The Concordian

FASHION

theconcordian

DINING

Get your bake on! Baked potatoes with all the toppings. P. 8

Hot summer accessories P.6

Jazz up your summer Montreal Fringe Festival gears up for its 20th year P.10

Arts summer festival listings P. 11

Guide to music festivals across the country P.16 Graphic by Katie Brioux

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

music We made you a mixtape for the dog days P. 15

sports Everything you need to know about the World Cup of Soccer P. 17

editorial Graduate fee hike likely to hurt ConU in the long run P. 20

Volume 28 Issue 1

2010 Congress:

Concordia gets kudos Record turnout of Academics may have overshadowed student presence Evan LePage News editor Just under 9,000 delegates flooded the halls and classrooms of Concordia last week as the university played host to the biggest ever Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in its 79-year history.

Comprising roughly 1,500 events, Congress showcased original research on socially and culturally relevant issues in speeches, lectures and research presentations. Congress also played home to a groundbreaking Accord on the education of indigenous peoples in Canada. It was developed between leading representatives of First Nations communities and the Association of Canadian Deans of Education.

Other highlight of the research presented included talks on the evolving perception of pornography and sexual representation in the digital era, and smart fabric where the wearer’s physical and emotional state triggers the transfer of personalized memory back to the wearer.

The 2010 Congress was undeniably a massive undertaking for the university. “We had 100 full-time staff working on it, some as long as two years,” said Chris Mota, Concordia’s director of media relations. She added that there were 100 students and 100 volunteers working on the event.

While Congress did cost Concordia some money, Mota called hosting the event an investment. She noted all the good will the university experienced from those who attended.

She also said that because some more members of general public got a first-hand look at the school they otherwise may not have had, “they might be considering [Concordia] in the future as somewhere they may want to attend or send their children.”

Congress was also an illustration of modern technology: anybody could follow the event on Twitter; a ticker text project had participants submitting brief messages onto a traditional stock ticker; and Congress actually partnered up with Rabble.ca to record essentially all the events so that anyone not in attendance could watch them online later.

While the event went off seemingly without a hitch, some expressed concerns about the accessibility of Congress to students, particularly in relation to the costs of attending the event.

Dimitrios Koulis, a fourth-year undergraduate, volunteered for the Canadian Sociological Association throughout Congress, which allowed him to see many of the events at no expense. “They want to make sure that students are able to come to Congress and they know that the cost isn’t necessarily affordable for a lot of students, especially if they’re working part-time minimum wage, or doing other obligations with school full-time,” Koulis said of the Association. “So the whole idea was that students could volunteer at the [Association’s] table three hours at a time and this way they could pay for the association fees and fees for the congress,” a sum that he said probably amounted to roughly $150.

See “Academia” on P.3

CFS says no

CSU president prepared for likely court battle Evan LePage News editor A legal battle is on the horizon for the Concordia Student Union as the Canadian Federation of Students refused to recognize Concordia’s referendum results at the organization’s semi-annual general meeting in late May. The tribulations in the CSU’s effort to leave the CFS have far from ended. Regardless of the 2,300 Concordia students who voted to leave the lobbying organization in April, the CFS maintains that the referendum was illegal.

“We went knowing what was going to happen, so it wasn’t a surprise for us,” said CSU President Prince Ralph Osei, referring to the general meeting. Osei went to the meeting to present a motion to have the referendum recognized, but the motion was shut down by the CFS. Osei challenged the chair’s ruling but to no avail. “It went to a vote and obviously undemocratic student unions refused to stand up for fellow student unions against the big brother,” Osei said.

The non-recognition will not affect the CSU’s plans for this year, at least according to the CFS bylaws, since Concordia will be forced to pay a year of dues to the organization for the year after they leave. Simply put, the student organization would be paying 2010-2011 dues to the CFS. But Osei said that the CFS’ failure to recognize the referendum will likely lead to a legal battle. “As the ex [CSU] president used to say, ‘this is a messy divorce,’ and I think it’s going to get messier,” he said.

Still, Osei is confident that the CSU will succeed in leaving the CFS. “We have copies of every communication we’ve had with the national executives. We’ve documented every aspect of this relationship,” he said.

“We know we have a strong case. We’ve acted in good faith and tried to play by the rules since day one.”

The CFS could not be reached for comment.

theconcordian.com

news 2

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Got a news tip? news@theconcordian.com

City in brief Evan LePage

Pothole squared

A section of Ste. Catherine’s Street was closed this past weekend after a massive pothole essentially swallowed a car’s wheel Saturday afternoon. The hole, more than a metre across, over half a metre wide and several metres deep, was in the right lane heading east between Mansfield and Metcalfe Streets. Motorist Jean Dabel was driving his Volvo on Saturday afternoon when he heard a crack and felt what he thought was a flat tire, according to CTV Montreal.

When he got out of his car he saw nearly half of his wheel stuck in a gaping hole that apparently opened up under the vehicle. A city official said that the hole was likely caused by water from a sewer running under the road, which may have washed away the ground under the concrete.

EMPLOYMENT

Neon-shirts without a contract Sarah Deshaies Editor in chief

Riop-off

The Quebec Provincial Police reported last week that they found lithographs by artist Jean-Paul Riopelle worth thousands of dollars that had been stolen from a Montreal art store between 1999 and 2004.

The Riopelles, part of four albums called Le Cirque, were placed for sale on website Kijiji in February, allowing investigators to track them down with help from the public. Four lithographs ranging between $3,000 and $5,000 in value are still missing.

The lithographs were stolen from the basement storage space of a DeSerres art store by sales clerk Luc St.-Jean, 39, who was in court last month on charges of theft and obstructing justice, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Riopelle prints can sell for hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars.

Quebec loses software suit

Montreal-based software firm Savoir Faire Linux has trumped the Quebec government in a 2008 lawsuit on their decision to award a contract to a Microsoft dealer without allowing other companies to bid. A Quebec Superior Court judge ruled last week that the Régie des rentes du Québec, the public pension fund administrator, acted illegally in spending $720,000 to install Microsoft software as, according to their own rules, multiple offers should be considered for expenditures over $25,000. Savoir Faire Linux was only awarded the costs of their litigation as the software installation had already been completed.

Mellow Yellow Pages

The Internet has claimed another casualty. Seven of Canada’s metropolitan cities, including Montreal, have been cut off from automatic delivery of the White Pages. Mobile and online sources, like Yellowpages. ca and Canada411.ca, have become the primary methods of phone number searches, according to the Yellow Pages Group. Montrealers and other urban Canadians will have to either adapt to online searches or, ironically, order the phone books the old-fashioned way by calling a 1-800 number.

Some have expressed concern for seniors and others with reduced access or knowledge of online sources. On the positive side of things, the change should save about three and a half tons of paper a year.

Photo by writer

CAMPUS

The students protesting during Angry Week weren’t the only ones to stand up for their cause during Congress.

Unionized employees with facilities management, like electricians, plumbers and carpenters, protested the fact that they have been without a contract with Concordia for two years. In true hipster fashion they protested by wearing neon yellow shirts to display their discontent and concerns, mainly related to salary and benefits. When asked how Congress visitors and organizers reacted to their shirts, one electrician said, “they know how to find us.”

On the left, apprentice electrician Frank Parent shows his protest shirt as he waits for a contractor in the LB building.

Photos by Faiz Imam

A new place to embrace at downtown Concordia A revitalized Place Bethune recently reopened on de Maisonneuve Boulevard near Guy-Concordia metro and the university’s downtown campus after a long period of construction. The space, a city project created in close collaboration with

the university, adds a little greenspace to the concrete jungle downtown. It includes a group of benches as well as stonework and lampposts which are unique to the square. Most noticeably, the space includes a large statue of the letter “c”. According to Concordia

University representative Chris Mota the stylized “C” will be cropping up on three or four corners downtown, all of which will eventually include a campus map acting as a wayfinder or a marker letting people know where they are on campus.

GREEN

Urban gardening takes root on MacKay Sarah Deshaies Editor in chief Every year, colourful flowers dot the brown, wooden planters on MacKay outside the Hall building - a favourite summer hangout spot for students and staff. A new urban gardening initiative by the Concordia greenhouse has now added vegetables like tomatoes, leeks, beets and radishes to the planters.

It’s part of a project called Vert ta Ville, spearheaded by Concordia alumna Laurence Fauteux. After travelling abroad and seeing urban gardening projects, Fauteux decided to develop a project based on an idea Ismaël Haute-Coeur, an urban agriculture advocate, gave her.

With the city’s short gardening season, vegetables and flowers have to be ‘started’ indoors and later planted outside as seedlings, or small plants. For Vert ta Ville, Concordia’s greenhouse has grown about 15,000 seedlings, destined for

distribution to 25 communal gardens across the city, maintained by people who want to have fresh, homegrown food but who don’t have the space or money to grow their own.

Some of those seedlings were brought right down to the MacKay Street planters. The greenhouse approached Concordia, and got the green light from the Quartier Concordia, which plans to green the downtown campus and make it more pedestrianfriendly.

Greenhouse co-ordinator Arlene Throness said the planting project lined up pretty well with Quarter Concordia’s goals. “It was sort of a call-andanswer. We were looking for some space, they were looking for some greening.” The plants are maintained with the help of volunteers and student interns.

The pilot project received about $15,000 from the Sustainability Action Fund to start it off, with another $5,000 coming from the Concordia Student Union, Jeunes Volontaires, Concordia facilities management, and R4, which

donated composting. They are still looking for more funding.

“They took a big risk on us,” said Throness of facilities management they were tasked with maintaining Concordia’s appearance. With the upcoming Congress 2010 bringing thousands of visitors, the university had to look its best and a group of volunteers managed to plant just in time, the day before Congress began.

“We did an edible landscape,” Throness said, referring to the use of both vegetables and flowers in the planters. The flowers attract pollenators that help both plants flourish.

Sitting next to the planters on a hot Friday afternoon, Concordia employee Lynda Guy, said it made a “nice change-up” from the usual flowers.

“I think everyone is moving towards being green, and I think this is an interesting way to make use of the space here and to produce things that people can actually use, instead of just for esthetics,” she said. Her only question was who was going to be taking the produce.

Throness shrugged off the idea that people might just pick the food off of the planters, though there are no immediate plans for the harvest. Some vegetables will go to volunteers, and the rest may be given to the Frigo Vert or the People’s Potato for preserves or donated to a food bank.

And even if people eat the food right off the planters, that’s okay by Throness. “I think regardless of where the food goes, whether we get a harvest or not, the process for me has a lot of value in it.”

“During Congress, a lot of people told us they think it’s a very good idea,” said Fauteux. “To see young people taking care of the garden, I think that’s something people like to see.”

Throness hopes to plant more seedlings around Concordia.

The project still has money to raise. The greenhouse is selling leftover seedlings June 8 and 9 until 5 p.m. at $1 a plant. The greenhouse is on the 13th floor of the Hall building, accessible by heading from a staircase on the 12th floor.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theconcordian ACADEMIA

“

Especially since it was a big Congress event for Concordia, why not get their own students to come to this event also?

Dimitrios Koulis, undergraduate student

The H-110 was one of many venues used for the 1,500 events in the week-long Congress. Archival photo Koulis admitted, however, that while many students were in attendance, a lot of these were students from outside Montreal and in comparison with the number of graduates, or even undergraduates at Concordia, the student attendance was relatively low. He attributed the problem at least partly to what he saw as a lack of advertising.

“Maybe it wasn’t as much advertised. It’s also one of those things that if you’re not involved in your own department or connected with other aspects of Concordia you may miss a lot.”

9,000

delegates and academics who attended the Congress

Other students reiterated their lack of information about the event and just how big it was.

Koulis also acknowledged that cost may have played a role, an issue the university could have helped solve.

“What they could have done is even help pay for part of the Congress for students,” Koulis suggested. “Not necessarily pay for the whole amount but pay for 20 per cent or 30 per cent just to help alleviate the cost in some ways. Especially since it was a big Congress event for Concordia, why not get

1,500

Number of events including keynote speeches, lectures and research presentations

their own students to come to this event also?”

Still, Mota saw the positive role Congress played for the students involved. She said a lot of graduate students who chose academic careers were able to present their papers to an audience of academics.

She even pointed out that certain communications students got to work as interns in the media relations department to accommodate the event.

Overall the response seems to have been very positive. Like many of those in attendance, Koulis cred-

300

200 volunteers, 100 full-time staff required to prepare and run the one-week event

its the university for what he described as an amazing experience, specifically in getting to meet people within the academic field. Also, from his discussions with people who attended past conferences, Koulis said everyone felt Concordia’s organization was much better than past events, with all facilities running smoothly and help or orientation readily at hand if needed.

Mota experienced the same reaction. “Everything I have heard was that it was a huge success,” she said. “I did not hear one negative thing.”

LOTS

cups of coffee consumed from urns found on each floor of the Hall building

“

First Nations, deans strike education accord

Renee Giblin Contributor What is being called a landmark agreement between Canadian universities and aboriginal communities was signed at Concordia last week for the promotion of programs that better reflect indigenous people and allow First Nations to have a voice in the framework and method of their education.

The Accord on Indigenous Education is intended to lead to the development of teaching methods catered to the specific cultural needs of the large aboriginal population of Canada. The eight-page document outlines the goals of the agreement, which include creating respectful and welcoming learning environments and curriculae, as well as affirming and revitalizing indigenous languages.

Tasha Hubbard, a PhD graduate from Calgary University and a member

of the Cree Nation, is just one of many indigenous Canadians who faced difficulties in her post-secondary education. She said she sometimes found her university studies as an aboriginal woman and single mother difficult.

While trying to pursue studies in First Nation Literature, she faced roadblocks that prevented her from studying.

Hubbard often felt isolated in her department. “I felt like I was the only one,” Hubbard said, referring to her aboriginal origins.

She explained that there were educators who wanted to help, but they had no knowledge of how to build a learning space in a deeply colonialrooted education system where many aboriginal students feel ill at ease.

“In many situations we feel like we are by ourselves and who is going to support us?” Hubbard asked, noting that the effect of the residential school system is still deeply ingrained in the memory of aboriginal learners. With the last residential school closing in 1996, Hubbard continues, many communities are mistrustful of universities and only eight per cent of aboriginal students proceed and complete some form of higher education.

Daniel Heath Justice, a PhD graduate from the University of Toronto and a member of the Cherokee Nation, reiterated Hubbard’s words. He believes that for aboriginal students to

Nation in brief Evan LePage

Cadmium: Forever After

McDonald’s Canada has recalled promotional drinking glasses for the movie “Shrek Forever After” due to concerns over the quantity of toxic chemical cadmium in paint on the product. The move was made hours after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on Friday morning, following prompting by Rep. Jackie Speier who received an anonymous tip about the chemical presence.

About seven million of the four versions of the glass, portraying Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey, had been sold at the time of the recall, but McDonald’s is asking consumers to stop using them and will refund the $2 cost.

Bring on the McCadmium jokes.

Ontario okays morning booze

All licensed bars and restaurants in Ontario have been given the go-ahead to serve alcohol starting at 10 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup of Soccer which begins this Friday. The city council of Toronto had already voted in favour of changing the legal time to start serving alcohol from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. during the tournament, and calls for similar action from businesses outside of Toronto prompted Ontario’s Minister of Consumer Services Sophia Aggelonitis to allow it province-wide. The time change is in response to the fact that many of the World Cup soccer games will start at 4 p.m. South Africa time and Canada’s Eastern time zone is six hours behind. For all you hooligans out there, this means that the riot starts an hour earlier, so you may want to paint your faces or prepare your bricks the night before.

