September 17, 2019

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

The Concordian.

NEWS // WWII - 80th anniversary / Queer Concordia / Transboundary environmental pollution

LIFE // Fall fashion trends / Wellness on a budget / The WORST coffee in Montreal

ARTS // The senses & performance art / The Parlour Project / Movie review: Midsommar

SPORTS // Julian Petrilli profile / Men's hockey preview / Colour Commentary

*music pg. 10 VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4 TUESDAY SEPT. 17, 2019

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OPS // Women & Comedy / Political rallies and music / The people vs. ScarJo

News.

NEWS EDITORS Jad Abukasm / ! @JAbukasm Virginie Ann / ! @LaVirginieAnn news@theconcordian.com

LGBTQI+

Study invalidates the existence of a “gay gene” While nonheterosexual behaviours are partly linked to genetics, they aren’t enough to determine someone’s orientation Jad Abukasm News Editor A recent study invalidated the existence of a gene linked to homosexuality after decades of scientific debate.

The study, led by Andrea Ganna, a research fellow with the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School in Boston, examined data from thousands of participants that shared both DNA samples and behaviour information to two genetic surveys – the UK Biobank study and the private genetics firm 23andMe.

Instead of a gay gene, the study suggested evidence of five genetic variants strongly associated with what scientists call nonheterosexual behaviours.

From the two that were associated only to men, one had been previously found to predict baldness, and the other was present in regions rich in olfactory receptors.

However, the published study emphasized that genetic markers cannot be used to predict sexual behaviour.

“Behavioral traits, like sexual behavior and orientation, are only partially genetic in nature,” wrote the research organization on its website.

“They are shaped by hundreds or thou-

sands of genetic variants, each with a very small effect, yet they are also shaped in large part by a person’s environment and life experiences.”

Ganna also acknowledged that what they called in the research as “nonheterosexual behavior” is part of a la rge spec t r u m of sex ua l experiences. “[The sexual experiences] go from people who engage exclusively in same-sex behaviour to those who might have experimented once or twice,” said Ganna in an interview with Science. This limited the experiment, since, in reality, people who have a single same-sex experience might be categorized as open, while not being gay or bisexual.

The research also found that people with these genetic variants were more inclined to suffer from mental illness such as depression. It was noted in the findings that LGBTQI+ people are more likely to suffer from such i l l ne s se s due to societ a l pressure.

Some people from the LGBTQI+ community that faced societal pressure think that linking sexual orientation to genetics can have a negative impact on the long run.

“This could be a very slippery slope to eugenics,” said Queer

Concordia’s Administrative Coordinator, Anastasia Caron. “There could be situations where people decide ‘let’s make DNA tests in the womb to figure out if your baby is gay or not’ and decide to keep it based on that.”

Queer Concordia is a student organization that aims to create a safe environment for all LGBTQI+ students at Concordia. Caron created a support group for students to act against discrimination towards community members.

As a member of the LGBTQI+ community themselves, Caron observed that societal pressure adds a lot of stress to students going through similar situations as them.

“A lot of people feel alone and don’t think that others feel the same way as them,” said Queer Concordia’s Resource Coordinator, Akira De Carlos. “It’s even better when you’re talking about your problems and see that someone else has the same ones and realize that ‘oh my god! I’m not alone in this.’”

De Carlos and Caron hope that biological research over sexual orientations stays moderate due to this potential rhetoric that can be used against the LGBTQI+ community.

Graphic by @sundaeghost

ENVIRONMENT

If your trash is made from plants, like those brown paper bags greasy fries from a favourite burger joint are tossed in, plop it in! If your lunch was too big, the bins are perfect orphanages for leftovers you’ll abandon. It sucks that you cannot finish your grandmother’s pasta, but the compost will happily handle that for you.

Napkins covered in mascara after crying over an assignment? A banana that got squashed at the bottom of your bag? Toenails? Yup, all of those organic-based items can go in, but it’s important to know exactly how composting works and why we bother with it.

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sequently contributes to climate change.

Aerobes also biodegrade food, but make carbon dioxide instead of methane. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas as well, but soaks up way less solar radiation. In addition to that, aerobes manage to eliminate toxicity better and produce less of a rotten smell t han anaerobes.

So, how do we get our food to be handled by aerobes i nstead of a naerobes? By composting!

Composts are set up to maintain airflow. Aerobes get the oxygen they need to live and this type of environment blocks anaerobic expansion. All it can take to sustain the right aerobic atmosphere is a simple stir of a container. With composts, we can make humus. Before you take your pita out, know that humus isn’t your favorite Middle Eastern spread (that’s actually hummus). Humus is a term used to reference dirt achieved from rotting organics. Those orange bins on campus are a way to

Virginie

We have all surely crossed paths with those orangecapped garbage cans that decorate Concordia’s campuses. Little hubs for our biodegradable waste, the list of things we can put in them is particular but easy!

It all comes down to microbes. Eons ago, before you, or I, or any of our ancestors stressed over school, there were tiny lifeforms on Earth that thrived without using oxygen.

They are called anaerobes.

Eventually, oxygen users like us, known as aerobes, joined the scene hundreds of millions of years later. We and anaerobes now strut across the same runway that is the planet, but humans have to be careful. No, you’re right, anaerobes won’t throw marbles under our feet while we pose, but they do dangerous things with our trash!

When you put that bite of your grandmother’s pasta in the general garbage, it all gets closed up in a plastic bag. This prevents airflow and creates a low oxygen environment that gives anaerobes a chance to grow. Contained in a perfect microcosm, they break down your food and produce methane as a byproduct. That’s bad because methane is a greenhouse gas; it absorbs the sun’s heat and con-

Photo by

Tristan McKenna Contributor

take remaining glop and make beautiful, nutrient soil. Letting anaerobes process our leftovers goes the opposite way, tending to make w a s te more hazardous.

It’s worth noting that some compost processing sites actually embrace anaerobe disadvantages to harvest their methane. Humans burn the gas for heat and electricity. Despite not being clean energy, at least our species can use it and cause climate change instead of not using it and warming the globe anyway. If you think of all the landfills on our planet, there is a lot of food rotting without being exploited.

In a world piling up with trash, humans are faced with more and more complexities surrounding what to do with it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported, “Pound for pound, the compar-

Ann

The science behind composting

ative impact of [methane] is more than 25 times greater than [carbon dioxide] over a 100-year period.” Concordia’s orange bins are a game of anaerobes vs. aerobes. These days, the seemingly simple act of throwing away a teabag is actually an influential decision that’ll shape history.

WWII MEMORIAL

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

Concordia University commemorates World War II survivors, 80 years later Virginie Ann News Editor

POLI SAVVY: Old rivalries in New Brunswick Georges Habib Contributor Both the New Democratic Party and the Green Party have butted heads the past two weeks on what appears to be a controversial development in the eastern province.

Previously thought to be 14 defectors, eight former New Democratic candidates have switched over to the Greens, as reported by the CBC. One defector, former party executive Jonathan Richardson, even went so far as to blame the move on NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s ethnicity’s effect on regional popularity.

Naturally, such a statement has led to accusations of racism against the Greens, accusations that the party has vehemently denied. Instead, it was pointed out that Singh had not once visited the Maritimes since assuming his position in 2017. Unsurprisingly, words have been thrown back and forth since the defections, reaching levels of passive-aggressiveness best reserved for thanksgiving.

But regardless of the political bickering, the real question remains; what will be the consequential effect of these disputes on the upcoming federal and provincial elections?

The answer is… probably nothing.

It's no secret that the Green Party has never been one to gain more than two seats at the Federal level, so far. Nor have they established any sort of major political ground on the eastern seaboard. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that no riding was ever truly in sight for a Green takeover; as New Brunswick is primarily split between Conservative and Liberal MPs, with a slight lead for the Blues.

In fact, the Greens hold a mere three provincial seats out of the province's total of 49. Zero on the Federal level.

But what about the NDP? Have they lost any potential advantage in future polls?

Again, not necessarily.

The “defectors” mentioned consisted of members of the Oranges, who ran in the 2018 provincial elections. Ran, not won, as the NDP had not gained a single seat. Most of these individuals had figured that their prospects would be better for joining the Greens, either through the assumption that following a Sikh leader would hurt their chances or genuinely believing that Singh had not done enough to remain popular in the area.

In the end, the Greens did not gain a single seat as the New Democrats did not have anything to lose. To find out if the former had gained any clear advantage, we will need to see the results of the upcoming elections.

Until then, the Green Party will just have to settle for brownie points.

Graphic by @sundaeghost

On Sept. 10, the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies and the Consulate General of t he Republic of Poland in Montreal hosted a night where survivors shared their most striking memories from World War II.

The idea was orchestrated by Concordia History Professor, Alison Rowley, who wanted to approach the commemoration of such a tragic event in the most humane way possible. The Institute, which is part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Concordia University, brought together five Polish-Canadians; Lech Andrzej Czerwiński, Kajetan Biniecki, Teresa Romer, Mila Messner and Halina Babińska. All five took turns to recount their own experiences of the war.

The context has never been an easy one to recall. Poland first got attacked

by Nazi Germans in September 1939.

And while struggling to defend its territory it also got attacked by the Soviet Union, under the guise that the Red Army was there to protect its own citizens living in various parts of Poland.

War was everywhere.

“When you talk about a place such as [Poland] that lost at least four and a half million of its citizens, when you talk about numbers that size, it's so big that it’s almost meaningless,” said Rowley. “It's hard for human beings to understand anything on that scale, and that's why evenings like this are so important. Because what we have done here is we [share] memories of individuals, and those stories resonate.”

Rowley argued that shared memories are perhaps more powerful than numbers. And truthfully, one can easily imagine what kind of impact intimately shared recollections of the war have on someone, rather than reading about it in a history book.

Each speaker brought a different angle, yet the same poignant feeling remained throughout the evening. All spoke of the oppressive situation, describing the dark clouds as an omen of disaster as they heard the names of their relatives, through the loudspeakers, being called to never be seen again.

