The Concordian by The Concordian

theconcordian Volume 30 Issue 17

Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.

January 15, 2013

Presidential proportions

FOR 2012, FROM MARCH TO JULY, FREDERICK LOWY CLAIMED OVER $16,000 IN FLIGHT FEES, INCLUDING A $7,243 PLANE TICKET FOR HIS SPOUSE ON CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY’S DIME. PHOTO BY MADELAYNE HAJEK

Former Concordia President Frederick Lowy claimed thousands in expenses Kalina Laframboise News editor

During his last few months as president, Frederick Lowy claimed more than $16,000 in flights, more than $7,000 in car repairs and maintenance, and more than $500 in university club meals.

In an access to information request, The Concordian obtained documents detailing Lowy’s expense reports in 2012 including trips made to Brazil, China and Toronto. A trip to China for Lowy and his wife, Mary Kay Lowy, cost the university approximately $15,247.35 last March.

“In the contract of our presidents if there is a value to the spouse attending then the university will offset the costs,” said university spokesperson Chris Mota. “If she had a role to play then yes, these costs would be offset.” In March of 2012, Lowy departed for China to represent Concordia in a

delegation ceremony in Hong Kong. The costs are considered as university business and are reimbursed by Concordia. When Lowy departed for his trip, his flight cost approximately $7,243 for a single ticket and the same amount for his spouse. The entire expense of the flight for two was $14,486. The

hotel was $716.35 and a taxi from the airport upon their return was another $45 incurred by the university. Flights to and from Toronto cost a total of $1210.36 and a trip to Brazil in mid-April totalled to $1,160 with an additional flight-change fee of $150.

sports

opinions

Continued on P. 5

In this issue... life

arts

music

Food war: hot chocolate P. 7

Films to look out for in 2013 P. 8

Light Company is Stingers lose two all-Canadian P. 11 in a row P. 15

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

Pros & cons of the NHL return P. 17

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news Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Got a news tip? news@theconcordian.com

City in brief Return to the ice, return to profit CITY

Matthew Guité

>> À qui la job? Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest found a new job at Montreal law firm McCarthy Tétrault LLP, four months after he was voted out of office. In a public statement made Thursday, Charest said that he was enthusiastic to join the firm that also employs former Premier Daniel Johnson and former leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Marc-André Blanchard, who serves as the firm’s chief executive. Blanchard, who serves as the firm’s chief executive officer, told CBC “With Mr. Charest and our legal excellence, McCarthy Tétrault will deliver analysis, solutions and results to our clients that are unmatched in the legal market.”

>>Another mayor, another allegation Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum denied allegations made earlier this week in a Le Devoir article that claimed that he was under investigation by the Charbonneau Commission for questionable real estate transactions. The article, published Friday, claimed that the Commission was investigating transactions made by Applebaum which required zoning changes in his borough. Applebaum said at a press conference Friday that the story was false, but that he would be meeting with the Commission later that day. Despite not knowing the reason for the meeting, Applebaum pledged to co-operate with the investigation and said he was open to all discussions.

>>Ruling delayed for Richard Henry Bain The court proceedings to determine whether or not the accused electionnight shooter Richard Henry Bain is fit to stand trial are halted temporarily until a psychiatric report is made available in English. Bain has repeatedly demanded that all questioning and court proceedings be done in English. As in past court appearances, Bain chose to speak to the judge and prosecutors himself despite having his lawyer present and said that the report declared him 75 per cent fit to stand trial.

>>In hot water Borough residents in Montreal North have been warned by city officials to avoid water filtration company Aquavie following complaints that the company was misleading residents and using the city’s name to attempt to sell equipment that isn’t necessary. According to city officials, residents in the area received calls from Aquavie claiming that the city was offering them a free water quality test, followed by trying to sell them purification equipment when the tests supposedly showed poor water quality. Aquavie has denied the allegations, and says that they were unaware.

Bars, sports merchandisers hope to make up for losses suffered during lockout David MacIntyre Contributor After a long and arduous negotiating process between owners and players, the National Hockey League – and the Montreal Canadiens – are back after a lockout stretching over 113 days and with hockey’s return, local bars and sports merchants hope their sales will flourish. Employees of bars in the downtown core say sales took a nosedive during the lockout. “The bars were really, really struggling without the hockey crowd,” said Kenny MacIntyre, a bartender at McLean’s Pub. “They could turn a dead Tuesday into an absolute blast.” For owner Santana Enrique of Sports Crescent on Ste-Catherine St., merchandise sales during the lockout were 60 per cent lower than they were during the 2011-12 NHL season. According to Enrique, he’s just happy there’s a season at all. “Next time... they [should] start [negotiating] after the season’s finished,” said Enrique. “Don’t wait until the season starts and then take all the fans and businesses hostage.”

Place Du Souvenir on De la Gauchetière St., a sports merchandise boutique managed by former Concordia engineering student Ali Ridha, was hit especially hard – for he says 80 per cent of his sales depend on the sale of Canadiens’ merchandise. “For our business, even though the game is back, fans are still affected by the lockout,” said Ridha. “Businesswise, people are going to stop buying stuff because they’ve been very frustrated.” That post-lockout frustration has been felt by a number of fans across the league: a movement started in December entitled Just Drop It is calling on fans to boycott the equivalent amount of games cancelled by the league after Dec. 21, 2012. The movement is gaining serious steam

Photo by Madelayne Hajek

through social media – over 23,000 people have liked Just Drop Its Facebook page. Movements like this could force the NHL to listen to fans, explained Ridha. “They have to do something to get back the fans and get the game back, because I think the lockout actually almost killed the game of hockey.”

Enrique disagrees as a fan, saying that he will stand by the Habs despite the frustration of the lockout because of their legacy as an organization. “It’s like the New York Yankees, so we can’t just walk away from the Canadiens,” said Enrique. “We walk with the Canadiens all the way but we’re upset, that’s it.”

CAMPUS

Concordia restructures Chinese recruitment University announces plan to end relationship with Orchard Consultants Ltd. Marilla Steuter-Martin Editor-in-chief Concordia released a statement Jan. 11 concerning the university’s decision to restructure its Chinese student recruitment policy, making it a combination of in-house and third party approaches. Following claims from a number of Chinese international students of negative experiences with the Concordia China Student Recruitment Partner Program that came up towards the end of 2012, the administration has created a plan to move forward. Notably, the university will be severing ties with Orchard Consultants Ltd., a company contracted by Concordia to recruit prospective students in China. The company, which was mandated to represent the university overseas, has drawn criticism as allegations of mistreatment have continued to emerge regarding the head of Orchard Consultants Ltd. and director of the CCSRPP, Peter Low. This information initially came to light in an article published in The Link on Sept. 25.

Concordia VP Services Roger Côté told The Concordian that the “university undertook a review of interactions” in order to better understand how to improve its practices. The so-called “blended approach” will include both internal and third party recruitment strategies. Côté explained that the university’s contract with Orchard would be extended until Feb. 28 so that all open files can be completed and transferred to Concordia. Following that, Orchard will no longer represent Concordia nor will it be recruiting any new applicants. According to Côté, the focus of the new plan will be to “engage early and immediately with students.” He explained that this change came about as a result of the university administration’s realization that they needed to be more directly involved in the process. “Over the past few months we felt we had to work alongside students more closely,” said Côté. This combination of on-site as well as virtual recruitment efforts will mean an increase in resources

such as communication materials and staff who will recruit on behalf of the university. Côté explained that contact with international students will be made much earlier and that it will be a priority to ensure they have all the information necessary for their transition. The university also plans to use existing assets to bring recruitment closer to Concordia. “We are going to hire our own students to help us,” said Côté. Part-time e-recruiter positions will be created in order for current students to establish contact with prospective ones and create an “opportunity for student-to-student interaction.” Once Orchard Consultants is out of the picture, the university intends to send out a request for proposals from other agencies. Before that, Côté explained, a new set of requirements would be created with the help of several groups within the community. “I have indicated to student leaders that I would like their input,” said Côté, referring to representatives from the Concordia Student

Union and the Graduate Student Association. CSU President Schubert Laforest said he was happy to see the university taking charge of the situation, calling the move “a step in the right direction.” He noted that his priority would be finding a company who will act in the best interests of students. “We really appreciate being included in the making of request requirements,” said Laforest. He went on to say that the idea of hiring Concordia students to facilitate peer-to-peer recruitment was a positive change and that “nothing really beats having another student who is dedicated to you. It’s a more personal touch.” The university’s working group headed by Dean of Students Andrew Woodall, which focused specifically on the issue of homestay and offcampus housing for international students, presented a list of recommendations to university administration. Côté confirmed that some of the proposed changes on the list were already being adopted to ensure the most accessible and clear information be put forth.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

New position sparks tension Concerns raised over efficiency, necessity for a communications co-ordinator Matthew Guité Assistant news editor A controversial job posting for a communications co-ordinator by the Concordia Student Union created a divide on council last Wednesday during the first regular meeting of 2013. The position advertised on the CSU’s website states that for $14.75 an hour this part-time employee with be “responsible for the public relations aspect of the CSU,” as well as for promoting awareness of the CSU’s various events, elections, campaigns and meetings. The position is aimed at spreading the word to the student body about what the CSU is spending its fee-levy generated funding on. It also aims to improve social media visibility through upkeep of the council’s Facebook, blog and more. The communications co-ordinator would also operate under the direction of VP student life Alexis Suzuki and provide periodic reports as part of their duties. The position has not been met with universal acclaim from council with some executives lauding it as a much-needed improvement while others deriding it as an attempt to shirk their elected duties. A fierce debate took place over the merits of the job before ending in a failed motion to close the job posting altogether. The debate came down to a disagreement over the intentions and the outcome of hiring a communications co-ordinator. Critics like councillor Chad Walcott said that the work being described in the job posting was

part of the executives’ duties as elected officials and that hiring a new person to take on those duties would be giving away responsibilities that the executive had not attempted to do in the first place. Those defending the posting, including CSU President Schubert Laforest, claimed that the position exists in almost every group and corporation of similar size and smaller to the CSU. It was argued that having an additional person to add to the promotion already being done might help fix the lack of promotion that has left attendance at events and student awareness CHAIR JEAN-FRANCOIS OUELLET AND YASMEEN ZAHAR . PHOTO BY MADELAYNE HAJEK low all year. Speaking to The Concordian, Walcott said that he felt that the the job was about improving the ef- councillor who added the item to the executive was hiring someone for a ficiency of the CSU when it comes to agenda in order to voice concerns job that they had not yet tried to do. communicating with students. over the wording of the job posting, “I just don’t feel as though the “I don’t believe we should con- told The Concordian that she could executive has made enough of an ef- tent ourselves with doing enough and see both sides of the debate. fort to promote their events and ini- saying that’s good,” said Laforest. “I Wheeler said she believes that tiatives themselves,” he said. “I think think that there needs to be someone while the CSU currently does not it would be more justifiable to hire an who is looking at this from a more have an employee whose specific extra person to do promotions if they pragmatic standpoint and not just responsibilities are communications, had demonstrated that they had tried limiting communications to the cir- she thinks that the executive haven’t promoting their events themselves cles of the executives and the council, curated enough events or initiatives and were overwhelmed as a result.” someone who is finding other ways to “warrant the creation” of the posiWalcott added that the position of reaching out to students who may tion. of a campaigns co-ordinator was not be connected to student life.” “I think I would prefer to see already responsible for promoting Laforest also said the decision things being done by a part-time emevents, something which he claims to create the job came after review- ployee at the CSU office than tell the was utilized to great effect for the ing models from other universities, executive they can’t create this job promotion of last year’s events. where they found almost every group and then have them continue to not Laforest, whose arguments in de- like the CSU had an individual solely do the job,” Wheeler said. “To me the fense of the posting helped bring the responsible for communications. most important thing is that the job matter to a close at council, believes Melissa Kate Wheeler, the gets done.”

A loss in funding is a loss for all Concordia to claim a deficit pending Board of Governors’ approval Robin Della Corte and Kalina Laframboise Assistant news editor and News editor

ollowing the provincial government’s decision to cut millions of dollars in university funding, Concordia University will declare a deficit for the academic year. In December, the Parti Québécois slashed $124 million in post-secondary funding with only a few months left in the academic year for universities. For Concordia, this means that the institution must incur a loss of $13.2 million. In an interview with The Concordian, President Alan Shepard said he plans to recommend a deficit to the university’s highest governing body because Concordia has little choice. “I will be recommending to the Board of Governors a deficit in the upcoming school year,” said Shepard. “I don’t like deficits; I think they are not good but in this case it’s inevitable.” Shepard stated that after recommending the deficit, the Board of Governors still must approve it. With Concordia potentially claim-

ing a shortfall in the wake of its fourth revised budget in just under eight months, Shepard believes the most important aspect is to ensure Concordia has a stable and secure funding on a long-term basis. Furthermore, Shepard said he believes the provincial government will be reimbursing universities for part of the loss of money stemming from the cancellation of the tuition fee increase initially slated by the Charest Liberals. “They [the government] said they will make it up and we calculated a number,” said Shepard. “We estimated $3 million and we are counting on that money coming in.” During a Senate meeting on Dec. 8, Shepard informed faculty and students that the multi-million dollar budget cut would likely affect the university “across the board” due to its size and with only four months left in the academic year. University spokesperson Chris Mota explained that while a deficit is impending, it is not sure how much will be claimed. “We will be feeling it everywhere,” said Mota. “The sectors that will feel it a tiny bit less are academics and research.”

