The Concordian Vol. 31 Issue 14

theconcordian Volume 31 Issue 14

Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.

November 26, 2013

Safety is a right —

Take back the night!

Marching for a woman’s right to go unmolested — Page 3

Photo by Jocelyn Beaudet

In this issue // life arts

music

sports

opinions

Male genitals on lockdown! p. 5

M for Mtl in review p.9

1 win 1 loss for Stingers p.12

Organs from prison? p. 14

Dearest action films p. 7

We tell your stories. Follow us on Twitter: @TheConcordian

theconcordian.com

news 2

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Tuesday, november 26, 2013

Write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com

CITY Kelly Duval and Sloane Montgomery Co-news editors

>> NDG murder Twenty-three-year-old Michael Gero has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing his 19-year-old girlfriend, Sherri Thomas, on Nov. 19. The CBC reported that Montreal police found Thomas in her NotreDame-de-Grâce apartment with serious head and upper body injuries. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Gero, who has a criminal record for possession of weapons, drugs, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit murder, was arrested at the scene.

>> Wrongly accused of abuse A number of parents claim they were unjustly accused of abuse from doctors at the Sainte-Justine Hospital, as reported by the CBC. The hospital notified youth protection services after one of its doctors, Alain Sirard, saw a four-month-old with a broken arm. Sirard theorized she was suffering from shaken baby syndrome. However, she was later diagnosed with brittle bone disease. The girl’s father said, “I’m Italian. So he mentioned to me that normally all Italians slap their children. It’s a total lack of ethics on the part of the doctor.”

>>

Taxi driver murdered

The Montreal Gazette reported on Nov. 22 that Michel Duschaussoy has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Ziad Bouzid, a Montreal cab driver. The murder took place in Côte-des-Neiges, Wednesday Nov. 20, early in the morning. The 42-year-old culprit was found in the South Shore the following evening after a manhunt that involved the Montreal SWAT team. So far, there is little to no information regarding a motive. Commander Patrice Carrier of the major-crimes squad said, “We don’t have any information of any type of mental disorder,” when it comes to Duschaussoy.

CFS // news

Quebec students want to defederate

Students across the country manifest against CFS for not letting them go Paula Monroy Staff writer

“Let our school defederate!” chanted more than 60 students outside of Best Western Plus Hotel in Gatineau, Quebec, where the Canadian Federation of Students’ (CFS) 32nd National General Meeting was taking place, on Saturday afternoon.

Students from member schools across the country attend the meeting every year to lobby and discuss the current campaigns of the organization. This time, however, Quebec students stood in protest against the CFS for not letting them discontinue their membership and for the negative attitude taken towards them.

McGill University’s Post-Graduate Students Society (PGSS) organized the demonstration with the participation of Concordia Student Union (CSU) leaders, Dawson College and fellow McGill students.

Representatives from the University of British Columbia-Okanagan and the University of Toronto were also in attendance.

Six police cars surrounded the protest, and six police officers patrolled the area, one of them was directing traffic circulation. Protesters were prohibited on hotel property.

“I don’t want to pay my student fees to an organization that’s going to use those student fees in court

battles against other student associations,” said PGSS Secretary General, Jonathan Mooney.

About 15 schools from across Canada have requested to cease their CFS membership since 2009. The CFS, however, has not recognized their petitions although student unions followed the process dictated in the bylaws of its constitution. Instead, the organization is suing most of these unions, claiming ‘uncollected and/or unremitted membership fees’ under the Acknowledgement of Debt Agreement.

The CSU and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) opted to withdraw from the CFS in the fall of 2009, along with 10 other voting members from Quebec and other provinces, including the Dawson Student Union (DSU) and the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA).

According to the CSU Motion to Institute Proceedings document signed in 2011 to counteract the CFS lawsuit for more than $1 million in supposed unpaid fees, the CFS changed “amendment of Article 6 b. iii. of BYLAW I,” in 2009, thus referendums are now limited to two per year.

In addition, the signatures required for each referendum increased to 20 per cent, instead of the previous 10 per cent. And 60 months became the “minimum period between referendums” and “to join the

CFS” rather than 24 months.

“They are basically making it impossible to leave,” said Mooney.

The amendment was invalidly adopted, for it missed two votes in favour to meet with the 46 votes required by its own constitution.

Mooney states that members are opting out because the CFS has not proven to be effective in representing them. For example the organization played no significant role in the student movement against tuition hikes in 2012. He also pointed that it is because the CFS lacks “transparency and accountability.”

In fact, there have been reported cases by Laurentian University and University of Toronto graduate students that their petitions sent by registered mail asking to initiate process to leave were never picked up and consequently returned.

During the protest, students participating in the meeting who joined the protest claimed that they had been verbally harassed and intimidated by staff members for not agreeing with CFS procedures.

“There goes the fat fuck again,” Mark Stewart, senior stick of Manitoba University Faculty of Arts, said he was called by someone in the hotel. He added that long-time CFS staffer, Lucy Watson, “insinuated I was an arsonist.”

“People are being told in meet-

ings…that information on the [CFS] budget is...none of their business… this is the internal culture for this meeting and has been for a long time,” Brad Evoy, External Commissioner of the Graduate Student Union of University of Toronto (GSU), said in a speech.

“We spent $180,000 on the CSF and they deliver us zero dollars in profit,” said UBCO internal co-ordinator, Sharman McLean, adding that membership of his school was “grandfathered” from the Okanagan University before it was purchased by UBC. “We came here last year, trying to reform the CFS, now we just want out of it,” he continued, “we were attacked verbally and, actually, this time we’ve been threatened physically”.

The Concordian approached Lucy Watson for an interview while she stood outside the hotel main entrance, but she declined saying she wasn’t authorized to give any comments, and that “media [was] not allowed in the hotel.” Students there also declined to be interviewed.

Flyers distributed early in the morning under members’ hotel room doors said that “right-wing” students were plotting to discredit the CFS. Stewart brought his for demonstrators to see.

At 12:14pm the protest concluded.

Campus // news

Concordia-Votes-YES to sustainability All 12 councilor spots filled, all referendum questions pass with majority in favour Sloane Montgomery Co-news editor

The outcome of the November CSU byelections had one of the best voting turnouts in Concordia history and resulted in the gain of 12 new councilors and all referendum questions passing with a high volume votes in favour.

The Arts and Science Federation (ASFA) had the highest voter turn out with 440 student voters. As the largest student organization, ASFA had nine students competing for just four spots.

Gabriel Velasco got 170 ‘yes’ votes for his campaign promise which stated; “A vote for me, will insure a fresh, uncompromisingly progressive voice on campus.”

“I’m very excited to have been elected. It’s also great to see both the CFC fee levy and Java U questions pass. There is a lot of work to get done,”said Charles Bourassa, a West-

ern society & culture major.

Bourassa also explained that he would soon be meeting with the organizers of the Concordia Students for Silent Blue Zones group within the next couple of weeks. Bourassa thinks a silent study zone for students should be more seriously provided.

Also elected as ASFA councillors are Patricia Martone a psychology major and Justin Caruso a human relations major.

John Molson School of Business had 160 student voters turn out. Eight students ran for five spots and those councillor spots have been filled with Maylen Cytryn, a management major who is also currently the chairperson for Commerce and Administration Students’ Association (CASA); Michael Richardson, currently the VP external affairs for CASA; Virginia Law, finance major; Kabir Bindra, a management major ; and Ahmed Mustafa, a finance major. Bindra and Mustafa had a tie vote, each receiving 52 votes.

The Engineering and Computer Science faculty had a turnout of 81 voters, there were three candidates running to fill three spots. Ahmad Choukair, from electrical engineering, Alaa Ajam from building engineering and Kyle Arseneau also majoring in building engineering.

Students were tense regarding the referendum questions. Unsure of how the effects the opposing “ConcordiaVote-No” campaign and its website had caused. While the opposing points were valid and found to be ‘legal’, the high volume ‘yes’ votes for all Community Food Coalition (CFC) referendum questions shows that Concordia students most definitely want more sustainable, student run food options on campus.

The CFC fee levy increase passed with 605 votes for and 145 votes against. The question regarding the Java U space to be taken over by a student run co-operative passed with 542 votes for it and 82 against it.

“Students have given the university community a clear message: they want the university to completely rethink its food-system, and they are willing to help pay for this transition over the long-term,” said CSU VP sustainability, Benjamin Prunty.

For further information on the outcome of the CSU byelections students should visit csuelections.wordpress.com.

Tuesday, november 26, 2013

Jocelyn Beaudet Staff writer

The streets of Montreal were rocked on Friday night as hundreds marched through, calling for an end to gendered violence and discrimination.

Take Back the Night is a global organization that seeks to expose the issues of violence against gendered minorities. Internationally known, the march has been an annual event in Montreal. This year’s march, on Nov. 23, was organized by the Centre for Gender Advocacy’s A Safer Concordia campaign.

“We are marching for a safer community, free of harassment, sexual abuse, and assaults,” wrote the Centre for Gender Advocacy on their website. “We are reclaiming our right to be free of violence and to walk without fear, any time of day or night.”

After a passionate speech on the values of consent by MirhaSoleil Ross, a Montreal transsexual videographer, performer and sex worker, the droves of participants walked from Bethune Square and made their way down Ste-Catherine Street towards the McGill campus. Men, women and children carried their signs under the pouring rain, shouting “Take back

the night.” Julie Michaud, the Center for Gender Advocacy’s administrative co-ordinator, was at the front with a megaphone in hand.

“We want to feel safe in our streets,” said Julia Nadeau, speaking for A Safer Concordia. Discrimination against minorities, whether against women, or disabled and transgendered people, is a widespread issue plaguing Montreal and has been a longstanding problem in the Western world. As stated on the Take Back the Night website, “at least one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime by a partner, relative, friend, stranger, employer, and/or colleague,” while fewer than 50 per cent of these crimes are reported to the police.

Gendered violence is not limited solely to physical abuse; psychological violence is common, and the widespread fear of walking alone late at night is among the issues that organizations like the Centre for Gender Advocacy are trying to bring to light.

The march was not as big of a success as it was in prior years, though. According to Michaud, the heavy rain heavily affected the attendance for the walk.

“I’ve been told we’re about 175 people,” she said.

Despite the smaller numbers, there were many passersby taking pictures, cheering, and choosing to participate in the march, adding to its momentum.

The event came to a close in-

>> Migrant workers win court appeal

Annual Take Back the Night march. Photo by Jocelyn Beaudet.

side McGill’s campus due to the rain, with hot chocolate being passed around. A room was shared by those who had decided to stick around for the remainder of the night, and each guest speaker was readily available to answer questions and further inform those present.