“There were so many aspects of living in this rotten society,” said Messner, who was 16 years old when the war erupted. “You would be afraid of your neighbours, but then you could also be momentari ly helped by Germa n soldiers.”

Those individual stories are different lenses of the world, which is what Rowley tried to emphasize. We all have families, friends we care about and we all have seen the strength of the human spirit and the humanity that binds us together, she said.

But probably t he most heart-wrenching moment was when Czerwiński, who’s now 97 years old, solemnly recalled his group of friends, one by one, and what horrific fate the war brought upon some of them, while it spared others.

“We were asking, always, the question why all those horrible things were happening,” said Czerwiński. “We decided that war was inevitable. So whatever would come, we would attempt to survive [these horrible times]. But each attempt to prevent provocation would result in the murder of at least 10 citizens. The only way to survive these horrors was to have a clear mind and to think properly. It’s the only answer I can give you.”

Graphic by Zeze Lin

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News.

NEWS EDITORS Jad Abukasm / ! @JAbukasm Virginie Ann / ! @LaVirginieAnn news@theconcordian.com

CSU

Internal politics: what happened with CUT THE CRAP? Cut the Crap moves forward with campaign plans after initial setbacks in April Chantal Marie Schromeda Contributor When Cut the Crap, a political party on campus, ran for the 2019-20 Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) general elections, their goal was to disintegrate misleading information. The team wanted students to be able to understand what was going on at the CSU. This message resonated with the students and they were victorious during last winter’s elections.

Yet, shortly after elected, they were disqualified. Team member Danielle Vandolder-Beaudin communicated online with a potential voter, asking if they had voted. Vandolder-Beaudin then sent the student names of her fellow teammates, encouraging the student to vote for them.

The action was ruled as a violation of polling regulations.

Cut the Crap later decided to appeal the decision to the judicial board.

“The initial reaction was, of course, disappointment and shock,” said Eduardo Malorni, CSU student life coordinator.

“But it was motivating after the shock had worn off.”

The party was successful in its

Photo by Mia Anhoury

appeal. All members, apart from Vandolder-Beaudin, were reinstated.

After the initial commotion of the disqualification, reinstatement, and the beginning of a new school year, things have been quieter. Yet, a lot of things remain to be done. Their campaign had put the focus on the sanitation and improvement of the bathrooms, an online opt-out system for unwanted fees and extending the nomination period for elections.

“We are talking to people, contacting deans and writing clear policies,” said Malorni. “We are still going through it. The improvement to the bathrooms specifically, must go through administration. We are working with the administration to pass it through the council. There is a multitude of meetings going on.”

The CSU is an essential part of Concordia, a union that advocates for undergraduate students and provides important services. The CSU provides students with access to vital resources, i.e. health insurance, a job and housing board and daycare, among other things. The CSU works

WORLD IN BRIEF

alongside the faculty associations to represent the students on campus. The four faculty associations are responsible for each faculty they represent.

“A lot of people are intimidated by these big organizations, but we work together in a variety of ways,” said Malorni.

“The CSU is more overarching. The faculty associations are more specific in their mandates than we are. For example, ASFA – Arts and Science Federation of Associations – is responsible for a lot of events on campus.”

Though they are not partners, both strive for positive goals for undergraduate students. They help each other as best they can to continue to provide the student body w it h essent ia l resources a nd experiences.

Campus politics can appear intimidating, Malorni believes. Though, it is fundamental students become involved with their campus politics. Executives are present in the office during office hours, allowing students to voice opinions or concerns to the CSU. Malorni stressed that students should, “come to the office and talk to us about issues, we are here to help.”

This semester’s first CSU council meeting will be taking place on Sept. 19.

At that point, Cut the Crap will be presenting the work they have done thus far to the council.

Virginie Ann News Editor

America’s third Democratic debate ahead of the 2020 presidential nomination took place on Sept. 12, in Houston, Texas. Frontrunners Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders featured among the top 10 candidates.

According to Reuters, access to better health care fuelled a heated conversation for the most part of the debate, alongside gun control. The latter topic resulted in one of the best moments of the evening, as candidate Beto O’Rourke shouted to the dynamic crowd “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.

We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore.”

Still no lull in sight in the Hong Kong protests, as the 15th weekend of mass protests demands more autonomy from the Beijing government. The past months have seen the great capital crumble under tear gas and violent riots. Also known as the Anti-Extradition Bill protests, it erupted after the government introduced a bill that would make it possible for Hong Kong’s citizens to be deported to mainland China, where critics say they could face human right violations, reported the BBC. Even though the bill was withdrawn earlier this month, the protests are now calling for greater democracy and investigation into police brutality.

West African leaders announced an investment of a 1$ billion plan to fight armed groups and the Islamist threat in the Sahel region. According to Al Jazeera, the pledge was made on Sept. 14, at the end of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit in Ouagadougou. The plan is to combat rising insecurity and terrorism, especially in Burkina Faso and Mali. During the Summit, Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore argued that "threats transcend borders.

No country is safe," and that "the escalation of violence has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis" in the Sahel.

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SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

ENVIRONMENT

Concordia professor talks international environmental agreements Economists offer an alternative solution to help the environmental crisis Marissa Ramnanan Assistant News Editor “I have a daughter,” said economics professor and researcher Effrosyni Diamantoudi.

“I want her to live in a happy world, like I did—in a world that’s not stressed with hurricanes and storms and all the consequences that come with climate change.”

“I see the world is not the same as it was 30 years ago,” Diamantoudi continued. “It’s not just for the sake of academic curiosity. My research has an important implication on the world I live in.”

Diamantoudi and her team have been researching international environmental agreements, through an environmental economist lense, for more than a decade.

She explained there are currently 180 environmental agreements that have been signed worldwide, which speaks to the necessity of an alternative method.

“If it was a no-brainer, then we would be drafting one agreement and then we'd all go home and it'll be the end of it,” said Diamantoudi. But as it stands, these agreements are usually written and cancelled and rewritten and more defined and drafted.

We have the Paris Agreement, she said, and the Kyoto Protocol before that, and the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit even before that.

After much research, Diamantoudi and her team suggest to embed the international environmental agreement within another overarching agreement, like trade, and involve as many countries as possible.

It is favorable for country leaders to be part of agreements. “When you’re outside of the agreement, then you have to pay taxes for everything you sell to those markets, you don't benefit from everything they’re exporting. You lose a lot if you’re outside of a trading block," said Diamantoudi.

“What we’re suggesting is a situation where the environmental agreement and the trading block becomes one body, and they negotiate over the two together.”

The concept is simple: if you don’t meet the environmental standards of the agreement, then as a country, you will have to pay a higher tariff.

“That’s a way of balancing t he i nc ent ive s ,” said Diamantoudi.

Diamantoudi said their research shows that if some issues are tied into each other, it would reinforce the validity of the agreement.

Through this, more

incentives would be created for federal governments to contribute, and for ways to ensure indirect punishment if the agreement isn’t met.

She explained there are several international agreements currently in the works, which usually involves much of the same countries, on a singular topic. A group of countries get together to talk about trade, and months later the same group talks about the environment, and then, another couple of months later, technology transfers, and so on.

Diamantoudi said there are three characteristics that explains the failure of most international environmental agreements.

The first is the lack of enforceability. There is no supranational authority overlooking individual countries to keep them accountable if they don’t abide by the agreements made in the international agreement. These agreements are voluntary, and have to be self-enforced, which therein lies a problem.

“Within a country, you can come up with laws,” said Diamantoudi. “‘Do not dump more than X pollutants in the river, and so on, and if you break the law then you get a fine, or you lose your business. Well, nobody can fine a country, and nobody can shut down a country.”

The second is freeriding. Diamantoudi explained that although it would be ideal for all of us to actually do our part, and keep our environment clean, each one of us individually deviates from the agreement because we count on the other to do their part.

If everybody else agrees to cooperate and to decrease their pollution, then each country individually has an incentive to free ride, to not meet their target, because they assume everybody else has. “They think to themselves ‘now climate change is under control, presumably, and therefore we can continue doing business as usual,’” said Diamantoudi.

The third is the heterogeneity of the problem. Not all countries are the same. So in that, not all countries have the same economies, are the same size, have the same industry, have the same natural resources, and not all countries suffer the same environmental consequences.

“It often happens that the countries that contribute to this greater bad, are not the ones that suffer the most,” said Diamantoudi. “So there’s this asymmetry in terms of contribution to the damage, and in consequences of the damage.”

“We have a dire problem in our hands, which explains why so many agreements tend to be drafted, and fail, and why we are where we are.”

Diamantoudi further explained if there are some smaller agreements which also has the environmental agreement embedded, it could be a good start.

“If we cant have all 180 countries sign, could we have a group of 90, and another group of 90, by all means, it’s better than nothing,” said Diamantoudi She further explained that in situations like the environmental crisis, people have to take individual responsibility for their actions as well.

“You can’t teach people to care, but you can teach people to understand better, so information, education, into how this all works,” said Diamantoudi. “Yes, temperatures have increased, yes the water levels have risen, but [educate them on] the consequences of that. Make the calculation of that cost [to them individually], make that information more publicly available so that the masses can understand what’s going on.”

Photo by Alex Hutchinsin

SIMPLY SCIENTIFIC After World War II, all of humanity crossed their fingers, dreading the recreation of another deadly war in a not-so-distant future.

During that time, political tensions escalated again and we brushed up against the possibility of annihilating the human race.

According to an article in the Global Research , the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is why humanity is still here today.

This week, Simply Scientific dives into political science and explores t he i mpl icat ions of t he M A D doctrine.

Prior to the creation of nuclear weapons, traditional warfare was straight forward: two opposing camps fight in a deadly face-off until one group is defeated and the other emerges victorious. This could take hours, days, or years, but it eventually resulted in a clear winner and a loser.

