Concordia University’s weekly, independent student newspaper
VOLUME 34, ISSUE 10 | TUESDAY, NOV. 1, 2016
theconcordian.com /theconcordian @theconcordian
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Entrepreneur, student & farmer
theconcordian
Concordia student leaves the city to operate her own sustainable farm Life p. 5 also in this issue
news
Women helping other women
music
arts
p. 3
Free art from Aquil Virani
p. 9
sports
opinions
A fellow Concordia High school rivals Clown craze hits pop star p. 12 now teammates p.14 Montreal p. 16
news
NEWS EDITORS /// news@theconcordian.com SAVANNA CRAIG & NELLY SERANDOUR-AMAR ( @savannacraig @nellsamar03)
CITY IN BRIEF NELLY SÉRANDOUR-AMAR CO-NEWS EDITOR
MARCH
Striving to end violence against women
Hundreds take to De Maisonneuve Boulevard to denounce rape culture and violence Uber fears of losing drivers after regulations to the company According to CTV News, Uber Quebec’s general manager, Jean-Nicolas Guillemette said an obligation for drivers to obtain one particular type of permit is a barrier, especially for drivers with fewer hours a week. With this regulation in place, Uber is scared of losing drivers in Quebec. Uber is currently under a one-year pilot project under which drivers will collect federal and provincial sales tax to contribute in modernizing the taxi industry. The taxi industry has already tried multiple times to stop the project by legal means but a judge ruled in September that there were no compelling reasons to prevent Uber from working under the pilot project.
SAVANNA CRAIG CO-NEWS EDITOR Hundreds came together in solidarity for women’s rights and to challenge rape culture and violence against women, binary and the trans* community on Oct. 26 at Place Émilie-Gamelin. “On vous croit. On vous croit,” which translates to “We believe you”—the crowd chanted in unison— as supporters marched down De Maisonneuve Boulevard. This chant reflected the crowd’s solidarity with women who have faced violence or have been subjected to rape culture. These are the issues speakers addressed in an event held just outside of Berri-UQAM metro. The event, organized by Stop à la
culture du viol, was created in light of current reports of sexual assault taking place in Université Laval’s Alphonse-Marie-Parent residence. According to the Montreal Gazette, two students who lived in the university residence were arrested on Oct. 21 for break-ins and sexual assaults. President of Quebec's Native Women's Association and event speaker, Viviane Michel, asked the crowd to take a few moments of silence for the victims. “For me, for her, for you, for us all, we need this moment to underline the importance of these problems,” she said. “Evidently, there is a huge responsibility that the government has, to give help to the victims, not for the short-term, but for the long term,”
said Michel. Université du Québec à Montréal student and protester, Vivianne Magnan-St-Onge, said addressing this issue is important for all women as situations of sexual violence can happen anywhere, even on a governmental level, such as with comments and actions made by politicians. Marie-Lou Tang Turcotte, a biochemistry student at Concordia University and protester, said some of the announcers drew on the issue surrounding U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s discriminatory comments towards women. Tang Turcotte agreed with the speakers, and said excusing his language as locker room talk allows our society to think it is acceptable for people
to speak this way about women. Tang Turcotte reflected on another issue the event’s speakers discussed, that of Lise Thériault, the Quebec’s ministre de la condition féminine, telling the Canadian Press in March that she does not identify as a feminist. Tang Turcotte said this is problematic because, as minister of women, Thériault should accept feminism as it addresses issues of violence towards women. Tang Turcotte said seeing this in our government is an issue, as it further creates a stigma that rape culture and violence against women is not prevalent in Quebec. “Together, we must continue to fight. We must continue, together, to say no to all forms of violence,” said Michel to the crowd.
Body found in the St-Leonard area Police launched a homicide investigation earlier today after a man’s body was found in a car parked on a street in St-Leonard. According to CBC News, officers arrived at the scene to investigate a vehicle “of interest” at Paul-Emile Lamarche Avenue and Creusot Street around 9:30 a.m. No further details were given about the victim’s identity. The investigation has been transferred to the major crimes unit. This is the 18th homicide in Montreal in 2016.
Supporters took to the streets to spread awareness for violence against women. Photos by Savanna Craig.
CAMPUS
A push for Concordia to divest
Divest Concordia gears up for their upcoming referendum campaign in November
MUHC suffers budget shortage The MUHC superhospital is currently facing a $10 million shortfall, adding to $28 million it must cut to make this year’s budget. According to CTV News, the facility is drawing fire from Quebec’s health minister, Gaetan Barrette, for treating too many patients. The emergency room visits are 30 per cent higher than expected. Barrette blamed management for not sticking to a clinical plan they had agreed on before opening the hospital. In particular, the cancer centre and the maternity ward are overloaded.
Divest's referendum campaign will begin on Nov. 1. Photo by Ana Hernandez.
IAN DOWN CONTRIBUTOR Divest Concordia discussed plans for their upcoming referendum campaign starting Nov. 1, where students will vote if they want Concordia to divest from fossil fuels––a victory in the referendum will oblige the Concordia Student Union (CSU) to officially endorse the movement. The final decision, however, still rests with the school’s administration. At a meeting on Oct. 27, Divest Concordia members brainstormed strategies to promote the “Yes” side of the referendum. Members
proposed ideas such as classroom visits, open letters to the student press and information booths. Divest Concordia will begin campaigning from Nov. 1 until Nov. 14, followed by polling taking place between Nov. 15-17. “We do believe that support will lean significantly on the side of divestment,” said Eamon Toohey, a spokesperson for the campaign. He praised the global divestment movement as being “not just environmentally necessary but economically sound and feasible.” The Concordia Universit y Foundation has already diverted $5 million to a Sustainable Investment
Fund as a pilot project. In an interview with Business News Network in March, the foundation’s president, Bram Freedman, confirmed that this fund had outperformed the rest of the university’s funds since its creation in 2014. He cited the poor market performance of oil and gas as a possible cause. “Given the performance in the oil and gas industry in the last little while, our sustainable investment fund is outperforming our regular fund,” said Freedman in the interview. Other issues related to the divestment movement were discussed at the meeting, including a discrepancy between investment figures given by Divest Concordia and those provided by the university. Divest, citing research by Concordia parttime sociology and anthropology professor Erik Chevrier, said the university currently has about $12 million invested in fossil fuels. However, the Concordia University Foundation’s annual report lists the university’s total energy investments as only $1.9 million in 2015.
According to Marcus Peters, a Divest Concordia spokesperson, this figure of $12 million is partially based on estimates of how much third-party firms invest in fossil fuels. “[Concordia] started to have other firms handle their investments, and those don’t actually have to disclose their investment portfolio,” he explained. “So there’s a huge transparency issue going on there because we don’t actually know what it’s invested in, and I don’t think [the administrators] do either.” In September, The Concordian met with Concordia President Alan Shepard and discussed divestment within Concordia. “We’re the first Canadian university to set aside some funds that were not invested in the fossil fuels sector,” said Shepard. “Other institutions followed soon after we made that move.” The first move of divestment was made in December 2014, university spokesperson Chris Mota said at the time. “In time we will add to it,” said Shepard. With files from Savanna Craig.
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
HUMAN RIGHTS
Concordia collects for the homeless
Concordia students provide aid for homeless women in need of sanitary products
Fudraiser organizers Sutera Sardo and Rios-Rodriguez. Photo by Savanna Craig.
CHLOE RANALDI STAFF WRITER Two Concordia students have created a campaign to collect female hygiene products for the Patricia Mackenzie Pavilion women’s shelter with the aim of helping homeless women get through the winter months. The fundraiser, spearheaded by Veronica Rios-Rodriguez, a fine arts major, and Julia Sutera Sardo, the vice president of internal affairs and administration for the Arts and Science Faculty of Arts (ASFA), is calling all Concordia students to get involved.
Rios-Rodriguez reached out to Sutera Sardo to launch the hygiene product drive after watching a documentary on women and homelessness called How do Homeless Women Cope With Their Periods? “After watching the documentary on homelessness, I was heartbroken,” said Rios-Rodriguez. “It made me wonder what we could do as students to help these women out.” The video showed women struggling each month to find female hygiene products due to the high cost. “One woman in particular talked about how the cheapest package of pads were $7 each, which was enough money to also cover one
meal for her and her partner,” said Rios Rodriguez. Rios Rodriguez’s did more research on female homelessness and called Patricia Mackenzie Pavilion—a women’s shelter on de Maisonneuve Boulevard, which is part of The Old Brewery Mission—to find out what she could do as a student to help the women at the shelter. The Old Brewery Mission operates seven pavilions in Montreal. According to their website, they offer a variety of social services to over 4,000 homeless men and women every year. They state while most homeless individuals are men, there are a growing number of homeless women. “We want to make sure that women never have to choose between eating a meal and buying female hygiene products,” she said about the purpose of the campaign. Rios-Rodriguez reached out to Sutera Sardo, who directly represents more than 30 departmental student organizations within the Faculty of Arts and Science, with the hope of getting more people involved and sharing the message on different Concordia student Facebook pages.
“Many students from a variety of different programs have reached out to us on Facebook or have stopped by my office to get involved,” said Sutera Sardo. Students can drop off soap, tooth paste, pads, tampons, shampoo and other products at her office on the fourth floor of the EN Building on Mackay, any day between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sir George William Campus. “During the winter months, we realize how hard it is for women in the shelter and we hope that providing them with feminine hygiene products will help,” said Sutera Sardo. She and Rios-Rodriguez will deliver all the collected items to the shelter around Christmas. “What’s important is helping people all the time, and we hope to continue this throughout the year,” Sutera Sardo told The Concordian. She also hopes the campaign will raise awareness about how expensive feminine hygiene products can be. The Canadian government has removed the GST tax on female hygiene products such as tampons and pads as of July 1, 2015, to help make these products more affordable for women.
CAMPUS
CSU stands against potential tuition hikes
The university’s rumoured tuition hike will affect international students NELLY SÉRANDOUR-AMAR CO-NEWS EDITOR The Concordia Student Union (CSU) revealed the Concordia administration has been planning—supposedly for three years—a perpetual tuition hike that will affect future international students. A recent open letter posted on the CSU’s website last Friday said this tuition hike would be directed towards students in deregulated programs. Most universities’ program fees are regulated by the provincial government, but since 2008, according to the open letter from the CSU, the government of Quebec has deregulated six programs of study for international students: business, engineering, computer science, pure sciences, mathematics and law. This means the university can charge international students in these programs any price they want. The university will propose tuition increases through “cohort pricing,” which is a payment scheme that guarantees tuition fees for international students in deregulated programs won’t increase over the course of their degree, according to the open letter. This means that when an international student begins their program at Concordia, they will be paying the same fee for every year
of study. However, their fee will be higher than a student who started in the same program the year before. The university has yet to confirm how much higher the fees will be, which isn’t a good sign, according to Lucinda Marshall-Kiparissis, general coordinator for the CSU. “If the university is declining to provide some basic information about what they’re planning for cohort pricing, we are led to suspect that it’s going to be significant increases year by year,” she said. The student union found out about the increase after Chris Mota, university spokesperson mentioned in an email, that the university has been exploring implementing cohort pricing for international students in deregulated programs for three years now. To follow up, the CSU has been directly asking the university about specifics of their plan, but the university has yet to answer their questions. “It’s unfortunate that we are running under assumptions since we are the accredited union for all students at Concordia,” said Marshall-Kiparissis. Sepideh Zangeneh, an international student from Mexico studying business at the John Molson School of Business, said she can barely afford the current tuition at Concordia. She’s worried that if the tuition increases drastically, she will have to drop out.
