IN THIS ISSUE Considering a code of conduct P.4 Task force speaks with university community
An explosive situation P.8 UNB makes changes following explosions
Life after graduation P.9
Deans says arts students do well post-degree
Giving Islam a voice P.11 Perspectives on nonradicalized Islam
HOLIDAY ISSUE Heat things up P. 16 Find love and keep warm this winter
Winter stacations P.17 Enjoy Ottawa in the cold
Moving on with your life P.18 Make the most of things post-finals
Bring on the cavalry P.21 The best of the best
Snappy security issues P.24 New app has sketchy reputation
To the letter P.27
Campus sollution to abundant acronyms
NEWS
NEWS EDITOR
Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
Respect and equality task force considers code of conduct
Recommendations delayed until late January Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor
A
s numerous post-secondary institutions across Canada commit to creating comprehensive sexual assault policies, updates to the University of Ottawa’s policy have been pushed to the end of January.
The university created a task force on respect and equality in March in response to two events: two members of the men’s hockey team allegedly sexually assaulted a Lakehead University student, and a sexually graphic conversation about student federation president Anne-Marie Roy was posted online. Initially, the university’s taskforce expected to release its results by the end of November. Caroline Andrew, director of the U of O’s Centre on Governance and the head of the taskforce, said the deadline has been extended because it was difficult to conduct consultations during the summer, and they now want to reach a larger volume of people. “We want to hear from absolutely as many people as we can,” she said. In talks with both organizations and individuals from the Ottawa community, a recurring issue is the lack of clarity and accessibility of services on campus, she said. Another question that people are asking is how to encourage people to speak out about sexual violence, without “imposing that sort of burden on the person.” The taskforce aims to determine what an effective sexual assault policy looks like, by analyzing different policies in place at other post-secondary institutions. “We’ve been asking mainly questions about what they think should be our priorities,” said Andrew. The university’s sexual assault policy was
last updated in 1998. The U of O is one of only a few Canadian universities to have an explicit set of guidelines around sexual behaviour on campus, as well as a committee on sexual harassment. According to a recent Toronto Star investigation, only nine of the 78 universities in Canada have some sort of policy that addresses sexual violence. As a result of the investigation, Queen’s University, the University of Saskatchewan, and Colleges Ontario have agreed to create a sexual assault policy. The 24 colleges include Algonquin College and La Cité collégiale in Ottawa. Andrew also confirmed the taskforce has investigated the possibility of a code of conduct, and they are looking at it “with a great deal of attention.” “There’s a whole bunch of ways that it’s been done,” she said, “and sometimes people have a very narrow view of what that entails and largely seeing it as immediately punitive.” The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) has been a vocal opponent to a potential code of conduct. The SFUO created a taskforce in the spring to fight rape culture on campus, and according to president Roy, it has had a busy semester. The student federation has mandated all members of federated bodies to complete rape culture awareness training, and discussed consent issues at several events during 101 Week. Roy also said the SFUO is closely following the university taskforce’s progress, and they are preparing to submit their own recommendations. “The SFUO is looking at ways to better respond and be better prepared to receive cases of sexual assaults,” Roy said in an email. “In light of recent events with federated bodies surrounding sexual violence, it has become clear that a protocol to (respond) to such allegations needs to be outlined.” Recently, an executive member of the International, Political and Policy Studies Student As-
Former hockey players’ trial extended into the new year 4 | NEWS
Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor
Progress has been slow in the case of two former members of the University of Ottawa men’s hockey team, which had its third court proceeding on Dec. 2. Guillaume Donovan and David Foucher, both of Gatineau, are each facing one count of sexual assault. Similar to the Nov. 4 proceedings, neither player nor their lawyers were present at the latest
sociation resigned due to sexual harassment allegations. “But also we know that this is an issue throughout the organization and that this isn’t an isolated case,” she said. Andrew said the task of changing people’s behaviours and ideas about sexual violence is no easy feat, but the response they’ve seen so far is an “affirmation from people speaking that this is indeed a serious problem that should be addressed.” To contribute to the taskforce on respect and equality, email equality@uottawa.ca.
hearing. The players were represented by duty counsel who said the defence is waiting for additional evidence to be made available by the Crown. At the Sept. 30 proceedings, a publication ban was imposed on all evidence disclosed in preliminary hearings. Donovan’s lawyer said he was waiting for Crown prosecutors to make evidence available to the defence, and requested court proceedings be postponed.
Caroline Andrew also confirmed the taskforce has investigated the possibility of a code of conduct, and they are looking at it “with a great deal of attention.”
“I am delighted that someone of Professor Andrew’s stature and experience has agreed to lead this very important initiative,” said U of O president Allan Rock in March. Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Andrew (pictured)
The next court date is scheduled for Jan. 13. Donovan is represented by Ottawa lawyer Christian Deslauriers. Foucher is represented by Montreal lawyer Jean-Pierre Rancourt. The hockey team was in town for two games against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Reports came out in March that up to three members of the team sexually assaulted a 21-year-old Lakehead
student at a Thunder Bay hotel. The team was suspended immediately which the university extended into the current season. In August, Thunder Bay police charged Donovan and Foucher after a six-month investigation. Several of the other members of the hockey team who are being represented by Ottawa lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, are considering a defamation lawsuit over the program’s suspension.
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Talks start on summer U-Pass U of O students will ‘most likely’ see pass in 2016, says exec Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor
The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) and the Graduate Students Association (GSAÉD) have reopened negotiations with OC Transpo seeking to renew their contract for September 2015 and settle on a deal for a summer U-Pass. Chris Hynes, vice-president of university affairs of the SFUO, has in both his elected terms promised to secure a summer pass. He said it “most likely” will not be available
until the summer of 2016, but added that he’s confident that they will come to an agreement. The summer U-Pass was put on hold in April because an audit of the program’s operating procedures was conducted during the spring and summer. The audit went smoothly, said Hynes, but they didn’t receive the final report until August. OC Transpo did not request to renew the contract until the fall, he added. The two parties have met and have identified which areas they want to engage in.
“OC Transpo is eager to discuss the possibility of a summer U-Pass with the university and student representatives,” said Pat Scrimgeour, assistant general manager of customer systems and planning for the City of Ottawa, in an email to the Fulcrum. “Experience with the first three years of the U-Pass program indicates that a summer U-Pass could work well,” she said. Current discussions will hinge upon building on previous successes of the program, remaining revenue neutral, and improving administrative
and financial processes, said Scrimgeour. OC Transpo also hopes to adopt “smart card” technology in the future. Scrimgeour did not comment on any specific details of the negotiations. The SFUO held three town hall meetings about the U-Pass on Nov. 24–28 to collect student feedback by handing out surveys. The first two failed to get many students to come, but Hynes said the third was much more successful. Hynes expects talks to continue well into the winter semester.
Different U-pass Programs across canada From Sept to Apr
From Sept to Apr
From Sept to Apr
$258 SUMMER PASS SUMMER PASS SUMMER PASS NONE NONE $129 $376
$376
From Sept to Apr
$294 SUMMER PASS $152
Carleton Uni v er si t y Simon Fraser of Ottawa Uni v er si t y of Alberta University Uni v er si t y
From Sept to Apr
$294 SUMMER PASS $147
University of
British Columbia
From Sept to Apr
From Sept to Apr
$260 $240 SUMMER PASS SUMMER PASS NONE $120
Uni v er si t y
of Calgary
Universit y of Manitoba
From Sept to Apr
$260
SUMMER PASS
NONE
Universit y
of Winnipeg
Michaëlle Jean named head of La Francophonie Lindsay MacMillan Associate News Editor
University of Ottawa chancellor Michaëlle Jean has been selected as the next secretarygeneral of the International Organization of La Francophonie on Nov. 30. She will be the first Canadian and first woman to hold the title. The 57 members, including Canada and the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, unanimously selected Jean over four other candidates at the summit in Dakar, Senegal. Jean released a written statement after the summit saying she is “excited” to work with the organization. She said members have to unite their
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efforts, focus on the roles of youth and women, and promote economic development in the French-speaking world. Jean, 57, was born in Portau-Prince, Haiti, and immigrated to Quebec City at the age of 11 to escape the politically volatile country. She attended the Université de Montréal, where she was involved with helping victims of domestic violence. Jean speaks five languages: French, English, Italian, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Jean worked at Radio-Canada from 1987 to 2005, then as Governor General of Canada from 2005 to 2010. She was named chancellor of the U of O in 2012, with her term ending
in 2016. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and current Gov. Gen. David Johnston both issued statements congratulating Jean, saying she embodies the values of La Francophonie and Canada. Harper added that Canada is the second-largest financial contributor to the organization. U of O president Allan Rock also issued a statement praising Jean, saying that as chancellor she is “a passionate champion of diversity and linguistic duality, and a distinctive voice for the francophone community.” She will hold the role of secretary-general for four years, beginning on Jan. 1, 2015.
Michaëlle Jean. Photo: courtesy of University of Saskatchewan CC flickr.com
NEWS | 5
News Briefs Afghan artist refused entry into Canada A renowned Afghan artist is questioning why the Canadian government has denied her entry into Ottawa. Hanifa Alizada, a photographer and teacher at Kabul University, is famous for her photographs illustrating the silencing of women. She had been invited to speak and exhibit her work at a symposium in January. Alizada and her fiancé Gholam Reza Sepehri applied for visas through the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan. Their applications were refused. Alizada received a letter from the High Commission stating that many factors were reviewed before rejecting her, including “travel and identity documents, reasons for travel to Canada, contacts in Canada, ties to the country of residence, and whether the applicant would be likely to leave Canada at the end of his/her authorized stay.”
The letter had an illegible signature, and the reviewing officer was not named. Alizada told the Ottawa Citizen in an email that the commission never contacted her. She said she has travelled to the United States, Europe, and south Asian countries, “but I never overstayed and never got rejected by an embassy.” Alizada added that she had no intention of leaving her job and family in Afghanistan. Tony Martins, director of development for the School of Photographic Arts Ottawa, and the organizer of the symposium, told the Citizen he was extremely disappointed by the news, adding Alizada’s desire to exhibit in Canada “was a key factor in the development in the entire symposium.” The High Commission refused to answer queries about Alizada, citing privacy laws. —Lindsay MacMillan
Ottawa family seeks lost heirloom An Ottawa family is looking to exchange the replica of a family heirloom with the original that was lost in 2013 near the Laurier bus station, “no questions asked, no hard feelings.” The Mackenzie family recently put up a Craigslist post searching for the individual in possession of a hand-carved wooden tray. The tray was made by David Mackenzie, a woodworker who lives in British Columbia. David made the tray for his mother Babs, who held on to it until her death in 2013. The tray was on its way to a cousin who cared for Babs in her final years when it was
lost by another relative who forgot it at the bus stop. She returned to the stop 15 minutes after noticing she left it behind, but the parcel containing the tray was gone. David Mackenzie is now facing a lifethreatening illness, according to the listing. “Getting the tray back would be a tremendous boost to his spirits,” it reads. “It might be out there,” wrote the Mackenzie family. “We know that this is a shot in the dark, but we would be so happy to trade tray for tray and offer a reward as well.” —Mackenzie Powell
Principal scratches sixth grade students’ gay rights project The Ottawa Catholic School Board is trying to resolve an incident that occurred at an elementary school after the principal did not allow two students to present a project on LGBTQ+ rights. Quinn Maloney and Polly Mann-Hamilton, sixth grade students at St. George Elementary School, wanted to do a project about gay rights for the school’s social justice fair after hearing how the word “gay” was used negatively by their classmates. Despite receiving support from their parents and teacher, school principal Ann Beauchamp nixed the project. “They felt an injustice had been done,” Quinn’s mother Ann Maloney said to CBC. “I actually never dreamt this would happen in 2014,” added Polly’s mother Katherine Mann-Hamilton.
