The Concordian by The Concordian

theconcordian Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.

Volume 30 Issue 5

September 25, 2012

A now dysfunctional CSU

she and Laforest were both rejected as ineligible due to registration. “This has affected many aspects of my life and my academic career,” explained Gallardo. She went on to say that due to financial issues and challenges in her personal life, it was not possible for her to sort out her status. “I have spent this summer trying to put together the money to afford to continue at Concordia, and the [Did Not Enter] deadline came too soon.” At council, members made the decision not to allow Gallardo a 15-day period to try and resolve her student status. In the letter, however, she stat-

ed that she “may still be able to resolve the issue,” and will continue to work toward a solution this week. “I wholeheartedly ask Concordia students to grant me the opportunity to work on this solution before giving up the portfolio I feel so passionate about,” she wrote. A special council meeting will take place this Wednesday, which will cover appointments to various CSU bodies, as well as Gallardo’s resignation. She told The Concordian that she would be in attendance at that meeting and hopes to sway council with her statement on the particulars of her

registration issues. “If it cannot be resolved by Friday, of course I will step down,” she said. “I would be more than happy to help train my replacement if it comes to that.” Some councillors expressed concern over information coming to light and the manner in which it was done. Chad Walcott, CSU councillor and former VP external for the CSU, stated that he was “extremely disappointed with the events that [had] transpired.” Following the decision regarding VP Gallardo, President Laforest made a statement in closed session addressing his own status issues and explaining privately to council why he is unable to sit on Concordia’s two major administrative bodies: Senate and the Board of Governors. Laforest then explained that his issue was not of status but of an academic nature, and that VP loyola Stefan Faina would replace him on Senate. Councillors initially raised concerns when it became apparent that Faina had never attended a Senate meeting before. It was decided that VP external Simon-Pierre Lauzon, who already sits on Senate, would help to prepare Faina for the position. As for the BoG, Laforest proposed that Lauzon be appointed to take his place on an interim basis until his eligibility can be dealt with. According to university by-laws, the reasons why a student would not be allowed to sit on the Board of Governors are that either they are not in good academic standing, or that they have violated the Academic Code of Conduct or the Code of Rights and Responsibilities within the last three years. Walcott was quick to criticize the plan, saying that he was “not confident at all that [Lauzon] will be able to do any of his external work, while sitting on almost seven committees.” Ultimately, council decided that alternate governor and former CSU president, Lex Gill, would be appointed primary governor until Laforest is able to reclaim his seat.

music

sports

opinions

Rough loss for the Stingers P. 14

Hockey isn’t everything P. 16

President schubert Laforest (Left) at the first reguLar concordia student union meeting on Wednesday sePtember 19. Photo by madeLayne hajek

Student status issues persist with executives Marilla Steuter-Martin Editor-in-chief

Concordia Student Union VP academic and advocacy Lucia Gallardo released a statement Monday, Sept. 24 in response to a motion put forth by CSU council asking for her resignation. At the first regular CSU meeting of the year held Wednesday, it became clear that Gallardo was not in fact a

registered student and was therefore unable to maintain her position as a member of the executive. Gallardo was not present at the meeting but CSU President Schubert Laforest explained that, because of “circumstances beyond her control,” she was unable to register in time for the fall semester. In her statement, Gallardo explained that she is “an international student in financial need,” which makes her student status complicated. This is not the first time Gallardo experienced issues with her international status, for when she first submitted her candidacy for the CSU last year,

In this issue... life

arts

Whole-wheat apple crêpes P. 6

Get excited about POP Montreal literature P. 7-9 highlights P. 12-13

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

theconcordian.com

news Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Got a news tip? news@theconcordian.com

City in fee increase officially repealed brief Tuition Details regarding higher education summit still in the works EDuCaTiOn

Cynthia Dupuis

>> Innocent until proven guilty West Island man Jacques Attalla and Toronto native Nader Fawzy spoke out against accusations of blasphemy against Islam, and against the Prophet Muhammad this week. The two Egyptian-born Canadians maintain they were wrongly accused of playing a role in the making of a 14-minute anti-Islam film which caused outrage in the Middle East earlier this month. Attalla is a Coptic Christian rights activist who says his name wrongly appeared in Egyptian media on a list of people who have helped in the making of this contentious video, and is now receiving death threats.

>>Nuclear meltdown Quebecers had divided opinions about Premier Pauline Marois’ announcement that one of her government’s first moves will be to shut down Gentilly-2, Quebec’s only nuclear plant. For the anti-nuclear activists, this announcement was welcomed. The 750 people working at the plant were not as pleased. At a news conference on Friday morning, Canadian Union of Public EmployeesQuebec President Lucie Levasseur said the announcement surprised them. Levasseur, quoted in the Montreal Gazette, explained that “during the election campaign, Marois promised to consult with the unions and all the economic stakeholders in the region before coming to a decision.”

>>Stuck in limbo This week was a busy one for the newly-elected Parti Québécois government. In addition to canceling the tuition hike, it has also cancelled most of the sections of Bill 78 by decree. It is still unclear what will legally happen to the protesters arrested under the law. In all, Montreal Police arrested 30 people in late August at Université de Montréal in accordance with the controversial law. Last Friday, Quebec’s prosecutor’s office said it has yet to receive any files regarding the cases and, since the law no longer exists, the outcome for the protestors is unclear.

>>Deadly shooting in Beaconsfield A 29-year-old man was found unconscious Sunday night in Beaconsfield at a train station parking lot on the corner of Beaurepaire Dr. and Woodland Ave. after a passerby found him around 9:30 p.m. The man was rushed to hospital with critical injuries and was pronounced dead at 1 a.m. Officials from the Montreal Police later confirmed he died from a gunshot wound. Police also said the man, whose identity has not been released yet, was a known member of a street gang.

and heralding a new structure of government-student relations. Marois announced the abolition of both the tuition hike as well as the controversial Law 12, save a few provisions largely in connection to the scheduling of the disrupted winter semester. She also announced her cabinet, making public a new ministry – the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology – which will be led by Pierre Duchesne. Marois’ announcements mark the fulfillment, verbally, of some of her campaign promises made by herself and other PQ candidates leading up to the Sept. 4 election.

Québec and Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec, and the Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante, which had collaborated, despite a historically tense relationship. All three representative bodies publicly claimed a tuition freeze as the goal fueling the strike, however, for CLASSE, the goal represented a compromise on their members’ part – a compromise they are no longer willing to make. “We had adopted a negotiating stance during the strike for a freeze on the 2007 basis – it was seen as a comErin Hudson promise to mobilize more easily and to CuP Quebec Bureau Chief perhaps win more easily,” explained Jérémie Bédard-Wien, an executive of MONTREAL (CUP) – The Parti DIvIsIon at the base CLASSE, addressing students at McGill Québécois’ cabinet meeting last week Despite claiming the seven-month before Marois abolished tuition. was the first time Pauline Marois ex- long student strike victory, the aboliHe said that the end of the strike ecuted her actions as premier of the tion of the hike signals the parting permits CLASSE to focus on some of its province, spelling out the end of soli- of ways for the student associations own major political projects like their   darity within the student movement Fédération étudiante collégiale du campaign for free education, one of the core objectives for CLASSE and its larger supporting organization, Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante.  Bédard-Wien said that for the  Sept. 22 demon stration – a routine of protest held on  the 22nd day of each month – the theme was to support free education. For the student federations, however, FEUQ President     Martine Desjar              dins said that the           association would           not be participat     ing in the Sept. 22          demonstration as        FEUQ supports               the objective of a       tuition freeze, not          free education.     “There’s no             tuition fee hike,       there’s no Law 12           and, so we think,     now we have a           minister who’s more open to dis cussion – we need  to take this path,”   she continued. “We  won yesterday.”  T h o u g h  CLASSE has also  publicly deemed  the student strike a victory, BédardWien explained the choice was made in order to emphasize the sev-

en months of mobilization on the part of students. “We want to make clear that now if the PQ cancels the tuition fee hike and cancels Law 12 it’s because we have risen and we have put intense political pressure on these political parties and they are afraid of us,” he said. According to him, CLASSE takes a different approach to relations with the PQ government than the student federations’ collaborative approach. “The PQ has a long history of making promises that they don’t keep and are certainly no friends of any progressive social struggle,” he explained. He said that CLASSE is on alert for the tuition hike to return in the coming weeks and months.

a mInIstry DevoteD to hIgher eDucatIon First-time MNA Duchesne, a former Radio-Canada journalist and journalism professor at Université Laval, will be the first minister for the newly created Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology. Staff within the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sport said they have yet to receive directives from the PQ as to how responsibilities will be divided between it and the new ministry. The veteran PQ MNA Marie Malavoy will be the new Minister of Education, Leisure and Sport, a position formerly held by Liberal MNA Line Beauchamp, who resigned in the midst of the student strike before Michelle Courchesne was appointed to take her place. According to Desjardins, Malavoy will not be involved in settling outstanding issues related to the student strike or the organization of the upcoming summit on higher education, which the premier has committed to organizing. Desjardins said the summit is likely to occur in February or March 2013.

Impact on stuDents Though now abolished, the tuition increase was already billed to students attending Quebec universities. Circumstances vary depending on the institution: at the Université de Montréal tuition billing was delayed so no students will need reimbursement. At the Université du Québec à Montréal, the period to pay tuition ranges from mid-July to Nov. 2 so the number of students affected is undetermined, whereas, at McGill University, the deadline for fall 2012 tuition payments was set for the end of August. At Concordia, students were instructed to pay tuition including the hike weeks ago. Spokespeople from Concordia, McGill and UQÀM confirmed that the universities have yet to receive any official direction from the government as to how and when reimbursements to students are to be provided.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A march for free education

Fight continues for some despite repeal of the tuition increase

Nation in brief Cynthia Dupuis

>>Cutting the cheese is prosperous Niagara Regional Police officers have been visiting restaurants and pizzerias in the area in relation with a large internal investigation about cheese smuggling. Sources say people approached restaurant owners about supplying their establishments with numerous cases of contraband U.S. cheese. CBC news has learned from numerous police sources that charges are expected soon against a few officers who are alleged to have been involved in the movement of caseloads of cheese from the U.S. in their cars across the border.

>>Thanks for serving our country? Kalina Laframboise news editor

undreds of demonstrators marched in the pouring rain Saturday, to celebrate the repealed tuition fee increase and abolished Law 12 while continuing to take a stand for free education. The newly formed provincial government scrapped the proposed sevenyear tuition fee increase of $254 per year Thursday, following months of social unrest from the student strike movement. The Parti Québécois also abolished the controversial Law 12 aimed to limit protests implemented by the former Liberal government. The Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante led the protest through the streets of the downtown core around 2:50 p.m. from Lafontaine Park. Members of

CLASSE began the monthly protest with speeches congratulating the student movement on their victory. “The goal of this protest is to revive the debate about free tuition,” said Jeanne Reynolds, a spokesperson for CLASSE. Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec and Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec were not present for the march, as both student groups fought for a tuition fee freeze and not free education. Both student associations declared victory following the repeal of the tuition hike. Concordia University undergraduate student Robin Sas marched in support of the PQ’s decision to stomp out the hike. “We have to celebrate the victories because they are rare,” said Sas. “That’s not to say I think it’s over but it’s a big victory in a continued fight.” John Aspler, a recent McGill Uni-

versity graduate, said this was the first monthly protest he did not participate in. Aspler felt that the PQ’s position on universities’ management of funds and financial aid for students remains unclear. “I don’t even know what we’re protesting anymore,” said Aspler. “I mean, maybe learn to compromise.” Bishop’s University student Matt O’Neil believes that the student strike movement already won their victory and that the demonstration was unwarranted. “It’s ridiculous, they already got their freeze,” explained O’Neil. “Now it’s getting down to greed.” “CLASSE is leading the way in the fight toward free education, a model I personally agree with,” added Sas. “Why have any barriers based on income to education?” “As long as there is a fee, some will be excluded, regardless of ability.

Loans and bursaries are often insufficient, and student debt can be crippling,” Sas explained. The demonstration ended with the arrest of two protesters and a police officer was injured on Sherbrooke St. after being pelted with a projectile outside of Loto-Québec. The Montreal Police declared the protest illegal around 4:30 p.m. and asked demonstrators to disperse. “I think the protests will continue but with the most radical elements involved which could be awful,” said Aspler. “All of the 22nd protests have been peaceful except for this one. Anthony Kantara, a Vanier College student, said that students must put pressure on Premier Pauline Marois because of her plan to index tuition fees. “She’s not perfect,” said Kantara. “That’s why we have to keep fighting.”