“I love Concordia, but if I can’t stay here because I can’t afford it, I’ll have to change,” she said. Zangeneh is not the only one worrying about these tuition hikes. Samuel Miriello, who studies human resources management, is concerned about the possible tuition hikes, even though he’s not an international student. “The school environment will change for the worse if the tuition hikes occur,” he said. Miriello said if tuition rises for international students, only the elite of the international students will be represented at Concordia. “This prevents us, the students, from seeing the world from a clear, fair, equality-oriented lens,” he said. As a response to the supposed tuition hikes, he created a Facebook group, “Concordia University Against International Tuition Hike,” alongside Zangeneh and CSU’s
theconcordian
NATION IN BRIEF KATYA TEAGUE HEAD COPY EDITOR Investigation against RCMP officer An independent review board launched an investigation after a video of an RCMP officer dragging an elderly man down a flight of stairs went viral over the weekend, reported CBC News. According to an RCMP statement, officers in Coquitlam, B.C. responded to a call Thursday evening about a fight at a tenants’ meeting. The officers arrested the man in the video and his wife for refusing to leave the meeting. The review board will assess whether the officers in question used good policing practices during the arrest and whether the use of force was warranted, according the CBC News. Trudeau signs EU trade deal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union on Sunday in Brussels, reported The Toronto Star. However, Trudeau acknowledged that it will still b e m o nt h s b e fo re t h e Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) receives provisional approval, let alone full ratification. If ratified, CETA would bring major cuts to Canada-EU tariffs in sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the auto industry, reported the Toronto Star. Trudeau’s signing of the 1,600-page pact and its accompanying strategic partnership agreement come after “seven arduous years of negotiation,” according to the Toronto Star. Bail for convicted murderers?
External Affairs and Mobilization Coordinator, Aloyse Muller. The group’s goal is to bring students together who are against the tuition hike the university is imposing without the students’ consent. They are currently working on a petition and are also planning an awareness day once enough students are aware of the situation, Miriello said. The CSU believes the proposal for the tuition hikes for international students in deregulated programs will be presented to the Board of Governors on Dec. 14. If it is approved, the proposal will be implemented as of the fall 2017 semester. Photo by Nelly Sérandour-Amar.
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The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments on Monday regarding if and when convicted killers should be granted bail, reported the Montreal Gazette. The hearing stems from the case of Dennis Oland, who requested bail after appealing his second-degree murder conviction in December for beating his father to death in 2011, according to the same article. The Montreal Gazette reported that there have only ever been about three dozens cases of bail being granted to convicted murders in Canada, and Oland’s application raised unresolved legal issues that the Supreme Court wants to address.
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WORLD IN BRIEF KATERINA GANG COPY EDITOR Earthquake in Italy displaces 15,000 A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit Norcia, Italy on Sunday morning, causing over 15,000 people to become displaced. According to CBC News, no one was killed or injured. Officials believe the number of displaced people will increase, as the current figure does not account for those who have been sleeping in cars or made other temporary arrangements. Italy’s premier pledged on Monday to find temporary housing for all those affected. Many have been moved to the coastal region according to CBC News. The earthquake, which is Italy’s worst in 36 years, came just months after an earthquake in the same region killed 300. Record-breaking soup thrown away in Malaysia The Malaysian mall Plaza Merdeka threw away 600kg of Sarawak laksa, a spicy noodle dish, shortly after breaking the country’s record for street food. According to BBC News, the mall discarded 1,500 normal servings of soup. Many were angered by the decision, and took to social media to voice their concerns about the food waste. The mall issued an apology, and said the disposal was an "unfortunate oversight and misjudgement," but had been done for safety reasons, reported BBC News. The soup had begun to smell foul. Malaysia discards about 15,000 tons of food per day—a fifth of which is, generally, still perfectly good for consumption. Moroccan fishmonger crushed in garbage truck Protests erupted in Morocco afterafishmongerwascrushed in a garbage truck. According to CBC News, Mouhcine Fikri had a swordfish he bought at a market confiscated by police. In an effort to recover the confiscated food, Fikri jumped into a garbage truck where police had put the fish, and he got stuck and crushed. According to CBC News, protesters gathered in several Moroccan cities, including Al-Hoceima, Casablanca and Rabat, to protest the royal establishment and abuse of powerandinjustice.Theprotests were organized by February 20, a group responsible for the 2011 Arab Spring protests..
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
PUBLIC SAFETY
Commuting without safety
Montrealers push for a better safety system for roads and bike paths SAVANNA CRAIG CO-NEWS EDITOR Community members gathered at a panel to discuss issues cyclists and pedestrians face in Montréal with regards to inadequate safety while commuting in the city alongside cars—many demanded for accessible and secure road measures. The event, “Who Rules the Road?” was held on Oct.27 at the offices of Alternatives, a Quebec-based international solidarity group, on Parc Avenue. It was hosted by Building Community—a project of the Milton-Parc Citizens Committee which is dedicated to promoting community improvement via social action and education. Four panelists were present, including Marc-André Gadoury, representing the district of ÉtienneDesmarteau in the borough of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie; Alex Norris, a Projet Montréal city councilor; Magali Bébronne, a project manager at Vélo-Québec; and Michael Seth Wexler, a project manager and urban planner at Copenhagenize Design Company. “We wanted to raise awareness surrounding the issue of cyclist and pedestrian safety because they’re the most vulnerable demographic on the streets at the moment,” event organizer and former Concordia
student, Spiro Metaxas, told The Concordian. Another large factor that sparked interest for organizing the event, he said, was the incident this past summer where a woman was killed while cycling in Montreal. Justine Charland St-Amour, 24, was killed at the intersection of Iberville Street and Rosemont Boulevard on Aug. 22 when a truck driver turned into Charland St-Amour's path and hit her, having not seen her in his blind spot, reported CTV News. According t o t h e same article, she was declared deceased at the scene, and
Montreal police stated neither party was to blame. For problems concerning intersections, Metaxas suggested having a light dedicated to cyclists, allowing them to go first before car traffic begins to circulate. He referenced an intersection in the McGill ghetto which effectively does this. Metaxas said many issues addressed by the panel centred around non-compliance, referring
to cyclists, cars or pedestrians who do not comply with road safety rules or traffic rules. Metaxas said he thinks people need to start taking responsibility for themselves as motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. “I think that’s where the crux of the problem is—non-compliance,” he said. “We wanted to take the opportunity to, once again, shine a spotlight on this issue that’s becoming rather persistent and that we think is preventable,” said Metaxas. “Ideally, there would be no deaths—that’s what that Vision Zero plan is for.” On Sept. 14, the City of Montreal released their plan of action, titled Vision Zero, aimed at improving road safety and reducing deaths, according to the City of Montreal website. Vision Zero introduced nine short-term concrete actions, including reducing speed in residential areas and school zones and equipping intersections with new pedestrian countdown signals or underpasses. However, in regards to this plan, Metaxas said “there simply isn’t enough action being taken at the moment by either political party.” Graham Latham, a Concordia
student in Communications and Cultural Studies, travels to school by bike. “I’m commuting almost entirely by bike right now,” he said, adding while he enjoys traveling by bike, riding downtown is a nightmare. He said while the de Maisonneuve bike path is accessible for cyclists to use, he described it as very dangerous. Latham said one of the biggest hazards for cyclists are cars. “People just turn left across the bike path so much without looking, which is scary,” he said. He has to be extra cautious between intersections, he said, ensuring that a car does not turn into his lane. He said he typically commutes via Sherbrooke Street to avoid the danger of the de Maisonneuve bike path, however, the construction around McGill has taken a large toll on accessibility for biking on that street. “This fall has really sucked for getting to Concordia,” said Latham. He identified two of the most congested and difficult areas to bike around Concordia’s downtown campus are the intersection of Guy and de Maisonneuve, in front of the Guy-Concordia metro station, and the stretch along de Maisonneuve in front of the Hall building. Many of the complaints Latham had were in connection to what Metaxas said the panel aimed to address. Graphic by Florence Yee.
CAMPUS
Part-time faculty spearheads workshops
CUPFA workshop discusses research by part-time faculty and the challenges they face MEGAN HUNT ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Six Concordia part-time faculty members discussed their research, projects and experience as educators in Reframing Pedagogy, the first of six Microlink workshops on Friday, Oct. 29. The work shops, held at Concordia’s Sir George Williams campus and hosted by the Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association (CUPFA), are meant to encourage dialogue and feedback between faculties. The speakers included French studies instructor Louise-Marie Bouchard; Yosra Dali, Sonia Di Maulo and Pamela Gunning and Jesse Hunter from the department of education; and Francine Tremblay, from the department of sociology. There was a small audience of Concordia instructors. After each presentation, the speakers welcomed spirited discussion. Some of the work shared included Bouchard’s recently published book, L’art de la pensée, which challenges common perceptions of creative thinking, and Gunning’s research
Part-time faculty present their research. Photo by Ana Hernandez.
on ESL education and collaboration between teachers in Quebec schools. Hunter’s research on creative thought was also discussed, as well as Tremblay’s study on millennial students and disengagement. While the workshop focused on topics pertaining to education and pedagogy, both presenters and attendees did not shy away from discussing the controversies surrounding part-time work at Concordia and other post-secondary institutions. Dali shared the results of her case study of three part-time staff members outside of Concordia, each of whom had experienced feelings of isolation and a lack of organization from an administrative standpoint. She also described the fear her study’s
participants felt regarding job security. “[A study participant] was asking, ‘Am I going to have a session next year?… Will I have to go back to teaching at the high school level? Will I have to go back to telemarketing?’ [These instructors] are living from session to session,” Dali said. Dali’s findings prompted conversation with the audience, with some members agreeing that part-time staff members do face administrative difficulties, while others felt isolation wasn’t a problem at Concordia, since there is a relatively high number of part-time faculty members. “It’s different [at Concordia],” said Hunter. “Part-time staff [are] the lifeblood of the university.” Tremblay’s presentation on mil-
lennial students and disengagement in post-secondary studies also prompted an engaged conversation among attendees. At the beginning of her study, Tremblay had expected to find that technology was a major factor in “disengagement,” but she later concluded that this was misrepresenting the problem. She found that many students are disengaged because they are extremely stressed and facing a competitive job market after graduation. Students understand that they will likely need further education after a bachelor’s degree, and as a result they are less in engaged in subject matter and more focused on passing, graduating and finding a job as quickly as possible. “Students today are extremely stressed and extremely anxious,” she said. “They cannot project themselves in the future, and the competition today is fierce.” Many professors in attendance agreed with this sentiment, voicing both sympathy for students and frustration with their lack of engagement in recent years. The workshops will be hosted once a month between November and March.
life
LIFE EDITOR /// life@theconcordian.com DANIELLE GASHER ( @
COVER STORY
Sustainability and creativity harvested into one Concordia farmer Elizabeth Chernichenko is bringing small-scale farming to big heights
Elizabeth Chernichenko sells at the Concordia Farmers’ Market on Wednesday at the Hall Building. Photo by Cristina Sanza.
