The Fulcrum - Vol 75 Issue 13

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED General assembly fails to meet quorum

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Going off without a bang P.6

Whole foods started at and high prices P.9 the bottom

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IN THIS ISSUE Rock steady P.5

U of O president continues work on strategic plan

Civil liberties and sex P.7 Dominatrix wins award for sex trade advocacy

Rising from the ashes P.10

U of O publishes book longthought to be lost in a fire

Top Chef tips P.11

Student winner shares best cooking advice

Not horsing around P.14

Undefeated equestrian team holding mid-year tryouts

Ringing in the a new season P.15 Meet fourth-year guard Kellie Ring

Body camera accountability P.17 Police officers should wear cameras

A hairy situation P.19 Students seak beard concealment policy

Staying in God’s good graces P.21 Deciding whether to take his virginity (and maybe his soul)

NEWS

Close, but no GA: debut misses quorum

Discussion gives way to riled up students at SFUO general assembly

Photos by Rémi Yuan

Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor

T

he first general assembly (GA) of Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) members gave way to a rowdy audience large enough to cause a ruckus, but not enough to make any decisions.

The Nov. 17 assembly at the Shaw Centre, just off campus, didn’t attract the 337 students needed to vote on motions, though it came close: At peak attendance, the GA came up short by only 11 people.

“The reality is the vast majority of student unions who have general assemblies for the first time don’t meet quorum,” said an optimistic SFUO president Anne-Marie Roy. The Revolutionary Students’ Movement’s (RSM) motion to have the SFUO “look at the possibility of a strike in Spring 2015,” namely to protest nearly a decade of tuition increases and to

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stifle any chance of a student code of conduct, was one of the most hotly contested topics.

Members of the RSM distributed red squares outside before the GA began. Although campaigning outside of polling stations during student elections isn’t allowed, there are no rules prohibiting campaigning outside the GA, said Roy. The president herself said she supported the potential strike motion, and wore a red square during the GA. Many students asked for more specifics about the potential strike mandate. RSM chair Alex Lépine said the motion was intentionally ambiguous. “The reason it’s vague is because we want students to take ownership. We don’t want to be the ones proposing something from the top down,” she said.

There were four other motions on the agenda: to create a “racialized student centre,” to denounce Canada’s involvement in Iraq, to create a dedicated prayer space in the south end of campus, and to lobby the university administration to divest from fossil fuels.

But those motions didn’t go anywhere since the GA ended as scheduled at 9 p.m. without the extra dozen people needed for quorum.

The SFUO will post the minutes online and all of the motions will be tabled to the next Board of Administration meeting on Dec. 4.

Roy said she “will be tabling the motion to investigate the possibility of a strike to our next GA.” Question period saw a flood of inquires that veered on and off topic—some asked pertinent questions about the motions while others aired general frustrations with the student federation—so much that the chair mentioned repeatedly that the translators and sign-language interpreters could barely keep up.

Students’ questions centred around the potential strike motion, but also on other topics such as the SFUO’s budget, organization, and account-

NEWS EDITOR

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

At peak attendance, the GA came up short by only 11 people. ability measures, and a recently hot topic, the $10,000 of unused fireworks meant for 101 Week.

Legitimate inquiries were often hampered however, by disruptive behaviour. Those in the crowd frequently interrupted the executives and each other. One student asked if they could disband the SFUO. Another asked if a student at the microphone was drunk.

Some complaints also stemmed from a lack of understanding of and disagreement over the rules of order. Fred Wu, a second-year common law student, was a vocal critic of process at the GA. “Instead of having a participatory democracy, we were just an audience and that was our feeling, we didn’t feel empowered,” said Wu. “If we look back at all the criticism, it’s been about the process, not about what the executive has done,” he said. “None of what I have said in front of that microphone was ever meant as an indictment of their work.”

Jack Bellemare, vice-president of finance of the Students’ Association of the Faculty of Arts, also frequently denounced the procedure of the GA. “The chair used the GA’s ‘not-quorum’ status to make arbitrary rulings, and repeatedly ignored the attendees’ mood,” Bellemare wrote to the Fulcrum.

However, Roy said it was “frustrating” because the chair “tried to implement a procedure,” but was unable to bring the GA to order due to “a handful of students who were incredibly disrespectful.”

Students also brought up concerns about the GA’s accessibility, noting that the only way to vote on the motions was to be there. Bellemare said he missed two classes in order to attend.

Roy said proxy voting wasn’t implemented because of concerns that those who do not attend the debate won’t hear all the arguments on the motions.

“I want to make sure that if there are proxy votes, that students can still hear the debates and the discussions around motions,” she said. “People’s

experiences get shared and sometimes that can influence and change some people’s votes.”

“There needs to be a more thorough conversation around how we want to approach proxy voting,” said Roy, “and maybe that means we should be looking into including an online component.”

Roy said the SFUO also did not implement a form of online voting because she hadn’t found a system that she trusted 100 per cent. Roy said she will look into security measures before using online voting.

The next GA is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 19.

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NEWS Briefs Hassan Diab charged with murder upon extradition to France Hassan Diab, a former sociology professor at the University of Ottawa, has been charged with firstdegree murder following his extradition to France.

Diab was extradited on Nov. 14 after the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear his appeal in relation to his 2008 arrest.

Diab, a Canadian citizen, is alleged to have been a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and has been accused of participating in the 1980 bombing of a Parisian synagogue that killed four people and injured more than 40 others.

Since his arrest he has amassed a passionate committee of supports who believe Diab to be innocent, and that the case has been highly

politicized. Donald Pratt, who attended graduate school with Diab in the 1980s, told the CBC that “Hassan’s background as an Arab, and the whole climate around terrorism is clearly a factor in this.”

Diab’s supporters, including former Carleton professor Peter Grose, were shocked at the Court’s refusal to hear his appeal of what they believe to be a very weak case against him.

Stephane Bonifassi, his attorney, told the CBC that his defence will focus on challenging the authenticity of the evidence. He said the case is currently in the hands of a judge who will decide whether to go to trial.

Diab will remain in pretrial detention until a decision is made on his case.

—Raghad Sheikh-Khalil

Man assaulted on Rideau Street says it was due to his appearance An Ottawa man says he was attacked earlier this month because of his extensive body modifications.

Calvin Nicol, 31, was attacked by a group of at least four males on Nov. 1 around 7 p.m. in front of the McDonald’s on Rideau Street. Two days after the initial assault, one of the men showed up at the store and threatened Nicol and one of his coworkers.

Nicol is an artist and piercer. He has multiple body modifications including tattoos, piercings, eyes tattooed black, and silicone horns implanted on his forehead.

Nicol said he was singled out because of his appearance. The attack has left him with serious injuries,

including a fractured and impacted shoulder, and a broken nose.

“For me, it was pretty much a hate crime. I was just walking by and they jumped me,” Nicol told the Ottawa Citizen.

Two of the suspects have also been accused of trying to throw a 32-year-old international student off of Cummings Bridge on Nov. 4.

Police have arrested Timothy Ryan Smith, 31, and a 16-year-old male in relation to both attacks.

James Picody, 31, is also facing charges of aggravated assault related to the attack on Nicol.

Police are still looking for a fourth suspect.

—Allegra Morgado

Police charge man with impersonating soldier A 32-year-old Quebec man has been arrested and charged with four criminal offences for impersonating a soldier during this year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

Franck Gervais of Cantley, Que. was wearing the uniform of a Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) sergeant decorated with several medals when he was interviewed by the CBC on Nov. 11 at the National War Memorial. Suspicion about Gervais’ identity arose due to several irregularities regarding his beret, crooked collar insignia, and rare Pathfinders Torch.

Gervais turned himself in on Nov. 15, and his court date has been set for Dec. 9. He could face up to five

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years in prison. Police are “working closely” with the Canadian military, according to Ottawa police spokesman Const. Chuck Benoit.

Photos from Facebook, which have now been taken down, also show him dressed in military attire.

Gervais reportedly bought the RCR insignia off someone on Kijiji.

He also wore the Governor General’s Bravery Medal, and a service medal from Kosovo.

Although soldiers are allowed to sell their medals, part of the Criminal Code states that those who buy, receive, or detain military property can face criminal charges.

—Grace Oktaviani

The president’s report Allan Rock continues to work on improving the student experience, internationalizing the university, and ensuring bilingualism on campus.

Photo: Sabrina Nemis

Allan Rock on the lockdown, space on campus, and a code of conduct Sabrina Nemis Editor-in-chief

Evaluating the emergency response system The university went on lockdown on Oct. 22 in response to fatal shootings that took place at the National War Memorial. At the time, students spoke out about feeling uninformed, receiving unclear directions on what to do, and feeling that the lockdown was variably enforced across campus.

“I think we got the basics right,” said Allan Rock. He said the system notifying all students and staff was slow due to the large number of people it's intended to reach.

The university has a committee looking at ways to improve the emergency response system, he said, including a loudspeaker system, more use of social media, and a way of evaluating the level of threat.

The report is expected in the next two months and will primarily be recommending ways of improving the system, should it ever be needed again. “Hopefully, there’s not going to be a next time,” Rock said.

Considering a code of conduct The Revolutionary Student Movement and the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) have been concerned about a potential University of Ottawa code of conduct that could enforce rules on student behaviour outside the classroom that would affect academic standing.

At a press conference regarding the suspended men’s varsity hockey program last summer, Rock announced that the university would be implementing new behaviour guidelines

for student athletes.

Rock confirmed to the Fulcrum that the U of O put together a taskforce last April to address the issue of a student code of conduct in addition to the guidelines for athletes. The taskforce is made up of 15 individuals, including two graduate and two undergraduate students.

“Ought there to be a code of conduct?” the taskforce asked, according to Rock. “If so, how should it be developed, what should it look like, how would it be administered, and what role does the university have in the responding to behaviour off-campus or in behaviour that’s not related to the academic role of the university?”

The university will make a decision after the taskforce submits its recommendations by the end of semester.

Free speech failing grade The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms released its annual report on free speech and the U of O administration (as well as the SFUO) received a failing grade. While Rock said the administration would consider the report and “try to learn from it in the future,” he doesn't feel a lack of free speech is a big issue on campus.

“I think people feel free to speak as they want to,” he said.

Creating more space on campus As Rock has said before, ensuring that the university can provide firstyear students with housing is part of his intention to foster a sense of community on campus. Until last year, the university only had 3,000 spaces, and has been working to acquire more.

“We don’t have enough, we’re negotiating for more, we’re happy with

the 500 additional ones that will come from Friel Street and Henderson (Avenue), and we’ll keep building on that in the future,” Rock said.