However, during the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were confronted with the possibility of a lose-lose outcome. Actually, a lose-lose-lose outcome, according to some political scientists. Some hypothesized the extinction of life on Earth from radioactive fall-outs.

MAD goes as such: countries possessing weapons of mass destruction aim to hinder the use of such weapons, out of fear that initiation would prompt retaliation of the same nature from their opponent.

In other words, engaging in an attack is signing your suicide note.

Therefore, the destructive potential of some countries coupled with the fear of personal annihilation is what saved humanity from extinction during the Cold War. - Jad Abukasm, News Editor

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Life.

LIFE EDITOR Kayla-Marie Turriciano / ! @lifewithk_ay life@theconcordian.com

WELLLNESS

Wellness on a student budget Brittany Henriques Assistant Life Editor School can be stressful but taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and practicing wellness.

Students who are physically active tend to perform better on tests; it improves cognitive performance, according to the Centre for Disease Control’s website. Physical activity also helps reduce stress and anxiety as well as the risk of cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, and more. According to a Healthline.com article, yoga and meditation also help reduce stress as well as chronic pain, inflammation, and could even improve sleep quality.

It’s clear that physical activity helps keep you mentally and physically in shape, but it can sometimes negatively impact your wallet. Gym and wellness studio memberships can be expensive for someone on a student budget, but many places around Montreal offer free trials and budget-friendly prices.

For fitness enthusiasts, if you’re on a tight budget, why not try out all the gyms for free?

Monster Gym in Dollard-desOrmeaux offers a one-month free trial and the gym is open 24/7. The large

faci lit y includes a bistro, a hair salon, a supplements store, a boxing gym and even a yoga gym. While those are not included in the free-trial, other gyms like Econofitness, G o l d ’s Gy m , a n d Buzzfit allow you to try their facilities out for a day. Buzzfit and Econofitness are also known for being on the lower-end scale for membership prices if you’re looking to stay committed to one gym for the semester or the year.

If you want something more challenging, CrossFit LaSalle offers a 14-day trial for the low price of $1. Crossfit is not your typical workout; it’s described as a “high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and t y p e s o f e x e rc i s e ,” i n t h e O x f o rd dictionary.

For easy access, L e Gy m on Concordia’s downtown campus (located in the basement of the EV building) offers a variety of classes under $50 per semester.

There are several different types of yoga, spinning, zumba, pilates, aerobics, HIIT, martial arts, team and individual sports,

and more. For a student-priced membership, Le Gym charges $30 for one month and $70 for four months. Loyola also has gym facilities you can join (the PERFORM Centre), although it requires a separate membership from Le Gym’s.

For those who prefer something more mindful and spiritual, Ashtanga Yoga Montreal offers free yoga classes from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at their downtown studio every Wednesday.

Spin Energie, a spinning studio, offers an unlimited introductory week for $45, or a two-month one class per week pass for $25. Students even get 15 per cent off prices for yoga, pilates, spinning and dance classes. Lululemon also has a varying schedule of free yoga classes at t heir stores. For t he f u l l monthly schedule, call your preferred

location.

If you would like to avoid physical activity and/or are unable to do it, meditation is another great way to help heal your mind and spirit. Montrealmeditation.org can be used as a resource website to learn about meditation and find information about free meditation events held by the Sri Chinmoy Centre of Montreal, a centre dedicated to meditation teaching and practice. Free classes are offered on Monday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from Sept. 16 to Oct. 7. As a result of limited space, the site asks people to register first, and the location will then be confirmed to you personally.

Whether you prefer to sweat or sit still, Montreal has a ton of great budget-friendly alternatives to help keep in shape and practice well-being.

YUM or YIKES! Pigeon has the world's worst coffee

Not ac t u a l ly, t hou g h, t hat ’s just their slogan: “World’s Worst Coffee” is seen plastered all around the tiny coffee shop located a few storefronts down from the corner of Bishop St. and De Maisonneuve Blvd. (diagonally across from the Hall building). Whether on merch – reusable coffee mugs, crewnecks, caps – or on little posters throughout, their slogan definitely radiates BDE. Their coffee is far from being the worst and has easily become one of my favourites.

From around April to October,

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I usually drink iced coffee. From then until March, I get regular, hot coffee.

At Pigeon, I of ten get an iced latte and, since I like my drinks with a little sweetness, and Pigeon doesn’t have f lavoured syrups, I add a little bit of agave (they also have honey available).

Other times, when I’ve felt adventurous and wanted to try out something new but didn’t know what, every barista I’ve engaged with has helped me out. Not only are they helpful but they’re kind and friendly with each customer that comes in. At one point a few trips ago, one particular barista asked a patron if they wanted “the usual.” Even though it’s a really simple thing, it says a lot about the employees if they remember people’s orders, especially in a very busy neighbourhood. For service, I give Pigeon: 5/5 Back to coffee: during the colder months, I order a regular brew and add some milk – they also have nondairy options like soy, coconut, oat, and almond milk – and sugar (again,

agave and honey are sweetener alternatives). Whatever I get, though, it never tastes burnt, water y or just dow nright gross; it’s always fresh, has that perfect brewed-coffee smell and feels “full” to your taste buds. I’ d g ive t heir coffee: 4.5/5 On a side note, Pigeon does also have some baked goods. Since I have celiac disease (I can’t eat gluten), I haven’t tried anything, but they always look so yummy and I often see other people buying them.

One thing about Pigeon is that, because it’s an independent shop, their prices are a little higher than a Starbucks coffee, which makes me give them: 3.5/5 Even as a small – literally tiny, with only about three feet from the counter to the windowed-wall – coffee shop, Pigeon has quite a few varieties of drinks, all of which can be seen on the menu, which is written on large mirrors on the left side of the shop. Hanging from the ceiling

are plants, which gives the small shop a light feel and makes for the perfect Instagram shot. Once you’ve got your coffee, you can sit down on a stool by the ledge lining the windows or sit outside on the shaded patio and watch Bishop St. For ambiance, I give Pigeon: 5/5 Kayla-Marie Turriciano, Life Editor

Graphics by @sundaeghost

A r e y o u a s t u d e nt o n t h e downtown campus who’s tired of getting their coffee from bigchain corporations like Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, Second Cup or Van Houte? Do you want a new spot that has a cool vibe, good service and good coffee? Well, that’s not Pigeon Espresso Bar because they have the world’s worst coffee.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

FASHION

Unisex top-tier trends for Fall 2019 Erica Rizzo Staff Writer As the temperature drops and fall officially begins next week, you may be itching to purchase some new pieces. But with so many trends, how do you choose the right ones? Luckily, we have a guide to the hottest fall trends that anyone can wear and the designers they’re inspired by.

THE ART OF BEING SINGLE W/ KAYLA-MARIE TURRICIANO

has also evolved to include cropped silhouettes made in thinner knits. Cardigans are a key piece to have in your fall wardrobe for a few reasons: not only are they practical and provide warmth, but they’re also great for layering, which is one of the easiest styling tricks to adding depth and dimension to any outfit.

Zebra Is The New Leopard

really elevate any fall look.

YOU CAN STILL LOVE

Plaid

SOMEONE ELSE EVEN if you don’t love YOURSELF

Plaid is making a major return to fashion, with br a nd s l i ke Viv ien ne Westwood, Christian Dior, and Oscar de la Renta all featuring this trend.

I’m not going to come on here and tell you that you need to learn to love yourself before you could ever be loved or before you can love someone else, because that’s problematic for a few reasons.

Statement Shoulders

If you’re looking for a zebra-printed item that doesn’t scream “zebra print,” avoid black and white. This colourway is high contrast and commands a lot of attention.

So to soften up the print, go for zebra that’s camel-coloured or dark beige with black stripes.

From jumpsuits to dresses, blouses, and blazers, statement shoulders have been spotted in the shows of designers like Ulla Johnson, Isabel Marant, and Alexander McQueen. While this trend has reached the fall season with full force, it has slowly been building momentum for the past six months.

Incorporating the statement shoulder trend is one of the simplest ways to add drama to an outfit while applying minimal effort.

The best and easiest piece to use is a blazer with volume and padding at the shoulders.

This will broaden your upper body, giving you a cool, oversized look that will flatter anyone who wears it.

Monochrome Bucket Hats Featured in the collections of Coach, Nina Ricci, and Brandon Maxwell, monochrome has proven to be a very popular trend.

This is no surprise given that it flatters everyone. Wearing a single colour all throughout an outfit elongates and leans out the body, because the eye is not drawn to look to one specific point.

Try experimenting with different neutral-toned outfits. Shades like camel, navy, and creams look really luxe and expensive, especially when worn from head to toe.

If you’re not afraid of colour, go for deep purple or even forest green monochrome looks.

Square-Toed Boots Featured on the Fall 2019 runway collections of Proenza Schouler, Chloe, and Maison Margiela, square-toed boots are a fresh new take on the must-have basic boot in everyone’s fall wardrobes.

Incorporating a pair of square-toed boots will instantly give your outfit an updated look to the 70s style. Also, square-toed boots are the perfect complement to an already androgynous-looking outfit, as the blunt, angular shape of the boot is almost reminiscent of the shape of men’s square-toed dress shoes.

Cardigans We saw the reintegration of cardigans into the fashion trend cycle last season, and designers like Coach, Chanel, and Max Mara incorporated oversized, chunky-knit cardigans in their Fall 2019 collections.

This “grandpa-chic” style of cardigan is still in style but

T ha n k s to major de sig n house Christian Dior, who heavily featured this trend in their Fall 2019 runway show, the concept of the bucket hat was completely renewed.

Maintaining the traditional shape and style of the bucket hat, Dior swapped out the cotton or canvas material traditionally used and, instead, opted for alternative materials like leather, plaid, denim, and other textured and printed fabrics.

Not only are we seeing plaid, but the options are much more diverse. From tartan to gingham, Prince of Wales check, and other variations like houndstooth, plaid is being designed in limitless colour combinations and different pieces like dresses, trench coats, and midi skirts.