CRISTINA SANZA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nearly four hours away, on the Quebec island of L’Isle Aux Allumettes, resides 26-year-old Concordia student Elizabeth Chernichenko. The island borders the Ottawa river and is home to less than 1,500 people. There, Ontario-native Chernichenko owns a small waterfront property, about two acres large. It carries a stretch of marshland, various trees, and a humus vegetable field. A variety of potato plants, beans, peppers, zucchini and herbs, among other produce, flourish on the land. Chernichenko calls it Classic Eve Gardens—her very own farm, where she is in charge of all aspects of it: from the growing and harvesting of produce, to the business aspects such aside of pricing and selling. “I think that this project was an effort to do what I loved as a job—to be self-employed,” said Chernichenko. She said she wants to learn about ecology, agriculture and the business side of small-scale farming, in conjunction with her undergrad degree in human environment from Concordia. “I’d like to have a very wellrounded practical and university theoretical education,” she said. She stays at the farm Thursday through Sunday, and comes back
to Montreal for school the rest of the week. Chernichenko said she was interested in environmental issues and sustainability from a young age. She worked with environmental stewardship organizations after high school and volunteered at farms in her early adulthood. After working full-time at an organic farm last summer, Chernichenko realized how much she enjoyed farming. “I found that I hadn’t been exhausted like I had been at other jobs, like in the service industry or in the movie industry. I could work countless hours [at the farm] and still find myself really enjoying my time and myself,” she explained. “I found out last summer for sure, that organic farming and gardening was an area that I could find my growth, knowledge-wise, entrepreneurial-wise and personally.” With a little bit of luck and the right connection at the right time, she was able to acquire a property in L’Isle-aux-Allumettes. A co-worker at the farm where she worked was looking to give up land they had recently inherited. They asked Chernichenko if she would like to take it over, and after a long bout of thinking, she took up the opportunity and started her own business. It took over six months of planning before she moved. “I had to prepare myself for the
complete unknown. I’d never lived alone in the country before, let alone so remote,” she said. Upon telling friends and family her plans, they weren’t too optimistic. “It was a really hard thing to overcome. Very few people were supportive, either skeptical or negative about me doing it,” she said with a laugh. “I showed them.” The Classic Eve Gardens logo features a sketch of a woman’s face, wearing a floppy hat and sunglasses. Chernichenko said the somewhat feminine look of her logo was intentional. “I wanted to say that yes, it’s a pretty little farm run by a ‘pretty little girl,’ but the products and business should speak for itself when a person looks at the fruit of labour,” she said. Farming involves a lot of physical labour, as well as thinking outside of the box, Chernichenko said. “Farming is a career of problem-solving,” she said. “You have goals, you have a vision, and you take whatever resources you have. You have to be extremely resourceful and creative.” Creative she has been. Chernichenko’s farm doesn’t have a water infrastructure— instead, the water is sourced naturally, from a springpool on the upper part of her property. “It was this beautiful, fresh, ground-filtered water that was coming out and pooling. It was home to a lot of frogs,” she said. Since her property is on a slope, she had the idea of creating an aqueduct to feed the water down to the plant field by digging a trench. However, with the dry weather, the water would get absorbed. “I ended up having to put a hose in, build a dam and let gravity feed it down the line into a hole that I dug by my field. That was my water source the entire summer: good old-fashioned gravity,” she said with a laugh. For her, learning the practice of farming is largely a matter of trial and error. While Chernichenko’s produce is organic, she hasn’t been able to afford an official organic certification—she’s still debating as to whether it’s really necessary. “I might just stick with non-certified organic,” she said. “My efforts have been organic. I think if people
are cool with that, then the certification that the province does is irrelevant.” She does not use pesticides or chemicals on her plants—instead, she physically picks the bugs off of them, which usually takes about an hour per day. “On a small scale, these things are manageable,” she said. “You do that every day, and you actually get rid of them.” Her ultimate goal is to find a way to make small and medium-sized farms work from an economical and sustainable standpoint. “That’s my goal and dream, to see how to teach people and myself a way that it can work,” she said. “I find that you can take away a lot of the abrasive, unnatural methods [used in farming] by sizing down and being efficient and profitable on a small scale.” Chernichenko was particularly impressed, upon coming to Concordia, with the various groups engaged in urban agriculture or advocating for food-related issues, such as food production and security. For the average student interested in food sustainability, her advice is simple: “Your money is your voting power, so it’s important to make the right decisions. Ask questions about your food.” She has recently started a new business venture: cooperative pricing—or Pay What You Can (PWYC). For those who can’t afford to pay the full price of her goods, she’s opted to let them pay as much as they can afford to, and encourages those who can afford the products to subsidize someone else’s costs. The products range from $2.50 to about $13. This year, she harvested beans, peas, pumpkins, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, beets, a wide variety of herbs, 24 kinds of heirloom tomatoes, and much more. Chernichenko currently sells at three markets: Cobden Farmers Market and Eganville Farmers' Market—both located in Ontario, and the Concordia Farmers’ Market, which takes place every Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. in the mezzanine of the Hall Building. The market runs until the end of the semester, and resumes at the start of the winter semester. Visit facebook.com/lilmarketgarden to learn more about Classic Eve Gardens.
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NOVEMBER 1, 2016
HISTORY
A 200-year-old beer recipe brought to life
The Museum of Jewish Montreal hosts a celebration and tasting of the famous Hart family beer
DANIELLE GASHER LIFE EDITOR The Museum of Jewish Montreal hosted a lecture and tasting to celebrate the recreation of a 200-year-old traditional beer recipe from the famous Jewish Hart family brewery, on Oct. 26. Nearly 100 people gathered in the bright main room of the museum, which opened only eight months ago. At 7:30 p.m. sharp, the room, already filled with displays of famous Jewish literature, historic maps and archival photos, was packed with eager and thirsty attendees. The almost illegible manuscript of the beer recipe was displayed at the front of the room, in front of rows of chairs, for everyone to see and attempt to read. The Museum organized the event in collaboration with Fletcher’s Espace Culinaire and Le Réservoir microbrewery. Fletcher’s, a Jewish-Québécois fusion café, offered their space on the main floor of the Museum, for the event to take place. Julia Dubé, the event and financial development coordinator for the museum, said the team first discovered the beer recipe when one of their research fellows stumbled upon a beer blog talking about it. “When she found this article, she shared it with the team, and we immediately wanted to do something with it,” said Dubé. “We had the idea to recreate the beer, using local ingredients and trying to follow the recipe from the manuscript. So we approached our neighbour, Le Réservoir.” Le Réservoir, a microbrewery on Duluth Avenue, just a street corner away from the museum, accepted the challenge to recreate the beer. Concordia graduate and master brewer at Le Réservoir, Nathan McNutt, made it his mission to follow the recipe and the methods used as closely as possible. “We are all very excited to taste the beer for the first time,” said Dubé. The museum is dedicated to sharing Jewish stories in Montreal. Since the Hart family is such an important name in Montreal’s
Jewish community, Le Réservoir’s this was a story the master brewer, museum couldn’t Nathan McNutt, pass up on. describes the beer “Part of these as oaky, spicy and stories relate to slightly hoppy. food, relate to beer. Photos by Danielle When we found this Gasher. story, we thought it would be a very contemporary and interesting thing to share,” Dubé told The Concordian. The Hart family are known to be the first Jews to have arrived in North America. They settled in Trois-Rivières in 1761. The entire family is celebrated for their contributions and devotion to Quebec’s Jewish community. The family created the first synagogue in Canada and were active in the fight for Jewish political rights during the 18th century, according to an article on Canada’s History’s website by author and historian, Denis Vaugeois. That’s why, Montreal-native beer blogger and business lawyer, Gary Gillman, was surprised to stumble on the Hart name when researching early Quebec breweries. “Growing up here in the Jewish community, we all had known of the Harts and were very proud of them … but we knew their political history, particularly Ezekiel’s situation with respect to trying to set a legislative assembly in the early 19th century. I had no idea that they operated a brewery,” said Gillman. Gillman found the recipe through public provincial records. In fact, it was so easy to access, he continued digging to see if anyone else had published or at least found the manuscript. “As far as I could tell, nobody actually found it and published it, much less analyzed it from a brewing point of view,” said Gillman. He published a blog post about the beer in February 2016. To Gillman, the recipe represents traditional English brewing. “That means things like its alcoholic strength, which is over eight per cent, its use of hops … a substantial quantity of hops. They also used the first mash, the first run off the malted barley, which is the richest extract
and produces the strongest beer.” The brewer of the beer, McNutt, said, “For the most part, we kept very true to the style, very true to the ingredients. We made sure that [the beer] was Quebec-grown, that it was organic.” He explained he had to make certain adaptations to stay true to the original recipe, techniques and style of the brew. He said he used smoke malt, with the help of wood chips, to replicate a taste that was common in 18th century beer. He also added wild yeast to the beer, and aged it in an oak wood barrel, which he said added complexity to the beer’s taste. Among the guest speakers at the event was Vaugeois, who was particularly touched by the recreation of the recipe. Vaugeois, who wrote a book about the Hart family, imparted his knowledge about the Harts to the crowd.
“Since I don’t drink beer, I focused on the brewery, on the will of Aaron Hart to bring his sons together so they could create a dynasty. He created an enterprise for his sons, like Molson,” said Vaugeois about his book. Vaugeois said that upon researching and writing so much about the family, he felt like he had a special connection to them. “I feel like I am myself a Hart,” he said. Once the presentation from guest speakers was over, guests were invited, with their free beer coupon in hand, to the next street corner to taste the celebrated beer for themselves at Le Réservoir. As the speakers hinted, the flavour of the beer was beautifully complex. From the balanced smokiness, to a nice spiciness and subtle yet satisfying bitterness, this beer’s taste was a nice surprise.
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
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POLITICS
Have we learned anything at all? The Holocaust Education and Genocide Prevention Foundation hosted a workshop on moral responsibility DOMINICK LUCYK STAFF WRITER The Holocaust served as historical background in a presentation on moral responsibility in modern-day politics held by the Holocaust Education and Genocide Prevention Foundation at Concordia on Oct. 27. Matthias Pum, an Austrian who travels abroad to conduct Holocaust memorial services, spoke to a group of about 30 people on Thursday about the context and causes of the Holocaust, and how many Austrian and German citizens were convinced the actions of the National Socialist government were right and justified. He used examples to show how Nazi propaganda was "emotionally-based” and presented “opinion or fiction as a matter of fact." He referenced the words of Hermann Goering, one of the highest-ranking Nazi officials, to illustrate how populations can be influenced into believing anything. "Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country," Pum said. Pum pointed out how the unwillingness from the majority of countries in the world
to accept Jewish refugees during the Nazi regime is comparable to the current treatment of Syrian refugees. He referenced the Evian Conference of 1938, where representatives from 32 countries gathered to discuss helping Jewish refugees. In the end, only the Dominican Republic increased their refugee intake. The economic depression of the 30s made countries hesitant to take in refugees. According to the United States Memorial Museum’s website, “all this red tape existed against the backdrop of other hardships: competition with thousands of equally desperate people, slow mail that made communication with would-be sponsors difficult, financial hardships, and oppressive measures in Germany that made even the simplest task a chore.” While Syrian refugees are accepted in greater numbers than the Jewish refugees were, Pum believes that wealthier countries need to do more to accommodate and assist the refugees fleeing the current civil war in the Middle East. Pum blamed "right-wing populism" and parties such as the Austrian Freedom Par t y (FPÖ), Ger many 's Alter native für Deutschland Party and the United Kingdom Independence Party for modern anti-refugee sentiment in Europe. While none of the parties he mentioned are currently in power in their respective
countries, the FPÖ is presently polling seven points higher than the next most popular party, and the Alternative für Deutschland Party is gaining support and slowly becoming Germany's third most popular political party. Pum discussed an ad by the Alternative für Deutschland, which urged citizens to have the "courage to stand by Germany." He likened this to Goering’s aforementioned words, saying the ad implied the same denunciation and vilification of "pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the
country to danger.” Pum’s overall message was about the importance of learning from history in order avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. He believes modern “right-wing populism” is all too similar to the mentality that overtook Germany and Austria before and during World War II, a mentality that led to the Holocaust. He said he believes anyone is capable of making difference in the world by learning about the historical context of past events and applying that knowledge to modern day circumstances.
The Oct. 27 talk was organized by the Holocaust Education and G e n o c i d e Pre ve n t i o n Foundation. Photo byAlex Hutchins.
