FIASCO AT FEDSTOCK
P.9
Behind the Lees What stops your heart?
P.7
The reality of torture
P.12
P.15
IN THIS ISSUE Shots fired P.5
Gunman arrested on campus
Francophones from afar P.5 International enrolment in French triples with rebate
Jam sesh P.10
E.L.E Fest announces sophomore year lineup
Campus style P.11
Dressing for class never looked so good
Do or dope P.14 How the CIS and its athletes say no to doping
Dr. Blamesomebody P.18 CMA needs to stop the politics
Coming in like a wrecking ball P.19
U of O plans for construction to coincide with 101 week
Tearing it up P.21
Di advises student on post-coital healing
NEWS GUNSHOTS FIRED IN SANDY HILL
NEWS EDITOR
Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
Man arrested outside Minto Sports Complex; no one injured Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi
Ottawa police announced Sept. 4 that there will be an increased police presence on campuses in the National Capital Region.
News Editor
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esidents of Sandy Hill were on high alert after a gunman was arrested in the 500 block of Chapel Street on Aug. 31.
Phillip McGuffie, 22, was arrested with a loaded semi-automatic handgun just outside of Minto Sports Complex. He appeared in court the following day on a variety of charges. Caroline Milliard, a spokesperson for the University of Ottawa, said “the whole incident was over in a matter of minutes,” and that by the time Protection Services were informed, police were on campus and the incident was over. “Protection Services then went door-to-door inside the Minto Sports Complex to ensure that the people in the building who might have seen the police action knew everything was safe,” said Milliard. The university also sent out a tweet assuring students that campus was secure. Police believe it was a confrontation between two people but the second individual has not been identified. Last fall, a woman escaped a sexual assault attempt, also on Chapel Street, when a man took hold of her after she declined his advances, police said at the time. That was around the same time a 34-year-
Chapel Street in Sandy Hill
old man was arrested and charged with three counts of breaking and entering, one sexual assault, and other charges after several women in the Sandy Hill area reported a man entering their homes and standing over them while they were asleep. Shortly thereafter, a 17-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a cab driver while she was being dropped off in Sandy Hill. According to Staff Sgt. Mike Laviolette of the Ottawa Police Service, Sandy Hill isn’t any more
Photo by Brianna Campigotto
at risk than other areas of Ottawa. Sandy Hill is a densely populated area, “so naturally you are going to get more of everything as a result,” said Laviolette. Nicole Desnoyers, vice-president of services and communications of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), said the federation “remains committed to having conversations about student safety, no matter where students live, and to support students should they experience violence first-hand.”
Tuition discount triples Frenchspeaking international enrolment
Students pay a third of the tuition Englishspeaking counterparts must pay Nadia Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor
Of the more than 4,000 international students that will be studying at the U of O this year, more than 320 of them are registered in French programs. Last year, there were only 97. Beginning this year, international students who choose to study in a French program at the University of Ottawa will pay the same tuition as Canadian students. Eligible students will pay between $3,000 and $4,000, whereas English-speaking international students pay $11,000 to $12,000. To be eligible, new international students must be enrolled in at least three courses per semester in French, be officially registered in a French program, and have a high school diploma in French. The university’s Board of Governors voted to increase fees for international students by 10 per cent last May. Tuition for Canadian students was raised by three per cent. Caroline Renaud, director of the U of O’s
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international office, said the increase in enrolment is “extraordinary news.” However, the CBC reported that some international students are not happy that they have to pay more because they are studying in English. Jason Ji, an international student at the U of O studying in English said the policy was unfair because tuition fees are a large sum of money regardless of where you are from. Another student said that students should not have to pay higher tuition simply because they don’t speak French. Renaud said she has made an effort to ask students for their thoughts on the tuition difference. “We have not received or felt frustration among the international Anglophone students,” she said. According to Renaud, most international students come from China, Saudi Arabia, or Nigeria. This year, the U of O has seen an influx of students from French-speaking countries in North and West Africa.
She said students are using the Foot Patrol service, which provides volunteer escorts to help students get home safely, more than ever before. The increase has prompted the SFUO to expand the service. “We are also exploring new ways to effectively promote the service to students living in the new Friel Residence,” said Desnoyers. Ottawa police announced Sept. 4 that there will be an increased police presence on campuses in the National Capital Region. The release describes how police “will be working with City, university and community partners to help ensure everyone has a safe and law-abiding return to campus.” The initiative is not a result of violence in Sandy Hill, said Laviolette, but rather focused on police and bylaw complaints like disturbances, noise, public intoxication, and other complaints common to the area. This is the fourth year the project has been in place, and “calls for service have gone down quite a bit,” he said. “The whole purpose is to try to get out ahead of the issues before they get created,” said Laviolette. The release concluded, “efforts will continue throughout the month of September to ensure a safe and enjoyable return to campus for all residents.”
BRIEF
First-year Waterloo student struck by lightning Photo by Marta Kierkus
The tuition discount is part of Vision 2020, a set of goals the U of O hopes to reach by the year 2020. The university aims to have 40 per cent of international students registered in a French program. “We are slightly below 20 per cent … so we have a lot of work to do in order to reach the 40 per cent level,” said Renaud. The university has also increased the total number of international students admitted to meet another goal of having nine per cent of the total student population comprised of international students. “We have surpassed that objective,” said Renaud. The tuition rebate is not unlike those offered by Quebec schools like Concordia and McGill, which offer lowered tuition rates in order to encourage out-of-province and international students to study in French. The U of O plans to maintain the tuition fee discount for the 2015–16 school year.
A first-year student at the University of Waterloo was killed by a lightning strike on campus Sept. 5. A fire and rescue official said the female engineering student was sheltering from heavy rain under a tree. The lightning hit the tree and then the student. She was struck around 9 a.m. near a residence building. The student was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The student was found by Obina Ohuabunwa and Daniel Obadun, two other Waterloo students. “She had burns all over her skin, her clothes were torn off," Obadun told the CBC. "She was just laying lifeless with smoke coming out of her body.” Waterloo Regional Police and the Ontario coroner’s office are investigating the 18-year-old's death. The university is offering grief counselling to any students who may need it.
Photo Courtesy of Bo Insogna, TheLightningMan.com
NEWS | 5
Arts Court redevelopment project inches closer to reality
Additions to U of O campus among proposed expansions
Arts Court redevelopment plan by City of Ottawa
CBC
Savannah Awde Proofreader
A City of Ottawa development committee has recommended that council approve plans for a new $100 million arts complex, part of which will be used by the University of Ottawa’s theatre department. The Ottawa Art Gallery expansion and Arts Court redevelopment project would mean new condos, a hotel boutique, and new facilities for the U of O. City staff recommended the developers EBC Inc., DevMcGill, and Groupe Germain construct the 21-storey complex at 60–70 Waller Street. Claudio Brun del Re, the U of O’s executive director of the Physical Resources Service, said the university is willing to make a $9 million contribution for facilities that the university would have exclusive right to use. If city council approves the proposal, the U of O’s theatre department will receive a new 120seat theatre and four new classrooms. The university plans to build a black box the-
atre, in which the seats aren’t fixed. As Brun del Re explained, “This would allow them more flexibility to do more experimental work.” The theatre department is currently housed in the more than 100-year-old Academic Hall. The building was first constructed in 1901 and is the oldest theatre in the National Capital Region. “The theatre department is crunched for space,” said Brun del Re. He said the proposal is advantageous because the Arts Court building would have “likeminded or similar functions” to what the university needs. No binding agreement has yet been made between the city and the U of O and the city has not yet provided the school with a final cost, including the operating model and other technical requirements. Brun del Re said it will be several months before both parties can move to the next stage. The expansion would also include a larger space for the Ottawa Art Gallery, which would allow more of its collection to be out of storage and on display, and addition of a 250-seat multi-purpose film screen room. New and old buildings would also be connected to create a more accessible arts complex. “This magnificent project will create jobs, attract visitors to our city and provide a revitalized downtown space to showcase Ottawa’s inspiring and talented arts community,” Mayor Jim Watson said on his website. City council voted unanimously last November to begin the procurement process for the project. The redevelopment has been a decade in the making, according to the CBC, as it has faced numerous challenges and setbacks. The city is investing $41.7 million in the redevelopment project, while the remaining $60 million will come from the private sector. Upon approval, construction is set to begin in December and wrap up in 2017, in time for Canada’s 150th birthday festivities.