First, it harbours the idea that people aren’t worthy of love if they don’t love who they are by themselves. You don’t have to love yourself all the time or have all your life figured out to be loved; you can still be a work in progress.

Second, this ideolog y of loving yourself before you should ever be in a relationship with someone else is toxic.

Loving yourself is a process; a lifelong journey. There are probably days where you think to yourself, “yeah, I’m pretty damn awesome.” There are also days where you might not like yourself very much, for whatever reason.

Both of these reasons and everything in between are totally normal and they’re all part of living with yourself every day for your entire life. Neither of these or anything in between should affect your ability to be in a relationship.

While there are these two problems with this ideology, there is also a silver lining. No, you don’t have to love yourself before you can love someone else, but it’s important to still learn to love yourself. The same effort you’re going to put into a relationship is also needed for yourself.

Whether it’s by taking time to yourself to really get to know you, or it’s going on solo dates to your favourite coffee shop, to a new movie that came out, to a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try; or even if it’s telling yourself reaffirming phrases everyday for the rest of your life.

All of these are just some examples of how you can learn to love yourself. But these don’t, in any way, conclude the journey of self-love, nor do they mean you can’t still be in a relationship while you’re on it.

When picking out a plaid piece, invest in a neutral-coloured one with an accent colour running through.

The single colour will give you styling flexibility while still allowing your outfit to stand out.

Even though many of these pieces are considered trendy, they’re bound to stick around for many upcoming seasons_. So make sure you keep them in your closet, ready for Fall 2020.

Bucket hats are the perfect option if you’re looking for an alternative to a beanie but with a little flare. They’re also great because they can pretty much be styled with any outfit, as long as the fabric complements whatever tone you’re setting for your look.

Leather Designers like Ferragamo, N°21, and Hermes are some of the many that have featured leather pieces or entire leather looks in their Fall 2019 collections.

The whole point of this is that you can still (if you choose) be in a loving relationship with someone else even though you’re not in a loving relationship with yourself. You’re allowed to love and be loved by someone else while you’re trying and learning to love yourself. You’re allowed to be happy with someone else even if you’re not necessarily always happy with yourself. You’re not unworthy of feeling love or being in love if you don’t love yourself. The important thing is that you don’t give up on trying.

From black button-up shirts to matching sunset-orange-coloured sets, designers are doing leather differently. They’re going beyond the idea of the classic biker jacket and are really pushing the boundaries when it comes to utilizing this material.

If you want to try out the trend but still want to play it safe, opt for a pair of black faux leather pants.

The timeless colour makes them easy to style while maintaining the textural element of leather that will

Photos by Laurence B.D.

Seen on the runways of Saint Laurent, 3.1 Philip Lim and Proenza Schouler, compared to classic leopard, zebra print is a way cooler print to play around with your fall style. Though it can run the risk of looking tacky, if styled carefully and worn in the right colours, it can look really chic.

+ If you have any topic suggestions or questions for advice, feel free to reach out to life@theconcordian.

7

Arts.

PERFORMANCE ART

Feeling, touching and hearing Lorenza Mezzapelle Assitant Arts Editor

camille: un rendez-vous au délà du visuel changes the ways in which we experience art Art is and, for the most part, always has been a feast for the eyes.

It is delightful to look at a painting and recognize the emotion in the subject’s facial expression, to experience a multicoloured light show at a concert, and to watch costumes glittering as dancers sway and leap during a performance. But what if you could not see? How does one experience art if they cannot see?

This is a question that Audrey Anne Bouchard wants to answer. Bouchard is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and professor at Concordia and the National Theatre School of Canada. Her latest show camille: un rendez-vous au délà du visuel is currently being presented at Montréal, Arts Interculturels (MAI) in the Plateau.

“I asked myself, what do people who cannot see at all retain from a dance performance or theatre?” said Bouchard.

“They were telling me that they are always aware that [they are] missing a part of the show, so I came up with the hope of creating a piece where they wouldn’t be missing anything.” camille: au délà du visuel, a performance piece which tells the story of a loss of friendship, aims to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience.

“I knew from the very be-

Photo by Laurence Gagnon Lefebvre

8

ARTS EDITOR Chloë Lalonde / ! @ihooq2 arts@theconcordian.com

ginning that [the show] was going to be immersive,” said Bouchard.

“For me, it meant that the spectator would be immersed in the set of the piece; they would be able to understand through space, touch, sound, and texture, the environment in which it takes place.”

Inspired by her own disability, Bouchard created au délà du visuel, or beyond sight, a project aiming to enable a new audience, one who normally wouldn’t be able to access theatre and dance shows, to experience performance art. “[The loss of my eyesight] came very progressively,” explained Bouchard, who suffers from Stargardt's disease. “I started losing sight when I was around 17 but it took several months before they could find out what the origin of the problem was.”

Bouchard, who has always worked within the performing arts, noted that it only occurred to her about 10 years after the fact that her practice is very visual.

“It’s interesting because I created a job for myself where I can work with my eyes closed; I created a context where my disability is not a disability at all,” she said. ‘“I did a lot of research on the visual aspect of theatre and dance and I realized that this is kind of a paradox, that I'm losing sight and working with such a visual discipline.”

This inspired Bouchard to further her research and discover what it is that artists share through their art that does not necessarily have to be shared through sight.

“It was obvious then that the piece had to be immersive,” explained Bouchard. “To share with people, I need to be close with my performers.”

camille: au délà du visuel allows for the spectator to be fully immersed in the set, alongside the performers. Blindfolds are required for those without any visual impairments and audience members are directed through the performance, through touch, music, and narration.

“We also welcome people who have different kinds of disabilities,” said Bouchard.

“We can guide you through a show if you’re in a wheelchair.”

Bouchard noted that the distance between the stage and the audience is what makes performance art very

visual, by default.

“If we eliminate that distance then we have access to all of [the spectators’] tools,” she explained. “[We had to find out] how can you share the performance of an actor when you don’t see him.”

The development of the project took over three years and was very theoretical. “We created a new creative process methodology with this project,” Bouchard said. Through working with people who are visually-impaired and through research, Bouchard created a new way to work.

This new process methodology inspired Bouchard and the team of performers and artists she works with to develop a series of workshops.

“We designed a workshop to teach students or other artists how to work that way,” Bouchard said.

“I think that now we have to keep working and creating work altogether for an audience living with visual disabilities and other disabilities that we would like to address as well.” Bouchard’s workshops, which will be both interactive and theoretical, are in the works and will be further developed over the course of the upcoming year.

“I see a desire from the arts consult to encourage more accessibility [...] to all kinds of audiences who don't normally have access to the arts,” said Bouchard. “It is becoming more and more present, and it’s changing. I’m benefiting from it, but I'm also hoping to help make it happen in the future; I hope that my work is also a great example of how the creative process that we use everyday works, but that there are so many other ways to create art that can be explored.” camille: un rendez-vous au délà du visuel is being presented until Sept.

22, at Montréal, arts interculturels, at 3680 Jeanne-Mance St., suite 103. Further details regarding showtimes can be found at www.m-a-i. qc.ca.

Happening in and around the White Cube this week...

CHLOË LALONDE | ARTS EDITOR Mesmerizing. Ingenious.

Those two words come to mind when thinking about Ragnar Kjartansson’s A Lot of Sorrow. I’ve visited the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) to see it three times. I’ve never seen the whole thing (it’s six hours long) – so every time I go it’s at a different part. Kjartansson, an Icelandic performance artist, convinced The National, an American band he was obsessed with, to perform their song “Sorrow” for six hours straight at the MoMA PS1 in New York City in 2013. The recorded footage, now property of the MAC, is exhibited every three years or so.

With each repetition, new sounds are heard. Whether it is just you paying attention to different notes or the band experimenting, I couldn’t say for sure. The room is big and dark, walled with black curtains and a long comfy stool, or perhaps it’s a couple of smaller stools pressed together, existing in the centre of the space. People sit and lie there, watching. They also sit or lie on the floor, some for a couple of minutes, others for hours to watch the endless concert.

The song loops perfectly, a consistent light drumming tying it all together. By now I’ve memorized the lyrics too, but they were my own. I know the actual ones too, they just evolve after each listen. “Cover me in ragan balm,” it’s rag and bones, “and sympathy…”

“It’s in my honey. It’s in my bed,” it’s in my milk. Everyone in the room hears something different. Some are smiling, laughing quietly to themselves, others look solemn, they feel the sorrow, a whole lot of sorrow.

In an article by The Art Newspaper, Kjartansson is quoted saying, “the notion of melancholia creates something that makes me happy, in creating.” Wallowing in sorrow rarely stays as such, especially when listening to The National on repeat.

It’s silly. It’s beautiful. It’s tiring.

The band’s exhaustion sets in, their suits disheveled, sweaty, hungry, and drunk.

The stage becomes littered with bottles, water and wine, platters of fruit, candy…

I would have stayed all six hours too if I could eat and drink in the exhibition hall.

The concept is simple enough. The song is the right one.

A Lot of Sorrow will continue to loop at the MAC until Oct. 6. Admission i s $7 for s t ude nt s , h a l f-pr ic e on

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

HAPPENING

An auto-ethnography to embrace new beginnings Immerse yourself in sincerity and vulnerability in The Parlour Project Chloë Lalonde Arts Editor

Womanhood. Vulnerability. Healing. Value. Recognition. Seduction—the centre of The Parlour Project: Spider, Fly and Web, the first collaborative initiative practiced by The Wolf Lab, founded by Amber Dawn Bellemare.

Bellemare, who studied communications and First Peoples studies at Concordia, is a former sex worker and is currently the program animator for the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation for the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC). The CUC brings together followers of Unitarian Universalism who affirm the worth and dignity of every person. They value justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. They seek peace, respect, and acceptance of one another in a global community, or an “interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”, according to their website.

The Parlour Project stems from these values. Her past documentary work focused on telling others’ stories, and this auto-ethnography will be the first time Bellemare focuses on her own, welcoming viewers into her par-

no," said the little Fly. "To ask me is in vain, for who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.”