Mota added that the budget cut of $13.2 million this late in the year is the equivalent of Concordia having to initially slash its annual budget by $45 million and that, unfortunately, “everyone will be affected.” On Monday, the administration held community sessions closed to the media to address the provincial government’s decision and how to move forward as a university. Patrick Kelley, the university’s chief financial officer, said that he does not know how much Concordia will claim as a deficit. “We had planned on a very small surplus but there have been a series of continuous reductions in tuition amounts and revenues,” said Kelley. “We’re working furiously looking at our numbers to see the size of what the deficit will be, but I cannot tell you with precision where we are.” Kelley also confirmed that the PQ will be handing over anywhere between $3.4 million to $4 million to the university for all the losses incurred this year but the government has yet to confirm a date or clarify the amount. Interim-Provost Lisa Ostiguy said that Concordia has been working closely with other universities to

discuss strategies on how to handle massive slashes to the budget. The different faculty members and staff at the university have also been working together to ensure the cuts do not affect the quality of the institution. “There’s been no backlash and we’ve been quite taken at how everyone is committed with this,” said Ostiguy. “It takes the full commitment of the whole university.” President Schubert Laforest of the Concordia Student Union felt that the university does not have a choice considering the amount of time that is left in the school year. “No one wants a deficit but I can see why they’re requesting one, given the context, since we can’t cut programs or other fundings at this point,” said Laforest. “There’s always many ways to approach a situation but given the time, it would be hard to have an ideal situation.” Kelly said that it is too early to know if these cuts will affect the operating budget for next year but that the main concern is if the the provincial government will continue to do it in the future. With files from Marilla Steuter-Martin

Nation in brief Kalina Laframboise

>>A train come true Jason Shron spent $10,000 over four and a half years to reconstruct a model of a VIA rail coach for his basement. The resident of Vaughan, Ont. is obsessed with trains and everything related to VIA which is why he chose to build it over 2,500 hours. When Shron learned a coach was to be scrapped, he bought it and rebuilt it in his basement with his friends. Shron, who has been collecting VIA items for years, said it is because it is where he feels “most comfortable.” The replica of the 1980s train carriage has carpeting, seats and coat hooks.

>>Up in flames A health-care inquiry into queue jumping in Alberta heard testimony about individuals who received flu shots for H1N1 during the outbreak in 2009. Calgary Flames’ players and their families were told to lie in order to receive the shot before individuals who were actually ill. The players attended private vaccination sessions in the teams doctor’s office while the rest of the province suffered a shortage. Those who testified claimed that paperwork was adjusted so that the players and their loved ones could skip the long wait.

>>One in a million Walter Zawada’s truck rolled over to one million kilometres this week after 12 years of driving it everywhere. The Niagara Falls residents had a series of trips nationwide including six trips from Ontario to Alberta. When Zawada bought the Ford F-150, it only had 97,000 kilometres but reached 0 on the odometer last Wednesday. According to Zawada, he got his money’s worth since the truck still has its original engine and transmission. Since Zawada owned the truck he has bought six sets of tires, four brake jobs and 180 oil changes. The 68-year-old purchased the truck for $19,900 in 1999.

>>Nortel execs acquitted Three former executives of the now defunct Nortel Networks Corporation were acquitted of charges against them of co-ordinating a multi-million dollar fraud that gave themselves $12.8 million when the company was failing. An Ontario judge ruled that the three men, who were fired by Nortel in 2004, did not meet the burden of proof necessary to convict them and that there was reasonable doubt. Former senior employees Frank A. Dunn, Douglas C. Beatty and Michael J. Gollogly were initially charged with two counts of fraud for defrauding the public and defrauding the entire corporation.

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

World in brief Concerns raised at first CSU meeting of the year CAMPUS

Cynthia Dupuis

>> Joy ride A 13-year-old boy decided to run away from his adoptive family in Italy last Thursday after they got into a fight about the teenager’s expensive phone bill. He chose to travel in style when he stole his family’s Mercedes which he drove 1,000 kilometres from Italy across Europe, successfully crossing two border crossings and numerous tolls. The boy only brought along his passport and 20 Euros when he left the house. His adventure to return to his homeland of Poland first took him through Austria. He was then arrested two days later in Germany, 200 kilometres from his final destination.

>>Tusk laundering Two American men pleaded not guilty last Friday to charges of conspiracy, conspiracy to launder money, smuggling goods into the United States and money laundering. The Bangor Daily News reported that Andrew Zarauskas and Jay Conrad are accused of smuggling narwhal tusks from Canada into Maine. They allegedly brought the tusks from Canada to the U.S. inside a trailer with a secret compartment. Some individuals believe narwhal tusks to have supernatural powers. Some will even pay up to $30,000 but most narwhal tusk usually go for between $1,000 and $7,000. Several countries including the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia have laws against importing narwhal tusks.

>>An Escape from White Castle An American woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison last Friday for robbing a White Castle in St. Louis, Miss. Michelle White handed the employees of the restaurant a threatening note while she pointed at them with a plastic water gun. The 33-year-old woman escaped through the drivethru window with more than $600 from the fast food chain. A customer wrote down White’s license plate and then alerted the police before they arrived at White’s home. Following their arrival, she climbed on her roof and jumped, fracturing an arm, a leg and her pelvis as a result of her fall. The type of water gun used in the robbery remains unknown.

>>Bieber brainwave The Riverside Police in Illinois took 49-year-old Lawrence E. Adamczyk into custody and charged him with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. The suspect was arrested Saturday morning at a swim meet at Brookfield High School where he was found wandering the hallways by a security staff member. After his arrest, Adamczyk told Riverside Police he was on his way to Brookfield Zoo to “look for young boys” when he received a “brainwave message” from Justin Bieber telling him to go to the neighbouring high school to see the young boys at the swimming event. Adamczyk allegedly told the police officers that he was there to watch his own children swim but could not provide names. Adamczyk was charged in 2011 with a sexual act at a fitness centre.

COUNCILLORS SIT IN ON THE FIRST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETIING OF THE YEAR. PHOTO BY MADELAYNE HAJEK

Councillors take issue with JB, orientation reports Matthew Guité Assistant news editor JUDICIAL BOARD Concerns were raised at the first 2013 meeting of the Concordia Student Union over the amount budgeted to the CSU’s Judicial Board, which councillor James Vaccaro said could lead to a potential conflict of interests in the future. According to Vaccaro, the JB, which can be called on to interpret bylaws and settle disputes between members of the CSU, has only been budgeted one-tenth of what is meant to be given to the JB according to the standing regulations. Despite the regulations stating clearly that a global amount of no less than $5,000 is to be given to the JB for their work that includes funding for legal fees for lawyers and consultations, to

date only a figure of roughly $500 was allocated to the board in the budget. Vaccaro voiced concern that should the JB be asked to step in on a matter involving the CSU, it would be forced to first go to the CSU to ask for funding before it would be able to take any actions, something that Vaccaro said would cause a clear conflict of interest. Nadine Atallah, VP clubs and internal affairs, told council that historically the JB has almost never used more than a few hundred dollars each year, which was why so little was budgeted to them this year. Atallah also proposed sending the matter to the policy committee for review, saying that the matter did need resolving but that altering the standing regulations to more accurately fit the financial needs of the JB might be a good idea. Vaccaro explained that he was disconcerted that it needed to be brought up at council and that

councillors who knew of the issue weren’t concerned. “The thing that I found a little odd is that the executive is putting $500 in the budget for the Judicial Board, knowing full well that their minimum allowed budget is five thousand dollars,” said Vaccaro. “So right off the bat as your budget is being accepted, you’re going against the regulations of the union.” He went on to explain that the appropriate funds should be made available in spite of not needing the entire sum in the past. “It feels to me that the executive feel this is a non-issue, but if it does become an issue it will be a matter of importance.” Council voted to send the issue to the financial committee and the policy committee for review. POST-MORTEM ORIENTATION REPORT During a discussion of the upcoming winter orientation, councillor Melissa Kate Wheeler brought up

the ongoing issue of Alexis Suzuki’s orientation post-mortem, a document submitted earlier in the year that Wheeler and others have raised complaints about in the past. The document, meant to be a summary of the successes and failures of orientation as well as recommendations for possible improvements, was considered short and unfocused by councillors like Wheeler, who told The Concordian that none of the failures of the orientation were mentioned and that its successes were played up to be greater than they were. “There were a lot of problems with orientation. There was low attendance at a lot of the events and it sort of screamed poor planning in a lot of ways,” she said. “It’s a learning experience every year and no orientation is ever perfect, and nobody expected it to be perfect, but there were a lot of problems and they went completely unaddressed in [Suzuki’s] post-mortem.” The wording of the post-mortem was also an issue for Wheeler, who said that nowhere in the report were words like ‘failure’ or ‘improvement’, compared to words like ‘success’ and ‘amazing’ appearing 12 times and nine times respectively. Another point of contention remains Suzuki’s proposal to write a how-to guide for future orientations. Chad Walcott, another councillor to raise concerns over the post-mortem, told The Concordian that he was uncomfortable with the idea of Suzuki writing such a guide given that this past orientation was what he called the “least attended Orientation that I’ve seen at Concordia in the last 5 years.” “To date, she has not demonstrated that she is able to be selfcritical of her work, and as such I believe this limits her ability to give future VPs any insight into effective ways of running orientation,” he said.

CEO of the Concordia Student Union resigns Job posting brought online within hours of announcement Monday Kalina Laframboise News editor

he Concordia Student Union is officially looking for a new chief electoral officer following the resignation of Justin Holland early Monday. Citing personal reasons, Holland will not be taking courses at Concordia University during the winter semester and therefore stepped down from the position with only two months to go before the general elections in March. In accordance with the CSU’s

bylaws, only individuals who are undergraduate students at Concordia are eligible for the posting. Therefore, not taking classes renders Holland ineligible to keep his employment with the CSU as he is no longer qualified for membership under bylaw 3.1. Holland also clarified that he will finish his CEO report and reimburse by-election candidates for their expenses by Jan. 22 at the latest. President Schubert Laforest said the departure was announced Monday morning in an email from Holland. “Being that I will still be in Mon-

treal during this time, and I will be, in a fashion—auditing courses for future reference, I will be making myself available for an orderly handover with my successor,” the email read. Laforest told The Concordian that he was pleased with Holland’s work thus far. “He learned quickly and managed a good election and he was always professional,” said Laforest. “It was a loss for us.” The CSU listed the CEO posting the same day and already started advertising online through social media platforms in order to attract potential applicants. Some of the

responsibilities of the CEO include ensuring that elections run independently and fairly, issuing directives on the carrying out of the standing regulations and training election officers. Laforest said that while the timing is tricky he is “fairly confident” that his team will address the situation responsibly by hiring a new CEO quickly. In order to be eligible to apply for the posting, applicants must be registered as an undergraduate student for the current semester and must possess a good knowledge of the CSU’s bylaws and standing regulations.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Idle No More protests continue Kalina Laframboise News editor Photos by Marie-Josee Kelly

undreds of Idle No More protesters weaved through the streets of Montreal for the second time last Friday afternoon to support what has become an international movement for indigenous rights. Marching from the Palais des CongrĂ¨s, the demonstration was peaceful and timed simultaneously in solidarity with similar protests in various Canadian cities. Idle No More has gained momentum since Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence declared a hunger strike more than a month ago in an effort to demand a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper met with aboriginal leaders to discuss grievances but Spence has continued her hunger strike despite Harperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise to focus on the issues at hand.

Concordia University covered costs for spouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight to Hong Kong Continued from cover For 2012 from March to July, Lowy claimed a total of $16,856.36 in flight fees alone excluding fees for reservation and changes. To cover the costs of taxi rides, Lowy spent about $142. Concordia Student Union President Schubert Laforest says Concordia needs to reflect on its decision to provide benefits considering the recent provincial governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget cuts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There seems to be a culture where a lot of money is given to senior administrators for trips, cars, and more,â&#x20AC;? said Laforest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to reevaluate that.â&#x20AC;? In university club meals, the institution reimbursed Lowy for a meal that cost $292.50 on March 14, 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; days after the university received a $2-million fine from the provincial

government for management of funds and high turnover of senior administrators. Later, Lowy claimed $245.94 for a second university club meal. As per university contracts, senior administrators are able to expense car maintenance as well. For one such incident on May 7, 2012, Lowy expensed $1,275.51. On a separate occasion he claimed more than $6,000 for maintenance to his vehicle. When Lowy visited Guelph in April, he claimed $232.97 for his car rental and gas. During Lowyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time as interim president following the departure of Judith Woodsworth, his salary was $350,000 per year. Additional benefits included $1,200 for a monthly car allowance, $3,000 monthly for housing and an interest-free loan of $1.4 million to cover the costs of his condominium, which he has yet to repay.