FOR A HISTORY OF THE ARTS COURT, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE
T-shirts worn by Carleton frosh guides cause controversy As frosh week draws to a close, officials from Carleton University are investigating T-shirts worn by some student leaders that have sent mixed messages and angered many in the Ottawa community. Photos began circulating the first weekend after the start of classes, showing frosh leaders wearing shirts that had “Fuck Safe Space” written on them in all caps. Carleton’s decade-old Safe Space Program is “designed to reduce homophobia and heterosexism on campus,” according to its website. Many students and community members have accused the students of promoting sexual violence and rape culture. But the frosh leaders are saying the shirts were worn in protest of a no-swearing rule
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that was part of their orientation week contract. “The shirts were merely a statement against the coddling of first-year students,” an anonymous frosh organizer told the Charlatan. “Being told that we shouldn’t swear around them in no way helps to ease them into university life. They will be exposed to such language throughout the rest of the year.” Folarin Odunayo, president of the Carleton Undergraduate Students Association (CUSA), said the shirts “have nothing to do” with the student union and that “CUSA will continue to abide by the university’s safe space policy.” The Graduate Student Association of Carleton also issued a statement saying they were “appalled” to hear about the offensive T-shirts.
“To frame this as an isolated and ‘off-campus’ incident is to fail to recognize the systemic problems these shirts serve to perpetuate,” said the statement. Carleton student Christopher Cline sent a mass email Monday apologizing for the shirts. “While our intentions were not to harm or disrespect anyone, the T-shirts in question were without a doubt inappropriate, inconsiderate, offensive, and disgraceful,” wrote Cline. “Intent is not an excuse for impact and we take full responsibility for the seriousness of our actions.” The university is currently contemplating the appropriate punishment. This comes a few days after a Carleton student was charged with three counts of sexual assault.
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Campus community law clinic to get funding hike Ontario universities to fill need for family law services Lindsay MacMillan Associate News Editor
The University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic plans to develop and provide family law services with the help of part of a $2-million provincial investment in university law clinics. The 2013 provincial budget allocated an increase of $30 million to Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), about $2 million of which will go to the six university-based legal clinics in Ontario over the next three years, according to Aneurin Thomas, LAO’s director general of policy and strategic research. “We want to develop family law because right now there is an access-to-justice crisis in that area,” Thomas said. “A large number of cases fall under family law, and there are not enough lawyers to ensure that adequate services are provided. We want to encourage students to go into this practice.” The funding will allow the U of O’s clinic to invest in family law services. According to the executive director of the Legal Clinic at the U of O Louise Toone, part of the funding will pay the salary of a new lawyer with expertise in family law. Toone said the funding will also open up more positions for students. Fifty common law students staff the clinic for course credit during the fall and winter semesters, and take on paid positions during the summer. Students are supervised by one of four full-time lawyers on staff, but handle most of the work related to a case. The clinic’s services are free to all students, and to any other individual who demonstrates financial need. It currently pro-
vides services in criminal law, tenant law, and applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, and childhood abuse. There are currently 300 court-bound files at the clinic, with another 1,000 “mini files” where students provide legal advice or representation to clients. With the additional funding, Toone expects a growth in clientele. Thomas said it’s important to develop family law services since the cases have “some of the most serious consequences” on the clients. “There are few more traumatic experiences than a divorce or custody case,” he said, “and we need to have the proper services to ensure fair settlements and resolutions.” Students who work at the clinic are “well-equipped” to start articling after graduation, said Toone. “The experience here gives them practical knowledge and hands-on skills in many fields.” Family law is “one of the greatest areas of need when it comes to accessing justice,” according to John McCamus, chair of LAO. The current system “does not succeed in meeting all the needs of the people,” said Toone. The financial eligibility criterion has also not been updated in years, and isn’t “reflecting what it means to be a poor person today,” she said. The LAO hopes that law students will be the ones to fulfill that need. “We believe that law students can help to bridge the growing gaps in legal services,” said McCamus, “and we are pleased to support these student-run legal clinics to ensure that this happens.”
Family law is “one of the greatest areas of need when it comes to accessing justice.” — John McCamus, chair of Legal Aid Ontario
Ally Czarnowski and Ninetta Caparelli
Photo by Lindsay MacMillan
Protein linked to onset of heart attacks at the U of O Latest research finds link that may explain what really triggers them Lindsay MacMillan Associate News Editor
The presence of high levels of PCSK9 suggests that it “actually triggers the heart attack.”— Alexandre Stewart
Ragnar Vilmundarson, left, Alexandre Stewart, and Naif Almontashiri
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Photo by Darlene Antoine
Researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute have made a major breakthrough in the study of heart attacks. The research team, led by Dr. Alexandre Stewart, has found a link between the protein PCSK9 and the onset of heart attacks. The protein had previously been associated with high levels of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is thought to contribute to the blockage of arteries through plaque formation, leading to heart disease and eventually heart attacks. “We’ve known for a number of years now that mutations that inactivate this protein and prevent it from circulating in the blood are associated with reduced LDL cholesterol,” said Stewart, the principal investigator in the Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, “but they also associate with a disproportionate reduction in the risk of heart attacks.” The researchers questioned whether PCSK9 had a more direct link to the onset of heart attacks. They tested blood samples from patients participating in the Ottawa Heart Genomics Study. Stewart’s team found elevated levels of the protein in people who were having acute heart attacks. “People who were having an acute heart attack had higher levels than people who had heart disease but hadn’t had a heart attack, or who had had a heart attack and gotten better,” he explained.
They then tested the blood samples of patients from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., where they yielded the same results. According to the Heart Institute, previous studies have shown that people with naturally lower levels of the protein have a significantly reduced risk of heart attacks—up to 90 per cent. The Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates that there are 70,000 heart attacks in Canada every year, and the number of heart attack-related hospitalizations has grown steadily over the last decade. Statistics Canada reported that nearly 16,000 Canadians die of a heart attack each year. Pharmaceutical companies have already invested in developing cholesterol-lowering drugs that block PCSK9. “The potential market is estimated to be in the billions of dollars because they lower cholesterol in a manner that is independent of the widely prescribed statin drugs,” the Heart Institute said in a press release. However, the researchers had difficulty getting their work published because it challenged previously held assumptions about PCSK9 and its association with cholesterol. They haven’t yet determined any causal relationship between the protein and heart attacks. “I don’t think we fully understand how this protein contributed to the risk of heart attacks,” said Stewart. “People were sort of reticent to put out something that’s not entirely dogmatic.” After two years, the peer-reviewed science journal PLOS One published their report Sept. 2.