(The Spider and the Fly, 1828)

lour. The artist documented her health and wellbeing before and after rendez-vous’ with clients, which revealed a full range of emotions.

Seeking to create an immersive experience, the happening is part normal photography exhibition and part ceremonial performance. Bellemare hopes the project will deepen relationships and connections to the present moment, expanding the view of oneself to include others.

“The project is more profound than I initially thought it would be,” revealed Bellemare. “I was sexualized young, determining my value by my

sexuality, a common experience shared among women... I wanted to redefine what dinner and a movie looked like.” Her work distills important aspects of the conversation about female sexuality. She found confidence in her vision and voice to heal and connect with others.

The full name of the project is derived from a poem

by Mary Howlitt, “Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly. “‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; the way into my parlour is up a winding stair, and I've a many curious things to show when you are there.” “Oh no,

FILM REVIEW

Midsommar: A Nightmare Bathed in Sunlight

Bellemare said she always thought of herself as either the spider or the fly, depending on the circumstances. The spider, when she was luring or seducing.

The fly, when she was submitting to clients or creating individual experiences for them. Only later did she come to recognize that the art of tease and seduction is necessary not only to the spider’s web, but the entirety of the trio; unapologetic, warm, and welcoming, creating sincere and vulnerable experiences throughout her life—not solely in her work.

Opening on Sept 19., you can experience The Parlour Project until Sept. 28 at 4035 St-Ambroise St., studio 206.

Tickets are available online and cost $20 for general admission, $15 for students, seniors and sex workers, or $25 at the door. All showings are 18+. Please consult the Eventbrite calendar for opening times. The event will be filmed on weekends for documentation purposes.

SCAN TO GET TICKETS FOR THE PARLOUR PROJECT

Director Ari Aster crafts a film that brings meaning to terror in this summer 2019 horror Lola Cardona Contributor Midsommar, directed by Hereditary’s Ari Aster, is a truly disturbing film, but undeniably beautiful and expertly crafted.

Both its beauty and disturbing nature lie in the same vein, a horror film which almost entirely takes place under the bright, white Swedish sunlight. The plot is filled with people who have committed terrible acts, have malicious intentions, and traumatic pasts.

Midsommar takes place in the aftershock of the death of Dani’s family, who were killed in a murder-suicide by her sister. Meanwhile, Dani’s boyfriend Christian doesn’t want to be with her but feels obligated to stay due to her trauma and grief. Out of pity, he invites her to join him and his friends on a trip to Sweden, where they plan to witness the Swedish midsummer tradition for their anthropology PhD theses. A series of events unfold and reveal not only the dark and gruesome traditions of the Swedish commune but also troubling issues within Dani and Christian’s toxic relationship.

There’s a certain type of film that feels completely motivated, as in you can tell the director and filmmakers put thought and effort into every frame.

Everything is truly there for a reason. I was lucky enough to have seen Midsommar in its two forms: the theatrical release and the director’s cut. One thing I can say for sure is that Aster uses perfectly planned out and motivated camera movements to lure the viewer into the film. Aster takes advantage of a bright colour palette to lull you into a sense of s a f e t y f o r m o s t o f t h e m o v i e ’s runtime.

Plus, nothing can go wrong in the light of day, right? The setting is well-chosen to bring the characters and the audience into a location that feels simultaneously isolated and welcoming as the characters are surrounded by bright green grass and friendly people in bright garments. Along with the stunning cinematography, Aster directs this film with intent, purpose, and a slow but compelling pace. Although the film does feel slow in the middle, especially in the director’s cut version, every second of the footage feels important

regardless of the pacing.

Florence Pugh plays the main character, Dani. Her incredible performance is genuine and heartbreaking.

Pugh constantly keeps Dani’s grief directly under the surface and you can see it pour out or slowly seep through in every shot. Her strained relationship with Christian, played by Jack Reynor, is also effectively portrayed to show that trust and love have been long gone. The supporting cast, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter and Vilhelm Blomgren also stand up to the challenge. Harper plays a convincingly stressed and defensive PhD student while Poulter acts as the selfish, inconsiderate but funny friend who’s only coming to gawk at Swedish women.

Meanwhile, Blomgren remains a kind and mysterious figure who possibly has ulterior intentions for his friends’ trip. However, Reynor's performance doesn’t match up to Pugh’s in terms of emotional believability and depth.

Out of the cast, he feels like the weakest link.

What I have learned from watching Midsommar is this: just

because something makes you uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s bad. It means that the filmmakers did a good job of using the medium to make you feel a certain way. It also means that this could be a good time for you as a viewer to reflect on what you saw, think about what made you uncomfortable, and why. Are you distressed by the graphic violence? Or are you distressed by Christian’s treatment of Dani? And why are these different?

M id s om m a r a l low s u s to examine a relationship from the inside out while also dealing with the disconcerting series of events occurring outside of them. O erall, this film is well-crafted, full of artistic motivation, great performances and sickening feelings. Since both the objective and subjective aspects of Midsommar were of great quality and because of how deeply it fascinates me, I give this film

5/5 stars

9

Music.

MUSIC EDITOR Immanuel Matthews / ! @immanuelmatt music@theconcordian.com

PROFILE

Sounds from the shadows: Sasan’s story Iranian Master’s student finds serenity in electronic and experimental music, regardless of what his home has to say would listen to popular music in Immanuel Matthews Stafff Writer “They think Iran is just a desert with no culture, no music. They think it’s just politics, but it’s not,” said Sasan.

As DSM – a 25-year- old Master’s student in Building Engineering – explored Concordia’s SGW campus this past winter, shortly after arriving in Montreal from his home country of Iran, he stumbled across a copy of The Concordian on a stand in the school. After flipping through to the paper’s music section, he decided to reach out to its editor in an attempt to share his story.

“I thought, let’s try, send an email and see what happens,” said DSM. “I was also afraid because I thought you might not answer, or that you wouldn’t care to speak to me.”

Now we’re here.

See, education in Iran is often regarded as the ideal route, with other activities seen as extracurricular, and only that.

“When I was in Iran I told myself that I was nothing,” said DSM. “I didn’t have good marks, and they think people who make music are just losers.”

For creators of electronic music, that principle reigns true, with an even deeper sentiment of taboo.

“Many people believe that [western music] brings you to hell, and others think it encourages you to do bad things,” he said. “So we have legal music and illegal music.”

DSM, an avid techno-listener and experimental producer, began creating music in his home in Iran. He was inspired by a video clip he saw of superstar DJ Tiesto commanding a crowd at a major festival, demonstrating music’s deep ability to bring

all kinds of people together.

“It was so amazing for me to see that,” said DSM. He first began dabbling in music by creating mash-ups, or “mixes,” for him and his friends on their long bus ride home from school. Though he later shifted towards producing his own songs, using the software Ableton Live. It’s now been four years since DSM has been seriously working on his craft, and the hard work is paying off.

He has been featured in Visions of Darkness, a compilation album of contemporary music

by Iranian musicians, and has multiple tracks set to be released through Montreal-based record label and creative agency, Husa Sounds. He also released an EP last December, titled Abstracted.

While his passion has continued to blossom, DSM chooses to keep his musical identity a subtle part of his life. His parents are aware of it and are supportive of his musical endeavours, so long as he stays in school and completes his Master’s.

“I usually play music at parties and gathering, and sometimes I would in my father’s car with my family,” he said. “We

Iran, or old music that my father or mother love. I tried playing some mellow, deep house for them, not the hard stuff, and they liked it too. Sometimes I’d try to sneak in my own songs and if they didn’t say ‘next song’ I would tell them it was mine.”

For DSM, music is more than just a hobby or even a passion – it’s a form of therapy.

“I just wanted to release my feelings – it’s my way to calm down,” he said. “If I have too many things on my mind, music is the way to release my stress, to forget any bad things in my life.

It’s like my Advil. If the music is so good you can get high on that, you don’t need weed or alcohol.”

Back in Iran, DSM was not able to peacefully enjoy electronic music as a result of the government’s strict rules and regulations surrounding public musical performances.

Musical performers are required to obtain a government license in order to perform publicly, whether it be at an art gallery or a musical event. This leaves room for subjective decisions, which thereby control the country's music scen. However, a police officer’s bad day could very well turn into deeper troubles for a performing artist, despite whether or not they hold a license.

As a result of this musical censorship, many Iranians travel to remote locations throughout the nation, often deserts, where they can enjoy electronic music at any volume, dancing and partying through the night up to the morning. This added risk actually has its benefits, according to DSM. “If you want to have fun there you have to stress about the police. Even alcohol is illegal,” he said. “But if it’s harder, sometimes it really feels better.”

With one and a half years remaining for his Master’s, DSM hopes to maintain his 4.0 CGPA – though he continues to raise the bar when it comes to his music as well.

“I really hope that big DJs will play my songs at clubs or shows,” said DSM. “I hope that people dance and feel my music. I really want people to feel it, that’s my goal.”

QUICKSPINS: Excision delivers on the heaviest dubstep around

Excision - Evolution Excision is known to be one of the heaviest dubstep artists and he certainly keeps true to his reputation with his newest EP Evolution made in tandem with Wooli.

Evolution is four tracks of head-

bangers with some EDM drops courtesy of Trivecta and Seven Lions, some of the artists that collaborated with Excision to create the EP. The tracks take the listener on an intense trip that makes you say, “what just happened?” when the 14 minutes are over.

The opener “Lockdown” immediately indicates what the listener is getting themselves into with a long build up, a style technique that Excision uses on his heavier songs. Evolution comes out just a couple of weeks before Excision’s festival “Lost Lands” – patrons beware, headbanging hangovers, or “bang-overs” are likely to happen when he debuts these tracks live.

8/10 Trial Track: “Evolution” Star Bar: “Throwin’ bones in the pit, you ain’t jumpin’ in.

Break my neck with grace, will you make some space.

