The Fulcrum- Volume 77, Issue 20

VOL. 77 ISSUE 20

mar. 2, 2017

pushing for playoffs.

PG. 10.

In this week’s issue...

The election is over, but there’s unfinished business P.4 SFUO election appeals delay ratification of 2017-18 executives Make room in your makeup drawer this spring! P.7 Get fresh with these tried and tested beauty products Fentanyl fundamentals P.8 What you need to know about Ottawa’s worsening opioid crisis

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Gee-Gee swimmer brings home national title P.10 Swim teams give exciting show at OUA and U Sports competitions Rough seas ahead for The Pirate Bay P.12 Should Sweden make pirated media content walk the plank?

Avoiding love triangle trauma P.16 Friendship and romance can be difficult to reconcile, but Di’s got your back Stop moping about M-103 P.19 The anti-Islamophobia motion is not an attack on free speech

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

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

Gallo, Schwartz, and Kent voted off the BOA after appeal Threats against CEO prompts disqualifications, delays candidate ratification Graham Robertson news editor

A

special meeting of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) Board of Administration (BOA) was held on Sunday, Feb. 26 to discuss appeals brought forward by the chief electoral officer (CEO), Qussai Abu-Naqoos, at the Feb. 13 meeting.

At the previous meeting, Abu-Naqoos brought up a conversation that took place between three candidates on the Students First slate—David Gallo, Davis Schwartz, and Jordan Kent—which involved threats made against AbuNaqoos.

According to Abu-Naqoos, the conversation involved Gallo saying that if he won he would “have (Abu-Naqoos’) neck.” When asked why by Schwartz, Gallo responded “so that it would no longer be attached to his body.”

Neither Schwartz nor Kent condemned Gallo’s comments, and according to Abu-Naqoos these kinds of comments, though intended as a joke, contribute to a culture of violence against people of colour and religious minorities.

Abu-Naqoos said that this conversation between the candidates “always made (him) look behind (him), and be more alert.”

Abu-Naqoos, who was employed by the SFUO during the election period, also said that there is no mention of how to deal with instances of discrimination and harassment in the federation’s constitution.

While section 16 of the SFUO’s policy manual states that SFUO policies and practices should not discriminate on the basis of race, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, and a number of other factors, there is no explicit mention of discrimination or harassment

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CEO Qussai Abu-Naqoos originally presented his appeal at the Feb. 13 BOA meeting.

by students against SFUO employees.

Finally, as part of his statement, Abu-Naqoos said that he has no political motive behind his appeal to have Gallo, Schwartz, and Kent removed from the board for the 2017–18 academic year. Instead, his concerns are personal and involve the safety of other board members.

During the campaign period, Abu-Naqoos had originally disqualified the candidates after the comments were brought to his attention, but they had been reinstated following an investigation and interview process by the elections committee.

Mikayla Vattiata, a representative from the Faculty of Social Sciences who sits on the elections committee, said “Looking back, we didn’t take into consideration how serious (this issue) is.” She then said that she is now “100 per cent” in support of Abu-Naqoos and his appeal.

Caylie McKinlay, who is also part of the elections committee, said that they didn’t know where the violence was targeted, and gave the benefit of the doubt to these candidates

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

wards racialized people.

Schwartz then explained that he is not just sorry that he got caught, but rather that he was complacent in threatening comments towards people of colour.

Finally, Singh presented a letter by Kent who, like Gallo and Schwartz, was also absent from the meeting. The letter was read during a brief incamera session.

Following this in-camera session, the board moved into discussion on a vote to have the three candidates removed from the board for the upcoming year. After some debate, the board chose to vote on each candidate individually via secret ballot.

Gallo was removed from the BOA with a vote of 14 in favour, five opposed, and two abstentions. Gallo’s disqualification means that Milly Pang, who currently sits on the board for the Telfer School of Management and who was rerunning for her seat during the election, will now have a seat on the board for the 2017– 18 year.

Gallo declined the Fulcrum’s request to comment on the outcome of the appeal.

during the investigation.

McKinlay also noted that due to the often toxic nature of elections they had originally wanted to give the candidates a second chance.

Princejeet Singh, a Faculty of Sciences representative, then read a letter by Gallo, who was unable to attend the meeting.

The letter served as an apology to Abu-Naqoos, with Gallo writing that he had felt excluded within his own slate, and that he had not meant for Abu-Naqoos to see the private comments, which he believed to be a joke.

Gallo also wrote that heightened emotions during elections can lead to a mob mentality, which is why he made those comments against the CEO. Shawn Philip Hunsdale, chairperson of the board, then presented an apology letter written by Schwartz, also absent, to Abu-Naqoos.

In his letter, Schwartz wrote that he too meant his comments as a joke, and said that due to the privilege he possesses as a white male he was unable to see how the conversation could be threatening to-

Schwartz was removed with a vote of 15 in favour, four opposed, and two abstentions.

In a statement to the Fulcrum following the meeting, Schwartz wrote, “Where I have written a sincere apology for my one comment used to disqualify me, these proceedings have been used to smear my character and vision for a better SFUO.” “I am a devout Christian. I am tolerant, respectful, and peaceful. Identity politics have tried to transform me into a monster. Elections are not fair nor free at the SFUO. Due process gets furloughed, and conflict of interests run rampant. The SFUO stands further divided because of these proceedings,” wrote Schwartz.

Prior to Kent’s vote, a second letter he wrote was presented to the board, where Kent discussed the negativity he has experienced on campus since the Nov. 12 general assembly (GA).

“I have been stalked, had my character smeared, lies have been spread, people made direct threats against me. And all of this has made me paranoid for my personal safety,” wrote Kent.

Kent also wrote that his slate was “targeted by the CEO many times over the course of the campaign.”

“He tried to disqualify us on the first day of the campaign.

Then took away our official representative and didn’t allow for us to have another one, and then refused to, and still refuses to acknowledge any complaints we made about the United Slate,” wrote Kent.

Kent also said that AbuNaqoos “refused to accommodate (his) accessibility needs” during the election period.

However, Vanessa Dorimain, SFUO vice-president of university affairs and acting chief returning officer during the election, said that Kent had met with the elections office to discuss how to meet his needs during the election.

Vice-president of equity Morissa Ellis then said that accommodations were made for Kent during the election.

Following the vote, Kent was removed with 17 in favour and three opposed.

“The voters spoke on February 10th, and they overwhelming chose me to represent them on the BOA,” Kent wrote in a statement to the Fulcrum. “This election was stolen from the students, and I am disappointed in the verdict.”

Kent later told the Fulcrum that he “was not aware of the statement until after the fact” and that he “was appalled to see such language being used.”

Dorimain then clarified that due to these disqualifications and a consequent recount of candidates who had originally not been elected, the ratification of the election results would be moved to a later date.

During the meeting, the board also voted in favour of extending the submission deadline for motions for the March 14 GA to March 6.

The next SFUO BOA meeting will take place on March 5 at 1 p.m. in TBT 083. Meetings are open to the public.

NEWS | 3

Updates: SFUO general election 2017

Students First candidates allege hackings of personal Facebook accounts Graham robertson News Editor

Even though the results of the 2017 Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) general election were released three weeks ago, some of the candidates have still not been finalized yet.

Recount results Since the voting period ended on Feb. 11, three recounts were held, with results being released on Feb. 16. While Jeffry Colin had originally won the position of vice-president of university affairs, his opponent, Axel Ngamije Gaga won the recount by a margin of 155 votes.

According to Tristan Lamonica, a representative from the Faculty of Arts, the original count was due to a broken ballot-counting machine, which led to the votes being counted by hand.

Lamonica said that as the votes were counted at 5 a.m. on Feb. 11, someone from the

elections office had added the votes incorrectly due to fatigue, which led to the original result.

“We have done four total recounts for the position of vice-president of university affairs,” Lamonica told the Fulcrum. “The second, third, and fourth were almost identical counts, keeping in mind we had different scrutineers and staff to ensure that there were no mistakes.”

Caroline Lu, Michel Antoun, and Yawen Chen were elected to the Board of Administration (BOA) for the Faculty of Science, as these ballots were not counted until after the appeal by candidate Jeremy Russell on Feb. 13.

While the ratification of the results were scheduled to take place at the Feb. 26 Board of Administration (BOA) meeting, an appeal by the chief electoral officer, Qussai Abu-Naqoos, led to the disqualification of three elected board candidates—

“We have done four total recounts for the position of vice-president of university affairs. The second, third, and fourth were almost identical counts, keeping in mind we had different scrutineers and staff to ensure that there were no mistakes.”—Tristan Lamonica, BOA Faculty of Arts representative. ceived an email from Justin Patrick, a volunteer on the Students First slate, saying that four of their candidates and volunteers were subject to attempted hacks of their Facebook accounts and one attempted hack of an email account.

“It is unclear as of yet if any more were hacked, or if more hacking attempts will happen in the future,” Patrick wrote in the email.

David Gallo, Davis Schwartz, and Jordan Kent.

Due to these disqualifications and consequent appointments of other candidates in the election, the ratification of results will take place at a subsequent board meeting.

Attempted hacking of Students First accounts On Feb. 24, the Fulcrum re-

The unofficial results of the 2017 general election have yet to be ratified due to several appeals.

4 | NEWS

The students targeted by the attempted hacking have chosen to remain anonymous, with more updates to come as they are made available.

