April 4, 2024

2023

THREE BLIND RATS

FUNDING

Classes End

Monday, April 8

Exam Period

Thursday, April 11Sunday, April 27

Co-op Term Ends

Saturday, April 26

APRIL HOLIDAYS

Apr. 8 - Zoo Lover's Day

Apr. 9 - Cherish an Antique Day

Apr. 10- Siblings Day

Apr. 11 - Pet Day

Apr. 13 - Scrabble Day

Apr. 16 - Librarian Day

Apr. 18 - Animal Crackers Day

Apr. 20 - Banana Day

Apr. 21 - Tea Day

Apr. 23 - Talk like Shakespeare Day

Apr. 26 - Get Organized Day

MANAGING

CREATIVE

MULTIMEDIA

NEWS

NEWS

THE CORD’S APRIL PLAYLIST

THINKING ABOUT YOU // FAYE WEBSTER

MODERN GIRL // BLEACHERS

THE WEEKEND // MODERN BASEBALL

VAMPIRE EMPIRE // ADRIENNE LENKER

CINDERELLA // REMI WOLF

PROMISED LAND // NO SERVICE

SO SICK OF DREAMING // MAGGIE ROGERS

YOU, IN WEIRD CITIES // JEFF ROSENSTOCK

BORED // WAXAHATCHEE

AFTER THE GOLD RUSH // NEIL YOUNG

LOVE OF A GIRL // THE AVETT BROTHERS

EYE KNOW // DE LA SOUL

ABOUT TODAY // BARTEES STRANGE

A CASE OF YOU // JONI MITCHELL

SONGS FOR TEENAGERS // FAKE PROBLEMS

REAL LOVE BABY // FATHER JOHN MISTY

ALLEY ROSE // CONAN GRAY

NOW I’M IN IT // HAIM

HOLD MY HAND // JESS GLYNNE

FORMATION // BEYONCE

VALENTINE // FIONA APPLE

VIENNA // BILLY JOEL

CAT

GRAPHIC

Hilary Peach named 2023 Edna Staebler winner

Peach’s memoir analyzes time working as a boilermaker in a male-dominated field

MADALYN MOSTACCI NEWS DIRECTOR

Laurier has named author Hilary Peach the winner of the 2023 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction. e award was established in 1991 by literary journalist and writer Edna Staebler. Submitted books must feature Canadian locale or signi cance. e $10,000 prize honours Canadian writers for their rst or second work of creative non ction.

Peach’s memoir, ‘ ick Skin: Field Notes from a Sister in the Brotherhood’, details her time spent working as a boilermaker. With nearly 30 years in the trade, Peach outlines her experiences in this rigorous and male-dominated eld.

Boilermakers work in the

construction trade, where they contend with building, fabricating and repairing in con ned spaces.

“We work in industrial plants - pulp mills, re neries, chemical plants, hydroelectric stations and anything that is a pressure vessel, tank or con ned space built of steel,” said Peach.

Peach explained that she had always been a writer, having studied English and eatre at the University of British Columbia.

“I tended to work in experimental forms and became a welder as my day job,” she said.

Bruce Gillespie, associate professor in the user experience design program and faculty lead for the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, touched on the distinctive qualities of Peach’s memoir.

“So many things [stood out]. I think it was a good example of creative non- ction because it pulls back the curtain on people and places that we would never otherwise have access to, which I

think is one of the great abilities of creative non- ction,” he said.

I tended to work in experimental forms and become a welder as my day job.

-Hilary Peach, author

Gillespie touched on the uniqueness of Peach’s memoir, noting how it provides an interesting look into women who work in dangerous work sites.

“[ e book is a] really engaging look at the challenges that women still face in this kind of eld and the skilled trades in general,” he

said.

Peach’s travels across North America for her trade, her memoir detailing what her job sites looked like and why workers chose to go there. “People in my industry go to where the work is,” she said.

Often, this work comes from what Peach describes as “shutdowns” - where trades come in after a plant or industrial plant shut down for two to three weeks .

“ e di erent trades all come pouring in. You’ll have hundreds of people on site who will take the mill apart and x everything before putting it back together to get it up and running again,” Peach said.

For Peach, this would involve seasonal travel.

“Typically, that happens in the spring and in the fall. I traveled into four di erent states and across Canada doing that over 20 years,” Peach said.

An award ceremony and reception honouring Peach’s memoir was held on March 27 at e Lodge Administration Building.

e reception featured speeches from Gavin Brockett, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts, as well as Laurier President and Vice Chancellor, Deborah MacLatchy.

Peach gave a lecture during the reception about her experiences featured in her memoir and touched on the importance of women in the trades. e lecture and following question period were recorded to be broadcasted on CBC radio.

“I’m grateful that [the award] jury were interested in the content and could see the value in that story because I think it’s a story that doesn’t get told very much. It’s quite a secret world. People don’t see what happens in industrial sites, so I was grateful that the university was interested in that,” said Peach regarding winning the award.

More information about the Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction and Peach’s memoir can be found on the university’s website.

Laurier takes home 2024 Osgoode Cup

Golden Hawks win most esteemed Canadian undergraduate moot court championship

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Since 2005, the Osgoode Cup has been considered the “most esteemed undergraduate mooting championship.”

is year, the cup, which is hosted annually at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School, took place on March 9 and 10 and ended with Jonathan Kagal and Rehana Lalani returning home to Laurier as national champions.

Moot Court is a co-curricular activity where students take a court hearing case and utilize their knowledge to argue for/against it.

Kagal and Lalani’s winning case was R. v. Zacharias, 2023 SCC 30, in which they were expected to argue both sides at di erent times in the competition.

“ is was my nal moot of my undergrad. is club has played such an enormous role in my undergraduate experience, so my thoughts going into this one was to have a lot of fun,” said Lalani.

Kagal echoed similar feelings and credited the role that the club’s advisor, Je Boich, and Tamara Djuknic, the leader of Laurier Moot Court played in helping the pair succeed.

“ ey’ve done a really good job preparing us. e only thought was that I was con dent we could do something. I decided I was going to

take it round by round and minute by minute,” he said.

While emotions were high, Lalani recalls being the second team to participate and the high she experienced during the competition after both she and Jonathan had presented their argument.

“I felt really good about the round. I knew that I had done well

- I didn’t know for sure that we had won or not. But I knew that we had put a lot of e ort into it,” she said.

Established in 2016, the Laurier Moot Court is free for any Laurier undergraduate student to join – whether they’re interested in pursuing law or not.

“I would say try out. Put yourself out there and make sure you try

new things,” said Lalani.

“Put yourself out there and try. I only joined last year because the president at the time gave a presentation to my class about it. I had no idea what it was, and no idea if I’d be good,” echoed Kagal.

More about Laurier Moot Court can be found on Instagram @ lauriermoot.

