The Fulcrum - Vol 75 Issue 10

Voices from the revolution Bike rave on P.8

P.9

All the way to nationals

P.14

IN THIS ISSUE Left out in the lockdown P.5

Student says race kept him out of café

Workshop woes P.6 Federated bodies concerned about losing funding

Speeding into second place P.7 Student-designed car wins in Paris

Let’s talk opera P.10 New club to watch and discuss opera

A lack of security P.12 Contract faculty an academic underclass

Football hangs on P.15 Gees move into post-season

Finally in the final four P.16 Women’s soccer kicks into the semi-finals

You get what you pay for P.17 Debating the merits of decreasing amenities for lower tuition

Shortage threatens entire season P.19 Not really fall without pumpkin spiced lattes

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Lockdown variably enforced on campus

Reports indicate many didn’t heed safety protocol during downtown gun threat Managing Editor

M

ichael Hess was in the halls of Lees campus when downtown Ottawa went under lockdown after the fatal shootings that took place Oct. 22, and he wanted to help.

Hess, an Ontario-licensed security guard and second-year criminology student, approached the University of Ottawa’s security staff to volunteer by ensuring staff and students around campus were following protocol.

Although he said the university and its security were prepared for the situation and handled it well, he couldn’t quite say the same about everyone on campus.

“When I told people to please follow lockdown procedures, I don’t know if it’s just because they didn’t take me seriously because I was technically a student, but none of them even seemed to know what exactly that meant,” he said.

An unidentified gunman fatally shot Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial, then stormed Parliament Hill that Wednesday shortly before 10 a.m. Sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers then shot and killed the shooter in an ensuing gunfight inside Parliament’s centre block.

As police were seeking other potential threats, the university joined a lockdown of the downtown core in an effort to keep people inside and safe.

The university alerted students and staff to the lockdown by email at 11:02 a.m., and by social media a few minutes later, about an hour after the shooting started.

The university also cancelled all classes and midterm exams that day, including those set to take place after the lockdown was lifted five hours later at 4:02 p.m.

“The university acted quickly. Our emergency protocol was activated immediately,” read a U of O statement issued that afternoon.

“We ensured our faculty, staff, and students received relevant information as quickly as it was made available. We maintained contact with the Ottawa Police Service throughout the day.”

But whether staff and students actually followed lockdown procedures seemed to vary, according to reports from students on campus at the time.

Some said the lights were off, windows and doors shut, and those inside told to keep quiet and remain where they were. One described a “strict lockdown” during which a professor was scolded just for peeking out the door.

Kate Seally, a fourth-year history student

4 | NEWS

working in Desmarais, said her office had locked the doors and blocked the windows as instructed, and took in students passing by in the halls. She said employees were serious but calm, though later in the day some students left, “not taking the threat very seriously.”

That was the attitude in a number of areas on campus, according to students who told the Fulcrum they were concerned about unlocked doors and traffic in the halls.

One report from Desmarais said with the doors unlocked, students were “continually coming into the room,” startling people because “you don’t know who it could be.”

Fourth-year communication student Emily Cordes, in Thompson residence at the time, said people weren’t well informed and took things too lightly. It was stressful when much of downtown was under lockdown before the university, she said, and “very scary being in there and not really knowing

what to do.”

Third-year communication student Elizabeth Malcolm said the alert system was too infrequent and uninformative, since her class in Louis Pasteur didn’t know “what lockdown mode actually was.” According to Malcolm, when the class couldn’t figure out how to lock the door, they asked uOttawa Direct on Twitter, who told them to barricade it using desks and chairs.

“While a well-intended suggestion, it was basically useless in our lecture hall as all chairs and desks were secured permanently to the ground,” she said.

The university declined requests to answer questions about the lockdown, stating that “as we always do after any incident, we will do a thorough assessment of our procedures and look at ways to make improvements.” A university spokesperson also encouraged students to sign up for the university’s text

alert service and read up on procedures, both available on the U of O website.

Hess said he would have liked to see the lockdown taken more seriously.

“If there’s a lockdown, or a violent person within a mile of the campus, I do think that more doors should be locked and that the lockdown itself should be more strictly enforced,” he said.

Meanwhile, Algonquin College also cancelled all afternoon and evening classes at its Woodroffe campus. The school wasn’t put on lockdown, but students and staff were urged to stay on campus particularly to avoid nearby traffic lights that were down due to a power outage.

Classes at Carleton University went on as planned. However, students who were downtown were told to stay where they were and were exempted from classes and midterms that day.

“If there’s a lockdown, or a violent person within a mile of the campus, I do think that more doors should be locked and that the lockdown itself should be more strictly enforced.”

—Michael Hess

Photo: Spencer Van Dyk

Adam Feibel

thefulcrum.ca

Student says his skin colour got him locked out of coffee shop Owner says actions had ‘nothing to do’ with race Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi NEWS EDITOR

When most of downtown Ottawa went into lockdown Wednesday, after a gunman killed a soldier at the War Memorial then stormed Parliament Hill, Abenezer Abebe says he was stranded on Laurier Avenue East because he was “betrayed by a fellow Canadian.”

Abebe, a third-year University of Ottawa commerce student, said he was on campus when he found out his 11:30 a.m. class was cancelled. He was on his way to the Rideau Centre for lunch when he was notified the downtown core was under lockdown.

He said he looked for a building to take shelter in and wound up at the Second Cup on Laurier shortly before noon. He tried to enter the shop but wasn’t allowed in.

“I realized this was a lock down so I didn’t persist,” he wrote in a blog post that evening.

Moments later he became “infuriated.” Abebe, who describes himself as a 6’2 black man, said he was locked out because of the colour of his skin.

“Right after I turned to walk away, a few other people, who happen to be caucasian (sic), knocked and were allowed to enter,” he wrote. He tried to enter again, but a man locked the door. He later entered Morisset Library, where he remained for the rest of the lockdown.

Chad Richardson, the owner of the coffee shop, confirmed he was the man who led the lockdown.

“I remember him being one of the only people who actually got visibly upset,” said Richardson.

“Race is the most important thing here that he’s accused of

us, which has nothing to do with the decisions we made,” he said. “There was no interaction, there was no verbal communication … there wasn’t any physical contact.”

Video footage shows an individual, who Richardson identified as Abebe, try to open the door at 11:52 a.m. Soon after, Richardson opens the door to a white man in a suit, who he identified as a longtime patron named John, and locked the door behind him.

Abebe then tried to enter the shop again. Richardson said by that time he had walked away from the door and didn’t see Abebe return.

“I want to reach out to him. I would love for him to come in.”

—Chad Richardson, owner of the Second Cup on Laurier

“John’s been coming to the café for the whole length that I’ve been here, I think almost 10 years now, once a day,” said Richardson. The man is later seen chatting with Richardson and a staff member.

Abebe took to his blog later that night with a post titled “Betrayed By a Fellow Canadian.”

“I wanted to lash out and let the guy know I wouldn’t tolerate this from him,” he wrote, “but I hesitated as I considered what the narrative would be

Abebe arrived at the Second Cup on Laurier shortly before noon.

thefulcrum.ca

for a 6’2 black man banging at the door of a coffee shop in the midst of a man hunt.”

The coffee shop resides in the Hyman Soloway residence building, but the university clarified that the business isn’t operated by the school.

Abebe’s blog post has been shared by more than 500 people, and he told the Fulcrum that many have since reached out to him.

“Many shared with me their struggles with racism and discrimination,” he said, while others “wanted to let me know I was lying, or being selfish for talking about myself during a time of great distress for the nation.”

Abebe said the blog post wasn’t meant to blame any individual person, but to make a bigger point.

“I was reminded that racism is still alive and there is still a fight to be fought,” he said, “but it is clear from the wide reception of my blog post that we are winning the battle.”

Richardson said he found Abebe on Facebook and sent him a message to explain his side of the story.

“I want to reach out to him. I would love for him to come in,” said Richardson, adding that he sat in the store Thursday and answered questions about the incident. “There’s been great feedback from a lot of the students, of all races, that came to see me … and wanted to ask my side of the story.”

Abebe said he had not received Richardson’s message but called him once he was notified that Richardson wanted to speak to him. Richardson said they had a brief but positive conversation and the two have arranged to meet in person.

Photo: Adam Feibel

NEWS | 5

Fed bodies thrown by requirements of rape culture workshops Rejected proposals and ‘threat of financial penalty’ cause confusion Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi NEWS EDITOR

Photo: Mackenzie Powell

An initiative by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) to carry out workshops that will address the way we talk about sexual violence has thrown speed bumps in front of the federated bodies required to host them.

Student associations from each faculty were informed in the summer about the workshop, they are mandated to host this school year, but how to do so has been something of a mystery.

The project, which has been in the works since the winter, was brought to a final vote in July, according to vice-president of equity Maya McDonald. The federated student bodies are required to host rape culture workshops with guidelines stipulated by the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC).

“The aim of the workshops is to help our student leaders … and our students unlearn a lot of really problematic attitudes and behaviours that are associated with sexual violence,” McDonald wrote in an email to the Fulcrum.

The regulations stipulate that all

elected representatives are required to attend the workshop. It must be held within two months of a student election period, open to the rest of the faculty, and promoted for a minimum of three weeks prior to the event.

If those requirements aren’t met, the federated bodies were worried that they would have their levies withheld.

“I think the issue is that cutting funding for an association isn't really a good accountability measure for folks in charge of the federated bodies.”

—Elsa Mirzaei That penalty has since been removed, but not before various student associations tried and failed to fully understand how they could make their workshops work.

The Conflict Studies and Human Rights Association (CHRA) met oppos-

ition when they wanted to alter the format of their own workshops.

“We wanted to bring in additional speakers,” said Storm Davis, first-year representative of the CHRA, because they wanted to show different victims of sexual violence, not just women.

“We clarified that in no way would this conflict with the workshop that the WRC had already started,” he said, however the WRC rejected their suggestions. The CHRA then contacted the SFUO who said they would be allowed to bring in additional speakers, said Davis, but the WRC again rejected their proposal.

Not all associations were given clear directions, according to Lucy Ellis, vice-president of finance of the Undergraduate English Students’ Association.

Ellis attended the Board of Administration meeting on Oct. 19 seeking clarification.

“My biggest concern with the rape culture workshop amendment was the threat of financial penalty if we did not comply, and the fact that I didn’t even know it was an obligation until after the deadline had passed,” Ellis wrote to the Fulcrum.