Campaign expenditures audit Over the week of Feb. 13–17, members of the board exchanged emails with Tanner Tallon, the comptroller general for the SFUO. In the exchange, Tallon advocated for an audit of expenditures by members of the United slate during the campaign period.

However, members of the board raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest involved with this audit, as Tallon was also an independent candidate for the position of vice-president finance during the election.

The possibility of this conflict of interest was also emphasized by the board at a Feb. 13 meeting where Tallon brought forward an appeal to have Rizki Rachiq, the current vice-president finance, removed from the position for the 2017–18 year following his re-election.

In an email to the board,

excluding Tallon, Rachiq wrote, “(Tallon) ran in this election and you need to understand that the outcome of the report is biased.”

Rachiq then quoted the Auditor Conflicts of Interest (Chartered Financial Analyst Institute), writing, “Auditors must disclose any current or potential conflicts of interest regarding their role as an auditor for a company.

Such disclosures should include any non-audit services provided and the fees received for such services, as well as any forward agreements entered into before the audit opinion is issued.”

Rachiq then brought up that, due to this conflict of interest, Tallon would appoint his own external auditor, but said that Tallon’s selection of the external auditor would still lead to a conflict of interest.

“As mentioned in the email thread the comptroller general who is subject to conflict of interest tried to diminish this aspect by stating that they have asked Marley, an auditor from SAFA, to help conduct this audit. However how could someone who is in clear conflict of interest appoint the external auditor?” wrote Rachiq.

A special board meeting was held on Thursday, Feb. 23 to discuss the possible audit. Ultimately, the board voted against the audit, either internally, by Tallon, or by an external auditor.

The next Board of Administration meeting will take place on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m. in TBT 083. The ratification of results will take place on Thursday, March 9 or Sunday, March 12, pending a vote by the board.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

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Photo campaign brings feminist face to the law

New club works toward first annual national forum, elevating marginalized voices graham robertson News Editor

A group of University of Ottawa law students are using photography to bring issues such as intersectional representation and the inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women to the forefront of the law.

The Law Needs Feminism Because (LNFB) club was established in the summer of 2016 by Zaynab Al-Waadh, a U of O common law student, following a photo campaign of the same name held at McGill University.

The original photo campaign was started by the Feminist Collective of McGill Law “to spark an evergrowing conversation in the law schools, and by extension the legal field, as to why the legal institution needs feminist principles,” said AlWaadh.

According to the U of O law student, the original photo campaign “has morphed and grown into what it is today—a collection of beautiful and eye-open-

ing portraits forming an archive of the current wave of both practicing and upcoming legal voices.”

“I think the next step is to consolidate these photos and try to understand in what way we can liaise with academics and institutions on the ground to tangibly address issues like racialized experiences, the wage gap, legal accessibility concerns, and mental health.”

This campaign caught the attention of the Huffington Post and the CBC, and eventually, Al-Waadh got on board to start a chapter of the new club at the U of O. According to Al-Waadh, the current team of 11 women has “the intention of openly engaging the faculty and student body in a critical conversation as to why feminist principles—those that challenge power structures that either implicitly or explicitly exacerbate institutionalized disenfranchisement and micro-aggressions—are as relevant and necessary today as they have ever been in history.”

Aside from the photo campaign, Al-Waadh and her colleagues are currently working towards their first annual national forum, which is set to take place on March 11 through the Sid Lee ad agency in Montreal.

“This forum will be a place to consolidate this past year’s worth of portraits,” said Al-Waadh. “We will hopefully begin conceptualizing how we can move these conversations further into tangible outcomes.”

The forum will feature academics, students, and legal professionals to discuss topics such as mentorship, firms and recruitment, student experience, and alternative legal career paths.

Following events like the enactment of the United States travel ban, which targeted seven Muslimmajority countries, and the shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, LNFB partnered with other groups to launch several other initiatives.

Some of these initiatives included letter-writing sta-

tions to members of parliament, a solidarity night for law students and faculty members, and a February Canada-wide Research-athon, where 22 law schools supported advocacy in challenging the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.

“We genuinely hope to spark discussions that in turn break barriers,” said Al-Waadh.

“Inevitably, there is always the fear (as in any social movement entering into the mainstream) that the conversations that ensue only serve to neutralize the potential impact this campaign has.”

But Al-Waadh believes that students should care about the campaign nonetheless “because there is a genuine potential for elevating marginalized voices on a national scale.”

“We are a generation of future legal professionals who will have both the tools and the stamina to transform our legal institutions and the way we

Naiyna Sharma, Senior Advisor and Legal Counsel, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Photo: Courtesy of Zaynab Al-Waadh.

understand and practice the law.”

To learn more information about LNFB club,

please visit their official website at www.lawneedsfeminismbecause.ca.

New app helps bring small businesses to your home

U of O students strive to make contract work fast, efficient, and affordable Zainab Al-Mehdar Associate News Editor

Two University of Ottawa students recently developed a mobile app to bridge the gap between small businesses and homeowners.

In August 2016, Jonathan Ibrahim, a second-year U of O marketing student, teamed up with his high school friend Daniel Laframboise, a third-year software engineer, to come up with the idea for the Taskrilla app as a way to bring contractors and services directly to one’s home with the touch of a button.

The premise of the app involves consumers choosing a service, filling in a description with specific details, choosing a date to receive the service, and then placing their order.

“We then connect you with a registered, certified,

The “Taskrilla” app’s phase-two launch is set to take place in mid-April.

and insured contractor available to fulfill your request,” said Ibrahim.

Some of the services currently offered through the

app range from snow removal to house cleaning to moving to emergency locksmithing.

“This problem is truly an

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

exciting one to our team,” Ibrahim told the Fulcrum.

“We have a real opportunity to help businesses grow and achieve the best out of them-

selves while creating a simpler and more efficient process to finding contractors (and) saving consumers the two most important things— time and money.”

Ibrahim and Laframboise launched their website in February 2017 to market the services currently offered by the app, and hope to add seven more services as part of their phase-two launch by mid-April.

Ibrahim said that with the phase-two launch, the app will see “new features like a user dashboard with past transactions, in-platform payment processing, and a user-friendly redesigned look.”

According to Ibrahim, the Taskrilla team is currently targeting homeowners aged 30-plus who are either too busy to take care of these things or are unable to.

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“No matter their reasons, we’re here to help them” said Ibrahim, who hopes that the app will also catch on with tech-savvy millennials.

As of right now, Ibrahim and his team will be focused on enhancing and improving the app and the services available to homeowners and others looking for these services. According to the U of O entrepreneur, the team also hopes to expand to five major cities across Canada within the next three years.

“As with any tech company, the journey never ends.

We are continuously developing, looking for new ways to make our user experience the best it can be, while thinking of new markets we might be able to work with.”

For more information about this app, please visit taskrilla. com or Facebook.com/taskrilla.

news | 5

A&C EDITOR Anchal Sharma arts@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS&CULTURE

(613) 695-0062 @imtherocks

Refugee Night 2017 showcases a mosaic of experiences

Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers hosts sixth annual event at the U of O Diyyinah Jamora Staff Contributor

Refugee Night is an evening of education and celebration hosted by the University of Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL). This annual event, which took place on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Alumni Auditorium, gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the experiences of refugees and the organizations that support them through advocacy, assistance, and protection.

“We try to have a balance between education and entertainment,” said Amanda Bergmann, a second-year law student who also served as one of the organizers of the event.

“So tonight we’ll be having slam poets as well as firsthand accounts from people who have come through resettlement programs to Canada, to

refugee musicians who are presenting their work, to professors who are coming and talking about their work in that sphere.”

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, a representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, started the night off with a question to the audience: “who knows the difference between a migrant and refugee?” This was quickly followed by the answer: refugees are people fleeing for their lives, from political oppression, or conflict. Migrants, on the other hand, face no risk of persecution.

Beuze continued by saying refugees are also people outside their own country of origin, naming Syria as the main country currently producing refugees. Giving Lebanon as an example, where one in four people are refugees, Beuze said the number of Syrian refugees

that have crossed into Lebanon would be the equivalent of all British Columbians moving to Ottawa.

Beuze applauded Canada for leading solidarity with refugees. Speaking about the recent instances of asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the U.S., Beuze noted that while these individuals are not persecuted in the U.S., they are afraid of being sent back to their country of origin where they will face persecution.

“They are running for their lives.”

Refugee Night also highlighted the work that’s being done for LGBTQ+ refugees by the U of O’s Faculty of Law. This includes the work of professor Y.Y. Brandon Chen, who helps to provide racialized newcomers living with HIV/ AIDS and sexual minorities with a safe, welcoming environment in Ottawa.

This annual event took place in Alumni Auditorium.

Nicholas Hersh of Capital Rainbow Refuge also spoke to the audience at length, sharing some of the barriers to launching a refugee claim. According to Hersh, sexual and gender minorities trying to avoid harm can face “barriers in articulating experiences related to sexuality and gender.”

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

Among the performers was first-year law student and lyricist Nasser Chahbar, who performed a spoken word poem.

“This event gives me a stage to share some of my poetry, especially about some of the social issues that are going on today with recent events,” said Chahbar. “The poetry I do is

called ‘Poetic Justice’ and it takes a critical stance on current societal issues.”

The night concluded with the presentation of the Roberto Miranda award, presented by Bergmann and fellow CARL member Aditya Rao, to Abdulrahman al-Masri for his work in human rights as a journalist, focusing on the war in Syria.

