The Cord December 1, 2021 by The Cord

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 61 ISSUE 4 • DECEMBER 1, 2021

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

ROTTEN REVIEWS

OVERLOOKED ODES

UNRAVELLING THEORY WEBS

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

Evaluating the SU Board of Directors

Ranking the worst holiday films

Christmas tunes that need more love

New Spider-Man trailer sparks scrutiny

Looking back on this year’s highlights

News, page 4

Arts & Life, page 18

Features, page 11

Opinion, page 21

Sports, page 24

2 •

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

CAMPUS EVENTS Thursday, Dec. 2

Exchange Program Information Session 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

@cordnews

The Cord

@thecord.ca

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

The Cord THIS DAY IN HISTORY: DECEMBER 1

Thursday, Dec. 2Sunday, Dec. 5

1761: Marie Tussaud, French founder of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, born in Strasbourg.

Christkindl Market Outdoor Festival, Gaukel Street, Kitchener

1887: Sherlock Holmes first appears in print in "Study in Scarlet" by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Friday, Dec. 3

1906: Cinema Omnia Pathe, world's first cinema, opens in Paris.

Laurier Choirs Virtual Concert, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

1913: Ford Motor Company institutes world's first moving assembly line for the Model T Ford.

Saturday, Dec. 4 Laurier Wind Orchestra Concert, 7:30-9:30 PM

1919: Lady Nancy Astor swornin as first female member of British Parliament.

Monday, Dec. 6

1934: Toronto Maple Leafs beat St. Louis Eagles, 4-3 to set an NHL record for the most wins to start the season.

Keep Calm and Study On: Preparing for Finals 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Tuesday, Dec. 7 MS2Discovery Institute Seminar Series 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

Tuesday, Dec. 7 Preparing and Writing a Quantatative-based Exam 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Wednesday, Dec. 8 Laurier Milton Lecture Series: The Education and Labour Market Transitions of African Youth with Refugee Backgrounds in Canada 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, Dec. 8 ASPIRE- Game Jamming as a Participatory and Arts-Based Research Methodology 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM Saturday, Dec. 18 A Festive Night with Friends, Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, 6:00 PM 7:00 PM NEXT ISSUE JANUARY 5, 2021

CORD STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waitson editor@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Mark Cascagnette sports@thecord.ca

1955: Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama.

BAG O' CRIME

Assault Nov. 26, 2021 @ 12:43 AM King St. N., Waterloo

1957: Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly and the Crickets debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Break and Enter Nov. 26, 2021 @ 5:59 AM Albert St., Waterloo

1985: TV mini series Anne of Green Gables based on the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, starring Megan Follows is first shown on CBS in Canada.

Break and Enter Nov. 26, 2021 @ 9:20 AM King St. N., Waterloo

2003: The Return of the King, 3rd and final film in the Lord of the Rings series premieres. 2018: Ariana Grande releases the music video "Thank U Next," biggest ever launch on Youtube Premiere.

Theft under $5000 Nov. 27, 2021 @ 10:42 AM Lester St., Waterloo

2019: Earliest traceable patient, a 55-year-old man, develops symptoms of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China.

Property damage Nov. 27, 2021 @ 12:46 PM King St. N., Waterloo

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Crystal Xue arts@thecord.ca OPINION EDITOR Sam Duffy opinion@thecord.ca

1953: Hugh Hefner publishes first edition of Playboy magazine, featuring Marilyn Monroe as the magazine's 1st centerfold.

MANAGING EDITIOR Brontë Behling

PHOTO EDITOR Tim Harrison managingeditor@thecord.ca photos@thecord.ca MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Kashyap Patel multimedia@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR VACANT video@thecord.ca

NEWS DIRECTOR Yasmeen Almomani news@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Ashley Barry news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Victoria Morgan news@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER VACANT photos@thecord.ca

ARTS EDITOR Amichai Abraham arts@thecord.ca

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Ethan Caplan sports@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Amy Blackwell Conor Columb Connor Johanes Madalyn Mostacci

“Author working on book investigating the forced sterilization of Indigenous women” - Yasmeen Almomani

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.

COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.

PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently

conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications is located on the Haldimand tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples. We recognize, honour and respect these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and water on which Student Publications is now present.

Cover by Abigail Heckbert, Brit Kovacs and Timothy Harrison

Quote of the week: “He's gonna check out these checkers.” - Brit Kovacs talking about her outfit

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

News

• 3 NEWS DIRECTOR YASMEEN ALMOMANI news@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER ASHLEY BARRY news@thecord.ca

WRITING

Laurier author working on book investigating the forced sterilization of Indigenous women YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

Karen Stote, assistant professor in women and gender studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, released her first book, An Act of Genocide: Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women, in 2015. “It looks at the history of coerced sterilization roughly from the 1930s to the 1970s in a time period when eugenic legislation was being practiced in Alberta and British Columbia…the purpose of my work was to try and understand the extent to which Indigenous people were sterilized,” she said. Stote found that Indigenous people were not just sterilized under eugenic legislation in those two provinces, but they were actually sterilized outside of that legislation in what are referred to as “Indian hospitals” across Canada. “This research came out of relationships with Indigenous people, people who taught me in my undergrad and people that I knew who told me that coerced sterilization is something that happened to Indigenous people and in Indigenous communities and that it had a lot of history.” She wrote about understanding the context of these sterilizations as a form of colonial violence and the unique implications around sterilization for Indigenous women.

CONNOR JOHANES/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

“Since that book came out in 2015, over 100 Indigenous women have come forward with their own experiences of coerced sterilization,” Stote said. Many of these women are from Saskatchewan and the women

who have come forward were all sterilized from the 1970s up until December 2018. Stote is now working on a second book where she is looking at Saskatchewan as a form of case study to understand the context of

sterilizations for Indigenous women since the 1970s. “There’s no longer eugenic legislation in place so a lot of what I’m looking at in Saskatchewan is trying to better understand the history of family planning policies.”

Birth control was decriminalized in 1969 in Canada, which made sterilizations more accessible. Since 1969, there have been a series of family planning policies that have been implemented. “This work is looking at family planning policies and practices in Saskatchewan since 1970.” The health and child welfare systems are often involved and Stote’s upcoming book dissects how these policies have impacted Indigenous women and resulted in coerced sterilizations. Part of it will be a policy analysis and analyzing data to answer certain questions; “What is the extent to which Indigenous women have been sterilized in Saskatchewan since 1970 up until as recently as 2019? What is the policy context? What does that look like in terms of the number of Indigenous women being sterilized? And how do those two inform each other in some way? These will help us understand women’s experiences of coerced sterilization.” Stote explained that coerced sterilization is still happening in conjunction with other forms of colonial violence in Canada. She also emphasized the importance of hearing what Indigenous people themselves are saying in order to understand the progress towards justice and what more needs to be done.

CRIME

New law targets domestic violence in Waterloo region YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

In 2019, strangulation was added as a separate offense under the Criminal Code and there have been over 200 strangulation-related charges in Waterloo region since then. This year has had an increase of cases with 120 laid, 10 of those being in November. Sergeant Jamie Brosseau, who is in charge of the Waterloo region police’s intimate partner violence unit, cites many factors that could have contributed to this, including an increase in crime and an improvement in detecting, investigating and laying charges for criminal offences. The amendment to the law is also helping raise awareness of domestic violence. Peter Jaffe, director emeritus at the Ontario-based Centre of Re-

search and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, said that strangulation poses a risk for future strangulation – an increased risk of domestic violence. “I think a number of organizations [including] police services across Canada, domestic violence advocates, domestic violence services within the hospitals, all were seeing this as an emerging issue,” he said. “Recognizing the strangulation in law leads to changes in terms of education of police, education of health-care professionals who may see these victims in the emergency room ... so it raises awareness that the issue is important enough to be taken seriously. [It’s] an important step forward.” Two years ago, WRPS officers were trained on identifying, investigating, and persecuting domestic violence cases that involved strangulation.

