Life p. 5
David Suzuki: Earth above all
theconcordian
October 14, 2014 | Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983. | Issue 7 | Volume 32
Photo by Keith Race
In this issue
News
p.4
Concordia hosts Clarkson
ARTS
p.9
CUBEcois & the Maple Spring
MUSIC
p.14
The future of downloading
SPORTS
p.16
Stingers win big on home ice
We tell your stories. Follow us on Twitter: @TheConcordian
OPINIONS p.18
Are police doing enough?
theconcordian.com
news //
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Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com
CITY Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor
>> Anthony Calvillo hangs up jersey Anthony Calvillo, former star quarterback of the Montreal Alouettes, had his jersey officially retired yesterday, Oct 13. Calvillo’s number 13 jersey was ceremoniously hung up for good during the halftime of the Alouettes vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders game. The legendary quarterback, who holds a CFL record as the league’s alltime passing leader, officially retired last January after 20 seasons in the game. His career came to an end after suffering a concussion in the last half of the 2013 season. Calvillo was applauded by family, former teammates and fans as his jersey went up on the wall at Percival Molson Stadium, making his the Alouettes’ 10th number retired.
>> AMT settles for $1 million
Campus // news
Part time faculty come to a deal CUPFA announces short-term contract agreement with university Milos Kovacevic News editor
Concordia University’s Part-time Faculty Association (CUPFA) has reached a tentative, one-year agreement with university officials in a deal that leaves both sides happy but signals much work in the future. David Douglas, CUPFA’s president, explained how the current negotiations were the end result of prolonged discussions not simply within CUPFA itself but between all the faculty and staff organizations at the university. “All the labour agreements of the last couple of years were settled at the time when [we began ours],” Douglas said. As a consequence, CUPFA was the last to be wrapping things up, effectively making them out of step with the other organizations. Now, with another deadline looming in May 2015 for the next round of negotiations, CUPFA is preparing to go back to the table. “At a certain point it became
difficult for either our side or their side to contemplate life after May — it just became simpler to settle what we could, which is what we’ve done, and then re-open fully, essentially in the same cycle as everybody else,” said Douglas. “All of those contracts are coming up in May — this is the timeframe for us.” Normative issues — or remuneration aside from pay, like benefits — featured heavily in the negotiations. “We figured if we’re at the table we might as well be on the table,” he said of the worry about job security, pensions, and research commitments in an era of cuts. Douglas said concerns coming from what his group considered an insufficient follow-through of last year’s collective agreement drove the need for a fuller agreement this time around and a better implementation of terms. Speaking of the university’s latest initiative, the Voluntary Departure Program, Douglas said: “We were certainly aware of the budget austerity climate [and] we were given a specific information session
about the Voluntary Departure Program, which doesn’t really affect us, [though] we didn’t really know it was coming.” The program seeks to give a lumpsum payment to staff who voluntarily leave, and is expected to save the school millions of dollars annually. “I think at some level, when you take away staff, there’s an inevitable impact or reflection on student life and faculty life,” said Douglas on the effects the program may have on his association. He said the last round of budget cuts lowered membership by about 5 per cent, mostly from a contraction of teaching schedules. “Because cuts came midyear, really the only sort of possibility was to cut the courses that part-time faculty were teaching,” explained Douglas. When it comes to suggestions about how Concordia may save additional money, CUPFA suggested a restriction on limited-term appointments (LTA), a system by which faculty is recruited on a limited contractual basis — effectively, temporary tenure.
“There are some necessities to LTA [sic] appointments, but we feel that it’s been enlarged over the last few years to our detriment. I think we’re cheaper than LTA, so if you want to cut the budget, I think cutting temporary appointments that are more expensive than part-time faculty is not a bad place to start.” He said that as soon as matters are clarified and the final text is rewritten to better reflect the new situation and ratifications, the public will have access to the full details of the deal. He expects this to be completed in several weeks. “We’re certainly working as hard as we can to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s.” “There are things we had to leave on the table [and] priorities we could not realize, but there are other things that we will be able to answer in the interest of our members.” Limiting present priorities has allowed for future discussion over what is to be brought up and what issues will be re-opened come May, Douglas said. Such matters will be something to be brought up with CUPFA members soon.
Montreal’s Agence Metropolitaine de Transport (AMT) has settled out of court with over 20,000 claimants over poor service provided in January and February of 2009. The settlement of just under $1 million allows each plaintiff compensation of between $27 and $49 each — an amount that comes to just about half the cost of a regular monthly train pass. Unreliable service by the AMT, including frequent delays and mechanical issues, prompted Yves Boyer, a Pincourt resident, to launch the class-action lawsuit in 2009.
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Truck crash on Papineau damages businesses
A truck crash on Papineau Ave. in the wee hours of Sunday morning caused damage to local businesses. The crash happened around 2:15 a.m., when the driver of a truck used to transport Bixi bikes lost control of his vehicle. His truck careened into the sidewalk, hitting several parked vehicles and damaging business along the way. Nobody was injured, though the driver was brought to the hospital from the scene. The area was closed-off for cleanup following the crash.
Campus // news
Concordia welcomes new chancellor Alumnus Jonathan Wener to take on position in winter semester of 2015 Marilla Steuter-Martin Production assistant
S
ir George Williams University alumnus Jonathan Wener will be stepping into the role of university chancellor as of Jan. 1, 2015. Wener, who graduated in 1971, has been involved with Concordia for many years and served on the Board of Governors from 1995 to 2012. Concordia President Alan Shepard said that after all Wener’s contributions, he is sure to be a good fit for this position. “One of the things you want in a chancellor is someone who really understands the place, loves it, respects it and wants to promote it,” said Shepard. As CEO of Canderel, a real estate development firm, Wener also lent his expertise to Concordia’s Real Estate Planning Committee for 16 years. “Many of the advancements to SGW campus came about while he was in that role,” said Shepard. “He had a real passion
for it and an ability to help us get things done.” As a graduate and an active community member, Shepard points to parallels between the incoming chancellor and current Concordia students. “He’s really smart, ambitious, he works hard,” said Shepard. “He’s got big ambitions, not only for himself but for the institution.” Wener has been occupying the role of deputy chancellor since 2012, under L. Jacques Ménard. According to Shepard, the chancellor is in part a ceremonial position, tasked with “getting the good name and good work of the university out.” As a representative of the university, the chancellor attends university functions, participates in lobbying and fundraising initiatives, and offers advice to the president. Among Wener’s other qualifications, he is responsible for creating the annual Défi Canderel fundraiser, which has raised over $9 million for cancer research over the last 25 years.
Jonathan Wener. Photo from Concordia.ca
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Foundation’s founder talks about empowering women through education
W
anda Bedard, founder of the girl’s educational charity 60 Million Girls Foundation, will be featured at a talk on the Oct. 16 on a pilot self-learning project focusing on young girls in rural Sierra Leone. Bedard, a Montreal local, started the charity group in the late ‘90s after repeatedly hearing and reading about the plight of Afghan women under the harshly and repressive rule of the theocratic Taliban regime. Shocked by their narrow existence and enraged by such squandered potential, Bedard decided to get involved herself. One Sunday morning, disgusted after reading a story of an Afghani girl sold by her father to a much older warlord for a pittance, she decided to change directions and work towards the betterment of the millions of disenfranchised women the world over. “I can be upset after reading these things, but if I don’t take action and participate, I’m not helping improve things or change things,” said Bedard on her motivation. Falling back on her professional experience as a businesswoman, she spent the next severak years trying to understand, in her words, why women were so little valued. She self-researched and attended workshops, volunteered for organizations like UNICEF, and sought out anybody who could better inform her on the workings of international aid organizations. She also realized only education could fundamentally elevate the conditions of the women in the world’s most unstable and poor countries. The 60 Million Girls Foundation’s mandate is to fundraise and aid two to three projects a year completely though volunteers — as Bedard says, pretty much their entire staff has day jobs on the side, but this allows for “99 percent” of money raised to go to the sources that need them These projects are realized by established and registered Canadian charities who pitch their proposals and budgets to scrutiny and feasibility studies by Bedard’s foundation. “Because we’re a public foundation we have no capital so we start pretty well at zero dollars every January and then we do the fundraising throughout the year,” she explained of the efforts that have seen the foundation give grants totaling $300,000 at a time for a grand total of $1.9 million over the years, spread over 16 projects. “We take an awful lot of care in choosing our partners,” said Bedard of the risks and difficulties in carrying out operations in states where corruption and violence
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Lecture // news
Aiding 60 million lives one class at a time Milos Kovacevic News editor
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may be endemic. Only groups with because they never had landlines went through all the math videos a proven track record of strong for telephones and went right to at their level of high school, and connections to these communities cell phones.” they were clamouring for more. and visions beyond the short-term They were doing it on their own; The challenge was figuring out are considered. Detailed budgets a way to harness the innovation. there was no teacher overseeing require reasonable administrative things.” A second phase of some Rural African schools lack the costs, and the foundation some- resources to provide a strong edutwo-and-a-half months followed times sends its own members (at cation. There is a dearth of qualiin April. It is these findings and their own expense) to check up on fied teachers (Bedard estimated the methodology behind it that them. Every six months a status there are around 3.5 million missform part of the discussion on update is performed, which Bedard ing teachers across the world) and Wednesday. says is necessary in regions where government funding, though comBedard herself is already convolatile politics and instability can ing from a good place, is insuffivinced. drastically alter the landscape they cient. Add to it the burden posed “The research clearly shows are working in. that for every additional year of on the parents in providing for “It’s important to us to have their children and making up for primary school that a girl gets, really close communication with lost manpower back at their homeinfant mortality rates decrease by our partners. It didn’t make a lot steads, and there are strong factors 10 to 15 per cent. For every addiof sense of us to reinvent the or- holding education back. 60 Miltional level of high school, potenganizations in the field or projects lion Girls therefore came up with tial revenue increases by about 25 in the field when there’s already a way to instead let the children per cent. So at the very core of it is so many amazing projects going learn on their own with the help of to give the girls, and the boys deon and what they often lack is computers, which Bedard considpending on the projects, the tools funding and partnerships,” said ers as “containers in which can be to look after themselves, to be able Bedard. put vast amounts of information.” to understand [the label] if they are Despite some difficult in- These computers lack certain bagiven medicine, to understand the stances — Bedard particularly sics like word processing, which importance of prenatal care if pregremembers one project for post- depend on expensive add-ons like nant, to understand the importance secondary aboriginal education printers, and are instead outfitted of nutrition or vaccination for their in Honduras marred by political with tutorial software, offline Wikikids. To be able to read and write instability brought on by a coup — pedia, and various encyclopedias. and understand basic numeracy, no initiative has been abandoned The choice of software originally [the benefits] are clearly demonor cancelled, though modifications focused on literacy, but was found strated.” have often occurred in response to to be problematic as literature was changes in situation. culturally specific and particular to Empowering Girls: Using Educa“You have to take [the insta- each host community. Mathemattional Technology to save lives bility] into account if you want ics, by contrast, was more univerwill take place from 6 to 8 p.m. to help these communities,” said sal in its applicability. at the York Amphitheatre (room Bedard. “We wanted to see if they 1.615) of the Engineering, Com“Any organization without worked and if the girls showed puter Science and Visual Arts strong community links and en- any interest. It was absolutely Integrated Complex, at 1515 Ste. gagement won’t be successful. We stunning. The girls loved it. They Catherine St. W. constantly ask for feedback.” With eight years of experience, 60 Million Girls has begun taking a more active role in suggesting and planning initiatives it thinks will best serve girls’ education. This, and their personal experience from travelling in Africas, is from whence springs the pilot project on self-directed computer-based learning in Sierra Leone. “I remember being in very rural areas, hours and hours away from the nearest city, and then you’d be there and see a cell phone kiosk selling cell phone cards or telephones in the middle of nowhere. I said to myself ‘This is crazy, how could these people, who live in absolute poverty, think of buying a luxury like a cell phone? [Then I] realized this isn’t a luxury — this is a lifesaving tool. These communities did not have access to information beforehand and there is no electricity, but there are small entrepreneurs who have charging stations with generators. What I found amazing at the time was that the country actually skipped a whole generation of technology Wanda Bedard of 60 million Girls Foundation. Photo courtesy of Wanda Bedard.