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life 6

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com RESTO

Emma Risa, queen of Montreal When it comes to Montreal’s finest Italian eateries, Da Emma’s authentic taste is impossible to beat George Menexis Opinions editor

very city has them; the restaurants you need to try because of the reputation. Montreal, as a culinary heaven, has dozens of restaurants that make foodies melt at the mere thought of them. These restaurants have cemented their names in our history. Da Emma is one of them. Approaching their 20th anniversary this April, Da Emma is nothing short of perfection when it comes to Italian food. Located in the basement of what used to be a women’s prison in Old Montreal, I can’t help but wonder if Da Emma has the best food I ever had. Chef Emma Risa first opened the restaurant with her husband Lorenzo Aureli in 1993. The couple, hailing from Rome, has welcomed some of the biggest faces in the entertainment world to their restaurant, from the likes of Mickey Rourke, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and the one and only George Clooney. As you walk into the dim entrance, you can’t help but stare in awe at the hundreds of pictures Chef Risa has taken with stars. What to expect from a restaurant that used to be a women’s prison? Imagine a stereotypical place most likely frequented by Don Vito Corleone, dressed impeccably, coming to silently enjoy the food of his people. Having reserved a month in advance, I was ready. I wanted to see what all the fuss was

DA EMMA’S SLOW COOKED LAMB REMINDS OUR WRITER OF THE BEST GREEK EASTERS. PHOTO BY WRITER

about. As soon as I sat down, an old, joyous Italian man came to us, dragging along a small blackboard on wheels that was the menu—a nice touch. In a thick accent, he explained the Italian dishes to us with extreme detail, recom-

mending some of the plates that have made them famous. I knew right then and there that this would be an endeavour. Needless to say, choosing what to eat was very difficult. Within seconds, the waiter was back with

bruschetta, the tomatoes glistening from a distance; the perfect start, setting the tone for the meal to come. Next came the minestrone, a classic Italian soup stewed to perfection. This is where the meal got interesting and where our portly Italian waiter had the task of recommending some of the best plates in the house. Let’s start with the entrée, which consisted of an enormous white blob of an Italian cheese called burrata, on a bed of basil. I don’t want to linger too long on the burrata but, simply put, you haven’t really tasted cheese until you’ve tasted this. Every single creamy bite awakens your senses and makes all other cheeses seem tasteless and lifeless. For the main meal, my dinner partner had the lamb and I went with tortellini stuffed with veal and layered over a rich blue cheese sauce. This is food, I thought. This is perfection. The lamb, slow cooked and left to stew for days, reminded me of the infamous Greek Easter lambs—and that’s not an easy task. However, when your name is Emma Risa, it seems nothing is impossible when it comes to tastes. Combine this with a red Chianti and you have the tools to the perfect night that leaves you dazed and extremely satisfied. I can safely say that Da Emma is one of the best restaurants in our city and a restaurant that we should all have the pleasure of trying at least once. Da Emma is located on 777 De La Commune St. W.

BAR

Look out for L’Escalier to heaven Vegetarian-friendly bar in the Latin Quarter is host to a myriad of styles Marta Barnes Staff writer

Photos by Leslie Schachter

Looking to escape off campus for a while for some food, live music, beer, tea, chess and possibly a nap? There’s only one place in Montreal that can fulfill this impossible combination, and that’s L’Escalier. Named for its characteristic hidden staircase smack in the middle of the Presse International building, L’Escalier can be easy to miss. Those who manage to find its seemingly mythical entrance will be transported into an equally magical cultural corner of Montreal. Inside is a sprawl of different rooms. To the right is a café area where eclectic tables and chairs are set under dim, low-hanging lights in front of a stage that is rarely empty during the day. Their website has a schedule of the musicians (or slam poets) who will be performing. To the left is a shamble of well-loved couches and long dining tables, which are good for large groups.

Beyond that is a room with second-hand games, books on a take-one-leave-one basis, hanging ivy and high-backed chairs. By far the best room, though also the most difficult to snag, would be dead centre at the far back, which is strewn with pillows, and wherein shoes are optional. Orders are made at the bar, which is conveniently at the entrance, and the alwayssmiling staff will bring your food or drinks to wherever you settle. It’s cash only though and there is no ATM, so take out some green beforehand. Everything is vegetarian, but do not fret just yet carnivores! L’Escalier does not need meat to satisfy. Prices are very fair for what you get. The sandwich and soup or salad combo is highly recommended, which comes to just under $9, $8 if you show your student card. There are inventive varieties that range from pesto-feta to veggie pâté, but the best are arguably the goat cheese and apple cheddar. Each has an excellent balance between sweet

and salty, and the freshness of cucumber, tomato and alfalfa nicely accompanies the stronger tastes of the cheeses. It is served on multigrain bread with a tuft of alfalfa, some slices of vegetables drizzled with sticky balsamic vinegar and a choice of soup or salad. For those looking for a snack there are plenty of options like nachos, salads, samosas, hummus and even some gourmet pizzas for the more hungry. These range between $2.50 and $9, which makes them perfect to share between a couple of friends. In terms of drinks there is coffee, tea, cocktails, beer, wine and occasionally an interesting homemade juice blend, all ranging between $1.75 to $23.50. What makes this place special though is the atmosphere itself. There are always travelers and interesting characters waiting to be encountered. L’Escalier is located near Berri-Uqam metro, at 552 Ste-Catherine St.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

CITY

Food war : hot chocolate challenge

Warming up the semester with Kafein’s hot chocolate Marta Barnes Staff writer

Forget Romeo, Juliette’s true love is chocolate Caroline Crawford Contributor

Sure, we’re having a warm spell, but on damp and drafty January days, what’s better than curling up with some cocoa? More importantly, where’s the best place for a cozy mug or two? In terms of proximity, Kafein is hard to beat. A mere stone’s throw from the Sir George Williams campus, this favourite student sanctuary is right across from the library building. Kafein is of course known to Concordians as a place to jack-up on caffeine between classes, but the hot chocolate is worth more than some consideration. It may not come in the gourmet range of flavours offered at other cafés, but its modest choice between hazelnut, caramel and good, old-fashioned is plenty. After ordering, there’s time to admire the décor. Upstairs is a spread of café tables and chairs, excellent for anything between a quick chat with friends or a study session. The basement is set up as a lounge surrounded by red walls and crushed velvet chairs, creating a more relaxed and intimate place to laze and enjoy the DJ’s house music mix. The hot chocolate itself is served in a fat glass with cocoa powdered on top. It’s not so much hot as it is warm, and it has a vaguely granular texture, but it sure tastes homemade. The caramelflavoured hot chocolate sounds promising, but is in fact disappointing and does not taste like what you would expect. The hazelnut is indeed quite nutty. Surprisingly the best is the regular cocoa, which unlike the others, seems to be made with a dark chocolate base. Its thick, soul-warming richness puts it a cut above the rest. For the fair price of $3.75 per glass, there’s no excuse not to go. Winter’s never been more bearable. Grade: B Kafein is located on 1429 Bishop St.

Au Festin de Babette’s sweet winter pick-me-up is all we need

Caroline Crawford Contributor School has officially begun. We’re all in need of a little mood lifter to get us through the day; a pickme-up to help us battle through. One of Montreal’s hot spots to fill your need for a sinfully delicious drink is Au Festin de Babette, a quaint, French country-style café. From the moment you enter, the aroma of chocolate fills your lungs and warms your heart. Blackboard menus and French posters, such as vintage chocolate advertisements, decorate the room, giving it a cozy charm. Considering they specialize in chocolate, I had no choice but to try at least one of their assorted hot chocolates. After some reflection, I concluded that Le Babette and Le Dalmatien are two of the best hot chocolates I have had. You know a hot chocolate is good when your eyes go wide and your only response is your head nodding as your lips leave the rim of the mug. Le Dalmatien brings you that very reaction. Made of white chocolate and 55 per cent Belgian chocolate, it was a purely decadent, smooth, velvety drink, which resembled a melted Lindt chocolate bar; a taste that left me with a smile. Le Babette is a rich combination of 55 per cent Belgian chocolate, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. The mix of flavours burst onto your palette, allowing you to enjoy every single spice. The presentation was simple. There was no whipped cream, just dollops of frothed milk on Le Babette, allowing you to indulge in their specialty — chocolate. Prices range from $8.50 to $12 for food and $4 to $7 for drinks. A little pricy for the hot chocolate, but the quality is unbeatable.

With three different locations, Juliette et Chocolat is one staple in Montreal that people will recommend when you need that chocolate fix. The feel of each location is fast paced and busy. As you walk in, you hear the buzz of conversations, see the assortments of desserts and chocolates, and most importantly, smell the chocolate. It’s a distinct smell that is hard to ignore and easy to like. Although a little expensive, with prices ranging from $4.95 to $14.95 for food and $3.50 to $7.95 for drinks, there’s no denying the quality. They have a variety of chocolate drinks, making it very difficult to decide on just one. Although overwhelmed, I finally chose the “Grandma’s style hot chocolate” with dark semi-sweet chocolate, described as “for real chocoholics, extra thick and chocolaty.” They were not exaggerating. I was served a small bowl accompanied by a small jug that would normally be filled with milk. Luckily for me, it was filled with chocolate. I poured it in my bowl, took a sip and shocked my taste buds. It was pure chocolate; an incredibly thick and indulgent drink that should be had alone and with caution. Considering the richness, the portion size was a lot, forcing me to leave half of the jug full. Although delicious, it definitely could have used more milk, which they do offer in the classic style and the grandma style hot chocolates. Personally, despite the deliciousness and quality of food and chocolate, I find Juliette et Chocolat a little pricey and overrated, but I will leave it up to you decide how much chocolate you can handle. Grade: B+ Juliette et Chocolat is located on 1615 St-Denis St., 3600 St-Laurent St., or 377 Laurier Ave. W.

GRAPHIC BY

JENNIFER KWAN. PHOTOS FROM LEFT

TO RIGHT: BY WRITER, BY LESLIE SHACHTER, PHOTO BY WRITER, CHOCOLATE -FILLED GLASS FROM FLICKR,

Grade: AAu Festin de Babette is located on 4085 StDenis St.

AU FESTIN DE BABETTE BY LESLIE SCHACHTER, CHOCOLATE-FILLED ESPRESSO CUP FROM FLICKR, CHOCOLATES FROM AU FESTIN DE BABETTE BY LESLIE SCHAHCTER. TRUFFLES FROM

arts 8

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com MOVIES

What’s worth watching in 2013? The Concordian’s predictions for the new year of cinema Colin McMahon Staff writer 2012 WAS A VERY STRONG YEAR FOR MOVIES. For the first time since its rule change, the Academy Awards might have reason to nominate a full list of 10 films for “Best Picture.” With the close of epics like Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises and Spielberg’s thought-provoking, performance-driven Lincoln, 2012 cinema definitely had legs to stand on. The real question now is what is there to look forward to? What will be the films to watch in 2013?

Box Office Blockbusters

Star Trek into Darkness: This follow up to J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot reunites the stellar cast of Chris Pine, Karl Urban and Zachary Quinto — Kirk, McCoy and Spock respectively. With what appears to be a darker tone than the first film, Star Trek into Darkness is poised to raise the stakes and the income for this franchise. Add in the enormous presence of Benedict Cumberbatch as the new, shadowy villain and you already have a drastic improvement from the first film’s Eric Bana.

Jackson’s return to Middle-earth continues in this second installment of The Hobbit. While it is still unclear where the break will come, it is very likely that this film will contain the entirety of the Smaug confrontation so those looking for the dazzling special effects of a dragon in full battle need to look no further. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage all return to their roles and welcome newcomer Benedict Cumberbatch as the film’s villain. Man of Steel: The likely candidate for largest blockbuster that is not a sequel, Man of Steel puts director Zack Snyder at the helm of realizing the Nolan brothers’ vision of Superman. With a far less cheesy approach than 2006’s Superman Returns, it will be interesting to see if this Superman is the right one for this generation. Actor Henry Cavill has big shoes to fill as the protagonist.

For Laughs

Anchorman: The Legend Continues: Will Ferrell returns as Ron Burgundy in a sequel that has long been demanded for by fans. With Ferrell’s declining popularity at the box office (Land of the Lost, Semi-Pro), it will be interesting to see if this film represents a return of comedic genius or a last-ditch effort to cash in on established property. This is the End: This film starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Emma Watson, Jonah Hill and a host of other comedic talent, all as themselves, takes a much-needed humourous approach to the Mayan apocalypse nonsense of 2012. Want to see how a bunch of comedians would react to the end of the world? Give this one a look.

Scares

Graphic from Flickr

every bit as disturbed and bloody as the original. While horror remakes have been truly disappointing in the past few years (Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street) this adaptation might be one to watch, despite the lack of Bruce Campbell.