“Anytime you have something new in the Criminal Code, you are creating an avenue of investigation, prosecution and ultimately at the end of that, jurisprudence. And so we’re trying to build a professional method of investigation when it comes to these offences, hoping that obviously offenders will be held accountable,” Brosseau said. Armin Sethi, a crown attorney in Waterloo said that this issue has since been highlighted in the justice system. “We know that a significant percentage of the victims of intimate partner violence do not come forward to police,” Brosseau said. “By releasing information in the community on a very serious and risky criminal offence, we want to make sure that victims understand that strangulation can be a life-threatening event and encourage them to seek help and resources.”

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

4 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

REVIEWING THE STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD The following reviews are based on interviews conducted with members of the Students’ Union board of directors as a means to reflect on the term and evaluate their performance as representatives of Wilfrid Laurier University’s undergraduate student body.

PHOTO NOT FOUND

PRESIDENTT

PEGAH JAMALOF

**President Jamalof did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. President and CEO of the Students’ Union

presence more consistent and visible, as well

ness towards Indigeneity and truth and rec-

as being more timely and including further

onciliation, she made concerted attempts this

detail in her reports to the board.

year to raise recognition for these objec-

A video project that exceeded $10,000 was

Pegah Jamalof entered her position this year

tives.

with little experience involving student gov-

presented by President Jamalof and approved

ernance but has transitioned well in terms of

by the board in order to increase student

Jamalof was unable to look at the bigger

adapting to emergency situations and learning

awareness regarding Students’ Union opera-

picture in terms of long-term relationships

board policies.

tions and volunteer opportunities. After stu-

between the Students’ Union and other campus

dent backlash regarding the cost and purpose

organizations. It is recommended that she

ing various position vacancies and was ac-

of the video transpired, President Jamalof

broaden her overall perspective next year.

knowledged to have taken on responsibilities

was noted by members of the board for her

outside of her role as a result.

personal accountability and honesty in push-

and confidence in her role, it is suggested

ing the expenditure forward.

that she move into the winter semester with

She faced a fair share of setbacks regard-

Described as approachable and more consis-

Although a strong proponent of mental

tently communicative as the semester pro-

It was noted that at times, President

As President Jamalof has gained comfort

more meaningful and proactive engagement with

gressed, President Jamalof made a tangible

health, President Jamalof was described as

the board while maintaining the advocacy and

effort to improve her communication lines

an underactive president and is encouraged

transparency the Students’ Union has worked

with staff.

to tackle more initiatives mentioned in her

to promote.

President Jamalof is encouraged to turn her

platform from the campaign period last year. Praised for her efforts in bringing aware-

camera on during board meetings to make her

ANDREW DANG

CHAIR

For nearly a third year serving on the

Three directors resigned from the board

interpersonal connections within the board

board of directors, Chair Dang has prov-

during the summer and it was noted that more

when in-person operations return in the win-

en himself to be a dedicated leader who is

action could have been done in terms of his

ter semester.

well-intentioned and enthusiastic about his

promptness in addressing the situation. Directors expressed frustration with the

involvement on the board.

Despite the setbacks presented by an extended by-election process, Chair Dang’s

consistent delay in the release of agen-

perseverance and commitment to running it

spectable job this term, notably in maintain-

da packages and the length of board meet-

capably was noted as a success for him this

ing group morale and managing the above-av-

ings that often lasted much longer than they

term.

erage number of issues presented to him with

were scheduled for. This is a point that was

integrity and level-headedness.

addressed as being a recent improvement, how-

expressed the desire to bring a more tan-

Chair Dang was praised for an overall re-

It’s advised that Chair Dang work towards

During the last campaign period, Chair Dang

ever, as directors acknowledged Chair Dang’s

gible connection back to Laurier Brantford.

better time management as it seems as though

commitment to managing time in meetings more

Although COVID-19 presented challenges with

he has stretched himself too thin with the

consciously.

this goal, some directors were able to travel

commitments he has outside of the board. This

The success of board meetings has gone up

was noticeable in his often delayed communi-

and down over the course of the semester, but

cation and responsiveness.

as a group, the board is able to come togeth-

It was recognized that although Chair

to the campus and execute a boots-on-theground approach for by-election voting. Chair Dang has demonstrated respectable de-

er and amicably discuss important decisions,

votion to the board of directors and is open-

Dang’s positive attitude and desire to please

even if people don’t always agree with each

ly passionate about the work he does and what

as many people as possible are appreciated,

other.

the board stands for. He is encouraged to

these qualities are not always conducive to

In a virtual environment, it has been dif-

continue advocating for student issues and to

effective conflict resolution and the appro-

ficult to reach people on a personal level

stand as a resource that individuals on the

priate management of difficult issues.

this term. Chair Dang is advised to work on

board can turn to for knowledge and advice.

EZRA CENITI

VICE-CHAIR

This is the second year Vice-Chair Ceniti has served on the board of directors and has established himself as a dependable resource and trusted presence during meetings. Vice-Chair Ceniti has taken tangible steps to fulfil his campaign promises and work towards improving aspects of his performance from his last term on the board. He has made an effort to expand his knowledge about board policies and has grown more confident in his position at the virtual board table. As several members of the board often have their cameras off during meetings, Vice-Chair Ceniti is also encouraged to

turn his camera on more frequently. Vice-Chair Ceniti has been a consistent point of accountability on the board of directors, as he often reminds Chair Dang to record meetings when they begin. Involved in several committees within the board, Vice-Chair Ceniti is also a coordinator for Laurier’s Student Rights Advisory Committee and a volunteer for Foot Patrol. Aside from being late to a meeting or two, Vice-Chair Ceniti has demonstrated perfect attendance at meetings this term. Directors have praised Vice-Chair Ceniti for his levelheaded demeanour and decisive presence.

Vice-Chair Ceniti is advised to continue making his voice heard when necessary and contributing to board meeting discussions regularly.

NEWS • 5

In her first on the board of directors,

Director Bothwell’s communication skills

Director Bothwell has encouraged other stu-

Director Bothwell has proven herself to be

— both during and outside of meetings —

dents to attend meetings and travelled to the

exceptionally capable and dedicated to her

has been commended as one of her strongest

Brantford campus this semester to encourage

role.

traits. She is encouraged to stay on topic

people to vote in the by-election.

Praised as one of the most consistently participatory directors by her peers, Direc-

during meetings and refrain from deviating from the subject at hand when possible.

member. As well, she is the president and

turned on and is one of the most assertive

transparency and accountability, which she

founder of the Laurier Bowling Club and the

and frequently engaged voices during discus-

has consciously put an effort towards improv-

president of Laurier Cares About Health.

sions.

ing for the board this term.

During his first year on the board of directors, Director Del Giudice has been recognized as a professional, hard-working and dependable member of the board. With strong attendance to meetings and a cordial demeanour, Director Del Giudice has been praised for his commitment to the board and his reliability as a director.

As the by-election chief returning officer, Director Del Giudice effectively handled the setbacks that occurred during the extended election process. As well as his involvement in the by-election, he is a member of the Finance Committee and is active with his fraternity. Director Del Giudice’s active knowledge of policy and his

amicable presence at meetings have defined him as an excellent director to have on the board this term.

This is Director Symington’s second year on the board of directors, and he was noted to be a capable and reliable director. His consistent attendance at meetings was regarded by his peers and Director Symington has contributed to meetings when needed. Director Symington is encouraged to improve his conduct

during discussions regarding contentious issues and to contribute more consciously and meaningfully when talking about sensitive subjects. As one of the directors who travelled to Brantford to encourage voting in the by-election this semester, Director Symington has demonstrated his commitment to the board and has

prioritized campus engagement.

Despite this only being his first year on the board, Director Vale was classified by his peers as one of the strongest directors this term. Noted for his perfect attendance, excellent communication and thorough knowledge of policy, Director Vale was praised for his passionate engagement during meetings.

Involved in numerous board committees, as well as the senate and board of governors, Director Vale has showcased impressive ambition and enthusiasm this term. Director Vale pushed for making board meetings more accessible to the student population during his first meeting as a director. He advocated for live-streaming meetings and making meeting tran-

scripts more student-friendly and readily available. Director Vale is one of the few consistent board members to have his camera on during the duration of board meetings. Attending meetings with thorough preparedness, Director Vale asks questions and has proven himself to be a reliable resource for the board.