Elsa Mirzaei, president of the Sci-

ence Students’ Association, said she was also confused by the specific requirements.

“I think the issue is that cutting funding for an association isn’t really a good accountability measure for folks in charge of the federated bodies,” she said.

McDonald said the SFUO has since changed up the structure “to adequately address a number of the concerns.”

Federated bodies will not be penalized unless they don’t try to host the workshops, according to Ellis. The CHRA is now allowed to bring in separate speakers.

“Hopefully this year will serve to work out the communication kinks in running this workshop,” said Mirzaei.

She and Ellis said the workshops offer an important platform to discuss how people think and talk about rape and sexual assault, despite the haphazard organization and lack of communication between the different organizations.

“As a survivor of sexual violence,” said Mirzaei, “I unfortunately still witness and experience the desperate need for our student leaders to step it up and create safer spaces for other survivors.”

Watson re-elected with 76 per cent of vote U of O’s ward keeps Mathieu Fleury on city council

Mayor Jim Watson (left) and Councillor Mathieu Fleury (right)

Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor

Jim Watson will remain Ottawa’s mayor for another four years after winning 76 per cent of the vote on Oct. 27.

“Municipal campaigns are, really, very much a marathon, and this campaign has been no different,” Watson said during his victory speech. “Ottawa has spoken strongly and clearly that it wants to continue on the path we (began) four years ago.”

The keystone of Watson’s election bid was the progress of the light rail transit (LRT) system and the implementation of a $3-billion second phase.

Mathieu Fleury will also fol-

6 | NEWS

Photos courtasy of Jim Watson and Mathieu Fleury

low Watson into the new term after the city councillor was re-elected in Ward 12, RideauVanier.

Fleury, 28, beat out runnerup Marc Aubin by 2,000 votes, while Catherine Fortin LeFaivre trailed in third place.

“It’s unbelievable, together, what we’ve been able to achieve. Don’t you think?” said Fleury following his victory.

Ward 12 saw a 37 per cent voter turnout, two points down from the last municipal election.

The University of Ottawa falls within Rideau-Vanier, which consists of Sandy Hill, the ByWard Market, Lowertown, and parts of Vanier.

Fleury has his work cut out for him in a diverse neighbourhood with an array of issues including the downtown truck route, the protection of heritage houses, and the university’s housing shortage.

Citywide voter turnout is projected to be 39 per cent, according to the CBC, the lowest figure since 2003. Official election results will be announced Oct. 30, and the mayor and councillors will be sworn in Dec. 1.

Also in the Ontario municipal elections, Toronto voted in John Tory as the city’s new mayor in a heavily publicized race against Doug Ford and Olivia Chow.

thefulcrum.ca

Upcoming event to bring accessibility to forefront Organizer, student groups say U of O in need of accommodations policy Lindsay MacMillan Associate NEWS EDITOR

Groups on campus hope an upcoming lecture by jes sachse, a Toronto-based disability artist and activist, will bring about a push for greater accessibility at the University of Ottawa.

The Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies has worked with Banting postdoctoral fellow Christine Kelly to host the lecture, which will discuss art as an emancipatory practice for disabled and other marginalized people, said Kelly.

Accessibility issues are still a major challenge on campus, according to Kelly, who specializes in disability studies.

“Accessibility accommodations currently work in the medical model: You need a doctor’s note and paperwork to get anywhere, so there’s not a lot of room for critique or social approach,” she said.

“I think that the current system will always make access-

ibility a painful and difficult experience until there’s new ways of thinking about accessibility,” said Kelly. “jes sachse is working at changing those frameworks on a broad cultural scale.”

The Student Rights Centre (SRC) recently highlighted the university’s lack of an academic accommodations policy when they handed out a flyer that listed the “top five reasons” not to attend the U of O. The U of O said in a statement that they’re in the process of developing a policy in collaboration with the SRC. The Student Academic Success Service (SASS) also runs the Access Service Office, which offers additional support to students living with disabilities.

“Professors also have access to a guide describing the strategies and adaptive measures they can apply to create an inclusive academic environment for students living with disabilities,” according to the university’s statement.

U of O Innovations

Photo:Mackenzie Powell

The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) provides resources such as a library, drop-in space, support listening, training, consultations, and loaning of crutches and wheelchairs.

CSD coordinator Norah Dillon-Cheetham said one example of the university’s lack of accommodation is its policies on graduate students with disabilities who work as teaching assistants.

Lindsay MacMillan Associate News Editor

Hybrid car design a winner

A group of six University of Ottawa engineering students have returned from a prize-winning bout at the Valeo Innovation Challenge in Paris, where they showed off their designs for a hybrid vehicle.

Valeo, an automotive supplier and technology company, runs the event annually, challenging students to design and develop products that will revolutionize the automotive industry by 2030. This was the first time a team from the U of O entered the competition.

The team

The group, led by Eric Vierich, consisted of Cedric Eveleigh, Shawn Bashir, Dan Lutz, Mitchell Geis, and Francis Lefebvre, all studying mechanical or electrical engineering.

Riadh Habash, an engineering professor and McLaughlin research chair in energy at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, supervised the team.

He's also part of Green Engineers, an organization on campus that promotes sustainability and renewable energy.

The project

In April 2014, the team was selected as one of 20 finalists out of 969 applicants from across the globe. They had to create a working prototype of their proposal.

Valeo provided €5,000 (CAD $7,113) for the project’s construction.

The team spent the summer developing their small-scale prototype at the Brunsfield Engineering Student Projects and Entrepreneurship Centre at the Faculty of Engineering.

The students increased the efficiency of the drive train, which powers the wheels in a hybrid or electric vehicle, according

thefulcrum.ca

to Habash. The mechanical engineering students worked on the induction motor, while the electrical engineering students developed a way to use a smartphone as the car computer.

The result

At the end of August, the students’ modifications led to a hybrid car with increased efficiency, power, and performance, with less resistance and overheating.

Laboratory results indicated the induction machine decreased battery loss by 27 per cent. Simulations showed that hybrid energy storage systems combining batteries and ultra-conductors could improve driving range by 40 per cent.

The prototype was selected as one of seven finalists to face a jury at the Paris Auto Show on Oct. 16. They tied with the University of Waterloo for second place, winning €10,000 (CAD $14,225).

The Valeo jury suggested the team further develop the induction machine, since its drawbacks included a powerhungry startup and poor voltage regulation while running.

What’s next?

Geis said to Valeo after the competition that they were "ecstatic" with their results and that their participation will “open a lot of doors.”

Habash said opportunities like this show off the skills and motivation of U of O students and the many resources available at the Faculty of Engineering.

“It was an eye-opener to see what’s possible in the automotive industry,” said Vierich. “We recommend participating in this challenge to other students, and are even thinking of competing again next year.”

“The minimum number of course requirements or the minimum number of hours that they have to complete … is creating barriers for students with disabilities,” said DillonCheetham.

One student told the CSD that her scholarship meant she had to work as a TA, but she couldn’t work the required hours. Even after having the time requirement reduced, she said she’s still struggling.

The CSD is asking the university that the academic accommodations policy respects their duties under the Ontario Human Rights Code, according to Dillon-Cheetham.

She said there is no common understanding among professors and administrators about accommodations. “It creates barriers for students when requesting accommodations,” she said. “The doors are shut in their face.”

—With files from Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi

BRIEF

Capital Pride announces bankruptcy

Photo: Tina Wallace

Capital Pride has declared bankruptcy after finding itself “in a financial situation beyond its ability to alter or repair,” according to an Oct. 20 Facebook post.

Creditors and suppliers have been complaining for weeks about unpaid debts, some claiming up to $42,000, the organization said. Capital Pride began investigating “accounting irregularities” in September.

Jade London, this year’s Miss Capital Pride winner, is one of those owed payment. “I was begged into competing in this year’s pageant and it’s sad that, as the winner, I have to be the one to contact people and beg them for what was promised to me,” said London.

The 29th annual pride parade in Ottawa this year saw its biggest turnout ever, with thousands of people flooding the downtown core.

London said she worries that Capital Pride’s financial woes will hurt the credibility of the LGBTQ community. “No one will admit to what they as an individual did wrong,” she said.

Ottawa police have launched an investigation, with the Police Fraud Unit to investigate the unpaid debts. Capital Pride’s annual general meeting will go on as scheduled Nov. 5.

—Christian Zapata

NEWS | 7

National News

What students have learned under the umbrella

Hong Kong students continue to lead the Umbrella Revolution for democratic reform

Umrella Revolution, Hong Kong

Dora Liu

The Dialog (George Brown College) TORONTO (CUP) — Hong Kong has undergone the most turbulent period of mass protests since 1967 as students have played a decisive role in a fight for real democracy.

On Aug. 31, China announced that all citizens of Hong Kong will be able to elect their Chief Executive in 2017 as a promised democratic reform. However, China also said that the candidates must be the two or three people selected by a nomination committee that is seen as friendly to Beijing.

This tricky reform triggered the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) to call for a week-long class boycott on Sept. 22 of all Hong Kong tertiary education institutions.

The Hong Kong government gave no response to the class boycott and sit-down strike that brought the students to besiege the government headquarters.

On Sept. 28, police fired 87 tear gas canisters, powerful pepper spray, and an unknown number of plastic bullets at the protesters. In response, more than 100,000 citizens took to the streets, occupying Hong Kong’s main business areas as their bargaining chip to force the government to withdraw the election restriction.

That kicked off an unprecedented pro-democracy movement that some foreign

8 | NEWS

Photo: Justin Lim, CC, Flickr: justinlim

media have called the Umbrella Revolution.

The movement is ongoing, even as intimidators have reportedly punched and beaten demonstrators. But the HKFS announced they will not withdraw.

The Hong Kong government said they will not even offer a conversation with the students who refuse to go home.

Timothy Chan, 20, is a second-year student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He suffered tear gas and pepper spray while protesting several times.

He has still gone to the street every day since Sept. 22. ”What have I learned from this movement? I think it’s the importance of knowledge, only knowledge can make change of our world,” said Chan.

“I know (occupying business areas) is not the only way to achieve our goal, but if we don’t go, then who?” he added.

“My friend said, ‘persistence is victory.’ I do believe it is true.”

Ethan Han, 27, is a first-year student in financial planning at George Brown College who was born in mainland China.

“I can understand and fully support what the Hong Kong people have done,” said Han. “For this year I am living in Toronto. I enjoy that all my human rights have been respected by everyone; I enjoy that all the chances I came across can be gained by fair competition. I know they are all about democracy.

