theconcordian Volume 31 Issue 16
Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.
January 7, 2014
Who doesn’t love them’selfie? p. 13 Photo by Keith Race
In this issue // news life
arts
music
sports
Concordia’s stance Bill 60 p. 3
Old Oldboy vs. new Oldboy p. 7
Jams for back to school p.11
Should George Parros quit? p. 14
More coffee than beverage p. 5
We tell your stories. Follow us on Twitter: @TheConcordian
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news 2
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Tuesday, Janurary 7, 2014
Write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com
CITY Kelly Duval Co-news editor
>> Heart surgery
technique to spread worldwide A surgical team at the Montreal Heart Institute predicts their new, minimally invasive technique will revolutionize heart surgery, as reported by CBC News on Jan. 1. The team recently operated on its 500th patient and hopes to teach this type of surgery worldwide. The benefits include little scarring and quicker recovery time, which would allow surgery to become an option for elderly patients who might not survive a more traditional approach.
>> Cop threatens homeless man
The Gazette reported that disciplinary action will be taken against a Montreal police officer who threatened to tie a homeless man to a pole on Jan. 2. A bystander took video footage, which later surfaced online, of the officer saying, “I’ve told you that if I receive another 911 call about you, I will tie you to a pole for an hour.” The homeless man had reportedly been acting aggressively with police and bystanders. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and head of public affairs for the Montreal Police Department, Ian Lafrenière, said the police officer’s words were unacceptable.
Polytechnique shooting etched in history White Ribbon Day brings forth awareness and remembrance Travis Fauteux The Lance (University of Windsor)
WINDSOR (CUP) — On Dec. 6, it was 24 years since the tragic massacre at Montreal’s École Polytechnique where 14 women were killed by a lone shooter with a personal vendetta against “feminists.” The University of Windsor’s Womyn’s Centre is ensuring that the tragedy will never be forgotten. The anniversary coincides with the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day to remember the victims of the Polytechnique massacre and to reflect on the many tragic cases of gender-based violence around the world. Candlelight vigils were held at a variety of communities across Canada. Tracy Huynh from the University of Windsor Womyn’s Centre said that it is important for all students to remember the events that transpired 24 years ago. “It’s a reminder of how prevalent sexism is still in our society and our media,” said Huynh. “At the time…it was outright a misogynist attack and nobody addressed that. They focused more on the shooter than the victim.” “I know it’s hard for students to come out, but I really do encourage them and faculty to come out because you would be surprised how many students don’t know why the Memorial of Hope is there
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and what it’s for,” she said. “A lot of students don’t even know about the shooting. We hear about the [United States shootings], but we never remember the shootings in Canada.” University of Windsor Student Alliance (UWSA) VP Administration Shaista Akbar said “We need to remember that violence against women is still a major issue in Canada and within our homes in Windsor. It is important that we pledge to take action against this and the first step is remembering and reflecting on what has happened in the past.” On Dec. 6, 1989, an armed gunman walked into an engineering class at École Polytechnique, separated the men and women, and shot all nine female students; they were studying in the male dominated field and killed for being what the shooter considered to be feminists, killing six of them. The casualties did not end with the women in the classroom though. The gunman targeted other women after leaving the classroom and killed 14 women in total, injuring 10 women and four men. Eight months after the tragedy, Sarto Blais, a male witness of the massacre, hanged himself out of survivor’s guilt. His suicide note explained that he “could not accept that as a man I had been there and hadn’t done anything about it.” Two victims were later added to the already devastating tragedy when Blais’s parents committed suicide less than a year after losing their son.
Photo by Travis Fauteux (The Lance)
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Memorial // news
Tuesday, january 7, 2014
Last English university in Quebec to oppose proposed charter
As the third and last English university to publicly denounce the Parti Québécois’ proposed legislation, Concordia responded to the Quebec Charter of Secular Values (Bill 60) with a letter from president Alan Shepard and a joint statement issued on Dec. 18 by the Senate Steering Committee and Board Executive Committee. Concordia’s joint statement, supported by 11 Concordia unions and associations, condemns the Charter of Secular Values in its current form on three grounds: “1.
Our particular history and current circumstances, 2. The anticipated effects on recruitment and retention; and 3. The democratic principle of the autonomy of universities everywhere.” Expanding on Concordia’s reasons for opposing Bill 60, the joint statement reads, “The prohibition against visible religious symbols would affect our more than 7,000 full- and part-time employees, many of whom are also students at the university and who depend on their employment as research and teaching assistants to help pay for their educations.” This explanation mirrors the press release McGill published on Nov. 29 which states, “Be it re-
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Politics // news
Concordia University denounces Bill 60 Timothy Weynerowski Staff writer
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solved that while the McGill Senate supports the secular spirit of Bill 60, it strongly objects to the restrictions on the right to wear religious symbols, as described in the draft legislation, which run contrary to the University’s mission and values.” McGill was the first post-secondary institution to criticize the proposed Charter of Values. Both universities take issue with certain key elements of the proposed Charter which include prohibiting civil servants from wearing ostentatious religious symbols and limiting time off for religious reasons. Concordia opposes the Charter on intellectual grounds as well,
as the statement reads, “The interaction among such a range of cultures and religions at our university contributes to the intellectual and social development of our community and to the vitality of Quebec.” Concordia and McGill oppose Bill 60 as they claim it would make it more difficult to recruit students, staff and faculty. Concordia argues it is not a government agent and declares its autonomy in the statement. In his letter, Shepard writes, “Again, an overwhelming majority expressed their dissent... The next step is to present our position to the government as part of the consultative process on the draft legislation, which starts in January.”
NATION Kelly Duval Co-news editor
>> Costly Toronto cleanup As reported in The Globe and Mail, the city of Toronto has unveiled its $75 million ice storm cleanup plan. City crews will be cleaning up debris and the thousands of broken trees and branches that fell throughout the city as a result of the ice storm in December. Councillor and chair of the public works and infrastructure committee, Denzil Minnan-Wong, said the process could take about six to eight weeks, with city staff contractors working 12-hour days, seven days a week.
>> Fundraiser attacked in Banff
Jamie McDonald, a British man running across Canada for charity, was beaten and robbed in Banff on Jan. 1, as reported in the National Post. McDonald has been running across Canada since March 9 to raise money for British and Canadian children’s hospital charities, pushing his belongings in a three-wheeled cart. It’s been reported that he’s physically OK and that the stolen bag containing his wallet and hours of video footage of his journey was later returned to an area near where the attack happened. McDonald said the experience didn’t sour his view of Canada.
>> Winnipeg is the new Mars
The Manitoba Museum announced that Winnipeg’s temperatures on Dec. 31 were as cold as the surface on Mars, as reported by CBC News. Mars reached a maximum temperature of -29 C, that day, while the daytime high temperature for Winnipeg was -31 C with a windchill that made it feel as cold as -50 C. If skin were exposed to temperatures this cold, it could freeze in less than five minutes.
Concordia University President Alan Shepard and 11 Concordia unions denounce Bill 60.
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Salon De Barbier CARLO ALBANESE 1414 rue Pierce Montreal, QC H3H 2K2 514-989-0005
>> Flu outbreak in Alberta
Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne announced that not enough people have received flu shots in light of a recent spike in flu cases, as reported by CBC News. On Jan. 1, 965 cases were reported of the flu, 920 of which were H1N1. Only 21 per cent of Albertans and 49 per cent of health-care workers have had flu shots, prompting Horne to further urge people to get immunized. There has since been long lines reported at clinics across the province with people waiting to receive their flu shot.