**Director May did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. Director May is a first-time director on the board who has not left much of an impact this term. Having missed several meetings, she is encouraged to work on her attendance next semester. As well, Director May was noted to have a quiet presence during discussions and frequently had her camera turned off. It’s advised that Director May work towards increasing her engagement with the board and improving her presence during meetings.

**aiden mccarthy

period, Director Bothwell pushed for board

Francesco Del Giudice

mittee, Director Bothwell is a devoted team

board meetings. She routinely has her camera

shane symington

In her platform during the last campaign

Involved in several board committees, including the Chair of the Social Media Com-

brandon vale

tor Bothwell has a notable presence during

**gurgavin chandhoke

**mackenzie may

Victoria Bothwell

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

**Director McCarthy did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. During his first year on the board, Director McCarthy has not left a significant impression. It was noted that Director McCarthy should work towards participating actively during discussions and interact more consistently with board members when necessary.

**Director Chandhoke did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. As a first-time director, Director Chandhoke has shown up to meetings consistently, despite currently residing outside of Canada. It was noted that Director Chandhoke has room for improvement in terms of his participation in meetings and the committees he’s a part of. Director Chandhoke does not turn his camera on during meetings and is encouraged to make his presence more dependable next semester.

**Photos not found *Blake Phillips and Sam Bryant are not included because they were appointed as directors after mid term evaluation period *These drawings are based on the photos on the SU website

6 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

CAMPUS

International event raises awareness IAN SCHAKEL NEWS INTERN

Laurier has organized a series of online events to be held during the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The 16 Days of Activism is an international event that runs from Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to Dec. 10, World Human Rights Day. Universities across Canada are participating, with the ultimate goal of raising awareness and helping combat gender-based violence. Laurier’s Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support team have organized a variety of workshops and other online events centered around this topic. This includes workshops open to staff, faculty and students on the 25 of Nov., and the 2, 3, 4 and 7 of December. All of these workshops are being offered free of charge, although some require registration in advance. Other events include a panel on restorative justice and a takeover of Laurier’s official Instagram account on Dec. 6 that will discuss activism and ways to support survivors of gender-based and sexual violence, with contributors from both Laurier and the Waterloo community at large. These events cover topics ranging from the diverse identities of those who face gender-based violence to perspectives on justice that emphasize healing and accountability. This is not the first time Laurier has participated in the 16 Days of Activism virtually. Last year, events were held

online as well due to the COVID pandemic, as they are this year. While much has changed over the last few years, gender-based violence within Canadian society remains a pressing issue. Laurier Brantford associate professor of criminology Andrew Welsh reflected on the role of social media in both improving understanding of the issue and facilitating harassment as well. “The #MeToo and Time’s Up movements have helped … what we would now say are forms of gender-based violence or sexual harassment is different from what it was a decade ago, and different in a good way,” Welsh said. In reference to the harassment of public figures over social media, he noted that there was still a long way to go.

This is a pull quote. Take an interesting quote from your story and put it here. Make sure it’s not too long or short. -Name, position

“I think people would like to believe we’ve progressed a lot, and we have in some ways, but all you have to do is go on social media to see that the problem is still there.”

CONNOR JOHANNES/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

WATERLOO REGION

Kindness Project launched in partnership with WLU ASHLEY BARRY LEAD REPORTER

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Community Music Program partnered with Neruda Arts to launch the Kindness Project. It’s an initiative that is bringing music and messages of hope and kindness to communities across Waterloo region. Isabel Cisterna, manager of cultural programming and community engagement at Laurier and co-founder of Neruda Arts, sparked the idea for this initiative during the pandemic. “I was worried how it would affect the people who were isolated, and how that would make their mental health suffer, so I started envisioning a way where you could give them just a moment of happiness,” Cisterna said. Consisting of a mobile trailer with a bright orange stage and a large screen, the project plays

pre-recorded performances and presentations form Laurier music students and faculty, book and poetry readings from library staff and greetings from Laurier’s Presidents and Vice-Chancellor Deborah MacLatchy and University Librarian

I was worried how it would affect the people who were isolated, and how that would make their mental health suffer ... -Isabel Cisterna, manager of cultural programming and community engagement at Laurier

Gohar Ashoughian. “It’s just a really great way to introduce the community to the music and talent of Laurier, and at the same time it was a good compromise because it’s fun, it’s beautiful and it’s uplifting because all the music has to do with love, kindness and hope,” Cisterna said. Beginning Nov. 12, the project has been traveling to communities with limited access to local art programs. “We want to be where people have suffered the vulnerability of COVID-19,” she said. The Kindness Project will continue visiting locations until Nov. 26. “I think in a way we have lost touch with random acts of kindness. “ “ it’s important to come to the people, so that people who have more barriers to participate, can enjoy this same quality in performances as the rest of the folks that

can afford it,” she explained. Although this is a pilot project, Cisterna is hoping they will be able to continue the Kindness Project.

We want to be where people have suffered the vulnerability of COVID-19.

-Isabel Cisterna, manager of cultural programming and community engagement at Laurier

“The most unexpected thing for me is the joy in people’s faces of

just hearing music! We’re hoping that next year, we can do the same, but with live musicians,” she said. The Kindness Project continues to travel across the Waterloo region, making an impact by connecting community members and Laurier through music and art. “One of the wins of this particular project has been partnering with Laurier because I think we often disassociate the universities from the rest of the community. People in the Laurier community want to participate but they don’t know how to, so for me, we have started building that ramp.” “Can’t call it a bridge yet because it’s just a small step that will bring Laurier and the community closer together,” Cisterna said. “I believe Laurier and Neruda should always be partnered.” “[That way] we get to the people who are most vulnerable and give the opportunity to learn about one another.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

NEWS • 7

HOUSING INSECURITY

1,085 people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo region, according to recent data YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

Waterloo region’s Point in Time (PiT) Count that was conducted in September 2021 found a total of 1,085 people experiencing any type of homelessness. “One of the tricky things with numerating homelessness is that so much of homelessness is hidden homelessness,” Erin Dej, professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in the department of criminology said. Hidden homelessness refers to people who may not access homeless supports but do not have the prospect of housing. It could be individuals who are “couch surfing,” staying with a friend, at a motel or sleeping in their car. It’s hard to have an accurate count on these figures of hidden homelessness or absolute homelessness. There is also underreporting for particular groups, particularly women, gender-diverse people, and Indigenous communities who are less likely to access services because they may not be safe spaces for them. “Lots of shelters are gender-segregated, and for somebody who’s along the gender spectrum, that might not work for them. There [are] some places that women might not feel comfortable accessing.” There are also restrictions in terms of accessibility or location of shelters. “There are cities and communities that have had more success in helping people exit homelessness than others… but I think it’s safe to say that all cities, all communities, experience homelessness, or have a homeless population in some way, shape or form,” Dej said. People experiencing homelessness are affected through every

CONNOR JOHANNES/PHOTO EDITOR

dimension of health. “Physically, for example, people who are homeless have an average life expectancy of 42 years old, the Canadian life expectancy for the general public is 82 years old.” They were also 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19, 10 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU and five times more likely to die of COVID-19 than housed people. “I struggle to find the words to describe the level of degradation and dehumanization that people who are experiencing homelessness deal with on an everyday basis,” Dej said. “People who are homeless have told me firsthand what it’s like to either be ignored or not treated as human.” People experiencing homelessness also encounter threats to their safety and experience violence. “When anybody experiences homelessness, not only is it against our national international human rights violations, but it’s also just as human beings, the fact that we allow this to continue is quite

disturbing.” The data from the PiT Count is used to inform funding and policies that address homelessness in the region and what solutions can be identified and implemented.