Space in general is an issue on campus, and different groups, including the University of Ottawa Muslim Students’ Association, have requested more from the university to accommodate the expanding student population. Rock acknowledged that he had received a letter from the group and said, “We’re looking at options right now.”

He said the U of O has been working with both the SFUO and the Graduate Students’ Association to address space issues. He pointed to the Board of Governors’ (BOG) recent approval to build a Learning Centre, which will provide additional study and prayer space for students when it’s built in two and a half years.

Looking ahead The BOG recently announced they are looking for a replacement for Rock when he finishes his term in 2016. Although it is still some time away, Rock said he may consider staying to teach law. Rock attended law school here, practised law, and taught at Osgoode Hall Law School.

For the remainder of his term, he'll be “trying to make the experience of every one of our students richer, trying to deepen our research intensity, internationalize the university like never before, and ensure that it remains a strong bilingual university community to la Francophonie,” he said.

“Those are my marching orders until June 30, 2016.”

NEWS | 5

Student fed sitting on $10,000 pile of fireworks Failure to launch ignites controversy instead of closing ceremonies Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi NEWS EDITOR

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) has found itself in an explosive situation—literally.

Led by the SFUO executives vice-president social Ikram Hamoud, other vice-president socials from the university’s federated student bodies decided at a meeting in July to put on a fireworks display at the 101 Week closing ceremonies at Strathcona Park.

Those fireworks never went off.

According to Hamoud, the SFUO had consulted with the Ottawa Fire Department and the City of Ottawa prior to the launch, but the city rejected their request to use the park due to a capacity limit. The SFUO was expecting more than 200 attendees, meaning there wouldn’t have been enough space to safely operate the fireworks.

“This information was unfortunately not communicated with me when I inquired prior to making the reservation,” said Hamoud.

At that point, Hamoud said she contacted the National Capital Commission (NCC) in hopes of finding another location, but all the locations the NCC proposed were “too far,” she said.

Now, the SFUO is sitting on a $10,000 pile of rockets—this time, figuratively—with nothing to celebrate.

The fireworks were not refundable, so the SFUO has held onto company credit with B.E.M. Fireworks.

Hamoud said the $10,000 price tag is “comparable to other entertainment costs of closing ceremonies from past years.”

But student officials who were at the meeting in July to plan the closing ceremonies are now wondering how and why the SFUO ended up in this situation at all.

“It’s hard not to worry about $10,000 of unusable product,” Christine Backs, vice-president social of the Engineering Students’ Society, wrote in an email to the Fulcrum.

“How can you expect to use them later if every potential venue had denied you in the first place?”

According to Hamoud, the roundtable discussed several options for the celebration and decided to move forward with the fireworks display. She said the student reps were kept informed “every step of the way.”

But Backs said it wasn’t a decision based on the consensus of the room.

“We had several discussions about what to do for closing ceremonies, but as soon as fireworks were mentioned you could tell that that was the only option that (Hamoud) would stick with,” she said.

Although the roundtable participants were aware the SFUO would be looking into buying fireworks, they didn’t know how many or how much they would cost, she said.

Anne-Marie Cook of the Science Students’ Association said the SFUO didn’t clearly explain what research they had done prior to buying the fireworks.

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Photo: Emily Mrozinski

“They didn’t really say yes or no, it was kind of more of a, ‘We should be fine, it’ll be OK,’” said Cook.

Kelsea Bendall, vice-president social of the Conflict Studies and Human Rights Association, wrote in an email to the Fulcrum: The roundtable “tried all (they) could to find a working alternative” when the SFUO was denied a permit.

“Perhaps the situation could have been avoided through clearer communication, but that’s never certain.”

“It’s hard not to worry about $10,000 of unusable product.

How can you expect to use them later if every potential venue had denied you in the first place?”

— Christine Backs thefulcrum.ca

Former dominatrix given civil liberties award

Terri-Jean Bedford recognized for fight against new prostitution laws

“I have to admit I was surprised by this honour.

After all, you guys believe in freedom. I believe in bondage.

You like free speech. I gag my clients. You support equality. I preach female superiority. You promote humane treatment of prisoners. I torture mine.

But why fuss over details?” ­— Terri-Jean Bedford

Terri-Jean Bedford transitioned into activism after he S&M dungeon was raided by police.

Kath Tubridy Pakenham Contributor

The former dominatrix most widely known for threatening to expose the submissive sexual practices of Canadian senators has been given this year’s Civil Liberties Award.

Given by the Ontario Civil Liberties Association (OCLA) Award, and the University of Ottawa branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Terri-Jean Bedford received the award for her work advocating for the rights of sex trade workers.

“I have to admit I was surprised by this honour,” said Bedford. “After all, you guys believe in freedom. I believe in bondage. You like free speech.

I gag my clients. You support equality. I preach female superiority. You promote humane treatment of prisoners.

I torture mine. But why fuss over details?”

Bedford spoke about her

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experiences as a sex worker, activist, and mother. At the age of 16, after moving out of the foster care system, Bedford worked several jobs to make ends meet. She became a sex worker. Discovering how people were willing to open up to her, led her to indulge in people’s fetishes, and she ultimately worked as a dominatrix.

“Of course it’s empowering,” she said of women who work in the sex trade. “That’s why the government doesn’t want you doing it. They would rather see you pregnant and barefoot than empowered and in the sex trade.”

Bedford transitioned to activism after her S&M dungeon business was raided and shut down by police. She was convicted in 1999 of operating a bawdy house.

In September she testified in front of the Canadian Senate to challenge the implementation of Bill C-36. The controversial act was passed in June of this

Photo: Rémi Yuan

year, making it illegal to advertise and buy sexual services, sell sexual services in public places where minors could be present, and for third parties to profit from the sex work of others.

Bedford was kicked out of a Sept. 10 hearing for overrunning her speaking time. Before making her exit she said, according to the CBC, “If this law passes, I’m going to make you guys forget about (suspended senator) Mike Duffy. Because I got more information and proof on politicians in this country than you can shake a stick at. I promise.”

Joseph Hickey, executive director of the OCLA said Bedford has “worked tirelessly to protect the rights of workers in the sex trade, and that is why we are presenting her with this award.”

“I want to be remembered for standing against secret rules,” said Bedford. “My motto is that I’ll fight for my rights whether you like it or not.”

NEWS | 7

National News

Impeachment sought for student president in Saskatchewan HenryTye Glazebrook

The Sheaf (University of Saskatchewan) SASKATOON (CUP) — Citing a number of concerns, including budgetary spending, lack of transparency in governance as well as a mishandling of her position, a group of graduate students from the University of Saskatchewan issued a motion of non-confidence on Oct. 28 toward Izabela Vlahu, president of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA).

Supported by 13 people, the motion was brought before GSA councillors during a special general meeting scheduled for Nov. 17.

Should the motion of non-confidence fail to garner enough votes from council, the group of graduate

students also has the option of organizing a referendum to impeach Vlahu. Such a referendum may be received at any time by council, and would require supporting signatures from a minimum of two per cent of GSA members.

The Sheaf obtained a copy of an email drafted by the group outlining 12 specific reasons for their pursuit of the motion, with accompanying supportive documents attached alongside some further general complaints.

Though their problems with Vlahu’s leadership are many, the group’s areas of greatest worry appear to be those concerning the spending of GSA finances, including the costs associated with U-Pass implementation and executive trav-

el, and general accusations of poor governance.

A referendum set during the winter of the 2013–14 academic year saw graduate students voting in favour of a $3 increase to their student fees in order to cover the costs of the U-Pass for the following academic year. It was an amount budgeted for one month’s worth of in-office staff to assist graduate students in picking up their U-Pass and for appropriate promotion of the new service.

The group alleges Vlahu unilaterally shortened the time span for UPass pickup from four weeks to only nine days, and that regular GSA office staffers have been paid out of the U-Pass budget line. They also say $1,700 in office equipment was purchased with no recorded voting from the GSA executive.

A lack of appropriate minute-taking in executive meetings is another point

More than 10,000 march in Montreal against budget cuts to public sector Milos Kovacevic

The Concordian (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) — A familiar sight presented itself in downtown Montreal on Halloween as tens of thousands showed their displeasure with provincial austerity cuts.

Concordia’s contingent to the morning protest commenced at the Sir George Williams campus before joining the main group at the McGill University Roddick gates. Students weren’t the only marchers at the protest, having been joined by professionals, union members, and public servants.

Colourfully dressed in costumes as befit the occasion—the event was entitled “Austerity: A Horror Story”—all assembled were protesting against the large cuts in spending by the Quebec government.

“It’s not quite the same as tuition,” said Concordia Student Union (CSU) president Benjamin Prunty, referencing the 2012–13 protests when hundreds of thousands of people marched against cuts to the education sector.

“When the university is looking to cut 180 positions and (is) losing $16 million—and that’s only in one year, obviously the year before they lost more—it’s really easy for students to realize this is affecting them in a real way, and not only that, it will be affecting them in the future.”

Sustainable Concordia’s (SC) external coordinator Mike Finck said the event was a success because of “the amount of people who came out on such short notice and looking across who was represented.”

Beside the CSU and SC, representatives from a dozen Concordia student organizations across most faculties attended. Labour unions like Teaching and Research Assistants at Concordia (TRAC) and the Concordia Undergraduate Part-Time Faculty Association (CUPFA) were also present.

“The government is not prioritizing the public sector, and so the public sector needs to remind the government … why they exist, which is to provide support for citizens,” said Prunty.

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of contention for the group. The GSA executive minutes, available on the association’s website, confirm that voting on issues has by-and-large not been recorded.

Though the GSA executive does not appear to follow Robert’s Rules of Order, current vice-president of student affairs Chakravarty said the lack of voting is indicative of Vlahu’s leadership style and not procedural process.

“There were never any votes. She just informs,” Chakravarty said. He also expressed concern that the minutes may not be an accurate reflection of what occurs during executing meetings.

“I, as an executive, do not have faith in the minutes anymore, because I sort of feel the minutes are being tampered with… There are items in the minutes which I asked four different executives, ‘Did we actually discuss this?’ and they had no memory of it. That creates extreme suspicion of the fact that we don’t discuss stuff in the minutes and she just adds them.”

Vlahu did not respond to the Sheaf’s requests for comment.

Photo: HenryTye Glazebrook, The Sheaf

Photo: Keith Race, The Concordian

Many of the labour contracts at Concordia and Quebec as a whole are up for renegotiation next year, and he said austerity won’t be lost on the negotiators.