Since Take Back the Night’s

first documented event in 1975, the organization has continued to raise awareness on gendered violence.

The annual marches have become internationally known as a way to speak out against such issues.

More information on Take Back the Night can be found at takebackthenight.org and genderadvocacy.org

Enactus Concordia supports EcoYouth project

Aiming to teach children and adolescents about sustainable food and nutrition

For the second year in a row, as part of the EcoYouth project, members of Concordia’s student organization Enactus are working to make a difference by providing children with the knowledge and skills to grow and cook their own food.

EcoYouth is a project started by William Atsaidis, a third year Marketing student at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business. The aim of EcoYouth is to provide elementary school children with the opportunity to learn how to garden and the importance of eating right. Currently the group operates out of the Concordia greenhouse where they supply the children with the knowledge and skills to care for the plants.

The project works in partnership with Innovation Youth, a local youth center. Children from the youth center come three times a week to the Concordia greenhouse located on the 13th floor of the Hall building, to fulfill their commitment to an Urban Agriculture program. The students aged 9-10 work hand in hand with volunteers to learn about the basics

of gardening and nutrition. In addition to gardening, the students learn to cook with what they grow. The proceeds of their cooking goes to supply a homeless center at the St. James drop in center.

Over the past year the organization has taught over 30 adolescent volunteers how to maintain and run an outdoor garden. Throughout their work they have managed to enrich the curriculum of the youth center. Additionally, they have provided the youths with the tools to encourage self-development for sustainable food.

According to Jenna Smith, the director of Innovation Youth, the program has provided the organization with access to green space, something difficult to find in the downtown core.

“We’ve diagnosed a need that’s been there for years and now were actually doing something about it.”

This year EcoYouth is looking to expand their presence in the community. The organization currently relies solely on its one location at Concordia’s greenhouse at the Sir George William campus. However, they envision creating a second location with their own greenhouse.

According the Atsaidis, the orga-

NATION Paula Monroy Staff writer

Environment // NEWS

Adrian Mahon Staff writer

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Protest // news

Marching to take back the night Participants speak out against gendered violence

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nization is seeking to expand their operations outside of the downtown core. The group is seeking to find a new youth center to partner with in order to expand operations. Currently Enactus Concordia is responsible for providing the funding and resources for the project. Due to the success of the current program they believe that it will be possible to create a second location by the end of the year.

Enactus is an international stu-

dent run non-profit organization with 1,600 chapters at different universities around the world. The organization strives to create community-oriented projects designed to emphasize environmental and social responsibility. This past year, Enactus Concordia won the Forces Avenir, “Le project par excellence au Quebec” award for 2013.

For information on ways to help, please contact William Atsaidis at watsaidis@enactusconcordia.com.

Enactus supports a program created to teach youth about sustainability.

The Star reported that in Ontario, 102 migrant workers who have been members of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SWAP) since 1996 will have new hearings for their employment insurance parental benefits claims, which were rejected in 2008 for being submitted late and not providing good reasons. In 2012, however, workers took the case to the Federal Court of Appeal to attest. The court called the Office of the Umpire’s decision an “error in law” considering language, time, and social barriers valid justifications for the workers’ backdated claims. The dates of the new hearings have yet to be scheduled.

>> More pipelines on the agenda

According to CBC, Canada is currently the third country in the world with the largest amount of fossil fuel reserves with gas production projected to increase 25 per cent, and crude oil 75 per cent by 2035 with 5.8 million barrels a day. According to a National Energy Board (NEB) report, such growth will translate to a 28 per cent rise of market demand, requiring more pipeline infrastructures.

Environmental measures and new regulation policies were not mentioned, however, NEB chair, Gaétan Caron, stated that Canada has “more than enough” energy resources to stimulate the economy.

>> B.c. Woman

found not guilty

The National Post reported Mumtaz Ladha, a 60-year-old woman from British Columbia, was found not guilty by the provincial Supreme Court of Justice last week due to incredulous evidence. Facing allegations of enslaving a 21-year-old woman she had illegally brought from Tanzania in 2008, under the promise to work as her “travelling companion,” Ladha was accused of forcing the young woman to work as her servant without salary for 18 hours a day in her West Vancouver mansion to repay “the cost of bringing her to Canada.” The court considered the complainant’s claims were unfair, and that Ladha had, in fact, been generous.

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theconcordian

Tuesday, november 26, 2013

WORLD Timothy Weynerowski Staff writer

ConU receives $2.8 million in research grants Two professors awarded for outstanding research conducted in their fields Timothy Weynerowski Staff writer

>> Costco labels Bible as fiction

According to CBC, on Nov. 16, Pastor Caleb Kaltenbach of Simi Valley, California was shopping at Costco when he noticed that the Bibles in the book section were labelled as fiction. Kaltenbach’s photo, posted to Twitter, went viral and sparked controversy within Kaltenbach’s parish and on social media. Costco issued an apology on Nov. 20, stating their distributor mislabeled a small percentage of Bibles and they are relabeling them.

>> Obama to achieve goals thanks to filibuster The U.S. Senate voted to lower barriers for presidential nominations on Nov. 21, which should make it easier for President Barack Obama to accomplish key second-term priorities such as tougher measures on climate change and financial regulation. According the Washington Post, “The move to allow a simple majority vote on most executive and judicial nominees also sets the stage for Obama to appoint new top officials to the Federal Reserve and other key agencies.”

>> Teens arrested for kissing

The arrests of two Moroccan teenagers who uploaded a photo to Facebook of themselves kissing outside their school has sparked a massive, ongoing debate about personal freedoms in the still-conservative Muslim nation. The CBC reports that police arrested the 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy on Oct. 3 for “violating public decency.” A 16year-old friend who took the photo was also arrested. This prompted online hacktivist group Anonymous and social media around the world to rally behind them in support.

>> Oxford names ‘selfie’ word of the year Oxford Dictionaries has named ‘selfie’ the international word of the year, CBC reported. According to Oxford, the term was first used in 2002 and has increased 17,000 per cent since last year, a strong reason leading to their decision to make it the word of the year.

While the word selfie is not in the Oxford English Dictionary itself, (although it may be added in the future), it does appear on the online version.

Campus // news

On Nov. 14, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Greg Rickford, announced that Concordia professors Christian Moreau and Malcolm Whiteway would be awarded Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs (CRC), representing $2.8 million in funding for research at Concordia.

“Our government remains committed to attracting and retaining the world’s best researchers, creating jobs and strengthening our economy,” said Rickford, as reported on Concordia University’s website.

The Tier 1 CRC’s Moreau and Whiteway were awarded are upheld for seven years and are renewable, according to the Canadian government’s website. They are granted to outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. For each Tier 1 Chair, the university receives $200,000 annually for seven years.

Moreau is a professor in Concordia’s department of mechanical and industrial engineering while Whiteway teaches in Concordia’s department of biology.

Moreau’s grant allocation will fund research on new coating and functional surface solutions that would improve energy efficiency in aerospace, automotive and other industrial applications.

“My research works on developing a new kind of coating that will

help improve engine fuel efficiency, decrease greenhouse gas emission and extend component life,” said Moreau in a Concordia news article.

Moreau is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology which covers the latest developments in research, presenting critically reviewed scientific papers and engineering articles.

As for Whiteway, the CRC will help him in his use of genomic tools to study Candida albicans; a medically important fungal pathogen.

According to the Concordia news article, “the naturally occurring fungus causes unpleasant oral and genital infections and can be a serious threat to people with compromised immune systems, such as patients with AIDS, or undergoing cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation.”

Whiteway explained bloodstream infections related to C. albicans are often fatal.

“My research will help lead to the development of a new generation of antifungal drugs that have limited side effects on the human host,” said Whiteway in the article.

Whiteway previously benefited from funding for research he directed at Concordia’s Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics in January 2013. According to a Merck Canada press release found on Whiteway’s “The Whiteway Lab” website, Merck, a leading pharmaceutical company, provided funds of $943,000.

In this press release, President Alan Shepard noted this funding is

Concordia professors receive funding for research at the university. an important recognition of the quality of work being done at the Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics.

According to Whiteway’s website, Concordia is able to support graduate students’ research with scholarships for their salaries.

“We have funding to support projects involving fungal signaling, genomic studies using a collection of conditional C. albicans mutations,

and on transcriptional regulation of cellular function,” he said.

Shepard expressed the importance of this funding as it recognizes the quality of work being done at the university.

“Thanks to the support of the Canada Research Chairs program, this new research will bring about forward-looking change in both the transport and medical sectors,” he said in the Concordia news article.

Politics // news

Student launches Liberal Party campaign Riding president of Pierrefonds-Dollard running to be the next Member of Parliament Kelly Duval Co-news editor

Concordia political science student, Jordan Gentile, launched his campaign on Nov. 20 to become the official candidate for Member of Parliament of the Pierrefonds-Dollard riding for the Liberal Party of Canada.

More than 50 people were in attendance at the launch. The goal was to enable members of the community to become better acquainted with Gentile. Gentile is the current riding president for the Federal Liberal Riding Association of Pierrefonds-Dollard.

“I was very happy with the result of the launch,” said Gentile. “The people who attended were both optimistic and encouraging and I had the opportunity to make some valuable contacts.”

As a Member of Parliament, Gentile would represent each person of the Pierrefonds-Dollard district. “[I’d] ensure that they have their collective voices heard,” said Gentile, who described this as the most important task. He wants to represent his riding in Ottawa rather than have

Ottawa represent them in the riding.

“The only way to properly represent your citizens is to know them,” said Gentile.

To ensure this, Gentile said he’d meet with them on a regular basis and spend all the time he could in his electoral district.

“A Member of Parliament does not just attend fundraisers or meetings, they need to bring policy from the riding level to the national level and I vow to do that from the first day I am elected,” he said.

Gentile explained his experience has been rewarding thus far with the support of his family and friends who have helped to get the campaign going.

Working as the riding president of Pierrefonds-Dollard for the past two years, Gentile said he realized the people in his riding deserve better.

“I truly believe that I possess all of the qualities to represent PierrefondsDollard to the level they deserve,” said Gentile.

As he explained on his website, Gentile’s main objective as riding president is to show his community that the Liberal Party is still alive and relevant in the district.

“I realized the hard work needed

to begin rebuilding this party and began to rebuild the party from the ground up—starting at my local constituent level,” wrote Gentile. “I will put just as much muscle into winning this nomination as I have in rebuilding this riding,” he continued.

Besides his role as riding president, Gentile is regional president for West Montreal for the Liberal Party—part of Justin Trudeau’s Leadership program—and was chief organizer for Équipe Denis Coderre candidates in the Pierrefonds-Roxboro district during the 2013 municipal election.