While Refugee Night was an evening meant for celebration, Bergmann reiterated the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“While this is an evening of entertainment and celebration for the positives that are occurring, it’s also an opportunity for people to reflect on the things that Canada or Ottawa need to continue to work on.”

To learn more about the U of O chapter of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, you can find them on Facebook.

So you want to be a rock star?

Local Ottawa artists, Ontario bands showcase their talent at Black Squirrel Books Iain Sellers

staff contributor For local indie artists, concerts can come in all shapes and sizes.

That was the reality for local Ontarian bands on Saturday, Feb. 25, as they took to the stage in a dimly lit enclave of books to perform for a small crowd of fans.

The concert, hosted by the Indie Scene Concert Promotion, took place at Black Squirrel Books in Old Ottawa South and showcased five indie bands.

The evening’s lineup featured the likes of the Tar Sands, Certainty, and Romancer from across southern Ontario, as well as The Superlative and Double Experience from the National Capital region.

In an interview with the Fulcrum, Charles Lepointe, J.P. Lepointe, Kiel Burwell, Zach Lachange, and Alex Tait, members of The Superlative, all emphasized the uniqueness of this

6 | ARTS & CULTURE

The Superlative formed in 2009.

Photo: Courtesy of Ryan Stacey Photography.

intimate concert environment.

“It had a little bit of everything: music, literature, graphic novels, coffee, tea” said Burwell, who plays the guitar and provides vocals for The Superlative.

“I think it was a really cool environment overall.”

Having initially formed their band in 2009, The Superlative

has picked up momentum and released three extended EPs since then.

Their success has ensured that it hasn’t been too hard for the band to find gigs, but it hasn’t always been that way.

“We jumped the gun (in 2009) and got on stage with people who weren’t ready to do (it pro-

fessionally),” explains Burwell.

“Sometimes that can be a hard sell for you.”

Nonetheless, the band was adamant that hopeful artists should “get out there and do it.”

For some bands, it can be as easy as reaching out to the right organizers in a professional way.

Matt Spafford, co-owner of

the Indie Scene Concert Promotion, tells the Fulcrum that “there’s a certain way that you have to compose yourself.”

Spafford looks for professional outreach that tells him “where you’re from, what genre you play, (and contains) a link to your Facebook page and a link to your music.”

While organizing the Indie Scene is relatively new for Spafford, having started the organization in 2014, he has been playing music by himself and with bands since 2008.

Spafford believes that the experiences that he has had as a member of multiple bands have given him some insight on the competitiveness of the Ottawa music scene.

“I think (that) it is difficult.

You need a lot of aspects to your music and you really need something special about your music in order for people to remember it,” said Spafford.

For both Spafford and The Superlative, that “something spe-

cial” isn’t something that should discourage would-be bands. It’s something that should motivate them to push themselves.

“My biggest line with it is: take constructive criticism to mind, not to heart,” said Burwell. “Because you’ll never excel, you’ll never do better if you think you’re the best.”

While the Indie Scene has booked Black Squirrel Books three times for their promotional concerts, they also use other locations and have other concerts multiple times throughout any given month.

With that in mind, there are lots of opportunities out there if you have a band and want to give Ottawa’s music scene a shot.

According to Lachange, the drummer for The Superlative, all you have to do is just “get out there and do it.”

For more information, you can find The Superlative on Bandcamp, or check out Black Squirrel Books’ official website.

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Campus creations: from poetry to prose

Email arts@thefulcrum.ca to submit your work to the Fulcrum.

Counting Calories

By Bethany Keeshan

Let’s play pretend…

Because it is fun… and life is too short!

By Sandy El-Bitar

My identity synonymous with my own repression And just when I find strength to fight for survival My sense of self and my body become bloody rivals And I start to count calories Again

I was supposed to be alone in the night The soft darkness enveloping the wispy streams of light Flowing from the moon’s gentle scars I was supposed to be counting stars Not calories

Let’s pretend that the weather is warm and we are popping soap bubbles in the park.

Let’s pretend that I am a better kite flyer and you are a better cook.

Let’s pretend that my cheeks hurt and my eyes are wet thanks to all the laughter.

Let’s pretend that I am fine and excited to explore this whole new world of mine.

Let’s pretend that I am comfortable with the whole situation.

Let’s pretend that you are not happy here because there isn’t enough livity in this city.

Let’s pretend that you are satisfied with your new connections.

Let’s pretend that I call you just because you are a good friend.

Let’s pretend that I cook for you just because you are like “family.”

Let’s pretend that I am eating well and taking good care of myself.

Let’s pretend that I am sleeping at night.

Let’s pretend that I am fine.

Let’s pretend that I am not jealous.

Let’s pretend that you know what you want.

One, two, three, four I suppress the suggestion that I am worth more Five, six, seven, eight As I’m taken in by insatiable hate Nine I should have been counting the lies But instead I am counting calories

I was supposed to be smiling when I saw them An unquenchable thankfulness forcing me to withdraw, right then, To contain the love and emotion I could only think of professing I was supposed to be counting blessings Not calories

About the author I wasn’t supposed to preface each bite With a unbearable form of delirious spite That coerced my own body into wanting to die So long as the figures in mirrors wouldn’t lie So I am counting calories

Bethany Keeshan was born and raised in Ottawa, and she is currently completing her BA in History and Mathematics at the University of Ottawa. She has loved poetry since she was very young. She believes it to be both a fun pastime and an effective medium through which to critically examine society’s strengths and flaws.

I wasn’t supposed to taste the persistent oppression

Let’s pretend that you are an efficient decision maker.

Let’s pretend that I don’t think of you every minute of my day.

Let’s pretend that I am just acting Cocteau’s The Human Voice.

Let’s pretend that I am taking all these meds because the doctor asked me to.

Let’s pretend that I will wake up tomorrow morning.

Let’s pretend that we are just pretending.

Let’s pretend that this time you will cope, move on … and live happily ever after!

About the author Sandy El-Bitar was born and raised in Lebanon. She graduated from the theatre program at Lebanese University, acted in numerous plays, worked as a clown doctor in four different hospitals, and traveled to perform in several countries. In Canada, she studied recreation and leisure services. Currently, she works as a life enrichment aid in palliative and end of life care, where she integrates art, play, and humour into therapy. She is also completing her BA in psychology at the University of Ottawa.

You can reach her at selbi006@uottawa.ca.

CAMPUS STYLE: Three beauty products to spruce up your spring look a red lip liner pencil of your choice to draw the outline of your lips. Once you’re done, go ahead and apply a longlasting lip stain or lipstick, staying within the lip line.

If you’re looking for a fuller lip effect, apply a lighter shade of red within the centre of your lips, blend it out with the darker shade and you’re good to go.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try Bawse lip stain, designed by YouTuber Lilly Singh, which offers a pop of colour for the spring time and is suitable for all skin tones.

Perushka Gopalkista Staff contributor

Whether you’re looking for new ways to improve your regular makeup routine, or if you just want to test drive some new products for the very first time, here are some easy ways to freshen up your everyday look this spring.

Back to basics Of course, the best way to get started with your makeup routine is with a good base. So, if you’re aiming for smooth coverage, try applying the Photo Finish Foundation Primer by Smashbox before applying your foundation. This will help your foundation stay long lasting and fresh throughout the day without appearing oily.

Follow this up with Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation by Smashbox for a light, all-day wear that will keep your skin looking flawless. You can apply

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Look your best this spring with top-of-the-line products by designers you love.

this with either a brush or a sponge, but make sure to allow equal coverage all over the face. To allow your makeup to properly set in, use a powder sponge, preferably Fit Me Matte + Poreless by Maybelline, and you will look fresh all spring.

Photo: Perushka Gopalkista.

Let’s go lip crazy Since spring is right around the corner, why not amp up your lip color? While this may sound daunting for those who are timid when it comes to bright red lips, these tips may help change your mind.

First, you’ll want to grab

Recommended products • Studio Skin 15-Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation by Smashbox, $48 • Photo Finish Foundation Primer by Smashbox, $44 • Fit Me Matte + Poreless powder sponge by Maybelline, $5.94

Recommended products • Bawse – Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick by Smashbox Cosmetics, $28

Nail it For this time of year, there is plenty of colour to play around with when it comes to nail polish. Try

going with pastel colors for a more seasonal effect, such as a sky blue, peach tone, light pink, and so on.

For a long-lasting manicure, always start with a base coat. Try using a base coat that helps to heal and protect the nail, such as the Age Correct Growth Treatment by Sally Hansen. Once the base coat is applied, you can begin your painting.

You can also try products from Essie and Formula X for longer-lasting colour. For smooth application, apply the first coat and wait for it to dry completely before applying your topcoat.

Recommended products • Bikini So Teeny by Essie, $8.96 • Punch Line by Formula X, $10.90 • Age Correct Growth Treatment by Sally Hansen, $5.19

ARTS & Culture | 7

Fentanyl fury

Prescription med takes its toll on Canadian communities Savannah Awde & Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi Editor-in-Chief & Features Editor With a recent string of drug overdoses in Kanata claiming the lives of teenagers Chloe Kotval and Teslin Russell, the fentanyl crisis is knocking on the door of the nation’s capital. Deaths and overdoses relating to the opioid fentanyl skyrocketed in British Columbia in 2016, but have also been slowly spreading across the country.

curate dosing it must be diluted using fillers. If the drug is not mixed properly with the filler, or if the proportions used are not correct, the final product will have the wrong dosage. The people who make street drugs don’t have a quality-control department. Batches of street drug can contain anything, and can have variable amounts.