FOOD
A place transporting Tabarnacos to Cuba
Trendy Cuban restaurant is serving mucho mojitos and impressive dishes SHAKTI LANGLOIS ORTEGA CONTRIBUTOR Quebecers love Cuba. It is a known fact. According to the Toronto Star, 1.2 million Canadians travel to Cuba, annually. The link between our province and the beloved communist state is so prominent that Cubans affectionately call us “Tabarnacos” and “Jean Coutus.” That connection is what the staff at La Habanera restaurant wanted to bring to Montreal. “We wanted to create a nice vibe from Cuba,” manager Louis-Philippe Rouleau told The Concordian. Rouleau said the idea was to create “something that you couldn’t get in Montreal.” La Habanera is unique. Inspired by the vibrant colours of Cuban culture, the restaurant’s DIY-style décor is probably the most charming aspect of the downtown restaurant. Its vintage look recreates the antique charm of Old Havana. About 30 tables occupy the small space, and along the back wall sits a turquoise banquette. Dozens of strategically scattered picture frames filled with vintage Cuban portraits, maps and photos cover the walls, giving the space a relaxed feel. Some may even consider it the perfect Instagramworthy backdrop to any photo. Walking into La Habanera feels like stepping into a closet-sized version of Cuba. If you are up to it, you can even test your Spanish skills with the staff, since most of
them speak it fluently. No Cuban-inspired restaurant would be complete without a salsa playlist and this place offers one that will have you dancing in your seat. If you dare, get up between bites and show off your dance moves. Although delicious and beautifully prepared, the food served at La Habanera is nothing like the typical food found in traditional Cuban households. On the menu, you will find a variety of creative and tasteful small, tapas-style plates inspired by authentic Cuban ingredients, such as plantain and seafood. The restaurant basically takes traditional ingredients to make non-traditional or gourmet dishes. One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, rum, coconut and garlic dulce de leche shrimps served in plantain cups, is a perfect example of that. To recreate the open and heart-warming Cuban atmosphere and experience, La Habanera encourages clients to order several plates to share. The spot also offers a special tasting menu for groups, which is a surprise menu picked and designed by the chefs. You can seat yourself either at the beautiful turquoise banquette, in one of the cozy diner-style booths or at the bar, while a bartender concocts one of the spot’s exotic house cocktails, like the Bloody Maria Con Lychee. The drink translates to a cherry tomato and lychee Bloody Mary. With more than 20 different types of rum,
the Cuban liquor of choice, La Habanera offers an exclusive selection of mouth-watering mojitos made with fresh fruits and herbs. Designed for millennials, with its trendy yet unpretentious vibe, La Habanera can be your go-to spot for anything from a promising Tinder date to an unforgettable birthday dinner. La Habanera is the latest restaurant from a team of people who are also behind Montreal’s Mexican restaurants La Cerveceria and Escondite, and the Japanese fusion spot, Biiru. The team will also opening a Hawaiian poke takeout restaurant soon. La Habanera is located at 1216 Avenue Union, Montréal, QC H3B 3C4 The spot is open Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
La Habanera’s decor is a hipster take on Latin culture. Photos by Shakti Langlois Ortega.
arts
ARTS EDITOR /// arts@theconcordian.com JESSICA KINNARI & TIFFANY LAFLEUR
FILM
Drilling holes in the Atlantic Ocean
New Cinema Politica film takes a look at how the Irish government destroyed its fishing industry
ROMINA FLORENCIA ARRIETA STAFF WRITER What happens when the ocean becomes a battleground between two interest groups vying for two different resources in the same location? This issue is discussed in the documentary Atlantic—Cinema Politica’s latest film screened at Concordia, where fishermen are at odds with oil companies. Drilling for oil in the ocean is a dangerous affair that can have catastrophic consequences, as was made evident by the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. The Deepwater spill was the largest oil spill in human history—causing a range of human, economic and environmental crises. Funded by the Irish Film Board, Atlantic depicts the struggle of Irish fishermen in their daily battle with oil companies. To
understand the extent of the problem, the filmmakers provide political background to help explain the current state of the country’s fishing industry. In 1973, Ireland handed over the regulation of its waters to the European Union after becoming a member. Irish fishermen’s original control of 23 per cent of the country's waters was reduced to a mere four per cent. This sent a wave of frustration through the many communities left entirely dependent on the fishing industry—and the situation was only about to get worse. The European Union began drilling oil in the fishing ground, something the local fishermen found appalling. It had worked in Norway—the government created Stat Oil, a state-owned, highly regulated company and the country’s successful oil exportation ended up being rather beneficial
In Ireland, the fishing industry is constantly at odds with the interests of the oil companies.
for its citizens. Such success, however, was the result of the work of great politicians, according to the documentary. This political strength was not present in Ireland. For one, the Irish government was not part of the decision-making process about drilling in its waters. In fact, the oil companies were the ones implementing the rules. This happened to be the case, because the Irish government wanted to export large quantities of oil in order to strengthen its economy thus they let the oil companies do what they wanted. The tax rates imposed on the oil businesses by the Irish government, more specifically politician Ray Burke, were the second most generous in the world. Given that these companies were not state-owned, oil exportation revenues did not profit the Irish economy, but instead were kept by the privately-owned companies. The politician responsible for this extremely loose regulation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ray Burke, was jailed in 2004 for tax fraud and corruption. Furthermore, oil companies must generate underwater explosions every 10 seconds to locate the oil's position. The operations are deafening and disruptive to mammals and fish who use sound waves to navigate, causing behavioural changes and loss of hearing. The fish population has substantially decreased since the start of these activities, putting strain on the ocean’s ecosystem and Ireland’s already struggling fishermen as shown in the documentary. Atlantic is a beautiful documentary which showcases the ongoing battle between the fishermen and oil industries. With both groups after different resources in the area, tensions and disagreements were inevitable. The documentary leaves the viewer flabbergasted by both the imagery and the lack of judgement of the politicians involved.
FILM
SAFF brings films to Montreal for the sixth year
The South Asian Film Festival of Montreal is bringing works from India, Pakistan and Nepal
TIFFANY LAFLEUR CO-ARTS EDITOR You can now see Bengal, Mumbai, Lahore, Delhi and many other areas of Southern Asia without leaving Montreal. The South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFF) will be screening a specially-selected collection of intriguing, eclectic and diverse films hailing from all areas of the Indian
subcontinent for the sixth year in a row, from Nov. 4 to 6. “One of the things I’ve been saying to people is that when you attend the whole festival, from Friday to Sunday, you end up get ting a virtual visual tour of South Asia,” said Dushyant Yajnik, the director of SAFF. The festival will present both short and longer feature films, including documentaries and works of fiction. “One of our criteria is to present anything that describes the human condition and all its complexity in an authentic way,” said Yajnik. Though not all the films are in English, they will all have English subtitles. This year, the festival will be presenting 17 films. After each screening, there will be
a panel where the film will be discussed. “Every film, we have a panel discussion because I think it's important that we have a serious discussion,” said Yajnik. “We sometimes invite the film’s director, local experts from film studies and film critics from the local newspapers.” According to Yajnik, people from the community who have background knowledge in Indian films, or in the specific issues the films raise are also invited to take part in the panel discussion. Yajnik said the panels allow for communication between different groups, and they welcome audience participation through the question periods that take place after the discussion. Highlights of this year’s festival include Angry Indian Goddesses, which will open the festival on Nov. 4. In this film, a group of friends take an impromptu trip to Goa, India as one member of the group has a surprise announcement to make. Directed by Pan Nalin, this is reputed to be India’s first female ‘buddy’ movie, depicting a close friendship between a
group of women. Song of Lahore tells the stor y of musicians determined to practice their craft, despite the strict Sharia laws that prohibit any music that is not religious. The film is directed by Andy Schocken and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who won an Oscar this year for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness. Song of Lahore will screen on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Mia Kal Aana, set to screen on Nov. 5 ,is a short film that addresses an old law that, if a man says “divorce” three times, he is considered divorced. Imta, who divorces his wife in this way, immediately regrets his decision. However, the only way to be reunited with his ex-wife is for her to remarry and divorce yet again. Directed by Shamas Siddiqui, this short looks at how the wives are treated in such circumstances. The festival is presented by the Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture. All films will be screened at Concordia’s J.A. de Séve Cinema. There is no admission fee, however donations are welcome.
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FESTIVAL
Au Contraire Film Festival opens with comedic appeal The film festival addresses the issue of mental illness through the visual medium PAULINE NESBITT CONTRIBTOR Stand-up comic Christophe Davidson gave a humorous and personal insight into his struggles with mental illness during his performance on the opening night of the Au Contraire Film Festival at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on Oct. 25. The festival aims to change our view on mental illness Davidson said the first sign of his mental illness manifested itself as he was about to board a plane from Singapore to Cambodia, during a comedy tour in Southeast Asia. He said he thought that, rather than filling out the forms at security, he would do tai chi for about 45 minutes in front of the security guards. He recognized his actions as a sign that he was unhinged, and returned home to seek the help he needed. He joked that, after a year and a half in treatment, he still isn’t sure he is bipolar. He refers to it as his, “bipolar bear,” since it can track him down from miles away and come back into his life. “So right now it might be miles down the Arctic tundra and maybe it will find me again,” said Davidson.
A screening of the musical documen- monologues move the story along, while Q&A session with Davidson and Ibrahim tary Patient’s Rites immediately followed the images show Ibrahim using the various took place with Dr. Karl Looper, chief Davidson’s comedy routine. The film portrays forms of art expression he learned while of the department of psychiatry at the the personal experience of Issa Ibrahim, its hospitalized, to help him to understand his Jewish General Hospital, and Dr. Harvey director. Ibrahim was involuntarily admitted illness and his crime of killing his mother. Giesbrecht, a psychoanalyst, as moderators. for 20 years to Creedmoor Psychiatric Center Ibrahim then embarks on the long process A reception followed. after being found innocent by reason of of taking control of his life. This opening gala was a benefit for the insanity for the murder of his mother. This Patient’s Rites concludes on a positive Donald Berman Up House, which provides insightful and informative film offers an note with Ibrahim stating his determi- support to people suffering from mental armchair view into Ibrahim’s world as he nation to continue to create and use his illness. struggled with mental illness, and attests art as a therapy for mental illness. to the healing power of art as a form of After the screening, an therapy. In the film, Ibrahim describes informative himself as “a psychiatric survivor.” He wrote the lyrics and composed the music for the film. In the opening scene, Ibrahim sings a song that contains catchy but jarring lyrics, accompanied by guit ar. This song gives the audience insight into his state of mind. Comedian Christophe Davidson gave the audience personal insight into his struggle with mental illness. Photo courtesy of the festival. Songs and
PUBLIC ART
Sending positivity through public art
Montreal artist Aquil Virani is leaving his artwork at bus stops to spread a little love around the city JESSICA KINNARI CO-ARTS EDITOR Most artists just want people to enjoy their art, and Montreal-based visual artist Aquil Virani has a new way to do just that. Virani’s latest venture, the Giveaway Project, is his way of injecting positivity into Montrealers’ lives. The project involves taking the various artworks he has left over from his many art shows and art marathons, and leaving them at bus stops for people to take home. The paintings vary in size and theme, but they are all there to inspire positivity. Virani chose bus stops as the drop-off location because, while it is a practical place given the relative shelter from the weather, it also acts as a community hub. People who wait at bus stops come from all walks of life and are always going somewhere. Virani said he simply leaves the artworks at the bus stop and walks away— he does not wait around in the bushes to see who picks up his piece. Virani filmed himself dropping the artwork off and sometimes, while he was packing up his belongings, the camera caught people taking the art piece. However, he said this is never done intentionally. “I’m ok with not knowing what happens after,” he said. While he said there is Montreal based visual no real theme guiding his artist Aquil Virani is choice of which artworks taking back commuto leave—in fact, the selecnity spaces by leaving tion is quite random—he his art at Montreal chooses artwork that he bus stops. Photos by believes appears more Aquil Virani. positive and will inspire
happiness. Each piece comes with a slip of paper with Virani’s website, contact info and, most importantly, permission to take the artwork. Not only is this project about making someone’s day, it is also about taking back community spaces. Virani said he think s a lot of people won’t necessarily use community spaces, like parks, for fear of intruding on someone else. “I want this project to also remind everyone that community spaces are for you,” Virani said. “It isn’t no one’s space, it’s everybody’s space.” Virani said he wants to use this project not only as a positive method of giving away his old (and sometimes new) art pieces, but also as a way to bring art out of its traditional art gallery environment. “Ar t is for ever yone. It ’s made to be enjoyed by everyone, not just the art world,” he said. In most of his art pieces, Virani said he aims to create art that not only looks pretty but also means something, both to him and the receiver. He likes to “make art that both engages the heart, the mind, and is socially aware,” he said. Virani said the Giveaway Project is an example of how fun, socially-experimental projects can make someone’s day. He said he uses this project as a way to add positivity to the world, especially at a time when all the world crises are spreading such negative energy. He also said it helps him combat all the things on the news and in the world that sometimes “get him down.” ¡¡ To see more of Virani’s work and a video of the Giveaway Project, check out his website: aquil.ca.
