VOL. 78 ISSUE 9
oct. 30, 2017
EYES ON THE PRIZE: NATIONALS PG. 12
In this week’s issue... Waiting to strike P. 5 Will part-time professors go on strike?
Off on the write foot P. 8 What’s the deal with National Novel Writing Month? The cost of getting your foot in the door P.10 How should universities approach unpaid internships? We are the champions! P. 12 Women’s rugby win RSEQ, set eyes on U-Sports championship U of T mental health policy has the wrong idea P. 14 Policy shouldn’t make people’s lives harder Di dishes on DILFS P. 17 What to do when your hookup has kids
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NEWS EDITOR
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What a strike by part-time profs could mean for the U of O
The impacts of a strike on students’ classes, tuition fees Graham Robertson Managing editor
T
he Association of Part-Time Professors of the University of Ottawa (APTPUO) has recently voted in favour of a strike mandate following unsuccessful negotiations for a new collective agreement with the U of O.
According to an Oct. 20 post on their Facebook page, 92 per cent of the association’s members showed support for a strike mandate after three days of voting. The vote comes after over 14 meetings with the U of O to come to a new agreement, following the expiry of a
previous agreement on Aug. 31, 2016. The post outlines that with this mandate, the association is “hopeful that it will be able to obtain a fair and equitable agreement (with the university).” In an email to students on Oct. 20, David Graham, U of O vice-president academic and provost wrote that “two days of mediation (were) planned, on October 26 and 27. The two sides have also agreed to continue talks without a mediator October 28 and 29.” Néomie Duval, manager of media relations for the U of O wrote in an email to the Fulcrum that the APTPUO “would be in a legal position to strike as of Oct. 30 at midnight,” should no agreement be made by that point between the associa-
tion and the university. What are the impacts that this strike could have on students at the U of O? Approximately 12,000 professors at colleges across Ontario went on strike on Monday, Oct. 16, and according to the Globe and Mail, it is “impossible to say” when this strike will end. When professors go on strike, they are required to cease all communication with students. As part-time professors currently make up 50 per cent of all teaching staff at the U of O, this could mean that a large portion of the university’s student body would be out of classes indefinitely, which would put midterm exams and other assessments on hold. The Globe also reports
If an agreement is not reached, part-time profs could go on strike on Monday, Oct. 30.
that students affected by the Ontario college strike currently will not receive any refunds for lost teaching time, though “tens of thousands of students have signed a petition asking for fee refunds of $40 for each day that the strike
is on.” Should the APTPUO go on strike, this could similarly leave U of O students without financial compensation for lost hours of instruction. According to Duval, the U of O administration is “committed to make all
Photo: CC, Nathan Keirn.
possible efforts to reach a tentative agreement before the deadline of October 30 at midnight.” Duval noted that students will be be alerted about the strike via email during the weekend of Oct. 28-29.
SFUO by-election fills few positions, passes referenda
The passed referenda will create a Multi-Faith Centre and fund UOSERT eric Davidson editor-in-chief
The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) held its fall by-election on Oct. 17-19. The purpose of the election was to fill one executive position, vice-president social, and five Board of Administration (BOA) positions: special student representative, one representative each from the faculties of Civil Law and Medicine, and two representatives from the faculty of Health Sciences. However, most of these positions were not even contested. Of the six positions, the only one filled was a BOA seat for the faculty of Health Sciences, which was won by Simran Aggarwal. As she ran unopposed, Aggarwal
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won with 310 yes votes to 31 no votes. Students also voted on two referendum questions. The first question was: Are you in favour to contribute $1.25 per fulltime student and $0.65 per part-time student per semester in order to fund the development of a Multi-Faith Centre on campus as a Student Federation service? The question passed, with 2287 students in favour versus 1241 against. The second question was: Do you agree to contribute $1.50 per fulltime student and $0.75 per part-time student per winter semester for the University of Ottawa Student Emergency Response Team (UOSERT) in order to maintain a high level of
first aid care on campus? This question passed as well, with 2844 students in favour versus 667 against. Voter turnout in the by-election was 10.12 per cent. This is higher than last October’s by-election, which saw a turnout of 7.82 per cent, but lower than the recent election in February, which saw a turnout rate of 14.6 per cent. According to section 4.3.5.4 of the most recent constitution document posted on the SFUO website, at least five per cent of the student population must vote on a referendum question for the results to be valid. Since voter turnout in this election was just above ten per cent, the referendum results hold.
The recent SFUO by-elections saw ten per cent voter turnout.
Photo: CC, 472301.
NEWS | 5
Oct. 15 BOA discusses audit, new comptroller general
Audit notes lack of control on executive spending, updates given on clubs Eric Davidson Editor-in-chief
The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) held a Board of Administration (BOA) meeting on Oct. 15, which dealt with audit results, the upcoming General Assembly (GA), and the health of SFUO-run businesses. EXECUTIVE UPDATES SFUO president Hadi Wess said that the SFUO was finishing up talks with protection services to make sure that the University of Ottawa Student Emergency Response Team (UOSERT) would be able to administer the nasal spray version of naloxone, a drug used to help people who have overdosed on opiates. He said that they also discussed with protection when it would be appropriate for police to be called during SFUO-run events. Wess also said that the upcoming General Assembly, where students can submit and vote on motions affecting the SFUO, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Auditorium. The GA structure underwent some changes last year, with
the SFUO amending it so that any motion passed at the GA must be approved by the BOA before coming into effect. Quorum for the GA was also lowered from one per cent of the student population to 0.75 per cent. Wess said that the opening of an SFUO office on the south side of campus has been delayed. According to Wess, while they had found a suitable space, other student associations wanted to share it with them. Wess said that they couldn’t accept that situation as there would need to be confidential documents kept there. Vice-president equity Leila Moumouni-Tchouassi said that that 330 clubs have been registered so far, and that registration for the winter semester will open on Nov. 20. Vice-president services and communications Kathryn LeBlanc added that the communications team would be auditing the clubs website to improve user experience. Vice-president finance Rizki Rachiq said that while the budget for the federation for this year is ready, it has yet to be posted online because
he is unhappy with how it’s laid out. He also noted that Café Alt will close for three weeks starting on Dec. 11 for renovations. Rachiq continued that the SFUO is trying to include Gardasil, an HPV vaccine, in students’ health plans with Greenshield. He also noted that when the SFUO’s former comptroller general Yannick Mugabo was arrested, he had been keeping some of the SFUO’s financial documents at his house, and the SFUO is in the process of trying to recover them.
AUDIT RESULTS The annual audit of the SFUO was presented by representatives of the firm Deloitte. The representatives said that the firm found only one area for recommendation, and that was around executive expenses, as they were unable to find any policy in the organization that regulates executive expenses. Rachiq said later that this recommendation stemmed from last year, when the previous comptroller general, Tanner Tallon, criticized the executive for spending on taxis, noting that just two
Photo: Eric Davidson.
members spent $1,820.64 the previous year. Tallon also brought up other expenserelated issues later in the year. After the initial presentation, the board voted to move in camera, and the rest of the discussion between the auditors and the board was closed to the public. OTHER BUSINESS The board voted to create
a portal to connect students with professors who need help with research, academic, or clerical work, to expand the range of opportunities offered to students on campus. Rachiq also discussed the financial health of student businesses. A more detailed breakdown can be found below. The SFUO also ratified their new comptroller gener-
al, who will replace Mugabo. Rachiq, who is in charge of Human Resources, said that the SFUO had received two applications for the position, and both were strong. Of the two, the candidate Pamela Bader was deemed most suited to the position. The board voted to approve Bader, with all ‘yes’ votes, save for one abstention. Bader was not present at the meeting.