“This is all very top-down. We’re told this is the case, we have no choice, and things are compartmentalized,” said Prunty, who disputes the idea of austerity as the only course of action without alternative discourses. “We have cuts to the public sector, and lo and behold, there’s also tax cuts here to certain parts of the private sector or certain parts of the financial sector.”

Prunty would like the university to take a clear stance on the austerity measures coming from the provincial government.

“When you’re making cuts to education instead of to other places, you’re affecting the people who really need it most. It doesn’t make any sense to me when there’s so many opportunities,” said Concordia student and protester Alejandra Melian-Morse. “We’re struggling, and we’re individuals, not huge corporations.”

“The key, really, is to not feel disempowered by this message being constantly pushed down and that we’re always hearing from the figures we see as authorities,” said Prunty. “The only answer is to start the conversation ourselves.”

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ARTS &CULTURE

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

Green with organic envy

Ethical eating is the way to go these days—if you’ve got the money

Jessica Eritou

Arts & Culture Editor

I

n a two-floor building lined with stained wood panelled walls, and decorated with white cursive typeface and a laid-back summermarket-style dining area, I pictured myself shopping for kale on a hip corner of Austin, Texas.

Part of that was wishful thinking on a dreary November afternoon in Ottawa. But as a store rep led me and a small group on a tour through the city’s newest grocery outlet, it was clear the urban Austin lifestyle had seeped into Canada’s capital.

Foodies, hipsters, and health nuts, your mothership has arrived.

Whole Foods Market has finally landed in Ottawa, having opened its 10th Canadian location—the other nine are in British Columbia and the Greater Toronto Area—at Lansdowne Park this month. The company is best known for selling natural and organic products in a strong ethical and educational bid to customers. It focuses on telling shoppers what is in their food and where their food comes from, before they even ask.

Produce, for example, features a rating sys-

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The new Whole Foods Market at Lansdowne Park opens on Nov. 19.

tem with categories for energy, climate, soil conservation, and farm worker welfare. The higher the rating in each category, the more a head of lettuce will cost you. Meat has the same approach with animal welfare standards, allowing the shopper to choose specific husbandry and management practices.

It’s a model that will appeal to a consciousness of ethics, health, or both, but it doesn’t come

Photos: Jessica Eritou

cheap. Students may be intrigued by the Whole Foods philosophy, but feel it’s not worth the extra time or money compared to Tuesdays at the neighbourhood Loblaws or Metro. And they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.

“I think that this movement can be a bit elitist,” says Gabrielle Arkett, coordinator of the Sustainable Development Centre at the University of Ottawa. To buy local and eat ethically,

you need money. “The fact of the matter is, buying directly from a farmer often is not cheap.”

She says community policymakers need to develop ways for local farm products to be available to all, while ensuring that farmers are compensated adequately for their hard work. “It’s a tricky balance, but I think eating locally is the future.

A globalized food market only works as long as there’s cheap oil. That won’t last forever, so we need to strengthen our local food system now.”

Whole Foods spokeswoman Allison Phelps says the new store’s value label can help those with a tighter budget still eat the way they feel is right. Phelps suggests a tour with one of their specialists: “She can take you around and show you ways to save money.”

You can save money by only purchasing what you need. “You don’t have to buy an entire box of quinoa when your recipe only requires just a cup,” says Phelps.

But according to Arkett, you probably won’t see too many students out at Whole Foods anytime soon. “Students are not the intended market of those types of stores and many cannot afford to shop there, as much as they would like to,” she says. “The reality is not everybody can afford to eat local or organic all the time. We want to expand people’s options, but not shame them for the choices they make.”

ARTS & CULTURE | 9

Ballast from the past

A Malcolm Lowry book becomes hidden treasure

Malcolm Lowry, author of In Ballast to the White Sea

Savannah Awde Proofreader

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Malcolm Lowry’s book—long thought to have burned in a fire—was recently released by the University of Ottawa Press.

For a long time, the manuscript for Lowry’s In Ballast to the White Sea was believed to have succumbed to flames in the author’s British Columbia shack. Years later, rumours were confirmed that Lowry’s first wife retained a copy of the long-sought manuscript. These circumstances set the stage for the late fall release of In Ballast to the White Sea by our very own University of Ottawa Press—a major addition to the university’s Canadian literature collection.

“Malcolm Lowry is one of the most important writers of the 20th century, so this is a really big deal,” says director Lara Mainville. “Lowry’s life reads almost like a novel, and so this juxtaposition of real life, and then the fiction—like the real story about this lost novel that was found again, and his entire life, and then the novel—it’s just really fascinating.”

The publication’s release was held in Liverpool, U.K. at an annual event called The Lowry Lounges. The event attracts Lowry

scholars and literature fans from all over the world. It was a major event for the U of O Press and the ideal venue for the launch.

English literature students will find a strong aid in the extensive notes included in the publication, says Mainville, but the play on perspectives within the story is enough to captivate any lover of the written word.

“It’s about a writer who is writing about another writer,” Mainville explains. “It’s a series of writers writing about the experience of writing about an author and who feel that their life Photo: Courtesy of Lara Mainville has already been written about.”

Although the U of O Press attained rights to the Lowry title some time ago, the delay in release came from many additions to help enhance the original work. Dean Irvine, the series editor and director of Editing Modernism in Canada (EMiC), invited Patrick McCarthy one of the editors of the In Ballast critical condition (a text close to its original writing without editing), to produce the first edition with the U of O Press.

“In 1936 Lowry deposited a copy of In Ballast with the mother of his first wife, Jan Gabrial, when he and Jan left New York for Mexico,” explains Irvine. “Jan later retrieved the copy and typed up a clean typescript in 1991.

In 2003, two years after her death, the executor of the estate deposited the clean copy and other related material in the Manuscripts and Archives Division of the New York Public Library.”

“The Lowry editions have been edited and published with resources from EMiC, which is funded by a 7-year, $2.1-million Strategic Knowledge Cluster grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.” Mainville says students should keep an eye out for for the rerelease Under the Volcano next fall, the final novel in the Lowry cycle.

ALBUM Review

TV on the Radio SEEDS | Interscope

Matt Radich Contributor

Seeds is the fifth full-length release from Brooklyn indie-rock outfit TV on the Radio, and the first since the passing of former bassist Gerard Smith. While many wondered whether they should expect a heavily emotional album, as it was released following the death of a band member, the latest record has several moments that are empty and uninteresting. TV on the Radio decided to make a more accessible record and it only pays off to an extent.

TVOTR’s latest is most enjoyable during its energetic tracks. The lead single “Happy Idiot” is an exhilarating mix of early 2000s rock and modern electronic production. “Lazerray” brings a straightforward rock chord progression with an impressive vocal delivery. The horns on this song add some oomph and make the song much more layered.

The production on Seeds is fantastic. On “Careful You,” producer Dave Sitek makes the song shine with a lush synth soundscape, electronic drums, and reverb-soaked vocals.

The main issue with Seeds is the slow songs, which are well-composed but at times under-emotional.

On “Trouble,” lead singer Tunde Adebimpe sings the cliché lines “Everything’s gonna be OK,” and “Don’t worry, be happy.” The instrumentals are impressive but the lyrics lack any substance. However, other slow jams do the trick, such as “Test Pilot” featuring Adebimpe’s stunning falsetto over gentle guitar chords.

Seeds is an enjoyable release from TV on the Radio, though at times disappointingly simple and incohesive.

Despite the album’s downsides, its approachability allows new fans to get a good taste of TVOTR’s sound. If you’re looking to get into a new band, Seeds is a great place to start.

Why it’s famous:

Jasmine Van schouwen STAFF Contribut or

Probably one of the most famous screwball comedies of its time, It Happened One Night established itself as the light, romantic comedy to watch if you ever chose to watch one. With its quippy dialogue, brilliant moments of light comedic timing, and a lively and sassy performance

by Claudette Colbert, it remains a mustsee even 80 years later.

Famous lines: Peter Warne: Why didn’t you take off all your clothes? You could have stopped 40 cars.

Ellie Andrews: Well, ooh, I’ll remember that when we need 40 cars.

Peter Warne: I want to see what love looks like when it’s triumphant. I haven’t had a good laugh in a week.

Why you haven’t seen it: It’s one of those movies you feel like you have seen even if you haven’t. The basic structure of the storyline has been rethought, reworked, and recycled by countless Hollywood screenwriters running out of ideas. And since it’s a romantic comedy, you know how it’s going to end anyway.

Why it might be tough to get through : If you have got any hint of feminism within you, this film will be painful to get through. Let’s start off with the less-than-brilliant female lead that leaves everything behind for a husband her father doesn’t approve of, only to fall for a stranger she barely knows in fewer than 48 hours; the patronizing male lines; and the “what would you do without me, silly female?” moments. This one’s certainly not a worthy candidate under the Bechdel Test.

Why you should see it anyway: Despite its misogynisti c undertones and the fact that it’s, well, a romantic comedy, this flick is still worth your 105 minutes, if only for the effect of time-travelling back to the ‘30s when the concept of a sassy female lead was earth-shattering for the silver screen. It has incredibly witty dialogue that will keep you interested. This film will most likely get a couple chuckles out of you, sometime in between your periodic “why am I watching a rom-com?” eye-rolls.

Fun Facts: • This was the first film to win the Oscar “Grand Slam” (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenp lay)..

• Accordin g to William L. Shirer’s Berlin Diary, the film was one of Adolf Hitler’s and Joseph Stalin’s favourite movies.

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

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

thefulcrum.ca

Five tips from a U of O top chef Jessica Eritou

Arts & Culture Editor

Marc-Antoine Boucher-Briere, left, Etienne Chasse, Jean-Simon Pacaud Lemay win U of O Top Chef competition.

Photo courtesy of Marc-Antoine Boucher-Brier

Pints with

Ponyboy

Okanagan Springs Brewery | 1516 Where to find it: Laurier Social House

Jesse Colautti Features Editor

After one sip of this beer I found myself reminiscing about the old country, along with simpler, gentler times. Even though all I know about the old country comes from The Godfather. A simple, old-school beer with a cloudy

complexion and lingering finish, this was probably one of the best German-style beers I’ve ever tasted that comes from this side of the Atlantic.

I have no idea what happened in Bavaria in 1516, but after having this beer I’m certain it resulted in deliciousness.

Rating: 5 out of 5

For one group of University of Ottawa students, MasterChef is more than just a fun TV show.

Team leader Marc-Antoine Boucher-Brière, a fourth-year French literature student, and teammates Étienne Chassé and Jean-Simon Pacaud Lemay won the school’s Top Chef competition with a rare root beer steak and quinoa salad. The victory means the trio will compete again in January, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst against 10 other schools.