Just stay inside

FIRST NATIONS

Agreement hopes to improve educational accomodation of aboriginals

3

feel welcomed in education, universities must value the First Nation culture at the same level as their own.

“Let’s not call for inclusion, because inclusion is to say we are making a contribution to someone else’s story,” Justice said.

He instead wants universities to accept that aboriginal students have a history and culture of their own and should thus have a place in the education system where they can study without being judged.

Justice explained that this is not simply a problem for aboriginal students to solve, but that it also requires the assistance of everyone in the learning community.

The signing of the accord between universities and indigenous people hopes to provide a deeper mutual respect and an educational working partnership.

“Heal wounds of oppression by engaging and placing higher expectations,” Justice said.

The agreement occured during the 79th annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, held at Concordia in late May and early June. The signing of the accord was attended by Concordia president Judith Woodsworth, and aboriginal leaders like Mike Delisle, the Grand Chief of Kahnawake, as well as many educators.

Let’s not call for inclusion, because inclusion is to say we are making a contribution to someone else’s story, Daniel Heath Justice, member of the Cherokee Nation

Winnipeg is bracing itself for what might be the worst mosquito infestation in half a decade. The city’s entomologist (read: bug genius) Taz Stuart announced that recent periods of rainfall and warm temperatures have created great conditions for mosquito larva, and the city should thus expect an onslaught in the coming weeks. The larvae develop and grow in standing water so property owners are being urged to dump all standing water located around their homes.

The city’s “bug crew” is also out in full force killing larva, monitoring mosquito traps and preparing to “fog” areas when the count reaches 100 mosquitoes per trap. In other news, Winnipeg-based calamine companies have seen their stocks skyrocket.

Never drink and paper

A New Brunswick arbitrator’s 2009 ruling that random alcohol testing at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill should not be allowed has the company’s owners headed back to court this week. The CBC reported that the mill is seeking a judicial review of the decision that making employees pass a breathalyzer test at random was “intrusive and unnecessary.” The random testing started in 2006 and the mill workers’ union quickly filed a grievance against the company, saying it presumed guilt and forced workers to prove their innocence, among other reasons. The company said that the work site is dangerous so the testing is simply a necessary safety precaution.

4

theconcordian

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

World in brief

CITY

Two sides protest flotilla fiasco

Evan LePage

Snip quip

Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key made things a little awkward at a press conference last week when he decided to be clever and answer a question by admitting he’d had a vasectomy. The PM was being asked about funding changes to early childhood education centres when someone asked whether he’d send his own child to one of the centres if his wife gave birth again. To the surprise, and a collective “ew” of those in attendance, Key responded “I’d be extremely worried (if she had another child) because I’ve had a vasectomy.” The room reportedly fell silent, prompting Key to admit he may have given too much information and ask if there were any more questions, to which one reporter responded “Did it hurt?” Apparently it wasn’t too bad.

Collective Flush

The Pittsburgh Penguins have issued a call-out to students asking for help testing out one of the most vital elements of their new, nearlycompleted arena, the Console Energy Center: the plumbing system.

The organization has requested the aid of 250 students to come simultaneously flush every toilet in the arena on June 10 to make sure everything is working correctly. In all, 386 toilets and urinals will be flushed at 4 p.m. with the help of the students and construction workers on hand. Apparently, flushing a toilet is a task for the mature, as only those 18 years or older can participate in the event.

One sorry Ferrari

A newlywed couple in Italy made their ceremony a little more expensive when they decided to drive themselves to their reception in a rented Ferrari Testarossa, worth over $160,000, and crashed right into a traffic light. The couple had rented the car for around $600 but had to pay an insurance deposit of over $25,000, none of which they’ll be getting back. Insurers reportedly estimated repairs would cost over $75,000. Witnesses said the couple had only been driving the vehicle, which can go from 0 to 96 km/h in under six seconds, for a few yards when the accident occurred. A police officer at the scene also made a hilarious contribution to the costs by giving the groom a ticket for having damaged public property.

Hoodwinked

A waffle house employee in Tennessee was taken on quite a ride last week on the hood of a car going speeds of up to 100 km/h after he tried to stop three teens from leaving without paying for their meal.

Andrew Brian McKnight hung on to the hood for five minutes, even managing to phone 911 and request police help while clinging to the vehicle, to the disbelief of the dispatcher on the other end of the line. McKnight was outside having a coffee and a cigarette when he saw a waitress chasing the three boys outside and he decided to step in. The 18-year-old driver of the vehicle faces multiple charges in the incident, including reckless endangerment.

A pro-Israel protest on June 7 (left) and a anti-Israeli protest on June 5 showed both sides of the debate after nine activitists were killed by Israeli soldiers when a Turkish boat loaded with humanitarian supplies attempted to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Photos by Jamie Gewurz (left) and Cindy Lopez

ASFA

ASFA doles out extra pay

Office manager receives over $2,000 in overtime pay and sick leave Evan LePage News editor

The changing of the guard at the Arts and Science Federations of Associations took a slightly rough turn in May when a salary conflict arose about overtime pay requested by office manager and financial comptroller Naomi Taylor.

Taylor took a legitimate extended leave of absence last month due to illness and ASFA only pays for five sick days. However, Taylor requested that the she be

paid $3,262 that she claimed she was owed in overtime that she had accumulated over four months and many ASFA members felt ethically that she should be paid for her medical leave of absence as well.

ASFA’s financial committee debated the issue but couldn’t come to a conclusion so the issue was addressed at the last regular council meeting on May 13. Once again, however, the issue was left unresolved as outgoing ASFA President Leah Del Vecchio followed protocol and said they did not legally have to pay her, according to incoming president Aaron Green.

Debate on the issue caused the meeting to draw on until 2:30 a.m. and while many councillors felt she earned the money, Green said that others argued “it would ‘set a dangerous precedent’ in allowing ASFA employees to incur overtime.”

The issue was finally resolved in a Special Council Meeting on May 20

which saw the Council vote to pay Taylor for her leave of absence in May and award her the overtime pay.

“The reasoning behind this decision was that ASFA council believed this to be a fair and reasonable amount for services rendered to ASFA and its members,” according to incoming VP Finance Alexa Newman.

The situation raised some serious questions about ASFA’s financial practice, including the fact that the office manager and financial comptroller kept a record of her own hours, meaning that although she kept a record of her hours which were available to the ASFA president, there was no concrete method of truly confirming her figures.

The problems caused Green to consider some changes. “I intend to have a digital punchclock, [that] I as president and my two signing officers, VP Finance and VP Internal, will have access to,” Green said.

“Between the three of us we will have the power to verify whether or not the office manager is keeping the hours he or she says they are, so there are no doubts in people’s minds that they are keeping the hours they say they are.”

Green also said he plans to introduce the office manager position into the ASFA bylaws, which it currently isn’t. He has also inserted a clause into the position’s contract which states that no overtime can be granted without the sign of approval from two of the association’s three signing officers.

ASFA didn’t have to look far for the extra finances to supplement Taylor. “The funds are being issued as a bonus, not overtime,” Newman said, “and will be deducted from various oversight committees that did not spend their entire budgets throughout the 2009-2010 fiscal year.”

Taylor could not be reached for comment.

ADVOCACY

CSU advocacy groups bring student plight to QHRC Evan LePage News editor

The Concordia Student Union’s Legal Information Clinic and Advocacy Centre will be presenting a set of recommendations at the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission hearings this week, largely related to racial discrimination both within and outside the school community.

In their first-ever appearance at the hearings, the CSU will present seven recommendations, all approved by the CSU executive, reflecting suggestions targeting City Hall, police, institutional managers and university administrations.

“The recommendations are essentially a composite of problems that both Advocacy and LIC dealt with over the past few years,” said Walter Tom, the LIC co-ordinator.

“I think the most important thing is the fact that university students are being affected and as such the CSU is standing up for the right of the students,” Tom said. “And that’s something that is very significant because we are the only organization from the university sector.” Neither Concordia’s administration, nor any other university student or administrative group will be presenting to the

Commission.

The CSU Advocacy Center deals mainly with issues students have within Concordia, specifically with the enforcement of the Academic Code of Conduct among other problems.

Over 11 per cent of Concordia students are international students and Advocacy Centre co-ordinator Lisa White said that the enforcement of the code is much more dangerous for these students since “the emphasis on plagiarism and citation are not the same worldwide.” She also noted that the university does not take into account a student’s intentions in enforcing the code, and the risks are much greater for the international students since expulsion on a second offense will mean a much higher loss of money and may even influence their immigration status within Canada.

This focus is reiterated in the last two recommendations they will present to the Commission which encourage university administrations to recognize the unique plight of international students and how their backgrounds affect their approach to writing papers, and to implement culturally-sensitive measures to communicate to these students the definition of plagiarism and the Academic Code of Conduct beforehand.

The LIC, on the other hand, focuses on offering legal information

to students on problems encountered outside of the Concordia environment, like racial targeting by Montreal police or security guards at private businesses. Their mandate is reflected in recommendations one through five which specifically target increased anti-discrimination and anti-racist training for police and more accountability in general for racial discrimination in the city.

Due to the external nature of the problems they deal with, Tom said the Commission offers them a forum or an outlet in which they can raise awareness about the plight of Concordia students in the city, since they can’t always tackle the problem themselves.

“We can bring them the problems but we’re not in charge of the police,” Tom said. “We don’t have the resources to investigate them.”

The hearing’s large focus on the racial profiling of youth, comprising ages 14 to 25, fit right into the mandate of the Advocacy Centre and LIC in helping Concordia students like Amal Asmar, who was targeted by police at a bus stop on St. Catherine’s Street and Atwater Avenue where she was sitting on a bench on the night of Feb. 4, 2010.

Asmar, a female student of Arab background, was given two citations worth over $1,000 and was violently arrested with what were, in her opin-

ion and the opinion of the LIC, biased conduct and excessive use of force on the part of the officers.

The LIC referred Asmar to the Center for Research-Action Race Relations, a nationally recognized organization specializing in race relations who is also presenting in front of the commission. Increased institutional accountability, deficiencies and delays in the Quebec Human Rights Commission’s handling of complaints and the need for more racial sensitization of municipal officials will be the focus of CRARR’s presentation on June 9.

The City of Montreal has since withdrawn the two citations, but Asmar, who will be in attendance for CRARR’s presentation on Wednesday, has also filed complaints, with the help of the advocacy organization, with the Police Ethics Commissioner and the QHRC. Both CSU organizations have collaborated with CRARR generally, and on specific files like that of Asmar.

CRARR Communications officer Ryan Birks recognized the importance of the CSU’s efforts in presenting in front of the Commission. “The hearings are about racial profiling and obviously a lot of Concordia students have been subject to it,” he said.

White and Tom will be joined by the CSU’s new VP Services Heather Lucas and VP Loyola and Advocacy Hassan Abdullahi.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theconcordian

5

TUITION

Concordia s new graduate payment plan draws some heat University offers alternatives to students enrolled Brennan Neil Managing editor A new student payment program has some Concordia students seeing red and has the university scrambling for alternatives to offer students currently enrolled in graduate programs.

Concordia announced changes to its graduate payment structure in mid-April. Under the new system, graduate students would have less time to pay off the balance of their tuition, and if they don't complete their program in a new time period, a continuation fee would be charged for the remaining semesters.

Concordia spokesperson Chris Mota explained that the change in billing systems was necessary.

“We are the only university in Quebec that does not bill our graduate students based on the funding that comes from the Quebec government.

Using the masters program as an example, we would bill our students over six terms and the government would give us the subsidies for the masters students for four terms,” Mota said. “The government felt that students should be done in four semesters so it was costing the university roughly $600,000 a year that we were not getting in funding.”

An estimated 200 students at-

tended the first ever 'Angry Week' to protest the new graduate billing schedule and Concordia University's short notice about the changes to the fee structure. From May 25 to 28, protestors participated in a variety of events including a shoe-throwing contest, an angry face contest, numerous workshops, and a final demonstration on Friday. The event was organized by the Graduate Students’ Association and Free Education Montreal.

“I think the breaking point is when the university changed the fee billing structure, which now front-loads the payments on the students,” explained Erik Chevrier, one of the event's organizers. “Many graduate students, especially international students, were upset and couldn’t do it, so we held a series of meetings and this is where the Angry Week idea came about.”

In late May, Concordia sent an email to graduate students explaining that the school would not charge the continuation fee to students currently enrolled and on schedule to finish their degrees. According to the email, graduate students would have three options in converting to the new system: switch immediately to the new payment program, continue paying their tuition for the next year using the previous rates but then switch to the new program in September 2011, or consult Student Accounts to work out a customized billing plan that would gradually increase. In addition, the university wouldn't charge graduate students interest or late fees from September 2010 to August 2011.

CAMPUS

Signs of the past

Photos by Cindy Lopez

A handful of iconic signs that once lit up the Montreal sky in the now call Concordia’s Loyola campus home. The five signs - from Warshaw, Bens, the Paramount movie theatre, Monsieur Hotdog, and Tavern - were salvaged by communication studies professor Matt Soar and are now on display around the CJ building. Three of the five signs belonged to historic businesses that have closed in the past few years, the exceptions being the Paramount (now called Scotiabank Theatre) and Tavern, whose name was changed to La Taverne to abide by Quebec’s language laws. There is plenty of time to get up close and nostalgic with the signs; they are on permanent display at the CJ, which houses the communications studies.

- Brennan Neil

Angry week protestors take aim at tuition increases. Photo by Cindy Lopez The accelerated payment schedule is proving to be a challenge for international students. One international student, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of losing a research grant, said that inter-

national students “expect to pay a certain amount of money, but when they raise the tuition it limits [their] choices.” In order to make ends meet and pay for his tuition the international student worked approximately

40 hours a week, in addition to the 25 to 30 hours spent on research last summer.

“My experience has been bad,” he explained. “I was vulnerable, but everyone is.”

6

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

life

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com

FASHION

Summer fashion Another trend in bags this season is reptile skins. One thing to keep in mind when looking for imitation skins is to try for something with less of a shine. This will help your purchase avoid looking cheap.

Savannah Sher Contributor

Whether you’re headed to a backyard barbecue, brunch with the girls or to an outdoor music festival, summer outings usually call for comfortable and casual outfits. Because of this, it’s easy to get into a heat wave rut of shorts and a t-shirt.

One of the most simple and most cost effective ways of freshening up your summer wardrobe is with a variety of trendy accessories. By throwing on a piece of bold jewellry with your everyday tank top and jean shorts you can create dozens of outfits that will turn heads. The secret to dressing for the heat is picking one standout item that’ll bring your look from expected to extraordinary.

Here is your guide to all the summer accessory trends to keep in mind when shopping for those perfect extras.

Shoes

Jewelry In the summer, you can’t go wrong with gold costume jewelry. Try playing off the nautical theme with a gold tone rope or chain necklace or you can piece together an over-the-top look with a variety of simple gold pieces. Try an armful of bangles with a similarly toned ring and necklace. One accessory that will add to any outfit is a textured gold cuff. H&M offers a hammered metal version for under $10.

Yves Saint Laurent set one of the biggest trends in jewellery for summer 2010: the organic stone ring. The design house used agate and coralline stones in a rough gold setting to create a bohemian look with artisan flair.