The fact that we have modern day homelessness is a systems problem, the homelessness crisis we are in now did not exist before the 1990s ... -Name, position

“The fact that we have modern day homelessness is a systems problem, the homelessness crisis we are in now did not exist before the 1990s … that’s because of policy changes that happened in the 1990s… we created it, we can

dismantle it,” Dej said. Dej explained that communities in Canada have worked hard to provide those experiencing homelessness places to go during the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID laid bare the true inequalities or inequities that we have, and pushed us to do things faster, and more than we ever thought possible… we need to double down on these innovative solutions.” Dej also spoke about how students and youth who feel strongly about helping people experiencing homelessness can help. People can volunteer at or donate to food banks, shelters, or other programs and services in the region. They can also reach out to MPs, MPPs, or city councillors and advocate for programs and prevention. Dej also spoke about the kindness that homeless people deserve. “I cannot begin to tell you, quite sincerely, what a difference it makes when people treat people who they come across as homeless with basic respect.”

LIVING

NAME/POSITION

Housing no longer affordable in KW YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

The average price of houses

jumped by 34 per cent in Waterloo region, and 23 per cent province wide year over year. This has made it increasingly

unaffordable for community members to rent or purchase homes. A report showed that Ontario needs to add one million homes to keep up with population growth in the region. Beisan Zubi, a former federal NDP candidate said she is “priced out of buying a home.” “I don’t think there is any kind of path for a single-income person to be able to afford at least a home, let alone market rates of rentals,” she said in an interview with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. She listed investments in alternative forms of housing including co-operative housing, affordable housing, and community housing as actions she wants to see from the government. Another local in Kitchener, Meghan Lennox, said that renting is better than buying a home, and that the government needs to focus on housing for homeless people and Indigenous people. Scott Macdonald, a property manager in the region also shared the feedback he received from

renters. “I do get that [prices] are a little high. In general, I think it’s a little high in the region.”

I don’t think there is any kind of path for a single-income person to be able to afford at least a home, let alone market rates of rentals. -Beisan Zubi, former federal NDP candidate

The housing market continues to be unaffordable and both renters and buyers are being “squeezed out.” More info to come.

NEWS IN BRIEF Annual EDI speaker series to encourage meaningful discussions at Canadian universities Wilfrid Laurier University has collaborated with the Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa, as well as Laurier’s Black Faculty and Staff Caucus, to host an annual speaker series with the goal of centering and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across Laurier’s campuses. The series is named for Lamine Diallo, a Laurier associate professor in the Leadership program and founding member of the Tshepo Institute, and is the work of the office of the associate vice-president of equity, diversity and inclusion (AVPEDI). These events are part of Laurier’s “Action Plan for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity,” a variety of initiatives aimed at recognizing and setting actionable, transparent goals to hold the university accountable to their core values. According to a press release, the series “will help to raise awareness, competencies, and understandings” surrounding EDI, with the goal of “complement[ing] other EDI dialogues taking place across the university about a range of equity issues that exist in our society.” Additional events will be taking place on Jan. 19 (Dawn McDermott), Feb. 9. (Clinton Beckford) and March 2022 (Jeanette Parsons). .

Former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Laurier speaks out against exterior doors being taken off of washrooms at Waterloo schools Last month, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) confirmed in an email statement that, due to “safety concerns” raised by staff and students, the exterior washroom doors of various high schools in the region have been removed. Mirrors have also been moved to prevent those passing by from looking in through their reflection. Jacob Hespeler Secondary School, in Cambridge, was noted as being one of these schools. In an interview with CTV News Kitchener, a former dean of the faculty of education at Wilfrid Laurier University and current educational psychologist with the region, Colleen Willard-Holt, spoke out against this decision, citing “emotional security” concerns. “They need to have a place that they feel that’s private and that other people can’t see or overhear them,” Holt said in an interview with CTV News Kitchener.

Read more on thecord.ca.

9 • GAMES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

RADIOLAURIER.COM

SUDOKU

P L A Y L I S T

A HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAY SEASON

LAST CHRISTMAS // WHAM! JINGLE BELL ROCK // BOBBY HELMS ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE // BRENDA LEE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS // BURL IVES SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN // BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SANTA BABY // EARTHA KITT WINTER WONDERLAND // TONY BENNETT THE CHRISTMAS SONG (MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU) // NAT KING COLE IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS // BING CROSBY

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CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) // DARLENE LOVE JINGLE BELLS // FRANK SINATRA CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE // VINCE GUARALDI TRIO I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS // THE JACKSON 5 THIS CHRISTMAS // DONNY HATHAWAY FELIZ NAVIDAD // JOSÉ FELICIANO HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS // JUDY GARLAND RUN, RUDOLPH, RUN // CHUCK BERRY PEACE ON EARTH/LITTLE DRUMMER BOY // DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU // MARIAH CAREY

EVIL DIFFICULTY

GAMES • 10

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Festive drink recipes

Guess the christmas song 1.

mint hot cocoa (Non-alcoholic)

hot toddy (alcoholic)

ingredients: 4 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy) 2/3 cup instant chocolate mix 5 chocolate mint candy canes, crushed 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or coconut cream) 1/4 cup confectioners sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract marshmallows (optional)

ingredients: 3/4 cup hot water 1 1/2 ounces whiskey 2-3 teaspoons honey 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice 1 lemon round 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 cinnamon stick Star anise (optional)

Directions: Combine milk and drink mix in a saucepan. stir over medium heat. remove from heat when heated through. stir in half crushed candy canes.

Directions: Bring water to a simmer in a saucepan or kettle. pour into mug or heat-safe glass. add the whiskey, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. stir in honey until fully dissolved.

in small bowl, beat cream until it thickens. add sugar and vanilla; beat until peaks form. pour mix into mugs, top with whipped cream, marshmallows and remaining crushed candy canes.

garnish with cinnamon stick, star anise and lemon round.

Enjoy as a nightcap - ideally during a cold winter night.

4. “Frosty the Snowman” 3. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”

Let’s get baked

you light up

my life

Oh deer! Christmas is almost here!

MAZE

1. “Jingle Bell Rock”

I like hanging out with you

2. “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”

the cord’s Holiday cards

little known christmas songs by Bronte Behling

‘Tis the season of carolers and curling up by a warm and cozy fire every night -- if you are so lucky as to have one. With Black Friday having passed, some have already begun to shop for Christmas gifts for their friends and loved ones. For many, this involves at least one or more trips to the mall. As soon as Nov. 1 hits, many radio stations switch over to playing Christmas music 24/7. This naturally extends to stores, which start putting out Christmas decorations and the like before last year’s Halloween rejects that stores bring out every year have even collected the slightest amount of dust in their boxes. If you’re anything like me, you’ll think this automatic shift to the Christmas season on Nov. 1 is too much. In addition, you may also be tired of hearing the same overplayed and generic Christmas music on the radio and in stores every year. Justin Beiber’s “Mistletoe” and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me.” While these songs are so-called iconic staples of the Christmas season, the revolving musical loop that they are put on gets exhausting very quickly. By the time Dec. 25 comes, many are eager for the radio to go back to playing its usual repertoire, finally dropping the Christmas music theme that has been going on for over a month and returning the sanity to everyone’s ears. What unappreciated musical gems are we missing every year during the Christmas season in favour of long worn out classics like “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”? Speaking with Daniel Cabena, a voice instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University, I asked these exact questions to someone with an extensive knowledge of music. When questioned about what his favourite and least favourite Christmas songs are, Cabena responded that his favourite was “In the Bleak Midwinter.” “It’s a really beautiful poem,” Cabena said. A poem written by Christina Rossetti, “In the Bleak Midwinter” has been covered by choirs all over the world as well as famous celebrities such as Julie Andrews and Annie Lennox. In contrast, Cabena’s least favourite Christmas song is “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney and Wings. This is one of many Christmas songs that are heavily overplayed during the Christmas season during the hustle and bustle of gift

buying. These soyou in a wa The Chri as Bing Cro the time D For Caben ness” to the cold winter Many of t One grou my award w cover a wid underrepre The grou Christmas’ bum featur Manger” an known caro “They’re s ing -- you said of non In additio focus on C who do not “Huge, va terested in stated. Christma -- other ho have simila aren’t obse By playing population forced to h Diversity that Caben the 16th cen “kind of em Cabena su