Gentile said his political science courses at Concordia helped him gain a wide understanding of the political field, including both the academic and personal aspects.

“Having professors who are experienced in the field of political science has allowed me to understand

what it takes to be a politician and what adversities I might face,” he explained.

The next step for Gentile is to meet and sign up Liberal Party members from the Pierrefonds-Dollard district, as this is required for anyone presenting themselves for nomination. Once the date of the nomination election is announced, Gentile will bring his members to vote. The nomination candidate with the most votes then becomes the official candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada in Pierrefonds-Dollard for the next federal election.

“I am also going to take this opportunity to get even more known in the area because people need to know who their Member of Parliament will be,” said Gentile.

Those wishing to know more about Gentile can visit his website: www.jordangentile.ca

life

Tuesday, november 26, 2013

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Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com

Sex // Life

Men of all shapes and sizes are under lock and key Modern chastity belts that come in camouflage, chrome and wood finish, hit the market Lindsay Richardson Staff writer

American company CB-X, the self-proclaimed “World Leader in Male Chastity Devices,” got a rise out of consumers with the release of their modern “chastity lock.”

The device is best described as a lockable designer sheath that fits over the penis and is meant to prevent men from masturbating or engaging in other sexual activities.

The product is available in a variety of patterns and sizes, including wood, chrome and camouflage.

However, chastity belts have a long and controversial history and despite attempts to modernize the device and appeal to a broader audience, scores of men and women have been rattled by its revival.

Historically, they were used for several different reasons. They were regarded as “antitemptation devices” as far back as the Middle Ages. Women were forced to wear them by their crusading husbands in order to ensure their faithfulness and to prevent rape.

Even as recently as the 1930s, chastity belts were used on adolescents to prevent masturbation, as self-satisfaction was believed to be the cause of mental illness and a variety of other health issues.

These primitive devices were often unsanitary, with prolonged wear often resulting in

sores, urinary infections and in extreme cases, death.

Based on this knowledge, the public’s perception of chastity devices is decidedly negative. People tend to draw associations with male dominance, assault, sexual deprivation or the idea of denying oneself sexual pleasure before marriage.

CB-X’s campaign takes a different angle, marketing the locks as an enhancer of sexual pleasure — a tool meant to heighten arousal by creating a physical barrier between partners. As sexologist and registered nurse at the Montreal General, Caroline Boudreault, puts

it, “if someone wants to do it and is OK with doing it, then what happens in their pants is their own concern.”

Couples who dabble in BDSM, a variety of erotic practices involving dominance and submission, use devices similar to those being advertised by CB-X. They are normally worn by the submissive, who surrenders control to the dominant, also known as the “key holder.”

The belts are thought to increase arousal, which at the hands of the dominant, is maintained for an extended period of time without orgasming. Provoking this kind of sexual

frustration goes hand in hand with the BDSM practice of “erotic sexual denial.” The key holder is the only one who may decide when, where, and how often the submissive is allowed sexual release.

The main difference between CB-X’s device and its ancestors, Boudreault explained, are the circumstances in which they are being used. This new incarnation is mostly intended for play, not as a means to impose chastity on someone else.

Despite the positive and pleasurable uses that are being explored, she emphasized the negative health implications that could potentially affect the wearer. Like its original incarnations from the Middle Ages, modern chastity locks still carry certain risks.

“If men are being sold a device that strangulates the penis and cuts normal blood flow, then we are not as advanced as we think we are,” she said.

The penis, an organ made up of vessels that fill with blood and dilate, needs room to expand and become erect. Preventing this process from occurring is dangerous, and may cause permanent vascular damage. Other risks include abrasive wounds, chafed skin, and other skin infections caused by leftover urine and a general neglect for hygiene. Overall, everyday wear is not recommended by health-care officials.

Boudreault’s final words of advice on the topic: “keep it safe, keep it clean, and don’t lose your key.”

Student profile // life

How getting involved is “all about intrinsic motivation” ASFA’s VP academic TingLi Lorigiano explains how she’s enriched her university life Sabrina Ponzo Contributor

T

ingLi Lorigiano is not your average 20-year-old. This first-year biology major and Italian minor student is no stranger to getting involved in both academic and community life.

Lorigiano was crowned as a representative of Montreal for the Chinese community in the Miss Chinese Montreal Pageant this past October. She referred to the experience as the most rewarding moment of her life.

“What catalyzed my decision to join was wanting to be a part of the Chinese community; to get in touch with my cultural roots and be a part of something bigger than me.”

Lorigiano will also begin training for The Miss Chinese International Pageant this coming January in Hong Kong.

“It means a lot to me to be able to carry the torch of our multicultural Montreal, and of the Montreal Chinese community, all the way to Hong Kong,” she explained.

“It’s an honour and I hope to embody all

the strength that being an Italian-Chinese Canadian from Montreal gives me.”

Lorigiano said the best part of being involved in both these areas is being able to strengthen university-community development.

“Because I am both Italian and Chinese, cross-cultural communication has integrated itself into how I can better facilitate growth and accomplishment of the Concordia student body and the Chinese community.”

Lorigiano said her involvement with academic and social initiatives at Concordia came naturally. Both in high school and CÉGÉP, Lorigiano was actively involved in extracurricular activities, organizing events and clubs, and volunteering.

“I think it’s all about bringing students together and helping them achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals as best as possible,” she said.

During her first year at Concordia, Lorigiano decided to run for an ASFA executive position even though no firstyear student had ever done so.

“My mandate isn’t even over and I’ve already learned how to lead better, how to manage teams and projects, how to

push myself to being a better person both personally and professionally,” she stated.

“Most of my learning has come from my peers and mentors that I was fortunate enough to meet along my way at ASFA.” With pageant practice three times a week, a five-class course load, ASFA projects, and six final exams to study for, all in one semester, Lorigiano explains how important her motivation is when it comes to being a part of so many things.

“Its all about intrinsic motivation.You need a drive, a vision, an inspiration.

With purpose you can pave any path you’d like to take by being a goal getter and productive in all avenues.”

During her free time, Lorigiano enjoys Hatha yoga, song-writing, and tutoring as an alumni student at Vanier College. She shared her thoughts on what her future goals and aspirations entail: “First and foremost I hope that I can finally put Montreal and Concordia on the map in the Miss Chinese International 2014 Beauty Pageant. As for future careers, I think my plans are still in the creative process. All I know is that it has to be something that will allow me the opportunity to have ideas and plans and goals to offer the world.”

TingLi Lorigiano at Montreal pageant.

this year’s

Miss Chinese

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Tuesday,november 26 , 2013

Journalism // Life

Talented Parliament Hill reporter dishes out some advice Jennifer Ditchburn encourages Concordia’s journalism students to be ‘shit-disturbers’ Sara Cornett Staff writer

J

ournalism students should make it a “number one priority� to get published, said Canadian Press reporter, Jennifer Ditchburn, at a discussion held recently at Concordia.

Ditchburn did just that when she was a student. She knew early on that she liked to write and lost little time in pursuing her dream.

In CÉGÉP, she was editor-in-chief for John Abbott College’s newspaper and news editor for The Link as an undergraduate student at Concordia.

Determined to get work, Ditchburn

picked up jobs wherever she could outside of her studies. She wrote for local newspapers like The Montreal Gazette, The Sherbrooke Record, and for an accounting magazine. She produced advertising supplements and worked as an editor at UPS for their employee newsletter.

Before graduating she got a part-time job at the Canadian Press, and has continued to work there, except for a few years from 2001-06 when she was a television reporter at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

She covers national politics with an emphasis on the Conservative Party of Canada and regularly contributes to television and radio programs as an expert panelist. Her first love, however, is print. “In print, you have much more time to delve into an issue. There is more detail. I think that print reporters are the agendasetters. We write the stories that TV picks up,� said Ditchburn.

Over the

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Award winning political journalist and concordia alum, Jennifer Ditchburn spoke about her career and gave students advice. Photo By Leah Balass. years, she has won several awards such as the National Newspaper Award, Media Award for Health Reporting, and Special

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Ditchburn is fluent in English, French and Spanish, and says that speaking French was a big factor in her employment opportunities, as well as her willingness to embrace social media. She first began tweeting during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where she covered short-track speed skating.

She says it was not a big leap for her to develop an online presence because of her natural curiosity for pop culture, music, and social media.

In her tweets, she mixes politics, humour, entertainment, and personal stuff, including selfies. When asked about her tweeting habits, she said it is sometimes a challenge to know when to tweet or not about something. “It’s hard. I’ve regretted things I’ve tweeted before,� she said, “I’ve deleted things after a few seconds that I should not have said.�

Her advice to students was to ask the question, “If someone was editing this tweet, would it pass?�

Still, Ditchburn does not mince words. She takes her role as watchdog of Parliament Hill seriously. One of her favourite books is Why Democracies Need An Unlovable Press

by Michael Schudson. “I think we are supposed to be shit-disturbers,� said Ditchburn. “There is an adversarial role for the press. It’s a sign of a healthy media and also a healthy democracy if you have reporters going where other people don’t want them to go, demanding answers and accountability from public bodies.�

Concordian / 4,10 x 8,90 po / 1/4 de page / publication le 26 novembre 2013

arts

Tuesday, november 26, 2013

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Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com Virtual exhibit // arts

Delving into existentialism and diseases of the flesh Virtual museum presents a vast collection of David Cronenberg’s work and materials Tomer Shavit Staff writer

D

avid Cronenberg is what you get when you fuse a brilliant filmmaker with a mad scientist.

The celebrated Canadian director is behind some of the most imaginative and ingenious science fiction films (Videodrome, Scanners, eXistenZ), the most exhilarating and nerve-wracking thrillers (History of Violence, Eastern Promises) and the most morbid and terrifying horror (The Fly, Shivers, The Dead Zone) to ever appear in cinema.

Accomplished at avant-garde productions as well as commercial blockbusters, David Cronenberg has established himself as a unique voice in cinematic history — but it wasn’t easy.

Under the umbrella of The Cronenberg Project, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) invites you to journey to the depths of the sort of depravity that only a genius mind can muster, with their new exhibit, David Cronenberg: Evolution.

Accompanying the physical exhibit in Toronto, is an online version entitled David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibit. This website is a major endeavour launched by TIFF, and it takes everything from the exhibit gallery

and makes it available online. The David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition is part of the TIFF’s Higher Learning Digital Resource Hub, which is a free ongoing program that provides Canadian post-secondary students and faculty with resources on the subjects of film, television, video games and new media.