“Looking as people in Hong Kong strive for their good future, I can relate,” said Han. “I hope one day my kids and my family will live in a fair and just world where we don’t need to strive for freedom or for democracy.”

Han added: “I don’t think everybody should vote, but as a Chinese, a mainland Chinese, if one day I can vote but I give up this privilege, that would be an unforgivable mistake.”

Andrew Leung, 20, is a third-year student in political science at the University of Toronto. He was born in Hong Kong but has lived in Toronto for four years.

As one of the leaders of the Ontario United Front of Hong Kong Students (OUFS), Leung organized a demonstration at the U of T to support the Umbrella Revolution, which drew more than 1,000 participants.

“I felt interested in politics since I was in high school. I found it’s only being involved in politics that can make change in the world. But these years, seeing what the politicians did, I already have no expectations for them,” said Leung.

“I always believe that good things only can be done by persistence. It was proven by this movement,” he said. “I am so proud of what the Hong Kong students have done.

They made me feel that Hong Kong still has hope. I definitely believe that.”

thefulcrum.ca

ARTS &CULTURE

A&C EDITOR Jessica Eritou arts@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Are you afraid to ride in the dark?

Bike Co-op builds on success of summer bike rave with spooky ride

Jessica Eritou

Arts & Culture Editor

this bike Likeravetomaybike?justLikebetoyourparty?perfect night.

The Bike Co-op run by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa will host its first Halloween bike rave on Oct. 30, an event that promises a little bit more spook and horror than its summer rendition.

“We had seen other people doing it,” says Phil Chiasson, the program coordinator. “We can have our own fun, and since we are a biking organization we thought, ‘Let’s have a rave party,’ and that’s exactly what we did.”

For their first rave, the co-op ordered party lights and around 500 glow sticks, and equipped themselves with an 800-watt sound system hitched to a trailer. They broadcast the party on a small radio transmitter so any of the participants in the cycling group could listen to music.

This time, they’ve added a Halloween twist.

Participants are encouraged to meet at the co-op facility first to decorate their bike with rave ac-

“We can have our own fun, and since we are a biking organization we thought, ‘Let’s have a rave party,’ and that’s exactly what we did.”

—Phil Chiasson cessories and Halloween items.

“This year, the heart of it being an awesome mobile party is still there, but it is going to be a Halloween theme,” adds Chiasson. “So people can be dressed up, and decorate Halloween things like spiderwebs to decorate your bike to make it spooky.”

Photo: Rémi Yuan

The course will include old and new stops, including the bike path along the Rideau Canal and this summer’s favourite, Café Nostalgica.

One highlight of the last rave was a particularly festive valve cap decoration that would light up the bike’s tire spokes as you peddle forward in motion. “When you clip them on your

tire valve, it would compress the spring and it would turn on like a Tron light. It was pretty cool,” Chiasson explains.

The event is fully accessible, with wheelchair trailers available as long as they’re booked ahead of time.

The Bike Co-op itself is a community space that provides the necessary tools to repair a bike or build one from scratch. Any undergraduate student at the U of O is automatically member, or it’s open to the public for $5 a year. The co-op has a fully trained staff, as well, who give lessons and workshops every two weeks on how to do necessary bike repairs and improvements.

“They learn, and they have the means to do so,” says Chiasson, who bought a bike on Kijiji that was in rough shape and fixed it up at the co-op, then ended up building his own.

“Working on a bike is actually a very approachable thing,” he says. “You could have never seen a wrench before and you come in and a couple weeks later you are building yourself a bike from scratch like I did.”

The Halloween Bike Rave starts Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. behind the Lees complex.

U of O students ramp up new festival

Indigenous people of the world celebrated in Ottawa Amy Leppanen Staff Contributor

Four University of Ottawa students have launched a new cultural event meant to welcome and celebrate new Canadians from a wide variety of international indigenous cultures.

The inaugural International Indigenous Festival, called Mana Måori, will take place next summer and will welcome the indigenous people of New Zealand.

“Our hope is to strengthen international partnerships between indigenous cultures and peoples in Canada and the Pacific Islands, with longterm aims to connect with indigenous peoples around the world,” says co-organizer Anna Paluch, a U of O history and theory of art alumni.

Paluch and fellow organizer Edyta Dabrowska, a fifth-year history student, say they were inspired by the Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art exhibit at the National Art Gallery

thefulcrum.ca

in 2013, which featured the works of indigenous artists across the world.

“Sakahàn was a huge inspiration and we wanted to bring that same atmosphere to our own festival,” Paluch explains.

“This was the first time I had seen something like this. It was such an amazing event for the international indigenous community. We were able to speak to people from all over: New Zealand, Samoa, Norway, and many more.”

Added inspiration has come from their programs at the U of O. Dabrowska says her studies in history have given her a fascination with different cultures. “I have learned so much, even just through the experience of creating the festival.”

The group’s education in history and visual art is supplemented by work outside the classroom; fellow students Shelby Lisk, an indigenous artist, and Geneviève Klyne, an Aboriginal Affairs worker, round out the foursome.

Paluch adds that they would like to include lectures and conferences on social issues “to accompany the fun.”

Current plans are for a three-day festival that’ll focus on art, music, and live performances.

Paluch says the directors are currently reaching out to the international community, and trying to form partnerships abroad.

“We have talked to people in the Canadian indigenous community and the New Zea-

Three of the four directors: Edyta Dabrowska (left), Anna Paluch, and Shelby Lisk

land community and spoken to potential guests and partners; these people have voiced their support and their interest,” she says.

The directors have invited those who wish to volunteer for the festival or future

fundraisers to contact them through social media.

The International Indigenous Festival will take place in summer 2015, and as their motto helpfully summarizes, will aim to celebrate and to educate.

Photo: Suzannah Vo

ARTS & CULTURE | 9

Why all the pumpkin fuss?

The PSL is more ceremonial than delicious Scott Glaysher

The Cord (Wilfrid Laurier) WATERLOO (CUP) — You may be able to tell by the cooler weather and mountains of red leaves on the ground that fall is in full swing. Another way to recognize that fall is here is the arrival of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte.

The drink is one of Starbucks’ most successful latte creations and is only served during the fall. Made from a blend of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and of course, pumpkin flavouring, the PSL has gotten more attention than ever this year.

From BuzzFeed articles to Twitter hashtags and everything in between, people have been obsessing over the latte.

The amount of articles, posts, and conversations that have been created around making every food “pumpkin spiced” is overwhelming. It almost seems as if the PSL is the epitome of life from late September to early November.

But is it really that good?

The latte itself is tasty at first, but it’s not the best drink

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

on Earth by any means. Often the latte is made in such a rush because of the influx people in line that all the unique “spices” and “accents” are poorly mixed into the caffeinated beverage, leaving it bland.

Photo: Louis Abate, CC

On top of that, the real pumpkin pie garnishes can get old really quickly, especially if you’re having one or more a day—not to mention the stomach ache that would ensue from all the heavy cream.

Out of all the seasonal drinks Starbucks offers throughout the year, the PSL kind of sucks.

Like most seasonal fads, it’s the idea of the PSL that makes people go crazy, more so than the actual drink itself. Most peo-

ple base the start of fall on when the latte hits the Starbucks menu. The hype around its release gets guys and girls excited for all the things fall represents.

On top of that, the pumpkin spice sprinkle atop fresh whipped cream on a fall day background makes for a very likeable Instagram picture.

While the PSL is available, so is the changing of leaves, fall fashion, cooler weather, and Thanksgiving, which triggers the craze. People like to think that by drinking them, they are consuming more and more of the fall season with every sip—regardless of whether that sip is tasty or not.

So, is the pumpkin spice latte the essence of fall? Not exactly— but it can help you get in the mood. That is, if a creamy caffeinated beverage from Starbucks makes you feel good all day.

But if you don’t want anything to do with the drink and the noticeable hype it brings, then feel free to avoid Starbucks and its needlessly long autumn lines.

The choice is yours.

Spend a night with the opera

Modern take on classic art gives new student club its voice

Rachel Lloyd and Matthew Timmermans

Héloïse RodriguezQizilbash Staff Contributor

University of Ottawa students that have an interest in opera now have a space to learn more about it, thanks to an initiative by student Matthew Timmermans.

The fourth-year performance student created a club called Friday Night at the Opera in the hopes of making this art more accessible to U of O students.

“It’s not so much that we watch opera, but that we have a place where to discuss it,” Timmermans says. “It’s a safe place where you can learn about opera. It’s for anyone on campus.”

The club hosts monthly events in Freiman Hall, with each night’s showing chosen

by Facebook votes. The opera currently leading the polls for the next event on Nov. 7 is

Photo: Marta Kierkus

Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Timmermans describes Ring Cycle as “the biggest opera of them all.” Since the entire cycle lasts 16 hours, he will only show the highlights. But it’s a start.

“It’s basically an introduction to the entire opera,” he explains.

Vinko Culjak Mathieu is a third-year biology student who was an opera neophyte before he joined the club.

“I have an interest in opera, but I know nothing about it, so this allows me to know so much more,” he says. “This gives us the space to explore further and to be able to understand it a bit more. ” Timmermans admits that opera has developed a reputation of being boring and dated. He hopes to show young people that’s not the case.

Every opera will have subtitles, and Timmermans prepares a small introduction before every projection to make sure students understand the

many facets of the performance.

“It’s not just about the music,” he says. “It’s about the social aspects that we can challenge in our own day.

Opera has a plot and quirks, so you can bring in any kind of ideas about philosophy, drama, acting. You can discuss any of these things.”

Rachel Lloyd, a second-year music student, says she enjoys the club’s contemporary take and friendly environment. “(It) has opened my eyes to opera that I never thought I would be into, because it’s so modern,” she says.

For Timmermans, the most important part is the sense of community: “I like the idea that this is a recurring event where you meet people and you become friends because of the repetition.”

“It’s getting to sit down with other people who love opera,” adds Llyod, “and to talk about it is really great.”

thefulcrum.ca

ALBUM ReviewS Shane Wilson Contributor

The eponymous 2012 debut from King Tuff really grabbed your attention just a few minutes in, but this year’s followup, Black Moon Spell, doesn’t leave the same impression. While it’s noteworthy for the signature high-pitched vocals of creator and frontman Kyle Thomas, the new effort lacks the tracks that demand to be heard like some of the earlier singles.