Though the originals sell for close to $400, many of the jewelry makers on Etsy.com have taken the hint and started making versions of their own for more affordable prices.

A great way to incorporate the menswear look into your summer wardrobe is with an oversized masculine watch. Classic gold is always a good choice but you could also mix it up with one in rose gold or gunmetal. Michael Kors makes a wide variety of styles that are in the $200 price range but you can find much

Structured bags with a vintage flare as a must haves accesory for summer. Photos from Flickr. cheaper ones at Aldo. These chunky timepieces will give your outfit an easy edge.

Bags and glasses

Every girl needs a great pair of sunglasses and this season the shape to go for is the classic cat eye. The modern version is larger and slightly more subtle than the style made popular in the 1950s and is a universally flattering shape.

Le Château makes a perfect tortoiseshell pair for $18, but if you’re looking for something that will last for years you should check out the versions by Alexander McQueen ($325) or Ralph Lauren Collection ($250).

The trend in purses for the summer is vintage and remodeled classics. The typical summer go-to bags are ones that are slouchy and casual but this season, opt instead for something with more structure and it will really stand out. Many past “it" bags like the Hermes Kelly, the Louis Vuitton Speedy and the Yves Saint Laurent Muse are being revived this year with new, updated versions.

The Hermes Constance bag, which was introduced in 1969 and was a favourite of Jackie O., was one particular style revisited this year that has spurred on many copycats. Hermes

is known for making some of the most expensive handbags in existence and the Constance is no exception at $5,950. Though owning the original may not be realistic for students, the basic square shape and clean lines can be found in stores like Zara. Look for something in a tan or cream colour to ideally compliment your summer outfits.

Last, but certainly not least, is an accessory that can change the whole attitude of an outfit: shoes. And this season, shoppers have plenty of styles to pick from. One of the best tips is to buy one outrageous, colourful pair that doesn't match anything in your closet and wear them with everything. From the futuristic bulky wedges at Balenciaga to the electric blue Juicy Couture gladiators, it's a rule of anything goes. If you don't want to break the bank on a trend that may not have staying power, Aldo and Steve Madden both have tons of options in a variety of heel heights and colors.

Another footwear trend in the fashionista crowd is the infamous clog. They've been seen on everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Rachel Bilson, but it’s an intimidating look to attempt and can be tricky to pull off. For the faint of heart, try a heel with a wooden platform like Steve Madden's NATALIAA ($109) or Aldo's CROMIE ($90), which has a more subtle look about it.

As far as flat sandals go, stay away from the tired, neutral gladiator look that has been present for so many seasons and go for something with a little more embellishment. Whether it’s stones, jewels or studs, choose something that will be the focus of your outfit. Aldo has an affordable pair with turquoise stone insets for $45 and Steve Madden’s BRIDE style has enough rhinestones to be a great evening alternative to heels.

No matter what your style is, there’s an accessory out there for you this summer. Keep in mind that you should always stick to wearing one bold piece at a time to let it shine.

Another vintage look this season are cat-eye frames, which have a universally flattering shape.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/concordianlife

7

DR. PHIL

Flings and flirts: the dos and

do-agains of summer romance hey, you’re human. Just keep it to a minimum.

The only thing you need to know is whether or not your fling partner is having sex with other people. If so, don’t be silly, wrap your willy.

3- Focus on today and today only. Don’t begin to wonder if she would be a good girlfriend or if he would make a good boyfriend.

4- Don’t ask your summer fling to be your date to any parties or any friend events. By

Phil Di Palma Columnist Summer is here and with the change in season comes shorts, flip-flops, tan lines and the desire for a summer fling. The idea of meeting someone during your summer break that you can talk to, hang out with and of course have sizzling hormone-induced chemistry with seems like a good idea. But as the cast of Jersey Shore showed us, summer flings can be dramatic. Between the issues of whether you and your lover are monogamous or not, and the relationship nearing expiration date, a summer romance may not be for everyone.

The highs and lows of playing the field

There is no rule that says a person may only have one summer fling or that they must go steady with one person. Rather, some may feel like bingeing on the summer lovin’. This is what can be referred to as ‘flinging,’ or the act of hooking up with multiple people.

Hot hook-ups and sexy pool rendezvous aside, there are some downsides to being a 'flinger.' Hooking up with more than one person in the same day can be seen as desperate.

Yes, many people spend their nights drunk in the summer. You want to look more attractive to a larger population, and people are more forgiving, but you don’t want them to think that’s the only way you can get action.

Think back to that episode of Jersey Shore, people! The Situation called over ten girls for a date and no one accepted. Why? Well, because without a drunken haze to blur his face, The Situation is not the situation and no one would willingly touch that boy.

If you do choose the path of a ‘flinger’ just make sure you pace yourself. One hook-up per party and don’t mess around with girls who are friends, unless they’re both down for sharing. And if they are - threesome, anyone?

Same goes for the ladies, don’t mess around with guys who are friends, either. In the case where you begin a fling only to find out his friend is much more your type, be careful.

Trading up is a possibility, if all you have done is make out. Making out with two friends is frowned upon, but forgiven. Having sex with two friends is a cardinal sin! In that case, trading would make you a homewrecker and no girl wants to be responsible for breaking up a bromance.

Mono-fling: the Original Summer Fling

For those more conservative or romantic types, do not worry. ‘Flinging’ is not your only option. Behold, the mono-fling: when you’re

only flinging with one person throughout the summer. Think of Sandy and Danny from Grease (before they go back to school).

Though the mono-fling may include all the romance of a real relationship, remember: it is still a summer fling, so it lasts only as long as the summer. Consider yourself lucky if you make it to Labour Day. There are some other fallbacks when it comes to this genre of fling. If deep down you want a long-term relationship and begin a summer fling in hopes of making it long-term, you’re going to be disappointed.

Most people who fling just want something short and sweet. Make your intentions known right at the beginning. You don’t want to start falling for someone who sees you as a piece of tanned ass.

Don’t tell yourself “Oh, I want a relationship. I’ll change his/her mind and we’ll be together come the fall.” No, my delusional puppies. Come to terms with the fact that like Ben and Jerry’s, your hook up is only open for the summer.

The Why

So, why does this search for a quick fling mainly happen during the summer? Well, when it’s nice and hot out, what’s the first thing a girl does? She changes her wardrobe.

She puts her winter clothes away and starts wearing her short shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops and the crème de la crème, the bikinis.

All that skin exposure does one thing to men: it attracts them like bees to fleshy honey. Plus, a lot of women I know try to get their bodies toned up or slimmed down during the summer. Unlike haircuts, these changes do not go unnoticed. The boys are looking and they are a-liking.

Guys are not the only ones benefitting from the warm weather, the ladies get their share too. Come summer, guys start hitting the gym harder and playing more outdoor sports. Their muscles start popping out and the ladies begin to drool from both ends.

Can a summer fling turn into a relationship?

Yes, it’s possible, but don’t assume you can change your lover’s mind. Most fling because they don’t want a relationship and not many people want to be committed to someone when they’re in school and may have less time and energy to spare.

5 tips on how to have a successful fling

1- Know what you want before you begin anything. Figuring out what you want while you’re with someone is a recipe for disaster because your intentions may not be the same.

2- Don’t be clingy or jealous. If your flinging buddy is hitting it up with other people, technically you’re not allowed to be jealous, but

doing that you create the facade of a relationship, making it more difficult to end things when the September expiration date draws near.

5- Go out and have fun. It’s summer; don’t focus so much on a fling that you neglect your friends and the sun. Go to the beach, go to bars and really enjoy the summer. If a fling happens, it happens. Don’t force it. That’ll make you look pathetic.

8

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

FOOD

Potatoes on the Plateau A new alternative to poutine Emily White Life editor I first noticed the Patate au Four, or Baked Potato Shop, from the backseat of my friend’s car. We were driving down des Pins Avenue when the shop’s yellow detailing caught my attention.

Everything from the table, chairs and umbrellas, to the building’s trimmings were sporting the bright colour. The outer brick walls housed poster-sized pictures of baked potatoes garnished with a variety of delicious toppings. In a city suffering from poutine overload, it excited me to find a non-fried potato option to satisfy my starch craving.

A few weeks later, I finally left the comforts of my suburban neighbourhood and headed back east with two friends for some baked potatoes.

Walking through the front doors, we were warmly greeted by the shop’s owner. Originally from Turkey, he decided to open a restaurant that sold baked potatoes, after noticing that no one in Montreal was selling the popular cuisine from his home country.

The simple menu offers several specials as well as a create-your-own option that can easily satisfy vegetarians and meat lovers alike. A basic potato with just butter and mozzarella cheese will cost you $5, with each topping an additional dollar. The shop has about two dozen toppings ranging from classics like sour cream, chives and corn to less conventional options like olives, jalapenos, tuna, and pickles. All toppings are prepared fresh at the restaurant, including several salads like their homemade Russian salad, a mixture of carrots and peas, and their Mediterranean mix of cucumbers, tomatoes and avocado.

When it was time to order, we decided to go with the specials posted on the menus above our heads. The first dish we tried was the extra-roasted mozzarella potato, which in addition to the base of butter and cheese came with two more toppings for a total of $8.

After adding some pepperoni and artichokes, the potato was topped off with some more

Clockwise from left: The extra-roasted mozarella potato, the vegetarian potato and the crown jewel, the pistachio baklava. Photo by writer cheese and then put back in the oven. After a five-minute bake, it came out looking like a lasagna that, with some of the recommended hot sauce added, became a dish definitely worth repeating.

Next we had the chicken potato topped with chicken, mushrooms, Russian salad, and tzaziki.

Though tzaziki is not my favourite condiment, one couldn’t help but appreciate the flavour of this dish. Mixed all together, each bite tasted like a full-course meal.

The final dish was the vegetarian potato that seemed to be topped with a taste of just about everything. There was broccoli, olives, pickles, Mediterranean salad, hot peppers, eggplant, corn and mushrooms. Though I didn’t find the mix of flavours complementary, the homemade roasted eggplant dip and its mild garlic flavour was certainly a highlight.

And if you venture into the Patate au Four wanting something beside a baked potato, you

won’t be disappointed. The restaurant offers panninis and salads from $5 to $7, rice puddings and a homemade red lentil soup at $3.50 as well as a variety of drinks, teas and Turkish coffee ranging from $1 to $2.75.

Though the food certainly pleased the palate, it was the owner’s hospitality and his baklava that make Patate au Four’s yellow building a definite eating destination. After bringing us glasses of water and coming to see how we liked our food, he brought us three pieces of pistachio baklava to try. These homemade bite-sized pastries were the stars of the meal. Sitting in a sweet syrup, the flaky pastry tasted like authenticity. At $1.10 a piece or $4 for four, they are impossible to resist.

Another thing worth noting about this quaint restaurant is the portion size, which is way more than generous. With an extra half of potato stuffed into each dish, we all barely made a dent in our plates. To the dismay of the owner, we left

more than half the potato and most of the skin, which he proudly promotes as having the most nutrients.

Though indoor seating is limited to a few bar stools and a couple of tables, a terrace is set up in the summer for those who love to people watch.

Prices (tax included) Drinks: $1-2.75 Mains: $5-9 Desserts: $2.50-4 Vegetarian Friendly Takeout Available Open 11:30 a.m. on weekdays (noon on the weekend) until 11 p.m. Closed Mondays.

231 des Pins E. Ave., corner Laval Ave. (between St. Denis and St. Laurent Blvds.) www.bakedpotatoshop.com (514) 844-6660

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

9

FESTIVAL

Beer and bloating

Photo by writer

in Montreal

A Mild Journey to the Heart of the Festival Mondiale de la Bière Jamie Gewurz Sports editor

We were somewhere around Windsor Station in the midst of the 17th Mondiale de la Bière festival when the beer began to take hold. I remember saying something like “I’m starting to feel a bit tipsy, maybe we should go sit down for a moment.”

And just like that we noticed the loud roar echoing throughout the festival, as attendees immersed themselves in the wide variety of available beers and snacks. They were all likely at the festival for one main reason: to get drunk.

And a voice was screaming: “Holy Jesus! Why are there so many goddamn beers!”

Then it was quiet again. A colleague had joined me on this journey to the festival. He did so possibly to take advantage of the free beer and snacks available to members of the press, but mainly, I think, to experience what is widely regarded as one of the most important beer festivals in all of North America. Since its inception in 1994, the festival has attracted brewers both big and small, but always with a larger emphasis on the smaller ones. This year the festival featured 500 different kinds of beer, half of which were completely new to festival-goers.

Set up both indoors and out, the festival had a lot to offer. Each brewing company had their own booth offering a variety of beers available for sale. To promote a “greener way” of drinking, the Mondiale de la Bière festival offered souvenir glasses, available for a decent sum of $8. In lieu of handing over cash at each individual booth, customers instead are offered the chance to pre-purchase a variety of one dollar tasting coupons. Depending on the alcohol content and/or the quality of beer, half a glass could cost you anywhere from one to 10 coupons.

It was almost 3 p.m. and we still had hundreds of booths to visit. The festival differs from wine tastings in that instead of taking a sip and spitting out the beverage, the common protocol is to have at least half a glass (4 oz.) and swallow it all, in order to fully appreciate the beer.

This custom makes it an impossible task to try each beer and at a range prices, most attendants I spoke to resorted to sticking with 4 oz. instead of the full 8 oz., a wise decision for those who were attempting to try many different kinds.

My colleague and I chose “400 Pound Monkey” for our first beer. Brewed by Colorado’s

Left Hand Brewing Company, this English Indian Pale Ale has a very Hoegaarden-like taste, but packs a little more flavour. Though far from the best beer at the festival, it has the familiar white taste prevalent in most lighter beers like Molson and Budweiser.

While American breweries like Left Hand and international breweries such as Heineken were well represented, the festival has always had a very Quebecois feel. There were 28 different Quebec brewing companies, totaling 232 beers, and accounting for 41 per cent of the entire selection. In addition to strong beer representation, Quebec dairy producers set up a large area with Quebec cheeses, allowing festival-goers a taste of a variety of cheeses and the opportunity ask any questions they might have on the subject.

Far from being a festival just for beer aficionados, the Mondiale de la Bière offers many activities and workshops for aspiring and experienced brewers alike. Presidents from an assortment of breweries were invited to give talks, rang-

ing in topic from starting your own brewery to publicizing your beer. The L’Ecole de Bièreologie MBière, essentially a “Beer School,” gave aspiring brewmasters the opportunity to attend brewing lessons. More experienced brewers were invited to partake in the MBeer Contest, which awards prizes and has a prestigious judge panel available to criticize and analyze your beer. If beer is not your thing, and yet you still found yourself at this festival for some reason, there were 11 different food booths to please your palate, in addition to the previously mentioned cheese area.

Along with their attempt at a “green” festival by selling souvenir glasses, the Mondiale de la Bière cares for its customers’ well-being in other ways. The festival partners up with Educ’alcool, which promotes safe, responsible drinking, while Point Zero 8 offered its popular designated driver program for those that take too much advantage of the festival. An alternative would be to simply take public transportation.