Cronenberg is credited with inventing the “Body Horror” genre, which explores the fear of body mutation, transformation and disease.

“Disease is the love of two alien kinds of creatures for each other,” romanticizes Cronenberg in They Came from Within.

His films delivers the message that atrophy and sickness is the natural equilibriumseeking response to man’s attempts to artificially extend the limitations of our body and mortality through science.

“In his films, he deploys scientists, often in their most morally questionable forms, to posit speculative scenarios that undermine science’s exalted role,” explains the website that accompanies the virtual exhibit. The controversial nature of Cronenberg’s films meant that he was always locked in an uphill battle. Between micro-budgets and guerilla filming, to the attempts of politicians to censor his films, one thing is certain: Cronenberg has always made the films he wanted to make, not minding public atten-

tion or critical acclaim.

Through this virtual tour we find rare behind the scenes footage including interviews with collaborating actors such as Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons, a comprehensive film timeline including rare pictures and video footage and a map of the filming locations in Toronto that Cronenberg used to make many of his films. The latter is a testament to Cronenberg’s deep connection with his home city of Toronto and his insistence to film many of his projects in Canada.

The visual representation of the films on the virtual tour are visceral and engaging. Themes that Cronenberg explores in his films are explained through a series of interviews, images and videos, weaving a narrative through his life’s work that shows that Cronenberg is a director that keeps reinventing himself while seeking to explore several existential questions.

Scholarship and descriptions of ‘Cronenbergian’ artifacts from his films appear on the virtual tour, as well as his lesser known directorial projects such as commercials and short films, can be found in their full versions on the virtual tour.

For any true film aficionado, Cronenberg‘s works are a must see. The vast universe of Cronenberg’s mindscape is available online in the most comprehensive and accessible way it has ever been presented.

David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition is accessible in English and in French and can be found at tiff.net/higherlearning.

Alternatively, if you are planning to be in Toronto for the holidays, you can visit the physical exhibit at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition. Photo

by Geoffrey Gun

Opinion// arts

A love letter to you, the action film The romance behind the fast-paced, explosive and dangerous genre

Alex DiMeglio Contributor

Dearest action films, No collection of words could possibly describe the love we feel towards you. There will always be that one flick we find ourselves quoting the very next day, reenacting every fight sequence when nobody is around. Why do we keep falling back into the big burly arms of action movies?

Action flicks help us escape from reality and allow us to take a break from our hectic lives in favour of some adrenaline-rushing entertainment that makes our jaw succumb to the laws of gravity.

Watching our favourite hero single-handedly destroy a sizable army of bad guys and then getting the girl at the end is why we love you. The fundamental idea of one man accomplishing everything he sets out to do is inspiring. After watching our hero kick some serious ass, you can’t help but want to kick some of your own in the real world. You give us regular Joes hope we never thought existed. We be-

come endowed with the courage to go out and seek that job promotion or finally talk to that girl who had always seemed intimidating.

Sweet action films: with heroes like Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone and most recently, Jason Statham, you present us with perfect role models. Thank you for instilling confidence within us, helping us achieve our marginal dreams, one sucker punch at a time.

Wrapped up in your toned, veiny and tattooed arms, you satisfy our eyes with explosions, beautiful women and heart-racing car chases that we can’t help but wish we were a part of.

You provide a rush that overtakes every fibre of our being — teaching us the true meaning of being on the edge of our seat.

The entertainment value you offer is like the most addictive drug on the planet, the minute

you get a taste, you can’t help but come back for more, hoping to achieve that very same high you experienced the very first time you watched the movie.

My darling action flick, you are one drug that will stay in circulation long after we are gone, trying to live our own action dreams in heaven.

Without you, my beloved action films, there would be no heroines to lust over. We would deliberately put ourselves in mortal danger if it meant that Lara Croft or Katniss Everdeen would come to our aid. All of these gorgeous and courageous women are like super glue to our eyes, the minute you step onto the screen, we cannot bear the thought of looking away.

Watching you beat up bad guys brings the term sexy to a whole new level, which we promise to study and explore for many years to come.

The action genre is like air itself, without it, we couldn’t possibly go about living. Take inspiration and entertainment away from us, and why the hell would we get out of bed in the morning? We love you for everything you stand for and we promise to treasure and love you even if Armageddon suddenly becomes a harsh reality.

So come on life, give us everything you got: whenever we are down, as long as we have action movies we will always respond with, “I’ll be back!”

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Literature // arts

Popular writer receives some savage criticism Dan Savage releases American Savage: Insights, Slights, and Fights on Faith, Sex, Love, and Politics Madeline Smith The Gateway (University of Alberta)

E

DMONTON (CUP)—Don’t ask Dan Savage about butt plugs.

Straightforward sex toy queries like these were fair game 22 years ago when Savage started writing his now internationally syndicated sex column. In the ‘90s, without the Internet’s vast store of sex information, Savage’s job as a sex writer made him a lifeline. He was the person to turn to when you desperately needed to know what a cock ring was and what you do with it.

These days, unless you’re struggling with some sort of ethical butt plug dilemma, Savage doesn’t want to hear it.

“If you can get online to email me, ‘What’s a butt plug?’ you could have Googled it and figured it all out for yourself,” Savage said. “It’s really changed the nature of the column. It used to be that half my responses were instructional.

“But that question: ‘What’s a butt plug, and how do I get it into my ass?’

That question kind of annoys me now, and I’m very pro butt plugs and butts.”

A lot has changed over the last 20 years, moving Savage and his column in unexpected directions. He started out writing with an irreverent tone, poking fun at the straight sex columnists of the time who didn’t have any idea how to respond to gay people asking for advice.

But before long, Savage started getting

serious questions from the straight people he was supposed to be giving mock guidance, and he found himself writing a “real” sex column. Savage has since written six books, and drawn the ire of legions of conservative critics — as well as liberal activists. With two decades of his opinion committed to print, Savage still faces his share of controversy, angering transgender, bisexual and asexual people, among others.

In Savage’s latest book American Savage, he takes the opportunity to address some of the times he was wrong. One chapter, entitled “Mistakes Were Made,” addresses the longstanding accusation of biphobia, a label Savage earned after writing that bisexual men “don’t exist.”

The discussion around Savage’s column shows how the battle for LGBTQ rights, for which Savage is vocal, isn’t just a twosided fight; there’s complicated nuance in the variety of opinions and identities at stake. And now, more than ever, Savage deals with critics from every angle.

“It’s a very strange position to be in to begin my day by being attacked by the Family Research Council and Tony Perkins and religious figures and leaders, and then being attacked by queers,” Savage said.

“I’m accused of being this dangerous sex-radical, queer monster who wants to destroy the family by right-wingers, and at the same time, in the same day — sometimes in the very next tweet — I’m accused of being this kind of heteronormative, conservative sell-out who wants to destroy queers.

“It’s really weird,” he acknowledges.

“It’s a crazy position to be in.”

Savage also frequently appears at college campuses for no-holds-barred Q&A sessions with young adults. For current undergraduates, born right around the time Savage began his column, his advice is an integral part of their sex education.

In case you didn’t notice, your high school sex ed class doesn’t have a unit about BDSM practices or porn. In fact, chances are, it didn’t even address notions of gender and sexuality, outside a framework of heterosexuality, at all.

While critics have pointed out problem-

atic aspects of Savage’s columns, they’ve become an extensive archive of information about sex and sexuality, making for an accessible and entertaining source of information for many young people.

If you still have a desperate question about butt plugs, Savage won’t tell you that your curiosity is wrong, gross or weird. But he’ll also tell you to make sure you get the information you need to be safe and healthy while you explore.

American Savage: Insights, Slights, and Fights on Faith, Sex, Love, and Politics is available for sale online at amazon.ca

Founder of the Emmy-Winning It Gets Better Campaign, Savage talks about healthcare, gun control and marriage equality in his latest book. Photo by Josh Rodriguez

Film lecture // arts

Film activisim — an evening with Gael García Bernal The Mexican actor spoke at Concordia about the role of documentaries, including his latest film success, the answer does not come easy.

“Even at this age, I don’t know who I am. It’s more direct for me to say who I am going to be, rather than who I am because who I am is [not] static, I’m losing it at evAfter the success of the Noam Chomsky ery second,” said Bernal. event, the Concordia Student Union (CSU) Shining a light on how fortunate Cahad another trick up their sleeve — Mexinadians are to get government funding can actor, director and producer, Gael for creating films, Bernal expressed how García Bernal. Bernal’s career exploded afimportant the notion of not having to reter his debut in some of the most celebrated turn that money allows artists to expand on films in Mexico such as Alejandro their own identity.

Gonzalez Iñárritu’s Amores Perros “Our films will be more transcenand Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mama dent when they are completely free,” tambien. explained Bernal.

Bernal arrived for his first time That’s why the actor is the coin Montreal to present his latest chair of Ambulante, the travelling documentary, Who is Dayani Crisdocumentary film festival, whose tal? at the 16th annual Montreal worldwide mission is to promote and International Documentary Festival fundraise Mexican documentaries.

(RIDM). The film mixes documen“We need to talk about our realtary and fiction, in which Bernal reity and building our identity for ourtraces the steps of a Latin-American selves. So this documentary film fesmigrant found dead while traveling tival started to become this big thing from Honduras to Arizona. in open air.”

It was for this reason that the Bernal also has a connection Concordia Student Union was asked to Concordia, taking on the role of to co-host the festival with RIDM to Mazier Bahari, in the upcoming present Bernal as a guest-speaker. film Rosewater, directed by John “I was thrilled because the CSU Stewart. Maziar Bahari is the really values the importance of Canadian journalist and Concordia documentary and art, especially Alumni who was arrested in 2009 by when it’s used as a catalyst for sothe Iranian government and accused of cial change,” said Caroline Bourbonbeing an American spy. niere, VP external and mobilization Find out more about Who is Bernal produced Who is Dayani Cristal?, a documentary that confronts the issue of illegal immigration and Dayani Cristal? at whoisdayanifor the CSU. reveals the human tragedy behind the cold rhetoric of the U.S.’ war on immigration . Photo from Flickr Before delving into a discussion cristal.com

David Adelman Contributor

of social change through documentary, Bernal recounted his own personal journey.

“I was always working with my parents in their plays, but I think a key moment came when I was 14, 15, during [the] Zapatista uprising in Chiapas and [it] changed my perspective completely.”

By 19 years of age, Bernal was a Mexican soap opera heartthrob, but he left Mexico to study acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. After running out of

money in three weeks, Bernal had to take odd jobs in bars and restaurants.

“I thought I would never be an actor, I thought I’d act as a hobby [...] I wanted to see myself as a pediatrician.”