The Award Winners The Great Gatsby: Based on one of the great works of literature, this drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio looks like a surefire award winner. Elysium: Director Neill Blomkamp returns from stunning the world with District 9 in 2009. This time, he has a budget and actors like Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. This may very well be the film of the year as science fiction claims an even tighter hold on cinema.

Iron Man 3: The third film of Marvel’s Iron Man series and part of the wonderful world of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 brings Robert Downey Jr. back into the role of playboy-philanthropist Tony Stark. This time, Ben Kingsley plays the archvillain, The Mandarin. With a new director onboard, this movie could represent the sequel that fans wanted after the semi-disappointing hodgepodge that was Iron Man 2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Peter Evil Dead: This remake of the 1981 classic looks

DANCE

Dance festival Bouge d’ici gets January moving Ariana Trigueros-Corbo Staff writer In case you weren’t aware, January in Montreal signals the launch of the upcoming theatre season, in all of its glory, as well as an impressive amount of performing arts festivals. On deck this week is Bouge d’ici, a local contemporary dance festival that is being hosted at MainLine Theatre from Jan. 11 to Jan. 19. Amy Blackmore, the artistic director of the festival, an ex-Concordia student and one of the founders of the festival, explained that back in 2008, while she was still a dance student at the university, she was frustrated with the lack of opportunities being offered to students to showcase their work. As a result, she and eight of her choreographer friends set out to make opportunities of their own. “A lot of us, when we started the festival,

were being told we couldn’t be accepted. That’s when we decided to make a path for ourselves, to take our fate into our own hands.” The first edition of the festival was held at Ctrl Lab, the tiny (yet infamous, considering how many Montreal artists have débuted there) gallery space on St-Laurent St. that closed down last year. That first year there was barely enough seating space for 35 people and it was a Concordia-centric event. Three years later, Bouge d’ici is on to its fourth edition and is welcoming participants from a variety of institutions, such as UQÀM, École supérieure de ballet du Québec and Tangente. The choice of venue is not a coincidence. Blackmore explains that they were looking for a venue that wouldn’t be so “institutional-like,” a more relaxed atmosphere than the one that traditionally accompanies the kind of dance show that you might see at Place des Arts, for example.

“We want people to come and enjoy a show that’s affordable. Come to MainLine, have a beer, relax and just have a good time,” she said. Bouge d’ici’s most popular show is Common Space and it’s the very core of the festival. The premise of the show is to pair together mentor choreographers and dancers, rendering the festival not only an opportunity to showcase potential, but also an opportunity to grow and learn. This year’s edition will showcase 11 choreographers, with 10 minutes allocated to each one’s performance. Last year Common Space sold out at all four showings. They’ve decided to add a fifth show this year and in doing so, they hope to increase their turn out. Bouge d’ici is anchored on clear and explicit principles: accessibil-

ity, mentoring, development, facilitation and creation. Blackmore is hopeful for the future of the festival: “The people we work with move on and do great things. We hope to be the stepping stone for them.”

Tuesday, January 15, 2012

CINEMA POLITICA

Desensitization to suffering

A harrowing look into the shady organizational relief efforts in post-earthquake Haiti Ayan Chowdhury Staff writer

hey say “if it bleeds, it leads,” but is anyone still watching during the grueling months and years of recovery? As you may remember, an earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. Roughly 220,000 people are estimated to have died, and a further 1.5 million were left without a home. Before the quake, the country’s population was approximately 9 million. Now, speaking in the past tense seems to be an unfortunate habit in post-earthquake Haiti, which looks but a faint shadow of its former self. Haiti: Where Did The Money Go? (2011) is written, produced and directed by Michele Mitchell, a former political anchor with CNN Headline News. She and her team travel to Haiti 10 months after the earthquake, hoping to find out “what happened to all those good intentions and all that money?” The film’s opening sequence shows the aftermath of a country in physical ruins, as looming dust quickly engulfs the capital city of Portau-Prince. In a grand “expression of solidarity,” $2.2 billion was raised globally through private donations which went to non-governmental aid organizations in charge of disaster relief. The cries of help were heard, but were they really answered? In all, 1300 makeshift camps have been built all across Haiti. The filmmakers showcase Camp Canaan II (5,000 people), Camp Carradeux, (32,000 people) and the most prominent, Champ-de-Mars (16,000 people), located right

across from the now-abandoned Presidential Palace. Yet, as of September 2011, nearly all of those displaced by the earthquake continued to live in shoddy, overcrowded camps hastily built by NGOs in dry and humid areas. Their tarp roofs are held by tree branches, their latrines ill-maintained, and their clean drinking water almost non-existent. And yet, Haiti holds more NGOs per capita than any other country in the world. This film highlights the systematic mismanagement of funds and the abuse of trust committed by those sworn to help. The lack of communication and lack of coordination results in uneven and arbitrary decisions in relief fund distribution. This leads to unfortunate situations in which a camp is given soap, but no clean water. Yvette Clarke, a congresswoman from New York, boldly states that “Every NGO is its own kingdom,” and that they have in fact “supplanted the government.” Mark Snyder, who has extensively travelled across Haiti as a volunteer, says that the relief efforts are at the absolute “minimal standards.” Since there are no legal requirements, binding rules, nor any recognized standards in the aid humanitarian world, who can be held accountable? Mitchell uses concrete facts and figures, anecdotal evidence straight from the ground in Haiti, and interviews with leading journalists, doctors and professors to help illustrate her case. In one particularly infuriating scene, she and her film crew use a hidden-camera to follow several NGO workers to a downtown restaurant where they’re seen happily wining and

IF YOU DONATED TO A HAITI RELIEF FUND, THE INFORMATION IN THIS FILM MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU.

dining on Bordeaux, steak, lobster and escargot. This restaurant is located right across from a camp. In contrast, 25-year-old Wilna Vital who, despite the billions of dollars raised as a result of the disaster, still lives in a poorly-built camp and she and her children remain malnourished. Thus there are several uncomfortable questions to ponder, a central one being: to what extent are major disaster relief organizations (such as the American Red Cross) profiteering from the very same disasters they have been built to protect people against? In Port-au-Prince, amidst the people aimlessly walking on dirt roads, the sound of nearby honking vehicles and others looking straight

into the camera, dejected to their fates, the backdrop is reminiscent of a war-torn city. Debris and broken stones litter the streets and the buildings barely stand, nearly crumbled. For many Haitians, the sights and sounds of urban life linger despite the inescapable ruins. One unidentified man wonders why he “always sees the same things, but nothing ever changes.” Haiti: Where Did The Money Go? screens Monday Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. in Room H-110, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. This Montreal premiere screening is co-presented by Canada Haiti Action Network & Rézistans Haïtienne. For more information, visit www. cinemapolitica.org/concordia.

REVIEW

What does it mean when a bad man saves someone’s life? Film short uses meme-centric Kony to question good and evil Colin McMahon Staff writer

t is difficult to fully articulate an idea in less than five minutes. It is such a skill that class projects are given in many Concordia courses with the exact intention of developing that ability. Precise thought, word choice and presentation are needed to correctly convey the speaker’s intention. While it is a rare feat to articulate a full-bodied idea in such a minimal amount of time, Vancouver filmmaker and journalist Jodie Martinson’s Stronghearted conveys two. This short film, which is a splendid mix of both live-action and animation, tells part of the life of Evelyn Amony, specifically her first encounter with Joseph Kony when

she was 12-years-old. Many will remember Kony as a popular Internet meme that spread across the web early last year. History will most likely remember him as the leader of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army and a kidnapper of children who essentially created his own cult where he viewed himself as a kind of divine prophet. This short film provides an opportunity to gain insight into who the man Kony is beyond the Internet and the media. What the film presents about this man, and more importantly how it is presented, provides much of the mental fuel packed into Stronghearted’s message. Protagonist Amony narrates her first ordeal with the Lord’s Resistance Army with shocking honesty and realism. Her presence is the sole part of the film that is live-action, which helps bring home the fact that this is a real story that happened to a real person. The surreal drawing of Kony goes a long way to distance him from an actual human being. At first glance, he is more boogeyman than

man. Yet this is not a story about how Kony raped Amony, or of how he beat her and forced her into servitude: this is the account of how he saved her life. This is an odd subject for one of the most demonized human beings still living on the planet. That is what makes it such an important piece of filmmaking. It is easy to forget that people and not monsters are responsible for the atrocities of humanity’s history. Stronghearted in no means defends Kony, but it provides an instance where even an “evil” man does an act of “good.” These portrayals are needed to showcase the duality that many believe exists in the human soul. Jodie Martinson could have made this film two hours — it is a credit to her directing skill that she was able to accomplish so much in so little time. Stronghearted is available for viewing free online at http://www.nfb.ca/film/stronghearted.

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

REVIEW

Plug in your headphones and put on your reading glasses A review of life on the road in J.B. Staniforth’s The Deadly Snakes: Real Rock and Roll Tonights Andy Fidel Staff writer Author J.B. Staniforth takes you on tour with The Deadly Snakes in his new novel, The Deadly Snakes: Real Rock and Roll Tonight. Download some of their tunes, roll up the book, slip it in your bag or back pocket and become a groupie as you follow one of Canada’s most unique bands from their early beginnings as high school friends to their break-up. The Deadly Snakes was a garage-rock and indie band from Toronto that formed in 1996. The group began as “The Boys Night Out Band,” playing in a basement in their early teens. But all that changed when they were dared to perform at a friend’s birthday party, which took place in a laundromat. However, in order to do so, they needed a legitimate name. That’s when The Deadly Snakes was born. “The joke was that we had to be, like, a band, with a real band name. Then the band went on and we were stuck with it,” band leader Max McCabe-Lokos was quoting as saying in the book. Little did they know that this gig would set their music career on fire. Young, talented, wild and loud, The Deadly Snakes can hardly be contained in a book nor could their music be hushed. It is a cacophony of vocals, guitars, trumpet, bass, mandolin, saxophone and percussion. Their energy and peppery music was instantly recognized and admired. “You were supposed to bump into people,

knock things over, break stuff, get someone’s drink down your shirt and wear it all with a grin—because it sounds that good,” writes Staniforth. The novel is full of memorable real-life characters; McCabe-Lokos is the fiery band leader who takes his pants off mid-song or stands on his organ during their performances with “fidgety double-espresso energy.” André Ethier on the other hand is the quiet and mature band member who wrote songs with the “placid ease of an old-timer in a spaghetti western.” Their boldness is what distinguished them from any other band at the time. They did not hide their youth and spirit, but let it explode on stage. “If you respect youth, you give them their space to be young. You behave like your age and be true to your age,” said Ethier. “Something that’s incredibly uninteresting is hearing people trying to artificially recreate youth when that isn’t their lives.” Staniforth does not only recall the peak moments of The Deadly Snakes, but also their downfalls. The immediacy of his writing heightens the thrill of touring internationally and throughout Canada, as well as the disappointments that arose as tensions grew between the band members. It is quite remarkable how Staniforth is able to translate real outbursts of jealousy, bickering and fist-fights into words. With its ups and downs and rock and roll drama, this book is sure to intrigue both fans and those who have yet to hear the band.

ARTICULATE

An Unexpected Journey not a Phantom Menace

Critics dismayed but fans hooray The Hobbit Colin McMahon Staff writer The undisputed blockbuster this past holiday season was the highly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first part in Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy based off the book by the same name written by J. R. R. Tolkien. While the film has merited an enormous box office success, (over $21 million so far), the film has met with a decidedly mixed reaction from professional critics. Scoring a mere 65 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower 58 per cent on Metacritic, The Hobbit finds itself in similar company to another trilogy-first of this generation, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. According to the current opinion

held by many critics, Peter Jackson is poised to repeat George Lucas’ controversial exercise in storytelling, yet according to the movie-going public, this is not the case. The Rotten Tomatoes summary, which is based on all of its critical reviews, summarizes The Hobbit as, “an earnest, visually resplendent trip, but the film’s deliberate pace robs the material of some of its majesty.” The Phantom Menace fared equally bad in its summary: “Lucas needs to improve on the plot and character development, but there’s plenty of eye candy to behold,” read the review. Both reviews stress the films’ visual prowess but emphasize problems in the script. While The Hobbit may have a deliberate pace, is this a fair criticism? While it does render an experience significantly different from its source material, The Hobbit is a far more competently made film and stands well on its own merits.

There are several key areas where The Hobbit and The Phantom Menace vary greatly. The essential difference, however, is in the strength of characters. In The Hobbit, Bilbo follows a clear path of character growth throughout and serves, as an outsider, to introduce the audience to the world of Middle-earth. There is no clear protagonist in The Phantom Menace, that burden is split four ways between the characters of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala and none of them serve as a conduit to introduce the audience to George Lucas’ fantastical Star Wars world. This cripples the storytelling capabilities of The Phantom Menace to the point that you could start at Episode II without missing anything of real relevance to the trilogy’s plot. The Hobbit serves as the first part of a trilogy whereas The Phantom Menace comes off as the most expensive prologue ever made.

