The Fulcrum - Frosh Issue - Vol 75 Issue 2

VOL. 75 ISSUE 2 | AUGUST 28 2014

FROSH SPECIAL EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE Love on the clock p.7 U of O student proposes fixed-term marriage contracts

Mmm...Doughnuts p.9 Student’s doughnut creation in Tim Hortons top eight

Probably not your new best friends p.14 People you’ll definitely meet—and probably avoid—in university

Where do you think you’re going? p.16-18 A map and guide to the best places Ottawa has to offer

Who’s in the big leagues now? p.21 Former Gee-Gees in the CFL

Taking responsibility for ISIS p.25 Looking at which nations made it possible for ISIS to exist

Be the ultimate anti-hero p.27 New faculty opens at the university

What to do in Ottawa this Sept. P.29 Check out the Thryllabus for a list of local happenings

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

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

Two hockey players charged with sexual assault Team remains suspended as names are released Sabrina Nemis

T

Editor-in-Chief

hunder Bay police have charged University of Ottawa hockey players Guillaume Donovan, and David Foucher, with sexual assault following a sixmonth investigation.

In March, it was reported that some members of the team were involved in a sexual assault while the team was in Thunder Bay for two games in February against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.

CBC reports that the assault is alleged to have happened at the West Arthur Street hotel on Feb. 2.

The assault wasn’t reported to university administration until Feb. 24, after the hockey season had ended. The team was immediately suspended.

Donovan, 24, and Foucher, 25, are to appear in a Thunder Bay court Sept. 30.

This summer, after an internal investigation, the university extended the team’s suspension to the entire 2014–15 season and fired head coach Réal Paiement. The results of the investigation confirmed that Paiement knew about the alleged assault, but tried to handle it internally. A third party reported it to U of O administration.

The investigation, conducted by indepen-

Guillaume Donovan (left) and David Foucher (right) both of Gatineau, Quebec

The U of O confirmed that the team suspension will be upheld, as they intend to rebuild the program with new coaches, improved policies, and behaviour guidelines.

(geegees.ca)

dent investigator Steven Gaon, confirmed that while the allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct were an isolated incident, the behaviour of some players was unacceptable and failed to meet university expectations for varsity athletes.

The university declined to comment on the results of their investigation, because they did not want to interfere with the police investigation.

Recommendations resulting from a review by independent experts Lorne Adams and Manon Vaillancourt will be put in place for all varsity teams and competitive clubs this September, with guidelines for both player and coach behaviour.

In a statement, the U of O confirmed that the team suspension will be upheld, as they intend to rebuild the program with new coaches, improved policies, and behaviour guidelines. The statement reads that the review’s focus “was not on whether a criminal offence had been committed or whether a conviction could be secured.” Instead, the U of O will look at the standards for player behaviour in general.

The decision to uphold the suspension is supported by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO).

In a statement, the SFUO said they “hope that these structures will help support the team in being active leaders on campus and in their communities when it comes to fighting misogyny and rape culture.”

TA union and university reach tentative deal University finds consensus after year-long negotiation with TAs Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor

TAS voted to strike in March

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Photo by Sofia Hashi

Teaching assistants have reached a deal with the University of Ottawa after two days of negotiations and almost a year without a collective agreement.

The Ministry of Labour appointed a conciliator to facilitate dialogue between the two parties after negotiations stalled this past spring.

In March, the student workers’ union voted in favour of a strike mandate that would have allowed them to strike during exam season.

Instead, they eventually reached an agreement five months later on Aug. 14 that promises increased wages and benefits to student workers.

Union president Isabelle Hétu credited the conciliation process in pushing a deal through.

“We finally solved the questions on how

the Employer had handled the Tuition Support Benefit as well as the salary mass. Having the proper numbers in hand gave us the necessary leverage to make our voices heard.”

The university’s Board of Governors voted to raise tuition fees in June for the ninth consecutive year. Teaching and research assistants are required to enrol at the U of O to be considered for the job. Because of this, a portion of their salary will go to paying off tuition.

Tuition increases without salary increases puts student workers at a net loss, the union said.

The two parties agreed to an increase to the tuition support benefit that will help counteract any future hikes in tuition fees.

After that was settled, other monetary issues soon followed, said Hétu. The issues of maternity leave and the financial aid fund were two other contentious topics.

In earlier stages of the bargaining process,

the union accused the university of purposefully putting off negotiations by withholding necessary financial data.

Hétu said that in the last two days of negotiations, the university provided that information and “seemed more open to discuss the matters at hand.”

She said she’s “greatly satisfied” with the progress made in the conciliation process.

“I hope this agreement will protect our members for the years to come and act as a cornerstone that can only be improved and adjusted if need be until the next round of bargaining,” she said.

The U of O also released a statement confirming that a tentative deal had been reached, but gave no further comment.

The new agreement will not be put in effect until it is ratified by the Board of Governors and union members in the coming weeks.

NEWS | 5

Ontario universities sign specialization agreements with government U of O among 44 schools to pick five programs for increased funding Lindsay MacMillan Associate News Editor

After nearly a year of deliberation, the University of Ottawa and 43 other Ontario post-secondary schools each released a Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) detailing the areas in which they plan to specialize.

Following the differentiation policy framework implemented last fall, the agreements required each institution to acknowledge their 10 strongest programs, and choose five to expand and specialize.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities said in a statement that these agreements will “strongly inform future decisions, including allocation decisions and program approvals.”

The U of O identified its proposed growth and specialization in five areas: management and communication, science and engineering, environment,

public policy, and health.

In a statement the university said that they and the Ministry are “committed to working together to support student access, quality, and success; focus the strengths of the institution; and maintain a financially sustainable post-secondary education system.”

The ministry adopted the new policy in hopes that program specialization will prevent overlapping programs, allowing for a few quality programs at one school instead of multiple, less developed options.

“Now is the time to focus attention on increasing quality of education in certain areas that our post-secondary institutions have identified as their strong points,” Reza Moridi, Ontario's minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, told the Globe and Mail.

In a January interview with the

Fulcrum, U of O president Allan Rock said the new policy is "not an unreasonable way to go," and not that farfetched, either.

“For decades, universities and faculties have been developing profiles that reflect special profiles, special strengths,” he said. “It’s always been that way.”

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) published a report that contradicts the government of Ontario’s specialization plan.

The report says that specialization would “result in decreased access and compromise academic freedom and institutional autonomy.”

The council argues that differentiated post-secondary institutions provide the better quality education.

The SMA also stipulates an increase in the number of graduate students the province will pay for per program,

Rock said in the winter that the province will apply metrics to measure each university's performance in its selected areas of specialization.

The ministry hopes to prevent the overlapping of programs.

with specialized programs gaining more funding and more students.

Some programs, however, may have entry suspended.

The U of O will add 134 spots for students in master’s programs and another 96 for PhD students for 2016–17.

At least 15 spots will be reserved for postgraduate students in one of the five specialized programs.

In the SMA, the university states extra funding will also mean more international research collaborations in the specialized programs. The U of O has plans to partner with universities in China, Israel, Germany, and France.

The agreements act as a guideline for expansion—they do not specify how

‘Til end of contract do us part?

U of O student challenges traditional marriage values in thesis proposal Christian Zapata Contributor

A graduate student at the University of Ottawa has a proposal for all those who are afraid to propose.

Véronique Laliberté’s thesis proposal on fixedterm marriages has got Canada talking about what it means to be married.

In a fixed-term marriage, two people agree to be married for a set number of years. At the end of this period their marriage dissolves unless they wish to renew their vows.

Laliberté said in an interview with the Fulcrum that she believes the concept of a fixed-term marriage allows “people who are afraid of commitment to get married, but not forever.” The fixed contract could very well lead to a lifelong marriage, said the 27-year-old law student.

Laliberté was inspired by Eric vs. Lola, a famous Quebec civil rights case where the judge ruled that unmarried couples are not entitled to the same pro-

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tections as married couples. A fixed-term marriage could give these couples legal protection while not forcing them to make a commitment they are not ready for.

A lifelong marriage is unrealistic, she said.

“It's not for better or for worse, it's for better.

And if it's going to be worse, then we obviously have the divorce.”

According to Statistics Canada, in 2008 there were 70,226 divorces in Canada, and 41 per cent of all marriages were expected to end in divorce before the 30th anniversary. Statistics Canada said it will not be providing yearly divorce rates after 2008 due to budget cuts.

Fixed-term marriages would make divorce less complicated, Laliberté said. If a couple does decide to separate, they would not have to go to a lawyer at the end of their contract because the marriage would automatically dissolve.

“It's two to say yes and only one to get divorced,” said Laliberté. “So even if you are trusting yourself,

See online for a list of what ontario universities are specializing in Photo by Marta Kierkus

much funding each institution will receive from the provincial government.

“We cannot expand in the same way now given the reality of the day, so we have to work together to make sure the money we spend will benefit students,” said Moridi.

Rock said in the winter that the province will apply metrics to measure each university's performance in its selected areas of specialization.

“In the long term, the government may tie funding to our performance under those metrics, as sort of a carrot to make sure we comply,” he said.

The agreements will run for three years from 2014 to 2017. They can be found on the ministry's website.

Take our poll online!

you see yourself with this person forever, you never know if the other person will be there forever.”

It's the kind of suggestion that was bound to attract critics.

Andrea Mrozek, executive director of the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, wrote an article for the National Post opposing Laliberté’s views, in which she said “family cannot be successfully regulated by contract.”

Mrozek argued that fixed-term marriage would negatively affect any children that the couple may have. “The problem is that the point of a contract is to clarify where and how each party can get out," she wrote. "And no child or adult thrives when they believe the love of their family exists only by contractual obligation.”

Laliberté acknowledges the potential issues with a fixed-term marriage. There would be numerous legal complications—Canadian courts do not currently recognize the end of a fixed contract as grounds for divorce—and cultures that value trad-

Photo courtesy of Véronique Laliberté

ition would not be keen to adopt it.

She argues that a fixed-term marriage would not detract from the seriousness of marriage. When two people agree to a five-year marriage, “they can really see themselves in five years obviously, so this is going to be a real commitment,” she said.

The idea is not unique, however. According to the National Post, similar ideas have been proposed in Australia, Germany, and Mexico in the past few years.

Laliberté said she believes some people are "ready to have a new thing in marriage," but that she doesn't know if society is ready for it.

NEWS | 7

U of O launches first year of extended e-learning program University says blended learning will boost student engagement, not stifle it Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter

As students head back to classes this fall, some will be dividing their time between the laptop and the lecture hall in a new push for more blended learning at the University of Ottawa.

Blended courses are those that mix aspects of a regular lecture with online components that are done outside of class time. They’re meant to create a type of learning where a student can get the benefits of both a classical lecture, and that of a fully online course.

Richard Pinet is the director of the Centre for e-Learning and a key part of the supervision and advancement of the blended learning initiative. The centre, part of the Teaching and Learning Support Service, oversees the development of multimedia-based courses and learning materials.

“Learning is a process of active and social engagement, as opposed to an outcome of delivering content and information to passive notetaking recipients," said Pinet.

The U of O is one of many schools embracing the shift to online education.

Hybrid learning was a topic of interest in the recent Strategic Mandate Agreements signed

by Ontario schools with the provincial government. Thirty-nine of the 44 post-secondary institutions pledged to increase the availability of online education according to Contact North, an online distance and education training network.

The U of O Senate began discussing an increase in blended courses last fall. The university aims to have 20 per cent of courses adopt the hybrid model by 2020.

“It’s part of a broader cultural shift from a lecture-centre model of teaching to a more learnercentred approach,” said Pinet.

“A lot of the responsibilities have shifted to creating active learning environments, rather than passive ones,” he added. “I think that blended learning fosters that kind of critical engagement (students) prefer in their work and in their studies.”

However “research suggests that Canadian post-secondary institutions have been slower than those in many other countries to incorporate significant online components,” wrote the

“It’s part of a broader cultural shift from a lecture-centre model of teaching to a more learnercentred approach,” ­—Richard Pinet Videos, podcasts, quizzes and tutorials are being used more and more in classrooms.