A look at the finances of the SFUO’s student businesses Agora and PIVIK strong, Café Alt and 1848 see weak numbers Eric Davidson editor-in-chief
At the most recent Board of Administration (BOA) meeting of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), vice-president finance Rizki Rachiq went over the health of the federation’s various businesses. While it was a strong year for PIVIK and Agora, the numbers looked much worse for Café Alt and 1848. Rachiq said that rent and salaries have increased at Café Alt, but he is still projecting a net income of $9,835 from the business this year. Rachiq noted that last year had been hard for Café Alt, saying it had been closed frequently due to human resources issues. Last year the cafe was projected to make $3,181, but ended up losing $44,501. Rachiq said he is more confident about the business this year. Faculty of Sciences rep-
resentative Michel Antoun asked if it was even worth keeping the cafe open if it caused so many problems for the federation for such a small profit. The executive argued in response that it was important to have these student-run businesses. Rachiq said that 1848 has also been having problems of its own, and has generally been the least profitable of the student businesses. He said that it faces a lot of competition from bars downtown, specifically in the Byward Market. He noted that last year was especially bad, as numerous equipment broke down and the bar had to be closed on several occasions. The bar was projected to make $5,705 last year, but ended up losing $35,780. Rachiq noted that this number would have been worse, but the SFUO did not have to pay rent for the space last year. However, it will have
to pay this year. He said the SFUO is still negotiating this with the university, and is projected to make $6,746 this year. Rachiq said that the SFUO is considering renovating the bar to make it more attractive and bring in more business, adding that the renovations would cost one to two million dollars. However, things are looking much better for the student-run bookstore Agora, which posted a profit of $313,608 last year, beating the projection of $269,069. The SFUO is expecting even higher profits from Agora this year, at $342,903. The student-run store PIVIK is also in the black. It posted a profit of $74,328 last year, which was below the projected $110,072, but still positive. Rachiq notes that the store had to raise its prices last year. A profit of $80,182 is projected for this year.
6 | NEWS
Photo: Christine Wang.
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NEWS | 7
A&C EDITOR Ryan Pepper arts@thefulcrum.ca
ARTS&CULTURE U of O students commit to write novel in 30 days (613) 695-0062 @pep_ryan
National Novel Writing Month challenges young creatives Paméla Bertrand Fulcrum contributor
E
very November, young writers are challenged with a daunting task—to write 50,000 words in one month. The challenge is organized by National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a nonprofit determined to get every writer to showcase their ideas to the world.
Participants are challenged to write 50,000 words of their project—be it a novel, screenplay, poem, short stories, or essays—during the month of November. Winners earn discounts on writer-friendly deals from the sponsors of NaNoWriMo, as well as the bragging rights of having written 50,000
words in 30 days. Sinead Huffman, a fourthyear English major at the University of Ottawa, has participated in NaNoWriMo every year since grade 12, winning four out of her five years. “A bunch of people get together and just write,” she said. “Being around that many productive people, it makes it easier to be productive yourself.” NaNoWriMo is notable for getting writers out and active with others in their field. The organization has Municipal Liaisons who organize a variety of live events for writers to build connections. A kick-off party usher in the beginning of NaNoWriMo. They also organize what’s called a “write-in,” where contestants gather to write together. For those who can’t be there in person, NaNoWriMo hosts virtual write-in live-streams on their YouTube channel. Additionally, there is an all-day, all-night write-in, for the more
daring kind, though the dates for this year have yet to be announced. Finally, to end the month, there is a “Thank God it’s over party!” For Huffman, NaNoWriMo got her into the habit of writing everyday. “It helps you to get in the habit of writing every day, because that’s the key, right,” Huffman said. “If you write 500 words a day for a year, you’ve got a novel but it’s just that keeping going is where a lot of people will run into trouble.” NaNoWriMo is full of incredible resources to help aspiring writers. Their forums range from connecting with others and finding your inspiration, to how to improve your technique and edit. These give a sense of community to up and coming writers, whether online or in person. The pressure to write both a novel and do schoolwork can seem intimidating, but Huffman said there are ways to get around that.
“Last year I had to count a couple of my essays as part of my word count for NaNo to be able to meet the goal and get all my essays done at the same time,” Huffman said. “If you need to do a school project, you can count that towards your word goal.” Huffman’s favourite thing about NaNoWriMo is the community she formed with writing friends. “It’s just so much fun to know people and to talk to people who are doing the same thing. They’re all interested in writing and they all have the same goal as you.” In essence, NaNoWriMo is an opportunity to write and allow it to be imperfect. Huffman says NaNoWriMo helped her become a better writer, by letting go of her perfectionism. The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to get a “Draft Zero,” just getting the words on the page. Aspiring writers can visit NaNoWriMo’s website for more information and to register.
NaNoWriMo is a non-profit to encourage writing.
Photo: Courtesy of NaNoWriMo.
Ancient Greek play gets postmodern update in Ismene
Sequel to Antigone contains messages relevant for our time Ryan Pepper
Arts & culture editor Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone now has a sequel 2000 years later. Starring a cast of eight women, the University of Ottawa’s Department of Theatre is putting on a postmodern sequel rooted both in contemporary society and ancient Greece, with morals that are relevant to our own time. The play, based on Antigone, is told from the perspective of Antigone’s sister Ismene, who in the original Theban plays is a passive observer to a lot of violence and death. The purpose of this modern retelling was to give Ismene more of a story. She is obedient to authority in Sophocles’ original, but is a stronger character in this remake. “(Ismene) moves from being a kind of passive observer to her own agent,” said Emma Hickey, a fourth-year theatre student at the University of Ottawa. The show’s overarching theme of justice isn’t necessar-
Ismene runs Oct. 31st to Nov. 4.
ily Grecian either—the play captures universal themes that are very relevant today. “Just because you didn’t do something in the moment doesn’t mean you can’t impact things in the future,” Hickey said.
8 | ARTS & CULTURE
The show also contains a small in-joke, though you’d have to watch it a couple of times to notice it. Most of the lines are improvised—the play has only three characters but eight actors—who swap their lines around or speak in uni-
Photo: Christine Wang.
son. The character of Creon, for instance, is voiced by all the actors for most of the play. “The lines, we improv’d who said what. It wasn’t like we got specific characters and said, ‘These are your lines,’” Hickey said. “The lines were improv’d,
and over time it kind of solidifies who said what.” Despite changes to theatre since days of the Ancient Greeks, we keep turning to their work for many reasons. “Back then, (plays) were mostly used to convey (a) political message, so I think the point of theatre is to go where no one has gone before … to push those boundaries, and the Greek plays do that in an artistic way,” said Sophie McIntosh, a fourthyear theatre student. Antigone might have been written in the 400s BCE, but that play, and its contemporary re-telling, has a lot to say about our current society. “The show is about witnessing something, and with the political climate that’s happening everywhere, sometimes I feel like the show is about witnessing something and then taking an action to do something that you feel is right, whether or not it actually is,” said Z Chubb, a fifth-year theatre student. “I feel like that’s
an important thing to see right now … to be able to see Ismene, who was originally so powerless, then do something that had a consequence.” The avant-garde sensibilities of the play might at first turn some people off, but there are plenty of reasons people should see the performance. In addition to its highly relevant messages and themes, it is a unique theatre experience that combines chorus singing, dancing, set design, and script in a new and interesting way. “Basically, it’s a very different kind of play, it’s not a traditional play where there’s a storyline or specific characters,” said Jasmine Massé, a fourth-year theatre student. “If they want to see a cool movement show with singing and cool lighting effects than they should come.” Ismene runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. at Academic Hall (135 Seraphin-Marion Private). Tickets are $5 for students at the door.