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theconcordian
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Campus // news
CUSACorp kick-starts Reggie’s revamp starting in 2014 Teaming up with the CSU and the university to better student space in the hall mezzanine Sloane Montgomery Co-news editor
Big goals have been set for Reggie’s revamping and the restoration of the mezzanine space of the Hall building brought on by CUSACorp. The for-profit sector of the Concordia Student Union, CUSACorp, is responsible for the management and oversight of spaces on campus, such as Reggie’s. It was established in order to generate profits to offset the growing costs of student life initiatives and services provided by the CSU in the long-term. The board is managed by five undergraduate students and two community members, and all the work is done on a voluntary basis. Four undergraduate students currently run the board: James Tyler Vaccaro, CSU’s VP Clubs & Internal Affairs; Scott Carr, CSU’s VP Finance; Antonin Picou, President of Engineering and Computer Science Association; and undergraduate student Melanie Hotchkiss, currently there are no community members on the board. “CUSACorp seeks to collaborate with the CSU and university to create a space that caters to the different needs of students. A revival of the mezzanine would entail creating locations with food options, areas to sit and socialize, and easy access to services offered by the CSU. The renovation of Reggie’s Bar fits perfectly within this vision, and can contrib-
ute immensely to improving the use of space on the Mezzanine,” states the CUSACorp Board in their press release. CUSACorp is aiming to create these spaces on campus, in an effort to unite the Concordia community. One way in which the Board would like to achieve this goal is through renovating the space that is currently occupied by Reggie’s. “This is a unique spot on campus with great potential. We believe that Reggie’s Bar can be a space for students to work communally or socialize. It can act as a hub of student life on campus by hosting a variety of events and catering to the needs of different student groups. This year the bar can change its image from a dark dive bar on campus to a warm and welcoming venue,” continued the press release. Vaccaro said that for the first time in years, Reggie’s was actually generating revenue. He and Carr took on some immediate changes to the bar to drive down some unnecessary costs such as decreasing the number of beers on tap from 12 to two in order to curb wasted revenue. Moreover, Reggie’s was opened Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. but was often empty which is why the board decided to have the bar only opened during peak hours such as Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and starting at a later time. With proper renovations the cost estimate is between $400,000 and $500,000. There have been plans laid
out but now students are waiting to sit down and discuss the cost breakdown with facilities management. Ventilation and plumbing should be taken care of as part of the bar’s lease with the university, which would bring down the overall cost for students, because their money would be going solely to the aesthetic aspect of the renovations. Vaccaro explained that contractors have many concerns about safety conditions and that Reggie’s should not have been open for business. There are issues with the bar’s bathrooms as only two out of eight toilets work and the constant leaks are causing damage to both the bathrooms and the space itself. The ventilation is even more problematic, since it is the same system used in the Hall building it would therefore be shut off after school hours. This is a health concern, as the bar is open much later than the rest of the building, causing the venue to become extremely hot and suffer from lack of fresh air. To coincide with the beginning of the semester, there will be a Reggie’s Bar website launched on January 8, created primarily to deliver information to students about why the bar is closed, when it will be opened and all other updates. Once the plans are more concrete, the website will continue to be used as a communication portal for student opinion. For more information check out the new website: www.reggiesbar. com
SGW Office: H-260 hojo@csu.qc.ca
SGW office: H-729 LOY office: SC bldg 1.115 advocacy@csu.qc.ca
Advocacy Centre SGW Office: H-731 legalclinic@csu.qc.ca
For more info on all these services, check out csu.qc.ca!
life
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
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Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com
Culture// LIFE
Wake up and smell a new kind of coffee Cafés across the city are serving artisanal brews they call ‘third wave’ Angela Mackenzie Contributor
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uring the first big snowfall of the year, the atmosphere inside a local cafe is warm and cozy. As people walk through the door, dusting snow from their coats, Jordan Crosthwaite smiles and greets them with a genuinely friendly ‘hello’. He seems to recognize nearly everyone who walks in the door, making small talk with ease. Crosthwaite is a barista at Odessa, one of Montreal’s newest specialty coffee shops. Cafés like Odessa specialize in third wave coffee and have been popping up all over the city in recent years. They provide an experience that feels very different from what you would get in a Starbucks or Second Cup. The decor in Odessa is modern and minimal but still feels homey. The bar, tables and stools are fashioned from dark wood with black trim. The white walls feature vintage photographs of ships and miniature models of boats. Soft music plays over the speakers as Crosthwaite gently wipes down the counter and begins to prepare a customer’s order. If you’ve never thought of coffee as more than your morning caffeine fix to get through the day, then the concept of Third Wave might seem excessive. The term ‘third wave’ was coined more than a decade ago by food writers who needed to distinguish specialty coffee from the Starbucks craze, which focused on creating a European-inspired coffee culture. (The first wave, if you’re wondering, was the rise of mass coffee brands like Folgers and Maxwell House). Third wave is recognized as being more about the coffee than the beverage. In other words, it’s more about the beans and the roast than whether it’s a latte or cappuccino. Popular American roasters and brewers such as Stumptown and Counter Culture have been credited with raising the profile of third wave coffee, with similar places taking off in Canada. Crosthwaite’s passion for coffee is apparent. Leaning against the bar, he pauses for a moment when asked to summarize what this movement towards specialty coffee really means. “Third wave coffee is about recognizing that coffee can taste really great,” he says. “It’s about bringing out all of the unique characteristics within different kinds of coffee, in ways that are respectful to all parts of the process: farming, roasting and brewing.” Third wave cafés primarily focus on espresso, pour-over filter methods, and the siphon or vacuum pot method. Some dabble in cold brew — coffee brewed over ice or using a cold brew dripper, which is a fan-
cy glass contraption that looks like something from a high-school chemistry lab. Myriade, one of the most well-known specialty cafés here in Montreal, invests a lot in their equipment which some say results in a better brew. Other cafés keep it simple; Falco in Montreal’s MileEnd, for example, uses only the siphon method. Though third wave coffee places importance on growers and the relationship with those producers, Crosthwaite says the micro roasters are important too. On the other side of town, Café Saint-Henri micro-torréfacteur (or micro-roaster) is the only third wave café in Montreal that roasts their beans in-house. The roasting machine is a big black contraption with a funnel at the top and a spinning cooling tray at the base. It is loud but even though the low hum reverberates throughout the cafe, none of the patrons seem to mind. Simon St-Pierre is a roaster at the cafe. He explains that they work directly with the same small farmers from around the world, year after year.The farmers provide them with raw beans, which are essentially the seed from a cherry that has been dried out. In its raw form it is hard, acidic, bitter, and not usable. The roasting Odessa is one of many places in montreal where you can get a cup of third wave coffee. Photo by Angela Mackenzie process dries moisture from the bean, causing chemical reactions that completely change amount to achieve an ideal extraction. He are paying attention to economics and social the flavour. This way, farmers know they’re uses a goose-neck kettle and takes care to questions, some people are paying attention getting a good price. By getting their beans move in a circular motion to ensure an even to the design or the built environment of the from small lots they also ensure that the cof- and slow pour over the coffee bed. This kind coffee places, but maybe it’s the overlap of fee is as fresh as possible instead of sitting of attention to detail is meant to ensure a all those things that allow something like in a warehouse for many months. St. Pierre better tasting brew. third wave coffee to emerge,” he said. believes this is key for coffee to taste as good But are quality and taste the real reason Crosthwaite believes that what is happenas it possibly can. this trend in coffee culture is continuing to ing with coffee is happening with just about Back at Odessa, Crosthwaite makes a cup grow? David Szanto, a PhD candidate in gas- everything we consume. People are paying of coffee using the pour-over method. He tronomy at Concordia, has been teaching a more attention to where things come from sets a simple V60 cone over a mason jar and course called Encultured Eating since 2009. and are having more conversations about inserts a Japanese paper filter, wetting the He thinks the appeal of third wave coffee why it is unique when it comes from a cerfilter first to avoid a paper taste in the cof- might be more about self-branding and pat- tain place. fee. He then picks up a round, silver can- terns of individual identity making, someHe lights up when asked about the comister filled with 22 grams of roasted Costa thing that is happening across many con- munity growing around specialty coffee. Rican coffee beans and grinds them to a fine sumer categories and through social media. “I think we’ve got some fantastic barissand. For some, it could be more about buying tas in Montreal who have invested in a local Everything is done on a scale. Crosthwaite into the conversation around coffee than ac- coffee scene here. There’s a pretty ingrained explains that he always works with the same tually understanding what is happening in tradition of coffee culture in Montreal that is ratio by weight — one part coffee to 16 parts the mouth when they taste it. not third wave, but I think that’s changing water, which is gradually added in a specific “Some people pay attention to taste, some now.”