CaMPuS

Concordia University withdraws charges President alan Shepard addresses issue in a letter Kalina Laframboise news editor

oncordia University officially dropped the formal complaints launched against striking students under the Code of Rights and Responsibilities following a meeting between President Alan Shepard and members of the Concordia Student Union last Tuesday. President Shepard addressed the issue in an open letter, emphasizing it was time for a clean slate and that the student protests were an unprecedented situation for the university. Shepard explained that he felt the administration acted appropriately but that charges are officially withdrawn. “As president of the university, I also believe it is time for our com-

munity to turn the page and focus on the future together. I acknowledge that some members of the community will not agree with this approach, and I respect their point of view on the matter,” the letter read. Kris Szabo, an undergraduate student who faced seven formal complaints from Concordia, is glad to know it’s over. “I’m incredibly relieved, I thought this may happen,” Szabo told The Concordian. “This would have been a disaster for administration.” Szabo spoke to Shepard personally and said the president understood his concerns. Since June, Szabo attended several meetings with other charged students to strategize and organize a plan to have the charges dropped. “The Advocacy Centre and the Concordia Student Union gave us a

lot of peace of mind,” Szabo said. “They really helped us.” “I think this happened because we were resilient,” he added. CSU President Schubert Laforest met multiple times with administration on behalf of some of the students charged. “It’s good to see how all of our collaborative work is becoming fruitful,” Laforest said. “I was surprised, I had a little ray of sunshine when Shepard said he would think about it. I had never heard that before.” “I have to tip my hat to Dr. Shepard for taking this decision,” added Laforest. “I felt that dropping the charges is the act of goodwill to prove that Concordia is changing direction for a brighter future.” Several students received formal charges from Concordia for allegedly violating Code 29G for

obstructing or blocking classrooms during March 26, 2012. Under the Code of Rights and Responsibilities, 29G states the following: “Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, study, student disciplinary procedures or other University activity. For example, peaceful picketing or other activity in any public space that does not impede access nor interfere with the activities in a class or meeting is an acceptable expression of dissent and shall not be considered an infraction of this article.” The striking students, 23 undergraduate students and three graduate students, opposed the provincial government’s tuition fee increase. Concordia administration filed the formal complaints June 1 following approximately 40 inquires that were made during the winter semester.

Documents tabled in Parliament last week by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson show that Harper’s Conservative government spent $750,462 in legal fees since 2007 fighting veterans over the recovery of military pensions. The Liberals demanded to see a breakdown of Ottawa’s legal costs in the class-action lawsuit launched by veterans advocate Dennis Manuge. Unable to release the detailed document, the Justice Minister released the total amount spent so far. The government appointed Stephen Toope, the president of the University of British Columbia, to lead the negotiations and arrive at a settlement, including retroactive payment, which could run as high as $600 million.

>>Canadians missing in avalanche Officials have confirmed that at least nine people are dead while others remain missing after an avalanche smashed into a climbing expedition on a Himalayan peak in Nepal this past Sunday at 4 a.m.. The missing people include 48-year-old Quebec cardiologist Dominique Ouimet. Another Canadian, a well-known skier from British Columbia, Greg Hill survived the avalanche. Ottawa Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Chrystiane Roy said officials had been in contact with authorities in Nepal. Ouimet was using the Himalayan expedition to raise money for the St-Jérôme Regional Hospital.

>>The apple doesn’t fall from the mother country Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and British Foreign Secretary William Hague met Monday in Ottawa to sign an agreement to open joint Canada-U.K. diplomatic missions abroad in an effort to extend Canada and the United Kingdom’s diplomatic reach while cutting costs. CBC News reported that this agreement would include sharing embassies or high commissions in countries where one has a diplomatic presence while the other does not. New Democratic Party foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar expressed he had some issues with the agreement. For one, he raised that this deal will compromise Canada’s independence and its foreign policy.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 HEaDER

World in A different kind of orientation for ConU brief Events focus on social, environmental, political issues a.J. Cordeiro

>>A healthy dose of green Uruguayans may see more green, both in cash and haze. The South American nation is moving forward with plans to create a state monopoly, which will manage the agriculture and distribution of marijuana. The move was spearheaded by the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coalition government The Broad Front. The hope is that it will weaken organized crime elements, thus reducing the violent crimes inherent with the trade. However, some marijuana activists have condemned the proposed policy, seeking rather further protection of home-cultivated plants. The policy is in stark contrast to the U.Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;war on drugsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; policy initiated by President Richard Nixon in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;70s.

>>Getting fresh with the fresco You too can be a great artist! A Spanish woman took it upon herself to restore a fresco of Christ in her townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church. Her result was what one BBC correspondent described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic.â&#x20AC;? The botched job went viral in August, resulting in an estimated 30,000 visitors flocking to the church. According to Spanish newspaper El Correro, the church began charging a small fee to see the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;oeuvreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which provoked the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family to sue for royalties.

>>Foxconn fight A massive brawl broke out on Sept. 23 at a Foxconn plant in China, involving more than 2,000 employees. Some 5,000 police officers were called to the scene, and an estimated 40 people were taken to hospital. The actual cause of the fracas has not yet been determined. Work is expected to resume on Sept. 25. Foxconn is well known for producing mass electronics for several major technology companies including Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft. The company (and the companies which use their services) has been criticized for its labour practices in the past.

Marie-JosĂŠe Kelly Staff writer

he Quebec Public Interest Research Group at Concordia launched DISorientation 2012 this week and through a series of different events, organizers aim to reach out and inform new and returning students. It is QPIRGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate to raise awareness about social justice issues, and the concentrated effort of DISorientation 2012 is to expose students and the community to a different side of campus life by organizing free workshops, tours, a panel discussion and a block party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a period of time when stu-

dents, as well as community members are looking to get involved, for a nurturing environment where they can be curious, where they can learn more,â&#x20AC;? said Jaggi Singh, QPIRGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working groups and programming co-ordinator. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to being part of this campus life than what goes on in the classroom.â&#x20AC;? A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Radical Walking Tour of Concordiaâ&#x20AC;? is set for Wednesday to highlight past social conflicts at Concordia, such as the 1969 Sir George Williams Computer Centre riot, a student occupation fuelled by allegations of academic racism, or the student unrest that ensued following the scheduled visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2002.

Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Red Square Block Partyâ&#x20AC;? will host a variety of groups, and the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Potato will serve food. Singh explained that the event is a celebration, a gathering and a reclamation of space all at once. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Concordiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the heart of gentrification in downtown Montreal and either the administration is going to accelerate the gentrification and turn what could be accessible gathering spaces into spaces where you have to spend money,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Or we can try to assert that these spaces should be where people, regardless of their background, people with modest means and income, can gather.â&#x20AC;? For more DISorientation events, check out www.qpirgconcordia.org

Roadwork around ConU still causing problems City construction may last longer than planned Kalina Laframboise news editor The renovations outside of Concordia University set to finish this Friday may be delayed for an undetermined amount of time. The construction started this summer, with the city of Montreal revamping and repaving De Maisonneuve Blvd. from Bishop St. to St-Mathieu St. to include a bike path, green space and an extended sidewalk. While the portion between Guy St. and StMathieu St. reopened this month, the rest of the construction is supposed to finish by the end of September. According to university spokesperson, Chris Mota, the Public Works project slated to finish this Friday, Sept. 28 may be behind schedule. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The roadwork is the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on their schedule,â&#x20AC;? said Mota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Based on their work, ours

can only follow.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little past schedule,â&#x20AC;? added Mota. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With construction, until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.â&#x20AC;? Since the roadwork is entirely governed by the city of Montreal, the university aims to update their website regularly to inform students about the progress of the renovations. The construction and blocked off De Maisonneuve Blvd. have caused headaches for students traveling between the downtown and Loyola campuses. The roadwork forced Concordia to change the location of the shuttle bus stop from in front of the Henry F. Hall Building to the corner of Ste-Catherine St. and Mackay St., before it move d to Bishop St. and De Maisonneuve Blvd., until completion. Brittany Williams experienced the same delay when she travelled from Loyola to downtown recently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a little frustrating to drive an extra five to 10 minutes just so the shuttle bus can let us off near our actual stop,â&#x20AC;? explained Williams. Bus driver Fernand Groulx said

thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no remedy to the situation until the construction is over. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything,â&#x20AC;? said Groulx. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now construction between St-Jacques St. and Upper Lachine too, it happens.â&#x20AC;? Groulx emphasized that construction is merely part of his job and the commute between the two campuses - while he may be delayed - didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make his day any harder.

MMPA

Master of Management & Professional Accounting

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www.utoronto.ca/mmpa

Williams suggested that Concordia provide extra shuttle busses to offset the traffic that snarls up the downtown core due to the construction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Considering the construction is the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fault, the university could perhaps revisit the shuttle schedule,â&#x20AC;? said Williams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They can see if they can make some changes or additions so there will be less delays or inconveniences.â&#x20AC;?

National Geographic to visit McGill amanda Brin Contributor

>>Synchronized toilet flush The Bulawayo City Council, located in Zimbabwe, has asked residents for a synchronized toilet flush following water rationing. Homeowners are being asked to flush their toilets at 7:30 p.m. in order to unclog pipes and wash away any leftover sewage. The measures also stem from the drying up of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main supply dams, following droughts in the southwestern part of the nation. The second-largest city in Zimbabwe, Bulawayo has more than 1 million residents.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will talk about the different contributions that have been made to ensure an accessible campus, to ensure a campus that is engaged and politicized - about a lot of Concordiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history that is often hidden,â&#x20AC;? explained Singh. Following the walking tour, QPIRG along with different student associations will host â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Quebec Student General Strike â&#x20AC;Ś WTF?!â&#x20AC;? a discussion where students will be able to learn more about the recent student strike and discuss the movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future. Singh said that there is a need for space to talk about the student strike and future mobilization, in a way that is accessible to individuals that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t experience it.

National Geographic will hold a workshop at McGill University Saturday, Sept. 29 to promote their new Young Explorers Grants in the hopes of discovering young talent and research. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea is really simple,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Colin Chapman, who is part of National Geographicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Committee for Research and Exploration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to get young people out in the field doing exciting things, doing exploration that National Geographic believes in, and getting them started.â&#x20AC;? The Young Explorers Grants look to support individuals between the ages of 18 to 25 in their research, exploration, and field-based projects. Candidates do not have to be students and their work does not have to be within the fields of biology or ecology but can be focused in journalism, photography, music, and other fields. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also nice because it feels attainable,â&#x20AC;? said Johanna Bleecker, an organizer of the event and a recent McGill graduate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not being a student, it shuts off a lot of sources of funding for me if I

would want to pursue independent research,â&#x20AC;? explained Bleecker. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to see such an inclusive grant.â&#x20AC;? This is the third workshop for the Young Explorers Grants and the first in Canada. The event will begin with a presentation about National Geographic and the grant, as well as a presentation from three previous grant winners. National Geographic staff members, researchers, and scientists will then have different discussion groups to answer questions about the grant and how to apply for a grant. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about it,â&#x20AC;? said Andrea Reid, last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Explorers Grants winner for her research on fish in the Lake Victoria basin of East Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because National Geographic is so high profile, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really great way to get attention for issues that we think are important.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;By presenting my work Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to reach a really broad audience which I think is the biggest benefit more so than the money,â&#x20AC;? added Reid. The free workshop will take place between 9:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. in room 132 of the Leacock Building at McGill University. The workshop is open to people of all ages.

life

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com bar revieW

Hats off to the master brewer Le reservoir - great brewed beers and grilled cheese robert De Lisi Contributor

hen walking along the streets of St. Laurent Blvd., one can easily find a place to dine, shop or party. However, every so often, a spot stands out amongst all the flashy lights, restaurants and dive bars. Next time you’re walking north on St. Laurent, try something new; take a right onto Duluth and step into Le Reservoir, a bar that stands out for its excellent house-brewed beers and its irresistible snack bar. The two story bar offers a pub setting and ambiance that would easily fit in the trendy hipster neighbourhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Both floors are equipped with their very own bar, as well as an L-shaped, non-smoking terrace which wraps around the second floor. The interior design of the place is retro with just the right amount of lighting to set the perfect mood over a pint of any one of their fine beers. Upon being seated, my girlfriend and I ordered off their chalk-written menu hanging above the bar. I ordered their white India Pale Ale, and my girlfriend ordered the cherry beer. Both came rather fast as they were skillfully poured before our eyes.