NATION Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor
>> Cure for Ebola may be in Canadian hands Human clinical trials for the new Ebola vaccine began yesterday in Maryland. The vaccine was developed by scientists at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. The trial will assess the safety implications and proper dosage for the vaccine, which has promising results. In the first phases where the vaccine was tested on primates, survival was greatly increased when given before exposure to Ebola. It has been said to be 100 per cent effective in preventing the spread of Ebola in these animal subjects. The trials will be completed sometime in December, with the next stage being to test internationally on a larger human group, including those in West Africa who are in direct contact with Ebola.
>> Downtown Calgary in the dark until Thursday A power outage caused by an underground electrical fire on Saturday night has left over 2,100 business and 5,000 residents in downtown Calgary in the dark. Power is expected to be restored by mid-afternoon Thursday, and transportation to and from downtown is expected to be up and running for this morning’s rush hour. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it has left the infrastructure involved completely destroyed, according to Enmax utility company. 361 people sought emergency services and an additional 270 needed overnight accommodation on Sunday. The Calgary Courts Centre will be closed until Friday.
>> Péladeau
under fire for alleged ethical breach Parti-Québécois MNA Pierre Karl Péladeau is being investigated by the National Assembly’s ethics commissioner for trying to influence the sale of Vision Globale to benefit his company, Quebecor. Péladeau is the former president and CEO of Quebecor Inc. In a statement made by the MNA on Friday, he maintains that his actions in regards to the sale of Vision Globale were for the good of the people of St Jerome, his riding, and not for his business. Should he be found in breach of the code of ethics, Péladeau could face penalties ranging from suspension to losing his seat.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2014
WORLD Gregory Todaro Copy editor
>> Kim Jongun makes appearance
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made his first public appearance in five weeks. According to state media, Kim visited a newly built residential district and scientific establishment, his first time in the public eye since Sept. 3. Analysts have speculated that Kim missed several high-profile public appearances that he would normally be expected to attend. There is also belief that the leader may be having some health issues due to a documentary released late last month that made reference to a “discomfort” he was feeling and showed him overweight and limping.
>> Catalan independence movement hits major roadblock The Catalan regional government is no longer moving forward with an independence referendum, according to Spanish media. After meeting with proreferendum parties Monday, Oct. 13, Joan Herrera of the Initiative for Catalonia party told reporters that a consultation with the people couldn’t happen because a vote would be unconstitutional. Catalonia’s president, Artur Mas, said that he was now looking for other methods to consult the public. Polls indicate that a majority of Catalans are in favour of holding a vote, but are evenly split on independence.
>> “Breach of protocol” behind Texas ebola spread
Adrienne Clarkson explores belonging Famed Governor General begins Massey Lectures at Concordia Milos Kovacevic News editor
Journalist, author, and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson delivered a poignant and complex analysis of what it means to belong on the opening night of the 2014 Massey Lectures. Her talk, entitled Belonging: The Paradox of Citizenship, provided a careful synthesis of ideas ranging from the personal to the antiquated. Drawing on knowledge from a lifetime of curiosity and research, the larger part of her lecture was an in-depth analysis of literary and historical instances of belonging and citizenship. Perhaps a deliberate nod to Quebec’s roots, France’s literary tradition and the evolution of one particular French town throughout the ages, from brute feudalism between secular and religious lords to enlightened democracy, was the main focus, with other examples pulled from domains like biology and philosophy. For Clarkson, citizenship is an enduring web of connections, simultaneously an obligation stemming from the responsibility owed to others and a deep well to draw upon for strength. It is a peek into the persistent need, even of societies like our own, which concern themselves primarily with individualism,
for “stabilization and confirmation outside ourselves.” Clarkson’s debut also explored the mutability of these identities, showing that nothing is written in stone and the majority have final say about who is one of us and who isn’t. For all the talk of origins and common experience, outsiders are joined by threads above culture and approaching the fundamental human experience. In a nutshell, “If we remove our sense of belonging to each other, no matter what our material and social conditions are, survival, acquisition, and selfish triumphalism will endure at the cost of our humanity,” she said, quoting historian Alan Turnbull. While her speech was intellectual in nature and required a prior grounding for best effect, it was her personal history and opinion unlocked during the question and answer period which created the strongest emotional resonance with the crowd. When asked about the limits of citizenship and integration, Clarkson dug into her own memories and experiences as a young girl in an immigrant family coming to a country still plagued by racialism and discrimination. By drawing the connections from state-sponsored exclusion, such as the head tax, to the Japanese labour camps of WWII, and finally to Quebec’s current battle over identity politics and accommodation, the lecture came full
circle by reminding us of the very pressing and present Canadian evolution of belonging. The Massey Lectures continue
with dates in Halifax, Saskatoon Vancouver, and finally in Toronto. Recording will be featured on CBC’s Ideas in November.
Campus // news
Legal issues stifle CONMUN fee levy Concordia’s model UN contested application rejection for fee levy Nathalie laflamme Editor-in-chief Gregory Todaro Copy editor
A health care worker at the hospital in Dallas where Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to have Ebola in the United States, was diagnosed with the virus. The hospital worker in question is said to have contracted Ebola after an unspecified “breach of protocol” that led her to be in direct contact with Duncan. Hospital staff wore protective gear when treating Duncan, and it is unclear how this breach occurred. This newest case has concerned parties wondering whether the hospital and U.S health officials will be able to keep the disease contained, now that two individuals are infected. President Obama has urged the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to act immediately in investigating the issue.
Lecture // news
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, it was discussed at a CSU meeting whether the application Concordia Model UN (CONMUN) submitted in order to apply for a fee levy could be accepted. CONMUN had submitted their application on Sept. 12 after collecting 1,000 signatures from students. On Oct. 1, the CSU policy committee and CONMUN met in order to discuss the issues the policy committee had with their constitution. The committee explained that their issues with the document stemmed from ambiguities in the constitution, as well as a late submission of their request. In the rebuttal CONMUN presented to CSU this week, they described the two-hour meeting with the policy committee as having
had a “hostile” environment, and said their constitution had been unfairly “shredded” for seemingly minor issues. “We felt that this decision of the policy committee to reject our application to hold a fee levy referendum based on our constitution was completely unjust,” Nathanaël Dagange, CONMUN president, said. However, this was news to CSU VP academic and advocacy Terry Wilkings, who chairs policy committee meetings. “I was very surprised to see the language in the rebuttal document in terms of the environment being hostile,” he said. “I honestly felt like the meeting was conducted with mutual respect and was a highly collegial affair.” The reason the policy committee was so thorough with eliminating ambiguity from this particular constitution was to set precedent for future applications, according to Wilkings. He explained that the CSU is currently working to improve how the constitutions for fu-
ture fee levy groups are set up. “The ambiguity that currently exists is something the policy committee is making a priority to review, and we’d like to put in place a standard review process so all applications are being treated in the same manner year in, year out,” Wilkings said. The other issue brought up by the policy committee was dealing with the date the application was submitted. According to Benjamin Prunty, CSU president, it has yet to be decided whether the notwithstanding clause will be used to exempt CONMUN from abiding by this limitation. However, he warned of the dangers of setting a “dangerous precedent.” “If we accept applications outside of our regulations for no compelling reason beyond the fact that some of our members have shown a good deal of initiative, then we are communicating to everyone that that is all it takes, but that should not be the case.” Prunty added that unlike other initiatives from the past, such
as the Concordia Food Coalition, there is “no pressing matter needing to be attended to by CONMUN, among other differences between the two situations. If we don’t send their questions to ballot, they will continue to operate, presumably, as the well-funded CSU club in much the same way as they have in the past.” The policy committee will announce on Oct. 17 whether the ambiguities of the CONMUN’s constitution have been successfully dealt with. “We are still in the process of reviewing the application, but it is definitely possible that, if major inconsistencies can be addressed, that policy committee will change its previous recommendation,” Prunty said. CONMUN had applied for a fee levy of seven cents per credit starting in the winter 2015 semester. If their application is approved by council, students will vote on whether or not CONMUN will be able to have this fee levy at the winter by-elections.
life
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
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Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com
Events// Life
Suzuki: a healthy environment is a right A first-hand account of this week’s Blue Dot event
ment! The bare minimum requires an agreement between seven provinces representing at least 50 per cent of the country’s population. Our last federal election couldn’t even muster 40 per cent for a single party, and only 61 per cent of us even bothered to show up. But that is starting from the end. That sunny Sunday afternoon was all about beginnings. From Sept. 24 to Nov. 9 Suzuki is crisscrossing Canada putting on free concerts, fundraising benefits, and political soirées.
The theme of the tour is bringing together all generations of Canadians to sing and dance and laugh and listen — listen to ourselves, the citizens of this nation who overwhelmingly agree that a healthy environment is essential to our lives. “85 per cent of Canadians in polls say [they want] to enshrine the right to a healthy environment in the constitution,” Suzuki said on stage. He urged anyone interested to visit the website bluedot.ca where there’s a petition for Canadians to sign, as well as
a video that elucidates the three-step, bottom-up method of action the tour is advocating. Starting at the municipal level, he urges every one of us to pressure our representatives to make declarations recognizing a healthy environment as a keith race fundamental human right. The next proPhoto editor gression is for cities across Canada to use their declarations as a model and pressure their provincial assemblies to pass A tiny blue dot. A speck in the infinite an environmental bill of rights. Finally, cold darkness of space. All we have to and this is realistically a long way down live, all we need to live comes from this the road, the goal is to amend the Charter little rock to which we’re of Rights to recognize the anchored. What would we fundamental human right do without it? to a healthy environment. If there is no air for three It’s not an overnight sominutes, you’re dead. If lution. It’s not a quick fix. there is no water for three Suzuki, the Kyoto crusaddays, you’re dead. er, worked long and hard We can all agree that we to convince nations across need these elements of life, the world to sign the Kyothese essential resources. to Accord. Now he’s foAnd that is the message Dacusing on his home, our vid Suzuki’s Blue Dot Tour home. is bringing to Canada. There are many more The sun shone unobstops on the Blue Dot structed, and a crisp auTour, the next one being tumn wind blew. Trees with Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the leaves of orange, gold-green, Corona Theatre right here and umber framed the stage in Montreal. It’s a fundas musicians played. French raiser with an impresfolk music flowed through sive list of talent: Emily an enthusiastic crowd of Haines and Jimmy Shaw more than 2,000. Artists from Metric, Montreal’s performing included Les own Half Moon Run and Cowboys Fringants, Lisa Patrick Watson, and many Leblanc, Paul Piché, Gilles more. Vigneault, Eléanore Lagacé When I saw Suzuki and Ian Kelly. walk out on stage full of Children and parents. The enthusiasm and vitality it young and the old. Students was hard to believe he’s and retirees. There were at already 78 years old. He’s least four generations out been a champion for the for the fun. With everyone environment for over 50 smiling and milling around, years and hopefully for food trucks sold snacks off more still to come. But in the background. he’s just one man and Montreal throws thouthat’s why he’s trying to sands of concerts in a year. start a movement. It takes Actually it’s likely closer to all of us to spur on real achundreds of thousands. But tion, not just a few. And last Sunday wasn’t for culit won’t come from one ture, or dancing, or alcoholperson or one group, we ism. It was a social moveall need to have a converment. sation about what is really Or at least that’s what Suimportant in the long run zuki is trying to start. Suzuand the short. Our econoki is travelling across Canamy doesn’t have to suffer, da bringing people together it needs to be redirected. and asking a pretty simple “But this is the challenge, question: isn’t it about time I believe. That we have to to enshrine the fundamencome together as human tal human right to a healthy beings and map out what environment in our constiare our most fundamental tution? needs, and then build an At first I was a bit... well, economy and a way of livnot dismissive, I guess I’d ing on top of that,” said call it cynical. Achieving a Suzuki. “Surely a healthy constitutional amendment environment should be a is one of the most difficult fundamental right of all political tasks. And that’s Canadians. It should be in something of an understate- David Suzuki tells Canadians to stand up for the fundamental right to a healthy environment. Photo by Keith Race. our constitution!”
