theconcordian Volume 31 Issue 2
Independent Student newSpaper at ConCordIa unIVerSIty. SInCe 1983.
September 3, 2013
Frosh events welcome students See the fun on p.4
In this issue // life arts
music
Set your brain’s clock P. 5
Abrahams lays New school year, Stingers fail to down the beats P. 9 bring it home P. 12 new resolutions P. 14
Tips on theatre auditions P. 8
we tell your stories. Follow us on twitter: @theConcordian
sports
opinions
theconcordian.com
news 2 //
Tuesday, sepTember 3, 2013
Write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com
CITY SloANe moNTgomery & Kelly DuvAl Co-news editors
>> PQ likely to droP language law bill Quebec Premier Pauline Marois revealed, Aug 29, that the PQ party will likely drop Bill 14, a controversial bill which would increase restrictions on languages other than French. The amendments would include requiring businesses with more than 26 employees to speak French in the workplace and would remove exemptions for francophone military families and other temporary residents wishing to send their children to English schools.
>> Cat gets
attention for branChing out Residents of Filiatrault Street in Ville St-Laurent have been baffled for days as to how to rescue Rasmo, a cat who’s been stuck in a tree since Aug. 27. Attempts to get the cat down have included creating a plank by nailing a series of boards together in hopes that Rasmo would cross over and creating a makeshift elevator.
>> Montreal fashion weeks Celebrates 25 years of work Montreal Fashion Week will be held from Sept. 3 to 6 at Griffintown’s Arsenal. Produced by the Montreal firm Sensation Mode, the festival will feature spring and summer collections. There are more than 20 designers taking part this year. Tickets per show go for $25. Day passes are $75 and it costs $175 for the weekly pass. Tickets are available at ticketpro.ca. For full details and the schedule you should visit, montrealfashionweek.ca
>> u de M froshies MoCk traditional native dress A group of students were photographed on the grounds of Université de Montréal this week referring to themselves as “redface” and dressed in costumes that parodied traditional native attire. No one from the university was available for comments on the issue. A similar frosh incident occurred in 2011 when UdeM’s business students caused controversy by putting on blackface.
Campus // NeWS
Advocacy centre fights for ‘trans rights’ Complaint to government targets discriminatory law Kelly DuvAl Co-news editor
In the name of all transgender people in Quebec, on Aug. 11, the Centre for Gender Advocacy filed a human rights complaint against the government and is now waiting to see what the next steps will entail. The law currently forces transgender people to take specific steps to gain recognition of their gender identity which causes them to struggle with a conflicting sense of self. “We’re saying that the law is discriminatory,” said the centre’s peer support and transgender advocacy co-ordinator, Gabrielle Bouchard. The complaint, sent to the Commission des droits de la personne et
des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ), targets Section 5, Article 71 of Quebec’s Civil Code. This law states that for a person to obtain legal recognition of their gender identity, they must successfully undergo medical treatment and surgical interventions, be over 18 and be a Canadian citizen. “This complaint is something that has been in the works for a long time,” said Bouchard. “Some [transgender] people are desperate, depressed, suicidal and they want to make this complaint but they do not have the energy, the money or the time because right now the only thing they’re trying to do is survive.” The centre is in a good position to make the complaint, according to Bouchard, since they have the necessary time and resources to do so and understand the issues faced by marginalized transgender people. Bouchard explained the regulations are discriminatory, violating
six articles in the Charter of Human Rights, and must be removed altogether. Forcing transgendered people to undergo structural surgery shows a lack of respect as to their right to freedom and the obligation to be a Canadian citizen discriminates against transgender people who wish to move to Quebec. While the centre mostly deals with adults, other organizations such as Gender Creative Kids work with children. “We have kids who are trying to make a life and the gender that’s been assigned to them is not okay and they’re going through high school,” said Bouchard. The centre had been in discussions in recent months with the CDPDJ before they made the complaint and are now awaiting their written answer. CDPDJ suggested the centre speak to the Directeur de l’état civil but Bouchard knew going directly to the government, the source for this discrimination, was necessary.
The next step in resolving this law is a civil court case against the government. Donations can be made on the centre’s website, which will go towards legal fees and funding the court case as well as to transgender people who might have to come to Montreal to testify. “If they’re willing to put themselves out there and give their time and divulge their transgender identity, or the fact that their parents are transgender people, we don’t want them to incur costs,” said Bouchard. The Centre for Gender Advocacy is working alongside other transgender-rights groups including Aide aux transgendersexuels et transgendersexuelles du Quebec, Astt(e) Q, le Conseil Quebecois LGBT and Alterhéros. “The coalition that has been created around this issue is humongous,” said Bouchard. “There’s going to be a lot of voices coming forward and talking about this.”
Campus // NeWS
Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program honoured Award money to be used for sustainability purposes in gulu and montreal Kelly DuvAl Co-news editor
The Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program (CVAP) won financial support and a morale boost from the McConnell Family Foundation, when they were awarded the Community Service Learning Award on June 13. The program plans to use the grant money towards improving sustainability in Montreal and Uganda. “It really is an honour to be recognized [by the McConnell Family Foundation] because of their stature and the types of organizations they benefit,” said Daniel Lavigueur, executive director of CVAP. Although Lavigueur has been to Uganda four times, this is his first experience there as an executive director. The organization consists of more than 10 full-time employees, 40 international volunteers and 10 local volunteers. Assigned different projects upon their arrival, volunteers’ varied work includes working alongside nurses to produce health assessments at a local orphanage and helping to construct daycares and other facilities. Short term projects include organizing events where locals have the opportunity to win sustainable prizes such as pigs and goats. While students’ cannot always see the end
result of their work before coming back home, objectives are accomplished over the long-term. The Community Service Learning award is given to organizations whose programs are based around “volunteer work designed to achieve community goals and to instill in students a sense of civic engagement,” as it states on the McConnell Family Foundation website. “That’s bang on exactly what we do,” said Lavigueur. “The program is about experiential learning. It’s been an unbelievably rewarding learning experience for me.” CVAP will use the prize money to help improve the organization’s environmental sustainability. Last year an environmental impact assessment strategy was drawn up that highlighted areas to improve sustainability. “One of the areas we have a lot of waste is through our use of fuel,” said Lavigueur. CVAP currently uses three large gas-guzzling vehicles in Uganda: two 14-seater vans and one SUV. These vehicles are needed even for small trips and grocery runs, since there are no other vehicles available. To reduce fuel consumption, they plan on purchasing a small motorbike and bicycles for the volunteers. The program also plans on replacing desktop computers in Montreal with energy efficient laptops. Additionally, CVAP is continually coming up with opportunities for
students interested in cross-cultural research, looking at expanding partnerships within the community and assessing different community-based organizations to find that perfect fit for curious students. “I would definitely recommend it,” said volunteer Megan Chafe, a recent Concordia graduate who returned from Gulu earlier this month. Chafe will go on to study international development next year and hopes to return to Gulu for an internship next summer. CVAP’s previous executive director, Jamie Robinson, worked on the grant application for months. Although it was a heavy undertaking, Lavigueur said it was worth the ef-
fort as the application was representative of what the organization was about. The program’s projects are guided through their partners in the city of Gulu. “We try not to come in with our own projects…we try to execute them through partnerships and to address the needs of the community,” said Lavigueur. CVAP’s partners include the Sports Outreach Ministry, the StJude’s Children Home, and the AIDS Support Organization. “Our mission is being recognized,” said Lavigueur. “It’s validation [means] we’re on the right track.”
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Campus // NeWS
Shepard takes pride in ConU’s diversity A review of the past and a bright look into the future SloANe moNTgomery Co-news editor
During the year’s first briefing with President Alan Shepard, there were a myriad of topics to discuss. The main focus was Dr. Shepard’s experience after completing his first full year at Concordia’s helm but he also discussed his aspirations and how he plans to proceed in the upcoming year. Admitting to 18-hour days at the office, Shepard is nothing short of committed. When asked about his first year with Concordia University, he explained that he learned a lot about time management and how to make adjustments to meet the schools needs. Concordia’s welcoming community of staff and students blew Shepard away, stating how proud he is of Concordia’s “rich, diverse and fantastic community.” When asked about the upcoming year, Shepard explained his plans for the creation of both writing and math centres, designed to not only help students struggling with those subjects but also offer options to any student seeking improvement. Additionally, Shepard mentioned the amelioration of student financial aid and says that speeding up the admissions process is absolutely necessary, explaining the school needs “academic renewal in an era of online education.” Dr. Shepard was also thrilled
to tell students that Concordia is thriving - in comparison to many universities across the country who are unfortunately being forced to cut staff and programs due to budget cuts at massive levels, Concordia is in the process of strategically hiring new faculty members to work in multidisciplinary programs. Dr. Shepard says “it’s the way of the future. Programs that students want are now cross cutting, they don’t just do or focus on one thing.” Shepard said they are currently working on 9 or 10 new multidisciplinary programs to be advertised next July. When asked about the repairs in the Hall building,
Shepard says there are going to be on-going renovations to the lobby and that, for now, there is no definite deadline. There are also major advancements being done in the H-110 auditorium. The large space holds up to 650 students and is scheduled to be completely renovated by January 2014. The president assured us that Quebec allocates a certain amount of funds for upkeep and renovations and that it does not interfere with the budget for programs and classes. The Hall building’s facelift is being done to improve the space and ambience for all students. Additional hopes for the building are to cre-
ate an attractive destination in the heart of Montreal, providing the school with more opportunities, particularly during the times of the year when Montreal hosts many world-renowned festivals. Finally, Shepard was keen on confirming the rumours of a logo change. Suggestions to remove the open-book graphic have been brought forth but no replacement image has been chosen. Shepard says he likes the idea of only using the school’s name and feels there is no graphic needed. Plans are to have the logo appear simple and minimalist with no overwhelming changes.