It is, however, an easy listen. It brings simplicity to rock ‘n’ roll song structure that makes it accessible. Standouts include “Black Moon Spell,” “Rainbow’s Run,” and perhaps “I Love You Ugly,” if only for a few witty lyrics. “Beautiful Thing,” somewhat a play on the band’s older single “Bad Thing,” unfortunately seems like a failed attempt to build on the energy of its predecessor.

Black Moon Spell is a bit of a letdown. King Tuff is still a project with lots of potential, but the new album shows little improvement or change to their lovable sound. Although it’s an easy listen, it might be hard to remember.

King Tuff

Black moon spell | Sub Pop

Shane Wilson Contributor

The new effort from Mike Hadreas, a.k.a.

Perfume Genius, provides more of the emotionally charged singles he has produced in the past, but this time with a good deal of new sounds added to his usual sultry piano playing.

Too Bright immediately pulls you in with its moving highs and lows and Hadreas’s emotionally packed voice. Starting with the light opener “I Decline,” he invites you in and sets the stage for the album’s first single, “Queen.” A mixture of his soft voice and entrancing melodies, this song is a definite victory with its uplifting sound.

The album continues with piano-based songs until the fifth track, “My Body” brings in a sense of darkness. The deep notes and heavy moving beat cast a feeling of intimacy reminiscent of earlier Perfume Genius works.

Perfume Genius TOO BRIGHT | Matador

A final screaming note sets the tone for the record’s second half; that same scream comes

40 seconds into the single “Grid,” just after Mike repeats the album’s opening statement: “I can see for miles.” Another highlight, the song gives a sense of anguish and revolt.

The album then takes an unexpected turn with “Longpig,” which starts out like something from an old science fiction piece. But by tying in clapping hands and Hadreas’ cool

vocals, the track somehow doesn’t feel out of place. Another slow, heavy beat eases the record into a quiet closure.

It’s difficult to overstate the emotional intensity always brought to the table on any Perfume Genius release; on Too Bright, Hadreas offers even more to be captivated by.

Why it’s famous:

Jasmine Van schouwen STAFF Contribut or

This film is a timeless classic about passion for the stage, obsession with stardom, and the artist’s fight to conquer the passage of time. It offers not only a powerful look inside the insecure soul of a powerful classic diva, but also a fantastic commentary on fame and the lengths stage-starved artists will go to for their moment in the spotlight.

Famous lines: Margo Channing: Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!

Eve Harrington: If nothing else, there’s applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights.

Addison DeWitt: There never was, and there never will be, another like you.

Why you haven’t seen it: With a promotional slogan like “All about women and their men,” All About Eve seemed just that: another movie for all women, all about men..

Why it might be tough to get through : Like many movies of its time, All About Eve cannot escape the melodramatic performances, the phony classic theatre accents, and the underlying theme that a woman isn’t much without her man. Marilyn Monroe’s token dumb blonde performance pretty much epitomizes everything that makes this movie a difficult one to process in 2014.

Why you should see it anyway: Surprisingly, All About Eve is actually one of the few movies of its time to pass the Bechdel test (a movie listing that classifies movies based on whether or not they feature two named women who talk to each other about something other than a man). Anne Baxter is a genius as the conniving,

Most of the movies mentioned in Movies You Should Have Seen are available for loan at the Morisset Library!

thefulcrum.ca

driven, ambitious young ingenue for whom no sacrifice and no backstabbing is too great if it helps catapult her career to centre stage, and Bette Davis offers a delectable performance as the ageless aging diva. As a whole, this movie offer a beautiful, touching, and at times humorous look into the torturous lives led by some great artists who seem to have it all: their insecurities, their paranoia, and their undeniable brilliance.

Fun Facts: • Karen is the only character in the film that doesn’t smoke.

• This was the first time two actresses from the same film were both Oscar-nominated for “Best Actress.”

ARTS & CULTURE | 11

the academic under jesse colautti & thomas swerdfager If we were to describe a group on campus whose job and financial security changes month to month, whose members don't know if they'll have a job from semester to semester, who don't know if they can afford to pay their bills or rent, and who are often forced to work 60-hour weeks to make ends meet, you’d probably assume we're talking about students.

Yet these conditions are often a reality for the approximately 1,000 part-time professors who work at the University of Ottawa each given semester.

And, if you are an undergraduate student, there's just shy of a 50 per cent chance that one of these professors teaches one of your courses.

This increasing number of overworked and under resourced professors may have serious implications in terms of the value students are getting for their education.

Contract faculty do not have access to the same amount of resources as full-time professors, are limited in their engagement with the community, and are often forced to commute from university to university to make a living.

For many students these are the first teachers they will have in university. They are the people responsible for marking the essays and exams of hundreds of students, planning lectures, writing reference letters, and developing the perspective and critical thinking of thousands of tuitionpaying undergraduates.

Out of office

Have you ever gone to consult a professor during office hours and noticed that some occupy rooms filled with personal effects and stacks of books, while others greet you in undecorated, closet-like rooms shared by other professors? Maybe you’ve met a professor at a coffee shop, or the lobby of a building, because you couldn’t make it during office hours and that’s where they suggested you meet instead.

If this has been the case, it’s probably because they weren’t a full-time professor, but a member of our university’s part-time contract teaching staff.

Full-time professors generally allocate 40 per cent of their work time to teaching, 40 per cent to research , and 20 per cent to a variety of administrative tasks. They also have offices to themselves, which make it easy for students to stop by to clarify concepts, discuss upcoming assignments, or develop academic relationships that could potentially play a major role in future graduate studies.

These professors usually make more than $100,000 a year, and either have guaranteed tenure, or are tenure-tracked, meaning they're in line to achieve tenure eventually, assuming they continue to work hard and frequently publish.

Part-time contract professors on the other hand, are paid only to teach, with no job security beyond their semester-long contracts. At the U of O, these professors make between $6,500 and $8,500 per course, with a limit of seven courses in a given year.

Currently about 40 to 50 per cent of all undergraduate courses at the U of O are taught by contract

professors. It's a number that has grown in recent years, a reflection of a broader trend across the province and country.

an active research and publicatio that a system has been put in pla professional inequities and exploit

According to data from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), the number of contract professors employed in provincial universities has risen dramatically in the past 15 years. Back in 2000, 20,000 courses were taught by contract faculty. Today, that number has risen to 43,500—an 87 per cent increase versus a 33 per cent increase during that time in courses taught by full-time faculty.

But according to Jules Carrièr associate vice-president of facu accurate representation of the at the university.

Across Canada, full-time positions increased by 19 per cent between 1987 and 2006—a third of the 56 per cent increase in full-time student enrolment.

In his documentary Exploitation in the Ivory Tower, Ira Basen, a sessional instructor at three Canadian universities and a documentary producer for the CBC, said the reason for this is the new corporate model of universities.

Universities have increasingly been forced to run like businesses as public funding for post-secondary institutions has diminished. Students have been feeling this financial crunch in the consistent inflation of tuition fees, the simplest way for a university to raise revenues.

And to lower costs, most universities are attempting to make the learning experience more efficient, such as by offering more online and hybrid courses to teach a greater number of students at lower per-class costs.

They've also tried to cut back on faculty costs.

Temporary contract professors are much cheaper to employ than full-time professors. As Basen pointed out in his documentary, figures provided by the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association show that the Waterloo school spends less than four per cent of its budget on contract professors—who teach more than 50 per cent of its undergraduates.

Convenience or necessity?

The University of Ottawa's hiring of part-time contract professors over full-time faculty nearly resulted in a strike during the summer of 2013. On July 31, members of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa (APUO) won the first-ever strike mandate in the union's 57year history. The strike was avoided after the university agreed to hire 60 more full-time professors and not lower pensions.

While it may be less costly for the universities to hire more part-time professors, it has also meant the creation of an academic underclass. Édith-Anne Pageot, a PhD and visual arts professor at the U of O, has been working as a part-time professor for 12 years and relies on teaching as her primary source of income. She believes that contract positions at Canadian universities defy the very premise of academia.

“Most of my part-time colleagues in the humanities hold a PhD,” she said. “In fact, the requirement to be hired as a part-time professor in a number of disciplines is to hold a PhD and demonstrate

“Most part-time professors do Carrière.“The typical profile is so job somewhere else and is teach time, not in order to make ends teaching and they like doing it.”

Robert Johnson, president of Professors at the University of Pageot’s experience does in fac of contract professors at the Carrière mentioned applies mainly

“In many, many departments, an of arts and social sciences, whe teaching is being done, these are full-time gig,” he said.

Johnson said so many profess contracts for full-time work be studying to earn a PhD, hoping to of the academic community—but

“They simply can’t find a tenur there are fewer and fewer of

A 2013 survey conducted by th the majority of its members wo position should it open up.

Diminished quality of

All of this may seem like a bat and academics over job titles, bu has significant effects on the qu workers.

Basen’s documentary revealed professors across Canada who their families, and struggle to sta Carrière and Milliard insisted this among contract faculty at the U has seen first-hand the same typ members.

“They don’t know if they will be said. “And if they’re trying to get them one because they don’t hav

Some members of the APTPU universities in Ottawa, Quebec, an only way to find enough part-tim

Part-time professors also don coverage offered to full-time p on campus. According to Johnso receive dental coverage, acciden disability benefits. Their children versus the discounted tuitio of full-time faculty.

rclass

on dossier. It is unacceptable ace that naturalizes tation.”

ère, the university's acting ulty affairs, Pageot isn’t an typical part-time professor

o not have a PhD,” said omeone who has a full-time hing at the university partmeet, but because they enjoy

the Association of Part-Time f Ottawa (APTPUO), argues ct represent the majority university, as the profile y to professional faculties.

nd certainly in the faculties ere probably the bulk of the e people for whom this is a

sors rely on part-time ecause they've spent 12 years o become a tenured member the positions just aren't open.

re-track position because them out there,” he said.

he APTPUO revealed that ould apply to a tenure-track

life

ttle between administrators ut a lack of full-time status uality of life for contract

d the stories of part-time o can’t afford to provide for ay above the poverty line. s portrayal doesn't ring true U of O, but Johnson said he pe of issues among APTPUO’s

be able to pay their rent,” he t a mortgage, no bank will give ve steady income.”

UO travel daily between nd Kingston because it’s the me work to make a living.

n’t receive the same insurance professors and other groups on, APTPUO’s members don’t ntal death insurance, or also have to pay full tuition, on rates offered to children

just under half the undergraduate courses at the university of ottawa are now taught by contract professors. are the long-term effects of these positions worth it?