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014
Events // Life
Halloween 2014 - Fright night festivities Do you believe in ghosts? Experience Montreal’s haunted past Sabrina Ponzo Contributor Ghost hunting tours in Old Montreal will have you spending this year’s Halloween exploring the darker side of the city’s streets. You and your friends
will hear mysterious stories and legends about crimes, witchcraft, hangings and other gruesome events from all the hidden corners of Old Montreal. Choose between the Traditional Ghost Walk or, if you’re feeling brave, partake in the action-packed Ghost Hunt. You also get the
choice between two ghost hunt themes, each with a different itinerary. First is Montreal’s Historical Crime Scenes, the second the New France Ghost Hunt. Regular ghost tours run every Saturday until Oct. 25 and start at 8:30 p.m. Halloween ghost hunt dates are Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1, and
begin at 6:30 p.m. All tours are offered in both English and French and last 90 minutes. Private group Ghost Walks are available year round. Cost is $18.50 for students with a valid ID. To purchase tickets for this year’s tours, go to 360 St-FrancoisXavier St., between St. Paul
St. W. and de la Commune St. (also accessible through Place d’Armes Metro). Remember to reserve tickets one hour to 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the tour. For more information call 514-844-4021 or visit www. fantommontreal.com.
Fall down the rabbit hole at Malice in Wonderland Sabrina Ponzo Contributor
This Halloween night, the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association (CASAJMSB) invites you to embark into the mystery of its Malice in Wonderland event. With its freaky tunes, psychedelic scenery, and
unlimited candy bar, this year’s Hallow’s Eve will surely be one to remember. The party will be held at the Olympia Theatre, located at 1004 Ste-Catherine St. E. Doors to the rabbit hole will open at 10 p.m. Be sure to bring your student ID card. Michael Richardson, President of CASAJMSB, assured this year’s event will not disappoint.
“Each year, CASA adds a unique twist to their Halloween party,” said Richardson. “Last year’s “Voodoo Resurrection” was an incredible success and we expect the same amazing event quality in our much more spooky version of Wonderland.” The event will feature two DJs and two openers, who will be in charge of making your night as en-
tertaining as possible. As Richardson noted, it’ll all be thanks to the effort of the CASAJMSB members. “Our events team has been hard at work planning the amazing décor, as well as a tip-included open bar,” said Richardson. “Of course, CASA’s famous candy bar will also be in full swing throughout the evening.” Tier one tickets can be
bought online for $35, with a $5 discount for sharing the event on Facebook. You can also purchase your tickets in person in the McConnell Building, in room 4.105. With 45 per cent of tickets already sold and over 2,500 adventurers expected, don’t miss your chance to explore the darkness of Wonderland with your fellow Concordians!
First Kontakt will be an otherworldly experience ence Centre this Halloween night. Sara With a stellar lineup Baron-Goodman arranged of DJs Shlohmo, Life editor Rustie, and Hucci, along with a secret guest whose First Kontakt will offer you identity has yet to be rean otherworldly experi- vealed, this is the event for ence at the Montreal Sci- trap lovers.
The theme, as you may have deduced, plays with the idea extraterrestrial contact with Earth. The Science Centre will be your intergalactic hub for the evening, so get ready to be sent reeling into outer space, against the
backdrop of the Montreal skyline. Costumes are mandatory, but don’t have to pay tribute to the theme — though of course, it is encouraged. Tickets are available online or at Off The Hook
for $35. More information is available through kontaktmtl.com.
Halloween tradition. Guests are invited to participate in the pre-show costume contest and watch the Montreal Rocky Horror actors perform a live show alongside the silver screen. So grab your rice, toast,
squirt guns and all, and let your freak flag fly high and proud. Showtimes this year are Oct. 30, 31, and Nov. 1 at 8 or 11 p.m. Tickets are available online through rockyhorror-
montreal.com for $17.95, or at the door for $19.95. A $5 student discount is available, but only for the Oct. 30 show.
The Science Centre is located at 2 de la Commune St. W. in Old Montreal.
Science fiction, double feature Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor Give yourself over to absolute pleasure — this year,
as always, The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be coming to the Imperial Theatre for Halloween weekend. Whether you’re more of a Janet or a Frank-N-Furter, this 1970s cult classic musical is a favourite fringey
The Imperial Cinema is located at 1430 Bleury St.
Sexy voodoo blackout party Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor
Cirque de Boudoir will be hosting what they claim is “Montreal’s sexiest Hallow-
een party” at Bain Mathieu on Oct. 31. The venue itself is an old bath house turned nightlife venue, where the dancefloor is an emptied out pool. To add to the chilling atmosphere, the basement level will be lit
Party like an angsty UK youth Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor The success of the early to mid 2000s British teen dra-
ma Skins has seen spinoff potential in the form of raves and raucous parties around the world, and in Montreal since 2009. On Nov. 1, Skins X: Rave 2 The Grave promises to be just as much nitty-gritty
only with black lights. The theme of the night is Voodoo, and party-goers are strongly encouraged to dress accordingly. What does this mean exactly? According to their website, anything from Voodoo dolls to zombies to fetish
attire will do. Cirque de Boudoir has a longstanding reputation for intricate theme parties, infused with an air of kink. In addition to DJs Omni, Mary Hell and Davide, there will be Cirque de Boudoir go-go dancers
and a slew of other performers. Tickets are available online for $25 through ticketzone.com, with a high risk of selling out, so act fast!
and reckless fun as its predecessors. The location has yet to be determined, and will only be revealed 24 hours in advance of the party so as to secure the underground authenticity of the event.
The acts on board include Pilo, Tom Deluxx, and Vakkuum, amongst a slew of others. In true Skins fashion, the party will rage on all night, and is sure to be more grimy than gorey — in the best possible way.
All manner of costumes are allowed, but fans of the show are encouraged to get into the cult spirit and come inspired by their favourite characters.
Bain Mathieu is located at 2915 Ontario St. E.
Tickets are available online for $30 at wantickets.com.
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Health // Life
Analyzing stress levels – it’s all in the heart Study by Concordia professor says your heart rate reveals your risk of chronic stress Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor
Stress – this is a condition that is no stranger to students, especially as they climb the rungs of higher education. While some students tackle deadlines and exam season with a come-what-may attitude, these same events can be triggers of extreme distress for others. So, why is it that some of us are so much more susceptible to stress than others? Concordia psychology professor, Jean-Philipe Gouin, holds the answers in his most recent study. The study, published in the latest issue of the journal Stress, details the findings of how students’ heart rates play into their stress levels. Gouin, along with colleagues Sonya Deschênes and Michel Dugas, measured the respiratory sinus arrhythmias (RSA), or in layman’s terms, heart rates, of a group of 76 undergraduate students during periods of high and low stress in their university semester (i.e. beginning of the semester vs. exam time). The results indicate subjects’ comparative levels of distress during these times and explore how one’s resting heart rate plays into the stress they may experience later. “What we’re looking at [with the RSA measurements] is very high rapid fluctuations in the heartbeat,” Gouin said. “For most people, there’s a change in heart rate associated with breathing. When you expire it slows down for a few seconds, and when you inspire, it goes back up. The measure of this heart rate variability is the measure of the strength of your parasympathetic system.” The parasympathetic system is responsible for the rest-and-digest phase which allows your body to maintain a calm state and replenish its energy, explained Gouin. “Let’s say you’re walking in the street and you see someone who is armed and want to run away, you want your sympathetic system — responsible for fight or flight responses — to be activated, and your heart rate variability to be quite small,” Gouin said. “You want your heart rate to be quite elevated so you can run
away the way you need to. If your body has the same reaction when you’re worrying about something, when you show this withdrawal of the parasympathetic system, then you’re much more at risk [of experiencing elevated stress].” The results of the study indicate that students who have a more variable heart rate during times of low stress are in fact
less prone to experiencing acute distress during periods of high stress. Conversely, students whose heart rate was more regulated during times of low stress were more likely to be more stressed during a period of intensity. With the information gleaned from this study, health care professionals will be able to better predict who might be at
higher risk for chronic stress, allowing for preventative measures to be taken. As for tricks to beat stress? Gouin said the best idea is just to get lots of sleep — easier said than done, I know — and try to keep up a healthy diet. A healthier body will always deal with stress better than a sleep-deprived, sugar-filled one will.
Illustration by Marie-Pier Larose
Let’s talk about sex
Exploring the backside of things Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor
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nal — one of the last few sexual taboos, outside of male-on-male circles at least. When heteronormative couples do engage in anal play, most of the time, the lady is on the receiving end of the
backdoor visit. A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, was telling me how she struck an interesting barter with her boyfriend after he brought up his interest in “cheeky” play. It went a little something like “I’ll let you do it to me if I can do it to you.” Upon hearing which, I’m told, the blood all but drained from his face. Clearly, he didn’t want anyone butt-ing in. Call me crazy, but this logic seems flawed. Let’s say they had gone through with this deal — for women, the inner sanctums of the rectum have no pleasure glands. Sure, some
Column // Life
women love it, but the chances of reaching a climax or even any sort of physical pleasure from this act depends on the slim chances of hitting the right spot from the back end — a spot that’s elusive as it is. Now, let’s flip it and reverse it. The chances of men gaining enjoyment from being on the receiving end of butt play is far greater. In fact, it’s basically satisfaction guaranteed. The prostate, or p-spot, as it’s referred to colloquially, is an implicit part of men’s sexual pleasure, and plays a key role in ejaculation. I cannot speak to having a prostate myself, but rumour has it that that little gland, located just south of the rectum in males, is a
hotbed of potential pleasure. So boys, why the reservations? Social ignorance and decades of ingrained homophobia would have many men wary that allowing a visitor in from the back — whether it’s a finger, a toy, or a phallus — would somehow be emasculating. Well sure, if it’s emasculating to want to take advantage of all your erogenous zones, and not just the ones that stick straight out at you, then so be it. That’s your decision. Just remember, if you are going to venture south and ‘round the corner, make sure all participating parties are on board for the pspot express, and use a healthy dose of lube.
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Food // Life
Sofas and scones and tea... Oh my! The Cardinal Tea Room will make you feel like British royalty Sophie Hough Contributor
“One lump, or two?” That was the first thing to enter my mind as my roommate and I reached the top of the narrow staircase and took in the Cardinal Tea Room on St-Laurent for the first time. Plush, jewel-toned Victorian sofas, worthy of a Downton Abbey set, were complemented by antique trunks in place of tables and a large chandelier in the centre of the tea room. It was a real salon, accompanied by easy-listening soft jazz and folky classics playing in the background.