Unionize WLU cancels the hate on campus

Event held in front of Bricker Academic to express disappointment with hosted lecture

On March 6, Unionize WLU in collaboration with PSAC 902, e Ranbow Centre and Queer Youth Defense held a “cancel the hate event” on the Waterloo campus in front of Bricker Academic.

Protesters gathered to express their disappointment with the university for allowing lawyer Lisa Blidy to give a presentation about professionals needing to give up their rights to free speech to work in Canada to Wilfrid Laurier Heterodox Academy. e topic for Bildy’s presentation asked “How much of their speech rights must professionals relinquish to practice in Canada?”

Bildy is currently representing Amy Hamm, a woman brought into disciplinary proceedings after co-sponsoring a “I [heart] J.K. Rowling” billboard in Vancouver. Bildy is also a central gure in challenging the ‘Statement of Principles’ requirement where the Law

Society of Ontario was questioned for compelling the speech of professional college members.

e Wilfrid Laurier Heterodox Academy is an organization that “aims to resurrect the joyousness of respectful and lively disagreement.”

e protest saw over ten members of the Waterloo and wider Laurier community attend the event in support.

“You’re welcome to stay outside, take up space out here, or to move inside and take up seats inside. If you are going to be moving inside, we want to make sure that everybody remains respectful in that space,” said an organizer while addressing the crowd.

Protesters played music, addressed questions of those passing by and moved inside the building during the event.

To protect protesters identities, attendees were given masks to cover any identi able features.

“Upon learning [of the talk], not just actors or members of Unionize WLU but local members of the community gathered to voice our displeasure at Laurier for hosting this event, and not having the ability to realize the language that [talks like these] are attempting to

weaponize,” said John-Lee Bannister, Chairman of the Unionize WLU Committee and vice-president of PSAC 902.

Care for protecting Laurier’s transgender students was at the forefront of the protest and the number of community members gathered made the event a success.

“I thought that the number of people that contributed and participated in our action was bene cial to our goals and aims. It demonstrated the resourcefulness of our community when certain people would like to take space on our campus,” said Bannister.

I thought that the number of people that contributed and participated in our action was beneficial to our goals and aims.

- John-Lee Bannister, Chairman of Unionize WLU

ere are many ways for Laurier

Fewer international study permits to be issued in 2024

Federal government announces international student cap

On Jan. 22 of this year, the federal government announced it would issue fewer international study permits for students for the next two years. is decision will not impact international students currently enrolled in post-secondary institutions.

In a report completed by Ontario’s Big City Mayors, it was stated that international student enrolment at Laurier had grown 62 per cent in the last several years while the University of Waterloo’s international student population had grown 62 per cent.

Conestoga College saw the largest amount of growth in the time period, at 1, 579 per cent.

“ is is an experimental procedure to see how Canada’s economy will react to the change,” said Ardavan Eizadirad, assistant professor in the faculty of education at Laurier, and chair of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization (EDI&I) Coalition.

When it comes to implementing the study cap, Eizadirad stressed the need to focus on the lived experience of international students coming to study in Canada.

This is an experimental procedure to see how Canada’s economy will react to the change.

- Ardavan Eizadirad, Assistant Professor

“What we need to wait and see is if the quality of experience is going to be better for the international students when they do arrive in terms of housing and the type of support available to them,” he said. e government implemented these new measures due to rising nancial challenges, including the housing crisis, lack of income and layo s.

In a report released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, it was revealed that

the price of a two-bedroom rental in the Waterloo Region had risen 7.2 per cent – now costing 1,469 per month (though you’ll be lucky to nd that price).

According to a statement released by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the idea that the housing crisis will be addressed by reducing the amount of student intake in universities and colleges is a one-sided plan.

“ is hasty one-size- ts-all solution may jeopardize the bene ts of international education that many communities across the country experience and rapidly unravel a strong global Canadian education brand that has taken years to build,” the statement said.

Eizadirad explained how international students are crucial to post-secondary nances since they provide a supple amount of revenue.

“International students pay a lot of tuition, so we need to think of ways to subsidize that from the government and other places to ensure that they are not just simply seen as a number who are helping cover budget de cits,” Eizadirad said.

e Canadian government will continually update the public concerning these new regulations.

students to become involved in protests for change such as this one.

“I think that every Laurier student should become more active, more vocal and connected to a larger network of student activists that have been ongoing,” said Bannister.

Some organizations mentioned by Bannister include Unionize WLU and PSAC 902, as well as clubs like Laurier’s Palestinian Culture Club, which has been

boothing on campus to engage with students.

“ e reality is that informed individuals are powerful, but informed individuals who aren’t active are less e ective,” said Bannister. “ ere is always Unionize WLU as a place where [students] can connect with myself and others in the committee.”

While no future protests are currently planned, students can keep up with Unionize WLU on their Instagram account @unionizewlu.

FINAL REVIEW OF THE 2023-2024 STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The following reviews are based on interviews conducted with members of the Students’ Union Board of Directors, as a means of reflecting on the term and evaluating their performances as representatives of Wilfrid Laurier University’s undergraduate student body.

President Spenler grew on the work of previous SU president Shane Symington. She was noted to be a good employee and support for the Board of Directors.

A positive presence on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, Spenler took the time to connect with students through her events and initatives for both volunteers and sta members.

Chair Abu-Rshaid has proven himself to be a competent and hardworking Chair throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Consistent in his e orts to host an open and communicative space for Directors to share their ideas, Chair Abu-Shaid is praised for his ability to run board meetings smoothly and e ectively.

Director Corrie remains a strong advocate and guide for new directors on the board, advising them on board policy and procedures.

Noted as one of the strongest directors, Director Corrie has worked to improve conversations surrounding the Brantford campus while also maintaining a presence on the Waterloo campus.

Described as “knowledgable,” Director Corrie has been a strong voice on the campus safety committee alongside working with stakeholders.

As a long-term member of the Students’ Union Board, Director Corrie is thanked for his work over the last few terms.

Spenler was praised for her e orts to revive events for students, her work on 2023 Orientation Week in particular praised for its programming and booking of Steve Aoki.

Described as “friendly”, President Spenler communicated openly to the Board of Directors and prepared materials to be shared on the occasions that she could not attend in person.

Her relationship with the board members was noted to help with the structure of the board as a whole, creating an environment where directors felt comfortable bringing up suggestions and critiques in her presence.

President Spenler is described as one of the strongest presidents in many years, and is thanked for her work at unifying the board during the year.

Taking advice given in the previous term, Chair Abu-Rshaid has rectified the tendency of meetings to run overtime, trimming meetings to a respectable length.

Described as “knowledgable” and “passionate”, Chair Abu-Rshaid is praised for his dedication to the board despite his other commitments.

Always dressed well for meetings, Chair Abu-Rshaid inspires respect from other members of the board and is noted to be super “on the ball.”