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theconcordian
Tuesday, january 7, 2014
Student life // LIFe
Living the rez life: Riverview feels like home Male university students are welcomed to take advantage of services offered at Riverview Matthew Shanahan Staff writer
their making the most of this stage of their lives.” There is also one-on-one personal guidance and spiritual activities offered by the Chaplain of the residence. “A great joy is counselling students and guiding them in their challenges during this important time of their life. These are oneon-one conversations where I can listen, encourage, but also challenge them to really become the best version of themselves,” said Father Eric Nicolai, the Chaplain of the residence. “I try not to be too abstract or theoretical,
but give students real practical goals that they can apply during the week.” “Riverview fosters, encourages and provides opportunities for students to grow as a whole person,” said JR Bugarin, a current resident of Riverview. One of the most pressing questions people have asked about Riverview is whether or not you have to be a Catholic, since the residence is affiliated with the Church. “You don’t need to. In fact, through the years we’ve had Protestant, Muslim and Hindu scholars, and also those who did not profess any faith,” explains Salvador Rego,
Are you a young male looking to move to Montreal to study at university? Or are you currently living in Montreal but looking for a place to hang out or looking to receive some personal guidance in the many aspects of your everyday life? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Riverview is the right place for you. Located at the corner of Avenue du Docteur-Penfield and Avenue Du Musée, Riverview Centre has served the needs of young men since it opened in 1968. Riverview is a university residence in affiliation with the order of Opus Dei, an institution within the Catholic Church which has the primary goal of “sanctifying ordinary work.” It is a five to 10-minute walk from both Concordia University and McGill University, making it very accessible to both schools, as well as the downtown core. Accommodations, meals, laundry, and access to the facilities of the residence are available to students seeking refuge in the centre. “These are essential so people can feel at home here,” explains Fran Gonzalez, the assistant director at Riverview. “Besides that, there are mentoring programs for university and high school Riverview residence has been serving the needs of male students since 1968. students, geared towards
the director at Riverview. “Talks about how to lead a Christian life, daily Mass and personal spiritual direction are available for those interested.” John Chrobak, a university student and Montreal resident attends Riverview for the activities and guidance that it offers. “Riverview is religious at heart and while religious activities are encouraged, they are never forced and over the years I have met many at Riverview with varying degrees of religious devotion,” he said. “I find [Riverside] very beneficial for my personal life, the activities are interesting and informative, I enjoy spending time and strengthening my relationships with those at Riverview, and the food is always delicious.” Chrobak is not the only one who attends Riverview on a regular basis despite not being a resident. “Most of the friends I’ve introduced to Riverview later told me that there’s something about it that makes them feel reassuringly at peace, the same aspect which first drew me,” said Alfonso MarinAponte, a current student at McGill University. “It allows me to detach myself from the world if only for an hour and to feel peace from all the stressing [about] midterm or essay deadlines, to think of the things that really matter in life.” The Riverview Residence Centre is among many university residences accepting applications for the fall 2014 semester.
Food // LIFe
Organic farming into an urban endeavor La ferme Pousse-menu makes sustainability a raison d’etre when living in downtown Montreal David Symon Contributor
Philippe Robillard’s passion is visible throughout the entire operation of downtown Montreal’s only commercially certified organic farm. Leading the fight against Quebec’s enormous and rapidly developing agricultural problems, la ferme Pousse-menu employs 20 dedicated employees working seven days a week and delivers throughout the entire province. La ferme Pousse-menu is similar to Concordia’s Greenhouse’s 4 Seasons Sprouts but on an industrial level where healthy, hyper-sustainable product is being grown and packaged in downtown Montreal. Fresh sprouts, salads, dressings and crackers, to name a few of the farm’s products, are so delicious they have kept la ferme PousseMenu in business for 25 years. In recent times, there has been a wave of demand for organic, locally produced food. It tastes better, retains far more vitamins and minerals and helps stimulate the local economy. La ferme Pousse-menu is an example of why urban farming is more delicious, healthier, stimulates local economy and is
vastly better for the environment than big trend of urban farming. The government bec farmer is 60-years-old. A recent governindustry farming. For them, sustainability is favours large-scale, industrial farming, ment report stated that our agricultural cona raison d’etre. the kind that harms the environment with ditions are unsustainable, economically and Their operation begins with importation chemicals and fossil fuel use. environmentally. of organic seeds. Most seed varieties are Family-run farms are an increasing rarity La ferme Pousse-menu invests a lot of atsupplied by Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds in because of this trend and Quebec is quickly tention on sustainable farming and is a roleSaskatchewan. From there they are soaked losing farmers. The average age of the Que- model for Quebec’s future. with water for pre-germination and sprayed with a light dose of food-grade disinfectant. The seeds are then planted in trays of compost. The compost, a process which has been running for 25 years, is made from expired sprouts and organic fruit. The germinated seeds are then planted in trays and brought into the fog room. Full spectrum LED lights shine on each tray in the fog room allowing for a moist, warm environment which is ideal for sprout production. From there, the sprouts are harvested and cleaned. There is also a kitchen for cooking and making salad dressings and crackers. Unfortunately, the rest of La ferme Pousse-menu has three main types of produce: sprouts, germinations, and wheatgrass. Quebec is years behind the
arts
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
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Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com
Theatre // arts
Unconventional theatre — with a serving of wild Centaur Theatre’s 17th annual Wildside Festival brings in indie theatre favourites virginity? Starring actors such as Mike Payette and Anana Rydvald, the play zooms in on four masked actors playing over 20 characters who bandy sexual theories around with some side-splittingly funny results. You might want to add another New Year’s One scene in particular deserves a nod. Two resolution to your list: going to the theatre. characters’ inner thoughts are voiced on one With the Centaur Theatre’s 17th annual night of rather forgettable sex. In between Wildside Festival taking off for the first two loud snorts, the woman sighs “I wish I could weeks of January, entertainment is guaran- remember the night better…I only had two teed for any student hoping to escape the beers, on top of it.” Her oblivious lover, on cold and have a few chuckles instead. the other hand, simpers, proclaiming, “She This year, the Wildside Festival’s collec- looked at me! She wore that bodyspray she always wears to parties and she looked like the perfect white cloud and smelled of vanilla.” Clearly, the sexual frisson of the escapade was not shared. Next up is Blue Box. This one-woman show is an intriguing story set in Chile, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, where two tales are told in parallel: that of playwright Carmen Aguirre’s underground work in the 1980s Chilean movement to oust president Pinochet, and tion of plays is ablaze with energy and spirit. that of a complex relationship with a MexThere is something for everyone, with issues ican-American actor. Aguirre’s passionate ranging from losing one’s virginity to child- relationships with both men and politics has hood innocence to gay conversion summer already been staged in Toronto, Ottawa, Calcamps. One thing is for sure: you won’t go gary, Vancouver, Victoria, Banff and Regina. home bored. Big Shot presents the six different witV-Cards asks the thorny question some of ness perspectives to a shooting that occurs us squirm away from: how did you lose your on the Vancouver SkyTrain. With dance, text and physical theatre, the play explores the myriad of emotions life offers. One particularly striking scene, starring Jon Lachlan Stewart, points the finger at government-funded programs. After performing bodychallenging poses, Stewart stops in mid-stance and proclaims: “Life is crap. But I am not supposed to say that, right?...Breathing in the goodness and breathing out the bad. It’s more like breathing in the lies and breathing out The festival comprises 12 plays that spotlight gay conversion therapy, the truth,” he says. You might be inlethal lipstick, and sexual confessions. terested in A Quiet
Olivia Ranger-Enns Staff writer
Sip of Coffee, expertly written and told by Anthony Johnston and Nathan Schwartz. Their story is a peculiar one. In the summer of 2004, the self-titled “gay/ straight best friends duo” penned a prank letter to an “ex-gay” organization, requesting funds to produce a play. The reply was a surprise: the organization agreed to it, but at a cost — the duo had to spend two weeks in gay conversion therapy. Still in shock, the friends have reunited to perform their take on what actually happened. A Quiet Sip of Coffee is in the form of docu-theatre, honing in on dark issues such as atonement and melodrama and somehow poking through the dark issues with some light. Iceland tackles the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis by examining encounters between three interestingly original characters. Halim, a Toronto real estate agent, is changed after meeting Ana, a pious condo tenant, who is also affected when meeting Kassandra, an Estonian prostitute. Part of Nicolas Billon’s Governor General Awardwinning play triptych (Greenland, Iceland and Faroe Islands), the show is to go on to Halifax and Mumbai. Little Orange Man, which garnered the Montreal Fringe Festival prize, is described as “very revolutionary” and “very epic.” The play deals with a 12-year-old’s resolve to get to grips with her recurring dreams and her relationship with her grandfather. Weaving between the contemporary (think Craigslist ads) and timeless fables (think Danish fairy tales), the play points to the eternality of theatre and how time can be overcome by the power of the narrative. Affected by ADD, the 12-yearold addresses her recurring dreams and invites the audience to help her with her quest. Ingrid Hansen shines in her role, with her Pippi Longstocking-esque costume complete with two red braids and her determinedly cheerful demeanour. The play was initially inspired by Hansen’s grandfather. “He came over from Denmark and moved to Kelowna in strawberry season,”
said Hansen. “He was a very soft-spoken, gentle man and strong. My father said he had muscles on top of his muscles on top of his muscles.” Music, shadow puppetry and audience interaction helps the young girl on her quest. Talk, Mackerel has one message to impart — life is no piece of cake. Imagine this: you are invited to the birthday party of Leslie Moira Duncanaine. But something is wrong, really wrong. You are entering a world of midnight moonshine where ancestors’ portraits fight and things become alive. Director and playwright Sarah SegalLazar explained the creative process to The Concordian: “I like to think of my play as a moment’s theatre. Every moment counts. I wrote down scenes on index cards and for weeks I shuffled them, giving an order to my narrative. There was no A to Z.”