Photo by Marta Kierkus

Canadian Council on Learning in a report.

But hybrid learning has its critics. Mark Edmunson, an English professor at the University of Virginia, wrote in the New York Times that blended courses do not meet the various needs of students, including interaction between them with their professors.

“Online education is a one-size-fits-all endeavor,” Edmunson wrote. “It tends to be a monologue and not a real dialogue.”

Pinet said the U of O’s blended courses will do just the opposite.

“The reason why the blended courses will work so well is because the students still have an opportunity to see the professor face-to-face, or check in with their other students face-toface and online,” he said.

The Centre for e-Learning has spent much of the past year on workshops and multimedia courses for professors to help them create more inclusive courses that find a balance between lectures and online content.

Now, they want to shift the attention to students to make them aware of alternate methods of instruction.

Student group releases report on loan usage in Ontario Financial assistance is subject of student association survey Audrey Chakwesha Contributor

A report by the Ontario Student Undergraduate Alliance (OUSA) says a lack of awareness of available services is to blame for a discrepancy between students’ financial needs and the OSAP funding they actually receive.

The report, entitled “Paying Our Way: A Look at Student Financial Assistance Usage in Ontario,” analyzes data collected from 9,000 students from various schools, who answered 140 survey questions about their finances in November 2013.

Over the last 10 years, Ontario has increased funding to post-secondary education by 83 per cent, but student representatives point out that young people are still struggling to afford it.

That’s especially true for minority student populations according to the report, which finds they acquire student loans at lower rates than the general population.

Stéphane Hamade, the OUSA’s vice-president of finance, said Aboriginal students, students with disabilities, and students with dependent family members apply at lower rates for OSAP. However, these groups of students are more often in need of financial aid.

The big picture is that students of all backgrounds are largely unaware of the various forms of government financial aid, according to the report.

“It is alarming to see that we have such a structured stu-

dent financial aid system in place, but it does not necessar-

ception of the cost and affordability of post-secondary education.

ily reach the students that it needs to,” said Drew Ursacki, an OUSA steering committee member and Brock University Students’ Union executive.

Most students are not aware that tuition and education tax credits are a form of government financial assistance, the report explains. Tax credits account for the second-largest investment in student financial assistance from the Ontario government. More than half the first-year student population surveyed were unaware that they were eligible for a tax credit.

The report suggested that this may have impacted their per-

Ursacki recommended OSAP change the criteria it considers when deciding how to allocate funds. For example, “How hard did this student work over the summer, did they try to find active employment, is that employment beneficial to their career?” he said.

He said students need a better OSAP financial literacy campaign, but for now, the best way students can help themselves is to make the effort themselves.

“It is important for students to take their time and do the research to find out what funding options are available to them and how they can go about doing that,” he said.

“It is alarming to see that we have such a structured student financial aid system in place, but it does not necessarily reach the students that it needs to” — Drew Ursacki Students of all backgrounds are unaware of the various forms of government financial assistance

8 | NEWS

Photo by Marta Kierkus

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ARTS &CULTURE

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

U of O semi finalist in Tim Hortons doughnut challenge

Student bakes way for a pistachio white chocolate endeavor Jessica Eritou

Arts & Culture Editor

I

f the smell of doughnuts wafting through your dorm or apartment is something that would make your mouth water, you should ask Isabelle Scantland Lebel to be your roommate.

The University of Ottawa student created the pistachio and white chocolate doughnut that qualified her for the semi finals of the Tim Hortons Duelling Donuts contest.

Her doughnut concoction was chosen out of 76,000 entries, eventually leading her to the top eight selection to compete for a grand prize of $10,000.

When she first heard about the contest, she didn’t think she had a chance at the grand prize.

“The idea was just to have fun with it,” she says.

Scantland Lebel is a recent human kinetics graduate from the U of O, now entering her second year of pharmaceutical science.

But on the side, she loves to bake. Scantland Lebel gets ideas from blogs then tries to find new ways to make old-style sweets, like replacing butter with apple sauce, or stevia with sugar.

“Apple sauce makes a good texture even though there is no fat, and whole grain flour makes a difference,” she explains.

Soon after she submitted her doughnut idea, Scantland Lebel got a phone call telling her she was in the top 20. “I jumped 20 feet high when

I got the call,” she says. Her next step was to make a video of her doughnut pitch explaining the concept behind the idea and flavours for the recipe.

She and the other finalists were flown to Tim Hortons headquarters in Oakville, Ont. Scantland Lebel had to introduce her doughnut to a panel of judges that included television host Ben Mulroney, musician Jann Arden, chef Anna Olsen, and actor Jason Priestley.

“I jumped 20 feet high when I got the call” - Isabelle Scantland Lebel For the initial taste test, several trials of each doughnut creation were baked by Tim Hortons.

“They work really, really hard to come up with the best recipe possible for that with all the in-

Isabelle and her Pistachio & White Chocolate donut. Judges include Ben Mulroney, Jann Arden, Anna Olson and Jason Priestley.

Photo courtesy of Caitie Wallman

gredients, and make them look and taste as good as possible,” says Scantland Lebel.

But when it came down to the competition, She couldn’t beat the recipes of Canada’s top amateur doughnut-makers.

“I like them all. The final four that were chosen definitely were the best,” she says. “The judges made a great choice because they made the most Canadian aspect of them.”

The Big Red Canadian features a red velvet base, and the Lumberjack is made with bacon

Tall Trees keep climbing Jasmine van Schouwen Contributor

Three music students at the University of Ottawa are learning the finer side of music—but on the side, they’re learning how to rock.

Jad Hammoud, Josh Wynnyk, and Ethan Mitchell of Tall Trees like to do things outside the box. They do that with an eclectic mix of

Jad Hammoud, Ethan Mitchell, and Josh Wynnyk of Tall Trees.

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rock, indie, folk, and blues.

"I simply say rock,” says Hammoud. “But it's only true to an extent. I guess you have to listen to it to really know what I'm talking about.”

The band was officially formed in 2012, but the music began to come together as far back as when Hammoud was in high school. Since establishing themselves in the Ottawa scene, the

Photo by Emma Boonstra

and maple. Currently the most popular is the Reese’s Pieces, which contains the classic candy.

Even though her recipe didn’t go all the way, Scantland Lebel says she loved the experience.

She gained media skills from pitching and creating her video, since the Tim Hortons team provided feedback on the execution and style of her pitch.

It also gave her an appetite to pursue a career in food and media.

Ottawa band learned their craft with the help of U of O profs

group has enjoyed a warm welcome. They’ve played in art galleries, bars, clubs, coffee shops, and festivals across the city.

"We've played pretty much everywhere. And frequently, which is always a good thing,” says Hammoud. The three agree that one of their favourite venues remains Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Hammoud especially enjoys playing festivals.

"You're really treated like royalty. It's honestly one of those experiences that remind me why I do what I do.”

All three are music students at the U of O. Hammoud studies vocal performance and music studies, Mitchell studies cello, and Wynnyk, orchestral percussion. The musicians speak highly of their studies.

“Ninety per cent of what I learn is transferable in some way or another over to bass,” says Mitchell. “Working in small ensembles in school really helps us get a more unified sound as a group.”

Their university studies also help them widen their audiences by playing a variety of gigs on campus. However, the group admits school has in many ways hindered their development

as a band.

“The program is fantastic and my voice professor is an amazing man that I have tons of respect for,” says Hammoud. "That being said, it really slows us down. You just have no time for anything else. I stopped listening to music for enjoyment. When you're having so much energy and heart taken away from you, it's impossible to write.”

Wynnyk adds, "Because of the busy schedules, it has held us back from rehearsing as much as we would like to.”

But the group remains motivated. The band has a release party, a showcase at Zaphod’s, and ELE Fest all booked for September.

The three also firmly deny Ottawa’s stereotype of the artless public service capital.

"I think that's a complete fallacy,” says Mitchell. “I have seen so many acts with the band this past year, proving that this city is chock full of great artists. I think we're part of a great scene.

Whoever says there's no art in Ottawa isn't looking hard enough.”

ARTS & CULTURE | 9

The forgotten preference: author talks asexuality Julia Sondra Decker gives insight into sex, coming out, and the misconceptions of another orientation Gabriela Yan CONTRIBUTOR

Some of us are attracted to men, and some of us are attracted to women. However, there is a concealed and sometimes confidential preference. The orientation indentified as asexuality refers to someone having an absent or low sexual desire and attraction to someone else, within or outside of a relationship.

The Fulcrum spoke to the Toronto-based author for a detailed look inside the asexual perspective. Julia Sondra Decker’s new book, The Invisible Orientation, explains the misconceptions of asexuality, helpful resources, and people’s experiences with relationships in an informative context.

The Fulcrum: When did you first know you were asexual?

Julia Sondra Decker: I started referring to myself as nonsexual at about age 15. I wouldn’t describe that as knowing. I do believe sexuality is fluid and I fully expected at that age that I would develop a more typical sexual attraction experience later in my life, but it never happened.

What are the most common misconceptions of asexuality?

The most common ones are that we haven’t met the right person, have a hormonal deficiency, had a bad experience with sex, are suffering from trauma in our past, are secretly gay, are late bloomers, are going through a phase, just want to be special, or can’t find an appropriate partner.

What makes a person “come out” as asexual?

Heterosexuality is generally considered the default if people don’t know what your orientation is. If an asexual person does not come out, they are usually misinterpreted as a heterosexual person. Furthermore, not being partnered or not behaving in a certain way with any existing partners, tends to make peo-

ple wonder what’s wrong with us. Coming out alleviates that, assuming the people we come out to believe in asexuality and acknowledge it as fitting us.

“More awareness about asexuality across the board will help some people understand that it’s not something that will be fixed by being forced into sex.” - Julia Sondra Decker

Any tips for allies who want to support asexuals?

Allies should learn to listen, let asexual people control conversations about them, and refrain from asking questions that are designed to invalidate them. They should also understand that even if they are not personally able to wrap their mind around it, they should still trust the asexual person to describe their feelings. Belief in asexuality should not be presented as conditional, and non-asexual people are not the arbiters of whether we really are having this subjective experience.

Since many people don’t know about this orientation, what do you think is the best way to learn?

I think it is important in having different types of media available so people will come across it everywhere. I made YouTube videos and wrote essays, submitted and published articles in widely read blogs, gave interviews to mainstream media, participated in a documentary, and now, I’ve written a book.

At the International Asexuality Conference in June, it was noted there’s a high prevalence of abuse and “corrective rape.”

What should be done about that?

“Corrective” rape is indeed horrifyingly high in our community, and sometimes it’s even worse when we’re told that’s the cause of our orientation. More awareness about asexuality across the board will help some people understand that it’s not something that will be fixed by being forced into sex. Some people are coerced into sex they don’t desire because they’re shamed into believing they should accept it. Spreading awareness about asexuality might help some of those people get the confidence to understand they aren’t obligated to have sex with people who pressure them.

Author Julia Sondra Decker with her new book

Why should people read The Invisible Orientation?

Asexual people will find resources and perspectives on coming out, dealing with criticism, learning about others like themselves, and understanding the communities they can be part of. Non-asexual people with asexual friends and loved ones can learn how to be good allies and have some of their fears and questions answered without having to ask uncomfortable questions.

Movie You Should Have Seen: Good Will Hunting Jasmine van Schouwen CONTRIBUTOR

Why it’s famous: This week’s column looks at a film that makes every must-see movie list, and also celebrates and honours the life of Robin Williams, a great actor who made his audience laugh, while realizing a lot of hard truths about life.

Good Will Hunting is a classic story of a working-class math genius from the wrong side of Boston put Matt Damon’s popularity on the map. It brought Williams to the screen in the profound and beautiful role that

10 | ARTS & CULTURE

would win him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. famous Lines: Sean: I just slid my ticket across the table, and I said, "Sorry, guys. I gotta see about a girl."

Will: I gotta go see about a girl?

Sean: Yeah.