Chair Abu-Rshaid is thanked for his work on the board this year, and his work to collaborate with members of the board to make initatives successful.

Vice Chair Rubino is recognized for his support and collaboration with the Chair over the 2023-2024 year.

He is also praised for his work in supporting multiple committes across the Brantford and Waterloo campuses.

Vice Chair Rubino is praised at his participation across the final term of the year, running board meetings smoothly for the Chair when needed and being an active participant in board conversations.

PRESIDENT CHAIR

VICE CHAIR

MEGAN SPENLER

MOHAMMAD ABU-RSHAID

**DANIEL RUBINOFF

SEBASTIEN CORRIE

DIRECTOR

Director Mehari has continued to be an active participant with the board.

She is thanked for her perspective regarding conversations surrounding athletics & recreation.

Director Mehari is thanked for her participation on the board and work to help improve conditions for students on Laurier’s campuses. DIRECTOR

While having missed a few board meetings this term, Director Mehari has improved her understanding of board operations and procedures.

JACK SLOAN

DIRECTOR

Director Sloan is noted to be one of the strongest first-time directors, contributing regularly to meetings and demonstrating an eager attitude to learn.

Maintaining regular attendance to board meetings, Director Sloan played an active role in board decision making.

Director Sloan is thanked for his work on the Board of Directors this year.

JOSH HAMILTON DIRECTOR

Director Hamilton is thanked for his participation on the board and work in engaging students. With perfect attendance to meetings this term, he remains a strong advocate for undergraduate students.

Director Russo has played an active role on the board and is noted to be one of the strongest contributors to meetings.

Director Russo is encouraged to keep up the good work moving forward and continue to support new directors on the board.

Director Ellis could not complete a board review with The Cord at this time.

Director Phillips could not complete a board review with The Cord at this time.

He is thanked for his work on the board and contributions during meetings.

DIRECTOR

**PATRICK BALDINELLI

**GABRIELLE RUSSO DIRECTOR HAILIE ELLIS DIRECTOR

Director Baldinelli could not complete a board review with The Cord at this time.

He is thanked for his adherence to attending board meetings and dedication to his role.

Director Baldwin could not complete a board review with The Cord at this time.

Director Baldwin is thanked for his participation on the board in the meetings during the term that he was present for.

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR

Director Ellis is thanked for her work on the board, adding to the smooth communication and experience of working on the board this term.

**ALFREDO DUNCAN SPIZZIRRI

Director Spizzirri could not complete a board review with The Cord at this time

Director Spizziri is thanked for his time on the board, but is asked to maintain an open line of communcation regarding meeting absences if he returns to the board in the future.

DIRECTOR

COLTON PHILLIPS

**MITCHELL BALDWIN

MERON MEHARI

End-of-Term Word Search

Graduation MASH

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•

•

•

•

• Graduate

• Work

• Break

• Alumni

• Paper

• Exam

• Study

• Concept

• Unit

• Marks

• Test

• Essay

• Scantron

• Final

Fashion for Change’s “Spun from Gold” show comes to Laurier

March 23 event held at Hagey Hall hosted models to raise money for KW Humane Society

The benefit of interdisciplinary study: What we can learn about metabolism from music and rats

News Director Madalyn Mostacci explores a study detailing the role rodents can play when considering studies for metabolism.

e Mozart E ect claims that listening to Mozart or classical music more generally can make someone more intelligent, but researchers and student composers at Laurier and the University of Alberta have asked the questions: “What if it’s not just classical music?” and “What if it doesn’t just impact intelligence?”

Tony Kiang and Ayman

El-Kadi from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Heidi Ahonen from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Music push conventional boundaries.

Together, they mix two contrasting disciplines - science and music - in a study titled “E ects of Music on Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics.”

e current study aims to prove that music, while not likely the only variable, is an important factor that must be considered in drug therapy to further improve precision dosing.

“It’s always music that we are familiar with that has lots of therapeutic bene ts,” said Ahonen, one of the study’s researchers and a music therapy professor at Laurier. “It has different hormonal bene ts, so it would make sense to see if it also has benets around metabolism.”

e team of researchers hypothesize that the “modalities of music can a ect how the body clears or metabolizes the drug di erently,” explained Kiang, the principal investigator of the

study.

“Some elements of music may enhance the metabolism; some may reduce the metabolism,” she nished.

e ultimate goal is to improve the care of patients, said Kiang.

Before the e ects of music and drug clearance are studied in humans, Kiang, El-Kadi and Ahonen will observe results on Sprague-Dawley rats.

“[Other studies] have made rodents listen to Mozart, rock and roll and Schubert.” Ahonen said.

e e ects of seven variables — or modalities, as Ahonen refers to them — of music will be examined rst in rodents and later in humans.

ese variables include tempo, rhythm, genre, harmony, dynamics, auditive frequency and vibrational kinesthetic, which refers to vibrational sensations throughout the body.

To decide what variables to use in the study, “I rst had to think, ‘what is music?’” said Ahonen.

“As a music therapist I nd that sentence very irritating. People say that music is powerful and therapeutic, but don’t de ne what parts of music because music can be anything. Music is really a combination of di erent elements,” she said.

Four Laurier students: Drew Aarssen, Callum Drysdale, Jasmine Hourahine and Dylan McIsaac, were hired to compose music that will be played for the rats

Barbara Assiginaak, a composing professor at Laurier assisted them as they composed their pieces.

After completion, their compositions were sorted into three categorical groups.

“ ere was group one that was the rhythmic, tempo and percussion only, and then group two that included instruments, and then group three that included the low frequency,” said Ahonen.

When they go for testing in Alberta, recordings of the music will be played to the rats in a comfortable environment, explained Kiang. Each element of music will be tested on the rats one at a time.

“We’re very careful in making sure that the music is not too loud. We’re going to control everything by decimeters,” he said.

“Essentially, they’ll just listen to music and be able to roam around and eat.”

At this point, the researchers don’t know how long the rats will need to be exposed to the music.

More testing is required to determine how much time is enough to get reliable results, Kiang added.

“We’re looking at potential changes to how [the rats] metabolize drugs,” Kiang said. “In essence, we can measure speci c metabolism pathways and we’re able to see whether music can upregulate or downregulate those speci c pathways.”

“Potentially, you could see an

increase in metabolism, but you could also see a decrease in metabolism,” he explained.

Kiang outlines that a successful experiment is one where they can prove their hypothesis -- that certain elements of music have speci c responses in metabolism.

“For example, when you listen to fast tempo music versus slow tempo music, we anticipate that will have di erent e ects on the same metabolism enzyme,” he said.

e researchers are still in the early stages of their experiments.

“Over the next half a year, we’ll be testing our hypothesis systematically,” said Kiang. “I would imagine in the next year or so, maybe we’ll see some results.”

In later stages of the study, they plan to test their hypothesis on humans in a non-invasive manner.