Through the glass wall behind the bar, the clientele can easily see the room where the giant metal containers called “worts” are kept. These massive containers house the delicious beer as it ferments in all its glory. I have been yearning to go to Le Reservoir and try their beers crafted by their master brewer Nathan McNutt— beers that I can now happily say exceeded my expectations. “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing people enjoy my work while at the same time fulfilling my passion for creation,” said McNutt. “Combining my skills, creativity, and toil with

raw ingredients and machinery to make a delicious product that many people enjoy; I just don’t get tired of that.” By the end the evening I had tried four of his beers and as a result, must encourage anybody who appreciates a wellrounded beer to head over there next time they want a quality pint. I may not be a beer expert, but I can say that their white IPA was a refreshing pint filled with taste and character, and their Irishinspired black beer was a full-bodied pint with a perfect coffee flavour finish. Even my girlfriend’s cherry beer was not just a simple, pretty coloured beer. It is fermented twice with polished cherries,

resulting in a savoury beer worthy of being served along the other outstanding choices. “Reservoir, up until recently, focused solely on classic styles of beer as opposed to the more fashionable aggressively hopped beers or strong exotically flavoured beers found in other brewpubs,” said McNutt. While their beers may be filling and satisfying on their own, craving food after a few drinks is expected. Thankfully, Le Reservoir has a kitchen. The place is well known for its weekend brunch which is supposedly superb. However, I went on a weeknight and got a chance to indulge in their snack menu. We ordered the calamari platter and the Gruyere grilled cheese, toasted to perfection with marinated onions and apple butter. Both plates held decent portions and were creatively served. The grilled cheese was placed on a wood platter and the calamari was served in a mason jar. Turns out we chose wisely as the food perfectly complimented the beer. Overall, the place provided an ambiance and vibe that is different from many bars in Montreal. It is original and versatile in the sense that it is a cool place for a late night drink, yet perfect for an afternoon snack or weekend brunch. They offer a fine selection of beers and spirits at reasonable prices, and their food menu changes daily for a fresh and impressive experience. I love this place and I highly suggest you head on over and try it for yourself!

HeaLTH

Trade your late night booze for a good snooze

early risers reap all the benefits Sabrina Giancioppi Contributor

“The early bird gets the worm!” We’ve heard this saying time and time again and researchers from the University of Roehampton in London, England found that early risers tend to be far more optimistic, productive, and generally happier than their night owl counterparts. As glorious as sleep can be, those who get an early start to their day have more time to do things like eat a well-balanced breakfast, workout and even avoid stressful traffic on their way to work. After quizzing more than 1,000 adults about their everyday lives, the study found that those who jumped out of bed at 7 a.m. were generally healthier, thrived in the workplace, and were surveyed as having higher levels of happiness than those who started their day at around 9 a.m.. As a self-proclaimed night owl, I have always avoided early classes. My level of function before 10 a.m. is minimal, unless I have a double caramel macchiato in my system. However, this semester I have a class at 8:45 a.m., forcing me to jump-start my day while the

birds are still chirping. Consequently, within these first three weeks of school, I have noticed a positive change in my daily routine. I am far more alert and productive during the day. I return emails, pay bills, complete most of my readings for class, and find that I am far less of a grouch. This is a positive change in attitude that former psychology PhD student at Concordia, Denise Jarrin, understands all too well. “[The] general finding is that early risers do tend to have personality characteristics of being conscientious and open,” said Jarrin.

The University of Toronto examined the habits of two groups of people; young adults and older adults. Researchers found that older adults tend to rise early while young adults tend to sleep in until later hours of the day. This seems to ring true, especially for students who seem more prone to irregular sleeping patterns due to fluctuating school and work schedules. Implementing healthy sleep habits may come easier to someone working a nineto-five job; however, it proves more difficult for those students trying to meet a deadline or cram for a midterm.

“Staying up late to finish a paper is a feeling I know all too well,” said Concordia English literature student Angela De Cicco. “Sleep has become bittersweet because pressing snooze feels great, but I often wake up feeling unmotivated.” Though procrastination seems to be an ongoing theme in a student’s day-to-day agenda, it sometimes leads to late nights over books with a coating of drool—a habit that can be difficult to shake. Early birds have more hours in a day to cross off tasks on their to-do lists, providing a sense of accomplishment which can make you feel great and keep you motivated. While the benefits of waking early are as clear as black on white, the change in lifestyle is not an easy task. Cathy Beggan, founder of Rise-NShine, a company that came to fruition in 2006, offers all-natural supplements that can help adults wake after six to eight hours of sleep feeling alert and energized without the grogginess. Beggan also gives simple tips like avoiding chocolate, wine and coffee in the evening hours, as well as having dinner three to four hours prior to bedtime. She suggests drinking a glass of water in the morning to help hydrate, and establishing a stretch and breathing routine to help you transition from night owl to morning riser.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 reSTo revieW

Loosen your tie and grab a stool

Le Gros Jambon is a recommended pit stop Katrina Tortorici Contributor

What do you get when you add homemade Coca-Cola mayonnaise, fried pickles and caramelized onions into a steamy hamburger? A whole lot of flavour in one succulent bite. Le Gros Jambon is not what you’d expect. Do not be fooled by its nondescript exterior and shabby interior, where its attempt at a pastoral ambiance is rather poor. The gloomy, dimly-lit room is tight and narrow; backless stools are lined along the far right side, facing a white wall of colourful photographs of small children playing and eating sweets. Our party of four was forced to sit along the counter facing the open kitchen due to the lack of seating options. Evidently, the place was not a spot to sit and enjoy dinner with friends. Yet, with the combination

From leFt to right: lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, lobster grilled cheese, and the shrimp hot dog. of classic oldies playing in the background, friendly staff, and charismatic chef Ryan Dixon, the old diner vibe started to grow on me. The menu had an array of original choices and creative combinations. Some of the diners’ favourites include their smoked meat pizza, fish tacos, and their hot dogs—a Gros Jambon creation of buns stuffed with the choice of either bacon and cucumber, chili, smoked meat or one of their specialties, like fried shrimp. Other tasteful options are their sandwiches of pulled pork, rib or the lobster roll. If you’re in for something a little different, I would suggest trying their duck or lobster macaroni and cheese. Their grilled cheese sandwiches also come with a choice of four cheeses, bacon, duck, smoked meat

CoLumn

or lobster. The shrimp hot dog had a great blend of flavours. A reasonable portion of miniature breaded shrimp were jammed into a steamy bun coated with ranch sauce and topped with fresh coleslaw. It was enjoyable and spiced just right. Le Gros Jambon offers a number of burgers such as the ham and cheese, crab, vegetarian, and their famous Coca-Cola burger—a burger that should automatically be added to your bucket list! The lobster macaroni and cheese alone is a good enough reason to return. The noodles and chunks of lobster were covered in a creamy lobster sauce and sprinkled with breadcrumbs. It was a tough platter to beat.

Unfortunately, the lobster grilled cheese was disappointing, for it was too rich with butter and cheese. The food is reasonably priced however, considering its location in Montreal’s Old Port. The platters range from eight to $18 per person; though the cost of extra sides and toppings could have been better. Open since last November, the diner also shares owners with French restaurant L’Orignal, located on the corner of NotreDame and St. Alexis. “We get a lot of business people during the lunch rush,” said Vincent Koronkiewicz, one of the diner’s regular workers. “Breakfast and brunch on weekends are also very busy. We have a whole different menu with specialty dishes, [...] but it’s not the best place for large groups since we don’t hold seats or make reservations,” he said. To those who enjoy a good casual dining experience, Le Gros Jambon makes for a great pit stop. Le Gros Jambon is located on 286 NotreDame St. W.

CoLumn

How to: It’s that apple time of year deal with drunk friends Whole-wheat vegan crêpes never tasted so good Chelsea Singer Columnist

chool’s started, temperatures are dropping, and any day now those bright green leaves will transform into reds, yellows, and oranges. With the turn of the season, many of us seem unable to resist the urge to round up a group of friends for some good old applepicking — there may be no better way to ring in and embrace fall! Here’s a delicious way to use up the fruits of your labour. Between the apples and the wholewheat flour, you’ll be getting a great kick of fibre to start your day off and keep your tummy happy. Apples have also been suggested to aid in the prevention of cancers due to its high antioxidant content. The combo of cranberries and apples is an excellent natural detoxifier, aiding in cleansing your liver, perhaps from too many Thursdays at Reggie’s. So here’s to another reason to look forward to the weekend; high fiber, sugar free, but most importantly, delicious crepes!

INGREDIENTS 1 medium apple, peeled and sliced 1/8 cup walnuts, chopped 1/8 cup dried cranberries 1/3 cup apple juice 1 tbsp. maple syrup 2 tbsp. cinnamon 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour 1/4 cup milk 1 egg Cooking spray INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a frying pan, simmer apples, apple juice, maple syrup and 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon. Once apple juice begins to bubble and evaporate, add the walnuts and cranberries. Keep under heat until all the liquid is absorbed. 2. Mix together flour, milk and egg in a bowl. Heat frying pan to medium heat and coat with cooking spray. Once the pan is heated, add the batter. Grab the handle of the frying pan and make a circular motion with your hand, allowing the batter to evenly coat the pan. 3. Once bubbles start to appear, gently peel the sides of the crepe with a spatula, and flip your crepe over, cooking it for another minute or so. Serve crepe on a plate, add apple filling, fold crepe over, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon. Bon appétit!

Christine beaton Columnist

ave you ever been the only sober one at a party? It kinda sucks, eh? You have to make sure nothing gets broken—from your bestie’s unnecessarily high heels to her drunken heart. All of a sudden you’re on clothes, phone and boy patrol, shielding all of your friends from involuntary hook-ups and public humiliation. You love your friends and you’d do anything for those crazy mother truckers, but sometimes situations can get hard to handle. Here is a list of those situations and how you can handle them without losing your cool. What to do if your friend is: 1) Hooking up with a 4/10 Try to get her attention. This might be hard if she’s playing a game of tonsil hockey with him, but in that case, just rip her away. The next part gets a little tricky. Tell her the guy would be better suited for a horribly lit “before” photo than Cosmo’s two-page “Most Eligible Bachelor” spread. Remind her that she can do way better. She might go on the defensive and claim you’re trying to “steal” him, but just repeat yourself and hope that some of it sinks in. 2) Stumbling worse than Bambi If she’s wearing heels, get them off her. I know, you’re downtown, it’s dirty, who

knows what she could be stepping on?! But as my mother always says, “Better a foot fungus than a broken ankle!” ... or something like that. If she’s wearing flats and still can’t walk, time to put her in a cab and get her home. In order to not feel like you’re trying to manoeuvre the Leaning Tower of Pisa down the street and into a car, enlist the help of another friend. Two is better than one. 3) Blabbing like she has stocks in gossip First, resist the urge to push her down a flight of stairs. For this one, it’s always best to confront her right then and there, and then to bring it up the next day when she is, hopefully, a bit more sober. Also, just a quick reminder ladies, “I was drunk!” isn’t a valid excuse for breaking a friend’s trust and telling all 150 party-goers that she makes music videos with her cats on Saturday nights. 4) Going to be sick Act quickly and act subtly. If a drunken friend tells you she’s going to be sick, find the closest bathroom or discreet hiding space. Do not announce it to the rest of the party. Go with her, make sure she doesn’t choke or fall asleep hugging the toilet, and then get her up and cleaned off. It’s not the most glamorous part of your job, but sometimes you just have to suck it up! There you have it—how to deal with your drunk friends. Now that you (and they) are safely home, have a glass of wine. You deserve it.

arts

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com Literature

Let the words roll on!

Concordia students organize independent poetry and prose readings around Montreal “Why aren’t there any readings happening?”

Amanda L. Shore Arts editor

asked Concordia student Ashley Opheim in the winter of 2012, “I want to have a reading with all the people my age.” And that’s exactly what she did. Now in its third incarnation, This Is Happening Whether You Like It Or Not, will be hosting an evening of literature and music Sept. 27 at Silver Door. Partnering with classmate and longtime friend, Guillaume Morissette, the two creative writing majors came up with the idea to host their own reading last winter. “The first one was kind of impromptu in the sense that it was much more of an informal event in a friend of ours’ loft, and it kind of turned into a thing of its own volition,” said Morissette. This is Happening has its roots in events that Morissette hosted in the backyard of his

former residence. As a result of their plentiful backyard space, Morissette and his former roommates would organize various functions and one evening they decided to host a casual reading, inviting their friends to share their work, a sort of one-off reading that helped spawn the idea. The name was invented by Opheim first as a joke because she was organizing the reading without having asked the people she planned on having read, if they wanted to do it in the first place. However, the name also insinuates, Opheim explained, “that this is going to happen whether people come or not. Our interest isn’t really in getting tons of people out, it’s about creating a space for people to do these readings.” “Especially in the context of reading, its a name that makes such a strong claim. You’re so used to having readings that are very polite, like; well, if you want to come . . . you’re not obligated,” added Morissette, “so it’s kind of this flipping of the script on its head.” Currently, Opheim and Morissette select readers based on people they know, writers whom they trust. However, with the increasing number of events, they are planning on casting a wider net and looking for people

outside of their own cluster to read. “Right now...we are showcasing a lot of Concordia people, but it would be interesting to showcase people from McGill, people that aren’t in school or don’t necessarily have a strong writer profile, but they have something to contribute.”said Morissette. As their events become more formal and more planned, they are hoping to have a mix of both emerging and established writers so that people can have the opportunity to hear new voices and also go see someone they are already familiar with. For their Sept. 27 reading they will be featuring internet celebrity Steve Roggenbuck, who will also be broadcasting the reading live on his Spreecast page. The event will also feature Laura Broadbent and Concordia’s Ali Pinkney and Alex Manley. The evening will include musical sets by MØØNßÅHN and Felix Green. Entry is pay-what-you-can. The reading will start at 9 p.m. at Silver Door, located at 6502 Avenue du Parc.