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U of O student parent launches new album Wilson says This Moon’s Mansion is inspired by life’s “magic moments” Eric Davison
Fulcrum freelancer
Tyler Wilson, a fourth-year University of Ottawa English student and father, didn’t set out to be a professional musician—which he says is one of the best things about his work. Operating without the constraints and expectations of the music industry has allowed him to craft an album as pleasant as it is unorthodox. Operating under the name Fantasy Blondes, Wilson is set to launch his first album, This Moon’s Mansion, on Nov. 1. Instead of creating a complete song from scratch, Wilson focused on the moments in life and in music that just click. “I just wasn’t satisfied with the way things were done,” Wilson said. “What I love about music is those little moments that just strike you. It’s a bit corny, but those ‘magic moments’ that are just unexpected and I really wanted to work off that.” Starting with a series of acoustic sounds, Wilson used a combination of digital distor-
tion techniques and sampling to create pieces that sound heavily synthetic, yet grounded. The result resembles the methodical, minimalist style of Ratatat and Aphex Twin, while still bringing something new to the table. “I was trying to do something a little bit loose. I’ve been doing stuff that’s very scripted, very controlled. So I was trying to do something a little bit more off the cuff. The goal was to capture moments, rather than something more scripted,” he said. Wilson’s life has no shortage of moments to draw from either. Between being a student, a father, and an employee at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), he manages to juggle a hectic workload. Music has been a constant companion and an escape throughout it all. “I had another project a few years ago. More folky singersongwriter kind of stuff but a more noisy version of that ... I have a friend called Sebastian—in a band called Golden Eyes—and I collaborate with
him. It has never been a money-making enterprise, more of a compulsion.” Wilson proves that you don’t need to be a rockstar to get something out of being a musician. His songwriting isn’t just compatible with his life—it compliments it. “The English program is mostly reading about a lot of ideas, and those ideas inspire me a lot,” Wilson said. “It makes me think about the process a lot, so it does tie into music in that way.” While a music career might not be his goal, Wilson still has some impressive ambitions after he finishes his degree next semester. “My plan is to go into a masters of social work next year. The idea is to stay at CHEO and stay in that environment working with youth. I’ve seen the kinds of things they do with people who are struggling, and it has been really inspiring. I would just love to put my energy into helping them.” This Moon’s Mansion drops Nov. 1 and will be available on Soundcloud.
Fantasy Blondes releases his first album, This Moon’s Mansion, Nov. 1. Photo: Courtesy of Tyler Wilson.
Faculty of Law hosts panel on technology and access to justice Panel discusses study of millennials’ relation to tech and justice Ryan Pepper
Arts & Culture Editor On Oct. 24, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law hosted a panel on the effects of technology on access to justice, with a particular interest on young people. The panel, called “The Millennial Influence,” featured speakers in different practices on how increasing technology is both a benefit and a detriment to lawyers, the legal process, and access to justice. “Are people in society able to resolve legal problems, or avoid them altogether,” said Jane Bailey, a professor in the Faculty of Law at the U of O, on the meaning of access to justice. “The definition of access to justice shifted substantially away from this idea that access to justice meant access to resolution of a problem through a public court proceeding, to a much more expansive notion that actually sees lawyers and courts as last resorts. Those are the things you go to if you can’t resolve the issue in
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any other way.” The panelists had a lot to say on the much-maligned 18-to35-year-old age bracket, making clear that millennials are embracing tech and pushing changes more than any other age bracket. It’s still a very diverse group, however, and it’s risky to generalize. Michael Gotthiel, the executive chair of the Social Justice Tribunals Ontario, reminded the audience that Michael Brown, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and law students are all within the millennial cohort, and interact with the legal system in very different ways. New technology, then, can’t generalize either. There are plenty of ways in which technology is already being used to supplement lawyers and help with the legal process. One of the largest pushes has been in making it easier for people to access justice. “Some of the more important ways (that technology is increasing access to justice), in the sense that they’re proactive,
are agencies that are delivering legal information and legal educations so that people can better understand what their rights and their obligations are,” Bailey said. Some other uses of technology include the use of video conferencing so remote communities can access legal advice, or in-court transcription technologies, but there are many more. Amy Salyzyn, a professor in the Faculty of Law, said that within the private sector, there has also been a major push towards apps. One good example is the mobile app Legalswipe, which was developed by a U of O graduate. The app informs people of their rights, but it also records audio and video and uploads it to Dropbox so people can record their interactions with law enforcement. Some of the panelists also spoke about a growing consensus that justice plus tech doesn’t equal nirvana. Technology has major implications for privacy, for one thing. “Privacy is a serious example,
The Faculty of Law hosted a panel on millennials and their changing ways to access justice.
and there are probably equality implications as well,” Bailey said. “While you could always go to a court office and ask to see a record, most people didn’t, so there was a practical obscurity there … but now with putting
these records online, people can just surf to find out things about their neighbours.” In the end, the consensus was that while technology is important, integrating it with a human presence is
Photo: Christine Wang.
the way to go. The technological component is excellent for educating people and helping people know if they even have a case or not, but the human aspect is essential for navigating the confusing world of law.
ARTS & CULTURE | 9
THE COST OF GETTING YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR Ryerson’s new grant raises questions about unpaid internships at the U of O If you’ve ever been a student, then you know the importance of “getting your foot in the door,” or “building your professional network.” It’s practically ingrained into you as you leave high school that experience is everything. In my last year of high school, I worked unpaid at a hospital for a full semester, but never questioned it. After all, experience would be everything when I got into the “real world.” It turns out that, in this respect, not a lot changes when you arrive at post-secondary. There’s still a premium placed on experience, and unpaid placements definitely still exist. But one key change does happen— financial responsibility. Although I could afford an unpaid placement while I was living under my parents’ roof, the game completely changes when tuition, textbooks, rent, groceries, and other life expenses come into play. With this exact dilemma in mind, on Oct. 19 the Ryerson Student Union (RSU) introduced a grant that students working upwards of 80 hours per semester can apply for. Not only is this grant is the first of its kind for a Canadian university, but the cost to bring it to life won’t result in any changes to tuition fees.