“ e human subjects will also listen to the music in a very comfortable environment,” explained Kiang, and they won’t need to take any additional medications

or drugs either.

It’s always music that we are familiar with that has lots of theraputic benefits. “ “

“We’re simply taking a blood sample from them, and from that sample, we can measure if those endogenous, or natural compounds, which represent metabolism pathways, have changed in response to music.”

Interdisciplinary collaboration allows for new possibilities of research and learning that otherwise would not have been explored. It’s through this collaboration that seemingly random topics like music composition, Sprague-Dawley rats and pharmaceutical science, can unite.

If the study nds that music can improve the intake of drugs used for treatment, music wouldn’t replace traditional drug therapy altogether but could be used in addition to it.

“ e only way to establish that would be to combine very two di erent disciplines together, which is what we have in this case,” said Kiang.

“I’m quite excited about this research,” he concluded.

Arts & Life

Sometimes I Think About Dying: Introversion, ideation and the monotony of working a 9-5

BRONTE BEHLING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TW: is article discusses themes of suicide.

“It’s hard, isn’t it? To be a person,” states the character of Isobel in Rachel Lambert’s feature lm Sometimes I ink About Dying

Released on Jan. 26, Sometimes I ink About Dying provides a sombre and introspective look at creeping feelings of suicidal ideation and o ce monotony.

Fran, portrayed by Daisy Ridley, is a long-su ering o ce worker stuck in a familiar 9-5 environment of draining colleague small-talk and “depressos” from a Keurig machine.

Used to this routine, Fran nds herself upended when social, personable new-hire Robert (played by Dave Merheje) begins pursuing

CAMPUS CLUBS

an open dialogue with her.

For many, this lm will appear too slow and melancholy – moving at a turtle’s crawl as it slowly lets the audience into Fran’s mind and the challenges she experiences opening up to the world.

However, for those of us who have experienced the deep ache of depression that causes ideation,

the lm helps us feel a little bit less alone.

With cinematography by Dustin Lane and music by Dabney Morris, the lm’s world feels isolated with a calm serenity located just under its surface – one that neither the characters nor the audience are permitted to settle in as the lm moves from scene to scene.

With distinct and lingering still shots throughout, the lm is a feast for the eyes – each frame carefully crafted to highlight Fran’s experience of introversion. Noticeable is the shift in colour palette during Ridley’s scenes with Merheje – deep reds and more saturated colours come into play as the characters learn about one

another.

e most distinct representation of this comes in a sequence where the two visit a restaurant – the scene lled with deep burgundy shades.

In fact, the world appears more vibrant every time Ridley’s Fran allows herself to feel – each of the scenes depicting her ideation daydreams markedly di erent than any in her workplace environment.

Dabney Morris’ soundtrack lends the introspective nature of the lm a meditative tone, the sweeping composition elevating the lm’s picturesque cinematography.

Combining these aspects of the lm’s craftmanship with Ridley’s portrayal of Fran creates a lm that is truly special and one that can be re-watched multiple times to grasp di erent aspects of its message and contemplative tone.

Released on March 14 on digital platforms including Apple TV and Prime Video, Sometimes I ink About Dying is worth watching.

Rating: 9/10

WILL looks back on a successful academic year

BROOKLYN BODDEN MEMBER OF WILL

It has been a remarkable year for Women in Leadership Laurier (WILL), marked by meaningful events and community engagement.

One of the group’s highlights of the academic year includes the ShopHer marketplace event that took place on Feb. 26.

e event provided a unique opportunity for small businesses to showcase and sell their products.

In 2024, WILL focused on businesses led by women of colour, signi cantly boosting attendance and community involvement.

“ e ShopHer event provided a remarkable opportunity to create awareness for women of colours’ small businesses in the Laurier community. Not only that, it empowered students to continue this event next year based on the success,” said Elisa Ho, WILL’s First Year Representative.

Next, the organization hosted several events throughout the year, including the Women in Healthcare panel.

is panel provided a deep dive into the industry, featuring leaders from various sectors such as medical services, tech and pharmaceuticals.

During the event, speakers shared insightful details about the milestones and challenges they have faced as women in the healthcare industry. ese insights helped to shed light on the unique obstacles and achievements that they encountered in their professional journeys.

Additionally, the panel served as a signi cant opportunity for Laurier students to engage actively with these industry leaders. Students who chose to attend had the chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare eld from a female perspective.

e Q&A period helped to make the event an educational and enlightening experience for those aspiring to enter similar paths.

e Global Women's Summit, a agship event organized by WILL, gained signi cant attention for its focus on empowering women in the corporate sector.

e summit highlighted the achievements of career-driven female leaders who are part of committees like WILL within their organizations.

During the event, speakers shared their insights and experiences on making substantial impacts in their companies and pioneering changes to enhance

gender equality in their respective industries.

Another signi cant achievement was WILL's annual book drive, notably successful through their Little Library initiative.

Books were priced accessibly for student wallets at $1, $2, and $5 per book.

Proceeds from the event went towards supporting the Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

“ e book drive was a blast and exactly what Laurier needed”, said Dua Asad, another member of WILL’s First Year Representatives.

“Many people are switching over to digital E-Book platforms, so it was nice to see everyone join together

HAILEY TRIPODI/@HRTPHOTO

and participate in a book swap and donate for an important cause.” rough these events, WILL has not only fostered leadership and learning but also contributed to the local community, continuing to embody their mission of empowerment and support.

As the year concludes, WILL celebrates a year of achievement. e organization also looks forward to continuing its mission of promoting women's leadership and making a positive impact in the community.

To stay updated on WILL's future events or get involved, follow their Instagram @willaurier or @ willmentorship.

Free food in good faith with P2C Laurier

Over the past two months, Power to Change (P2C) Laurier has invited students to a weekly group meeting called “Alpha” that they’ve been hosting.

Open to everyone regardless of their beliefs, students are invited to participate in conversations about a wide range of subjects, from the Bible to metaphysical questions.

Wilf’s provides a free meal as students discuss these topics.

Attending Alpha sessions provides students with a fun opportunity to meet new people in the community and gain new perspectives.

“Alpha is more accessible to someone who is approaching faith for the rst time and hasn’t perhaps heard what Christianity’s about,” said Ben Kovac, a member of the P2C Outreach team.

I’ve always been interested in learning more about di erent religions, hearing people’s testimonials and the relationships they have with their beliefs and religious

STUDYING ABROAD

identities.

Power to Change’s Alpha is a great space for open conversation, where you can bring forward questions, comments, or criticisms of Christianity and be met with rational conversation.

I attended the dinner on March 13. e evening started o with a video produced by the Power to Change ministry, headquartered in

British Columbia. ese videos showcase a di erent topic every week, presenting Christian viewpoints through contemporary examples.