See our two-page feature on P. 8 & 9 for more Montreal literature.

e-LIT

When Dickens meets the digital age How two brothers are taking a fresh look at old fashioned publishing Colin McMahon Staff writer

t is interesting to think that some of the most famous writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain and Charles Dickens published the bulk of their work as episodic content in magazines. Imagine going to a kiosk and paying a nickel for chapter seven of Great Expectations. This is the type of model that brothers Kent and Paul Stetson are using as a basis for the release of their new book: Meat Cove. “We wrote it together, it’s 50/50,” Kent Stetson recalled. “I do most of the composition although every now and again Paul writes up some stuff, but like he says, it all sounds like a police report. It’s really good though; it’s full of all the facts and information you need.” Like most collaborative duos, the Stetson brothers each bring something to the table. Kent Stetson, Concordia professor, has an award-winning career as a playwright as well as valuable insight as a fiction writer, while Paul Stetson has the real-life knowledge of a police officer. Both these backgrounds are invaluable when writing a gritty mystery novel like Meat Cove which follows the story of RCMP Sergeant Waldron MacKinnon, aka. Gandhi, a crime-fighting adventurer from Prince Edward Island. Yet collaborations in themselves, are not unique to the world of publishing. The hook is in the Stetson brother’s innovative distribution method. Meat Cove will have a completely digital, payby-chapter release.

“I always loved the notion of Dickens’ releasing all his great works chapter by chapter... in popular magazines for which he was paid,” says Kent Stetson, “And I thought: Dickens in the digital age, what could be better?” As Kent Stetson points out, the literary world is a changing place and many publishers today have to compete, some with great difficulty, to get their product into the public eye. With this method of direct release, the publisher is bypassed entirely and people are able to pay for what they want with incentives along the way. The first two chapters of Meat Cove will be issued free of charge, and other free chapters will be revealed along the way. For those out there who are not wild about the digital reading experience, don’t panic, the Stetson brothers have ensured there is an option to print and create your own material copy. Kent Stetson laid out his intentions that this was not simply an experiment but the future model of distribution for the brothers’ projects down the road: “We have three planned. They’re all based on Atlantic Canadian town names. This is Meat Cove, the next one is Plaster Rock, and the third one is Cow Head.” Names like these have been chosen not simply because they convey the setting but also because they directly contribute to the down and dirty style of writing that the Stetsons are putting forth in the series. Meat Cove is out now and available for download at MasterBookWorks.com. The authors of Meat Cove - Paul Stetson and his brother, Concordia professor, kent Stetson.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Literature in alive and kicking, the city’s literary

Of flies and men

Grab a taxi & let rawi Hage’s Carnival take you away Sofia Gay Contributor A good piece of literature should always leave one feeling that each page was worth the time it took to turn it. Unless it’s truly horrid writing (or has been penned by anyone with a reality television show), most books will accomplish that. But a great book will see the main character reaching their arm out of the pages to grab yours and let you feel everything they’re feeling. That’s the case with former Concordia graduate Rawi Hage’s latest novel, Carnival. The son of a trapeze artist and flying carpet pilot, Fly is a taxi driver who likes to wander but doesn’t like customers who smell. Or puke in his car. We meet him just as the carnival arrives in town, attracting hordes of tourists and bringing with it a sense of the strange and mysterious. Fly identifies with a group of drivers that are called, well, “flies” because they like to drive around to pick up customers, unlike the drivers he calls “spiders” because they simply sit at a hangout called Café Bolero all day and wait for customers to come to them. It’d be easy to peg Fly with the timid loner archetype – after all, his mother is dead, his father is gone and the bearded lady who raised him is also dead. But that’s not the character Hage presents. Fly interacts with many people throughout the book, has friends and, for a lack of a better word, is a total badass. He beats up steroid-heads, works for a dealer, goes to an S&M dungeon and says gems such

as, “I could substitute their cocaine lines with fishing ropes that sailed up their nostrils and down their brains.” That’s not to say he doesn’t have his hangups. Interspersed among the novel are lengthy passages describing what he fantasizes about when he masturbates, which he does lying on his father’s old flying carpet, in the middle of his book-filled apartment. While they show his creativity (he often imagines himself fighting wars and rescuing maidens), they hint at a desire to escape from his life, or to have done something else with it. “It is always a pleasure to meet dirty novelists,” he tells a customer. “I once contemplated becoming one myself...but instead I stopped trying and picked up another creative habit that has kept my fingers busy ever since.” The story is told through little vignettes with titles such as, “Dogs” and “Guns.” Fittingly enough, the passages evoke the feeling of being at a carnival – catching glimpses of strange faces and acts in quick succession and becoming entranced in the atmosphere. Coupled with the lack of quotation marks, it’s an interesting format that, as one works though the five acts that make up the story, makes sure the reader is paying absolute attention. It’s easy to see why Carnival made Hage one of the finalists for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Although Fly doesn’t belong with the spiders who work around him, the strands of the story weave tightly around the reader, leaving one tangled in a web of enchantment.

PhoTo by Valdis silins

Life through poetry Concordia graduate releases first book

Chloe Ketterling Contributor Messy, hurtful, necessary and sometimes just plain random; these are some of the feelings that Montreal-based poet Laura Broadbent’s newly released book of poetry, Oh There You Are I Can’t See You Is It Raining? elicits. She explores the vital facets of human desire, memory and relationships, while playing with the constraints of language. Broadbent earned both her Undergraduate and Masters Degrees at Concordia in literature and creative writing, but if you ask her, she attended “the school of hard knocks.” Her area of study? “Destroying men.” It was the search for a medium to express her life “witnessed with crippling sensitivity […] and fragility” that led her to poetry and words, which she feels “will take a lifetime to be trained in.” The book is separated into three different sections. Between A and B is where language takes a backseat to the expression of a more transcendent theme. Broadbent describes this part as having a more “spiritual, abstract” inspiration; seen quite effectively in the vast expanse that she creates between A and B, where the restraints of language seem to be thrown and your physical experience is questioned. Written in a prose poetry style, there are seven line sentences and direct references to the linearity and limits of language, apparently it is “made of chains”. Broadbent herself even claims that sometimes “words get in the way.” Her texts are physically placed between the letters A and B on the page, visually implying a sense of getting

from point A to point B, but the texts in between make many a reference to ‘nothingness’. “He cannot hurt you because there is no you”, “You aren’t stuck in your first-world issues because there is no you” and telling you that “the best thing about you nobody can see anyway.” Broadbent opens this expanse where everything that has ever happened to you, all that you should remember goes. You are stripped down to a nothing that nobody can see, begging the question of what this ‘nothing’ that you really are is, and why is it hanging Between A and B? The next section, Culled, written in stanza form, uses the repetition of language to exemplify the importance of the past in building a new future. Each poem begins in its own way, but in the end halves Broadbent reconfigures the words and lines from the beginning into new stanzas, independent of the constraints of their original form, while maintaining relevance to the meaning of the poem. The third section, Men In Various States, explores desire and its many states. Desire, according to the poetry, is messy, random and sometimes it can just make you feel bad. When asked about desire Broadbent said it “is always centred around a lack, and the object of your desire will never be the thing to fill this lack, yet you persist in believing it is which results in pain. Broadbent claims “Life is everything all at once,” which is quite appropriate considering the book of poetry is a lot to take in. It’s a journey from what seems to be your metaphysical self to your desire soaked self, it’s all of you, all at once. Oh There You Are I Can’t See You Is It Raining? is available from Snare Books.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Montreal scene has something for everyone

Come hell or high water Chronicling a musician’s journey across Canada Sarah McMahon-Sperber Contributor

Simon Walls just added a rather important feather to his cap. Musician, check. Traveler, check. Teenage mentor, check. Walked across Canada, check. And now he’s an author; a raw, honest and introspective writer. This week, he launched his newest baby Troubadour des Temps Modernes - or modern day troubadour - published by Montreal-based Éditions Dumont. The book recounts the incredible ups and downs Walls experienced during his nearly 705,684 km, 9 month journey. If you think bears, wolves and cold weather were his biggest enemies; think again. The storm was, in fact, on the inside. Simon Walls is, in actuality, Simon Gervais. He’s a 26 year-old from Napierville and he likes to walk. After having tackled the Compostelle path in Spain (a 1050 km-long trek that follows the tracks of 12th century pilgrims) Gervais decided he needed a bigger challenge. Canada is bigger, he figured. The wheels started spinning and an ambitious project surfaced; to write an album, a book and shoot video footage over the course of a trip across Canada. The result: his touching album, Klein Blue and now – Troubadour des Temps Modernes. Throughout the book, Gervais digs further and further into his own mind and heart to learn some pretty important lessons. His descriptions are simple, beautifully illustrated and marvellously evocative. You know that hollow feeling you get when you’ve been on the road for quite a while and you start missing your family? Take that feeling and imagine it

on foot, walking long and flat prairie miles with hardly anyone around to talk to. Over the course of his book launch, he stood candidly on stage and told the audience about some of the rawest moments of his trip. “There was a point when I got to Antigonish, Nova Scotia where I thought I just couldn’t do it anymore,” he tells us. “I called a few people back home to get their advice – some of those people are actually here tonight. And then I found some strength, I locked myself in a room with a TV for three days and then I hit the road again.” That moment, he says, is what prompted this song and he launches into a generous version of his track, “Smell of Blue.” He also spoke of the incredible generosity and eccentricity of the people he met on the road. He read a passage that described his deepening gratitude in the face of even the smallest act of kindness – a sandwich, a chat, a place to crash for the night (one much cozier and warmer than his tiny tent.) His book betrays his great admiration for the stories he heard along the way and many of those stories are featured in Troubadour, in which he paints such simple portraits that you can’t help but be soaked in. Once you know the backstory behind his song “Dear Traveller,” you’re unlikely to ever hear it the same way again. You might think accomplishing such a big project would mean it’s finally time for a rest, but not with Gervais. He is currently working on a video piece about his journey and looking to tour with his book. And, of course, it’s probably a safe bet to say he’s cooking up another expedition or journey already.

Lit: Made in Quebec

QWF, uNeQ and LTaC present bilingual literary event andria Caputo Contributor We are a country with two official languages, but how often in Quebec do we make that a source of disconcertion? Isn’t it time we embraced both languages and celebrated what their literary traditions have to offer? Reading: un acte d’amour/Lire: An Act of Love, is a bilingual literary event, that’s designed to do just that. As part of the 18th annual Festival international de la literature, the event will take place Sept. 26 at La Sala Rossa. Organized by the Quebec Writers’ Federation, the event began several years ago as an English-only event with a Canada Reads type of format. When the QWF decided to run it for another year, they omitted the competitive style of the event and invited both French and English language Quebec authors; this way, “everyone is a winner,” said Lori Schubert, QWF’s executive director. The format of the event has been tweaked over the years, with the Union des écrivaines et des écrivains quebecois joining forces to offer a bilingual literary experience. The event features two award-winning Quebec authors: francophone Nicolas Dickner and anglophone Neil Smith. Each writer is presenting a book by a fellow Quebec author, one in English and one in French. The books presented are available in an English or French translation. The event sheds light on the importance of Quebec literature, whether it is in English or French and encourages readers to explore Quebec’s vast and vibrant literary

scene. The translation of a literary work relies a lot on the accuracy and the preservation of the beauty and originality of the words chosen by the author. Translation is one of the main focuses of the event and the translators of the novels are invited to be part of the panel and participate in the discussions. The event aims to show the impact translation can have on a literary work and how it can change the reader’s perception and reaction to the novel. Nicolas Dickner, author of Nikolski, will present the novel Du bon usage des étoiles by Dominique Fortier. Neil Smith, author of Bang, Crunch, will present the novel Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill. Writer and translator David Homel, who is the president of the QWF, will be hosting the event. What makes this event so unique is that it encourages audience participation. Discussions will take place after the presentation of the novels with the presenters and the audience exchanging opinions and questions regarding the works. Audience members are also encouraged to bring a list of books written in Quebec that they would like to see translated in English or French. The list of these books will be sent to various literary associations in hopes that they will be translated. If there’s a book out there that you want translated, this is the perfect time to have your voice heard. The novels being presented, as well the novels written by the authors and the translators, will be on sale at the event. Admission for students is $5 and $10 for the general public.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Arts in brief amanda L. Shore arts editor

CoLuMN

No viewing required How classic movies have rooted themselves in our minds and in our culture not have ever even seen the films, still recognize them. That is the nature of a classic; it is a film that is so famous, you don’t even need to see it in order to know it.