Festival goers get a taste of the local and international brews at this year’s Festival Mondiale de la Bière. Photos by Cindy Lopez Venturing into international beers like those from Brazil or Spain may seem dauting at first, but it’s well worth it. Doing so gives one a wider, more sophisticated beer background, which can then be used to sound smarter and snootier. And to look as snooty as possible, one can always try the Samuel Adams Utopia series, whose 2009 edition appeared at this year’s festival. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the beer with the highest percentage of alcohol in the world at 27 per cent, a simple shot (1 oz.) of this was available for tasting for an astounding $7. The Utopia series is also notorious for being one of the most expensive beers in the world, at over $65 a pint, so one should think long and hard before trying it.

The festival, which ended June 6, has big plans to expand for next year. The 18th edition of the festival will relocate to the nearby Place Bonaventure, allowing for a larger venue and many more attractions, including the “Oktoberfest Garden” and the “Cheese Dome”.

arts 10

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com FESTIVAL

Ready, set, Fringe!

As fest celebrates 20 years of fringe theatre, Concordia student poised to take over as producer next year Sarah Deshaies Editor in chief It’s around the same age as the average Concordia student, and you’re cordially invited to its big birthday bash.

The Fringe Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this June with an appropriate 20 days of theatre, dance parties, pancakes and St. Ambroise beer.

The concept of the Fringe is simple: it’s a festival without censorship that is accessible for both artists and audiences. Ticket prices are set no higher than $10, and all the proceeds go back to the artists.

The special thing about the Fringe is the immense joie-de-vivre that goes with it. Fringe artists are chosen by lottery, and you never know what to expect when you go to a show.

People at the festival are incredibly easygoing and willing to swap critiques of shows.

The fest itself is spread out over several venues on the Plateau, and coincides with the St-Laurent street fair where vendors are selling food and other wares at cheap prices.

The outside home base is the Fringe park at the corner of St-Laurent Boulevard and Rachel Street. Formerly known as the beer tent, the location has the ticket office, info booth, cheap beer, and a slew of live concerts and shows throughout the day.

At the helm of the Fringe is Concordia dance student Amy Blackmore. Once a volunteer who practically stumbled onto the scene in 2000, next year she will be taking over as the producer of the St. Ambroise Fringe Festival from Jeremy Hechtman, the long-time, burly, de facto king of the Montreal Fringe. He’ll continue to be on the team as a director of MainLine, the company that produces the Fringe.

For the last few years, Blackmore has been Hechtman’s right hand and apprentice, a petite, tough but friendly woman next to the big guy with the beard and kilt. Blackmore gravitated from being in shows (she was in three) to wanting to run the show. “I really loved doing [performances], but the allure of becoming producer was strong,” she said. Along with producing, choreography remains a strong interest for her.

At 26, she’s just a few years older than the Fringe. Blackmore took off what would have been her final year at Concordia in order to juggle the demands of the Fringe last year. For the 21st edition she’ll be finishing her studies while acting as producer, a heavy load to handle.

When asked what the next 20 years for the Fringe will be like, Blackmore hopes that there will be more dance content at the outdoor site, and that the festival will continue to be bilingual - something she thinks bridges the two solitudes of French and English.

Regardless of where the Fringe will be in another two decades, Blackmore says it’ll remain fun.

“Fringe is like summer camp for adults - 10 to 20 days where you forget about life, you forget about the world, it’s all about the Fringe.” The campfire where everyone gathers at night is the 13th Hour, the late night live talk show hosted by local personas Zach Winter and Sweet Sweet Jimmy Priest. And if you do an overnight shift outside at the Fringe park, you might need your camp sleeping bag.

Blackmore emphasizes what’s important by

Dance Animal Troupe, Fringe favourites from 2009, at this Fringe-for-all. Photo by Fringe referring to a line from a 1991 Fringe report: “‘Ultimately, fringe is fun.’ That sentence - it’s still top priority.”

Tips for Fringe-ing Successfully 1. Show up early to shows. Most shows have a strict ‘no latecomers’ policy, and otherwise you can’t get dibs on a good seat in the smaller venues.

2. Plan ahead. If you plan on being a dedicated showgoer and want to catch a lot of plays, mark down what you want to see, try to get tickets at least an hour ahead at the ticket booth or online, and map out your plan of action. Venues can be spread out over the Plateau, which is not car-friendly. Budget enough time to eat and get places if you’re doing a marathon.

3. Blackmore suggests asking volunteers working at the beer tent for advice on good shows.

They always know, she says. People also fill out buzz forms on what they hated/loved, and they’re posted at the Fringe park.

4. Bring a friend, or make one. The Fringe attracts an easygoing and often international crowd.

5. Volunteer. You get Fringe bucks for volunteering, which allows you to see shows or get beer for free. If you have some leftover, there’s a volunteer auction at the end of fest where you can swap your coloured currency for sweet gifts.

It’s also a fabulous way to get to know other showgoers and performers.

To volunteer, email the co-ordinator at benevol@montrealfringe.ca For a full list of the Fringe events, including shows, Drag Races, the 13th Hour, Piknik Electronik on St-Laurent Boulevard, and a free opening night show with Hollerado, check out montrealfringe.ca.

The Fringe runs June 1-20.

REVIEW

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Goes well with popcorn, and sand Radina Papukchieva Assistant arts editor If you absolutely insist on visiting a desert at the movies this weekend, better choose horseback riding with a Persian prince over getting sunstroke while wearing stilettos à la Carrie Bradshaw. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has all the ingredients for a perfect popcorn movie. Imagine Disney’s Aladdin sword-fighting and wrestling like it is his birthright. Then add more charisma, a British accent and you’ve got Dastan, “Persia’s lion.”

The story revolves around Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal in great form), an Aladdin-like hero adopted into the family of the Persian king Sharaman. This child from the slums grows up to become a skilled fighter and a trusted confidant to his brothers, Garsiv and Tus. The epitome of “a diamond in the rough,” Dastan joins forces with princess Tamina (newcomer and Bond girl Gemma Arterton), an enemy who eventually becomes a partner in crime.

The two have to protect an ancient glass-handled dagger, a mystical device with the power to turn back time. If it falls in the wrong hands it could lead to the destruction of humankind.

On their adventure, the two heroes join forces against humanity’s greed and treachery, and try to turn destiny on its head.

Yes, the movie is based on a video game, and it looks like one, too. This will appeal to a younger audience but it also has all the elements of a fairy tale, presenting itself as a cautionary tale of the oldest kind: humans are not gods, and never will be.

Gyllenhaal has already proven himself as an actor with a wide range, winning an Academy Award nomination for his turn in Brokeback Mountain. Prince of Persia is his chance to show audiences that he has the chops to be an action movie star.

Dastan is no action figure hero like Batman or Iron Man. The role is that of a people’s man, a prince picked out of the slums who taught himself how to fight to survive. Gyllenhaal gives flesh to the role of Dastan even though he is not given great writing to work with.

Perhaps amidst the dunes the writing got blown off by the desert winds. While it is stunning to look at, Prince of Persia does not offer much memorable dialogue or well-developed characters, other than Gyllenhaal’s and later Alfred Molina’s. And it’s okay because that’s not what the movie is about. It’s about action scenes.

The star of the film is undoubtedly Gyllenhaal who did most of the stunts for the film himself. While many other actors have failed when they’ve tried to do an action hero movie (Edward Norton, we’re still getting over The

Based on a video game, the movie features stunning action scenes but little memorable dialogue.

Hulk), he looks and acts the part as if wrestling and jumping over rooftops were child’s play.

The two other memorable performances are

by Ben Kingsley as Dastan’s treacherous uncle Nizam, and Alfred Molina as chief of slaves Sheik Amar. Both are a pleasure to watch especially Molina whose character could be imagined as an older, chubbier, slightly crazier version of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Directed by Mike Newell and based on the video game series by Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia falls in the tradition of epic fantasyadventure movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter.

It’s action-packed, has some very good performances, and of course, a love story. It’s no Oscar-winner, but it sure is great fun.

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

11

FESTIVAL

It s summer festival season, baby!

The reason Montrealers can survive the grim winter Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts editor The sun is out, and everywhere the delicate flutter of flyers can be heard, advertising yet another festival. As if it needed proving, summer is when Montreal justifies its reputation as the spiritual centre of arts in Canada, by offering yet again a full calendar of worldrenowned festivals with international lineups.

All this stellar art going on its almost enough to make someone turn jaded at even hearing this particular “f-word”.

Still, there are some definite advantages to catching festival fare over hitting a standalone event.

For one, you can guarantee that you’ll be getting an unrepeatable experience; in a couple of months that blockbuster movie will be available to rent but that circus troop from France probably won’t be back as soon. As tempting as it can be to try to only catch the best acts from each festival, by the time the press has picked their favourites you are usually left competing to get in against everyone else in the city who had the same idea.

Besides, going by star ratings means you lose out on the chance to be part of a crowd stumbling through the same experience of not knowing what to expect.

The best way to get the most out of festival season is to pick one, buy a pass and then dedicate some time to seeing as much as you can. Buying individual tickets can be cheaper, but it can also leave you agonizing over individual shows; with a pass you’ve got a better chance of coming across something eclectic and wonderful by accident.

Atmosphere is a crucial part of the festival experience; in addition to their regular programming, most festivals offer some kind of public space for people to gather and chat over drinks. This is the place to bond with other festival goers over what you’ve seen, loved, loathed or just can’t put into words.

If this seems like a good deal for the audience, the festival circuit also plays an important role for the individual artists and organizations who participate. Without it, few artists would have the financial backing to launch their work solo, outside of their own region.

Festivals provide the opportunity for creative exchange where small-time art producers can mingle and network casually. It also allows them to witness innovations their peers are coming up with in different parts of the world – one very positive side-effect of globalization.

Even in a scene as vibrant as Montreal’s, without chances for growth it’s easy to fall into an insular mentality if the same core players keep picking each other’s brains all the time. By bringing together people who are working independently on interesting projects of their own, festivals are crucial for keeping the creative lifeblood of a city flowing.

Whether organized around a particular artistic discipline, genre or common ethnic background, one of the beautiful things about festivals is that they celebrate the collective experience of art as opposed to individual consumption. Even for an established festival like Just for Laughs, with a tradition of celebrity headliners, no performer’s picture has ever taken up more room on the marquee than their green devil mascot, Victor.

Yes, a festival may gain prestige by featuring starpower, but one big name does not make for a successful event if nobody else is on board.

At its root, the definition of the “f-word”

is ‘a joyful celebration’ and ultimately that’s what these events are meant to be: fun. No matter which way your interests lean, there is bound to be something worth getting immersed in.

Here are a couple of events worth checking out: Infringement Festival – June 17–27 This is one event where you will not be able to find souvenir shot glasses or fad merchandise. A multimedia festival showcasing music, performance pieces, film and visual art, the organizers are dedicated to finding an alternative to the corporatization of arts. Most of their networking happens online as potential artists are asked to explain how their work fits into the mandate of the festival and what they can provide to other performers. For the leftward-leaning, or fans of the Anarchist Book Fair, this is a must-see event, perfect for checking out under-the-radar acts and connecting to politically like-minded souls. >>>infringementfestival.com<<<< Land InSights/Terre En Vues: Montreal First Peoples Festival – June 17–23, Aug. 4 - 8 One of the largest gatherings of its kind, this multidisciplinary, multinational gathering showcases the work of artists from different First Nations across North and Central America. This festival focuses on the creative practices of contemporary artists as opposed to framing it as part of a fossilized past. This year’s highlights include the performance of a ritual drama by the Mayan dance performance Rabinal Achi Maya, which stems from the same story-cycle as the pre-Hispanic text the Popul Vuh. For the first time this year, an outdoor portion in the Quartier des Spectacles will be presented in August. >>>>nativelynx.qc.ca<<<< Festival International Montreal en Arts – July 1–11 What’s not to love about this festival? Over 11 days, organizers transform Ste-Catherine Street East into an open-air public exhibition space showcasing the work of hundreds of international artists. Events run until 10 p.m. every night and programming includes movie screenings and performance pieces. Perfect for anyone who gets cranky at anything that smacks of elitism, and who still believes you can appreciate art without being serious about it. >>>>festivaldesarts.org<<<< Fantasia Film Festival - July 8-28 This film festival spans genres from sci-fi to fantasy to horror, and many films screen at Concordia’s downtown campus. A strong stomach is required to sit through a lot of the fantastic gore and effects that are the hallmarks of a good Fantasia film. Many international films make their Canadian and North American debuts here, and there is also a healthy serving of Canadian fare. If the heat outside gets to you, grab some popcorn and hide in the air-conditioned darkness in H-110, DB Clarke and JA de Seve for some eye-popping film fare. >>>>fantasiafest.com<<<< Just for Laughs Comedy Festival - July 2-25 A world-class comedy spectacle familiar to anyone who grew up in proximity to CBC. This year’s program includes a street art segment as well as the usual celebrity billings.

The names are huge, the style is out there, and the ticket prices are, well, a bit of an investment. Not the cheapest option on the block, but with their solid reputation, if you

Dance Animal Troupe, Fringe favourites from 2009, at this Fringe-for-all. Photo by Fringe can afford to go then it’s worth checking out. >>>>hahaha.com<<<< Montreal Circus Arts Festival – July 8–25 With the slogan ‘Circus – Earth – People’, the organizers of this event aim to move forward the city’s established training programs and art

forms. This may be the only time you can use the words “classy” and “spandex” to describe a show as you witness mind-blowing performances by people willing to take physical artistry to the extreme. Probably the only thing you won’t see here is dancing bears. >>montrealcompletementcirque.com<<

12

theconcordian

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 EXHIBIT

Miles Through Miles Jazz legend Miles Davis honoured with new exhibit at Montreal Fine Arts Museum Radina Papukchieva Assistant arts editor Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high. Your daddy’s rich and your momma’s good lookin’, so hush little baby, don’t you cry.

In a way, this line sums up what Miles Davis’ childhood might have been like, growing up in sunny East St. Louis. As a jazz innovator, he is today considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, and the Montreal Fine Arts Museum honours his vast contribution to the music industry in the exhibit “We Want Miles.”

The museum also marks the 20th anniversary since Davis last played at our city’s beloved Jazz Festival. For more than 30 years, Montreal has been host to one of the best jazz festivals in the world and an exhibition honouring one of our century’s most influential musicians is nothing but just right.

The entire exhibition follows Miles Davis through the lens of Miles Davis. One decade after another, one new musical discovery after another, one personal drama after another. At the entrance, an old radio plays jazz next to Davis’ family photographs and high school diploma.

Suddenly we are transported into East St. Louis in the late ‘20s, and into the home of a prosperous African-American family. Around the age of 19, Davis developed an interest with a new form of jazz, the bebop, and moved to New York in 1944 to meet his idol, Charlie “Bird” Parker.

Three big jazz-inspired tableaux by JeanMichel Basquiat reference this important reunion that marked the beginning of a musical career that went from one musical genre to another so smoothly, so naturally, it can only be compared

with the flight of a bird, headed in some direction unpredictable and unknown to us.

Davis’ big break in France in the early ‘50s was accompanied by his romance with French actress Juliette Gréco, only to be followed by years of drug abuse and then a period of “cold turkey” during which he decided to come clean.

This is when Davis’ career literally exploded, in the mid ‘50s. A room with a big screen replays a scene from the classic French movie Ascenseur pour l’Échafaud by Louis Malle (released in North America as Frantic), where actress Jeanne Moreau walks the streets accompanied by Davis’ music.