NEWS | 7
NATIONAL NEWS
Forum held at Thompson Rivers University to discuss ISIS recruitment
Several young Canadians reported to have joined terror group
This image was posted on Collin Gordon’s Facebook page on April 12.
Ashley Wadhwani The Omega
KAMLOOPS (CUP)—After a CBC article uncovered that a former Thompson Rivers University student had apparently gone to fight with terror group ISIS, a professor is asking why it happened and what can be done to stop it from happening again. In his search for answers and in an attempt to start a dialogue, TRU political science professor Derek Cook held a forum on ISIS recruiting in the West. Cook is also the chair of the TRU Faculty Association’s human rights committee. Collin Gordon, a TRU student up until 2009, recently made headlines for joining ISIS alongside his brother Gregory. Recently, the National Post reported that former University of Ottawa student John Maguire is also believed to be one of several young Canadians fighting with ISIS. ISIS has been justifying violence and mass murders as part of a religious ideology, when really, Cook said, it’s a political ideology. Before opening the room to feedback and questions from attending students, faculty, and the public, Cook aimed to disillusion the extremist group’s use of religion in order to gain followers. “The main thing I’d like to emphasize is that the story
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they’re being given—the inducements for joining—it’s a con. It’s a phony story. It’s not as advertised and people need to know that and this group needs to be confronted for what it is,” Cook said. “So how is it that so many Western young people are joining them? Someone suggested that Western culture advocates violence—we see violence all around us. These people are simply reflecting our culture back at us.” ISIS has used online propaganda on social media as a way to recruit. The access to that information may be doing more than just informing young people, which is a concern to Annie St. John-Stark, chair of TRU’s philosophy, history, and politics department. “The Internet and social media make it very clear to us, when we wouldn’t have had it clear to us 30 or 40 years ago, on what is going on. I think that, in a sense, encourages the attractiveness,” St. John-Stark said. “I think that that type of access may be in general principal a good thing that we can
ent direction, to show them that they are being conned,” Cook responded. TRU journalism professor Alan Bass said the line between reporting and aiding the spread of propaganda can be a difficult one to find. “Where that line is drawn often depends on the gravity of the news event itself," Bass said via email. "However, I suspect mainstream media has virtually no impact on whether or not a young person … decides to travel halfway around the world to become a fundamentalist killer.” Greater influences might be targeted messages being delivered through fundamentalist-controlled social media and recruiting sites, he added. The forum ended with a message from Cook in reflection of our own political system. “It has to be more than a military response. It has to be a fight of belief systems. It has to be showing young people who want to do something about injustice that their concerns are recognized,” he said. “This is a war of ideas. And it needs to be taken on by those
look at all of that. I’m not sure if there’s a way to stop that connectivity.” “The question is if we can get into the dialogue and see if we can steer people susceptible to ISIS propaganda in a differ-
who engage in ideas, like universities and colleges, so that we can stop the tide of young people who are headed towards ISIS,” he said. “Once they get under ISIS, they do what they’re told or they get killed.”
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ARTS &CULTURE
A&C EDITOR Jessica Eritou arts@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
The best may not be saved for last Kardinal Offishall outperforms Lupe Fiasco at Fedstock Moussa Sangaré-Ponce Associate Online Editor
F
or most hip-hop connoisseurs, Lupe Fiasco might be a bigger and better name than Kardinal Offishall. But that wasn’t the case at this year’s Fedstock, the big party of 101 Week.
Offishall opened the night with some of his classics, including “Beautiful,” “Dangerous,” “The Anthem,” and the Juno Award-winning “Can’t Choose.” He also performed a series of reggae-infused hip-hop songs, and the audience was treated to tracks from his upcoming album, Kardi Gras. The Toronto rapper left to cheers and adulation from the the enormous crowd of first-years. But those cheers died down for a long while as concertgoers were subjected to a full twohour wait for Lupe Fiasco to take the stage. Despite the lengthy downtime, a light show and small video montage introduced Fiasco before he came out full throttle with “Mission.” For the most part however, the crowd wasn’t all that familiar with the Chicago-based artist’s songs or lyrics, and the performance lost momentum quickly. Despite Fiasco’s energy, the first large group of students started filing out a quarter of the way through his set, and other than the die-hard Fiasco fans, the remaining crowd appeared to be
talking or texting. Once the radio-friendly “Out of My Head” was over, he lost his drive by following it with “Bitch Bad.” He did manage to make up for it later with some more crowd interaction, and the female roar was loudest when the hook to “Old School Love” blasted the speakers. The crowd was most energized and at its loudest when he performed his feature on Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky.” Everyone raised their hands and sang along— and even the medical staff seemed to be into it. He then transitioned to “Kick Push,” and the crowd went into even more of a frenzy when the beat stopped and Lupe performed the second verse a capella. The highlight of the show was Fiasco’s doubleheader of “Superstar” and “The Show Goes On,” perhaps his most successful singles. Some of the 101ers who seemed to be heading for the exit even ran back into the crowd. However, that led to an anticlimactic end to Fedstock. Instead of leaving on a high note, Fiasco decided to stick around to play snippets of songs only true fanatics would recognize, and closed the show with a more sombre version of “Who Are You Now.” By the end of the show, the crowd for Lupe Fiasco was a third of the size it had been for Kardinall Offishall. Fedstock gave the impression that even though Lupe Fiasco may be the better or at least more recognized artist, Kardinall Offishall was by far the better performer.
Lupe Fiasco performs at Fedstock.
Photo by Marta Kierkus
E.L.E Fest to showcase Juno nom, local talent Second annual music fest to raise money for Ottawa cancer fund Celina Feng Contributor
Summer is gone, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop attending musical festivals. The University of Ottawa campus will host the second Everybody Love Everybody Fest (E.L.E) on Sept. 26, where a Juno nominee will take the stage among several local up-and-comers.
The Lionyls
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E.L.E Fest is best described as a large-scale, feel-good jam session which encourages acts of all genres to come together to create new music, promote Ottawa’s emerging talents, and raise money for a local charity. One of the defining pillars of this festival is its live collaborative element. Co-founder Sean Callaghan says one of the festival's main initiatives is to bring together artists from different
Courtesy of The Lionyls
genres to create something new. "This year we’ve got rappers, soul bands, rock bands, pop singers, and even beat-boxers collaborating together,” he says. Callaghan says another big part of the event is that it's meant to be more relaxed than others of similar scale. “We wanted to create an event that was not competitive in nature, one that musicians did not have to sell any tickets to their friends or family, and could simply come and perform in a more pressure-free environment,” he explains. The headliner this year is hip-hop artist SonReal. The Vancouver-based rapper was the winner of the MuchFact video of the year award at the 2014 Much Music Video Awards (MMVA), for his single “Everywhere We Go.” He's also garnered two Juno Award nominations and five other MMVA nominations. Other performers include The Lionyls, City Fidelia, Zoo Legacy, and Eagleson, with the first two collaborating live onstage.
“E.L.E considers up-and-coming artists that may be overlooked by other music festivals, and (it) gives us the full-scale festival experience,” says Zach Raynor, a U of O graduate, former Gee-Gees football player, and lead singer of The Lionyls. His band has lots of buzz lately as they compete in the semi-finals of the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot contest. Big opportunities like that and the E.L.E fest are crucial to getting his band’s name and music out there. “Having played several shows like this, we are starting to create an actual fan base," says Raynor. "For us, that’s really exciting. We’re gaining the experience and exposure we need to take our band to the next level. And it’ll give us credibility so that people in the industry will take us more seriously." The festival is free, but the organizers are encouraging donations to the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Programs of Ottawa. It'll take place at 603 Cumberland St., outside Café Nostalgica, on Sept. 26 from 3 to 11 p.m.