So, in order to shine a light on these growing rates of drug abuse, the Fulcrum sat down with Rick Sproule from the Drug User’s Advocacy League in Ottawa, professor William Ogilvie of the University of Ottawa’s Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, and Kelly F. from the Ottawa Network for Peers Acting for Harm Reduction (ONPAHR) to get the straight facts about fentanyl.

Kelly: Fentanyl is highly addictive. It has physically addictive properties, so when someone uses it for over ten days time they actually become physically addicted, and without the substance go through immediate acute withdrawal. And it’s very intense, a lot of people can’t deal with being sick so that’s why people are putting it in other drugs.

The Fulcrum: Could you start off by telling us a bit about what fentanyl is, and why it’s so lethal?

Rick: What fentanyl is, is a synthetic opioid, an imitation of natural opioids but it’s much, much stronger. They use it in the healthcare industry, they use it in hospitals all over the place. It has incredible use in the medical industry, but because of its strength and its ability to mimic heroin, it’s being used to mix into other drugs.

William: Fentanyl is (also) an artificial painkiller. When manufactured and used properly, it is a safe drug. It becomes lethal when it is used in the wrong dose.

Most dosages are in the microgram range— an effective dose of pure fentanyl is so small it is actually difficult to see it. This amount of drug is extremely difficult to measure accurately, and small measurement errors can have huge effects with drugs like this. To ensure ac-

F: Is fentanyl overdose a new widespread problem for Canada, or has it caused problems in the past as well? Is it a newly created drug or have we seen variations of it before?

W: Fentanyl became a street drug in the 1970s. It was “marketed” as a synthetic version of heroin, sometimes called “china white.” It has caused overdoses from the first day it was on the street. Users would inject their “normal” amount of drug, unaware that they were injecting something that was hundreds of times more potent. The result was overdoses.

There are a number of drugs with similar molecular structures to fentanyl. Many were introduced to the street in the 1970s as part of the “designer drug” movement. They have variable potencies and cause overdoses when one is substituted for the other. Substituting one drug for another is a common practice in street drugs. Sometimes an ingredient is hard to get, or expensive. Dealers then switch to making a related drug, but will sell it as the original drug to maintain the “brand.”

K: People have been (overdosing) in our community from fentanyl for well over ten years now, but in the last five it’s got really, really bad.

F: Are there any social reasons behind the spread of this drug in particular?

R: It’s more than a social reason that it’s so popular, it’s because of the legal reasons really. (It’s) the way that the powers that be have tried to handle the growing use of opioids and opiates in our culture and our country.

What happened this time was they took a lot of oxycodone off the market and put back on the market a type of oxy that was not able to be injected, so it kind of made it useless, so everyone switched to stronger things like heroin and fentanyl.

K: They changed the oxy formula so they couldn’t be injected or couldn’t be snorted, they had to be taken orally. So that sort of created a desire for something that could be snorted and/or injected and smoked. Like heroin, fentanyl is a powder so it can come in a powder so it filled the void where other narcotics were no longer being prescribed or being used.

W: Economics. Fentanyl is cheap to make, and because it is so potent you don’t have to make a lot of it. Much easier to handle a few kilos of fentanyl than a few tons of heroin. The logistics are simpler, and so the profit margins are much higher for fentanyl than for drugs like heroin. People who make and sell street drugs are interested in money.

Safety is not an issue, their only “safety” concern is to stay below the radar. As long as the number of deaths is small, nobody notices.

They don’t care if people die, they can always find other people to sell to.

F: Are youth more vulnerable to fentanyl’s effects?

R: Youth are more vulnerable in a certain way. The more hardcore drug users, the ones with long-term usage problems, we’re aware of it. We’re aware of the problem. But the younger generation, a lot of them will take what they think is just a percocet, at a party, hoping to get a good buzz off of it, and it has fentanyl in it, and it kills them.

So a lot of the recreational users nowadays are being exposed to fentanyl because it’s being cut into crack cocaine, it’s being cut into cocaine, it’s being cut into ecstasy, and it’s being fashioned into counterfeit pills, so you can’t be sure if it’s from a real pharmacy, or made in a lab somewhere in southern Ontario.

F: From a policy perspective, are there any ways the government can reduce these overdoses?

R: First of all, we have to grant immediate exemptions to all the supervised injection sites that have been applied for. There should be no hesitation in doing this.

“I don’t think people in Ontario are ready for what’s to come.

What they’re facing out in B.C. is what we’re soon to be facing out here unless we start implementing some initiatives.”

— Kelly F., Ottawa Network for Peers Acting for Harm Reduction.

We have to remove barriers to opioid substitution therapy. The way they distribute methadone and the way they regulate it, it’s very punitive. It’s a very old way of thinking of things. If you screw up and do some heroin and they find it in your urine, they’ll cut you off or cut you back so far that you go into withdrawals, and there seems to be no compassion in the way they do it.

F: What are your thoughts on safe injection sites as a method of overdose prevention? Do you think there are other effective alternatives Ottawa can implement?

K: Like prohibition, the war on drugs is a failure too. The war on drugs is nothing more than a war on people, and unfortunately it’s usually the simple drug user that ends up paying the most ridiculous (price) for something that well may be out of his or her control.

R: The one thing we’re missing right now is somewhere safe to inject. The nature of hard drug addiction is that we all hide away in order to use, because it’s so illegal. So everyone’s kind of hiding away and not watching each other or taking care of each other.

And different programs, heroin maintenance programs, stimulant maintenance programs. It’s far cheaper to create these programs, and help people that way, and help them to reduce and maybe eventually get into treatment then it is to incarcerate somebody. You know it’s very expensive to incarcerate people, it costs $184 a day they’re saying and that’s just basic housing.

The prescription heroin program that they have going at a clinic in Vancouver is very, very useful for the “hard to help” people. But it’s a very controlled environment, they inject right there in the clinic so there’s no chance of overdose, the drugs are pharmaceutical, so everything is very safe. So if we could expand this kind of treatment and these clinics that would be

a huge step forward to ending the overdose crisis.

F: To close, do you have any crucial things about fentanyl or drug use that you would like students to take away?

W: Drugs are not like other consumer goods, you don’t really know what is in them. Nobody has a test lab in their basement, the only way to know what is actually in the product is to trust the source.

Doctors and pharmacies are regulated and have to follow laws. Street pills, even if they look like legitimate pharmaceuticals, can contain anything. The only way to know what is actually in drugs is to trust the source. Buyer beware.

R: We have to change the way we think about drug addiction, because we think about it as a very criminal activity. It really is a healthcare situation, with people with problematic drug use it’s almost always because of a concurrent illness, or a mental disorder that drives you towards it and makes you crave the release that it gives you.

You can’t exactly tell people “don’t use drugs,” because that will drive them in the other direction. Universities could make drug testing kits available. Naloxone is coming out with a nasal form, rather than an injection, so you don’t have to worry about whether you know how to use a needle or not. Any students that are reading this, if you’re using or know someone who uses, go and get some naloxone.

K: Our organization, ONPAHR, we currently have test kits, it’s to detect fentanyl presence in substances, it doesn’t give you levels or how strong a dose is. These tests can also be used, 36 hours (later), as a urine screen as well. So if somebody was told they were given this, and suspect after using that it was fentanyl, they could test the urine as well and see if it was fentanyl or not.

I would just like to say that this isn’t a new issue, and it certainly has gotten worse. I don’t think people in Ontario are ready for what’s to come. What they’re facing out in B.C. is what we’re soon to be facing out here unless we start implementing some initiatives.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Nico Laliberté sports@thefulcrum.ca

(613) 695-0062 @FulcrumSports

Men’s basketball defeats Laurentian, advances to OUA final four Plunkett leads the way for offence as Gees down the Voyageurs 93–81 he wasn’t overly concerned with Laurentian’s push at the end.

“It kept to a three or four possession game and the clock was in our favour there. So my biggest concern was just (that) the fouling was going to keep stopping the whistle and stopping the game and the clock and that was going to extend the game.

But we managed to make our freethrows and they missed some shots late and ended the game.”

The Gees now move on to the final four, where they will play Ryerson.

The two teams most recently met on Feb. 18, with the Rams coming out on top 94–88.

“I’m looking forward to seeing another Ottawa-Ryerson game, that’s for sure,” said Derouin. “I mean, the last one was amazing: big baskets, star players playing well. We’re really excited about making it to the final four, no matter who we face.”

“Any chance in the OUA you make it to the final four, you’re lucky to be there.”

While Derouin was happy with his team’s effort, he still sees areas they need to improve ahead of the OUA final four.

Nico Laliberté Sports Editor

The Gees took the first step towards a national title on Saturday, Feb. 25 when they faced off against the Laurentian Voyageurs in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) quarterfinal.

The Gees came out strong, going up 9–2 early in the first quarter. But the Voyageurs battled back, taking a 12–11 lead, their first and only of the game, with just under three minutes left in the period.

The Gees didn’t let the Voyageurs gain any momentum, storming back to enter into the second quarter up 22–12.

The Gees extended their lead in a mostly back-and-forth second quarter, going up 43–29.

After missing two weeks with an injury, and only playing 16 minutes in last week’s game, fifth-year Caleb Agada led the team with 13 points in the first half.

The third quarter saw the Gees break away from Laurentian, riding the high off of their excellent three-point shooting. Matt Plunkett

The Gees survived Laurentian’s late-game push to seal the victory.

drained three from behind the arc, and Gage Sapean added two of his own to put the Gees up 71–49 going into the final quarter.