>>Walls: Travels Along the Barricades by Marcello Di Cintio

Marcello Di Cintio’s ambitious work of nonfiction attempts to blend travel and reporting in an effort to answer the question: “what does it mean to live against a wall?” He examines cultures where people are divided by the presence of a wall and seeks to discover how or if these structures influence those they separate. Walls: Travels Along the Barricades is available from Chapters Indigo and Amazon.ca and retails at $29.95.

>>The Pilot Reading Series at Sparrow

Co-sponsored by Writers Read Concordia and Matrix Magazine, the monthly reading series features writers from Concordia and around the globe. This month’s event will feature readings from Hildebrand Pam Dick, Candice Maddy, Simon Wake, Michael Nardone and derek beaulieu.

Colin McMahon Contributor When picturing Frankenstein, what comes to mind? What does Dracula’s castle look like? Imagine a shark swimming in the water, what music accompanies it? Odds are your mind has a thought for all three. A tall, greenish corpse with bolts in its neck, a sinister man in a black cape standing at the top of stairs covered in cobwebs, and a sinister two-note melody. Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), Jaws (1975): three film classics that have rooted themselves into our culture, so much so that even people who may

Jurassic Park (1993) was one of the most financially successful blockbusters from our generation’s childhood. That initial image of the brachiosaurus walking across the screen while the music slowly plays and the actors in the movie stand transfixed with the same awe as the audience. Not enough time has passed, however, for this film to be deemed a classic. Many critics do not look at Jurassic Park as anything more than just another blockbuster and the film has received little in the way of special honor. For our generation it may be a classic since most saw it as children but for those outside our age, it is still too early to accurately tell. Now examine Frankenstein. Those who have read the book will know that there is no mention of bolts or that the monster lumbers with arms

The Pilot takes place Sept. 30, beginning at 8 p.m. at Sparrow, 5322 boul. Saint Laurent. Entrance is free.

Sympathies Sympathiques is an art exhibition featuring five artists from Concordia’s Fine Arts department. Combining textile arts, drawing, printmaking and sculpture, the pieces work in harmony through their appearance and dark monochromatic frame.

The much anticipated new, adult el from acclaimed Harry Potter er, J.K. Rowling, will be released Thursday to the delight of her

novwritthis fans.

>>The Theresa Foundation’s 3rd Annual Benefit Concert

An evening of music, theatre and poetry to raise money to help support the Grandmothers of Mnjale Village in Milawi ‘s effort to raise children who have been orphaned by AIDS. There will be tons of performers such as;: Dave Gossage, Bud Rice and Senja Sargeant, Burton Street Singers, The Good Buddies, Ann Lambert and Laura Mitchell, Vishesh Abeyratne and Jonathan Bosco, Isaac Abracen and Kyla Smith The event will take place at Westmount Park Church, 305 Landsdowne (corner de Maisonneuve). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, show begins at 8 p.m. Suggested donation is $20 general and $10 students and seniors.

There aren’t any requirements for films seeking to become classics beyond being popular enough to succeed. People simply need to see it. This is evident today when looking at what may be the next vampire phenomenon, Twilight. Many would say that the quality of the movie is not sufficient enough to warrant it a place in history but no real argument can be made against it being a prevalent presence in culture. The word “vampire” is starting to have new image associations because of this film, and that is the mark of a potential classic.

It is difficult to predict the nature of the classic. They have become an unusual genre all to themselves, defined by what the public deem popular. To view them is to view an aspect of culture.

The exhibit is being held at VAV Gallery from Sept. 17- 28

The town of Pagford is a town at war; children at war with their parents, the rich at war with the poor, teachers at war with their students, wives at war with their husbands. When town councilman Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly the campaign for his seat is the catalyst for the biggest war of all.

It is also interesting to point out that if many of us saw films like Frankenstein, Dracula or Lawrence of Arabia; we may not even like them. Since film appreciation is a subjective art, it is difficult to concretely cement the quality of any film. There are many opinions that some of the films defined as “classics” have not held up over the years and now feel dated and boring to watch. Indeed some of us may even find the best use for a “classic” is to cure the insomnia caused by a stressful night of schoolwork.

Likewise Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy may someday fall under the term classic as it took an already well-established character and propelled him to an unprecedented height of popularity. Many superhero movies are now made with a higher degree of realism in an attempt to emulate the style of Nolan’s films.

>>Sympathies Sympathiques at VAV Gallery

>>The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

outstretched, yet both of these things are directly associated with the monster, because of the Boris Karloff iconic film. The film, Frankenstein, was so popular in the thirties that it spawned a number of sequels and planted a seed in our culture that has germinated into an archetype.

For your fix of Classic films, check out Cineplex’s Fall Classic Film series.

doCS

Movement, memory and mobilization

Cinema Politica has your weeknight booked Tarek akhtar Contributor

The campus-and-community-run organization Cinema Politica has officially released its fall lineup for the 2012 fall semester. Touching upon themes of movement, memory and mobilization, The Concordian has your guide to October’s most controversial documentaries. The best part? Admission is by donation, so pay what you can and not a cent more.

oCToBer LiNeuP 2012 MonDAy, ocT. 1 The Furious Forces of Rhyme - dir. Joshua Atesh Litle, 2010 , 84m A fascinating story about Hip Hop as a language that unites people from different world.

ThurSDAy, ocT. 4 The Suffering Grasses – dir. Iara Lee, 2012, 52m An inside look into the political and civil conflicts in Syria as told by those who are living it.

MonDAy, ocT. 15 The End of Immigration – dir. Marie Boti and

Joshua aTesh liTle’s doC, The furious forCe of rhymes. CourTesy of Cinema PoliTiCa.

Malcolm Guy, 2012, 52m A look into Canada’s regressive immigration policies and how it exploits certain minorities across Canada. And the focus is not in 1880. The focus is now.

support the voice of women.

MonDAy, ocT. 29

MonDAy, ocT. 22

Blokada – dir. Igor Bezinovic, 2012, 93m Croatia’s longest and most controversial student movement takes the spotlight in this behind-the-scenes documentary.

The Heretics – dir. Joan Braderman, 2012, 95m The feminist art collective that produced the journal “Heresies,” reunites after two decades to reflect on how and why they came together to

All shows are at 7 p.m. at 1455 de Maisonneuve West in room h-110. For a full list of showtimes and more info, visit cinemapolitica.org

music

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com Profile

New Music Canada: Hiawatha Two very different Toronto musicians get psychadelic with their Language Alex Giardini Staff writer

f you thought Hiawatha, the founder of Iroquois confederacy, rose from the dead to live out his dreams in electronica, think again. This ‘Hiawatha’ is the project of David Psutka, also known as Egyptrixx, and a former Thrush Hermit, Ian McGettigan. Both striking musical figures in the Toronto scene, they started collaborating a while back and have always had a positive relationship through music. Their first album, Language, is out now courtesy of Last Gang Records, the same label that launched Metric, Crystal Castles and MSTRKRFT. Psutka called the record “an exploration of pessimism and optimism; success and failure; concussion and tranquility.” “I wrote the record when I was going through some heavy personal l things in my life, and they were on a similar line,” revealed Psutka. “They weren’t absolutely good, and they weren’t absolutely bad. I wanted to reflect that.“ Psultka previously collaborated with Canadian synth-pop band Trust, producing electronic music that can easily be put on for dance purposes. He debuted his solo material as Egyptrixx in March 2011 with the track “Bible Eyes.” Halifax-born McGettigan is now a pro-

ducer, but was the bassist and vocalist of now-defunct alt-rock band Thrush Hermit.Together, they are Hiawatha. As for the classification of Hiawatha’s sound itself, Psutka doesn’t consider it an important subject or a necessary responsibility. “Genres don’t ever really concern me, I understand there may be need for them for promotional material, but as a receiver and performer, genres don’t really matter at all,” said Psutka. Although the project sounds like it has all the doings of what could be classified as electronic, Psutka and McGettigan recorded using the default rock tools: guitar, drums and keyboard. More often than not the joy of music is how differently it can be interpreted and manipulated when it is made and heard live in person. Hiawatha will make its live debut this November at New York’s Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. Trial track: “Caring Less and Less To See and Know You”

Quick spins Andrew Guilbert Staff writer

>>>Party’s over

Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé - Barcelona (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (2012; Island Records)

The Killers - Battle Born (2012; Island Records)

Kreayshawn - Somethin’ Bout Kreay (2012; Colombia)

A true rock opera, this 25th anniversary edition brings together the legendary Freddie Mercury (frontman of Queen) and Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé in a complete re-working of their 1988 cult classic album, Barcelona (filled with bonus demos and DVD extras). Considered Mercury’s most self-defining work of his career, this special edition release was given new life thanks to a full symphonic orchestral score performed by the eighty-piece FILMharmonic Orchestra in Prague. The title track, Barcelona was written by Mercury in honor of the 1992 Olympic games in Spain.

After a brief hiatus, The Killers have returned with their latest endeavour, Battle Born. The band consists of lead vocalist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci. With sessions beginning last October, the result is just over fifty-one minutes of generic, boring, alternative rock. Simply put, this is album is completely uninspiring. Even with legendary producers like Brendan O’Brien, Stephen Lillywhite, and Daniel Lanois, the lyrics and song structure is formulaic, producing a bland mixture of sound that could be any Billboard 200 one-hit wonder band.

In her debut full-length album titled Somethin’ bout Kreay, Kreayshawn unleashes a whole new beast with 13 tracks that can only be described as “so bad they’re good.” Kreayshawn rose to fame after the YouTube video for her song “Gucci Gucci” - which also appears on Somethin’ bout Kreay - went viral, reaching over 3 million views in three weeks. Even though she won’t have a groundbreaking impact on the music industry, Kreayshawn brings something new to the music scene, combining different elements of rap, dubstep, pop and hip-hop.

Trial track: “Barcelona”

Trial track: “Battle Born”

Trial track: “Left Ey3”

9.5/10

- Paul Traunero

3.5/10

- A.J. Cordeiro

6.0/10

- Natasha Taggart

Lovers of infectious beats and party rocking will be disappointed to hear that LMFAO have officially called it quits. In an interview with news. com.au, vocalist Redfoo explained the reason for the split. “I feel like we’ve been doing this for so long, five or six years. And we’re kind of like saying, well, let’s just do what’s natural and just kind of explore that, instead of like forcing it all the time.” He reassured fans that the LMFAO style will still be around in his solo endeavors and that he plans to continue his own brand of upbeat party music well into the future.

>>>“Thank you, [insert city here]!” Reggae rap artist Matisyahu was really feeling the energy at his Sept. 18 show, so much so he called out the city of Telluride, Colorado to show appreciation for his fans. This would have been a much more meaningful moment had he not been in Flagstaff, Arizona at the time. “Last night I hit an all-time low when I called out to Telluride ... only we were in Flagstaff. Three times,” wrote the Hasidic rapper in a road report for spinner.ca.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Don’t POP Now that Montreal’s mightiest GrizzLY BEar A music student’s wet dream. If three-part vocal harmonies performed by musicians juggling several instruments at once doesn’t get you off - I don’t think anything ever will. Grizzly Bear’s performance at L’Olympia Sunday night left us speechless. Really, we have no words. Bassist, producer, and back-up vocalist Chris Taylor casually looped in the sax, oboe and flute, Christopher Bear snapped away on the drums, and lead vocalists Ed Droste and Daniel Rossen ethereally breathed life into their melodies, plucking away at piano keys and guitar strings. The boys are touring in promotion of the latest addition to their musical catalog. Shields was released earlier this month, much to the brava of those that were fans of their earlier, less commercial work. The bandmates took some time apart last year to work on solo projects and develop their own, individual musical styles. Their live show proves that they successfully honed their strengths, regrouped and learned to meld together better than ever.

UnKnown MorTaL orChESTra As Grizzly Bear’s openers at L’Olympia on Sunday, Unknown Mortal Orchestra lucked out in playing to a packed house. And there really couldn’t be a band more deserving of the spotlight. UMO are hardly ‘unknown,’ for they’ve lapped the Pitchfork crowd multiple times in the past year alone, stealing several festival gigs. You really do have to see them live to understand all the brouhaha. UMO performed as a three piece, just a guitarist-vocalist, drummer and bass player. Somehow, the sound that generated from their instruments pumped with all the manpower of a full funk-rock orchestra. This is rock that you can really groove to. Choosing to tag along on the Shields tour was a smart move for UMO, chances are pretty high that they’ll gather an immense following before the end of the year.

an EvEninG wiTh DaviD BYrnE & ST. vinCEnT On paper, David Byrne and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark may seem like an odd pair. In the Plateau’s majestic church Eglise Saint-Jeane Baptiste, they dropped jaws. The two are touring on the heels of their collaborative effort, Love This Giant, released at the beginning of the month. Clark’s angelic, pitch-perfect voice blended harmoniously with Byrne’s signature Talking Heads warble. And man, can that girl shred; Clark’s skills on the electric guitar are near unmatched by any female rockstar. The evening was a hoot. In between Byrne’s quips and - how could I not mention - a fully choreographed set list, it was truly a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.