It smelled like coming home to my grandmother’s apple crumble, and was warm enough to combat the fall chill outside instantly. It wasn’t too crowded. It wasn’t too loud. I was in love... And then I saw the prices on the menu. The menu is chock full of some of my favourite traditional British fare: scones, clotted cream, muffins and a variety of teas including English breakfast, Norfolk breakfast, Irish breakfast and lavender Earl Grey. There were also a few green, white, oolong and rooibos options, though naturally none of those lists compared to the more traditional British black teas. The prices ranged from $4.50 for a two-cup teapot to $8.50 for a six-cup teapot. There were also sandwiches and savoury dishes relatively well-priced at $5, but then again these were really only cream cheese and cucumber on some bread. Despite that, however, my roommate and I
bought one of their savoury muffins (bacon, thyme and cheddar) and a blueberry scone, which comes with jam and butter. Clotted cream is an extra dollar, making this tea-time snack $5 in all its glory. At first, I was a little skeptical of paying $9 for a muffin and scone and, once they arrived, slightly warmed on adorable, delicate plates, I couldn’t help thinking how small the muffin looked. My other critique is that while the scone came with butter, the muffin did not. It was a little dry and some added butter from the scone’s plate improved it. Despite its size, however, it was quite filling and the consistency, apart from its dryness, was really nice. The blueberry scone, it was decided, tasted like something your grandma would bring over for breakfast. It was good, but it wasn’t the best scone we’d ever had. The tea, however, made all the difference. I think I’d like to take a bath in the
Cardinal’s lavender Earl Grey. Often when you infuse teas with other flavours, the blend doesn’t work as nicely, or it overpowers the original tea. The lavender Earl Grey was a perfect blend of the two. It was mild enough that you could drink it with or without milk or sugar. Easily the perfect tea and, despite my original skepticism about the price, definitely worth the money to split a large pot with someone. At the end of the day, the Cardinal Tea Room is a lovely little spot in Mile End. It’s the sort of place you take a first date you want to impress, or where you go when your snobby friend from Toronto comes to town and you want them to feel terrible about the fact that they don’t live in Montreal. Either way, I’ll definitely be going back again. Cardinal Tea Room is located at 5326 St Laurent Blvd.
A bird’s eye view of patrons enjoying a freshly brewed cuppa and traditional tea party fare at the elegant Cardinal Tea Room on St Laurent. Photo by Andrej Ivanov.
Column // Life
Your password isn’t safe
Take heed and keep your online life secure with good password habits
Jocelyn Beaudet Online editor
No matter where you tread online, you’ll always hear the same pieces of advice: “don’t give out your password to anyone” and “change your password frequently.” Obviously, something’s not right since passwords get broken into by the millions, and users find all manner of accounts hijacked by unsavory folks on an almost daily basis. So where exactly is the
problem? Your password probably isn’t as safe as you think it is. A lot of account services now require users to use more than generic letters to protect their various accounts, but adding a number at the end of your password isn’t going to make it all that much safer. Individuals and groups who specialize in compromising accounts often have computers at their disposal with the sole purpose of breaking into accounts, requiring a minimal amount of actual work before they can access your data using automated scripts that run through names, dates and common words. So how do you make your passwords a little bit more secure? Making them longer helps, sure. Adding some numbers in
there doesn’t hurt either. If you’re looking for some peace of mind though, don’t forget to throw in a couple of symbols as well: adding “!” or “$” or even “#” to a password greatly decreases your chances of losing your data during a random sweep of whatever services you are using. The reality of the situation is that memorable passwords are often easier to hack but memorizing an almost random string of numbers, letters and symbols is grossly inconvenient, especially if you’re not looking to — and quite honestly you shouldn’t — use the same password for every account you own. Think of it this way: figuring out the password to one account would then open a whole new doorway to all of your online life. And truth be told, it isn’t that difficult to figure
out where you’ve been using your email to create accounts. Keep your life secure; use different and complex passwords for all of your things, throw in some symbols and make it nonsensical to anyone but yourself. If you’re forgetful and have a hard time with it, there exist plenty of utilities that can help you keep your passwords secure in an encrypted vault, too. Services like LastPass have been touted by tech blogs across the web as being a reliable and secure option to keep and generate passwords safely. For an added bit of fun, check out howsecureismypassword.net and see how long it would take a traditional computer to figure out your password using standard scripts (and don’t you readers worry, the data isn’t saved on the website).
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Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com
Exhibit // arts
Revolutionary ideas and artistic protests, all in one cube Printemps CUBEcois banner installation is here to present the history of the Maple Spring Frédéric T. Muckle Arts editor
We all experienced the social movement now known as the Maple Spring differently. Some of us participated actively in the countless demonstrations, others protested the movement, some simply read about it in daily newspapers and other media. Do you remember the myriad of banners, signs and even the iconic red cube (a three-dimensional representation of the red square) that roamed Montreal during the spring and summer of 2012? Well, the exhibit Printemps CUBEcois gives you the chance to revisit those souvenirs of past protests, for better or for worse, with an installation created from those said banners. The exhibit, created by Montreal artist and archivist David Wingington, is copresented by the Concordia Student Union (CSU) and the Artéfacts d’un Printemps québécois Archive. The installation is described by the artist as a “retelling… of the 2012 student-led oppositional movement,” Wingington said in a statement describing the banner installation. “It is an attempt at self-representation which is key to building upon a movement’s own oppositional cultural heritage.” Wingington also discards the idea of remembrance that the project could suggest
to the audience. “It is a non-nostalgic ac- it whilst rushing to class this week), it can The banner installation is displayed at the tivation of an archive that seeks to nurture have a surprisingly strong effect on the per- Concordia EV building atrium until Oct. the oppositional consciousness that was son who will stop a second to really look 18. Wingington will be present from Oct. tenacious in 2012, in preparation for future at it. It is probably what distinguishes rel- 14 to Oct. 17. For more information about struggles,” he said. “The cube’s interior rep- evant art forms from a simple artistic essay; the Printemps CUBEcois exhibit, visit Arresents a safer-space within which activists it humbly but effectively makes you think, chives: Imagerie d’un Printemps Érable’s can meet and speak freely, to seek collec- remember and feel. facebook page. tive strength that may lead to future acts dissent and resistance.” Still, one cannot help but go back in time for just a moment by looking at this unconventional arrangement of artistic protest signs. The cubeshaped canvas is also significant in how it reaches into our collective social imagination. With such a controversial and moving subject, the public is bound to develop their own interpretation of the exhibit. Nobody who was present in Montreal or anywhere else in Quebec can deny the importance of the Maple Spring. Today, remembering this short and socially active period in time can create sentiments of resentment for some, and profound nostalgic effervescence for others. For such a short exhibit to experience (most of you Visit the impressive installation situated in the EV building’s atrium. Photo by Frédéric T. Muckle. will probably simply pass by
Literature // arts
Girls’ Lena Dunham wants to you learn from her mistakes Not That Kind of Girl explores sex, life and death Emilie Berthier Contributor
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ast week, Lena Dunham’s much anticipated first book Not that Kind of Girl arrived in stores. With it, the 28-year-old creator, writer and producer of the HBO series Girls delivered an inspiring memoir. Not That Kind of Girl contains a collection of essays, all sewn together by different leading topics. With vivid details and very colourful words she recounts her stories, some going back to her childhood. This book was born from her desire to share her missteps and the lessons she acquired. As the subtitle of the book reads: “a young woman tells you what she’s ‘learned.’” As the carefully used quotations marks suggest, she doesn’t pretend to be an expert on anything. Dunham gets her creative side from her parents, who are both artists. She re-
calls the frustration she felt as a third grade student, when she wished she could spend time with them in their studios instead of going to school. There’s no doubt that she had a wild imagination as a child—enough to think about disease and death, which terrified her at a young age. Dunham was also inspired to write and create a world of her own. Today, she doesn’t hesitate to share on paper the weird, awkward, funny and sad moments that have influenced her. She addresses topics such as sex, body image, her mental health issues, her struggles in Hollywood as a woman and what it is like to search for and find love nowadays. As always, Dunham’s honesty is brutal. But maybe this is exactly what people need in a time when picture-perfect lives are painted on big and small screens. When given the chance to make Girls, she decided to address this issue head-on; she had always been irritated by the way sex was presented in movies and television. “Everything I saw as a child, from 90210 to The Bridges of Madison County, had led me to believe that sex was a cringey, warmly lit event where two smooth-skinned, gooey-eyed losers achieved mutual orgasm by breathing on each other’s faces,” she writes
in her book. “Between porn and studio romantic comedies, we get the message loud and clear that we are doing something wrong. Our bedsheets aren’t right. Our moves aren’t right. Our bodies aren’t right.” Girls fans will certainly recognize her unsettling yet ever-so-funny sense of humour. Even people—perhaps a more feminine audience—who have never watched a single episode will relate to her book, with Dunham’s words reflecting their choices as human beings, students, daughters, sisters and women. This book is a glimpse inside Dunham’s world, a glimpse definitely worth taking. For more information on Not that Kind of Girl, visit lenadunham.com.
Lena
dunham’s literary debut not that kind of girl
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Television // arts
What to watch and what to ignore in this pilot season This season’s new television shows may or may not turn you into a couch potato Marco saveriano Contributor
Every September, television networks roll out a slew of new shows, some good, some bad, and some absolutely disastrous (remember That 80’s Show back in 2002?). Here are a few of the most buzzed about shows this season that may have caught your eye. Which ones are worth your time — and which ones will most likely be cancelled by the end of the season? Black-ish (ABC) This show is your typical family comedy. Think Modern Family, but with a less-funny all-black cast (including comedian Anthony Anderson). It follows the life of a well-off black family as they struggle to maintain their cultural identity in a white-centric society. The pilot was fairly funny, but by the
next episode, people already seemed to be losing interest; the show saw a huge drop in ratings in the second week. Who knows whether or not it will last — ABC is notorious for cancelling popular comedies. Selfie (ABC) This comedy, featuring John Cho and Karen Gillan, has potential. As a modern version of the Audrey Hepburn movie My Fair Lady, the show does a good job at capturing an accurate picture of today’s social media-obsessed society. Though the writers often fall victim to cheesy clichés, it turned out better than most people expected. It’s enjoyable, but not exceptionally memorable. Will it last? Probably not. Gotham (Fox) Gotham gives viewers a look into the early days of Bruce Wayne (Batman, for those who live under a rock) and Detective James Gordon, as well as a handful of notorious
villains from the classic comic books. This dark and gritty drama is as action-packed as a Batman movie, and it’s fast-paced enough to keep viewers guessing. Still, some might find it hard to separate the storylines from the Batman characters they’ve grown up with. However, Gotham’s future is bright — it was the most viewed series premiere on CTV this season and it’s been getting rave reviews from critics. Starring Ben McKenzie (known for his role on The O.C.) and Jada Pinkett-Smith, the show definitely has the power to stick around. Red Band Society (Fox) Some viewers have criticized this show for “glamourizing” illness and inaccurately portraying the lives of the terminally ill, and critics are split. When you look past that, you have a light-hearted show about the lives of teenagers...who all happen to live in a hospital. The dialogue, though sometimes trying too hard to capture the voices
of teenagers, is often witty and honest. With Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer as the hilarious hard-ass Nurse Jackson, this show will have you both laughing and crying within the hour. Even though reviews are mixed, fan reaction has been strong, so surely this show will last for at least another season. How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) This could be one of the best new shows in a while. Produced by Shonda Rhimes, the mastermind behind Grey’s Anatomy, this show, which follows a group of law students, is definitely one of the most unique crime shows on television right now. It’s smart, well-written, and full of twists and turns. It’s also been praised for its representation of visible minorities — namely gay and black characters — as well as for the cast’s strong performance, including Oscarnominee Viola Davis. If there’s one show you should check out this season, it’s this one!