Boucher-Brière, who loves to barbecue and watch MasterChef programs from around the world, gave the Fulcrum some of his helpful tips for the kitchen.

1) Be creative and have fun.

Don’t be afraid to try and modify what you see on cooking shows for what you have in your fridge. The easiest modification would be dairy: cream, for example, can be switched for yogurt.

2) Make a list before going to the grocery store so you stay focused. If you know what you are cooking ahead of time, you will be able to make better decisions for your week ahead, saving you money instead of buying expensive ready-made meals.

3) Marinate your meat the night before you plan to cook it so it stays tender. It may be as gruelling as packing a lunch the night before, but it’s worth it.

4) Try to cook with healthy oils like olive oil instead of vegetable spray. It tastes phenomenal and it’s a great source of vitamin E. 5) Add maple syrup to any dish for a little flavour, eh? You can substitute it in sauces or salad dressings in place of sugar.

Want us to review your favourite beer? Tweet @PonyboyColautti

thefulcrum.ca

ARTS & CULTURE | 11

Johnny Berhanemeskel once found himself fighting for a spot on the Gee-Gees practice squad. Now, he’s the leader of a top team vying for a national championship.

by Spencer Murdock • Staff reporter On a Friday night in early November, hundreds of people have crammed their way into the Montpetit gymnasium for the opening game of the Gee-Gees men’s basketball season. Any other night of the season the crowd, draped in garnet and grey, might have showed up for a variety of reasons. The Gee-Gees are the second-ranked team in the country, and in the past few years have developed a loyal group of followers within Ottawa and across Canada.

But this night was different. This night, the hopeful faces were there to honour a player who has become known around campus simply as Johnny B. Star shooting guard Johnny Berhanemeskel began the night 13 points shy of the all-time record for career points in University of Ottawa basketball history. After pouring in 12 points during the first half with his typical, unassuming precision, Berhanemeskel stepped back onto the court, twisted around a McMaster Marauders defender in the paint before letting go of a finger roll layup that fell straight through the basket, and collected his record-breaking 1,572nd and 1,573rd points.

The game stopped dead. The entire Gee-Gees squad huddled around their leader to congratulate him. Some members of the crowd, including those who had brought huge cardboard cut-outs of Berhanemeskel’s smiling face, bowed down in a gesture of respect. And with a glowing grin, Johnny B met coach James Derouin at centre court to receive the game ball.

If only for a few fleeting seconds, there at centre court you could almost see Johnny letting go, soaking in the standing ovation and full weight of his accomplishment.

“It’s definitely humbling,” said Berhanemeskel. “It’s a cool thing, it might mean more to my parents and friends, but if they’re happy with it then I’m good with that.”

Five years ago, no one would have expected that moment—not even Johnny himself.

The young redshirt A quiet and scrawny kid from the east end of Ottawa, Johnny B walked onto the U of O campus five years ago as just another freshman.

He was there to play for a newly hired head coach who hadn’t recruited him and didn’t yet believe in him. As Johnny attempted his best impression of a point guard, head coach Derouin was convinced that Johnny’s only chance to be a part of the team would be as a redshirt: an undressed practice player.

It was during an early practice at that 2010 summer camp when Johnny, still playing unnaturally as a point guard, came down in transition and hit a long jump shot and changed the coach's mind.

“It was probably the first time I’d actually seen him shoot the ball,” said Derouin. “I stopped the scrimmage and said to him, ‘I want you to shoot it every time you touch it now. If

you’re open I want you to shoot it.’ So he made five of his next six jump shots and Clarence Porter, my assistant, and I were like, ‘OK, this kid can shoot it.’”

It wasn’t long until others took notice. In a preseason game later that summer against the University of Cincinnati, a highly successful National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program, Johnny came off the bench and shot four straight threes and picked up another basket in the paint to give him 14 points in the first half. He led the team that game with 16 points and two rebounds.

“The crowd was going crazy,” said Derouin. “He has started every single game we’ve played since.”

Johnny would prove it wasn’t a fluke, earning himself significant playing time in his freshman season, averaging 16 points per game.

The Gee-Gees already had two other stars on their roster that year. Josh Gibson-Bascombe was in his fifth year and held the record at the time for all-time points, eventually going on to play professionally in the Czech Republic. Then there was Warren Ward, a player that grew close to Johnny before his departure in 2013 to also play professionally in Europe.

Ward said he was overly tough on Johnny on the court: If he wanted it, he'd have to earn it. But he said by the end of their three years together, he felt like the student as much as the teacher.

Ward said it's his old friend's humility, compassion, and unmatched work ethic that makes him so special.

“It’s why he has what he has now,” Ward said from Avignon, France, where he now plays for the Grand Avignon Sorgues in the French ligue nationale 1.

“From day one, Johnny has probably outworked all of the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport), which is why to those who know him, it’s no surprise to see him succeed. He's a leader, and for that team, the leader.”

Leading by example The night after the record fell in the Gee-Gees' win over McMaster, the team took on the Brock Badgers in a comparatively less meaningful regular season match. But it was during this game that the characteristics that define Johnny's play and personality were on full display.

The Gee-Gees began the game sloppily, and the score against the low-ranked Badgers was a lot closer than expected.

In the locker room at halftime, a frustrated James Derouin looked to Johnny to turn things around. Berhanemeskel came through with 18 points in the second half, leading to a gamehigh 28 points and an easy 103-68 win.

The game was emblematic of Johnny’s leadership style, said Derouin. While fellow fifth-year Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue is the most vocal leader on the team, Johnny leads by example.

“I thought he was even better than excellent, he was phenomenal against Brock,” said Derouin.

likely have to pass Scrubb and his brother Phil, a three-time CIS most outstanding player.

Johnny’s quiet leadership isn’t confined to the court.

Fourth-year point guard Mike L’Africain recalls how Johnny reached out to him to come to the U of O and took time to help him learn the city.

The rivalry between the teams is one of the most intense in Canadian basketball and reached fever pitch last year after Johnny made a buzzer-beating shot in the OUA final.

This gave the Gee-Gees their first victory over the Ravens in 18 meetings spanning seven years, not long before the team would meet again in the CIS final.

Third-year swingman Moe Ismail recalls the time when Johnny took him in when he had nowhere to stay in the summer of his rookie year, and looks back fondly on how Johnny was willing to selflessly put him up despite barely knowing him.

“I don’t know if I can even say how much the guy means to me,” said L’Africain. “He does so many things that nobody sees outside of the basketball court, and even on the court.

He looks like he is quiet but he is always teaching and getting everybody involved. He has taught me so much.”

Winning a championship As a team, the Gee-Gees consider themselves a family.

And emblazoned on the top of their family crest is the burning desire to be crowned national champions.

Last year they fell one game short, losing 79-67 to their archrivals the Carleton Ravens in the CIS championship game.

The Ravens have been the class of Canadian basketball for more than a decade, collecting 10 of the last 12 national championships.

Carleton’s Thomas Scrubb, a member of the Canadian national team and one-time CIS defensive player of the year, has played across the court from Johnny for every one of his five years.

“He’s one of the tougher guys to guard in the CIS,” said Scrubb. “A lot of scorers are only dangerous when they have the ball, but with Johnny you can never lose sight of him or lose focus on what he is doing because he’s always finding different ways to score.”

Ravens head coach Dave Smart is a seven-time CIS coach of the year and has the utmost respect for Berhanemeskel.

“Johnny is the epitome of what they are,” Smart said in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen this month. “There’s not a lot of CIS and OUA players that I have more respect for. He always gets it done.”

But there's still that nagging idea of a national championship that leaves the Gee-Gee's business unfinished.

“I’ve wanted to see how far I could take it and I think it has all kind of worked out so far, ”Berhanemeskel said of his career. “Hopefully, we can win a championship and then I’ll really be able to be grateful.”

For the Gee-Gees to win the championship they will most

Photo: Rémi Yuan

The final shot After this season, Johnny will most likely go on to play professionally, leaving behind a legacy in Gee-Gees basketball.

The same kid who awkwardly faked it as a point guard redshirt in his rookie year has become one of the school’s alltime best players, known for drilling shots at the buzzer, for putting on shooting clinics against the best of the NCAA, and for being one of the most genuine and hardworking people on and off the court. To anyone in the Canadian basketball community, Johnny is known on a first-name basis.

“I just remember when I was in Grade 12 and there wasn’t much belief in me and no one had any high expectations,” said Johnny.

“I’ve always used it as motivation and just always know that I have a long way to go before I’m actually there, wherever I want to reach, whether it’s playing pro or whatever.”

L’Africain still can’t quite figure out how someone so unassuming and kind, looking like “the biggest scrub” he’s ever seen, has transformed into “the best player in the country.”

Coach Derouin said he's just as blown away watching him develop and getting to coach him through it.

“He’s an amazing kid. I know I’ll say the same thing about (Matt) Plunkett, same thing about Gab (Gonthier-Dubue) or Mike (L’Africain), but there is another level of amazing.

Johnny is at another level of amazing,” he said.

“Sometimes the basketball gods just shine on you.”

The legend of Johnny B is still far from over—he has this season to wrap up the loose ends.

Some may look at the roaring crowd and blown-up cardboard cut-outs of Johnny’s face after he broke the Gee-Gees scoring record as the symbol of a great career and a job well-done, but he isn’t ready to congratulate himself yet.

He recalls a day in practice when he was shooting free throws and ended up making 99 straight, only to miss the 100th.

Reflecting on that final shot, Johnny couldn’t help but laugh. “There is still one more hurdle to get over,” he said.

“Hopefully my guys can help me get over that one per cent. Because I definitely need to get to that hundred.”

SPORTS

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

Equestrian team has best year yet Undefeated squad hopes to continue streak

Pippa Heinlein, left, Riley Boyes, Alicia Cooper, Tori Turner, Maura Tse, Lauren Andrews, Alexa Kirkey, Christine Bolik, Sarah Dunning.

The 2014/2015 equestrian team at OUEA, Kildare Stables, Trent University.

Lauren Harris Staff Contributor

T

he University of Ottawa equestrian GeeGees have made great leaps and bounds this year.

Tori Turner, a fourth-year human kinetics student and the team’s president for the second consecutive year, says the team has had a great season so far.

“We are currently undefeated,” said Turner.

“We’ve been a high point team at every single horse show with OUEA (the Ontario University Equestrian Association) this year and we’ve also won every team spirit award.”

Turner is particularly pleased with these results as the Gee-Gees regularly compete against teams from Queen’s and Trent University, who have 50 people try out for their team. In com-

parison, the U of O has 18 team members split between two circuits.