6 | NEWS
Both girls wore rainbow-coloured outfits to school the day after the decision was made, and other students drew rainbows on their hands in solidarity. A statement by the school board said Beauchamp feared the students’ assignment wouldn’t be appropriate for younger students. The mothers said they didn’t understand the decision since other students gave presentations on “messy, uncomfortable topics” like child soldiers and slavery. Maloney added that their daughters had accomplished something in getting their peers to discuss gay rights outside of class. The board later announced it planned to meet with the students’ parents on Dec. 1. —Lindsay MacMillan
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Criminologist to look at police response to female-targeted violence
U of O research aims to help police keep women safer Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor
Ottawa police have enlisted the help of a University of Ottawa criminologist to conduct a study analyzing the interactions officers have had with women who report violent crimes. The first of its kind in Ottawa, the questionnaire may be conducted online, over the phone, or face-to-face with a specially trained interviewer. The survey, open to all women over the age of 18, received 100 responses in its first three days. Holly Johnson is the U of O criminology professor in charge of the study, and is also involved in the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) committee to end violence against women. She said she’s wanted to do this kind of research for a long time. “We generally ask questions that are important to the justice system: how many convictions are we getting, how fast do we get these cases through,” said Johnson. She said they don’t ask how to make women safer. “We don’t ask that question, and that’s the question that needs to be asked.” OPS Chief Charles Bordeleau said ending violence against women has been one of his top three priorities since he took up the job in 2012. He put acting superintendent Joan McKenna in charge of the committee. “We thought, what better way to learn how we can improve our service than by asking the people that have actually accessed and come forward to make a complaint about a situation they’ve become involved in,” said McKenna. The police have a very limited role in the project, according to McKenna.
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“We’re trying to keep it as independent as possible,” she said. Services are offered in French and English, and Johnson said she also hopes to work with Immigrant Women’s Services to reach those who do not speak either language fluently. All information will be kept strictly confidential; data will be provided in aggregate forms with careful use of quotations, so as not to identify any of the participants, said Johnson. She said the survey’s female focus will provide more specific answers. “To open it up and say violence against men, or violence against people, may mean we may have very general and generic solutions … as opposed to very targeted solutions,” she said. “Coming at it at a more specific way is actually more useful for policy.” According to 2011 data from Statistics Canada that tracked how many violent crimes women reported to police, Ottawa had the lowest rate of all metropolitan areas in Canada. Women in Ottawa reported 2,423 violent crimes to police that year, representing 602 per 100,000 people. The situation was worse across the border in Gatineau, where 1,330 violent crimes were reported by women for every 100,000 people, with a total of 1,731 reports. By comparison, Toronto, the largest city in Canada, had only 911 calls for every 100,000 people, with 20,347 total reports. Thunder Bay, despite having only 992 reports from women, had the highest rate in Canada with 1,905 calls per 100,000 people. The survey will be open until the end of January and the results will be released in the spring. To participate in the study, visit uottawa.fluidsurveys.com/s/vawsurvey/en or call Holly Johnson at 613-400-0340.
“To open it up and say violence against men, or violence against people, may mean we may have very general and generic solutions … as opposed to very targeted solutions … Coming at it at a more specific way is actually more useful for policy.” —Holly Johnson, criminology professor at the U of O
In addition to her extensive research, Holly Johnson is also involved in the Ottawa police committee to end violence against women.
Photo: Nadia Drissi ElBouzaidi
NEWS | 7
National News
St. Thomas students push Changes made after explosions at UNB Two October incidents at Fredericton school not related, says fire inspector for gas pump warnings Lobbyists hope Fredericton will become first city to introduce by-law
The University of New Brunswick experienced two explosions in October.
Emma McPhee
The Brunswickan (UNB) Students want the above warnings displayed on Fredericton gas pumps. Photo: Sean McCullum/Aquinian
Sam Laidman
The Aquinian (St. Thomas University) FREDERICTON (CUP) — A group of four St. Thomas University students lobbied the City of Fredericton in November to force gas stations to warn customers about the environmental risks of fossil fuel consumption with a warning label on every nozzle. The effort is part of the national campaign “Our Horizon.” Local lobbyists Jeremy Trevors and Nicholas Decarie are confident Fredericton will be the first city to introduce a by-law even though other cities have stalled. “I’m not too worried about it falling through,” said Decarie, a first-year student who’s considering a major in international relations. “If it does fail it would have to be for a good reason… It’s a very reasonable thing to ask of the city.” One potential warning label contains an image of a caribou, its fawn, and the message: “Use of this fuel product contributes to climate change, which may put up to 30 per cent of species at a likely risk of extinction.” Another shows two oceanfloor scenes, one vibrant and full of wildlife and the other with green-grey water and nearly deserted. The warning labels look a lot like the ones on cigarette packaging. “I’m sure the gas stations are going to voice their concerns, but I don’t see them having
8 | NEWS
a huge amount of impact on this,” said Decarie. A number of Fredericton gas station managers could not speak on the issue, but at least two already have ads or messages on their pump nozzles. Citing the tobacco industry’s fight against warning labels, Decarie added, “In the most extreme case, they take it to court. I have no doubt the courts would rule in favour of the city.” In 2012, the High Court of Australia dismissed a tobacco industry challenge to the “plain packaging” law now in effect, which sees logos and graphics removed from all cigarette packages. That year, Canadian tobacco companies challenged warnings that now take up 75 per cent of cigarette packs, to no avail. Presenters said the response from Fredericton’s public safety and environment committee at its Nov. 6 meeting was overwhelmingly positive. The committee voted unanimously for staff to research the matter further. Trevors, a fourth-year journalism major, was also a part of the presentation. He too has high hopes the city will accept the initiative. “I think Fredericton is a great place to start this,” he said. “Initially, before Canada gave up on the Kyoto protocol, Fredericton wanted to be the first city to reach (its goals). That sort of fizzled out, but this is an initiative—no, it’s not Kyoto, but it’s an initiative that we can maybe lead the way with for a change in this province.”
FREDERICTON, N.B. (CUP) — Two explosions on the University of New Brunswick (UNB) campus this term have resulted in the disposal of dated chemicals and the implementation of new lab safety training. The Fredericton Fire Department, WorkSafeNB, and the UNB Health and Safety Office have investigated the explosions. “Steps and policies to prevent recurrence of these or similar events are being put in place with input from the Fredericton Fire Department and WorkSafeNB,” said Natasha Ashfield, communications officer at UNB. Fredericton fire inspector Cameron Dunn said UNB has taken all the right precautions following the incidents. “Working with UNB, they are very proactive … I know they feel bad when stuff like this happens, so they are very capable of reacting to this and making things better,” he said. UNB’s Environment, Health and Safety Office is still conducting investigations and did not comment. Both explosions occurred in October. The first one, on Oct. 6, was an accidental chemical explosion in a research lab of the Enterprise One building. Two people were injured, one of whom is still recovering. The second one took place in Toole Hall on Oct. 30. According to Dunn, it began as a small fire that resulted in a vapour explosion. One person was injured. “It was all done under a hood and any of the damage was all kept to the lower arms of the person and inside the hood
system, so they were doing the right things. They just had a failure,” Dunn said. Although it is uncommon for such incidents to occur, Dunn said they were not in any way related, despite the fact that they happened within weeks of each other. “While it is not common for these types of incidents to take place during any term, two
Photo: The Brunswickan
this close together appears to be an aberration and does not appear to be indicative of a trend,” said Ashfield. Dunn added that the nature of lab work means that incidents like explosions are to be expected. “There’s inherent danger in a lab. There’s always the chance that something could go wrong and the university
recognizes that so they put a lot of little safety things in all the way through everything you’re doing,” he said. The new safety training will add to the training the lab workers have already received. “They did everything right. They just needed a little more direction on what to do next time if it happens,” Dunn said.
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ARTS &CULTURE
A&C EDITOR Jessica Eritou arts@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
Art students break the barista stereotype Arts & Culture Editor
I
t’s been 125 years since the Faculty of Arts came to fruition. It’s a landmark birthday for the University of Ottawa’s oldest faculty, and the dean would like to freeze that moment in time.
How about a photo? To celebrate the faculty’s success over the last century and a quarter, dean Antoni Lewkowicz organized a group photo at Tabaret Hall of as many students and faculty members as possible for a historic memento. The photo is part of a larger ongoing initiative to immortalize the faculty’s 125th year. In January, Lewkowicz will coordinate the assembly of a time capsule, in which students can either write what they believe the faculty will offer to students in the future, or their favourite memories from here in 2014. Lewkowicz says he’s happy with the successes of his faculty, which has the second-highest enrolment of all disciplines at the U of O. For arts students who are nervous about where their degree will take them after graduation, Lewkowicz says it’s important to stick to your interests no matter what. “I really do believe that one should study one’s passion. If
you’re passionate about what you do, you will get that well-paying job at the end. You will be able to sell what you’ve learned,” he says. “So what is it you’ve learned as an arts graduate? You’ve learned to think critically, you’ve learned to communicate well, both orally and in writing,” Lewkowicz adds. Not only that, he suggests using those skills to stand out from the pack. “The more you can do to separate yourself from your colleagues with something different is key.” Lewkowicz said he recently met two arts alumni with unique backgrounds that included travelling, learning a third language, and running an online streaming company. He also said he’s seen most U of O arts graduates employed in the field in which they studied. Not all English graduates will go on to become teachers, but they may find jobs in technical writing or communications. Lewkowicz pointed to a recent article in the Globe and Mail that features a study on the financial rewards of a university degree. The study showed that over a 12-year period, the middle income earners would earn an average salary of $39,000 their first year after graduating from the U of O, including those who’ve completed a bachelor of arts.“We know our students find work and this study demonstrates that work ,pays off not just in the long run but in the short run as well. So that’s why it’s so positive.”
Rootsy rock at the UCU
Lewkowicz is happy to see arts degrees gain a fresh reputation as being a great investment despite their notoriety, for the contrary. “It’s not an enormous income, but it’s a good solid (one),” says Lewkowicz. Those salaries continue to grow and eventually surpass the average Canadian income. He says with this study, students can see that the idea that most humanities students end up at Starbucks serving coffee and making minimum wage is a myth. Hopefully soon, he says, the arts degree will be able to break the server stereotype. Over the last six years as dean, Lewkowicz has seen major changes, physically, statistically, and anecdotally, to the U of O’s arts community. He says there’s now more effort put into the student experience, and strategic planning has focused strongly on the extra support students need. Additionally, recent relocations of buildings— such as moving one-third of the arts faculty to Desmarais—means arts students are almost always in the northwestern part of campus. Lewkowicz says that means greater cohesion for students. “It’s a very positive message for us, and to give to both students who’ve decided to do their BA and their parents when the question comes up with ‘What are you going to do with an arts degree?’ The answer is, ‘I’ll get a good job.’”
Dean Antoni Lewkowicz is happy to see how the Faculty of Arts benefits students.