Every time I throw down to the bass, let it burn your face!”

- Matthew Ohayon, Sports Editor

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

SHOW REVIEW

Bud Rice debuts Piece of Heaven Montreal singer-songwriter celebrates the release of his second album at Petit Campus

On Saturday, Sept. 7, fans and local musicians alike gathered at Petit Campus to celebrate the launch of Bud Rice’s second studio album, Piece of Heaven.

Although not yet available on streaming services, the Montreal singer-songwriter hosted his release party to celebrate the completion of his project and perform the track list in its entirety. On stage, the frontman was accompanied by a full band, comprised of a guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboardist.

Rice, born Henry Rice-Gossage, is no stranger to the stage, having begun to perform live at 15.

Following several years of playing covers, many of which from the great Bob Dylan, Rice began writing his own songs. But like most lyrics written at the tender age of 18, his first songs were self-admittedly awful. Years later at 23, he released his first album, Belfast.

SHOW REVIEW

Avatar invades Corona Theatre Hunter Walwaski Staff Writer Sweden’s Avatar recently took over Corona Theatre on Notre-Dame Ouest street in Montreal. Armed with punishing songs and vocal bullets, as well as opening invaders Inspector Cluzo, and noise-punk duo ‘68, attendees sure were rocked on the night of Sept. 10.

The Gothenburg-based band’s aforementioned takeover was not only a metaphor for their venture from Scandinavia. Their most recent album, Avatar Country, is a concept release based on a medieval-themed land dominated by a noble kingdom, ruled by The King.

In conjunction with this North American tour, The King, who appears onstage in the form of lead singer Johannes Eckerström, once saved a dry, destitute, and uninhabitable piece of land with the incessant heartbeat of rock and roll.

The long-standing tale describes a horse-rider troop who scoured the Earth far and wide in search of a land to call home.

Upon arriving at a group of starving settlers, one horse-rider produced an electric guitar, and strummed a long, bone-vibrating note, which summoned a crash of thunder and lightning. This spell caused nearby land to be infinitely fertile, and henceforth

“I’m really proud of Belfast,” Rice told The Concordian. “But I think there are some things I would have done differently and I think going into the second record I had a better head on my shoulders about how I wanted to approach pre-prod and utilizing the time in studio more efficiently – way better than the first time around.

On top of that, having constantly played in pubs for that four-year span, I think that my chops alone have gotten better.”

Rice showcased his improved chops when he started his performance with the first song off the album, “Evergreen,” which he recently released a music video for. Midway through the set, Rice’s father and a professional

musician, Henry Gossage, took the stage to perform “St Henri,” “Heron On A Stone” and “Just a Little Grey.” Gossage played the harmonica on the first two songs and ended with a flute on the last one, having displayed his incredible talent and musical versatility.

“Dad inspired me with the concept that there is a craft,” said Rice. “There is art, and there is a spectrum that exists. There’s farleft artsy-fartsy and the far-right business-savvy dude. If this is a career you want to maintain, you have to be somewhere in between. You can’t be too far left or too far right. I think that watching [dad], who is like a phenom, being able to carry out a career as one of the best musicians I’ve ever

the guitarist was named The King by the now-saved settlers. This is Avatar Country, and The King has arrived in Montreal.

Avatar’s music is crafted for the stage and not for the studio, which is undoubtedly apparent if you’ve ever been to one of their shows. Unsurprisingly, this played out in real time in the Theatre Corona. Emerging dressed in black colonial garb accented with gold highlights, attendees were immediately consumed in Avatar Country as the band began their first song.

While the elaborate costumes were a nice touch, Avatar brought a slew of other stage props to make for a cohesive vibe. From the huge electric flashing band logo which spanned stage-right to stage-left with ease, to the various flags and banners strewn about, I had no difficulty transporting myself to the mythical world of Avatar Country.

The band recently released a live album, The King Live in Paris, to critical acclaim. Lead singer Eckerström stated that he was happy with the result of the release but, ultimately, “Every live show should be worthy of a live recording,” unabashedly citing Deep Purple’s infamous album Made in Japan as inspiration. This sentence resonates within me, especially after seeing The King live in performance, as his claim materialized in front of the audience that night. The energy was unsurpassed once Avatar was present.

Although the group’s sound is hard to define due to the excessive variance between album tracks, they blend elements of groove metal, black metal, melodic death metal, and even country music. One minute the listener is indulged in proper headbanger material, while in another they are subjected to the mellow forces of folk interludes. This translated extremely well to a live setting, as there is an inherent sonic variance present at all times. This ensures that the heavy and melodic portions both hit hard in their own right with a healthy balance

met, to have him inspire me to want to do that continuously, was super beneficial for me.”

Being a professional himself, Gossage always pushed Rice to keep a business mentality when it came to playing music. “[He taught me] the drive, the determination to wake up every day and not feel hungover, or not do anything,” said Rice. “It was like, be hungover and put in the work you need to put in to make something real. It was always ‘It’s a job - do your job,’ not ‘You’re a fucking free spirit, just play music man. No. This is your fucking job, so be good at your job.”

Rice proved that he is indeed good at his job. Although he had his accompanying band with him for the duration of his performance, the encore of his recent single “Oh My Sweet Rose” was done solo, making it clear that the entertainer needs no back up to put on a great show. between the two.

“The essence of metal music to me is that it needs to be a physical genre,” Eckerström said about the success of live music. “Hence the volume, hence the speed, technical level on many things. It can be slow, simple, a bunch of things.

That makes it physical, and our performance needs to be physical as well. When performing metal, you need those moments of being out of breath, it’s a very visceral, physical thing.”

Interview courtesy of Phil Aveline from CJLO 1690AM

Photo by Cecilia Piga

Jacob Carey Assistant Music Editor

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Sports.

SPORTS EDITOR Matthew Ohayon / ! @MatthewOhayon sports@theconcordian.com

PROFILE

Julian Petrilli impressing between the pipes Head coach Greg Sutton is confident with Petrilli in goal Photo courtesy of Kieran Thicke

Alec Brideau Assistant Sports Editor The Concordia Stingers men's soccer team has 14 new players for this 2019-2020 Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) season. One of them is rookie goalkeeper Julian Petrilli, who started the first four games of his team’s campaign.

Petrilli joins the Stingers after developing his game with Les Étoiles de l’Est in Laval at the AAA level. The goalkeeper said he’s enjoying his experience with the Stingers so far and wants to gain experience during his first year of university soccer.

“It’s important to go all the way by making the playoffs and going to nationals,” Petrilli said. “However, I just want to get the taste of how does university soccer feel. I played at [an] elite level since I was a child. I just want to gain experience and have fun with the team.”

Stingers head coach Greg Sutton said Petrilli shows a lot of confidence for a first-year player.

He added that Petrilli adapted quickly to university soccer since joining the team.

“We will go through some learning curves, but I think he’s done some very good things so far,” Sutton said. “His attitude has been good. He’s already come up big for us in huge moments during these first [few] games of the season. For a goalkeeper, he has the overall tools, which are needed at this level.”

Sutton said the decision to start Petrilli the first four games of the season was an easy one, as the rookie’s attitude makes the coaching staff confident with him in goal.

“As a goalkeeper, you have to be humble, but also very confident,” Sutton said. “I think he shares both those qualities. For a first-year goalkeeper, he hasn’t really played like one. He’s been able to prepare himself for training camp, come in, and make a statement early.

That’s the reason why he’s in there now, and I’m sure that’s the reason why he’ll probably st ay t here for the

remainder of this season, and hopefully beyond.”

Petrilli said it’s great to see his hard work pay off. He added that it gives him a boost of confidence to be starting in goal.

“I’ve been really determined and committed with this team right from the start,” Petrilli said. “I’ve had a great work ethic, and I’ve always been comfortable. I had the urge and desire to win, and [Coach Sutton] gave me the opportunity to play.”

Sutton, a former professional goalkeeper who played a part of his career with the Montreal Impact in Major Soccer League (MLS), won many awards in his career and said his experience as a goalkeeper will help his relationship with Petrilli.

“It’s not really the technique that I’m going to teach him because at this stage, I think it’s very difficult to change anybody’s technique,” Sutton said. “I think it’s going to be more about the mental aspect of it, the position aspect of it, and the decision making. I think those things are going to be elements I definitely will be able to help him with.”

Sutton also explained that the game becomes faster from level to level, which asks goalkeepers to make faster decisions as well. The Stingers head coach said Petrilli will learn ma ny t hings during his rookie season of university soccer.

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“I think it’s the decisions he’ll have to make,” Sutton said. “He’ll need to become quicker, and continue to become more and more of a communicator. He’ll need the personality to handle adversity and not dwell on things in order to be able to move on.”

Sutton explained that the key for good goalkeepers is consistency and that this is an aspect Petrilli will need to work on at this level of the game.

“If you let things get in your head in difficult moments, it will only get worse for you,” Sutton said. “Petrilli’s not struggling with those things, but he needs to be prepared and focused mentally for those moments of adversity. As he continues to climb levels, the level of focus needs to be better and better. If [he does] that, [he’ll] have the luxury of being a real significant impact player.”

For Petrilli, it’s special to have a former professional goalkeeper as head coach. He said it makes his relationship with Sutton unique.

“It’s always an honour to play for someone who played for the Impact,” Petrilli said. “I’m of course really happy to have him as a head coach.”

In four games and 360 minutes played, Petrilli made 22 saves on 29 shots and has a 1-1-2 record.

The Stingers will play the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins on Sept. 20 at 8:15 p.m. at Stade Saputo.

Scan the QR code for the full Stingers men's soccer schedule:

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

HOCKEY

New chapter for the Stingers men’s hockey program The Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team is gearing up for another campaign after a long off-season Matthew Ohayon Sports Editor Last year’s season did not end the way the Concordia Stingers had thought it would. The Queen’s Gaels swept the Stingers in the first round of the OUA playoffs after a hard-fought regular season.