By elizabeth Mackay Music editor

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

’til you get enough music fest is in hibernation, reminisce with our highlights

how MUSiC worKS w/ DaviD BYrnE anD win BUTLEr At the Ukrainian Federation on Saturday night, POP-ers had the opportunity to meet the men behind all their adulation. Yes, David Byrne recently wrote a book called How Music Works, but his talk with Arcade Fire’s Win Butler didn’t really stick to what lies on the pages. It was hardly a lecture. Butler and Byrne exchanged jokes, jabs, and perspectives on success in the music industry. Discussion topics were kept quite light, from ‘what to wear on stage’ to ‘why musicians use choreography in their routines.’ Perhaps the only real insight we gained from the talk was hearing Byrne and Butler’s public realization of the end of music as a commodity. For as internet pirates continue to allow albums to go for free, recording artists look to the live show as the real product.

riCh aUCoin There is no such thing as a Rich Aucoin ‘show.’ It’s the Rich Aucoin experience. He pulled out the confetti, rainbow parachute and YouTube video memes galore at Divan Orange yet again. Aucoin may be one of the best performers out there; he convinces entire crowds to join him in reciting virtually all of the lyrics to his songs and whips them into a sweaty, dance-induced frenzy. He has toured relentlessly, bringing the ‘experience’ all over North America in the wake of his 2011 release, We’re All Dying To Live.

MozarT’S SiSTEr All the hens have been clucking over Mozart’s Sister. Caila Thompson-Hannant has been bouncing around the Mile End’s hip-but-encouraging music scene for a few years now, but she is finally getting noticed thanks to her Arbutus label mate Grimes. When she performs as Mozart’s Sister, Thompson-Hannant belts it and sexes it up. She made sure to take advantage of the spotlight at her free show at Parc de la Petite-Italie on Thursday and at Eglise POP Little Burgundy on Saturday night.

Photos courtesy of PoP Montreal and by Madelayne Hajek Photo editor

sports 14

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com

men’s football

Stingers struggle away from home

Gaiters win 38-30 in disappointing game Tim Lazier Contributor After a dominating win over the St. Francis Xavier X-Men last weekend, Concordia’s men’s football team were on the road again to face the Bishop’s Gaiters at Coulter Field. The Stingers were victorious against the Gaiters in their first meeting of the year and were looking to complete the season sweep. Both sides battled back and forth throughout Saturday afternoon, but the Stingers were unable to make a comeback and left Lennoxville defeated. Concordia got off to a fast start by recording points on their first two drives. Following a touchback on their initial drive, the Stingers

concluded their second drive with a touchdown by Matt Scheurwater. The 61-yard drive was highlighted by a 47-yard completion from quarterback Reid Quest to Shayne Stinson. By the end of the first quarter Concordia was ahead 18-7 and seemed as if they were going to pull away. On paper, the Stingers offense had a big game. They rushed for 131 yards and threw for 263. The turning point in the game came in the second quarter when the Stingers offense disappeared. Concordia’s offense scored zero points and struggled to get any consistent drives going. They had only three first downs in the second quarter, two of which were because of penalties on Bishop’s. The Stinger’s offence had four consecutive two-and-outs

and went into halftime trailing Bishop’s 1918. After halftime, the Gaiters never trailed and continued to pound the Stinger’s defense behind running back Matthew Burke. Burke, a fourth year veteran, had a career-best afternoon and finished the game with 239 rushing yards and one touchdown. Early into the final quarter, the Gaiters extended their lead to 35-18 and forced Concordia to try and come back. The Stinger’s were able to score 12 points in the fourth quarter, but the damage had already been done. Concordia’s inability to play a complete 60 minutes came back to haunt them, as their comeback fell short. Even though it is only halfway through the

regular season, Saturday’s loss to Bishop’s had serious playoff implications. Since the Gaiters outscored Concordia in their two games, if the two teams have the same record by the end of the season, Bishop’s will be ranked ahead of Concordia. Although it is too early to tell, if it does come down to head-to-head matchups, Saturday’s loss will be that much worse. The Stingers look to bounce back against the Montréal Carabins at home on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.

men’s Rugby

Women’s rugby

Concordia’s women’s rug- Men’s rugby team earn by team defeat Ottawa 41-5 first victory Despite wind and rain, Stingers come out victorious

Stingers stomp all over Carabins19-7

Christine Beaton Copy editor

Paolo Mingarelli Staff Writer

The rain came down with a vengeance on Friday night, much like the Concordia women’s rugby team, shutting the University of Ottawa down 41-5. Ottawa was, however, a force to be reckoned with. This was made obvious during the warm-up when they strapped on their pinneys and played an opposed five-minute game before Concordia even had their jerseys on. They showed off their hard, low hits that would have made a prop flinch. Despite the poor weather, the Stingers were still able to keep control and push the Gee Gees to their limits. The game started off slow but picked up pace when Con U scored its first try in the first 10 minutes. Ottawa scored their first try in the second half with 12 minutes left. They were not able to make the conversion kick to bump it up to a seven-point gain.

Concordia definitely felt the heat Ottawa brought to the pitch. After a series of fumbled balls and useless passes, they made it on the right track and started playing like a true pack. The wind and rain made simply holding the ball harder not to mention trying to pass it from scrum half to fly half. It was evident the Stingers have been practicing their lineouts, scoring twice off of a perfect drive. They also dominated both scrums and rucks, pushing Ottawa over the try line with ease. “I think we excel in open play,” said head coach Graeme McGravie. “We have some real players there in Bianca Farella and [captain] Jackie Tittley.” This was proved when Farella, with barely two minutes left in the game, broke through the pack and ran 50 yards to the try line, scoring their last try of the night. Tittley was tripped during the second half and struggled to get up. She did, however, come back into play and join her teammates, kicking a heartbreaking conversion that bounced off the goalposts. As for the future, McGravie says he’s confident in his team’s ability to make it to nationals. “Based on preseason and the opener, I expect us to win the league,” he said. “Although, beating McGill and Laval is going to be tough for sure.” The Stingers have not played Laval yet but recently beat McGill 18-7 in the Kelly-Anne Drummond Cup. Concordia is currently sixth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport rankings, right above McGill and two below Laval. Considering Concordia’s impressive undefeated record in league play, it should not be hard for any player to envision themselves at nationals. Concordia’s next game is against Bishop’s on Friday, Sept. 28 at 6:15 p.m.

Concordia won their first men’s rugby game of the season on home field during a rainy Friday night. “The forwards won us the game,” said assistant coach Jamal Benouahi. While Concordia’s tries were all scored by the back three, it was an outright dominating performance from the set piece that won the Stingers the game. Second row Marc Roche had a standout game for the maroon and gold. He credits the team’s work on the practice pitch for the victory. “It came down to practice,” Roche said. “Tonight it all came together and we drove them the hell off that ball.” The first half saw both Concordia and Université de Montréal playing rather evenly in terms of possession and defense. The rain made it difficult for both teams to properly handle the ball, as a lot of knockons were being handed out. The low point of the half was a complete meltdown from the Stingers in the 14th minute that lead directly to a Carabins try. The ball made its way down the wing through a series of offloads. Fortunately, this mistake did not decide the outcome. The Stingers pressed hard and defended effectively for the rest of the half. The team came out flying in the second half. From the start, the Stingers’ back three showed how dangerous they are when they play to their ability and the line is able to provide them with the ball. Only three minutes in, the Stingers broke down their opponent’s rush. Stinger Caleb Jordan snagged the ball and left defenders in awe with his sharp cuts and quick feet.

Photo by Brianna Thicke Con U’s second try was scored after a series of unorthodox plays forced a penalty and a scrum-down on U de M’s side of the pitch. As they did all game, Concordia won the set piece and took the ball wide to Frederic Kacou. He found an impossible gap sneaking into the try zone. The icing on the cake came with 11 minutes remaining. Centre Auguste Stoker got hold of the ball at midfield, after Jordan offloaded to him, letting him take off down the field. Stoker left every Carabins defender behind before putting the ball down with authority in the far side of the try zone. “We know that we can beat the defense,” said Kacou. “When we get it, we know it’s going to work.” “I’m proud of the forwards for keeping us in the game when the backs had trouble early,” said Captain Dario Pellizzari. Getting rid of the goose egg in the win column was a must for the Stingers who now head out on the road. “We have a platform for our game and we’re going to work from there,” said head coach Clive Gibson. The Stingers head to Bishop’s University to face the Gaiters on Friday, Sept. 28 at 8:15 p.m.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Women’S SoCCeR

Sherbrooke snaps Concordia’s three-game streak

Second-half goals, source of woes for Stingers Kevin Duarte Sports editor

he Stingers women’s soccer team followed up their last victory with a 3-0 loss against Sherbrooke on Sunday. In a match, played at Concordia Stadium, the Vert et Or scored three second-half goals to secure a win. Head coach Jorge Sanchez opted for a different formation to start this match. Concordia lined up 4-1-4-1, with Saby Dagenais as the goalkeeper. Gabriela Padvaiskas led the attack, playing ahead of Melissa Kedro, Jennifer Duff, Kayla Myre, Alexandra Dragan and Valerie Ishak. The defense stayed the same with Katrina Filiatrault, Elizabeth McDonald, Shannon Travers and Lindsey Brooks. Concordia survived a scare early in the match. Five minutes in, a quickly taken Sherbrooke free kick resulted in a tap-in goal. Fortunately for the Stingers, the assistant referee had his flag up signaling an offside. The next chance came in the 33rd minute. A Vert et Or midfielder sent in a low cross, which was unable to be converted by forward Chloé Belhumeur Limoges. One minute later, Sherbrooke’s Marie-Eve Jacques received a through ball and set off towards the Concordia net. Her weak shot was easily handled by Dagenais. Despite being outplayed throughout the first 45 minutes, the Stingers managed to keep the match scoreless. The visitors turned up the pressure in the second half. Two minutes in, the Vert et Or struck the crossbar twice in one play. Concordia’s defense was left scrambling, but managed to keep the ball out of the goal. Concordia had their first major opportunity in the 55th minute. Myre received a good pass,

Photo by Brianna Thicke found some space, but her shot was blocked in front by a Sherbrooke defender. In the 69th minute, the Vert et Or finally finished one of their chances. Midfielder Camille Vandenberghe found time and space outside the Stingers box and accurately placed her shot to the right of Dagenais. Concordia almost tied the game from a corner kick eight minutes later. The ball bounced to substitute Shauna Zilversmit who quickly fired a shot over the bar. In the 78th minute, Sherbrooke added a second goal. Midfielder Andréanne Gagné dribbled through the middle and blasted a shot past Dagenais from 25 yards out. One minute later, the Vert et Or’s substitute, Isabelle Genest, made a good run down the right wing. She delivered a perfect cross to an unmarked Belhumeur Limoges who made no mistake heading the ball in from close range.

The first goal deflated the Stingers, as they conceded two more in the span of ten minutes. It was only a matter of time before Sherbrooke scored. Concordia was poor in transitioning from the back to the front, often giving away possession in bad spots. The visitors were constantly testing Dagenais with shots and crosses. “We knew we were going to give up a lot defensively,” said Sanchez. “Our goal was to not break, keep the ball in front of us, defend well and hope to get one or two good chances up the field.” Despite being outplayed at times, the Stingers did show some flashes of brilliance. Sanchez believes the team has to make better decisions when they have the ball in the attacking third. “I think we’re progressing,” he said. “Even when we were struggling, we were still able to link passes together. I think we’re just missing that killer instinct in the last 20 yards.”