Much of the film’s criticisms centre on scenes that have little impact on the current film and were not present in the source material (The White Council, Radagast the Brown, Azog the Defiler). There is an entire subplot present in The Hobbit film trilogy which did not exist in the book. This may anger some book enthusiasts but really, it is hard to judge a beginning without knowing the middle and the end. While critics are currently judging Jackson’s Hobbit harshly, fan support has been present. The Hobbit ranks far higher with user reviews on both Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes as well as enjoying an 8.4 on IMDB. This differs greatly from fan reaction to The Phantom Menace. Proof that Peter Jackson may yet be doing more good than given credit for. As Gandalf states at the beginning of The Hobbit, “every good story deserves some embellishment.”

music

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com PROFILE

All Time Low reaching a high point The high school side project that achieved global recognition Jordie Yeager Contributor High school bands are common enough, but how often do they become household names? For All Time Low, that’s exactly what happened through ambition, talent and the love of music. Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Rian Dawson and Zack Merrick were still in high school when they established All Time Low in 2003. The poppunk band started off covering songs, but progressed quickly – by their senior year, they were signed with Hopeless Records and had released their first studio album, The Party Scene. In the 10 years since their founding, the band has been thriving: they tour almost constantly, and their fifth studio album, Don’t Panic, was released in October. “This band has never really slowed down,” said Gaskarth, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist. “We’re always shooting those new goals that we set for ourselves.” As anyone with siblings or roommates knows, being with the same people for an extended period of time can create conflict regardless of how close you are. For these rockers, however, that’s never been a problem.

“We’re a band that functions primarily by being on the road and playing for our fans, so it’s easy to handle because it’s such a big part of what drives us,” said Gaskarth. “We grow every time we go on the road, and we get enough time off that we keep our sanity.” Sanity-saving or not, time off doesn’t seem to be as essential to All Time Low as staying true to their roots. Their fourth album, Dirty Work, was produced by Interscope Records, and the experience wasn’t something the band wanted to define their work. “There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen,” said Gaskarth. “People were giving suggestions where suggestions weren’t really needed. It made for a disjointed experience.” After splitting with Interscope and heading back to Hopeless Records, they were determined to produce their next album their way. Gaskarth’s pride in the band’s integrity was palpable as he described their latest musical process. “We really prefer the approach we took with Don’t Panic – writing the album free of analysis from outsiders, working on it with one producer and not losing touch with what the album’s supposed to be,” he said. “The key point was getting back to the basics and making a true All Time Low record. It was the story that needed to be told about the band. There was definitely a moment when we could have been defeated, and we didn’t let it stop us.” Their sense of loyalty isn’t limited to their

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : ZACHARY MERICK, ALEX GASKARTH, JACK BARAKAT AND RIAN DAWSON.

band, though. They’ve also developed a strong relationship with their fans. “The big thing for us is to really encourage people to be themselves and believe in who they are,” said Gaskarth. “We’ve been exposed to a lot of people who feel different or cast out, and a big message in this band is to know that you’re not alone and things will improve.” With the new year in full swing, All Time Low is looking towards the future. “We want to step up the live show in 2013. A big part of it will be playing the new albums and putting emphasis on songs that we haven’t

focused on in the past – giving people that have seen us before something new.” They also want to cover the world again – their music has spread as far as Southeast Asia, South America and Europe. “Besides that,” said Gaskarth, “we want to put out something new that we can surprise people with. As long as people are there to listen, we’re going to keep making music.” All Time Low plays Metropolis with Yellowcard on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $31.70.

New Music Canada: Light Company With members in two provinces, these post-rockers are bound like glue Jenna Monney-Lupert Contributor

ot many Canadian bands have had this type of exposure before even having released a debut EP. Light Company has toured throughout Peterborough, Toronto and Oshawa and have recently booked six new shows, including one in Montreal. The alternative/post-rock band of four from Peterborough, Ont. was founded in September 2010 by vocalist/guitarist Michael Langiewicz, who has always been excited about the prospect of playing in a legitimate band with his brother Adam, instead of jamming in their basement. “When I began Light Company, I didn’t have a clear idea of where I wanted the project to go, but I knew I wanted to dabble in the genre of post-rock,” said Michael, a Concordia communications student. The name Light Company was inspired from the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, which follows an American platoon called “Easy Company” through their European campaign. “The unity of Easy Company was truly inspiring for me and I really wanted to build a band off of the same brotherhood a company of soldiers have,” admitted Michael. After having picked up their third mem-

ber, bassist/vocalist Lukas Wojcicki through a mutual friend, the trio began writing songs in November 2010. However, things slowly began to fall apart after Wojcicki moved to Toronto and Michael to Montreal. After a year-long hiatus, the band decided to give it another go, and in December 2011, they recruited guitarist and vocalist Shayne Ernst. “It was the greatest thing that could’ve happened,” said Michael. “For the first time, I was able to put a lot more time and energy into writing interesting vocal melodies and our sound began evolving in a very positive way.” With musical inspirations stemming from Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, M83 and We Were Promised Jetpacks—to name a few— Light Company creates original music that is emotionally driven. “Our ideas are born from the emotions we feel in that certain moment when the song’s being written,” said percussionist Adam. However, that wasn’t the case for the band’s first single “Each to a Grain” which, strangely enough, was inspired by ants. “I was sitting under a tree, reading a book and got distracted observing a colony of ants,” recalled Michael, who wrote the song in high school. “I know they may be super lame, but the complexity of their work caught my attention and I thought it could be a cool thing to write about.” Light Company is broken down by instrument and can be categorized into a multitude

of genres including ambient, rock, metal, post-rock and more recently, elements of pop. “With all these elements combined, we strive to make post-rock more accessible to a larger crowd by creating a new soundscape for the listener by including evolving styles of music,” explained Adam. One of the biggest challenges plaguing the band, however, is the THE FOUR MEMBERS OF CANADIAN BAND LIGHT COMPANY. fact that three band members are Despite the challenges, the band members living across Ontario, while one is located in are looking forward. Montreal. “I think I speak for everyone when I say we “We’re essentially in a long distance relationship,” said Wojcicki. “It’s a bit hard to keep want to make this band the rest of our lives,” momentum moving forward living in four sep- said Michael. “We’ve got our sights set on sucarate cities, but I think it’s a challenge that is cess. We want to be able to play festival circuits, headline our own tours and play tent stages. I slowly dissipating.” When it comes to songwriting, Adam says can’t stress how much we want to do this.” “If we could inspire anyone to follow their the band tends to write the inner workings of their songs individually and then send their dream in music, I think we’re on the right path,” ideas to each other in audio files. After everyone said Adam. With their debut EP The Boy Who Sat On has a rough idea of where they want the song to Ocean Floors still in the works, Light Company go, the group gets together to jam it out. When you’re a band that’s trying to break is hoping it will be available online in both digiout onto the scene, getting people to listen to tal and hard copies by late February or March. your music isn’t always easy. “Constant badgering of our family and Light Company will be performing at Casa friends to listen to our tunes is how we started, del Popolo/Sala Rossa (4873 St. Laurent Blvd.) but luckily enough, we’ve collected a base of as part of the Peace by P.E.A.C.E Montreal fans already willing to advertise our songs to annual Benefit Show on Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $10. their friends as well,” said Adam.

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

PROFILE

Yellowcard gets reacquainted with planes, trains, and automobiles North America and Europe are just the tip of the iceberg Audrey Folliot Staff writer After seeing how Montrealers welcomed the Florida-native band at the Vans Warped Tour this summer, the announcement of Yellowcard’s show at the Metropolis on Jan. 16 is sure to please local fans. After a few years without touring on Canadian ground, the pop-punk band is beginning 2013 with a full Canadian tour, stopping by Montreal first. The group of high school friends that is now Yellowcard met some 13 years ago while attending arts school. After giving collective songwriting and music-making a shot, they had no idea that they would one day make a living out of it. They released a few EPs here and there, but when they released their first major record, Ocean Avenue, in 2003, they were finally propelled into the spotlight. “It’s a dream come true to be a musician and get to travel the world and hang out with people, listeners and bands that enjoy what we have created,” said Sean Mackin, the band’s violinist and backup vocalist. Known for their unique sound characterized by the incorporation of the violin into their rock songs, mixed with lyrics that reach out to a very wide audience, Yellowcard has accumulated loyal fans since day one. With five studio albums released since 2003 — Ocean Avenue, Lights and Sounds, Paper Walls, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes and their latest, Southern Air, which came out last August — the band has a lot to be proud of. “Whether it’s Ocean Avenue or Southern Air, we have a very positive charge in our music, we’re very hopeful, we’re all pretty motivated people and Ryan [Key] does a great job at sharing that in our music,” explained Mackin. “That’s very important for us. There’s a lot of challenge in everyone’s life, whether it be illness or just everyday things. Music to us is a celebration, and we hope that it’s a positive experience for people to listen to Yellowcard songs.” Even after all these years, Mackin, lead vocalist and guitarist Key, drummer Longineu Parsons III, bassist Josh Portman and guitarist Ryan

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JOHN PORTMAN, LONGINEU PARSONS III, RYAN KEY, RYAN MENDEZ AND SEAN MACKIN HAVE RELEASED FIVE STUDIO ALBUMS SINCE 2005.

Mendez still love touring as much as they used to. But in between the releases of Paper Walls and When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, the band decided to step back for a while after being on tour non-stop for about eight years. They took a two-year break from touring and recording to re-evaluate their lives and spend time with family and friends. But they soon got back on the train, aware that they were doing what they loved and had been missing it more than they would have thought. Ready to live the dream some more, they signed with a new label, Hopeless Records, and put out When You’re Through Thinking, Say

Yes in 2011, followed by a tour that brought them to more than 30 countries around the world. The fan response to this album was widely positive, and fueled the energy that the guys put into their current release, Southern Air. Yellowcard has a lot going on for 2013, with their North American tour just beginning, followed by a European tour that will bring them to countries they have never visited before. With two albums released in only two years, the band will focus on touring and is not planning on recording; but worry not, they never stop writing new material. After having been on tour together for what

seems like forever, Yellowcard has yet to disappoint fans with each new release, and the band is still going strong. “The great thing about Yellowcard is that our music and what we create together means more and is bigger than any of us individually,” said Mackin. “We understand the kind of presence that our songs have, and it’s hard to imagine having a greater opportunity than playing with Yellowcard.” Yellowcard plays Metropolis with All Time Low on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $31.70.

MIXTAPE With the 2013 Oscar nominations having just been announced, tabloids, movie enthusiasts, and all-of-a-sudden film lovers everywhere are making bets on who will take home the most prestigious golden statue of them all. While the legitimacy of the fairness and objectiveness of the proceedings is disputed each and every year, one thing holds true despite all the flak: the Academy Awards acknowledge some really incredible movies. And what is bound to accompany said noteworthy films? Some equally noteworthy music, of course. Whether it’s our beloved Pinocchio’s “When You Wish Upon a Star” or the more recent “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” a classic is born each year with the crowning of “Best Song.”

The Oscars Through the Ages Compiled by Stephanie Ullman Interim music editor

SIDE A: Oldies but goodies: pre-2000

SIDE B: The millennials

1. “Over the Rainbow” - The Wizard of Oz - 1939 2. “When You Wish Upon A Star” Pinocchio - 1940 3. “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” - Song of the South - 1947 4. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - 1969 6. “Fame” - Fame - 1980 7. “Flashdance ... What A Feeling” Flashdance - 1983 8. “(I’ve Had) The Time of my Life” Dirty Dancing - 1987 9. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” The Lion King - 1994 10. “My Heart Will Go On” - Titanic 1997

11. “If I Didn’t Have You” - Monsters, Inc. - 2001 12. “Lose Yourself” - 8 Mile - 2002 13. “Into the West” - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - 2003 14. “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” Hustle & Flow - 2005 15. “I Need to Wake Up” - An Inconvenient Truth - 2006 16. “Falling Slowly” - Once - 2007 17. “Jai Ho” - Slumdog Millionaire 2008 18. “The Weary Kind” - Crazy Heart 2009 19. “We Belong Together” - Toy Story 3 - 2010 20. “Man or Muppet” - The Muppets - 2011

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

TOP 10 recording artist Kid Cudi is known for his genrebending musical style; blending psychedelia, rock and hip hop. Boasting collaborations with Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Ratatat, expect the overall tone of his third studio album to be “positive and confident.” 8. Sun Kil Moon and The Album Leaf - Perils From the Sea (05/2013, Caldo Verde): Perils From The Sea is the debut collaboration by The Album Leaf’s multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle and Sun Kil Moon singer Mark Kozelek. This surprising collaboration will feature Kozelek’s narrative songwriting, harmonizing with LaValle’s hypnotic synth soundscape.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2013 Compiled by Paul Traunero Staff writer

10. Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste (02/2013, Interscope): Azealia Banks first made her mark on the music scene with her debut single and YouTube hit “212.” This outspoken Harlem, N.Y. rapper is being compared to Lauryn Hill and promises that her debut album will be “stylish and authentic.” 9. Kid Cudi - Indicud (03/2013, Universal Republic/GOOD Music): American hip hop