Will: That's what you said? And they let you get away with that?

Sean: Oh, yeah. They saw in my eyes that I meant it.

Billy: You're legally allowed to drink now, so we figured the best thing for

you was a car.

Sean: People call those imperfections, but no, that's the good stuff.

Why you haven’t seen it:

When you read the storyline, Good Will Hunting kind of just looks like a weird, feel-good movie your mom would make you watch. There is something about a guilt-inducing life lesson.

Why it might be tough to get through: It is set in the ‘90s. So this means an overabundance of baggy pants,

Courtesy of Julia Sondra Decker

plaid, and bowl cuts. I cannot think of anyone I would wish to sit through 126 minutes of baggy pants and bowl cuts if it was not worth it.

Why you should see it anyway: As cheesy as the movie may seem, it is actually entertaining. The story is beautiful, the characters are relatable, and the script simultaneously quirky and profound. When Robin Williams' character (Sean) tells Matt Damon (Will), “It's not your fault,” you will suddenly and conveniently have

something in your eye.

Fu n facts: Robin Williams' last line in the film, "Son of a bitch. He stole my line," was ad-libbed.

When Robin Williams won the Oscar for his supporting role, he sent fellow actor Peer Augustinski, who dubbed his voice in German, a small replica of the Oscar statue with a note saying, "Thank you for making me famous in Germany."

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#FULCRUMFOODREVIEW

MLTDWN – Rideau Centre Dining Hall Janoah Willsie Contributor

Inside the Rideau Centre Dining Hall is MLTDWN, a new grilled cheese sandwich eatery. The Ottawa location is owned and operated by local brothers Ali and Rahim Moloo.

I ordered the most popular item on the menu, the pulled pork sandwich. It was delicious. The sandwich is created with sourdough bread, pulled pork, caramelized onions, jalapeño jack, aged cheddar, and barbecue sauce. The stringy cheese complimented the flavourful pulled pork and barbecue sauce. The onions were a delightful addition as well. The sandwich was grilled to a perfect, crispy golden brown texture.

MLTDWN also makes desserts, such as their s’more sandwich. This treat features Nutella, marshmallows, and choco-

late chips. The dessert's biggest flaw is the bread. Rather than being crispy like the classic s’more graham cracker, the MLTDWN version is rather soggy.

The service is fantastic. While I waited for my food, I met one of the owners who was at the counter the whole time talking to customers. Samples of the restaurant’s homemade cheese sauce were given out to the customers in line.

The sauce is eminent of gourmet nacho cheese sauce—a perfect pairing for their popular cheesy fries.

MLTDWN is an innovative eatery with friendly, caring staff. Diners can tell their menu was selectively and carefully chosen. Next time you’re looking for a good place to get a quick meal, I truly recommend it.

MLTDWN’s “RSTD Veg” with gluten-free bread,

Photo by Marta Kierkus

Watch the video tutorial online with Hawleywood himself!

Andrew Hawley General Manager

B

y reading this, you have accidentally stumbled into Cocktails 1100. Congratulations! You have made it to the most fun class on campus. You will never take another course where attendance is optional, and participation results in tipsiness. Over this semester, my goal will be to show that, contrary to popular opinion, cocktails and the student lifestyle can mix. There is a way to make fine drinks without breaking the bank. For lesson one, we’ll ease in with a classic: the gin and tonic.

WHEN TO

DRINK:

RECIPE: 2 oz (60 ml) gin 4 oz (120 ml) tonic water INSTRUCTIONS: Pour the gin into a highball glass filled with ice.

Add the tonic water and stir. Garnish with lime or lemon (lime is more typically used).

The G&T is one of the simplest cocktails to make, yet it’s always satisfying. Last March, bartenders named it one of the more underrated cocktails in a Thrillist.com article.

The key thing to remember is the gin-to-tonic ratio of 1:2.

For brand, you cannot go wrong at the entry level with Beefeater ($14.75 for 350 ml) or Bombay Sapphire ($15.95), though Tangueray ($15.25) is my preferred choice.

Always a safe choice, the G&T thrives as a casual drink whenever refreshment is the occasion.

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ARTS & CULTURE | 11

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hands on campus THE 10 PEOPLE YOU’LL Helping The student services everyone should know about MEET IN UNIVERSITY Jesse Colautti - Features Editor The wooer

This person has a drinkingrelated nickname for every day of the week. You’ll be best friends during the first few weeks of class, but you’ll soon be cursing his or her name as you squirm in bed the night before a midterm when all you can hear is “I love this song” yelled down your residence hallway. These are often the same people who brag about how they wrote their last essay drunk, and who believe YOLO is the answer to any criticism their parents direct their way.

The know-it-all

This is the guy or girl who uses every question in class as a chance to demonstrate their superior knowledge to the professor and the rest of the class. Easily found by listening for references to obscure authors, or philosophers that have nothing to do with what you are discussing, and by rare, leather-bound editions of the books on the syllabus.

The student who blames America for everything

It’s incredible how this student can turn any subject into a critique of American capitalism.

A discussion about symbolism in Hemingway’s short stories?

Obviously a time to bring up the pro-life movement in America today. A scientific explanation of frontal lobe growth in Psychology 101?

Has to be connected to the Iraq war and oil. These people also tend to have not actually read the readings for the class, and who feel that “society” is a valid answer for why bad things happened during any historical period.

The student who still wants to be in high school

These people had a great time in high school, and as a result can’t let go of the glory days and adapt to change. They still wear Hollister to class, still brag about drinking stories as if no one has else has ever tasted alcohol yet, and are still under the belief that there is a popular group in each class they take. By second year these people will reminisce about their “younger days,” posting an excessive amount of throwback Thursday photos of themselves hanging out by lockers on Instagram with #simplerdays describing the scene.

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The beer tearer

This is your friend who by 1 a.m. is incapable of anything except one sided heart-tohearts, and unintelligible sobbing. During these fits of melancholy, this friend will pick out one obscure phrase and keep repeating it until its greater significance has sunk in with their audience. This is how you’ll end up in the middle of the night cradling the head of a drunken hot mess repeating, “It was just soy sauce, I didn’t know any better.”

The professor who is angry about “the youth of today”

Usually, this professor will let you know within minutes of the class that he or she doesn’t believe in A-pluses, or that papers handed in a moment after the start of class will be burnt immediately. These are usually the same people who claim their road in life was uphill both ways, and who will have you believe they began preparing for each lecture last summer before the class was assigned to them.

The over-dresser and the under-dresser

Two of the most recognizable people you will meet in university. The over-dresser will wear a full suit to class, sneer at your sneakers, and will carry schoolwork in an attaché case that always smells like fresh mahogany. The under-dresser will show up to your 11:30 a.m. class in a sweatshirt, pyjama pants, and slippers with soaking wet hair, bragging about the fact that they were asleep 10 minutes ago.

The obvious question asker Easily found on day one of a course after your professor has repeated word for word what is on the syllabus, when he or she then asks, “Are there any exams for this class?” There’s no such thing as a dumb question, except for whenever this person raises their hand.

The student who has switched majors six times

Often motivated by a great documentary they watched the night before, these people have successfully gone through five years of university without ever experiencing a third-year course. Easy to get along with and fun at parties, but massively in debt, this person will not be a favourite of your parents.

The Luddite

This person can be found on campus calling his parents from payphones, and is the same guy in your group project who didn’t complete his part because he was too busy playing Sonic the Hedgehog with some friends. This person will either own a stereo system that was made before the fall of the Berlin Wall, or will insist on shunning iTunes for the superior sound of the cassette.

The best thing about the size of our campus is all the nearby services. Your tuition and fees pay for these services, so you might as well use them. Beyond the unique programs they offer, these resource centres also offer challenging and fun volunteer and work opportunities.

Here’s a list of some of the best.

The Free Store

This is a relatively new, yet quickly growing service in the university community. It’s managed by the Office of Campus Sustainability and accomplishes two fantastic things: it reduces the number of useable items going straight to the landfill, and it saves students money.

The Free Store is a house at 647 King Edward Ave. full of things that you can peruse and take for the grand price of nothing. If you need a pot for your Kraft Dinner creations, a new shirt (new to you, at least), or just want to dig for hidden treasures, this is the shopping centre for you.

Need some incentive to get involved on campus? Volunteers get the enviable perk of first dibs on new items.

Foot Patrol

Foot Patrol’s volunteers are available to walk or ride the bus with you a considerable distance away from campus at night. Located in the basement of the Jock Turcot University Centre (UCU), near the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) office, it’s one of 12 services run by students, for students.

The service isn’t just for getting to and from class—they can accompany you to a restaurant, friend’s place, or pretty much anywhere else. If you request a casual walk, they can take their bright uniforms off.

Foot Patrol is always on the lookout for volunteers. Patrollers commit to nine hours a month, and are part of a regular weekly shift.

The Peer Help Centre

The Peer Help Centre is a diverse service dedicated to helping students in a variety of ways. If you’re feeling stressed or just need someone to listen to you, they offer active listening. If you need help with an essay, or would like to practice a presentation in front of someone, they can help you with that too. They can also refer you to a tutor if you need some personalized help in a course.

They offer a peer support phone line at night (613-562-5604) if you feel the need to talk to someone. If they can’t help you, they’ll know someone who can.

The centre also needs volunteers.

SASS Counselling and Coaching Service

The transition into university can affect people in different ways. It’s challenging, and sometimes overwhelming, to be plunged into so many new things at once. There’s nothing wrong with feeling stressed, homesick, or lost. Mental health is being discussed more and more. As a result, more and more support resources are becoming available to all students.

SASS Counselling and Coaching Service is one of these. They provide coaching to help you determine your goals and how best to reach them, as well as counselling to help you realize these goals. They’re free of charge and completely confidential—your file with them is strictly separate from your academic file.

Community Protection

Community Protection is a volunteer service affiliated with Protection Services (our campus’s security). They’re located in the basement of the UCU, near the Alumni Auditorium. If you lose something on campus it will eventually make its way to the lost and found at this central location, so check back a few times. They also run theft-reduction programs such as decals and tracking numbers for laptops, and campus safety walks during the day.

Twice a year they sell long-unclaimed items from the lost and found. It’s a great opportunity to pick up stuff at a low price, and the money goes back to the service itself. Community Protection also needs volunteers.

Centre for Global and Community Engagement (CGCE) If you went to high school in Ontario, you’re familiar with logging volunteer hours, and how they can be useful for jobs, scholarships, and other opportunities. The same thing can happen with your volunteer hours during university.

The CGCE offers a database of volunteering opportunities—a way to have your volunteer hours verified and officially tracked—scholarships, and various other opportunities, both local and abroad. They exist to encourage volunteering on campus, so if you’re having trouble finding a volunteer placement that fits just right, give them a visit.

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A tour through some of Ottawa’s best neighbourhoods Tweet us you favorite places in Ottawa with #FulcrumBestOfOttawa

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Sandy Hill, sometimes known as the student ghetto, is notoriously home to many a student, and likely where most of you will find subpar apartments in your second year.

It's also home to many of our foreign embassies, such as the imposing structure of the Russian embassy, and historic sites, such as Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s home. While walking home from a house party, take note of the many beautiful old buildings in the area, as this is where most diplomats settled down in the late 1800s. Just think, one day you could be Russia’s neighbour!

Sandy Hill is also home to one of the most beautiful parks in the city: Strathcona Park. Bordering the Rideau River, it’s a perfect place to run, play some Frisbee, or relax under the trees with your readings. Located where Laurier Avenue turns into Charlotte Street, Strathcona Park offers a quick escape into nature. Just be careful of the geese.

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In the ByWard Market, you will find many necessities you won’t hear about on your welcome tour. These include, but are not limited to: Zak’s Diner, the best place for a 3 a.m. meal or milkshake; Zaphod’s, the best place for PBR on tap; and more local fruits and vegetables than you can shake a stick at. From the Market, you can walk up the stairs to Major’s Hill Park, between the Chateau Laurier and the National Art Gallery, for an amazing view of the river.