Jessica Eritou
Photo: courtesy Caroline Baron-Courcy
The dean shares insight on changes for life after graduation
Marc Charron makes second lunchtime appearance at U of O Jessica Eritou
Arts & Culture Editor
Charron, a long-time musician of Ottawa played at UCU for students on Nov. 26.
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Photo: Jen File (Courtesy of Marc Charron)
Marc Charron says he always knew deep down that being a musician was what he wanted to do because it was “the only thing that was always there waiting for me when everything fell apart.” After 16 years trying to make it as a singer-songwriter, the Ottawa native feels like things are starting to pay off. Amidst all the onehit wonders he’s seen come and go, and all the buzz bands that burn out before his eyes, Charron says he’s proud of how far he’s come. “I’ve been at it at a long time. My professional career is over twice as long as The Beatles’ career,” he said. “I used to book gigs with phone calls more or less,” he said. “I’d say I’ve also become
more realistic about what I do. Really, I’ve been sharpening my teeth and know I’m close to something big.” Charron took the stage in the Jock-Turcot University Centre for a lunchtime performance on Nov. 26. It was the folk-rocker’s second time playing at the University of Ottawa. “It was a quick hour,” he said. “Sometimes you get swept away in performance ... anything, a thought. And before you know it, you’ve been on stage for an hour. Where did the time go?” He said playing in front a large number of students coming and going through the university’s main hub was no different than other gigs, despite the unique setting. “I just played as best as I can (and) hope it translates. That is what I am realizing more and more.”
Much of the crowd took a liking to Charron’s rootsinfused folk-rock tunes, as numerous students stuck around after the show to ask him about his music. He said he’s been inspired by the likes of Wilco, The Black Keys, and Ben Harper, to name a few. Charron spends most of his time as a soloist, but he also plays in a duo called The Jaymarcs, who played at the latest Nature Nocturne event at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Nov. 28. He said his next big project is recording The Jaymarcs and working on his new home. “I’m a first-time homeowner and a full-time independent musician. Seemed almost impossible when I was starting out,” he said. “Lots of great things have happened and continue to happen.”
ARTS & CULTURE | 9
‘ID please!’ The one time you want to be carded From eating to gifting, we show you the deals with your student ID Food, clothes, entertainment, travelling—they all come at a cost, and often one you might not be able to afford. On any given day it can be pretty difficult to find cheap things to do, and if it’s even a little fun it’ll definitely cost you. You might rely on a once-in-alifetime end of season sale, but there are a handful of ways to save, and all it takes is a flash of your University of Ottawa student ID. To eat Let’s start on an ordinary Tuesday, when you can get 10 per cent off at many of Ottawa’s grocery stores—like Loblaws on Rideau Street, Hartman’s on Bank Street, and the Real Canadian Superstore on Richmond Road—just for being a student. There’s even a shuttle bus that goes from campus to Loblaws. As well, dry goods shop Bulk Barn
For clothes In university, comfy clothes are a must when you’re pulling all-nighters, going to morning classes, or intensively studying in the library. Roots offers 20 per cent off everything in the store for students on any day of the week with proof of your student ID. Urban Outfitters created an app called Urban On that will send you smartphone notifications when the store is having a random sale or frequent 20 per cent off student sales. If you’re near the end of your studies, you may be starting to think about building your work wardrobe. Though pricey, Club
Monaco offers 20 per cent off with your student card.
Photo: Rémi Yuan
Contributor
offers a 10 per cent discount every Wednesday. For nights you wish to dine out, The Grand on George Street in the ByWard Market offers a 20 per cent discount when you show your student ID any day of the week.
For entertainment Once you have some new clothes and a full fridge, it’s time for entertainment. Through the Live Rush program, last-minute tickets to most music, theatre, and dance performances at the National Arts Centre are $12 with proof of your student ID. If you’re feeling impulsive then go for a same-day ticket, otherwise you can still flash your student card and get a ticket for yourself and a friend for 50 per cent off the regular ticket price.
You can save big bucks at Loblaws, Roots, and Greyhound Canada with your student card.
Ophelia John
For travel If you thought taking a bus was the one of the more frugal methods of transportation, being at student at U of O makes it even cheaper. Greyhound Canada student discounts entitles you to 25 per cent off ticket fare with the proof of your student ID.
Why it’s famous:
Jasmine Van schouwen STAFF Contribut or
Perhaps the most witty, eccentric, and puzzling Coen brother movie to exist, Fargo is a classic dark crime comedy that kept its ‘90s audiences captivated with an oddball story line. Brilliantly scripted to add comedic interludes to dark underlying themes, it remains a masterpiece of its genre. In fact, FX currently airs a television series based on the original movie.
Why you haven’t seen it: If you’ve never given a shot to a Coen brother flick, Fargo seems like just another silly dark comedy with lots and lots of people dying, which isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. Why it might be tough to get through : If you’ve never sat through a Coen brother movie you’ll likely feel confused for much of it, wondering what on earth is the point? That’s the beauty of it. There is no point.
Why you should see it anyway: Fargo brilliantly and subtly tip-toes between dark and absurd, quotidian and bizarre. In a time when comedies tend to be either romantic or obscene, the subtle sarcasm, dark wit, and strong performanc es of this movie are a welcome contrast. Plus, actress Frances McDormand is an undisputed genius in her role as Marge Gunderson. Famous lines: Marge Gunderson: Say, Lou, did’ya hear the one about the guy who couldn’t afford personalized plates, so he went and changed his name to J3L2404? Officer Lou: Yeah, that’s a good one Jerry Lundegaard: The heck do ya mean?
Fun Facts: • The wood chipper used in the movie is now on display at the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, a popular tourist attraction in Fargo, N.D. • Frances McDorm and wore a “pregnan cy pillow” filled with birdseed to simulate her pregnan t belly. She says she didn’t deliberat ely try to move in a “pregnan t” way, it simply came as a natural response to keeping the extra weight balanced . • None of the movie scenes, either exterior or interior, were actually filmed in Fargo, N.D. The bar exterior shown at the beginnin g of the movie is located in northeas t Minneap olis, Minn.
Most of the movies mentioned in Movies You Should Have Seen are available for loan at the Morisset Library!
10 | ARTS & CULTURE
thefulcrum.ca
Stopping the crisis of ISIS
Muslim Students’ Association break down stereotypes with U of O event
Speakers discuss radicalization at the Stop the CrISIS event.
Kathryn Tubridy Pakenham Contributor
When news breaks, there is always a less investigated side to the story. One organization at the University of Ottawa is trying to give the neglected side a voice. Due to recent events, the radicalization of Islam has become of increasing concern for people around the globe. In response to ISIS reaching out to younger generations through YouTube and social media, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada organized a campaign called Stop the CrISIS, meant to educate youth about the teachings of Islam, what it means to be Muslim in today’s world, and how Muslims are portrayed in the media. “We want to educate the youth about the right use of Islam, the peaceful use,” says Mahmoud Dief, president of the University of Ottawa Muslim Students’ Association (UOMSA). The Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Association, an international student group, organized the event at the U of O on Nov. 27 as part of a campaign at universities across Canada in an attempt to stop radicalization and extremism. “We need to have a strong counter-narrative to this ideology before it takes hold,” says Imam Imtiaz Ahmed, community leader of Stop the CrISIS. “We have to be proactive with the youth
Photo: Rémi Yuan
so they do not fall prey to this ideology.” The campaign focuses on teaching both Muslims and non-Muslims what is written in the Quran. “The best thing non-Muslims can do is to be non-judgmental and be open to learn about our religion,” Ahmed adds. Muslim scholars and activists help explain the messages of a peaceful, loving version of Islam to counteract the violent, extreme version of Islam taught by ISIS. They speak of what it means to be a good Muslim, citing characteristics such as kindness, love, and peacefulness, and of charitable efforts made by Muslim students and youth groups in Ottawa. After the shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in October, the fear of Islamic extremists hit a lot closer to home for Canadians. That was part of the motivation for starting the campaign, says Ahmed. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada and the UOMSA hope to prevent the increasing association of Islam with extremists and terrorist organizations such as ISIS. Dief says the most important things he heard during the event is the vital importance of an open-minded education. “We see currently the youths are being misguided by the wrong teachings, not the right ones, and we just want to educate the youth on the right views of Islam.”
“We see currently the youths are being misguided by the wrong teachings, not the right ones, and we just want to educate the youth on the right views of Islam.” —Mahmoud Dief thefulcrum.ca
ARTS & CULTURE | 11
Forget about Santa: Oscar season approaches Here’s what filmmakers are leaving under the tree this season
Mommy December 5
Top Five December 5
Inherent Vice December 12
Mr. Turner December 19
Canada’s official selection for this year’s best foreign film Oscar, Mommy was the featured film on the ByTowne Cinema’s November newsletter and is currently playing at the Mayfair Theatre. A flick this good certainly makes it easy to support domestic films—and this isn’t some Canadian pride or pity vote I’m putting up here. This is a wellreviewed and intense drama with good direction and performances all around. It’s not going to hit wide release until January, but
Director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will be Blood) comes out with a movie every once in a blue moon. But when he does, it’s always worth the wait. This time around, he’s teaming up with an all-star cast to bring moviegoers a psychedelic filmnoir that’s full of rampant drug use, weird facial hair, and funky ‘60s tunes. True to form, Anderson anchors this cinematic madness with a charismatic and unconventional lead, casting Joaquin Phoenix as a pot-smoking private eye with ridiculous mutton chops.
12 | ARTS & CULTURE
you can catch it here in Ottawa before everyone starts buzzing about it. —William Hume
Phoenix’s Doc Sportello is an intriguing creation who seems to be a hybrid of The Dude, Philip Marlowe, and Hunter S. Thompson. This kind of overt genre mashup seems to be emblematic of the film as a whole, with a cast of quirky characters and an intentionally convoluted plot that’s a parody of, or a tribute to, oldschool pulp detective novels. Either way, Inherent Vice looks like a hot mess of crazy that could definitely spice up the holiday movie season. —Kyle Darbyson
Chris Rock received rave reviews and an immediate distributor pick-up at the Toronto International Film Festival with this film about an ultra-successful comedian undergoing a crisis. What I love about the movie so far is that every time I watch the trailer I laugh a little more. It’s a broadly appealing flick that’s not specifically targeted to a particular audience or taste in humour. I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of some of Chris
If you’re tired of watching fake Hollywood crap this holiday season, why not drink in some high society entertainment with Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner. This cinematic biopic follows the life of renowned English painter J.M.W. Turner, who some consider to be the greatest landscape artist who ever lived. This movie has already accumulated a lot of Oscar buzz, having come out of the Cannes Film Festival with a nomination for the Palme d’Or grand prize. But the real reason to see this movie is
Rock’s earlier films, but this one really does look fresh and funny. —William Hume
because of actor Timothy Spall, a hardworking character actor for more than 35 years. It’s about time he and his distinctively British scowl get the spotlight in a leading role. Even if you end up hating Mr. Turner, you can at least come out of the theatre feeling a smug sense of satisfaction knowing you went out of your way to watch a fancy period-piece drama about classic impressionist art. That’s got to be worth at least $11. —Kyle Darbyson
thefulcrum.ca
When the holidays get
M y family puts clementines in the bottoms of our stockings, which is pretty much one million times worse than coal because you have to eat them. —Stephanie Piamonte
O n Christmas Eve, my family heads to my grandmother’s house for supper and gifts after six o’clock mass. I have more than 30 cousins, and most of them are under the age of 10. But for the older cousins, the deal is this: The newest boyfriend has to dress up as our Santa and hand out gifts all night to the youngsters.