The Voyageurs pushed back in the fourth quarter to get within 10 points of the Gees in the final minute. Frequent fouls disrupted the flow as the game wound down, and

Photo: Kim Wiens.

when the final buzzer went, the Gees had soundly defeated Laurentian 93–81.

Matt Plunkett lead the way offensively for the Gees with 18 of his season-high 21 points, and five of his game-high six three-pointers, coming in the second half.

Head coach James Derouin said

“The offensive rebounding and the box-out’s our major concern.

You know, 23 offensive rebounds for (Laurentian) today kept them in the game and gave them the extra possessions and that’s something we’ve got to clean up. We can’t keep giving the ball back after we get the good stops..”

Since consistent shooting has been somewhat of a struggle for the team this year, Derouin was pleased to see his players stepping up and sinking some threes.

“Our shooting has been inconsistent. There’s times it looks really good. There’s times it looks really bad. I can’t tell you the answer, but to get (Sapean) and Plunkett going from three tonight, (Adam Presutti) made a big one as well. I mean, the threes help us. We’ve got to make shots to win this thing this year and it’s good to see a few go down today.”

The OUA final four takes place at the Raven’s Nest on March 3 and 4.

Ottawa will play Ryerson at 8 p.m. on March 3, and the gold and bronze medal games will take place on March 4. Tickets can be purchased from the Carleton Ravens’ website.

Champagne collects gold, two silvers at U Sports swim championship Third-year Gee-Gee claims OUA medals, brings home a national title The women’s team recorded four medals altogether and qualified six swimmers for the U Sports final.

Anne-Marie Kaczmarczyk’s OUA silver medal in the women’s individual medley, accompanied by three other bronze medals, was the medal tally for the team who finished fourth overall.

The only Gee-Gee to medal at nationals was Champagne, who recorded three medals in impressive fashion. He recorded a gold medal in the 400m individual medley to go along with two silvers in the 200m individual medley and the 200m butterfly.

Heinbuch wasn’t surprised to see how well Champagne performed in the high-pressure of the national championship.

“First of all, his goals are to be an international-level swimmer. He lives that on a daily basis. Every day he comes in and works hard. His results are no surprise.”

The female 4 x 100m relay team had the best finish for the women’s

zack goobie

associate Sports Editor Optimism was flowing for both the men’s and women’s swim teams early on in their seasons, as they were ranked seventh and tenth in the nation, respectively.

While neither team could maintain their ranking throughout the season, they made up for it with a strong Ontario University Athletics (OUA) finals showing, and a trip to the national swimming championship.

The men’s team was present in the top 10 in 10 weeks out of a possible 12, but the women’s team failed to rank following the first week.

The OUA swimming championships took place from Feb. 9–11 at the University of Toronto, and saw the Gee-Gees women’s and men’s team place fourth and third respectively.

Head coach Dave Heinbuch hoped they could have done even better, but was proud of his team’s result nonetheless.

10 | SPORTS

Champagne set multiple Gee-Gees records.

Photo: CC, Australian Paralympic Committee.

“Our goal was to finish second in the men’s and third in the women’s.

We weren’t quite there yet, but we are getting there,” said Heinbuch.

“In my four years, that was my best OUA championship, both teams stepped up big time, so I was really happy with the performances.”

For the men’s team, the third-place finish was their best since 2010 and

allowed them to qualify four swimmers for the U Sports championships.

Montana Champagne made headlines for the men’s side, recording three individual medals (two gold and a silver) and two team medals (silver and bronze). He set Gee-Gees records in all five individual swims that he participated in.

team, placing 12th on the final day of the event.

Ultimately, Heinbuch thought his teams had a very good showing on the national stage.

“You know I was really happy with the men’s team ending up 10th,” said Heinbuch.

“The meet is so fast now, that if you can come in the top 10, you’ve done a pretty good job. Overall I was really happy with the men. With the women, we probably left a little bit of our performances at the OUA championships.”

With the national championships now over, Heinbuch’s attentions are turned to recruiting for next year.

“I’m learning the ins and outs of recruiting, and that’s what it’s all about. The better swimmers you can recruit, the better the team is.”

“One of the difficulties I have is that I only have one scholarship for each team. All the swimmers really like the U of O, so that’s the advantage I have, and it’s just convincing them to swim.”

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Men’s hockey: A long-awaited season in review

Team has a bright future with an impressive showing in second half of year zack goobie

associate Sports Editor After taking a two-year hiatus, nobody expected much from the revamped Gee-Gees men’s hockey team this season. With a roster boasting 17 freshmen and only one returning player, second-year defenceman Gabriel Vermette, the team was bound to face its fair share of struggles and growing pains along the way.

Coming into this season, expecting a playoff finish for the Gees seemed like a pipedream.

And, to be fair, the Garnet and Grey did start their season the way many people expected, recording only two points of a possible 14 in their first seven contests.

Following a double overtime loss at the hands of the McGill Redmen on Oct. 29, the Gees began to turn things around and reeled off a six-game point streak, going 5–0–1. Furthermore, after allowing 34 goals against in the first seven games of the sea-

The Gees finished on a torrid pace before bowing out in the playoffs.

son, the Gees only let in seven goals during this hot streak, seeing a huge improvement by both their goaltenders and the defensive core.

There was no team hotter than the University of Ottawa following the Christmas break. From Jan. 7 to Feb. 11, the Gees suffered only one regulation loss, going 8–1–2, and outscored their opponents 52–28 in that time frame.

After three straight one-

goal losses, the Gees ended their season with a win against Laurentian University and looked to make some noise in the playoffs against the favoured Queen’s Gaels.

The first two games of the series ended with a 3–2 score after double overtime, with each team grabbing a victory.

Mathieu Newcomb was the hero in the latter of the two games for the Gees, scoring the overtime game winner.

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

With both games going down to wire, the deciding third game could have gone either way. However, the Gees couldn’t solve Gaels goaltender Kevin Baillie, who turned away all 24 shots that came his way.

Ultimately, the Gees ended up losing the game by a final of 2–0, which means the Gaels took the best-of-three series by a 2–1 margin. Despite the crushing loss, Graham Hunt

came up big for his team in net after replacing Anthony Brodeur in the first game of the series.

Head coach Patrick Grandmaître knew that playoff hockey was going to be difficult for such an inexperienced team.

“Any mistake can cost you your season (in the playoffs). I felt like we were right there. I do think that the better team won, but I do know we had our chances to take that series.”

Throughout their season, many players stepped up for the Gees to contribute to their success. Most notably, Kevin Domingue, a former member of the Sherbrooke Phoenix, powered the offensive attack with 31 points and a leaguehigh five game-winning goals.

“I think the success of Kevin is his speed and his shot,” said Grandmaître. “Kevin rose to the challenge with such a young team, he produced from day one right into the playoffs.”

On the defensive end, Michael Poirier, a second-year

economics student at the U of O, propelled the offensive attack from the blue line with five goals, the most amongst Gees defensemen this year.

Grandmaître was proud of the way his team developed in the second half of the season.

“Our start to the season was not what we wanted, but we felt that we knew that we could play with those teams. After getting a big win against Concordia, we went on a pretty big roll after that.”

With the majority of players returning, Grandmaître doesn’t expect to do a whole lot of recruiting for next year.

“I might bring one, two, maybe three guys max. I’m looking at interest from some high-end players.”

After what can only be viewed as a very successful inaugural season for the remodeled U of O men’s hockey team, the future looks very promising for such a young group. Gee-Gees fans will definitely have to keep their eyes out for this up-and-coming squad in the years to come.

Women’s basketball: 2016–17 season recap

Defense, Besselink’s offensive power were the main keys to success for the Gees zack goobie

associate Sports Editor The University of Ottawa women’s basketball season came to a surprising close on Feb. 22 on home court against the Western Mustangs.

Despite going into the game as the favourite, the eleventh-ranked Mustangs ousted the sixthranked Gee-Gees in the preliminary round of the Critelli Cup playoff. A poor fourth quarter, where the Gees produced only four points, resulted in the end of a solid season for the team.

Although the early exit must be a disappointment for the Garnet and Grey, the team finished with a solid 13–6 regular season record, good enough for second in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) North division.

The Gees came out of the gates strong with

The Gees had a good season despite losing to Western in the preliminary round of the playoffs.

three straight wins to start the young season, before they suffered a setback against the now nationally second-ranked McMaster Marauders. The Gees

reeled off two more threegame win streaks over the course of the season, and only lost back to back games on one occasion.

Their two games against

Photo: Marta Kierkus.

the rivals from across the canal, the Carleton Ravens, definitely stung the most among their six losses on the season.

Julia Soriano’s absence

of nine games due to injury in the middle of the season was a hard pill for the team to swallow. The fifthyear senior was penned in as their starting point guard from the get go, and with her on the bench the Gees’ depth was constantly tested.

With the absence of their point guard, Sarah Besselink was called on to step up, and she did just that. This season she finished with a careerhigh 13.8 points per game (PPG) and 6.2 rebounds per game to lead her club. The fourth-year guard was called on again and again to hit shots for the Gees, and she did a great job of doing so all year.

Freshman guard Amelie Hachey was tied for second in scoring per game with a 6.8 PPG, despite only averaging 16.4 minutes a game and not taking a single free-throw attempt all season.

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As a team, both the freethrow line and the threepoint line hurt the Gees this season. The University of Ottawa ranked in the bottom half in both charity stripe makes and shots from behind the arc.