ARTS & CULTURE | 9
#FULCRUMFOODREVIEW Fauna triumphs after two-year wait
and granola balancing perfectly with the savoury Tomme cheese and volcanic salt. We then dug into Contributor tender duck breast, which tasted superb with kale, The past couple of years have been quite the kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage), and spaetzle battle for Fauna. The restaurant was plagued (egg noodles). But the real treat of the night was the by legal disputes and other unforeseen circummushroom inari—thick slices of fried tofu topped stances that prevented them from opening as with flavourful mushrooms on a bed of sweet far back as fall 2012. fried rice—accompanied by a delightfully light, Located on the corner of Bank and Frank smooth, and nutty-toned edamame spread. Streets, the restaurant finally unveiled its beautiAll three plates comfully renovated interior bined such different for its opening night Sept. ingredients to create 8. My dining companion unique flavours that linand I sat inside the bustling gered throughout the and warm atmosphere of night, making us wish friendly staff and eager we could try all of Fauna's diners, admiring the elcreations. We were fully egant industrial space and satisfied with our meal, stylish suspended lights. though their dessert Our waiter was deftly Fauna’s Peach and Fennel Granola Salad Photo by menu did tempt us with trained, aware of my alMarta Kierkus squash pudding and a milky chocolate dessert. lergies beforehand (noted when I made the reserFauna emphasizes the local food movement, vation), and offered her expertise in beer suggessourcing as much food as possible from local tions. I enjoyed a smooth, clean Stiegl, while my farmers—and seafood sourced through sustaincompanion adventured with an Earl Grey Marable means—to really bring the freshest tastes malade Saison, a slightly more bitter wheat beer possible to your table. As different foods come with aromatic tones. Instead of serving the usual into season, it is likely that Fauna will alter their bread starter, a bowl of lightly spiced chickpeas menu to reflect this change. with just the right chew was given to every table. Although Fauna is considered pricier for the evFauna’s menu consists of reasonably priced eryday student budget, it offers an experiential joursmall plates meant for individuals or groups to ney of delectable tastes, perfect for a celebratory dinenjoy a variety of contemporary offerings. ner, an impressive first date, or for a drink and small We started off with a refreshing peach and bite before hitting the rest of town for the evening. fennel salad, with the sweetness from the fruit
Jonathan Kim
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
Movie you should have seen: Jasmine van Schouwen Contributor
WHY IT’S FAMOUS: Topping the great majority of most disturbing movie lists, the psychological thriller that defined Darren Aronofsky’s career offers a biting, gut-wrenching commentary on addiction that has established itself as an unavoidable epic of modern cinematography.
FAMOUS LINES: Harry Goldfarb: Somebody like you can really make things all right for me. Tappy Tibbons: We got a winner! I said, weeeeee got a WINNER! WE GOT A WINNER! Sara Goldfarb: I’m gonna be on television!
WHY YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT: Requiem for a Dream is one of those movies you have to recognize as a true masterpiece, but just reading the synopsis is enough to tip you off that it’s not exactly date night material. It’s that movie you have been meaning to watch, but you just never got around because, like most art and literature that is worth your time, you know it’s not going to be an easy ride.
You will want to shut it off more than once, not because it’s gory or boring, but because it’s rough, it’s unnerving, and it’s terrifyingly real. To get through this one, you will need a strong stomach and a good support group.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT ANYWAY: This movie is not only intelligently scripted and brilliantly put together. It also features some of the most gut-wrenching performances I have ever seen. The most fascinating and horrifying aspect of the movie is that it presents you with characters that we can all identify with on some level. You will start to see things through their eyes, and their surreal intoxicated delusions will leave you sitting on your couch wondering what terrifying places your decisions could lead you.
FUN FACTS: • •
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Most movies contain 600 to 700 cuts. Requiem for a Dream contains more than 2,000. To get into the character of Marion, who is a dress designer, Jennifer Connelly started making clothes for herself, and ended up making most of her own wardrobe. The scene where Harry and Marion talk on the phone was shot simultaneously on adjacent parts of the same set through a live phone hook-up, so they could get actual reactions.
WHY IT MIGHT BE TOUGH TO GET THROUGH:
PINTS WITH PONYBOY Jesse Colautti Features Editor
Hop City’s Barking Squirrel Lager
WHERE TO FIND IT: CAFÉ NOSTALGICA
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 Want us to review your favourite beer? Tweet @PonyboyColautti
10 | ARTS & CULTURE
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CAMPUS STYLE
U of O students show this week that school is no excuse for lack of style.
Chloee Detchou, Contributor • Jessica Eritou, Arts & Culture Editor • Chantal Jiang, Contributor A N
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A Political science student Neve proves that fashion is not always about the clothes. She pairs a simple summer dress with an amazing vintage inspired leather messenger bag. This signature accessory elevates her entire oufit.
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Shravan shows us that even Newton’s gravitation constant is no match for the constancy of plaid in fashion. Rest assured that if all else fails; know that you can always have plaid.
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Men’s style is often reduced to sports jerseys and Hollister sweatpants. Andreas, however, has opted for a more classic style: a fresh collared shirt and a well-crafted messenger bag.
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Caitlin is right on trend for this fall with this bold and original print. She played the role of designer, having this blazer custom-made in Malawi.
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PROGRAM: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT
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Ms Jean is a clear style maven in the making, combining a soft floral print with a bright and vibrant orange. The international economics and development student pairs this ingenious outfit with sparkling gold loafers.
ARTS & CULTURE | 11
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR Sarah Nolette sports@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
200 doping tests for 11,000 athletes. Is it enough? In the CIS, it may be harder to weed out dopers than you think Tima Hacini & Sarah Nolette
D
Contributor & Sports editor
oping continues to be a threat to the integrity of all kinds of sports, and collegiate athletics in Canada are not free from the potential of performanceenhancing substance use among their ranks.
News recently broke that Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker tested positive for MDMA. While the party drug isn’t really considered a performance enhancer, it is on the list of prohibited substances, and its use is considered doping according to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). As is usually the case whenever it’s revealed that a major athlete has been doping, it has opened up the conversation about how to prevent performance-enhancing drug use—and what’s even considered performance enhancement to begin with. Every year, Gee-Gees athletes must take a series of “doping control” tests in order to compete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The CCES,
Doping continues to be a threat to sports.
ing of steroids and HGH. Since then, 14 other Canadian college football players have tested positive for banned substances. Generally, there has been a major focus concerning men’s football and men’s hockey. CIS director of operations Tom Huisman said the CCES does not consider athletes in other CIS programs
and field athlete, said it’s probably an unnecessary precaution in sports that aren’t at high risk. “They are really expensive tests,” he said. “To do more than that would put a financial strain on the CIS.” But CIS also invests in testing to some degree too. Huisman noted testing numbers have been
on average, provides 200 drug tests a year for more than 11,000 CIS athletes across the country. These tests cost upwards of $1,000 each. So far, the majority of CIS doping scandals have occurred with football players. In 2010, eight players at the University of Waterloo were suspended for anti-doping violations, and a ninth was arrested for possession and traffick-
at high risk for doping. “Football is the highest risk, and hockey is considered a higher risk sport as well,” said Huisman. “The CCES administers the tests. They decide when, where, and who. It’s something that’s independent of us.” Gabriel Tesfaye, a fourth-year Gee-Gees track
declining, and in a measure to stem the flow of that decline, CIS football programs across the country have agreed to invest $2,500 each working with CCES and CIS to have these 200 tests available. The Canadian Football League (CFL) also provides some support.