-called “earworms,” as elaborated by Cabena, “stick with ay that drives you around the bend a little bit.” istmas songs and albums that are heavily played -- such osby’s Christmas Collection -- may be charming, but by Dec. 25t hits, it’s only natural to be tired of them. na, the Christmas songs he truly enjoys have a “coziem that make you feel warm inside during the bitterly r weather. these songs are not known widely by the public. up mentioned by Cabena is Chanticleer -- a Gramwinning male vocal ensemble from San Francisco that de variety of music, including Christmas classics and esented compositions. up has a Christmas album titled ‘Chanticleer Sings that is nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award. The alres many classic Christmas hits such as “Away in a nd “O Little Town Of Bethlehem,” but also has little ols like “Staffan var en stalledrang” and “Reges terrae.” so catchy and sometimes rigorous, rhythmically excitknow sometimes they’re just really beautiful,” Cabena n-traditional Christmas songs. on, Cabena brought up an important point -- the hyperChristmas music, excluding members of the population t observe the holiday. ast swaths of the human population are not that inn Christmas for very good reasons, you know?,” Cabena as songs isolate those who do not celebrate the holiday olidays that take place during the winter months and arly iconic musical compositions, such as Hanukkah, erved to the same extent that Christmas songs are. g more of them in commercial spaces, more of the would feel included in seasonal festivities and not be hear the same Christmas “classics” constantly on repeat. is a key issue in modern Christmas music, something na noted is not present to the same extent in music of ntury and periods prior. In these centuries, there is a mbedded diversity.” uggested that there should be a revival of medieval

Christmas carols, laughing while detailing how there could be a spot for music from the “Iberian peninsula that’s inflected with mozarabic chant.” “We should shake it up by going in the TARDIS and going back in time,” Cabena chuckled. Imagine being able to go into a mall and not hear yet another pop singer’s rendition of “Santa Baby.” So much of what we associate Christmas to be is wrapped up in the music we listen to -- this can be dangerous, according to Cabena. Cabena stressed how much of the Christmas music we hear today is “inflected with the commercial overtones” that make us spiral into shopping sprees during the Christmas season. Through doing this, we often forget what the Christmas period is really about - spending time with loved ones. Few Christmas songs are joyous without a commercial angle -one such forgotten Christmas song is “Gloucestershire Wassail,” an English Christmas Carol dating back to possibly the 18th century or earlier. This song is full of non-commercial joy, the cries of “With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee” sung at the end of each chorus. Step aside, “All I Want for Christmas is You”. By returning to old Christmas classics such as this one, we can recapture a Christmas period long lost -- one in which there wasn’t mega malls to shop at. While it is nice to show those you love that you love them by buying gifts for them, it shouldn’t surpass the importance of showing them that you love them by being present. What day should we even start listening to Christmas music anyway? Cabena states that he believes that Christmas music should start being played around December 21 -- the winter solstice. This seems more appropriate -- begin the winter season by breaking out old Christmas records. By starting Christmas festivities and music as soon as Halloween is over, many Christmas songs start to feel old even faster. Please take the time to observe non traditional Christmas “classics” this year. Too many go unnoticed, and you may find a hidden gem. layout by brit kovacs

...ALL THE OTHER BEST OFS STREAMERS 1. Shroud 2. Myth

MUSIC VIDEOS

3. Julien

1. Save Your Tears by the Weeknd 2. Law of Averages by Vince Staples 3. pussy poppin’ by Rico Nasty

PODCASTS

BOOKS

1. Unreconciled by Jesse Wente

2. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner 3. A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

ANIME

1. Through the Cracks by WAMU 2. ICYMI by Slate Podcasts 3. Be Anti-racist with Ibram X. Kendi

1. Jujutsu Kaisen 2. Tokyo Revengers 3. My Hero Academia (Season 5)

sONGS

1. Easy on Me by Adele

TV SHOWS

2. Butter by BTS

3. Industry Baby by Lil Naz X ft. Jack Harlow

1. Squid Games 2. Ted Lasso

BOOKS

1. Unreconciled by Jesse Wente

2. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

3. Sex Education

3. A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

SPECIAL MENTION: MAID

TIKTOK AUDIOS 1. BING BONG

Movies

3. Cupcake remixes

1. Shang-chi & Legend of Ten Rings 2. last night in soho

Luca

TRENDS

1. Adult Swim [as]

2. No Nuance November 3. Silhouette Challenge

ALBUMS

MEMES

2. Berries and Cream

1. Bernie Sander’s Mittens 2. Dom Toretto and Family

3. The Weeknd lost at Super Bowl performance

1. Call me if you get lost by Tyler the Creator 2. Red (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift 3.

Planet Her by Doja Cat

BEST OF 2021 DARIEN FUNK

S O T O PH

BRIT KOVACS

TIM HARRISON

DARIEN FUNK TIM HARRISON

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

• 15 ARTS & LIFE

Arts & Life

ARTS EDITOR AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca

LIFESTYLE EDITOR CRYSTAL XUE arts@thecord.ca

CHARITY

Local programs offer support during the holidays CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

December is associated with festive cheer, but for some, the holiday spirit is hard to feel. More than 1000 people in Waterloo are experiencing homelessness, with 412 living on the street, in their cars, or similar conditions. “It’s a mixed bag of people on the street,” Gail Gilbert, executive director at Supportive Housing of Waterloo said. “Some people are illiterate, others have PhDs. Not all of them have mental illnesses or addictions, some just lack money and family support.” Supportive Housing of Waterloo currently has three properties on Erb Street, each for a different purpose. Their main building at 362 Erb provides housing for people directly from the streets and is staffed around the clock. Tenants at this building have long histories of homelessness, regularly combined with substance use disorders. Their newest addition, “Mike’s Building” at 402 Erb, is for tenants who can live more independently. Meanwhile, the Supportive Housing of Waterloo building at 144 Erb houses seniors who had been living on the street. “We help the homeless figure out how to stabilize their lives,

whatever that may look like,” Gilbert said. “It could be by helping them reconnect with family, get income benefits, or go back to school.” As far as the holiday season goes, there’s a varied impact on what resources are available for people experiencing homelessness. “There’s more community giving,” Gilbert said. “But typically, a lot of services close over the holidays and have been cut down with COVID-19, so it can be a much harder time for people who are marginalized.” Even so, volunteers are welcome at local programs. The “Out of the Cold” program, which offers shelter, meals and hospitality for the homeless, runs at several churches in Waterloo. As well, the region’s House of Friendship organization delivers food to those in need. Gilbert encouraged students to find local community groups where they can volunteer and sign up sooner rather than later. Supportive Housing of Waterloo also takes in student volunteers to create gift parcels for the homeless, which are especially useful in the winter. “It can be a couple pairs of thermal socks and a Tim [Hortons] gift card,” Gilbert added. “Definitely hats and gloves are key because it gets very cold out there. I usually

throw in a bar of soap and some tampons for the women.” Portable, light items are most ideal, whether it’s small hair brushes, t-shirts, hotel shampoos, or underwear. “So often we watch people and our inner critic judges them, but when we think about their reality, we realize they’re forced to cope with very difficult circumstances,” Gilbert said.

We can look at people living on the street and step around them or avoid eye contact, but we should talk to them. -Gail Gilbert, executive director at Supportive Housing Waterloo

“We can look at people living on the street and step around them or avoid eye contact, but we should talk to them.” As much as the holiday season is about joy, it’s also about sharing that joy with the people who need it most — and it’s up to us to do so.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

CLASSIC CINEMA

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

75 years of It's a Wonderful Life AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR

The term ‘classic’ has been affixed to many films and the label is one of the highest compliments any movie can hope to attain. Being called ‘a classic’ means not

only that it is of high quality, but that its popularity has remained consistent or has grown since its release. It has become a mainstay in the discussion of cinema and will be rewatched for generations to come. We are familiar with the term as we hear it associated with

some of the most celebrated films of all time. Films like The Empire Strikes Back (1980), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), The Godfather (1972) and even more contemporary films like The Avengers (2012) are beginning to be labeled with the same distinction. While

these films are nothing to scoff at, perhaps the most impressive classic films are the ones that have endured the longest. To many, the 1940s served as an important decade for film where some of the all-time great pictures would be made. For me, there are three American films from this era that stand above the rest. Citizen Kane (1941), Casablanca (1942) and the greatest Christmas film ever: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). This upcoming Christmas will mark the 75-year anniversary of this monumental film. In looking at It’s a Wonderful Life there are many things we can point to and say “that’s what makes this film a classic.” In reality, it is a combination of several factors that makes the film so fondly remembered today. The main character of George Bailey is played by Jimmy Stewart, and while Jimmy would go on to star in many other films - including some of Hitchcock’s finest work - he would always be best known for his role in It’s a Wonderful Life. Jimmy was perfectly cast for the role of George, making some admittedly goofy dialogue sound much more tolerable and endearing. His co-star Donna Reed, while

having a less iconic performance and playing a character that wasn’t particularly nuanced in the 1940s, still acted extremely well. It is a shame she is so often overshadowed by Jimmy. The film is very dated, but that’s more a part of its charm than a detraction. Perhaps what the film is most famous for was for creating the guardian angel archetype that shows protagonists what life would be like without them. While it’s something of an oldschool notion, there is something to be said for a story having a moral. Stories with incredible twists, satisfying conclusions, or ambiguous meanings are all very interesting, but some stories want to say something definitive that relates not only to the film but to life as a whole. This is a good thing of course, but often in the pursuit of our aspirations, we may lose sight of the things that are really important like people in our lives. It’s a Wonderful Life teaches us that no matter how grim our situation may seem to be, there are always people who care about us and that despite all of the suffering and hardships we endure it really is a wonderful life we live.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Wrapping paper for all of your gifting needs this holiday season.

16 •

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021 • 17 ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1,162021 •

Wrapping paper for all of your gifting needs this holiday season.

18 •

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

ARTS & LIFE

FILM

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Three horible holiday movies that'll make you want to drown yourself in eggnog I am not a fan of most Christmas movies, one might call me a Grinch. Perhaps it’s because I find them too cheerful, maybe it’s because they’re so ubiquitous, possibly it’s because I’m Jewish. Regardless, there are some Christmas movies that are so bad they should be buried in a deep dark pit where even the ghost of Christmas past couldn’t find them. Here are three of the worst offenders. If you still choose to watch them, don’t come crying to me. AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR

Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002) Directed by Rod Daniel Starring: Mike Weinberg, French Stewart, Missi Pyle The first Home Alone is one of my favorite Christmas movies and its sequel doesn’t fall far behind. Then there is Home Alone 3, which despite watching, I cannot recall a single detail of. Lastly, there’s Home Alone 4, which accomplishes the miraculous by making Home Alone boring. As a child, my favorite parts of the Home Alone movies were the traps. There were

traps. There were always so many of them and they were always so creative, funny, and… well, violent. The traps are what made the movies fun in the first place, so one could imagine my dismay when in Home Alone 4 there appeared to be no more than... five traps? None of them were fun or interesting. Combine this with the fact that the actor playing Kevin was some inferior Macaulay Culkin and the actor playing Marv was not Daniel Stern. To add to the confusion, the character ‘Marv’ acted and dressed exactly like the other robber, Harry, despite there being no character named Harry in this film. I swear Home Alone 4 makes my head feel like somebody just chucked a brick at it.

Jack and Jill (2011) Directed by Dennis Dugan Starring: Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes, Al Pacino While I know it’s more of a holiday movie rather than a Christmas movie, that’s not going to stop me from talking about this piece of flaming hot garbage. The only thing worse than Adam Sandler acting in one of his comedies would be Adam Sandler acting in one of his comedies while he plays another separate character in drag. Drag is a celebrated tradition in cinema with many actors delivering memorable and/or empowering roles in the attire,

Most of the jokes revolve around poorly executed slapstick, bodily functions and ‘funny’ noises. Perhaps a better name for this film would be ‘the hour and a half long advertisement’ with all of the products that are constantly being promoted on screen. In one particular scene that may be the funniest in the film for all of the wrong reasons, the legendary Al Pacino does a commercial for Dunkin’ Donuts where he sings about the all-new “Dunkachino”. Thank God this article is almost over.

Santa Jaws (2018) Directed by Misty Talley Starring: Reid Miller, Courtney Lauren Cummings, Hawn Tran I’m not even going to share my thoughts on Santa Jaws, I’m just going to explain the plot. Santa Jaws is PG-rated horror… fantasy? Anyways, it’s about a kid named Cody who has to miss a Christmas Eve party. Yada, yada, yada ... there's an evil shark with a Christmas hat and tree lights wrapped around it called Santa Jaws. In an attempt to emulate Santa Jaws I will end this article as abruptly and unsatisfyingly as possible.

19 •

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca

BC’s new approach to drug use is a step in the right direction SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR

The government of British Columbia has asked the federal government to make them exempt from certain provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This exemption would decriminalize the possession of small quantities of drugs such as cocaine and heroin in an effort to battle drug use. While traditional methods of tackling drug use in society have been routinely dismissed as ineffective, support for this strategy is mixed. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who believes that the “War on Drugs,” launched by the U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971, worked. In the 50 years since his infamous announcement that drugs were “public enemy number one,” the United States alone has spent almost a trillion dollars attempting to tackle this problem. Despite this, the majority of citizens believe that the “War on Drugs” is being lost, and an increasing number believe that rehabilitation, not punishment, should be the primary vehicle to decrease drug use. It should not come as shocking information that the mass incarceration of people for non-violent offences does little to better society or the drug problem. It does not address the issue at heart. Rather, it identifies the problem at the endpoint, and then offers no path to rehabilitation and health. Having a conversation about drug use divorced from conversations about mental health and despair will only yield suboptimal results. The reason people often choose to venture into the world of dangerous narcotics is because of a lack of meaning in their lives. It is not, as many people say, a free choice. People who have chosen this path do not do so because they enjoy the experience, and because they enjoy the physical

and financial harm that comes along with it. As is the case with suicide, the use of hard drugs is a case of people trapped in what they see as a losing struggle, looking for anything that resembles as escape from current conditions. Society has then decided that the solution to people filled with despair who look to drugs as an escape is to punish them, usually with prison time. I’m no expert on human behavior, but I’d imagine that placing people in this state of mind in cages will not address the root issue. The criminalization of drugs also makes it more difficult for people who leave prison to find meaning. If you leave prison with a drug conviction, and have no job opportunities, it becomes more likely you will continue on the dangerous spiral of hard drug use. Decriminalization offers an escape from this endless cycle of abuse. The abuse of the people by the state, that is. If you treat drug addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal matter, the solutions become apparent. Stop treating non-violent drug addicts like criminals. Treat them like sick people. Treat them in hospitals and do not give them criminal charges. Have systems in place that can help secure employment after drug addiction has been addressed. Have a social safety net that will help people falling into despair. The “War on Drugs” has and will continue to fail, precisely because it is treated as a war. It’s not a war. Your people see no escape from despair, so they seek out drugs, and then you lock them in cages and act surprised when nothing changes. The B.C. government is attempting to rehabilitate rather than punish. This is the correct way forward, and god willing the federal government will follow suit.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

KASH PATEL/MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Ho, ho, ho! Santa Claus is delivering brand new homes to all the young adults who have been good this year.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Finding your purpose when you feel like you have no direction EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE CORD IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 REGINA ST. N., WATERLOO

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

CHAIR Brittany Kovacs

DIRECTOR Emily Crump

VICE-CHAIR Jacob Rice

DIRECTOR Arshy Mann

DIRECTOR Sarah Sheikh

TREASURER Vacant

DIRECTOR Mythra Kulan

PRESIDENT Brittany Kovacs president@wlusp.com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Vacant

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kurtis Rideout kurtis.rideout@wlusp. com HR MANAGER Aaron Waitson hr@wlusp.com