While during the day on the weekends the Market is packed with tourists, at night the streets are crawling with university students going in and out of any one of the bars in the area. The Market has a bar for whatever music you’re into, be it good or country. It doesn’t really matter where you go out, because everyone ends up at the same place anyway: Smoke’s Poutinerie, where you will regularly see someone throwing up their recently purchased meal in the early hours of the morning.

Chelsea McManus - Contributor Before you chose the University of Ottawa, you probably did a bit of research about the city, or even visited. You’ve probably heard about Ottawa's wide range of museums and historic sites, and of course, Parliament Hill. (If you haven’t, I’m sorry, our public education has clearly failed you.) All these places are worth checking out— notably on Thursdays after 5, when museums are free—but there's also much more to this city than what you can find in a guidebook.

This is your new home away from home, and it's a home worth getting to know. It’s far too easy to get trapped in the campus bubble in first year, with the occasional field visit to Hull and the Rideau Centre food court. Don’t let this be the only part of the city you see, I beg of you. Take some time in September, before midterms and your caffeine-fuelled hermit state kick in, to stroll around some of Ottawa’s most wonderful neighbourhoods.

Centr et

own

Bar, bar, sex, burgers.

For some, this accurately encompasses their university experience. It is also what you will find on the west side of the Rideau Canal, in Centretown. Want to go to a gay sex shop next to a nut-free cupcakerie called Thimblecakes? You’ll find it in Centretown. Want some organic foods and holistic remedies? Try Herb & Spice and their wellness centre. Want to dance your pants off to some songs you bumped and grinded to in middle school? Try Shameless night at Babylon Nightclub on Bank Street, or retro night next door at Barrymore’s.

Also on Bank Street, you’ll find comic book shops, record stores, yoga studios, and coffee shops.

A few blocks east on Elgin Street, you’ll find patio, after patio, after patio, and then some really delicious tacos.

If you’re longing for an urban atmosphere, Centretown is where you want to be. It can be a little raunchy, a little smelly, and a lot of fun.

e b e l G e h T

Chinatown A bit deeper into Centretown, easily accessible on the No. 2 bus, you will find Chinatown. If you want mediocre service, reasonable prices, and hefty servings of delicious food, you’re in the right place.

Home to Pho, Dim sum, Korean BBQ, and all-youcan-eat-sushi, you’ll be glad you took a break from the cafeteria. In addition to hundreds of different noodle variations, you’ll find some cafés that will blow the cup sleeves off your Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. Umi Café and Raw Sugar are both small, independent coffee shops host to low-key musical acts and board games. The bus ride out to Chinatown is also an experience in itself, even if only for an Instagram picture under the beautiful arch.

Just south of Centretown, under the highway overpass, you will find yourself in likely the loveliest pocket of the city: the Glebe. Home to dozens of independent shops and restaurants, the Glebe prides itself on being unique.

While most attractions are out of a student’s price range, the Glebe is also home to Ottawa’s most original pizza joint, ZaZaZa Pizza, as well as the city’s most well-known burger restaurant, The Works.

Both are worth busting out a pretty sized penny for, and afterwards you can take a walk through the parks and the residential area to see some of the most beautiful homes in Ottawa.

The Glebe is also where you’ll find the revamped stadium, TD Place, which hosts Fury soccer, Redblacks football, 67’s hockey, and this year’s Panda Game. If sports aren’t your thing, sit down for a coffee at one of the area’s many wicked coffee shops, or grab a bagel at Kettleman’s across the street from the stadium.

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PUBS AND RESTAURANTS 1 - Arrow & the Loon

A very welcoming pub in the centre of the Glebe. Dozens of local beers on tap and a mustvisit on cheap wings night.

2 - Pub Italia

Beer and Italian food at its best.

Order from the beer bible and explore the world.

3 - Ahora

Delicious Mexican food with extremely affordable prices (pretty much everything on the menu is under $10) and a fun atmosphere. Might be the best date option in the city for a student.

4 - Royal Oak Laurier

5 - Pour Boy Pub

Great beer—all for $5—and a diverse and affordable menu make this restaurant the perfect Saturday night hangout spot.

6 - The Lieutenant's Pump

A great place for brunch on the weekends with lots of food on each plate and reasonable prices. The layout of the building is pretty interesting, as the red leather booths and winding subterranean rooms will make you feel like you’re in England.

7 - Chez Lucien

One of Ottawa’s most notoriously underrated watering holes. If you like classic rock, craft beer, and mayo with your fries, Chez Lucien should be your home. It also has a jukebox to bring everyone together around your really good (or even better, really awful) taste in music.

8 - Father and Sons Brunch and beer only steps from the U of O. The best slice in the city.

9.1 - The Green Door Tasty vegetarian food by the weight. Always busy

Five-dollar Indian buffet dinner on weeknights between 5 and 8 p.m., and only a three minute walk from campus.

A pancake food truck with all the fixings. Pile ‘em up.

12 - Parliament Pub If the happenings on the hill get you all hot and bothered, Parliament Pub is the place

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Don't be put off by the highclass wine list; it doesn't mean high prices for everything else. Their surprisingly cheap weekend brunches are perfect for the morning after a long night, and their eggs put Cora's to shame.

14- Al Basha Shawarma

BARS AND CLUBS 15 - Heart & Crown

A labyrinth of bars and dance floors makes this one of the most worthwhile places for a night out in the ByWard Market.

It’s usually busy, and the prices aren’t great, but the layout and atmosphere make it worthy of its popularity.

16 - Club Caliente

This Latin club in the ByWard Market has dance lessons early every Friday night, after which the dance floor opens up for you to test out your tango with some regulars. A fun change of pace from the other indistinguishable clubs in the area.

17 - Babylon Nightclub

Home of the liveliest, craziest, and raunchiest themed nights in the city. Check out their event calendar for Mod night, Shameless, '90s or Bust, Queer Mafia, and Grillz and Glam.

18 - La Maison

9 - Colonnade Pizza

11 - Flapjack’s

13 - Vittoria Trattoria

Shawarma for the hunger.

Shawarma for the hangover.

A fine pub for all your pubby needs. Can’t go wrong.

10 - Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet

to let out your inner policy wonk. With a perfect view of Parliament Hill, you can enjoy delicious dishes named after notorious politicians while sipping moderately priced pitchers. Best enjoyed on a sunny afternoon when parliament is in session—the optimal conditions for spotting a wild Wallin or stray Stronach.

The hole-in-the-wall, dirty but charming, traditional gathering place for U of O students pretty much any day of the week. You wouldn’t want to take your mom or date here, but the pitchers are cheap, the service is friendly, and the faces are familiar. They also have a wicked happy hour food and drink menu that kicks the cafeteria’s ass.

19 - Zaphod Beeblebrox

The best place in town to find a hipster lover, and PBR on draught. For an exciting night order the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

20 - Mugshots

Located within the jailhouseturned-hostel is Ottawa’s only jail bar. Go dance in the courtyard, where prisoners did their daily exercises; sit and drink under the gallows; and try and find the bathrooms located unsettlingly close to the isolation cells.

21 - House of Targ

Pinball, pints and punks...plus some old school video games.

Hard to beat a good night of button mashing.

CAFÉS 22 - Blue Bird Coffee

A delightful place to sit and enjoy a coffee or sandwich in the ByWard Market. It's quiet enough to study for a few hours, but it’s also possible to find a couple of comfy seats to catch up with a friend.

23 - Ministry of Coffee

Some of the best coffee in the city, made in any style you could think of. For coffee purists, it doesn’t get much better.

24 - Morala Coffee Shop

One of the Glebe’s many coffee shops—what sets it apart from the others is the intimate atmosphere and incredible hot chocolates.

25 - Planet Coffee

Featuring some of the best coffee in the city, and located in the ByWard Market, this is a great place to spend an hour or two on a weekend afternoon.

Its walls also make fun of you for letting your eyes wander, which can make for some funny moments during a coffee date.

No wi-fi though, so leave the laptops at home.

26 - The Tea Party

A teahouse with an amazing selection and cheaper prices than David’s Tea. They also have very affordable food with veggie and gluten-free options.

There is free wi-fi and there are always a couple of free tables, so it's a great place to grab tea or lunch and get some studying done.

27 - Monopolatte

A great board game cafe with over 800 games. Mix that with it being in Chinatown and you’ve got a great date night.

28 - T.A.N. Coffee Exclusively fair trade coffee only ten minutes away from campus.

29 - Fleur Tea House Coffee, tea, and dance classes.

All in Sandy Hill.

MOVIE THEATRES 30 - Bytowne Cinema Nestled right downtown, this charming old theatre is a great date spot for students, and is the best place to cozy up and enjoy an Oscar favourite as the temperature begins to dip.

31 - The Mayfair Theatre

Located just south of the Glebe, this vintage theatre is one of the coolest buildings to visit in the city. The monthly midnight viewings of The Room (the worst movie ever made) are a hilarious and interactive experience, and they usually have a good mix of classic favourites and new independent films for real film buffs.

PARKS CULTURE

32 - Hog’s Back Park

A beautiful place for a bike ride or a walk among waterfalls.

33 - Arboretum / Dow’s Lake

Located at the far end of the canal, close to Little Italy and Carleton University, you’ll be blown away by how such a large and gorgeous glimpse of nature can be located so close to the city. A walk through the Arboretum during the fall is breathtaking.

34 - Brantwood Park Not far from St. Paul’s University, and only a walk up the Rideau River away from U of O’s campus, this park is the perfect place for a game of ultimate Frisbee or football during the early fall days. Take a break to skip stones in the river, or gaze at the occasional black swan making its way downstream.

35 - MacDonald Gardens Park

A hidden gem in Sandy Hill.

This lush green park is the perfect oasis in the middle of the student ghetto to read a book or sprawl out on the grass.

36 - Main Library

Trashy romances, thrilling detective mysteries, young adult fiction: everything you won’t find at Morisset.

37 - Absolute Comedy

Take a chance on amateur night or wait for the professionals on the weekend.

38 - Kowloon Market A great place for all your asian food needs. Their BBQ pork buns are the cheapest tasty thing around.

39 - Museum of Nature

Dinosaurs, animals, and once a month they have Nature Nocturne—a themed night of dancing, drinking, and crafting at the museum.

40 - Museum of History

Brush up on the things that have gone before. Plus they have the Children’s Museum! Yay!

41 - War Museum

Military history and the answer to the puzzling signs directing you toward “war.”

G - Grocery Stores Learn to cook already!

KEY These are places #s the on the map

GO FORTH AND BE MERRY!

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GPA game plan Five tips for academic success at university

Kardina Kaminska - Contributor You made it. You’re in university! The excitement of new beginnings surrounds you as droves of new students swarm to campus for the first time, ready to start year one, semester one.

Don’t be too fooled by the first week’s celebrations; although the next few years of your life may be filled with unending adventure, there is also plenty of work to be done if you hope to walk across that stage four years from now. Here are a few tips to help you get on your way to making your studies as successful as possible.

Taking a bird course is smart, not lazy In the summer of my first year at university, I spent hours at my computer desk mulling over my course options before finalizing my schedule. I had to figure out what kind of student I wanted to be: the serious or birdcourse type. I opted for the former.

Like so many other students, I failed to understand the value of taking the occasional bird course. I wanted, more than anything, to make the most of my university experience. I chose more challenging courses, more engaging professors, and as a

Write it down

Whether you have one course or six per semester, make note of when every assignment and piece of homework is due, and when lectures, laboratories, tutorials, and exams are taking place. The last thing you need is the nasty surprise of a deadline that has gone unnoticed until the night before, or in the worst-case scenario, the start of class.

The best strategy is to get yourself a big calendar you can hang up on your wall and write in every important date. This way you can mentally prepare yourself for tougher weeks and adapt accordingly. When you plan out your weekly schedule, find regular study times for each day of the week and stick to them.

Also, don’t forget that more nights of adequate sleep results in more efficient time spent in lectures and doing homework during the day, so don’t let those zs fly away!

result, often a larger workload.