Former CSU chairperson, Shannon Keymaram, resigned on Aug. 27. After being with the CSU team for only a few months, Keymaram, resigned after chairing only two Special Council meetings. President Melissa Kate Wheeler tells us that Keymaram, resigned due to her busy schedule for the upcoming year. “Her busy schedule made her feel as though she could not fully commit to her responsibilities as chairperson,” said Wheeler. The chairperson is very fundamental and important to the CSU.
>> Canada not
getting involved
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced, Aug. 29, that the Canadian military will not be partaking in any strikes against the Syrian regime. Although sending in Canadian militia is not in the interest of the Canadian government, Prime Minister Harper said not punishing the Syrian government for the nerve gas attacks last week would set “an extremely dangerous precedent.” The U.S., Britain and France have made remarks of possibly sending in military support.
The cronut burger offered at the Canadian National Exhibition last week left 223 people with food-borne illness. According to Toronto’s Public Health lab reports and the inspection of vendor Epic Burgers and Waffles, the supplier of the cronut burger, the ingredient responsible for the illness was the maple bacon jam condiment. The vendor’s food stall has been reopened since the illness broke out but without the presence of the cronut burger for the public’s safety.
>> Canada ranks high
CSU chairperson resigns after two meetings
SloANe moNTgomery Co-news editor
ChriSTiNA roWAN Copy editor
>> burger swoons toronto festival
CSu // NeWS
Council seeks immediate replacement
NATION
The chairperson is there to facilitate the council meetings, communicate with council and executives and keep track of important documents alongside the Council Secretary. Wheeler and the CSU are already on top of finding a new chairperson, eager to find a fitting candidate as soon as possible. “A strong chair will facilitate smooth, effective, and respectful CSU council meetings,” said Wheeler. The job position for chairperson will be posted to the CSU website this week with plans to advertise it as much as possible. The CSU Communications Co-ordinator will be helping executives find the right candidate to fill the position; as the Council members are all very busy with CSU’s orientation and welcoming new students. President Wheeler is both ea-
ger and positive about finding the next chairperson. Should any candidates for the job come forward, interviews will be held at the next regular Council meeting. The meeting will take place on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in room H-763. Former Council Chairperson
and current Chairperson of the CSU Judicial Board, Nick Cuillerier, will take over as Council Chairperson. Cuillerier will continue to serve as Council Chair for 30 days, or until the position is filled. President Wheeler informs us that “so far, there are no candidates.”
Management consulting firm Ernst & Young, ranked Canada as one of the top five places in the world to start a business. Based on the 2013 Entrepreneurship Barometer, a report that studies the conditions for business start-ups in the G20, Canada was ranked as having one of the lowest costs for starting a business, low labour costs and better access to to funding.
>> study on legalization A new study shows that marijuana use by teens can entail long-term mental health problems. A review of 120 studies on cannabis and teenage brain development by researchers from the Université de Montréal and New York’s Icahn School of Medicine concluded that the use of cannabis during teenage brain development strongly increases the risk of addiction and mental health problems as adults.
Photo from Flickr
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theconcordian Campus // NeWS
WORLD mArC-olivier lArAmée Contributor
>> u.s. Military
to intervene in syria
On Aug. 30, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, accused the Syrian government of killing over 1,400 citizens in the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Damascus, the country’s capital. The U.S. said that at least 426 children were killed in the attack. President Barack Obama announced on Aug. 31 that the U.S. will take military action, but will seek approval from the Congress before intervening. Obama asserted the U.S. will take limited approaches so as not to repeat a situation similar to the Iraq or Afghanistan invasions.
>> g20 agenda
likely to be overshadowed
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agree on what should be the focus for the upcoming G20 summit hosted by Russia beginning on Sept. 5. Both leaders believe the spotlight should be on economic growth and promoting employment, however concentrating on these issues could prove difficult given the conflict in Syria. Putin also wishes to discuss economic crime, corruption and international economic investment. While Obama will attend the summit, Russian and U.S. relations have been unfavourable since Putin helped former National Security Agency contractor and fugitive, Edward Snowden, hide classified documents from U.S. authorities.
>> deaths in egyPtian Protest Since the largest protests in Egypt broke out two weeks ago, when President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown, six more people have allegedly been killed. The Muslim Brotherhood has been in conflict with the police since Morsi was ousted, while Egypt’s government has arrested most of the Brotherhood’s leaders. Thousands of Egyptians marched through Cairo and other cities demanding the reinstatement of Morsi, ignoring the heavy security presence. At least 50 people were injured and over 20 were arrested, according to security forces.
>> China’s first lunar exPedition China plans to send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon by the end of this year, which would mark the country’s first lunar landing. The moon rover, named Chang’e-3, will be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China and will transmit images and dig into the moon’s surface to test samples.
Getting fresh n’ funky at Frosh Students of CASAJmSB partied hard at their BBQ on Friday Photos by Keith Race
life
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Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com health // liFe
Oxytocin can help make the best of a bad situation
New research suggests the hormone plays a role in coping with negative social experiences
JADe ADAmS Contributor
O
xytocin, sometimes called “the cuddle hormone,” promotes trust in romantic relationships, and is known to be partially responsible for bonding between mother and child through breast feeding. However, Concordia University researchers Mark Ellenbogen and Christopher Cardoso have taken a different approach with the hormone and conducted a study that tested the effects of oxytocin on a person’s mood, during an episode of social rejection. The study simulated and studied negative social interactions by having participants interrupt, disagree with, and ignore one another. Afterwards, it was found that the subjects who were given oxytocin in the form of a nasal spray, in-
stead of a placebo, were more likely to have trust in people despite the social rejection experienced. These individuals responded more positively to questions such as “I believe that most people are basically well-intentioned,” “I tend to assume the best about people,” and “I have a good deal of faith in the human nature.” Though the effects of oxytocin remain a topic of debate, Cardoso believes that, “oxytocin probably works on limbic brain areas responsible for motivation and the regulation of stress. Whether it affects these brain areas directly or indirectly once it is administered is still an open question in human research.” Ellenbogen and Cardoso’s results add to the ongoing debate about how oxytocin functions, but they believe this particular finding will aid people with mood disorders. According to their results, oxytocin could play an important role in promoting social bonding after negative social experiences. Rather than hiding from
social interactions, oxytocin may encourage individuals to look for help and build trust with others. “Our culture is quite individualistic, and people lose sight of how much we are biologically wired to rely on each other for support,” said Cardoso.