Riders from all levels can add big points to the team’s overall score. Riders compete individually and their score is added to the team total, creating competition within the team itself that helps motivate riders.

The points awarded to less experienced members competing in lower-level divisions count just as much as those competing in the higher divisions. Every member of the team is as important as the next.

For seven years, hunter-jumper expert Mark Struthers and grand-prix competitor Lauren Hunkin have coached the team at Synergy Farm in Ashton, Ont., about a half-hour drive southwest of campus. Their combined knowledge, experience and support has been integral to the success of the Gee-Gees team. The

Photo: Courtesy 2014/2015 GeeGees Equestrian Team

members carpool to the farm for weekly lessons, and also to the horse shows, often with Struthers joining them for assistance.

The Gee-Gees are in search of a new walk-trot rider as their current star Lisa Le is set to graduate this year.

“It’s important to fill those gaps because it definitely adds up at the end of the day …

We’re always looking for people of all sorts of levels and it’s actually harder for us to find people who don’t have much experience,” said Turner.

The team usually conducts a major tryout in September, but this year they’re hosting a second on Nov. 30 for riders who would begin in January.

“You don’t know until you try if you’re going to like it or not like it, so contact us and give it a go,” said Turner.

Women’s hockey ends losing streak

Horse riding is an expensive sport, which can intimidate new members. The university partially funds the club to help out with travel costs.

“As a rider you are only responsible for outfitting yourself, so breeches, your show shirt, your helmet and your boots are the things you need to have,” said Turner. “Otherwise, everything regarding the horses and equipment for the horses is not something you have to pay for. We’re very lucky and appreciative of what funding we do get.”

The team is now eagerly anticipating the rest of the season. Their next show will be hosted by York at Forest Hill Farm on Jan. 11.

Next semester, the Gee-Gees will compete in Toronto for two weekends and at their own event, jointly hosted with Carleton. The team hopes a home advantage will help them continue their winning streak.

Team rebounds from high goal allowance with two road wins Lauren Harris Staff Contributor

The Gee-Gees women’s hockey team had to step up their defensive game if they wanted to win their two road games against Concordia University and the University of Montreal on Nov. 15–16.

The teams let in 14 goals during their previous two games, including a 7-2 defeat against Montreal.

Goaltender Maude Lévesque Ryan had her best game yet against the Concordia Stingers with 24 saves for her first Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) shutout. Head coach Yanick Evola said he was proud of her and the rest of the team’s energy after the 2-0 win.

“Our intensity level was really good, probably the best it has been all season,” said Evola. “We battled all game, especially with that lastminute penalty kill.”

Ottawa’s only other win of the season was a tight game against the Stingers on Oct. 24. Sunday’s game against Montreal was a greater battle.

Women’s hockey team celebrates after win against les Carabins.

14 | SPORTS

Photo: Richard A. Whittaker

Both teams attacked hard and got into penalty trouble. The second period was especially aggressive, with a total of 20 penalty minutes doled out between the two teams.

Ottawa capitalized on the Carabins defensive breakdowns to edge out a 4-3 win over Montreal. This is the first win over Montreal in over three years. Coach Evola said his team was thrilled with the win, but not surprised.

“We have a solid group of players who are learning what it takes to have success in this league,” he said after the match. “Everyone had an impact on today’s win.”

The Gee-Gees defensive squad needs to keep playing consistently if they want to succeed this season. They have to be aggressive, but learn to stay out of the penalty box. For the games to come, Ottawa will have to keep clear of unforced turnovers in order to have more opportunities to score.

The next home game will be on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Minto Sports Complex.

thefulcrum.ca

Spencer Murdock Staff reporter

Through her ups and downs, she starts this season strong a tough decision, but I do not regret it one bit.

What has playing for the Gee-Gees meant to you?

Kellie Ring

K

ellie Ring is a fourthyear guard for the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team. She’s a member of the starting lineup, and one of the more experienced players on a young team.

The past four years she’s gone through two ACL tears, but she continues to be a leader and looks to push the Gees into promising playoff basketball this season.

thefulcrum.ca

Playing for the GeeGees the past three years has been awesome. There have been some ups and downs, but ultimately there is nobody else I would rather play with. The group of girls here has always been amazing, and I am very fortunate to play with such supportive and hard working teammates.

Photo: Rémi Yuan

The Fulcrum: When did you know that basketball was your sport?

Kellie Ring: I was always a multi-sport athlete, growing up playing soccer, hockey, and basketball. I knew I didn’t want to pursue soccer any further, so the toughest decision was between hockey and basketball. I decided in Grade 10 that I was going to focus on basketball. It was

How have you improved so far, and what would you still like to improve?

There is definitely plenty to improve, that’s for sure.

One thing is the shooting side of things, being confident enough to take open shots. This is something I am trying to improve dayin and day-out. My game has improved in the sense that I understand the game more; sitting out a year and a half has helped me with my knowledge of the game. I try to use my

knowledge to help lead the young girls, and be there for them if they need my help on anything.

What are your goals after school is finished?

Obviously playing after university is a major goal of mine. Playing professionally in Europe would be amazing, but there is still plenty of work to be done in order to achieve that goal. Representing our country at the Olympics has always been a dream of mine too.

Who is your favourite professional basketball player and why?

Favourite professional basketball player is a tough question. I don’t really know, but recently I have been reading up a lot on LeBron James and watching videos of him.

There is no doubt that he is one of the best players to play the game, and I really respect his determination to continually evolve his game.

Volleyball tournament serves up for a great cause Tima hacini

Staff Contributor Six-dozen students from the University of Ottawa’s intramurals program rallied together for an evening of fun and competitive matchups in support of Relay for Life.

The inaugural event, run by student Vince Kang on Nov. 17 at Montpetit, raised more than $700 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“Intramurals has completely donated the gym time,” said Kang, the head referee for the event. “This event didn’t cost a penny.

Everything was sponsored.”

The tournament pitted 12 teams of six or more against one another to give intramural participants the opportunity to get some extra playing time, all the while raising money for charity.

“We built the tournament for the players and we thought it would be good idea to donate 100 per cent of the fees rather than it

just laying around,” said Kang.

The top four teams were awarded $60 gift cards to The Draft and Bac A Frites, and $15 gift cards for student federation businesses such as Pivik, all donated by the organizations.

Kang wants this to be the first of many similar charity-sporting events he hosts in the future.

“I personally would like to make this bi-annual,” he said. “Judging from the feedback on this event, we will be doing one next semester, so on and so on.”

If you’d like to volunteer, email Vince Kang at vlimson@hotmail.com.

Intramural charity volleyball tournament

Photo: Marta Kierkus

SPORTS | 15

Women’s volleyball extends win streak to five Sarah Nolette Sports Editor

The women’s volleyball team are on a roll after nabbing two wins on a southern Ontario road trip.

The Gee-Gees beat the Windsor Lancers in three close sets on Nov. 15, with the Lancers keeping the deficit to at most five points throughout the match. Windsor’s attacks were strong, but it was the Gee-Gees’ defence that kept them leading the game.

Fifth-year right side Myriam English had a strong game with 15 points, including 13 kills. Following English was second-year right side Kaly Soro with 14 points and 11 kills.

“Our team defence today was crucial.

Our players executed the adjustments they needed to on defence,” said head coach Lionel Woods. “Windsor fought and pushed hard the entire match, which for us was the same situation as our first weekend of the season, and we had a much better response today.”

Sunday, Nov. 16, the Gee-Gees

went on to play the Western Mustangs. The energy before the game was high, and the Mustangs came in with their best efforts.

During the first two sets, Western defeated the Gees 25-20 with their rookie Kelsey Veltman leading the Mustangs in kills.

But it wasn’t long until the Gee-Gees regained energy and responded with powerful kills of their own. Ottawa cleaned up their defence and surpassed Western in the last three sets.

“We made an adjustment that worked well and kept building,” said Woods. “I honestly thought the momentum turned at the end of set two even though we lost. They stayed with it, and we were able to turn the corner.”

Again, the Gee-Gees high leading scorer was Myriam English with 21 points, 15 kills, 12 digs, and four service aces.

The following home games for the Gee-Gees will be on Nov. 22 against Nipissing and on Nov. 23 versus York, both games beginning at 2 p.m.

Setter Kira Tome and middle Alix Durivage go up for the block.

Six ways to do a push-up

Timeless exercise targets every muscle in your upper body Sarah Nolette Sports Editor

Anytime, anywhere, with no equipment— that’s the beauty of push-ups.

This exercise is great for anyone who not only wants to build their arms, but work out their chest and core as well. But push-ups can get boring at times, especially if you have been incorporating them into your workout since first year. So instead of the same-old, let me introduce you to some new styles.

It’s essential to first master the basics of a regular push-up. A push-up is easy in theory, but there’s plenty of room for error. Begin with your hands shoulder-width apart. Engage your upper back, shoulders, and arms to lift your body weight off the floor, and then slowly lower it back down.

When lowering your body, you do not want to touch the floor with your chest.

The rule of thumb is to imagine a rolled up pair of socks right where your chest would touch, and only dip down to that height.

It’s important to keep a straight line from your head down to your ankles when you’re in the lifted position. In other words, keep your butt straight like the rest of that body.

Also, you shouldn’t be swaying your hips while going up and down. If you aren’t strong enough to lift your entire body, do the exact same exercise from your knees.

Wide grip push-up Target area: chest Difficultly: 2/5

Start in a normal push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart. Then spread your hands wider. This will engage more of your chest in the exercise than your arms.

Diamond push-up Target area: triceps Difficulty: 3.5/5

Place your hands in a diamond shape underneath your chest with your index fingers and thumbs touching each other. When you lower your body, your elbows should bend closer to your body than a wide-grip push-up.

Sarah Nolette trying out 6 new styles of push ups.

16 | SPORTS

Single-leg push-up Target area: upper body and core Difficulty: 3/5

In a regular push-up position, lift one leg up off the ground and lower your body. Switch legs on each set or each five sets.

Feet-elevated push-up Target area: upper body and core Difficulty: 3/5

Start in a normal push-up position but with your feet elevated on a bench. The higher your feet are elevated, the more you’ll work your shoulders, chest, and core.

Photo: Marta Kierkus

Ball push-ups Target area: triceps and core Difficulty: 4/5

Start in the diamond push-up position, but with your hands on a ball. I like to use a medicine ball or a basketball; they’re the easiest for balance. Keep your hands close together and your abs tight for stability.

One-arm ball push-ups Target area: chest and core Difficulty: 3.5/5

Start in a wide-grip push-up position, but have one hand on the ball and one hand on the floor. To make it more challenging, alternate the ball each set.