The Gees’ biggest strength was their defensive play. They ranked second overall in the OUA in points allowed per game, giving up an average of only 54.2 PPG. The Gees will be without at least three major pieces of the puzzle next year, as fifth-years Melina Wishart, Julia Soriano, and Katherine Lemoine are all graduating from the Garnet and Grey.

The Gees have a fairly young team, with 14 players having the possibility to return next year. Until then, head coach Andy Sparks will be tasked with filling the big holes that the three seniors have left for the upcoming year.

Sports | 11

OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR Eric Davidson

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

Call to fingerprint Canadian journalists is overkill Better reason needs to be given, especially with hostile political climate Eric Davidson Opinions Editor

J

ournalists are having a rough time lately. news organizations are being shut out of whitehouse press briefings south of the border, and a recent Gallup poll found that only 32 per cent of Americans say they have “a great deal” of trust in the media.

But this kind of media dysfunction is not just relegated to our neighbour from the south. Disputes between Canadian journalists and their government over protecting the identity of their sources are far from being uncommon. For example, who could forget the fate of Montreal journalist Michaël Nguyen, whose computer was seized by the police in September, or revelations that La Presse’s Patrick Legacé had been under police surveillance.

Despite this hostile climate, the House of Commons administrative committee still thinks it’s a good idea to get the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to fingerprint journalists and run background checks before they can enter the parliamentary press gallery.

Under the proposal, journalists who frequent the press gallery would be screened by the RCMP with fingerprinting and criminal background checks, and could be denied access if the police deem necessary, though no specific details on criteria for entry were given.

At first they were so serious that they suggested that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service should be involved in the screening as well, though this aspect was dropped.

It’s important to keep in mind that this action isn’t an overt attack against reporters. Journalists are just one of the groups that the administrative committee is putting

A House of Commons committee says that the RCMP should start fingerprinting groups that frequent the parliamentary press gallery.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

under greater scrutiny, as the reach extends to MP staffers, contractors, volunteers, and interns.

But that doesn’t take away from the fact that pushing for such measures could sow a rift between journalists and the government, and

potentially the country’s citizens by proxy.

On Feb. 24, press gallery president Tonda MacCharles noted that there has never been a security issue in the press gallery involving a journalist. More details on why the reforms

are happening could go a long way to easing the dispute. After all, reinforcing an assurance of checks and balances is a simple way to prevent this power from curbing a free press.

In this increasingly divisive political climate, some have been critical of journalists for other reasons, saying they can’t be trusted as they’re not tightly “regulated,” as a doctor would be. But the strength of a serious reporter is that they’re not beholden to strict standards of a government or other such entities.

Journalists and news organizations are free to report what they want and how they want, and can develop credibility on the strength of that reporting.

The government needs to be careful it’s not perceived as stepping into the role of a gatekeeper, since this could erode the idea that the media’s credibility must be determined by the work it does—not the perception of outside bodies.

We shouldn’t jump ship on The Pirate Bay

Media sharing site’s role goes beyond piracy, reach benefits marginalized groups Eric Davison

Fulcrum contributor Last week the Swedish government cracked down on infamous file-sharing website The Pirate Bay, demanding that Internet service providers block access to the site or face hefty fines. Although the action appears to be minor, it raises several ideological questions ranging from the monetary value of art to the role of the Internet in the 21st century.

While the ban will likely be ineffective at curbing online piracy, it sets a dangerous precedent that could have severe consequences well into the future.

For context, modern Internet piracy is generally based on a peer-topeer distribution system. Essentially, the data being accessed—whether that be movies, music, television, etc.—is distributed across thousands of computers and shared freely among users. While this technology originally became popular because of the security and anonymity it

12 | OPINIONS

On Feb. 13 the Swedish government ruled to block sites like The Pirate Bay.

provided, it has grown to have a profound impact on media preservation as a whole.

Files uploaded to peer-to-peer networks are notoriously difficult to take down, as every user in possession of a copy would need to be

Photo: CC, Kopimi.

taken offline at the same time. This system has long been criticized for limiting content owners’ control over their own intellectual property.

But, at the same time, it has created an ersatz for global archive of media.

Consider the fact that many

highly influential films and texts belong to firms that refuse to re-release them or make them available legally. Everything from Soviet science-fiction thrillers to old local news broadcasts have found a new generation of fans in the digital underworld when they would have been lost to history otherwise.

For example, a Star Wars Holiday Special, aired once in 1978, was cobbled together by different viewers and distributed via file-sharing sites. It developed a cult following despite its dubious quality.

Similarly, a significant amount of media is not available in much of the world due to economic or political factors. Piracy provides a way for people in extreme poverty or living under oppressive regimes to experience art that would be totally beyond their reach otherwise.

In South Korea, some activists are even trying to penetrate the ideological control of North Korea by smuggling pirated movies and TV shows over the border.

Firms lose nothing by having more people access their content if they never planned on targeting the market in the first place, and many people benefit from the educational and cultural value it provides.

While the impact that Internet piracy has on artists is undeniable from an academic and historical perspective, the practice almost appears noble.

The Pirate Bay is clearly rife with abuse and its existence could very well be responsible shutting down several media companies.

However, banning it entirely destroys an important method of cultural exchange that many have come to rely on. Unless the international community can find a way to fill the void the death of online piracy would leave, it should be left alone.

For now, The Pirate Bay and sites like it are a necessary evil in a world where free access to information is increasingly essential.

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Gutting genetic discrimination bill could lead to big problems The pace of genetic technology is quickening, and we need to be prepared Eric Davidson Opinions Editor

While it may sound like something born from a science-fiction movie, Canada’s “genetic anti-discrimination” bill, currently in its first reading in Parliament, would make some very important changes if enacted.

Outside of the broad parameters of preventing this kind of inequity, Bill S-201 is also designed to ban access to personal genetic test results and prevent employers or insurance companies from requiring people to take genetic tests. Unfortunately, both of these clauses have faced scrutiny, and might be removed if a revised version of the bill passes.

In a time where personal genetic technology is advancing, and companies like 23andMe are offering such services to the public, it’s imperative that Canadians have legislation to protect them against the misuse of this technology.

Bill S-201 is designed to add protections against discrimination based on genetics.

For example, 23andMe collects all kinds of data on the people who obtain their genetic information. If this information were to become public, insurance companies would be less likely to give coverage to someone with genetic predisposition to certain diseases. Employers might look at the information as well. And in an age

of leaks, hacks, and general misuse of information, is this really such a far-fetched scenario?

There’s still a risk involved even if this information doesn’t go public. Frank Zinatelli, vice-president of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, told Maclean’s in 2015 that insurance companies

Photo: CC, Qimono.

should be able to demand the information obtained from such tests to ensure an “equal footing.”

And this quandary isn’t purely hypothetical. A 2009 study by the University of British Columbia found that people with a predisposition for Huntington’s disease, an inherited disorder that results in the death of brain

cells, suffered discrimination based on their genetics, primarily by insurance providers.

Furthermore, the 2009 study posited that the fear of being discriminated against prevented people from getting genetic testing for their own benefit, for fear of having the results used against them.

Even if this is an important issue, it’s not a federal matter, right? Well, the fact is that in practice we’re currently stuck in limbo with no signs of moving forward.

Even though Health Canada says that the job should fall on the provinces, the provinces themselves are showing no interest in addressing the issue.

When there’s such division, we’d be better served with a clear, top-down approach from the federal level rather than waiting aimlessly for all of the provincial governments to start showing interest.

Okay, but the bill

wouldn’t be totally useless without these amendments, and would still change the Canadian Human Rights Act to include genetic discrimination, right? That’s true, but this revised bill would not give specific direction on how to address misuse of personal genetic information, as the original bill does, and would be far less likely to resolve future crises in practice.

In fact, passing a pseudosolution would be more dangerous than doing nothing at all. Critics could easily say that we already have legislation to deal with the issue, and many people might feel assuaged, even though, when push comes to shove, it wouldn’t have any teeth.

Bottom line: personalized genetic testing is a huge breakthrough that can benefit all kinds of people, but we need to make sure it isn’t used to discriminate, lest we make our society a little bit more dystopian.

Raising retirement age is a shortsighted measure Liberals should consider factors beyond economic advisory report Eric Davidson Opinions Editor

A recent report by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s economic advisory committee is suggesting that the government should defer retirement benefits until age 70. It’s a sticky situation for the prime minister, who, in March 2016, reversed a decision by the Conservative government to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67.

Looking across other countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), very few have a higher retirement age than Canada, with most ranging from 60 to 65 years.

But Canada’s demographics are changing. In 2016, 15.9 per cent of Canada’s population was aged 65 or over. This number

is expected to increase to 22.6 per cent by 2041.

We can’t deny that Canada is getting older.

However, simply raising the retirement age isn’t a sustainable solution. What happens if the population continues to age after that?

Do we continue to push the retirement age higher?

As Prime Minister Trudeau put it when he was undoing the Conservatives’ plan to to raise the retirement age, it’s a “simplistic solution to a complex problem that won’t work.”

Some have argued that many Canadians over 65 “want to work more.”

That’s fine, but the issue here isn’t whether people over 65 are allowed to work—it’s whether they need to. And given the absence of any study proving that the vast majority of Canadians over 65 would

prefer to work, we can hardly rely on this rhetoric.

So what can be done?

First, recall that the Canadian pension system is a mixture of federal and provincial money, combined with optional private plans. The government can make sure each of these parts is running smoothly under the current framework.