Photo by Marta Kierkus
“This is the fourth year the CFL has provided funding,” said Huisman. “The top 75 to 80 eligible draft picks are tested.” While many athletes are well aware of what drugs are banned—anabolic steroids are the most obvious ones—there does exist some grey area in terms of which substances are regulated. With limited research regarding supplements and their safety and effectiveness, they can be used as alternatives to performance-enhancing drugs by mimicking their effect without showing up on tests. Products such as Sline Sane and Anabolic Pump increase endurance, for example. Cell Tech, which is similar to Supeudrol, was not banned by the CCES. Although Speudrol is not prohibited in competition, it is allowed outside competition. If these products are available on the market and are perfectly legal, can one really blame certain athletes for taking advantage? Tesfaye said it’s fair game. “If a competitor is taking it, then let his coach and him decided what would work best for their training,” he said. “If the government body hasn’t seen it as illegal, I think it’s fair based on the rules.” Though the CCES is not overly concerned with the intake of supplements, athletes do have a responsibility to educate themselves about any risks involved in the intake of substances before using them. They have a strict liability when any banned substances are found in their sample.
Gee-Gees come back for ugly win versus Queen’s
Fourth quarter rally secures a 2-0 record and possible top 10 ranking for Gees Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter
Riding the high of their 51-7 homeopener win against York on Labour Day, the Gee-Gees football team suited up to take on a much more talented Queen’s Gaels squad in Kingston on Sept. 6. Coming into the weekend, Queen’s was ranked ninth in the country after an impressive victory against Windsor earlier in the week. The Gees had their hands full with a balanced offensive attack from the Gaels, but ultimately they were able to impose their own and come away with a big 37-30 win. By all typical standards, the game wasn’t a pretty one. Halfway through the first quarter ,it looked as if the Gaels were overmatched after giving up back-to-back touchdowns. But Queen’s fought their way back, grabbing a 17-16 lead at halftime, and didn’t loosen the grip easily in the second half.
14 | SPORTS
It was all Gaels in the third and early parts of the fourth quarters, as they extended their lead to 30-16. The game seemed out of hand for the Gees until quarterback Derek Wendel took control and led Ottawa to victory. An eight-play, 75-yard drive resulted in a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ian Stewart with eight minutes left on the clock. The drive was followed by a clutch interception by Mike Randazzo that gave the Gee-Gees an opportunity to march back down the field in 10 plays, and have Wendel hit running back Mack Tommy for a 24-yard TD. With less than three minutes left on the clock, and tied at 30, Queen’s took the ball to try for a game-winning drive but were stifled when linebacker Nick Lecour forced a fumble, which was recovered by the Gees. This gave Wendel the ball once again, with less than two minutes
left, and he led the garnet and grey down the field to hand off the gamewinning touchdown to Tommy on the two-yard line. In a game that had 19 total punts, eight turnovers, and its fair share of short passes and runs that didn’t gain much more than a handful of yards, it’s surprising this game came to such an exhilarating finish. With the win, Wendel became the leading passer in the country after tallying 401 yards. He was also the leading rusher in the game with 104 yards, and his three passing touchdowns were good enough to also make him the highest scoring quarterback in the country. The young quarterback is now ranked in Canada’s top 10 at every single statistical category and well on his way to a fantastic season. The Gee-Gees as a whole are now going to be heavily considered for a top 10 ranking in the country after
beating the ninth-ranked Gaels and receiving 12 votes last week. Momentum for the rest of the season is heavily picking up, and the future may have home field advantage in the
Gee-Gees play Queens Sept. 6.
playoffs on the horizon. The team will be back home at GeeGees Field on Saturday, Sept. 13 to take on the eighth-ranked Guelph Gryphons at 1 p.m.
Photo by Robin Kasem
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Gee-Gees athletic therapist goes for gold in triathlons
Bushell set to compete for Canada this month
Jennifer Bushell, triathlete
Garry Balaganthan Contributor
When Jennifer Bushell isn’t just busy helping the Gee-Gees as one of the University of Ottawa’s athletic therapists, she’s training to compete in triathlon competitions all over North America. As an athletic therapist, Bushell helps athletes improve through physical therapy. In her first year with the GeeGees, she had an influential impact leading by example through achieving excellence in her own sport. After performing well in her first few triathlons in 2012, she was invited to compete at the Canadian Nationals in Magog, Que. this past July, where she clinched one of the top positions. Having qualified for the Canadian national team, she will compete at the ITU World Triathlon in Chicago this month. A strong runner during her
Photo by HotFootPhoto
kinesiology undergrad, Bushell represented the Dalhousie Tigers on their track and field team before graduating in 2007. After that, she went on to study athletic therapy at York University. “I wanted to continue working with athletes,” she says. “I really liked the aspect of athletes having a lot better body awareness, and they have a lot more incentive and desire to get better.” While working in North Carolina during the summers performing ocean rescues, as well as competing in the Canadian Surf Life Saving Championships, Bushell began honing her skills as an open water swimmer. She then worked as an athletic therapist for several of the University of Toronto’s women’s varsity teams, and eventually decided to venture into the NCAA. While she was working with the Division I University of Ore-
gon Ducks and simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree; athletic therapy, she picked up cycling, completing the trifecta of her triathlon ambition. “I wanted to buy a road bike,” she says. “I said, I’m going to buy a road bike, and that’s going to be that third thing. So I should try triathlons.’” She says she got in touch with the University of Oregon’s triathlon team and jumped in. “Once you start, you can’t stop,” she says. Though she has only competed in six triathlon races in her career, Bushell’s winning mentality has allowed her to reach the upper echelon of the sport—and she’s still climbing. “You always go in thinking, I’m just doing this for fun, doing this to compete, let’s just see what happens,” she says. “Then once you start, you’re like, well I’m going to win, I’m going to do the best I can.”
Home sweet home for Gees football A tour through the new Gee-Gees Field and facility on Lees campus Spencer Murdock Staff Reporter
For more than 100 years the University of Ottawa’s football team didn’t have a stadium to call home on campus, but that changed last year when the brand new Gee-Gees Field opened on Lees campus. After a season of settling in, the Fulcrum was welcomed into their team facilities to take a look at our football players’ new home. The university purchased Lees campus from Algonquin College in 2007, and upgraded it in recent years to house the football team, classrooms, and labs. An entire wing of the campus is dedicated to the team and its operations. The massive locker room, divided into offensive and defensive areas, offers a window into the team’s shared mentality. Written on the whiteboards are the words “one heart, one mind, one soul,” along with the three most important things the team is striving for
New Gee-Gees Field
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this season: 1. Gee-Gees family 2. Vanier Cup 3. 12-0 perfect season There’s also a good amount of lightheartedness to be seen in the locker room, including the team’s pet beta fish and a PlayStation 2 console with some classic titles. The facility includes a new medical room equipped with training tables and ice baths, all new offices for coaching and game-day staff, and storage rooms for equipment. A walk down halls plastered with action photos of former Gee-Gees takes you directly out to the field, which is typically packed with 4,152 screaming fans on game days. Attendance is expected to rise in the near future; the university plans to add bleachers of equal size to the opposite side of the field when the city completes construction on the nearby Queensway, effectively doubling the maximum capacity. An expanded stadium will be key to the future of Gee-
Locker room
Photo by Marta Kierkus
Gees football at the U of O. History has proven how successful the program can be, and as the years pass, the team is rising once again as a contender in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. With the total capacity on the rise to more than 8,000, Gee-Gees Field will become the stadium with the third-most seating in the OUA, behind Western’s TD Waterhouse Stadium and Queen’s Richardson Stadium. For the long-vagrant GeeGees football team, it really is home sweet home.
