The Concordian - September 1st, 2015 by The Concordian

Sept. 1, 2015 Volume 33

Issue 1 |

Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.

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News p. 3

ASFA’s empty seats School is filling up, but ASFA’s seats remain unfilled

Photo by Michelle Gamage

In this issue

LIFE

p. 5

Your grandpa surfs Pornhub

ARTS

p. 8

MUSIC

p. 11

You gotta catch Our world through photos these shows

SPORTS

p. 12

Mayor of MTL’s baseball dream

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

OPINIONS

p. 18

Need advice from a wizard?

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com

CITY GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

>> MONTREAL HATE CRIMES ON THE RISE

Police have opened 45 hate-crime investigations this year, according to Global News. Police said they investigated 60 crimes in 2013 and 76 in 2014. Officials told Global News most of the cases are related to criminal mischief and vandalism. Mayor Denis Coderre said he wants police to set up a dedicated hate-crimes unit.

>> MORE CHIPS FOR FURRY FRIENDS

Montreal is expanding a microchip-implanting program designed to help reunite pets and their owners. According to the Montreal Gazette, the city will be reducing the price for chips at 28 veterinary clinics across the city. Instead of $75, the chip will cost only $20 for pet owners who have already registered their animal with the city.

MONTREAL IMPACT COACH SACKED Frank Klopas, head coach of Montreal Impact, was fired Sunday morning shortly following the team’s fourth consecutive loss in league games, according to Canadian Press. Interim coach Mauro Biello joined the Montreal team in 2009 after having played professionally for 19 years. Last year the Montreal Impact won the Amway Canadian Championship under Klopas and came in second place this season. They are now one point short of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

>> SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES COMING TO NDG

The English Montreal School Board is building a new facility in NDG to house the Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton Schools. According to CBC News, the schools are the only English facilities in Quebec for children with disabilities. The facility costs $23.4 million, and will be ready for the 2018-2019 school year.

Campus // NEWS

What’s new with the CSU?

A few updates on what the student union has been working on this summer

RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor

DAYCARE Plans are in the works to create a daycare on the university’s downtown campus for Concordia’s student parents. Following a 2010-11 report by the Dean of Students and Concordia University’s Student Parents Centre that stressed the importance of having accessible, flexible childcare services, the Concordia Student Union (CSU) spearheaded an initiative last year to do just that. “I think that there’s a recognition, especially at a non-traditional university like Concordia in the sense that our average age is a lot higher than at McGill for

example,” said CSU president Terry Wilkings. “We have a lot more student parents, who have a high degree of balancing that they need to do between financial, academic and familial obligations. It’s a nexus of stressors that can lead to student parents dropping out of school or taking a significant amount more time to finish their degree.” According to Wilkings, the process to undergo the development of the daycare was a hefty one, as the Quebec’s family department sets strict guidelines that must be adhered to in order to proceed. Anything from the size of the windows to the ratio of staff to children is taken into consideration, and are all regulations that had to be adhered to, Wilkings said. The CSU is in the

process of finalizing the lease agreement and hired an architect this summer to begin renovating the space allocated for the daycare, which has not yet been disclosed. A questionnaire will be sent out in September to Concordia’s student parents to gather relevant information including how much they currently pay for daycare, how many hours of service they require per day, and also looks to arrange focus groups. REGGIE’S Your favourite bar is back in town. The infamous Reggie’s— which closed in the Fall of 2013 due to a much needed infrastructure update—will be returning in mid to late September. According to Wilkings, the renovating process that began in May was ex-

tensive but is almost complete. At the moment, the CSU is working on hiring a project manager who will work on setting up a menu and hiring staff. The CSU is also working to make adjustments to the bar’s previous environment. “Our intention is to take this opportunity to shift the culture that used to exist at Reggie’s away from one that promotes excessive drinking to one that’s more of a venue space, and one that is a safer space ultimately,” said Wilkings. “In terms of the training, we would like our staff to be trained in harm reduction and consent,” he said. “We’re also eliminating pitchers from the menu because that has a tendency to bring in a certain crowd.”

Campus // NEWS

Report: Concordia needs sexual violence policy Shepard says recommendations will be implemented over this year GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

oncordia University is pledging to follow all of the recommendations from an internal study reviewing the school’s sexual assault policies and protocols. The review by the university’s Sexual Assault Policy Review Working Group calls for creating an all-encompassing policy on sexual violence instead of sexual assault or sexual harassment “because it refers to a broader range of actions, beliefs and attitudes,” according to the report. Concordia president Alan Shepard said he hopes to get all of the recommendations implemented by the end of the 20152016 academic year. “Some of the things we can do right away we’ve already done,” he said, including consolidating all information about sexual violence policies and support into one place online. “You don’t want to make a lot of red tape to figure out how you get the support. You don’t want to wander around the site for three hours looking for it. You want to make it plain. We re-did the website so it is more straightforward.” The report also calls for training on rape culture and sexual violence. Chair of the working

group and deputy provost Lisa Ostiguy said there will be mandatory training for resident assistant staff and orientation staff. However, the university has no plans to make it mandatory across the board. “We can reach more people by actually not making it mandatory by making sure that it’s integrated in everything that we do as opposed to saying ‘this one group all has to be part of it,’ so we’re mostly trying to roll out a campaign where it reaches our whole community rather than stamping a particular group to say ‘you have to be involved,’” said Ostiguy. Shepard also said Concordia’s Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) will be gettingmore fund-

ing. SARC coordinator Jennifer Drummond said she doesn’t yet know what kind of funding the centre will get, “but this report outlines significant work for the Sexual Assault Resource Centre to do with the dean of students.” “It would be helpful to have someone dedicated to trainings,” Drummond added. “The other main area [funding could be used] would be for space. It’s a small office [right now.]” She said she thinks the report is a great improvement in the university’s policy, especially the inclusion of a definition of consent and using gender-neutral language. “I think there was a lot of room for improvement, which we see

in the recommendations,” Drummond said. “I’m really impressed and excited.” When asked about training not being mandatory, Drummond said, “I think it still needs to be considered,” but that the “ultimate goal is to have people engaged.” “I think it’s important across the board,” she said. “All students and staff should get training in this.” CSU VP academic and advocacy Marion Miller said she thinks the university did a very thorough job. “I’m glad to see that they consulted with many students and they consulted with different players within the university,” she said. “I think they took the process seriously.”

CONCORDIA SEXUAL ASSAULT RESSOURCE CENTRE WILL BE GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING. PHOTO BY ANDREJ IVANOV.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Campus // NEWS

ASFA loses another executive member VP Finance resigns midcouncil meeting GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

The Arts and Science Federation of Associations’ Interim VP Finance resigned halfway through the group’s special council meeting last Thursday, Aug. 27. The incident took place during an agenda point accusing him of lacking transparency. David Ness, who has been in the role for three months, led the financial committee in approving budgets for member associations this academic year. During this time, financial committee members say they felt Ness was not allowing committee members access to documents. During council, committee

member and councilor for the Italian Student Association Melissa Di Lena introduced a motion to mandate the VP Finance to give Financial Committee members access to all financial documents. She said Ness refused to send her the financial documents she was requesting. She also said she didn’t feel included or listened to in the committee, so when Ness allegedly told her to “bring [the concerns about transparency] up at the committee meeting,” Di Lena said she felt she would be taken more seriously at council. But once council moved on to the agenda point, students at the meeting started bringing up accusations of inappropriate behavior by Ness, including allowing non-committee members into closed-session discussions and drinking during meetings. As council was discussing the possibility of creating a cochair position for the committee, Ness introduced an amend-

ment to transfer “my signing authorities to one of the other executives as I tenure my resignation from ASFA,” before walking out of a seventh-floor conference room in the Hall Building. On his way out of the meeting, Ness told the press he feels the attacks are personal. Ness denied ever having non-committee members in closed-session meetings. He says member associations were allowed into the meeting to defend their budgets and left once the meeting returned to closedsession. When asked about accusations of drinking during meetings, Ness replied, “no comment.” Ness was one of ASFA’s signing officers, and shortly after his departure, council voted to give that responsibility to Interim VP Communications Lianne Barnes. Ness’s departure has slimmed down the already un-

derstaffed executive of ASFA: the organization has no current President, VP Internal, and now VP Finance, which under normal circumstances, are ASFA’s signing authorities. Board Member Training for Executives shot down During the special council meeting, members of ASFA’s Strategic Planning Committee presented a plan to give the executives board member training. The training is designed to work with the group’s executives to help the organization find its strategic vision and help the executives discuss their visions for ASFA long-term. Council entered closed-session for nearly 90 minutes for the presentation and to debate the training, which would cost ASFA around $3,200. Council voted down the idea, but requested more information so the idea could be reproposed during the September council meeting.

Campus // NEWS

ASFA needs to “start from the roots”

A conversation with the co-chair of ASFA’s Strategic Planning Committee GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

As ASFA struggles with a high turnover rate, a widely-covered human rights complaint and a student body avoiding their ballot boxes, the group’s Strategic Planning Committee—which was created for former ASFA members to provide a long-term vision to the organization—is trying to get ASFA . Co-Chair of the committee is Janice La Giorgia, a recent Concordia graduate who revived the Concordia Undergraduate Psychology Association. She’s been a member of the committee since its creation last year and is working with other alumni and former ASFA executives to help the organization find stability. The Concordian sat down with La Giorgia to talk about the committee’s work—including the recent proposal to give ASFA executive board training similar to the

PHOTO BY MARIE-PIERRE SAVARD.

type given to board of directors of many companies—and their hopes for ASFA’s future. C: What were some of the main initiatives the committee has been laying the groundwork for? LG: We wanted to bring more tech into ASFA. So for example, right now we’re operating on 1980s technology. There are cheque requisition forms on paper. Why can’t you automate that? … We also thought about more academic, more mentoring opportunities … We’ve been thinking a lot about partnerships, that’s definitely something that comes up, working with other partners and universities … And going back to technology, ASFA’s website … things are not there, it’s not accessible. Same for bylaws. You can’t find anything on the website and that’s a problem. C: Just this week, the Strategic Planning Committee gave a presentation to council advocating for board training for executives. However, council decided to shoot down the proposal with a promise

to revisit it in September. Is this a big setback for this project? LG: We feel like we’re in limbo. I think that’s the key word. If it were up to us, we would have this vision meeting in four weeks as we had intended to, but now it seems that given the unpredictability of the events happening at ASFA— four executives are resigning, such as the President and VP Finance, which is huge, so with that it’s really not the best time. And also, if there’s byelections, then exams come in, and people won’t come to the visioning meetings (where students discuss their vision for ASFA) so at this point...we know it’s going to have to be pushed back to January. C: In regards to the Mei-Ling scandal and how that’s affected ASFA, that must be something the committee has talked about a lot. How have you been trying to get past this? LG: We’ve discussed it, but we’ve been proactive, we haven’t been reactive. What’s been going on with ASFA, in my opinion, is that the vast majority of ASFA is quite reactive and opinionated without consulting everyone … We jumped right into getting a sensitivity coordinator because, while we’re wasting time delving into this, there have been countless Mei-Lings over the past years. So we just keep talking about this one case, we’re really not going anywhere, so we went right into it and got that going. C: ASFA still hasn’t put forward consent workshops. Is that something the Strategic Planning Committee is considering? Or will that be left up to council?

LG: We have not gone there yet. We’ve thought about it, we’ve considered it, but it’s definitely not something we’ve had the time to explore. We normally would’ve, but priorities shifted… [we decided] we need to start from the roots because ASFA is really fucked up. C: What do you mean “start from the roots”? LG: The vision. It’s like anything: you have all these little drops accumulating and then all of the sudden there’s that last drop that makes it overflow. With what happened with Mei-Ling and the scandal, everything overflowed and at that point it just became so essential to redefine ASFA because it wasn’t redefined before and it lost its raison d’être, its mission. Every year it was like, ‘OK, ASFA, what is it? It’s a place to make sure that your [member association] has money to have parties and orientation and eventually have some academic events but it really wasn’t anything else. Let me ask you a question: What is ASFA? … [Answering this question] takes up a lot of work … we want people to see the value in that, but it’s very difficult, especially when we’re going through some sort of mini paradigm shift, so people are thinking differently about ASFA. There’s also a bit of tension and apathy and it’s normal, it’s a shift in thinking. It’ll probably take another year or so, and it’s definitely frustrating, and now I speak on my behalf, but let’s be proactive about it. This Q&A has been edited and condensed for flow and length.