Effects on the educational experience

But despite all the long hours, travelling, lack of benefits, and uncertainty that part-time professors face, they've been able to perform consistently well. End-of-term student surveys gathered by the U of O reveal strikingly similar levels of student satisfaction between part-time and full-time professors. On average, student satisfaction with part-time professors measured 4.2 out of 5, while satisfaction with full-time professors averaged 4.3.

While these results suggest that part-time professors aren’t letting employment conditions interfere with their quality of teaching, there may be costs to students that are more difficult to measure, according to Basen. His documentary points to several studies that have shown that students perform better academically, and cope better with university life, with the more formal and informal face time they can get from their professors. Such face time becomes difficult when part-time professors are only given access to a shared office during set hours each week, or spend their afternoons commuting from university to university.

Carrière argues that constant email access makes personal interactions possible regardless of where professors are during the day. But Johnson agrees with Basen that part of the educational experience is lost.

1 in 3 professors across Canada are temporary or part-time

1 in 2 undergraduate classes at the U of O taught by contract faculty

“There are cases where our members are being called one week, or even two days, before the start of classes in order to prepare for a course, set up the syllabus and start the teaching,” he said. “There’s an impact on the quality of education to the degree that the university doesn’t provide adequate working conditions for part-time professors.”

Conditions for contract faculty across the country have improved recently as some unions have been able to negotiate higher wages, increased benefits, and more secure contract lengths.

Some schools, including McMaster and the University of Waterloo, have created full-time, teaching-only positions to reduce their reliance on contract professors.

During the most recent set of labour negotiations between the APTPUO and the U of O, the two sides agreed upon three-year extended contract positions to part-time professors who teach seven courses per year, and who have demonstrated a commitment to the university and excellence in teaching.

While both the university administration and professors are hopeful that these longer contracts will be able to provide some job security, Johnson said they don’t address the fundamental inequalities of contract work.

“It’s not job security in the way that other academic staff at the university have job security,” he said. “They have tenure, they are permanent, and their positions involve teaching, research, and service.”

With no set limit for the growth rate of part-time professors established in the APTPUO’s new collective bargaining agreement, and only a five per cent increase for full-time faculty guaranteed in the APUO’s new agreement, students and faculty can expect the issue to linger among classrooms at the U of O—as it almost surely will across Canada—for the foreseeable future.

19% The increase of full-time positions Across Canada, between 1987 and 2006

56% Increase in full-time student enrolment between 1987 and 2006

SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR Sarah Nolette sports@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Women’s rugby makes school history Gee-Gees win RSEQ championship and move on to nationals

Garry Balaganthan Contributor

F

or the first time in University of Ottawa history, the women’s rugby team will compete for the title of Canada’s top rugby team as they prepare for the national championships.

The fifth-ranked Gee-Gees won their way to the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) finals Oct. 23, where they faced the eighth-ranked Concordia University Stingers.

Tallying all their points in the second half, the Gees prevailed with a score of 13-5, launching them to the national tournament that will be held in Guelph, Ont. With a scoreless first half, the Gee-Gees scored first in the second half as fourth-year fullback Irene Patrinos punched it in for the first try of the game. Patrinos was then able to score a penalty kick, giving them another three points.

Lagging behind, the Stingers were able to come close, scoring a try of their own to cut the lead to three. But Gees rookie Courtney Mastine was able to put away the game on one last try.

“The only thing going through my head was don’t stop, don’t fall, just run the ball into the end zone for the score,” said Mastine.

Head coach Jen Boyd was also recognized for her hard work as the RSEQ coach of the year. Boyd is credited for building a truly competitive women’s program, which hasn’t seen this much success since its inception. Pushing the Gee-Gees’ status from outlier to powerhouse caught the attention of other RSEQ coaches who each cast a ballot for her.

“It obviously means a lot to be recognized by peers,” said Boyd. “It shows that they respect the changes that Duncan (McNaughton, assistant coach) and I have made to this program, so it’s a great feeling.”

With an undefeated regular season and a 2-0 playoff record, the Gee-Gees have secured the third seed nationally, and will play the loser of the McMaster versus Guelph game on Oct. 31, and the winner the following day.

Based on the record of that pool, the teams will be determined for the championship game to be played on Nov. 2.

With increased competition, the Gees will continue an uphill battle in search of their first Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) rugby banner.

Proud Gee-Gees holding up the trophy

Gee-Gees start off strong and proud at home Smashing win at women’s volleyball home opener Lauren Harris Contributor

Kira Tome controlling the game from the middle

14 | SPORTS

Photo: Marta Kierkus

The Gee-Gees women’s volleyball squad did not disappoint during their Oct. 25 home opener as they beat McMaster University in three straight sets.

The McMaster Marauders came into the match with an early-season winning streak from a hard-working, determined team. But the Gees had an impressive preseason, dominating other squads at the pre-season tournament and showing they were ready to fight for points. Having already defeated McMaster earlier this year, Ottawa came into this game with optimism and strength.

Despite allowing some early points to their opponents, the Gees quickly fought back to be in the winning position, and rarely lost it throughout the match. Their offence was strong and their play clever,

with good communication and spacing on court.

Head coach Lionel Woods said his team always loves playing McMaster due to their never give up attitude.

“We have so much respect for them,” said Woods. “They played really well and then we just didn’t break. We just kept playing solid, and if anything, maybe picked up our speed as we went.”

In the second set, the Gees put lots of pressure on the Marauders, forcing some sloppy play with many balls going out of the court.

The Marauders fought back valiantly, showing considerable skill, but it was a case of too little, too late. The Gees didn’t let up until the game was over and they got to celebrate a 25-18 win.

“We worked hard at passing every ball the way we wanted to, hitting every ball the way we wanted to, just

everything really, step by step,” said fourth-year middle Alix Durivage.

“We never looked broken or looked unconfident, and that’s everything for us."

—Lionel Woods “Last weekend was kind of a reality check, we realized we were going to have to work hard to maintain the level we’re at,” Durivage added, referring to the team’s two losses against York and Nipissing.

The team certainly seemed

Photo by Rémi Yuan

to be working well together, a quality of play Woods had been enforcing all week.

“We never looked broken or looked unconfident and that’s everything for us,” he said. “If we can keep our setter in the middle of the court then it’s very tough to pay attention to all our weapons.”

Second-year left side hitter Kaly Soro said team support really helped their morale.

“Huge thanks to our men’s volleyball team for coming out and being loud,” she said.

“We don’t get that all the time and it’s really nice to have that for our home opener.’

Soro said the team still needs to improve on the process of the game by taking care of the little technical things first.

“We really want to take it one by one and focus on everything that we could improve in a little rally compared to a big one,” she said.

thefulcrum.ca

Football team clinches playoff berth

Men’s basketball wins preseason tourney with ease Spencer Murdock STAFF Reporter

Gee-Gees propel into postseason after McMaster upset

Derek Wendel making it happen

Spencer Murdock STAFF REPORTER

After a trying week, the Gee-Gees football team closed the regular season with a secure finish against the third-ranked, undefeated McMaster Marauders Oct. 22.

The last time the teams met was when the Hamilton team ended the Gees’ season in the playoffs last year. The Gee-Gees knew the game would be a test, but it could also prove that they belong amongst the upper-tier teams in the country.

Prior to kickoff, the Marauders entered GeeGees Field carrying the flag of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Hamilton-based infantry unit of fallen soldier Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.

There would be a moment of silence in reflection of the events at Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, followed by the crowd singing “O Canada” without an accompanying singer.

Once the game was underway, it was clear the Gee-Gees weren’t going down without a fight.

Despite allowing a touchdown on McMaster’s first drive, the team regrouped and held off the Marauders. Into the half, the Gees were only trailing 12-11.

Early in the third, Tunch Akkaya picked up a fumble and ran back for an 86-yard touchdown.

This score would give the Gees their first lead in the game, only to be added to minutes later on a massive 74-yard touchdown catch by Ian Stewart.

The Gee-Gees defence would step-up and

Photo: Rémi Yuan

shutdown all but one of Mac’s drives for the remainder of the game. In the end, the Gee-Gees clinched the 38-18 win.

Ettore Lattanzio, the Gees’ defensive captain and a potential frontrunner for the J. P. Metras Trophy, said the team knew it would be a hard game and was pleased with the outcome.

“We knew who they were, we knew what they’ve accomplished in the last couple of years,” said Lattanzio. “We’ve played them before so it was no surprise that this game was going to be a battle.”

Gees head coach Jamie Barresi said that every week, the next game is the biggest game of the year.

“I’ve said this continuously, I will continue to say it, and I’ll emphasize it again: We have to bury this one,” he said. “Enjoy it tonight, but tomorrow is another day and reality is setting in real fast.”

The Gee-Gees will move on to the playoffs and face a familiar foe, the Windsor Lancers, in the quarterfinals on Nov. 1. The team will have to deal with the long road trip once again, but in their last matchup it was the Gees that put up the strongest fight in the closing minutes of the game.

Now with playoff football upon us once again, it’s time for the real action to start.

“We have to keep up with this tempo,” said Lattanzio. “I think that right now we just proved to the entire country that we can go with the best of them.”

Amidst the slew of pre-season basketball tournaments, the University of Ottawa took on the annual competition at the Jack Donohue Tournament from Oct. 21-23. This year showed off a shining start for the Gee-Gees men’s team.

Four teams were scheduled to compete at Montpetit Hall, but the competition got lighter after the Worcester Polytechnic Institute of Worcester, Mass., dropped out due to the Ottawa shootings on Oct. 22. The GeeGees faced the Bishop’s Gaiters and the Toronto Varsity Blues.

In the Gees’ first match they took on a Bishop’s team that finished second in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) last season with a 9-7 record.

The Gee-Gees jumped to an early lead in the first quarter, but fouls and mistakes gave the Gaiters an opportunity to catch up. Getting behind the shooting of forward Caleb Agada and fifth-year senior guard Johnny

Berhanemeskel, the Gees were able to keep Bishop’s at bay.

Strong defensive leadership from Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue enabled the team to toughen up and come away with an 8066 victory.

Despite the win, Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin wasn’t pleased with the way his team played.

“They got in our face, they defended the ball well. They did a lot of things that exposed some of our weaknesses tonight,” he said of the Gaiters.

“It doesn’t do a lot for us to play teams that we’re just going to run over, and I thought they competed … It’s good tape to watch. I’m not happy with our performance, but I’ll take a good game to watch.”