After the video, attendees engage in a discussion where they address how they feel about the viewpoints presented and how that may relate to their own lives with help from a discussion leader.

“ e whole point of the Bible is to be shared; we want to introduce this to new people and we invite people in any walk of faith.

“We want to be open to communication and talking about our faith in a way that’s accessible,” said Joshua Solomon, a student passionate about P2C who has been involved for many years.

A friendly community, free food,

and interesting conversation –what more could you ask for from an evening on campus?

“Come out to Alpha – talk to friends and have a conversation,” said Solomon.

Follow Power to Change Laurier on Instagram @p2claurier to keep up with di erent activities they have for students throughout the year.

Exchange students take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Stratford Upon-Avon

On Feb. 28, a trip from the university of Birmingham to Stratford Upon-Avon for the English literature department left with two full busses of students.

is trip was planned by two coordinators from the student exchange advisory and involved a jam-packed schedule in Stratford Upon-Avon where students

were able to meet cast members of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the bard’s hometown alongside watching the play at the Royal Shakespeare eatre. When asked how bene cial this trip was to their exchange experience, students Paul Weidmann from Germany and David Nicolet from Switzerland both said they looked forward to it from the date it was announced. “It’s one thing to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream in school, but to see it performed in the town that Shakespeare lived in is something I’ll never forget,” Weidmann said. German student Annika Barthel

echoed similar feelings: “[ e trip provided] a great opportunity to meet other exchange students in the same position as I am. I even met fellow Germans here which is a nice connection to home.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was truly a marvel to see in the Royal Shakespeare eatre. With all students getting free admission and being seated in the lower rst three rows, the view of the stage was impeccable.

“When the confetti started, some of it landed on my feet - that’s how close I was. I was so immersed in the play the whole time that I almost jumped when it happened,” said Nicolet.

It’s one thing to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream in school, but to see it performed in the town that Shakespeare lived in is something I’ll never forget.

-Paul Weidmann, Exchange Student

While the play was performed in English, most exchange students in attendance spoke a di erent primary language.

“When they spoke fast, I would look to my English-speaking friend to ask what they said. Reading it in English and hearing it performed is two very di erent things when they talk so quickly.

It was a bit of a struggle, but I think it also helped me pick up the language more,” said Barthel.

While only one trip was planned for this cohort of exchange students, the large turnout led to the event organizers asking to keep in touch with students to plan more trips in the future.

BAILEY MCINTYRE ARTS & LIFE CONTRIBUTOR

BAILEY MCINTYRE/ARTS & LIFE CONTRIBUTOR

HARI ADNANI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

HARI ADNANI/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Exploring Queerness in Adaline’s HYMNAL

In a modern musical environment towered over by the prayers, confessionals, and love songs of gures like Sufjan Stevens and Julien Baker, the trouble of reconciling queerness with the religious impulse is hardly unexplored.

In light of hundreds of years of Christian rhetoric which grappled

with the expressions of queerness, Hymnal, the most recent release by proli c Canadian alt-pop songwriter Adaline is still worth discussing.

e EP is only seven tracks long and is competently produced by industry veteran Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and composed of 6 soft synth-pop cuts with a 40-second introduction of spliced-together testimonials from members of Bad Believer, Adaline’s non-pro t which aims to support queer people hurt by Christianity.

e album wants nothing more than to convince the listener that there is still spirituality for the

post-Christian.

To this end, musically speaking, the album is consistent for listeners of the genre.

Every song on the EP is patient, compassionate and almost paternalistic in a way that makes them feel like amped-up lullabies. But these are not just any lullabies.

As someone who was raised listening to religious music, Hymnal is aptly named because these are religious songs, and this is a religious record.

Not just because the album is su used with biblical references, though it is. If there is a God’s allusions to the story of Jesus’ righ-

It’s the place to Gyubee

Lizzie points out that for a $7 wine glass, she was disappointed with the portioning – considering that she has her smart serve and knows the helping amount.

You have heard of BBQ and KBBQ–now introducing JBBQ (Japanese Barbeque).

Not sure as to why your writers have been opting for cooking their meals as of late, but LizzDrew decided to take this month’s reviewing escapade to Gyubee (which means high quality Japanese barbeque).

Located at 235 King Street North (no more than two minutes from campus), we entered the sleek and modern restaurant, getting seated as soon as we walked in (something to keep in mind given that this was our third attempt at eating there).

We were greeted by a luscious, all you can eat menu– di erent from last month's joint where you pay per serving.

We were also tasked with selecting from a wide variety of drink options including souju, wine, cocktails and mocktails.

Lizzie, who is seemingly attempting to turn this column into a wine-review, once again ordered the 5-ounce Jackson Triggs Chardonnay.

On the other hand, Andrew was weary given a few not-so-great encounters with his go-to soju and asked for a pint of Sapporo.

He thoroughly enjoyed the light and avourful pairing of the imported beer with the meat to come.

Our rst course was indulgently full of beef, pork, shrimp, brisket and no veggies (something Lizzie will note later).

e joy of cooking the food ourselves, mixed with the decadent avor of each plate makes it hard to pick out a single standout, although the Prime Kalbi steak did have our mouths watering.

As we moved to a more health conscious second round, we dabbled in foods such as the butter corn, sliced zucchini, king oyster mushrooms and a multitude of sides - the true eye catchers (or shall we say mouth catchers) being the kimchi, cold tofu, cabbage salad and ssamjang sauce.

Your food reviewers unfortunately disagree on a couple of key points that distinguish a good restaurant from a great one.

Lizzie enjoyed Daldongnae’s intrinsic complimentary side dishes–

the heads of lettuce, cheese corn and salads galore come to the table without having to lift a nger.

Comparatively to Daldongnae, Gyubee encourages diners to request these food items.

Lizzie feels that while this may reduce food waste, it’s nice to have these dishes available to guests who may have never tried them in the rst place–expanding culinary palettes.

Suitably stu ed, we nished our meal with the creme brulee and a cone of soft serve ice cream for each of us (included in the all you can eat total).

Andrew found that the diversity and adventurous nature of an all you can eat joint incredibly appealing.

Especially at places as good as Daldongnae and Gyubee where the food is impeccably presented and allows for food exploration.

Overall, a stellar meal and an incredible waitsta have earned a gold star in the LizzDrew review book.

If you want to see if it earns a gold star in your review book too, tell them LizzDrew sent you!

Overall Ratings:

Ambiance: 9 out of 10

Drinks: 8 out of 10

Food: 10 out of 10

A ordability: 6.5 out of 10

teous assault on moneylenders in the temple and album closer What Love is All About’s reference to the parable of the wise and foolish builders are citations supporting the album’s critiques of moral corruption in modern organized religion.

e album’s sound involves the aesthetic signatures of aural Christianity - bleeding from its hands and feet.

e clear and clean vocal delivery and production sound ready for delivery from the front of a sanctuary to a waiting ock.

e quavering and droning synths blossom to dominate the

nal track, What Love is All About through an unmistakable pipe organ analogue. is album is religious in its mythical treatment of the social problems at play, while being interested in providing sanctuary for those who want it – refraining from crusading for anyone’s rights or working systemic change.

e album is for queer believers for whom a word from the pulpit still carries weight – providing an answer for those seeking it.