With this idea being introduced to Canadian postsecondary campuses, new issues emerge. Will this idea become standard for university student unions? Will it be enough to counter the culture of unpaid internships? Only time will tell. But until the results from this pilot project are in, this week the Fulcrum took a look at the state of unpaid internships at the University of Ottawa, and whether this solution is one that could be brought to our campus. WHY IMPLEMENT AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP GRANT? Daniel Lis, vice-president education at the RSU, knew he wanted to bring this grant to life at Ryerson before he even had the job. The idea came to him while he was working as an assistant to his predecessor, and soon became one of his campaign points when he decided to run for an executive seat on the student union. “You have students who are contributing a lot of hours of their week, on top of their studies, to experiential work,” Lis said. “They’re taking away time from their lives which they could put towards an actual paid job, so the idea is to help support students while they take that on.” The grant at Ryerson is a two-tier support system, with part-time students working 80 to 160 hours in a semester part time being eligible for $500, and those working more than 160 hours full-time in a semester being eligible for $1,000. Since the program is in its pilot year, the availability caps out at 60 full-time and 40 part-time grants. But Lis hopes that, through talking with the first round of grant recipients, the RSU will be able to garner more external support and expand the grant for the next year. Although these grants constitute a large sum of money, according to Lis there will be no changes to tu-
savannah Awde features editor
Illustration: Alina Wang.
ition fees as the grant funds will all come from the levy and external donors. “One of the reasons we’re following up with students who are receiving a grant this semester is to see if there are employers who have a pattern of employing students unpaid,” Lis noted. “We could be reaching out to them, saying that we understand you can’t pay these employees at a full rate, but maybe you’d consider donating to this grant.” While Dina Elleithy, a common law student at the U of O, called her unpaid placement “one of the highlights of her degree,” she had to take three weeks off of her part-time job in order to complete the internship. Although the trade-off was worth it for Elleithy, if a similar grant was available at the U of O she says she definitely would have applied to make up for her lost income. Another U of O student in nursing, who requested to comment anonymously due to their placement circumstance, says that they worked eight- to 12-hour shifts without pay for the last two years of their nursing degree. “We take on more and more responsibilities that range from personal support worker duties to taking on the full care of patients. It’s learning, but it’s mostly practicing,” they said. “Sounds like a co-op right? Nope. Nursing students have never been paid for clinical placements.” This nursing student also believes that unpaid work adds insult to injury in the case of their program, due to the high cost of simply enrolling in nursing. “In my context, nursing tuition comes with a lot of extra fees, which make it one of the most expensive programs at the school. To add, everyone in Canada knows that we need more nurses in the workforce,” they noted. “I absolutely think that the school and potentially the organizations that benefit from these unpaid positions should give something back to the students.” When I told Monica Tam, a fourth-year criminology student and unpaid intern at the U of O, about the RSU grant, she echoed
the other students’ sentiments that having something similar on campus would be “extremely helpful.” “It’s really good to get the experience of field placements, because you’re getting out into the workforce,” Tam said. “But it can be difficult because unlike a lot of students you don’t get paid, but you’re putting in essentially the same amount of work.” This situation alone isn’t ideal, but Tam says that things get even more complicated when you add a part-time job to the mix. “You have to be in a good place financially to really do the internship, just because it takes up to 40 hours per week, so it can be really difficult to keep a parttime job with that.” According to Katherine Marshall’s report for Statistics Canada on Employment Patterns of Post-secondary Students, over half of students are employed while completing their post-secondary education—up from only one-quarter between 1970 and 1990. The report further shows that, although working during school is a common phenomenon, students on average earn well below the poverty line—between $6,000 and $7,000 during the school year. Tuition is outpacing the rate of average incomes and inflation, and on top of this the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance reports that only half of undergraduates report receiving financial assistance from their parents. With these factors combined, and the continued presence of unpaid internships on campus, it’s not hard to see the need for a grant to offset the costs of working for free. COULD OUR STUDENT UNION BRING THIS GRANT TO THE U OF O? With students expressing interest in the RSU grant, the obvious question becomes whether this can be implemented here in Ottawa. In an interview with the Fulcrum, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) president Hadi Wess agreed that a program like Ryerson’s to support unpaid internships is needed on our campus. “I’m not sure if I want to say it needs to be the exact same thing,” Wess said of bringing the RSU grant to the U of O. “But it’s about creating an opportunity for people, and also making sure that people are not doing work that they are not compensated or paid for.” The SFUO does not currently have any programs that are explicitly designed to support unpaid interns, but Wess did note that the federation’s Student of the Month scholarship and SFUO volunteer gala scholarships could be options for students who are seeking compensation for unpaid work. Wess also spoke about a motion passed at the latest Board of Administration meeting, which calls for
the establishment of an opportunity program for students. However, Wess explained that not all of the roles offered in this program will be paid, and says despite this the SFUO would “try (their) best to make sure students are not doing work that they’re not being compensated for.” With a string of financial issues plaguing the SFUO, it’s unclear as to whether the federation has the capacity to fund a grant partially from their levy as the RSU did. But Wess emphasizes that the university administration also has a role in supporting unpaid interns. “We all know the history of university administration in raising tuition fees … I do think that when we’re doing these negotiations with the administration, they need to have a lot of open-mindedness to working with students and to dedicate the money that students are paying back to students.” Wess also admits that the SFUO could do more work to liaise with different faculties to push for more regulation on unpaid internships for degree completion, as seen in some faculties at Ryerson. So, if the federation finds itself in a position to introduce something similar, what can the U of O learn from Ryerson? Although the RSU has the grant up and running now, it wasn’t without obstacles. Lis says that the project wasn’t always about a grant, in fact the idea was to create a joint effort between employers and students to “partially subsidize the jobs that students were doing.” However, the RSU soon found this approach to be “unrealistic,” and instead began work on the grant. Another challenge in the RSU’s process was determining what information was to be collected in the grant application, given the legal issues around unpaid and uncredited internships. “Students who are working unpaid and are not getting a credit, they are technically working illegally,” Lis explained. “So if we have access to that information and are providing a grant, then are not reporting that to authorities, we could be held liable for assisting an employer who’s breaking the law.” Lis noted that the RSU is also working to use this grant program to raise awareness about worker rights, so that students don’t find themselves in situations outside of the law. It remains to be seen how effective the RSU’s efforts will be, but Wess thinks that anything that has proven to be effective on other campuses is worth
bringing to the table. “If a lot of students are interested in this and it’s been successful in other campuses, I have no problem at all doing the lobbying or negotiation on behalf of students.” KEEPING OUR UNPAID INTERNS AFLOAT Not all internships are equal, and for some the trade-off between experience and money is worth it. But for others, unpaid placements can exert huge financial pressures, or even act as a barrier to gaining experience and completing degree work. Although it’s unclear whether a grant could become a reality for the U of O, there are several approaches the university can take in the short-term. First of all, having faculties introduce more regulation into the type of internships that qualify for degree work could raise the standard for companies who want to leverage students’ skills. Not to mention that mandating payment for all required internships could attract students across Ontario to study at the U of O. There are also programs already running on our campus that other faculties’ internships could be modelled after. For example, Elleithy’s internship was condensed into three weeks, and she says that instead of doing three weeks’ worth of work she spent the majority of her time shadowing and learning from a mentor at the placement. At the Telfer School of Management, students can apply for unpaid internships for credit via the Connexions program. However, unlike many unpaid placements, this program only requires one sevenhour shift per week, which may be helpful to students looking to also work a paid, part-time job while in school. Clearly, there are steps already being taken at the U of O that could be applied on a larger scale to support unpaid interns. Making these unpaid internships more educational rather than work-heavy, shortening the time required per week, or simply tightening faculty regulations around unpaid work are all ways our campus can tackle the issue right now. Grant or no grant, the challenges facing unpaid interns on our campus must be mitigated. The implementation of the RSU grant proves there’s demand among students for a solution—now, the ball is in the U of O’s court.