E v e r y winter break, my family cozies up with holiday snacks, spiked eggnog, and special holly socks, and watch the all-time best Christmas movies ever made: the first two films of the Die Hard series. Bruce Willis somehow manages to tie together terrorist attacks, a hijacking, and machine guns with holiday spirit, all wrapped nicely with a bow. His use of a corpse and a Santa hat to communicate with Allan Rickman is especially festive.
weird Clementines, boyfriends, and a golden pig… There’s no formula for tradition
—Chelsea McManus
—Sarah Nolette
T h e most memorable part of my Christmas dinners has nothing to do with the unconventional Egyptian delicacies, like kebabs and molokiya, covering the table. For me, it’s an unwritten, unofficial, unbroken post-dinner tradition: Every year, as the family sits in an overfed stupor, my aunt asks if we’ve “seen the golden pig.” Apparently Czech kids back home would be told if they ate all their Christmas dinner, they would hallucinate about seeing a golden pig. Status report: The golden pig has yet to be spotted. But we will continue to stuff ourselves until someone catches him. —Jasmine van Schouwen
Since I can remember, my family has always danced the bird. Whether its because the bird tastes better that way or out of a one-last-hurra attitude or simply becaUse my grandparents enjoy showtunes, the entire family gets to enjoy a new poultry rendition of the turkey dancing to The Stripper on the kitchen counter. When the show’s over it gives its last bow and is tossed in the oven. —Adam Gibbard
When my family assembles our tree, it becomes a trip down memory lane. Most families decorate with shiny Christmas balls and a star on top, but my family has a different take. Our tree pays homage to my sister and I’s childhood, with dozens of old crafts mixed among the strings of lights and other ornaments. Some of these crafts aren’t even Christmas themed— like the classroom project of a spider and its web made of fuzzy pipe-cleaners and cotton balls, or paper cut decorations of butterflies hanging on a string of yarn. —Christina Yee
Kevin McCallister isn’t cute—he’s pure evil
Jesse Colautti • Features Editor Right after Kevin McCallister lights a kerosene soaked rope on fire that two petty thieves are holding onto for dear life, meeting their cries of terror with “Merry Christmas,” I began to wonder if Home Alone 2: Lost in New York had been miscast as a holiday classic. In fact, the more I’ve watched the movie over the years, as it fills up the daytime December airwaves of dozens of television stations, I’ve realized it would be more appropriate to show Home Alone 2 in criminology classes. Where else better to discuss the sociopathic and sadistic behaviour of the film’s 11-year-old protagonist? Lost amidst the cheery holiday music and idyllic shots of snow-covered New York are lines that reveal a boy who enjoys human suffering: “You guys give up? Have you had enough pain?” This line comes not long after Kevin repeatedly throws
clay bricks off a four-storey house onto the head of wet bandit Marv Merchants. Even as Marv lies on the sidewalk severely concussed, unable to form a coherent sentence, Kevin continues to relentlessly pelt him with bricks. Some may defend Kevin’s behaviour on the basis of self-defence: Left alone in a big city with vengeful criminals after him, Kevin has the right to take matters into his own hands. While this premise holds true for the first Home Alone film, Kevin’s position in the second isn’t quite so innocent.
Highballs with Hawleywood Andrew Hawley - General Manager
A dult hot chocolate : C anadian C ocoa This holiday, it’s time to leave the eggnog behind with the ugly Christmas sweaters. A much richer, decidedly more Canadian drink exists, and should be your new go-to holiday cocktail. Canadian Cocoa is simple to make, will warm you up on frigid winter days, and packs a rye whiskey-fuelled boozy punch that Don Draper himself would approve of.
Recipe: 2/3 oz (20 ml): Canadian rye whiskey 2/3 oz (20 ml): Dark rum 0.5 oz (15 ml): White creme de cacao Dash of maple syrup Dash of hot, frothy milk ½ tsp. of grated nutmeg
Instructions: Pour all the ingredients, except milk, into a heatproof glass and stir. Froth the milk, heat it on high in the microwave for 30 seconds, and then add. Grate nutmeg over the drink. The result is a warm and sweet beverage that, while frothy, is quite drinkable. Vanilla and chocolate milk flavour come from the creme de cacao, while the maple syrup adds sweetness. A 750 ml bottle of creme de cacao is $20.45 at the LCBO. Entrylevel whiskey and dark rum are sufficient, so use up that leftover Wiser’s ($13.90 for 350 ml) and Captain Morgan ($13.95).
When to drink: This dessert-style drink is meant to be enjoyed, so save it for when you kick up your feet and relax after a cold winter day.
First of all, he chooses to stay in New York with his father’s credit card, instead of letting the airline know he got on the wrong flight. Secondly, Kevin is in no immediate danger in the film. After easily eluding the wet bandits while walking the streets of New York, Kevin overhears them discussing their next sting operation. Rather than call the police, Kevin instead sets up an elaborate trap in an abandoned apartment and lures the criminals. After he’s brought them to his death trap, Kevin begins to systematically torture the two hapless criminals. You can see the glee in Kevin’s eyes as he lights the head of the other wet bandit, Harry Lime, on fire. Not satisfied with those first-degree burns, Kevin also fills a toilet bowl full of gasoline to cause Harry more pain when he tries to douse the fire on his head. This is a sociopath we’re talking about. Kevin shows no sympathy for the under-educated petty criminals he terrorizes, nor does he show any remorse afterward. In fact, he’s more concerned with delivering gifts on Christmas Day than going down to the station to own up to his premeditated torture. All of this isn’t to suggest Home Alone 2 doesn’t have any value. It just doesn’t deserve the reputation of a family-friendly holiday classic. McCallister should hold a special place in our collective consciousness— right alongside Hannibal Lecter, The Joker, and Norman Bates.
Van Dyk’s VinEyards: Holiday Edition Spencer Van Dyk - Online Editor Whether you’re looking for the right red at the end of a long day, or the perfect white to pair with your Christmas turkey, I’ve got you covered. Pelee Island Pinot Noir, $10.95 — There’s nothing better than a glass of red wine at the end of a long winter day. This pinot noir will warm you up and provide instant relaxation. It’s medium bodied and fruity with a slightly tart aftertaste. This balanced flavour makes it an ideal red for any drinker. Have a glass alone with a great book in hand and fireplace roaring, or bring it to your holiday party. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, $19.95 — If you’re looking for a bottle to take to holiday dinners as a host gift, this is the wine for you. Being a white wine, it pairs perfectly with turkey, and its citrus-based flavour complements any holiday feast. Despite being an extra-dry white, it is both refreshing and vivid.
Glögg Glögg is a drink that was first introduced to me by my Danish friend who had the recipe passed down to her from her grandmother. It’s a Nordic winter drink that each family has their own recipe for, but here’s a basic recipe to get you started. Ingredients: 1.5 litre bottle dry red wine 1.5 litre bottle American port 750 ml bottle brandy 2-4 cinnamon sticks 15 cardamom seed pods 2 dozen whole cloves 1 orange peel, whole and washed 1/2 cup dark raisins 1 cup blanched almonds 2 cups sugar Garnish with the peel of another orange Mix the wine, port, brandy, cinnamon sticks, seed pods, cloves, and orange peel, in a large saucepan made either of stainless-steel or porcelain (any other pot will give you a metallic
taste), stirring occasionally. Heat on medium-high until it comes to a slight boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. When you’re ready to drink it, reheat the mixture, but do not boil. Mix sugar to desired taste. Add raisins and almonds to individual servings.
WINTER WO Season of love
Why winter can be the warmest time of year
Jesse Colautti • Features Editor
It may seem like after all the presents have been unwrapped, the holiday music has stopped, and coffee cups have returned to their normal colours, there’s nothing good left about the remaining winter months. But just because Santa’s gone back up north doesn’t mean you can’t have the time of your life this winter. After all, dark and cold days provide the perfect opportunity to develop a romance that will keep you warm long into the night. Here are five reasons why winter is the season of love: Hibernation During the winter months, most students tend to stay within a close radius of their nest, meaning there are fewer walls a lone wolf has to blow down to find a companion. Summer’s the worst for meeting a significant other: students travel all over the world, get locked up in 40-hour work weeks, or return to their parents’ houses—none of which are conducive to finding a soulmate. In winter you can meet Mr. or Ms. Right just by heading down the street to the neighbourhood bar or coffee shop, and it frees up so much more time for activities.
likely when you reach your destination. That dinner or nightcap will feel more like a moment neither of you want to end, rather than the extended nightmare of looking for a free patio table in the summer. Movie nights It’s hard to balance a love of film with a love of human beings during the warmer seasons. There are music festivals to attend, lakes to swim in, and camping trips to make. But those are all very difficult to accomplish in winter. February is the perfect excuse to invite someone over for dinner and a movie— or a trilogy, if you really get along. You can always take the batteries out of your TV remote, which makes cozying up on a bed with a laptop a great backup plan for your “broken” TV. Playing outside There’s something undeniably romantic about skating hand-in-hand down the canal. Make it midnight, a light snow falling, on the way home from a solid date night, and you have perfection. If skating isn’t for you, you can make snow angels. Trust me, snow angels can still be fun—after all, who said angels have to be fully clothed?
Up close and personal
No shirt, no shoes, no problem
Winter makes intimate moments so much easier. The endorphins released after walking or skating in cold weather make intimate moments all that much more
Winter is the best time to get naked. Body heat is the best way to warm up, making naked spooning always an excellent option. It’s just science.
It’s cold out
There’s a lot more than blizzards
Katherine McCarr
BeaverTails and hot chocolate Although you could technically enjoy these things all year, they’re just better in winter. In order to get the real BeaverTail experience it has to be at least –10° outside; that way, your pastry will get a little crispy from the cold and you’ll be able to wash it down (and warm yourself up) with some hot chocolate, or if you’re feeling adventurous, some hot apple cider. Snow forts and snowmen When the snow is nice and sticky there’s absolutely no better way to forget about your stresses than by building a snow fort, with a snowman to guard it. The best part is having a snowball fight with friends—and no longer having to worry about teachers giving you detention. Snow angels After a fresh snowfall, with the snow piled up all fluffy across the city, there’s something magical about looking up at the sky and making a snow angel. Outdoor sports Ottawa is the perfect city for outdoor winter sports. Gatineau Park has
ONDERLAND
t-get over it
more to the winter ards and frostbite
ron • Contributor
Winter in the capital
Three seasonal offerings exclusive to Ottawa
William Wu • Contributor Skate on the world’s largest outdoor skating rink
some great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Camp Fortune, Mont Cascade, and Edelweiss offer easy after-class skiing and snowboarding hills less than 100 kilometres away. Make sure to ask about their student discounts, or go at night for a reduced price.
Whether you’re skating to school, looking for some exercise, or enjoying an evening out with friends, the Rideau Canal usually leads to a good time. The canal is such a unique part of Ottawa’s heritage, and tourists come from all parts of the country (even the warmer ones) to try it out. So lace up, watch out for the cracks, and join the crowd! After your workout, you can grab a BeaverTail to refuel those burnt calories.
Holidays
Rekindle your inner child with Winterlude
No studying or exams for a precious three weeks, and socially acceptable conditions to pig out on food, holiday cheer, and Netflix. What could be better?