NATION GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

>> SASK. FOSTER CHILDREN LIVING IN HOTELS Around 70 foster children is Saskatchewan have been living in hotels over the past two months because of a spike of children in the province’s foster system. According to CTV News, an emergency shelter opened by the province is now also full. Concerns have been raised about the safety of using hotel rooms as emergency placement for children.

>> NOVA SCOTIA FACING GAS SHORTAGE

Filling stations across the province are running out of fuel. According to CBC, a late delivery of gas to the Imperial Oil terminal in Dartmouth has people waiting half an hour or more to fill up the tank. Some experts say it could be up to five days before all the stations across the province are resupplied.

>> $5.9B DEFICIT PREDICTED FOR ALBERTA

Low oil prices are negatively impacting Alberta’s economy, according to CBC. The NDP government is forecasting a $5.9-billion budget deficit, $814 million more than forecast earlier this year. Alberta’s finance minister predicts the deficit could reach as high as $6.5 billion.

>> B.C. MAN SEEKS DAMAGES FOR WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT A British Columbia man who spent 27 years in prison is seeking compensation after a court ruled his conviction was based on a flawed investigation. According to CTV News, Ivan Henry applied more than 40 times to the province’s appeals court. Henry was mistakenly convicted in 1983 of 10 counts of sexual assault. He names the federal government, province and the City of Vancouver in the wrongful-conviction lawsuit. While the courts initially prevented Henry from holding prosecutors liable for negligence, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the decision earlier this year.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Campus // NEWS

WORLD GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor

Concordia to host monthly no-charge pap clinics Students will be able to receive STI testing, vaccines and perscription refils SARA BARON-GOODMAN Contributor

>> HURRICANE OFF WEST AFRICAN COAST Hurricane Fred hit the island country of Cape Verde Monday. According to BBC News, no hurricane has ever been recorded further east in the tropical Atlantic. The government has grounded all flights until further notice as the hurricane with 140km/h winds passes. The US National Hurricane Center said the last time a hurricane was recorded hitting Cape Verde was 1892.

>> KENTUCKY CLERK SHOT DOWN BY SCOTUS A Christian county clerk in Kentucky refusing to issue marriage licenses to samesex couples was ordered to do so by the US Supreme Court. BBC News reported Kim Davis argued her faith prevented her from issuing the licenses. The Supreme Court denied her request for a stay while she pursues an appeal. If she doesn’t begin to issue licenses, she could be held in contempt of court.

>> UK JOURNALISTS

n Aug. 31, Concordia Health Services hosted a no-charge pap clinic at their SGW campus location. For those of you with a cervix, a pap test is an important part of regular self-care which helps detect HPV and other changes in your cervical cells that could lead to cervical cancer. It’s a routine, relatively painless test which only takes a few minutes and could help save your life. Yet, many young women in Quebec have not been tested. Gabriella Szabo, Health Promotion Specialist at Concordia, is passionate about making sure all women who want to have a pap test done have access to it— that’s where the clinic comes in. “Quebec has the lowest rate of pap tests in Canada,” Szabo said. For her, that’s why it’s so important to promote cervical health and give access to women who want this care through the clinic. “We started the initiative last year, and it was very well-received by students and the doctors at Concordia,” she said. This year, the clinics will take place on a monthly basis. In addition to pap tests, students can receive STI testing, request the Gardasil vaccine, and renew their contraception prescriptions

all at the same time. “Students can make an appointment for a pap test or STI testing anytime, but the clinic guarantees a female physician who is specialized in this field,” said Szabo. “While all our doctors can do these exams at any time, many women just feel more comfortable seeing a female gynecologist.” Before booking your appointment—whether during the clinic hours or during regular times— Szabo says to keep in mind that the test must be done 10 to 20 days after the first day of your menstrual cycle. There are some camps that caution against pap smears for young women, citing that they pose more trauma to the cervix than is necessary in a demographic that is traditionally low-risk. Szabo and the team at Concordia Health Services, however, base their practices on the large base of evidence that finds pap tests to be a premier tool in screening for early cancerous cells. “Santé Québec and Canadian health standards recommend that women 21 years and older get yearly pap tests, but of course it is every

woman’s personal choice,” said Szabo. After several consecutive tests where no changes to cervical cells have been detected, Szabo says that you can then wait three to four years between tests if you so wish. If the results do show changes in your cervical cells, Szabo councils not to assume the worst right away. “Changes do not necessarily mean she has cancer,” said Szabo. “Often in young, healthy people, the immune system will fight off the precancerous cells on its own.” Of course, if you do test positive, it is important to consult a physician, she said. For those under 21 who are

sexually active and concerned about their cervical health, it is equally advisable to speak to a health professional to see if a pap test is recommended. Szabo says vaccines like Gardasil have made a huge difference in lowering young people’s risks for cervical cancer. “However even if you have the HPV vaccine, it is possible to develop changes against those strains not protected by Gardasil,” she said. The pap clinic is located at the GM building, 1500 de Maisonneuve W., in room 200. Appointments must be booked ahead of time as space is limited. For more information or to book an appointment, visit Concordia’s website.

Graphic by Marie-Pier LaRose

Technology // NEWS

ARRESTED IN TURKEY

VoteNote: a new age for campaigning

Two British reporters for Vice News and their translator were detained by police last week. According to BBC News, the journalists were accused of filming a military base without permission. Their lawyer told BBC they were investigated about alleged links to Islamic State and Kurdish militants, claims which Vice News calls “baseless and alarmingly false.”

Concordia students launch mobile app to help inform youth on federal election

>> CANDIDATE WANT TO BUILD U.S.-CANADA WALL Republican presidential primary candidate Scott Walker called the idea of building a wall along the U.S.-Canada border a “legitimate issue for us to look at.” According to CBC News, Walker said he heard concerns from local law enforcement during a trip to New Hampshire. This statement is amid conversations led by Republican presidential primary candidate Donald Trump’s statements calling for a wall along the U.S.Mexico border.

RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor

Voting in Canada’s upcoming federal elections has just been made easier thanks to the creation of VoteNote, a free mobile application that not only holds information about each party’s candidates, but tells you exactly where you need to go. Created by Concordia journalism student Matthew Heuman, VoteNote provides information related to the federal election including: which riding you belong to, which candidate is running in your area, where your polling station is, and what documents you need to vote, all at your finger tips. The inspiration, Heuman said, came from his dismay at how rarely young people participate in politics, particularly in elections. “Trying to figure out how to motivate youth to vote has been a huge issue for me over the years, as I see it as the only way to have a true democracy in this country,” Heuman said. “When

only a certain segment of the population votes, the balance of views will tilt and, as a student, many of the issues that affect my age demographic were not being represented.” Heuman—seeing the app as the perfect opportunity to reach out to young adults who spend lots of time on their devices— met with friend and developer Devin Calado to bring the idea to life. By paying a $150 fee, party candidates are able to set up a profile on the app that is separated into subsections including About Me, My Party and Me, My Riding, and Additional Information. Thierry Tardif, also a Concordia journalism student who jumped on board the project to translate the document into French, and later became the media spokesperson, said that by digitalizing campaigns, they hope to move out of what he called a “dinosaur era.” “A lot of Canadian citizens, particularly youth, just see billboards in the street. They see a party but don’t actually know what they’re all about,” said

Tardiff. “So what we’re trying to do is put all that information in one place that can be consulted anytime, anyplace rather than waiting until receiving mail telling them the procedures to vote or where to vote.” The VoteNote team has high hopes for the future of the app and already has working relationships with a variety of groups whose goals also involve better informing voters. This includes I Can Party, a website that showcases each party’s stance on any particular issue so that people can compare their approaches. VoteNote also has an Uber Canada button which allows those who click it to arrange for a ride to and from a polling station in their riding. Despite the complexity of creating an app, Heuman said the support, and success as a result, has been great. “The best support has come from people all across Canada who are telling us we are doing a great thing. Organizations and companies have been great in reaching out to us to help encourage our goals,” Heuman

said. “Politicians have been great, [Tardif] and myself talk with candidates regularly and will probably speak to many of them this election.” Tardif says they are hoping to work out a similar project for municipal elections. “We have big plans for the future of VoteNote, but for now we’re keeping quiet on those and just focusing on this election,” said Heuman.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

life

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com Study // LIFE

Older men in Canada have caught the porn bug Study shows the number of men over the age of 50 who watch porn on the Internet CRISTINA SANZA Life editor

It turns out your grandpa may be watching Internet porn, a new study shows. Stop Procrastinating, an evidence-based productivity website run by a team of national broadsheet newspaper journalists and researchers, conducted a study with 1000 men over the age of 50 in Canada to determine how many are watching porn online and how they feel about their habits. The study found that 47 percent of men over 60 had watched porn in the last two months, and 29 percent of men over 70 had viewed porn in the last two months. It is a widely known fact that the Internet has made many things easily accessible, from credible research, to shopping and even banking. Porn is no different; videos and photos of any kind are available with a quick Google search. In fact, among the group of men over 60 who admitted to watching porn, 76 per cent of them felt that this was because they were able to access it easily. If they could only purchase porn in a shop (such as a magazine or

film), they would not bother. Even more interestingly, 82 per cent of the men who had still watched porn prior to having an Internet connection admitted to viewing porn on a more regular basis now that the Internet is available to them. The study found that 33 per cent of participants said watching porn was like a drug and they felt the need to watch it. 56 per cent admitted to being unable to stop watching. When the men went on to describe how watching porn made them feel, 58 per cent felt what they were doing was wrong and 45 per cent felt guilty about their habits. Another 34 per cent didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it was an issue, but this statement was the least reported by participants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our survey shows that Internet pornography is now affecting every generation,â&#x20AC;? said Tim Rollins, a research director at Stop Procrastinating, in a press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Older men are either turning to pornography out of loneliness or because they have access to it through the Internet.â&#x20AC;? Rollins said evidence shows pornography is fuelling depression. Older people in particular are at risk, as watching porn can inhibit them from seeking company and living fulfilling lives, Rollins said. Through the study, 21 per cent admitted to watching

porn because they were lonely, and 35 per cent felt it was because they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet a woman. From the figures theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gathered, Stop Procrastinating has published a guide to help beat porn addiction. There is a difference between viewing porn for pleasure and having an addiction to it. Watching porn is not a harmful act in itself, nor does it mean one will become addicted. Watching porn becomes problematic when one has a complete dependency on it, to a point where it affects other areas of their life, including relationships, careers, finances and mood, among

others. An addict will continue to fuel their addiction despite the negative consequences. From this data, some of these participants noted addict-related symptoms, but no data was collected to determine how many, if any, are actually addicted. While learning your grandfather is surfing the same porn sites as you are might make some uncomfortable, take comfort in the fact that he no longer has to risk his neck trekking out to stores for magazines. He, like the rest of us, has discovered how to view porn from the comfort of his own home.

STUDY FINDS OLD MEN LIKE PORN. PHOTO BY STEVE BUISSINNE FROM PIXABAY.