Yet it was while he was a student in London that Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu approached him for Amores Perros.

When it comes to defining who he is as an individual, even after all his acclaimed

music

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

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Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com

Review // music

M for Montreal Music: festival in review Photo of Born Ruffians by Ellie Pritts

Katelyn Spidle Contributor

>> Wednesday, Nov. 20, Day One: Yamantaka// Sonic Titan, La Sala Rossa The eighth edition of M for Montreal got off to a heavy start at La Sala Rossa with Montreal-Toronto art collective Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. The five-piece band was the highlight of the night’s performances, despite not being the headlining act.

For onlookers not familiar with the group, first impressions count: the musicians were clad in studded black denim, unkempt black hair and elaborate face paint. Cartoonish graffiti-styled grey-and-white cardboard cutouts were propped up at the edge of the stage and large spotlights bathed the set in red lights. It just so happened that the red velvet curtain backdrop at La Sala Rossa fit perfectly with the set’s white, black and red motif. It soon became apparent that the set and costumes were just one part of the act.

The group draws from a range of influences, and this was demonstrated through a deliberate combination of thoughtprovoking performance art and captivating music. Members were poised and deliberate in their movements: lead singer Ruby Kato Attwood stood still in front of her microphone, releasing piercing yet calming vocals while backing vocalist Ange Loft kept her back to the audience, only to turn around periodically with a burst of powerful screams, eerie chants and dark-sounding harmonies. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan combines heavy-metal instrumentals with melodic, pop vocals. Songs were unpredictable while maintaining a coherent, intelligent structure. The music spoke for itself, but Yamantaka // Sonic Titan’s performance took the audience beyond the concert and into the realm of theatre.

>>Thursday, Nov. 21, Day Two: >>Friday, Nov. 22, Day Three: Born Ruffians, La Sala Rossa. A Mark Berube and Lakes of Canada, Tribe Called Red, Société des arts Le Divan Orange technologiques Ontario-based indie-rock group, Born Ruffians, capped off Day Two’s showcase at La Sala Rossa, where they performed mostly tunes off their most recent album, Birthmarks. Frontman Luke Lalonde gave an entertaining performance, shifting his vocals liberally from soulful, concentrated verses to spontaneous, energetic tangents. The on-stage renditions of the most recent songs appeared mellow and introspective, in stark contrast to the hype that erupted during the opening lines of “I Need A Life.” The dense crowd of loyal fans sang along to all the familiar tunes and danced loosely to the new ones. Born Ruffians have graced many stages over the years, and their showmanship is a testament to that. Lalonde’s vocals, while erratic and pitchy at times, were clear and controlled throughout the half-hour set.

The Société des arts technologiques’ stripped-down, industrial setup is vast, but the late-night crowd that gathered for A Tribe Called Red packed the space making it obvious that the electronic trio knew how to guide a crowd; people appeared to be moved by the music and even those furthest from the stage were consumed in their own worlds of rhythm and flow. A Tribe Called Red draws from many genres to produce their unique sound. Combining reggae and hip-hop with Native chants and drumming, members Ian “DJ NDN” Campeau, Dan “DJ Shub” General and Bear Witness were visibly enjoying the party: relaxed, vibing to the music and interacting with the crowd. Suspended on either side of the stage were two massive projector screens displaying looped snippets of decades-old movie and cartoon depictions of First Nations people. These visuals brought an intellectual and aesthetic element to the performance, proving A Tribe Called Red is a group worthy of mainstream attention. At the end of their set, members approached the edge of the stage, leaned over and welcomed the rush of high-fives and handshakes extending up from the crowd.

Montreal-Toronto collective Yamantaka//Sonic Titan. Photo by Ellie Pritts.

The welcoming atmosphere at Le Divan Orange was the perfect spot for Mark Berube’s soft vocals and eclectic folkpop sound. The singer, pianist and guitarist performed with a confident ease, making his music accessible to fans and non-fans alike. The accompanying band played with precision and charm, rounding out Berube’s songs into a fourpiece act. Berube introduced the third song, “Mississippi Prom,” a Bob Dylan-esque folk-inspired tune that seemed to evolve and span throughout the rest of their set. The crowd was polite and subdued for most of the performance, but as the music seemed to loosen, the audience followed suit.

Montreal’s Lakes of Canada took the energy level up a few notches with their quirky, unique indie-pop set. Before the band began their first song, lead singer and songwriter Jake Smith bounced up and down in front of the microphone like a boxer preparing for a fight. When the rest of the band took the stage, the musicians approached separate drum kits and erupted into an attention-grabbing synchronized drum performance. Lakes of Canada’s music is accessible and fun, and their on-stage energy is contagious. Smith’s characteristic voice conveyed a passion and intensity that was accentuated by his impressive range. The musicians were in sync instrumentally, and the set was entertaining, surprising and creative. With all four members being multiinstrumentalists, the audience could only wait to see what would be picked up next—be it sleigh bells, flute, mandolin or Glockenspiel. The band changed gears when it went unplugged for the last song. After hopping off stage and forming a circle in the middle of the floor space, a delighted crowd gathered—and hushed itself to silence—to watch the group perform their soulful acapella tune, “Eden.”

Ontario’s A Tribe Called Red at Société des arts technologiques. Photo by Ellie Pritts.

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Tuesday, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

Opinion // music

Alex Melki Staff writer

>> Madonna is 2013’ s highest paid musician Madonna is proving that age is but a trivial number. The 55-year-old superstar has been crowned the highest paid musician of the year. According to Forbes, it was recently announced that Madonna earned $125 million in 2013. The singer-songwriter’s financial success shows just how timeless her classics are, while at the same time indicating her constant evolution as an artist.

Lady Gaga earned the second place spot in Forbes’ list, acquiring $45 million, below the Queen of Pop. Despite these staggering numbers, neither Gaga nor Madonna are a match for Michael Jackson, who earned $160 last year from beyond the grave.

>> Potential OutKast reunion at next year’s Coachella festival It has been close to seven years since hiphop greats Andre 3000 and Big Boi of OutKast decided to put the group to rest and seek out individual solo careers. After the better part of a decade, rumours are heavily indicating the very real possibility of an OutKast reunion. Billboard magazine reports that sources close to the duo claim that they will perform alongside each other at the next Coachella music festival in California in April 2014.

>> Pharrell creates the world’s first 24-hour music video .

Looks like the producer/singer has been unusually busy, dishing out something never done before. As reported by Rolling Stone, Pharrell Williams released a 24-hour music video for his Despicable Me 2 song “Happy.” This is the very first of its kind. As if that was not enough, Steve Carell, Magic Johnson and Tyler, The Creator join in on the innovative video with surprise cameos.

The video is available in full at 24hoursofhappy.com.

>> Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page pays tribute to Notorious B.I.G. Rolling Stone reports that the guitarist of one the greatest rock bands apparently has a soft spot for hip hop. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin released a mashup featuring Zeppelin’s famous “Ramble On” with a dash of “Hypnotize,” one of Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic tracks. The end result is “Ramblize,” an insane combination of vintage rock and old-school hip hop. The two blend together well, creating a great tribute to Notorious B.I.G. that also serves as a reminder that Page has a diverse range of musical appreciation.

Photo by Flickr user Karen Blue

Trainwrecks and comeback kids in the music industry Concordians weigh in on why we love a good comeback Marco Saveriano Staff writer

Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Eminem, Demi Lovato. What do these very different artists all have in common? They all have had to deal with their personal struggles in front of the entire world and people still rooted for their triumphant return. Although it didn’t work out for all of them, the public wanted to see them succeed.

But wasn’t it us who tore them down in the first place?

It seems to be a familiar theme in the music industry: young artists arrive on the scene, fresh and full of life with promising careers ahead of them. They soar to the top of the charts, until they come crashing down. They start acting out, doing drugs, or making offensive comments.

The people who helped them get to the top now become the ones who kick them when they’re down. People start to see them differently. Whitney Houston, once known to be one of the greatest talents of her generation, was reduced to being just another crackhead. Michael Jackson, hailed as the King of Pop, became known as the plastic surgery-addicted pedophile.

Britney Spears, once America’s Sweetheart, shaved her head and was labeled as crazy. The list of celebrities gone wild could go on forever.

Our society puts these artists on a pedestal and as soon as they show signs of being flawed individuals, they feel the need to take them down a notch. Tabloids have created an entire industry by speculating on which star will crumble next, and audiences love it. You have to admit that we’ve all taken a few hits at the troubled celebrity of the week just to get a laugh at least once in our lives.

So why do we love a comeback so much?

“With a comeback story there’s always a chance of the artist making a complete fool of themselves,” said Concordia student Michelle Lee. “We all love to watch someone crash and burn every once in a while.”

Unfortunately, that couldn’t be more true.

We’re the ones who

Finding the info you need shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt.

Visit concordia.ca/students

Learn about important dates, services and academic support.

pushed these artists to their breaking points in the first place, so why wouldn’t we want to see them fail again? Are we so messed up that we are entertained by other people’s lives falling apart?

On the other hand, not everyone sees it that way. It’s also an opportunity for fans who have stuck by the artist through everything to prove their dedication and show that “their support was not in vain,” as Dawson College student and aspiring singer, Chelsea Cameron, puts it.

“A comeback story shows resilience and staying power in a cutthroat, competitive, and ever-evolving industry that thrives on the next, new thing.”

The worst part of this phenomenon is what comes afterwards. There are three possible outcomes: an artist can successfully pull through the dark times to once again come out on top, allowing everyone to forget their troubled pasts; an artist can attempt to make a successful comeback, but be stuck with the harsh stigmas that their past indiscretions have branded them with; and then there’s the unlucky artist that doesn’t get a chance at a second win and gives in to the pressures of life in the limelight, leaving us much too early.

Regardless of why we love them, sometimes there’s truly nothing better than a successful comeback. We may get a sick sense of satisfaction from watching people crash and burn, but in the end, we love to see them succeed, too. To witness a musician you love bounce back from a trying few years can be both empowering and heart-warming.

They’re standing up in front of the entire world, saying “I’m back and stronger than ever.” It may be strange that we root for their demise, yet cheer for their success, but really, what could be better than a happy ending?

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Mix tape// music

When Lou Reed asked Metric’s Emily Haines who she’d rather be, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, she truthfully answered, The Velvet Underground.

“None of us living today are likely to achieve the stature or saturation the signature acts of that era enjoyed,” said Haines in an interview with Rolling Stone. This playlist shows us how both American and British bands were greatly influenced by one another, covering each other’s songs or simply adapting a signature look which has helped build a harmonious bridge across the waters that separate us. Side A is made up of bands who represent the evolution of the “British Invasion” while Side B shows us the “American Way,” letting us in on some of the most influential Canadian and American artists that helped shape the music industry as a whole.