Photo by Marta Kierkus
SPORTS | 15
Women’s soccer kicks off the home openers with back-to-back wins Gees still finding their footing coming back from disappointing season Sarah Nolette Sports editor
After a disappointing end of the season last year when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Queen’s Gaels in penalty kicks, the Gee-Gees women’s soccer team is off to a good start. The Gees hosted the University of Toronto and Ryerson for their opening weekend at the Matt Anthony Field Sept. 6–7. The garnet and grey are sitting at number nine in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top 10 rankings of 2014 with a 3-1 record. The Gee-Gees women’s soccer program has a rich history with a total of four CIS silver medals, three bronze medals, and seven Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship titles. Fourth-year midfielder Julia Francki
admitted the team had a bit of a tough opening game, but it’s getting better each practice and game. Saturday, the Gees took on the U of T Varsity Blues, who had slim pickings when it came to goal opportunities. The Gees’ tough defence, forceful offence, and shot-stopping goalie Cynthia LeBlanc gave few openings for the U of T to get the ball to the net. “Everyone’s been connecting really well, especially in the forwards and the defence,” said second-year defender Anika Littlemore. “We’ve had to adapt as a team, but overall it’s been really good.” The Gees’ offence created great plays throughout the game. Their first goal began with Francki driving to the net and quickly passing to Pilar Khoury. The speedy forward rushed the defence and slipped the ball to
Faythe Lou for the goal. Francki added the second goal to the scoreboard and ended the half with a score of 2-0. “We had a really good week of practice,” said Francki. “I think it showed, especially in the first half of the game.
We came out really strong.” The Varsity Blues came back stronger in the second. With 12 minutes left on the clock, they got their first goal and kept on the pressure for the rest of the game. Although the Blues had more chances in the second half,
Gee-Gees’ play Varsity Blues Sept. 6.
Courtesy of Richard A. Whittaker
it wasn’t enough. The Gees took the win with a 2-1 finish. “(Head coach Steve Johnson) has been trying some new lineups so we’ve just been trying to find team chemistry,” said Francki. “We still have a lot of things to work on, but it’s getting better. I think everyone has a chance to play. There’s a lot of good opportunities and a lot of good players.” The following day, the Gees wiped the Ryerson Rams clean. With a final score of 9-0, each player had a chance to showcase her talents. It was a great opportunity for everyone to connect on the field. “We all have to talk it out and work as a team. That’s something we have to work on,” said Littlemore. “Even though we’re up a couple goals, we have to keep our foot on the gas and put it away.”
Women’s rugby pulls off a win against Laval Thrilling, but rocky game for the Gee-Gees Patrick Fleming Contributor
The University of Ottawa’s women’s rugby team came together late to beat the visiting Laval Rouge et Or on Sept. 7 with a score of 15-14. It was a hard-fought match between the two teams. Each squad took turns controlling the pace of play, but the GeeGees were the first to consistently attack, testing Laval’s defence and taking the ball down to the goal line. After a series of mauls and breakdowns, Laval was the first to score. This did not deter the Gees, since not long after, they broke through and scored a try of their own. The non-stop action continued as Laval came back with a try, using their strengths in the centre positions and great ball-handling to muscle their way through the Gees’ defensive line. But the garnet and grey came back to score on the run with some impressive offloading. In the final moments of the game, the intensity rose and Laval put constant pressure on the Gees’ back line. Ottawa’s forwards were able to fight off the barrage of runs, and it was at this crucial point in the game that the Gee-Gees played their best rugby. It was the women’s work ethic in the scrums that held them to a one-point victory. “Laval is probably one of the toughest teams we’re go-
ing to face,” said scrumhalf Erin Van Gulik. “Last year was the first time we beat Laval in 20 years.” With this victory, Van Gulik is confident the team is improving. “We’re definitely going to gain momentum, and today is just a taste of what we have,” she said. “We have so much more talent and a lot more to bring.” Although the Gees pulled off the win, Van Gulik said her team has plenty to improve in order to avoid close
Women’s rugby team plays Laval Sept. 7.
16 | SPORTS
calls. “We definitely need to capitalize on our opportunities better. We made a lot of crucial knock-ons and we weren’t really organized, but we have a lot of time to fix that. It’s the little stuff.” The Gee-Gees are looking to use this victory as a boost as they prepare to travel next weekend to Sherbrooke to face the Vert et Or on Sept. 14.
Photo by Remi Yuan
PANDA GAME SEPT. 20TH thefulcrum.ca
OPINIONS
OPINIONS EDITOR Kyle Darbyson
opinions@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260
International student discounts are a numbers game With a 300 per cent increase in enrolment, the university is winning Colin Andrew MacDougall
This new student discount is neither broadspectrum language assassination, nor is it discrimination on the part of the university—this is simple pragmatism, and nothing more.
Contributor
T
his year, the University of Ottawa instituted a new student discount that awards French-speaking international students with tuition discounts of up to $15,000 a year.
While the university saw a 300 per cent increase in the enrolment of French-speaking international students largely due to this decision, the idea of establishing a language-based discount system has rubbed some non-Frenchspeaking international students the wrong way. While many already view this decision as an exclusionary tactic on the university’s part, I believe it is just a simple reflection of reality. We live in a country with two official languages; one is the clear majority, while the other is the clear minority. So, it should come as no surprise that the university, seeking to bolster its international reputation and shore up its French-language student numbers, has implemented this kind of student discount. Francophone culture has long enjoyed a special sort of enshrined status in Canada, not only because of the historical influence France had in the country’s seminal years, but also because
it holds minority status in respect to the Anglophone majority. Canada is also a country that is fortunate enough to have grants, awards, and bursaries for all manner of things in academia, the arts, and research, with specialized opportunities for various visible cultural, ethnic, and religious minorities. It should come as no surprise that the university is slanting its admission incentives to help
International Office at the U of O.
Photo by Marta Kierkus
maintain the ever-diminishing Francophone presence in Canada. Since Francophone culture is a long-standing component of the country, one that is in peren-
Nail polish won’t stop date rape It puts the onus on women to prevent sexual assault
Nail polish changes colour if drink is spiked.