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR Nico Laliberté sports@thefulcrum.ca @nico_laliberte @FulcrumSports
Gees drop quarterfinal game after weak first quarter
U of O’s offence continued to struggle in home playoff appearance Eric Davdison Editor-in-Chief
A
fter a weak defensive performance in the first quarter of their quarterfinal game against the Guelph Gryphons, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees have been eliminated from the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs.
At first blush, it was set to be a tight game between the two teams. Both came into the game with 5-3 records, and when the two played in the regular season, the game was as close as it could have been, with the GeeGees taking the game 24-21 in double overtime. However, the momentum was on Guelph’s side, ending the season with three straight wins. Ottawa, meanwhile, has
been struggling with its offence all season, a problem that would carry over to its playoff game with Guelph. The Gees, however, went 3-0 at home leading up to the game, and wanted to keep it going as they played their first home playoff game in six years, and the first at Lees field. It was a rough start to the game for the Gee-Gees. Their defence had their hands full with the Guelph offence, and it showed on the scoreboard. Gryphons kicker Gabriel Ferraro started off the scoring early in the first quarter, followed by Guelph’s Jacob Scarfone scoring a touchdown to make it 10-0 with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Defensive breakdowns and unnecessary roughing penalties didn’t do the Gees any favour, as Guelph would jump to a 20-0 lead before the end of the first quarter, while the Gees’
offence barely touched the ball. The Gees managed to stop the bleeding in the second. U of O kicker Lewis Ward got the Gees on the board early on, though the Gryphons answered to hold the game steady at 23-3. Gees fans were holding their breath as Carter Matheson went down after a big hit, but he returned to the game soon after. The Gees had a good rush after an interception by Ty Cranston, followed a tricky play that saw Cody Cranston go deep into Gryphons territory. But rookie quarterback Alex Lavric struggled to put any more passes away to get to the end zone, and another kick from Ward closed the gap a little to 23-6 before the end of the second quarter. Things got off to a shaky start in the third quarter. Scarfone actually took the ball into the end zone, but it was called back after a penalty and didn’t count. The Gees then took a
Photo: Tristain Pollard.
penalty for roughing the kicker, giving the Gryphons another shot at a touchdown, but they had to settle for a field goal to make it 26-6. Later in the third frame, Ferrero made a 45 yard field goal to push the score to 29-6. Early in
the game, the Gees got to 29-8 after a safety, but struggled to get their offence going, and saw Gees quarterback Lavric go off on an injury to his hand. Ryan Astrom stepped in as QB, and made some quick passes to Matheson to get to the Gry-
phons’ doorstep, but couldn’t put the ball home. The Gees continued to try and get some offence going, but nothing came of it. In the end, they dropped the game 30-8 and were eliminated from the playoffs.
Women’s rugby wins RSEQ title for fourth year running Despite convincing win, team still focused on national championship Eric Davidson editor-in-chief
The Gee-Gees women’s rugby team have won the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RESQ) championship for the fourth year in a row, defeating the University of Laval in a hardfought game. Laval came out at a blistering pace, scoring early in the game to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game after some quick passing plays. But the Gees didn’t lose focus. “You take a look at the end zone after they score, and our captain’s leading a breathing exercise, just to calm them down and get them refocused, that’s something we’ve been working on all year, and it worked,” said head coach Jen Boyd. The Gees spent most of the remaining time in the first half pressing the offence near Laval’s end. Their efforts paid off when front row
Photo: Tristain Pollard.
Emily Gray scored, cutting the deficit to 7-5 as they entered the second half. In the second frame, the Gees showed they could sustain their intensity. They played tight defence, pre-
venting several of Laval’s attempts to get over the line. Meanwhile, they systematically brought up the score with wing Alexandra Ondo, back row Dria Bennett, and second row Danielle Erdelyi
each scoring a try, and Gray adding a penalty goal. When all was said and done, the Gees came out with a 25-7 win, and the RSEQ championship. “We really fought for each
other,” said front row Alexandria Ellis. “We knew today was going to be a war, and we really showed up.” Despite the big win, Boyd says she’s just thinking about the national championship,
12 | SPORTS
which runs Nov. 2-5 in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Gees came second last year after losing a tight game to St. Francis Xavier. “As much as I’m really happy for (today’s win), my eyes are on Lethbridge, it’s the one we missed last year and the year before,” said Boyd. “That’s the gold medal we want, and that’s the gold medal we’re going after.” Boyd says she doesn’t need to tell the team to stay focused on nationals. “The leadership on this team is truly remarkable,” she said. “They know what it’s like to win the big game and to lose the big game, and there’s not much I have to say, they’re saying it themselves.” “Every game is going to be a battle, and we’re going to keep fighting, and fighting, and fighting, until the very end,” said Ellis. And in case you were wondering, there was a practice the next morning.
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THE BOXSCORE: RUCK YEAH! SOCCER
FOOTBALL
RUGBY
WEDNESDAY, oct. 25, 2017
Saturday, oct. 28, 2017
Friday, oct. 27, 2017
FRIDAY, oct. 27, 2017
Gee-Gees
Gee-Gees
Gee-Gees
Gee-Gees
1
VS
0
U OF T
SUNDAY, oct. 29, 2017
Gee-Gees AT
QUEEN’S
TBD TBD
8
vs
30
GUELPH
END OF SEASON
vs
25
Laval
7
HOCKEY(M)
AT
0
RMC
thursday, Nov. 2, 2017
FRIDAY, NOV. 3, 2017
Gee-Gees
Gee-Gees
AT
tbd
TBD TBD
4
TBD
vs
LAURENTIAN TBD
For detailed game coverage check out the Fulcrum’s website at www.thefulcrum.ca.
Women’s soccer clear first round with 1-0 win against U of T Team looks to improve shooting ahead of match with Queen’s eric Davidson editor-in-chief
The Gee-Gees women’s soccer team has advanced to the second round of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs, after hanging on to a 1-0 lead against the University of Toronto in round one. For many, it was a flashback to last year’s first round, where the Gees also beat the U of T 1-0. “We played really well today,” said U of O head coach Steve Johnson. “Our ball movement was really good, we tackled all through the middle, we attacked well through the wings.” The Gees came out with some strong scoring chances in the first half, but didn’t get on the board until Sophie Curtis put the ball in in the 43rd minute. “I think it was really important for us to have that goal, because we didn’t have as many chances in the second half,” said Johnson. “That goal gave us a chance to relax a little bit, and I think gave us some confidence.” In a sustained offence that
would last throughout the game, the Ottawa players took over 30 shots. But the Varsity Blues defence didn’t roll over, blocking several shots alongside a strong performance from U of T goaltender Vanna Staggolis, who made 17 saves. But it was the Gees who ultimately came out on top, blanking their opponents to emerge with a 1-0 victory. U of O goalie Margot Shore didn’t get as much work as her counterpart, but did her job perfectly, stopping all eight shots that came her way. Despite the low score and tight defensive play, it was clear both teams were gunning to score throughout this first-round playoff game, and Johnson said the strong Gees offence could easily have put more points on the board. “We had some really good looks at goal, great opportunities that we created,” said Johnson. “Unfortunately a combination of our poor shooting and their keeper’s good hands kept them in the game.” After taking a hardfought win,
the Gees earned their spot to play Queens on Oct. 29, and Johnson and the team are looking to prepare as well as they can.