Who cares if most of the Winterlude festivities are geared toward the family crowd? This winter festival can be fun even if you’re too old to believe in Santa Claus. The Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau offers ice slides, giant mazes, and artwork for you and your friends to enjoy. There’s also an ice sculpture competition held in Confederation Park called the Crystal Garden, where artists from all around the world gather to create some seriously intricate designs from solid blocks of ice that are definitely worth a look.
Hockey Whether you’re playing or watching, hockey is just awesome, and way better in the winter than it is in 30° weather. After all, it’s ice hockey that’s Canada’s national winter sport, not ball hockey. London fogs and other holiday drinks Peppermint hot chocolates, ginger bread spice lattes, eggnog everything. ‘Tis the season to indulge in all of your favourite specialty drinks, especially when you need a little caffeine boost to keep on studying.
Cross-country ski in Gatineau Park Skis gliding over a crisp layer of freshly fallen snow, sounds muffled by gentle snowflakes falling to the ground, a fortress of crystal-lined evergreens rushing by, and not a care in the world… there are very few things that can match the euphoria of skiing in Gatineau Park. Home to one of the largest networks of cross-country skiing trails in North America, the picturesque landscapes of Gatineau Park are the perfect backdrop for your next outdoor adventure. Sure, the uphills are tough and the downhills are cold, but cross-country skiing is easily one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of winter in its prime.
Life after sTmiops for making a oth transition into your postexams fina Exercise and wint er sports Embr
ace the season. Play a game of hockey wit h friends, go snowshoe ing, or hit the slopes for some skiing or snowbo arding. The holiday se ason brings out the kid in everyone, so embrac e the opportunity to get ou t there and let loose like you’re 10.
-Clare Yacyshyn
Find inner peace
I like to boil my favo urite tea, sit down wit h my laptop, and re-blog en dlessly on Tumblr. Th en I’ll grab my snacks and watc h some of my favour ite YouTubers. At some point I’ll gr ab that book I’ve be en meaning to read for ages, boil my tea again, and peacef ully read without having to wo rry about anything. Serenity of the mind is well dese rved.
-Menrika Christia n
ls life
Reaching out to fr iends
The week after exam s is an excellent time to reach out to friends you may have lost to uch with during the exam period. You’ll have lot s to catch up on, and ce lebrating the end of exams will feel amazing after all the work you’ve done .
-Clare Yacyshyn
Read for fun My favourite thing to do is veg out on comfort books that I don’t have to try too hard to appreciat e. It’s important to remember that ac ademia doesn’t hold a monopoly over your life, and certainly not over interesting literature. Resist all temptation to highligh t or write in the margin and let your brain calmly read, and blissfully forget .
Pick a song Every semester I pr eselect a song that will be the first thing I listen to when I get out of my last exam. Last spring it was th e theme song to Jurassic Park; th e winter before that was “Fortunate Son” by CCR. The hard part is resisting the temptation to listen after finish ing some of my earlier exams, but th e pay-off of waiting is worth it.
-Jesse Colautti
-Jesse Colautti
New tric ks for a n Tips for foll ew year owing throug h on your a
cademic Chelsea M cManus • S taff Cont By the end ributor of every semester, w He
hen you have (at least) a month’s wor th of readings to do, five papers and four exams to write, an d 12 panic attacks lined up, you begi n to think: Ho w did I get here? It happens every semester, an d you know that if you just planned ahea d a little bit more, yo u might be able to surv ive exam period witho ut all the moments sp ent in tears re-evaluatin g your life choices. Was it reading week when instead of catching up on readings you watched every season of Gilmore Girls? Or maybe the weekend yo u told yourse lf you’d buck le down, but in stead went to your best fr iend’s cat’s birthday pa rty? Regardless of how you got to this point, you promise your self that ne xt semester w ill be differ ent. Your New Ye ar’s resoluti on has always been simple: be a better st udent.
re are some tips to mak e this seem ingly improb able
1. Make a c alendar
resolutions
resolution po ssible.
I need to vi sualize when all my assign plan for them ments are du . At the begi e in order to nning of the papers, assi semester, m gnments, pr better es ark down w entations, an assess your hen all your d exams are priorities. If due, and from you have th you finish on ree papers e a week or there, due in a wee two prior. An come the en k, make sure yt d of the sem hing to even ester will he out your wor lp. kload
2. Find a s tudy spac e (and may be a budd y, too) Try to
find a space that encour bed or on th ages produc e couch, plac tivity. If you es where yo probably ar study in your u usually slee en’t going to p and watch be that space very produc TV, you with anothe ti ve be ca us r purpose. M e your mind other people aybe the lib associates working may rary works encourage yo the ruckus best, as seei of a coffee u to focus. ng sh O op, or the st r, maybe yo friend, if that u prefer ability of yo helps. Figure ur kitchen ta out what wor ble. Bring a ks for you, and do it. 3. Fi
gure out your men tal clock
In this lifet ime, I will ne ver, ever wak stay up till e up early to 4 a.m. instea d and sleep study. I will so I don’t ev until noon. I gladly en bother te know this ab lling myself works best, out myself, otherwise. Fi and try to gure out whe work your sc n your brain hedule arou nd that.
4. Discove r
the magic of lists
Make them! They will he lp you track feel better, what you’ve and what yo done, which u still need will make yo to do.v u
What are you doing
new years eve?
Don’t drop the ball by staying in Héloïse Rodriguez-Qizilbash Staff Contributor
B y the time the new year rolls around, you’ve
probably spent enough time with your relatives that another night watching TV with them as they fall asleep on the couch hardly seems appealing. Maybe there once was nothing more exciting than seeing the ball drop at midnight, but honestly it’s probably the same way you’ll spend Dec. 31 when you’re in your 50s, weighed down by the responsibilities of life. You have to take advantage of your college years, and New Year’s Eve presents a great opportunity to do so without having to worry about homework due the next day. If you just want to hang out in a restaurant with friends, you’ll be able to do so on a night when everyone’s relatively stress-free. You could also hit up a club and dance the year away, surrounded by handsome strangers just as eager to have a good time. And if you’re looking for a midnight smooch, a party is the best place for a no-strings-attached kiss when the clock strikes 12. New Year’s celebrations are all about starting on a good note. Whether that means deciding to hang out as a group in a pizza parlour or hitting up all the bars in the ByWard Market, make sure you don’t have any regrets about the way you close out 2014. So be part of the celebration—don’t just watch it.
Bringing down the house W
Tori Dudys Staff Contributor
hile blowing out one’s knees dancing at a club may be a stylish way for some to ring in the New Year, I’ve always leaned more toward partying with folks I know. Nothing beats a house party. First of all, instead of spending your hard-earned cash on overpriced drinks, you’re able to purchase all your liquor at the LCBO for a night of cheap cocktails or delicious, inexpensive brews. Champagne is $12 per bottle, instead of $12 for a glass at the bar, and for the price of four vodka sodas I can buy a whole bottle of the stuff. You’ll also notice your friendly neighbourhood nightclubs bump up their cover prices just because so many people are willing to pay. But Dec. 31 is no excuse to charge $40 cover, regardless of how groovy you say your party will be. Entry to a house party is normally free, and if it’s not, you can check Facebook for a multitude of other soiree options. I’ve stayed home with friends and family and watched movies before, and all of us ended up bored and a bit disappointed we didn’t search for something fun to do. Instead of freezing your fussied-up buns off in line for a lame club, or passing out on the couch by 11:30, brush up on your flip-cup skills and opt for a fun-filled night of bringing down the house.
The way you celebrate New Year’s can haunt you for the rest of the year. here are Three different takes on how to best ring 2015.
Your parents know how to party Jasmine Van Schouwen Staff Contributor
Last year, I had the best New Year’s Eve of
my life. I turned down the clubbing invitations from friends, kindly refused the Facebook events for house parties, and decided it was not the year to hit up Blue Mountain with the significant other. Instead, I accepted an invitation to hang out with my family. Spending this holiday with your family shouldn’t be a last resort. You have not lived until you’ve seen the serious adults in your family pulling out the best of their ‘70s dance moves to the worst hits of 2014. The bonds you will make laughing at Dad’s recycled groaners or Mom’s attempts at letting loose to the hits of her childhood will last forever. And the best part is you don’t have to leave your house. You have 364 days of the year to hang out in sweaty clubs wondering what possessed you to go there in the first place. And there are endless occasions left to drink cheap beer while hearing “that” couple have their umpteenth fight on the couch next to you while you stress about who to mack with at midnight. But how many times do you get to hang out with the people who send you free sweaters and overfeed you every time you go back home? You know, those awesome people you forget to call or text back on a regular basis, but who love you unconditionally anyway. A New Year’s night out typically ends up with a lost personal item, an empty wallet, or a boatfull of regrets. But a night with the family is one that will never be forgotten and definitely never regretted. So, call up your cousins, crank up the Bee Gees, drink up that homemade mulled wine, and eat up the fruitcake, because nobody’s going to be eating those leftovers. That stuff only tastes good during the holidays.
SPORTS
cavalry
awards
Derek Wendel taking his team far.
Striker Pilar Khoury playing tough defence for the Gee-Gees.
Female athlete of the season
Photo: Marta Kierkus
Pilar Khoury
striker – women’s soccer With an amazing performance this season, the poise and talent of this fourth-year striker earned her a spot in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East all-star first team and the CIS all-Canadian first team. She was the first player in the OUA East division to score 10 goals, and with a to-
thefulcrum.ca
tal of 14 goals, she tied fifth for the most goals scored during a season. Top highlights include scoring the winning overtime goal against Laurier in the OUA semifinals, and the winning goal against Western in the OUA championships. —Tima Hacini
SPORTS EDITOR Sarah Nolette sports@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
Headshot: Marta Kierkus, Action shot: Remi Yuan
male athlete of the season Derek Wendel
quarterback – men’s football Wendel guided his team to the OUA semifinals, only losing to the McMaster Marauders in the final minutes of the game. Wendel placed second in touchdowns with 16 in the season, and fourth in percent completion, at 62.4 per cent. The team placed fifth in total yards per game (504) and rushing yards per game (218). The highlights of the season include the notorious Panda
Game when Wendel brought the Gees back in the lead numerous of times, and the OUA quarterfinal win against the Windsor Lancers where he posted 264 yards through the air and 45 on the ground with three total touchdowns. He gave an amazing performance game after game, making it a great year to watch Gee-Gees football. —Tima Hacini
SPORTS | 21
cavalry awards
coach of the season Steve Johnson
head coach – women’s soccer
Jackson Bennett making the most of his rookie season.
Photo: Marta Kierkus
Rookie of the season Jackson Bennett
cornerback and kick returner - men’s football The Gee-Gees football team proved many doubters wrong with their performance this season. One of the bright spots of the year was the performance from freshman cornerback and kick returner Jackson Bennett. The Ottawa native
had 26.5 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and 186 return yards, with one touchdown. Bennett garnered OUA all-rookie team honours at the end of the season. —Spencer Murdock
Bouncing back after a season-starting loss to the UOIT Ridgebacks, head coach Steve Johnson led his team to an outstanding 15 consecutive wins, earning them the number one rank in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division. Johnson was constantly searching for the right lineups at the beginning of the season, giving every player time on the field. He’s a positive person who fosters a family atmosphere amongst the team. Johnson is the second longest-serving coach at the U of O, and has led the Gees to 13 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) tournaments and one national title since beginning the women’s soccer program in 1994. After a stellar season this fall, not only did the wom-
en’s soccer team place top in their division, but also top in the country, ranking first in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). He has proven to be one of the best coaches across the nation. —Tima Hacini
Steve Johnson bringing out the best in his players. Photo: Gee-Gees
Johnny Berhanemeskel beating the Gee-Gee record.