Poem // arts
Poet’s Corner Fall Good morning, and a good morning it is indeed. The brilliant sun hangs high & the cool breeze of a summer setting soon. The light filters through the treetops and all seems restful. A spider’s silk glints off a dark & winding staircase and I sit. Still. Seeing. The sights and sounds of a summer’s sojourn surround sombre I and I sit. Still. Seeing summer’s so long. -Stephen Ho
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Film // arts
Festival du Nouveau Cinema’s gems and lemons First part of our report of what the FNC has to offer this year Frédéric T. Muckle Olivia Ranger-Enns Arts editor and contributor
Montreal is known for its array of film festivals taking place during the whole year. The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (FNC) could be considered one of the most prominent of those said festivals. This year is the 43rd anniversary of the famous festival. The numerous screenings take place in movie theaters all around the city, notably at Concordia University. The FNC started on Oct. 8 with local director Phillipe Fallardeau’s last film The Good Lie and will be ending on Oct. 19 with the acclaimed documentary about Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado presented earlier this year at Cannes. Toronto may have the TIFF, but we have the FNC and, as you will read in this two-part article, our beloved city does not have to feel like less of a major cinematographic metropolis. Here are some of the films The Concordian saw this week--stay tuned for more reviews next week.
Difret A trip into a troubling world in which the importance of cultural traditions may outweigh law and what could be considered outright justice, Difret will make everyone uncomfortable. Still, this feeling is somewhat inevitable when dealing with a tale as unsettling as this one, especially when it is inspired by an actual true story. Difret, Zeresenay Mehari’s first full-length movie, is the account of an Ethiopian 14-year-old girl accused of killing a man who abducted and raped her so she could become his wife, as the local traditional customs dictate to do. It is also the story of a lawyer working for an NGO which defends women’s and children’s rights, fighting an outdated legal and social system willing to condemn this child to death for murder. This movie offers the public a sober and meticulously slow paced rendering of a dramatic reality. For such a controversial topic, this modesty is a surprisingly mature and enjoyable aspect, since it could have been replaced by an array of cheap cinematographic tricks to try and get sensational and tacky reactions from the audience. Difret ends up being a successful attempt at portraying a harsh but genuine reality of still-relevant cultural issues about social inequalities from around the world. Angelina Jolie is also the film’s executive producer, a first for her. Je suis à toi How much would you pay for love? That is the poignant and difficult question the film Je suis à toi, by Belgian director David Lambert, asks. Lambert’s work dissects how easily love can be bought, but not sold. We are immediately immersed in the life of Lucas, a young Argentinian escort, who is saved from the world of prostitution by Henry, a Belgian baker. Lucas is frankly disgust-
ed by Henry, who is both fat and ugly. The get a sense of strength emanating from the camera frequently zooms in on the physical raw charisma of the main characters, it still differences between the characters; whereas manages to be too much and too long for Henry sports a hefty figure and grey whis- the average movie-goer. Sure, every once in kers, Lucas is dark, handsome and cat-like. a while it is good to watch a good “artsy” Lucas has to share a bed with Henry, give movie. Still, this ode to a past Lisbon, this him oral sex, and work early hours in the social commentary about poverty is sadly but bakery. As Henry becomes more and more simply boring. It is the perfect example of an possessive, Lucas becomes more violent. He’s uncompromising director putting his own like a caged tiger. When Lucas is accused of thoughts on screen. It also shows that somestealing from the cash register, Lucas wields a times, you should keep in mind the people kitchen knife, screaming: “I am the thief? You willing to experience your artistic work while are the thief!” Tensions rise further between putting on canvas your vision. If not, people the “lovers” until Audrey, Henry’s assistant, may end up leaving the movie theatre behind comes on scene. It is only at this point that before the end, and never give the film a sectrue love strikes. Audrey and Lucas take long ond thought. walks by the river and feed each other Chinese food. The love triangle just gets more and more complex as the question arises: can Lucas ever really “belong” to Henry? Although some scenes are cliché (like the shower scenes following forced sex), the film is overall heartwarming. We see Lucas look straight into Audrey’s eyes, admitting that his sexuality is “fucked up” as Audrey tenderly wraps her arms around his skeletal torso. We get the message: Lucas does not need sex. Rather, he needs love and a home. There are funny elements in this film, which provide comedic relief from the heavy drama. See- Hermosa Juventud ing tiny Lucas trying to pummel mountains Hermosa Juventud, Spanish director Jaime of dough into the flour machine is hilarious Rosales’ latest movie, follows the mundane enough. All in all, Lambert struck a sweet but still eventful lives of two young adults in note, finding balance between despair and love living in Madrid. The movie also depicts happiness. The film juxtaposes sex to love, an economically crippled Spain in which a independence to dependence, and loneliness whole generation of youth lives without to friendship. We all want to belong to some- much hope for the future. An unexpected one, but paradoxically T15-21225-SSER-DOST-CCSL-Awards-Concordian-Ad 1/3 page - 6” x 8” we can never belong to anyone but ourselves. Which brings us back to the question: how much would you pay for love? Cavalo Dinheiro Cavalo Dinheiro will undoubtedly not satisfy everyone. Its famous Portuguese director, Pedro Costa, is known by the cinema community as an important figure in what could be described as cinéma d’auteur. His movies are mostly focused on depicting the lives and difficulties of the less privileged, especially in Lisbon, his artistic muse. Cavalo Dinheiro perfectly fits these criteria. The movie follows the nerve-shattered Ventura, played by a convincing nonprofessional actor, and his metaphysical tribulations relating to his past. The film also portrays the hidden decrepit side of an ever-changing Lisbon. With its dark and magnificent photography, Cavalo Dinheiro shares a vision of poverty and inequality’s moving beauty. However, the movie feels more like an exercise of style and form than an actual movie. Even if you can
pregnancy, an inability to provide what is needed to form a family, a stab wound and even an amateur porn scene — Hermosa Juventud provides plenty of pivotal moments to the story. Still, it is all about how this relationship will evolve through all those incidents. Moments of love, despair and melancholy show the potential of the director and actors of this production. However, even with two decent main actors and an experienced director at the mast, Hermosa Juventud ends up feeling flat. An ever-present feeling of monotony saturates the movie. It does not mean that such a film needs action-packed scenes like a car chase or a gunfight to be good, but even routine moments can be interesting enough so that the audience can enjoy the screening. Something feels off. It feels as though something is missing from the lives of those beautiful young people. Cinematographic elements and some original and interesting aspects like using a smartphone screen as a tool for transitioning through time are nice additions. Sadly, they are countered by some other unexciting and even annoying features like the omnipresence of the shaking camera. It makes Hermosa Juventud look like a cheap movie. Other ambitious characteristics, like the absence of music in the movie, once again show the potential of the creators, but still lack the sparks necessary to hook the viewer. Overall, a good idea made into a dull movie. For more information on the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, visit nouveaucinema.ca.
CCSL OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARDS
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE AT CONCORDIA WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE? The Concordia Council on Student Life invites you to honour a student, faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond their duties by nominating them for the CCSL Outstanding Contribution Award! Nominate someone before the deadline: Friday February 13, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
To find out more about the nomination requirements, and to nominate someone visit: www.concordia.ca/oustanding-contribution-award
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music Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com
Business // music
BitTorrent shiz is overtaking the music biz Downloading is sweeping the music world Oneida Crawford Staff writer
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nyone who has downloaded music for free over the past few years has likely come across the concept of BitTorrent. This free file sharing software allows you to download files from peers who are using the same platform on their own computers. This makes for faster download time, since there are more accessible files from which to get content. Now, what you probably haven’t come across is an artist offering their music to be downloaded through BitTorrent, and using the platform to promote and sell their work. This innovative and legal method of content distribution is referred to as BitTorrent Bundles — instantly connecting the artist to the fan. Artists who are leading the BitTorrent craze include Thom Yorke, Madonna, The Pixies, Public Enemy and Moby. Yorke was actually the first musician to experiment with exclusively releasing content through the bundle. His new album, Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, was offered through a gated or protected process, meaning once the bundle is purchased, it is limited to one IP address and one computer for downloads. Up until Yorke’s release just three weeks ago, the BitTorrent Bundles were usually free to users, simply by providing an email address. The Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes bundle comprised eight tracks and a music video for $6. There was even an offer of a free download of one track and video off the album. So why was the album so inexpensive? Because BitTorrent takes a significantly smaller cut from the sales, therefore the artist doesn’t have to rely on a record label. So really, it’s a win-win. Music and music videos aren’t the only creative content available in bundle form. Companies like Bond/360 Labs and VODO offer films through digital downloads. FilmBundle and Cinepacks are websites that curate groups of selected films into “pay what you want” bundles. Depending on how much you pay, you can gain access to special behind-the-scenes content and extras. The release for Yorke in particular was evidently a success, with over one million downloads of his album, including both the paid bundle and free track. Services like Amazon and iTunes and now even BitTorrent prove customers don’t need to have a tangible album in their hands. The artwork is there: downloads come with booklets, videos and more. The only thing one might be looking for in the physical record are lyrics, but given that you can usu-
ally find them on Google, well, you don’t even need those anymore. Although there are cons to the BitTorrent Bundle accessibility — since you need a computer to download the content, and there isn’t a cloud service to synchronize across all devices — the pros outweigh these inconveniences. The artist can connect directly with the fans without a third party distributing their material and taking a large cut. Also, you don’t need to create an account to use BitTorrent and, of course, there is a constant stream of new free content ready to be discovered.
mardi, mercredi et jeudi
Illustration by Marie-Pier Larose
Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday
21 octobre de 13h à 21 h
October 21 from 1PM to 9PM
22 octobre de 9h à 21 h
October 22 from 9AM to 9PM
23 octobre de 9h à 19 h
October 23 from 9AM to 7PM
Salle Redpath Redpath Hall
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Profile // music
The Glorious Sons revive rock n’ roll The band writes songs that cite their experience growing-up in middle class families Justinas Staskevicius Staff writer
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leven short months ago, The Glorious Sons released their first album, Shapeless Art, and their career took off from there. The five-piece band from Kingston, Ont., are still new to anything resembling fame, but after having won a handful of awards and embarked on three Canadian tours, people have really started to pay attention. Their newest album, The Union, dropped mid-September and the group is currently touring with Airbourne. The Concordian recently spoke to the industrious band’s lead singer, Brett Emmons, about The Glorious Sons’ music and how he got to where he is today. Many would say that rock and roll is dead — that it perished along with the musical relevance of MTV and the financial viability of the record store — but Emmons thinks otherwise. The Glorious Sons don’t like to limit their music by categorizing it in a single genre, but Emmons would definitely prefer to be called a rock band than an indie band. “A lot of indie bands are really just rock bands. They’re really just afraid to call themselves rock bands for some reason, but if you think of [a group] like The Beatles, they were a rock band. You could even call them a pop band,” Emmons said. From an early age, the vocalist spent all of his money on AC/DC albums. Emmons was brought up on rock. “My brother [Jay Emmons, now the group’s guitarist] used to read me Led Zeppelin’s biography when
I was like five years old. It was like a bedtime story growing up,” he said. To this day, Emmons’ favourite bands include many rock legends: “I look up to Bruce Springsteen and a lot of other people too,” Emmons said. “I don’t think you’d pinpoint the influence. You’d see hints of it-- hints of The Doors, of My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, even a little AC/DC, but we never really believed in sounding like anyone else.”