Photo: Tristain Pollard.
“Our shooting needs to be a bit better, as well as our decisions on the final pass when we get into an attacking zone,” said Johnson.
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In their regular season game on Oct. 8, the Gees took down the Queen’s Gaels with a convincing 4-0 win.
SPORTS | 13
OPINIONS
OPINIONS EDITOR David Campion-Smith
opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @davidcs96
U of T’s new mental health policy is shameful Policies shouldn’t force students with mental health issues out of school david campion-smith opinions editor
I
n most cases, a university proposing a new measure to provide mental health treatment to students is viewed as something positive. But the University of Toronto’s proposed mandatory leave program is not one of these cases, and in fact is further proof that that school is more concerned with protecting its academic reputation than with the mental wellbeing of its students.
The proposed policy would allow the university to place students on a mandatory leave if they are a danger to them-
selves or others, are making education more difficult for other students, or are having difficulty with their own education, all as a result of a mental illness. The policy would go into effect after existing resources such as counseling or other treatments have been attempted, and is intended to be a measure of last resort. Make no mistake—this policy essentially removes students from campus for inconveniencing their classmates and peers, and the administration. This takes agency and control away from those living with mental illnesses, and instead focuses almost solely on their supposed negative impacts on the community. This policy is only supposed to be enacted when other resources have been exhausted. It’s unclear how the U of T administration expects to use all other resources possible, when only a few years ago their support system was so
overburdened that students were turning to counselling sessions run by graduate psychology students. This isn’t the first time the U of T has tried to sweep cases of students with mental health issues under the rug. In 2015 the university removed a student from residence after he attempted suicide, and told him he needed a note from a psychiatrist if he wanted to return to residence the following semester. This practice may have violated the residence’s duty to accommodate laid out in the Ontario Human Rights Code. A 2016 ombudsperson report highlighted that one academic program at the university encouraged students to drop out of the program rather than making “all but the most minimal accommodations,” though no specifics were given. All of these actions showcase that the U of T has little interest in creating and en-
The mandatory leave program is only the most recent in a line of poor treatment plans.
forcing a consistent and caring mental health policy on their campus. If you are concerned about the mental health of students on campus then your
primary concern shouldn’t be to get them off campus, it should be to get them help. This policy takes agency away from those students suffering
Photo: The City of Toronto.
from mental illness, and instead hides them away, all so the U of T can maintain their image of being Canada’s top university.
Spousal assault is still sexual assault
Sexual assault case highlights legal loophole Ophelia John
fulcrum contributor A recent sexual assault case in an Ottawa courtroom has exposed a gap in Canada’s sexual assault laws. The judge ruled that a man who had sex with his wife without consent was not guilty of sexual assault, since the prosecutor had failed to establish that the man knew his behaviour was criminal. The couple immigrated to Canada and were allegedly unaware of sexual assault laws. This is a very troubling case since the law was amended in 1983 to ensure that sexual assault includes assault against a spouse. We are living in a time where spouses cannot legally assault their partner, however this court ruling came to the same conclusion it would have 100 years ago. This case is particularly jar-
14 | OPINIONS
ring because it wasn’t a matter of whether or not there was non-consensual sex; it was a question of his knowledge of the law. The judge stated that “the accused probably had sex with his wife on many occasions without her specific consent.” This was not enough to prove the man a criminal since the prosecutor did not prove mens rea. This is clearly a loophole. It was established that his wife told him to stop but since he said he didn’t know it was wrong to force himself on her, in the eyes of the law, he was found not guilty. So many of us are proud to throw around the word consent to demonstrate what upstanding members of society we are. Now, more than ever, our culture discusses consent and claims to fight sexual violence, yet it still happens. Statistics Canada reported that
in 2014 there were 636,000 self-reported incidents of sexual assault. How does this happen if the notion of consent is essential to us as Canadians? Something doesn’t add up. Consent is now a part of rudimentary education in Ontario elementary schools. What is puzzling about this is that in a world where almost everyone knows the word, our courts still have trouble implementing it. Understanding the simple concept of consent and the laws around sexual assault are important. but once we understand it, how do we ensure everyone follows it? Consent is not just a word. It is not only something a student repeats in their first few weeks of university, or someone unfamiliar with Canadian values claims they don’t know. We need to have those
A man was found not guilty of sexual assault as he alleged didn’t know he needed his wife’s consent.
uncomfortable conversations. To contribute to a safer environment we need to hold accountable those who do wrong. It must be taught and
practiced from the top down. If the most powerful man in the world has no concern for consent, then no one else will. Consent is definitely not
Photo: CC, SimonP.
something that only affects women and understanding consent must be the cornerstone to a future without sexual violence.
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HECKLE: Let’s stop with the Christmas decorations in October nadia helal
fulcrum contributor There are 55 days between Halloween and Christmas. Some people would say that’s more than enough time to fulfill all their Christmas shopping needs, but there is clearly another demographic that needs more time. Stores and malls are pushing the boundary a little bit every year, and it’s gotten to the point that Christmas-oriented marketing starts at the beginning of October. When I worked at a local pharmacy, clerks would work an overnight shift on Halloween to completely redecorate. Shoppers would literally enter a completely redesigned and unrecognizable store on the first day of November. Many would ask me how this could have happened so quickly, and are usually surprised
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that a store would allow its employees to work all through the night. I used to agree with them. Those were the good old days. Nowadays, Christmas stock is usually phased in in early October, and before Halloween is even over, there are enough fruitcakes, ornaments, and sparkly lights to stock every household. When did 55 days not become enough? Why can’t businesses focus on one holiday at a time? Will Valentine’s Day items start getting sold in November? I’m not a religious person, but I seriously don’t think the point of Christmas is to start spending money in October. It’s irritating when companies try to cash in as early as possible and push that limit year after year. On the surface, it’s easier to shop when it’s less crowded or if you have more time to budget. The
point, however, is that Christmas shopping can be done at any point of the year. What irks me is the whole marketing ploy. In some places, fake Christmas trees are on sale between July and September, over 14 weeks before the actual holiday! Perhaps this isn’t a big deal for some—that it’s easy to simply walk past the unnecessarily early Christmas stock towards the things one really needs. But I can’t help but feel that this is another example of us thinking we have more control on our actions than we really do. We forget the power of suggestion and the subconscious brainwashing we experience throughout our lives. And while year after year people casually complain, nothing changes. Christmas should be a time of reflection, of giving, and of spending time
Why can’t we focus on one holiday at a time?
with the ones we love. Our capitalist society needs to relax on the idea of squeezing consumers
Illustration: Brennan Bova, CC Open Clipart. Edits: Christine Wang.
dry as early as possible to fulfill their shareholders’ interests. We, as shoppers, also need to take a stance
and make our complaints heard where they can really be heard, with our wallets.