Panda game, a game we won’t forget.
Photos: Marta Kierkus
Most memorable moment
Panda Game men’s football During one of the most in- Most of the stadium assumed tense games of the year against the Carleton Ravens, the GeeGees had the win up until the last five seconds on the clock. The Ravens were down four points, more than half the field away, when Carleton’s secondstring quarterback Jessie Mills threw a 55-yard Hail Mary.
22 | SPORTS
the game was over, but when Ravens wide receiver Nathaniel Baher caught that pass to give the Ravens the win, many a fan claimed the game was one of the best CIS football games they’ve ever seen—even GeeGees fans have to admit it. —Sarah Nolette
Gee-Gees fan favourite
Photo: Remi Yuan
Johnny B men’s basketball Friday, Nov. 7 was a historic night for Johnny Berhanemeskel as he became the Gee-Gees’ all-time leader for points in a career. Before the game, Berhanemeskel was only 13 points shy of the 1,571 record, and accumulated 12 of the points in the first half. In the third quarter, the fans were on the edges of their seats as he
had the ball with five seconds left on the shot clock. It was his finger roll layup that crowned him the leader. The game was automatically put on hold as the crowd went wild, chanting his name and waving their cardboard cutouts of his face in the air. It was a night no GeeGees fan will forget. —Sarah Nolette
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Gay rights and the Gee-Gees
News and notes on professional sports during the holidays
Women’s softball captain on slow but steady progress in collegiate sports
Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter As the cold days of winter holidays start, the pro sports world is perhaps at its hottest. The National Football League (NFL) is in the thick of its regular season as playoffs loom and the National Basketball Association (NBA)
NFL: Playoff picture takes shape as top teams clash
Jean Cardona LGBTQ+ Gee-Gee softball player joined You Can Play with her team.
Ashley Hoover Contributor
When Jean Cardona first came to the University of Ottawa, she was not yet openly gay. But she built up the courage to come out after her rookie season of playing softball for the Gee-Gees. Cardona found acceptance and respect from her team. Four years later, she and her teammates have joined the You Can Play project. It’s a social activism campaign aimed at eliminating homophobia from sports, with the message that all athletes deserve the same respect and equality regardless of sexual orientation. “If you can play, you can play,” goes the slogan. Cardona says it’s important for getting people to take notice of the issues that many LGBTQ+ athletes and others deal with day to day. “I may be more aware of homophobia than others as it affects me personally,” she says. “Educating people with LGBTQ issues and making people aware of the struggles some people may face can really make an impact towards removing homophobia completely.” The women’s softball team,
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captained by Cardona, is the latest of many to join the initiative. In 2012, the U of O’s athletics department was the first in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) to join the You Can Play campaign. They created an online video featuring athletes and coaches supporting the organization—but since then, not much more has been seen from the Gee-Gees’ end of the campaign. Andy Sparks, head coach of the women’s basketball team, says his team has fostered an inclusive environment that’s not concerned about issues such as sexual orientation. Lionel Woods, head coach of women’s volleyball, adds that he hasn’t heard of any issues surrounding it. “Overall it’s a healthy environment,” says Woods. “But just because something hasn’t been brought to my attention, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, the country’s only national charity promoting LGBTQ+ human rights, reports that despite progress toward legal equality, LGBTQ+ Canadians still face discrimination and victimization in their daily lives. This organiza-
photo coutersy : Jean Cardona
tion launched the campaign #HearOurStory in October as a response to the need for a stronger LGBTQ+ voice. “The University of Ottawa is on the front lines with this,” says Sparks. He notes that the U of O’s student athlete services officer has been working with committees across the CIS to engage in those types of discussions. Cardona says the Gee-Gees are headed in the right direction but still need to take more action. “I can’t really say if the Gee-Gees have made any improvements for LGBTQ athletes because as an athlete at the U of O, I honestly can’t think of a time that it was supported or discussed as far as the competitive clubs’ teams go,” she says. The softball team holds “awareness weekends,” and two out of four years they’ve dedicated it to the LGBTQ+ community. “I think many, if not all of the teams should commit to this,” said Cardona. “Athletes could help make people who may be gay on their team feel OK and welcomed in planning these awareness weekends and show their teammates they support them.”
In Week 13, the New England Patriots met the Green Bay Packers, arguably the two best teams in the league right now. The Aaron Rodgers-led Packers slightly edged Tom Brady’s Patriots in a possible Super Bowl matchup. The two teams
NBA: Toronto Raptors ascend to league’s highest tier; Christmas Day games continue fun tradition After a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the playoffs last season, the Toronto Raptors have become one of the best young teams in the NBA. They’ve started this season with a staggering 13
seasons are well underway and the stars are shining. While relaxing over the holidays, it’s the perfect time to catch a game, in person, or on TV. Here's what to look out for.
are still at the top as other contenders are trying to hold their season together. The Arizona Cardinals are reeling from the loss of their starting QB Carson Palmer to a torn ACL, but are still in a good position. The Denver Broncos are playing out their schedule of easier opponents after a massive loss to the Patriots in Week Nine. Look for the surging Seattle Seahawks
and Philadelphia Eagles to make moves in the coming weeks and possibly shake up alignment in the playoffs. The teams will meet Week 14 in Philly, which should be one of the best matchups of the season between the intense Seattle defence and the high-powered Eagles offence. Make sure to catch as many games as possible every Sunday—the playoffs begin Jan. 3.
wins and only four losses. A large part of their success is due to the play of guards DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Lou Williams. However, DeRozan just suffered a knee injury that may sideline him for three to four weeks. Regardless, if you have an opportunity to attend a Raps game over the break, it will be worth your while. One of the most fun holiday traditions in pro sports is the NBA’s Christmas Day games.
Every year starting at noon, the league schedules some of the best possible matchups, and in the last few years the teams have worn special jerseys for the day. This year most of basketball’s biggest superstars take the court on Christmas Day. The San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Golden State Warriors are some of the teams in action on the day.
SPORTS | 23
OPINIONS
OPINIONS EDITOR Kyle Darbyson
opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
Capital punishment takes on a new ridiculous twist Utah could be bringing back the firing squad Apparently the logical solution to the overwhelming global opposition to capital punishment is to find more accessible alternatives to kill people. An accused anti-Batista insurgent is blindfolded and executed by firing squad, Cuba 1956.
Staff Contributor
I
f you were looking to spice up the mundanity of contemporary capital punishment, the great state of Utah has you covered.
The Law Endorsement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee in Utah recently endorsed legislation that may bring back the firing squad as an optional method for criminal execution. The committee, which endorsed the bill with a 9-2 vote, proposed the legislation after a series of botched lethal injection executions that have caught negative attention in the press. Moreover, Utah is having trouble getting access to the drug cocktail needed to carry out the injections and has turned to the firing squad as an alternative. The European company that formerly supplied the drug cocktail is now refusing to sell the drugs to the United States due to
its opposition to capital punishment. This new proposal calls for the use of a firing squad if the state can’t obtain the drug 30 days before the convicted person is scheduled to be executed. Apparently the logical solution to the overwhelming global opposition to capital punishment is to find more accessible alternatives to kill people. Rather than questioning the archaic punishment that is the death penalty, certain states continue to support killing as a form of twisted justice for convicted criminals. Republican Senator Paul Ray, a member of the committee who voted in favour of the bill, called the firing squad “absolutely one of the most humane ways to execute someone.” In an era when forensic evidence is proving that more and more prisoners on death row have been falsely convicted, any method of execution is inhumane.
According to The Innocence Project, there have already been approximately 321 postconviction DNA exonerations in United States history, the vast majority of which are people of colour. That number is child’s play compared to a study conducted by legal experts and statisticians from Michigan and Pennsylvania, which found that upwards of four per cent of death row inmates are innocent. On top of these horrifying statistics, capital punishment just doesn’t make sense from a financial point of view. Although the cost of carrying out capital punishment varies from state to state, the overall price tag for executing prisoners on death row is universally more expensive than keeping someone imprisoned for life. For example, Forbes magazine reports that the annual cost of the death penalty in the state of California is $137 million, while lifetime incarceration evens out to $11.5 million.
Snapcash users should proceed with caution
Coupled with the fact that many studies suggest the death penalty does not act as an effective deterrent to crime, it seems like capital punishment serves no real purpose except to satisfy some people’s ravenous bloodlust. This problem is not limited to the US either, since the majority of Canadians share this mentality. Although capital punishment has not been officially practised in this country since 1962, a survey conducted in 2012 by Angus Reid Public Opinion in partnership with the Toronto Star found that 63 per cent of Canadians believe the death penalty is sometimes appropriate (a number that had grown from 48 per cent in 2004). No matter where it is, capital punishment by any method is unethical and unjustified. Simply substituting one method for another does not change the fact that an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind to common sense.
New feature could lead to reckless spending, security breaches Kyle Darbyson Opinions Editor
Since its initial release in 2011, Snapchat has come to dominate the mobile app marketplace. This photo/ video messaging service has amassed hundreds of millions of users worldwide, being especially popular with millennials thanks to its fun and easy-to-use interface. This app has become so wellknown that its developers have even started to offer a money transferring service called Snapcash, which allows Snapchat users (over the age of 18) to send each other small amounts of currency via text message. Snapcash flaunts the same “fun and easy” quality as its photo messaging counterpart, and that isn't a good thing. Snapchat’s poor security record and laissez-faire attitude toward informa-
24 | OPINIONS
tion distribution have a high potential for disaster. This isn’t good news for a service that's supposed to handle your bank account. The first quality you would look for in a mobile payment system is airtight privacy and security settings. Snapchat has proven that it isn’t ready to handle that kind of responsibility. For one thing, the app’s security features are flimsy and have been subject to a couple of massive hacks in the last year. On New Year's Eve 2013, the names and phone numbers of about 4.6 million Snapchat users were stolen and posted online. This October, hackers obtained at least a hundred thousand “deleted” user photos, despite Snapchat’s assurances that these kinds of images disappear from your phone after receiving them. These security breaches mostly stem
from Snapchat’s basic encryption software, something that security experts like Chris Wysopal, chief technology officer of the app security company Veracode, call “the bare minimum” when it comes to privacy settings. For this reason, Snapchat has been publicly condemned by digital rights groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Centre and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, mostly because of its inability or unwillingness to protect its users’ private information. In an era when online fraud and invasive Internet hacking is at an alltime high, I wouldn’t trust Snapchat with my grocery list, let alone my debit card number. The app’s approach to sharing information is also poorly suited to financial exchange. The whole appeal behind Snapchat is that it lets users share images that are supposed to be
taken spontaneously or in the spurof-the-moment. While this technique works fine for sharing goofy selfies, it does not encourage sensible financial decision-making. When someone decides to purchase something or send their friend money, (no matter what the amount) that act should always be given serious consideration. But when people use Snapchat they are not in the correct venue to distribute something of value. They are looking to deal with electronic information that's cheap and disposable. If you’re absolutely desperate to find a mobile app that allows you to transfer money, there are so many other alternatives. Services like Venmo, Paypal, and Google Wallet all have much better security ratings than Snapchat. Right now, my biggest concern is
Snapcash allows Snapchat users to to send each other small amounts of money via text message. Photo: Remi Yuan, edits: Marta Kierkus
Raghad S. Khalil
that Snapcash users, who are mostly young people, will begin to treat their money like they do their images on Snapchat: a worthless text message that they never have to see again after they push “send.”