Later, in a room dedicated to the ‘70s, we see Davis’ transformation from jazz musician into a strange hybrid, keeping the same jazz cool he was known for but applying it to the new music style that made kids go crazy at the time: rock. Funk and black satin (or afrofunk) were born.

This was the period when it was cool to be a rock star, and Davis become one.

He liked the new rock vibe so much that he began working on a collaboration with Jimi Hendrix, which was interrupted by the guitar guru’s untimely death. There are pictures of Davis where it’s hard to tell if it’s Davis or Hendrix in a big afro and open leather shirt.

Davis’ future seemed bright until 1975, when, all of a sudden, he stopped playing. For nearly six

years various medical problems and love disappointments led him to stall creatively. He lived as a recluse from the press. In the exhibition, a narrowing hallway depicts this period of Davis’ life, only to lead to a big, bright room representing his glorious comeback with the album Tutu in 1986.

Some of his shiny stage vests are hanging on the walls and there are interviews with him playing on several small screens. In the center of the room is a big colourful statue of a man playing the trumpet.

There is the impression that Davis had found satisfaction and happiness again. His last album was also considered one of his best ever, and unlike many other artists whose career goes up

and then down, Davis’ appears to have been an ascent all along.

The exhibition ends the same way Davis’ career will be remembered – exciting through the whole run. There is no period of his life that was not interesting or innovative, or that should be neglected. It’s hard work putting up a collection of items that can teach someone who knows close to nothing about Miles Davis not only about Miles Davis, but about music and life in general. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts made this exhibition not only a lesson, but an experience.

There is but a single thought in one’s head upon leaving: we still want Miles.

RANT

Arts and literature in perspective The antidote to a world drowning in data is good art and nuanced perspectives Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts editor Minutes after the earthquake hit Chile on Feb. 27, expatriate Chileans were receiving tweets with the news. Within hours, Google had set up a page marking earthquake activity throughout the zone by city, province and even postal code. It took days to get the phone lines up and it felt like technology had failed us. A virtual reversion to the dark ages again.

We live in an interconnected world (yes, it’s a cliché) and that means that we are constantly exposed to international events. The moment that an earthquake hits, a civil war breaks out or an election is suspected to be rigged, you, the global citizen, can, theoretically, assume that you will hear about it. The problem is that the media focuses on reporting the really extreme happenings– in other words, when things go boom. The nature of the journalistic story is to focus on events details and statistics which make it possible to explain what is happening.

When these are the only stories about a place or group of people, it’s all too easy to fall into seeing them as perpetual victims of events beyond their control, beings without agency or

the ability to problem solve.

For example, if you look back at the coverage of the Haiti earthquake just consider how many many times sources reported what international aid organizations were doing versus what the people who lived there had already done to get organized and deal with the disaster. This is not to fault the media; stories about catastrophes don’t have room for anyone who isn’t a victim, a villain or a hero. People who are adapting, managing, coping or surviving are not exactly interesting unless you’ve got some room to become familiar with individuals and notice what makes them different.

This is where art and literature can offer a valuable complement to news in telling stories about the rest of the world. I would even go so far as to say that the more prevalent journalism becomes in our lives the more important it is going to be to also promote art and literature that also comes from voices that stand outside of our sphere no matter who they may be.

Events like natural disasters and political upheavals may appear in fictional stories told through creative mediums such as literature, film, theatre or visual arts, but always by relating it to the experiences of characters. Creative stories help the audience to accept unconditionally the perspective of a protagonist, even when it clashes with their own. By asking people to relate to an alternate perspective, good art reveals the nuanced complexities of every situation - the deeper, messier details of events where people can deal with but not be defined by catastrophe.

As never before, we need art to complement what a simple description of events can not provide.

COMING SOON Check out the Concordian Arts reviews online!

- Les Miserables at Place des Arts: June 15 - Jazz Singer review at the Segal Centre: June 14 www.theconcordian.com

music

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

13

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com

INTERVIEW

Iggy Pop, featured here at SXSW, will be playing its sister festival NXNE this June with The Stooges. Photo by Kris Krug

East meets west field so it’s hard to connect with the band. With a festival like Pop Montreal, where you’re in a little room with 100 people seeing a show, it’s a much richer experience.

An interview with NXNE Managing Director Andy McLean and Sled Island Director Zakary Pashak Shannon H. Myers Music editor

I spoke with the managing directors of two prominent Canadian music festivals for a behind the scenes glimpse of what it’s like to be at the forefront of the Canadian music scene. Andy McLean works with North by Northeast in Toronto, and Zakary Pashak is at Sled Island in Calgary. Both festivals are multi-venue, urban festivals which differ from the field, camping-style festival in that there is more room for spontaneity.

It’s a choose-your-own adventure, with no two experiences being the same. Both boast extensive and talented lineups that are international but also heavy in Canadian content, and both also feature a film festival component. The similarities of these festivals end there, however, as they are vastly different in size, location, and vibe.

C: What made you decide to create the festival?

Zakary Pashak.

AM: Back in 1995, the music industry was starting to change, the indie scene was starting to emerge and the original founding partners of NXNE had been down to Austin, Texas and had seen how SXSW was developing the careers of bands. There was an opportunity in Toronto to do the same and we wanted to create this place for discovery.

ZP: I was inspired by Pop Montreal, which is really independent and grassroots. It does good things for the Montreal music community and I thought that Calgary should do something along those lines. I like that it’s a multi-venue festival as well, because I really prefer seeing a band in a bar. I went to Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and there were 20,000 people in a

C: To what does the festival owe its success?

AM: The core team of founding members had a vision to build the festival from the ground up and that’s what we’ve done. The idea was to give new and emerging bands a chance to reach a new platform without going through a typical music industry structure. The success of the festival is based on that idea of grassroots and discovery of new bands.

ZP: Calgary gets excited about concerts. There’s enough of an audience here that it’s definitely taking off. I think people really respond positively to the lineup, the aesthetic and what we’re trying to do. We’ve always got great people volunteering, putting their time, creativity and positive attitudes towards the festival, so that translates.

C: What is the objective of the festival?

AM: Originally it was to appeal to a core audience of new music. Now we’re adding many layers like our film program, the new interactive conference and large outdoor shows like YongeDundas Square. The NXNE brand is synonymous with finding new talent but now it’s also about getting a mix of new talent with bigger names to attract more and different people.

ZP: To be a community activator by bringing some focus to bands in Calgary, and also giving people in Calgary something they can connect to. We have the Stampede here and I think some

Andy Maclean people don’t identify as much with the cowboy culture - which doesn’t really apply to the urban Calgary experience at all. Having an alternative event helps people feel connected to Calgary in a different way.

C: What makes this festival different from the others?

AM: We’re in an urban environment and it’s now seven days long. It’s not Glastonbury or Coachella where you drive out to a field and see lots of big names; we’re offering 650... bands from obscure to well-known. The urban environment of the festival helps us provide op-

Continued on next page

14

theconcordian

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

CONTINUED portunities for fans to come away discovering what’s new because you can take a chance on an unknown band, experience different venues and atmospheres, and explore the city.

ZP: It’s not different. I think it’s similar to Pop Montreal. It’s a little bit like SXSW I guess, but smaller and with less corporate sponsorship.

The thing that makes it different is that it happens in Calgary.

C: Are any attempts being made to make the festival green?

AM: Certainly, there is always more that we could do and we are always looking for new opportunities. We do stuff like printing on renewable forests paper and our staff is very eco-conscious, riding their bikes to work everyday. Using established venues cuts down on waste like paper/plastic cups or other things that might go along with an outdoor festival.

Being in the city makes it very pedestrian and bike-friendly. We work closely with the local transit and encourage people to use public transit, walk or bike from show to show. We keep that in mind when planning shows, and try to cluster venues together.

ZP: We’re working with an oil company with a sustainability department that volunteers their time, energy, and money towards making sure Sled Island is a zero-emissions festival.

Also, we don’t sell bottled water. There’s a lot of money that can be made selling people tap water, but I don’t really want to be part of that.

I think the bottled water business is really, really bad. Instead we make sure that there’s free water for everybody on the site, with a big tank of water and washable cups. I believe water is a right.

C: What makes you the most proud about the festival?

AM: We have over 700 volunteers involved now. The community engagement and dedication is amazing. When I see the amount of work that they put into the festival on a

Fun festival facts Sled Island

NXNE

Festival Edition: 4th Number of days: 4 (June 30-July 3) Number of attendees: 25,000 Number of artists: 200-260 Number of volunteers: 300 Stages: 30

Festival Edition: 16th Number of days: 7 (June 14-20) Number of attendees: 250,000 Number of artists: 650 Number of volunteers: 700 Stages: 50

Holy Fuck playing Sled Island in 2009. Photo by Doug Callow. volunteer basis and the amount of volunteers that return to us year after year, it’s extremely gratifying. A lot of the festival components rely on the help of volunteers and I think they deserve the biggest thank you.

ZP: I’m proud that it’s still going and that it looks like it’s going to keep going forever. We’re getting to a point where we’re starting to get recognition and funding, slowly. There have been a couple festivals in Calgary that only operated one or two years, so the fact that we might carry on is something.

C: What makes you the most anxious about the festival?

AM: The festival is obviously growing - this

year we’ve expanded to seven days and have a new interactive component, so the logistics and organization needed to make that all come together in a synchronized way to give people a really good experience is at times quite daunting. But somehow, magically, it comes together.

ZP: You know, the whole thing kind of does.

It gets me a little anxious sometimes comparing our level of support to other festivals that receive massive amounts of funding. That shouldn’t be a concern when I want to just focus on making the festival great but when we’re receiving $30,000 in comparison to $3 million, we can’t afford to pay staff and we rely on people to do it for free, essentially.

C: What’s your best advice to a first-timer?

Quick Spins

Wintersleep’s New Inheritors offers more than used trinkets, Blitzen Trapper ditch the countryside and go cosmopolitan and another classic from LCD Soundsystem

Wintersleep – New Inheritors (Labwork; 2010)

Blitzen Trapper Destroyer of the Void (Sub Pop; 2010)

LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening (DFA; 2010)

Left with hope and anticipation that the music would only get better as the last chords rang off on Wintersleep’s last album, Welcome to the Night Sky, I was confronted with a whole new beginning in New Inheritors. A living, breathing music, as emotional as our response to the music itself, the album leads you through a hurt you can’t escape, opening with “Experience the Jewel.”

Wintersleep evolves as you’d want your favourite band to, exploring the scope of their spectrum of sound while retaining their essence. They build on the old with a gritty guitar and soothing orchestra combination throughout.

Where old songs like “Oblivion” ended, “Mausoleum” and “Echolocation” begin again, leaving you with a profoundly different sensation than their last album.

With no less confidence, they assert their new influence, their old excellence, and create Wintersleep all over again.

Known for their earthy folk sound, Blitzen Trapper seems to have decided to shed their man-of-the-forest image in their fifth studio album. Replacing the quiet country melodies they are usually associated with is a sound best described as Freddy Mercury meets southern rock. This becomes immediately apparent with the first notes of the opening title track which features all the characteristics of prog rock at its height.

Running 6:17, the track features multiple Queen-like movements with accompanying cryptic intermissions. Overwrought lyrics and background harmonies are coupled with cascading synthesizers and classic Kansas-style guitar licks. This track is followed by even more over-elaborate rock tracks that range from sorrowful ballads to southern rock anthems. But the album does surprise listeners once in a while with returns to their Fleet Foxes-style roots, namely with the tracks “The Man Who Would Speak True” and “The Tree.”

For Styx and Kansas lovers who need a little of folk soul in their lives.

In eight years, LCD Soundsystem, led by frontman James Murphy, has become a frontrunner of indie dance-punk and has added to the roster of anthems for countless hipster parties. Following two acclaimed albums, Murphy has hinted that their third album, This is Happening, may be their last.

“Dance Yrself Clean” begins with a slow beat joined by Murphy doing what he does best: whispering sweet ironies and the occasional deep thought. Then Murphy and crew drop in a strong back beat. It’s typical LCD Soundsystem, but it’s entirely enjoyable and simply another anthem.

“Drunk Girls” picks up the pace, and once again LCD is on top of their game.

Murphy lists his observations of the differences between inebriated guys and girls without losing pace.

Hopefully This is Happening won’t be the last of LCD Soundsystem. But if it is, they’ve gone out with a stellar album.

Trial Tracks: “Experience the Jewel” and “Mausoleum”

8.0/10

-Andrew Griepsma

Trial Track: “The Man Who Would Speak

6.0/10

- Cora Ballou

Trial Track: “Drunk Girls”

8.0/10

AM: Wear comfortable shoes and get lots of sleep beforehand. Take a chance. Go out and see something you haven’t seen before, that you’ve never heard of but that piques your interest and discover something new!

ZP: Bring or rent a bike and go to as many shows as you can. Go to shows that you don’t think you want to go to: challenge yourself. I have a lot of say in the programming and it’s really solid.

For coverage of these festivals and more, be sure to check out theconcordian.com throughout the summer!

Retro review

The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main St. (Rolling Stones Records/Atlantic; 1972, 2010 re-release) With the re-release of Exile on Main St. last month, the music world has been able to appreciate once again the Rolling Stones’ classic 1972 album. Now a staple of any record collection, this album came very close to never being made. Created at the height of Keith Richards’ drug addiction and plagued by the constant absence of band members, many of the tracks feature only half the original lineup and had to be overdubbed at a later time. Yet it still stands as one of the great Stones albums, and marks their progression from their trademark classic rock sound to a more blues- and soulinspired style.

Even though Exile On Main St. was originally panned by most critics -with Lenny Kaye of Rolling Stone Magazine famously proclaiming: “[t]here are songs that are better, there are songs that are worse, and others you’ll probably lift the needle for when the time is due” - the album still managed to reach the No. 1 spot on the worldwide charts and offers hits like “Tumbling Dice “and “Happy”.

Title Track: “Happy”

- Brennan Neill

- Cora Ballou

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

15

IN-DEPTH

MIXTAPE

Wolf Parade's Expo 86; intense, manic, and danceable album

Chill summer Compiled by: Shannon H. Myers Music Editor

8/10

Here’s a summer mix for you to enjoy while basking in the sun, sipping a frothy beverage, or laying in the grass. To listen, visit 8tracks.com/the_concordian/summer-mix 1.“Home” - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below, 2009

11.“The Girls” - Calvin Harris - I Created Disco, 2007

2.“Nothing to Worry About” - Peter Bjorn and John - Living Thing, 2009

12.“Feel It” - Pop Winds - The Turquoise, 2010

3.“Tighten Up” - The Black Keys – Brothers, 2010

13.“I Don't Know” - The Sheepdogs Learn and Burn, 2010

4.“Shake A Fist” - Hot Chip – Made In The Dark, 2008

14.“Postcards from Italy” - Beirut - Gulag Orkestar, 2006

5.“Kids” - Sleigh Bells - Treats, 2010

15.“Cannonball” - The Breeders - Last Splash, 1993

6. "Death by Diamonds and Pearls" Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, 2009 7.“My Friend and The Ink on His Fingers” - Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, 2003 8.“Lounge (Closing Time)” - Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West, 1997 9.“Art House Director” - Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record, 2010 10.“Ambling Alp” - Yeasayer - Odd Blood, 2010

16.“Go On” - Current Swell - So I Say, 2005 17.“Fortunate Son” - Creedence Clearwater Revival- Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 18.“We Are Rockstars” - Does It Offend You,Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into, 2008 19.“Sun” - Caribou - Swim, 2010 20.“We Were Born the Mutants Again With Leafling” - Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, 2007

Wolf Parade – Expo 86 (Sub Pop; 2010) Dana Durell Contributor Vancouver's 1986 world fair had a lot going for it: the Great Hall of Ramses the II, Bill Cosby, a UFO-themed waterpark, a centuryold railway roundhouse, Miles Davis, a riot, and Jacques Cousteau were all there. Now that it has also retroactively been given the distinction of bringing Wolf Parade together, it can safely be added to the list of “best summers ever.”