Food // LIFE

Back-to-school lunch recipes

Be sure to start the school semester on a healthy and delicious note SABRINA PONZO Contributor

Start your semester off on the right foot by avoiding fast-food and pricey cafeteria lunches. These recipes are quick, easy, and will make you look forward to those afternoon lunch breaks. Lunchbox-ready couscous t DVQ PG DPPLFE DPVTDPVT t TMJDFE HSFFO POJPO t " IBOEGVM PG DVCFE UPNBUPFT t %SJFE DSBOCFSSJFT t %SJFE BQSJDPUT t QFDBOT t DPDLUBJM TISJNQ PQUJPOBM

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t 4BMU BOE QFQQFS t 0MJWF PJM Combine all ingredients in a tupperware. Drizzle olive oil over couscous when ready to eat. Note: For a simple and quick way to cook one cup of couscous, add half a cup of uncooked couscous to a bowl. Pour in Âž of a cup of hot water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit for ten minutes. Add the rest of ingredients and enjoy! Deli Turkey Burger t TMJDFT EFMJ UVSLF t Â&#x203A; BO BWPDBEP TMJDFE

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TRY THESE RECEIPES AT HOME! TASTY PHOTOS BY SABRINA PONZO.

Toast burger bun. Spread honey Dijon mustard on both ends. Add turkey slices, avocado, and arugula. Vegetarian option: replace turkey slices with your favourite grilled vegetables. Coat the bun with hummus instead of honey Dijon mustard. Greek-inspired Club Sandwich t TMJDFT PG CSFBE UPBTUFE

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Spread tzatziki on the first slice of bread. Layer feta and cucumber slices. Sprinkle

with a touch of oregano. Add the second slice of bread. Continue building the sandwich by adding lettuce and sun-dried tomatoes to the second half. Add tzatziki on the last slice of bread to complete the clubsandwich. Cut it into our triangles. Secure with toothpicks for lunch bag.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 Health // LIFE

Fight acne with Acne Awareness Week Event strives to show that acne isn’t just for teenagers MINA MAZUMDER Contributor

At this very moment, nearly five million college and university students are struggling with acne in Canada, according to The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada. Acne, which is thought to be common during teenage years, is reoccurring among adults. To shed light on this important topic, The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada is introducing the nation’s first Acne Awareness Week taking place from Sept. 14-20. According to the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada, about 22 per cent of women suffer from adult acne, compared to only 3 per cent of men. More women suffer from adult acne due to hormonal influences that occur during their menstrual cycle. Common signs of acne include red bumps and pus-filled pimples that appear near the jawline, on cheeks, chin and neck. For some, acne can also appear on the back or chest. As many of us have experienced, acne can have a negative effect on one’s

PHOTO BY THE ACNE AND ROSACEA SOCIETY OF CANADA. self-esteem and emotional well-being. About 10 per cent of individuals face depression due to acne while more than 40 per cent of students and workers have reported poor concentration due to their acne, according to a study by Acne and Rosacea Society. Many adults struggle with this issue for years, and genetics can play a strong role on the severity of their problem. Dr. Benjamin Barankin, a spokesperson for the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada and medical director & founding dermatologist at the Toronto Dermatology Centre, said that while stress and diet can aggravate acne, it is mainly due to hormones and genetics. There are many ways to treat adult

acne, Barankin said. “Try some overthe-counter products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and/ or salicylic acid,” he said. “Use a mild cleanser once or at most twice a day, apply sunscreen every morning and consider exfoliating once or twice a week. If after three months you are not seeing sufficient improvement, go see your doctor and if possible, your dermatologist.” Other treatments include prescribed creams and pills, laser treatments, chemical peels, facials and microdermabrasion, said Barankin. Specific types of makeup can also help, he added. “Try to wear mineral makeup that [is] labelled non-comedo-

genic,” Barankin said. “Ideally we can clear your acne so that you can wear makeup. There are no particularly harmful ingredients in makeup.” Acne scarring can also be a problem. Barankin said it is best to consult a dermatologist to determine the type of scarring that you have, which will then determine the best treatment. Scar treatments include medical-grade chemical peels, laser resurfacing, subcision, filler injections and microneedling, he said. “It’s also very important to get your acne treated and under control as there’s no point treating scarring if you’re still developing acne, which can lead to new scars,” he said. There are many myths about acne that some might have heard: “You just have to get through it” or “acne will go away on its own” or “nothing can be done about acne.” Acne Awareness Week was created to bring awareness to those struggling with this common skin condition, but also to promote the facts. “We need to get the facts out in order to improve the lives of those with acne,” Barankin said of the importance of Acne Awareness Week. “For example, if acne is affecting your life, there is no need to suffer through it. Acne can be successfully treated in virtually every case.” For more information, visit acneaction.ca

Humour // LIFE

An ode to a closet staple: the denim skirt One woman’s rocky relationship with her mini skirt LAURIANE DUVAL-BÉLAIR Contributor

Dear Denim Mini Skirt, It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. They say there is a fine line between love and hate… and there is no doubt our relationship has had its ups and downs in the past. Now that you are officially back on the runways and on the streets, I believe we need to get a few things straight. When we first met in the early 2000s, we were both so young and innocent. You were the definition of daring and I worshipped you. You were the coolest, edgiest piece of clothing. As you were hanging out with Crop Top and Large Belt, I was desperately trying to be part of the group too. Then, we grew older and further apart. I started to reject you, like most teenagers around me. Your trendiness disappeared as you became vulgar and corrupted by famous singers who used you as a tool for their hyper-sexualisation. At some point, nobody wanted to be seen with you, and I do apologize for my harsh reaction every time I ran into you in the last few years. You were a reminder of terrible years in fashion, years I had hoped to forget. However, through this whole period, I was just waiting for your comeback, which would inevitably happen sooner

JEANS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR CLOSETS ABD HEARTS. PHOTO BY LIZ WEST FROM FLICKR. than we all expected. When I saw you on the street the other day, you looked astonishing — even though it was difficult to admit. That A-line shape and dark blue shade looked amazing on you. You’re now wiser, smarter and more elegant. Your young sexy teenage years are long behind you. You have become a woman.

But before I let you back into my life completely, I have a few requests. Please don’t hang out with the bad girls. Don’t let them corrupt you. Keep a lower hemline, don’t be too low-rise and forget that oversized belt; it was never a good look for you. To keep you on the right track, I could introduce you to my men’s button-down shirt and to my slip-on

sneakers. I think you would get along great with them. And please, if you do spend time with Crop Top, make sure to have a high waist. Be classy, be elegant and don’t repeat your old mistakes. Love, Lauriane

arts

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com Exhibit // ARTS

Weapons exhibition kills it at making violence fun Exhibit provides a not-too-serious look at some very serious people, both fiction and non-fiction ROA ABDEL-GAWAD Contributor

From the get-go, the playful atmosphere is set. Before the tour even begins, you are given the one and only pamphlet of the showcase, a two-page flyer that solely contains quizzes and riddles, making it difficult not to have fun. It’s not that a museum exhibit can’t be fun, but the jovial atmosphere at the Stewart Museum is a pleasant surprise considering the topic is weapons. D’Artagnan, Al Capone and the Others -

Weapons and Legends is a collection of weapons and replicas that belong to famous characters, real and fictional, from history, literature and film. The exhibit demands a playful attitude at every turn. Stepping into the narrow hall, the visitors’ ears are treated with the iconic James Bond theme, ditties from the wild west, and what seems to be the soundtrack from a Scorsese gangster film that causes both mild anxiety and a spring in the step. The lively mood is further amplified by the abundant amount of colourful illustrations. Often, people and characters are photographed or sketched and blown

THE WEAPONS EXHIBIT. PHOTO BY ROA ABDEL-GAWAD.

up onto large-scale posters. This ambiance is imposing enough to downplay the seriousness of the dozens of displays of deadly weapons, yet not childish enough to detract from its focus. The weapons are, of course, the main attraction here. And yet, they’re kind of not. Each historical or fictional figure is allotted a glass display case that houses their characteristic weapons. But very near these weapons is media from popular culture you can watch, hear and touch. The tactile quality of the exhibit, coupled with the vibrant colours and exaggerated illustrations, including speech bubbles and panels, feels like an explosion at a comic book factory. In fact, next to the Lucky Luke display, a couple of editions of the publication are sitting out for visitors to look at. While you can flip through pages or put headphones on to hear audio clips, you cannot, in fact, handle rifles and swords. However, should the mood for play strike, the exhibit houses an epic, gigantic Battleship game board complete with miniature ships and the promise of glorious victory against any foes. This is where this exhibition excels. It is indeed an educational journey through

the universe of weapons; you will come out savvy in regard to the rifles of Che Guevara, the pistol preferences of Butch Cassidy and the sword and shield metals of William Tell. Yet despite such an intimidating arsenal, this exhibition of deadly weapons doesn’t take itself too seriously. A few feet away from Al Capone and his menacing face are Jack Sparrow’s knife and dagger collection accompanied by a monitor through which we get to watch Johnny Depp’s swashbuckling in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. Next to a display dedicated to Annie Oakley are the rapiers Zorro would have used to defeat his enemies. This joviality is carried through the two-story display of famous cowboys, spies, pirates, knights, gangsters and revolutionaries. It is quite an achievement to turn national insurgents and dangerous criminals into a light-hearted affair. The exhibition is part of a celebration to commemorate the museum’s 60th anniversary this year, but from the looks of it, the museum doesn’t feel a day over 10. D’Artagnan, Al Capone and the Others - Weapons and Legends runs at the Stewart Museum until Nov. 1.

Movie // ARTS

Straight Outta history books, right into theatres Go back to the dawn of gangsta rap with this entertaining biopic ELIJAH BUKREEV Arts editor

It might surprise you that, as fresh and energetic as it is, Straight Outta Compton follows two different long-going cinematic traditions. The first is the musical biography, which is essentially as old as movies themselves – well, as old as the first ones to talk, that is. Let me remind you that 1927’s The Jazz Singer, arguably the first so-called “talkie”, while not a biography, was also very much a “singie.” The first talkies were full of music and singing, and at some point the musical biography appeared and never looked back. Just about everyone would try their hand at it, even Hitchcock, in the now-forgotten Strauss’ Great Waltz, a mostly fictional story revolving around the classical composer Strauss. It was then a popular genre throughout the ‘40s, ‘50s and even ‘60s, almost exploitation-like, starting with 1948’s The Jolson Story and The Mozart Story, and following with “the this-story,” “the that-story”—you get the idea. The second tradition is a more recent one. I’m talking about the African-American drama, to which belongs the iconic

Boyz n the Hood, a major influence on Straight Outta Compton—or “The N.W.A. Story,” as it would have been called in the ‘50s. As in the ‘90s John Singleton film, we’ve got “boyz”—5 of them—and we’ve got a “hood”—Compton, California. This is a film about them coming “straight out of it”—but also about it being more than a physical place, a state of mind that they are cursed to carry with them even as multimillionaires. Meet the “boyz”: Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren. If you don’t like gangsta rap, all you just saw was a series of seemingly unconnected words and letters, but if you do, you know this is the stuff of legend. They weren’t born into stardom, not even close. As the movie opens, the number of guns drawn grows by the minute, and the police have to use what looks like an assault tank to storm a drug lord’s house. We meet each of the protagonists and witness through their eyes the realities of their neighborhood and the environment from which they would emerge. In a place like that, a good day means you lived to see the next one. The area is ruled by gangs—it still is, to this day—and police are only there to intimidate and oppress. Young men need an outlet for their raging discomfort, and these protagonists find an

THE BOYZ OUTTA COMPTON. excellent one—music. They’re all gifted musicians and singers—or, some will say, shouters—and soon enough, they find a manager, Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) and are on their way to nationwide fame. The movie documents the bumps on the road as they get there. Purists will know it’s not entirely accurate, although it comes rather close in most aspects. Film critic Roger Ebert once wrote, “Those who seek the truth about a man from the film of his life might as well seek it from his loving grandmother.” Straight Outta Compton was produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, two of the protagonists, so clearly the view you get is ever so slightly biased. Some important people remain in the shadows. Much of the crime and evildoing is conveniently ignored. But

the movie seems to have captured something about the lives of the regular people who lived through these times that most others have not. Straight Outta Compton works on several levels. Most importantly, purely as a piece of history. These guys, whether you like them or not, helped push forward a multi-billion-dollar industry, and created music that has shaped the culture of an entire generation. The movie illustrates a time and a place, and, as all good historical films do, draws parallels with our own time. It was filmed while the Ferguson protests were happening, and while watching this movie you may shiver when you notice how little things have changed when it comes to police brutality towards the black community in the U.S.A. A high point in the movie comes as the N.W.A. are forbidden to perform their infamous “Fuck the Police” at a packed concert. After a staredown with a police officer, they decide to go ahead anyways, and in that moment, they are no longer just self-proclaimed gangstas, troublemakers without a cause— they are national heroes resisting in the face of oppression, people who have legitimate grievances but are being forbidden to express them in a system that is biased against them.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Exhibit // ARTS