Tori Dudys Contributor
I can’t help but sigh and roll my eyes at the invention of a new rapeprevention nail polish that’s meant to protect women from date rape. Ladies are meant to wear the polish, created by the company Undercover Colors, and stir a finger into their drink before consuming it. If the product changes colour, that means the drink
thefulcrum.ca
Photo and edits by Marta Kierkus
has been spiked with a date rape drug. This nail polish isn’t an inherently bad thing, but it is a temporary solution to a greater problem. According to a study of sexual assault on campuses submitted by university professors to the United States Department of Justice in 2007, only about 2.4 per cent of women who reported a date rape incident thought they had been slipped a drug. So not only is this nail polish a tem-
porary solution to a large social issue, it’s a temporary solution to a miniscule part of that same problem. However, the makers of this new cosmetic claim to have women’s best interests in mind. On its Facebook page, the company even goes so far as to describe their product as being empowering for women. “With our nail polish, any woman will be empowered to discreetly ensure her safety by simply stirring her
nial danger of an impending Anglo-inundation, it is to be expected that institutions such as the U of O will cater to this demographic as long as it remains the underdog in the current cultural and linguistic backdrop. This is not to be construed as a value judgment, nor should it be seen as an attempt to assume some sort of superiority based on numbers. Rather, it is a dispassionate evaluation of these numbers—the same kind of statistical pragmatism the university demonstrated by integrating this discount. Both the school and the country as a whole benefit from any person who can more readily engage with society and individuals. This benefit can be social, fiscal, cultural, or some combination of the three. In this case, anyone who ignores the practicality of having students who are already equipped to deal with at least one of the country’s two official languages is pandering to an idealized cultural mosaic. While the university (and society in general) largely benefits from cultural diversity, let’s not omit the fact that this new student discount is neither broad-spectrum language assassination, nor is it discrimination on the part of the university—this is simple pragmatism, and nothing more.
This nail polish isn’t an inherently bad thing, but it is a temporary solution to a greater problem. drink with her finger,” the page reads. The problem is that telling ladies to protect themselves from rapists with nail polish is just another way of telling women it’s our job to keep ourselves safe from date rape. I can’t speak for all women everywhere, but I wouldn’t find it at all empowering to stick my finger in a beverage out of fear that I’ve been slipped a drug. In fact, it would make me feel the exact opposite, since I would be obligated to constantly check my drink the entire night. It’s unrealistic, especially if I’m already tipsy, having a great time, and not thinking about potential rapists. It’s more realistic to expect a combination of education and media reporting that teaches widespread gender and sex equity. This strategy should be able to refocus the responsibility from women protecting themselves to men treating women respectfully and as equals in every context. As much as this request seems like
common sense, too often we hear people say things like, “Ladies, make sure you wear longer skirts, travel in pairs, and don’t get too drunk,” rather than talking about how horrendous it is to rape someone. It’s almost as if they characterize rapists as some nonthinking entities that are instinctually prone to sexual assault. In reality, most rapists know what they’re doing, and what they’re doing has nothing to do with the way the other person looks, or how easily he or she can be manipulated into a compromising situation. Rape is about controlling someone else. It is committed so the perpetrator can feel powerful and superior in relation to the survivor. So how do we change these feelings of superiority? For starters, we stop putting the onus solely on women to protect themselves from rape. There are many different ways we can accomplish this, but colourful nail polish is not one of them.
OPINIONS | 17
CMA needs to stop playing politics
Canadian health organization should get back to promoting health policies Jonathan Gravel Contributor
At its 147th annual meeting and general council in August, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) once again took aim at the federal government for its apparent inaction in healthcare. However, pointing fingers at the Harper government and demanding "brave leadership" is a lackluster strategy that does nothing to actively improve any of the many ailments that affect our healthcare system. If reform of our inordinately expensive system—which provides fairly mediocre care—is truly a priority for the CMA, they should give up the constitutional blame game and move towards actively advocating for positive change to Canada’s healthcare policy. They should start doing so by picking a single quantifiable reform issue and run with it. There are a myriad of such issues that deserve their full attention. To be fair, many of these reform issues were discussed at length during the recent annual meeting that ran Aug. 17–20, but the media coverage of this event still focused on primarily on the political angle. If the CMA is to have an effective voice or impact on future election campaigns and
WEIGH IN ON OUR ONLINE POLL.
results, then they must strive to meet the greater Canadian electorate’s demand for specific health system reforms. They should not just clumsily hope to have us collectively blame the federal government and angrily storm Parliament Hill. In reality, the Constitution Act grants provinces the lion’s share in healthcare, including jurisdiction over hospitals and direct delivery of most medical services, while the federal government has mostly spending power as its main constitutional responsibility in the realm of healthcare. The fact that this federal government has a stricter interpretation of the Constitution when it comes to healthcare— in that they believe provinces should be responsible for providing effective cost-efficient healthcare—is nothing new. Besides, the supposed problem of federal inaction in healthcare largely predates this Conservative government. A brief examination of the evolution of Canadian Medicare shows a slow but substantial deterioration of the federal role, for better or for worse. It is also important to note that legislative contributions to the scaling down of its role have come through both Lib-
eral and Conservative federal governments. Furthermore, what is the CMA’s definition of federal leadership? Constitutional reform? Let us hope not. What have past federal governments done that this current one has not? Therein lies the major flaw with their unequivocal blame of the federal government—there is no proper def-
inition of what they believe is missing or what they hope to see in the future. Currently, what we have are 10 provincial and three territorial healthcare systems in need of short-term reform targets. We don’t need any more talk of politics. Constitutional jurisdiction is “inside baseball.” The sooner the CMA realizes this, the
Edits by Adam Gibbard with CC
healthcare systems and the electors of their respective governments. “Quit pointing the blame at everyone else,” former CMA president Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti told delegates during the meeting. The CMA, as the national voice for the highest standards of health and healthcare, needs to do exactly that.
Philosophical Sh*t
Adriana Sgabellone Contributor
While my commitment-phobic best friend stood there watching me cry into a tub of ice cream, she looked at me with pity in her eyes and asked me the simple question: “Why do you keep doing this to yourself?” By “this,” she meant falling in love. My boyfriend of two years had just moved out of our shared apartment, and I wasn’t taking it well to say the least. She was asking me why I keep racing at the opportunity to set myself up for heartbreak again and again. It wasn’t the first time she had seen me in that kind of sorry state. Her question reminded me of the ageold question: Is it better to have loved and lost (like me), than never to have loved at
18 | OPINIONS
sooner their messaging and media coverage can be more relevant and more helpful for the healthcare reform this country needs. The organization should put forth more of an effort to propose and promote specific innovative health policy to provinces and their citizens, since these citizens are both the patients of their respective provincial
all (like her)? I say yes, it is better. Strange as it seems, I actually feel sorry for her, since she has never allowed herself to get close enough to someone to feel love. Despite the heartache I have felt, I remain wholeheartedly in favour of always giving love one more chance. What my friend doesn’t realize is that the euphoric high of being in love is unrivaled by any drug. It is the kind of high that is worth taking a chance on. To have someone be so invested in making sure you’re happy is something special, and it is becoming increasingly rare in a world full of narcissism. There are always ups and downs, but knowing that someone cares for you as much as you care for them is indescribable. It can definitely be scary feeling so dependent on someone, and putting your
happiness in their hands. But you are comforted by the knowledge that they are just as dependent on you. That’s the thing about love: it’s a constant give and take. When love doesn’t work out it can be earth-shattering and devastating. But when it does work out, the experience is soul-shaking and it changes you for the better. That is why, in spite of all of the times that I, and many others, have been let down by love, we get right back in line to try again. There’s simply nothing else that compares to it, and you shouldn’t be discouraged by a couple of bad experiences. You have to keep trying. If you ask me, it is a far bigger loss to never love than it is to love and then lose it.