Whether the story of the band's five members meeting at the Expo and agreeing to meet up almost 15 years later is true or not, the throwback parallels the youthful energy present throughout Expo 86. The band used a live recording process similar to what singer Spencer Krug used while recording his last Sunset Rubdown album, and it translates into a genuine sense of urgent, manic intensity and perhaps most importantly, danceability.

The album feels like a unified effort by a band who is exceedingly comfortable working together. At Mount Zoomer didn't always manage this, and at times felt more like Dan

Boeckner and Krug were content to swap songwriting duties from song to song. It didn't make for a terrible album, but it definitely makes for a better one when the two songwriters are able to work together fluently. A symptom of the unified approach - everyone gets to lead.

Most of the notable solos are the work of Dante DeCaro who, according to lore, had to stand firm for his place as one of the band's guitarists.

He was five at the Expo, “only little,” so he had to promise to practice “lots of wicked solos,” and it shows. The music is thick with musical and lyrical layers, sometimes with three guitars stacked into the mix. “Maximalism”, as the band calls it, at its finest.

Expo 86 is a party album. Put it on when you want to fill a room with a sense of frenetic energy, or when you want to feel restless and the world needs to be absolutely brimming with possibilities, or when you simply want to dance. This album is proof of why Wolf Parade is worthy of all of the acclaim we heap upon them.

Trial Track: “What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way)” is available for streaming on Pitchfork's website. The album is due for release June 29.

FESTIVAL

Sasquatch: Music experienced...and smothered in a drunken costume party John Early Contributor

A festival is not your typical concert experience, and Sasquatch is not your typical festival. A three-day event in Washington State with four stages and over 70 bands, Sasquatch is powered by the dozens of windmills dotting the horizon.

Our crew pulls into the campsite in time to see the snake of people making the nearly fortyminute pilgrimage to the front gates. We set up next to the ‘party bus,’ which features a 20 foot flag pole illuminated by flashing Christmas lights and disco balls. It will become our compass, a beacon of sparkling disco hope, on the long, dark and inebriated stumbles home at the end of fun-filled nights.

The openness of the festival patrons is displayed by the ease of camp-crawling from lot to lot, sharing food, alcohol, costumes and dancing among the random raves and jam sessions.

The festival has been sold out for two months, so it’s a relief when my costly, scalped tickets scan without a hitch. Friends and strangers alike clamour to push me up over the final hill, eager to observe my reaction taking in the Gorge Amphitheatre for the first time. Panoramic views of the Columbia River and its canyon cliffs paint the backdrop for the main stage.

The sound hits my ears as the sun breaks through in a hipster dream version of the Land Before Time’s ‘Great Valley.’ It’s a feast for the senses as the acoustics of the natural amphitheatre and giant LCD screens combine for the type of sound and visuals you get from a smaller, more intimate performance. Except it’s not small

Photo by Writer

or intimate and I am one of the 25,000 smiles in the Gorge.

Canadians dominate the lineup just as much as they do the audience: Broken Social Scene, The New Pornographers, Caribou and Patrick Watson are on the list of Canucks to see.

LCD Soundsystem is a tie with Vampire Weekend for best set of the festival. Lead vocalist Ezra Koenig is like a long lost Jonas Brother with talent and commanding stage presence. Dancing to their effortlessly catchy pop as the sun sets behind them is a moment matched only by the biggest dance party of the weekend.

That takes place during LCD Soundsystem’s set, spurred by James Murphy’s announcement that he will soon stop recording and touring.

He’s now 40, but you wouldn’t know it from his energy.

Less-than-memorable oddball new material from MGMT is a disappointment, as are rambled vocals over pre-recorded choruses from Kid Cudi. Pavement wins for worst show of the weekend; this over-hyped, re-united California band should have stuck to the ‘90s. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s song ‘Home’ gets props for both song of the festival and whistle anthem for the summer. Then there’s Deadmau5. People will talk about his hallucinogenic light show for a while, so it’s good that his name is finally being pronounced correctly.

Capping it all off, the distorted techno of Boys Noize makes it rain from sweat and condensa-

tion inside the big tent. Being the last act of the festival, he tossed his monitors into the crowd when they shut the music off, ending the festival with a bang - literally.

We split the scene early, before the field of tents turn into a sea of garbage marinated in hangovers. Realization that the festival has ended comes in the form of my shotgun-riding friend puking out the van window. Moments like this complete the Sasquatch experience: great music and even better stories. Make next year’s festival a priority: I’d like to see your face when you first cross over that hill.

For more music festival coverage, follow us all summer at theconcordian.com

16

theconcordian

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

FESTIVALS

What: FestiBlues International de Montreal When: August 11-15 Where: Montreal, Que. (Ahuntsic Park)

A quick

summer festival guide

Why Go: A lot of the FestiBlues' 2010 programming is still under wraps, but this festival is great fun in terms of price, even if it is a little off the beaten path. Located in Ahuntsic, near HenriBourassa metro station, you pay $6 for the day to enter the park, or $15 for the full five days.

It's part of La Route du Blues - a string of blues festivals in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, including Les nuits blues des Laurentides. So if the blues makes your heart sing, you can follow it through three provinces.

For more information: festiblues.com

Compiled by Shannon H. Myers and Cora Ballou

What: Evolve Music and Awareness Festival [*] When: July 23-25 Where: Antigonish, N.S.

Legend: Camping = [*] Multi-venue = [#]

What: Francofolies When: June 10-19 Where: Montreal, Que.

Why Go: It's a year of change for the Francofolies: this juggernaut French music fest got a slash in government funding this year, and it's moved from August to June. But a stellar lineup will brings fans back - you can catch local acts like Coeur de pirate, Malajube, and Les Trois Accords, and French music stars from around the world. Quebecois icons Diane Dufresne and Robert Charlebois make an appearance, of course. Check out the free concerts, which are as big as the ones at the Jazz Fest.

For more information: francofolies.com

What: Woodstock en Beauce [*] When: June 30-July 4 Where: St-Ephrem-deBeauce, Que.

Why Go: A big ol' campsite concert love-in, Woodstock en Beauce is playing host to a variety of Quebec rock acts, like Les Cowboys Fringants, Tricot Machine, and newcomers Ladies of the Canyon, as well as big names like the Planet Smashers, Anti-Flag and Bad Religion. As for fans of great acts of the past, there are a number of tribute bands paying homage to Metallica, the Doors, Pink Floyd and the Beatles, among others.

For more information: woodstockenbeauce. qc.ca

What: Osheaga When: July 31-Aug. 1 Where: Montreal, Que. (Jean-Drapeau Island)

Why Go: Perhaps the most diverse of jazz fests, the 31st edition boasts over 275 artists and covers all genres with acts like Herbie Hancock, Lionel Richie, Alex Cuba, Cyndi Lauper, Andrew Bird, the Roots, Lou Reed, and Holy Fuck, to name just a few. Attendees of all ages and tastes are guaranteed the time of the summer at this outrageously fun festival. Don’t miss it!

For more information: montrealjazzfest. com

What: Quebec City Summer Festival [#] When: July 8-18 Where: Quebec City, Que.

What: North by Northeast (NXNE) [#] When: June 14-20 Where:Toronto, Ont.

Why Go: A music and film festival that brings together international and local artists, industry leaders and fans for interactive shows and conferences. Over 650 acts will showcase across the city during nights where bars stay open until 4 a.m., while days will be filled with workshops and conferences for industry folk. With 2,300 industry delegates, this is where new talent gets discovered and skills are honed. Proving that age is irrelevant to those who like to rock, Iggy Pop and the Stooges will be tearing up the stage of Yonge-Dundas Square Saturday night of the seven-day festival, after The Raveonettes.

For more information: nxne.com

What: Montreal Jazz Fest When: June 25-July 6 Where: Montreal, Que.

Why Go: The spirit of the early '90s will be revived with shows from Pavement and Sonic Youth. Montreal legends Arcade Fire will also be gracing the stage along with fellow headliner Weezer. Female vocalist fans will delight in the inclusion of Stars and Metric to the lineup, while rock'n'roll enthusiasts will flock to the island for the Black Keys.

For more information: osheaga.com

Why Go: This is Canada’s biggest outdoor artistic event with more than 300 shows. Hard rock fans everywhere will rejoice with the appearances of Apocalyptica, Rammstein and Iron Maiden. For festival goers with more mainstream tastes, the Black Eyed Peas and Billy Talent will be there to regale viewers with catchy songs to sing along to.

Dream Theatre and Rush will also be making an appearance as well as indie favourites Great Lake Swimmers and Passion Pit. For more information: infofestival.com

Why Go: Set in beautiful surroundings and named Canada’s best summer music festival in a 2010 CBC Radio 3 poll, the Evolve Music Festival emphasizes sustainable energy, environmentalism and social justice. Acts include Hey Rosetta!, Jenn Grant, Woodhands, and Fred Penner - what feel-good festival would be complete without him?

For more information: evolvefestival.com

What: Ottawa Bluesfest When: July 6-18 Where: Ottawa, Ont. (LeBreton Flats)

Why Go: This year’s Bluesfest is featuring more than just blues musicians. Metal lovers can get their fill of power chords as Iron Maiden opens the festival on July 6. People of an older generation can relive their youth through the performances of Santana, Jimmy Cliff and the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. In addition, local hipsters will now be able check the Flaming Lips off their life to-do list when they headline July 10.

For more information: ottawabluesfest.ca

What: Sled Island [#] When: June 30-July 3 Where: Calgary, Alb.

Why Go: This independent music and film festival is only in its fourth year, but it’s growing stronger with each lineup. Boasting acts like the Dudes, the Black Lips, Hot Water Music, Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr, Priestess, Deerhoof, Fucked Up, and Girl Talk (to name a few), this year is your cool older brother’s record collection in festival form.

For more information: sledisland.com

For coverage of these festivals and more, visit theconcordian.com throughout the summer.

sports

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

17

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com FÜTBOL

World Cup preview and predictions matchup will likely determine the second place winner, unless they can upset Italy as well.

Prediction: Italy, Slovakia.

Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Portugal, Ivory Coast Brazil, the only country to have taken part in every edition of the World Cup, shocked many when they left star player Ronaldhino, highly regarded as one of the best players of the last few years, off the squad. Favouring a more defensive style, this decision could prove detrimental to their tournament hopes. Portugal comes into the tournament as one of the more talented teams, led by star Christiano Ronaldo. The tournament hopes of the Ivory Coast were dealt a crushing blow when star player Didier Drogba broke his arm in a recent match, leading to questions about whether or not he could play. Before the injury, they might have had a shot at upsetting Brazil and advancing, but that seems extremely unlikely now. Prediction: Portugal, Brazil.

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile And here come the tournament favorites: Spain should have no trouble sweeping this group, and any real trouble might only come with the championship game. The other three will have to fight each other for second place, but even then they’ll be running into a tough opponent, the winner of Group G. Switzerland’s captain and best player, Alexander Frei, was injured early this year, and his health will determine how far the Swiss can go. Prediction: Spain, Switzerland.

Can Argentina’s Lionel Messi captain his team to their first championship since ‘86 in this year’s edition of the World Cup? Flikr

Millions of spectators ready for the most popular sporting event ever Jamie Gewurz Sports editor The 2010 Winter Olympics were a big deal for Canada, but for the rest of the world, only one international event really counts. For 32 of the world’s countries, only one event can truly unite their nation around a common goal.

Watched by millions every four years, that event is, of course, FIFA’s World Cup. For the first time in its 80-year history the competition will be held in Africa, specifically in South Africa.

Before we get to predictions, here’s a quick primer on who qualifies and how: countries have gone through multiple qualifying rounds to make the Final 32, and the teams that qualify are placed in eight groups of four teams each. The top two in each group advance to the qualifying round. Each country plays every country in their group just once, with the possibility of a tie. The teams are separated to try to make each group more competitive.

In this article you’ll find a short preview of each group, followed by my predictions of how the tournament could play out. (In the interests of full disclosure, I’ll admit I am a fan of Argentina, but I will offer unbiased predictions. Really.)

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France South Africa received a prime location in Group A, due to the fact they’re hosting the tournament. They open the tournament with their toughest opponent, Mexico. With the whole continent, and most of the world’s viewing audi-

ence tuning in, an upset could provide them the momentum they need to get at least the second seed. Though not as strong as other “one-seeds” like Germany or the Netherlands, the home field advantage can help. This might be one of the more wide-open groups, and any two could advance without much surprise. Prediction: Mexico, South Africa.

Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece Argentina is likely the most talented team in this group, and arguably one of the most talented in the whole tournament. With legendary former player Diego Maradona coaching, and arguably the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, on the field, anything could happen. Critics question whether Maradona, who promised to run naked through the streets of Buenos Aires if his country wins, can have his players play as well as they do for their club teams, and reach their potential as a a team. Nigeria could prove to be a tough opponent for Argentina, and a Nigeria victory in that game would even further question Maradona’s coaching merit. South Korea is nothing to worry about, and Greece is a much weaker team than they were in 2004, when they surprised the world by winning the Euro Cup. Prediction: Argentina, Nigeria.

Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia Some might be quick to pencil in the two English-speaking countries to the next round.

England routinely has one of the stronger teams in the tournament, but historically they have not performed well, with their last World Cup championship in 1966. The United States also hasn’t performed well historically, and with this essentially being the last chance for star Landon Donovan to prove himself, the pressure is on.

Slovenia managed to squeak into the tournament by beating Russia on an away-goals tiebreaker,

and Algeria barely slipped by Egypt, but both have the ability to upset the U.S. if they can open strong. England meanwhile, should breeze through easily. Prediction: England, United States.

Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana Germany hasn’t missed the qualifying round since before the Second World War, and will likely advance yet again. In 2006 they had the advantage of playing at home, advancing all the way to the semi-finals before losing to Italy, who won the championship, and coming in third overall. Serbia, who is playing in the tournament for the first time since its separation from Montenegro, is another strong team that could be a Cinderella of sorts, while Ghana is one of the African teams that could ride the hometown momentum to tournament success. Prediction: Germany, Serbia.

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon Though the Netherlands is likely the best team of the group, the other three are not going to simply lay down and let the Dutch breeze through.

Denmark finished ahead of both Portugal and Sweden in qualifying, Cameroon is likely Africa’s best chance to go far in the tournament, and Japan will be looking to prove doubters wrong by winning their first World Cup game off Asian soil. Prediction: Netherlands, Cameroon.

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia Defending World Cup Champion Italy is a much different team than it was in 2006. An aging squad comes into the tournament as one of the most non-threatening returning champs of all time. Paraguay played extremely well in South American qualifying, and could ride that to the next round, but a strong Slovakian team could provide some problems. The Paraguay-Slovakia

The Concordian’s elimination round predictions Once they get through qualifying, teams are matched up based on group. Group A with Group B, Group C with Group D, and so on. The winner of the group plays the second place team from the other, and members of the same group are separated so that they could potentially play each other in the finals.