The Wildside Festival runs until Jan. 12 at the Centaur Theatre at 453 St-François Xavier. Check out the website for more information: centaurtheatre.com/ wildsidefestival.php
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Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Film // arts
ARTiculate: Revenge is a dish best served Old Oldboy vs. Oldboy — How the remake stacks up against the South Korean cult classic Jocelyn Beaudet Staff writer
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mong Asian cinema connoisseurs, Oldboy easily stands as one of the most beloved movies to grace the silver screen. Originally released in 2003 from Korean director Chan-Wook Park, few films have managed to uphold the grim desperation of a man who spends 15 years in captivity, kidnapped, with no hint of any underlying motive. While trapped, he is made aware of his wife’s murder and his status as a primary suspect. And so, he meticulously attempts to dig out of his cell — his main driving force being revenge. He is mysteriously released and receives a taunting phone call by his captor, which sets forth the action and the main character’s bloody quest for revenge. What follows is a non-stop thriller filled with paranoia, conspiracy, torture, and violence that only a man who has nothing left to lose can display. But despite the grim tones, the movie also features a love story with a shocking twist that serves as the proverbial cherry on top of a masterfully made sundae. Like Pulse and Godzilla before it, Oldboy is the latest of several Asian films to have received an American remake. So, how does the Western take on this classic compare to the original? Like most of these Hollywoodized versions, the adaptations seek to draw in a new audience by decentralizing some cultural
aspects. Oldboy’s remake, much like The Ring, for example, homogenizes much of what made the movie stand out in the first place. Plot twists are exhaustively explained — which is like explaining the punch line to a joke in an attempt to make it funnier — and many taboo topics are flat out discarded and edited out. Furthermore, much of the movie’s violence is toned down. Some may argue that this is a positive factor, but considering the savage nature of the movie and the importance of the protagonist’s vengefulness, this disregard of the main character’s primary driving force waters Lacklustre characteristics and restrained intensity renders Spike Lee’s Oldboy just another action flick. down the movie to unbelievably dull levels. The desperation and much of what gave such as Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X and is considered a box office bomb, as well as the original movie its soul seems muddled The 25th Hour. one of the weakest Thanksgiving openings There are few excuses, therefore, for this in movie history. and almost impossible to discern from yet flat out bastardization of a cult classic. another action thriller. However, Oldboy — the original South The movie received an abysmal score Korean version — is definitely worth seeIn turn, the adapted movie becomes nothing more than a two-hour snoozefest of 43 per cent on rottentomatoes.com, and ing. that attempts to explain and justify itself to a Western audience with a shameful lack of Poetry // arts confidence. Usually, these faults can be blamed on the director; the Hollywood version of Oldboy, however, boasts none other than Spike Lee at the helm — a cinema industry veteran, with several strong films under his belt
Poet’s Corner Where the Bliss Lies By: Karina Licursi
A slip of the tongue Words you think you shouldn’t say “They won’t listen anyway,” you say As you head to the front of the line In uniforms standing, wondering if the sun would ever shine We fought too much to see the reality An eye for an eye, at the least the vacation is free All the lines drawn, all the films made All the stories told, all the work you paid Has gone for bickering All along, two sides of the same coin We were too naïve to know the difference That there was no difference A drunken mayor in the headlines The word on the street, it’s a decoy When really he’s just one of us It worked well; his name is on everyone’s lips While they continue to draw the eclipse To make you believe the news is news When the real story is kept under wraps Otherwise the revolt might break the glass A slip of the mind Dancing shadows on the wall We can do so much better than this Since a soft landing won’t break the fall For ignorance is not bliss Knowing makes an easy target But think of what you might miss Without truth’s liberating kiss
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Profile // music
Jessica romera Music editor
>> M.I.A drops Roc Nation
Canadian indie rock band Hollerado made a stop in Montreal last year after the release of their sophomore album White Paint.
Hollerado finds the beauty in war How WWII positively affected the life of a modern Canadian musician Courtney Dickson The Omega
K
AMLOOPS (CUP) — “I’m a musician and I wrote a song about my grandfather. His life was saved by your grandfather.” Menno Versteeg, Hollerado’s frontman, called up a man he knew very little about in order to give his fans a greater understanding of a song he wrote that is very close to his heart. This journey all started in 2011 when Menno and the band, formed in Ottawa in 2007, were working on their new album in New York. While working, Menno learned that his grandfather, Karl Versteeg, had passed away. As an artist, Menno was compelled to write about his grandfather to honour his life and the relationship they shared. “He was definitely one of my closest friends,” Menno said. Most of the memories Menno has of his grandfather involves Versteeg telling him stories about his life. One story in particular stood out — a story of friendship and war. “It was one story [my grandfather] really stood for,” Menno said. From that story came the now-popular song “So It Goes.”
Germany invaded Holland in May 1940. Versteeg was living there at that time. In less than a week Holland surrendered its country to Germany and the Germans took over. Rotterdam, in South Holland, had been destroyed. The Dutch resistance formed, and Versteeg was eager to join. He posed as a veterinarian so he could move around the country with ease. However, he had no experience with veterinary medicine and the Germans eventually caught on. Versteeg was captured and was to be executed. Instead, he was handed over to a German officer; they spoke about Versteeg’s situation, and the German officer’s empathy led him to cancel the execution. Versteeg was put into solitary confinement for two years. After the war, the German officer was on trial, with his life at stake. Versteeg went to the trial and testified. That testimony, made by a person who by many would have been considered to be an enemy, saved the officer’s life. Though the lyrics of “So It Goes” provide listeners with an upbeat account of what times were like for Versteeg, Menno felt fans still didn’t understand the weight of the story he was trying to tell. He had to make a music video, and it had
to be powerful. “He was difficult to track down,” Menno said, “I didn’t even know his name.” Hollerado flew out to Holland to track down a relative of the German officer that saved Versteeg’s life. In order to find who they would later learn was the officer’s grandson, Menno had to share the detailed story of what had happened to his grandfather with an official from the Dutch government archives. She was able to help him find exactly who he was looking for. “It made me feel grateful and emotional, in a good way.” The German officer’s grandson had also been told the story of how Versteeg and this German officer saved each other’s lives. Since releasing the music video on July 31, 2013, fans have been approaching Hollerado with stories of what their relatives went through. “I appreciate it when people I don’t know come to me with similar stories,” Menno said. Some said they were inspired to research more of their own family histories and create relationships with grandparents to try to understand what their lives were like. As Menno pointed out, that generation is aging, and they won’t be around forever to share these first-hand accounts of their lives.
After nearly a year and a half, M.I.A has decided to part ways with Roc Nation, Jay Z’s management company. Rolling Stone reports that the rapper and songwriter announced her decision via Twitter on Jan. 1. Although no official reasons for her departure have been released, M.I.A’s time at the music mogul’s company appears to have been tumultuous, with several major mishaps throughout the production and release of her latest album, Matangi. In another tweet from the rapper, M.I.A seemed to enlist the help of her Twitter followers to fill newly vacant management positions. No statement has been released by Roc Nation as of yet.