World press photo favours narratives over action The exhibit at Bonsecours Market gives a snapshot of last year’s prestigious photojournalism FRÉDÉRIC T. MUCKLE Contributor

he World Press Photo exhibit is in town again until Sept. 27 at Bonsecours Market. Every year, photography and journalism aficionados are provided with a detailed look into what happened around the world last year. From the somewhat gruesome but necessary depiction of war and its realities, to mesmerizing pictures of Mother Nature’s strangest children, the photojournalism exhibit offers an array of interesting subjects. At first glance less gripping than last year’s show, the selection of prizewinning photos shows a tendency from the jury, at least for this exhibit, to privilege and award long-term projects that take a closer look at more intimate stories. This is evident when considering Danish photographer Mads Nissen’s prize-winning photo; a personal portrayal of LGBT’s problematic situation in Russia. It ends up giving a vibe different from

what the World Press Photo exhibit usually delivers: action-heavy and emotionally charged graphic images. For example, last year’s attendees may remember the “Final Embrace” by Taslima Akhter, a photograph of a Bangladeshi couple brought to an abrupt death when the factory where they worked collapsed on them. This kind of poignant photo is usually the landmark of the exhibit. Senior Project Manager for the World Press Photo Amsterdam organization Paul Ruseler was present at the opening event. “It’s almost like a paradigm shift,” said Ruseler, commenting on the reorientation of this year’s exhibition. This year’s winner was very different from past winners added Ruseler. “It’s clear that this is a very different image,” said Ruseler. “This picture is […] a very small story in a way.” Still, this abovementioned accent on long-term and more focused projects in opposition to timely “big news” events does not mean in any way that this year’s World Press Photo is not worthwhile. On the contrary, this change provides the recurrent exhibit-goer with a welcomed change of pace and focus. In the end, the visitor can’t help but

WORLD PRESS PHOTO EXHIBIT AT BONSECOURS PHOTO BY FREDERIC T. MUCKLE. be confronted with an array of conflicting emotions when faced with what can be considered a quick but much-needed look at what goes on outside our own personal lives. If an image can be worth a thousand words, the World Press Photo exhibit could be the most fascinating manuscript you’ll “read” this September. Deadline: A sad glance at journalism’s contemporary tribulations Overlooking this year’s selection is the Deadline exhibit, an enclosed collection on the top floor of the market. It tells the story of The Philadelphia Inquirer, where the artist’s father worked for years, and of the decaying situation in the newspaper industry. Will Steacy, the American artist behind the Deadline exhibition, explained that we are currently losing a huge part of what made journalism so great. “We lose a connection to our cities, to our society, and in my eyes, I think, in

the end we ultimately lose ourselves,” said Steacy. Part photographic reportage, part assemblage of archives and family memorabilia, the exhibit is presented in an unconventional way when compared to what you usually see in such exhibitions. Steacy, who is selfadmittedly a bit biased towards the benMARKET. efits of a strong and healthy media industry since he comes from a family directly involved in the print medium, obviously has a strong connection to this exhibit that is at the same time both very personal and broad. He also discussed how, without a dedicated press able to get to the bottom of things with all resources necessary, the public tends to turn to the easy, and somewhat lazy, sources such as Wikipedia. With the survival of long-term, work-intensive journalism in jeopardy, it’s democracy itself that will suffer said Steacy. “If this cut continues to bleed, pretty soon we’ll only be left with an empty corpse, and this is a scary thought,” concluded Steacy. The World Press Photo is open everyday until Sept. 27 at the Bonsecours Market. For more information on the exhibit and the World Press Photo organization, visit worldpressphotomontreal.ca.

Movie // ARTS

Baumbach occupies NYC with Mistress America End your summer on a high note with this delightful NYC comedy ELIJAH BUKREEV Co-arts editor

Mistress America comes at you like a whirlwind of fresh air on a scalding hot day—the perfect entertainment for an end-of-summer evening. Sit back, relax, and let Noah Baumbach handle the rest. When it comes to Woody Allen movies, most of the recent ones have been filmed in Europe. This is because, as he said at a 2010 press conference in Spain, New York City has gotten too expensive and is not a haven of creativity anymore.

GRETA GERWIG AND LOLA KIRKE IN MISTRESS

Well, Baumbach’s charming indie comedy reaches an artistic high point that Allen doesn’t always reach anymore, proving him wrong on both issues. Baumbach is more or less sitting on Allen’s throne in the city, and he is certainly no less talented. Baumbach is smart to allow new blood into the screenwriting process. Allen can never speak for today’s young people, and when he tries to, his dialogue has an awkward and somewhat artificial sound to it. Baumbach, on the other hand, has collaborated several times with Greta Gerwig, a lovely actress and gifted writer who is an integral part of this film. Gerwig, as the 30-year-old Brooke, shares the screen with Lola Kirke, who plays 18-yearold Tracy. Tracy’s mom is marrying Brooke’s dad, so the two women are about to become sisters. Tracy has just moved to NYC for college and decides to give Brooke a call. They meet, spend a night partying—in Baumbach’s world, that means intellectual and artistic deAMERICA. bates—and become close friends. There

POSTER OF THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY NOAH BAUMBACH. is a sense that Tracy is an outsider, introverted and lacking confidence, while Brooke, a dynamic entrepreneur who seems to have an exciting part-time job lined-up for every hour of the day, gets out of life what Tracy can only get out of books. Neither one has any siblings of their own. With the parents out of the pic-

ture, save for a few phone calls, the film devotes itself entirely to the two young women. Tracy, who speaks to us through voice-over, starts writing a short story inspired by Brooke’s life, which she finds to be, perhaps vampirically, an ideal feeding ground. Regardless of Tracy’s ambition as a writer, their relationship is close and affectionate, yet life tends to get in the way, and that’s where much of the comedy – but also drama – arises. There’s some talk about love, friendship, terrifically memorable side characters, but mostly the film is simply about the excitement of being young and alive in a city full of opportunity. The story is wonderful, and while some late developments can seem forced, it opens with energy, ends with a bang, and leaves you with a stupid grin when the lights come up. If Frances Ha was an obvious homage to the French New Wave, Baumbach’s new film is decidedly modern, but also unexplainably old fashioned. He has a knack for making the most ordinary events into an adventure – perhaps he got that from Wes Anderson, a past collaborator of his. Mistress America is a total delight, with the kind of lightningfast and deadpan hilarious dialogue you only hear in old movies. If you always tell yourself that “they don’t make them like that anymore”, guess what – they still do. You just have to know the venue.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Exhibit // ARTS

The Darling Foundry bares all for 13th-year celebration An annual fundraiser for the contemporary art space gave guests a taste of their studio display style LYDIA ANDERSON Co-arts editor

On Thursday, August 27, the Darling Foundry celebrated its thirteenth anniversary with their annual fundraising event. What is now a hub for contemporary art in Old-Montréal was previously an industrial building owned by the Darling brothers and used as a part of their metal fabrication company. The foundry was abandoned for 10 years before the Quartier Ephémère moved in to create a visual arts arts centre out of the venue. Some of the buildings that make up the Darling Foundry were built as far back as 1888 and additional buildings were built in the early 1900s. The venue is now refurbished historical architecture, an innovative reutilization of space. The purpose of this recharged infrastructure, as it is used now, is to “sup-

DJ GAYANCE AT LA PLACE PLUBLIQUE. PHOTO BY LYDIA ANDERSON. port the creation, the production, and the dissemination of visual arts by emerging artists,” said Caroline Andrieux, founder and artistic director of Quartier Éphémère and the Darling Foundry. “In the studios we want to help emerging artists to build up their careers and to give them trust in what they’re doing.” More than that, Quartier Ephémère has saved a historical site for the city that would have otherwise been demolished. The building is well-maintained yet still retains a vintage essence, a testament in itself to creativity: an architectural remix. “For me it’s very important to join the past and the future. I like to be suspended in the middle,” Andrieux explained. “I like this idea that I’m rooted in some very important history and architecture, but I’m looking far away.” At the beginning of the evening, fundraising guests were escorted into the venue by the sounds of DJ Gayance, as she performed in la Place Publique just outside the building. They were then met with wine and other beverages as servers simultaneously circled the room with delicacies prepared by Hubert Marsolais and Claude Pelletier, two chefs from Le Serpent. The food and drinks were accompanied by musical performances by both Quatuor Boozini and Martin Téreault. The cocktail portion of the evening

was held within the building, where two exhibitions were on display for guests to peruse. In the main gallery, where the welcoming remarks and musical performances took place, Lieven de Boeck’s Let us be us, again and again, and always was on display. The subsequent gallery held Hajra Waheed’s Asylum in the Sea. In addition, guests had the opportunity to explore the studios of the building, where both local and international artists-in-residence had their spaces open for visual consumption. Seeing the artists is an integral part of the Darling Foundry according to Caroline Andrieux. “While you see work being created you understand more the art that is presented. You know the process of the artist.” In addition, Andrieux hopes that the presentation of studio spaces will break the barrier between audience and artist. To her, artists are mythicized by the proliferated idea that they are a separate, or special, breed of people. Therefore, she hopes the studio tours and the nature of the creator’s environment will allow for a “demystification of ‘the artist.’” One such artist is Karen Kraven, who works in a studio sponsored by Dale and Nick Tedeschi. “It’s a studio that’s about five times bigger than I’ve ever had or been able to afford,” Kraven said. “That alone makes a big difference, because I make a lot of sculpture and I can work on multiple projects at once.” Sarah Greig, both a Concordia graduate and current professor in Concordia’s Fine Arts department, has also utilized a studio in the Darling Foundry for about two and a half years. “The major project that I’m working on is an intervention for the Darling,” said Grieg. “I’m basically trying to insert into the space to change the dynamic.” The spaces, for which artists have to apply, provide a platform and environment where they can grow in their craft and produce work with less stress than if they were renting a studio on their own. However, a studio at the Darling Foundry also means constantly having your work open for guests to see. “It’s independent but at the same time it’s a very public studio space,” said Greig. “You’re always in presentation. You’re always making work and then thinking about how the public is going to see it.” Even in their mandate the Darling Foundry admits to the inherent difficulties of this style of studio display. However, they also state that “the effect of daily exposure by the public to artists and their works can be profound and poetic.” Greig recognizes this about the venue and makes the best out of the opportunity. “I knew before I came in all the strengths and weaknesses of this place, so I really engaged with the strengths of it.” The connection between artist and audience in physical space is not the only connection that the Darling Foundry hopes to attain. “We really want people to speak to each other and art is a good way to start the conversation,” said Andrieux. She explained that they want art’s mediating qualities to attract community; they

OUTSIDE THE DARLING FOUNDRY. PHOTO BY LYDIA ANDERSON. had this in mind when they developed their exterior public space. Marc-André Casavant finished off the cocktail portion of the evening with a reminder that performance art has an ability to be disconcertingly strange. Nervous laughs echoed through the audience as Casavant did nothing less than undress, clip his toenails on a woman’s back, sing in his underwear, expose his bare ass and take possessions from the audience throughout his piece. Despite that, the audience soon recovered and continued on to float through the venue

and enjoy the DJs that performed in la Place Publique for the rest of the evening. Whether it’s historical architecture that makes you tick, face time with artists, or contemporary art exhibits, the Darling Foundry has more than enough to offer as a venue. Mirador, by Le collectif Acapulco, is set to open on Sept. 24 along with multiple other exhibitions. Surely, it is a space worth exploring in the city— the revamping of antique space and movement towards community connection through artwork is not only enjoyable, it’s admirable.