OPINIONS | 15
Campus changes after reading week perplex students
Students notice furniture moved, piles of dishes in dorms
Veronique Therrien Tomato contributor Many students returning to the University of Ottawa following reading week are often relieved to get back to their normal routines of classes, work, and partying. But this year, as students enter their dorms, they seem to be in a state of confusion. After having the week off, many students are noticing that their dorms have changed significantly in their absence. It started off with one student who returned to find an unusually large pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Other students have noticed that their furniture has been moved, some have reported their beds being shifted across the room or that a pile of clothes they left in the corner has disappeared.
Second-year history student Pauline Bennett even swears that her bathroom has shrunk. “I used to be able to fit four people in my bathroom now I can only have three,” said Bennett. Another student reported that the chairs in his living room have changed from blue to green. Even though some of these outrageous claims have been debunked, many are still left unexplained. Students are searching their rooms, comparing before and after photos to make sure they aren’t imagining everything. Some students have resorted to researching the architectural blueprints for their buildings just to be absolutely certain that these places have not experienced any significant structural differences. This is largely because many are convinced
that beams in the lobby have changed places following reading week. Some are beginning to believe that this is another Mandela effect, or that students have returned to their dorms and ended up in an alternate dimension with slight alterations to buildings and their living space. Other conspiracy theories have begun to emerge, and no one is certain what exactly has happened. It has gotten so bad that many are beginning to suspect that their residence is home to supernatural beings. Students, such as Ernest Schtumple are in a rush to find any store selling ghost-repelling equipment and performing seances to try and determine whether they have a new, and hopefully friendly, uninvited guest. No one is certain whether
Could a ghost be responsible for the changes to students’ dorms?
the residents have just been away for too long and forgot the way their dorms looked, or if this is the work of some otherworldly being. Everyone is at a loss as to
what is happening across their beloved campus, but it is strongly recommended that everyone spend some time to take photos of their dorm rooms to prevent
Photo: Christine Wang.
this same problem after the winter break. Be sure to take caution just in case it turns out you do have a phantom friend as your new roommate.
Fights break out between skeletons, zombies, elves
Candy canes, pumpkins, Christmas lights used in the fighting
david campion-smith opinions editor
As Halloween passes, stores are beginning to replace their ghoulish decorations with more winterthemed knick-knacks. Some stores, however, are finding their skeletons and zombies are fighting back against the new wave of decorations. The fighting first began at a local dollar store. No injuries were reported among employees or shoppers, but several skeletons skinned their knees in the fighting. “We were beginning to switch our Halloween displays out with Christmas decorations when the fight started,” said Dollarama employee Terri Lana. “We had some
16 | THE TOMATO
of the skeletons using pumpkins to beat the elves we were putting out.” Soon after, Hordes of slow-moving zombies were seen shuffling toward the Rideau Street Loblaws to acquire more pumpkin weapons. The fall decorations aren’t the only side arming themselves though, as some elves were seen sharpening scavenged candy canes into spears, and crafting ice balls from local freezers. Brightly-coloured red and green lights have also been used as trip wires to bring down the slow-moving zombies and skeletons. Officials are working on mediating the conflict between the two sides, with City of Ottawa mayor Jim Watson sitting down with
Violence has erupted between two groups of holiday decorations.
the leader of the Halloween decorations, Jack Skellington, and the mysterious leader of the Christmas decorations, known for wearing a red suit. Peace
talks are scheduled to begin next week at city hall. “We just want to make sure this conflict doesn’t get too out of hand. I think everyone in Ottawa re-
Photo: CC, Petr Kratochvil.
members what happened when Valentine decorations decided they weren’t ready to be replaced by Easter candy,” said Watson. “While the rabbit and
chocolate meals were delicious, it was a horrifying sight seeing flying babies hunting adorable bunnies.” While talks begin to bring this round of decoration violence to an end, some are trying to solve the problem on a long-term level. The most popular plan for a lasting peace is to reduce the time each of these groups are in stores together. “If they have less overlap time, and we can clearly delineate a time for each type of decoration hopefully they won’t feel the need to fight for more time,” said negotiator Hershey Frost. While both sides work for a solution take care when walking downtown, and watch out for elves and skeletons.
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DISTRACTIONS DEAR DI Horny homework: Trick or Treat!
Keep your costumes on. Have him lay on his back on the bed/ couch/monster laboratory. Face his feet, and mount him, propping your hands on his thighs. Swivel your hips, switching up directions and you’re sure to have him under your spell.
Dishing with Di: Dance for you Halloween dates back centuries to the Middle Ages when trick or treaters didn’t just say trick or treat, but had to perform some sort of dance, or demonstrate talent in any other way. You can update this for 2017 and practice your dancing with your partner—I’m sure you’ll get a ton of treats!
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FEATURES EDITOR Savannah Awde
features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 695-0062 @s_awde7
Dear Di, I recently started dating this guy and it’s going really well, but while we were hooking up at his place we had to stay pretty quiet because we didn’t want to wake up his kids. I have to admit, I’m still in university and I’m kind of weirded out... like, I can’t take care of kids, I sometimes forget to feed myself! What should I do?
—Stressed, and Sexy, Stepdad
Dear SSS, Fear not, I don’t think you’ll need to start changing diapers or making school pickups anytime soon. The first thing you should do is talk to your DILF and figure out where he stands on whether he would expect you to meet his kids, interact with them, or take care of them at all. Chances are he’s probably not ready to introduce someone new to them, but it’s good to be on the same page. Have some pretty clear rules on what to expect when hanging out with your Papi. Will it only be when the kids are at their mom’s place (assuming they have a custody agreement) or out of the house? As long as you clearly communicate your boundaries then everything should run smoothly. While this type of relationship is doable, there are some drawbacks you should consider. While kids are cute, they kind of take the spontaneity out of a relationship, so don’t expect any surprise vacations, or sex on the living room floor. Expect that his kids are always going to come first, so don’t be surprised if he cancels on you last minute. Also, if he’s a few years older than you and has been through a serious enough relationship to result in offspring, he’s probably at a different stage in his life than you, so that could cause some complications. While you might bitch about your profs, he might be saving up for his kids’ college funds. That said, kids in the picture means your man is put together enough to not only provide for himself, but for other humans as well! He’s probably more mature than your average hookup, and will less likely try to play games with you because he’s just played peek-a-boo for three straight hours. Come on, responsibility is sexy!
Love, Di
DISTRACTIONS | 17
OCT. 30-NOV. 5, 2017
THRYLLABUS
MUSIC EATS SPORTS FUN THINKING ARTS
18 | DISTRACTIONS |
Monday Oct. 30
Trick or Eat, a nationwide event to collect food and raise awareness of student hunger, volunteer with the SFUO Food Bank to collect food in Ottawa—5:30 p.m. Hauntin’burg Dog Pack Walk, featuring a doggie costume contest and Halloween surprises, Global Pet Foods Hintonburg—6:30 p.m.
Tuesday Oct. 31
SFUO Sustainable Development Centre Farmers Market at the University Centre, first day, bring cash to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables—1 p.m.