Musicians who revolutionized rock ‘n’ roll Compiled by Angela De Cicco

Side A - British Invasion

Side B - American Way

1. The Beatles – “Anytime at All” – A Hard Day’s Night 2. Led Zeppelin – “D’Yer Mak’er” – House of Holy 3. The Zombies – “She’s Not There”- Begin Here B-Side 4. The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” – Let It Bleed 5. The Animals – “House Of The Rising Sun” – The Animals 6. Coldplay – “The Scientist” – A Rush Of Blood To The Head 7. The Kinks – “Lola” – Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One 8. Radiohead – “Lotus Flower” – King of Limbs 9. Mumford and Sons – “White Blank Page” – Sigh No More 10. Arctic Monkeys – “Stop the World I Wanna Get Off With You” – AM

1. Creedance Clearwater Revival – “Fortunate Son” – Willy And The Poor Boys 2. Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone” – Highway 61 Revisited 3. Johnny Cash – “Folsom Prison Blues” – With His Hot and Blue Guitar 4. Arcade Fire – “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” – Funeral 5. Metric – “Gimme Sympathy” – Fantasies 6. The Guess Who – “These Eyes” – Wheatfield Soul 7. Nirvana – “Polly” – Nevermind 8. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Suck My Kiss” – Blood Sugar Sex Magik 9. Otis Redding – “Try A Little Tenderness” – Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul 10. Elvis Presley – “That’s Alright Mama” – Single

Quick Spins // music

Quick Spins

Karneef - Love Between Us (Club Roll Music; 2013)

Jake Bugg - Shangri La (Mercury, Island Records; 2013)

Yo Gotti – I Am (CMG,Epic Records; 2013)

The Growlers - Gilded Pleasures (Everloving Records; 2013)

Montreal native, Philip Karneef, offers up one stellar record with his debut Love Between Us. The album, which dropped earlier in November, is fueled with intergalactic beats, killer bass-lines and soulful vocals. The title track is downright groovy with space-age sounds sprinkled throughout. “So Trippy,” featuring Cadence Weapon, is a retro-inspired tune true to its name. Complete with Karneef’s narrated instructions on how to turn your dull evening into one hell of a night, the track dives into a medley of synth, layered with the two sets of musicians’ vocals.

Staying true to the album’s groovy and raw nature, he dishes out unapologetic lyrics in “Space.” Pleading for some time alone, the track is paired with some equally raw, pounding background percussion. Karneef’s Love Between Us is exactly what a debut album should sound like: it’s playful, soulful and witty all at once, showcasing the local musician’s versatility and ambition.

After topping the U.K. charts with his debut self-titled album late last year, English teen Jake Bugg’s newest installment, Shangri-La, hit store shelves Nov. 19. Rebel and hitmaker, Bugg once again defies the laws of music by creating an album poised to impress audiophiles of all shapes and sizes.

Under the wing of legendary producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, Black Sabbath and Rage Against the Machine, Bugg proves he’s more than just a temporary teen sensation. Boasting Britpop-style vocals back-boned by a consistently sanguine bevy of earworm grooves, he effortlessly bridges the gap between folk and pop. Shangri-La is more than just your average dangerously catchy followup album; it’s cold hard proof that Bugg is well-equipped to make a lasting impression on the music world.

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Yo Gotti has put out an impressive amount of music in his 15 years of recording. He’s doing most of his music independently, however, which might explain why he is not quite a household name. I Am has a star-studded feature list; Yo Gotti’s created tracks with Wale, Ne-Yo and J-Cole, subtly showing off his connection and respect within the music world. The music itself is much like Gotti’s previous work, never straying from the theme of ‘hustler-to-music-maker.’ This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does get a bit tired and repetitive.

Featuring Kendall Morgan’s rich, smooth hook, Gotti’s lyrics get sensitive: he speaks critically about the common perception of rap music and rappers, as well as his personal problems with his friends and his lifestyle choices. The whole album, unfortunately, is not particularly groundbreaking. The beats are good but not amazing— most of the songs are nice to roll with but not too memorable—but it definitely has some great aspects though, so check it out.

It’s “fursure” a Growlers album; it’s drug drenched and salt-stained on a sunny beach. These musical magicians have shown clear signs of having perfected their signature Growler sound, but this album is too safely confined into a “general Growlers song” formula and it lacks the extraordinary moments that make the Growlers out of this world; much of the new material sounds like stuff you can find on their older albums, like the intro riff to “Sea Lion Goth Blues,” even the whole of “Red Tide.” One song off Gilded Pleasures, “Tell It How It Is,” bubbles near that unique magic with its happy, cool, catchy sound. “Humdrum Blues” is a smooth little romantic song in which Brooks Nielsen shows off his seamless raspy pipes. Overall, the album has got a great atmosphere, as if the sound was filtered through all the weird treasures the band had collected over the years on the road.

Trial Track: “Space”

Trial Track: “Slumville Sunrise”

Trial Track: “Don’t Come Around”

Trial Track: “Tell It How It Is”

8.5/10 -Jessica Romera

9/10

6.5/10

7/10 -Victoria Kendrick

-Maddy Comi

-Mia Pearson

sports 12

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com

Tennis // sports

Concordia University’s tennis team off to a great start The newly-founded group looks to build on early success against McGill this weekend Matthew Shanahan Staff writer

T

he newly-formed Concordia University Tennis Team (CUTT) has come a long way since it’s first official tryouts in March 2013.

Some of the players recruited last March are still on the team, others are not. The team held a few practices over the summer but they were not mandatory. Official training began in early September. Since then, the team has been training once per week.

Some players have chosen to play outside of team practice sessions, whether to work on technique or play some games, as well as do workouts on their own.

Last weekend, CUTT sent four players to represent Concordia in the Halifax Campus Challenge, a competition featuring participants from universities across Canada. They played in both singles, doubles, and mixed teams, and came back with a gold medal.

“It was amazing,” Concordia men’s tennis player, Jason Savage, said. “It was pretty competitive too so that was great.”

Concordia women’s player, Emilie Cyrenne, was also quick to talk about the positive experience, “It was so much fun. It was just perfect.”

“It was unique because we had one singles team, one doubles team and a mixed team,” said Dominic Labelle, the men’s team’s second ranked player.

On Nov. 30, CUTT will meet the McGill team for the first time in an exhibition duel.

The format of the encounter will be the same as the one in the official league which will take place in early 2014: six singles and three doubles for both the women and the men.

“It’s going to be a really good benchmark [for us] because they won the Nationals last year,” said men’s coach Fabien Zermatten.

“We’ll be able to judge what level we are and what to improve on.”

The team strongly encourages fellow Concordia students to come and cheer them on. The matches will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Uniprix Stadium. More info will be provided on their Facebook page, facebook.com/ConcordiaTennisTeam.

From January to March 2014, CUTT will compete in the second edition of the Que-

bec University Tennis League, in which five Quebec university tennis teams will participate: Concordia, McGill, Université de Montréal, Sherbrooke and Laval. Over the course of 11 weeks, every team will face each other twice. The results will be used to establish the seeding for the provincial championship called the Championat Québécois Universitaire, which takes place at the beginning of next April. The Championat Québécois Universitaire is a new tournament that is in the midst of being designed by the managers of the teams that will participate in the Quebec University Tennis League. The winning team of the provincial championship will represent the province in the national university championship in August, called the Championnats tennis canadiens collégiaux et universitaires.

The team is composed of two coaches, Andreea Constantinescu for the women’s team,Zermatten for the men’s team and team manager for the men and women’s team, Ginta Cojocaru.

“This is only our first year in the league, so going forward I don’t know what to expect but certainly discovering other teams and entering the pace of the league and

playing every weekend is going to be a challenge but I think we can do it,” Cojocaru said.

At this point, the roster consists of 10 men and seven women. While they will not be holding official tryouts until next fall, they are constantly looking for additional players, particularly women.

“That being said, guys are also welcome to try out, as there is room for more!” added Cojocaru.

They encourage Concordia students to spread the word, visit their Facebook page, and check out their website at concordiatennisteam.com.

Hockey // sports

Hinse’s hat trick leads Stingers to blowout victory Concordia’s men’s hockey team gets complete team effort in win over Brock University and netted another one two minutes later to make it 2-0 for the Stingers.

Before the period ended the Stingers added two more goals from centre Kyle Armstrong and captain George Lovatsis, with the It was a full team effort on Friday, Nov. 22 goals coming within a minute of one anothas the Concordia Stingers defeated the Brock er.

Badgers 9-2 at the Ed Meagher Arena.

Both teams traded goals twice in the Although the game began with both second period. Both times Brock scored, teams trading chances, the Stingers never Concordia answered within a minute, never looked back once they broke the deadlock at allowing the Badgers team to get any mothe 5:25 mark in the first period. Centre Ol- mentum going. Lovatsis scored his second of ivier Hinse got Concordia on the board with the night, while newcomer Gabriel Bourret a beautiful backhand shot on a partial break, scored his first goal as a Stinger before the period ended.

The night of firsts continued early in the third, as left winger Francis Beauregard also scored his first goal in a Stingers jersey.

Backup goaltender Paul Bourbeau took over for Antonio Mastropietro with 9:36 remaining, giving Mastropietro a chance to save his energy and start the next game less than 18 hours later.

Stingers win big against Brock University. Photo by Brianna Thicke Both goalies put on

Andrew Davis Contributor

solid performances, with Mastropietro stopping 23 of 25 shots, while Bourbeau stopped all six shots he faced.

Concordia finished their full 60-minute effort by scoring two more goals before the final buzzer.

Left-winger Taylor Lambke scored his seventh of the season, while Hinse scored his third of the game, completing his second hat trick of the season. Hinse now leads the Canadian Interuniversity Sports league with 13 goals in only 11 games. Hinse also leads the Stingers team in points, with 19 on the season so far.

Head coach Kevin Figsby said that even though he was happy with the win, he was even happier with the team’s effort.

“Tonight’s objective was to follow the game plan we put in place this week during practice. The game plan was not to worry about the outcome of tonight’s game, but to worry about the input of each player. Each player did that.”

Figsby commented on Hinse’s outstanding performance, saying it’s not just the 13 goals that have made him such a valuable and important player.

“He’s been playing fantastic hockey all season. He’s also been our best penalty killer, so either he’s scoring goals or killing penalties. It doesn’t get any better.”

Lovatsis mirrored the coach’s comments concerning the team’s complete effort.

“All lines were going tonight. It was good to see, and hopefully we can keep this going until Christmas and after.”