Photo: Marta Kierkus

thefulcrum.ca

OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR Kyle Darbyson

opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

Why police officers should wear body cameras Desire for more transparency trumps privacy concerns

Omar Abdikader staff Contributor

O

utfitting police officers with body cameras has the potential to drastically increase transparency and accountability in police departments everywhere. While this technology might raise concerns about the invasion of privacy, it’s a small price to pay to ensure both suspects and police officers are objectively judged by an unbiased third party.

Often, a violent confrontation between a police officer and a suspect leads to conflicting reports from both civilian eyewitnesses and the officer(s) involved. This has been made evident by a variety of recent news stories that highlight the growing problem of police brutality. The most high profile of these incidents is, of course, the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. this summer. Since the encounter was not captured on video, eyewitness accounts differ on exactly what led to the shooting.

Outside of protecting civilians, body cameras also hold benefits for police officers themselves, since these devices can shield them from wrongful prosecution. This has recently been demonstrated by an incident in Albuquerque, N.M., where a police officer’s lapel camera recorded

the arrest of a woman who was driving drunk.

After the 23-year-old failed her sobriety test, the camera recorded a moment when she tried to get out of trouble by accusing the arresting officer of sexual assault. But thanks to the camera footage, the officer was cleared from any wrongdoing and the department was spared the burden of a costly sexual assault suit.

It will only be matter of time before this technology becomes ubiquitous throughout the country. Police body cameras are now being tested in most major Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and even Ottawa.

And why wouldn’t we implement these pilot projects? According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the city of Rialto, Calif. has had great success equipping its entire police force with body cameras. After a year, the use of force by police officers declined by 60 per cent and complaints against officers by the general public declined by a staggering 88 per cent.

These statistics suggest that the positive effects of body cameras transcend beyond simply providing better evidence and testimony; it appears it can also have a psychological impact that will force both officers and suspects to be more conscious of their actions. Since both parties are aware that they’re being recorded, they will modify their be-

haviour in a more honest and forthcoming fashion.

Despite the reservations some may have about the potential invasion of our privacy, this new technology will not only protect officers and the citizens from physical harm and unwarranted prosecution, but it also has the potential to restore the public’s dwindling confidence and trust in the police.

Police body cameras are being tested in Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

Gamers need to stop living in the past Modern criticism isn’t the same as past censorship Kyle Darbyson opinions editor

For the last couple of months, intense debate surrounding the GamerGate movement has been carving a destructive path through the Internet. No online forum is spared from its incendiary influence, since even the most constructive, well-reasoned arguments against the movement, which purports to highlight unethical practices in video game journalism, are met with vitriol or harassment.

Countless social critics theorize that this kind of volatile response is a by-product of rampant misogyny and intolerance that’s systemic in the gaming community, since the targets of these attacks are usually women or figures who are sympathetic to modern feminist ideals.

While there is some validity to that idea, this kind of reactionary approach is a symptom of a much bigger problem: Many gamers are still living in the past.

For a period of around 20 years, video game fans (myself included)

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lived under the legitimate threat of government-sanctioned censorship.

Much of this atmosphere stemmed from proactive parent watchdog groups and misguided politicians who were concerned about finding a tangible link between violent video games and violence in real life.

Not only did this superficial analysis effectively condemn much of gaming culture during the 1990s, but it also gave legitimacy to censorship advocates like Florida lawyer Jack Thompson, who spent most of the 2000s trying to ban Rockstar Games properties like Bully, Manhunt, and the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

This prolonged censorship scare largely served as a catalyst for the modern video game community, as gamers from all walks of life were united under the common goal of combating this omnipresent threat.

This strategy seemed to work, since video game censorship advocacy gradually faded from mainstream public discourse. This fact was firmly cemented into U.S. law thanks to the 2011 Supreme Court case of Brown v. Entertain-

While this technology might raise concerns about the invasion of privacy, it’s a small price to pay to ensure both suspects and police officers are objectively judged by an unbiased third party.

ment Merchants Association, where a 7-2 decision ruled that video games are protected under the First Amendment (the same as movies, books, and other entertainment properties).

Unfortunately, even though the video game censorship wars have been over for several years, some gamers simply will not give up this past combative mentality. To them, any person who says anything remotely negative about the beloved hobby that they fought tooth-and-nail to preserve must be treated as an enemy.

Because of this, vicious attacks against media critics like Anita Sarkeesian seem justified, since she (or people like her) could very well be the next generation of censorship advocates. Of course, that kind of sentiment is utterly ridiculous, since the idea of banning video games has never once entered the lexicon of Sarkeesian or any of her peers.

Still, responding to media criticism

Photo: West Midlands Police, CC

Even though the video game censorship wars have been over for several years, some gamers simply will not give up this past combative mentality.

with deep animosity seemed like the appropriate method back in the day, when hack politicians like Thompson were running wild and it appeared as if the only thing keeping video games on store shelves was the passionate resilience of the gaming community.

However, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has officially backed the industry and figures like Thompson have been put out to pasture, this kind of sabre-rattling in the video game community is an antiquated and rudimentary response to a non-existent problem.

Going forward, gamers need to move

away from this old idea that the media and government are out to get them. All this does is breed paranoia and mistrust that inevitably leads to hatred, threats, and online harassment. Instead, we need to figure out different ways of discussing serious issues like journalism ethics and sexism in the video game industry without this kind of divisive rhetoric.

But since unfiltered passion and online collusion has defined the gaming community for so long, that utopian ideal of rational debate might be a long time coming.

Can’t we just all get along?

Photo: Marta Kierkus

OPINIONS | 17

Philosophical What is true Sh*t love?

Mackenzie Powell Staff Contributor

From love at first sight to losing a shoe at midnight, true love is an amazing thing.

A prince coming to sweep you off your feet is every little girl’s dream. And don’t little boys long to be that prince?

Children grow up believing that true love in real life

should resemble these kinds of fairy-tale images. After watching so many movies about happily-ever-afters, didn’t we all?

But is sweeping a princess off her feet after meeting her for the first time really true love?

Happy endings occur almost every day, but never

like in the movies. Love at first sight doesn’t exist—that’s called lust. There’s no such thing as a fire-breathing dragon, and women are hopefully never put in towers and forced to live in solitude until they are rescued. Unlike Cinderella, if you lose a shoe at midnight, you have most likely had too much to drink and it will not be returned to you followed by a marriage proposal. That’s not how reality works.

So then, what does true love look like in the real world?

True love is based on the simple things in life, like going out of your way to make that special someone happy.

Something as simple as making them a cup of coffee in the morning so they can sleep in for a few extra minutes can make a world of difference. Finding compromise is also important, like when you let your partner pick out a movie that you have no interest in watching. Small details like this are the foundation for a healthy and lasting relationship.

Falling in love doesn't happen in an hour, in a night, at first sight, or even after one conversation. It is built on actions, both small and large, over a prolonged period of time.

Falling in love doesn’t happen in an hour, in a night, at first sight, or even after one conversation. It is built on actions, both small and large, over a prolonged period of time. The lengths you are willing to go for that person— that is true love.

Unlike a movie, relationships are not always easy.

Rough spots will inevitably arise. True love is the will to always keep fighting, even if that means swallowing your pride and accepting that you were wrong in certain situations.

Despite what you are told in fairy tales, true love is something that needs work. It may take patience, kindness, compassion and trust, but it’s worth the effort in the end.

Enough Orwell is enough

Get a better adjective to describe our oppressive society Patrick Malone The Carillon

Regina (CUP) – It would not be controversial to say that calling anything “Orwellian” today, referring to George Orwell, the author of Nineteen EightyFour, is an easy way for describing totalitarian control of media, mass surveillance, ubiquitous propaganda, and manipulation of history. This is largely because the term is used so frequently.

It can be hard to read through a newspaper without running across this word somewhere. While my first reaction to this term’s omnipresence is to despair at the state of the world, as the term would not be used if it were not accurate, my second reaction is to despair at the state of writing if it is such a commonplace word. And I don’t know that Orwell would be particularly pleased about his pseudonym becoming such commonplace shorthand.

In “Politics and the English Language,” Orwell notes that a pervasive issue in the way his contemporaries use English is “staleness of imagery.”

For him, the vividness of an image or metaphor lies in its freshness, or the way it makes a new and surprising association. The problem is that, because these surprising associations are so effective, writers use them too often and they become clichés.

My larger point is not to make some hipster diatribe against Orwell becoming too mainstream an allu-

18 | OPINIONS

sion to be effective. It’s more that an image of something can become too popular, and then those who use it don’t actually know what they’re saying; they’ll be using a phrase just because it’s part of the cultural currency.

For example, Orwell points out that the phrase “toe the line” has become so thoughtlessly commonplace that people write “tow the line,” which means something completely different. This reminds me of the French theorist, Jean Baudrillard, who says an image first reflects, then masks and perverts, and finally bears no resemblance to reality at all. The once fresh image becomes its own reference point.

So, let’s look at a prominent and recent example. Recently Pope Francis was almost universally reported as radically breaking from his predecessors by backing evolutionary theory and the Big Bang. But there was no break: Various Popes have said that evolution does not conflict with Catholic teaching, and a Catholic priest, Georges Lemaitre, proposed the Big Bang Theory. Therefore, why is this even news? Because of the narrative that has been established, which says Francis is revolutionising every part of the Church.

The narrative came before the story.

This narrative became so popular that nobody examined it to see if it applied to this case. As Baudrillard

would say, the map preceded the territory. And the map had no resemblance to the territory at all.

I don’t mean to complain about media portrayals of any specific person. I mean more to point out how writers can create their own universe, in which using a set vocabulary or narrative takes priority over reflecting what actually happens in the world. The world should not be fit into those pre-existing categories.

I don’t know that Orwell would be particularly pleased about his pseudonym becoming such commonplace shorthand.

Big Hipster is judging you.

Photo: Spencer Reid

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Movember debates get hairy Local pogonophobes look to enforce beard concealment policy Pogonophobia is the scientific term for an extreme fear or hatred of beards.

The UPA believes the Movember crowd is infringing upon the civil rights of local pogonophobes.

“November is always the worst time of year for me and other pogos,” said UPA coFacial hair has become a divisive topic on the U of O campus .

Photo: Rémi Yuan founder Sebastian Tipton. “Beards and long moustaches are everywhere now. I can’t even walk from tor i d E class to class without experiencing violent o Tom at panic attacks.”