>> Morrissey to write a novel Morrissey, the former frontman of The Smiths, has stated that he is in the process of writing his first novel. With his recently released autobiography, entitled simply Autobiography, Morrissey wanted to try his hand at fiction writing, claiming that his autobiography “has been more successful than any record I have ever released,” according to a Q&A on his official fan site. He also revealed that he will be heading to the recording studio with new material. No release date has been set for the novel or the album. Former bandmate, Mike Joyce, stated in an interview with Q Magazine that he has no intention of ever reading the autobiography, claiming that he already has a “pretty good idea of what’s in there.”
>> Jimi Hendrix’s London home turns into a museum .
The flat where legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived for several years in London will be turned into a permanent exhibit dedicated to the musician’s life and legacy. For the last decade or so, the flat has been used as office space for the Handel House Museum staff who commemorate another of the building’s famous residents: German composer George Frederic Handel, who lived in the flat next door during the 18th century. The exhibit will attempt to recreate Hendrix’s former living space with some of the apartment’s actual pieces from decades ago as well as pieces from his “life, work and musical legacy,” according to NME Magazine. Along with the permanent displays, the exhibit will provide a space where visitors can learn about rock music, and the Baroque style as well.
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critics, it received plenty of praise, which resulted in Yeezus reaching the top of many end-of-year music lists. So, it is only natural that we await with bated breath for West’s seventh studio album, due out in the summer of 2014. So far, all we know is that he will be recruiting super producer Rick Rubin, and A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip for the project. 2. Frank Ocean - TBA - summer 2014
Top 10 albums
to look out for in 2014
The Odd Future crooner gave the world one of the best R&B releases in a long time with 2012’s channel ORANGE. While Ocean did have a quiet 2013 in comparison, he’s been hard at work creating new music, material we’ll hear “when summer comes round again,” according to a Q&A on Tumblr between Ocean and his fans in 2013. 3. Foo Fighters - TBA - Date TBA
Compiled by Julian McKenzie While 2013 brought us some unforgettable albums, there is a great deal of music that is already being eagerly anticipated for 2014. Although many artists have not divulged the details of their upcoming releases, make sure to keep an ear out for release dates. 1. Kanye West - TBA - summer 2014 Yeezus was consumed, debated, lauded and criticized at nauseam in 2013. Despite its
Frontman Dave Grohl has announced that the Foo Fighters will begin recording a new album at the beginning of 2014, and that they’ve already written the lyrics for the album. During an interview at XFM radio station back in August, Grohl divulged that they’re doing the album “in a way that no one’s ever done before.” 4. Pusha T - King Push - Date TBA Fresh off the success of his debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, Pusha T is already hard at work on a sophomore album, King Push, releasing photos of him in the studio with his production group, The Neptunes. It
will be interesting to see how Pusha follows up from the brilliance of MNIMN. 5. Lana Del Rey - Ultra-Violence - Date TBA Not much is known about Lana Del Rey’s Ultra-Violence album, the followup to 2012’s stellar Born To Die, other than the fact that it will be released sometime during 2014. Lana fans could sure use some new material from the songstress with hits like “Summertime Sadness” being played non-stop since since its release almost half a year ago. 6. U2 -TBA - April 2014 The Irish rockers are slated to release their first album since 2009, and their 13th to date, reportedly in April. Acclaimed producer Danger Mouse, one half of soul duo Gnarls Barkley, will be behind the recording of the album. 7. Wu-Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow - Date TBA The Wu-Tang Clan intended on releasing A Better Tomorrow in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of their debut album Enter the 36 Chambers. However, according to RZA, getting fellow member Raekwon (who is also slated to release an album in 2014) to attend recording sessions has been the reason for the delay, and may result in their last album together. 8. Johnny Cash - Out Among The Stars March 25, 2014
Top 10// music It was announced recently that an album featuring unreleased material from the late country music legend Johnny Cash will surface. The recordings from the 1980s were shelved, only to be rediscovered by Cash’s son in 2012. 9. Multiple artists from the Top Dawg Entertainment label - Dates and album titles TBA Rapper Kendrick Lamar had an outstanding 2013 and is rumoured to record the followup to Good Kid, M.A.A.D City in January 2014. His label mates at Top Dawg Entertainment are also looking to do it big in 2014. Schoolboy Q, who has worked with A$AP Rocky, Macklemore and Mac Miller, will reportedly be releasing an album in February. California hip hop artist Ab-Soul recently submitted not one but two albums to the label. Jay Rock and newcomer Isaiah Rashad also plan on releasing albums. If you’re keeping score, that’s six albums due to drop in 2014 from, arguably, the hottest rap label right now. 10. Adele - TBA - Mid/late 2014 Back in March of 2013, Adele said she would only record a new album once there was something to sing about. This was months after her label XL Recordings said that her next album “may not come for some years.” However, it seems as if we may expect an album from the award-winning singer in 2014. She went back in the studio in 2013, working with many producers and songwriters, including OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.
Mixtape // music
Holiday recovery mixtape Side A : “Can I Get a Yule-Yeah!” 1 . Cécile McLorin Salvant - “John Henry” - WomanChild
Compiled by Paul Traunero
As the winter semester begins, we reminisce on the highs and lows of the winter break. Many returned home to visit family and friends for the holidays, others stayed behind and embraced life in Montreal. What we all have in common is a shared experience of the holidays in its many forms, the thumping excitement of the yuletide festivities and the sobering mornings that follow. Compiled is a playlist to reflect that duality of the season. Side A : “Can I Get a Yule-Yeah!” for the energy and chaotic blur of the holidays, and Side B: “Thoroughly Roasted By An Open Fire” for those lonely hangover days that inevitably follow.
Side B: “Thoroughly Roasted By An Open Fire” 1 . Beach House - “The Hours” Bloom
2 . Daft Punk - “Doin’ It Right (Ft. Panda Bear)” - Random Access Memories
2 . Brian Eno - “The Big Ship” - Another Green World
3 . Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Heads Will Roll” - It’s Blitz!
3 . Willis Earl Beal - “Wavering Lines” - Nobody Knows
4 . Arcade Fire - “Flashbulb Eyes” - Reflektor
4 . Miles Davis - “It Never Entered My Mind” - Workin’
5 . Julian Casablancas - “11th Dimension” - Phrazes for the Young
5 . Beirut - “The Rip Tide” - The Rip Tide
6 . Tom Waits - “Step Right Up” Small Change
6 . Valerie June - “Somebody To Love” - Pushin’ Against a Stone
7 . Tanlines - “Real Life” - Mixed Emotions
7 . Keaton Henson - “You” - Birthdays
8 . Calvin Harris - “Feel So Close” - 18 Months
8 . Björk - “Virus” - Biophilia
9 . Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - “How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?” - Naturally 10 . M.I.A - “Bad Girls” - Matangi
9 . Roberta Flack - “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” - First Take 10 . Of Monsters and Men - “Love Love Love” - My Head Is An Animal
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Women’s basketball // sports
Stingers win battle of rankings vs. Laurier Women’s basketball team wins first game of Concordia-Adidas tournament on Dec. 28 Casey Dulson Staff writer
In a battle between the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) league number eight-ranked, Concordia Stingers and the number nineranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the Stingers women’s basketball team won the first game in their annual Concordia-Adidas tournament, 59-47 on Saturday, Dec. 28. Laurier entered the game with a winning record of 9-1 in the season play, good enough for first place in the tough west division of the Ontario University Athletics conference. The Stingers last played a month ago when they defeated Laval to get their second win of the season, but proved that a long break did not mean anything as they played great defence, which caused the Golden Hawks to have 25 turnovers, including 15 steals. Laurier won the tip-off and scored the first points on basket by forward Alexandra Spadaro. Concordia would respond within seconds as centre Serginha Estime got the team’s first basket. The Golden Hawks would respond with a basket by guard Laura Doyle. The last basket of the quarter showed the athleticism of Stingers’ guard Daphne Thouin, who got her basket as she was falling down to
the ground. This quarter provided back and forth chances by both teams, but the Stingers took a 13-11 lead. Laurier got the first points of the second quarter, a three-pointer by Doyle. Concordia replied with a 5-0 run. The Golden Hawks fouled Stingers guard Kaylah Barrett three times in the quarter and she was 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. Concordia’s point guard Ashley Clarke added a three-pointer to extend the Stingers’ lead. Golden Hawks guard Samantha Jacobs would get a late two-pointer. The Stingers great defensive play in the quarter held their opponents to just seven points in the quarter. The Stingers led 31-18 at halftime. The Stingers capitalized early with baskets from Estime and Marilyse Roy-Viau. At the six-minute mark, Laurier got their first points of the quarter on two foul shots by Jacobs. Laurier guard Kaitlyn Schenck then added a three-pointer. However, the Stingers led 47-32 at the end of the third quarter. The Golden Hawks started with the ball in the fourth quarter and capitalized on a 5-0 run. Clarke answered with a three-pointer, which gave some momentum to the Stingers. Roy-Viau added to the Stingers lead with a three-point play (a basket plus foul shot). Golden Hawks forward Heather Payne got a late three-pointer to decrease the margin of
Stingers go a perfect 3-0 during the break. Photo by Brianna Thicke victory for the Stingers. Estime was the Stingers’ player of the game. She had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Barrett was the game’s leading scorer with 14
points. Pruden said the team’s victory was a “pretty good effort considering the long break and only two practices.”