Researchers will no doubt use studies such as this one to help better understand human emotions and relationships in the future, but results so far show that when stressed out the answer might be as easy as venting to a friend or as simple as asking a loved one for a hug.
health // liFe
Getting back into the rhythm of our internal clocks recent joint study from Concordia and mcgill offers new insight on those dreaded sleepless nights
SArA Du Breuil Contributor
T
oss and turn, change positions, kick the blankets off the bed and try to force sleep. Sound familiar? There is nothing worse than a sleepless night; a night when the alarm clock beside the bed is repeatedly checked and the realization made that it will be time to get up in five hours… four and a half… three… A night like that is not unusual for students. Coming back from a summer of late nights and sleeping in, while adjusting to Photo by comes writer a new semester and the stress that with it, can be tough on the mind and body. But for those who suffer from restless nights or stress-related insomnia, there is hope. A recent joint study from Concordia and McGill University offers new insight into understanding the fundamental parts of the internal clock – the clock that schedules the body’s daily activities and syncs them with the external world. The study, Putting Sleep Disorders to Bed, co-authored by Shimon Amir, a PhD professor in the department of psychology at Concordia and Nahum Sonenberg, a McGill professor with a PhD in biochemistry, looks at how protein synthesis is controlled in the brain and how removing certain proteins
can make the internal clock function at an improved rate. According to Amir, having a strong understanding of the internal clock is important for students. Learning how a person’s internal clock functions can help people achieve normal rhythms, which in turn leads to that much needed and desired sleep. The internal clock is like the body’s watch – the ticking hands are the signals for the body to activate or suppress certain activities. It keeps humans from sleeping all day or making dinner in the middle of the night. It oscillates on a 24-hour, lightand-dark cycle. Like any watch, the internal clock needs to be tuned and set and there are things students can do to properly sync their internal clock and get that good rhythm. “We see a lot of students who complain about not getting enough sleep or who experience sleep disturbances,” said Gaby Szabo, a health promotion specialist for Concordia Health Services. Both Amir and Szabo agree that the most important step in setting up a healthy sleep routine is establishing a steady schedule and sticking to it as much as possible. Synching the internal clock means going to bed and waking up at more or less the same time every day, even on weekends. This doesn’t mean simply getting into bed at the same time, but actually being asleep. “A tip for falling asleep is to turn off the lights,” said Amir. “Modern society is
flooded with light from artificial sources… [and] the light has a strong effect on internal clocks,” he explained. Exposure to light from any source can reset the clock or confuse its natural cycle. Concordia student Tiffany Pearce thinks that this advice is reasonable, to a point. “Yes there will be nights when all-nighters are necessary,” Pearce said, “but for the most part I tend to stick to a pretty strict schedule during the week. I definitely don’t maintain the same sleep schedule for the weekend though and for any university stu-
dent I think that’s a tad unrealistic.” Concordia Health Services has a “sleep hygiene” pamphlet available to students with further tips on how to get the best quality sleep. For any of them to work, Szabo said sleep should be made a priority, not pushed aside. So, this September, set that internal clock. Turn off the lights and don’t bring a laptop, smartphone or tablet to bed. Instead, commit to sleep. Put on an eye mask, say goodnight and settle into the eight hours a night the body craves and needs.
Photo by Press
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theconcordian
Social media // Life
Emphasizing face-to-face over Facebook
Why social media makes us sad and what one developer is doing to reverse that
ments online to their friends, and the result is a distorted view of the reality of their lives,” Glaser said. He believes this results in people questioning why their lives are not as amazing as their friends’ lives appear to be. Since there is also an element of anonymity behind the screen, Glaser came to the conclusion that interacting on social media can sometimes be superficial. This status quo prompted him to rethink the idea of social interaction and that’s how his app OverNear was created. He explains how it’s not just one more social network added to the heap but rather a productivity tool to link people to a certain area. Think of it like a fusion of Facebook events without the RSVP, Foursquare without the gaming factor and Twitter without the noisy newsfeed. You can register to the place you’re going, in real-time, to tell friends and family where you’ll be. As Glaser explains, “It’s kind of like a future check-in. You put a post on a place that you’re going. If your friends happen to come to that area...your friends will be notified.” The application has been available for free on the Apple App Store, since July 30. It is still in beta development so expect a few bugs. Glaser has not forgotten Android users and hopes to have a compatible version ready for download by early 2014. A pun on the term “Over here, over there,” Glaser has high hopes for OverNear to become a successful tool for connecting people together. “I think we are at a forefront of a trend of spending less time behind the screen...nothing replaces face-to-face interaction.”
Saturn De Los Angeles Contributor
Have you ever been emotionally distressed after scrolling, reading, liking or commenting on friends’ posts on Facebook? Do you obsessively check your Twitter timeline for updates, and find yourself unsatisfied and hungry for more? How about those reblogs on Tumblr? And those Instagram posts? Don’t fret if your answer is yes to one, all, or any. According to entrepreneur and app developer, Bill Glaser, you’re not going crazy. There is an actual reason for this feeling - and it’s something we don’t even realize as we stare at our screens. “The greater [our] use of it, the more likely that people are going to be lonely, and people are going to be depressed,” said Glaser, citing a combination of various news reports and the research of several German universities on the effects of social media. Glaser explains that although the goal of social media is to connect people, it disconnects us because of the selective nature of our posts, which typically show off only our best side. Take Foursquare for example; you use your smartphone to “check-in” or register your location to show off to your friends. “It was a gamification of visiting a place, where the more you visit the area, there is an opportunity to earn points [for frequently checking in], and eventually becoming the Mayor of that place,” says Glaser. “People only want to show their best mo-
YOU CHOSE CONCORDIA. YOU CHOSE CONCORDIA. SO DIDSO I. DID I. I’m excited to welcome you to In the spirit of that tradition, I believe my Concordia. Some of you are new to job is to help you succeed; to ensure you Concordia; the rest of us are returning have stimulating, meaningful — and yes, educational experiences inside and outside I’m excited to welcome you to Concordia. from a summer break. Either way, we fun — educational experiences inside and Concordia’s classrooms, labs and studios. Like me, some of you are new to Concordia; all share one important thing: outside Concordia’s classrooms, labs others are returning. Either way, we all share We chose Concordia. and studios. one important thing: We chose Concordia. So good luck with this new term. I always We chose a top-notch learning and So good luck with this new term. I always value hearing from students. Feel free to research institution with a tradition of valueand hearing from students. Feel free to We chose a top-notch learning research contact me at president@concordia.ca. reaching out to its communities. meout at president@concordia.ca. institution with a tradition ofcontact reaching to its communities.
spirit of that tradition, I believe my job concordia.caInis tothehelp you succeed; to ensure you have stimulating, meaningful — and yes, fun —
Alan Shepard Alan Shepard President President
arts
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Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com Theatre // ArTS
Preparing to succeed at theatre auditions Theatre student, meghan Schroeder, shares her advice with us
give a great performance and put them in the right mindset. It can be daunting and extremely intimidating to walk into a room with a panel of
directors and managers and audition to be a part of something huge. The fear of failure and messing up creates anxiety, which can hinder not only a person’s confidence, but
reBeCCA De CArlo Contributor
F
or those whose passion lies in theatre, it is a known fact that pursuing acting can be exhilarating and stressful at times. The final result that the audience sees played out on stage involves immense amounts of work and time, talent and most of all tenacity. Yet, all this starts with an audition. A second-year theatre performance major at Concordia, Meagan Schroeder, shared some helpful and insightful tips when auditioning for a play. The most important thing, Schroeder says, is to “walk in with confidence and a straight posture. First impressions are everything.” Another measure to take is allowing yourself time to do a warm up before the tryouts. Exercising the mouth and warming up muscles before you go in to an audition prepares the person auditioning to be able to
their performance as well. A person auditioning for a play can spend weeks preparing material to perform in the audition and sometimes all of this preparation can be ruined if nerves get in the way. Most importantly, Schroeder advises, is not to overthink. People auditioning need to “trust their gut, because if they hesitate, it will make them seem unsure of themselves, or that they are going to be difficult to work with, and need more direction than others normally would,” she added. When entering into the world of acting, the competition can be cut-throat. However, not getting a part in a production doesn’t mean failure. The most successful actors and actresses are not the ones that easily get every part they audition for, but those who don’t succeed at first. People who can take criticism and use it to fuel their passion and drive are successful. It is always important when auditioning for plays to have a thick skin. Asking the director for feedback on an audition and practicing with peers is a great way to improve as an actor. In fact, the more feedback one receives, the more room there is for improvement and success. So, aspiring thespians of Concordia, go forth, audition and take advantage of what Concordia and Montreal’s performing arts landscape has to offer. Let these tips and your muses be your guide.