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NOVEMBER 1, 2016
EXPRESSION
Stuck in the throes of a drug-fueled cycle This real-life account of being addicted to heroin shows the rarely-seen lowest of lows
Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.
ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTOR I woke up sick. Feeling the pang of quiet panic and a taste of desperation upon awakening was something I had almost gotten used to. First thing in the morning. When I was young, it was the same. Except then, it was the terror of thinking I was late for school and I had overslept. Now the panic had its roots in smack. With heroin, if you didn’t save a hit for the morning from the night before, you woke up like this. The catch-22 of the deal was if you do a proper hit the night before, you’d toss and turn through flashing nightmares and murky forgettable dreams. All as the sickness crept up on you. With smack, waking life was a series of no-win scenarios. A constant Kobayashi Maru. Much like Jim Kirk, you used human ingenuity every day to try and beat the game. Anything and everything, anything and nothing, tactics and strategy, luck and prayer, friends and enemies, economics and diplomacy, hustles and honest-to-goodness straight hard work and determination, to stay one step ahead of the sickness. Like Bono once wrote, “we’re all running to stand still.” On heroin, there is no getting ahead. So I woke and started cataloguing my inventory. One tablet. One bank card. One pen. A few smokes. No lighter. About 40 cents.
No food. Food always comes in second. It was dim outside. Late afternoon, my instincts told me. In the winter, the sun sets by 4:30 p.m. in Montreal. My eyes released their first involuntary tears of the day. My nose ran. My back and legs ached. My bones felt like glass. Specifically, like the thin fragile necks of wine glasses. My neck and armpits were hot, sweating cold sticky sweat. My chest and legs were ice cold. Small localised waves of chills ran through random parts of my body. Heroin withdrawal, scientifically, is the junk-addicted cells of your body dying. Without junk, the cells cannot live. So all the chills and aches and hot flashes and throbbing pain and running noses and horrible tastes in your mouth—that’s your body dying—and being reborn. But honestly, the physical symptoms, as bad as they are, pale in comparison to the psychological feelings of despair, shame, utter tragic sorrow and acute depression. Like you’ve never felt joy, and you can’t remember what tranquility is like. I’m describing this because it’s important to understand that, for the junkie, the lows are equally vital in driving our behaviour and decision-making as the highs. Yes, being sober means no more withdrawal, but for a person so accustomed to staring into the abyss of human suffering on a daily basis, regular life is, well, boring. This little fact is man’s dirty little psychic secret—both from himself and to others.
The reality is that everyone, in one shape or another, faces this problem. The truth is, some just go with the flow… Time passes. I’m on the metro. This is the third time today I’m making this Friday tour de l’ile. Each time from either Angrignon or Vendome in the west to Jar r y or Sherbrooke. It’s been that kind of day. “The Run,” they call it. On a good day, the Mediterraneans pick up their goddamn phones, we might get a delivery. Home and work delivery is what a man will wait three to five hours for because the LAST thing anybody wants to have to do when in the throes of withdrawal is exactly what I’m doing right now. There’s a man in his 50s wearing navy blue, on his head and his jacket. There’s a trio of gorgeous 20-somethings to my 10 o’clock. A smattering of lone white men. A couple of young people. In a way, everybody on the metro is young. Montreal in the 2010s is predominantly a young city. A massive college town with four universities, two dozen colleges, countless more institutes and academies of dubious accredited status. I say “we” a lot because in a cit y like this, with weather like ours, and drugs like these, you’re never really alone. Society among the young is arbitrated and networked mainly by one or more of the following: school connections, growing up together, blood, chance, work or drugs. There’s always the guy with the hook-ups. For
me, I always kept one degree, two at most, of separation from this guy. Mr. Hook-Up—the title and name changes. It can be a seasonal thing or it could just be the dude’s in jail for six months, plus probation, conditions, parole officers, curfews, random phone calls, in-person checks, piss tests, psychological tests, possible surveillance, ankle bracelets... But I digress. Montreal in the wintertime. We’re coming out of an ice storm. The sidewalks were glazed as a skating rink, causing innumerable falls and minor injuries. Spirits inevitably fall during such a time. A friend of mine died on Saturday I learned. He was alone in his room when he injected a mix of heroin and cocaine, colloquially known as a speedball. All his square, non-user friends will now lament his passing and the horrors of hard drugs. But what really bugs me is that it’s the lack of tolerance of these friends, their distaste for the sights and sounds and realities of drug use, specifically intravenous drug use, that spurs individuals like my friend (we’ll call him Andrew) to isolate themselves in secrecy. The last thing a hard drug user ought to do is shoot up alone.
Disclaimer: Due to the personal nature of this subject matter, the writer has asked to remain anonymous.
Graphic by Florence Yee.
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DOCUMENTARY
Following a reporter on the front lines
New documentary to be presented at the RIDM festival explores the challenges of being a journalist BASHIR RIFAI CONTRIBUTOR We as an audience are accustomed to receiving our news from a variety of readily available sources. Yet, behind that link on Facebook, those newspapers articles, and perfectly groomed television anchors, are journalists on the front lines who are making monumental efforts to gather information for us. Freelancer on the Front Lines, a thoroughly informative film by Santiago Bertolino, tells the story of one such journalist. It follows freelance reporter Jesse Rosenfeld over a period of three years, as he travels through the volatile region of the Middle East in search of stories he believes need to be told. The film starts off with an emotional farewell dinner hosted by Rosenfeld’s family before his departure from Toronto. His parents are rightfully worried about his upcoming journey to Cairo, where Rosenfeld hopes to make sense of General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s rise to power following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in Egypt. In some ways, his initial trip to Cairo is fitting with the film’s overall message. The general’s rise to power—in what was widely regarded as a sham election-—coincided with the detention of several journalists who attempted to cover the election. The sight of
caged journalists, including Canada’s own Mohamed Fahmy, in an Egyptian courtroom, highlighted the importance of Rosenfeld’s work. Democracy cannot survive or flourish without a free press. From Cairo, Rosenfeld goes on to cover the unrest in the West Bank, the Israel-Gaza conflict of 2014, the fight against the Islamic
strapped to the cars of Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers. His work gave him a first-hand look at the heartbreaking experiences of refugees. Covering such atrocities took a visible toll on the journalist, making his quest to tell these stories all the more admirable. The film also sheds light on additional challenges faced by freelance journalists.
State in Iraq and the ensuing refugee crisis. During his journey, he witnesses injustice and human atrocities ranging from the “apartheid road” in the West Bank to the mass executions in Gaza. He sees mass graves of ISIS victims in Iraq and the rotting corpses of ISIS fighters
Unlike those who travel on behalf of news organizations such as the BBC or CNN, freelance journalists face additional hurdles such as finding interpreters, guides and military escorts, as well as balancing their budget—which includes, but is in no way limited to, arguing
with taxi drivers over cab fare. In addition to the emotional toll and physical danger faced by all journalists working in hostile environments, the film shows Rosenfeld’s constant struggle to convince editors to pick up and finance his stories. Yet, the tribulations seem worth it when the film shows a visibly proud Rosenfeld when he discovers that one of his articles is the top story of the day. Overall, Bertolino does an excellent job at placing the audience in the trenches alongside Rosenfeld, aptly depicting the struggles of those who bring us news from the front lines. The film concludes on somewhat of an optimistic note, as Rosenfeld explains his main motivation for doing what he does. The purpose of his work is to inspire his readers to take action against such atrocities, he said. Helping to prevent these stories from recurring or continuing is what he considers useful about his work. Rosenfeld’s story certainly raises questions about the effect such journalistic work can have. If it weren’t for the work of journalists like Rosenfeld, would Western countries have taken in as many refugees as they did? Would the public have demanded an end to pointless wars, such as in Iraq, sooner, if more reporters like Rosenfeld had been on the front lines? Freelancer on the Front Lines certainly seems to suggest an answer.
THEATRE REVIEW
Off with her head! And let them eat cake
Mary Stuart brings the battle of the two Tudor queens to life onstage
Alex Petrachuk gave an amazing performance as Queen Elizabeth in Obra anaïs:performanceensemble’s production of Mary Stuart.
JESSICA KINNARI CO-ARTS EDITOR A techie and costume designer’s dream, Mary Stuart brings to life the historical struggle between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The multimedia-filled show ran at the Salle Jean-Valcourt du Conservatoire from Oct. 21 to 30, and featured a number of Concordia grads, including Alex Petrachuk and Curtis Legault. A production by the Obra anaïs: performance ensemble, the play featured solid character development as well as captivating music and interesting staging choices. The set was versatile, with chains and sheer pieces of fabric hanging from the ceiling along the back of the stage. Above them was a screen onto which images and videos were projected throughout the play. The curtains created a transparent hallway
for characters to walk through, and could also be tied into slip knots to create different silhouettes for different settings. The black and white colour scheme of both the costumes and sets played well with the lighting. The characters would step in and out of the light depending on whether they were lying or telling the truth. A definite highlight was the standout performance by Alex Petrachuk, who played Queen Elizabeth I. Her character engaged the audience with her inner turmoil about signing the death warrant of her cousin and royal counterpart, Mary Stuart. Both queens exuded power, but Petrachuk also gave her queen a more human and compassionate element that the audience could relate to. She made me, as an audience member, feel both angry about her spoiled attitude, yet sorry for her, as she was trapped in her role as a monarch.
The music included renaissance choral singing alongside a more contemporary drag performance, which added an updated feel to the Brechtian show. The sound design was done by Vanessa Zaurrini, who mixed together sounds and songs, from Madonna to metal, in an electroacoustic style. The music tied in with many of the staging ideas and created intensity in many of the scenes. However, even though this version of the play was obviously a more contemporary take, some of the music, specifically the more modern and metal songs, seemed unnecessary and didn’t really add anything to the performance. The case was the same for a number of the theatrical choices. For example, actor Megan Schroeder seemed to play both Lady Kennedy and the embodiment of Mary Stuart’s inner thoughts. This was just as confusing as it sounds. During a few of Mary Stuart’s monologues, Schroeder
would move in out of the curtains in the background, sometimes spinning or crawling or even brandishing an invisible sword. While I can see the idea behind the choice—to show how Mary Stuart was actually feeling inside, despite appearing strong to the outside world—it was both distracting and confusing—especially since Schroeder was playing another character the rest of the time. Had a different actor played the “inner Mary Stuart” and been present in every scene, the idea may have come across better. A well-acted and visually appealing play, Mary Stuart is not for anyone with a short attention span. The play ran close to three hours, with only a 10 minute intermission, and while that length is normal for most Brechtian plays, it definitely felt very long. To find out more about Obra anaïs: performance ensemble, check out their Facebook page.