The Stingers join the men’s team on the road in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières this coming weekend. The action begins on Friday evening against the Université de Laval, followed by an afternoon visit to face the UQTR Patriotes on Sunday. Both games are available for viewing online. attacks continued. The visiting Gaiter’s did not have many chances in the match, but they managed a way to score. In the 56th minute, Duff and Kedro almost combined for the go-ahead goal. Duff received a through ball from the midfield had her shot saved by the Bishop’s goalkeeper. Kedro was right there for the rebound, but the keeper’s quick reaction save kept the score level. Bishop’s had their final two chances near the 70th minute. Burnett and Henry-Cotnam combined twice, but one of their efforts missed the net, while the other was saved by O’Rourke. The Stingers had a few more opportunities, but ultimately could not find the winning goal. The 1-1 draw felt like a loss to head coach Sanchez. “This was a game we expected to win, a game we should have won and I think we gave away two points,” he said. “It’s going to make our lives a little harder down the stretch.” The Stingers were the dominant team in this match. A failure to finish chances, combined with an outstanding performance by the Bishop’s goalkeeper led to the team dropping two valuable points at home. “We have to bury our chances,” Sanchez said. “I think it would have been an avalanche. Had we scored the second goal, I think you would have seen three, four or five go in.” The Stingers have four days off before their match against UQÀM on Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at College Bois-de-Boulogme.

men’S SoCCeR

Another set-piece goal leads to Stingers loss Concordia unable to make a comeback Kevin Duarte Sports editor

fter Thursday’s draw at UQÀM, the Stingers men’s soccer team were back in action on Sunday afternoon. The team played host to a victorious Sherbrooke Vert et Or at Concordia Stadium. Concordia made two changes from last Thursday’s match against the Citadins. Striker Andrew Bryan returned to the starting lineup, after coming on as a substitute on Thursday. Midfielder Claude Diesse got the start at right midfield, replacing Gabriel Quinn. In the early moments of the afternoon, Concordia’s Eduardo Mazzonna almost gave his team the lead. However, his shot was straight at Sherbrooke goalkeeper Shawn Galego Do Couto. Almost 20 minutes later, the Vert et Or came close to opening the scoring. Sherbrooke’s Kalambayi Junias Ngoyi got on the end of a corner kick, but his quick shot on goal was blocked in front of the goal. In the 30th minute, Concordia had more difficulties defending a corner kick. This time, the visitors made up for their earlier miss. Center back Ilunga was left unmarked in the middle of the box and made no mistake driving home his header. Five minutes later, Sherbrooke almost caught the Stingers on the counter-attack. Attacking through the right flank, the team was able to find space and send in a low cross. The ball bounced around inside the Concordia box until it was blasted over the bar. The Stingers were defending more times than

they had hoped for in the first half. Besides the one slip-up, the team was able to keep the score at 1-0. Fabrice Ilunga got the game-winning goal scoring with a header in the 30th minute. In the 55th minute, the maroon and gold almost levelled the score from their own corner. Bryan got on the end of Mazzonna’s delivery, but the header was over the crossbar. Sherbrooke continued to work the flanks. Twelve minutes later, midfielder Mohamed El Bachir Haddadi fired his cross in front of the Con U goal. Forward Djibi Diao came within inches of doubling his team’s lead. As the match neared the end, Concordia started to see more of the ball. Unfortunately, the team made poor decisions with their possession. The Stingers were never able to connect in the final attacking third. They were unable to find the equalizing goal. “To be honest, I don’t think we deserved to win,” said assistant coach Francois Bastien. “I think we were limited. I give all the credit to Sherbrooke because they got the three points.” Even though Bastien conceded defeat, he does not feel Sherbrooke dominated the 90 minutes. Rather, he feels his side did not play to their potential. “I don’t think they [Sherbrooke] did anything special,” he admitted. “I think quality was missing everywhere. It was a shocker today. We’re disappointed.” The Stingers have a tough road trip this coming week. They travel to Quebec City on Friday to face Laval and head to Trois-Rivières to take on the Patriotes on Sunday. Concordia already has one win against UQTR this season.

Photo by Brianna Thicke “Next weekend is crucial,” said Bastien. “We need to come out with a minimum of four points to stay in the playoff hunt.”in by a good pass, but his shot did not test the McGill goalkeeper. The next chance came in the 76th minute. Stingers substitute Claude Diesse recovered a bouncing ball just outside the box and fired a driven shot inches wide. McGill made the Stingers pay for that miss. In the final seconds of the match, the Stingers made one last effort. Midfielder Fabian Troche found space, but he struck his shot just left of the goal. “I think we played well,” said Mazzonna, who scored his first goal of the season. “We should have stayed more compact on defense. We let it slip at the end.”

“It was the best game of the season by far,” said assistant coach Francois Bastien who filled in for coach Barker. “We are progressing every game and I think we deserved the three points.” Bastien sees a major difference in this year’s team compared to last year’s. The Stingers are more organized on both sides of the field. “We have to work on set-plays,” he added.”Defensively, we’ve been struggling all year with those, and it cost us again. We were in the driver seat this game. We controlled and had chances. When McGill started pressuring at the end we struggled a little bit, but overall it was a good game.” Concordia faces off against UQÀM on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 8:30 p.m.

opinions 16

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com NHL

Montreal in a lockout

Why hockey doesn’t have to be everything George Menexis Opinions editor

Canadians are a fairly simple people. We enjoy the small things in life, and most of us have a particular set of common interests that almost never change. For example, many of us enjoy coming home after an arduous day at work, slumping on the couch, opening a good old Canadian beer, and watching Les Habitants face off one of the other 29 teams in the National Hockey League. Not this year, Canada. As of last Tuesday evening, the NHL has announced their fourth lockout since 1992. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, has arguably become one of the most hated people by serious hockey fans, ever. The disappointment will be most evident in the coming month when the first games were supposed to start, and fans will be forced to entertain themselves by some means other than hockey. However, in Montreal, there may be a set of people that will be even more on edge than the average fan. Those people are restaurant and bar owners. For the fourth time, they’ll have to

feel the economic strain of not having people’s favourite sport playing on every TV in their establishment; a pain that will be felt throughout the hockey year. “Obviously, it sucks for business,” said Andrew Mackay to the Montreal Gazette. Mackay is a bartender at Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill on De la Montagne St., located a block away from the Bell Centre. “With hockey, we can guarantee that we’re going to be packed. Every night there’s a game, we’re [busy] from start to finish – 4 p.m. until the game’s done, and then there’s the after-rush.” “We’re usually jam-packed before every home game,” said John Bobotsis, head manager at the Baton Rouge across the street from the Bell

Centre. “That’s an income were going to miss as long as this lockout is still around.” Restaurants won’t be the only ones feeling the economic slump of an NHL lockout. Many merchants in the Montreal area that usually pre-order a large amount of Montreal Canadiens sports apparel and memorabilia before the end of the season are mostly sticking with the i n ve n t o r y they currently have. “I preordered a big zero,” said Phil Morganstein, owner of Édition Limitée Morgan in the Eaton Centre. “I just want to be sure that they’re going to play.” Montreal is different than most cities when it comes to sports. It doesn’t have other major sports teams that can fill bars and restaurants

when the NHL is in a lockout. Most cities will be busying themselves with football, basketball, and baseball. Montreal will, therefore, feel the economic slump to a new level compared to other cities. Although Montreal is bustling with a variety of different entertainment establishments, many individual merchants will feel this strain, and that’s just unfair. “Individually it might make a huge difference for certain retail stores, restaurants, and the like,” said Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “It may result in winners elsewhere, but some will lose out.” There is only one answer then: Merchants need to ignore the Canadiens for the time being and focus on finding new and innovative ways to give people a reason to leave their homes in the middle of the winter and come downtown. Many business owners are already on the right track. “We’re looking at ways to provide Montrealers with something else to look forward to,” said Mackay. “We’re coming up with different fun nights, different activity nights. We’ve just gotta come up with ways to work around [the lockout].” This is precisely what Montreal needs; a nightly entertainment system that isn’t dependant on the ups and downs of a hockey season.

CITY

What goes up, must come down, right?

Why gas prices aren’t likely to ease up in the near future Grégory Wilson Staff writer

Last week, I finally got around to getting my new Opus card since I didn’t want to use my car as much anymore. I did so, not because I suddenly felt the urge to be more environmentally responsible or felt that public transportation was better than driving, but rather because of gas prices. Gas prices have shot up to $1.53 a litre on Sept. 12—a jump of 13 cents overnight. They have dropped since then, but still remain quite high, much to the dismay of Montreal drivers. The reasons behind the erratic changes regarding the cost of gas changing remain a mystery for many. Harjeet Bhabra is an associate professor at the John Molson School of Business. His principal fields of study are corporate finance and investments. According to Bhabra, there are two major factors contributing to high gas prices: one direct cause—events in and around the U.S.; and one indirect cause—unrest in the Middle East. ‘‘Ten days ago, we had this huge hurricane [in the Gulf Coast], and what it typically does is force companies in the area to shut down and move people off the platforms of refineries,” said Bhabra. “There is then a production loss and so less available in the market.”

Supply and demand is the basis for the dayto-day behaviour of gas prices. The cost goes up when the demand strains the supply available worldwide. According to Bhabra, the need for gas in Canada and the U.S. has increased in the last 10 to 20 years, and so has demand in China. Prices will, therefore, inevitably rise as a result. But the traditional rules of supply and demand don’t work as they should during a time of uprising. In the Middle East, the unrest has affected many nations, and has successfully toppled dictatorial governments. ‘‘Many of these nations are suppliers of crude oil to the rest of the world,” said Bhabra. “If anything happens over there, it directly affects the price of crude oil worldwide.” Bhabra pointed out that in a scenario such as this one, the anticipation of a lack of supply is sufficient to raise the price. Since the market is uncertain if the supply will last or not, they raise the prices pre-emptively to counter possible future losses. For example, the current overarching situation in the Middle East is the potential war between Israel and Iran. The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publicly advertises his country’s advancing nuclear program, declaring they won’t back down on their nuclear energy source project. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed American voters on NBC, dissuading them from voting for President Barack Obama. Netanyahu said he wants the support of an American government willing to attack Iran and Obama won’t do that. It is important to remember that Iran con-

Graphic by Jennifer Kwan

trols the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow yet important waterway through which 40 per cent of the world’s total traded crude oil passes through every day. A tactical initiative of the Iranian government has been the threat of blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Recent heightened tensions have worried investors of that threat coming true, consequently raising the price of crude oil and with it, the price of gas. Therefore, the political landscape of the Middle East has contributed indirectly to the increase in gas prices. Quebec citizens have to deal with an even larger burden than the rest of Canada when it comes to gas. Our taxes on gas are the highest in the country, and account for 50 cents a litre. Mon-

treal consumers pay an added three cents a litre as a regional surtax going towards public transit. One-third of the price of our gas at the pump is actually taxes. Just dandy. There are many factors that can alter the price of gas, some more easily discernible than others. Like a society, crude oil fluctuates not only because of events such as closed refineries, it will also change depending on public opinion. Speculation about the future, including in the Middle East, has a direct impact on the price of gas Montreal citizens will pay at the pump. With the way events are unfolding in the Middle East, a gas price under $1.20 is most likely not in the cards. In the meantime, we have the wonderful public transit system. I suggest we get used to it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

eCONOMY

Ads in the metro: sexy or sexist? Being turned on is no excuse to turn off your brain

Alyssa Tremblay Online editor

ontrealers have a complicated love affair with public transit. For me, the metro is a familiar collection of unpleasant smells and quality mo-

ments with my mp3 player. But every once in a while I notice something that shakes me out of my soundtracked daydreams and raises my hackles. That something is a sticker. You’ve probably seen this sticker before, though the design has changed over the years. Freely available as part of an initiative by the

Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante, people slap these squares onto bus sides and metro platforms. The sticker shows a thick red “X” and the words “SALE PUB SEXISTE” or “DIRTY SEXIST AD” in bold. According to the ASSÉ’s website, the stickers are meant to call attention to ads that reinforce gender roles and impose social restraints on individuals based on their biological sex. More importantly, the sticker dares us in an act of vandalism to interact deeper with our surroundings and critically examine the methods through which people are trying to sell us stuff. Advertising is a growing presence in our lives, mainly thanks to the improvements in mobile technology and social media. Still, I would argue that the metro beats a smartphone when it comes to ideal advertising environment. On any typical commute to school, my eyes pass over dozens of advertisements, subjecting myself to a huge array of products, services and promotions. It’s really a perfect marketing storm: large amounts of people (the Société de Transport de Montréal boasted 404, 800, 000 passenger trips by bus and metro in 2011) in enclosed space with nothing to do but observe their surroundings. Here’s where it gets really annoying. I know that sex sells, but when wielded as a marketing weapon it also skews our concepts of body image and perpetuates very limited definitions of what it means to be male and female. And while I could rant for several furious

days about the damaging ways that women’s bodies are stripped down and contorted in advertisements, it’s worth mentioning that men can be just as objectified. Remember the giant Calvin Klein underwear ads plastered everywhere around Berri-UQAM last spring? Hard to forget when a bunch of distortedly-muscular greased up men are thrusting their brightly coloured butts at you from across the metro tracks. The fact of the matter is that images like these affect us, and to deny it insults everyone’s intelligence, including the advertisers’. According to Cogeco Metromedia, the company that handles selling of ad space for the STM and other transport organizations across Canada, it costs a unit rate of $6, 000 to install a mural at Guy-Concordia metro for a fourweek period; the price hikes into the $10, 000 range at more heavily trafficked stations like McGill and Berri-UQAM. Running a digital ad on one of the recently installed six-sectioned screens costs $20, 000 a week. Companies are not pumping thousands of dollars into marketing just for the privilege of livening up your morning commute with halfnaked men and women. They are making an investment because they hope to gain something in return: our business. We have power over what we choose to buy and as consumers, we ought to be critical of how advertisers try to win us over. Because while we can’t choose the ads we see in the metro, we should sure as hell can question them.