7. Lady Gaga - ARTPOP (?/2013, Interscope Records): Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga has made a huge impact on mainstream music and pop culture. Though very little has been confirmed regarding her third studio album, according to Gaga, ARTPOP will be “very risky” and will allegedly feature some sort of multimedia experience. 6. Christopher Owens – Lysandre (01/2013, Fat Possum Records): Quoted as being an “intriguing departure from his previous work,” Lysandre is Christopher Owens’ first solo album since leaving indie rock group Girls. With “trumpets and flutes abound,” the album is somewhat of a romantic ‘70s drama. The concept is loosely inspired by a woman Owens met while on tour with Girls. 5. The Knife - Shaking The Habitual (04/2013, Mute): Swedish electronic duo The Knife have not released a proper studio album since Silent Shout in 2006. Infamously media-shy, they released a teaser video on their official website

stating: “Music can be so meaningless. We had to find lust. We asked our friends and lovers to help us.” Expect sexy results. 4. Arcade Fire - Title Unknown (?/2013, Mercury Records): Following their Grammy awardwinning album The Suburbs, Montreal’s Arcade Fire have been hard at work trying to top their incredible achievement. Allegedly working with fellow musician and producer James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) and sampling new tracks for their fans, we can expect a strong release with their new album sometime in 2013. 3. MIA - Matangi (04/2013, Mercury Records) With the release date for the album pushed back by her record label due to the album sounding “too positive,” the “Bad Girls” singer describes her fourth studio album as “Paul Simon on acid.” With a bit of reworking, we can expect Matangi to sound like an anthology of her previous work. 2. Jamie Lidell - Jamie Lidell (02/2013, Warp) Produced entirely by Lidell in his Nashville, Tenn. studio, his forthcoming self-titled LP is described as being a “bright burst of kaleidoscopic colour.” Fans can expect the same playful Lidell from his earlier albums. With his newfound stability and creative freedom, this self-titled release is sure to be his most impactful. 1. Villagers - Awayland (01/2013, Domino) Following his Mercury-nominated debut, Becoming a Jackal, Villagers’ Conor O’Brien is releasing his sophomore effort, full of Irish charm. “It takes you on a trip through a musical landscape, as a tribute to your sense of wonder. It travels through space and time and leaves you back for dinner.”

Quick Spins

Chief Keef - Finally Rich (2012)

Girls’ Generation - I Got A Boy (2013)

Dropkick Murphys - Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)

Lyricism is an aspect of rap that purists would rank as most essential, talent-wise. Chief Keef is no purist, and he has no shortage of talent. Throughout Finally Rich, Keef rarely supplies anything that would qualify as technical rap skills. What he does possess, however, is undeniable energy, personality and tunefulness. On opening track “Love Sosa,” Keef delivers a simple, repetitive, but extremely infectious melody - the first of many to grace Finally Rich’s 15 tracks. These mantra-style hooks range from the Future-channeling autotuned gurgles of “Citgo” to the absurdly simplistic “Laughing To The Bank” (with a chorus that literally incorporates a hearty “HA HA HA”). Much of the production is left with in-house beatmaker Young Chop, who is as much responsible for this winning formula as Keef himself. Like it or not, Keef has made an effective and rewarding album with next to no lyrical ability in the classical sense.

I Got A Boy is the latest release from iconic KPop group Girls’ Generation, also known as SNSD. Widely notorious for their syrupy sweetsounding breakout single “Gee” in 2009, the group’s fourth studio album has gone beyond the boundaries of pop by experimenting with various music genres. The album has 10 tracks, yielding a magical blend of sweet voices syncing harmoniously with a catchy beat that leaves you hooked. Some of the album’s notable songs include “Express 999,” which has a nostalgic, upbeat ‘80s/’90s sound. “Dancing Queen” - not to be confused for ABBA’s - rings a bell for many music junkies. It borrows a beat from Duffy’s “Mercy.” The one to pay attention to is “I Got A Boy.” Sporting a strong layer of hip-hop, you’ll find yourself humming subconsciously when you listen to the catchy chorus. I Got A Boy - both the album and single itself - are definitive ear candy.

Dropkick Murphys, the Celtic punk band from Quincy, Mass., has released their eighth studio record, entitled Signed and Sealed in Blood. Produced by Ted Hutt (famous for his work with SideOneDummy Records’ Flogging Molly and Gaslight Anthem), the album was released on the bands label, Born and Bred, on Jan. 8. If you are Dropkick fan, you’ll love this record, most likely because they haven’t tried to fix a working formula - a formula comprised of fastpaced punk guitar, bass and drums, coupled with lyrical drinking anthems, growling vocals and a set of bagpipes to boot. The album is under 41 minutes in length, providing an excellent collection of Irish-fueled goodness. While the lack of innovation does show in the band’s latest effort (they feature AC/DC-like musical composition), it’s hard to argue with music this energetic and entertaining. Crack open a beer and sing-along!

Trial Track: “Love Sosa”

Trial Track: “I Got A Boy”

Trial track: “Rose Tattoo”

7/10

- Trevor Smith

7/10

- Saturn de los Angeles

8/10

- A.J. Cordeiro

Andrew Guilbert Staff writer

Good Guy Gibson

Zambonis guitarist Dave Schneider experienced every musician’s worst nightmare last month when Delta Airlines baggage handlers destroyed his prized 1965 Gibson ES-335 guitar. Upon arriving at his Buffalo destination, Schneider took a video of his guitar case wedged between a service elevator and a rail on the loading dock and posted it online. Now Gibson has stepped up and offered to repair the guitar free of charge, in addition to gifting him an anniversary re-release of a Gibson 1963 ES-335 on the house. “We all know Gibson guitars rock,” Schneider wrote in an email to Yahoo! news, who first broke the story last week. “But at this moment, the Gibson company is rocking even harder than Pete Townshend’s Les Paul.” The Zambonis front man called the guitar company’s offer “the cherry on top of the best musical nightmare ever.”

The Twitter of Mr. Rager

In a follow-up to his blasting of Universal last year, in which he claimed the label treated his album WZRD “like some indie side project tax write off,” Kid Cudi has attacked Republic, his current label, for not getting his songs enough radio airplay. Cudi let loose in a series of tweets last Tuesday, pointing out that his two latest singles, “King Wizard” and “Just What I Am” had each received more than 3 million views on YouTube and blamed the fact that this was not translating into radio on Republic. The choicest tweets of Cudi’s rant are presented to you now without any further commentary or correction: “To my label, I swear to all that is fuckin holy in this world, if things dont change soon, theres gonna be some problems” “I worked too hard on all this shit. Producing, writing, directing AND executing the shit proper. I did my part, I put in work. Wtf” “Yall kno I cuts no slack. Not w my music. Every song is my life. A piece of my fuckin tormented soul. It matters to me. I give a fuck” “Trinidad James got 4.1 million views on his hit (rightfully so), and I hear that jam EVERYWHERE. Wheres my fuckin spins???”

Motorheadphones, ‘nuff said

This week’s prize for cleverest branding goes to British rockers Motorhead, who’ve partnered up with techie entrepreneurs Anders Nicklassen and Ulf Sandberg to bring you their new line of ‘Motorheadphones’. “People say we’ve never sold out,” joked frontman Lemmy Kilmister. “No one ever approached us.” The new line of audio gear consists of two headphones and six in-ear models, which are already being monikered ‘anti-Beats’ due to their focus on enhancing mid-range sounds over the traditional emphasis on bass that was such a prominent feature of Dr. Dre’s headgear. The reason behind the decision, as Kilmister puts it, is that an overemphasis on bass is “like you’re listening through a towel.” The legendary rocker also expressed hope that his more tech-savvy associates do a good job on the project, joking, “It sucks killing people.”

sports

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com MEN’S SOCCER

Concordia earns a clean sheet in coach Sutton’s debut A goal in each half gave Concordia a win over the McGill Redmen in the indoor season-opener Kevin Duarte Sports editor Two months after the end of the fall season, university soccer was back with the start of the 2013 winter season. The Concordia Stingers men’s soccer team faced neighbours McGill at home in the Stinger Dome on Sunday afternoon. A few days prior to the match, the Stingers announced former MLS goalkeeper Greg Sutton would take over the squad as head coach, replacing long-time coach Lloyd Barker. Barker became a full-time soccer analyst for Fox Soccer News and Soccer Central. Sutton steps into the vacant head coach role after serving as one of the team’s assistant coaches in the fall season. Sutton and assistant coach François Bastien will lead the team this winter. “I think it is an opportunity that’s a privilege and honour to be a part of,” said Sutton. “I think this program has a lot to build on and I look forward to trying to help it grow.” Sutton said he doesn’t foresee too many immediate changes to the squad in the future. He praises Barker’s previous work and is looking to continue to improve Concordia’s soccer program. “I think Lloyd has done a great job,” he said. “He’s started something pretty good here, and like I said, I’m just going to continue to build on it.” Sutton’s first challenge as Stingers head coach was a derby match against rivals McGill. The match started off with both sides trying to dictate the tempo of the match. Both teams tried to implement a strong possessionbased game right from the opening kickoff. The first good scoring chance came in the 22nd minute. The Redmen worked their way down the left flank and exposed the Stingers’ defence. A ball found McGill’s Simon Bignet atop the 18-yard-box, but he rolled his shot inches off first half goalkeeper Nicholas Giannone’s far post. In the 30th minute, the Stingers broke the stalemate. Left midfielder Sammy Tork perfect-

THE CONCORDIA STINGERS DOME LOCATED AT CONU’S LOYOLA CAMPUS IS HOME TO THE INDOOR MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAMS. PHOTO FROM FLICKR.

ly controlled a long ball sent his way, and from outside the box, he cut in and curled his shot over Redmen goalkeeper Thomas Daechsel. Concordia were after their insurance marker. Six minutes later, Captain Gonzalo Paredes found space in the center of midfield. From around 25 yards out, he unleashed a rocket towards the McGill goal. Daechsel had to make a diving save in order to keep his side in the game. There were no more chances for in the remaining minutes of the half. Concordia had the slight advantage at the interval. In the second half, Concordia made a few substitutions, including bringing on Enos Osei. Osei, who played the entire fall season as a left back, was deployed as a centre forward. The Stingers opted to keep two players up front instead of their usual one striker. The second half provided few occasions for either side.

SCOREBOARD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 Men’s Hockey: McGill Redmen 3-2 Concordia Stingers (OT) THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 Women’s Basketball: McGill Martlets 75-44 Concordia Stingers

In the 63rd minute, the maroon and gold would get their second goal. The Stingers regained possession of the ball after a poor Redmen goal kick and sent the ball to the right side to Jose Prida. Prida, who just entered the match seconds before, dribbled the ball down to the byline and sent a direct cross through McGill’s penalty area. Midfielder Amadou Lam connected on his diving header attempt and gave Concordia a much needed two-goal lead. In the 90th minute, Osei should have scored the Stingers’ third goal. On a counter attack, Prida dribbled down the right side and centered a ball to Osei who was alone atop the box. With only the keeper to beat, Osei side-stepped the McGill goalkeeper leaving the goal empty. Osei’s right-footed effort missed the empty net. The miss wouldn’t prove costly as Concordia would hang on for the clean sheet victory.