human rights // ArTS
Picturing the world’s silent brides: a photo exposé Too Young to Wed exhibition sheds light on child marriage SAlimA PuNJANi Contributor
A
life-size photograph shows young girls between the ages of 11 and 13. Their hands are tinted red and brown with beautiful henna designs. They are dressed in elegant robes, their faces are coloured with immaculate make-up and they are carrying bouquets of vibrant flowers. You would think this was a photograph of flower girls at a wedding. Rather, it shows these children on their wedding day in Yemen. This is the first photo in Stephanie Sinclair’s collection of 30 documentary photographs on the subject of child marriage. Too Young to Wed is being presented as part of the French Canadian section of Amnesty International’s campaign, My Body, My Rights. The exhibition is on display at the Gesù in Montreal until Sept. 29. My Body, My Rights is an Amnesty International campaign focusing on the respect of sexual and reproductive rights. “We thought child marriage was a
good example of violation so that’s [why] we chose to focus on this issue,” said Colette Lelièvre, campaign coordinator of the French Canadian section of Amnesty International. The photographs detail the lives of child brides in Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nepal and India, countries deeply afflicted by the practice of child marriage. Images are accompanied by quotations from political leaders, the girls themselves, as well as information explaining more about the harmful traditional practice and its consequences. “Pictures talk well,” said Lelièvre. “In some of the photos you see an eight-yearold girl with a 25-year-old man. I think that’s why it’s so accessible. It’s something you can just look at and understand the problem.” Two photographs featuring 11-year-old Ghulam from Afghanistan are particularly striking. One shows Ghulam playing in fresh green fields in her village on the day of her engagement. Dressed in a bright pink dress, she smiles. She looks free and innocent. Directly beside this photograph she sits with Faiz, her 40-year-old husband to be. In contrast to her soft and playful gaze in the other photograph, her face turns hard and her sharp eyes glare darkly at Faiz. On the other hand, Faiz looks directly into the camera, seeming completely natural and content. The exhibition is not completely dis-
mal. Sinclair includes a few glimpses of hope and solutions that come from within the countries on display. For instance, a photograph of Ethiopian youth shows their preparation and anticipation for a traditional dance performance. Amnesty International hopes to use public support to lobby world leaders to take a stronger stance on protecting sexual and reproductive rights; 2014 will see a review of the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, the first program to detail these rights. “It’s a very important program of action for young people,” said Lelièvre. “We
thought it was a great timing for us to lobby government to respect sexual and reproductive rights of young people ahead of this review.” The exhibition concludes with an opportunity to sign petitions lobbying governments to take action against child marriage. These petitions as well as videos, photographs and more information about child marriage are available at tooyoungtowed.com. Too Young to Wed runs until Sept. 29 at Gesù, 1200 Bleury. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Admission is free.
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City // ArTS
You have no idea what your city looks like Three artists inverse city maps, and show some of the roads not taken AlexANDer lAu Contributor
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ave you ever realized you’ve gotten lost walking or biking around Montreal’s countless little streets? Did you then try to visualize yourself on the map? Perhaps you were successful. But have you truly found yourself on the map? Studio Beluga hopes you find the answer to this question during their latest exhibition, Progression. Studio Beluga was founded in 2009 with the goal of advancing the creative practices of emerging artists. Initially, the studio invited young artists to do a four month residency, working on any art form or subject of their choosing and then converting the studio into a gallery space to showcase their final products. Alina Maizel, a Concordia alumna, is one of the founders and directors of the studio. “It exists as a collective of people who love art, both artists and art amateurs, and we all just work together,” she said. Previously, Studio Beluga had locations in St. Henri and Mile End, but recently she, along with the other founders, many of whom are also Concordia alumni, wanted the studio to no longer have a physical location, focusing instead on pop-up events. “Instead of being restricted by the physical venue, [we felt that] we could really challenge people’s conventional idea of what an art gallery is by bringing them to outside spaces and saying: this is an art gallery,” Maizel explained. The theme of the exhibition is the urban environment and it will be an attempt at mapping it, using cartography and conceptually examining what a map means. “Curatorially, it would be most fascinating to take
that concept all the way through and have the exhibit outside on the streets. Further even, instead of having it on the streets, which is what a map usually outlines, we decided to put it in the inverse of what a map outlines, which is the alley, the part of the city that is not mapped,” Maizel said. Exhibiting his work in the alley is Montreal artist and poet Cam Novak. A year ago, Novak was running a courier service which put him in close connection with the city of Montreal’s map, an essential tool for dispatching and delivery. “I had a map of Montreal over my desk that I would use to help dispatch my couriers ... it was this weird ‘I hate you but I love you.’ So I took it down off my wall and drew on it and it was like a fuck you to the map,” said Novak, adding “you [the map] were dictating what you wanted to me, my whole career, and now I am dictating you... it felt right.” While Novak’s relationship to the Montreal map is still turbulent, the year spent preparing for the Progression exhibit has introduced a new fascination with issues of identity, particularly his own.This evolution of his art was the inspiration behind a fivefoot high installation of a giant head with parts of the map embedded in it, which he has prepared for the exhibit. “Instead of saying fuck you to the city, I am acknowledging that it has been an intrinsic part of who I am as an individual, and it has built who I am. And hence, progression,” Novak explained. Along with Novak, Montreal-based FredC and French artist Joanathan Bessaci will be showcasing their work at the exhibition that will be held in the garden behind 16 St. Viateur West, the alleyway entrance. Progression will take place for one day only on Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Admission is free.
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Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com
Profile // muSiC
Examining Montreal’s electronic scene electronic music DJ and producer Joel Abrahams lays down the beats Press
roA ABDel-gAWAD Arts editor
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he Concordian sat down with 20year-old journalism student Joel Abrahams who has, since his first year at Concordia, been regularly involved at the university’s radio station, CJLO, DJing around campus, as well creating his own music and producing albums. The Concordian: So how did you get started at CJLO? Abrahams: I started in [the] winter of my first year, in 2011. When I first started out, I was playing more mainstream electronic music and now I have moved into music that is still electronic but more closer to what I like to listen to. What’s the atmosphere like there? It’s a lot of fun. It’s cool because, for a university radio station, it’s well known and reputable. CJLO is highly regarded, yet it’s also very relaxed. You can more or less play whatever you want, in terms of music. You were the DJ for the CSU’s Orientation BBQ event last year and you have the gig again this week. How did this come about? The first time, they just put out a message [calling for DJs] and I responded to it. They came over and listened to my mix and that’s it. This time, a person that I was
in residence with is involved with them and put my name in and I got it since they knew me from last year. How did you get started in DJing and making music in the first place? I think people probably underestimate how difficult it is to make electronic music. I have been working on it for three years. It was a good full year before I made an actual song. Not a song you’d wanna listen to but a song nonetheless with all of the parts sounding proper. I was definitely not enjoying that. But after a year and a half or two, it became really fun. Like, I woke up at 8 a.m. and worked on this song right up until you came here. Whoa. I arrived at 5 p.m.. I know. What kind of music do you make? You know house music, right? House is 128 bpms. What I make is like 160 bpms. So it’s like a drum pattern but at a lot faster rhythm. It’s not as fast as drum-bass but a little slower. It’s called footwork or juke. It started a long time ago, 20 or 30 years back, and it predates a lot of the electronic music that started to become a lot more popular. Yet it hasn’t hit the point at which people caught on to producing it to the level that it becomes sold and commercialized. What I think happened with dubstep and house music is that people were just so entrenched and focused in the one or two genres and all other ideas just completely got flushed out.
For footwork and juke, it was local in its native city, Chicago, up until the ‘90s and then it spread out to other random pockets in the world. It became really popular in Japan and in parts of Eastern Europe and then, especially in the last few years, it started growing again exponentially. What’s the scene for footwork and for juke in Montreal? If you wanna focus in on that specific niche genre, Montreal is missing out, I guess. But in terms of electronic music, in Montreal or elsewhere, this is not an issue. The music I listen to and the people listen to tends to get passed around much more than other genres because it’s such a niche. So the scene right now is made up of people that are into the same kind of music and closely connected with the music they make, sharing it and giving me feedback on music I’ve produced. And I have become more open about giving others feedback on theirs. I think there are avenues that haven’t been tapped as well as they could have. I mean, there is one other person here [Montreal] who I was really inspired by to start focusing on this kind of music. His name is Hesk. But I think he moved to Toronto now. Nobody here really produces it and plays it live anymore. That’s disheartening. Have you tried reaching out to other students on campus to collaborate?
I haven’t found that many people [at Concordia]. I haven’t seen anybody that makes this kind of music. Not even Trap, [which is] hip hop beats made into electronic music, which is closely related to my music but much more popular. I’m sure I am wrong, though. But hopefully [if there is] someone reading this and wants to work together, [they] can reach me. For the curious, what kind of equipment are you using? I use a digital DJ controller, right now. It’s a Numark NS6. I also use a Native Instruments Maschine. My keyboard that controls most of this stuff is the Akai Pro MPK49. And this cork-pad is for effects and stuff. And when you are not making your own music, where do you like to go in the city to hear music? There are not that many places that I would like, really. If there is one place I would go to, it’s the Belmont. So you are essentially saying that the best place for you to hear music, is your own home. Yeah. I’ve got a pretty good set-up here [laughs]. Be sure to catch Joel Abrahams every Friday at 3 p.m., hosting the Death Metal Disco Show, starting next week on CJLO. You can also watch him DJing live at the CSU BBQ, Sept. 4 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Loyola Campus.