ReLIGION

Freedom of speech vs. freedom of religion Anti-Islamic Youtube video causes trouble worldwide

A screenshot from the now extremely controversiAl youtube video, where nAkoulA bAsseley nAkoulA is being Accused of negAtively portrAying the prophet muhAmmAd And muslims. Mike Zaslavsky Contributor Does killing innocent people, creating riots and destroying buildings communicate the right message regarding a controversial YouTube video? On Sept. 11, four American diplomats, including an ambassador, were killed in Libya following the release of a controversial anti-Muslim YouTube video. Afterwards, riots broke out in two dozen Middle Eastern countries. The protests against the video were largely violent and the New York Times reported that at least 28 people had died as a result of the reactionary demonstrations. On Sept. 15, the FBI arrested 55-year-old suspect, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian-

born American citizen, for allegedly taking part in the creation a short film portraying or rather parodying the Prophet Muhammad and Muslims as a war-mongering nation. Shortly after the suspect’s arrest in California, federal probation officers interviewed him for halfan-hour and then released him. Nakoula’s release further angered Muslim communities around the world and some Muslim leaders demanded that American authorities arrest the suspect and execute him. “The anti-Islam film hurt our religious sentiments and we cannot tolerate it,” spokesman for the Afghan militant group Hizb-i-Islami, Haroon Zarghoon, told The Associated Press. “There had been several young men who wanted to take

revenge [...] to tell the world we cannot ignore any anti-Islam attack.” On Sept. 22 Pakistan’s Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour also had a lot to say about the video. “I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100, 000,” he said. Did Nakoula, a Coptic Christian, really commit a crime punishable by a prison sentence or even death? I believe he did not. Although the creation and release of the video does violate moral and ethical conventions, it does not constitute a crime under U.S. law. The United States is a democratic society that values

freedom of expression and the country should not be held accountable for the acts of one citizen. In my opinion, the violence seen in many Muslim countries is unacceptable, especially the murder of innocent foreign diplomats. The reaction of the Muslim world is disproportionate to Nakoula’s acts. No country or group of people is allowed to demand the imprisonment of a citizen that would go against that country’s constitution. I understand that in Islamic law, insulting the Prophet Mohammad is a crime punishable by death, but the Western world is not governed by religious laws or by threats. We are a democratic society bound by judicial law and try as we might not to offend the views of others, violence is never going to be the answer.

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

edITORIAL

Will someone who’s a student please stand up? Open letter, closed session, and Shady dealings at the CSU

o VP academic and advocacy of the Concordia Student Union, Lucia Gallardo, is not a student. Can’t say we saw that coming. If only this were the first instance of its kind. Anyone remember Morgan Pudwell? She was VP advocacy and outreach last year and it came to light only a few months before the end of her term that she was not registered as a student. As shocking and as frustrating as these discrepancies can be, at least Gallardo had the guts to put herself and her privacy on the line to plead her case. The statement she released following

the call for her resignation was really surprising and, dare we say, refreshing. It was a bold move which CSU President Schubert Laforest could stand to learn from, considering that he chose to explain his own academic eligibility issue in closed session of council. This was the exact type of move we have been waiting for from this executive. From the beginning when Laforest and Gallardo first faced registration issues publically, the team was so tight-lipped, we didn’t know what to think. This silence or, better yet, this refusal, on the part of the execs to show weakness

or admit they are in trouble has led to a multitude of problems for them in the long and short-term. Furthermore, it’s hurt their credibility substantially. If the executive were only as forward and accessible as Gallardo in this recent statement about her personal and financial struggles as an international student, then perhaps the Concordia community would feel more trusting towards them as a whole. This ambiguous approach is the exact opposite of what students were hoping for when they elected this team, and Council is surely feeling the same sense of

resentment. As it stands right now, the division of the CSU is clear. On one side, the current executive and their few supporters, on the other, the rest of Council. As much as we appreciate Gallardo trying to be more open with Council, and with the media to an extent, the damage appears to be already done. Unless Council decides this Wednesday to reverse their decision about Gallardo’s resignation then A Better Concordia will have learned their lesson too late and come up short, in more ways than one.

POLITICS

Mitt Romney: A er ca idiot? How the Republican party has managed to hit an all-time low Joel Abrahams Contributor On Monday, American Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made off-thecuff remarks at a secretly taped California fundraiser that raised a lot of eyebrows on multiple key issues. In the video, he claimed Palestinians had “no interest whatsoever” in a two-state peace process. He also also claimed that 47 per cent of all Americans “believe they are

victims,” and will vote for President Barack Obama no matter what. “My job is not to worry about them,” Romney stated. “I’ll never convince them.” One of Romney’s most dooming flaws in his campaign is the perception of insulation; this is a man who lives his private life vastly different than the rest of the American public, but also seems to make little genuine effort to connect with groups he may have slim chances of winning over. But what would be the point in campaigning in demographic regions where you’re sure to lose by a landslide? Look back to the campaign of George W. Bush; many credit his success on the fact that he would campaign in poor, inner-city neighbourhoods around Philadelphia, Miami and other large, typically-democratic cities. Although these events mostly served as a mere photo opportunity, the media coverage of him would dig into the hearts of the suburban, middleclass and politically independent families inside of those same cities to successfully counter the thrashing a normal Republican candidate might usually suffer. Romney’s team, universally described as one of the most inept in modern American history, has failed to target those audiences, and it’s showing in the polls. In the most recent polls, the first after his remarks were made public, Obama is trouncing

Romney in several key states, but two states in specific, spell doom for Romney’s campaign: Ohio and Florida. These two states make up a total of 47 electoral delegates—almost 10 per cent of the national total. Fox News’ most recent poll (a poll that tends to lean conservative) has Obama up in Ohio with 49 per cent compared a mere 42 per cent for Romney. The same Fox News poll has Obama up at 49 per cent in Florida, against Romney’s 45 per cent. There really is no way of understating this; if the election were held for Ohio and Florida a day early and Obama were to win both states, this election would be over. It would take some sort of abnormal political miracle for Romney to lose Florida and Ohio, and still take the White House. He would need to win every other swing state in contention, which is looking nearly impossible, since he is down six points in North Carolina (once written off by many Democrats as President Obama took a stand in support of same-sex marriage a couple months ago), by 12 points in Pennsylvania, and even by a point in Missouri, usually considered Republican territory according to Rasmussen Reports. So how does this translate into real life opinions of average swing voters? “I’ve definitely noticed between those of my friends who tend to be more Republican-leaning, they haven’t been showing as much vocal support [for Romney] as they once were,” said Alex Jordan, a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Colorado has recently been another hotly contested swing state, yet Romney has managed to stay relatively strong, leading Obama by two points. If Romney hopes to take the White House, he’s going to need to undergo a few major changes. An overhaul of campaign staff, revitalized targeting of ads, and trying to get the country to personally embrace the candidate—getting out “More Mitt,” as they commonly refer to it, does nothing if the American public won’t even consider him for the White House based on his inflammatory remarks. So maybe Romney was right after all. Maybe he was doomed from the beginning, but now it’s becoming clearer, that it’s nothing more than the fault of his closed-minded opinions and big mouth.

From our kitchen

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 Vol. 30 Issue 5

Spicy carrot soup will help you fight the fall chill Celia Ste-Croix Production assistant

Marilla Steuter-Martin editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com

Fall, when the leaves turn vibrant colours and the air becomes crisp, is a perfect time to cuddle up with a warming bowl of soup. If you haven’t got stew or traditional Quebecois pea soup try this recipe guaranteed to keep you toasty from the inside out. Also goes well with toast. You will need: a large soup pot, sharp knife, and a blender of some kind. IngredIents 1/2 2 tbsp oil (olive, canola or vegetable) 1 large red onion, finely chopped 1 kg of carrots approx. (peeled and cut into 2 cm chunks) 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock 1 tbsp fresh ginger, very finely chopped 1 tsp red Thai chili paste (or more to taste, but don’t go crazy!) Salt and pepper dIrectIons In a large soup pot, warm oil over medium heat. Fry onion in the pot for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly.

Photo by writer

Paula rivaS Managing editor managing@theconcordian.com

SoPhia loffreda Production manager production@theconcordian.com

Kalina lafraMboiSe News editor news@theconcordian.com

StePhanie laleggia

Photo courtesy of Flickr Add carrots and cook covered for another 10 minutes. Add soup stock making sure the carrots are covered with liquid. Leave lid off. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until carrots are tender. (word to the wise, use a timer) At this point add ginger and chilli paste. Stir well. Remove pot from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Ladle equal parts of liquid and carrots into the blender until half full (seriously, don’t try to rush this) Carefully puree until smooth. Pour smooth soup from blender into another container. Repeat until all the soup is pureed. If required, thin soup with more stock, although I like mine pretty thick. Rewarm, add salt and pepper to taste and chow down! Can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Also freezes well.

Life editor life@theconcordian.com

aManda l. Shore Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com

elizabeth MacKay Music editor music@theconcordian.com

Kevin duarte Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com

george MenexiS Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com

Madelayne hajeK Photo editor

nataSha taggart alySSa treMblay Online editors online@theconcordian.com

jennifer Kwan Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com

Sunday night featured the most prestigious yearly event when it came to acting on TV network shows:The Emmy Awards.The usual boring speeches ensued, but there were some moments that are worth remembering. Here they are in the Tweets of the week!

chriStine beaton jenna Monney-luPert elizabeth toMaraS Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com

celia Ste-croix bianca david Production assistants

editorial office

@MixedGirlBarbie: “I wish I went to the

Emmy’s. I would have stunned all them hoes.” @TheEllenShow: “Congrats to Modern

Family, Homeland, & all the #Emmy winners. I’ve got an Emmy hangover from all of the excitement. Or from the tequila.” @PeterJOrvetti: “Best Emmy quote comes

from Damian Lewis’s speech: “I don’t really believe in judging art, but thought I’d show up just in case.”

@DCdebbie : “I missed the Emmy’s last night.

Did Clinton Eastwood get a supporting role award for his performance with invisible Obama chair?”

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Staff writerS and contributorS

@MrWordsWorth: “Instead of the Emmy,

Jon Cryer deserves a Presidential commendation for having to work with Charlie Sheen and Ashton Kutcher.” @RexHuppke: “BREAKING: Mitt

Romney applauds all of tonight’s Emmy winners, except the 47% who thought the government owed them an Emmy”

MJ Kelly, A.J. Cordeiro, Colin McMahon, Sofia Gay, Alex Giardini, Andrew Guilbert, Paul Traunero, Gregory Wilson, Amanda Brin, Cynthia dupuis, Sabrina Giancioppi, Chelsea singer, Robert de Lisi, Katrina Tortorici, Chloe Ketterling, Sarah McMahon-Sperber, Andria Caputo, Tarek Akhtar, Paolo Mingarelli, Tim Lazier, Mike Zaslavsky, Joel Abrahams

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Events of the weeK: Sept 25 TUESDAY +MUSIC - The Heavy - Le Cabaret du Mile End, 20h30

WEDNESDAY +MUSIC - The Montreal Jewish Music Festival - La Sala Rossa, 21h00 +MUSIC - Tim Chaisson & Morning Fold, Quai des Brumes, 20h30

THURSDAY +LITERATURE - This Is Happening Whether You Like It Or Not - 21h +MUSIC - Bob Log III - Il Motore, 20h00

Friday +MUSIC - Django Djano - Petit Campus, 20h00 +MUSIC - Mutemath - La Tulipe, 20h00

SATURDAY +CHARITY - The Theresa Foundation’s 3rd Annual Benefit Concert - 1930h +MUSIC - Beth Orton - l’Astral, 20h00 +MUSIC - Radio Radio - Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde

SUNDAY +LITERATURE - Pilot Reading Series - 20h - Sparrow, 5322 Saint Laurent +MUSIC - A$AP Rocky - Metropolis, 20h00 +MUSIC - Gossip - L’Olympia, 20h00 +MUSIC - Exitmusic - Casa Del Popolo, 20h00

Monday +CINEMA POLITICA -The Furious Forces of Rhyme - 19h - Rm H-110 +MUSIC - An Acoustic Evening with Ben Harper - Maison symphonique de Montreal