Unfortunately, this does not extend to convincing those not asking the answer to the question to seek it in detail.

NATE DAWES RADIO LAURIER MUSIC DIRECTOR

LIZZDREW

Rooster Teeth: The end of an era

If you dated a man who played video games in the 2010s, you’ve probably heard of Rooster Teeth.

Initially a website for drunkenly reviewing video games, Rooster Teeth quickly became a leading force in machinima (creating narratives from computer graphics) with their series Red vs Blue

Unfortunately, on Mar. 6 of this year, Rooster Teeth’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Rooster Teeth would be shut down after several years of unpro tability. is will result in approximately 150 employees being out of work.

I became a fan as a teenager when I discovered the company’s former YouTube channel Achievement Hunter, which centered around gaming.

From there, I made my way into other parts of the company such as Funhaus, Let’s Play and their more narrative content.

For the last several years I’ve been mainly following Rooster Teeth through their podcasts.

After years of listening to the Rooster Teeth Podcast, I cemented myself as a proud comment leaver

on F**kFace, which has inspired a lot of my own creative work.

However, the company has not escaped controversy - as many companies established in the same time period have dealt with.

When you got your start by making gaming content in the early 2000’s, you’re destined to see some unfortunate characters that don’t mesh with us today.

Several controversies accusing the company of having a “crunch

culture” and toxic work environments have likely contributed to the decrease in revenue.

To me, the shutdown is simply disheartening. It’s not fun to watch people who make you laugh have their positions removed.

I feel horrible for those I’ve seen and heard on camera, as well as the impressive people who work behind the scenes.

Ultimately, I understand how the industry works and why this

happened – Rooster Teeth wasn’t pro table. It is a product of a bygone era.

But when considering that the same company made e Flash, there wasn’t anywhere else they could have taken a closer look when deciding to cut back funding?

For those who follow Rooster Teeth’s main narrative series RWBY, Red vs Blue, and Gen:Lock, Warner Bros. Discovery is looking

for companies to purchase the rights so it’s possible you’ll see them continued in the future.

For anyone like me who mainly takes in the company’s podcasts, they’re also looking for buyers for the Roost podcast network and it’s reported to continue operating in the meantime.

I don’t know what’s next in store for the people of Rooster Teeth, but I hope that in the end they’re able to keep doing the work they love.

How international films question and challenge North American perspectives

approaches to life’s many questions.

e Oscars’ international entries, including those that weren’t nominated, explore how human fundamentals—love and joy—take shape in the eyes of non-North American artists.

Whether they’re subjectively good or bad is irrelevant - either way, they’ll expand your capacity to appreciate perspective and, I hope, o er new ways of enjoying life.

France’s Oscar submission, e Taste of ings by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung didn’t earn a nomination but does excel at tenderly melding two human essentials: Food and love.

Cook Eugénie, played by Juliette Binoche, pours time and a ection into every raw ingredient.

Whether a simple breakfast or an elaborate baked Alaska, her painstaking attention to detail

richly translates to an indulgent labour of love. Shot to make cooking synonymous with painting, Hung contradicts North America’s negative attitude towards food and food consumption.

Amidst diet culture and body checking, e Taste of ings lovingly reiterates that food is fundamentally a manifestation of love. After watching Hung’s work, home-cooked meals take on new

meaning. Whether made by or for you, food is the product of care, not hollow calories to be tracked and demonized.

Japan’s nominated entry, Perfect Days by German Director Wim Wenders, is a subdued response to a demanding question: How do we nd happiness in a world that doesn’t stand still?

North American society would

have us believe the answer is nagging positivity - by ignoring our sorrows, we’ll freeze time. Wenders’ lm is the thoughtful pause needed to answer our question. e lm opens with Hirayama, played by Kôji Yakusho, starting his day as a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo.

e lm is paced with a degree of care that suggests time is moving as it should, Hirayama’s regiment-

ed life existing within a constant, peaceful ow of motion. is tempo continues after a surprise encounter with his niece Niko (played by Arisa Nakano) who’s run from home for unknown reasons.

He shelters her as they laugh, eat and listen to the Rolling Stones. eir fun ends abruptly when Niko is forced to go home, breaking the ow Hirayama abided by. Wenders grapples with Niko’s absence by allocating time for itthere is no cure to Hirayama’s pain, and thus it needs to be felt.

Perfect Days asserts that happiness is cyclical: It waxes and wanes like leaves on a swaying branch. Joy comes from reestablishing ourselves in life’s owing motion, not stagnation in which we refuse loss. e impact culture has on outlook is huge, widely di ering and inspires beautiful conversation.

Tran Anh Hung & Wim Wenders interpretations expand the mosaic of multicultural perspectives, but the dialogue doesn’t end there.

All the Oscar’s international entries are unique in their approaches to life and equally capable of broadening your perspective. Expand your watchlist to include international directors and you’ll nd a nuance in living.

TEGAN MOUNT ARTS CONTRIBUTOR

FILM ANALYSIS

Editor’s Note:

Closing out the year and reminiscing

BRONTE BEHLING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the nal issue of e Cord for the academic year comes to a close, I nd myself reminiscing on how I felt this time last year.

At this point, I was about to start my term as editor-in-chief. Part of me was terri ed, feeling that I was greatly unprepared for the role.

e other part, however, kept me grounded and dedicated to making my year as EIC the best it could be.

Any university’s September publication, as any other EIC will tell you, feels like a mammoth of a task.

At 24 pages, it stands as the longest issue usually seen in an academic year and seeks to bring in new students on the Laurier campus passionate about journalism.

After publishing September 2023’s edition, I felt like I had

climbed mount everest.

Every month got ever so slightly easier from there, and now I feel con dent in my abilities to put out a full issue.

It’s important to note that this took a full year and I still feel like I have so much to learn.

Of course, you’ll never have a perfect issue (unfortunately).

Some typo or error will always occur (I’m sure you’ve probably seen one), and most times a story (or even two) will fall through.

It’s all part of the job, and eventually you learn how to muck your way through - thanks to the team members around you who are always there to lend a helping hand.

Working at WLUSP has been a joy, and I am very glad that I became a part of this organization.

If I had one piece of advice for graduating Golden Hawks, it would be to try volunteering (or even working for) a publication such as e Cord.

Even if you don’t feel like you are a strong writer, you still have a unique perspective - and one that deserves to be heard.

Invincible season two is a treat for fans of the show

AMICHAI ABRAHAM MANAGING EDITOR

On March 14, the second half of Invincible’s second season debuted on Amazon Prime.