As a young adult in my mid-twenties, I find myself constantly questioning what direction my life is going in and whether or not I have a defined purpose. The anxiety I’ve developed as I’ve aged past 20 has grown each year, a cycle of thoughts that persistently tell me that I’m not doing enough. I know I’m not alone in these feelings and the pandemic certainly hasn’t helped alleviate these persistent worries. I’m also incredibly indecisive overall as a person, which leads me to changing my mind about what I want to do and who I want to be. The overarching fear that lurks

over me is my life turning into Rory’s from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. A static, purposeless person with wasted dreams and unful·filled potential. The constant pressure there is to do it all before you’re 30 — especially if you’re a woman — can feel suffocating. The number of times I’ve been asked when I’m going to get married, what my career path will look like, if I want kids and if I do, when will I have them, is unending. Social pressure aside, I’m starting to force myself to take a breath and relax. I’m in a happy, long-term relationship, currently working at a job that allows me to do what I love most. Instead of fixating on my longterm plans and a seemingly never-ending list of shit that I feel like I need to get done and accomplish before I turn a certain age, once in awhile I think it’s ok to enjoy life

The anxiety I’ve developed as I’ve aged past 20 has grown each year, a cycle of thoughts that persistently tell me I’m not doing enough.

day-by-day. I’m not saying I’m going to be able to drop my anxiety and overthinking tendencies completely, but maybe not spend the majority of my existence hyperfocused on all of the things I should have done by now. The world is falling apart on a daily basis and we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, I think it’s acceptable to enjoy the little things.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2021

• 20

Opinion

OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca

Laurier needs to properly prioritize student satisfaction WLU used to pride itself as being #1 in student satisfaction, but recent years have proven the opposite AMY BLACKWELL OPINION COLUMNIST

I remember when I got accepted into Laurier in 2019, and everywhere I looked whether it was online, in the viewbooks or emails, the heading “#1 in Student Satisfaction” was displayed everywhere. Especially after the pandemic, Laurier’s satisfaction rating has declined. Students began expressing their opinions frequently through social media and notably on the Spotted at Laurier Twitter page. One of the main complaints I have been finding is the fact that the administration is not organized or quick with responses. The number of emails will be increased as the pandemic has caused the majority of communications to be online. Students shared the fact that the response times have been ridiculously slow, and when they do receive a response, it directs them to a different person. This is causing the wait times to increase even more. Another main complaint is the dining hall food. Recently, I saw a post on the Spotted at Laurier’s Twitter page that included photos of dining hall food that were not acceptable. It included photos of raw eggs and chicken that appeared to be pink in the photo. A user even commented, “medium rare chicken in a dining hall special.” How can Laurier expect students to pay for their dining hall meal

plans when food like that ends up on someone’s plate? Will Laurier ever get back up to number one in student satisfaction? It’s hard to tell. Right now, it seems to be not. I have not seen any changes made to fix these issues.

One of the main complaints I have been finding is the fact that the administration is not organized.

Some could say these complaints are a normal part of a large organization. Not everyone will be happy with Laurier. But the numerous complaints heard in conversation and read online make me feel as though they really are doing something wrong. Laurier experienced a massive decline, as in 2019 their ranking was #1 in the Maclean’s Magazine university rankings, and in 2021, it was brought down to #5. The next question is – how will they increase their ranking and are they really listening to their student’s voices?

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Will raising the minimum wage really help workers? SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR

CONNOR JOHANNES/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

Earlier this month, the Ontario government announced that it will increase the minimum wage from $14.35 per hour to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2022. This increase will also affect those in the service industry, who are currently compensated at $12.55 per hour, as it will increase their wage to the same $15 an hour. As with any increase in the minimum wage, controversy has followed. I am acutely aware that there is an economic school of thought that wishes to do away with the minimum wage entirely. People of this persuasion believe that any increase in the minimum wage will increase unemployment, as companies will be less willing to hire workers if the cost of labour increases. The other side points out that the effects on unemployment are small if minimum wage increases

are correctly implemented. All companies have to pay this new rate, so there is little impact on competition. It is important to recognize that both sides in this argument are aiming to achieve the same goal. That is, more people should be employed at wages that allow them to live comfortably. The controversy comes from the means, not the ends. On this issue, I find I cannot escape notions of fairness that are absent from a purely economic analysis. The U.S. federal minimum wage, for example, is $7.25. States may set the minimum wage higher, but a plethora of states, including Kentucky and Alabama, still go by the $7.25 federal standard. I could not accept, in good conscience, a minimum wage this low. The Ontario government cited tireless people who have continued to work during the pandemic as the motivation for the increase. This is not the correct way to

characterize this decision. Because decisions to increase the minimum wage can seldom be defended on purely economic grounds, they must necessarily be defended on moral grounds. There are many companies currently employing a slew of workers at the minimum wage who could afford to pay more. The argument is simply that companies with billions in profit have a moral obligation to pay a wage that allows workers to live a comfortable life. I do not enjoy the rationalization that many people left-of-centre feel they must engage in on this issue. They make technical-economic points, rather than pointing to a moral position that most people agree on. The minimum wage should be increased because companies are able to pay higher wages while still making huge profits, and thus they have a moral responsibility to do so. Stating this another way is playing semantics.

OPINION • 21

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021 to become a holiday of gift-giving (thus buying), which indicates commodification. Although the number of practicing Christians is going down, Christmas continues to be celebrated. It can be said that the commodification of Christmas, which has desecularized it, has made it more accessible. This accessibility has allowed it to maintain popularity, if not grow. For example, my co-workers (at my old part-time job) and I used to do a Secret Santa gift exchange of small gifts. Of this group, I think I was one of the few that celebrated Christmas at home. Therefore, it can be said that Christmas has become a commodified holiday. If Christmas is so commodified, and thus accessible, then it can be easily argued that it has become a secular holiday. After all, the Christian population is increasingly less religious and young people beyond Christianity are also increasingly

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

Christmas has become a secular holiday, here’s why CONOR COLUMB OPINION COLUMNIST

As November comes to an end, many of us are thinking about the holiday season: stores are playing Christmas music, it’s cold and snowy, and children are writing up their wishlists. When one thinks of the original theme of Christmas, that is, the birth of Jesus Christ, this music, snowy weather, and wishful thinking are not related to it. As young people are increasingly irreligious, yet Christmas is commodified and not waning in popularity,

I believe that Christmas is a secular holiday. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 64 per cent of Ontario’s population is Christian; 23 per cent of Ontarians are irreligious; the remaining 13 per cent are of different religions. This seems like a large Christian population, but this data is not clear. Many people identify with Christianity as their religion, yet are not practicing Christians themselves. I find myself to be in this situation. I was baptized as a Christian, but am not necessarily affiliated with the religion today.

I am not the only one who is like this. Since many people are, it means that this data demands nuance. Christmas remains a significant holiday, though. It can be considered one of the most commodified. As we are already seeing with many malls and shops, decorations are going up and sales are being promoted. The imagery of Christmas has shifted from the Birth of Christ to Santa Claus and the North Pole. I am not trying to suggest that this is problematic, but rather, that this shift has allowed for Christmas

If Christmas is so commodified and thus accessible, then it can be easily argued that it has become a secular holiday.

irreligious. Despite this, Christmas is still a huge market for businesses to sell goods and services and the holiday itself continues to be celebrated. Does this mean it is becoming a secular holiday? I think so. As an irreligious person, I find that Christmas can still be thought of as an important holiday. What does one do during Christmas? Before the COVID-19 pandemic, one might answer this

question by saying that they would have family over to exchange gifts and share a meal. Although I do not participate in the religious aspects of Christmas, I still hold the values of loving family and friends, showing my gratitude to these loved people.

Therefore, it can be said that Christmas has become a commodified holiday.

This means that I can still think about Christmas as I have always thought of it, which is the secularized version of the holiday that has arisen in the last several decades. Is it in bad faith? Certainly not. After all, giving gifts is (within reason) a way of showing love and gratitude to those I want to express such feelings. Moreover, this is fairly consistent with the religious idea of the holiday without disrespecting the religion, or religious people. To the irreligious person, I would say to treat Christmas as a celebration of connections. Whether it is our family, significant others, or friends, giving them a gift (even if it is a small one) shows a certain level of care for one another — at least within a capitalist concept. This does not mean that I am saying to buy big over the top gifts, in many ways, that just reflects one’s competitive nature. My friends and I often do a very small gift exchange that is more personal than something I simply want, which is less personal. During the pandemic, we have been distanced, which has led to isolation and caution when people come together. Christmas this way perhaps is healthy to remind us of the importance of others in our lives.