music
Quickspins
MUSIC EDITOR /// music@theconcordian.com SANDRA HERCEGOVÁ
1
PROFILE
A Montreal pop star: NJ Taylor Singer-songwriter and Concordia alumna's new acoustic EP
The cover of NJ taylor's acoustic EP. Photos by Antoine La Rochelle. SANDRA HERCEGOVÁ MUSIC EDITOR Montreal pop star and Concordia alumna, NJ Taylor, is hitting up radio charts and taking on the pop music scene with her upbeat dance hits. She just released an acoustic version of her 2015 self-titled EP album on Oct 21. Her track “Pop Army” held a spot on the UK’s Music Week Commercial Pop Club Chart Top 30 for two weeks, starting at #17 and climbing to #13. She was a nominee for the International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA) as pop artist of the year, pop album of the year and pop song of the year with her hit track “Pop Army”—which is also currently nominated for the Hollywood Music in Media Award. Taylor grew up in the West Island part of a musical family. “My mother was a pianist She was my biggest inspiration growing up,” Taylor said. “Music was always playing at my house. My brother also played the piano.” At the age of four, Taylor enrolled in violin lessons at Montreal’s renowned school of music, Vincent-d’Indy. “Classical music was the first genre that I played. I played violin for nine years,” said Taylor. Growing up, she knew music was her destiny. “I always knew I was an artist. It was just a matter of making the decision for real,” she said. Taylor graduated from Concordia with a major in Italian and a minor in Spanish. She said it was difficult for her to put her music dreams on hold and study something other than music. “My plan B became plan A,” she said. “Once I left music behind, I didn’t think it was feasible to leave it and come back.” Taylor said, however, that what she learned at Concordia has helped her a lot in her music career. “If I didn’t have a degree, I wouldn’t have these aptitudes, like learning to be organized,” she said. “You
need that for any business and that’s not something you can learn on the streets.” Her ambition and determination have proven that, while talent is important, making it in the pop music industry mostly requires a lot of hard work. “It’s a business that, if you don’t do it 24/7 and don’t dedicate all your time to it, it’s really hard to stand out,” said Taylor. When she decided to return to music after her studies, she put herself out there, networking within and outside of Montreal. “You need to build relationships that could lead to a collaboration,” she said. It was a long process for Taylor to release her first EP album, but she wanted to make sure she could compete with major pop artists. She said her aim is to make it on the radio, since it will expand her fan base and increase her opportunities to perform live. However, to be on the radio, you need to think like big labels do, she said. “That’s why the process was so long, because I was concentrating on the visuals,
NJ Taylor studied at Concordia. Photo by Dominic Gouin.
the artist development and on the website,” she explained. “It’s not just the music, there is so much more around it.” The effort seems to have been worth it, with NJ Taylor getting airtime on Canadian radio stations and having Music Plus premiere her “Pop Army” music video. The newly-released acoustic version of her EP was inspired by Justin Bieber’s release of an acoustic version of his entire hit album, Believe. “Myself and my engineer, we got really inspired by that,” Taylor said. “It allows me to show my fans a different facet of who I am and what I do.” She said her acoustic album allowed her to reach out to a different audience, and it opened the door for her to perform at different venues. For this acoustic album, Taylor teamed up with guitarist Pierre-Luc Rioux, who has had sessions with Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and is working closely with David Guetta. Taylor said she was honoured to work with Rioux. As for the creative process of songwriting, Taylor worked with her co-writer, Adien Lewis, who is based in Los Angeles, and her co-producer Ghislain Brind’Amour, who has also worked with Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj. While her songs are pop and dancebased, the lyrics have great depth. In her track “Little Girl,” Taylor voices her struggles with being bullied while growing up. “When
DANNY BROWN
Atrocity Exhibition (Warp, 2016) Danny Brown has created an album that’s as eccentric and captivating as his public persona. This Detroit MC’s third commercial release is his most ambitious, experimental and introspective work yet. The album explores Brown as a 35-yearold trying to cement his legacy in a genre run by the young. His perspective, paired with production that is completely unique to this album, makes Atrocity Exhibition a breath of fresh air. The album kicks off with “Downward Spiral,” a song exploring Brown’s loneliness and substance abuse in a way that is so self-aware it’s almost uncomfortable. “Rolling Stone” has Brown addressing the disconnect between himself and the world around him as his fame increases. The wildest moment on the album comes in the form of post-punk inspired “Dance in the Water,” a song about living on the edge without paying the ultimate price. With this album, Danny Brown has created an experimental hiphop masterpiece, with a soundscape that is completely its own. 11 Trial Track: “Rolling Stone” featuring Petite Noir
9.5/10
—Wesley McLean Staff Writer
DAVE EAST
2
Kairi Chanel (Mass Appeal Records, 2016)
you go through a horrible time in your life, it becomes part of who you are,” she said. “I want to go to schools and talk about this. I think this song can show people that I went through this and that I am okay now.” Taylor said she is greatly inspired by 90s pop music and artists and songwriters such as Michael Jackson, Max Martin and Taylor Swift. “Max Martin is the greatest pop producer of our time. He is a god of pop music,” she said. As part of the launch of her acoustic EP, NJ Taylor will be giving a free live show on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Chapters bookstore in Pointe-Claire. She will also be having a pay-what-youcan show online on Saturday, Nov. 5 on stageit.com/NJ at 2 p.m.
Dave East is no rookie. The Harlem MC continues to give his listeners t h at o l d school New York feel that fans have come to expect. One would think that venturing outside of this sound would prove to be a nice change of pace, but moments when East experiments are where the album falls flat. The track “It Was Written” is a great song, with East describing his rise from the bottom to signing with Def Jam. The album's highest point is “Don’t Shoot,” one of the best storytelling hip-hop tracks of the decade. East uses different vocal pitches to rap his point of view at different ages, telling his story from the age of 10 to now. The album’s high point, however, is matched by the extreme low of “Eyes on Me,” featuring Fabolous—an autotuned mess of a track filled with unnecessary exaggerated talk of him trying to sound proud. All in all, a solid record from East, despite a couple of very sour moments. 11 Trial Track: “Don’t Shoot”
8/10
— Wesley MLean Staff writer
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
theconcordian
13
EVENT
Fired up for The Firing Squad
3
The variety show, Art Machine, combines theatre and live music
FAR EAST MOVEMENT
Band members of The Firing Squad: Gideon Yellin, Alex Lepanto, Lloyd White. Photo by: Ana Hernandez.
Identity (Transparent Agency, 2016) The anticipation of Far East Movement’s new release, Identity, had everything needed to impress its listeners. It promised to feature both American and Asian artists in its songs, creating a bond between two flourishing music industries from opposite sides of the globe. In this respect, Identity truly did a good job. With some songs featuring both K-Pop stars and renowned American artists, one cannot help but be intrigued when listening to it. Musically, however, Identity falls a little short. The album isn’t bad per se—in fact, many songs truly captivate the listener, like the pre-release single “Freal Luv,” featuring K-Pop group EXO’s Chanyeol and American R&B singer Tinashe, or the soothing “Church” with Elijah Blake. Despite its great and surprising variety of styles, rhythms and breakdowns, the album as a whole is still lacking that spark that would make us want to listen to it on repeat. Overall, Identity is a good album—but not a great one. 11 Trial track: “Freal Luv” feat. Marshmello, Chanyeol and Tinashe
7/10
Do you want to listen to live music and comedy at the same time? Well, look no further than Théatre Sainte-Catherine Café-Bar. The theatre’s brand new addition is Art Machine, a variety show that is accompanied by The Firing Squad, a newly-formed Montreal band. Art Machine began in late-August of this year and takes place every Tuesday at 7p.m. The Firing Squad’s members are Gideon Yellin on guitar; Lloyd White on bass guitar; and Alex Lepanto on
—Sarah Boummeda Staff Writer
4 PURLING HISS
High Bias (Drag City, 2016)
High Bias is Purling Hiss’s eighth studio album in seven years. This Philadelphia-based trio has moved away from the fuzz-draped, grungy, slacker sound of their previous two releases, into edgier territory, reminiscent of 70s hard rock. Although chock-full of heavy riffs and frontman Mike Polizze’s signature delay pedal-ridden guitar freakouts, his sensible songwriting shines through to offer a refreshing sense of balance. For every “Everybody in the USA,” the no-holdsbarred 11-minute ender, you have a pop-y, jangly number like “Follow You Around.” The album’s opener, “Fever,” best exemplifies this balance. A thick harmony of scuzzy, psychedelic guitars played out with utmost pop sensibility, this track brings out a yin and yang of heaviness and accessibility, which comes together beautifully. The moments when Polizze and the band move away from this pop-feel, however, is where the album starts to falter. In songs such as “Teddy’s Servo Motors,” we hear the group lean too far toward the heavier end of the spectrum musically, losing the infectious edge which makes them so appealing. 11 Trial track: “Fever”
5.5/10
EMILY VIDAL ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR
summer. “The Firing Squad, those guys are great musicians,” he said. “We’re pumped,” Mercieca said. “We want to do more collaborate stuff with them, make Art Machine a full musical every once in awhile. The potential is huge.” Art Machine is a collective that Mercieca knows has the potential to grow. “We’re happy with the acts and we’re happy with the band, so it’s just time to push it to everyone [and get] bigger crowds,” he said. The band is definitely excited to get the ball rolling, and really enjoys what they’re doing. “I feel like all three of us just kind of click on a love of jamming,” said White. “We all just love jamming with people, and that’s one of the reasons we love this sort of thing we’re doing, where we get to jam with different people every time.”
— Charles FretierGauvin Staff Writer
drums. All three members are excited to play jazz-funk music every week. “I just think it’s fun to play, so the more chances we get to play, it feels like I’m sailing,” said Lepanto. The band’s goal is to blend the Montreal jazz scene with the Montreal francophone comedy scene. “There’s some really, really talented comedians that show up here all the time,” said Lepanto. “It’s cool to kind of work and hang out with [these] people.” The band members first got together at Théatre Sainte-Catherine Café-Bar during a production of MacBeth in late-January, where they each played the music to accompany the play. They enjoyed playing music together so much that they couldn’t wait to keep the fun going after the show. “On the last day of the show, Lloyd was like, ‘Yo, do you want to come over and jam some jazz?’” said Lepanto. It didn’t take long for them to hit it off, soon becoming The Firing Squad. Since then, the band has been involved in the creation of a musical, in collaboration with the theatre’s artistic director, Alain Mercieca. The musical, called ATM: The Musical, was presented at the Just for Laughs festival this past June and won the Fringe Award for Best English Comedy. “So you can say we’re like the funniest band in jazz,” said Yellin. Mercieca said a big reason he invited the band to play at Art Machine is that he really enjoyed working with them this past
On top of playing at Art Machine, the band is also working on producing an EP, which they say should be out by the end of the year. “There’ll be something that people can actually check out when they want to know what we’re all about,” said Lepanto. “Until then, they just have to come [to the theatre].” As the show gains popularity, the organizers of Art Machine are hoping to increase the number of fresh new faces to take to the stage. “We’re always looking for new talents to discover,” said Adama Diop, the show’s producer.