The first night of the tournament, the Varsity Blues also beat out the Gaiters in a close game of 97-91. Both the U of O and Toronto moved on to play in the final game to decide the champion.

The U of T struggled last year with just four wins all season. The Gees had no problem getting after them early

and often, practically shooting the Blues out of the gym.

Third-year Matt Plunkett was on fire from three-point range, which helped raise the team’s existing high of 21 points off the bench. Gee-Gees point guard Mike L’Africain was also in midseason form, dishing the ball around and showing his scoring touch, just like last year.

After the onslaught was over, the Gees came away with a 101-60 victory and a second consecutive Jack Donahue championship.

Gonthier-Dubue and Plunkett were both named all-stars and Caleb Agada was crowned the tournament MVP. “We knew we could beat both teams,” Agada said after the Toronto win. “We were just trying to get better overall and I think we did that.”

He added: “I had a lot of turnovers this game and that really bugs me, but I played OK today and over the weekend. I definitely could’ve done more.”

The Gee-Gees officially open their season against McMaster at Montpetit on Nov. 7.

Gee-Gees taking McMaster down Photo: Rémi Yuan

thefulcrum.ca

SPORTS | 15

Hockey centre thanks her brother and her long-time coach for support Sarah Nolette Sports Editor

Meet Gee-Gees hockey centre Janie Paquette. She’s graduating with a bachelors degree in human kinetics this year and looking forward to graduate studies in physiotherapy, hopefully again at the University of Ottawa. After starting off in ringette and excelling as a hockey player due to strong family support, Paquette has become a key player for the Gee-Gees’ success in hockey thus far.

Janie Paquette Paquette ready for the competition

The Fulcrum: Who first got you into hockey?

Before I started hockey, I was playing ringette because it was more appropriate for girls. I was looking up to my older brother because he was playing hockey at a competitive level, and he was always the first one to ask me to play street hockey.

My brother and I used to go to the outdoor rink almost every night after homework, even if it was -40 degrees out-

Photo courtesy: Richard A. Whittaker

Spooktacular skating Oct. 31 Sports complex, Arena 1 12:15 - 1 p.m.

side. When it was time to pick teams, I was always his first pick. Not because I was a girl and the youngest on the ice, it was because I was his little sister and he wanted me to improve as a hockey player.

When it was time to go home, he was always walking with me even if all his friends were staying on the ice. He was a big part of the reason why I switched to hockey when I was nine years old.

Who do you look up to as a professional hockey player and why?

My favourite hockey player is Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings. He’s one of the most talented players in the NHL. He is a great offensive player and scores goals, but he is also a really good centre man in the defensive zone.

He had a lot of injuries in the past and he always came

Throughout your four years with the Gee-Gees, what have you improved upon the most?

If I have to pick one, I will choose getting out of my comfort zone. It’s not always easy to push yourself out of that zone but when you do it, you’re always right.

My coach Yanick Evola helped me improve that goal.

He’s demanding on us, but at the end of the day we are the ones who benefit from it. He wants the best from every girl in the team. He pushed me every day in high school for five years, in Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) for three years, and now at university.

What do you do to mentally prepare yourself before a

game?

Just before going on the ice, I always listen to the same song, “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner, because it reminds me of the two championships I won in CEGEP. What other sport would you like to play?

I like to play tennis.

Tennis is all about agility, strength, precision, and being smart. I play for fun during the summer with my friends and I always have a good time.

What is your favourite thing to do during the offseason?

One thing that I like to do is to go to my cottage … I usually go with all my family. I have time to play with my nephews and disconnect with the reality. Also, I always bring my guitar to sing around the fire even if I don’t sing like Celine Dion.

Gees soccer pushes through to semi-finals Sarah Nolette Sports Editor

The pressure was on between the Gee-Gees and the Queen’s Gaels during the Ontario University Athletic (OUA) East quarterfinals, Oct. 26.

Both teams have been in the quarterfinals for four consecutive seasons. Unlike last year, the Gee-Gees came out with the win and will move forward to the final four.

The two teams exchanged shot opportunities throughout most of the first half, but finally Ottawa midfielder Julia Francki scored on Gaels keeper Madison Tyrell to take the lead. The Gee-Gees gained momentum from there, and finished the half with strong controlled play from the whole team.

The Gaels didn’t back down in the second. There were multiple occasions that Queen’s had the chance to score, but failed to get past Gee-Gees keep Cynthia LeBlanc.

The Gaels’ speed, endurance, and patience kept the Gees on their toes, but during the last minutes of the game it was complete chaos in front of Ottawa’s net. Leblanc stopped every shot and topped off the game with eight saves.

“I never thought we were going to lose that game,” said Leblanc. “I was very confi-

16 | SPORTS

back stronger than he was before. He’s a great example of leadership, he’s intense on the ice, and he wants to make a difference for the team.

dent that my team was going to show up and deliver.”

Head coach Steve Johnson was satisfied with the team’s efforts. Queen’s has a strong squad, and the Gee-Gees were prepared from the beginning, he said.

“We were well organized in the box and have players who will challenge in dif-

ficult situations,” said Johnson. “I was pleased with what we were able to do against a team that is very good on set pieces.”

The Gee-Gees will head into the OUA final four next weekend alongside the U of T Varsity Blues, the Western Mustangs, and the Laurier Golden Hawks.

“I never thought we were going to lose that game.”

—Cynthia Leblanc Gee-Gees soccer celebrrate after the game

Photo courtesy: Richard A. Whittaker

thefulcrum.ca

OPINIONS Point/Counterpoint

OPINIONS EDITOR Kyle Darbyson

opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Should we sacrifice our university culture for lower tuition?

In early October, Lower Saxony became the last state in Germany to completely eliminate university tuition, making free post-secondary education a nationwide standard. Besides the fact that their government charges higher taxes, this is made pos-

sible because German schools don’t commit a lot of money towards paying for extra amenities like academic support, sports teams, student-run clubs, and bars, and all the individual cultural elements that usually go towards building a unique student

community on campus.

Should we sacrifice our collective student culture to fight the rising cost of tuition here in Canada, or do these cultural elements represent what university life is all about?

Students should seek knowledge, Student groups and clubs provide a great learning experience not superficial amenities Adam Gibbard

any arguments in favour of Canada’s current university funding system point to the great amenities, extracurricular programs, and educational services that are the backbone of student life on campus.

These vast, shining institutions are believed to enhance educational environments and are often used in promotional ads to attract new prospective students.

the world against the “Harvardization” of education, where education is gradually being transformed into a product you buy as opposed to a right provided by the state. It’s no wonder things have gotten out of control. People expect all manner of things from the school they attend and those schools, in turn, pander to students with easy grading, watered-down feedback, and superficial amenities. And after all that, students are still graduating without the skills needed for the workplace.

But even without the tuition Canadians pay, in terms of government expenditures countries like Germany still pay less per student than Canada. So where does all the money go that you spend on education?

Simply put, you’re paying for frills.

Each university campus is a selfcontained entity with housing, prepared food, gyms, student spaces, bars, and sports facilities. The same amenities are found throughout a city, so why do universities duplicate what already exists?

It’s because academic universities have become giant adult daycares, preoccupied with coddling young adults who are too afraid to find their own place to live or cook for themselves. They are essentially asking you to pay large sums of money so you can extend your adolescent state of dependence.

Grow the fuck up.

Germany provides students with free education and an opportunity to become proper adults. Their do-it-yourself academic structure can be demanding, but it’s definitely worth the effort. This is especially true since this kind of schooling gives students an opportunity to start their adult lives without debt and without the necessity of suckling at their parents’ money teat.

In an op-ed piece for Le Monde, French philosophy professor Emmanuel Jaffelin warned

As a result, more and more people are coming out of university asking themselves why they bothered to attend in the first place.

Coupled with the fact that fees will continue to rise (expected to be $7,437 per year by 2016–17), university life in Canada is looking pretty bleak.

If the university experience is about anything, it should be about the pursuit of knowledge, not extra-curricular nonsense.

Production Manager

M

thefulcrum.ca

Omar Abdikader Staff Contributor

T

he main issue at the forefront of policy debate across Canadian universities is the cost of tuition. This dollar figure rises almost every year, and students are also hit with extra student fees.

According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, student association and athletic fees on Canadian campuses have risen to an av-

Photo and edits: Marta Kierkus

erage of $817 per year. At the University of Ottawa, these extra fees range from $683.50 to $ 684.50 for arts and science students to as high as $716.50 to $884.50 for engineering and management students.

Universities could abolish these incidental fees to lower tuition. But they shouldn’t.

Although this may seem like a sound strategy at first, it will come at a great cost. There are benefits to providing student clubs, sports

teams, and general extracurricular activities that extend beyond the boundaries of typical university life.

When a domestic or international student applies to a Canadian university, there are two separate sets of information the admissions committee evaluates: the student’s academic preparedness, and the student’s strength of character and personality. Academic preparedness can only be gauged by marks, but the student’s participation in clubs and other extracurricular activities reveal the type of person they truly are.

A growing number of employers are now beginning to recruit potential candidates through assessing their involvement in campus activities. According to an article in the Huffington Post, employers are actively seeking candidates who possess what are called “higher executive functions,” such as time management, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Outside of schoolwork, one of the best ways a student can develop these skills is through participating in campus life.

When students need to balance school assignments with intramural sports, clubs, and participation in student government, they learn how to stay organized, meet deadlines, and to economically shift focus to different tasks, all of which contribute to the development of higher executive functions.

It also enhances a student’s psychological and emotional well-being. A 2008 study conducted at Ohio University concluded that students who participated in extracurricular activities felt more connected to their campus, had more friends and better grades, adjusted more easily to campus life, and were less likely to drop out.

Although students can participate in these experiences elsewhere, on-campus activities give students a sense of community that can’t be matched anywhere else.

A good education goes deeper than lectures, tests, and assignments. A well-rounded university experience that includes hard learning and extracurricular gains will offer the best education that money can buy.

OPINIONS | 17

The smoke hasn’t cleared on electronic cigarettes yet Adriana Sgabellone Contributor

Due to a marked absence of tobacco, electronic cigarettes have been widely embraced as a healthy alternative to smoking—but are they really?

E-cigarettes first emerged in the North American market in 2005–06, after an initial introduction in China a few years prior. The use of these devices, often viewed as an effective method of quitting conventional cigarettes, has seen a steady increase since their release.

Unfortunately, there’s far too much conflicting debate between scientists to support the idea that e-cigarettes eclipse conventional cigarettes in terms of health benefits. Furthermore, these new devices are mostly unregulated in Canada, which bodes problems for how they are advertised and sold.