“Antonio was solid as usual, and it was good to get Paul in there. He did really well, and he made some nice saves. It was good to see that if we need Paul to go in there at any time that he’s up to the task,” said the team captain about the performance by both goalies.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Championships // sports

Falling in final for fourth straight year Stingers men’s rugby team lose to Redmen in the championships Christine Beaton Staff writer

On Friday night, the Concordia men’s rugby team faced their biggest rivals, the McGill Redmen, in the RSEQ championships, losing 16-6.

“It was a well fought game between two very skilled teams who both deserved to be in the final,” said Anthony Fraschetti, the Stingers’ tighthead prop. “But the game came down to which team was more disciplined.”

The game started off in McGill’s favour, with a try and a conversion on the board within the first three minutes. Two minutes later, the Redmen scored their first penalty kick, making the score 10-0.

Concordia and McGill were evenly matched when it came to strength—not surprising considering this is the fourth consecutive year that they have met in the finals. As always, Concordia’s forward pack was strong in the scrums and rucks but their real skill came through in their lineouts.

After a driving maul off of a lineout, the Stingers were given the opportunity to score three points off of a penalty kick. Joey Fulginiti, the Stingers’ star kicker, sent it sailing through to the posts and brought the score to 10-3.

The Stingers then decided their best option was to slow-ball their way closer to the McGill try zone, a good decision considering

the speed that the Redmen were harnessing Fulginiti was sent off with only minutes in their backline. Concordia gained a signifileft in the game because of a late and possicant amount of ground but they were not bly dangerous tackle to McGill fullback Camable to secure a try before McGill got their eron Perrin. This left Yannick Fortin to lead hands on the ball. the kickoff.

Concordia scored their second and final McGill scored two more penalty kicks bepenalty goal with only minutes left in the first fore the end of the game, bringing the final half. McGill then scored their second try of score to 16-6 for the Redmen. the game only to have the points redacted The amount of penalties, yellow and with no chance of kicking a conversion due red cards and late calls in this game was a to a delayed yellow card being issued to one detriment to both teams. It came down to of their players. discipline,teamwork and which team utilized During half-time, a red card was issued to their strengths to a higher degree. another McGill player.

This seemed to fuel the fire under the Redmen and gave them the fight they needed to win the game.

Stingers’ winger Caleb Jordan, who had gone—quite literally—head-to-head with McGill flanker Rhys McRae, left the field on a stretcher and was sent to the hospital via ambulance. Alfredo Consentino, hooker for the Stingers, also suffered a minor injury a couple of minutes later but was able to Stingers’ rugby team lose to rival in final. Photo by Brianna Thicke continue playing.

Stingers news // sports

Concordia Stingers unveil new arena After a $7.75 million renovation plan, Ed Meagher is finally up running Elias Laradi Staff writer

W

ith their six month renovation plan now complete, Concordia’s newly appointed director of Athletics and Recreation, Patrick Boivin and associate vice president of facilities management Peter Bolla unveiled the new and improved Ed Meagher arena last Wednesday.

During a tour of the new arena, with both the women and men’s hockey teams in attendance, Boivin and Bolla spoke about the finances needed for the project that saw a new rink surface built. The renovations cost Concordia $7.75 million.

They spoke about the new refrigeration system put in place to make the arena more eco-friendly. With the new ice surface, the rink can now be open 11 months a year, instead of the seven before the renovations, according to the university’s press release.

As well as a new ice surface, the arena also has new boards and a new heating system has been installed.

“The burning of natural gas has been replaced by recycled heat generated by the new heating system,” explained the press release.

The arena was also expanded by 2,500 sq. ft, according to the press release. During the tour, they showed the new dressing rooms in the arena, which are now larger due to the expansion. The equipment storage room is also bigger and Concordia has added two new changing rooms for the rugby and soccer teams, while also upgrading the hockey changing rooms.

The feedback from the athletes was very

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Sports in the News Chris Cordella Staff writer

>> Saskatchewan wins the 101st Grey Cup

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the 2013 Grey Cup champions after beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23. They have won their first title since 2007 after losing two straight Grey Cup games in 2009 and 2010.

The Riders won the game with a very balanced offence. Running back Kory Sheets won the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Player award with 197 rushing yards, which was a Grey Cup record. He also scored two touchdowns. Veteran receiver Geroy Simon was also a big factor in the win with two receiving touchdowns. The Riders were the better team in all facets of the game but it was the second quarter that was the difference maker, as the Riders outscored Tiger-Cats 24-3.

>> Manning Vs Brady in OT Thriller

The Sunday night game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots was a tale of two halves. Denver completely dominated the first half causing three New England turnovers, with the Broncos leading 24-0 at halftime. The second half, however, was a different story, as the Broncos offence couldn’t move the ball down field and had only a few turnovers. New England outscored Denver 31-7, so the game was tied 31-31 going into overtime. Both teams had the ball numerous times but couldn’t capitalize. On a play late in overtime, New England recovered a fumbled Denver ball, leaving the Patriots in field goal position, which led to a New England game-winning field goal.

>> football

Concordia’s sports teams move into newly renovated arena. Photo by Brianna Thicke

positive and they were proud to talk about the new features. Both the women and the men’s hockey team were there preparing for practice as the tour was being conducted.

“This is actually my first year and this arena seems very welcoming and it’s a great environment to play hockey,” left-winger Anthony Nobili said.

“I think it’s great and I find it really accessible,” goaltender Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon said.

“There’s a lot of space [and] it’s very comfortable and the rooms are awesome.”

Captain Erin Lally echoed both Lavoie-Pilon and Nobili’s comments.

“I am really excited about the new facilities it’s a breath of fresh air and I’m really happy to be a part of it,” she said.

“I really find it a first-class facility and were starting to get settled,” said left-winger Taylor Lambke.

Right-winger Charles-Alexandre Plaisir also added that “I didn’t [get] to see the old arena but I feel at home when I’m here it’s a great place, great atmosphere and the ice is wonderful.”

However the excitement of a new arena did come with some challenges. Boivin and Bolla spoke about some of the flaws of the renovations, saying that during the men’s first game, there were issues with the Zamboni door not closing properly. They were quick to point out that every arena at the beginning is not perfect and that things needed to be tested before hand to make sure they were running smoothly.

on american thanksgiving This upcoming week in the NFL is when the playoff races really heat up. It starts on Thursday afternoon with a tripleheader. The day starts off with a NFC north matchup between the Green Bay Packers (5-5-1) and Detroit Lions (6-5) at noon on FOX. The second game is at 4:30 p.m. between the Oakland Raiders (4-7) and the Dallas Cowboys (6-5) on CBS, with both teams still in playoff contention. The final game is the 8:30 p.m. NBC game, which is a AFC North division battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, with both teams at 5-6 and still in the hunt for a wildcard spot in the AFC.

opinions 14

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November 26, 2013

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com Editorial // opinions

Working like a dog: The problem with internships

No pay, no protection and no way to say no; internships are dangerous

Companies want experience. University teaches you what you need to know for your career, but most companies want you to come to the job with career-related work experience already under your belt. One of the most popular ways to do this is to work as an intern in your field of interest. But is it worth it?

On Nov. 22, CBC reported that Moritz Erhardt, an intern at the Bank of America in London, had died after working for 72 hours straight for the company. Earlier this years, CBC also reported that Andy Ferguson, an intern for Astral Media, fatally crashed his car after working a 16-hour shift.

These reports suggest a dangerous trend in career training. However, the question

begging to be asked is: Why not just say no?

Easier said than done. An internship can provide a vital stepping stone for attaining one’s career goals, especially if you are interning at a company at which you one day wish to be paid. Furthermore, the competition for jobs, especially in certain fields, means that an intern is easily replaceable.

There is always the risk that the company will find someone else who is willing to put in the hours and do as they ask. In the case of Ferguson, his girlfriend reports that he told his boss he didn’t want to work an overnight shift and she responded by threatening to deny him his credit if he refused.

In sum, many interns are at the mercy of their supervisors. They need more from the company than the company needs from them and that puts them at a disadvantage.

And so what is a student to do?

The Canadian Intern Association website states that “there are few laws in Canada

defining or regulating internships directly.

Each province has its own employment standards legislation, regulations and/or guidelines that may apply to interns.”

In Quebec, the Association states that, “A person is considered an “employee” if these criteria are met: 1. the person performs work that is defined by an employee 2. the person’s tasks are clearly defined 3. the person receives renumeration. Therefore, an unpaid intern (commonly called a stagiaire in Quebec) are generally not considered employees, but this can be evaluated on a case by case basis.”

It would seem that that there are no specific regulations for treating an intern in Quebec. If you want the credit or the work experience, you have to do what is asked of you. As reported by CBC, on Nov. 12, Liberal MP Scott Brison is advocating for Statistics Canada to start keeping track of unpaid internships and Ontario’s Minister of Labour,

Yasir Naqvi, is working to have interns covered under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Nonetheless, being under the protection of a labour act will not prevent interns from feeling like they need to do whatever it takes to make their boss happy.

According to a report by Statistics Canada’s The Daily, March 20, 2013, in Quebec there are 6.1 unemployed people for every job vacancy. This implies intense competition for job openings. For a student, fresh out of university, every advantage in the job market is needed. If working 72 hours straight will ensure that you will have a steady paycheque when you graduate, who would turn that down?

The problem therefore is three-fold: there are not enough jobs for university graduates, the work experience required of graduates may ultimately kill them and there is no one looking out for the well-being of unpaid interns.

Prisoner rights // opinions

Should death row inmates be given the right to donate their organs?

Photo by ~Ashyby, Flickr

Why the medical need outweighs the ethical questions raised by many Lindsay Richardson Staff writer

“An eye for an eye,” the adage about compensating for one’s wrongdoings applies quite literally to Ronald Phillips, a death row inmate who is fighting for the right to donate his organs after being executed.

Phillips was convicted of raping and murdering his girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter in 1993 and was consequently sentenced to death. Though he was slated to be executed by lethal injection on Nov. 14, officials postponed the procedure when he expressed the desire to have his organs donated to ailing family members.

Medical officials and ethicists have encountered this situation before and have previously denied inmates’ requests to donate.

The Associated Press reports that Phillips’

public defender has come forward to the media and expressed that the “right” thing to do would be to “ensure that as many people as possible will benefit from the gift of life that Ron is so generously willing to bestow as his own life approaches its end.”

The issue at hand is very complex, evidenced by the fact that Phillips’ execution has been pushed to a tentative date in summer 2014, in order to provide enough time to deliberate and reach a decision. They will have to examine whether or not the medical need outweighs the ethical one. The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that every day, an average of 18 people die waiting for a transplant that cannot be performed due to a shortage of donations.