Women’s basketball // sports
Stingers strong on offensive in blowout win Concordia’s women’s basketball team wins two in a row for the first time in two months Samantha Mileto Sports editor
The Concordia Stingers women’s basketball team came out with a bang in their second game of the Concordia-Adidas Tournament as they cruised to an 86-34 win over the Queen’s Gaels on Sunday, Dec. 29. The Stingers started strong offensively early in the game. After the Gaels scored the first basket, Concordia scored 17 straight points to take a 17-2 lead before the six-minute mark of the first quarter. Stingers point guard Ashley Clarke and forward Marilyse Roy-Viau each scored a field goal to put the Stingers up 8-2. A little over three minutes into the quarter, Stingers guard Kaylah Barrett scored a basket as she was falling, to make it 12-2 Concordia. Queen’s fell into some penalty trouble early as they committed their third foul of the game just three and a half minutes in. RoyViau missed both free-throw shots but the Stingers were able to get a two-pointer on the rebound to make it 14-2. Roy-Viau then scored another three-point shot to give her team a 17-2 lead a little over halfway through the quarter. The Gaels were able to get 12 points on
the board before the quarter was up, but the Stingers still led 28-12 heading into the second quarter. The Stingers capitalized on their threepoint shot opportunities, as Clarke’s field goal early in the second quarter put the Stingers up 33-15. Clarke scored yet another three-point basket with 2:16 left in the quarter to give Concordia a 46-16 lead. Queen’s would add one point before the halftime buzzer to make it 46-17 for the Stingers. “She had a career game. She made great decisions, she moved the ball so well,” head coach Keith Pruden said of Clarke. “Ashley’s our point guard, [she] runs the offence. She’s calm, she’s organized on the floor, she knows what she wants from other people. She has a positive impact on everybody around her.” Clarke scored her team-leading 20th point of the game with a three-pointer a minute and a half into the third quarter, giving the Stingers a 49-17 lead. Concordia forward Richelle Gregoire’s field goal made it 61-22 with about 2:30 left in the quarter. The Stingers led 64-27 after three quarters. The Stingers scored consistently throughout the game. The one downside in the game for the Stingers came early in the fourth quarter. After Roy-Viau missed her basket, Gaels
guard Liz Boag picked up the rebound and was left all alone for an easy twopoint basket on the breakaway, to make it 72-29 Stingers. Clarke scored her 24th point of the game late in the game to give Concordia a 74-29 lead. Stingers guard Tamara Pinard-Devos’ two-point shot sealed the Stingers’ 86-34 lead with under a minute left. “We had a tough start [to our regular season],” said Clarke. “[But] this game was huge. We played them in pre-season and they beat us by 15 [points]. Everyone knew we had to come out strong, from the beginning to the end and that’s what we did. There was no coasting throughout the game.” “Today, we got hot offensively, a lot of shots were dropping,” said Pruden. “The best part about the offence was that we were taking good shots and we only had eight turnovers the whole game, which is amazing. And we played great defence. So if you’re taking good shots, and you’re not turning the ball over, and you’re playing great defence, you win more often than you Stingers dominate in win over the Queen’s Gaels lose.” Photo by Brianna Thicke
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Women’s basketball // sports
Sports in the Stingers are back on top News Stingers win all three games to capture Concordia Adidas Tournament Chris Cordella Staff writer
>> Another fourthplace finish for Team Canada
For the second straight year, Team Canada has finished in fourth place at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Despite strong performances against the Americans on New Year’s Eve and the Swiss in the quarterfinals, the team lost their semi-final game to Finland 5-1 and then their bronze medal game 2-1 to Russia. The gold medal game Sunday afternoon was between Sweden and underdog Finland. The game went into overtime when Finnish defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen potted the game winning goal, giving Finland their first gold medal since 1998.
>> Wild card weekend
The NFL playoffs provided four great games Saturday and Sunday with lots of lead changes and last-second victories. The first game was between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. At half-time it looked like the game would have been over with the Chiefs up a commanding 31-10. However, key injuries to Chiefs’ running back, Jamaal Charles, and others led to 35 second half points by the Colts, leading them to a 45-44 victory. The second Saturday game saw the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New Orleans Saints. The Saints showed a balanced attack that got them into position with seconds left in the fourth quarter down 24-23. New Orleans kicker Shayne Graham kicked a gamewinning 32-yard field goal with no time left to win 26-24. The first Sunday game was between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. After a modest 10-7 score for the Bengals in the first half, two Andy Dalton interceptions along with one Dalton fumble and a fumble by the Bengals running back, Bernard, led to a 20-point second half by the Chargers and held the Bengals scoreless, giving San Diego the 27-10 win. The second Sunday faceoff featured the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams traded scoring chances but a 33-yard field goal by kicker Phil Dawson was the game winner for the 49ers as they prevailed 23-20.
>> Preview of NFL divisional round
On Saturday, Jan. 11, New Orleans will travel to Seattle to take on NFC west division champions, the Seattle Seahawks, at 4:35 p.m.. The 8:15 p.m. game on Saturday will be a familiar AFC matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. Sunday will feature a clash between the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC south division champions, the Carolina Panthers. The last game of the week will be between the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos in Denver.
Casey Dulson Staff writer
The Concordia Stingers women’s basketball team won its third game in a row on Dec. 30 to capture the Concordia-Adidas tournament after beating the Memorial Sea-Hawks 63-51 in the final game of the tournament. The Stingers forced 28 turnovers by Memorial, proof that the team’s defensive play has been one of its most consistent part of their game at the midway point of the season. The Sea-Hawks jumped out of the gate to start the game, scoring the first three baskets of the game taking a 6-0 lead. The Stingers eventually scored its first basket at the 7:16 mark of the first quarter as guard Kaylah Barrett got Concordia on the board with a foul shot and then a two-pointer. The SeaHawks and the Stingers scored a couple of baskets each, but by the quarter the Sea-Hawks led 15-11. Both teams failed to score in the first four minutes of the second quarter. At 5:59, the fireworks set off as Sea-Hawks guard Sydney Ezekiel hit a three-pointer to get the first points in the second quarter. Concordia responded with a three-pointer by Barrett which started a great run for the Stingers as they went on to score six unanswered points. However, that wasn’t enough as the Sea-Hawks came storming back to tie the game up with two foul shots by forward Sandra Amoah. The Stingers would end up breaking the deadlock with a three-pointer by forward Richelle Gregoire, giving Concordia a 25-21 half-time lead. Most of the third quarter went back-andforth between both teams before the Stingers pulled away towards the end. Memorial tied the game once again by scoring two baskets early in the third quarter. Barrett
Women’s basketball team win tournament over Christmas. Photo by Brianna Thicke broke the tie as she drove to the basket for the layup. After the Sea-Hawks tied it, a threepointer by guard Alex Boudreau with six seconds left gave Concordia the lead again. Concordia forward Tamara Devos got another three pointer before the end of the quarter, and the Stingers led 44-36. The Stingers got the first points of the fourth quarter on a layup by Barrett. A couple of minutes later, Boudreau and centre Serginha Estime combined on a give-and-go for a Concordia basket. The Sea-Hawks responded by getting a late three-pointer by guard Kelia Pond, but Boudreau came back scoring her third field
goal of the afternoon, putting a dagger into any hope of a Sea-Hawks comeback. The final score was 63-51 for the Stingers. Concordia’s best player in this game was Kaylah Barrett, who had 16 points and four defensive rebounds in the game. She was also named Tournament MVP for her performance. She had a combined 51 points in the three wins. Concordia’s point guard Ashley Clarke was named to the tournament all-star team. Clarke had a big game against Queens where she scored 24 points. Stingers open the second half of the season with a home and away game against the UQAM Citadins on Jan. 10 and 11.