“
young age.” At the same time in Kingston, the foundation of what was to become The Glorious Sons was being laid down. “Andrew [Young, one of the group’s guitarists] and Adam [Paquette, the drummer] were jamming in [Paquette’s] garage and not having much fun,” Emmons said. “The other two were jamming in another garage. They knew each other, got together, and jammed
I decided to take the leap and commit myself to music. I didn’t think to myself ‘if’ I could make it; I just went for it. - Brett Emmons
When Emmons was in grade 10, he began writing music. Later moving to Halifax, N.S., for school, the vocalist dropped out to pursue his musical ambitions and began playing venues around the city. “I decided to take the leap and commit myself to music,” Emmons said. “I didn’t think to myself ‘if’ I could make it; I just went for it. I always believed if you work your hardest at anything, you’ll make it. My dad taught me that at a
once. They wrote a song on their first jam then became a band.” Back in Halifax, Emmons was having a rough time following his dream: “When I quit school, I was getting myself into trouble, partying a bit too much — a lot, actually. Things weren’t working out when I was playing in Halifax. I hadn’t made a splash on any music scene.” That’s when, about three years ago, a phone call and a dash of fraternal love
changed everything for the vocalist. “When my brother called me home to join the band, it was a weight off my shoulders,” Emmons said. “My brother’s always been kind of my best friend. He’s been like my security blanket. We’d always said that we’d do this together one day.” The band’s new album, The Union, is meant to pay homage to the members’ families and their own past struggles. “The concept is blue collar, it’s called The Union because we grew-up in middle class families who worked their ass off for their children,” Emmons said. “You can’t write about something that you don’t know. Chris (Huot) was a plumber before and we all had those kinds of jobs at one point.” Every member of the band is a songwriter, according to Emmons. “We’re always writing — I don’t think we’ll ever be short on material for an album.” Before going on tour, Emmons has created a ritual of sorts: “It’s kind of become second nature now: go to my vocal coach to tighten my voice and try not to drink for a week before we leave,” said the singer. While many musicians have mixed feelings about the touring experience, the frontman seems to prefer life as a nomad to life at home. “I feel more restless at home than I do on the road. When you get home there’s so many people to see and so many things to do. When you’re on the road you can just settle in and do your job.” Emmons will get his wish of more time on the road, as the Glorious Sons will be touring straight through to December. You can expect, in Emmons words, “a sweaty, bloody, rock and roll show” when the band plays the Corona Theatre in Montreal on Oct. 16.
The band’s new album, The Union, turns their own past struggles into classic rock songs. The Glorious Sons play the Corona Theatre Oct. 16. photo by Jesse Baumung.
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Opinion // music
The radio sucks – and it’s your fault Mainstream radio has changed with the new millenium, but there may be hope for music yet can probably relate. The mainstream radio is dead and has been since the 2000s, as we have ceded our ears to the dreaded Billboard’s hot 100. Not to throw any shade to mainstream enthusiasts but, quite frankly, no one needs to hear Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” 12 times a day, perhaps not even once a day, or ever. Yes, there are different channels which you can get your music from, but they all share the same infuriating traits. They are as follows: 1. Play only extremely popular synthetic tracks that appeal to everyone and their mother. 2. Play them again, and again, and again. 3. Insert completely unrelated dialogue about rumours surrounding controversial artist. 4. Repeat.
Bersabel Behonegne Contributor
Once upon a time, the radio was the deity of all public services. Sweet sounding tunes were mobilized into portable stereos through the revolutionary discovery of wireless connection. It was the greatest thing that could have happened to the progressive movement of music at the time. From barbershops to hair salons, music aficionados were gathered across state boundaries with a communal love for celebrating big moments in music. For decades, for those who did not have access to vinyl, CDs or cassettes, the gift of “free” music was as good as it got. To your parents, the term “radio” evokes a nostalgiafueled trip down memory lane to the “good old days.” Evenings spent glued to a set, case in hand, waiting for the right moment to rip the next track on a fresh tape. Oh! The glory that came from executing a playlist with a perfectly timed flip side. Quite simply, it was groundbreaking. Flash forward a couple decades, to the present day. Who even listens to the radio? We’re talking traditional, FM/AM fine-tuned stations separated by disturbingly loud hissing sounds of white noise. Unless you are one of those blessed students who happens to have a car, or takes the occasional (awkward) rideshare, you
This pattern has time and time again been a hot conversation topic for many modern day musical philosophers: “why don’t they just play good music that we like?” And to that, the only answer provided is that, as long as there are people who will listen to the top 100, there will be people who play it. However, there is hope for wireless music! With the glorious invention of the Internet, iPods and MP3s, selection has become the birthright of every music buff. The increasing speed of uploads and downloads in recent years has opened up a virtual paradigm of musical bliss. Here, se-
Illustration by Marie-Pier LaRose lectivity is highly praised, and exploration is encouraged. From Soundcloud and 8tracks, to Spotify and the many dark holes of YouTube, music that pleases your strange palate
is readily available at the click of a button. Trust, in a couple of years, the radio will be so far removed from today’s state that it will be as obsolete as Katy Perry’s last single.
Quick Spins // music
Quick Spins
Tomorrows Tulips - When (Burger Records; 2014)
The Barr Brothers - Sleeping Operator (Secret City Records; 2014)
Flying Lotus – You’re Dead! (Warp; 2014)
Caribou - Our Love (City Slang; 2014)
These fair-haired California boys have kicked out more dreamy and listless tunes to spin on repeat. Their new songs still roll slowly as if wonderfully warped, but When doesn’t pull from Velvet Underground’s sound as closely as their previous albums. The bob-cut beach beauties have found their own breezy breath, especially on “Glued to You” where Alex Knost sings softly – almost whispering – while the bass line thumps languidly. The sweet side of nostalgia oozes from the album, but is captured precisely and undefinably in the guitar riff on “Laying In The Sun.” “Down Turned Self Pity” is so raw you can hear the warm fuzz buzz throughout – kind of like the sound of crashing ocean waves. Listening to the album over and over, I think: wouldn’t When sound so good while layin’ in the sun?
For their sophomore effort, Montreal folk quartet The Barr Brothers, composed primarily of the eponymous musicians Brad and Andrew Barr, released Sleeping Operator in early October. Following up their 2011 Polaris Prize-nominated self-titled debut album, Sleeping Operator veers slightly away from their signature folk sound. Sleeping Operator’s crown jewel and first single, “Half Crazy,” is a carefully orchestrated hazy and smokey blues track, embodying the warmth and maturity of the album. Other songs like “Little Lover” and “Even The Darkness Has Arms” showcase the group’s innate folk sound with familiar string orchestration, acoustic guitar playing, and ethereal harp plucking. The album is like an oversized knit sweater during the month of October: it’s cozy, comfortable, and exactly what you need.
Disenchanted with, as he calls it, “Starbucks jazz shit,” Los Angeles-based producer/musician/rapper, Flying Lotus (AKA Steven Ellison), decided that he wanted to create something that pushes jazz music in a modern direction with his fifth studio album. Paying tribute to the improvisational spirit and ecstatic energy of hard bop jazz, with Ellison’s signature blend of ambient electronica and hip hop hooks, You’re Dead! transports the listener on a twitchy, psychedelic journey, full of surprises and chaos. With so much content crammed into the 19-track, 38-minute running time, the album is an intense experience and best consumed as a whole. It is clear that You’re Dead! is aware of death’s unavoidable reality, yet stands as a statement of creative rebirth and a testament to Flying Lotus’ innovation and creativity as an artist.
Caribou brought us his new album, Our Love, on Oct. 7, which seems to be a slightly more mature version of its predecessor, Swim. The album carries its familiar electronic chillwave vibes, and does so in way that makes it more ambient than excitement-driven. Yet, Our Love, seems like a second half to the earlier album. Growing on Swim’s success, Dan Snaith recaptures the familiar whispering echoes and reverberations, graduating from his older, more psychedelic sounding beats. He rakes in new listeners through the synth pop-style repetition, featuring laid back tunes like “Silver,” and showcases a more eccentric side with the use of a flute in “Mars”. Overall, it’s a pretty decent album, although it didn’t really bring anything new or exciting to the table – and perhaps it might be better that way.
Trial track: “Glued To You”
Trial Track: “Half Crazy”
Trial Track: “Never Catch Me (feat. Kend-
10/10
- Mia Pearson
7/10
Trial Track: “Dive”
- Jessica Romera
8/10
- Paul Traunero
6/10
- Steven Nadeau
sports
Tuesday, october 14, 2014
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Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com
Football // sports
Stingers lose second straight game Concordia’s injury-plagued squad was outplayed from start to finish Casey Dulson Contributor
Sports in the News tim lazier Sports editor
>> Pronger back in the NHL
Veteran
safety
Mikael Charland
makes a tackle on
The Carabins would quickly add another touchdown to their total, as Cousineau would connect with wide receiver Regis Cibasu for 46-yard touchdown. Montréal entered halftime with a commanding 27-3 lead over the home team. The Carabins got the first points of the second half and continued their onslaught with a 41-yard field goal by kicker Louis-Philippe Simoneau. On the offence, the Stingers made a switch of quarterback as Colin Sequeira was benched in favor of backup quarterback Mario Porreca. Sequeira ended his day with seven completions of 14 attempts, 68 passing yards and two interceptions. Porreca went two out of five and had 32 passing yards. The Carabins continued to control the game in the fourth quarter recording a safety, capping off the Stingers offensive
Saturday. Photo
Upcoming games // sports
COME CHECK OUT THE CONCORDIA STINGERS IN ACTION ON HOME TURF ! Men’s Hockey
Friday, Oct. 17, at 8:30 PM VS UQAM
Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 PM VS UQTR
at Loyola
at Ed Meagher Arena
Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 PM VS Harvard (exhibition) at Ed Meagher Arena
Men’s Soccer
Andrej Ivanov.
struggles. The next series, the Carabins added three more points to scoreboard when Simoneau made an 18-yard chip shot. The Stingers defence limited the Carabins to nine points in the second half. The injuries on offence proved to be too much to overcome for the home team, as they could not get any momentum or consistency on offence. “We made a lot of mental mistakes and you can’t have that against a tough opponent like Montréal,” said Concordia’s head coach Mickey Donovan. “We faced the best of the best in the conference in back-to-back weeks.” At the end of the day, Stingers defensive back Kris Robertson appropriately summed up the disappointing day. “They outplayed us. I have to admit that and they just won,” said Robertson.
Upcoming Stingers games Women’s Soccer
by
Men’s Rugby
Friday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 PM VS UQAM
Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1 PM VS Sherbrooke
at Loyola
at Loyola
MORE INFO AT STINGERS.CA
On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Concordia Stingers hosted the Montréal Carabins in the battle for second place in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) division. The Stingers were hoping to rebound after they lost to the Laval Rouge et Or last weekend, but unfortunately the Stingers were outplayed by the Carabins, losing 36-3. The team was missing nine starters who were out due to injuries they suffered in last week’s loss. The list included Stingers starting quarterback Francois Dessureault and wide receiver Jamal Henry. The first quarter started slow for both teams as neither team could capitalize on their early drives. The Carabins would score first on a 75-yard punt return by Montréal wide receiver Mikhail Davidson. Davidson would extend their lead and score another touchdown shortly after, this time on a 42-yard reception from quarterback Gabriel Cousineau. Cousineau picked apart the Stingers defense all afternoon, as he went 23 for 27 on passing attempts that included two touchdowns and 300 yards through the air. While Concordia continued to sputter early and often, the Carabins would extend their lead 20-0 thanks to a two-yard touchdown rush by Montréal running back Sean Thomas-Erlington. Down 20-0 by the end of the first quarter, the home crowd was stunned. Concordia would finish their first drive of the second quarter with a 46yard field goal by kicker Keegan Treloar. Unfortunately, the three points would be Concordia’s only points of the game.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, former Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger was given a job in the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, according to CBC Sports. Pronger, 40, was a former all-star defenceman whose career was cut short due to multiple concussions. Back in November 2011, Pronger was forced to step away from the game because of severe post-concussion syndrome. As the league continues to improve player safety, specifically against head trauma, Pronger’s input is just what the league’s front office wanted. Since the decision to employ Pronger was announced, there has been mixed reactions throughout the hockey world. Pronger is still under contract by the Flyers through 2017 and is still being paid by the organization. Not only that, but Pronger was one of the most villainous players during his playing career as he racked up eight suspensions that cost him 22 games, according to the National Post.