Round of 16 Mexico – Nigeria, England – Serbia, Netherlands – Slovakia, Portugal – Switzlerand Argentina – South Africa, Germany – United States, Italy – Cameroon, Spain – Brazil Quarterfinals: Mexico – England, Netherlands – Portugal Argentina – Germany, Cameroon – Spain Semi-finals: England – Portugal, Argentina – Spain Finals: Argentina over England.

I remain adamant that I have stayed unbiased with my predictions. Argentina will of course have difficulty with the highly-talented Spain if that match-up surfaces, but I predict they have the ability to pull off the upset. Meanwhile, England has the skill and toughness needed to win the whole tournament as well, and would match up well with both Spain and Argentina.

But whoever you cheer for, it will no doubt prove to be an interesting tournament. And for the hundreds of millions of viewers set to watch the world’s biggest single sporting event, the cheering - and the heartache - can’t start soon enough.

18

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

MARTIAL ARTS

CYCLING

Bring Out Your Inner Samurai Ride for a great view of Kendo classes channel ancient Quebec, and Japanese sword fighting a better cause Kamila Hinkson Assistant sports editor

Some people use weights to work out. Others use exercise bands, or yoga mats. But this summer, a group of Concordia students and community members are donning armour to stay in shape.

Well, it’s not real armour. According to Tae Kyu Kim, the team captain of the Shidokan Kendo and Iaido Club, the only part that is actually made of metal is the grill protecting the face.

The rest of the “armour” is made of high-quality synthetic leather.

They wear the armour when they practice kendo, an ancient form of Japanese sword fighting. The word kendo translates to “the way of the sword” in English, and was developed over centuries starting in the second century BC, when the sword was introduced to Japan.

Kendo was practiced by the samurai, middleand upper-class Japanese warriors, but its popularity is now beginning to spread outside of Japan and Korea and into countries such as Canada.

The Shidokan Kendo and Iaido Club has been around since 1974, but it only started offering classes in collaboration with Concordia 10 years ago, under the instruction of the current chief and senior instructors, Santoso Hanitijo and Dean Jolly, respectively.

Kim has been practicing kendo for nine years now. He explained via email that the classes are made up of a mix of students and community members – the beginners and intermediate students usually come from Concordia, and senior students are mostly community members.

Kendo is often compared to fencing and Kim acknowledged there similarities between the two.

“Fencing uses more lunging and poking with feet in the same place, kendo uses slashing and you move around more… but what makes kendo stand out is the commitment into the spiritual development of the individual and not only the desire of victory. It’s a very common saying in Kendo that defeating your own limitations is the highest reward.”

According to the club’s website, during play a kendoist tries to attack four general areas with a shinai, or bamboo sword: the head, the wrist, torso, and the throat. A successful attack is worth one point, and in order to obtain the point, the attack must be the outcome of a coordination of the spirit, proper sword usage and body movement. The idea is that the stroke must encom-

20-year-old student rides for cancer fundraising Jamie Gewurz Sports editor

French kendo championships 2006. pass the same technique as it would if it had been made by an actual sword.

Ashi Sabaki, or kendo footwork, is one of the many keys to success. “[It] determines when and how fast you can fire a strike, the speed, frequency, form, intensity of your strikes, and what you can do before and after the strikes,” says the site.

A kendo match has a three-point or fiveminute time limit. That may be a far cry from a football or baseball game, but as Kim explained, there is an added pressure involved. “Every kendo student is trained to assume each match as a life or death situation,” he wrote. “Therefore due to the mental pressure and physical intensity, a five-minute match can be extremely long and exhausting.”

A full-body workout, the benefits of kendo go beyond a toned body and cardiovascular endurance. “The kendo student eventually will be able to face and overcome different problems in life, the discipline and intense training sharpens one’s character striving never to surrender against any adversity. You learn to be calm at heart all the time, never letting your emotions dominate.”

A first-time kendo player only needs to come to the class dressed in sport clothing and equipped with a shinai. It’s only once one competes at the senior level that they will need to don the armour. To get to the level Kim is at now takes training, blisters, broken shinai.

Overall, though, patience is key. But the rewards outweigh the sacrifices.

“I believe kendo is one of those things in life that can truly shape your character, you always strive to become better, you learn to never give

“

Flickr

Every kendo student is trained to assume each match as a life or death situation.

Therefore due to the mental pressure and physical intensity, a five-minute match can be extremely long and exhausting.

Tae Kyu Kim, team captain of the Shidokan Kendo and Iaido Club.

up, and you understand the true beauty in simple things. You face your own limitations and learn to overcome them. Kendo can teach you a lot about yourself.”

Kendo will be offered again next fall through campus recreation. For more information about the Shidokan Kendo and Iaido Club, visit their website at shidokanmontreal. ca

When I first heard about The Ride to Conquer Cancer from a family friend of mine, I was immediately interested .

Taking place for only the second time in Quebec, the ride's organizers are looking to replicate and surpass the $5.7 million raised last year for the Segal Cancer Centre of the Jewish General Hospital and other hospitals throughout Quebec.

The money is raised by thousands of people getting set to go on an 'epic' bicycle ride from Montreal to Quebec City, a trip of over 250 km.

The trip takes place July 10 and 11, with a stopover in Trois-Rivières on the evening of the July 10. Each participant is required to raise at least $2,500 for the ride, and I set my personal goal at $3,535, to go with my lucky number, 35.

While the fundraising aspect is the primary reason for the ride, what might be even harder than raising the required money is getting trained for it. Cycling for over 125 km per day is a demanding task for some, especially for someone as out of shape as me. At least, as out of shape as I was a few months ago.

“

While the fundraising aspect is the primary reason for the ride, what might be even harder is getting trained for it.

The average leisure cyclist bikes at speeds of around 14 km/h or so, which would leave them around nine hours to do just one day’s work, go to sleep, and then wake up to ride again. Instead, cylists on the ride will likely be trying to maintain a speed closer to 20 km/h, which would make each day take around seven hours with breaks, a goal I will be looking to reach.

So how to get in shape for such a ride? Practice, practice, practice. You may be able to bike all day without getting tired, but that is likely while maintaining a low speed and taking many breaks. In addition to training on your own bicycle in order to build a level of comfort, it’s also important to cross train and work out other parts of your body in other ways by hitting the treadmill, or lifting weights, etc.

When embarking on a journey like this, it’s also very important to eat right, which I haven’t done so well with in the past. While I don’t pig out the way I used to, I’ve snacked far too often for someone about to bike a distance twice as long as any distance I’ve ever done.

It isn’t too late to join The Ride to Conquer Cancer if you're interested. You might be able to pull it off if you're already in good shape and ride often, provided you can raise $2,500 in a month. If that's too rushed, you can always take advantage of our beautiful summer through the various cycling clubs. Check out www.VeloQuebec.com for some great routes and more info on the various paths around Montreal.

If you want to contribute to the cause instead of doing the ride yourself, you can find more information on how to donate at mo10.conquercancer.ca I’ll be tracking my fundraising and training progress on my blog jamiesridetoconquercancer. tk, where you can find steps to donate to either myself or The Ride in general.

Whether or not you donate however, make sure to take advantage of the beautiful summer weather by biking on our multiple kilometres of bike paths. You won’t regret it.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theconcordian

19

IN MEMORIAM

One year later, a fallen stinger is remembered Concordia Community mourns fallen linebacker Ricky Zieba a year after his tragic death.

Kalli Ringelberg Contributor On June 24, 2009, Stingers linebacker Ricky Zieba succumbed to injuries suffered in a car accident after falling asleep at the wheel. With his death, Concordia lost a star player and his coaches lost a son. The Zieba family lost a vital part of themselves, and the people who were fortunate enough to meet him lost a mentor and an unforgettable friend.

Sitting down to speak with one of Ricky’s closest friends, one learns that he was more than what you saw from afar.

Sure, he looked like everything came easily to him, but the more you got to know Ricky, the more you realized how much effort it took to be him.

There were many layers to Ricky.

The important ones, the ones that truly defined him, were the ones that demonstrated the kind of friend he was and the kind of son he was. He loved his family and friends so much that you would be hard-pressed to find a more loyal person than him. He

The Stingers honoured Zieba in their 2009 season opener. Photo from Concordian archives was true leader, and his death didn’t change the feelings of admiration and loyalty people felt towards him in life; instead it heightened them and somehow managed to put everything in to perspective.

After a year, his friends still see him around in everything they touch, whether it is on the field or in the simple things, like meeting a new person or hearing a joke. Speaking with

his mother has helped some of them.

Her positivity in light of the dark situation has inspired them to demonstrate the same strength she does.

This is the same strength they saw in Ricky when his girlfriend Roxanne died while the couple were on vacation, just a few months before Ricky himself passed away. Watching how Ricky could deal with such a tragedy served as an example for those facing

this one.

Ricky always preached to live every day as if it were your last, and to focus on the small things in life, and his friends and family are trying to do the same. Every person he has touched now lives differently just from having met him.

Talking about Ricky isn’t hard any more. People jump at the opportunity to share their stories about him, and

they smile when do.

This past football season wasn’t dedicated to Ricky, though. It would have be too much of a weight for the whole team. It was, however, played with number nine in mind every step of the way. They may not have won many games, but they wouldn’t have been able to win any had it not been for the example of his strength. The way his teammates felt last year on the field was enough to make anyone give up, but when they thought of what Ricky would do, they somehow managed to muster up the strength to play.

As battered as their hearts were, they played them out. Many of his teammates will never again set foot on a field without a number nine somewhere on their body and a heart full of the strength that he showed them how to have. Hopefully, no one will have to take on the heavy weight of wearing his number again. Anyone who ever met Ricky believes that his number would have been retired anyway.

While his old teammates are still at Concordia, Ricky will not be forgotten on the Concordia field. Ricky wasn’t just an inspiration, he was an example. An example of how to play, how to act, and how to live. He is no longer here, but his friends and family are, and they will do the best they can to represent him. He was going to go all the way to the top, and he will, with every step that his loved ones go he’ll be right next to them.

Ricky Zieba, number nine, will never be forgotten because of every person he has touched. He never left any of the people he loved; he just found a better place to watch from.

CAMPUS

Former Stingers Cory Greenwood and Kristian Matte eschew CFL for NFL

“

Jamie Gewurz Sports editor Over the course of the year, From the Beehive will feature weekly updates on the doings of both current and former Stingers. For the first edition of this column, we take a look at two former Stingers that have recently signed NFL contracts.

Football is taken much more seriously by our neighbours to the south.

Over 100 programs exist in what is now called the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision), where many college athletes are often given false hope regarding their likelihood of future NFL success. Millions of dollars are awarded to teams as part of television contracts, and certain teams attract over 100,000 fans a game. Clearly, the NCAA and Canada’s CIS are quite different in more ways than one.

As a result, players from both collegiate leagues are bred mainly to succeed in their respective country.

This is done by forcing them to play to that country’s professional league’s rules (i.e. three downs in CFL/CIS as opposed to four, plus a larger field).

Sometimes this makes transitioning to the other league extremely difficult, especially for the rare few athletes who go from Canadian colleges and universities to the NFL. Despite all the odds seemingly stacked against them, Stingers linebacker Cory Greenwood and offensive lineman Kristian Matte

... will they both make their teams? Can two Canadian boys crack the rosters...

Kristian Matte (left, 57) and Cory Greenwood (right) hope to be switching from three downs to four in the fall.

Photo from Concordian archives have both managed to find an NFL home with the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, respectively.

Though neither of the two were drafted in April’s seven-round NFL draft, both went high in the CFL draft.

Greenwood, third overall to the Toronto Argonauts, and Matte, seventh

overall to the Montreal Alouettes, were joined by receiver Cory Watson, who went ninth to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. While Watson looks to pursue his professional career with the CFL, Greenwood and Matte are both moving to greener pastures. While the two are by no means guaranteed to

make the roster once the season starts in September, the experience and the chance makes it an easy decision.

Both will have their rights retained by their CFL teams, and should they be cut, would likely be welcomed with open arms.

But will they make their teams?

Can two Canadian boys crack the rosters of teams filled with athletes that have been playing four downs their whole lives? A strong possibility exists. Both players may be considered small by NFL standards, with Greenwood’s 235 lbs. usually the size of an outside linebacker, not an inside one like himself. Still, his impressive workout numbers (24 reps of 225 lbs, 40 inch vertical, and a 4.5 40-yard dash), will certainly give him at least a chance at a roster spot with the Chiefs’ Patriots-inspired defence.

Matte also has questions about his size, despite standing at 6-4, 296 lbs.

His versatility, and ability to play all three positions on the inside of the offensive line (two guards, centre) allows him the potential to fill a huge weak spot in one of the NFL’s best offenses.

With organized team activities (OTAs) and other “mini-camps” being held in advance of training camp and the exhibition season, the two players will be given many opportunities to do what so many have only dreamed can be done.

editorial 20

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com

Fee structure shame in light of Congress As you may or may not have heard, Congress 2010 descended upon Concordia last week in full force.

A flurry of preparation preceded the mammoth conference. Place Bethune was tidied up with seats, trees, and a large letter C (we presume it stands for Concordia). Fancy decals were attached to the Hall building windows proclaiming the inviolability of human rights.

Fancier stickers were stuck to the floor and walls in the new Molson building. Boothes were set up for university presses to display and sell their publications. Students and academics prepared their presentations. Student staff was trained, food was prepped, AV equipment was checked. Downtown classes were temporarily relocated to Loyola or had their times changed.

A lot of work went into Congress, and for all intensive purposes, it was a smashing success.

Concordia got a chance to showcase its shiny, new buildings, cutting-edge research and students’ and professors’ work to a national audience of visiting academics and administrators.

The 9,000 or so delegates that we played host to seemed on the whole impressed with Concordia’s facilities and the calibre of the presentations. We can only hope that by

successfully hosting such a huge and presitigious conference, Concordia has achieved a certain degree of prominence on the Canadian university scene, after being the perpetual No. 2 English university in Montreal.

As the professors and researchers trickle back to their home universities, they will hopefully spread the message that Concordia is a good school.

And during all of this exciting academic hoopla, students had to protest the new funding measures recently imposed on graduate students. Kudos to the protesters to speak out during a week when priority at maintaining Concordia’s public face was high. But, a shame, since you won’t find much sympathy for the cause with academics from other provinces where their students pay much higher fees than the ones we pay in Quebec.

This new fee structure, quietly advertised to students last May, places a continuation fee on students who finish in more than four semesters - essentially, students are being punished for staying longer in graduate programs. This is because the government only offers universities subsidies for four semesters of graduate studies, the amount of time it takes to thinks is appropriate for students to complete the program.

A change like this affects not only students, but their departments and faculties. When trying to attract the top minds from abroad to come study here, Concordia and other Quebec universities have an edge on other schools in that their fees are lower than elsewhere. The great lifestyle our bilingual city offers, and our touted new buildings and research are the extra lure we can use to entice students.

We need graduate students in order to support our researchers, attract research grants and continue to improve Concordia’s reputation.

By punishing them for taking longer than what is thought necessary to complete graduate studies, the university is in turn hurting itself by luring away applicants and students that may turn out to be great thinkers and innovators.

Completing a graduate program can be trying for students who are raising families and juggling other workloads at the same time.