Some scientists have reported that the significantly lower concentration of carcinogens in these devices makes them an obvious improvement on conventional cigarettes. As well as containing fewer toxins, the water vapour produced by e-cigarettes is currently believed to have little to no negative effects on bystanders, thereby eliminating the health risks of secondhand smoke.

Photo: Marta Kierkus

However, proponents of e-cigarettes have been met with an equal number of detractors. The chemical compound of the liquid in the cartridges is a serious concern because of the presence of liquid nicotine, a small dose of which can be harmful to users.

Another troubling ingredient is that of propylene glycol, since this chemical compound is a major component of antifreeze and is a known respiratory irritant when inhaled. Essentially, while electronic cigarettes are favourable when compared to conventional cigarettes, they still contain unhealthy toxins that are best kept out of your body.

Furthermore, with such a new product out on the market, there’s yet to be sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a method to help one quit smoking. While studies have emerged supporting both sides of the debate, the only thing that’s certain is un-

certainty. Some people reported they were able to completely replace cigarettes with e-cigarettes. Others reported using them in tandem with conventional cigarettes, which frankly defeats the purpose.

The unregulated advertisement and sale of these products is cause for concern, mostly because they are being marketed to those who are not normally smokers, or even people who have never touched a real cigarette before. Since e-cigarettes come in flavours like bubblegum and cotton candy, there is understandable anxiety about them being marketed to kids.

While electronic cigarette companies desperately want to be viewed as the lesser of two evils in the tobacco industry, there just isn’t enough scientific certainty to back up that claim.

In order to be truly confident in whether e-cigarette manufacturers have consumers’ well-being in mind, Health Canada will need to tighten up regulations on how these devices are sold. The scientific community will also have to come to a stronger consensus on their health benefits and drawbacks.

Until then, puff at your own risk.

Philosophical Sh*t Does free will exist?

Natasha Lomonossoff Contributor

When I raise my right arm, it is an act of free will or simply a biological impulse? This question, posed by the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, is an example of an age-old debate in modern philosophy: Does free will exist?

I believe in free will. Others, however, embrace the philosophy of naturalism.

Naturalism holds the idea that everything we do is predetermined by nature—the biological and chemical processes of the natural world.

Naturalists believe that free will is an illusion, and that everything we do is caused by

18 | OPINIONS

electrical impulses being sent from our brains to different parts of our bodies.

This logic implies that human beings have neither control over their bodies nor responsibility for their actions. Such a view paints quite a depressing portrait of human life. If our actions are predetermined by our genes, and our movements are merely electrical impulses, then how can we consider ourselves truly free? Naturalists imply that humans are merely slaves to their biological makeup, unable to make choices for themselves.

That’s where I disagree.

We make choices every day, like what time we’ll leave for school and what TV programs we’ll watch at home. We have hopes, goals, and aspirations,

and whether we actively pursue them is entirely a matter of choice.

The most obvious goal among students is to do well in school.

That means doing your assignments and reviewing the course material regularly. But let’s say it’s been a long day at school and you’re exhausted by the time you get home. Do you still review the course material or do you decide to relax? The choice is yours. It’s not predetermined that you’ll review the course material. You’re making a conscious decision because you want to do well in school.

Humans are not just passive organic robots who exist solely to carry out biologically programmed instructions and commands. We consciously think for ourselves and make decisions about our everyday lives.

With free will, I have the power to make the choice about whether I study or goof off—though sometimes, I wish I didn’t have to make that choice.

thefulcrum.ca

Pumpkin spice shortage hits U of O students hard Violence and unrest linked to scarcity of seasonal seasoning Kyle Darbyson Tomato Editor Pumpkin spice related debauchery has hit record levels at the University of Ottawa.

Over the last couple of weeks, students suffering from pumpkin spice withdrawal have been lining the streets with their sickly bodies while black market dealers and traffickers are engaged in an ongoing turf war that threatens to tear the community apart.

Much of the violence and unrest is directly linked to the widespread pumpkin spice shortage currently sweeping across North America. Experts say the situation is even more dire than the Great Seattle Pumpkin Spice Shortage of 2012, the most turbulent event to befall the city since the 1999 World Trade Organization protests.

The same kind of civil dissent began here in Ottawa two weeks ago, when the Starbucks located in the Desmarais building was trashed by an angry mob after it was announced they would no longer be serving pumpkin spice lattes.

“I don’t know what came over me,” said Deidre McManus, a second-year sociology student credited for instigating the riot.

“After the barista told me they were all out of pumpkin spice lattes, I just blacked out.

The next thing I knew, things were on fire.”

The event sent a ripple effect throughout the campus, resulting in widespread unrest and chaos.

Now thousands of students—who usually depend on pumpkin spice cookies, doughnuts, ice cream, soy sauce, lip balm, popcorn, and whiskey to get them through their midterms—are subject to chronic withdrawal symptoms that make everyday activities nearly impossible.

Most reports state that pumpkin spice withdrawal results in uncontrollable shaking, nausea, and seasonal depression.

“Our rooms are jam packed with patients and our staff is severely overworked,” said Dr. Shanaya Wei, chief physician at the Ottawa Hospital. “Right now, our job is to gradually wean these young people off pumpkin spice with a butternut squash-based alternative.

Without this strategy, they will surely succumb to chronic bouts of incurable delirium.”

She later added: “The current pumpkin spice shortage is undoubtedly the biggest international health crisis of 2014.”

The noticeable lack of pumpkin spice and related products has also led to the rise of black market dealers and traffickers, who have hoarded local stashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and allspice to become the only suppliers of seasonal flavouring on campus.

Although the trade started out peacefully, it has quickly degenerated into sense-

“The current pumpkin spice shortage is undoubtedly the biggest international health crisis of 2014.”

—Dr. Shanaya Wei, chief physician at the Ottawa Hospital less violence, resulting in at least 16 different stabbing incidents.

One of the most high-profile perpetrators is Oliver Orange, a former high school home economics teacher who has become the selfdescribed kingpin of the illegal pumpkin spice trade in Ottawa.

“Right now, I’m just fulfilling supply for an overwhelming demand,” Orange told the Tomato over the phone. “These students desperately want a taste of fall and I’m go-

Photo: Rémi Yuan, edits by Marta Kierkus

ing to give it to them, one way or another.”

Since local hospitals are overwhelmed and police enforcement is stretched thin, people are holding out hope that the change of seasonal tastes will help bring an end to this depravity.

“Before winter rolls around, our first priority is to make sure that eggnog-flavoured food and drinks are fully stocked on campus,” said U of O president Allan Rock. “If we fail in this task, then God help us all.”

Ottawa police crack down on bad Halloween costumes Arrests and fines doled out for distasteful seasonal attire Kyle Darbyson Tomato Editor This Halloween, Ottawa police are taking an active role in cracking down on distasteful costumes in the community.

Thanks to a new set of bylaws that were unanimously passed by city council this fall, police officers have been handing out fines, community service, and even jail time to those who sport costumes deemed lazy, douchey, or in very poor taste.

“Something had to be done after last year,” said Chief Charles Bordeleau. “I mean, there were reports of people walking around dressed up as human centipedes and condom dispensers. We had to draw the line somewhere.”

In preparation for this year’s festivities, Bordeleau ordered his patrol officers to study high pro-

thefulcrum.ca

file news stories from 2014 in order to predict the different kinds of offensive costumes set to make their debut this year.

The list of offensive costumes include the likes of Michael Brown, the missing Nigerian girls, Oscar Pistorius, and a zombified version of any celebrity who has died this year.

Reportedly, this Halloween hasn’t disappointed in terms of eyebrow-raising attire so far. Out-

side of arresting a group of U of O students who still thought it was cool to dress up in Borat mankinis, the biggest perpetrators have been those decked out in blackface.

“When all is said and done, I’ve made around a dozen of these arrests,” said patrol officer Katrina Gillen. “I was really surprised. Not by the amount of people we locked up, but by the fact that blackface is still apparently a thing in 2014.”

Illustration: Jennifer Vo

Another big offender is the abundance of “sexy” female costume attire, which occasionally attracts police attention.

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to dress ‘sexy’ for Halloween,” said officer Gillen. “But if you do, try and use common sense. Dressing like a sexy terrorist, a sexy piece of meat, or a sexy Bert and Ernie duo is definitely worthy of an arrest.”

While some are hesitant about these new enforcement policies, others are wholeheartedly endorsing the new police action, especially when it comes to their policies on arresting people who are dressed as “themselves” for Halloween.

“It’s about damn time,” said Rhonda Gregs, a Lowertown resident. “If one more trick-or-treater came to my door in plain clothes asking me for candy, I was going to snap. I say, lock them up and throw away the key.”

However, some are not happy with

the way authorities are going about their business. Much has been made about the case of Dominic Reddick, a local civil servant who was arrested for allegedly dressing up as an Ebola victim to a local fraternity party.

“Like I told the police, that wasn’t an Ebola costume, it was just a zombie getup,” Reddick told the Tomato.

“I just happen to be going with a CDC-related theme this year.”

Reddick is pursuing litigation against Ottawa police, but Bordeleau said they have no plans of slowing down with their new enforcement policy.

In fact, Bordeleau told the Tomato that preliminary plans are already being laid out to apply this bad costume arrest policy to other seasonal holidays.

“I’ll make it my sworn duty to make sure nobody has to endure the sight of another ironic ugly Christmas sweater ever again,” he said.

“That’s a promise.”

THE TOMATO | 19

DISTRACTIONS

I’ve always loved Halloween because of the costumes people wear. I get really turned on by how into character people get.

This year, I want to host a Halloween party and later turn it into an orgy. I haven’t explored group sex very much, but how can I make sure I get a great turnout?

—Party Favours

Dear PF,

Role and character play can be very kinky indeed and it’s a great time of year to fulfill your fantasies. Make sure to cater your guest list to friends you know will be comfortable with your carnal trick-or-treating later in the evening. Tell all your chosen guests of your post-party plans so there aren’t any ghastly surprises. By keeping your guests informed, they’ll also be more comfortable with each other. This will help them talk about different desires (and limits) for the evening’s activities.

Once you’ve got your guests, the real fun begins! Consider setting a theme for your party if there’s a certain show or set of characters you like (and would like to get it on with). Dreams of setting off on a Star Trek mission of your own?