Buffy: A 90’s Halloween Dance Party, The 27 Club—10 p.m.
Wednesday Nov. 1
Free home-cooked, healthy, and vegan meal, hosted by the People’s Republic of Delicious, Deja Vu kitchen (between Thompson and
Morisset)—9 a.m.
Naloxone 101 Training - Opioid Overdose Awareness, Kitchissippi United Church (behind the Ottawa Hospital), must provide a valid health card at the start of session to get a free naloxone kit—7 p.m.
Thursday Nov. 2
UN Sustainable Development Goals Training Seminar, open to students, alumni, and all interested Ottawa community members, Tabaret Hall Room 112—4 p.m.
Mark Felt, showcase of the FBI associate director who leaked information that would topple Richard Nixon’s presidency, Bytowne Cinema—4:30 p.m.
Ottawa Senators vs. Detroit Red Wings, Canadian Tire Centre—7:30 p.m.
Friday Nov. 3
2017 Rockcliffe Park Book Fair, peruse over
30,000 used books, CDs. DVDs and records all in great condition, Rockcliffe Park Public School—10 a.m.
The Environmental Science Association of uOttawa’s Succulent Sale ROUND 2, University Centre—10 a.m.
Saturday Nov. 4
Ottawa Senators vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights, Canadian Tire Centre—2 p.m. Mod Nite: 60s Dance Party, The 27 Club—11 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 5
Brown Beauties Brunching Ottawa Fixing Each Other’s Crown, bring your girl squad for a day of empowerment, sisterhood and cocktails, Shenkman Arts Centre—11 a.m. A Tribute to Johnny Cash: The Man in Black, Centrepointe Theatres—7 p.m.
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EDITORIAL Volume 78, Issue 9, oct. 30, 2017 Reading fiction since 1942. Phone: (613) 695-0061 | Fax: (613) 695-9006 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this paper or we’ll steal your favourite novel. Eric “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” Davidson Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “The Time Traveler’s Wife” McRae-Sadik Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Graham “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” Robertson Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca “Lord of the Flies” News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Ryan “The Sword in the Stone” Pepper Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Savannah “Alias Grace” Awde Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Nico “The Fellowship of the Ring” Laliberté Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca David “Edge of Eternity” Campion-Smith Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Christine “Things Fall Apart” Wang Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Dmitri “The Sun Also Rises” Bakker Social Media Manager social@thefulcrum.ca Ellie “Tropic of Cancer” Sabourin Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Lolita” Drissi El-Bouzaidi Associate Features Editor Zack “Crazy Game” Goobie Associate Sports Editor associate.sports@thefulcrum.ca Parker “Pale Fire” Townes Staff Photographer photographer@thefulcrum.ca “The Secret Agent” Videographer videographer@thefulcrum.ca Chafik “Heart of Darkness” Kassis Head Web Architect webmaster@thefulcrum.ca Lucas “Of Human Bondage” Ghosn General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca Kaylum “The Catcher in the Rye” Bobal Advertising Representative ads@thefulcrum.ca
Contributors
Alina “To the Lighthouse” Wang Tristain “An American Tragedy” Pollard Ophelia “The Life of Pi” John Eric “Invisible Man” Davison Veronique “The Wings of the Dove” Therrien Nadia “Animal Farm” Helal Paméla “ Howards End” Bertrand
Board of Directors
Raghad “The Great Gatscy“ Sheikh-Khalil Katelyn “Brave New World” Murray Jonathan “The Sound and The Fury” Rausseo Mackenzie “Catch-22” Gray Fadi “Darkness at Noon” Azzi Spencer “The Grapes of Wrath” Murdock Kim “1984” Wiens Maggie “I, Claudius” Gollish Cover Credits: Tristain Pollard.
WE NEED EDUCATION, NOT JUST POLICY, TO STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT
One of the first times sexual harassment began to be widely discussed was in the United States during Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearing when Anita Hill, a former employee of his, testified that he had sexually harassed her. Even though Hill did not volunteer this information but was called to testify, she was vilified and Thomas took his seat on the court—where he remains to this day. The same blasé attitudes around sexual assault have only grown in prevalence, and, if Ottawa’s headlines alone are any indication, definitely aren’t slowing down. We were shocked/dismayed/disgusted etc. when the soft-spoken Jian Ghomeshi was accused of violently sexually assaulting several women, but was found not guilty because the alleged victims were thought to be untrustworthy. We were shocked/dismayed/ disgusted etc. when Justin Trudeau kicked out two Members of Parliament from his caucus because they allegedly sexually harassed two female NDP MPs in 2015, and again in late August when Calgary MP Darshan Kang resigned in light of sexual harassment allegations. We performed the same tired routine when the news hit this past week in Ottawa that a man was acquitted of rape because he thought he could have sex with his wife whenever he pleased. Then we went back down the rabbit hole again on Oct. 25, when Ottawa celebrity chef Matthew Carmichael admitted to sexually harassing a number of women on the job. In light of these stories and more, why were we surprised when news broke of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulting and harassing dozens of women over the last few decades? Why were we surprised when hundreds of thousands of women shared their stories of sexual assault and harassment on social media under #MeToo? What has been truly frustrating over the last few weeks is how many people have expressed shock at how ingrained sexual
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violence is in our societies, while also keeping their heads firmly planted in the sand. Not only have we seen so many of these stories, but they all follow similar trajectories. First a woman, (a spurned lover, or power-hungry bitch is the usual assumption) accuses a powerful man of sexual harassment or assault. Then more and more stories come out, and they’re eerily similar. No, it’s not that this man has an M.O. of creepy and cruel behaviour. It’s that these bitches are in on it together. They then cry “witch hunt,” as these women are surely working to bring down this poor man. But then enough stories come out with enough variety and disgusting details, that it’s impossible to ignore the fucked up behaviour being tolerated in (insert prestigious workplace here). So many stories, many of them in our own backyard. And yet, we
all forget, and then have the audacity to be shocked. The #MeToo campaign has something in common with Bill C-62, the controversial religious neutrality bill passed in Quebec this past week. The legislation prohibits anyone wearing a facecovering to use public services, and it will overwhelmingly impact Muslim women who choose to wear niqabs. They reveal that a woman’s place in the public sphere is still uncomfortable for a lot of people. We women know that when we leave our homes and enter the public sphere, we will be subject to this very harassment that has taken the news by storm this past week. Back on the U of O campus, the Our Turn advocacy movement has been launched to help prevent sexual violence, support survivors, and to advocate for reforms at the campus, provincial, and na-
tional levels. The movement itself is composed of 21 student groups in Canada, and grades university sexual violence policies. According to Student Federation of the University of Ottawa vice-president equity, Leila Moumouni-Tchouassi, the U of O’s policy shortcoming lies in the promotion—she says it’s not advertised enough. While that might be true, the policy must also have an educational component. We won’t eradicate the scourge of sexual violence in our society without addressing what aspects of our society feed these types of behaviours. We need to think about how we teach children about people’s roles in society and how that eventually leads to sexual assault and harassment. Finally we need to make it clear that women have just as much a right to be in the public sphere as men.
Recent news broke that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein perpetrated sexual assault and harassement of women.
Photo: CC, David Shankbone.
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