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THE TOMATO | 19
DISTRACTIONS Tearing of anything during sex is never a good thing, and in your case this sounds pretty painful. But let me assure you, such tears are completely normal. Cuts are pretty common, but the greater the size of the cut, the more pain in your privates. The size of his cock coupled with your nerves can definitely make you tighter and drier down there, and if you two didn’t partake in a lot of foreplay it may have created a recipe for ripping. The vagina is elastic and made to accommodate a variety of sizes, but women often require about 20 minutes of sexual stimulation—nipple teasing, fingering, getting eaten out—before we get all those juices flowing. Another alternative to stay away from such rips in the future is a trusty bottle of lube. You’ll make your sex more streamlined and smooth and provide a bit more protection down there. It helps when you’re nervous, or for those rougher nights in bed that you’ll want to enjoy. And as if guys didn’t love girl on top enough, by riding your man to the moon you’ll be able to control the movement to ensure your lady layers stay intact. As for a possible infection, you’ll definitely want to hold off in the sack for a couple weeks. Semen can irritate the cut and cause burning. While the cut heals, a good idea is to use a gentle antibiotic and a little cloth to keep it as clean as possible. If the pain persists, a safe bet would be to make an appointment with your doctor for a thorough look.
20 | DISTRACTIONS
It’s time to give your sexual creativity a tune-up. With your man away and you wanting to stay faithful, you hardly have to abstain. You have many an option just waiting to be sexually sampled. Ready to start your engines? A girl’s best friend—other than a sexy set of diamonds—is a vibrator or other sex toy. Sex with your guy during reading week or Christmas is a far-off prospect, but flying solo has a lot to offer. Ottawa has a couple of great shops (Venus Envy, Wicked Wanda’s, The Adult Fun Superstore) with experienced staff to help you find the right product
FEATURES EDITOR Jesse Colautti
features@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260 for your pleasure. But, most importantly, don’t take the opinions of others to heart. Residence and meaningless hookups are two things that wear thin on everyone after a while. Being in a healthy and committed relationship is wonderful and can be just as exciting (and much more safe) than those one-night flings. Respect and confidence in your relationship is a great thing, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to develop your own sexual being.
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SEPT. 11 TO OCT. 4 2014
THRYLLABUS
MUSIC
Thursday, Sept. 11
Saturday, Sept. 20 Saturday, Sept. 27
Friday, Sept. 12
Saturday, Sept. 13
Monday, Sept. 22 Sunday, Sept. 28 Sunday, Sept. 14
Monday, Sept. 15
Tuesday, Sept. 23 Monday, Sept. 29 Thursday, Oct. 2
Wednesday, Sept. 17 Wednesday, Sept. 24
Friday, Oct. 3
ARTS
Thursday, Sept. 25
SPORTS
Friday, Sept. 26 Saturday, Oct. 4
FUN THINKING
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Thursday, Sept. 18 Friday, Sept. 19
DISTRACTIONS | 21
THE EED 22 | DISTRACTIONS
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EDITORIAL
Volume 75, Issue 4, September 11, 2014 Boiling and steeping since 1942. Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Recycle this or we’ll give you one sugar instead of two.
staff
imple slogans are supposed to be the most effective.
Sabrina “Queen of Babylon” Nemis Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcum.ca Adam “Russian Caravan” Ashby Gibbard Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca Adam “Samurai Chai” Feibel Managing Editor content@thefulcrum.ca Marta “Peach Tranquility” Kierkus Visual Editor visual@thefulcrum.ca Nadia “Spice of Life” Drissi El-Bouzaidi News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca Jessica “Empress of China” Eritou Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Jesse “Silver Needle” Colautti Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca Sarah “Lavender Dreams” Nolette Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca Kyle “Imperial Acai” Darbyson Opinions Editor opinions@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Strawberry Blush” Van Dyk Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca Spencer “Maharaja” Murdock Staff Reporter Lindsay “Scarlet Cloud” MacMillan Associate News Editor Savannah “Precious White Peach” Awde Staff Proofreader Brianna “Sakura Allure” Campigotto Staff Photographer Moussa “Qi’Lan Fireside” SangaréPonce Associate Online Editor Annalise “Sangria Punch” Mathers Associate Features Editor Chantale “Capital of Heaven” Streeting Webmaster Ashley “Marshmallow Macaron” O’Connell Ad Intern Deidre “Passion Tango” Butters Ad Manager ads@thefulcrum.ca Andrew “Six Summits” Hawley General Manager manager@thefulcrum.ca
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WORDS DON’T ALWAYS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES S
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The problem with a three word slogan though, is that it only has those three words to convey a message. If that message isn’t immediately and undeniably clear, it leaves the meaning up to interpretation, and if people don’t interpret the message correctly the problem isn’t people, the problem is you. Unlike the University of Ottawa where the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa runs 101 Week, Carleton University administration runs the orientation programs. While this probably maintains consistency from year to year, it does mean that policies can be put into place with little student input. Carleton’s Safe Space initiative doesn’t allow frosh leaders to swear during orientation week. Student frosh leaders felt this babied first years, shielding them from something they’ve most certainly heard before and are going to hear again. “Rape is an awful crime and we would never promote such ridiculous behaviour,” one anonymous frosh facilitator wrote to The Charlatan. “The shirts were merely a statement against the coddling of first year students. Being told that we shouldn’t swear around them in no way helps to ease them into university life. They will be exposed to such language throughout the rest of the year.” The stated intention of the protest was against this part of the program. However, the T-shirts
said: “Fuck Safe Space.”
This is problematic for a number of reasons. First, the Safe Space program is not primarily concerned with foul language. According to their website, it’s a “universitywide initiative to reduce the impact of homophobia and heterosexism on campus.” Prohibitions on language in orientation week are likely there to minimize homophobic and sexist comments. These are especially important after incidents in September 2013 at St. Mary’s University and the University of British Columbia, where frosh leaders led chants making light of rape and sexual assault.
Not all swear words are necessarily oppressive, but rather than assembling a list of appropriate and inappropriate foul language, it would be much easier to implement a
ban on all swearing. While using the word “fuck” as part of a protest against a blanket ban on swearing seems clever, it undermines the goal of this ban, which is to create a safe space for new students.
Which brings us to what the words “safe space” mean outside of the Carleton context. Safe spaces are intended to be places where individuals can feel free from discrimination and harassment. With only three words to convey meaning, it isn’t ridiculous for the casual viewer to interpret the T-shirts as being against the concept of university as a place where students should feel safe. It is not way surprising that people who saw the shirts were upset—being on the side of discrimination and harassment (even if accidentally) is not a great position to take.
Protests are usually intended to bring attention to an injustice and to promote change. The Carleton students leaders have apologized for wearing shirts printed with “Fuck Safe Space” as they surely did not intend for incoming students to feel unsafe or discriminated against. The university posted their apology, “We, the leaders involved in this incident, would like to offer our sincerest apologies to Carleton University students, staff, and faculty, Carleton alumni, Leslie Robertson and her family and the greater Ottawa community,” reads the apology. “While our intentions were not to harm or disrespect anyone, the T-shirts in question were without a doubt inappropriate, inconsiderate, offensive and disgraceful. Intent is not an excuse for impact and we take full responsibility for the seriousness of our actions. “It pains us to know that we have tarnished the name of our institution and the hard work of thousands of students, staff and faculty in creating a safe and inclusive environment.” Having hoped to call attention to a portion of orientation week policy that seemed puritanical though, it’s ironic that the protest was over the use of words. Frosh leaders initially spoke to the press and pointed out that first years were old enough to handle swearing—and in that, they were likely correct. The point they missed was that word choice matters because it really does have power: The power to make someone feel safe—or not—and the power to accurately convey what you are trying to say. Or not.
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