MARC-ANDRE CASAVANT CUTTING HIS NAILS. PHOTO BY LYDIA ANDERSON.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

music

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com

Opinion // MUSIC

New punks: less politics, more surf Burger Records helps shine light on the new wave of garage-rock and punk bands MIA PEARSON Music editor

ou can now find Ramones t-shirts hanging on Forever 21 clothing racks, mass-produced Dead Kennedys band patches on backpacks, and Reagan Youth stickers on that 14-year-old’s laptop. Those high-energy, three-chord punk bands that rattled the bedroom walls of many a ‘80s angry teenage misfit were seemingly discarded by the time the ‘90s hit. Didn’t punk die and get replaced by shoegaze and grunge bands willing to go the extra chord? A few years ago, I interviewed a band called FIDLAR–that stands for Fuck It, Dog. Life’s a Risk. That interview kind of changed my life–no, for real, it did! I started listening to so much FIDLAR (way before they were popular, by the way) that the effect was contagious, and all my friends who hung out with me were bitten by the FIDLAR bug. FIDLAR mix the quick adrenaline of punk with the catchiness of pop and wrap up each

song with some cleverly crafted slacker lyrics. FIDLAR was the gateway band to my discovering the heavenly roster of Fullerton, California’s Burger Records. The community of bands united under the Burger bun mostly share the same attributes—their DIY attitude often turns their first EP into a lo-fi release brimming with power. Most of the bands had that punk foundation: Together Pangea, Audacity, The Garden, The Lovely Bad Things, and Cherry Glazerr, to name a few. But all these bands have branched off way beyond that traditional punk sound. The New York Times, in its article “Garage Rock’s Latest Nerve Center,” calls this Burger revolution the “fourth-wave of garage rock,” and cited garage and punk bands of the past like The Cramps and The Mummies as those who made up the former waves. This fourth wave, the article claims, is jutting out in directions hard to predict: weirder and more daring than before. Whereas the bands’ sound may not mirror the punk bands of the ‘80s perfectly, their attitudes certainly do. DIY shows thrown in skate parks, basements, or all-ages venues

are where the community meets, trashes and grows. Burger was founded by Sean Bohrman and Lee Rickard, who ran Burger Records out of the back room of their strip mall storefront. They started releasing cassette tapes of L.A. bands they knew, as well as their own music, and opened The Burger Store in 2009. The norm in L.A’s urban sprawl is for youth to have crappy old cars that still have cas-

sette players, comprising the cassette-buying market Burger tapped in to. Whatever the sound, these SoCal punks have created a scene and a feeling unlike any in other cities, way different from the musical waves before them. I think Burger are putting out some of the best stuff in modern music. Maybe there’s something in the air, or maybe music grows better under the sun, but man, it’s a lot of fun.

DANNY BENGSTON OF TOGETHER PANGEA. PHOTO BY MARCEL VAN LEEUWEN FROM FLICKR.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Preview // MUSIC

Top 5 shows this fall Bands set to bring the heat as the summer winds down JESSICA ROMERA Copy editor

Summer in Montreal and concerts go together like peanut butter and jelly. From Kendrick Lamar’s explosive headlining performance at Osheaga, to Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s stellar set at Theatre Fairmount, Montreal hosted some of the best names in the biz. But just because the warm months are starting to wind down, this doesn’t mean the fall won’t hold a ton of hot shows, especially with festivals like POP Montreal and Psychfest just around the corner. With so many great acts rolling into our fair city, here are some of the ones I’m most looking forward to, in chronological order. Modest Mouse Catapulting into indie stardom in the ‘90s, Modest Mouse took an eight-year hiatus after releasing a string of top-notch records like 2000’s The Moon And Antarctica and their last record, 2007’s We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. If you turned on the radio, or watched any episode of The O.C ever (they were one of Seth Cohen’s favourite bands), you were bound to hear Isaac Brock’s unmistakably jutting vocals. Modest Mouse have been touring steadily and killing it with their latest album Strangers To

Ourselves. Even if you aren’t a fan of their new material (which you should be anyway with singles like “Lampshades On Fire” and “The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box”), their Metropolis show will most likely include classics like “Dashboard”, “Float On” and “Paper Thin Walls,” that will trigger all kinds of nostalgia-fueled karaoke moments. Modest Mouse will be performing at Metropolis on Sept. 8. Tickets cost $47. Will Butler The Arcade Fire multi-talented multiinstrumentalist released his debut solo album, Policy, earlier in 2015. With singles dripping out of every pore, like the Southerngospel-inspired “Son Of God,” to catchy retro ditty “Anna,” Butler is setting himself apart from his brother and bandmates as a strong solo artist. If you’ve ever seen him on stage, you know that Butler’s unbridled energy is contagious, a perfect pairing for the spacious yet intimate setting of his upcoming show as part of the POP Montreal festival. Will Butler will be performing at the Rialto Theatre on Sept. 18. Tickets cost $25. Chance the Rapper If, like me, you were beyond bummed about Chance’s last minute 2014 Osheaga cancellation, then you were stoked when the Chicago rapper announced an upcoming appearance at Olympia. Chance will more than likely perform hit song “Cocoa Butter Kisses”

and “Favorite Song” off his 2013 release Acid Rap, but my inner sixyear-old is hoping to hear his cover of the Arthur theme song. Chance the Rapper will be performing at Olympia Theatre on Oct. 21. Tickets CHANCE THE RAPPER. PHOTO BY ROB LOUD FROM FLICKR. cost $38.50. James Bay More like James BAE, am I right?! But really, X Ambassadors this guy is seriously talented. He played to If you were lucky enough to catch the New a jam-packed Corona Theatre back in April, York-based group on the Sunday at Osheaand then made us swoon with his perfor- ga, then you know X Ambassadors are more mance at Osheaga over the summer. With his than just those dudes playing “Renegades” latest album The Calm And The Chaos and in the Jeep commercial. Admittedly I didn’t massive hit “Hold Back The River” earning really know much of their music, but I’m the singer-songwriter some well-deserved glad my sister dragged me along to their international attention, it’s no wonder the set because now I’m over-the-moon-excited folk-rocker from across the pond sold out for their show at Olympia. FYI, they were his upcoming appearance at Metropolis in originally playing at Corona Theatre, but got a matter of mere hours. James Bay will be bumped up to the larger venue. X Ambasperforming at Metropolis on Nov. 17. The sadors will be performing at Olympia on show is sold out, sorry. Nov. 29. Tickets cost $24.50.

Quickspins // MUSIC

Foals - What Went Down (Warner Music; 2015)

Beach House – Depression Cherry (Sub Pop; 2015)

HEALTH – %FBUI .BHJD (2015)

Carly Rae Jepsen – &t.0t5*0/ (2015)

Since their 2008 debut Antidotes, the British band has been consistently evolving towards a more mature sound, yet have maintained their signature youthful grit—a feat many of their fellow acts have not been able to successfully pull off. What Went Down is the group’s fourth album, and their first since Holy Fire, their 2013 release that just oozed hit after hit, namely “Inhaler” and “My Number.” The title track and “Snake Oil” feature unapologetically fast-paced and aggressive instrumentals and Yiannis Philippakis’ equally raucous vocals, while “Mountain At My Gates” and “Birch Tree” feel like a return to their more melodic math-rock roots. Despite the medley of great tracks, there doesn’t seem to be any defining “Spanish Sahara” or “Late Night” moments that characterized, Total Life Forever and Holy Fire, respectively; songs that built up slowly, gripping you tightly from the inside and then growing into a cataclysmic eruption of sound and emotion.

Following the release of their new single “Sparks,” fans were hoping that the dream pop duo would be shifting their trademark reverb-soaked, dream-like sound to something more experimental on their fifth album, Depression Cherry. However, it appears that the track was only a red herring in an otherwise predictable and formulaic release. Not to say that the album is without progress, it’s clear that the duo has gone for a more stripped-back and aggressive approach to their sound, incorporating buzzing guitar riffs, trance and even spoken word into the mix. Ultimately, there is a bare and unfinished quality to the compositions that feels unsatisfying. Much like a dream, when you pull back the atmospheric layers and carefully crafted aesthetic, Beach House lose much of the grandeur and distinction that charmed listeners since their debut. If the band is attempting a transition, Depression Cherry is the equivalent of the band’s awkward teen phase.

Death Magic is at once peculiar and wholly expected. HEALTH have decided to trade in their searing guitars and deafening drums for a mostly digital framework steeped in dance and pop music. While this digital reinvention is a sound one on paper, the end results are surprisingly dated and flaccid. Drowning in pulsating EDM synths and revelling in obnoxious hedonism, Death Magic sounds about a decade too late. Rather than provide a compelling case for their transition, HEALTH bring their signature disembodied vocals to the forefront and settling for a swath of cold, flat dance numbers; by focusing principally on the album’s dance-floor burners, the band have essentially reduced their noisier, arguably more interesting elements to brief stopgaps between the percussive raves. While there is a glimmer of a good idea amongst the hodgepodge of nauseatingly “edgy” rave music and occasionally cringe-worthy debauchery on display, the fact remains that Death Magic isn’t very memorable. Like its lyrics, it’s pure surface-level theatrics.

Enlisting the likes of Dev Hynes, celebrated Taylor Swift producer Shellback and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, Carly Rae Jepsen and co. have crafted an infectiously catchy record, faithfully honouring the sophisti-pop sounds of yesterday while sounding modern and sincere. The result is a collection of sugar-coated synthpop completely lacking in pretension, brimming with earnestness and, perhaps most importantly, unapologetically '6/ UJUMF USBDL i&t.0t5*0/w TPBST UIBOLT to its vibrantly layered percolating synths while the Sia-penned break-up anthem “Boy Problems” kicks off with an impeccably funky bassline before providing one of the album’s most rousing choruses. While &t.0t5*0/’s A-side is virtually irreproachable, late tracks “LA Hallucinations” and “Warm Blood” prove particularly unremarkable. If Jepsen and co. don’t exactly stick the landing, they’ve provided one of the year’s most convincing arguments for mainstream pop. Nearly four years after “Call Me Maybe” burrowed its way deep into our minds, Carly Rae has done it again.