While you might have read in this same space a few months ago that The Concordian advocated for higher tuition for students, similar to what McGill has done with their MBA program this year, we hold that it is a bad idea to penalize graduate students for staying here longer, especially after all the positive attention Concordia has garnered after Congress.

opinions:

“

A change like this affects not only students, but their departments and faculties.

ENVIRONMENT

Spill, baby,

spill

BP should be made to pay for cost of disaster Owen Nagels Assistant Opinions Editor Political pundit Bill Maher said it best when he tweeted that “every asshole who ever chanted ‘drill, baby, drill’ should have to report to the Gulf coast for cleanup duty.”

On April 20, an oil rig 64 kilometers southeast of the Louisiana coast exploded, killing 11 workers and causing a major rupture in an important oil well. According to several sources, close to 400 million litres of crude oil has spewed into the water, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in history.

Almost two months later it is still there, like a black plague: a layer of sludge floating atop the usually blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Everything BP has tried to plug the leak has not worked. First, Halliburton was hired to build a dome that would cover the leak and funnel some of the oil into a tanker. But in the end, this method didn’t work.

BP then tried a technique they called “Top-

Kill.” The idea was to pump drilling fluids into the opening that sits atop the wellhead, which would slow down the flow of oil, allowing them to seal the leak with cement.

This operation cost BP millions of dollars and was a complete failure.

The latest method to control the spill is to build a massive 5,000-ft. long straw-like apparatus over the leak so the oil can be collected at the surface of the water. The downside is that even if this new technique works, it will temporarily increase the flow of oil coming through the leak by at least 20 per cent.

The long-term method to stop the leak is to drill relief wells to intersect the flow. There are currently two relief wells being drilled at a cost of $100 million each, but they are not likely to be completed before August. Until then, BP is scratching its head wondering what else to do.

So far, BP has spent nearly $1 billion trying to contain the spill and its effects, to no avail.

Fisheries in the area have completely stopped production. Thousands of animals have died.

Tourists along Florida’s Paradise Coast are as

rare a sight as the fish in that area. The estimated total loss is said to be $5 billion and rising.

Since the spill, unemployment in Louisiana has risen in a state that is still recovering from 2005’s hurricane Katrina.

According to a MSNBC survey conducted after this catastrophe, nearly two-thirds of Americans are still in favour of off-shore drilling.

If this has not convinced people, it’s hard to fathom what it will take for them to realize off-shore drilling should no longer be practiced. This disaster tremendously dwarfs the 1989 Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska where 40.9 million litres of oil were spread over 28,000 square kilometers of ocean. Yet they continue to drill, and they continue to spill.

This disaster and its handling will be a test of Obama’s presidency. Polls show his approval ratings dropping daily, most likely due to his inaction. It’s hard to predict whether his handling of this situation will win him back the respect of the American people, but it might already be too late.

Attorney General Eric Holder has begun a criminal probe into the incident. BP has, after all, broken several laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Water Pollution Act of 1990, the Migratory Bird Treaty and the Endangered Species Act. Just look at the mess they’ve created. Their negligence alone is a criminal act, and measures should have been in place to prevent or better contain a disaster of this sort. The bottom line is that BP is responsible for this disaster, and they will have to pay up.

It will be impossible to put a dollar amount on the devastation this event has created.

One thing we can count on is that it will take decades to recover from this disaster, and the once beautiful Gulf coast will likely never be the same again.

ONLINE

Privacy settings switch up leads to new start ups online

Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

Volume 28 issue 1.

Sarah Deshaies Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Brennan Neill Managing Editor managing@theconcordian.com Evan LePage News Editor news@theconcordian.com Emily White Life Editor life@theconcordian.com Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts Editor arts@theconcordian.com Radina Papukchieva Assistant Arts Editor Shannon H. Myers Music Editor music@theconcordian.com Cora Ballou Assistant Music Editor Jamie Gewurz Sports Editor sports@theconcordian.com Kamila Hinkson Assistant Sports Editor Chris Hanna Opinions Editor opinions@theconcordian.com Owen Nagels Assistant Opinions Editor Jacob Serebrin Online Editor online@theconcordian.com Tiffany Blaise Interim Photo Editor photo@theconcordian.com

Graphic by Katie Brioux

Mark Zuckerberg changed Facebook’s privacy settings yet again; the options range from a default “open snoop,” to hermetically sealed islands.

Gareth Sloan Contributor Over the past few weeks, you’ve probably heard the ruckus over Facebook’s backwards privacy policy. Heck, you might have even been outraged yourself. Everything from the privacy page’s cryptic granular settings to the dubious way the “instant personalization” feature shared your information have had people shouting their disapproval. But it seems Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was listening.

New privacy policy changes have recently been implemented.

The first is what Zuckerberg calls “one simple control”. In the past, managing who could have access to your page was a complicated process. Facebook had so many different options it was daunting for users to figure out what exactly they were sharing and with whom.

The “one simple control” method works just as its name suggests. The options have been boiled down to sharing all your information with everyone, friends of friends, or just friends. These settings are perpetual and will affect any future Facebook functionality.

You also have the option of customizing your privacy settings to best suit your needs.

So if you want to share your birthday and hometown with everyone, your wall posts with friends of friends and your pictures with just your friends, you can.

Next is whether or not your profile and friends’ pages are viewable by unfamiliar Facebook users. This is the most hermetic option as it makes your profile effectively invisible to anyone you don’t know. Zuckerberg does not recommend this because he says it would make it harder for your non-Facebook-friend friends to find you.

The last big change (and my favourite) is an option controlling how third party applications and sites access your information. It will allow you to choose between giving them unfettered access (the web equivalent of letting them rummage through your underwear drawer) or walling yourself off on a tiny, private digital island with only your friends.

But still, I must frown at Facebook. They assume that everyone wants a ticket to the big digital information swap, so the totally open snoop option will be the default on all newlycreated accounts and the recommended option on the privacy settings page.

Despite that last little gaff, it would seem that things are hunky-dory now, right? Well, no.

I’m still not convinced Facebook has my best interests at heart. One of Facebook’s best features is also the one that makes me distrust it: it’s free. Facebook has millions of users, each consuming a fair chunk of server space and bandwidth.

However, since none of us freeloaders pay a cent, Facebook has to find other ways of covering costs, namely advertising. If advertis-

ers are the ones funding Facebook, who is the site truly loyal to? According to a recent Pew study, 27 per cent of users said they would “never” trust a social networking site.

This is where Diaspora comes in. No, not the geographical scattering of an ethnicity or plant seeds. Diaspora is the name of a new social network under development by four twentysomething college students at New York University.

Diaspora is theoretically but not totally free.

It will be free, open-source software, but the catch is that you’re responsible for it. You will need to house it on either on a computer or a server. The Diaspora team has said that it will be fairly easy to use and set up, but hardware (either a computer or dedicated web server to run the software) and all (if any) Internet traffic costs fall to the users.

Alternatively, you would also be able to pay for hosted service. The Diaspora team’s promise is to “let us connect without surrendering our privacy.” Users will be able to totally control their personal information.

When it comes to privacy on the Internet, almost all responsibility falls to the user. You have to be aware of whom you deal with and you should expect that, unless you take measures to protect yourself, you will be an open target for companies looking to track you and your personal information.

For more information about Diaspora, go to joindiaspora.com.

Feel you don’t have a voice?

Send us your letters! opinions@theconcordian.com

Katie Brioux Graphics Editor graphics@theconcordian.com Aeron MacHattie Chief Copy Editor copy@theconcordian.com Jill Fowler Production Manager production@theconcordian. com Board of Directors Tobi Elliott Ben Ngai Richard Tardif directors@theconcordian.com

Editorial 7141 Sherbrooke St. W. CC.431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514.848.2424 x7458 (Newsroom) 514.848.2424 x7499 (Editors) 514.848.2424 x7404 (Production) Francesco Sacco Business Manager business@theconcordian.com Marshall Johnston Advertising advertising@theconcordian. com Business and Advertising: 1455 de Maisonneuve W. H.733-4 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 514.848.2424 x7420 (Office) 514.848.7427 (Fax) STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS: Savannah Sher, Phil Di Palma, Renee Giblin, Gareth Sloan, John Early, Kally Ringelberg, Andrew Griepsma, Dana Durell,

theconcordian

theconcordian

City Star Salon: hair design makeovers, make-up artists & photo shoots.

35 %OFF

1433A rue Bishop, between de Maisonneuve Blvd. and Ste-Catherine St.

Call or email to book your appointment today! contact@citystarsalon.com

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

23

Diversions

Horoscopes Contradictions and Mysteries: The world is full of contradictions and mysteries, and sometimes even the sky can give clouded messages. But let’s look up anyways and give it a try.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 You twins are all about communication. What a perfect time to jump on to the latest trends by investing in electronics and taking a chance on new technologies! With Mercury’s unpredictable movements, it’s better to stick to the tried and true ways of doing things.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 Here’s your chance! Take advantage of that adventurous drive - go collect those souvenirs and memories you can put in a scrapbook later! Now is the perfect time to put down your roots, keep your loved ones close and be a homebody.

Leo July 23 - August 22 It’s time to put that dramatic streak to good use and tell people what you really think. As the sun goes through your sign, you will find yourself being extra blunt. Planetary influences will turn you into a toned-down diplomatic version of yourself.

OPEN LETTER

To my fellow Montrealers on summer etiquette Chris Hanna Opinions Editor

For half the year, our great city is pedestrian-unfriendly: the ones courageous enough to brave the snow, wind and cold are mostly mummified. But your smiling faces, sun-kissed skin and sunglasses tell me that summer has finally hit the city. It’s so nice to see you all out and about again.

Having said that, I speak for many (I am sure) in telling you that there are too many things you do that are downright irritating.

First, the busy downtown streets are not a good place for you and your eight friends to have a stroll and stop abruptly after every few steps you take. Many of us walk with a purpose, like getting to work, class, the train, metro or bus station or finding the nearest air-conditioned building. Please, single file lines

summer special:

10 % off meals for students

summer special:

10 % off meals for students

only and always keep the left sidewalk lane free for passing.

Second, that stench you smell may not be that of hot garbage piling up on the street. It might be you. It happens to the best of us (no, not really). The worst thing to do in this case is to try to eliminate or mask the odour by spraying yourself with cologne, perfume, Axe or Miami Playboy body spray, Febreze or any similar product. That would be like pouring orange juice over your cereal. You can definitely still pick up on both “flavours” and the combination is just awful.

Third, if you’re going to be courageous enough to show your feet in public, please take care of them and trim those dragon claws. If you’re going to wear socks with sandals, why not just opt for shoes or boots?

See you all around. I’ll be the guy growling at the slow walkers.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 Your analytical abilities are strong with the upcoming Mars transiting through your sign.

Detail-oriented Virgos will find themselves putting their world in order as never before. This big picture focus will allow you to relax, go with the flow and let others take control.

Libra September 23 - October 22 This summer’s sky gives you a pleasant laissezfaire attitude and an opportunity to focus on treating yourself to the finer things of life. Other people will bow to your excellent taste. You will find yourself practicing self-control and saving money.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Signs are very clear that this is the perfect opportunity for you to keep to yourself, buckle down and be insular. With Mercury’s quick-fire transits you will find yourself being social and dealing with those tricky interpersonal relationships.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 Archers will be fighting boredom with the familiar as of June 3. That nomadic urge will drive you to seek new horizon lines that other signs can only dream of. Enjoy the opportunity to be a homebody and settle down with books - you deserve a change!

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 It is all about career and work this summer.

Pluto’s influence will allow you to see the hidden dimensions of your workplace and get going on key projects. Now is not the time to buckle down as you will find yourself forced into taking it easy and letting go of responsibilities.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 The sky knows all: you may be itching to play it safe this summer by focusing on your usually neglected obligations or developing a solid dayto-day routine. As Neptune transits through your sign you will find yourself pulled to do things that are kooky and off-the-wall.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 With Jupiter transiting through your sign, now is a good time for you to make headway on grandiose dreams - focus on making plans and putting them into action. At this planetary junction your judgement is completely off and it is a bad idea to make any important life decisions.

Aries March 21 - April 19 As your sign transits through Uranus, it’s time for you to go out there and make that big statement you’ve been itching to make. The universe is ready to hear what you have to say. Go on, the planets have never been more aligned for you to keep to yourself and not make a scene!

Taurus April 20 - May 20 Your instincts are especially keen around the solstice on June 21 when it comes to issues of the heart, food or healthy living. Go for that thing you’ve been denying yourself! Venus in Cancer keeps you from dedicating too much energy outside of yourself.

SUMMER AT A GLANCE -

EVENTS JUNE

JULY 1 More parades and parties +CANADA DAY JULY 1 - 11 +FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL Montreal en Arts, 11 years on the Boulev’art The circus invades new performance spaces JULY +CIRCUS ARTS Comedy street fair JULY 2 - 25 +JUST FOR LAUGHS Classical music festival JULY +FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIÈRE +FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL An eclectic showcase of international genre cinema JULY 8 - 27 JULY 8 - 25 Mind-blowing performances by people going to the extreme +CIRCUS FESTIVAL JULY 10 +MUSIC FOR THE MASSIVE DJs with a focus on giving back to the community JULY 23 Music festival in celebration of women in music +LILITH FAIR Three days of racing and entertainment JULY 23 - 25 +DRAGON BOAT RACE Gay and Lesbian Pride days JULY 24 - AUG 1 +DIVERS/CITÉ

AUG

JULY

Art gallery exhibit featuring work by Concordia students MAY 5 - JUNE 12 APRIL 13 - JUNE 12 A “dialogic” series in literature and the arts Featuring such artists as Bloodshot Bill, Isis and Disguises JUNE 3 - 30 Featuring The Great Nocturnal Fresco, and an Exhibition Art Sale JUNE 10 - 13 It’s baaaaaaaack!!

JUNE 11 - 13 JUNE 11 - 13 A celebration of science for everyone JUNE 17 - 19 A musical ecodrama First People’s festival JUNE 17 - 23 JUNE - AUGUST Fireworks festival Parades and parties JUNE 17 - 27 Benefit for the Chabad of NDG & Loyola Campus JUNE 20 Baroque Music Festival, themed this year “Death by Chocolate” JUNE 24 - 28

+IGNITION +SIX DEGREES +SUONI PER IL POPOLO +NUIT BLANCHE +MONTREAL GRAND PRIX +SCIENCE FESTIVAL +FROG AND THE PRINCESS +LAND INSIGHTS +FEUX LOTO-QUEBEC +FÊTE NATIONALE DE QC +WIT AND WONDER +MONTREAL BAROQUE

AUG 1 +MTL HIGHLAND GAMES A competition and celebration of Scottish culture A week of Italian culture in music, art and more AUG 6 - 15 +ITALIAN WEEK Montreal anime festival +OTAKUTHON AUG 13 - 15 For the young at heart, or just young at Parc Jean Drapeau AUG 13 - 15 +CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL AUG 14 - 22 +HOT AIR BALLON FESTIVAL The largest gathering of balloons in Canada Canada’s largest organic-enviromental fair AUG 26 - SEPT 6 +FÊTE ECO-BIO-PAYSANNE +MTL WORLD FILM FEST For movie buffs and fil professionals, the best films around AUG 26 - SEPT 6 Pick up a copy of your Concordian in September -- we miss you! SEPTEMBER +BACK TO SCHOOL!? *** MORE INFO ABOUT OTHER FESTIVALS INSIDE THIS ISSUE