Artistic director Alain Mercieca hosts the Art Machine on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Photos by Ana Hernandez.
sports
SPORTS EDITOR /// sports@theconcordian.com ALEXANDER COLE ( @a_cole39)
PROFILE
From the Bahamas to Charlottetown to Montreal Marvia Dean and Ashley Moss talk about their past and coming to Concordia
JEFFREY MUNTU STAFF WRITER Ashley Moss calls Marvia Dean on the phone. “Where you at? The interview thing was at like 4:30. They’re waiting for you to come.” A few minutes later, Dean arrives, and sits next to Moss at a table in the Ed Meagher Arena. Moss and Dean, rookies on the Concordia Stingers women’s basketball team, are two of the most laid back people you’ll ever meet. Nothing seems to bother them too much. Unfortunately for Moss, she injured her left Achilles tendon and can’t play. Her chances of getting back on the court this year are close to impossible. As for Dean, she was a force to be reckoned with at the Concordia Classic tournament in October, earning the Most Valuable Player award. She’s gearing up for a season in which the Stingers have the potential to be a top team in their division. Dean and Moss’s relationship didn’t start at Concordia. In fact, it goes all the way back to their high school days in the Bahamas, where they used to play basketball against each other. “We’ve known each other since 2006,” Dean said. According to Dean, if there is one thing they really miss about their hometown, it’s the “famously” known S.S.S, which stands for sun, sand and sea. Despite being opponents in high school, they became teammates in college. Dean and Moss began their collegiate basketball careers in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) with the Holland College Hurricanes in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Fittingly for them, Charlottetown has strong ties to the Bahamian community, which made their integration that much easier. “My cousin was already with me, then we recruited Marvia,” Moss said. Moss explained that Charlottetown is
home to many Bahamian teenagers. Like Moss and Dean, most of them are being recruited by friends and family already attending the province’s colleges. During their two-year stint at Holland College, both players enjoyed success under head coach Mike Connolly. “We were back-to-back ACAA champions and went to the Nationals for two years straight,” Dean said. “The first year we won the bronze, and the second year we won the silver.” However, for both women, Charlottetown is not a place that holds any particular emotional attachment. They explained that Charlottetown felt more rural compared to Montreal, and there wasn’t much to do in the city. Despite the distance bet we e n Charlottetown and Montreal, it was still close enough for Stingers head coach Tenicha Gittens and her staff to track the girls down and offer them a spot with the Stingers. “She came and watched a lot of our games when we were playing in Holland. I guess she liked what she saw,” Dean said. “We then took a recruiting trip, and we liked what we saw on our end. We took our chances by coming here and we like it so far.” “Coach [Gittens] has made the transition easy for us,” Moss added. Plenty of offers from other universities to play basketball were on the table, but the Bahamian natives were adamant about “staying together as teammates.” From an academic perspective, both players are working towards careers in business. The goal of coming to Concordia was to succeed both academically and from an athletic standpoint. They are putting in as much effort off the court as on it. “I am in open academics but I’m looking to transfer into business school,” Dean said. As for Moss, she is already doing a business certificate. They hope to learn the basic principles of business, then decide which
Ashley Moss (top) will most likely sit out the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury. Marvia Dean (bottom) picked up an MVP award at the Concordia Classic in October. Photos by Ana Hernandez.
specific field they are going to pursue. Both women agreed that, after university, they would like to stay in Canada — but would probably leave Montreal. A city like Toronto is attractive to them, but that doesn’t mean Montreal is a city they don’t enjoy. Coming into their careers with the Concordia Stingers, both Moss and Dean are looking to work on their mindsets. “The game here is a lot quicker than back at Holland, so we’re just adjusting to everything right now,” Dean said. “We’re going one step at a time, improving on the little things like the effort we bring to every game.” As for their new teammates, Dean and
Moss can sense that they have joined a really diversified group, where people come from very different backgrounds. “For us right now, it’s a little bit different, because we speak a different language so not everyone understands us,” Dean said. “You know, we have to slow it down before we get there.” “We’re animated enough,” Moss added. Both players are excited to get in their first regular season game with the Stingers, even though Moss might have to wait until next season. The team plays their first game against the Bishop’s Gaiters at home on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
theconcordian
Football wide receiver Vincent Alessandrini talks about leaving McGill to join Concordia
Alessandrini currently leads the Stingers in receptions and receiving yards. Photo by Ana Hernandez. BRANDON SHARE-COHEN STAFF WRITER
practice was not the ideal for me—after practice, I’m drained and just want to eat and go to bed.” Despite this being his first season with The transition to Concordia was easy the Concordia Stingers , V incent for Alessandrini. The Stingers organization Alessandrini has been one of the most was welcoming, and the decision was an exciting players to watch on the men’s easy one, he said. football team this year. The 20-year“I felt right at home [at Concordia],” old Stingers wide receiver currently leads Alessandrini said. “They welcomed me the team, with 49 receptions and 504 with open arms. It was hard choosing yards. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound receiver McGill over Concordia because I really also ranks fourth in the nation and first liked the coaching staff at Concordia. I in the Réseau du sports étudiant du just wanted to make sure I had a good life Québec (RSEQ) in receptions. after football. [Eventually], I realized that Yet, football wasn’t Alessandrini’s first it’s still a degree, whether it’s from McGill choice sport. He pursued soccer from or Concordia.” an early age. In cinematic fashion, the Stingers “Initially, I transitioned first game of the season to football because I was was against the McGill getting pretty mad about Redmen. Not only was the fact that I couldn’t Alessandrini playing against hit anybody in soccer,” the team he was previously said Alessandrini, who slated to play for, he was played double-A soccer set to play in Percival from the ages of 10 to Molson Stadium in front of 14. “I was really getting a crowd that would have frustrated—the higher been cheering for him. you go in soccer, the Alessandrini didn’t let that more competitive it is get to him—in fact, he let and it just wasn’t my it fuel him to a nine-catch, thing anymore.” 109-yard game, along with After signing up to play a touchdown. football, the difficulties “I had a lot of drive of playing t wo spor ts going into that first game,” Alessandrini originally committed to McGill, but decided to join Concordia simultaneously became Alessandrini said. ”It was my before the season started. Photo by Brianna Thicke. apparent. first U Sports game and I was “ T h e re we re t i m e s up against a school where when I was changing in my dad’s car after wasn’t his first choice. Prior to committing I was supposed to go. I was very happy a soccer game on the way to a football to play for Concordia, Alessandrini attended with my performance, and I couldn’t ask game,” Alessandrini said. “Obviously, McGill University. for a better first performance in U Sports.” we couldn’t do that forever and I had to Alessandrini said he is playing with a “My first language is French. I talk choose one sport, so I chose football.” French at home with my mom, but I just football team that he feels at home with. Looking at Alessandrini success as wasn’t comfortable studying in French,” Understanding the importance of a support receiver, it’s hard to imagine him playing Alessandrini said. “McGill and Concordia group, Alessandrini’s academic plans any other position. However, Alessandrini were my only options, and I figured if I reflect a student looking to give back got his first taste of football in a different was going to get a degree, I might as well once it’s all said and done. position. “I enjoy Concordia. I get a lot of acaget the word ‘McGill’ written across it.” He started off as defensive back and With time, however, the pull of the demic support here and I couldn’t ask for then switched over to linebacker in high Stingers organization was too strong. anything better,” Alessandrini said. “It’s school because, as Alessandrini described, “After two or three weeks when I going really well and I’m very happy. I’m he was faster than the other guys on was there, I felt really out of place,” said studying human relations and I want to defence. In his senior year, Alessandrini Alessandrini. “[McGill] wanted me to eventually become a counselor, potentially asked his coach if could play as a receiver start in night school. Going to class after coach a high school football team.” because he felt like his physique was better suited for that position. For Alessandrini, playing receiver for only one season before joining the Vanier College team wasn’t the easiest transition. “I felt like I hit a wall in college, having only one year of experience at the position,” Alessandrini said. ”I sat out my first year [due to injury]. I was really just observing [the receivers] to see how they play and how they get off the line. In my second year, I got the hang of it and worked really hard in the offseasons—I think that’s what paid off.” Alessandrini eventually found his way to the Concordia Stingers, but Concordia
PORT
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Finding a home with the Stingers
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PROFILE
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in the news BY ALEXANDER COLE ORS WIN TORONTO RAPT HOME-OPENER
The Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), won their season-opener at home on Oct. 26 against the Detroit Pistons, according to The Toronto Star. The final score was 109-91 and saw Raptors star Demar DeRozan put up 40 points. DeRozan’s night was the best opening game performance by a Raptors player in team history. According to The Toronto Star, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said DeRozan did a great job at taking advantage of the opportunities he was given in the game. Raptors center, Jonas Valanciunas, also had a good game, scoring 31 points and put up 10 rebounds. Casey was happy with the team’s performance, despite some lackluster playing from Raptors star Kyle Lowry. AFTER ARRESTS MADE SOCCER GAME
An English Football League Cup match, between Chelsea and West Ham United, turned violent on Oct. 26 when fans began fighting with each other, according to Sky Sports. The m atch wa s h e ld at Lo n d o n Stadium and saw fans throwing projectiles at each other, before breaking through security and getting into fist fights. The alterc ation happened near the end of the match, and was eventually broken up by police in riot gear, according to Sky Spor t s . Police made seven arrests in connection with the f ights. Off icials from West Ham United said they would ban any fan who was involved in the incident from attending future games. The Football A ssociation (FA ) is looking into the incident to see if it will bring forth any charges. PES TO ALDON SMITH HO RETURN TO NFL
According to nfl.com, Oakland Raiders linebacker, Aldon Smith, has applied to be reinstated into the NFL after violating the league’s Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Smith’s suspension ends on Nov. 17, which means there is a chance he could come back to the Raiders this season, pending a positive meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Raiders general manager, Reggie McKenzie, told The San Francisco Chronicle that the decision to reinstate Smith is totally up to Goodell, however, he feels Smith is doing well. Smith, who joined the Raiders last season, has had three DUIs during his career and admitted himself to a treatment centre in July.
opinions OPINIONS EDITOR /// opinions@theconcordian.com DAVID EASEY
EDITORIAL
Concordia is going after international students
Future international students face financial hurdles. Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.
The news spread like wildfire on social media after the CSU shared a statement on a variety of Facebook groups and platforms. The statement detailed how the university’s administration has been looking to increase tuition costs for international students for the last three years. The CSU believes a proposal is expected to be approved by the board of governors on Dec. 14, meaning the increase would be implemented starting in the fall 2017 semester. We were in shock here at The Concordian, as international students already pay way
more than Quebec residents. Many of these students rack up a huge amount of debt whilst studying in our bustling metropolis, or are forced to look for some sort of employment to ease the financial burden. It can be especially difficult for non-francophone students to get jobs in Montreal. We think this proposed tuition hike is downright shady. It feels like Concordia is finding new ways to extort money from the student population, like capitalist vampires on a bloodthirsty hunt for fresh meat. According to the CSU’s website, international students currently make up approximately 17 per cent
of Concordia’s student body, and they are the source of 25 per cent of the university’s tuition-based revenue—this was revealed during the university’s September 2016 budget meeting. At the meeting, it was also stated “Concordia is looking to increase the ratio of international students in order to generate additional revenue from tuition,” according to the CSU. The fact that this proposal has been in the works for the past three years is also quite troublesome, especially given the fact that it’s only being brought to our attention now. How many other secret projects are in the works that’ll impact our student population? We would like to think Concordia values its international students and what they bring to our university, but the current circumstance seems to suggest they value money more than good education. As of yet, the university won’t allow CSU representatives to see the proposal, meaning we—the students—won’t be able to get the concrete details. “[The proposal] has yet to be presented to the Finance Committee of the Board of Governors. That will only open happen late next month. We have to respect our governance process so the proposal won’t be shared with anyone until it goes through the required,” said Concordia spokesperson
Chris Mota. We understand the protocol in this situation, but we believe the university should be more transparent and divulge the true details of this proposal, so the student body can be fully informed before anything is approved. This isn’t the first time international students have been screwed over either. Rewind to 2012, when the media reported widely on the fact that many Chinese international students were being ripped off. CBC News reported Concordia hired a third party recruiter to attract Chinese students to the university, yet the recruiter overstepped his role and essentially took their money and set them up in housing accommodations. When the students arrived, many of them were crammed into tiny rooms and were not even fed properly, according to the same report. Many students lost a lot of money and were afraid to speak out because they weren’t aware of their rights and feared deportation. The university’s main focus should be on providing an opportunity for students—from Quebec and abroad—to get a decent education and acquire the skills and expertise they need to work in an international job market. How can Concordia build its reputation abroad if the administration is constantly trying to suckle every penny out of these poor students?