Photo by Keith Race
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Profile // muSiC
Playing in two worlds Dum Dum girls’ Sandra vu swaps percussion for vocals in SiSu NATAShA TAggArT online editor
>> New fees implemented for bringing international musicians to the Great White North Booking agents and promoters are now looking at increased fees for bringing non-Canadian musicians to venues across Canada, where music is not the primary focus, such as bars and coffee shops. As the Calgary Herald reported, Canada’s Ministry of Employment, Social Development & Multiculturalism have come up with a legislation that will force owners or promoters to submit a $275 application fee, per band and crew member. In addition, there will be a $150 charge for each approved musician and crew member’s work permit. Should the application be rejected, the fees are non-refundable and will be charged with another application. Having taken effect on July 31, the new rules are supposed to “ensure that owners and managers of those types of establishments look to hire Canadians first before hiring temporary foreign workers,” according to the government agencies involved in the changes.
>> Timbaland and Michael Jackson to collaborate Timbaland isn’t about to let death be a factor in his music production. In an interview with Revolt TV, the super-producer mentioned a project in the works to blend his music with Michael Jackson’s vocals. The project was reportedly initiated by Epic Records CEO, L.A. Reid. Previously this summer, the LA Times reported Timbaland also spoke about producing music featuring the late Aaliyah’s vocals, while saying that he wasn’t a fan of the work made by other musicians. “Chris Brown got a record, it won’t work. Drake can go do a record with Aaliyah, it ain’t gonna work. ’Cause Aaliyah music only work with its soulmate, which is me,” he said.
>> Sean Kingston on trial for rape The “Beautiful Girls” singer has been accused of raping an inebriated teenager in his Seattle hotel room in July 2010, following a Justin Bieber concert. TMZ is reporting the now 22-year-old woman says she was forced into sex with Kingston, a member of his band and his bodyguard. The girl was allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol before she was invited back to the hotel room for a meet-and-greet, where she says Kingston was lying naked on his bed as she entered the room. The woman is said to have been rescued by a friend and then taken to the hospital where she was treated for injuries “consistent with rape.” Kingston has denied the allegations of rape but has said that the sex was consensual. The woman is asking for $5 million.
miA PeArSoN Contributor
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um Dum Girls’ drummer, Sandra “Sandy Beaches” Vu, has stepped out from behind the drums and shed the noise-pop band’s persona, as well as their signature ripped nylon and black leather look. Now fronting her own band, SISU, the musician described this transition as “a feeling of utter nakedness” as she stood before a crowd with only her voice and guitar. “For SISU, I consider it more of a personal project and it’s very honest,” she explained. “I don’t have a set uniform, or a kind of look that Dum Dum Girls has where it’s a set aesthetic. SISU’s aesthetic is more loose and more me - exposed.” SISU’s sound hovers in limbo over many genres like synth, shoegaze, electronic and dream without treading too deeply into any one. The band’s sound is “able to exist in that space [between subgenres] and have both exist at the same time.” A strong bass melody supports each diverse song, while a mix of light synth, guitar, and Vu’s dreamlike voice work to build the shoegaze sound the frontwoman described as being “a wall of sound: maximum sound.” The shoegaze subgenre can be heard in bands like My Bloody Valentine which acted as an influence on SISU’s sound. Others include Silver Apples, Vashti Bunyan, Serge Gainsbourg and
DJ Shadow. Before starting SISU and joining the Dum Dum Girls, which launched Vu into a whole other adventure, the songwriter found herself at a dead end when her former band Midnight Movies broke up. “It was like not really knowing what was going on with my life in general. Just imagine putting all your eggs in one basket, that’s kind of what I did at the time. I was having an identity crisis but I just took the time to myself. I started writing, not even with the goal of starting a band, I just wrote for myself.
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i don’t have a set uniform, or a kind of look that Dum Dum girls has where it’s a set aesthetic. SiSu’s aesthetic is more loose and more me exposed. -Sandra Vu
Having decided to really pursue it as a band, it really did take a lot of work to get to where I am now,” she said. The workload continues to follow Vu as she highlights her struggle to perform as the vocalist for SISU, then rush to do a quick costume change and to resume her role as the noise/dream pop group’s feisty drummer. “Playing drums, you’re usually in the back but I definitely don’t
undervalue playing drums. SISU is more responsibility in the front, scarier because I’m not hiding behind anythi ng or sitting down. It’s more difficult, but it’s more rewarding because it’s difficult. There’s way more responsibility, which can be more fun,” she said. Nevertheless, being in both bands isn’t all work. Vu recounted a moment backstage at a European music festival, where “we were waiting for the Stone Roses to go on. We were all dorking-out and listening to them do their warm up with our ears to the wall.” As for the band name, the members originally thought they had come up with the word SISU. A quick Google search revealed the word has a very strong meaning already. SISU is a Finnish term and means bravery, empowerment and the ability to face head-on and overcome. The significance of the word worked so appropriately in the context of Vu’s moments of uneasiness between bands and her drive to step out from behind the comfortable cage of the drum-set to the front of the stage. “Harpoons,” the first single off their debut album Blood Tears, which will be released on Sept. 17, kickstarts the album with its catchy rock/pop tune, heavy bass drum and fleeting synth melodies. Vu explains how the song is about sometimes “having to kind of kill part of yourself in order to move on and in order to grow.” She continues to write songs in the tour van when she’s not feeling too queasy and plays two very different roles. “From guitar to drums, I can just switch personalities,” she says. And with just a costume change in between. SISU plays Société des Arts Technologiques with Dirty Beaches Wednesday Sept. 4.
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Profile // muSiC
Auresia leaves no musical genre untouched montreal-based artist draws inspiration from many places, spaces JeSSiCA romerA music editor
For some artists finding the inspiration for new music is like trying to find a needle in a pile of needles. For Montreal-based musician Auresia, it’s as simple as stepping out the front door in the morning. The Edmonton native moved to Montreal almost a decade ago after having visited the city just once before. “I travelled here when I was 17 and completely fell in love with the city,” said Auresia. “I just felt at home instantly.” Since her self-titled debut album in 2008, Auresia has continuously indulged her sense of wanderlust. She has travelled extensively through North, Central and South America, absorbing all the diverse cultures along the way to create a sound that is not easily classifiable, however a fateful trip to California’s Reggae on the River festival prompted a stronger reggae influence in her music. “I was just so happy. I danced for three days straight and I don’t even remember sleeping much,” said Auresia. “It was a turning point; it changed my life.” As a result, her first album garnered much attention from the international music community and even earned her nominations at the Indie Awards as well as the Canadian Reggae Music Awards. Auresia drew heavily from roots music and reggae and described the album as having “an old-school feel and sound.”
For her upcoming album Risin’, out Sept. 3, the singer-songwriter explored new musical territory and drew inspiration not only from her travels but from her own city as well. “Being around all the different cultures has definitely inspired me,” she said of Montreal. It is evident from the album’s first single “High,” that Auresia created a sound that is as unique and diverse as the city she lives in. “This time around I just really wanted to express all the music that’s influenced me,” she said. “I wanted to express my whole self in this album. I really love folk music and strong melodies so it’s kind of a mix of all these styles and flavours like reggae, pop, salsa, dancehall, R&B, even some elements of flamenco, reggaeton and rock.” To add to the plethora of genres in the album, Auresia drew from her own cultural heritage as well. “I was actually born in the Ukraine and moved to Canada when I was a baby,” she said. “I grew up with a lot of Ukrainian music where there’s a lot of strong melodies, a lot of strong harmonies and I think it carried through to my album.” When she’s not busy touring or recording, Auresia seeks out the simple pleasures the city has to offer. “I hang out with my friends, have sangria, go to the park and walk on the mountain,” she said, referring to Mount Royal. Despite her busy schedule, Auresia tries to get out to the mountain several times a week. “It feels so good to just get out of the husslebussle even if for half an hour,” she said. With most of her family still living back in Edmonton, she tries to get back out West as often as she can; the ambitious musician revels in the time she gets to spend with her family. Despite her eternal fondness for her hometown, Auresia’s heart belongs to Montreal.
“There’s no place like Montreal and I’ve travelled a lot,” she laughs. With no signs of slowing down, Auresia could not be more excited for the release of her upcoming album. “Fuel up on love. It’s all about finding your
power, your core, your energy,” she said. “This album is the evolution of my growth as a woman, and as a human being.” Auresia plays Club Espagnol de Quebec on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and l’Artère on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Quick Spins
Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (Domino Records; 2013)
Bastille – Bad Blood (Virgin; 2013)
Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks (Columbia Records; 2013)
The Dodos - Carrier (Polyvinyl Records; 2013)
Four years later and Franz Ferdinand is back in action. It seems that after their last album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, received mixed reviews, the lads from Glasgow needed to take some time to reflect on the future of the band. Luckily for us, they decided to recharge and return to the scene with 10 brand-spanking new tracks. Although their infectious first single “Right Action” sounds like it was plucked from their debut self-titled album, the Scottish alt-rockers prove their musical hiatus has allowed them time to evolve as musicians and lyricists. “Fresh Strawberries” showcases the band’s existential fears and struggles, juxtaposed by a light, sweet, sound with subtle disco vibes. The entire album has the signature guitar-fueled sound fans have come to love but with a fresh and funky feel that does not disappoint. The album dropped Aug. 27.