Trial Track :”Mountain At My Gates”

Trial Track: “Levitation”

Trial Track: “NEW COKE”

Trial Track: “E•MO•TION”

8/10

6/10

4/10

7/10

-Jessica Romera

-Paul Traunero

-Samuel Provost-Walker

sports

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com Interview // SPORTS

Denis Coderre talks baseball in Montreal A decade after the team’s move to Washington, Denis Coderre is all in on their return PEGGY KABEYA Sports editor

ontreal Mayor and abrasive Expo’s loyalist Denis Coderre is a man on a mission. Since taking office in 2013, Coderre has embarked on a devout pilgrimage to bring Major League Baseball back to the City of Saints. His impassioned rhetoric, which emanates from a place of nostalgic testimony, has been the foundation of Montreal’s recent Bring-Back-Baseball initiative. Oddly enough, despite the uncertainty of Quebec’s economic future, recreation and leisure spending of a pro-sports variety has been all the rage in La Belle Province, from the shores of La Vieille Capitale (Quebec City), to the dilapidated roads of ‘Quebec’s metropolis.’ Denis Coderre took time out of his busy schedule to talk about things that really matter: bringing baseball back to Montreal. Here’s what he had to say.

remember when I went to visit the Dodgers, everyone had a story about Montreal. You have to remember that the great Jackie Robinson got his major league start by going through Montreal. There is room for baseball here and all those planets are aligning together. But it’s important as a mayor of Montreal, not only to promote pro sports but also to make sure that we’re making concrete decisions for the sport itself. As a former minister of sports myself I always felt that our responsibility from the government level is to promote and facilitate the [sporting] environment so kids can be more active and promote their passion for all sports. C: In the current Canadian economic climate, do you feel the financial burden of professional sports is worth the long-term reward, especially for a city in a province facing austerity? DC: Totally. Because I believe it’s not a matter of ‘are we fighting austerity?’ and all that. We have to be rigorous about the way we manage public funds. At the same time I think that [pro] sports isn’t a leisure expense, it’s an investment. By investing in sports, it’s an industry, but

you’re investing in people and the money you save by promoting sports, in healthcare, is amazing. I read somewhere back when I was [Sports] Minister, that if you raise by five per cent the citizens’ sporting activity—which means three times a week, 15 minute sessions—you will save $5 billion dollars in healthcare. So it’s an investment. It’s an industry too and for baseball like any other sport. Look what happened with soccer, or Canadian football, or hockey. [Sports] are a window to the world. Especially with [baseball], I would suggest that a lot of people were coming from outside Montreal. Look at Formula One, 51 per cent of people are not coming from Quebec. Thirty one per cent are coming from Europe and there [are] a lot of people from the States. Now, imagine if you have a baseball team. Let’s all dream together—if we’re in the same league as the Orioles, the Red Sox, the Yankees and the Blue jays, can you imagine how it sounds if you can say “Oh let’s see the game against the Yankees today” and you’ll have people from New York that will come. Same thing for the Red Sox, we’ll have a lot of people from New England and Massachusetts come here. I witnessed it myself when we had the

The Concordian: You’ve been very vocal about your desire to bring baseball back to Montreal, and have even stated publicly in a CBC article, “it’s not just about gaining back a team — it’s about how can we get baseball back to Montreal.” What steps are you and your administration taking to help bring baseball back to Montreal? Denis Coderre: Well, first of all, we need to show the love of baseball. Because frankly, I’ve been to those exhibition games the last two years and the first thing you have to realize is [that] it’s not nostalgia, it’s part of our DNA. Clearly this is a baseball town, from the Royals to Jarry Park to the Olympic Stadium. Clearly, what we need to do is provide the infrastructure for kids to learn baseball, so kids can show their passion or find their passion for the sport. So I put up $11 million to fix up the fields. Since then, I’ve noticed there’s been a race to get kids registered. Montreal isn’t just a hockey town, or a soccer town, it’s a sports town and I think that everybody in DENIS CODERRE STANDS BESIDE PROPOSED BASEBALL STADIUM DEVELOPEMENT. PHOTO BY PEGGY KABEYA. every sport deserves a shot. I

Expos or when he hosted the exhibition games. This is a hub. Montreal is a great hub. C: How do Montrealers benefit beyond the boastful banter of housing another pro sports team? What exactly do you see Montrealers having to gain with the financial and emotional investment of trying to attract a pro baseball franchise? DC: As I said, it’s part of our DNA. I heard somewhere that at the registration level, baseball for Quebec youth has risen by 25 per cent in the last year. It’s not just a business—it’s something great. I mean, you know the feeling, and Montreal is a player. Montreal is a North American player. This is an Olympic City. We celebrated on July 9 the opening of the Olympic house. Every decision in Canada regarding the Olympic sports will be taken in Montreal. We will celebrate next year the 40th anniversary of Montreal as an Olympic City. So from just about any sport, people have a story in Montreal. [What they say in] Field of Dreams is true: “if you build it they will come.” C: Do you feel your vision of the Expo’s return to Montreal has the sufficient support of other Montreal elected officials and city councillors? DC: Have you heard a lot of people say no to that? C: A lot of people on the left have been a little bit skeptical. DC: On the left? Don’t label it that way. Be careful not to stereotype. That kind of labeling is not accurate, frankly. It’s not a matter of left and right. It’s a matter of love for sports. C: When I mean left, I’m taking into account the people in opposition of austerity measures. DC: Why do you put austerity and sports together? C: Well when there are public funds involved— DC: No. When we’re talking about investment, it’s private investment from private investors and at the end of the day there’s some return attached to it. C: That goes without saying, but when these franchises come to a big city.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 //

Interview // SPORTS DC: When I was sports minister—we [had to] believe in ourselves you know? It’s important. You had some people who were saying, ‘We shouldn’t invest in sports because we are missing beds in hospitals.’ I said, ‘If we put up prevention tools… ’—First of all it’s an investment. It’s not an expense. Secondly, if you focus on the [sic]—because at the end of the day it’s a big cycle that will bring back more people—it’s a well-being issue and quality of life. A lot of people will exercise, a lot of people will practice the sport, no matter what. No matter which sport. If you talk about it, they will feel like they’re part of something. As a prevention tool, you’re saving a lot of money. So you’re creating an environment of—not only investment, economics-wise, but for the community itself it’s going to be a good policy because it’s going to focus on the well-being of the population. C: To clarify, I think where it becomes a right left issue—or maybe I misspoke— DC: It’s not a right-left issue. C: We are facing austerity in Quebec and that’s what people have been talking about and if you look around North America new stadiums [pro sports teams in general] demand a lot of public dollars, especially in the MLB; look at the Marlins. DC: It’s premature to talk about stadiums right now. We have to show the love of our sport. We have to demonstrate that it’s a bottom-up issue. We have—you know you don’t pull a flower to make it grow faster. But frankly, Major League Baseball is listening. As you know Mr. Manfred and I have been meeting each other, talking to each other. He says nice things about Montreal all the time! So at the end of the day, we shouldn’t dole any money anywhere? I mean look at Formula One, when it provides tens of millions into the economy and it’s creating jobs and all that. It’s all part of creating wealth and sharing it afterwards. It’s the definition of development at the end of the day. So it’s not a matter of austerity versus, it’s a matter of how can we all work together to be a metropolis that we’re proud of and that will bring back a lot of investment.

C: So do you believe Montreal’s Formula One model can work in a baseball sense? DC: No. I believe that [sport] is an investment. Formula One is another thing. That’s another thing that some people say not to invest in, but it’s provoking and creating wealth [for the city] and that’s why I’m saying that’s an example of another [sports] investment, not an expense. C: To what extent are you and the city of Montreal willing to go to ensure the return of the Expos? DC: Oh, in my book it’s not an ‘if,’ it’s a ‘when’. Montreal will be back. I believe that. Montreal is a baseball town. We need them back. A lot of people are talking to me about it and frankly, economically [and] socially, it’s a great thing. C: How do you plan on ensuring the unfa-

that tried to save the Expos. I met for the first time Paul Beeston, when he was at major league baseball in New York. I was there! We visited the Orioles and other stadiums in order to build [our own new] stadium. But at the end of the day some people pulled the plug. But I was always there to promote baseball. I’m not going to redo the past. I don’t think it’s worth losing energy on that. Clearly what I am saying now is that we have winning conditions, all those planets are aligning together and we are focused on the sport itself. So if you talk about sports, and you focus on sports, something might happen, you know, to give 100 per cent it’s 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration, and it’s working. C: The Blue Jays preseason games of the last two seasons have been an astounding success. However, two games is a very small sample size. Do you believe that baseball in Montreal can garner enough

So from just about any sport, people have a story in Montreal. - Denis Coderre vourable conditions that led to the Expos’ departure aren’t reproduced with this attempt at their return? DC: Well I know that, at that time there were some people who didn’t do their job, because they left. Where were the promoters? Of course you had the issue with the sponsors versus the enterprises and all that, we all know the saga. We don’t all agree with the way some treated that file… We’ve got to believe in it! That’s the Field of Dreams issue, my friend. C: So are you drawing an allusion that past administrations didn’t do their job? DC: I’m just looking at the results. As a matter of fact, in 1999 I was a member of parliament, and I was part of the group

support to last a gruelling 168-game MLB regular season?

will have problems to fill the place? C: Rob Manfred told ESPN the other day that he’s “open to the idea that there will be a point in time where expansion may be possible.” When you hear baseball’s head gatekeeper make comments like that, do you feel that reflects positively on your quest to bring back the Expos? DC: You know Rob Manfred is an amazing commissioner. When I met him, the week after we went to a game in Detroit and he said, the loss of Montreal’s baseball team was a tragedy. Three weeks after he went to the Giants game in San Francisco, and he said, “We believe in expansion and we believe that Montreal is City number one.” Rob, even before I met him, spoke highly about Montreal. John McHale Jr. came to Montreal the last two years of exhibition— C: Who is John McHale? DC: John McHale’s father was president of the Expos. Now [John McHale Jr.] is working at the MLB. C: Quebec City, under the leadership of your friend and colleague of sorts Regis Labeaume, has gone so far as to build a stadium without the guarantee of a pro team. What are your thoughts on that approach, and is this a strategy Montreal under your leadership would ever consider? DC: I’m not going to compare because the NHL and MLB are different. C: Even in the realm of pro sports?

DC: I’m not there just to live an experience. I’m there to make it work. So of course when you focus on baseball, they will come. I mean we had four years with over two million in attendance. That’s huge. The market in Montreal is a market for baseball. Now, we have to realize that at the same time, it’s not just a matter of attendance. Sports have changed; 10 years ago, the attendance was the number one revenue [generator]; now, it’s the third or fourth. Frankly, I believe that they will come. If we’re all focused and all working to get the team, people will come. Now I said if we are in the same league as the Blue Jays, The Red Sox, the Yankees and the Orioles, do you really believe that we

DC: It’s not the same—but at the same time, Mr. Manfred was here and we need a plan and we need to be serious about it. I supported the return of the Nordiques. Regis is supporting the return of the Expos. Of course we will need equipment attached to it. It’s too premature to talk about it now. But frankly, I think that we have to show the Major leagues that we are serious about it. We’re talking about investors, we’re talking about stadiums, we’re talking about a lot of things. Right now I think that the most important thing is to show the MLB that we’re for real when we’re talking about baseball, and it will start with the love of the sport.

WHAT DOES THE OLYMPIC STADIUM HAVE IN COMMON WITH THIS JERSEY? CODERRE’S DREAM OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL OF COURSE. PHOTOS RESPECTIVELY BY RON REIRING FROM FLICKR AND RYAN LEIGHTY FROM FLICKR.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 Football // SPORTS

All Eyes Under Centre: The Stingers QB situation With trainning camps coming to a close the Stingers Quarterback situation is still in flux PEGGY KABEYA Sports editor

ith the last offseason departure of oft-injured starting quarterback Francois Dessureault, the Stingers enter year two of the Mickey Donovan rebuild charged with the daunting task of finding a viable replacement under center. “You know there were some nerves,” said freshman Quarterback Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren following the Stinger’s 2118 preseason victory over Queen’s Golden Gaels. Gilbert-Knorren who bounced back from a shaky start after coming in for relief of preseason starter Trenton Miller, was quick to provide perspective on the current state of the Stinger’s precarious quarterback situation. “I think we complement each other,” said Gilbert-Knorren. “Trenton [Miller] is just great at getting the ball out quick, making those reads and getting the ball downfield, whereas I can still throw the ball downfield, and I can change defenses with the way they scheme [to defend], I think it’s a great competition and we make each other better.” Gilbert-Knorren, the supremely talented dual threat quarterback is locked in a tight training camp battle with fellow first-year transfer Trenton Miller, the American pocket passer with the golden arm. “It’s still up in the air,” said Stingers’ Head Coach Mickey Donovan, when asked who will be the opening day starter. “It’s a position that’s pretty competi-

tive [this year] and it’s going to be a tough call for us. We feel we have some great quarterbacks here, and on Sept. 4 we’ll know who’s going in.” Despite the coaching staffs insistence

regarding the uncertainty surrounding who will be the Stingers starting quarterback, sources close to the team have stated that Trenton Miller is on the inside track for the starting spot. Miller’s

THE STINGERS PRACTICE AT LOYOLA. PHOTO BY PEGGY KABEYA.

pro-style experience and pocket presence seems to be a better fit for offensive coordinator Matt Connell’s system. However, familiarity may prove to breed contempt as Miller’s strong arm and limited mobility channel shades of the ghost of Reid Quest (Concordia’s quarterback in the 2013 winless season). “If Trenton wins it outright we’ll be able to use Jahlani at other positions, running back, receiver, returner, whatever position it may be. [We] just gotta get the ball in his hands,” said Donovan. Conversely, Donovan also stated, “If Jahlani is the guy, it’s hard to put Trenton in the game at another position. It’s a competitive spot, and they’re both doing a great job.” The contingency plans seem to already be place if the forgone conclusion of Miller’s starting quarterback coronation comes to fruition. However, Gilbert-Knorren’s ability to extend plays behind suspect offensive play could tip the starting quarterback odds in his favour. “I’d love to be the opening day starter, but at the end of the day it comes down to what’s best for the team,” said a confident Trenton Miller. With the top two ranked teams in Canada—Laval and University of Montreal—competing in the RSEQ conference, the Stingers will need to rely on solid quarterback play to be able to assert themselves in Canada’s toughest football conference. All eyes will be under center come Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., as the Stingers open their season against the Sherbrooke Vert et Or under the lights at Loyola’s Ed Meagher Sports Complex.