Movember is in full swing at the UniverThis kind of facial hair anxiety came to sity of Ottawa, with hundreds of students a head when self-diagnosed pogonophobe helping to raise money and awareness for Casey Brown accidently brushed up against men’s health issues. a fellow student’s bushy ducktail beard in But this year’s festivities have brought the cafeteria. Brown is currently in a beard about controversy, as on-campus beard afianxiety induced coma, and doctors aren’t cionados are butting heads with the U of O sure when he will fully recover. chapter of the United Pogonophobes AlliIn order to prevent further incidents, the ance (UPA).

UPA is demanding that U of O students with

Kyle Darbyson

“Asking me to tone down my man bristles is utterly ridiculous. I mean, it’s who I am. You might as well tell Liberace not to be gay or ask Bill Maher not to be smug.”

—Carter Harris, ’stache supporter

easily identifiable “heavy whiskers” should be forced to wear concealing neck warmers or balaclavas in public for the remainder of the month.

This call to action has been met with overwhelming resistance from the pro’stache community on campus.

“Asking me to tone down my man bristles is utterly ridiculous,” said Carter Harris, a sociology major who sports the classic Van Dyke goatee. “I mean, it’s who I am. You might as well tell Liberace not to be gay or ask Bill Maher not to be smug.”

Since the on-campus pro-’stachers are showing no signs of budging on the issue, the UPA is organizing a protest that will aim to get the uni-

versity administration to officially adopt their proposed beard concealment policy.

To increase their numbers for this planned protest, the UPA and its supporters have partnered with the Ottawa anti-beard organization known as No-shave-vember. This group consists of local disgruntled girlfriends and same-sex partners, who are using this protest as a platform to speak out on their own unique struggles during Movember.

“Every November, my boyfriend’s beautiful face disappears behind a mask of disgusting facial hair,” said No-shave-vember supporter Beverly Troy. “Not only does kissing and cunnilingus get taken off the table during this time, but I can’t even eat a meal with him anymore. Half of the food just gets stuck to his face.”

In response, U of O pro-’stachers are teaming up with facial hair sympathetic groups like Ottawa-based lumberjacks and Tom Selleck look-a-likes in order to launch an effective counter-protest.

“We need to show up in force to show the U of O admin that beard concealment is a slippery slope,” said Harris, who is helping to organize this counter-protest. “Next thing you know, they’ll be outlawing bushy eyebrows and rogue nose hairs. Where will it end?”

Hello Kitty confusion finds its way to Ottawa Local fans polarized over news that fashion icon isn’t a cat ee Christina Y

Staff Contributo r

Confusion surrounding Hello Kitty found its way to the Ottawa Convention Centre for the first local Hello Kitty Con. While many fans were busy snapping up Hello Kitty themed merchandise, countless other Ottawans continued to express uncertainty surrounding the true nature of the Japanese icon’s species.

Recently, Sanrio, the company that manufactures Hello Kitty products, asserted that Hello Kitty is in fact a little girl, not a cat.

This announcement has led to a wider discussion about the significance of Hello Kitty in our pop culture zeitgeist.

Ottawa Mayor and Hello Kitty connoisseur Jim Watson aptly summed up widespread public sentiments: “It just doesn’t make

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sense. Is there a girl hiding in that cat suit?”

On Twitter, fans are expressing their distress at the news, and the hashtag #WhatTheHellKitty has been trending for the last week.

Local feminist bloggers are also highlighting their concerns about this news, and are in the process of actively condemning all Hello Kitty products due to their promotion of an unrealistic body image.

“Girls should be girls. Hello Kitty was a product that helped girls show off their personality,” said Ottawa activist Michelle Mortimer. “Now, they are being pressured to grow whiskers and other cat-like features. This definitely sends the wrong kind of message.”

Schools in the National Capital Region are taking these societal concerns seriously and have counsellors available to address

anthropomorphic feline body issues with students.

Before the controversy, the Ottawa Humane Society was looking to take advantage of the regional Hello Kitty fever by reminding the public that there are many cats in need of loving homes. However, now that Hello Kitty’s species has been called into question, they have backtracked on their promotional campaign and issued a public apology to Sanrio.

Nevertheless, the Humane Society’s promotional campaign exceeded expectations and the adoptions of white Japanese bobtail cats and red bow accessories have skyrocketed.

Additionally, local adoption agencies for human children reported that in the wake of news about Hello Kitty’s species, demand for the adoption of little girls has skyrocketed as well.

However, like local animal shel-

“It just doesn’t make sense. Is there a girl hiding in that cat suit?”—Mayor Jim Watson

ters, the adoption agencies are urging the public to consider all available options.

A representative from the Adoption Council of Canada was quoted as saying, “Boys are just as good as girls. It is not good for us as a society to discriminate based on gender.”

Although Hello Kitty fever seems to have caused an intense amount of speculation, the makers of the product are still satisfied that their message is being heard.

“Hello Kitty is a 40-year-old cultural icon that has inspired and brought happiness to generations of people all over the world,” said a spokesperson from Sanrio.

“And while the true nature of Hello Kitty’s identity is confusing for some, the important thing to remember is that cuteness is something that can easily transcend A very confused Hello Kitty fan. species barriers.”

Photo: Marta Kierkus

THE TOMATO | 19

DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di,

My boyfriend is really religious but I’m not. We’ve abstained from having sex for four months now. The religion aspect was something we both were aware of before we started dating, but it has been becoming more of a problem as our relationship has progressed. He has said that he’s ready to have sex although it will be his first time. I just can’t bring myself to seal the deal knowing that I’ll be his first but probably not his last. I am graduating this year, and I don’t want to take his virginity if we aren’t going to be together forever because I understand how important his purity is to him. Am I being unreasonable to say no to sex?

—Sending Up a Prayer

Dear SUP,

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable for refusing sex knowing how it may affect your relationship and your man in the long run, but I’m sure you’ve got him wondering what’s the holdup. Is there anything other than his religion that’s holding you back? If you’re a virgin, maybe that’s what’s keeping you from taking things to the next level, and in that case, you two should definitely talk this over. However, if you’ve rolled around in the sack before—and I hope that your boyfriend would be aware of this—you want to practise what you preach and let him know your reservations concerning his religion and your relationship.

I think you’re being really considerate to think about how sex will impact his religion and your relationship long-term, but it’s no reason to deny your sexual desires too. Before the sexual tension becomes hotter than hell, I think you two need to have a sexual sermon of your own about where you see your relationship going in the future. If you see this as a relationship ending before death do you part, then be honest with your partner and tell him that. It will give him the choice of deciding if he’s still willing to seal the deal right now or would rather take a step back onto holy ground.

Although I might be calling out the Lord’s name tonight in a more impassioned manner, I promise to send a prayer to both of you.

Love, Di

20 | DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di,

A few times while having sex or even just during foreplay, I’ve noticed this crazy urge that I have to pee. While I’m definitely aroused in the moment, I’m also terrified that I’ll lose control over my bladder in bed. It’s making me kind of anxious and I’ve felt really unsexy in bed. Do you have any suggestions?

—Peeved

Dear Peeved,

You may have a case of the G, not the P! If your partner is giving your private parts their proper pleasure, the sensation you’re feeling may actually be from G-spot stimulation. The wonderful jackpot of sex, your G-spot, is most commonly stimulated when you’re doing it doggy-style, when you’re on top, or otherwise when your pelvis is lifted up. A woman’s G-spot is actually located close to the bladder, so it’s common for women to confuse the sensation of an impending orgasm with the urge to pee.

It also means that during penetrative sex your partner’s penis can indirectly put pressure on your bladder.

If you’ve been having a bit of a leaky faucet down there, you may be experiencing female ejaculation. Stress incontinence can also cause the release of small amounts of urine when you orgasm, but this is also pretty normal. In the future, always make time to hit the loo before your bang in bed (remember to pee after sex too to prevent UTIs).

Meanwhile, in your spare time, I’d encourage you to do some solo investigation of your lady parts to see if the feeling persists. If you do have problems with controlling your bladder and it seems to be getting worse, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor. But more likely, and much more pleasurably, I think you’ll be able to better acquaint yourself with your reliably-satisfying G-spot.

Love, Di

FEATURES EDITOR Jesse Colautti

features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

DISTRACTIONS The German word for “contraceptive” is

Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel...

By the time you’ve finished saying it, it’s too late.

QUOTED “Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man.”

– Mignon McLaughlin

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Nov. 21 to DEC. 12 2014

THRYLLABUS

Friday, Nov. 21 The Theory of Everything begins showing at Bytowne Cinema Chris Hadfield Live at the NAC — 8 p.m.

Fiddler on the Roof begins its run at Centrepoint Theatre

Saturday, Nov. 22 Women’s Volleyball vs. Nipissing, Montpetit Gym — 2 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. McGill, uOttawa Minto Sports Complex — 7 p.m.

Buck 65, National Arts Centre — 7:30 p.m.

Ottawa Senators vs. St. Louis Blues, Canadian Tire Centre — 3 pm

Sunday, Nov. 23 Women’s Volleyball vs. York, Montpetit Gym — 2 p.m.

Checkers Club, Hintonburg Public House — 3 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 24

MUSIC

Canada’s Century of Submarines, Faculty of Social Sciences Building — 12 p.m. (Free)

Tuesday, Nov. 25

arts Sports

Two Days in June: John F. Kennedy and the 48 Hours That Made History, Faculty of Social Sciences Building — 4:30 p.m.

(Free Book Launch)

Thursday, Nov. 27 July Talk, Algonquin College — 9 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 28

FUN Thinking

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W & M Basketball vs. Ryerson, Montpetit Gym — 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Rosewater begins showing at Bytowne Cinema

Toyko Police Club w/ Said the Whale, Ritual Nightclub — 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29 W & M Basketball vs. Toronto, Montpetit Gym — 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball vs. Ryerson, Montpetit Gym— 2 p.m.

Jenn Grant, National Arts Centre — 7:30 p.m.

Cuff the Duke w/ Jonathan Becker & the North Fields, Mavericks — 9 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30 Flip Off Hunger: Pinball Tournament, House of TARG — 11 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball vs. Toronto, Montpetit Gym — 2 p.m.

Women’s Hockey vs. Montreal Minto Sports Complex — 2 p.m.

MOD Night, Babylon — 10 p.m. (no cover)

Monday, Dec. 1 Museum of History’s Christmas Market begins 50 local food producers and artisan stalls with a festive theme.

Advent Calender of Drinks begins at Hintonburg Public House Each day from Dec.1-24 a different drink offered, with process going to the Parkdale Food Centre.

Friday, Dec. 5 Force Majeure begins playing at Bytowne Cinema

Saturday, Dec. 6 Ottawa Tea Festival begins at Library & Archives Canada Two-day event celebrating tea and its customs.

Happy sipping!

A Christmas Carol, Ottawa Little Theatre — 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 7 Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m.