Relying heavily on upbeat tempos and a sprinkling of falsetto kicks, Bastille creates an album that’s both incredibly original and versatile. Instant hit “Pompeii” amassed tens of millions of views since its release in February, and it’s no wonder this U.K. collective has catapulted right into the music industry spotlight. Bastille manages to avoid limiting itself to songs riddled with repetitive tempos and instead unifies the tracks with a consistent aura of pure optimism. Bad Blood, set to release Sept. 3, comes across first and foremost as a feel-good album, displayed clearly in the track “Flaws,” a sunshiny tune bursting at the seams with smile-inducing catchiness and raw motivation. While the album isn’t likely to fit your every mood or pull at your heartstrings, one thing’s for sure, Bad Blood guarantees some pretty good vibes.
Hesitation Marks is Nine Inch Nails’ first release since the band went on a hiatus in 2008. The group has always catered to its own specific niche market and this album is no different. The first single, “Came Back Haunted,” has the potential to be quite interesting but with the chorus providing the only intriguing aspect, the song ends up being simply lackluster. The album contains the usual angst-filled, industrial rock sound that has become synonymous with the band. However, this time around, the band has opted for a slightly more experimental direction with songs like “Copy of A.” One of the album’s most understated numbers, it is a song that grows on you and is definitely worth more than a couple of listens. The album comes out on Sept. 3.
Carrier is The Dodo’s fifth studio album, and the band’s first since 2011. The California-based duo have traded their warm acoustic melodies for heavier melancholic electric guitar infused riffs. Although The Dodos have steered away from their signature sound, the change is not unprecedented; the band experimented with their sound on their 2009 release Time to Die. The first single “Confidence” starts off as a tame track but quickly evolves into a heavy hitter. On Carrier, the duo created a tracklist of eerily beautiful songs prompted by the untimely death of their former touring guitarist, Christopher Reimer. Reimer transformed the duo into a trio for a brief period in 2011. The first track “Transformer” sets up the rest of the album with its honest lyrics and sorrowful sound. A powerful melancholy can be heard in “Relief” and all throughout Carrier. The album was released on Aug. 27.
Trial track: “Evil Eye”
Trial Track: “Flaws”
Trial Track: “Everything”
Trial Track: “Confidence”
9/10
- Jessica Romera
8.5/10
- Victoria Kendrick
7/10
-Selina Gard
7/10
- Jessica Romera
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Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com game report // SPorTS
No sting in football team’s big opening game Stingers lose big against cross-city rival SAmANThA mileTo Sports editor
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he Concordia Stingers started their 2013-14 season in a losing fashion with a lopsided 48-3 defeat to the Montreal Carabins in their home-opener on Saturday. The Carabins opened up the scoring after
the Stingers allowed a safety around the sixth minute mark in the first quarter, shortly after Concordia quarterback Reid Quest fumbled the ball. The Carabins took a 9-0 lead when Antoine Pruneau scored a touchdown on an 89-yard kickoff return at 5:29 of the first. The Stingers couldn’t muster many points in the first quarter. Slotback Alexandre Hébert didn’t complete a pass, keeping Concordia off the board with 2:30 left. Pruneau almost gave his team a 16-0 lead about 12 minutes into the second quarter, but a penalty cancelled the touchdown. Soon after, running back Rotrand Sené was
Photo by Marilla Steuter Martin
sent on a 58-yard run, but what seemed to be a leg injury to offensive lineman, Simon Légaré, caused a lengthy delay. After trainers examined him for a couple of minutes, he was taken off on a stretcher. Soon after play resumed, Sené scored a touchdown on the Stingers’ eight-yard line, giving the Carabins a 16-0 lead. Things heated up after Stingers slotback Jamal Henry got pushed on a kick-return play and a mini-brawl ensued between the 20 and 30 yard line, causing several penalties for both sides. The Stingers gave up another safety with 8:40 left in the second and went down 18-0. The Carabins widened their lead less than two minutes later with another touchdown, making it 25-0 for Montreal. Concordia once again failed to score a point in the second quarter, and ended the half with a horse-collar penalty, costing them 15 yards. After sending receiver Mikhail Davidson on a 40-yard run two-and-a-half minutes into the second half, quarterback Pierre-Luc Varhegyi carried the ball over the touchdown line from the one-yard line, giving the Carabins a commanding 32-0 lead. The Stingers finally got on the board with a field goal by Keegan Treloar at around the 30yard line with 6:18 left. By the start of the fourth quarter, the game
was out of reach for the Stingers. Just over six minutes into the final frame, receiver Sean Thomas-Erlington sealed the deal for the Carabins with his touchdown, which put his team up 40-3. After missing a 29-yard field goal attempt with 4:58 minutes left in the fourth quarter, running back Manuel Crisi-Lauzon scored the Carabins final touchdown with 2:36 left in the game. Despite the loss, Stingers’ linebacker Max Caron and head coach Gerry McGrath said they liked what they saw from the rookies in their first Canadian Interuniversity Sport game. “I’m happy with the way the kids played,” McGrath said, on the Stingers’ website. “They played hard until the end and never quit.” “Obviously, when you lose a game like that, it’s tough, and there’s a lot that didn’t go our way today, but with a lot of guys starting in their first CIS game, [and] there were definitely a lot of good things to take away from this one,” Caron said. “There were a lot of guys who went out, it was their first CIS experience, they missed a couple of plays but those are the things we’re going to correct. We just got to work them out and become a better team each week. It’s the first game of the season and you’re going to have a lot of mistakes, you just got to shore up those mental mistakes and play better next week.”
Profile // SPorTS
Stingers’ defenceman plans ahead youssef Kabbaj sets sights on law school after hockey SAmANThA mileTo Sports editor
For many Canadians across the country, Saturday nights begin when the Hockey Night in Canada theme song is heard and Don Cherry’s fluorescent suits fill up their television screens. For many young hockey players, watching those games on the CBC was the beginning of their hockey careers. For Youssef Kabbaj, a defenseman for the Stingers men’s hockey team, things weren’t much different. “I started playing hockey when I was six years old,” he said. “One day in December of 1997, my dad was watching the Habs. I wanted to watch my cartoons but he wouldn’t let me. I ended up watching the game with him, which was the first time I watched a full game. From that day on, I fell in love with the game.” And Kabbaj didn’t look back. After playing most of his novice and Atom A hockey in Westmount, he went on to play Bantam BB in Versant-Ouest, Bantam AA in Verdun and Midget AAA in Châteauguay. It’s every hockey player’s dream to make the
NHL. For Kabbaj, it almost became reality when he was 15 and playing Bantam AA. “It was the first time I was ever considered as being one of the top players of my age in Quebec,” he said. “That’s when I started sacrificing vacation time during the summer to workout and get stronger.” Kabbaj was drafted by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2008, which brought him one step closer to making it to the NHL. “At first [playing in the QMJHL] was surreal,” explained Kabbaj. “You’re treated like a pro, you play with great players and become an idol for kids in the town you play in. It’s a great feeling because you know you’re not that far from the ultimate goal of playing in the NHL. It’s like a tap [on] the back of the shoulder just to say ‘keep it up, you’re almost there’.” However, the dream took a step back when he returned to the Saguenéens’ training camp the next year. “My coach in Chicoutimi told me I would not be an important part of his team [thereby] just blocking my dream of making the NHL without me being able to do anything about it because he would rarely make me play,” said Kabbaj. He was traded from Chicoutimi to the Shawinigan Cataractes and spent his last year of major junior play with the Gatineau Olympiques. His main role was killing penalties or playing against the opposing team’s top-line players. Most players are forced to move away from home when they’re drafted at 16. Many players,
like Kabbaj, move in with billet parents, families who receive money from the junior teams to care for their players. “[Living away from home] forces you to become more responsible,” said Kabbaj. “The hardest thing was missing my mom’s cooking! [But] I learned how to be tougher and not to be shy. I learned how to control my emotions to a certain extent and maintain a composed mood.” Now, having returned home, Kabbaj is entering his second year with the Stingers. “The NHL was definitely the dream, [but] that faded away a bit after my [18th birthday] when I went undrafted,” he said. “I had to choose between playing in minor pro leagues
with no long-term guarantees or a university degree with long-term guarantees. The choice was fairly simple to me.” Kabbaj chose Concordia after head coach Kevin Figsby showed keen interest in bringing him to Concordia while Kabbaj was playing in Gatineau. He is currently studying political science and plans to attend law school after graduation. “Hockey-wise, I’m a Stinger for now and proud to be. If I get a crack at the pros then why not [continue playing], but realistically I’m aiming for law school after my degree,” he said. Watch for Kabbaj in the Stingers preseason game against McGill on Sept. 12.