I accepted this, thinking that it made me a good student.

It didn’t.

Bird courses are an integral part of university. Or at least, they should be. When used wisely, they can help students accomplish all their university goals.

For one thing, bird courses are useful academically.

Beyond serving as simple GPA boosters, they allow students to put extra effort into the classes that truly matter to them. At some point or another, you will fall in love with a particular class or professor, and you’ll be thankful for opportunities to focus on what you’re truly passionate about.

Regardless of what your professors will tell you, part of university is learning when and how to cut corners. It has nothing to do with being lazy.

Prioritizing your workload is not only helpful, but is essential to your survival in university. And taking the occasional bird course makes prioritizing your work that much easier.

Show up

Next, go to class. Although this seems obvious, the reality is that when things get busy it sometimes seems like the best thing to do is skip some of your lectures to save time. But regular attendance is key to success at university, as it forces you to go through the material the professor wants you to know at least once. Even if everything you discuss in class is in the readings, you may actually save time studying in the long run because the repetition will ultimately reduce the number of hours spent memorizing everything you missed.

On another note, bird courses allow you to take time to unwind and enjoy university life, which is essential to remaining healthy and sane.

They offer a bit of breathing room in an otherwise chaotic cycle of assignments, midterms, and exams.

I am by no means advocating for you to Google “bird courses U of O” and register for every class you see listed on BirdCourses.com.

You would soon discover that this approach is untenable if you plan on graduating. This is university, after all. But ignoring the importance of bird courses entirely will soon leave you feeling tired and discouraged.

Even for students who have few or no electives, there’s always going to be a professor who’s an easy marker, or a class that covers material you’ve studied extensively in other classes.

These are all, in their own way, bird courses. And they’re all worth taking at least once in university.

Get active

Generally speaking, try to be proactive. Introduce yourself to your professors and teaching assistants and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Do your homework regularly. If you’re having trouble with material, find study groups or help centres that may help address your questions. If you need something to break your routine, or give you a kick of energy, join a club or a sports team.

Back away from the bird courses As an only slightly dedicated student, I was always up for a bird course. Light workloads, jovial profs, and easy As were what I lived for. But looking back on my course choices, and which ones have made my postuniversity life easier, I’ve come to realize that bird courses haven’t been as wonderful as I thought.

So far, every course that’s been relevant to my life has been one that I took strictly out of interest. It’s no coincidence that these courses have also helped me impress employers, get some pretty great jobs, and discover new passions.

An introduction to advertising course helped me walk into my current, full-time marketing position with no further educational background in the field. I signed up for the class because I read the description and felt like the readings and assignments were ones I would enjoy working on.

I took another class about

Know your limits

It’s great to be involved in university and its wider community, but always be aware of how much you can handle. Don’t overwork yourself and you won’t get burnt out.

Remember that beyond the topics of every course you take, university is basically about learning how to learn, and about adaptability. If you can recognize what type of learning is needed when, and what works best for you, then you have surpassed half the battle.

gender and sexuality in popular culture because I had been reading blog articles about the topic. Turns out I discovered a love for feminist writing I now use in my own blog-life.

Though neither of these classes were considered bird courses, I passed with flying colours. Why? Because my interest in the topics had me excited to attend and actively participate in my lectures. I also spent less time procrastinating, since I was genuinely interested in learning more about the course themes.

Since I’ve graduated from the University of Ottawa, classes I took because of their easy reputation — such as literature and film and children’s literature — haven’t had

Never surrender

Most importantly, even when university knocks you down—and I guarantee it will more than once—get back up, brush yourself off, and keep at it. And if you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone about it. Most of us aren’t perfect, so give yourself some leeway.

But always give yourself time to reflect and make sure your goals aren’t out of your sight.

much impact on my life, though at the time they were simple to understand and a breeze to conquer.

The classes that have really mattered were the ones I took because I loved what they were about. I also ended up doing as well in these classes as the ones I took because of their bird-like reputation.

It’s true that nothing easy is really worth doing in the long run. Follow your passions and you’re sure to not only excel in terms of grades, but you’ll come out of school with information that will help you later on.

Point/Counterpoint Are

bird

Justin Dallaire Contributor thefulcrum.ca

courses

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it?

Tori Dudys Contributor FROSH GUIDE | 19

2014–15

SPORTS Former Gee-Gees in the CFL

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

Where did the great football Gee-Gees go?

Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter

A

BRAD SINOPOLI

BRENDAN GILLANDERS FB, TORONTO ARGONAUTS

MIKE CORNELL

During his career for the Gee-Gees, Sinopoli was a quarterback with some serious speed as he led the team in passing and rushing yards. He was drafted to the Stamps in 2011 and after a somewhat rocky start with multiple position changes, he’s finally beginning to show his true potential. So far, he has caught 15 passes for 133 yards and has one rushing attempt that resulted in a touchdown.

Gillanders is in his rookie year for the Argos. Last year he was a key piece in the Gee-Gees offence, providing explosive runs and racking up a four-year total of 740 yards. Playing time isn’t easy for a rookie to come by, and Gillanders is proof. He hasn’t put up any numbers on offence yet, but has recorded three tackles on special teams.

Cornell has had a tough road since entering the CFL in 2010. He was a standout linebacker for the Gee-Gees, but he hasn’t found a rhythm on the field for defensive snaps.

After starting his career with Edmonton, he was released this offseason, picked up

by Winnipeg and has spent the majority of his time on special teams. He recorded two regular tackles and four on special teams.

Cornell is looking to get back to the numbers he was posting in 2011, when he had three solo tackles and 16 special teams.

WR, CALGARY STAMPEDERS

s football season approaches and the Gee-Gees gear up to hit the field once again, let’s take a look at some former Gees that are now suited up for CFL squads.

While the University of Ottawa’s top players fight for the garnet and grey during their time at university, oftentimes their minds are fixated on the bright lights of professional football.

At the moment, three former Gee-Gees are active in the CFL: there are six in total who were active at the beginning of the season, but three have now become free agents.

Here are the U of O alumni who are tackling big-league competition.

#25 BRENDAN GILLANDERS

#12 BRAD SINOPOLI

LB, WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

#44 MIKE CORNELL

Three Gee-Gees rowing for gold

Photos provided by Jennifer Elliot

Students travel to France to represent Canada at international competition Kay, Pelham, and Page were all

just graduated from teacher’s col-

The crew trained hard before

athletes in elementary and high

lege, and Page is currently in year

being selected and kept up their

Marika Kay, Jenna Pelham,

school. Kay grew up interested

two of her master’s in geology.

training throughout the sum-

and Lilianne Page are living

in running, Pelham loved to play

Making the Canadian rowing

the dream as they prepare to

soccer and swim, and Page even

team has been a long-term goal

represent Canada in an inter-

has some experience in a canoe.

for these girls.

Sarah Nolette Sports Editor

national rowing competition in France.

When the crew first met, they

They’ve

mer. All three train twice a day, and at least once on the water.

They say rowing is much dif-

been

training

ferent from other sports.

wanted to continue their athletic

together for a number of years,

“The ratio to training and ra-

careers but try something new.

persisting despite setbacks, and

cing is extremely high,” says Kay.

row for Team Canada this Sep-

Page happened upon the row-

pushing through close cuts from

“We race three times a year, and

tember during the University

ing webpage and simply thought,

different teams. This will be the

train 12 months a year.”

Rowing Championships at the

“Why not?” It didn’t take her long

first time all three will compete

They say they’re confident

Aa River in the countryside of

to fall in love with the sport.

together internationally wear-

this is only the beginning of a

ing the maple leaf.

career on the global stage. Can-

The three Gee-Gees will

northern France.

“I knew coming into uni-

The group of friends all com-

versity, I wanted to be part of a

“It’s an honour to wear the

adians are very strong inter-

pleted their undergraduate de-

sports team, but realized I prob-

maple leaf, it’s not something

nationally in rowing, so they

grees in chemistry, but each has

ably wasn’t good enough to make

that everyone gets to do,” says

hope to represent not only Ot-

a different athletic background.

a varsity team,” she says.

Kay. “It’s not something we take

tawa, but Canada too.

Kay graduated in 2013, Pelham

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lightly.”

“This is our first step onto the

Jenna Pelham, left, Lilianne Page, Marika Kay, and Kate Goodfellow Photo by Rich Webster

world stage and this is not a final

ence,” she added. “Our goal is not

step,” says Page.

just make this team, but to stand

“We just want to soak it all in, soak in the international experi-

up on that podium. Our goal is to obtain a gold for Canada.”

SPORTS | 21

The new study on the blue fruit

Why the panda roars The origins and future of the nation’s top collegiate football rivalry Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter

When it comes to university football rivalries in Canada, one stands apart from the rest.

It may not be the oldest, but it is certainly the one with the richest history. A quintessential cross-town rivalry that carries the name of an animal nowhere near native to the area has captivated the nation’s attention for nearly 60 years. It’s not just another game on the schedule—the Panda Game is an event engrained deep in the fabric of Ottawa.

When it comes to football, the University of Ottawa has a history dating back to the 1890s.

They were perennially a force to be reckoned with, and were almost as popular and successful as the storied Ottawa Rough Riders teams they played alongside. As time went on, city teams were ushered into the Canadian Football League that we know today, and college squads were separated. The U of O was alone in the city until the 1940s when Carleton University was founded and soon decided to field their own football team.

It was not until 1955 that things started to take off between the Gee-Gees and the Ravens. A student and associate editor at the Fulcrum by the name of Bryan McNulty decided to fire up the rivalry between his beloved U of O and the much younger and smaller Carleton.

In preparation for the game between schools, McNulty decided to donate a stuffed panda bear named Pedro to serve as a Gee-Gees mascot. From that

22 | SPORTS

Panda Game victory 1995.

point the game grew every year, and Pedro became a celebrity of sorts, constantly being stolen back and forth between schools.

The majority of the time, the Gee-Gees reigned as victors, but the importance of the game was never discounted. Fans in excess of 16,000 flocked to Lansdowne Park each year to watch the game that had become bigger than all but the Grey Cup and Vanier Cup games. As popularity rose, the crowds became some of the most rowdy of any in North America.

This reached a boiling point in 1987 when a railing snapped and about 30 fans fell more than 30 feet onto a concrete floor, injuring many and putting one in a 20-day coma with a broken neck. From this point on, the game changed and started to fade, until 1998 when the Ravens team folded and the Panda Game was no more.

After a 15-year break, Ravens football returned, and with them the Panda Game was revived in 2013. With a freshly rekindled fire, the Gee-Gees dismantled the Ravens 35-10, improving their all-time Panda

Photo by Steve Johnson

Game record to 33-12.

Now that Pedro has been sitting comfortably in his rightful Sandy Hill home for the last year, it’s once again time for his ownership to be put on the line.

The biggest improvement to the game this year is its return to where it began, on the grounds of Lansdowne Park.

The newly refurbished 24,000seat TD Place Stadium is home of the new Ottawa RedBlacks CFL team, the Ottawa Fury soccer team, and hopefully the Panda Game for years to come.

History has proven just how great the Panda Game can be, and this greatness has no end in sight. Tradition is of great importance as generations unite to relive the memories of Panda Games past. On Sept. 20 at 1 p.m., show your loyalty to the U of O and drape yourself in some garnet and grey as you watch the Gee-Gees fight to hoist Pedro again, even if it’s just for old times’ sake.

Student tickets for the 2014 Panda Game can be purchased for $15 (including transportation) at Capitaltickets.ca

Why you should include the blueberry in your diet for good David Agbaire Contributor

If someone asks you what you would bring to a desert island, your answer should be blueberries. You can eat them with everything, and they are guaranteed to make your meal better. They are laden with antioxidants, which help stimulate brain activity, improve cardiovascular health, and regulate blood sugar levels—all crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially on a desert island.

The antioxidants found in blueberries have now been proven to protect the nerve cells found in the brain. A recent study showed that older adults who ate 2-2½ cups of blueberries a day had improved test scores of cognitive function, including memory, after just two weeks.