“We didn’t generate too many chances,” said Stingers assistant coach Bastien. “We wished to have generated a little bit more. But fair enough, we’ll take it with the two great goals.” Concordia remained in control throughout the entire 90 minutes with their strong possession play. “If you set the pace to the game, you control the game,” said Bastien. “Now, if we can move the ball around, what happens is that you make them [McGill] open up and that creates space. This creates chances and I think we did this brilliantly.” On Jan. 20, Concordia will face the Montreal Impact Academy team at the Stinger Dome. The Montreal Impact Academy team finished second-place in the 2012 Canadian Soccer League. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

Men’s Basketball: McGill Redmen 65-83 Concordia Stingers

Upcoming games

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 Women’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers 2-7 Montréal Carabins

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 Men’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers vs UQTR Patriotes at 7:30 p.m. (Ed Meagher Arena)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 Men’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers 3-5 UQTR Patriotes Men’s Basketball: Concordia Stingers 69-71 UQÀM Citadins Women’s Basketball: Concordia Stingers 67-57 UQÀM Citadins SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 Women’s Soccer: Concordia Stingers 0-3 McGill Martlets Men’s Soccer: Concordia Stingers 2-0 McGill Redmen

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 Women’s Basketball: Concordia Stingers vs Bishop’s Gaiters at 2:00 p.m. (Concordia Gymnasium) Women’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers vs Carleton Ravens at 2:30 p.m. (Ed Meagher Arena) Men’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers @ Carleton Ravens at 3:00 p.m. (Ice House Arena) Men’s Basketball: Concordia Stingers vs Bishop’s Gaiters at 4:00 p.m. (Concordia Gymnasium) SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 Men’s Soccer: Concordia Stingers vs Montreal Impact Academy at 12:00 p.m. (Stinger Dome) Women’s Hockey: Concordia Stingers @ Montréal Carabins at 2:00 p.m. (CEPSUM)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

MEN’S HOCKEY

Stung by the flu bug, Stingers lose two games As of this week, ConU has won only one of their last five games Anthony Abbondanza Staff writer

he Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team woke up this morning out of the Ontario University hockey playoff picture. A 3-2 overtime loss to rivals McGill on Wednesday and a 5-3 loss to the UQTR Patriotes this weekend bumped the Stingers to ninth overall in the eastern conference. “We got to come out and put our foot on the gas and keep it on the gas for 60 minutes,” said Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby. The Stingers began the week with a highly-anticipated matchup against the third-ranked McGill Redmen. The visiting Stingers squandered a 2-1 lead against their cross-town rivals with 13 seconds remaining when Redmen forward Guillaume Monast took advantage of a defensive turnover and roofed a shot up high on Stingers goalie Antonio Mastropietro. Two minutes into overtime, Redmen forward Jonathan Brunelle took a nifty pass

THE CONCORDIA STINGERS MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM PREPARES TO TAKE AN IMPORTANT FACEOFF DRAW AT ED MEAGHER ARENA. PHOTOS BY MADELAYNE HAJEK

from Ryan McKiernan and wired a shot past Mastropietro from the slot to win the game. “We made one mistake in regulation and it cost us,” said a frustrated Figsby. “We made a mistake in overtime. It’s a shame, I thought our guys played super and I thought it was one of our best games.” Mastropietro was spectacular in the loss, finishing the game with 33 saves. While the Stingers tried to turn the page for Saturday afternoon’s game against the UQTR Patriotes, Concordia squandered a lead, yet again. After opening the game with consecutive goals by George Lovatsis and Alexandre Monahan, the Stingers allowed two quick goals of their own. Patriotes forward Felix Petit, who was left unguarded on Mastropietro’s doorstep, took advantage of a Concordia penalty midway through the first period to score his ninth goal of the season. Seconds later, the Patriotes scored again

when forward Pierre-Olivier Morin found Marc-Olivier Mimar alone in and around Mastropietro’s crease for the easy goal. After an uneventful second period, in which the Stingers were outshot 13-7, Concordia came out in the third period with a boost of energy, establishing an offensive presence. A controversial penalty, called by the officials against Concordia forward Corey Garland for hooking, changed the tone for the balance of the game. “I was little bit pissed off,” said Figsby after the game. “You know it’s a 2-2 game and the referee makes a marginal call.” The Patriotes quickly took advantage on the powerplay when Emmanuel Boudreau potted his third of the season. With less than five minutes to go in the game and the Stingers trailing 4-2, Monahan sped by two sleeping Patriotes defensemen and slipped the puck past goaltender Guillaume Nadeau for his seventh of the

season, pulling Concordia within one. Monahan finished the game with three points, two goals and one assist. But when Stingers defensemen Lyle Van Wieren took an unnecessary high sticking penalty during the games final minutes, it was all over. A late powerplay marker by Morin finished the Stingers. The Patriotes won the game 5-3. It’s worth noting Concordia was without top defenseman Youssef Kabbaj who was out with the flu and their captain, Kyle Kelly was suffering from a separated shoulder. Coach Figsby said the team is currently battling more than just a string of losses, but a midseason influenza that has affected six players thus far. The Stingers will face UQTR once more this Friday at Ed Meagher arena. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Special teams prove costly as Stingers get blown out by Carabins Concordia has allowed 23 goals in their last three league games David S. Landsman Staff writer

he Stingers women’s hockey team was on the losing end of a difficult 7-2 loss on Friday evening at the hands of the number-three CIS-ranked Montréal Carabins. “Against Université de Montréal, everybody has to be there and show up,” explained head coach Les Lawton. “But tonight, we lost momentum on missed opportunities and not everybody showed up.” Penalty trouble bit the Stingers often and early. At the 3:03 mark of the opening frame, fifth-year defence Laurie ProulxDuperre was assessed a tripping call. Off the following draw, the Carabins capitalized with Ariane Barker getting her first of two on the evening. At the 11:18 mark, Erica Porter, playing her second game back, was sent to the box for hooking. Thirty seconds later, forward Marion Allemoz got her first goal of the game, doubling Montréal’s lead to 2-0. The Stingers got one back at the 17:17

mark when Carabins goaltender Sarah Mailloux misplayed the puck. Hayley Boyd was credited with the goal. But 58 seconds later, on a Stingers advantage, Casandra Dupuis pounced on a puck not contained by Veronique LarameePaquette and sped down the ice, sending a wrist shot top shelf to make it 3-1 after one. Montréal’s Barker got her second of the evening, again on the power-play at the 1:21 mark of the second period, after finding some room to make it 4-1. “We played a good and aggressive fiveon-five,” said Lawton. “But the Carabins have very good special teams. We need to make adjustments and go back to the drawing board.” Forty seconds later, the Stingers were resilient and not going to let up that easily. This was clearly shown by a great individual play from Jaymee Shell, who undressed the Carabins blue line and wristed a nice shot that sailed over the right pad of Mailloux to reduce their deficit to only two. “It felt very good to execute the things I work on at practice,” said Shell, referring to her goal. “But in the end, I would trade anything for a ‘W’.” At 13:41, Montréal added to their lead when Dupuis took a one-timer feed from

behind Lavoie-Pilon’s net to make it 5-2. The Carabins added a couple more in the third. Allemoz got her second and Josianne Legault added one to cap off a difficult evening for the Stingers, who are battling hard to get out of their division’s cellar. “Montréal has a tendency to score in bunches,” said Shell. “So our key to being successful is to not let up. We can and will bounce back.” The Stingers are back at home on Saturday, Jan. 19 when they will take on the Carleton Ravens at 2:30 p.m. The next day, the team will travel to the CEPSUM arena to face off, once again, against the Montréal Carabins.

CONCORDIA VS THE MONTREAL CARABINS. PHOTO BY MITCHELL SHELL

opinions 16

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com EDITORIAL

Accountability is worth fighting for Who will lead the charge for the answers students deserve? After a slew of missteps, Concordia has finally done something proactive to address the problems within the Concordia China Student Recruitment Partner Program. It shouldn’t be news to anyone who reads the papers or listens to the water cooler talk that allegations of mistreatment were flooding in from international students against CCSRPP director and head of Orchard Consultants Ltd., Peter Low. If indeed this name is not familiar by now, we’ll summarize by telling you that Low was accused of misrepresenting services at Concor-

dia and improperly transferring and managing student funds. While these claims remain informal and unsubstantiated, we’re pretty sure it’s safe to say these issues stem from more than a simple miscommunication as the university would have us believe. In announcing this week that Concordia will be ending its relationship with Orchard Consultants Ltd. and seeking proposals from new recruitment agencies, the sky ahead begins to look a little clearer. It seems obvious to us that a company who is accused of taking advantage of vulnerable students coming to study in Canada is not one which this university, or any for that matter, should be associated with. Perhaps it took Concordia a while to come to this conclusion,

but they did come to it, and that is what’s important. While part of us wishes Orchard and Peter Low would be investigated for their alleged crimes and left out to dry by the higher ups, we are faced with the sad reality that this is not likely to occur. Then again, is it really fair that Low, if he is in fact guilty of the things we’ve heard, get out of this one scott free? Yes, his company will lose the business of Concordia and it may suffer financially for it, but what of his personal situation? Will he be made to apologize or repent in any way for the damage and hurt that the students coming forward feel he has caused them? Probably not. So what can we do about it? Who will

lead the charge to bring justice where there is none? Key members of the Concordia Student Union executive have made a point of taking these concerns seriously and doing their best to follow-up, but the organization as a whole is nowhere near the level of strength needed to chase these answers. The university administration is not offering any more explanation about Orchard or Low, and the man himself isn’t about to come forward and confess. The only questions that remain are: how do we ensure that this type of violation doesn’t happen again? Who will hold the responsible parties accountable? And how do we, as concerned citizens, keep students safe when no one seems willing to drop everything to pursue the truth?

POLITICS

Taxing the rich to save the middle class Wealthy people paying higher taxes is a social responsibility Gregory Todaro Staff writer Benjamin Franklin once said: “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” Well for Gérard Depardieu, France took things a little too far. The French actor, displeased with the emergency 75 per cent tax on millionaires, was fortunate enough to receive a Russian passport from Russian President Vladimir Putin and left the country. He was, however, quick to say that it wasn’t because of the high taxes. This new trend of taxing the super wealthy is now a global phenomenon; rising popularity in the idea among the people has driven politicians to look at this as perhaps a vital option after the financial hardships the world has faced in the last few years. Most probably still remember the infamous Occupy movement, an international protest against social and economic inequality. It’s this global trend that lead to what France has called “fiscal justice”, and other nations are joining in as well. Many countries, including Spain, Greece, Britain and the United States have also made moves to increase taxes for the wealthiest people in their country. The wealthy have a responsibility to their country to help clear their nation’s deficit; they became wealthy because of the opportunities they received from their government. Take Warren Buffett; American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. Buffett, one of the wealthiest men in the world, talks about the advantages he has as a wealthy businessman that the middle class don’t have. In his opinions piece for

the New York Times, he wrote about how he paid less income tax relative to anyone in his office. Even this billionaire is willing to admit that there is something wrong with the lack of taxes he’s paying compared to others. Countries who allow the rich to avoid paying high taxes to this extent are now finding it necessary to start charging them. Sadly, unlike Buffett, other very wealthy people are not willing to part with their money so easily, despite the fact it could give the government the boost it needs to start cutting the deficit. Last year, former president Bill Clinton went onto CBS News’ Face the Nation, supporting President Obama’s increase of taxes on the rich in America. Clinton said that there were three steps in order to reduce a deficit, and that they must be done in this order; economic growth, increase in revenue and spending cuts. The first step, economic growth, has been taken care of in the United States through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This act is expected to pump $831 billion into the economy from

2009 through 2019 in order to get it going again, and has already shown its benefits in the American economy. That means the next step the United States has to take is increase revenue, and that has been a cause of debate with the American government. While Democrats were pushing to increase taxation on the rich while keeping taxes low on the middle and lower class, Republicans were against any increase, especially for the top earners. Realistically, it can’t be expected that the middle class be burdened with the bill of the deficit without another recession. However, the rich, who have

been gaining more and more in the uneven distribution of American wealth, can take the extra burden. One important thing to note is that the rich paying more taxes can help reduce the austerity programs that affect the whole country. If the government were to cut these benefits in order to try and regain balance, the new hardships that would affect people across the country would hurt rather than help. The rich benefited from this system, and now is the time for them to give back and help their country. Graphic by Jennifer Kwan

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

SPORTS

Are you feeling forgiving, hockey fans? The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’Association have made a serious fool out of themselves in the past 113 days and, despite saving the season after the lockout, many are still calling this year a failure. Fans are threatening a boycott, saying they’ve lost respect for the league, and teams are desperately trying to portray their embarrassment and remorse by slashing prices off tickets and merchandise. Can the fans really recover from this disappointment or will they be less willing to forgive and forget?

PROS: Hockey is in Canada’s blood

CONS: The NHL has a lot to prove

George Menexis Opinions editor

Brian Hutchinson Contributor

ur schedule as Canadians has been seriously compromised. After summer passes there isn’t much to be excited about. Students grudgingly go back to school and a definite routine kicks in. The only thing to look forward to is the new hockey season that usually kicks off in the beginning of October. Coming home from a hard day’s work, usually with a few intense shovelling sessions in between, to kick off your shoes and enjoy our great national pastime. This year, however, we were cheated, lied to and most importantly, we were disappointed. Will there be a lower demand for hockey as a result? The answer is simply no. Never. No matter what. All over Canada, fans are gearing up for the short season. Sure, there were some mild complaints, but did we really expect Canadians to leave hockey behind? On Sunday, nearly 5,000 fans showed up to a Winnipeg practice. Toronto and Ottawa will also be offering open practice sessions in the week before the season begins in hopes of getting fans excited for that infamous first game of the season. Stories about the lockout have been dominating the front pages of Canadian newspapers ever since the lockout ended Jan. 12. This is Canada. This isn’t Miami or Los Angeles, where fans can enjoy a vast array of professional sports while sipping tequila by the beach, going to watch an occasional hockey game for $20 as mere entertainment. Hockey is essential to Canadian culture. We live it and we breath it in everything we do, whether we like it or not. It’s played in our backyards every day and every Canadian child grows up with the dream of one day being a hockey player. That’s Canada folks and absence has only made the heart grow fonder. Phrases like “enough is enough,” “the NHL is getting ridiculous” and “I don’t know if I’ll even watch this year,” that have been heard on our newscasts these past few days create mixed feelings among fans.