Opinion // sports
Should George Parros retire? Hockey fans and experts wonder if the Habs enforcer’s career is done Andrew Davis Contributor
It was another scary scene on the night of Dec. 14, when Montreal Canadiens’ enforcer, George Parros, was knocked into a daze by New York Islanders’ tough guy, Eric Boulton. During a fight between the two heavyweights, Parros was hit several times in the side of the head before Boulton connected with a punch to Parros’ chin, causing his knees to buckle underneath him. He left the game and did not return. This is Parros’ second concussion of the season. His first concussion came after the infamous incident on opening night, when Parros hit his chin on the ice during a bout with the Maple Leafs’ Colton Orr. Not only has this once again rekindled the debate about fighting’s place in the NHL, but it also brings up a more pressing question: Should George Parros hang up the skates (and gloves) for good? Several hockey experts believe it is the organization’s responsibility to protect the players from themselves. “It’s up to Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien not to put Parros in the line up anymore,” said Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmonds
on TSN’s The Reporters. Concordia Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby also believes that the Canadiens need to think about Parros’ future. “In today’s time-frame, you have to put the health and long-term well-being of the person above all other concerns,” he said. “Sport is a secondary factor. Life, and quality of said life, are much more important than the game.” The league and the organization may also be more sensitive to players returning from head injuries after the recent lawsuit against the NHL by over 200 former players. The ex-players claim that the league withheld information about the long-term effects of head injuries. Not only does the league have to protect the players from long-term effects of multiple head injuries, but they also need to protect themselves from being legally liable. “How many ex-fighters, like Parros, will there be in 20 years?” asked Bruce Arthur on TSN’s The Reporters. “If Montreal keeps trotting him out, there might be a case.” Others, such as Stingers alternate captain, Youssef Kabbaj, said it is up to Parros alone to decide his future in hockey. “If he is cleared by the proper professionals to play again, he should be allowed to do so and eventually fight again,” said the secondyear defenseman. Kabbaj also said stopping Parros from fighting could have more serious consequences.
“In this case, preventing Parros from playing for the sake of his health might be beneficial for him,” he said. “[However] if Parros is forced to retire in the NHL, it might actually entice players into hiding symptoms of injuries for the sake of their career. This will unfortunately destroy everything the league has built to protect players today.” The reality is that if the players and the league want to keep fighting in the game, then both parties must be willing to accept the risks. The fact that not a single player has come out against fighting proves that fighting, and the risks it entails, are widely accepted by those taking part in it. Parros himself made it clear that no one is forcing him to fight. “It’s a choice I make,” he told ESPN in early December. “[Brain injuries] are probably not from the fighting. It’s from the other hits. Most fights end in a draw, without serious injury.” Although retiring may be the safe choice, it is a decision that Parros should be given the power to make. It is responsible for the league to be concerned about the health of its players and not want to be held liable for any longterm injuries. However, as long as Parros is medically cleared to play and he chooses to carry on, letting him do so is a risk that the league must accept.
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Editorial // opinons
When it’s better to just stay home Concordia should accommodate students who can’t make it to class due to inclement weather If you’re a born and bred Canadian then you should be no stranger to trying winter weather conditions. However, in light of the extreme cold and snow that Canada and the rest of North America has been experiencing, even tried and true Canadians will be struggling. During bouts of severe inclement weather, traveling can be considerably hazardous and as many of Concordia’s students, faculty and staff commute to school each day, this winter season may see many of them staying home. Missing school or work is not a desirable option, but nothing is worth risking one’s life. If the roads are too slippery or the snow is too thick, people are usually advised to stay
home. However, university students are on a very strict learning schedule and cannot afford to miss too many classes or have too many of their classes canceled. Taking into consideration that winter 2014 is already off to an extreme start, Concordia should advise its teachers to prepare class material that students can access from home in case they or their professor can’t make the commute. Concordia’s Moodle service provides an excellent way to give students learning material, however not all classes have a Moodle account, nor do all instructors know how to use Moodle. Email is a viable option for communicating lessons and it would allow for
students to respond directly to their professors with any queries. Furthermore, teachers should be lenient with attendance and responsive to students who may live farther away from campus and may need to miss more classes than their fellows because of commuting concerns. This isn’t to say that students should use the weather as an excuse to miss class, but the university should take into consideration the health of its students, staff and faculty. Not only should this be done as a courtesy but also because students pay a lot of money for classes and they should be able to access the classes they pay for when circumstances prohibit them from traveling to campus.
Moreover, the university should also consider establishing procedures for stranded Concordia members. If public transit were to stop running or if conditions made it impossible to drive, members of the Concordia community would be unable to get home. The university should have a plan in place to accommodate those who may become marooned on campus. If the university does have these sort of accommodations already in place, then that information should be made readily accessible. We don’t want to have to weigh the consequences of missing class versus the potential consequences of commuting in inclement weather.
Social media // opinions
Snapping photos and exploring oneself: the age of the selfie Why selfies provide a sense of connection and belonging Casandra De masi Opinions editor
Self-portraiture is something that has existed long before the days of smart phones and Instagram. The invention of the mirror in the 1500s gave a platform for artists to explore the canvases of their own face and bodies, giving them control over how they appear. Social media and smart phones have taken this idea, and morphed it into what we now know as a “selfie.” Many are quick to label them as narcissistic and vain, but when it comes down to it, selfies are essentially born from the human need to connect, share, and belong. Selfies were much spoken about in 2013, with Oxford English Dictionary naming it word of the year, and Hollywood actor James Franco being pegged as Selfie King on the Today Show. Franco published a piece in The New York Times called “The Meanings of the Selfie.” His article touched on the relation between selfies and the need to stay connected and promote oneself. From celebrities, politicians, adventure seekers, and most of all, everyday citizens, 2013 was the year of the selfie, and it is not surprising or really that alarming. Many argue that selfies are plaguing social media. It’s part of the whole blasé “I don’t care” attitude that people have towards others online. If you’re on Instagram, Facebook, or other sites and applications that provide a photo-sharing platform, then you’re going to have to expect the occasional selfie popping up on your news feed.
It’s not just about showing off; there is a psychology behind the action. The BBC published a short video where two experts, Lisa Orban and Andrew Przybylski, spoke of the human behavior associated with the taking of selfies. Orban called it a means of safe and controlled self-exploration, which is especially important in adolescents. Przybylski also mentioned a link to the psychological theory of “relatedness need-satisfaction,” otherwise known as “the need to belong.” Essentially, selfies are a way of connecting. It’s an instant connection, a way of saying “I’m here!” Yes, it is a way of saying, “Look at me! look at me!” but is that anything new? It’s something humans have been doing all along in different ways.
Technology has now provided an instant platform for this behaviour and need to manifest itself. It’s a small way of making a mark, and leaving something behind. These photos are labelled as narcissistic, and that masks the need to connect what lies behind them. The action is focused on oneself, but it reveals a lot about the search and need for belonging, especially with the “likes” and “views” that these photos accumulate online. This is why applications like Snapchat are so popular; it is a back and forth instant communication of emotions with those seeking to connect. It’s sharing experiences in the here and now. If one wishes to keep their lives private, that’s fine. No one is holding a
smartphone camera to your face forcibly. Is there such a thing as too many selfies? When one can actually count the amount of time spent taking selfies on a weekly basis, then maybe they should organize and strategize the use of their time. There is a time and place for partaking in this trend, and just like with almost everything we partake in, moderation is key. It’s quite nice to see what people are up to, and interesting to interact with those who are not always present in our immediate lives. If someone does not wish to see selfies or is that bothered by the photos, there is the option to scroll away or “unfollow.” That’s the magic of social media, haven’t you heard?