Football // SPORTS

Welcome back Dragan Former Stingers Captain trades in her cleats for a clipboard SAFIA AHMED Staff writer

Alex Dragan, last season’s Concordia Women’s soccer team captain, will be in familiar territory again when the season begins this Fall. Dragan will enter the 2015 season as a member of the coaching staff under the tutelage of head coach Jorge Sanchez. “Her name sort of popped in my head [when considering coaches] but I wasn’t sure if it was something she would be interested in,” said coach Sanchez. The Stingers, who were looking to bolster to their coaching staff for the upcoming season, approached Dragan with an offer she couldn’t refuse. “I was thinking of it the whole summer,” Dragan said. “I heard that the previous assistant coach got a job in the States, [so I thought this would be a good opportunity]. I talked it over with my parents and my sister and decided that I was just going to do it!” It is no wonder why Sanchez would want such a committed individual to join his team of coaches for the upcoming season. With a bachelor’s degree in biology

under her belt, Dragan succeeded at all levels during her academic and athletic careers. She was named a Stingers team most valuable player and a second team all RSEQ in her final season before graduation in the spring. However, with such success comes hard work. “No one can question her work ethic,” said Sanchez. “Whether it was for school or for soccer, she [was] very focused on her tasks, on her goals. She has the profile of someone who can transition into a coach.” For Dragan juggling school and sports was not a new hurdle to overcome as the former Stingers standout has been playing the game since she was four-years-old. However, the struggle of maintaining athletic and academic consistency could be a major issue. Dragan sees that as a major point of emphasis in her new role as the Stingers assistant coach. “[I want to] help the girls transition, [especially] the rookies … not only in soccer, but in school as well,” said Dragan. Her ability to relate to the players is an intangible asset for the team looking to rebuild her absence. With 10 players set to graduate this year following the season, the program will need to rely on the strength of a solid coaching foundation to facilitate the transition. “I’ve been there. You’re in residence and everything is new, and sometimes it’s really hard. School in the day, [followed

ALEX DRAGAN SMILES FOR THE STINGERS. PHOTO COURTESY OF STINGERS.CA. by] soccer, and then … homework .You’re exhausted. That’s when things start getting a little hectic,” said Dragan, regarding the transition for freshmen student athletes. As the regular season looms closer, Dragan’s credentials seem to be the perfect fit for the team. The majority of tactical decisions will obviously be left to the head

coach. Nevertheless, Dragan’s invaluable insight will surely help the team achieve a very important goal; making the playoffs for the first time since 2006.coach. Nevertheless, Dragan’s invaluable insight will surely help the team achieve a very important goal; making the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 // Football // SPORTS

Mickey’s Minions prepare for war The Stingers army of youthful inexpirence march towards a new season SAM OBRAND Staff writer

he Concordia Stingers football team will kick off their 2015 season on home turf when they host the Sherbrooke Vert et Or on Friday, Sept. 4. Optimism is in the air as the Stingers followed a winless 2013 campaign with last season’s 5-3 record, their first winning season since posting an identical result in 2008. “This conference is so strong, I feel it’s the best conference in the country,” said Stingers’ Head Coach Mickey Donovan. “The West is very competitive this year, but this is unique. Last year we

took every opponent seriously. In this conference you have to. Even if we get to the top I’m not going to tell you that we could look past a team, because you can’t,” he added. The Stingers have brought in roughly 65 freshmen, 35 of which will make the active roster. With such large number of inexperienced players, Donovan expressed that his family-first approach to building team chemistry is disadvantageous for young players’ development. “We don’t act like someone we’re not, we don’t pretend to be someone we’re not. But mainly its all about open arms, doors, concept and we’re here for them,” said Donovan, who earned RSEQ Coach of the Year honours in 2014. “We have to make it comfortable for any student athlete that comes through

DONOVAN IS UNSURE OF WHO TO MAKE LEAD QUARTERBACK. PHOTO BY BRIANNA THICKE.

the door so that way they get on the field, they get in the classroom, they go in the weight room and everything is natural to them like they’ve been here before.” According to the second-year head coach, the Stingers have five fifth-year returning players on the roster. As a result, the team’s lack of veteran presence could hurt them against conference juggernauts Laval and reigning national champions Montreal. The Stingers have lost a slew of cornerstone players such as: three 3 year starter cornerback Kevin Prempeh, linebacker Travis Brent, and All-Canadian halfback Kris Robinson. Donovan, however, is confident that a new regime of veterans will be able to carry the load left behind by the departed Stingers. “Roman Grozman, Jamal Henry, Keegan Treloar, Arto Khatchikian, Mikael Charland, Rashawn Perry, Andrew Barlett all have a veteran presence and guys look up to them,” said Donovan. “All these guys are great leaders and we don’t have too many vets here right now, but there are a lot of guys that they have to look over and help out, that’s part [of] being in this family,” he added. The team faces a large question mark as to who will claim the starting job, but Donovan says that the four potential quarterbacks each bring unique and innate characteristics that set them apart from one another. In all likelihood, the Stingers should have three Quarterbacks dressed for the Sept. 4 season opener. “I think our games are going to be challenging week to week, but I can’t tell myself that I don’t know if we could beat Laval, that I don’t know if we could beat Montreal,” stated Donovan. “I definitely go in and say, we have a shot. It’s all about how we execute and how we get them ready to perform and it comes on them when the whistle blows.”

SPORTS RANT OF THE WEEK

SAM OBRAND Contributor

>> NFL CRAZE

It’s only a few shorts sleeps until the National Football League kicks off for another season of hard-nosed good ol’ fashioned football. The NFL reels in $11.2 billion USD in annual revenue and has literally monopolized a day in the week: Sunday. I’m not sure if people realize this, so I wrote it again: a sport has taken over a day in the week, and as an added reminder, there are only seven days. The NFL HAS TAKEN ONE-SEVENTH OF OUR LIVES! For some, Sunday might be a lazy couch potato, cocoa-sipping, Netflixwatching kind of day, but for my fellow NFL patrons out there, Sunday only translates to a comfortable seat placed in front of an oversized television. We’re talkin’ drippin’ cheese nachos, tall frosty beers, fantasy football, tailgating, cheerleaders, mascots, extra points from just a further bit back, team colors, cheers, frustration, redzone tackles; TOUCHDOWN!!!! You woke the baby, trash-talking friends, trash-talking foes, and much more non-stop entertainment to let you forget about all the domestic abuse charges that took place over the summer. You could be lazier than the backup quarterback if the starter stays healthy, who by the way has the best seat in the house and the best job in sports. Did I mention he doesn’t have to deal with a 6 foot, 5 inches, 300 pound steroid monkey who’s hell-bent on leaving you crippled? Sure, starters get all the glory and if they’re good enough make upwards of $10 million for 16 weeks of work, but if they get hurt, they can get cut and left with nothing. Guess who makes an average of $600 000 to $2.1 million and receives full benefits… The backup! Worst case scenario, if all fails, there’s always the CFL and the free Canadian healthcare system. Case in point, Sunday is the property of the National Football League and the backup QB is thriving in the midst of the best job in pro sports. Happy Football watching everyone.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 Opinions // SPORTS

Concordia rebrands despite fiscal crackdown The Stingers media brass unveilled video forshadowing the team’s rebranding PEGGY KABEYA Sports editor

In the midst of Quebec’s latest round of educational budget cuts, Concordia University’s fledgling athletic department appears to be the winners of this years golden parachute sweepstakes. The award, which has been a Concordia University mainstay in tough economic times, was historically the exclusive property of ineffective administrators looking for a quick payday; but times have changed,

and Concordia’s time honoured tradition of fiscal irresponsibility has undergone a much needed facelift. Cue Concordia Rebranded! In collusion with the oddly pseudo-autonomous recreation and athletic department headed by enlightened despot Patrick Boivin; Concordia is set to launch a series of head-scratching propaganda videos that would make even Joseph Goebbels weep in admiration. The videos whose purpose hasn’t really been made clear to anyone outside the University’s immediate brass, looks to be a marketing stunt that falls short on substance.

Concordia wouldn’t be the first university to fund an athletic rebranding initiative. Laval and the University of Montreal have undergone similar revitalization projects in the recent past to astounding success. However, what Concordia lacks here is the major public private funding initiative that helped propel the aforementioned institutions into their athletic renaissance. What I find most egregious is the questionable timing of this proposed rebranding effort. According to the Concordia university website, the Quebec Government is cutting $73M

from its educational budget. These cuts will directly impact the money allocated to Concordia which has already conceded a $8.4M dollar deficit for the upcoming school year, or in 2012 terms, three University administrator severance packages. Begging the question, how will they finance this rebranding? Under Armour inspired videos of athletes exercising in the dark are nice, but so are new buildings, and without the money to commit to a full scale revitalization of the schools decrepit athletic facilities, what exactly are we rebranding?

A STILL FROM THE VIDEO PACKED WITH ENDLESS IMAGES THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO DRINK GATORADE.

CALL FOR WRITERS The Concordian is looking for writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, and more. Get involved! Weekly meetings every Friday at 1 p.m.

Stop by our office: CC-431 at Loyola or email us: editor@theconcordian.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

opinions

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

Sense before dollars, respect before clickbait National Post’s coverage of WDBJ shooting verges on despicable

f it bleeds, it leads. That’s a common saying in journalism, and is often why news sections and segments are packed full of bloody shootings, devastating natural disasters and tragic car accidents. People want to read about other people’s tragedy, and newspapers want people to read them. But when does reporting become exploitation? And where should editors draw the line? Exploitation happens when the boundaries of decency are crossed in an attempt to give the public something they don’t need, but can’t look away from. Tabloids have made a business

of this kind of exploitation, but it’s not something expected of the National Post. On Aug. 27, the National Post stooped below their station, compromising their position as a respected national newspaper, by publishing a frontpage photo of WDBJ journalist Alison Parker moments before she was killed during a live broadcast. The screengrab is of the gunman’s own video, which depicts her recoiling in shock and fear moments before she is killed. This helps no one remember or mourn her more effectively—it was intended to shock. The photo did not add any deeper meaning to the story. The Globe and

Mail’s front page featured the same story and even also had a screengrab from the same killer’s video—but from a time before Parker noticed the killer approaching. Journalists aren’t signed up to a single club or fraternity. Most of the time they bicker about even belonging to unions. But we a brethren, and that was one of our own moment’s before her death on the front page of a national newspaper. It’s doubtful that the National Post would have immortalized the last moments of one of their own colleagues on the front page, so why not extend the same respect to a reporter south of

the border? Shocking images draw eyes and more clicks means more money. It’s shameful behaviour for an outlet that is considered a responsible gatekeeper, a place to go and verify something you read on Twitter. There was no fault in their reporting; just a failure of taste and tact fueled by simple, but often savage, economics. It isn’t just about how it was one of our own depicted moments before her death. It’s about how this was more tabloid than newspaper, and the National Post is better than that. But apparently they need some reminding.