This means that not only will blueberries make you feel cognitively sharper, but they

may also protect some of that crucial knowledge stored in your brain for that big test.

Blueberries have also been proven to help protect the whole body from a wide array of damage and wear.

The antioxidants found in blueberries have been scientifically proven to help repair and protect the muscles from damage done after rigorous physical exercise, making them the perfect post-workout snack. Another study also found that blueberries can help repair and protect the retina from damage, which can be crucial for those long hours spent squinting at books or laptop screens in dimly lit rooms.

The anti-inflammatory properties of the antioxidants found in blueberries also make them perfect for losing weight. Blueberries may be very sweet, but they’ve been shown to have a very low

impact on blood sugar levels, and improve the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.

This can help protect against risks such as diabetes and obesity. A regular intake of blueberries develops the body’s capacity for antioxidants, which reduce the risks of a wide variety of health defects such as cancer. (Note: Results showing the effects of blueberry antioxidants on cancer cells have been predominantly based in laboratory trials on animals, but there is hope that large-scale results on human forms of cancer will soon be available and yield positive results.)

But most importantly, blueberries are delicious. The World’s Healthiest Foods website suggests that people should eat more raw blueberries, but that shouldn’t stop you from baking them into your muffins and cookies too.

Photo by Brianna Campigotto

thefulcrum.ca

Zero to 25k real quick

What impact will Drake have on the NBA? Moussa Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor

Drake was on his worst behaviour during the closing of his star-studded concert at the October’s Very Own festival in Toronto.

With NBA superstar Kevin Durant in attendance, Drake asked the crowd how loved KD would be if he were to come to Toronto, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Lord knows where Durant will sign in the summer of 2016, but seeing as Lebron James will most likely never leave Cleveland, Kevin Durant’s pending free agency will be a hot topic among basketball fanatics for the next two years.

Normally, that type of comment by an artist would not make headlines. But since Drake is the ambassador of the Toronto Raptors, it’s a different story.

The NBA responded to the rapper’s comment by fining the team $25,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering policy.

The league had to act out to prevent meddling on the part of other teams (cough, cough,

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Washington) who are beginning their own pursuit of Durant.

It’s the second time in less than six months that a Raptors representative has been fined for a comment in front of a crowd. Do you remember how General Manager Masai Ujiri finished his speech before Game Four of the Brooklyn series? It went along the lines of cussing Brooklyn in front of thousands of Raptors fans.

Rumour has it the NBA would have removed the fine if the Raps let go of Drake as the team’s ambassador. Seeing as both the Raptors and Drake have money to blow, it’s not surprising that they declined

Photo illustration by Marta Kierkus

the NBA’s proposal.

The league may have fined Drizzy to stop the tampering floodgates from opening, but it’s interesting to note that in 2009, before Lebron James and Dwyane Wade were set to become free agents, the league did not fine Jay-Z—who at the time had small ownership of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets—for rapping about their impending free agency on the hit record Empire State of Mind. Shouldn’t the line of a song that hit airwaves worldwide be considered tampering just as much as a man high on adrenaline asking a crowd how much he would love to see a player on his team?

It was a small slap on the wrist, and to the letter of the law, Drake was in the wrong.

But if this indeed is the planting of the seed of Kevin Durant’s signing to Toronto, we should look at the bigger picture. Whatever tampering the Raptors would have to pay for signing Kevin Durant would be well worth the price.

Alive ‘n’ kicking: soccer life on campus

Kick your semester into shape with soccer David Agbaire Contributor

The new semester means the beginning of the University of Ottawa’s fall intramural recreational sports. The rigours of starting a new academic year mean it can be a stressful time for students, both new and returning. It’s easy to forget the physically active summer you had and slump into a pile of books and Kraft Dinners.

For me and countless other like-minded enthusiasts, the beginning of the sports schedule means one thing: the return of soccer.

Soccer is a fantastic way to keep healthy and maintain that summer body you worked so hard for. It’s great cardiovascular exercise and good training for the often-neglected leg muscles. You can take it almost entirely at your own pace—you can walk, jog, or run whenever you feel like it—and it’s a whole lot more interesting than a half

hour on the treadmill.

There are three ways to play soccer at the U of O: varsity level (for the most elite of athletes), intramurals (for enthusiasts with a competitive streak), and pickup games.

The university’s Gee-Gees field and Montpetit gym provide an all-weather artificial turf field with floodlights and spacious top quality gyms, respectively.

Intramural soccer is a chance to group up with your friends and take on other teams in the numerous leagues organized by the university.

There are male, female, and coed leagues, each with its own unique brand of play and competitive bite. You can also sign up individually; once all the teams have been organized, those with an extra spot will be assigned players from the individual pools. But beware, these spots are in high demand and it’s first-come, first-serve.

If the competitive and structured nature of organized sports isn’t really your thing,

Photo by Brianna Campigotto

or perhaps you’re too busy to make the commitment, there’s still a place for you at the Matt Anthony field. Pickup games are every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pickup games are free to all students.

Both options offer a chance to socialize with friendly students from around the globe who have all come to share their love of playing soccer.

The games are usually fastpaced, competitive, and highly sporting, reflecting the calibre of the university’s students.

SPORTS | 23

OPINIONS The Prince of Pot

OPINIONS EDITOR Kyle Darbyson

opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

strikes back

Marc Emery’s return will hopefully spark new legalization talks Orginal photo by Cannabis Culture editor Jeremiah Vandermeer. Edits by Marta Kierkus

Hopefully the self-proclaimed Prince of Pot can raise a big enough stink… and get the people of Canada to see that pot prohibition is a policy that benefits virtually nobody Kyle Darbyson

A Opinions Editor

mid a cloud of celebratory marijuana smoke, renowned pot activist Marc Emery returned home to Canada on Aug. 12. This homecoming took place after Emery spent four long years locked in an American prison for selling marijuana seeds across the United States border. Before he even touched down on Canadian soil, Emery vowed political revenge against the Harper government, whose hardline stance on marijuana prohibition, according to Emery, led to his incarceration in 2010.

At this point, it’s difficult to tell whether Emery’s political ambitions of running for office are realistic, since it’s unlikely that any mainstream political party will endorse a troublemaking loudmouth with a history of well-documented drug use (Rob Ford notwithstanding). However, that’s not the main issue here.

The one real hope I have for Emery’s proposed return to politics is that he at least draws more attention to the Conservative government’s ridiculous war on weed.

Despite Canada’s worldwide reputation as a bastion of progressive thinking, Harper seems intent on soiling that image by refusing to budge on the issue of decriminalization. In fact, his government seems to be moving in the opposite direction, having installed a piece of “tough on crime” legislation in March of 2012 (Bill C-10) that hands out mandatory minimum sentences for convicted drug offenders.

Not only does this kind of legislation fly in the face of public attitudes toward pot—studies show that the majority of Canadians support legalization—but acts like Bill C-10 seem to be pushing our country toward a bloated US-style prison system. This is the same kind of system that seems intent on wasting valuable tax dollars by filling institutions with masses of non-violent offenders.

Moreover, the Conservative government seems to be completely unmoved by little things like fact and scientific research, which have shown us over the years that the legalization of marijuana holds countless medical benefits (more treatment for cancer, glaucoma, PTSD), new environmental opportunities (the growing of hemp for industrial and agricultural purposes), and a brevity of economic advantages (freeing up drug war tax dollars for other uses). Instead, they seem hung up on an after-school special mentality that dictates that all drugs are universally bad, and should

be kept away from the public at all costs.

What’s truly ironic and infuriating about this situation is that even the US, whose “tough on crime” policy Harper was trying to emulate originally, has since made progressive strides toward legalization. On Nov. 6, 2012, both the Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502 were passed, which effectively decriminalized marijuana possession in each respective state.

Our government, on the other hand, has gone to great lengths to demonize a recreational drug that has been scientifically proven to be no more harmful than alcohol. They have also systematically robbed us of one of the things that defines us as Canadians: the privilege to act morally superior to our American neighbours.

Again, I can’t be sure that Emery’s return to the realm of politics will herald any immediate change, since the Harper government seems to be operating under the assumption that absurd 1930s drug propaganda like Reefer Madness are still relevant in the 21st century.

Hopefully, in the meantime, the self-proclaimed Prince of Pot can raise a big enough stink on his planned 30-city speaking tour across the country, and get the people of Canada to see that pot prohibition is a policy that benefits virtually nobody.

Women’s World Cup struggling for recognition

Female athletes still face a lack of representation in the media Justin Dallaire Contributor

This summer, the 2014 FIFA World Cup unfolded with its usual fervor. Fans flooded into local pubs to watch the games, while others paraded through the streets and pinned flags to their cars.

Spectacular moments sparked social media firestorms, with fans from all over the globe announcing which team had scored, and which penalties were totally undeserved. There was no avoiding World Cup fever, even if you wanted to.

Yet as Canada took on Germany in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on Aug. 16, the country went about its usual day-to-day business, largely unaware that Canada was competing in the tournament, let alone hosting it.

Little suggests that next year will be any different when we host the 2015 Women’s World Cup. For Canadians, who purport themselves to be great fans of the game, hosting these tournaments should be a dream come true, since it is a rare chance to see our own talent compete on our own fields.

So why do so few people seem to care or even know about these female-centric sporting events?

24 | OPINIONS

The problem is the lack of official media coverage, certainly, but our own inability to indulge in women’s sports the same way we do in men’s sports is also to blame.

According to FIFA’s Television Audience Report for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the 71,867 hours of live broadcast reached a total of 2.2 billion viewers throughout the tournament, which is an average of 188.4 million viewers per game. In contrast, the same report conducted for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany found that during the 5,931 hours of live broadcast, a mere total of 248.5 million viewers tuned in, an average of only 13.2 million per game.

“The core problem is that . . . the full acceptance of women’s sports as a serious area for sports in the media is a long way off,” John Doyle wrote for the Globe and Mail back in 2011. “There is a kneejerk inclination to compare the merit of women’s sports with men’s sports and find the female version wanting.”

I agree with Doyle on that point, as I’m sure many others do, so we must ask ourselves: Why is this the case?

Many men will claim, despite their feminist inclinations, that they prefer to watch males compete because they want to watch the very best athletes that professional sports have to offer. Since men are biologically stronger and faster than their female counterparts, they are often considered to be the best athletes and are therefore the most entertaining to watch.

Unfortunately, refuting this argument is not that simple. As reported in the Atlantic, studies have shown that, in many sports, women achieve world records an average of 10 per cent lower than men. But surely 10 per cent in athletic performance cannot account for the 2 billion more viewers of the men’s World Cup. The answer to this uneven representation lies, more than likely, in the media coverage of these events. The Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport found that although 40 per cent of sports participants are female, women’s sports receive only 4 per cent of all media coverage.

That needs to change.

In the meantime, commentators such as the Globe and Mail’s Cathal Kelly should refrain from calling the men’s World Cup “the real prize” and “the ultimate draw,” as he did in a recent article about the U-20 women’s team. Foolish statements like these only serve to perpetuate the idea that the Women’s World Cup is subordinate to the “real” World Cup. The rest of us should do our part by celebrating the accomplishments of our U-20 women’s team, and by carrying that energy into 2015. The World Cup has finally come to Canada. It’s time we started acting like it.

Photo by Brianna Campigotto. Edits by Marta Kierkus

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Iraq’s past is its present

How American foreign policy was instrumental in the creation of ISIS Alex Regimbald Contributor

Genocide is going on in Iraq. The minority Yazidi population is currently fleeing for their lives as they're pursued by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a radical militant group that has sent the country reeling over the past few months through a violent campaign of terror. Not even foreign journalists are safe from this extremist group, as made evident by the brutal execution of James Foley on Aug. 19.

What many people aren't aware of is that, while they claim to resent Western influence, ISIS actually owes much of its existence to the West. In fact, if it wasn't for American involvement in Iraq, ISIS probably would never have emerged in the first place.

This terrorist group was originally known as Al Qaeda in Iraq, until a falling out within the ranks led to the emergence of a new independent organization. However, over time this new group has even been disowned by Al Qaeda, partly for being deemed “too extreme.”