On top of the early playoff exit, former captain Philippe Hudon played his last game with the team after five seasons.

Enter Philippe Sanche, who was chosen by head coach Marc-André Element to be the captain of his team for the 2019-20 season.

“It’s a big honour for me,” said Sanche. “Being the captain after [Philippe] Hudon, [Olivier] Hinse, it’s huge.”

Marc-André Element said he took some time over the summer to come to the decision to slap the C on Sanche’s jersey. However, Element feels that the Stingers’ leadership group is one of their main strong points heading into the new campaign, with Carl Neill and Alexandre Gosselin serving as assistant captains.

“We have an amazing leadership group, chemistry and players,” said Element. “There’s going to be an adjustment [for some], but they’ll figure it out pretty fast that we can’t take any nights off in this league.”

While Sanche adjusts to the role of captain, new recruits will have to adjust to a new team, league and even city; four of the new wave of players from the Stingers are from out of province. However, Sanche believes they are already being integrated into the team nicely.

Neill, now entering his third year with the team, also expressed how his off-ice role has changed into more of a mentor-like figure for the new and young team.

“There’s a lot of young guys coming in and I’m just trying to get them adjusted to the atmosphere,” said Neill. “The quicker the team meshes together, the more success we’ll have so it’s about showing them the ins and outs [on and off the ice.]”

The Stingers have a good mindset heading into this season. They know where their strengths lie, what needs to be improved on, and what they can build off of. One of the areas of improvement that needed to be addressed was size.

The OUA is a very physical conference. Last season, the average height and weight of a Stingers player was 5’11 and 187lbs, which ranked 18th and 15th, respectively, among the 20 teams in the conference. To address that, the average height and weight of the nine new recruits listed on eliteprospects. com, is 6’1 and 198 lbs.

Sanche. “Last year we played really fast but struggled against bigger teams. This year we will be more physical and be able to better protect ourselves.”

Along with Philippe Hudon, other notable departures on the offensive side of the squad are left-winger Charles-Éric Légaré and center Hugo Roy. Those are some big shoes to fill as they accounted for over 30 per cent of the team’s scoring.

Sanche will be a big part of filling in these big shoes. Sanche has always been one of the team’s main goal scorers, lighting the lamp 38 times in his three seasons as a Stinger.

While the team recruited Jeff de Wit and Alexander Katerinakis, among others, who have shown their ability to add scoring, they know that they will need a greater contribution from their defence; from players like Carl Neill, Bradley Lalonde, and Simon Bourque.

“We have a lot of offensive defensemen, so we need to feed our offence from the D-squad,” said Element.

The team knows what they are getting from Carl Neill in terms of scoring; in his two seasons as a Stinger he’s averaged 32 points.

There are three players of interest, however, when it comes to getting offence from the back end.

Bradley Lalonde had an excellent rookie season, scoring five goals and 16 assists. He showed off his cannon of a shot, which will play a big role should the Stingers want to repeat having the fourth-best power play in the OUA. Simon Bourque is another name that will need to take a step forward this year after putting up seven points in 12 games last year. Lastly, Gabriel Bilodeau is a name that is very intriguing as he’s shown scoring prowess at the junior level; now he must translate that to the more mature U Sports game. “[The new guys] need to figure out what type of player they are,” said Neill. “It’s a big step from junior – adjusting to the speed and pace. The quicker they do that is how fast we’ll find success this season.”

COLOUR COMMENTARY w/ Matthew Ohayon The biggest, most interesting, and now horrifying storyline in the NFL this year is without a doubt the Antonio Brown saga.

From his disgusting foot injury suffered in a cryogenic lab due to his own negligence, to his injunction appeals with the NFL over his helmet. Things couldn’t possibly get more ridiculous, right?

After being fined for missing a couple of practices and posting said fine on Instagram, Brown had a run-in with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock where Brown reportedly needed to be held back after threatening to punch his boss in the face.

Things seemed to be over for Brown in Oakland. However, he gave an emotional apology to his teammates in the days leading up to their season opener against the Broncos.

He also released another video on his YouTube page of a conversation held between him and head coach Jon Gruden.

Mayock and the Raiders would then send Brown another fine of over $200,000, which voided the guaranteed money in his contract. Brown would later ask for his release by, you guessed it, an Instagram post.

He would later sign for the New England Patriots who looked poised to win another Super Bowl after the signing, as they had their most talented offence since the 2007 campaign when they went undefeated in the regular season.

But this is where it gets horrifying.

A few days after the Patriots sign him, Brown had been accused of rape and sexual assault on three separate occasions by his former personal trainer, Britney Taylor.

Once the case is settled, Brown should face major disciplinary action, charged or not.

However, it’ll likely be nothing too major for him. Kareem Hunt got only an eight-game suspension for kicking his girlfriend on tape. Tyreek Hill didn’t even get a slap on the wrist for punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach.

The NFL needs to realize that young kids all over the world are watching their product and see these athletes as role models.

What kind of precedent are they setting by allowing sexual assailants, abusers and rapists represent their company?

If this happened to someone working for most companies, they would not have the luxury of going to work on Monday. I understand that Antonio Brown brings in millions of dollars in revenue on his own but where does the NFL draw the line?

The Stingers men’s hockey team will see their first preseason game action on Sept. 18 on the road against the Université de Québec à Trois Rivières Patriotes.

“We’re more [well rounded] this year,” said

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Opinions.

FEMINISM

Certain things shouldn’t be justified with “it’s just my opinion” Lola Cardona Contributor In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scarlett Johansson was asked how she felt about Woody Allen.

Hollywood is in the midst of a great change in how it treats women and sexual harassment. And this question is posed decades after Allen was first accused of sexual assault by his adoptive daughter. She replied, “I love Woody, I believe him, and I would work with him any time... I have been very direct with him, and he’s very direct with me. He maintains his innocence, and I believe him.”

On one hand, I could argue that everyone has the right to their own opinions and judgements. I can feel the way I want to feel about Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson can feel the way she wants to feel.

But on the other hand, the voice of a celebrity as big and influential as ScarJo has an impact, and right now Hollywood is in a state of flux about how the #MeToo

movement will evolve.

To provide you with some context, Dylan Farrow says that Woody Allen, her adoptive father, sexually assaulted her on Aug. 2, 1992. I won’t go into the details, but Farrow tells a story that is, according to Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair, “... consistent with the testimony of three adults who were present that day.” Allen was never charged with a crime and investigations ended up claiming no molestation took place and that it was more likely that Dylan Farrow was coerced by her mother, Mia Farrow. However, a judge by the name of Elliott Wilk came to the conclusion that there was no evidence that Mia Farrow coerced her daughter in any way, and that Allen’s behaviour towards his daughter was extremely inappropriate.

Essentially, nothing’s official.

Some could argue that everyone is “innocent until proven guilty.” But here’s how I see this situation: Dylan Farrow has been telling the same story again and again for years, and she didn’t do her first television interview until January 2018. In fact, these claims against Woody Allen have been persistent since 1992. I feel that if claims have been going on for this long, with little amount of public attention drawn to Dylan Farrow, the idea that someone is innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law is no

OPINIONS EDITOR Youmna El Halabi / ! @HalabiYoumna opinions@theconcordian.com longer valid. Johansson claims to stand by the #MeToo movement but comments like “I love Woody, I believe him,” voicing her love for Allen, send the message that she fails to grasp the fact that even the men she trusts or likes are capable of such terrible acts.

This isn’t the first time Johansson has made arrogant and ignorant statements. I’m referring to the time she was the lead in the film Ghost in the Shell (2017) and was criticized for whitewashing the character.

This movie is based on a Japanese manga created by Masamune Shirow in 1989. In an interview with Marie Claire, she apologized; “I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person. Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.”

About a year later when it was announced that Johansson would be playing a transgender man in a film called Rub & Tug (2002), she was criticized so heavily she simply dropped out of the project. In my eyes, her defence of Woody Allen is just an addition to the list of her problematic traits.

Although I’ve always enjoyed Scarlett Johansson’s films and acting career, she is, without a doubt, ignorant (whether it be willfully or not) and hypocritical. She has the right to stand by her colleague and friend under the guise that no allegation has been confirmed. However, with the years and years of fighting from Farrow’s side, taking Allen’s side seems like a bad move.

Scarlett Johansson has voiced her support of the #MeToo movement and TIME’S UP, an organization which supports “safe, fair and dignified work for women” and whose mission is to stop and prevent sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. She has even gone as far as making a speech at the Los Angeles Women’s March in 2018. “I am proud to be representing Times Up, an organization made up of some of the bravest, most determined, most inspiring women that I have ever had the great privilege of sharing with and learning from.”

If she genuinely supports victims of sexual assault, Johansson should re-evaluate her position and her reasoning as to why she stands by Allen. Her support will only encourage others to get away with their own acts. In the end, she messed up, but she still has the chance to make things right and denounce him.

In the words of Scarlett Johansson herself, “We must take responsibility, not just for our actions but for ourselves.”

Ultimately, the things Johansson has done in the past are relatively forgivable. She was accused of whitewashing with her role in Ghost in the Shell, for which she “apologized,” moved on, and didn’t get the point. People forgot about it. She was criticized for being cast as a trans man, but she dropped the role before production. People forgot about it.

Now, she’s defending a man who we can safely believe sexually assaulted his daughter when she was seven years old. I really hope people don’t forget that.

chance, before the bees are gone, before the glaciers have melted, before war completely destroys a country. Thunberg chose to speak up for a cause that she believes in, but there are so many other causes that need a voice, that need someone to take a stand and say enough is enough.

This world we’re living in is changing every day and, sadly, not always for the best. A lot of people are in denial about it, thinking everything is all fine and dandy because facing the truth is hard.

That’s why it’s our responsibility to do something about it.

We can’t keep relying on others to take a stand. We need to be involved in the change that needs to come.