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Should criminals pay for their crimes? The Brunswickan
New Brunswick (CUP) —Should criminals pay for their crimes? This is the issue dominating Canada’s justice system as of late. Last year, the federal government changed the rules surrounding the victim surcharge. This surcharge was levied on those convicted of crimes, with the money going to fund various victims’ services. Prior to these changes, judges had the ability to waive the surcharge if it would cause undue hardship to the convicted individual. Instead of staying with this status quo, the government doubled down on a different agenda: It doubled the surcharge while making it mandatory for all offences. The effect of this was to make the surcharge amount up to $100 for a summary conviction offence, $200 for an indictable offence, or 30 per cent of any fine imposed in an offence. The changes have already caused controversy in the courts. In July, David Paciocco, an Ottawa judge, found that the mandatory victim surcharge constituted cruel and unusual punishment towards those who do not have the means to pay, contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Further, he stated that the changes impacted the discretion of judges. Paciocco joins a chorus of other judges who have outright refused to comply with the law, and make the provision mandatory. The problem has come to a head as of late. Tim McCooeye, an Ottawa man, was recently found guilty of drug possession. He was levied $100 for the victim surcharge. However, McCooeye argues that he is too destitute to pay the charge. He receives $612 a month from the government in disability pension. As a drug addict, McCooeye spends $14,400 a year to sustain his crack habit. McCooeye has said that the disability pension money goes towards buying “crack and food and coffee and cigarettes.” The difference between
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Paciocco’s analysis and McCooeye’s situation illustrates a disconnect in the law itself. Perhaps it is a function of the polarization in our politics when it comes to criminal law. Either way, must the victim surcharge wholly fail on constitutional grounds? Coming to the core of the problem, the victim surcharge isn’t a bad idea. After all, for years, the preoccupation of the criminal law has been the expansion of protections for the accused in the system. The charter has been interpreted broadly for these purposes when it comes to search and seizure protections, the right to instruct counsel, and detention and arrest. Only as of late has the government turned its eye towards ensuring that victims are not forgotten in the justice system. This is a matter of balance. Most reasonable people would accept that a fee paid by offenders to fund services for the very victims they wronged is a fair punishment. If we accept that victims are important in the administration of justice, the fee is not the problem. What is the problem is its application. There is something to be said for reserving the rights of judges to waive the fee in circumscribed situations. Such a waiver would be decided upon by balancing certain factors: is the accused genuinely unable to pay the fee? Is it their first offence? Is the offence a serious crime? By asking these sorts of questions, courts can decide whether the fee should be waived in particular circumstances. However, one thing should be made perfectly clear: people like McCooeye who spend tens of thousands of dollars on illicit drugs in a year should not be eligible for a waiver. They have the means to provide restitution to victims for crimes, but they expressly choose otherwise. It is simply not cruel and unusual punishment to make a person who wants to buy crack and coffee instead compensate victims. On the other hand, the recently introduced manda-
By tailoring the victim’s surcharge, the law can take victims into account while not penalizing criminals who have already been penalized by circumstance.
Victim surcharges can amount up to $100 for a summary conviction offence,or $200 for an indictable offence.
Mark Mancini
Photo: wikicommon, CC
New surcharge must be administered on a case-by-case basis
tory provision is unnecessarily harsh on those who genuinely cannot pay; it is unfair to make a person who is a victim of circumstance pay a fee when they are unable to. This illustrates the disconnect in political debate on law nowadays. On one hand, we have activist jurists who refuse to implement the law as it is, and instead construct complex rationales for entering the political debate: something they should not do. By becoming politicians instead of judges, they strike down good ideas (like the surcharge). On the flip side, we have laws that are not well-suited to the circumstances to which they apply. What are we to do? The answer is to take a more rational and balanced approach. By tailoring the victims’ surcharge, the law can take victims into account while not penalizing criminals who have already been penalized by circumstance. The sideshow that has been the mandatory surcharge debate has forgotten its very purpose: actually standing up for victims.
OPINIONS | 25
Heckles
Christmas music
sucks Janoah Willsie Staff Contributor
With the passage of American Thanksgiving, the Christmas season is officially upon us. This means that every department store under the sun is currently in the process of blasting gaudy Christmas music for the rest of the month. I don’t dislike Christmas, but this genre of music always makes me rethink my opinion of the holiday season. It is the worst kind of music: it’s unoriginal, it’s ridiculously commercialized, and it’s sometimes utterly horrifying. First of all, how often do you hear any new Christmas songs? Never, because artists are constantly redoing the old ones. “Silent Night” was a nice little carol when Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber wrote it in 1818. But since then it has been remade by just about every high-profile artist in the business, from Frank Sinatra to Beyoncé. It’s exhausting listening to the same mediocre songs three or four times in
26 | OPINIONS
a shopping mall playlist. Christmas music is also undoubtedly one of the most commercialized genres in all of music. For 11 months of the year, if a musician wants to sell his or her album, they need to produce new music and market it effectively. But as soon as December hits, real marketing goes out the window and is replaced by cookie cutter Christmas albums. None of the music on these albums is original or innovative. It is just cover upon cover of overplayed Christmas tunes. These albums are nothing more than a cash-grab, created by reasonably well-known artists who are targeting those of us with no idea what to buy our grandparents for Christmas. Moreover, some famous Christmas songs are just plain horrifying in terms of their lyrical content. For example, the song “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” might have been amusing the first time you heard it, but if you listen to its lyrics closely you come to realize the horrifying nature of the song. The cheerful
tune doesn’t quite match the upsetting lyrics about a drunken grandmother getting trampled to death by reindeer. Also, lets not forget about “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” a charity song that spouts condescending nonsense about how the entire continent of Africa is a barren wasteland where nobody would want to live. And don’t even get me started on “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” which is pretty much a seasonal anthem for date rape. And yet, despite the disturbing connotations, these songs are played endlessly at shopping malls, grocery stores, and coffee shops throughout the holiday season. Christmas music as a genre is pretty awful. There are a very small number of songs, some genuinely terrifying, which are remade by every artist in a cynical attempt to rake in the dough during the highly commercialized holiday season. Needless to say, I’ll have a much easier time getting into the holiday spirit if I don’t have to hear any Christmas music this December.
(Holiday) albums are nothing more than a cash-grab, created by reasonably well-known artists who are targeting those of us with no idea what to buy our grandparents for Christmas.
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Christmas in jeopardy Santa Claus arrested for identity fraud, may face further charges Stephanie Piamonte Staff Contributor An Interpol investigation has led to the arrest of the figure known as Santa Claus, who is now facing charges related to identity fraud, among others. “The suspect, known as Santa Claus, has been travelling around the world under multiple passports and identities for hundreds of years,” said Interpol spokesperson John Smithson. “A joint security taskforce was formed to find him and bring him in for questioning.” Some of Claus’ known aliases include Kris Kringle, Père Noël, Babbo Natale, and Kerstman. These charges were originally lodged by the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA), which has been observing Claus’ strange travel habits for some time. “Originally, we were very concerned about Claus’ habit of travelling via reindeer,” said CBSA spokesperson Jane Doson. “In a global village, we need guarantees that those reindeer aren’t importing any nasty diseases. We’d like to see a health certificate to that effect. Not even Santa gets special treatment at our borders.” Interpol’s investigation quickly widened when questions were raised about Claus’
nationality, since he does not currently reside in any recognized nation state. Claus was arrested quietly at his workshop on Monday. He has been formally charged with identity fraud and travelling under false passports. After going through his electronic records, police have also found millions of surveillance photos of children from around the world. “He’s got these two massive files labelled Naughty and Nice,” said one investigator. “We’re looking into whether any laws have been broken, but we’re pretty disturbed by what we’ve found. I’d say Santa is screwed.” Interpol said the investigation is progressing, and that Claus may face additional charges related to breaking and entering due to his penchant for distributing gifts in an unorthodox fashion. Claus may also face heavy fines for avoiding import duties. “If he’s crossing international borders with gifts, he has to pay the duties. No exceptions,” said Doson. Shortly after he was arrested, Claus’ bail was posted by his neighbour, who goes only by the Abominable Snowman. “If Interpol is going to start arresting mythical people and creatures, I kind of figure I’m next,” Snowman said from his home in the North Pole. “We figures of folk-
“Not even Santa gets special treatment at our borders.” — Jane Doson, spokesperson for Canadian Border Security Agency
Some students just aren’t ready to let fall go .
Photo: Rémi Yuan
Santa Claus has been charged with identity fraud, breaking and entering.
lore gotta stick together.” So far, Claus has refused to comment on the charges laid against him and any attempt to reach him at his personal residence has failed. The only information the Tomato managed to gather was gleaned from an automated recording at his toy
Illustration: Brennan Bova
factory: “Due to the events of the last week, toy production is slightly behind. We appreciate your support and are confident that we will be back on track in time to distribute joy in colourfully wrapped packages this holiday season. Ho ho ho.”
Acronym anxiety running rampant on campus Students can’t tell difference between FSS and F&S weeney Madison McS Contributor
After multiple incidences of students confusing the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) building with the restaurant Father and Sons (popularly known as F&S), the Coalition of Frustrated Students (CFS) has formed to advocate for a name change. CFS president Brian Quintedski told the Tomato: “It’s an easy mistake to make. Someone says, ‘Meet me at FSS,’ someone mishears them and shows up at Father and Sons. It may seem trivial, but this has become a pervasive problem at the University of Ottawa, especially for first-years who are unfamiliar with the campus layout.” For some, this confusion has even resulted in academic decline. “I could have sworn my study group was supposed to meet at F&S,” said second-year economics student Zak Brown. “So when I showed up and no one was there, I figured, ‘Well, I’ll just grab a drink and wait.’ Next thing I know, I’m on my fourth beer, and still no one. So
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that wasn’t very productive at all.” Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled sitting down in the lobby of FSS and wondering why no one arrived to take his order. “I only realized I was in the wrong place because I happened to check Facebook and saw dozens of pictures of my friends at the bar.” He said he waited for an hour, and even sent an email to the university administration complaining about the slow service. “It really ruined my night,” he adds. The CFS put forward a resolution to change the name of the Faculty of Social Sciences building at the recent General Assembly. However, their bill died when the GA didn’t meet quorum. Quintedski called the failure of the bill “a disappointment,” but holds out hope that they will be able to achieve change through other channels. Despite their seemingly harmless intentions, the CFS initiative to change the name of FSS has garnered some detractors. “Instead of changing the name of a building, why don’t we just call the
restaurant by its proper name?” said third-year political science student Lyra Wilkins. “How difficult is it to say Father and Sons?” First-year arts student Natalie McGeenly said it’s part of a larger systemic problem. “There are far too many acronyms on campus—FSS, DMS, UCU, and now ARC. And that’s not even considering all the student associations, who seem to go by increasingly complex acronyms. Specifically targeting FSS oversimplifies this whole issue.” Quintedski doesn’t dispute this critique. In a phone interview with the Tomato he admitted: “It’s true that FSS is far from the only confusing acronym on campus. Heck, I don’t even know what my student association is called anymore. This fight is just a first step in a larger effort to make campus more easily navigable.” The group is now faced with a new challenge, having recently received a cease and desist order from the Canadian Federation of Students, who accused them of unauthorized use of their initials.