Fans waited with anticipation after being left on a cli hanger at the end of the second season’s fourth episode.

e decision to split the release of the second season is an interesting one. On the one hand, it’s clear the show-runners want to do things the “right” way - taking the time needed to craft a season that grows on the previous one.

Of course, the show was still popular and discussed routinely on online forums and news articles.

e cli hanger and quality of the show will have many viewers returning, and the generally positive reception the rst half of season two received may attract new viewers with a prime account - something that Amazon Studios is in constant competition with streaming services such as Net ix and Disney+ for.

So far, the second season of the series has responded to critical and audience feedback and made adjustments to make the show better.

During the rst season, the characters featured in the series were both one of the show’s greatest strengths and weaknesses.

peared.

Debbie Grayson wasn’t poorly written in the rst season, but she has become a much more central character within the show.

Her combination of guilt, depression, and self-questioning feels very real and visceral.

Sandra Oh deserves massive credit for her preformance as Debbie and I believe that her portrayal of character has lead to Debbie becoming one of the most captivating and interesting characters on the show.

e show has also bene ted from new and unique plotlines that always leave viewers desperate for answers.

WLUSP

ed@wlusp.com

e main intention appears to be focused on allowing viewers to digest certain plot and narrative events properly.

It is clear that the showrunners want the events of the show to feel more impactful by spacing out the time they’re viewed.

On the other hand, it’ll be di cult to match the hype the show had leading into the second season.

After waiting around three years for the next season, some of the enthusiasm some fans felt had already diminished by 2023.

In response, the second season has improved the characters that needed improving and doubled down on the realism of the characters’ emotions.

As a fan, I feel that this shift was very e ective at making the show even better. Amber, Invincible’s girlfriend, received the most backlash out of all the characters from the prior season.

To combat this, she has been cast in a much more sympathetic light; her confused motivations and characterizations from the rst season have largely disap-

Its comparison to its other gritty superhero counterpart, e Boys, continues to persist, but Invisible has separated itself with its animated style and a more laid-back presentation format. With that said, season two has still featured plenty of dramatic, intense, and violent moments.

It’s still strange seeing such a familiar type of animation depict so much blood and gore, but that feeling only helps to make the violence more shocking.

If the Invincible team can continue to produce a strong show that focuses on character development, then I believe it is likely that it will be picked up for future seasons.

Are the Ontario NDP’s TikToks e ective?

SERENA AUSTIN WLUSP PRESIDENT

Youth voter turnout has been on the decline since the 1990s.

Aside from 2015 and 2019, the rst two times Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected, almost every election since the 90s has brought fewer and fewer young people to the polls.

is is clearly not a new issue, but since the new year, the Ontario New Democratic Party, the o cial opposition in Ontario, seems to have adopted a new strategy to engage young and future voters — memi cation.

Memi cation is not in the dictionary, but to me, it refers to making a meme, or a web-culture inside joke, out of real-life scenarios— they can be harmless, self-deprecating or poking fun at others.

When it comes to politics, memes are more than just a silly little joke, they can have a real impact on how people vote.

Based on this, it’s important to think about their use a little more deeply than you would other kinds of memes.

e ONDP have been using TikTok to throw jabs at the Ford Conservatives and new provincial Liberal Leader, Bonnie Crombie, as well as to highlight the issues Ontarians are currently facing and how they, and leader Marit Styles, plan to x them. Sounds pretty normal, right? Wrong.

One of the reoccurring characters in the ONDP’s videos is Banana Cat, a cat dressed as a banana and the star in their series “Banana Cat explains,” which combines stock images and sound e ects, popular TikTok sounds and cat memes to explain the “New Democats’” strategy to address shortages in healthcare, schools in desperate need of repairs and high grocery costs.

Other styles of videos include the classic Subway Surfer split screen to ensure viewers have something actually interesting to look at, and an anime opening pitting the main characters of the PC Party of Ontario: Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma, Minister of Education

Stephen Lecce and former Minister of Municipal A airs and Housing Steve Clarke — who took the blame for the Greenbelt scandal, against the ONDP’s Styles, Jill Andrew, and Kristyn Wong-Tam.

When the ONDP were criticized for their cat videos by conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari in question period at Queen’s Park, they responded with a “this you?” style video pulling up headlines about the inde nite suspension of her license to practice law and her disbelief in climate change.

I have to admit, the ONDP’s TikTok’s are entertaining and a bit funny, if only because of how absurd they are, but I have to wonder if they’ll only make real adults — those over 25 who are most likely to vote — take the party even less seriously than they already do.

e account currently has more than 11,000 followers, and their most popular video has nearly half a million views.

As an almost 23-year-old who actually does pay attention to politics outside of TikTok, I’m not sure I’m the target audience for these videos and that de nitely plays into my skepticism about their e ectiveness.

But based on the ONDP’s comment section it seems the videos are resonating with who they’re supposed to. Elections Canada has recognized that youth are more likely to trust information they receive online now than they have been in the past, and they recommend that

simple, direct and interactive messaging over social media be used more often to capture Gen Z’s attention.

e ONDP has certainly taken that advice, but we’ll only really know if Banana Cat inspired youth voters to hit the polls come election season in 2026.

Should Earth Day only be celebrated in April?

DOMBROVSKY OPINION EDITOR

Earth day is celebrated annually on April 22 in support of environmental protection. Since 1970, it marks the commencement of events coordinated around the world by Earthday.org which reach approximately 1 billion people in over 193 countries.

is year’s theme personally addresses my environmental gripe: “Planet vs. Plastics”.

As the reality of microplastics

dawn upon our generation, identifying the harms of inconceivably large amounts of plastics leaching into our natural resources is more critical now than ever.

To illustrate the magnitude of a bleak legacy, the only trace humans will leave behind them after a hypothetical extinction would be a layer of plastics (alongside nuclear waste).

I recall that in 2022, e Guardian announced that microplastics were found in human blood for the rst time. Fast forward to 2024, and they announced that microplastics were found in every human placenta studied.

Consequences on the bloodbrain barrier can be catastrophic. We are sorely mistaken to think

that what is out of sight is in fact out of mind. Investigating what’s in our clothes, personal care products, food and water is just the beginning.

Earth day shouldn’t be a single day initiative once every three hundred sixty ve days - we use & abuse the earth every day.

Between corporate greenwashing, living under capitalism & confronting feelings of hopelessness amidst the ongoing state of a airs concerning our home planet, I believe that Earth Day needs to expand beyond a single day incentive.

A level of apathy has casted a shadow over living “green”, but I argue that you should live to be the change you want to see.

e ethics we take away from Earth Day should be implemented as part of our daily habits, incorporating intentionally earth-conscious practices in our everyday lives allows us to elevate our standard of living, especially when accomplished on a large-scale.