One issue the government could look to address is the private component of the Canadian pension system. These days, stable jobs with good pensions are in shorter supply. An OECD report from 2015 also notes that the private pension landscape generates “complexity” and “inefficiencies,” which the government could try and improve to get better outcomes.

The report also notes

Prime Minister Trudeau’s economic advisory team has suggested increasing the retirement age.

that basic pension benefits are indexed to inflation, not employment growth, which could lead to more efficiency as it better reflects wages.

By optimizing the different parts of the Ca-

nadian pension system, the government would reduce the strain on federal contributions while making things easier for citizens, and setting a more useful agenda going forward.

It could also address

thefulcrum.ca

Photo: CC, pefertig.

the root cause of the problem: the country’s aging population. If the population’s rate of aging can be slowed, by more immigration for example, then stresses on the pension plan will be eased significantly.

OPINIONS | 13

U of O’s new political handshake course to debut in the fall New course gets the green light after infamous Trump-Trudeau encounter Nadia Helal Staff Contributor In the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s epic handshake battle with U.S. President Donald Trump in mid February, the University of Ottawa has decided to add a mandatory class for all political science students.

The history of the handshake dates back to the Roman Empire, when Maximus shook hands with Quintus in battle before he became a gladiator.

For those of who you who aren’t familiar with this maneuver, a handshake is a basic ritual whereby two or more people join hands, followed by a relatively brief round of up and down movements.

At the U of O, diplomatic handshaking 101 has been in the works for years, but never managed to drum up enough interest on campus—until now. In the wake of the

The U of O unveils political handshake program.

Trudeau-Trump handshake summit of 2017, students from all over the country are suddenly applying to the U of O in the hopes of being amongst the first to learn about this once taboo topic.

“We learn so much about being

Photo: CC, Office of the President of the United States.

diplomatic through language, but I always felt there was something missing,” declared political science student Didier Cranberry. “Now we can study something actually useful for a change.”

Starting this fall, students will

learn all about the history of famous handshakes, how they are used in various countries, and the art of germ spreading.

Naturally, there will be a practical element to the course whereby students must master the art of the “Trudeau handshake” before being eligible to pass.

The first batch of graduates will be sent on various humanitarian trips around the world to raise awareness of Canada’s not-so-secret diplomatic weapon.

“A handshake reveals so much about our personality, strength, and political stance,” claims political science professor Scott Summers, who is the braintrust behind this new course. “These are very exciting times in the world of political science.”

The university is trying to keep up with the huge demand of students already showing interest in the unique course. There is also

a rumour that Trudeau may take time out from his busy schedule to allow for handshake selfies with first-year students.

“I’m so excited to learn everything about this important issue. I haven’t been able to find a job for nearly three years and now I understand why,” mentioned Colleen McCafferty, a third-year political science student.

Handshaking is an extremely important part of modern-day society. Countries with leaders unable to deliver a proper handshake have watched their economies plummet to unforeseen levels.

On the other side of the coin, America’s economy is flourishing thanks to ultra-aggressive handshaking by their current president.

Luckily, Canada is fortunate enough to have a leader who knows how to keep just the right amount of pressure so that our economy never changes.

SFUO election recount reveals nobody won

Despite record turnout, most votes revealed to be “joke” ballots Eric Davidson Tomato Editor After the results of the 2017 Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) election were released on Feb. 11, next year’s executive appeared to be set in stone— until a recount took place.

To the surprise of only a handful of people, the SFUO later realized that they had made a big oversight—no one had been elected at all.

“There were some mistakes early in the vote counting process,” said candidate Crancesco Faruso. “Elections officials were very tired. In fact, I think they were counting votes in their sleep.”

After the 53rd recount, it dawned on the group that while many ballots had been submitted, none of them had any names marked down. One ballot did

have the words “Bernie for prez!” scrawled on it, but it was marked as spoiled.

“Folks did come out and vote,” said Faruso. “But I guess we should have been more clear on how to use the ballots.”

After the recount, it turned out that none of the would-be voters actually marked down a candidate.

Apparently, some students simply wrote a number to guess how many jelly beans one of the elections officers had in in a bag on their desk.

“Did I win the jelly bean election?” asked Sally Simpson, a firstyear accounting student.

Others simply seized on an opportunity to further their own prospects.

“I just went to steal a pencil for my exam,” said Steve James, a third-year mathematics student.

“Thanks, SFUO!”

thefulcrum.ca

After numerous recounts, the SFUO has determined that nobody received enough votes to be elected.

Photo: Marta Kierkus. Edits: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

“To be honest, I just used the voting screen so no one would see me taking selfies,” said Scott Jones, a second-year communications student. “I feel judged, okay?”

The executive candidates were

shocked that nobody got any votes, and some took the news pretty hard.

“I’m not sure what I’ll do instead of running the SFUO,” said candidate Wadi Hess, his eyes welling

up with tears. “I mean, where else will I be in control of throwing big parties for students and a bike coop at the same time?”

Another candidate, Alex Gaga, was similarly disheartened.

“I was so looking forward to being heckled by the student body over fireworks and Snapchat stories,” he said wistfully. “Ah, what could have been.”

Some students, however, didn’t seem phased by the non-existent election results.

“Wait, people were running the SFUO before?” asked Sheila Ross.

“Who knew!”

It’s not clear what will happen to student services next year without any elected executives.

Some speculate that the SFUO will operate as a shell of its former self, not funding any clubs or activities and reducing the services it provides.

THE TOMATo | 14

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DISTRACTIONS Dear Di,

Dear Di

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

Dear Di,

I’m stuck in a love triangle, and I’m not sure how to handle it. My friend and I both like the same person who happens to also like both of us equally. What should I do?

-Triangle Trap

My friend recently admitted to me that he’s cheating on his partner. What should I do? Should I tell my friend’s boyfriend that he’s being two-timed? We’re not really close, but I feel like he has a right to know.

-Chamber of Secrets Dear CS,

Dear TT, Love triangles are always complicated and divisive. They push you to reflect on what you value most: friendship, or a potential romantic relationship.

If you hold the former in higher esteem, it’ll be easier for you to let go of your romantic prospect. However, if you prioritize a relationship with your crush over your platonic pal, that’s when things get tough. You’ll want to reflect on that before you make a decision.

As you think about it, be sure not to fall into manipulative situations. The person you have feelings for may not realize the strain they are putting on your friendship. However, they might also be taking advantage of the situation, since they are monopolizing you and your friend’s attention. Try to keep a clear head and to understand their intentions before you make any decisions.

If you are completely at a loss for what to do, you’ll want to try and temporarily remove yourself from the situation. If you’re constantly interacting with both your friend and your love interest, there’s a good chance you haven’t had time to sit back and think. Try and take a few days, maybe even a week, “off,” and see how you feel afterwards. If you take a couple steps back, you might realize that this whole thing isn’t as complicated as it might seem.

At the end of the day, the best way for you to untangle yourself from this mess is to communicate with all parties involved. It’ll be a lot easier for you to make a decision once you’ve set things straight.

Love, Di

FEATURES EDITOR Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi

This is definitely a tricky situation. It’s completely understandable for you to be confused about where to go from here.

I think the best way for you to tackle this situation isn’t to talk to your friend’s boyfriend. Instead, you should speak to your friend directly. Regardless of what he did, he still confided in you because he trusts you, and before you do or say anything that could jeopardize your friendship you might want to make him understand the gravity of his actions.

By doing so, you may make him realize that he needs to come clean to his boyfriend all by himself, which would leave you out of the messy aftermath.

Although you feel that it’s your moral responsibility to let his boyfriend know, you may want to give your friend a chance to solve this problem on his own.

Most importantly, you don’t want to be sticking your nose into someone else’s love life unnecessarily. By telling the boyfriend that he’s being cheated on without talking to your friend beforehand, you run the risk of being at the centre of their disagreement, and adding even more fuel to the fire.

In the end, do what you feel is right and appropriate to the situation. If ratting out your friend to his partner brings you peace of mind, then go ahead. Just make sure that you explore other options beforehand.

Love, Di

To get all your sexy and saucy questions answered,

email Di at deardi@thefulcrum.ca ;) 16 | DISTRACTIONS

thefulcrum.ca

Mar. 2–Mar. 9, 2017

THRYLLABUS

MUSIC arts Sports

FUN Thinking

Thursday, March 2

TD Place—2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 7

Panel: Women and Mentorship, free admission, Alex Trebek Alumni Hall—5:30 p.m.

Glow in the Dark Yoga Classes, no yoga experience necessary, Goodlife Fitness Lansdowne—5:30 p.m.

Land of Mine (2016 Academy Award nominee, Best Foreign Language Film), Bytowne Cinema—9:10 p.m.

Ottawa Senators vs.

Colorado Avalanche, Canadian Tire Centre—7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 3 Billy Talent (Afraid of Heights Tour), TD Place—8 p.m.

Eric Church (Holdin’ My Own Tour), Canadian Tire Centre—8 p.m.

Saturday, March 4 Go Code Girl 2017, introducing young women to technology through programming, free admission, SITE Rotunda—9:30 a.m.

Ottawa 67’s vs.

Kingston Frontenacs,

Prof. Stewart Elgie STEP DOWN

Red Bull Crashed Ice championship, downhill skating course, free admission, Ottawa Locks—8 p.m.

Sunday, March 5 Ottawa 67’s vs. Barrie Colts, TD Place—2 p.m.

The 2017 CWHL Clarkson Cup, Canadian Tire Centre—4 p.m.