I’m not saying you need to start a worldwide movement (knock yourselves out if you want to, though). I’m saying that if you have something you believe in, take a stand for it and make your voice heard. Whether you are standing up for someone facing

discrimination or sharing a post about the amazon fires, your voice might just have an impact.

Be prepared to defend your thoughts and your opinions, because not everyone will agree with what you have to say. But don’t let it get you down, just believe in yourself and your voice, and keep doing the best you can.

It’s similar to fire. All it needs is one little spark, just like Thunberg, to create a worldwide chain reaction.

The more people are taking a stand and speaking up, the stronger the flame will be.

FACING ADVERSITY

Passiveness gets you nowhere Can you hear me now?

Victoria Blair Assistant Graphics Editor When I was younger, I was someone who didn’t like confrontation.

In fact, I’d do just about anything to avoid it. Why? Because I was afraid of insulting someone with what I had to say, and honestly, I didn’t think I could change anything anyways.

I always thought to myself, ‘What difference can I make? I’m just one person with no special title or influential position.’

This was the excuse I used to tell myself all the time.

It wasn’t until later on, that I realized being passive was getting me nowhere. I saw people around me being discriminated against for their race and religion. I saw the world around me being destroyed with bombs and hatred and, for the longest time, I did nothing.

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I’ve come to realize that I wasn’t the only one using that stupid excuse. Too many people are doing the same thing I was, telling themselves their voice won’t make a difference. Thankfully, we have people who don’t care about that and who, instead of telling themselves “my voice alone won’t be heard,” tell themselves “if they can’t hear me, I’ll scream louder.”

Take Greta Thunberg for example. She started off as a 15-yearold girl who decided to protest climate change by skipping school and sitting in front of the Swedish parliament. Now, she’s leading a worldwide climate change movement. During her TedTalk, Thunberg said: “Maybe [my children and grandchildren] will ask why [I] didn’t do anything while there was still time to act.”

Act while you still have the

Your voice is important and deserves to be heard, so make sure you scream loud enough.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

POLITICS

COMEDY

Musical influence in politics

Late-night needs more diversity

Song association is a powerful medium, even in politics

Callie Giaccone Assistant Opinions Editor

Tina Fey recounted to David Letterman in an interview that her experience with a more diverse writing room has lead to social There’s nothing like kicking my change. feet up after a long day, turning on my TV and hanging out with one of my dear friends: John Oliver, Seth Myers, Trevor Noah, or Samantha Bee.

people during his rallies — the use of music.

According to an article in the WashHave you watched the Spanington Post, people don’t really talk ish hit series Casa de Papel? during these rallies; they’re too busy Although it’s about a robbery, the main theme in the show is listening to the music. Trump’s playa collective and bold revolution list since 2016 included the likes of against the enemy of humanity: Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, and capitalism.

Journey. All rock, folky, 60s-remiIn one of the last episodes of seaniscent vibes. You might enjoy them son one, El Professor, the masteras well, naturally. It’s good music. mind behind the greatest heist of But these are methodically picked all time, sat sipping a glass of wine to bring back the nostalgia of what with Berlin, one of the robbers. it meant to be an American in the Agitated, anxious and trembling, 60s. “Make America Great Again” El Professor looked terrified. Beris Trump’s slogan and his choice of lin then got up, grabbed his glass music is meant to take people back of wine, and sang: to the time when America was great, in his opinion.

Una mattina mi son svegliato The 1960s was the decade of civil O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao rights movements, when things ciao ciao! began to fundamentally change.

Blasting the greatest songs of that The marxist revolutionary chant time while talking about building a was a theme song throughout wall and grabbing pussies connects the series, inciting this rebellious the great feelings these songs bring feeling inside every listener. El Professor soon began singing with with those words; they become one Berlin, the look of fear turned into and the same. This is a theory called the Hebbian Rule, by neuropsycholdetermination and excitement.

That’s the role of sound in politics. ogist Donald Hebb.

“Neurons that fire together, wire And just like everything in this together,” Hebb wrote in 1949. world, with a negative influencer Now, remember this is my opinion, comes a negative influence. although I am stating some hardly It’s no secret that I see the Presrefutable ideas. It’s a natural reaction ident of the United States as the in people to associate feelings with a epitome of a negative influencer. song they’re listening to, like a newWhatever positive economic adGraphic by @sundaeghost vantage people might bring up, in lywed’s first dance and love, or the song you first had sex to and feelings my opinion, it does not make up for the fundamental moral wrongs of longing. he brings out in the world. For one, Trump vows to build a wall to detain ‘illegal immigrants’ while Journey’s since his election, there has been a universal rise in the far right, or “Don’t Stop Believing” plays in the background; it’s an inspiring song the populists as reporter Simon Shuster wrote in Time Magazine. and what people are being inspired to in this context is racism.

How did Donald Trump gain so much influence when he’s a busi- In 2016, The Rolling Stones issued a statement demanding that the nessman who was once part of a reality show? It wasn’t his eccentric Trump administration not use their music. In fact, according to the character and lack of formidable BBC, Neil Young, Adele, Aerosmith, vocabulary. It wasn’t his white, among others, were all against the rich man charm. It wasn’t even use of their music at Trump’s rallies. his blatant racism and sexism, If Trump were a song he’d be although that did play a role in making already-racist people feel the melody people sway to, and his beliefs would be the lyrics they sing comfortable being so. No, it was the subconscious manipulation of along to as if it were their own.

Graphics by @sundaeghost

Fatima Dia Head Copy Editor

“As the chemistry of the room slowly became more diverse, other things played better,” she said. She continued by explaining Late-night comedy plays an imthat women just simply laugh at portant role in my life and over different things than men. For a the last half-decade, its place in long time, people have thought society has shifted. Due to an that what is funny for men is information overload and the universal and what is funny for aggravating political climate, this women is strictly for women. outlet has become a more digest- This is another way that the patriible way to get news. archy dominates society.

According to a study in the Although it does look bare for Global Media Journal, comedians women in late-night, there has are aware of this shift. The jourbeen a push for more represennal states “Despite the fact that tation. According to Elle.com, Late-Night TV show comedians Lilly Singh, an Indian-Canadian are not necessarily considered YouTuber, will be hosting a lateas professional journalists, they night show on NBC, which will identify themselves with the mar- air after Seth Meyers’ at 1:35 a.m. ket model of professional journal- Other late-night hosts, like Seth ism.” Since late-night comedians Meyers, have added segments to are often seen as journalists in at push a more diverse agenda. The least some facet, it’s important segment “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell” to examine how this affects our allows writers for the show, Amworld view. ber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel, to These late-night shows often take the floor and tell jokes that highlight and criticize the lack of would not be politically correct diversity and inclusivity within for straight white men to say. the system, but, ironically, the On a podcast called Late Night demographics of late-night come- with Joy Reid, Jenny Hagel dians is still quite homogenous. explains that different stories According to The Los Angeles and jokes emerge when people Times, there is a lack of womconnect to the news in different en writers in leading late-night ways. shows. Patriot Act with Hasan “When you are a member of a Minhaj consists of only 20 per sub-community you just have a cent female writers, 22 per cent different angle,” Hagel said. “You on the Daily Show with Trevor might think, ‘awh man that sucks’ Noah, 25 per cent on Last Week from a distance but if it hits you Tonight With John Oliver, 28 directly you might find a different per cent on Late Night with Seth way into that joke, or have a difMeyers, 17 per cent with Conan, ferent idea for a sketch about it.” and even Full Frontal with SaEven the most progressive comemantha Bee has only 45 per cent dians, like John Oliver and Trevor women writers.

Noah, are limiting themselves by Women have been fighting for a having less diversity in their writvoice in comedy for a long time, ing rooms. Although they may and it’s important to address have a very balanced and well-inhow their voice has the ability to formed perspective, they will influence our perception of the not receive the same intellectual, world. Since the role of late-night psychological, and emotional recomedians has become to articu- action to news from the other less late and digest world events in a represented members of society. humorous manner, it is crucial to widen the way that this is done.

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FEBRUARY 20, 2017

Editorial.

So, you may have noticed The Concordian looks a little different this week (SHOUTOUT TO OUR FAB DIGITAL EDITOR, MACKENZIE LAD. You're the real MVP).

The simplicity that is the additional white space, the large font and cut-out images is something we’ve been wanting to try for a while – it just took us a couple weeks to get here.

In line with our recent shift to bi-weekly publications, we decided to reimagine the paper’s layout to bring it into the 21st century. Times are a-changin’, people, and we’re going to do our best to change with them, while maintaining our position as the bearer of news for the Concordia community and beyond.

We are hoping the simplistic view will allow our content to speak for itself as we move away from the look of a ~traditional newspaper.~ fonts of our past. Sharp sans no. 1 bold, Brandon and Gafata; you’ve been good to us. But this is goodbye.

REST IN PEACE,

So, what can you expect from us moving forward?

With a new team comes new content. Some of last year’s columns have been put to sleep to make way for new ones; ones that will keep you up to date on world politics and developments in the scientific world, for example.

With YUM or YIKES, you’ll be guided through which Montreal restaurants to indulge in and which to avoid like the plague.

What remains consistent, though, is our commitment to the Concordia community and to producing top content while helping to train the next generation of young journalists.

As always, we welcome new writers and pitches with open arms. Is there something you’re so painfully passionate about that it keeps you up at night? Would writing about it help you release some of that energy? Tell us about it. You’re looking at a group of people who spend production days intermittently listening to Hannah Montana songs, so there really is no judgement on our end.

We’re here to work for and with you, and we hope you like the new look.

This is The Concordian.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KATELYN THOMAS editor@theconcordian.com MANAGING EDITOR MATTHEW COYTE managing@theconcordian.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR ALEX HUTCHINS ceative@theconcordian.com INTERIM PRODUCTION TEAM CHLOË LALONDE MACKENZIE LAD production@theconcordian.com DIGITAL EDITOR MACKENZIE LAD digital@theconcordian.com NEWS EDITORS JAD ABUKASM VIRGINIE ANN news@theconcordian.com

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