Nightcrawler, Bytowne Cinema — 9 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 8 City and Colour, National Arts Centre — 8 p.m.

Yoga Mondays, 90U Residence Lounge — 6 p.m.

Free Yoga open to all students.

Tuesday, Dec. 9 Beerology Sensory Evaluation Workshop, Beyond the Pale Brewery — 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 10 #Chicagogirl: The Social Network Takes on a Dictator, Bytowne Cinema — 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Skydiggers, Neat Coffee Shop — 8 p.m.

The Sound of Music begins its run at the National Arts Centre

Thursday, Dec. 11

Thursday, Dec. 4 The United Nations and Canada: Can We Do Better?, Faculty of Social Sciences Building — 2:30 p.m. (free) Networking Holiday Soiree, Lieutenant’s Pump — 6 p.m. ($5)

Ottawa Senators vs. Los Angeles Kings, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m

Friday, Dec. 12 The Nutcracker begins its weekend run at the Algonquin Commons Theatre

DISTRACTIONS | 21

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Religion can be a force for progress, but…

Dear Ms. Nemis (Editor), I was one of the roughly 350 attendees at uOttawa’s first General Assembly (GA); unfortunately, there weren’t enough at any time to reach quorum. The GA was cut off during question period at 9 p.m., due to an arbitrary ruling from the chair.

I had a few questions that I waited since before 8 p.m. to ask, but was prevented from doing so by the meeting’s ending, along with about seven other students in line. Since I could not ask them at the public forum the SFUO (Student Federation of University of Ottawa) voted on and organized, here they are;

Dear Editor, Justin Dallaire’s opinion piece in the previous copy of the Fulcrum, “Religion and human rights: A united front for progress,” properly reminds readers of the historical role that religious groups and heroes have played in human progress. It is indeed the case that “we cannot fall into the trap of perceiving all religious organizations as being inherently conservative, bigoted, and intolerant to change.” One could go further than he did with examples in William Wilberforce’s anti-slavery movement or the 1960s liberation theology movements in Latin America. However, Dallaire misses the mark where he ultimately concludes that religion should be understood “as part of the solution, not just part of the problem.”

Religion can be a powerful force in uniting and mobilizing people for a common purpose and the making of history, similarly to secular political ideologies. But the problem is that systemically accomplishing the most for human well-being in the long-term requires understanding reality as much as possible, otherwise bad predictions prevent us from controlling reality for good outcomes.

While secular reasoning is self-correcting for learning from errors, religions and ideologies cannot self-correct for their bad consequences. Sincere believers cannot help being blind to the consequences when their religion crosses the line from “moderation” into “extremism.”

To take Dallaire’s example of the civil rights movement, the idea of Christian in-group solidarity and equality in faith certainly would have helped to transcend racial divisions. But the necessary corollary to in-group solidarity is out-group exclusion, justifying the kind of homophobia that Dallaire himself criticizes. By contrast, even if the progress towards equality from secular reason would have been slower, it would not have shared equivalent drawbacks.

Values for societal well-being are also an intrinsic human impulse rather than specifically secular or religious. It is natural that some, though not all, of religious peoples’ heroism have been merely rationalized by, rather than caused by their religion. But religious confusion about reality allows otherwiserational people to hold irrational or insane religious views on the side.

If Jesus was a mere mortal instead of a son of God, then his predictions of his Second Coming inevitably become a dangerous distraction from real-world problems. If Muhammad was a mere mortal who never received a revelation from an archangel, then he could not have produced a perfect moral code that would avoid systematic harm when applied 13 centuries after his backwards and sectarian time. Their bad predictions can still motivate progressive behaviour but they cannot avoid all of the various unintended consequences.

Religion can be a powerful rallying force for the greater good, but it cannot best tell us what the greater good is. Secular reason does that best.

1) Where were decisions about the GA’s format made, and why were they not publicized with the agenda? The chair’s stated 30 minutes for questions, and 9 pm cut-off time, were made arbitrarily during the assembly and not mentioned anywhere on the SFUO’s website, the Facebook event, posters, or even at the door.

2) Why did the executive receive an increase to their salary this year?

3) Why is there a student employee position that pays more than an executive member, despite being unelected?

4) During 101 Week, 101 Week Guides would have had their bracelets cut if they broke the equity clause, barring them from volunteering at any future Week. Why did the vice president social (Ikram Hamoud) impose such stringent restrictions upon her hundreds of unpaid volunteers, and neglect to emphasize them upon the performers she paid thousands of dollars to?

5) Why does the SFUO hire a chair for its BOA (Board of Adminsitration) and GA from Toronto, or a comptroller who primarily resides in Montreal? Do you pay their travel expenses?

6) Why, as of Nov. 18, has the SFUO not published the minutes of a single BOA meeting since June 2013? Why are executive meeting minutes not published at all?

7) Will you consider that, of all SFUO members, this is how the 0.9 per cent who cared enough to skip class, work, and essays to show up reacted?

I think the president was correct when she said the “GA is what accountability looks like” at this school. Anne-Marie Roy, Ikram Hamoud, Dave Eaton, Nicole Desnoyers, Maya McDonald, Chris Hynes, and executive coordinator Amy Hammett, will you answer my questions?

Yours sincerely, Jack Bellemare Fourth-year history and Arabic student

Stefan Klietsch Fourth-year political science

22 |

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EDITORIAL

Volume 75, Issue 13, NOVEMBER 20, 2014 Going off since 1942.

Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this or we’ll bring out the confetti cannon.

staff Sabrina “Bees” Nemis Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcum.ca Adam “Thunderflash” Ashby Gibbard Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Hummer” Feibel Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Blossom” Kierkus Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Ember” Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Jessica “Peony” Eritou Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Jesse “Ball Rocket” Colautti Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sarah “Ice Fountain” Nolette Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Pin Wheel” Darbyson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Cherry Bomb” Van Dyk Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Rocket” Murdock Staff Reporter Rémi “Jumping Jack” Yuan Staff Photographer Lindsay “Dragon’s Eggs” MacMillan Associate News Editor Moussa “Palm” Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor Annalise “Fountain” Mathers Associate Features Editor

T

he general assembly (GA) was a failure. No one is without blame.

The first part of the failure belongs to the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO). They were unable to connect with their constituents. It could be a failure to connect with a wide enough segment of the student population and it could be a failure to provide a time and venue that worked for enough people.

The SFUO did engage some student groups: There were five motions and they represented diverse student interests: fossil fuel divestment, a student strike, more prayer space on campus, a protest against military involvement in Iraq, and the creation of a racialized student centre. Each one required a petition of 100 signatures to become a motion.

If we ignore the very real possibility of overlap, there were 500 potential attendees.

Quorum for the GA was 337 and it was never attained.

We can debate whether or not 337 people is a representative sample of a campus of more than 42,000, but what’s most important after this GA is how the SFUO is going to engage even that many going forward.

Savannah “Bombette” Awde Staff Proofreader Chantale “Maroon” Streeting Webmaster Deidre “Rainbow” Butters Ad Manager ads@thefulcrum.ca Andrew “Salute” Hawley General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca

Contributors

L. A. “Sparkler” Bonte Brennan “Pigeon” Bova Raghad “Star” Sheikh-Khalil Kathryn “Salvo” Tubridy Pakenham Allegra “Flower Pot” Morgado Grace “Whistle” Oktaviani Jasmine “Pistil” van Schouwen Lauren “Waterfall” Harris Tima “Spiral” Hacini Omar “Tadpole” Abdikader Mackenzie “Spinner” Powell Kelly “Kamuro” Cameron Matt “Screech Rocket” Radich Christina “Heart” Yee

Cover art A) Rémi Yuan

a

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Learning from our failures

The referendum approving GAs as the highing governing body of the SFUO took place last February. There was time to ensure people knew what the GAs are, what they mean, and how to participate in them. Having less than one per cent of the student body attend raises concerns about the effectiveness of communication.

In a further failure of communication at the event, when it was unclear whether quorum could be met, attendees were unsure what was expected of them or the SFUO executives. These students

came out to make their voices heard, and they needed expectations made more clear.

How long were they going to wait before deciding quorum was impossible? How long were the executive reports going to be? If the decisions weren’t binding, why were they being voted on? The chair made decisions without explaining the basis for those choices to students in attendance. It’s possible that many of those students will not attend the next GA because they feel their time was wasted.

The second failure belongs to the students of the University of Ottawa. It’s easy to blame the SFUO for not being all things to all people. But while we’d like to see student government improve communication, it has to be said that they provided our campus with a great opportunity and it was mostly squandered.

All students pay fees that go to the SFUO and are used by them in various ways.

Most students will never attend Board of Administration meetings and will likely never speak with our student federation representatives. The GA was a rare forum in which any student could attend, ask questions, and potentially vote on the sorts of actions the SFUO is going to take.

Most students didn’t attend.

Whether they found the five motions relevant to their lives or not, they decided that holding the SFUO accountable wasn’t important to them.

They decided that they would trust the federation to use their student fees however they wanted. The SFUO tried to give people a voice and on the whole, students decided they didn’t want one.

For students who did show up, we were largely represented by people speaking aggressively and cutting the SFUO executives off before

they could finish answering questions. There was a lack of clarity for students on how the GA would run without quorum, but respectful and meaningful dialogue could still have been possible.

might look like in practice.

As we move toward another potential GA, we need to have higher expectations. The SFUO needs to ensure that the motions brought forth are engaging a larger number of students. Maybe it entails investigating what issues matter to specific faculties—political science students may have different areas of interest than education or law students, for example—and making sure they know they have an opportunity to facilitate change through a motion. Perhaps there need to be more detailed explanations of the proposed motions— many students were unsure what a student strike

For those who do speak up, use the critical thinking skills your university degree is providing you with. When you have a chance to ask questions, don’t waste it being needlessly inflammatory and rude. You don’t have to agree, but there’s no reason to be disrespectful.

You’re wasting the time of student representatives and you’re wasting the time of the students who have thoughtful questions and feedback.

For students, we need to take advantage of opportunities to hold our student government accountable. You may not consider yourself politically motivated, but as The executives sat and long as you’re paying an entook questions in a relatively tity for services, it’s your recalm and composed manner, sponsibility to investigate how while many speakers under- that money is being used. The mined valid points by being SFUO has provided a forum to unnecessarily inflammatory. include students in their deciIt’s difficult to find consensus sion making. Our student govto move forward from when ernment is practically begging people are not being respect- us to tell them what we want ful or constructive. and we aren’t doing so.

Going forward, it’s unclear whether a second GA can be successful. What is clear is that everyone on this campus needs to learn from our past failures.

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