Politics // OPINIONS

Who’s winning this thing anyway? Justin Trudeau may be polling in third, but polls don’t tell us the whole story MATTHEW CIVICO Opinions editor

won’t lie: I don’t hate Stephen Harper with a deep and abiding hatred. I also think Thomas Mulcair makes a poor knight in shining armour, notwithstanding his highly laudable facial hair and penchant for promises. Let the record also state that I have made fun of Justin Trudeau’s hair and may have referred to him as “just a pretty face” at some point. I’m also among the jinxing masses that say Elizabeth May and her Greens will never win, even though they have some great ideas. There, all my cards are on the table. Make of them what you will, because I will never, ever tell you whom I vote for. (I say democracy’s effectiveness is proportional to how much you hate people who voted differently from yourself) Let’s make it hard to hate, shall we? Sometimes I’m tempted to call myself a cynic, but deep down, I believe democracy—while frustrating—is the least of a host of political evils. I’m not a political scientist but I’m pretty sure coups cost more than elections (unless they’re especially efficient). So, although I won’t tell you who I’m voting for, I’m more than happy to muck around in a good old fashioned election edition of Who’s winning this thing anyway? powered by little more than my astute observations. After one leaders’ debate and a whole

lot of cross-country campaign stops, the NDP currently leads while the Conservatives hold a slight edge over the Liberals for second place, according to the CBC’s aggregate Poll Tracker. Polls are polls however, not ballot boxes, so I confidently declare these numbers to be purely speculative. Therefore, without the help of pollsters, I somewhat less confidently declare Justin Trudeau to be winning this election thing. Let me make my case. I, like most humans, am not a purely rational being. Which is why my head hurts after listening to candidates throw policy promises around for a whole debate and on the campaign trail. Let’s be honest, everyone’s promises sound great—they’re designed to be appealing. I want lower taxes, I want affordable daycare for the parents I know, and I want a strong economy and stronger infrastructure, because more than a few things are falling apart here in Montreal. Maybe you can parse the numbers, but I can’t. Even if I could figure out which party made the best promises, how can I know they’ll keep them? How can I know they’ll even be capable of keeping them, despite their sincere intentions? We just can’t. Maybe I am a cynic. Since the Maclean’s debate and the subsequent campaigning, Justin Trudeau has impressed me with his rhetoric about recovering what’s Canadian about Canada. I disagree with him on a number of

JUSTIN TRUDEAU ANNOUNCES INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING. PHOTO FROM THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA. positions, but one key to democracy is allowing yourself to be led by someone you don’t wholly agree with. If we aren’t willing to be led by someone who isn’t a carbon copy of ourselves, then we’re just little kings and queens— grubby sovereigns in front of mirrors, clutching at control. You see, the parts of me that aren’t

purely rational are subject to inspiration. So while he’s vague on details, and even though I’m not sure I’ll vote for him in October, Trudeau has inspired me. More than any other party leader, Justin Trudeau has shown me that elections are less about looking in a mirror, and more about picking someone you can follow.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Education // OPINIONS

Making something of the humanities Contrary to popular belief, history majors need not necessarily become historians ANSON McCUAIG Contributor

egardless of whether you are coming or going, university can leave you reeling from the dread of what is about to come. This was a realization I had only after graduation. In the months leading up to my final semester, a spokesperson from the Guelph history grad program came in to one of our seminars. In an attempt to rally the troops, he recounted his experiences after convocation. “Once I finished my undergrad I waited to be hit by this big euphoric wave of relief that I had finally completed my life as a student...but it never came,” he said. After high school I did what I think many recent secondary school grads do— move on to completing life’s next moral obligation: getting a university degree. When picking a school and program I was armed with little more knowledge than the fact that university would be much harder than high school. I believed it was a place where ruthless professors took no personal interest in you and wanted nothing more than to ruthlessly enforce deadlines. So, with no clue as to what direction I was supposed to take, I simply chose a degree that interested me: history. Concerns about future job prospects or grad school didn’t even cross my mind at the time. After all, if I stayed in Ontario there was always one year Teacher’s College, right? Before I knew it, all my possessions were packed and I relocated to what would be my new home for the majority of the five-year-period in which I would complete my undergraduate degree. The next thing I knew, my time at university was drawing to a close. As I strug-

MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE THAT LACKS A CLEAR CAREER PATH IS A CHALLENGE. PHOTO BY MATTHEW CIVICO. gled to finish final assignments, I also grappled with the long-time coming and often-deflected question of what’s next? As part of this process I began looking at the skills I had gathered and how I could apply them to something beyond teaching disinterested teenagers about historical events. What had I actually learned as a history major? The task of turning a random degree into something I could make a living out of–and hopefully squeeze some happiness from–seemed impossible. Beyond gleaning facts from wordy articles and regurgitating that information in essays or discussions, I didn’t think I had much to show after four and a half years of higher education. Lacking any practical skills that could be applied in today’s highly specialized and technological job market, I felt extremely discouraged.

Unlike my friends who had studied computer sciences, or gotten degrees in chemistry, biology, or physics, I had very few hands-on skills. We did not spend time in a lab measuring tiny amounts of chemicals. We did not shoot lasers through prisms, learn to code applications, or anything else that translated directly into a career. Or so I thought. Things seemed so bad I hardly bothered browsing for graduate programs that looked interesting. Basically, I expected to graduate and to start working some deadend job totally unrelated to what I studied in university. Once I got over feeling dumb for my program choice and lack of enjoyable job prospects, I actually started to see some potential in my education. There were tons of skills that I had acquired while

studying history and writing essays. Skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and time management were now second nature. Not to mention the ability to research practically any topic thrown my way, with little or no background knowledge. I may never work as a historian handling ancient artifacts or uncovering the secrets of the past, but the entire experience of completing my degree, taken as a whole, and the influences of like-minded people I met along the way have prepared me for the job market. Since graduating I have moved on to a graduate diploma in journalism at Concordia. Now I put to use several of the tools I picked up during my studies in history every day to use. Maybe that euphoric wave of relief will never come to relieve me of my desire for continued learning. But perhaps that is not the worst thing.

Advice // OPINIONS

Got vexing questions? Ask a Wizard A truly magical advice column by a very opinionated guild of sorcerers

TRYNAMINGUS III Grand Wizard

Greetings from the Rift! I am the Grand Wizard Trynamingus, President and CEO of Ask a Wizard, the world’s favourite (and only) source of sage, arcane advice. You might be thinking, “What do I ask a wizard?” and my answer to you is, “Anything!” Although many wizards have very narrow interests, such as faerie-wrangling, vortex-diving, and spelunking the Unknown, they are quite knowledgeable in a variety of non-magical fields. For example, most wizards have exceptional dinner etiquette. They even have experience with complex social interactions, necessitated by the strict Wizarding Codes of Conduct that count the transmogrification of displeasing persons into bricks as a capital offense. Some wizards have even contrived the means to live for hundreds of years

and, though they don’t like to talk about it, there are even a few time-travelers among us. Obviously this allows us to offer insight into human history, as well as the ability to alter history itself! Alas, that is also a capital offense under the Wizarding Codes, so don’t ask us for a do-over. Perhaps unsurprisingly, wizards are voracious readers of prose and poetry and consumers of great quantities of tea. Questions regarding great works of literature often yield debates among the dustiest wizards, but I know a few who are willing to stoop to discuss books studied at the ENGL 200 and 300-levels. Because not every wizard can afford to keep a qualified apprentice or team of acolytes, many have become passable culinary wizards, though it’s not considered a domain of serious scholarship. Some unexpected favourites include Nutella on anything and pints of Cornish mead with phoenix tears (for zest). The wizards of Ask a Wizard are willing to attend to even the most

mundane and practical inquiries, so there is no need to worry about whether or not a question is too plebeian for sorcerers of such stature. Many a decent wizard started out as the plainest of plebs, just think of that fellow with the facial scar in England—perfectly decent! With that being said, it’s no secret that wizards enjoy a certain amount of mystery. You might say that it’s our highest virtue and greatest vice all at once: knowledge and understanding being but tools in worthy or unworthy hands. Feel free then, to submit your most challenging queries and together with a magical guide you may begin sounding the depths of that which is not known. But be warned! Many wizards take to waxing philosophical and do not hold the physical sciences in the highest esteem, preferring to rely on the metaphysical, which they consider far more reliable. So if you’re willing, come take a metaphorical stroll with a wizard through the mists of time, the expanse of space, and explore the chambers of the soul.

TRYNAMINGUS III, CEO OF ASK A WIZARD Don’t delay, send questions to the wizards waiting at opinions@ theconcordian.com or @TheConcordian on Twitter or Facebook.

Fans have come to expect ﬂash and bang from MTV s annual Video Music Awards show but last weekend s VMA s were an especially spectacular technicolour trainwreck. Miley Cyrus hosted, Taylor Swift won stuff after patching things up with Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber cried, and Kanye announced he s running for President in 2020. There might have been something in the brownies...at the #VMAs

@JeffreyFever What I learned from Kanye’s speech #VMAs - Listen to the kids! - Awards shows are pointless - Follow your dream - Yeezy for president 2020 @MegBenfeito Im not ashamed to say that @justinbieber was AMAZING at the #VMAs!Very happy hes doing better & back at it!Watching him cry got me emotional @Shadeyxo I personally think that @MileyCyrus’ true purpose is to host the #VMAs she was literally put on this planet to do this @LordLatter I remember when I used to sit around and watch the #VMAs I guess now I’ll just have to settle for passive aggressive tweets about them. @NicoleDeansXo Would have been funny if Barack turned up and said imma let you finish but I’m the best president of all time... #VMAs @MrsSOsbourne The #VMAs was like watching Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory on acid. The only standout was @TheWeeknd. @kaitiscarlett_ The #VMAs is inspiring me to write a killer pop song. Or rap. I wanna rap. Lol @mariahkathleen1 “I don’t like the #VMAs sometimes they’re stupid...like when Cayenne West talks...” -mom, while reading a cook book @ryanbroems I’m voting for #Kanye just so I can here the word “bro” used in an inaugural speech #VMAs

Did you pick up your free agenda? A. Yes B. No C. I have a smartphone. Did you buy your books new? A. Yes B. No C. I stole them from weaker froshies.

Tuesday, Sept 1, 2015 Vol. 33 Issue 1 Michelle Gamage Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Pierre A. Lepetit Production manager production@theconcordian.com Gregory Todaro Rachel Muzaic News editors news@theconcordian.com Cristina Sanza Life editor life@theconcordian.com Lydia Anderson Elijah Bukreev Arts editors arts@theconcordian.com

Did you vomit on someone during frosh? A. Yes B. No C. Twice Have your paid your tuition yet? A. Yes B. No C. It’s not free?

Mia Pearson Music editor music@theconcordian.com Peggy Kabeya Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Matthew Civico Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Andrej Ivanov Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Dori Julian Online editor online@theconcordian.com

Score: Mostly A’s = You were probably on the Honour Roll in high school Mostly B’s = Responsibility is gonna hit you HARD Mostly C’s = Campus security has been alerted to your presence

Nathalie Laflamme Jessica Romera Steph Ullman Walid Maraqa Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com Savanna Craig Kim Lam Shang Leen Production assistants

Call for Questions—Ask a Wizard Got a question your dad can’t answer? Is your dad a wizard? No? Then submit your complicated life questions to our expert team of wizards! They’re available once a week to answer your questions in a long, drawn out, and rather roundabout way.

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 Nathalie Laflamme Jacob Serebin Ruben Bastien Milos Kovacevic Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com

Contributors Lauriane Bélair

Send questions to opinions@theconcordian.com or to our wizards on Facebook and Twitter. (Wizards will address you in responses by your first name only)

Mina Mazumder Sabrina Ponzo Elijah Bukreev Fred Muckle Roa Abel-Gawad Sam Obrand Safia Ahmed Jennifer Groulx Anson McCuaig Grand Wizard

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