“There are far too many acronyms on campus—FSS, DMS, UCU, and now ARC. And that’s not even considering all the student associations.” —Natalie McGeenly, first-year arts student
Acronym confusion has become so bad that campus institutions like F&S have even had to put up disclaimers, Photo: Remi Yuan
THE TOMATO | 27
DISTRACTIONS
The 12 Days of
Sex
With holidays soon upon us, I hope you’ll be upon someone special over the break. Everyone loves to receive, but this time of year is all about giving—make sure you’re generous to those on your naughty and nice list. As I’m in a generous mood myself, I thought I’d share some holiday sex positions and tips to keep you hot through all those long winter nights.
Jingle Balls
For him: With so many yummy Christmas treats like frosting and whipped cream lying around the house, you can give your partner double the treat by decorating your own ornaments and shaft. For her: With your man all dressed up in sweet packages for you, you get to enjoy the treats. You can also have him lie on his back, and straddle him facing his legs. Control the pace and jingle his balls until you hear his voice ring out in joy.
Santa’s Little Helper
No one likes spending the holidays alone. Splurge on a sex toy to make the holiday truly one to remember. By trying a new vibrator, dildo, ring, or what have you, you’ll have little reason to go outside in the cold.
Silent Night
If your house is full of people over the holidays, you may not want to disturb everyone. Keep your presents to yourself with a silent night of sex with your partner—the smallest and most stimulating movements are key. If you don’t feel like keeping it quiet because of that annoying aunt, turn on a carol and groove to the music.
Deck the Halls
What would a family dinner be without a little good-natured fun? Find a sneaky escape for you and your partner to leave the dinner table or living room, and creep up the stairs to an empty room to exchange gifts a little early, in the form of quick, hot sex.
The Stocking Stuffer
If Christmas dinner has you feeling full, so will this position. However, it will also help you burn off many of those Christmas calories long after the holidays are over. Lie on your back and lift your legs in the air, then let your partner wrap your legs around their neck and fill your stocking!
Milk and Cookies
This one’s sweet and fairly self-explanatory: give your lady some love from your mouth and hands as you lick her breasts and simultaneously keep her sugar cookie crumbling.
28 | DISTRACTIONS
Secret Santa
Routine gift exchanges are so passé. Make your holiday party a little more fun by hosting a new kind of gift exchange. Blindfold one of your guests, get someone else to dress up in a Santa suit or hat, and have them give the blindfoldee a little Christmas gift of their choice. When they’ve finished, they get to guess who their Secret Santa was before removing their blindfold …and then take their turn giving!
The Sleigh
This position is all about direction: guide your partner into their preferred “docking” position, and then play around with some sideto-side action, changing up the speed, pace, and position of your ride.
The Reindeer
FEATURES EDITOR Jesse Colautti
features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
DISTRACTIONS In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is said to bring new love in the upcoming year. According to the condom company Trojan, sales peak right before New Year’s Eve—but more babies are conceived between Christmas and New Year’s than any other time of the year.
This move’s a little more primal: get on your hands and knees and let your partner lean over you from behind and wrap his arms around you as he thrusts. This move will have you both racing to the finish.
Trim the Tree
Please remember to do a little personal grooming this season— some prefer the presents unwrapped and easily accessible. Or, you can always experiment with some festive designs.
Chest and Nuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Well the weather outside may be frightful, but a fire is always delightful… especially when you can add to the heat. Ask your girl to lie on her back on the couch near the warmth of the fire as your thrust between her breasts.
Festive Fantasies and Foreplay
Get creative! This is your chance to don that sexy red lingerie, invest in Christmas coloured condoms, stay up all night waiting for Santa’s presents, and ultimately put yourself on the naughty list. To close the year, have fun working your way through a few of these Christmas sex positions and tips. And be sure to ring in the New Year with a bang!
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Nov. 27 to DEC. 19 2014
THRYLLABUS
Thursday, Dec. 4
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Friday, Dec. 19
The United Nations and Canada: Can We Do Better?, Faculty of Social Sciences Building — 2:30 p.m. (free)
#Chicagogirl: The Social Network Takes on a Dictator, Bytowne Cinema — 7 p.m.
Foxcatcher begins playing at Bytowne Cinema
Skydiggers, Neat Coffee Shop — 8 p.m.
One Chance begins playing at Bytowne Cinema
Networking Holiday Soiree, Lieutenant’s Pump — 6 p.m. ($5) A Charlie Brown Christmas concert featuring the Jerry Granelli Trio, DominionChalmers United Church — 7 p.m. ($35) A Long Way Home begins its weekend run at Shenkman Arts Centre ($15)
Friday, Dec. 5 Force Majeure begins playing at Bytowne Cinema Solids w/ Hashed Out, The Dark Plains, House of Targ — 9 p.m. ($10)
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.
MUSIC arts Sports FUN Thinking
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Sunday, Dec. 7 Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m. Nightcrawler, Bytowne Cinema — 9 p.m. Finest Moments of Handel’s Messiah, Canadian Museum of History Theatre — 3 p.m. ($35)
Monday, Dec. 8 City and Colour, National Arts Centre — 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 Beerology Sensory Evaluation Workshop, Beyond the Pale Brewery — 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11 Ottawa Senators vs. Los Angeles Kings, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m. Originals: Ottawa’s Christmas Craft Show begins at the EY Centre
Friday, Dec. 12 The Nutcracker begins its weekend run at the Algonquin Commons Theatre Rome, Open City begins playing at Bytowne Cinema Canadian Workplace - The Rules of the Game, Vanier Hall — 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. (Free, but registration is required) The Strumbellas, Mavericks Bar — 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 Quite a Queer Qhristmas Concert, Centretown United Church — 7:30 p.m. ($10 tickets for students) The Flatliners w/ PUP — 8 p.m. ($15 tickets for students)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 Chuck Ragan w/ Adam Faucett, Eamon McGrath, Mavericks Bar — 8 p.m. St. Vincent begins playing at Bytowne Cinema Handel’s Messiah, National Arts Centre — 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 Alice Through the Looking Glass, National Arts Centre — 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 THOSE GULLS & Kings Quest, House of TARG — 9 p.m.
Ottawa Senators vs. Anaheim Ducks, Canadian Tire Centre — 7:30 p.m. Hornswater, The Rainbow Bistro — 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 A Christmas Story begins playing at Bytowne Cinema The Arrogant Worms, Neat Coffee Shop — 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 Traditional Carolling, D’ Arcy McGee’s Pub — 2-5 p.m. (free) Stuart McLean, National Arts Centre — 2 p.m., 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 26 The Imitation Game begins playing at Bytowne Cinema Shameless, Babylon Club — 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 27 Ottawa Senators vs. Detroit Red Wings, Canadian Tire Centre — 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28 Protest the Hero w/ Unearth, Antlion, Skies Beneath, Ritual Nightclub — 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29 Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres, Canadian Tire Centre — 7:30 p.m.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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CORRECTION
Correction: In our article “Wellness Week cares for body, mind, and soul” in our Nov. 27 issue it appeared that University of Ottawa Health Services (UOHS) was the sole organizer of Wellness Week on campus. The event was a collaboration between UOHS, Human Resources, and Community Life Service. Key services involved in planning that were not included in the original story are the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa and the Graduate Students’ Association.
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thefulcrum.ca
EDITORIAL
Volume 75, Issue 15, December 4, 2014 Building toys since 1942. Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this or we’ll expel you from the North Pole.
staff Sabrina “Jinglebuns” Nemis Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcum.ca Adam “Hollytree” Ashby Gibbard Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Fruitballs” Feibel Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Peppercane” Kierkus Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Hollyfig” Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Jessica “Gingersnap” Eritou Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Jesse “Peppersleigh” Colautti Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sarah “Frostsnaps” Nolette Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Pinecone” Darbyson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Shinycrackers” Van Dyk Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Snoozywine” Murdock Staff Reporter Remi “Twinkleflakes” Yuan Staff Photographer Lindsay “Cookie” MacMillan Associate News Editor Moussa “Glitterspice” Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor
Resolutions for the University of Ottawa: How IT can defy the conventional in 2015 • The university needs to plan its construction/ development projects a little better. Tabaret Hall has been inaccessible for the entire school year so far, despite the fact that they had the entire summer to tear stuff up. Not only is this inconvenient, but it also gives new students a bad first impression of the university, since this intrusive construction is one of the first things they experience when they arrive on campus. • We hope the university begins to clean library bathrooms on weekends in 2015. Extensive scholarly literature and our own research have proven that students continue to study and relieve
themselves on Saturdays and Sundays. Coffee is sold at the library seven days a week, it would be a holiday miracle if the university offered students the sanitized means to dispose of this beverage just as often.
It’s gruelling to have a full even the Government of day of back-to-back classes Canada allows voters to without any time to juice register over the Internet. up your computer. It’s a What does the SFUO know distracting guessing game that the rest of the world trying to see how much doesn’t? you can type without your • The University of Ottawa computer dying halfway needs to update the locker though your class. rooms for varsity athletes. • A women-only fitness • The Student Federation of They are extremely small, centre hour: One hour a the University of Ottawa dirty, and humid. The day, three days a week, fit(SFUO) needs to stop beamount of fungi and skin ness facility use for only ing afraid of the Internet conditions that spread in women. This can encourin general. Whether for that locker room is disage women who might feel voting, taking a survey, or gusting and the visitors’ intimidated to work out posting a calendar of uplocker room is pitiful. with men present to come coming activities, it would • Retire, or at least update, to the gym. It can also be much easier to reach Alumni Auditorium. It’s give them a chance to use students online. Their retoo old, the seats are too the heavier weights withluctance to use anything small, there are no plugs, out men clogging up the Internet-based because of and it smells weird. Some benches and dumbbells. security issues is peculiar of us are socially awkward in an age where banks do • The school should update enough without having to most of their trading and more classrooms with climb over other people to transferring online, and electrical plugs for laptops. get a seat.
Annalise “Jollystockings” Mathers Associate Features Editor Savannah “Fairyleaves” Awde Staff Proofreader Chantale “Turtledove” Streeting Webmaster Deidre “Frostfir” Butters Ad Manager ads@thefulcrum.ca Andrew”Snowpudding” Hawley General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca
Contributors
L. A. “Toffeelog” Bonte Brennan “Peppersnaps” Bova Jasmine “Cuddlesocks” van Schouwen Mackenzie “Glitterfluff”Powell Ophelia “Sugarmouse” John Kathryn “Greenpudding” Tubridy Pakenham Ashley “Mistletoe” Hoover Tima “Fizzycane” Hacini Clare “Nutmeg” Yacyshyn Menrika “Jinglewine” Christian William “Frostlights” Hume Tori “Chocolatesocks” Dudys Héloise “Lametta” Rodriguez-Qizilbash William “Drummer” Wu Chelsea “Marzipan” McManus Katherine “Silverspice” McCarron Raghad “Cinnamon” S. Khalil Janoah “Icicleballs” Willsie Stephanie “Snowdrop” Piamonte Madison “Bluebell” McSweeney Devin “Mincepie” Beauregard Jennifer “Emberwine” Vo
Cover art Marta Kierkus Adam Gibbard Jennifer Vo
Fulcrum staff 2014–15.
thefulcrum.ca
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