Understanding our impact on both a micro & macro scale helps us identify factors in our life that we can reevaluate in an e ort to promote a ful lling relationship between us as humans and nature.

We grow increasingly alienated from our roots - from kids with our ngers fearlessly embedded in the dirt to adults that spend our time sedentary in front of screens.

It’s only in recent history that we have fundamentally shifted

away from growing with nature to resisting it.

We put ourselves on a pedestal above natural elements that dictate our existence and we consume without recognizing our downstream e ect.

e concept of small actions causing non-linear impact on intricate systems emphasizes that we are merely the result of our total conscious e ort to responsibly share the one resource we collectively depend on to survive.

Earth day represents more than just one day to choose to recycle properly or clean up our local park.

It represents the circle of life and celebrates hope for regeneration and healing - something humanity can collectively strive towards.

ABIGAIL

ALAN

Golden Hawk Taye Donald’s reign of the 2023-2024 basketball season

AMICHAI ABRAHAM MANAGING EDITOR

NICOLE LOVISOTTO LEAD SPORTS REPORTER

Laurier is no stranger to impressive student-athletes adorning the purple and gold. However, sometimes, a notable Golden Hawk takes their league by storm.

Taye Donald is a 6’2 third-year basketball guard who took a leap this past OUA season and became one of the best university players in the province.

Following last season, where he was named an OUA second-team all-star, he has been named as part of the rst time this past season.

Donald has also gained national attention, named as the U SPORTS second-team All-Canadian.

Long before the rst game of the season, a summer full of intense training and juggling job responsibilities served as preparation

for Donald to manage academic responsibilities and his basketball schedule.

“A lot of it started before the season,” Donald said. "It's just staying consistent. Maintaining that level.”

With regard to this acknowledgment on a national scale, Donald noted the role head coach Justin Serresse played.

“It's something I talked about with my coach when I rst got recruited here. We had a goal and a vision of where I wanted to be in my years here at Laurier. Right now we're on track,” he said.

While Donald saw improvements in most areas of his game, the most notable statistic was his points per game numbers, which improved from 15.1 to 21.3. at increase in PPG sets Donald as fourth in the OUA.

Serresse cited Donald’s work ethic and commitment to becoming a better player as key reasons for his impressive play.

Donald’s leadership abilities have also played a massive factor in the team's development.

“We call him the heart and soul of the team. He’s passionate, he plays both ends as well, and at the end of the day, the team will always rally around him,” Serresse said.

It’s just staying consistent. Maintaining that level.

-Taye Donald, Golden

player

Donald led his team to second

place in their conference and the playo s. Despite being eliminated in the OUA quarter- nals, Donald proved his talent throughout the season.

“Taye brings on that pride, that work ethic, that toughness,” said Serresse. “Leaving everything on the oor - that’s the type of leader he is, and we’re grateful to have him.”

“[Serresse] and I communicate on and o the court at all times. Having open door communication was huge,” said Donald. By season’s end, Donald found himself in the OUA top ten in multiple statistics. Aside from the aforementioned PPG he’s also fourth in minutes, free-throws made and overall points.

Impressively, he’s also sixth in the league in both assists and steals. He shot e ciently throughout the season, shooting 44 per cent from the eld and sinking 34 per cent of his 3-pointers.

“He can do it all. He can shoot it, nish at the rim, and draw fouls; he has an in-between game. You don’t get U SPORT second team without being talented,” said Serresse.

Serresse acknowledged that next season will likely be challenging, similar to a rebuild. Still, he and his Golden Hawks aim to reach the national championship.

For this to be achieved, Donald must, once again, take a massive leap forward.

“If we are going to reach our goals, Taye is going to have to be MVP of the league. He’s going to have to lead the country in scoring and lead the OUA in scoring. at’s a lot to ask, but that’s how much I believe in the player,” said Serresse. Donald is a player dedicated to self-improvement. While ascending the league and becoming an MVP-caliber star is a tall order for any player, if anyone can do it, it’s certainly Taye Donald.

Hawks Basketball

MERVIN JOSEPH JACOB/ SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER Jan. 20 Men’s Basketball

MERVIN JOSEPH JACOB/ SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER Jan 20. Men’s Basketball

Athletics and recreation set to recieve increased funding in 2024-2025

AMICHAI ABRAHAM MANAGING EDITOR

On Feb. 1, it was announced during the SU referendum question that with 70 per cent of the vote, additional funding would be provided to athletics and recreation to improve services.

A small fee will be added to student tuition for much-needed renovations and exciting projects for the athletic center.

“ is is a really monumental contribution to Athletics and Recreation,” said Kate McCrae Bristol.

Kate began working as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Laurier this past September after spending the prior four years as Dean of Students.

is extra funding has been a key objective for Bristol as she takes on the role of Director of Athletics and Recreation.

“It’s also really overdue. If you look across the province, we will

probably be the last institution to do major upgrades to a recreational facility in the last decade,” she said.

Despite a growing student population, the Laurier recreation facilities haven’t managed to keep up with increased demand and usage.

After conducting surveys with the students, it was determined that upgrades and changes had to be made to the athletic infrastructure at Laurier.

“We collect student feedback all the time and we try to be nimble with it. I hope that with this fee, students start to see that their contribution matters and that they truly are leaving a legacy for future students,” Bristol said.

e increased funding will be used for upgraded and enhanced changerooms, tness center upgrades, new eld turf at the University Stadium, new study spaces in the athletic complex and improvements to accessibility.

Perhaps the most anticipated update is the upcoming installation of the Winterization ‘bubble’ and other upgrades to the Univer-

sity Stadium.

I hope that with this fee, students start to see that their contribution matters and that they truly are leaving a legacy for future students.

- Kate McCrae Bristol, Director of Athletics and Recreation

e ‘bubble’ will allow the eld to be used all year long due to a now operable dome that will surround it.

“Students are our number one priority,” Bristol said. “ is [funding] is going to allow us to hopefully better serve students in an ongoing way.”

Some enhancements are set to be in place by September 2024 including a new scoreboard, turf, lighting and footings for the new dome.

DARIEN

Top sports photos of the winter term

MERVIN JOSEPH JACOB/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Jan. 13 Men’s Basketball vs. Waterloo

MERVIN JOSEPH JACOB/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Jan. 20 Men’s Basketball vs. Lakehead, Coach Justin Serresse

MERVIN JOSEPH JACOB/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER Feb. 10

Men’s Basketball vs. York, No. 1 Maxwell Voorpool, No. 8 Nana Boateng

ARYAN PATEL/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Feb. 16 Women’s Hockey vs. Waterloo, No. 22 Chloe Davidson

ARYAN PATEL/SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Feb. 16 Women’s Hockey vs. Waterloo, No. 23 Elle Spencer, No. 73 Kayla Renaud, No. 34 Acadia Carlson