Photo by Keith race
theconcordian
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Profile // SPorTS
Climbing up the Concordia ranks Fourth-year Stinger eric Noivo shows how hard work really does pay off Tim lAzier Contributor
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ith defensive schemes, special teams’ papers scattered across his coffee table and game tape on his laptop nearby, it’s clear that Stingers defensive end Eric Noivo is ready to make an impact. Heading into his fourth and final season as a Concordia Stinger, Noivo will be the first to say that hard work, dedication and tenacity got him to where he is today. Growing up in the West Island, Noivo started playing football in high school for the Lakeshore Cougars. Although he didn’t see much of the field for his first three years, he stuck with it. By the time Noivo was in Bantam, he realized his potential and helped lead his team to the provincial finals, only to lose in overtime. “It’s funny to think that I started out in peewee as a 100-pound defensive back who didn’t really play much,” said Noivo. “Once kids started to play different sports, roster spots opened up and I began to improve.” In CÉGÉP, Noivo attended John Abbott and played for the Islanders. It was there he realized football could help further his education and open doors for him, but only if he put in the necessary work. “Playing for your town...players just
Photo by Marilla Steuter-Martin show up to practice and game day so I didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “So going into my first training camp, I wasn’t where I wanted to be physically.” Noivo’s game took a step back after suffering a torn MCL in his knee after just four games into his first season with the Islanders, causing him to miss the rest of the year. But after two more seasons with John Abbott, Noivo entered his first year at Concordia ready to prove himself. However, the jump to the university level was a lot harder than he had anticipated. He did not dress for a game in his first season but continued his strong work ethic
and got ready for next season’s training camp. “I had worked out a lot and put on 20 pounds during the off-season,” Noivo explained. “Then I had a really strong camp and this time I knew I was one of the best players out there.” Despite his hard work, Noivo wasn’t invited on the team’s annual pre-season road trip for the second year in a row. “When I didn’t dress for the exhibition game again, that crushed me,” he admitted. “I had dedicated so much of my time and didn’t even get a chance.” Although it got off to a rocky start,
Noivo’s second season would become a turning point in his Stingers career. After a couple of strong practices on the scout team, Noivo dressed for a game against McGill University. “You can practice all you want but there’s nothing like the feeling of playing a game,” Noivo said. “All that work was worth it.” Last year, under the new defensiveline coach and special teams co-ordinator, Shawn Mayne, Noivo thrived. With a new coach, players were at a level playing field and Noivo took advantage of the opportunity. He started four of the nine season games, dressed for all of them and recorded three and a half sacks in the process. Noivo’s perseverance was finally being rewarded and his coaches took notice. “I have had the opportunity to see Eric grow as both a football player and a young man,” said Stingers offensive co-ordinator and offensive-line coach, Bryan Chiu. “As a coach, our greatest satisfaction is in seeing young men like Eric grow throughout his time at Concordia.” Noivo was named a team captain at the end of training camp this year and hopes he can be a role model for the younger players. “In football, everyone talks about height, weight, strength, and speed. The one thing that you can’t teach is heart,” said Chiu. “Eric is a perfect example of that.”
Football // SPorTS
Passing on the knowledge and the passion Stingers’ Football School teaches the next generation Tim lAzier Contributor
This summer, the Concordia Stingers football program once again hosted their annual Football School for kids between the ages of 7 and 16. The camp took place from June 25 to 29 and proved rewarding for not only the kids but for the coaches as well. The week-long camp gave younger players the chance to lace up their cleats, strap up their pads and receive training from Canadian Interuniversity Sport coaches and players. Seen almost as a mini-training camp, Stingers coaches and players tried to teach the kids things they wouldn’t learn anywhere else, said Eric Noivo, the assistant director for the camp and defensive end for the Stingers football team. This summer, more than 60 kids attended the school and, depending on their age, were divided into three groups: Novice (7 to 9-yearolds), Junior (10 to 12-year-olds) or Senior (13 to 16-year-olds). Bryan Chiu, Concordia’s assistant offensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach, was the camp director. Other coaches that attended the school included defensive backs coach Nathan Taylor, fullback and tight ends coach Primo Capriolo-Morris and quarterbacks coach Jeff Willett. Other players that led camp activities were Noivo, Kevin Prempeh, Gregory Beaulieu, Fred Landry-Simard, Mike Harrington and
Jamal Henry. Students would begin arriving shortly after 9 a.m. and begin every day with a two-and-a-halfhour practice that ran until noon. Following their lunch break, the campers would head into the gym for an hour session of dodgeball, soccer or basketball. After that, the kids were back on the field for another two-and-a-half-hour practice. To end the day, the kids were divided up into teams for an air-force football tournament that continued throughout the week. Air-force football is touch football where the coaches lead their teams as the quarterback. Not only was it everyone’s favourite part of the day but the Stingers coaches and players took it just as seriously as the kids. “Playing [quarterback] in the touch tournament is as competitive PhotoasbyitKgets,” eith rsaid ace Noivo. “We take it very seriously because it gives you bragging rights until next year and it’s definitely the kids’ favourite part of the camp.” As the word “student” in student-athlete comes first, not all the focus was on athletic abilities, according to Noivo. Time was set aside for Stingers coaches and players to talk to the kids about the significance of education, along with the importance of hard work, dedication, respect and teamwork. Campers also received a written evaluation of their football skills, overall attitude and effort. By the end of the week, everyone was able to take something away from their experience at the Stingers Football School. “It’s rewarding when you teach the kids a skill and you see them apply it and improve at it over the course of the week,” said Noivo. “In the end, it’s fun for the coaches too because it gives us an opportunity to teach the game we love to future Stingers.”
Photo by catherine Grace
opinions 14
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Tuesday, sepTember 3, 2013
Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com editorial // oPiNioNS
Should Concordia welcome its students with booze? Student association Frosh events affiliate alcohol with campus life Beginning last week and continuing into this week, Concordia’s student associations have been hosting orientation events with varied themes and activities. However, the common theme among all Frosh events at Concordia, seems to be the prevalence of alcohol. Whether it’s pub crawls, beach parties or barbecues, freshman are provided with plenty to drink. But should Frosh events be encouraging the consumption of alcohol? Is it appropriate for a Frosh to be sponsored by a beer company? Past experience tells us that alcohol can be a dangerous substance if consumed irresponsibly so should we really
be welcoming students to campus life by getting them drunk? Is that not setting a bad precedent? It’s not wrong to consume alcohol but the amount of activities that feature alcohol consumption at these Frosh events is alarming. After all, these events are for students new to campus and given the number of alcohol and accident fatalities that occur on campuses, shouldn’t our student associations want to discourage correlating university life with excessive drinking? According to Health Canada, between four and five million Canadians engage in excessive drinking. Alcohol abuse has been linked to several fatalities and a number of injuries at universities in Canada in the past couple of years. In September 2010, a first year student at Queen’s University died after falling out of a sixth-
floor window. The coroner ruled that his death was related to his alcohol consumption. The previous year, September 2009, an inebriated Guelph University football player assaulted another drunken student, resulting in said student being left with irreparable brain damage. That football player is currently serving a four-and-ahalf year prison sentence. As reported by past attendees of Concordia Frosh events, students are given a limited number of free drinks but they are able to purchase an unlimited amount. And why wouldn’t you buy more drinks? It’s the theme of Frosh. Everyone around you is drinking. Heck, if you’re a JMSB student then your Frosh was sponsored by the Molson beer company. With all this peer and commercial encouragement to drink, what’s to stop a student from going overboard? And if not today, then what
about tomorrow? Frosh makes drinking seem like the university norm, especially when drinking events take place on campus. But, should our university really be sanctioning events that encourage associating university life with alcohol? So far, Concordia hasn’t been as unlucky as Queen’s University, and there haven’t been any fatalities or serious injuries as a result of alcohol consumption. But isn’t it better to prevent an accident before it happens? Pub crawls and alcohol company sponsorship needs to go and events providing alcohol should limit the amount served and take place in a controlled environment. There really is more to university than getting wasted, and student associations should promote those aspects of university rather than the “party” life, which let’s be honest, can only lead to trouble.