>> Dark day in F1 In a rainy Japanese Grand Prix race last Sunday, Oct. 5, bad luck struck on the Suzuka racetrack. Jules Bianchi, a 25year-old driver for the Marussia team, lost control of his car on the slippery course and spun off into the protective barrier. Normally the driver would have walked away unharmed. However, two laps earlier another car had spun out on the same turn. As the crane was lifting the other car off of the track, Bianchi’s car struck the side of the crane. Bianchi was unconscious and immediately rushed to the hospital. Bianchi remains in critical, yet stable condition, after suffering a diffuse axonal injury, according to TSN. A diffuse axonal injury is a serious brain injury that can leave a person in a vegetative state. In severe cases, 90 per cent of people never regain consciousness, according to Emedicine.com. Now with just three races left on the season, teams and drivers will be racing with heavy hearts as the F1 community will be thinking of Bianchi and wishing their fellow driver the best of luck in his recovery.
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Men’s hockey// sports
Stingers roll over Ravens in home opener
Men’s hockey team was victorious over Carleton on Friday night with their first win of the season Elias Lardi Staff writer
The Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team was looking to extract some revenge against the Carleton Ravens in their home opener. The Ravens had previously beaten Concordia in Ottawa last week in the first game of the season. On Friday night, Oct. 10, the Stingers could not be stopped as they beat the Ravens 5-2. The game got off to a great start for the Stingers. Off the opening faceoff, Stingers defenceman Youssef Kabbaj fed forward Scott Oke who fired a quick shot past Carleton’s goalie to give Concordia a 1-0 lead, just 20 seconds into the game. Four minutes later, after Stingers forward Ben Dubois got called for tripping, the Ravens capitalized. Carleton forward Joe Pleckaitis snapped a wrist shot past Stingers goaltender Robin Billingham to tie the game at 1-1. It didn’t take Concordia long to respond as defenceman Sean Blunden got a pass from Marc-Olivier Brouillard and found the net to make it 2-1. Only a minute later Concordia got into even more penalty trouble when Olivier Jodoin was called for slashing. After a slew of penalties by both teams, Ravens defenceman Jason Seed got called for high sticking and the Stingers took full advantage of the powerplay.
Forward Jessyko Bernard got a great pass from Kabbaj to extend the lead to 3-1. After killing off a penalty of their own, the Stingers were back on the pow-
Stingers
forward
Antoine Houde-Caron
erplay when Ravens defenceman Owen Werthner got called for tripping. Once again, Concordia took full advantage of the powerplay when Kabbaj gave a great
tucks in a goal.
Photo
by
Nikola Litzenberg.
pass to Matt Boudreau who found the net to give the Stingers a 4-1 lead over the Ravens. Ten minutes later, as both teams were battling hard to get another goal, Carleton cut their deficit back down to two as Pleckaitis got his second goal of the game. As they had been doing all game, the Stingers quickly responded and got another goal three minutes later. Kabbaj recorded his fourth assist of the game when he fed Stingers forward Antoine Houde-Caron, who ultimately made it 5-2 for Concordia. The third period was mostly a period filled with penalties and scrums between the two teams, but the Stingers held on and earned their first win of the season. “It was tremendous. We had great success tonight compared to last weekend. We actually used the same game plan just with a little more intensity and it showed,” said Concordia’s head coach Kevin Figsby. “If we keep playing like that we’re going to be very successful this year, and I really like how we faced adversity and we battled to overcome it.” Kabbaj, who was clearly one of the best players on the ice, was happy he could help his team win. “It felt good to be at home,” he said. “I got off to a slow start last week but now I’m slowly finding my game and it felt good to help contribute to the team tonight.”
Men’s hockey // sports
Paladins prove to be no match for Stingers Stingers complete a perfect weekend, winning both games Elias lardi Staff writer
The Concordia Stingers finished off their home-stand this weekend with a convincing 10-4 win over the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Paladins on Saturday, Oct. 11. The Stingers improved to 2-2 on the season. The first period began as both teams pushed hard to try and get the first goal of the game. Six minutes into the game, RMC got the first penalty of the game when forward Frederic Thouin was called for hooking. The Stingers jumped on the board early when Stingers forward Domenic Beauchemin buried a shot past RMC goaltender Paul Mazzolin to give Concordia a 1-0 lead. After an intense four minutes, RMC got on the board when forward Alexander Pym got a shot past Stingers netminder Robin Billingham. Concordia quickly took control of the game late in the first period. With two minutes left, forward Ben Dubois scored on a wrist shot to give Concordia the lead, but the Stingers were nowhere near finished. Fifty seconds later, veteran defenceman Youssef Kabbaj got a pass from forward Jessyko Bernard and scored to give the Stingers a 3-1 lead heading into the second period.
In the second period Concordia continued to dominate the game. Two minutes into the period, captain Olivier Hinse got the puck and went in alone and put it past Mazzolin for a 4-1 lead. After a Stingers penalty, the Paladins got on the board again when forward Jake Bullen beat Billingham to make it 4-2. However, this game belonged to the Stingers from the get-go. They quickly responded when Domenic Beauchemin sent a shot past Mazzolin for a 5-2 Stingers lead. After Victor Provencher and Dany Potvin scored late in the second period, the Stingers went into
the final period with a 7-2 lead. By then, it was clear that Concordia’s commanding momentum would not be stopped. The third period was no different as Concordia continued to dominate the game. Four minutes in, the Stingers added to their huge lead when Hinse fired another wrist shot past Mazzolin. The final goal scorers for the Stingers were Kieran O’Neil and Matt Boudreau. The back-to-back wins this weekend were impressive performances by the home squad. The Stingers outshot the Paladins 37-31 and were successful on two out of the four times that they were
on the powerplay. “We played really well, I could honestly call it solid hockey,” said Concordia’s head coach Kevin Figsby. “Great defence this weekend, [it] was a great building block for the season and a good foundation. We dominated from start to finish and we had stellar goaltending.” Much like his head coach, Concordia’s leader and captain was pleased with the two wins at home. “I feel good, it was a great weekend [and] we played really well. Every line produced [today] and it was a great team effort,” said Hinse.
Stingers swarmed the RMC Paladins all game, lighting up the scoreboard 10 times in the process. Photo by Evengia Choros.
opinions
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
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Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com
Editorial // opinions
Concordia’s shuttle bus service not on a roll Unreliable shuttle leads to unsatisfied students We’ve all been there: in a rush to get to your next class on Concordia’s other campus, you see the shuttle bus line from afar. Right away, you know that you are going to be late. Why is it that, two months into the semester, there is still some confusion about the shuttle bus operation? Concordia advertises a wait of “20 to 25 minutes,” so why is it that about 50 students (including one of our staff members) at the Loyola Campus waited 45 minutes for a shuttle bus to downtown, while two buses passed by letting students off, but not picking any up?
At around 10:40 a.m. last Wednesday morning, a shuttle bus pulled up and students began embarking, only to be told seconds later by the bus driver that the bus wasn’t going to be leaving for another 35 minutes. The students, confused, got off the bus, and back into line. The driver took off, on what we can only assume was his lunch break. At about 10:55, a second bus pulled up, letting students off. The students waiting at Loyola prepared to get on the bus, only for it to be made obvious that this bus was not picking anyone up either. An obviously frustrated student asked the bus driver why no buses were going back downtown. The bus driver made a shrugging motion; the defeated student got off the bus, and the driver drove away.
While it should be noted that the schedule listed on Concordia’s website says a bus passes at 10:30 and 11:15, which is what happened, a sign posted outside the shuttle bus shelter only shows the bus times for Fridays. Considering it takes about 45 minutes to travel with public transit between campuses, at the very least, it should be clearly stated when there will be a wait for the shuttle that is equally long. Many students don’t have the luxury of a bus pass, and rely on the shuttle to be there when they need it, without having to wait obscene amounts of time (in the middle of the school day, no less). It doesn’t help that the GPS navigation feature on the shuttle bus locator screen is under construction. Why bother offering
a subpar service that only leads to dissatisfaction and frustration? Also, why does service slow down (from a 15-minute wait between buses, to a 45-minute wait) at 10:30 a.m., clearly a busy time for students needing to switch campuses in order to make it to their next class. Unfortunately, it seems students won’t have much chance to get their voice heard on the matter. Also, it seems to be unfair for the bus drivers, who only show up when they’re supposed to, but have to feel the heat of frustrated students who have no one else to project their dissatisfaction onto. Clearly, Concordia is not on a roll with their shuttle service. Considering the fact that students pay for this service, a reliable service should be a given.
LGBTQ // opinions
Today’s trans issues are anything but comical The Sunday comic strips are goofy, but making fun of marginalized groups isn’t making us laugh Robin Stanford Staff writer
There was good news and bad news for trans people recently: The good news is that there was not one, but two comics dealing with trans issues published. The bad news is that the more popular comic comic dealt with the issue in such poor taste that it raises into question what should (or shouldn’t) be protected by free speech. The comic in question, Mallard Fillmore, was published in many major newspapers between Oct. 2 and 4. These strips were based on the news that Mount Holyoke College, a women’s institute, would begin admitting transgendered individuals who identify as women. Instead of treating the issue with the respect it deserves, as a milestone event in human rights, author Bruce Tinsley decided to make things “funny.” Humour was derived through comparing individuals who “identify as women” with admitting people based on their identification as “really smart,” men who commit violence against men, and men who identify as a toaster oven. Gabrielle Bouchard, peer support and trans advocacy coordinator with the Centre for Gender Advocacy, explains the danger of such material. “We like to laugh … at most bullying — it hides bigotry behind ‘humour’.” Not only does this appeal to our funny bone, but humour in our society is something intended to be shared, communicated, and reproduced. Comedy then allows the opinion being presented to spread through
A protester carries a sign at the 2013 Rally for Transgender Equality in Washington, DC. Photo by Ted Eytan, Flickr. the population in the most incongruous of ways. This is not the first time that such offcolour humour is implemented in the media. Bouchard notes that this is the latest in a long line of bigotry and marginalization masquerading as comedy. She points out that its lineage runs through the portrayal of African Americans in the nineteenth century, the stereotype of the Indian corner store owner, and the overly effeminate homosexual man. Conversations around controversial issues often implement the author’s use of free speech. Bouchard advises that in such issues “it’s so easy to use freedom of speech against minorities” as it “takes away from [the] responsibility as human beings to be nice to
others.” Eventually, this humour will be driven away by greater awareness and sensibility towards trans people. As in the above examples listed, humour surrounding these stereotypes are now considered in extremely poor taste. Although examples like Mallard Fillmore exist, they do so alongside web comics such as Questionable Content who deal with transgendered subject matter with more tact. In a strip which ran on Oct. 8, two main characters, a man and a woman, discuss their possible romantic relationship in light of her being trans. He states meekly that he doesn’t know what to say, all of their interactions together feel natural, and that they should figure things out as they need to.