Monday, March 6 Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins, Canadian Tire Centre—7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 8 20th Century Women (2016 Academy Nominee, Best Original Screenplay), ByTowne Cinema—6:40 p.m.

Thursday, March 9 uO2.0 Graduating Students and Alumni Career Fair, free admission, University Centre—10 a.m.

The Pick Brothers, The Haig, Mavericks—8 p.m.

Jackie, (2016 Academy Nominee, Best Actress, Natalie Portman), ByTowne Cinema—9 p.m.

Is this about giving carbon tax money to Big Oil?

From the oil mouthpiece Canada’s EcoFiscal Commission and stand up for the environment against Big Oil

thefulcrum.ca

DISTRACTIONS | 17

18 | LETTERS

thefulcrum.ca

Volume 77, Issue 20, mar. 2, 2017 Sitting on a goldmine since 1942.

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

Savannah “Sea Legs” Awde Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Kim “Cap’n Bloodbath” Wiens Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “One-Eyed Willie” Darbyson Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Graham “Captain Hooker” Robertson News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Anchal “Dread Pirate Roberts” Sharma Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Nadia ‘Back from the Dead Red” Drissi El-Bouzaidi Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Nico “Metal Beard” Laliberte Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Eric “Jack Sparrow” Davidson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Jaclyn “Drunken Bilge” McRae-Sadik Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca David “Grog Swiller” Campion-Smith Social Media Coordinator social@thefulcrum.ca Zainab “Hackin’ Yvette Bones” AlMehdar Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL

Motion 103 isn’t a cause for concern—here’s why

It seems by now we’ve heard it all about M-103, a parliamentary motion that calls for MPs to study solutions to Islamophobia and the systemic discrimination it causes for Muslim-Canadians.

mously passed a motion to make combating anti-Semitism a priority in Canada’s domestic and international activities. So why all the fuss about a motion for similar action against Islamophobia?

Conservative leadership hopefuls Kellie Leitch, Brad Trost, Chris Alexander, and Pierre Lemieux, among many others, have persistently condemned the motion as an attack on free speech, with Trost calling it an instrument of the “thought police in Ottawa.” Others have called this motion the first step in establishing Sharia law in Canada.

With six innocent people recently targeted and killed due to their faith at a mosque in SteFoy, Que., and a significant spike in reported hate crimes against Muslim people after the shooting, not to mention the fact that studies have shown Ontarians to view Islam in particular negatively, there’s a clear need for the government to take some kind of action.

There’s just one problem with these allegations—M-103 isn’t legislation. It’s a motion, and by definition cannot impact Canada’s law in its current form.

In general, motions in Canada are largely symbolic. For example, in 2015 Parliament unani-

M-103 doesn’t denounce—and definitely doesn’t criminalize— criticism of Islam. The goal of the motion is to simply dissuade unfounded fear and hatred of Muslim-Canadians, an action that leaves ample opportunity for Canadians to voice disagreement

with the religion itself.

And yet, the motion stirred up so much backlash that Iqra Khalid, the Liberal MP who tabled the motion, has received thousands of death threats, sexist comments, and Islamophobic remarks since bringing the motion forward. “‘I’m not going to help them shoot you, I’m going to be there to film you on the ground crying ... Ha ha ha ha, the member got shot by a Canadian patriot’,” read a death threat that Khalid called only “the tip of the iceberg” in an interview with the Toronto Star.

There was so much controversy over this motion that former justice minister Irwin Cotler suggested replacing the word “Islamophobia” in the motion’s text with “anti-Muslim bigotry.” Because catering to the needs of people uncomfortable with acknowl-

Zack “Bootstrap Bill” Goobie Associate Sports Editor associatesports@thefulcrum.ca Jodie “Slippery Faye Bonny” CotéMarshall Associate Features Editor associate.features@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Cap’n Rachel Deadweight” Kierkus Staff Photographer photographer@thefulcrum.ca

Shanèl “Double-D” Dear Advertising Representative ads@thefulcrum.ca

What’s especially ironic about the fuss around M-103 is that so many Conservative leadership candidates have cried wolf over something that won’t impact your rights in a court of law.

However, Bill C-51, a 2015 bill that was condemned by lawyers and civil liberties advocates for violating constitutionally protected rights of expression, has a clear ability to restrict your freedom of speech due to its vague language on what constitutes the promotion of terrorism.

Curiously, Leitch, Lemieux, Trost, and Alexander, all “free speech” warriors when it comes to a symbolic action to curb Islamophobia, all supported this bill, which members of Canada’s legal profession have warned will cause “speech chill.” The kicker? Unlike M-103, Bill C-51 could in fact work against you in a court of law.

Free speech is an incredibly important aspect of Canadian society. But to point to an effort to take a collective stance against Islamophobia and call it an infringement on “free speech” is not only absurd, but it devalues this very concept that underpins our democracy.

Reine “Pirate Angie the Black” Tejares Webmaster webmaster@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

Amitesh “Tripod Xena Bones” Malhotra Diyyinah “Cap’n Beatrice Peckerwood” Jamora Iain “Stinkin’ Radley Dawkins” Sellers Sandy “Hobblin’ Morgan” El-Bitar Bethany “Cap’n Prunella Sharkbait” Keeshan Perushka “Mae Bones” Gopalkista Eric “Smilin’ Cutler” Davison Nadia “Disatrous Eve”Helal

Board of Directors

Raghad “Pirate Misty” Sheikh-Khalil Will “Ozzy the Cash-Strapped” Hume Kate “Sea Monkey Shakira” Murray Jonathan “Rough-Sailin’ Nigel” Rausseo Mackenzie “Scabby Baird” Gray Niharika “Pirate Jade the Pink” Namulla Thivya “Snake Roberta” Naganathan Julia “Black Death Rae” Miraflores Fadi “Cap’n Ferdinand Mauvebeard” Azzi Spencer “Smugglin’ Diego Dread” Murdock Maggie “Jezebel the Rum-Swiller” Gollish

thefulcrum.ca

The fact is, we need to acknowledge that Canada has a clear bias against Islam, and our political leaders must stop hiding these biases behind an extremely selective crusade for “free speech.”

Do I sense ulterior motives from these Conservative champions of “free speech?”

Lucas “Gimme the booty” Ghosn General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca

Cover: Kim Wiens.

edging actions of hatred towards Muslim people was exactly the intended focus of this motion.

Photo: Jaclyn McRae-Sadik.

If M-103 passes in Parliament, will anything really change?

At the least, Canadians should be thinking about how we can put some real action behind this purely symbolic gesture. Otherwise, it will only serve to further the ignorant agenda of those who are still quivering over the word “Islamophobia.”

EDITORIAL | 19

To be Gloomy ... or to be Happy?

A

s you go through this phase of life, take comfort in the fact that there is nothing new under the sun. While there is never going to be anyone with identical genes who will experience life exactly as you do, your emotions, good and bad, are something that we all have. Life comes in stages, getting a college education is one stage. This is around the time in which your prefrontal cortex is getting developed, when you are becoming more aware that your behaviour affects other people. It is a time of great self-awareness, particularly awareness of a moral conscience.

Up to this point your behaviour has been mostly shaped by fear of punishment. But never forget that the urges you have, and even your sexual orientation are largely part of the pre-package that you came into the world with. Don’t be hard on yourself, after all, you did not make yourself and you are not responsible for the genes that have shaped you up to this point. It is not for you to feel guilt or shame about how you were put together. What is important, is what you do about the traits that are harmful to others. With a moral appreciation of consequences, your behaviour should be shaped by a desire to pursue goodness, for goodness’ sake. This is a narrower road, but it brings peace of mind, success and happiness. It is also the surest road to wisdom. So try not to despair when the day seems dreary or the task seems impossible. Bad times never last and you will adjust like you’ve always done. Never forget that we live in our minds and so just as negative thoughts bring you down, positive thoughts will lift you up. As so, it is important to control your thoughts. Learn to shake off negative thoughts the moment they occur to you – practice makes perfect. This, by the way, is one of the triumphs in life – gaining control of what we allow our mind to dwell on. No one knows where thoughts come from, but with some effort you can learn to focus on the things that bring you happiness. Work hard, and try to remain honest, so you can keep growing in your ability. You are capable of much more than you realize. Learn self-discipline and organisation so that work doesn’t spill into play, and your play is not spoiled by guilt from work left undone. Try never to panic, instead seek help to recover from trouble. Offer good advice and don’t hesitate to seek counsel. We are all in this together. Don’t be embarrassed to embrace faith but do not become self-righteous or a hypocrite. Your friends may not tell you so, but they will respect you and admire you as a spiritual person. After all, true spirituality is about learning to love others. You will find that the more you pray, the better you know yourself and the less mistakes you make. Pray for those you don’t like and forgive others so that it is easier to forgive yourself. Overcome your shyness, not by heavy drinking or by using drugs, but by reminding yourself that we are all shy to some extent. In fact, shyness tends to be a result of self-awareness. No one is better than anyone else, we all have our warts. Through prayer you will gain more self-knowledge and understanding of how you fit into the world. The more you know about yourself, the calmer you will be and the more hopeful you will be about the future. Hope and faith are wonderful assets and they will teach you about love and laughter. You are about to come into your own so learn to pick up after yourself and hang in there. You have yet to taste the best that life has to offer, be patient.

~ Elvis & Twyla Iginla, The Compassionate Listening Society of Alberta 780.705.2289 ~ wedaretolisten.com

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