Visions of a Superwoman and Catwoman coital duo? Offer a common theme as an easy way for your party attendees to get in costume and character.

Group sex can be incredibly erotic and stimulating, but it has to be done safely for everyone’s pleasure. Finally, if your guests want to bring friends, make sure they know the sexy schedule for the evening. And make sure your friends and their guests are as safe and conscientious about their sex lives as I hope you are.

I’ll be eagerly anticipating my invite—you know how to reach me.

Love, Di

20 | DISTRACTIONS

features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Dear Di,

We all know how expensive school can be.

So to foot some of the bills, I got a job a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, it isn’t a typical student job… I work as a stripper at a club in the area. I truly do enjoy the work and pay, but recently a male acquaintance from class mentioned that I look a lot like one of the female strippers at a club he goes to.

Although he clearly meant it as a compliment, I was quick to laugh it off but I am terrified that someone on campus will recognize me and blow my cover. Any advice for keeping my nightlife a secret?

—Dancing in the Dark

Dear DD,

While some might challenge your choice of funding your education, I think if you’re enjoying your new job you should just go for it. I can understand your concerns, though—this campus and city aren’t quite big enough to protect your identity.

As great as the cash-outs may be, ask yourself this if you were to be discovered, how damaging to your student life and future do you think it would be? To succeed day and night, I don’t think dashing between buildings on campus and wearing a disguise is your solution.

It all comes down to you. You are in charge of your sexuality, and no one can take that away from you. Being comfortable about your extracurricular student life is the most important thing. There’s no need to be embarrassed!

All students know how tricky it can be to pay for school, and if this is a job that fits the bill for you, then that’s just fine. Whether others agree with your job or not, most people—this oddball acquaintance aside—won’t be looking to call you out on your sexy side job.

Always be your safe and sexy self—at the club and on campus— and keep your confidence flowing as well as your cash.

Love, Di

DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di,

FEATURES EDITOR Jesse Colautti

Semen has 36 calories per teaspoon, so you’re guaranteed to work off more calories than you swallow.

No Halloween plans? Venus Envy is throwing a sexy costume party Oct. 31 at Café Nostalgica. Tickets are $10.

thefulcrum.ca

OCt. 30 to Nov. 16 2014

THRYLLABUS

Thursday, Oct. 30

Wednesday, Nov. 5

Sunday, Nov. 9

Joel Plaskett, Knox Sanctuary — 7 p.m.

Alfa Rococo, TBT 112 — 8:00 pm

Toughen Up! Freeplay Pinball & Vids, House of Targ — 9:00 pm ($5 cover)

A Fistful of Dollars, Bytowne Cinema uOttawa Zombie Day, Alumni Auditorium Zombie Makeup — 11 a.m.

Ottawa Haunted Tour — 3 p.m.

Scary Halloween Snacks — 5 p.m.

Robert Smith Conference (World Zombie Epidemic Specialist) — 5 p.m.

Matt Mogk Conference (Founder of the Zombie Research Society) — 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 31 Men’s & Women’s swimming meet, Montpetit Hall — 4 p.m.

The Shape of a Girl begins a 3 day run at Avalon Studio. $10 tickets available for students.

Monday, Nov. 1 Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show, Ottawa Convention Centre — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MUSIC

Tickets are $10

Doug Paisley, National Arts Centre — 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 2

arts Sports

Squash and Pumpkin Launch for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, 5740 Richmond Road — 10 a.m.

Fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, participants can launch pumpkins towards various targets from a giant slingshot. $5 per pumpkin or $20 for 5 pumpkins.

Monday, Nov. 3

FUN Thinking

thefulcrum.ca

Tickets on sale for $10 at UCU026 & UCU318.

Twin Forks, Mavericks — 9:00 pm

Thursday, Nov. 6 David Marin, National Arts Centre — 7:30 pm Cheap tickets available for students through Live Rush.

The Supersuckers w/ The Red Rails, and In Heat, Mavericks — 8:00 pm O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Bytowne Cinema — 9:20 pm Ethnic, Linguistic and Religious Minorities in Europe: Rising Intolerance?, FSS Building — 12:00 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 10 Debate: Should Canadians be compelled to vote in federal elections, FSS Building — 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 Betraying the Matyrs with Reflections, Invent Animate, and Greylights, Mavericks — 6:00 pm ($15 advance tickets available) The 32nd Annual Signatures Show begins at the Ottawa Convention Centre A juried artisan show featuring a collection of over 175 of Canada’s finest artists, artisans, and designers. Tickets available for $10

Friday, Nov. 7

Thursday, Nov. 13

Men’s & Women’s Basketball Home Openers vs. McMaster, Montpetit Hall — 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Lisa Leblanc with The Steamers, Ritual Nightclub — 8 p.m.

Pride begins playing at Bytowne Cinema The Making of the Room & Live Script Reading, Mayfair Theatre — 9:30 p.m.

Followed by the Room at 11:30 p.m., widely considered to be the worst movie of all-time.

Young Lady in White begins its 8 day run at the Arts Court Theatre $20 dollar tickets for students available

Saturday, Nov. 8 Men’s & Women’s Basketball vs. Brock, Montpetit Hall — 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Vance Joy, Algonquin College — 9:00 pm

Electric Pow Wow, Babylon Club — 10 p.m.

Bluegrass Mondays: Monroe Sisters, Pressed — 8:00 pm

Julian Taylor Band and Farewell Davidson, Zaphod Beeblebrox — 9 p.m.

China-Japan Relations and the Consequences of Threat Inflation, FSS Building — 12:00 p.m.

Ottawa Senators vs. Winnipeg Jets, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 14 Whiplash begins playing at Bytowne Cinema The Shape of a Girl begins a 3 day run at Avalon Studio. $10 tickets available for students.

Saturday, Nov. 15 Just for Laughs Comedy Tour, National Arts Centre — 7 p.m.

Eric Church, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m.

Amos the Transparent, Neat Coffee Shop — 8 p.m.

Alex Silas & The Subterraneans, Ritual Nightclub — 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 16 Mod Club, Babylon — 10:00 p.m. (free)

DISTRACTIONS | 21

22 |

thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL

Volume 75, Issue 10, October 30, 2014 Standing on guard since 1942.

Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this or we’ll put you on lockdown.

Thinking critically in a crisis

staff Sabrina “Buffaloberry” Nemis Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcum.ca Adam “Dwarf Cornel” Ashby Gibbard Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Blueberry” Feibel Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Niagara Falls” Kierkus Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Arcott” Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Jessica “Molson” Eritou Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Jesse “Horse” Colautti Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sarah “Elderberry” Nolette Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Bluenose” Darbyson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Loonie” Van Dyk Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Caribou” Murdock Staff Reporter Remi “CN Tower” Yuan Staff Photographer Lindsay “Wonderland” MacMillan Associate News Editor Moussa “Goose” Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor

Editorial cartoon by Bruce MacKinnon.

Annalise “Curling” Mathers Associate Features Editor

F

Savannah “Fighting 10th” Awde Staff Proofreader Chantale “Hairless Cat” Streeting Webmaster Deidre “Maple Syrup” Butters Ad Manager ads@thefulcrum.ca Andrew “Horseweed” Hawley General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors L. A. “Pond Weed” Bonte Brennan “Expo 67” Bova Chris “Avro Arrow” Zapata Amy “Mountie” Leppanen Heloise “The Yeti” Rodriguez-Qizilbash Shane “Rockies” Wilson Zach “Grey Cup” Verret Lauren “Bombardier” Harris Garry “Tim Hortons” Balaganthan Omar “Beavertails” Abdikader Adriana “Rideau Canal” Sgabellone Natasha “Moosehead” Lomonossoff Jennifer “St. Lawrence” Vo Suzannah “CBC” Vo Mackenzie “Banff” Powell

Cover art

a

A) Marta KIERKUS B) Justin Lim C) Rémi Yuan D) Rémi Yuan

b

thefulcrum.ca

c

d

eeling threatened can bring out the worst in people.

When Michael ZehafBibeau was able to shoot and kill Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial and infiltrate Parliament on Oct. 22, two places many University of Ottawa students have been to without fear, it reminded us of our vulnerability.

In the midst of the crisis, with the downtown core and our campus on lockdown, it was hard to discern what was fact and what was speculation. Social media has made it easier to spread important information, but it’s also made it easier to spread misinformation and fear.

Since the incident, reactions have a wide and varied range, all motivated by fear.

Fear that we will be unsafe, fear that we will lose freedom, fear that the wrong people will be blamed, fear

Courtesy of The Chronicle Herald. http://shop.thechronicleherald.ca/Cartoon-Reprint-of-Cpl-Nathan-Cirillo_p_5034.html

that we may be implicated, fear that this could change how the world sees us, and fear that it changes how we see ourselves.

But we should not be debilitated by fear and we should not allow it to divide us and distract us as we move forward.

One thing we should take away from this experience is the need for everyone to be vigilant in using our critical thinking skills. The media has a responsibility, but consumers have one as well. As students we learn to think critically about our readings and studies, and we should be able to take those skills and apply them to the wider world around us.

With social media making it possible for one random person’s comment to be widely disseminated, we have to be choosy in what we give credence to and be thoughtful in what we choose to share.

Credible media sources strive to only share facts that are verifiable. In a crisis, rumours spread quickly, but major news sources try to ensure their reports have been verified by police and reliable eyewitnesses. After the crisis, these same news sources will look for bias and try to present varying, credible viewpoints.

Ordinary citizens should strive for the same commitment to the truth. We should evaluate the credibility of the media and the sources they choose to speak with. Consider what stake each person might have in this incident and how that might colour the things they say. If we retweet other non-media persons, consider their motivations as well.

It’s no different than evaluating the motivations of a leader in a politics class, the reliability of the narrator in a story studied in an English class, or the implications of an entity’s interests in funding a

study in science.

In the aftermath of a crisis, we have to continue to be critical in spite of our fear. It may be comforting to support solutions that limit the freedom of those we perceive as threats to security, but we have to consider what rights we have the potential to lose as well. Finding balance requires listening to both the words that politicians are saying and all of the implicit things they are not saying.

The ability to think critically both in the midst of a crisis and in its aftermath has wider reaching implications. We should be considering the motivations behind every news story as well as the actions taken by people we know.

This is not so that we become cynical, but to go forward as a nation of careful thinkers and thoughtful evaluators. A university education may not guarantee a job, but it should ensure that graduates are able to evaluate the world on a deeper critical level.

EDITORIAL | 23

Fulcrum

Magazine

Travel Issue NOVEMBER 6