BIZARRE NEWS
Creepy clown craze: a global trend
An alarming and dangerous new mania is about to spread to our beloved metropolis REBECCA LUGER COPY EDITOR I had to do a double-take when I first heard about this whole “clown craze” that’s been buzzing around the Internet. I was in disbelief. While clowns may be seen as fun circus people or entertainment for a child’s birthday party, they also have a reputation among many as being really creepy and the stuff of nightmares. According to the BBC, the incidents started in August with reports of clowns trying to lure kids into forests in South Carolina. This is absolutely chilling. Imagine being a young kid playing in the park and a clown tries to get you to follow them into the woods. That sounds like the beginning of a horror movie. Since then, there have been numerous sightings around the U.S. of people dressed as clowns, skulking around. Most mind their own business, but others have approached people, while holding weapons like baseball bats and machetes. Interestingly, this has sparked comments from the clown community—professional clowns, many of whom view their work as
an art form. Understandably, these professional clowns are taking offence to this whole ordeal, according to the BBC. They believe their reputation and the reputation of clowns overall is at risk. I won’t lie, I found this slightly amusing. I’ve never gave much thought to how seriously clowns take their work. Yet keeping that in mind, I completely understand their frustration. Besides the overall creepiness of this
trend, I do have legitimate concerns. First, that this is becoming a trend here in Montreal. No thank you. Please stay away. Secondly, that there is an underlying danger. I understand that this, for the most part, is a joke. Probably teenagers and young adults dressing up to give people a scare and to get a few laughs. I recently watched a YouTube video called Parents react to creepy clown sightings compilation,
where parents watch videos of clown sightings. Their reactions to the videos were mixed, but their concerns were similar. Some laughed at the silliness of it all, and others weren’t amused—but they all worry about their kids. There is genuine concern for safety, as we cannot know which clowns are joking and which mean to cause harm. This, to me, is the worst part. I’m all for a good laugh. In fact, if I weren't so creeped out by clowns to begin with, I would be laughing hysterically. But the fact that people could be in danger, makes the situation less humorous. In late September in Ohio, a woman was attacked by a man dressed as a clown when he grabbed her around her neck and threatened to kill her. In another incident in Tennessee, two men dressed as clowns, one holding explosives, walked into a bank and stole money. Both incidents were reported by USA Today. Indeed, stranger danger has reached new heights. Stranger Danger: Clown Edition, we hope, is not here to stay. Sounds like it'd be a fantastic Criminal Minds episode though. Artwork by Donnie Nunley.
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
theconcordian
17
US POLITICS
Why I think America Needs Hillary Clinton
Exploring the possibility of electing Mrs. Clinton in the upcoming US election
Graphic by by Donkey Hotey.
LÉANDRE LAROUCHE STAFF WRITER While I was watching the third and final presidential debate in a downtown Montreal bar, one of my friends texted me: “Who’s winning?” I responded that the ultimate winner was cynicism. Although I am not enthusiastic about the Democratic nominee, I believe America needs to elect Hillary Clinton. Most Canadians care about American politics as much as they care about their own. “Geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners, necessity has made us allies,” John F. Kennedy once said in a speech. It seems, this year more than ever, as election day closes in, many Canadians are most interested in knowing how this reality TV-like campaign will end. The two candidates’ personalities and past actions have undeniably stolen the show away from party policies. It is evident to me that we need to think of nominees as leaders of their own movement before leaders of their party's. In fact, many Republican members of Congress have said they will vote against their nominee, Donald Trump, according to a report published by the American news outlet, The Daily Beast. For the last month or so, we’ve been preoccupied with the three presidential debates. Although it allows candidates to expand on their values and ideas, I believe its main purpose is to reveal their demeanours their attitudes toward opposition. From this perspective, Trump proved to be downright unfit to be president. His condescending tone, his odious claims and his constant attempts to interrupt both his rival and the mediator spoke volumes about the kind of leader he would be. The question I always ask myself when analyzing political ideas is fairly straightforward: does the candidate, or the party, advocate for equal treatment of every individual? Trump, for instance, claims that America needs his kind of thinking, which allowed him to turn the money inherited
from his father into an enterprise worth billions of dollars. Reaganomics—economic policies introduced by President Ronald Reagan—proved marginal tax reductions to be successful for improving the middle-class quality of life. However, I don’t believe that being lenient with corporations and the wealthiest citizens, banking on them to make it rain on the middle-class, is the right thing to do for a fairer country. Trump is offering a short-term solution, whereas Clinton aims to attack the loopholes in the corporate tax system and to implement regulations that ensure multi-billionaires pay not only a reasonable share, but also fair surcharges. Given that some corporations and individuals make more money than they spend, while some other are unable to live a decent life, there’s no way to make America a better place if there is no will to ease the greed. Although Clinton is only a mild progressive, she appeals to me because Bernie Sanders’s ghost constantly follows her. The former Democratic candidate said in a video interview for NowThisNews, that he believes in about 80 per cent of Clinton’s platform. He encourages everyone who took part in his movement to stand up and ensure Clinton realizes this 80 per cent of the platform. I’m confident Sanders’ supporters won’t give up their cause.
Personal attacks between the two candidates have gotten slightly out of hand lately. Both of them have been involved in multiple scandals, and I honestly don’t know what to think of it anymore. I do not hold either of them in such high regards for that matter, though I’m aware there is wild manipulations from both parties’ establishments. To be frank though, if I were American, I would rather have a president who does “politics as usual” and hides things from the population than a president who’s a complete misogynist. We tend to forget that there’s a large structure behind the president who, although it is theoretical, will ensure the transparency of a possible Clinton government. Because the president is America’s face, I worry more about Trump’s perpetuation of rape culture than Clinton’s little secrets. My position pro-Clinton ultimately lies in her apparent perception of the American Way and the American Dream. Unlike Trump, who believes in equal opportunities for everyone to stomp on their fellows to get rich, Clinton claims she’ll advocate for equal opportunities for everyone to live a decent life, no matter where you come from. My trust in her has, of course, diminished, especially the since the Clinton Foundation donations, which question her ethic. Yet,
I can’t not support her, given that Trump goes against everything I stand for in terms of fairness. Moreover, The Democratic Party Platform plans to fight for women’s, LGBT and disabled people’s rights. Republicans have this frustrating propensity to want to impose their beliefs on everyone, especially when it comes to LGBT and abortion rights. Donald Trump has not held a consistent discourse regarding his views on same-sex marriage, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Also, “he later said he would appoint Supreme Court judges who would be committed to overturning the ruling.” In fact, I suspect Trump of saying so merely to appeal to the Republican voters. From this perspective, it would be no accident that he chose Mike Pence for Vice President running mate. Pence “has been an outspoken opponent of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens,” according to a report from the Washington Post. Hillary Clinton is far from being an ideal candidate. But given the other option, I do think she needs to be the next president of the United States. As I consider the polarization of voters that will lead to an inevitable dissatisfaction, I hope to see a government will be concerned with economic fairness and social justice. Photo by Gage Skidmore.
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theconcordian
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
US POLITICS
Donald J. Trump is my personal choice A look into the Republican candidate’s policies ahead of next week's election
Graphic by Donkey Hotey.
KATERINA GANG COPY EDITOR Bill Clinton’s job approval rating reached 73 per cent, his highest recorded, after his infamous sex scandals and impeachment. Clearly this, and numerous unconfirmed sexual assaults, have not stopped him from being beloved for his policies. Policy is what matters in an election, not whether or not candidates are good people. Neither candidate is a good person, so from here we must discern whose policy is better. The clear answer is Trump’s. Trump is the peace candidate. People claim he’s divisive and dangerous, but Clinton’s policies have politicians fearing World War III. And no, I am not being hyperbolic. Clinton doubled down during the third debate on her plans to enact a no-fly zone over Syria and establish safe zones for Syrians. According to The Guardian, many military personnel feel this would likely lead to an air occupation and open conflict with the Russians, who were invited into Syria by President Bashar al-Assad. Some believe it could lead to nuclear war. Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader at the end of Cold War, said the situation has “reached a dangerous point.” After the Kremlin stated it would shoot down Western aircrafts, Gorbachev told the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti: “We need to renew dialogue. Stopping it was the biggest mistake." Trump sees Russia as the powerful nation it is. He has repeated throughout the debates that he wants to sit down and negotiate with Russia and come to a dip-
lomatic solution. “It’s actually Hillary’s policies which are much scarier than Donald Trump’s, who does not want to go to war with Russia,” said U.S. Green Party candidate Jill Stein during an interview with the American television network, C-SPAN. “He wants to seek modes of working together, which is the route we need to follow.” Such radically interventionist policies make Clinton a rehash of neoconservatives like George W. Bush. Trump’s outlook on interventionism, outlined in his book “Crippled America,” advocates helping out only if countries can reimburse the U.S. This should be music to people’s ears. Trump is also pro-ethics and transparency. In an Oct. 18 press release, he promised a constitutional amendment imposing congressional term limits, banning executive officials and members of Congress lobbying for five years, expanding the definition of “lobbyist,” banning former executive officials from lobbying for foreign governments and banning foreign lobbyists from interfering in American elections. Clinton's ethical stances simply do not stack up. Although Clinton has said she wishes to expand the definition of “lobbyist” and has historically supported a two-year ban on former government servants taking jobs at companies they oversaw, her relationship with lobbyists is far more concerning than Trump’s. The Washington Post reported that Clinton’s campaign has received $7 million in donations from federally registered lobbyists, while Trump’s campaign has received no such money. Lobbyists raised an additional $2 million for the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee with the DNC. WikiLeaks revealed that Clinton participated in the unethical campaign financing that Trump wishes to
ban. Clinton advisors took contributions of questionable legality from foreign lobbyists registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, according to The Daily Caller. Her campaign accepted such donations based on donors’ relationships with the State Department during Clinton’s tenure there. Her campaign may have used American lobbyists to launder this money, according to WikiLeaks. Campaign staff admitted in the leaked WikiLeaks emails that donors have pushed policy change onto Clinton. That should be terrifying—she can be bought. Trump, however, is not beholden to the same expectations from lobbyists. Clinton is corrupt. WikiLeaks showed she took money in exchange for favours from both Morocco and Qatar, using the Clinton Foundation, while she was Secretary of State. These countries have awful human rights records, as both jail homosexuals and allow marital rape, according to Human Rights Watch. This shows she cannot be trusted to put American interests before hers or foreigner leaders’. While we cannot verify the full authenticity of the WikiLeaks leaks, they raise disturbing questions regarding Clinton's ethics. Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policies, while viewed as promoting inequality, put Americans first. Clinton’s policy, to deport only violent illegal immigrants, would be completely unfair to Americans who’ve attained citizenship legally. The American Immigration Center explained that, while wait times for citizenship vary, a person moving to the U.S. can wait upwards of six years before being granted citizenship. There would be few incentives to obey immigration law in Clinton’s America. The Center for Immigration Studies found
that over 2.5 million people entered the U.S. illegally since President Obama took office—an average of about 350,000 per year. Amnesty can only make this number go up. Protecting your citizens, laws and sovereignty is not racism. Trump’s immigration plan would also benefit current American citizens. The Federal Reserve found youth decline in employment is linked to unskilled, immigrant labour. Trump plans to create a resumé bank for inner-city youth to help replace jobs made available by the removal of illegal immigrants and the elimination of the J-1 visa program. Trump claims this would greatly help Americans in disenfranchised communities, including many predominantly black communities. Many accuse Trump of misogyny. While he has said things others deem offensive, it is also worth noting he is campaigning for paid maternity leave. Trump has been accused of being out for the rich, but has proposed a huge tax break on lower-income families, allowing families with a combined income of up to $50,000 to pay no taxes. Clinton is not the moral candidate. Those siding with her for moral reasons forget she flip-flops on progressivism. Clinton was an opponent of gay marriage until 2013, according to PolitiFact. Some leaked Podesta e-mails imply she still privately holds this view. Both candidates have scandals, from “locker room talk” to illegal e-mail servers, and neither of these candidates are clean choices. But Clinton’s corrupt, war-hungry policies make it is clear that Donald J. Trump is the candidate to elect. His pro-American policies will Make America Great Again. Photo by Michael Vadon.
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NOVEMBER 1, 2016
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Concordia University’s weekly, independent student newspaper VOL. 34, ISSUE 10 NOV. 1, 2016 OUR COVER THIS WEEK
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“Elizabeth Chernichenko” Photo by Cristina Sanza.
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