That, however, isn’t the reality. In reality, bars are hiring once again and filling their stock to the max, liquidations on hockey gear are officially terminated and we’re all planning in the back of our minds, where we’re going to gather and watch the first

game of the season. As American markets are preparing for the worst, offering half price season tickets or finding other innovative ways to get fans reeling mid-season, Canadian markets are sticking to the usual plan of sitting back and watching the dollars reel in from their incomparable fans. This is the truth, the sad reality. Hockey is Canada’s emblem and will be so after the next lockout as well.

will once again flow into welcoming mugs to celebrate another hockey season (to the delight of many local restaurant and bar owners). Despite the return of hockey, the fans are left with a bitter taste. Throughout the lockout, we have been subjected to months of consultations summed up by remarks made by mediators, and jumbled through different interpretations by so-called experts in the media. Now we are asked to forget all we have endured. For some, our love of the

t seems the drum of silence that has been the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association negotiations has come to an abrupt, boisterous end. The puck will drop, the fans will gather and the beer

sport is too great to be cynical and angry toward our beloved game. For others, the lengthy absence was just enough to blur our affection and replace it with irritation. “Million dollar babies,” “self righteous” and “egotistical,” are some of the words and phrases used when discussing the lockout with the latter group. It seems there will be a 48 game season, as opposed to the regular 82 games. For those of us that have a sour feeling resonating through our being, this is unacceptable. Can a team really be crowned the sacred “Stanley Cup Champions” at the end of a deprived hockey season? It undermines the value of a gruelling 82-game season we have grown accustomed to. The reputation of the NHL has been shattered and replaced with the ugly stain of greed, at least momentarily. Players wanted more, owners wanted more, no one was happy. The puck, however, will once again drop despite these deficiencies in the season. They have settled their differences and are ready to please the fans once again. As fans, we are left with difficult decisions of weighing the pros and cons of accepting the NHL’s return with hospitable arms, or shielding our eyes from the T.V. screen as the goalie makes an incredible save. In a perfect world, the NHL will be given a punishment for its lack of respect toward fans, holding out on delivering for an exhausting 113 days. That reprimand could come in the form of a boycott, with fans abstaining from watching or going to Montreal Canadiens games. This would surely demonstrate that we will not accept this intolerable behaviour again. Or perhaps we should look at ourselves. We, the fans, value hockey to an extent that makes it possible for those involved to fight over how to structure the distribution of millions in revenue. Regardless, the Habs will be back on the ice. No matter where you are on the spectrum of acceptance or rejection of the NHL, those who accept the game again, may be the prevailing winners in this scenario. However, if one is hoping to reject the return of hockey, the overwhelming embrace made by those who will accept the game again with the same amount of love, may be all it takes to bump that fan back to a howling fanatic.

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 HEALTH

Out of sight, out of mind Canadian elder care facilities unfit to deal with Alzheimer patients Jenna Cocullo Staff writer The government of Canada has forgotten about Alzheimer patients. Institutions that care for seniors with some form of dementia appear to be those who receive the least attention when it comes to funding and support. If greater financial assistance were given to these institutions, tragic incidents like Frank Alexander’s death in 2011, caused by frightened Alzheimer’s patient Joe McLeod in an elder care facility in Manitoba, would not occur. According to the National Post, McLeod was not found criminally responsible for the death. His condition causes him to suffer from occasional violent outbursts of anger due to confusion. He does not remember these episodes. Prior to being put into a home, McLeod lived with his wife. After several violent outbursts, the man was put into prison for a month awaiting a hearing. Is this really how we treat our Alzheimer’s patients in Canada? These situations are not rare and they are not going away. According to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, “within a generation, the number of Canadians with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia will more than double, ranging between 1 and 1.3 million people.” Many with the disease have anger episodes due to the frustration of being constantly confused. Unfortunately, elder care facilities lack the proper training and funding

to be able to take care of each patient based on their own specific needs, and jail is certainly not a suitable option either. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s and I would certainly not feel comfortable with a man with a condition similar to McLeod’s staying at her care facility. However, I don’t think he should have been thrown into a jail either. The solution to the problem is for the government to stop clumping all Alzheimer patients into one category. Everyone has certain levels of the disease, some more severe than others, and everyone acts out in different ways. Each patient should be separated within the care facility, or there should ALZHEIMERS WILL AFFECT BETWEEN 1 AND 1.3 MILLION CANADIANS IN THE NEXT GENERATION. PHOTO FROM FLICKR be specialized facilities for each particular level disease and related dementias engulfs whole be in this situation as well. of Alzheimer’s. Soon to be overcrowded care facilities may families, and affects far more than the half a The Alzheimer Society of Canada says that “quality of life for people with dementia have to double up or triple up rooms in order million people living with the disease.” It is time to pay greater attention to Alis largely dependent on their connection with to accept all patients, which can pose a serious others. Maintaining a relationship can be a threat if someone acts out just as McLeod did. zheimer institutions and help support them complex and challenging process, especially Furthermore, as the National Post pointed out so we can take better care of patients. Alin an editorial published Jan. 4, if care insti- zheimer’s is rated second as the disease that when verbal communication is affected.” Patients need different levels of care and tutions become too overcrowded, Alzheimer is most feared among aging Canadians, and I don’t think nurses are equipped or trained patients may be forced to go home with their we need to make Alzheimer’s patients a bigproperly to handle each different scenario. families, which can be extremely costly, let ger priority in the near future. This is going to cause a real problem, since alone worrisome. The Alzheimer Society of the next generation is aging and are going to Toronto notes that “the impact of Alzheimer’s With files from George Menexis.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Struggling to find a line in the sand Zero Dark Thirty brings the old debate to the frontline Henry Zavriyev Contributor

et another Hollywood movie has been pumped out too soon and once again we are left scrambling for the truth. Kathryn Bigelow, who some of you may remember for her Academy Award winning film The Hurt Locker, has revived the old torture debate with her newest film, Zero Dark Thirty. The film, which depicts the events leading up to Osama bin Laden’s capture, has attracted waves of criticism and protests from politicians and film critics alike. Yet, while Senators such as John McCain and Dianne Feinstein have noted that there is a clear “discrepancy between the facts [and] what is depicted in the film,” the majority of outside criticism has pointed to Bigelow’s apparent protorture stance in the movie. In an op-ed for the Huffington Post, Jonathan Kim called the film’s gruesome torture scenes “unforgivable” and Dan Froomkin, also of the Huffington Post, called the movie “despicable.” According to critics, Zero Dark Thirty makes the bold conclusion that torture was essential in the manhunt for Osama bin Laden. Personally, I cannot criticize the movie as I have not yet seen it. However, in light of the recently revived debate, I would like to remind our readers why the in-

ternational community condemned torture in the first place. Firstly, torture is inherently unethical. Chemical arms and weapons of mass destruction are extremely effective in accomplishing military agendas, yet we do not employ them in warfare. Why? Because the world’s courts have deemed them unethical. Because such weapons are capable of inflicting unnecessary amounts of pain on our enemies. Because we are human beings

and can only go so far in accomplishing our goals before becoming that which we are fighting to destroy. Thus, torture, too, should be viewed in a similar light. Additionally, torture, according to international law, is illegal. Article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The United Nations Convention

Against Torture outright bans the use of torture. Some proponents of torture use the argument that such restrictions do not apply to terrorists, as they are stateless citizens. Yet this argument is vague and not rooted in reality. When it comes to torture, the UN is clear in its judgment. There is no ambiguity. Torture is simply wrong. Finally, people, especially when faced with time constraints and highly stressful situations, are prone to making mistakes. Over the last decade, the Pentagon has been responsible for countless false accusations and for wrongfully imprisoning misidentified individuals. In 2003, for example, Khaled El-Masri, a car salesman from Bavaria, was captured by United States officials and repeatedly beaten, sodomized and waterboarded over the course of four months. When the CIA finally realized they had the wrong man, they released Khaled without any kind of payment or the slightest apology. Ultimately, while torture can be useful in obtaining valuable information, the risks of hurting the wrong individual are too great and must be taken into account. For now, at least, it seems as if we are headed in the right direction. Shortly after starting his first term in office, U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order to limit the use of torture as an interrogation technique, especially on “those who would intimidate, torture and murder people for exercising the most basic freedoms.” He went on to say that “if we are to win this struggle and spread those freedoms, we must keep our own moral compass pointed in a true direction.” Good talk Obama. Good talk.

Flaming Sambuca

Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 Vol. 30 Issue 17 MARILLA STEUTER-MARTIN Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com

Kevin Duarte Sports editor

PAULA RIVAS Managing editor managing@theconcordian.com

You decide to go out this weekend with friends. As soon as you walk in the club or bar, you decide to start the night off with shots, or better yet a shot that’s on fire. That’s right, what better way to make your entrance. Not only will you be look like a boss, you will have captured everyone’s attention. This Italian liqueur is actually quite simple to make. For the traditional way, grab a shot glass, add three coffee beans and pour in the sambuca. Light the sambuca on fire and put it out before drinking it. Be careful not to burn yourself, as the glass will be quite hot.

SOPHIA LOFFREDA Production manager production@theconcordian.com

KALINA LAFRAMBOISE News editor news@theconcordian.com

STEPHANIE LA LEGGIA Life editor life@theconcordian.com

- 1 OZ. SAMBUCA -THREE COFFEE BEANS -A LIGHTER OR MATCHES

AMANDA L. SHORE Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com

STEPHANIE ULLMAN Interim music editor music@theconcordian.com

KEVIN DUARTE Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com

GEORGE MENEXIS Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com

MADELAYNE HAJEK Photo editor

Celebrities old and young all put on their nicest tuxedos and gowns last night in honour of one of the longest lasting traditions in Hollywood: the Golden Globes. All in all, quite an entertaining event, especially when actors such as Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrel present awards. Here are some of the funniest tweets from last night’s events!

NATASHA TAGGART ALYSSA TREMBLAY Online editors online@theconcordian.com

JENNIFER KWAN Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com

ROBIN DELLA CORTE MATTHEW GUITE Assistant news editors news@theconcordian.com

@BryanCranston: “Besides Argo and Ben

CHRISTINE BEATON SARA KING-ABADI ELIZABETH TOMARAS

winning last night. My best Golden Globes moment: Hearing Mandy Patinkin singing Baby It’s Cold Outside at the urinal’”

@LouisPeitzman: “First shot reveals they’re letting Mel Gibson drink. And we’re off to a great start. #GoldenGlobes” @prodigalsam: “Quentin Tarantino is like if a Red Bull were a person. #GoldenGlobes” @JoseCanseco: “’Wow Jodie Foster at

goldenglobes makes me want to join the lesbians.” @JennyJohnsonHi5: “I’m glad Jodie

Foster’s Golden Globes speech ended with applause and not with some dude flinging jizz at her.” @theoneringnet: “Fellowship of the Ring

didn’t win any Golden Globes in 2002, but went on to win 4 Oscars. “There is always hope.” Gandalf” @DamienFahey: “’Congratulations to Life of

Pi for winning Movie Most Likely to be Playing on TVs at Best Buy to Demonstrate Picture Quality. #GoldenGlobes”

@sllambe: “’Sarah Palin is officially the only

person not to win an award for an impersonation of Sarah Palin.”

@sllambe: “This speech is so awkward that I

now completely understand how she is friends with Mel Gibson. #GoldenGlobes”

Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com

CYNTHIA DUPUIS Production assistant

Comic by Phil Waheed

EDITORIAL OFFICE 7141 Sherbrooke St. W. - CC.431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514.848.2424 x7499 (Editor-in-Chief)

MELISSA KATE GAGNON

Business manager business@theconcordian.com

BRENNAN NEILL TYSON LOWRIE CINDY LOPEZ RUBEN BASTIEN

Board of Directors directors@theconcordian.com

STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS David McIntyre, Marta Barnes, Caroline Crawford, Collin McMahon, Ayan Chowdhury, Ariana Trigueros-Corbo, Jenna Monney-Lupert, Audrey Folliot, Jordie Yeager, Paul Traunero, Athony Abbondanza, Davis S. Landsman, Brian Hutchinson, Jenna Cocullo, Gregory Todaro.

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From our kitchen

Concordia s weekly, independent student newspaper.

Events of the weeK: Jan. 15 Tuesday + ART -Le Plateau de Mon Enfance (Montréal 1950) by Miriam Lanail - 19h at Galerie Ame-Art +MUSIC - Niki & The Dove + Vacationer - 20h - Le Belmont

Wednesday +DANCE - Common Space - 20h - MainLine Theatre +MUSIC - Yellowcard + All Time Low - 19h30 - Metropolis

THURSDAY +ART - Let it Snow -17h - Montreal Art Center DANCE - Common Space - 20h - MainLine Theatre

Friday +DANCE - Common Space - 19h&22h - MainLine Theatre +MUSIC - Light Company - 20h - Casa Del Popolo

SATURDAY + ART - Oil Stains by Dave Eppley - 19h - Oboro +ART -Étrange Dictature by Sayeh Sarfaraz-15h - MAI +DANCE - Le Cabaret bouge d’ice -20h - MainLine Theatre +MUSIC - Wolfgang Gartner + Walden - 22h - New City Gas