If recent events are any indication, ISIS definitely stands ready to overshadow its predecessors. Currently they control much of western and southern Iraq, and they have their sights set on conquering Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan. They have also begun to move into Syrian territory.

So how did American involvement help to spawn such a fierce force?

Two catastrophic American invasions and the establishment of a corrupt and oppressive dictatorship definitely helped instill the Iraqi population with the idea that the West was truly trying to exploit them. The consequences of failing to win this battle for “the hearts and minds of Iraq,” as George Bush once put it, are only now becoming apparent.

The cause for concern here is not that ISIS will ever become a military threat to America, at least domestically. The real issue is the success that ISIS is having in recruiting followers to carry out a violent holy war, a rate of success that can be attributed to the failures of Western foreign policy. As a result, the next steps of this conflict will be incredibly vital in determining whether the region will become stabilized or suffer the same way the people of Afghanistan did under Taliban rule.

This will mean that American influence during their recent involvement in Iraq will have to remain as minimal as possible, at least in terms of visibility, in order to allow a stabilizing force to emerge legitimately. Ideally a strategy of containment would be implemented first, allowing Iraq's neighbours, including Iraqi Kurdistan, to efficiently secure their borders from invasion. Once this is established, an ideological campaign can be waged in order to undermine ISIS's influence and allow moderates to emerge.

The long-term goal of such efforts should be to help pacify the anger amongst the majority of the Iraqi population in order to help them independently remove ISIS from power, which would

Philosophical Sh*t Is it better to be liked or respected?

o l e i voR s a i l E

thefulcrum.ca

Eric Wilkinson Contributor

Is it better to be liked or respected? As philosopher Thomas Hobbes would tell us, discourse begins with definitions. As such, how can we hope to answer this question without understanding what it means to be liked or respected?

In fact, the answer depends less on either of these qualities than what one means in terms of "better.”

The word “better” begets criteria; it is better in terms of what? Consider Niccolò Machiavelli's question of whether it is better for a ruler to be loved or feared. The pivotal part of the question is that we are discussing what is good for a ruler.

To ask whether it is better to be loved or feared, without reference to some criteria, is to ask an unanswerable question.

We must determine the end to which it is better to be liked or respected if we are to have any hope of answering our own question.

For example, suppose we are discussing which is better for a political leader. In keeping with Machiavelli, we would find that being respected is better than being liked. Few people disliked former Tory leader Joe Clark, yet his rival Pierre

Trudeau was more successful in politics through crafting sometimes begrudging respect from his caucus. Furthermore, no amount of being well-liked spared Clark from the political ambitions of men like John Crosbie and Brian Mulroney.

Naturally the careers of these individuals are more complicated than presented here, although a passing glance suggests a political leader ought to prefer to be respected. However, few of us are political leaders, and one might ask which of these two factors are intrinsically more valuable. When the question is posed this way, the

be much more sustainable in the long run.

If there's a lesson to be learned from all of this, it's that past foreign policies have failed to bring about the peace and security that is so desperately sought after in this region. As a result, we are now faced with possibly the largest extremist movement in quite some time. Only a plan that involves working with the diverse groups in the region has any hope of bringing about a long-term solution.

Working against them may cause history to repeat itself.

We are now faced with possibly the largest extremist movement in quite some time. Only a plan that involves working with the diverse groups in the region has any hope of bringing about a long-term solution.

answer is neither.

As 2nd century Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius tells us, praise does not make anything better or worse. That a person is better liked, or more respected, does not make them more or less virtuous. If they are a good, righteous person, then they are that same virtuous individual regardless of what other people think of them. Being liked or respected is therefore not valuable in and of itself. Instead, both qualities are only valuable in support of some specific end, meaning their worth is dependent on what one hopes to accomplish.

Both qualities are only valuable in support of some specific end, meaning their worth is dependent on what one hopes to accomplish.

OPINIONS | 25

A lesson from Ferguson

Why the police response in Missouri is more than just a racial issue Alex Regimbald Contributor

“I’m a cop. If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t challenge me,” said Sunil Dutta, a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. These words were used as the headline of an Aug. 19 oped piece in the Washington Post, a piece written by Dutta himself.

Having weighed in on the recent protests raging in Ferguson, Dutta is effectively saying that the act of openly disagreeing with an officer instantly puts you in the wrong, and that any violence which may erupt as a result becomes the fault of the civilian.

Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man, was shot down in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 9, sparking the protests that motivated Dutta’s response. As the evidence continues to pour in, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Brown was a victim of police brutality in the highest regard. Eyewitness accounts, and now an autopsy report, both conclude that Brown was most likely in the process of surrendering when he was shot six to eight times, twice in the head.

Regardless of the events that may have transpired beforehand, the act of shooting a suspect when they are trying to surrender amounts to murder.

Contrary to what many have said, I do not believe that this is a case of racially motivated murder. It would be too simple to describe this problem

26 | OPINIONS

as a consequence of racism. It reveals a different problem: the increasing divide between police and the rest of society. Instead of protecting and serving, police forces everywhere have become focused on enforcing and subduing, a mentality that’s encouraged by the highest levels of power.

Many will probably say they’ve had pleasant interactions with police, but there are many more—especially in lower-income communities— whose only interactions involved some form of confrontation.

Look at the equipment that police forces use.

Since 2011, the Pentagon has offered to provide military-grade hardware to police throughout the country. Protesters who once faced riot shields and blare horns now find themselves squaring off against tanks, military-grade assault rifles, and in some cases, drones. When I first saw pictures of the police response to the protests in Ferguson, I thought I had mistakenly discovered photos from recent conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan.

That’s the real issue here. A truly free and democratic society is supposed to maintain a balance between average citizens and people in power.

This is so corruption and abuse is minimal, and so change can be brought about without bloodshed or violence. However, as police continue to acquire more sophisticated methods of intimidation, what chance does society have to confront those in power when they act against their interests?

The scary part is that this isn’t a problem

caused by any one person. This is a product of a system that has become paranoid by threats— real or imagined—and has become obsessed with the idea of security. As a result, cops are now viewed as an outside force that exists only to scare the public. When I was reading article after article about the protests, I noticed that many writers described the events as the police facing off against the residents of Ferguson. The reality is that many of the police officers live in Ferguson or nearby communities. However, the

culture of alienation has so distorted our perceptions that we can only see them as menacing storm troopers.

Regardless of what may have transpired beforehand, Michael Brown was a kid who didn’t deserve to die. This is no longer about the actions of one officer who displayed poor judgment—this is about an entire community that feels cheated and abused by the very people who have sworn to protect them.

Photo by Steve Kaiser

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‘Handgun Challenge’ raises money for Feline Leukemia Society,

New internet fad popularized by U of O student Kyle Darbyson

Tomato Editor

A new Internet challenge has gone viral across social media. For two weeks now, the so-called Handgun Challenge has spread across North America, having already raised more than $15 million for the Feline Leukemia Society (FLS).

Rather than dowsing yourself in ice water (like in the Ice Bucket Challenge), the Handgun Challenge requires its participants to suffer a self-inflicted gunshot wound on camera, and to follow up that act of mutilation by challenging at least three people to do the same.

The amount of money one is obliged to donate to FLS is determined by where you choose to get shot. For example, a light shoulder wound will force you to donate $100, while a bullet to the head will only cost you $5.

While this new challenge is now a fullblown international phenomenon, the trend was actually started by a student from the University of Ottawa. Donald McGrew, a third-year engineering student who hails from the United States, simply wanted to raise money for his sick cat Snuffles, even if it meant going to extreme lengths.

“Feline leukemia is a disease that

often gets overlooked by the media,” McGrew told the Tomato from a hospital bed in his hometown of Macon, Ga., where he is spending the last weeks of his summer vacation. “All I wanted to do was raise awareness for this cause.

I thought the best way to do that was to shoot myself in the thigh.”

Since McGrew posted his original video on Aug. 14, the Handgun Challenge spread across the continent, with thousands of people posting their own videos to Facebook and YouTube every day.

Even high profile celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Meryl Streep have decided to take on this new challenge, although most of them have decided to blast paparazzi and TMZ reporters instead of shooting themselves.

Despite the popularity and success of this charitable campaign, the Handgun Challenge has garnered a number of critics who have said that it is an excessively dangerous way to raise money. Others have claimed that many participants are completely ignorant of the charitable component of this challenge.

Handgun Challenge survivor Jack Hartigan confirms this concern.

“I found out that I was supposed to pledge money after the fact,” said Har-

Handgun Challenge

tigan, who was hospitalized in his home state of Missouri. “It just seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides, my friend challenged me to do it on Facebook, and I don’t back down from nothing.”

With these misgivings in mind, the FLS still scheduled a press conference on Aug. 26, where spokesperson Adrian Reed expressed the organization’s immense gratitude for those who have donated.

“We are so thrilled that people are risking their lives to fight Feline Leukemia,” she said. “Hopefully, everybody who takes on the challenge remembers to donate on our website before pulling

by Brianna Campigotto

the trigger. Dead people have a bad habit of not honouring their payments.”

Even though experts say these kinds of Internet fads tend to wane in popularity after two or three weeks, McGrew is confident the Handgun Challenge will inspire similar charitable campaigns in the future.

“There are countless numbers of worthy health organizations who need financial support,” he said. “Fittingly enough, thanks to the Internet there are dozens of ways you can mutilate yourself on camera and maybe donate money if you feel like it. What a great age we live in.”

New Faculty for Supervillain Studies planned for fall 2015

Courses designed to appeal to students interested in world domination Ryan Mallough

Co ntri butor

“Students are looking for degrees that get them highpaying jobs, and super villainy’s earning potential is limitless” —Robert Bishop, U of O spokesperson

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The University of Ottawa has announced that it will be home to a new faculty that specializes in super villain studies, set to open in the fall of 2015.

By doing this, the school will cater to students interested in both hard sciences and the humanities, and will include specialization options in sentient robotics, planetary destroyer engineering, solar disruption, and general arts.

Course offerings are set to include “Last Minute Oratory and Hero Communications,” “Self-Destruct Button Placement and Engineering,” “Origin Stories for Beginners,” and a mandatory essay writing class.

“It’s important that the university remain competitive in tough economic times,” said U of O spokesperson Robert Bishop. “Students are looking for degrees that get them high-paying jobs,

and super villainy’s earning potential is limitless. It’s a move that makes sense for prospective students and for us as an institution.”

Students who graduate with a degree in super villain studies will also be rewarded with an Education in Villainy and Immorality License (EVIL) in addition to their diploma, which is something that will come in handy should global domination fall through as a career choice.

“EVILs can be utilized in several career options for our graduates, including Wall Street executives, insurance claim adjusters, slam poets, and U of O undergraduate program administrators,” said Bishop.

Students will also have the opportunity for on-the-job learning experience through the faculty’s co-op program, which has already partnered with LexCorp, Umbrella, Globex Corporation, and Monsanto.

“We want our students to get a feel

for villainy in the real world, to take what they learn in the classroom and really apply it to everyday situations,” said Bishop. “There’s only so much you can pick up about world domination in a university setting. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty.”

Bishop hopes that within five years the faculty will be among other top super villain-producing institutions in North America like Harvard, Yale, and Queen’s.

Part of that five-year plan involves a specialized hover-campus that will sit several hundred feet above the university’s city campus. When asked if he was concerned about blotting out the sun for other students, Bishop said most of the U of O student body feels that the lack of green space and drab concrete structures are best enjoyed in the shade anyway.

This announcement hasn’t come without controversy, as some locals are concerned about what this new faculty

will mean for the community.

“All it takes is one malfunctioning anti-particle beam, death ray, or antigravity field and poof—there goes the neighbourhood,” said Lynda Carter, head of the local chapter of Justice League United. “We deserve to know exactly who will be keeping track of these new super villain majors.”

University officials say the staffing process is already underway, with offers being made to top experts in the field, including Drs. Connors, Octavius, and Doom.