entertainment // oPiNioNS
Batman versus the evil netizens Social media users stuck in hollywood’s past are too quick to judge CASANDrA De mASi opinions editor
T
he fickle nature of Hollywood makes it a dangerous playground. Those lucky enough to make it past the bullies and claim their spot on the swings of fame must deal with harsh criticism. More often than not, these self-proclaimed critics overreact and are much too quick to judge. It seems that these days all it takes to be an expert is a Twitter account, a computer and a contract with a local Internet service provider. When big casting decisions and announcements go down in Hollywood, everyone suddenly knows what works and what doesn’t - in the business. They haven’t seen the script, they haven’t even seen a promotional trailer but they already dismiss the choice of actor. It’s one thing to disagree with a casting choice and call it a day, it’s another thing to start a petition to get an actor fired. This is exactly what happened with Ben Affleck after it was announced last week that he would be taking on the role of Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs. Superman. The Internet exploded, and #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck was trending in North America, with people saying that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s newborn North West, would have been a bet-
ter choice to play the masked vigilante. A Change.org petition was started in order to unmask Affleck and it currently has almost 70,000 signatures. Someone even started a petition and wrote to the White House and the Obama Administration, asking them to make it illegal for the Oscar-winner to play the superhero. The petition was removed, probably because it was asinine. The casting was a bit of a shock, however it is important to actually give the actor a chance. Affleck played Daredevil back in 2003. The movie as a whole was fairly horrendous, not just his acting. It takes a solid script as well. As Joss Whedon tweeted, “Affleck’ll crush it. He’s got the chops, he’s got the chin - just needs the material. Affleck & Cavill toe to toe I’m in.” Affleck has matured and garnered a lot of experience off camera (directing The Town and Argo). Also, those claiming the movie will bomb at the box office because of him are completely unreasonable. First off, it’s a blockbuster superhero movie; itwill do well money-wise regardless. Also, Ben Affleck’s movies have always done well. In 16 years, the movies in which he has been the lead have made a combined $2.7 billion, according to an article published by Forbes, Aug. 24. The same backlash occurred when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight. People took to the Internet to vent, saying that he was no Jack Nicholson. Ledger went on to give
an outstanding performance, for which he garnered a posthumous Academy Award. Movie executives are damned if they do and dammed if they don’t. Audiences often call for fresh and new ideas in film because they feel like movies are being regurgitated. However, when these new ideas arrive, fanboys and fangirls come out in angry droves. It’s another way of proving that people are afraid of what they aren’t familiar with. Social media is just a game of who
screams the loudest, it’s a distorted reality of popular opinion. Their slogan should be “Make sure to keep your seething, irrational hate for something you haven’t seen yet under 140 characters.” With the news of Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston being cast as Lex Luthor, fans have a lot to look forward to. People shouldn’t be too quick to judge. With an interesting cast, and a smart man like Affleck taking on one of the main roles, this project has a lot of potential. Don’t worry, Boston’s got this one.
Time management is the name of the game With the release of the anticipated One Direction movie This is Us expected to rake in about $22 million in its opening weekend, (according to Entertainment Weekly), many “Directioners” took to twitter. Here are some of the first reactions. They take this very seriously, it seems.
@abnormalyadam: “LET US ALL
HOLD HANDS AND HAVE A PRAYER CIRCLE BC NEW FANS WILL BE
ENTERING THE ONE DIRECTION FANDOM AFTER TODAY.”
@zouiam: “Don’t live tweet this is us
most of the fandom hasn’t seen it do you wana be punched”
@zvynlouis: “HALF OF MY
TIMELINE IS SEEING THIS IS US
TONIGHT LISTEN HERE U SPOIL
IT AND IMMA SHOW U THIS IS ME
RIPPIN OFF UR TONGUE IN 3D GOT IT”
@zvynlouis: “WHEN I SEE THIS IS US IM PROBABLY GOING TO DRY
HUMP THE SEAT IN FRONT OF ME AND HUM CLASSIC SYMPHANIES TO EASE VAGINAL TENSIONS.”
@lirrytoystory: “I was digging my
nails into my hands the whole way through
This Is Us to stop myself from having serious outbursts of crying and shaking oh”
@harryhasbooty: “This is Us more
like This is Sad because my life has come to cryin throughout the entire movie about a boyband that I have sold my soul to”
@CRAIC: “I saw this is us yesterday and
it was better than forest Gump, funnier than the hangover, and sadder than the titanic. Perfect film.”
@stylesagram: “GO SEE THIS IS
US TURDY SEVEN TIMES IT WONT GET OLD”
and this guy… @AdamSkinner: “My piss has more talent than One Direction”
Students should be reasonable when planning their time NAThAlie lAFlAmme Production manager
A
s August comes to an end, students everywhere prepare for the inevitable: a new semester. It’s seen as an opportunity to start over. By buying overpriced pens, notebooks, iPads, and other gadgets, they prepare for what they hope will be a better school year. More importantly, they set goals. This year, these students will be exemplary students. Gone will be the all-nighters and cramming sessions. Or will they? The truth is that people’s old habits will soon return. Once midterms come around, students may find themselves watching an entire season of Breaking Bad instead of working on their Reli 300 papers but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some students’ bad habits, like procrastination, for example, may not be as black and white as they seem. Other seemingly good habits, like the ability to study all day, may not be any better. When it comes to school, extremes are never the solution. The trick is to balance studying with social lives and hobbies, (like catching up on Breaking Bad). According to a study entitled “Coping with employee, family, and student roles: evidence of dispositional conflict and facilitation tendencies,” done by Julie McCarthy of the University of Toronto and Tracy Hecht of Concordia University, constantly studying can cause issues like stress and over-exhaustion, and procrastinating a little can help with those issues. McCarthy and Hecht looked at three study methods used by students: solution-driven active engagement (problemfocused), venting to others (emotionfocused) or ignoring those problems altogether and distracting ourselves with
other activities (avoidance-focused). The conclusion was that, when participants procrastinated for a while and forgot about their issues, they had an easier time balancing their workload. “This technique is traditionally seen as ‘running away from your problems’,” McCarthy said, in an article published by the University of Toronto, March 29, 2011.“But maybe by backing-off and taking breaks, students are able to replenish their resources.” Students should not throw their books to the side just yet. It’s important to note that it’s all about balance. Another study, entitled “Relationship between procrastination and academic performance,” was performed among a group of undergraduate dental students in India. Results showed what many people naturally deduce through their own experiences; procrastination leads to lower grades. Overall, it’s all about balance. A little break from a demanding assignment can help with stress levels, but an excessively long break can lead to grades that are below average. As McCarthy said, “People need time to refocus in order to learn or study well.”
Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper. Tuesday, Sept 3, 2013 Vol. 31 Issue 2 Amanda L. Shore Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Nathalie Laflamme Production manager production@theconcordian.com Kelly Duval Sloane Montgomery News editors news@theconcordian.com
theconcordian
Student life // oPiNioNS
Sabrina Giancioppi Life editor life@theconcordian.com Roa Abdel-Gawad Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com
Photo from Flickr Jessica Romera Music editor music@theconcordian.com Samantha Mileto Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Casandra De Masi Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Keith Race Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Natasha Taggart Online editor online@theconcordian.com Jennifer Kwan Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com Elizabeth Tomaras Christina Rowan Milos Kovacevic Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com Besher Al Maleh Philippe Labreque 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) Pascale Cardin Business manager business@theconcordian.com Tyson Lowrie Cindy Lopez Ruben Bastien Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com Contributors Jade Adams,Rebecca De Carlo, Saturn De Los Angeles,Sara DuBreuil, Selina Gard, Victoria Kendrick, Marc-Olivier Laramée, Alexander Lau,Tim Lazier, Mia Pearson,Salima Punjani
TUES 3 ART- The Explorers- Galerie Wilder & Davis GalleryART- Too Young To Wed- Gesu- 00:00 MUSIC-Easy Aces, Shotgun Politics- Escogriffe- 20:00 MUSIC-Snarky Puppy-La Sala Rossa
WED 4 ART- The Explorers- Galerie Wilder & Davis GalleryMUSIC-Dirty Beaches, SISU, Ell V Gore- Société des Arts Technologiques- 22:00
THURS 5 ART- The Explorers- Galerie Wilder & Davis GalleryMUSIC-Sean Foster & The Vaqueros, V For Escargot- Casa Del Popolo- 21:00
FRI 6 ART- Jon Rafman- Maison de la culture Marie-Uguay- 13:00 MUSIC- Half Measures- Barfly MUSIC-Poirier, Slim Samba, Kyou- Les Bobards-22:00
SAT 7 ART- Progression- Studio Beluga- 17:00 MUSIC-Balkan Gypsy Party with Jumple, DJ Khalil, DJ Touski- Divan Orange- 21:30
SUN 8 ART- The Explorers- Galerie Wilder & Davis GalleryMUSIC-Kamelot, Delain, Eklipse-Club Soda- 19:00 MUSIC-AlunaGeorge, Supreme Cuts- Le Belmont- 20:00
MONDAY 9 MUSIC-Destruction Unit, Thee Nodes, Thisquietarmy-Turbo Haus- 21:00