As summarized by Bouchard it “talks about care, self-determination, consent, and love.” The result is a very honest, genuine, and tender look at real life and at love. How then can we move towards more comics like Questionable Content in our popular media? Contact your newspaper of choice and demand changes. Newspapers periodically review the comics they are printing for audience appeal. If strips such as Mallard Fillmore are receiving negative reviews, they will be dropped and replaced with other, more market-friendly content. Like with groups who were marginalized before, making fun of trans issues will fall out of fashion. In the meantime, maybe we should speed the process along.
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Politics // opinions
Race to the finish line: tension in the US of A Holder’s tenure is over, but racial tension isn’t Mattha Busby Staff writer
As Eric Holder relinquishes his post of Attorney General, and as the later stages of Barack Obama’s presidency increasingly become personified by lame duck fatigue, we must hope that their successors will continue to explicitly address issues of race in America. Holder’s reforms sought to “avert mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenders” and affect the gross disproportion of incarcerated African American citizens. Some basic statistics illustrate how much more difficult life is for African Americans compared to white Americans. In 2009, African Americans comprised 39.4 per cent of the prison population despite the fact that they only comprise 13.6 per cent of the overall American population. As a result, one in nine African American children have an incarcerated parent. African American and Hispanic young men are more than six times more likely to be the victims of murder than their white counterparts, which means they account for almost half of the country’s murder victims each year. Successor administrations will have to display a similar, if not greater, commitment to reducing racial inequalities than the Obama administration, which has created initiatives such as “My Brother’s Keeper” and executive orders on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
Holder’s six years in office have divided had a disproportionate number of white Obama recently stated to The New opinion: some say he has done enough to police officers. Yorker that “[m]iddle-class kids don’t get remedy such issues, others disagree unHolder’s successor will have to ad- locked up for smoking pot, and poor kids equivocally. As is typical in America, these dress the institutionalized nature of overt do, and African-American kids and Latino opinions are rigidly correlated with race and subtle racism which is present in the kids are more likely to be poor and less and ethnicity. His resignation coincides selection processes for law enforcement. likely to have the resources and the supwith a period in American history where The BBC recently interviewed a female po- port to avoid unduly harsh penalties.” If race, as ever, appears to be the primary lice officer who claimed that “[i]t may be America truly is a post-racial society, then cause of social frictions. a combination of being African American this frank address of issues concerning The protests in Ferguson and else- and a woman, but there are certain events I race must continue to be present in high where, just like the protests in Hong Kong, am not included in, or even informed of.” politics. have faded away without delivering any America desperately needs more men Then, perhaps throngs of protesters will tangible sense of justice or recourse that and women in the vein of Obama and not take to the street each time a member the demands of the demonstrators had Holder, who are not afraid to abandon of their community is killed, for they will pertained to. their race neutral lenses, as this is the only trust the law enforcement agencies to have The events in St. Louis, Missouri last way to instigate real, lasting change. acted correctly. week — where a young African American man exchanged fire with a police officer and died — remind us that America needs more men and women who are prepared to address the issue of race head-on. The gross inequalities that create the conditions allowing for apparent police impunity can only be remedied through drastic reform and further affirmative action. This would ensure that, as in Ferguson, populations with a 67 per cent majority of African Americans are not subjected the martial law of a police force which only represents seven per cent of their ethnic group. A recent study, conducted by the St. Louis Dispatch, studied 31 communities US Attorney General Eric Holder addresses a crowd at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, May 8 throughout America and 2013. Flickr found that 30 of them also
Safety // opinions
Flagging down a cab at night in the city? Hail No! Montreal Police need to show more drive Laura marchand Opinions editor
Threaten to take away their pensions, and Montreal Police will storm City Hall. When women are being raped, well — that’s another issue entirely, apparently. In recent weeks, many women have come out to talk about their experiences in Montreal’s taxis. There have been numerous complaints of sexual assault, and many more who chose not to file a formal report are speaking out. What was the Montreal police’s response? Was it promising to finally introduce the cameras that were proposed for cabs back in April? Or the GPS trackers to watch which cabs pick up which customers? More police presence after dark? No, no wait — how about actually implementing the background checks that are mandated by law, but are not enforced due to bureaucratic confusion? Nope! Better tell women not to hail a cab. Problem solved. I’m outraged, but not surprised. It’s not the first time that the police has decided that it is up to women not to get raped. In 2011, a Toronto police officer famously said that “women should avoid dressing like sluts” to
keep themselves safe from sexual assault. ask him to stop and let you back out. Back Let’s run down the master list of how not at square one? Tough luck. Be lucky he even to get sexually assaulted, shall we? stopped in the first place. Don’t dress like a “slut” — but geez, try There is simply no way to win if you’re to pretty yourself up, will ya? You’ll never a woman in Montreal at night. No wonder get a man like that! Now then, don’t go so many women didn’t report to the police: around tempting him, you know that boys when you’re expected to follow so many unwill be boys (and yes, eye contact counts). spoken rules, who knows what will happen Don’t drink to excess, but come on, darling, when you try to tell your side of the story? just take a sip! What are you, some prude? After all, no one has asked if a murder Oh, you got drunk? Well, of course he’s go- victim was asking for it. No one bothers ing to bring you home with him. questioning if the robbed knew the robber. Want to go home alone instead? Yeesh, The “pleasure” of being constantly called talk about cold. Well, if you insist — but into question, scrutinized and demeaned don’t walk home, that’s dangerous! You want to take a bus? Do you know what kind of people are on those things after dark? Better take a cab (hope you can afford it) — but make sure you call one, don’t hail it! (But remember, standing outside on the city street is dangerous.) Once you’re inside, make sure you take the identification number down! And call someone to tell them where you are! Of course, if you feel Montreal taxis are not required to have GPS or cameras, and unsafe, better just checks on drivers are never done. Photo by Louis Duchesne.
is one entitled to victims of sexual assault alone. I always was under the impression that Montreal’s police would be both available and willing to help me if something were to happen. However, in recent months — starting with the standing-by of officers as protesters broke into our biggest civil institution, and now with the lackluster response to the numerous sexual assaults taking place in the city — my trust is, simply put, nonexistent. In the meantime, does anyone know how to sign up for Uber?
although legally obligated, background
Column // ETC
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Vol. 32 Issue 7 Our American companions might think it’s a month early, but lo and behold, Thanksgiving came and went. Somewhere in between the turkey and the pumpkin pie, Canadians hopped on Twitter, loosened their belts, and shared tales of #CanadianThanksgiving.
@lorhatherly “I wish I brought my gin so I could take shots at every snide remark made about me. #canadianthanksgiving” @stevegetsfunny “I’ve spent 10 mins. out of every 30 in the bathroom, today.....and it all smells like Pumpkins. Happy #canadianthanksgiving”
Nathalie Laflamme Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Michelle Gamage Production manager production@theconcordian.com
One man’s mission to conquer Concordia’s finest porcelain throne Stephen ho Contributor
Poop explorer #2: a strained log a location even more obscure than the first. I find myself, slightly sweaty, on the sixth floor of the library building.
@OphiraE “Hey hosers: Gobble Gobble eh? #canadianthanksgiving”
fifth floor. In retrospect I understand why that was put in place, seeing as how the library ends
Now, let me first say that this was no easy task to achieve by any means! I had climbed all the stairs in the library until my journey was obstructed by a plastic impasse halfway to the
on the fourth floor and offices and such begin on the fifth. However, at this time I was utterly confounded at the absurdity of having a staircase that leads absolutely nowhere. I later found
@TVDvampirelove “my family’s saying what they’re thankful for like ‘family food house etc’ then u just hear me say ‘the vampire diaries’ #canadianthanksgiving” @radiomccord “Ahhhhh, Cranberry Sauce a la Bart. #MomItsBroken @SimpsonsQOTD #canadianthanksgiving” @RulesofSweats “Can’t wait to put on my turkey feast/turkey coma sweatpants this weekend #CanadianThanksgiving” @frosomeness “The best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. #FoodieDiaries #CanadianThanksgiving” @kathynormandin “3rd thanksgiving dinner tonight and I’ve learned my lesson stretchy pants and flowy shirt only! #canadianthanksgiving” @RachelAnders06 “I’m thankful for my health, days off and Souvignon blanc #canadianthanksgiving” @LauraPalmer198 “Drinking. #canadianthanksgiving”
Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor life@theconcordian.com Frederic T. Muckle Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com Mia Pearson Music editor music@theconcordian.com
My second adventure, once again on a break utterly devoid of friendship, has brought me to
@Bburkester “Honestly that might be the best meal I’ve had in months #canadianthanksgiving”
@ryanthomaswoods “Just spent 30 mins discussing the difference between Sweet Potatoes and Yams. #canadianthanksgiving”
Milos Kovacevic News editor news@theconcordian.com
out (after going back down all those stairs) that there is a convenient elevator on the main floor that will bring you all the way up to the sixth! This floor seems to consist solely of professors and graduate students, of which I am neither. I felt I was infringing on some holy sanctum, and I wasn’t far off! When I entered the washroom the soft buzzing of the electrical lights washed over me like the hushed and reverent murmur one hears when entering a large cathedral with vaulted ceilings. Sort of. Anyway there were four stalls, all unoccupied and all of their seats urine-free! A hot commodity in Concordia as far as my experience goes. I enjoyed a completely uninterrupted fifteen minutes of vein popping constipation, a rather cathartic experience at the end of it all. The taps in this bathroom are not automatic but they do have both hot and cold knobs which are nice. The soap dispenser says mousse but don’t be fooled, it’s just liquid soap. Want to dry your hands? Nope only paper towels here, and of course the dispensers are empty. All in all, I’d give this an 9/10. It’s a nice, secluded bathroom that’s easily accessible by an elevator but those goddamn paper towels man. How I long for the day where I can leave a bathroom without having to wipe my hands on my pants.
Tim Lazier Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Laura Marchand Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Keith Race Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Jocelyn Beaudet Online editor online@theconcordian.com Marie-Pier LaRose Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com Gregory Todaro Julia Scandella Emily Gaudet Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com Christina Rowan Natasha Taggart Marilla Steuter-Martin Production assistants Editorial office 7141 Sherbrooke St. Building CC-Rm 431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514-848-2424 ext. 7499 (Editor-in-Chief) Marc-Antoine Cardin Business manager business@theconcordian.com William Atsaidis Advertising manager advertising@theconcordian.com Tyson Lowrie Jacob Serebin Ruben Bastien Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com
Contributors Sabrina Ponzo, Jocelyn Beaudet, Sophie Hough, Emilie Berthier, Marco Saveriano, Stephen Ho, Jessica Romera, Paul Traunero, Steven Nadeau, Justinas Staskevicius, Bersabel Behonegne, Oneida Crawford, Elias Laradi, Casey Dulson, Robin Stanford.
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Have a good week !
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma - Oct. 8-19
Dance Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Paquita, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier - Oct. 16-19
Theatre Venus In Fur, Centaur Theatre - Oct. 14 - Nov. 9
Music Fire/Works, Le Cercle - Oct. 16 Freddie Gibb, Cabaret Underworld - Oct. 24 Pond, Petit Campus - Oct. 20 Blood and Glass, La Sala Rossa - Oct. 18 White Fence w/ King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Bar le Ritz - Oct. 15
Other Printemps CUBEcois exhibition, Concordia EV Building - Oct. 12-18 In the Mouth, Phi Centre - Oct. 14-31 Glenn Greenwald lecture, Concordia University - Oct. 24 The Link 35th anniversary, Concordia University - Oct. 18 Iakwé:iahre Colloquium - Oct. 16-18 Concordia University Community Lecture Series on HIV/AIDS with Dr. Chil-Yong Kang,
Concordia University, Oct. 30
Exhibition Exhibiting the Archive / Performing the Archive Reception, Fofa Gallery - Oct. 17 Making a Mark, VAV gallery - Until Oct. 24