While no formal commitment has been made, the university is expected to have narrowed their shortlist for chairmanship of the faculty down to two candidates: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

A special bulletin is expected late next week, where the new chairman will be announced via campus-wide interruption of regular scheduled programming.

OPINIONS | 27

DISTRACTIONS W

elcome one, welcome all to another year back in the swing of things— all things sexy, that is. I’m oh so pleased for my returning readers to come back for another year of sexcapades. And for all my new readers, prepare yourselves for some racy reads from me, Di Daniels. But before you go frolicking with other froshers, we have a few things to do together.

Drop me a question or comment through Twitter (@Dear_Di), Facebook (Di Daniels), on our website, or my email (deardi@ thefulcrum. ca). I’ll get back to you after tonight.

28 | DISTRACTIONS

Here at the Fulcrum, I write about sex: a tantalizing topic on your mind and—often quite literally—on the tip of your tongue. You can call me Di, and I am your go-to girl for all your intercourse inquiries and pervasive ponderings. My job is to answer your questions about sex and relationships as you explore the good, the bad, the ugly, and the mind-blowing.

I field questions each week from readers just like you who have sexual questions, issues, or experiences that need a little more probing, to put it delicately.

I’m here to help you and your partner(s) work through whatever you need.

Slipping between the sheets of our reader-writer relationship is a beautiful thing, and as much as I like it rough-and-tumble, I can also appreciate slowing it down, since everyone likes

FEATURES EDITOR Jesse Colautti

features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

different things. That’s a message I want to get across to you right away this year: be vocal! No one knows what you like better than you do, so use your voice to help guide your partner and express yourself.

being informed and up-to-date about sexual practices is vital. I’ll be there to help you out with that too. My tweets and Facebook posts will have some juicy facts and give you the lowdown on recent sex research, practices, and protection.

Don’t know what you like? Here comes my second piece of advice: go exploring. Yes, I’m encouraging you to get down and dirty with yourself. Being familiar with your body and what makes it gasp, groan, moan, and pulse is crucial to self-pleasure practices. It also means taking the opportunity to delve into whatever wild, exotic fantasy you can think of. University is the perfect place to try new pleasures in a safe environment, the world of single and multiple partner penetration, and try your hand at role play (as a warm-up).

For my readers in residence, two little tidbits:

This leads me right to the tip of our talk: safety. In the first few weeks of university, there are all sorts of sizes and positions to try, of course at your discretion. The only good sex is safe and consensual sex, and it should be your mantra from day one. Everyone comes to university from different sexual backgrounds, so respecting your own experiences and everyone else’s is the key to great sex.

No one came to university to major in pregnancy or STI 101, and

Please be careful with floor-cest.

Hooking up with a floormate can come back and (even if you like it) bite you in the ass.

The morning after has a whole new meaning when you have a roommate. Be respectful and they’ll return the favour.

My advice for all of you? Get going. They put those free condoms in your frosh kit for a reason, and Health Services, on the second floor of the Jock Turcot University Centre, has an unlimited free supply. Health Services, the Women’s Resource Centre, and campus Counselling Services are all great resources to help you deal with some of the stickier (and more serious) sex issues that may arise.

That being said, I’ll leave you to find your favourite spots on campus to get hot and sweaty.

Love,

Di

thefulcrum.ca

THRYLLABUS

Thursday Aug 28 Gatineau Hot Air balloon festival begins, La Baie Park, Gatineau Friday Aug 29 Calvary begins showing at the Bytowne Cinema

Women’s soccer vs. U of T, Matt Anthony Field – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept 7 Women’s soccer vs. Ryerson, Matt Anthony Field – 1:p.m.

Shameless, Babylon Nightclub –11p.m.

Tuesday Sept 9 Modern Baseball, I Am The Avalanche, Beach Slang, and Neighbours, Maverick’s Bar – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Aug 30 Latin Sparks Block Party, 35-300 O’Connor – 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday Sept 10 Ottawa Folk Festival begins, Hog’s Back Park

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, TD Place – 7 p.m.

Snowpiercer begins showing at Bytowne Cinema

Sunday Aug 31 President’s Brunch, FSS Parking Lot – 10 a.m.

M.Ward and Foster the People (as part of Ottawa Folk Festival), Hog’s Back Park – 7 p.m.

Take Back the Night, Morisset Terrace (shine) or Terminus UCU (rain) 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday Sept 11 Lorde and Serena Ryder (as part of Ottawa Folk Festival), Hog’s Back Park – 8 p.m.

Monday Sept 1 To Kill a Mockingbird, Bytowne Cinema – 1:30 p.m.

Men’s football vs. York, Gee-Gees Field – 1 p.m.

Friday Sept 12 The National (as part of Ottawa Folk Festival), Hog’s Back Park – 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday Sept 2 Graduate and post-doctoral barbecue, Café Nostalgica – 11:30 a.m.

Saturday Sept 13 Men’s Football vs. Guelph, GeeGees Field – 1 p.m.

Fire Show, Morisset – 8:45p.m.

Thursday Sept 11 Comedian Lewis Black, National Arts Centre – 8 p.m.

Cinema under the stars, Morisset – 9p.m.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, hulahooping on campus, Monday to Friday, Sept. 2-30 at 12 p.m.

Thursday Sept 4 House of PainT, Urban art festival begins across the city Poetry Slam and Art Expo, Mayfair Theatre –7 p.m.

Friday Sept 5 Boyhood begins showing at Bytowne Cinema Rock Tha House, Concert and Popping Battle, Under the Dunbar Bridge, at Brewer Park – 5pm Ottawa Redblacks vs. BC Lions, TD Place – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept 6

thefulcrum.ca

Win tickets to the Panda Game!

The Gee-Gees take on the Carleton Ravens on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.

Be there courtesy of the Fulcrum by answering, “What year did the Panda Game first start?”

Send your name, phone number, email address, and answer to panda@thefulcrum.ca or fill out the contest form on our website thefulcrum.ca

by Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. to enter.

Saturday Sept 13 Electric Pow Wow, Babylon Nightclub – 10 p.m.

Sunday Sept 14 The Gaslight Anthem (as part of Ottawa Folk Festival), Hog’s Back Park— 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday Sept 17 Ottawa International Animation Festival begins Saturday Sept 20 Gee-Gees football at Carleton TD place 1 p.m.

Sunday Sept 21 BOA meeting 1 p.m. Tabaret Hall Senate Room

DISTRACTIONS | 29

The eed Check out our website at thefulcrum.ca tweet us @the_fulcrum Like us on facebook @ the fulcrum follow us on instagram @ instafulcrum

30 |

thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL Volume 75, Issue 2, August 28, 2014 Sitting too close to the TV since 1942.

Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this so your mom doesn’t have to.

staff

Sabrina “Sailor Moon” Nemis Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Darkwing Duck” Ashby Gibbard Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”

Feibel Managing Editor Content@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Art Attack” Kierkus Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Pokemon” Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Jessica “Sister, Sister” Eritou Arts and Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Jesse “The Price is Right” Colautti Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sarah “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Nolette Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Boy Meets World” Darbyson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “7th Heaven” Van Dyk Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Dawson’s Creek” Murdock Staff Reporter Lindsay “The Nanny” Macmillan Associate News Editor Savannah “Third Rock From the Sun” Awde Staff Proofreader Brianna “Madeline” Campigotto Staff Photographer Moussa “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor Annalise “Full House” Mathers Associate Features Editor Chantale “Moesha” Streeting Webmaster Ashley “Recess” O’Connell Ad Intern Deidre “Xena: Warrior Princess” Butters Ad Manager Andrew “Hercules” Hawley General Manager

Contributors Kaitlynne-Rae “Zaboomafoo” Landry Jasmine “Student Bodies” van Schouwen Justin “The Magic School Bus” Dallaire Chelsea “Saved by the Bell” McManus Tori “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Dudys Karolina “Seinfeld” Kaminska David “Sinbad” Agbaire Janoah “Home Improvement” Willsie Gabriela “Blossom” Yan Alex “Arthur” Regimbald Eric “Pinky and the Brain” Wilkinson Ryan “Breaker High” Mallough Audrey “The X files” Chakwesha Christian “The Amanda Show” Zapata Tina “Hey Arnold” Wallace

Cover art marta Kierkus Ft. Spencer Van Dyk

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Fixing what might not be broken W

hen universities are forced to compete with one another, they must provide the best programming possible or risk losing the best students. The Ontario government’s movement toward specialization risks making “the best students” analogous with “the most privileged students” in narrowing the opportunities a post-secondary education is capable of providing.

Moving forward with its plan for specialization, the government is forcing universities and colleges to focus on improving specific programs in order to continue to receive funding. On the surface, the funding will improve programs universities are already known for, ensuring they are able to provide the best resources and programming possible.

But as the competition drops, what is the motivation to ensure the program is actually the best? If the program is the only one, how can anyone judge if it’s the best it could be? While the government will certainly be monitoring the success of each program’s graduates, without anything to measure their success against, how will they determine what it looks like?

While the idea is to move universities and colleges away from trying to be all things to all students, there is value in providing programs that aren’t what the institution is “known for.” Students choose schools for a variety of reasons and not everyone has the luxury of being able to relocate for a specialized program. And after graduation, not everyone has the means to relocate in order to escape the now over-saturated market of specialized professionals in the city they all had to move to for their education.

If a student wants to reduce debt by staying home, this means they have may have to choose a different program, or more troubling, choose a program that is officially recognized by the government as being less good, making them less competitive in the long run.

Of course this already happens, with some programs having bet-

ter reputations than others. But having these reputations created and monitored by the government makes it more difficult for universities to be flexible in meeting market needs and returns us to the question of how we evaluate the success of these programs.

Without funding, what is the incentive for the university to continue providing less reputable programs? Tuition does not actually cover all of the costs of running the university. The U of O has had to

promises a new focus and brings something different to the city and to the campus, while still allowing the U of O to provide the program to their students.

With degree specialization, postsecondary institutions are only allowed to choose five programs to expand using their funding. Would the U of O have been motivated to restructure the program to attract students or would they have given up and allowed Carleton and Algonquin to claim funding, rather

raise tuition for nine consecutive years partially because government funding has been reduced.

Evidently, having interested students is not enough.

At the University of Ottawa, the journalism program was suspended and restructured with a new focus on digital journalism because they were not maintaining competitiveness in a city with two other wellrespected post-secondary journalism programs. The new program

than providing a better program?

Finding employment is also impacted by the contacts one makes.

University can be an excellent opportunity to gain contacts in the local community. If a majority of graduates in a particular field are starting out in the same city, competition is strong and many will be forced to relocate. Aside from the financial strain of relocation, there is also the barrier of establishing new networks. It provides a huge

immediate advantage to those with financial advantages. They will find it more easy to move and may not be forced to work more than 40 hours weeks at minimum wage to survive, thus providing them with time to rebuild their professional network in their chosen field.

Students also choose universities for athletic programs. The U of O has 11 varsity teams and and 20 competitive clubs, representing a large number of students overall. For universities hoping to attract top athletes to their schools, recruitment becomes a problem.

Coaches looking for great athletes are not only selling them on the team, the location, and the atmosphere of the school, but now have to look for talented players who also have an interest in that school’s specialized programming.

Access to loans has allowed many more students to attend university than in the past. While some lament this, looking at new realities like some retail management positions requiring bachelor’s degrees as minimum qualifications, a more pressing reality is that the Canada we live in has a market more directed by services and technology than manufacturing and labour.

Specialization has the potential to create a new gap between rich and poor. Instead of only the rich receiving degrees, as in the past, we’re looking at only the rich being able to afford to relocate for the more competitive degrees or only the rich being able to make use of those degrees when student loan payments kick in six months after graduation.

Financial hardship isn’t a badge of honour the government should strive to reward, but setting up a system that adds to that hardship isn’t something we should support either. More people have access to degrees than ever and we’re all still required to work hard and make contacts if we hope to have a chance at success. Having the government undermine those efforts seems like an effort to fix an aspect of the system that didn’t seem to be broken.

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