Photo by Keith Race
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theconcordian
Tuesday, january 7, 2014
Confessions // opinions
Confessions of a 20-something New Year’s resolutions cause more stress and worry anonymous
Who actually came up with the bright idea of New Year’s resolutions? It seems resolutions are so bound to fail that when you make one, what you’re actually saying is “this is what I don’t want to achieve this year.” I think the issue behind the idea of New Year’s resolutions is the hype behind it. It’s the emphasis and power we put behind the idea of setting these goals that ultimately scare us, and this fear and sense of feeling overwhelmed gets between us actually achieving the main goal. We pump ourselves up, and set these huge goals leading up to Jan. 1, but if we strip it down, what difference is there between New Year’s resolutions and the small goals we set for ourselves throughout the year? None. To say you’re going to completely switch around your lifestyle, quit a habit, or change a
part of who you are at your core when the clock strikes midnight is ridiculous. You’re not only letting yourself down, but you are breaking yourself down in vain. Life itself is a work in progress, and I think any major changes need to be made gradually. As a person, I am always trying to improve myself, in terms of my flaws and bad habits that affect my lifestyle or possibly those around me. Just stating that I am going to worry less in 2014, for example, won’t
work for me. It’s about setting small goals on a weekly, maybe even daily basis. Whatever works for you. I suppose the idea of a fresh new year, and a brand new calendar, seems like a good place to start on your brand new goal. However, I must say the timing itself is quite horrendous. Right after the sluggish holiday season we go back to work, school, and life as we know it; the post-holiday slump, as I like to call it. No wonder it’s so tough to keep
resolutions, whether it’s to quit smoking or to lose weight. The one thing, and possibly the only thing, that I admire about the idea of New Year’s resolutions is the ability to admit that change is needed. Change can be scary, and goals we set may sometimes seem so high that nothing on earth could give you the boost you need to reach up and grab them. However, the very first thing needed in order to reach a goal or make a change is the ability to acknowledge that it needs to happen. It’s about putting yourself in the right frame of mind, and surrounding yourself with the right resources and people to help you achieve your goal. If this so happens to be in April, May, or June, then so be it. If New Year’s resolutions work for you, then great. I am genuinely happy that you’ve found something that works. I personally just don’t bother getting caught up in the frenzy; I’ve always found it a lot more helpful to set small goals as they come. It’s kind of like a videogame, where all the small goals you’ve achieved provide you with the happiness and confidence points you need in order to grab onto life boosting, larger goals.
Media // opinions
Yellow Journalism still shines bright Photo by: NS Newsflash, Flickr
Is mass media in the business of reporting the news or making it? Stephanie Piamonte The Fulcrum
OTTAWA (CUP) — Two-thousand and thirteen was a good year for journalists: there was Edward Snowden and the National Security Agency, Stephen Harper and the Senate, Miley Cyrus and twerking, Vladimir Putin and the Sochi Olympics, Kate Middleton and her pregnancy, and Rob Ford and Toronto. Despite all of these great stories, it seems
like the media no longer just reports the news, but also makes it. Take the white poppy story, for example, in which “leftwing pacifist” students became part of a Remembrance Day controversy. Sun News took a small symbol of protest — only 2,500 white poppies were available for distribution compared to the 18 million red poppies worn nationally this year — and turned it into a big politically, ideologically and emotionally charged issue. Is this a new, troubling trend? Maybe not. It’s no miracle that somehow most news stories fit perfectly into a newspaper or a broadcast segment. Stories are selected, edited, and presented to a specific audience and for a specific purpose, usually for profit or for so-called public interest. The objective standard of news reporting
is a really nice thought, but a look back at history suggests otherwise. Yellow journalism is the term used to describe sensational, frequently political stories of sometimes questionable veracity. “The truth” is presented along with a moral, ethical, or political opinion intended to frame the public’s consumption of the facts. Yellow journalism was popularized in American media when Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst built news empires and competed for circulation. Pulitzer and Hearst believed the primary role of the press was to expose political corruption and thereby help maintain public accountability. They also focused on increased circulation. With yellow journalism, they struck an awkward balance between a democratic and capitalist ideal. At its worst, yellow journalism encour-
ages cynicism and that feeling of “here we go again” or “just another scandal.” At its best, yellow journalism can spark engagement and lead to progressive reform. For example, Hearst and Pulitzer’s newspapers had significant roles in the fight for workers’ safety and rights after the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Is mass-media sinking to new lows by creating controversy over symbols like the poppy? Or is the media returning to its historical roots and trying to elevate public discussion while simultaneously selling more news? Was the Sun trying to provoke a visceral reaction or provoke thoughtful discussion? We are constantly trying to understand who we were, who we are, and who we want to be. For better or worse, the media is a part of that process.
10 things that WON’T happen in 2014 Sites and blogs have been brimming with predictions for what the New Year might bring for Hollywood, politics, sports and the economy. It’s hard to predict the future, but it’s pretty safe to say that the 10 things below probably won’t happen in 2014. 10. Montrealers will learn how to drive. 9. In Hollywood, Justin Bieber will win an outstanding youth ambassador award. 8. If a provincial election is called, democratic voting will be replaced by a Big Brother reality show type of system. Timed challenges include “Name the ostentatious symbol,” and “Find the family doctor.” 7. In Montreal, the Metro will run smoothly.
@swearbystyles: WE HAVE BEYONCE YOUR ARGUMENT IS INVALID.
6. No one will die in HBO’s adaptation of Game of Thrones.
@DISNEYCLYR0: British bc we have the better gingers
3. Singer/songwriter Lorde will ask to be officially recognized as a royal.
@brmoles: Sunday roasts, the ability to use English correctly, a spectacular history, Tea made properly, and damn fine cheese.
5. North Korea will reveal that Ashton Kutcher was orchestrating a major return episode of Punk’d, all along. 4. Canada will perform big at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
2. The royal family will have another child, and name him Curious. 1. Obama and Putin will take a selfie together.
Golden Globes Nominations (Breaking Bad for the win!)
@jazzimuffin_: doctor who, Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Matt Smith and Martin Freeman
Amanda L. Shore Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Nathalie Laflamme Production manager production@theconcordian.com Kelly Duval Sloane Montgomery News editors news@theconcordian.com Sabrina Giancioppi Life editor life@theconcordian.com Roa Abdel-Gawad Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com Jessica Romera Music editor music@theconcordian.com Samantha Mileto Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Casandra De Masi Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Keith Race Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Natasha Taggart Online editor online@theconcordian.com Jennifer Kwan Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com
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@suity101: we have Jennifer Lawrence. End of debate.
514-848-2424 ext. 7499 (Editor-in-Chief) Pascale Cardin Business manager business@theconcordian.com
@cholefryett: we gave you one direction so don’t even argue with me
@hardlyniall: are u guys still mad we dumped ur tea
Tuesday, Jan 7 2014 Vol. 31 Issue 16
Elizabeth Tomaras Christina Rowan Milos Kovacevic Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com
@HadiyaUK: I thought we settled this with the revolutionary war...
@British_Facts_: Fact: WE HAVE A MAJESTIC UNICORN ON OUR PASSPORTS
Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper.
Tyson Lowrie Cindy Lopez Ruben Bastien Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com
Contributors Timothy Weynerowski, Angela
americanhustle thewolfofwallstreet frozen breakingbad
gravity girls parksandrecreation
Mackenzie, Matthew Shanahan, David Symon, Olivia Ranger-Enns, Jocelyn Beaudet, Karina Licursi, Paul Traunero, Julian McKenzie, Andrew Davis, Casey Dulson, Chris Cordella
theconcordian
Twitter never fails to amuse, and this week #AmericansvsBritish was trending on Friday afternoon. The Yanks and the Brits took to Twitter to incoherently battle out whose country “sucks less.” The results proved interesting.
Social // opinions
ART:
Splendore a Venezia @ MMFA until Jan. 19 Actors, Networks, Theories @ Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery until Jan. 25 L’Éther @Wilder & Davis Gallery until Feb. 7 Birds of Prey @ FOFA until Feb. 14
THEATRE:
Wildside Festival @ Centaur Theatre until Jan. 12
MUSIC:
Mardi Spaghetti @Cagibi Jan. 7 Electrofest @ Bistro P’tit Caribou Jan.8 Death Before Dishonor, Betrayal, Seeker @ Il Motore Jan.9 Rational Youth @ Casa del Popolo Jan.10 Street Meat @ L’Escalier Jan. 10 Jake Bugg, Albert Hammond, Jr. @ Metropolis Jan. 12
OTHER:
Nightcleaners + Sigmund Freud’s Dora @ J.A. de Sève Cinema Jan. 11 Voiceover: Riots Reframed @ Cinema Politica Jan. 13 Comics Workshop @ Drawn & Quarterly Jan. 13