There is an increased need for viable organs, one that should not be ignored under any circumstances, despite the numerous arguments that can be formulated against an inmate’s case.

Medical experts claim that harvesting from Phillips would be “logistically impossible,” given that lethal injection causes organ failure. There is no protocol currently

in place to help direct officials in this kind of situation. In the one situation where an inmate was permitted to donate a kidney in 1995, the organ was removed prior to his execution. Ethicists have divided opinions on this method since donors are typically declared brain dead before any harvesting begins.

Aside from the medical roadblocks, the idea is rejected on the grounds that it is immoral. Who wants a criminal’s organs?

Some people taking part in the debate are disturbed with the idea of receiving a life saving piece of tissue from someone who unapologetically took life from someone else.

However, in reality, medical staff preserve the anonymity of the donor. A transplant recipient will likely never know where the organ or tissue came from. Additionally, there is no scientific proof that a transplant passes the genetics of the donor to the awaiting patient. Receiving a donation from a death row convict will not, by default, mess up your psychology and turn you into a crazed convict.

The intent here is not to sound cold or

clinical. It’s been acknowledged that the issue is complex and emotionally taxing and needs to be examined objectively. If lives could be preserved this way, is that not worth it? There has to be a way to proceed in these situations. Clearly, the power to do so should be implemented in a step-by-step procedure to adequately handle the issues that will arise.

The primary mistake that the government makes is putting its focus on the inmate, not the request. Society will waste so much time determining whether this final act would be altruistic and sincere that they forget the full scope of the issue. If Phillips thinks that donating his organs is restitution for his past, that is no one’s issue but his.

People are forgetting that in one day, this one life may be exchangeable for 18 others.

There is no sense in judging someone for whatever thought sends them off to death peacefully.

Ultimately in these circumstances the ends justify the means. The focus should be on ensuring the preservation and quality of life. The U.S. is supposed to be “one nation under God,” not “one nation playing God.”

Social // opinions

Is it a useful tool, or are you turning yourself into weathered punching bag?

Casandra de masi Opinions editor

Self-deprecating humour is a tool I use a lot in my daily life. Chances are you’ve heard me make fun of my unfortunate clumsiness and sometimes-awkward demeanor.

As I grow older and start to take on more important tasks in my life I have begun asking myself whether my self-deprecating ways are actually affecting the way people view me. Does this talk allow manipulative people an opening to take a jab? Does it open the window for people to make unwarranted criticisms and scrutinize me for the sake of their own egos?

The role of self-deprecation is an actual topic being discussed and studied. Researchers at Seattle University recently conducted a study on their undergrads in which they were presented a list of descriptions about a new boss joining a fictitious company. The description that showed his self-deprecating side was most popular with the students, because they felt he seemed to be “a more likable, trustworthy, and caring leader.”

According to the article in INC. Magazine,

“Self-deprecating humor enhances perceptions of leadership ability because it tends to minimize status distinctions between leaders and followers.”

I am always meeting new people, and often find myself in leadership situations.

This type of humour is my way of trying to make myself approachable and open to others. I also want to be likeable…there, I said it. However, this is where I have noticed it can become dangerous. I can’t help but feel that these comments, quips, and jabs at myself should only be used around those who I know are sincere, and when I have control of the situation.

I find it important to be able to poke fun at yourself. I usually feel more comfortable around people who can, because it shows a sort of acceptance of one’s weaknesses, which we all have. Someone who thinks they know it all and jumps at your throat the minute they get the chance to correct or criticize are the most exhausting to be around. This is not called “tough love,” it’s being rude.

Maybe the reception of the humour also has something to do with gender? The Guardian reports that linguistics expert Dr. Judith Baxter did an 18-month study into the speech patterns of women and men from seven big

companies in the U.K.. She studied the language used at 14 meetings led equally between women and men.

She found that most of the time, humour used by men was met with better reception than humour used by women. Also, women were much more likely to use self-deprecating humour, as it is a safer option to poke fun at themselves. Baxter also mentioned the fact that men have traditionally held the “leader” position in the business world, and women are still claiming their place.

This suggests a broader issue in terms of a woman’s place in the work field. However, in terms of using self-deprecating humour overall, I think there is a general rule: there is a time and place for everything, regardless of who you are.

It’s a double-edged sword, because I want to be myself around others, however this also opens me up to the wrath of megalomaniacs.

I personally see nothing wrong with using a little bit of self-deprecating humour because being funny is an asset. However, I just can’t help but feel it is important to be careful of your environment and whom you’re speaking to. You also don’t want it to be misinterpreted as self-doubt; no one wants to be the human version of Eeyore.

Culture // opinions

Marketing a culture, dehumanizing Aboriginals Yum Yum chips usage of Aboriginal mascot is a case of racism Jessica Deer Contributor

The cultural appropriation of Aboriginals is alive and well. The examples manifest themselves abundantly in our society, from the headdress-wearing hipsters, the students from the Université de Montréal who were photographed during frosh week dressed in red face, and H&M’s bright idea to sell neon pink headdresses. Then there are fashion designers like Nathalie Benarroch and her line “Inukt” that recently got pulled from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and all the “Pocahottie” costume selfies posted on social media this past Halloween.

While cultural appropriation happens to just about every culture, there seems to be a greater amount of ignorance towards the problem when it comes to Aboriginal cultures.

Hence, the latest culprits, the Warwick-based company Croustilles Yum Yum, a subsidiary of Krispy Kernels Inc. Earlier this month, the chip company brought back its original 1960s “little Indian” mascot and logo for the holidays.

Not surprisingly, the company was baffled when Aboriginal people expressed their displeasure with the imagery. By the many paternalistic and racist comments that can be found on social media or in the comment sections of news articles on the story, it seems that many Canadians also do not seem to “get it.”

In several interviews, Yum Yum’s marketing director claimed that the mascot was chosen based on a child’s drawing for a contest, that the company’s founder was of Aboriginal descent and the name of the company means potato in Algonquin.

For one, the word for potato in Algonquin is far from “yum yum.” Second, even if the rest of their claims are true, defending the imagery and racism of the ‘60s because it’s “vintage” is not excusable.

The bottom line is that if Aboriginal people

say that the caricature is insulting, offensive and beyond inappropriate to use as a marketing tactic, then it is. Please do not tell us that you know better about what is and isn’t offensive to us. As a proud Mohawk from Kahnawake, I can assure you that our anger is about far more than an oversight in cultural sensitivity or political correctness.

Not only is the imagery offensive, but it is a flashback to a very racist era for Aboriginal people in Canada. Aboriginal women were prohibited from voting in federal elections up until 1960, Aboriginal children were literally taken from their homes and communities without the knowledge or consent of families.

Then there was the 1969 White Paper that proposed assimilation.

Today, Aboriginal people are still affected by forms of institutionalized racism and inequality. Many Aboriginal communities do not even have access to clean drinking water, there are housing shortages, and chronically underfunded education.

While something like fashion, a Halloween costume, or a chip company’s logo may seem

minor and frivolous in comparison to these issues, cultural misappropriation is still very much a concern.

Cultural appropriation reinforces stereotypes of our people. It undermines the diversity of all Indigenous people in Canada and the United States. There are more than 1.4 million Aboriginal people in Canada alone and that includes more than 50 distinct First Nations, in addition to the Metis and Inuit, all with their own distinct languages, cultures and traditions.

Whether or not Yum Yum had negative or offensive intentions, their actions and the continued acceptance and perpetuation of imagery like their logo dehumanizes Indigenous people. All our distinct nations become a one-dimensional and fictionalized representation without our consultation or any consideration to the fact that we are real people.

That’s offensive, hurtful, and has dangerous social, political and economic implications on how we are treated by the government, society and ourselves.

Tuesday, Nov 26 2013 Vol. 31 Issue 14 Amanda L. Shore Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Nathalie Laflamme Production manager production@theconcordian.com Kelly Duval Sloane Montgomery News editors news@theconcordian.com Sabrina Giancioppi Life editor life@theconcordian.com Roa Abdel-Gawad Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com Jessica Romera Music editor music@theconcordian.com Samantha Mileto Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Casandra De Masi Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Keith Race Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Natasha Taggart Online editor online@theconcordian.com Jennifer Kwan Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com Elizabeth Tomaras Christina Rowan Milos Kovacevic Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com Marilla Steuter-Martin Besher Al Maleh Philippe Labreque Production assistants 7141 Sherbrooke St. Building CC-Rm 431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514-848-2424 ext. 7499 (Editor-in-Chief) Pascale Cardin Business manager business@theconcordian.com Tyson Lowrie Cindy Lopez Ruben Bastien Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com Contributors

Yum yum deicded to use their logo from the ‘60s for a limited time. Photo by Yum Yum Chips

Timothy Weynerowski, Adrian Mahon, Jocelyn Beaudet, Paula Monroy, Sara Cornett, Sabrina Ponzo, Lindsay Richardson, Alex DiMeglio, Tomer Shavit, David Adelman,Angela De Cicco, Katelyn Spidle, Marco Saveriano, Elias Laradi,Chris Cordella, Andrew Davis,Matthew Shanahan, Jessica Deer, Victoria Kendrick,Maddy Comi, Mia Pearson

theconcordian

The self-deprecating humour conundrum

Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper.

ART Beat Nation @ MACM until Jan. 5 Combine 2013 @ FOFA Gallery until Dec. 6 Porcelain: Breaking Tradition @ Art Mûr until Dec. 21 Splendore a Venezia @ MMFA until Jan. 19 L’Éther @Wilder & Davis Gallery until Feb. 7

THEATRE The Islands of Love @ D. B. Clarke Theatre until Dec. 1 The St. Leonard Chronicles @ Centaur Theatre until Dec.1 Othello @ Segal Centre until Dec. 1 The Pipeline @ Infinithéâtre until Dec. 8 The Elephant in the Room @ Freestanding room until Dec. 8 Urban Tales @ Centaur Theatre until Dec. 14

MUSIC Wu Tang Clan @ Olympia Nov.27 The Matinée @ Quai des Brumes Nov.29 Elephant Stone @ Quai des Brumes Nov.30 A Celebration of Verdi @ Opera de Montreal Dec. 1 Lady Lamb the Beekeeper @ Le Divan Orange Gisele Quartet @ Le Labo Dec.3

other Margaret Atwood in Conversation with Sheila Heti @ Drawn and Quarterly Library Dec. 4 Spoken Screen @ Agence TOPO Dec. 5 Montreal Burlesque Festival @ Club Soda until Dec. 8 Magic Evening with Canadian authors @ Restaurant Souvenirs d’Indochine Dec. 8