizations were no longer able to receive federal funding for advocacy, lobbying, research, or for the operation of services used primarily by women, such as rape crisis centres.

The Trudeau government has since taken steps to remedy this misguided relic of the Harper era, but it’s important to recognize the damage opposition to this change in our national anthem is causing to Canadian women.

The anthem has, in fact, been changed before, as Conservative MP Kelly Block mentioned during the second reading of Bill C-210. The lyric was changed from “thou dost in us command” to “in all thy sons command” in 1913, a change Block called a “proud reference to Canada’s history and the first time that Canada fought as an independent nation and won at Vimy Ridge.”

What Block failed to consider is that despite having limited rights in Canada at the time, 3,000 female nurses served in Canada’s armed forces, and 2,504 worked with the

Canadian Army Medical Corps in World War One. Although no one is questioning the significance of the work Canadian men did at Vimy Ridge, it is essential to recognize that without the work women did both in medicine and on the home front, Canada may not have been as successful.

The lesson we can take from both of these events is that, throughout our nation’s long, rich history, women have proven that they deserve equal respect to men for elevating Canada to its successful place among world leaders today, just like black lives in America have the right to be safe and respected just as much as other lives do. And those facts should not be cast aside based on a gut reaction to blindly protect the perceived stature of a nation through the national anthem.

The tide has begun to turn this past week, as it was announced Kaepernick was—despite the skepticism—selected for the 49ers roster, and that his jersey sales skyrocketed to the third-highest selling jersey on the NFL Shop site. U.S. President Barack Obama also spoke out in support of Kaepernick, saying that he was “exercising his constitutional right” by protesting during the national anthem.

Among the 49ers fans that are burning jerseys is a clear group of supporters that understand the anthem is meant to represent all individuals across the nation, and aren’t afraid to challenge it when the country is failing to meet the needs of its citizens. Going forward this is something Canada must also keep in mind, because the lesson doesn’t change much when we talk about Canadian pride—when we’re afraid to challenge nationalism, that’s when our human rights record suffers the most.

Colin Kaepernick sparked criticism for silently protesting during the U.S. national anthem.

Photo: CC, Brook Ward.

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