Could Spider-Man: No Way Home fan theories ruin it? MADALYN MOSTACCI CORD CONTRIBUTOR

Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home is set to release in theaters this December. Fans are undoubtedly more excited than ever, as the film’s trailer accumulated an impressive 355.5 million views within the first 24 hours. However, could this extensive fan excitement serve Spider-Man: No Way Home negatively? Frankly, it could. It’s been nearly three years since we’ve seen our favourite web slinger in his own solo movie. We last left Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland in some hot water as his identity was revealed to the public along with the implication that Spider-Man is an anti-hero. Spider-Man has always had a dedicated fan base, even when Peter Parker was strictly portrayed in

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

2-D. That die-hard fan base, mixed with the sheer anticipation this upcoming movie is accumulating, has caused elaborate fan theories to arise. Some rather hopeful theories include the appearance of Spider-Man’s notorious villain group, The Sinister Six, in the film. There’s also the speculation that Peter Parker’s best friend, Ned Leeds will take on the role of Hobgoblin, another historic Marvel

supervillain. Yet, perhaps the most widespread theory regarding Spider-Man: No Way Home is the hope that previous Spider-Man actors, Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man Series) and Toby Maguire (Spider-Man Trilogy), will reprise their roles and appear alongside Holland in the movie. This theory is not far-fetched at all. Marvel has been exploring

the existence of the multiverse throughout their films, so essentially anything could happen — including the co-existence of three Spider-Men. As amazing as having all three Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home would be, Marvel has yet to confirm any theories. While director Jon Wattis, in an interview with Empire Magazine has only stated, “We’re trying to be ambitious … It’s Spider-Man: Endgame,” producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal have been quiet. During an interview on The Tonight Show, host Jimmy Fallon slyly mentioned how photos have been circulating of Maguire and Garfield on the set of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Garfield replied with a swift, “I’m not sure about that.” Even with rumors continually being denied, fans will not take no for an answer. Spidey’s fan base

still believes all their No Way Home hopes and dreams will come true. While fan theories are thoroughly thought out and completely plausible, it’s unlikely Marvel will meet everybody’s expectations. Unfortunately, when expectations are not met, negative reviews, low scores and overall audience disenjoyment will occur. Much like the let down fans experienced following Marvel’s WandaVision series finale. Similarly, fans had created extensive theories about the series finale of WandaVision, only to be upset when their expectations were not met. This caused bad reviews to arise following WandaVision’s trail of positive fan feedback. If Garfield and Maguire don’t end up swinging across the theater screen, once eager fans will be returning home disappointed; and that is of no fault but their own.

OPINION • 15 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

22 •

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER ETHAN CAPLAN sports@thecord.ca

FOOTBALL

Hutter-Coppin on his career with the Golden Hawks MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

“Obviously it’s not the result we wanted, but regardless of how it ended and how my university career came to a halt, this was one of the most fun teams I’ve played on and one of the most closely knit teams I’ve played for,” fifth-year defensive back Christian Hutter-Coppin said about the past football season. The Golden Hawks football team broke their two-year playoff drought and hosted their first home playoff game in four years this past season, in large part due to their defense. Leading the country in both interceptions and fumbles, the opportunistic Laurier defense relied on a mix of veterans and fresh faces in order to propel their team to a 3-3 record and a second-place finish in the OUA West division. Christian Hutter-Coppin was a pivotal piece of Laurier’s success this year having a career season in his final year in the purple and gold. After consecutive 4-4 seasons just barley missing out on the playoffs, the 5’10, 195-pound, Barrie native returned to the Golden Hawks this year and picked up exactly where he left off following the cancellation of the OUA football season in 2020. Hutter-Coppin entered his fifth season with Laurier and recorded a career-high three interceptions this year – second in the OUA. “It was a dawg mentality, everybody wanted to be the best that they could be, and we had that mindset since training camp,” Hutter-Coppin said. “From the scout team to the starters, everybody wanted to do what they could to win, so just coming back and seeing everybody in that mindset was really incredible,” he continued. Hutter-Coppin was one of three other Laurier players who finished their university football career exhausting all five years of eligibility with the program. Having finished his academic studies two terms ago, Hutter-Coppin opted to return to Laurier to play his final season this past year.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

As the team hosted Guelph in the OUA quarter-finals last month, Hutter-Coppin was one of the few players with prior playoff experience under Coach Michael Faulds and the Golden Hawks. The talented defensive back has come a long way since being named rookie of the year in the memorable Yates Cup winning 2016 season. Playing in all 11 games that season, including three playoff games, Hutter-Coppin recorded his first career interception in his fourth game with the team and remained a crucial part of defensive coordinator Ron VanMoerkerke’s secondary, playing in over 40 games throughout his Laurier career. Hutter-Coppin missed only one game in his time with Laurier and finished his career with over 50 tackles, four interceptions and 1.5 sacks – which he recorded this past season. As a team, the Golden Hawks led the country, recording 25 takeaways (13 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles) through just six games this year. Hutter-Coppin had an interception in the opener against York, week three against the Western Mustangs and in the week six senior’s day contest against Windsor. He also recovered a fumble forced by star linebacker Tommy Bringi in that senior’s day

Don’t be caught unprepared.

matchup against the Lancers. “I want to thank the senior’s and say how proud I am of them. Their senior year was taken away and they decided to come back and work hard to become leaders on the team,” Coach Faulds said of Hutter-Coppin, Will Amoah, Ente Eguavoen and Cal Taylor, who stayed five seasons within the program. While Coach Faulds spotlighted the veterans throughout the year this season, Hutter-Coppin has a great deal of respect towards his coach and defensive coordinator as well. “They were super important during my time here. I told them thank you for coaching and everything, but more importantly thank you for grooming me into the man I am today,” Hutter-Coppin said of his coaches. “Whether they know it or not, there’s little things that they did, that I’m definitely going to carry throughout my everyday life… regardless of football, they obviously taught me great lessons because they’re both elite coaches, but off the field, they taught me more lessons and I’ll forever be grateful for that,” Hutter-Coppin said. The Golden Hawks defense opened the season with a bang, recording eight takeaways in their first game against York. Led by

Amoah, Ayo Ajyai and Hutter-Coppin in the secondary, Laurier was a top five scoring defense in the OUA, while holding opponents to a 55 per cent completion rate through the air – third in the OUA. Laurier went on a dominant three-game stretch in which their defense held the Vanier Cup finalist Western Mustangs to no points in the entire first half, shutout the nationally ranked McMaster Marauder in a 22-0 victory and held the Windsor Lancers off the scoreboard until the final minute of the game, in their convincing 33-8 senior’s day triumph. “It’s definitely one of my more favourable years of playing football,” Hutter-Coppin said. “The bye week was a turning point, but even before the bye week there was a different mindset going into training camp… winning and being the best, we can was the goal always but after the bye, we realized that this is some of our last times playing together.” Hutter-Coppin believed that the key to his success this season was formed through the mindset that he and the team carried throughout the year. Instead of stressing about plays or mistakes made during the game, the defensive back focused on having fun and being the best that he could be. “We didn’s stress ourselves and

focused on the next play,” Hutter-Coppin said. “In my past years of playing, I’ll make a bad play in a game and I just stress on that and it’ll effect my next play, the next play and the next game… this year, everybody had the mindset of let’s just have fun and it really helped on the field.” Despite the loss to Guelph in the playoffs, Hutter-Coppin viewed the season and Laurier’s eturn to the gridiron as a successful one, having always believed the team was one of the most talented across the OUA. In his five seasons with the team, Hutter-Coppin had been a part of several memorable moments with the team while also receiving an invite to the 2020 CFL regional combine. He recounts the Yates Cup victory in his rookie season as one of his favourite memories with the team as well as the enjoyment he had this past year given the uncertainty that surrounded the start of this past OUA season. “Waiting a whole year, not really knowing what was going to happen, the season wasn’t guaranteed. Just coming back and being with all of the guys was great, I think everybody was on the same page,” Hutter-Coppin said. With his career in the purple and gold coming to an end, the fifth-year sociology major has his sights set on keeping his football career going. Having just applied for graduation at the conclusion of this past season, he has intentions of looking at the CFL, USFL and even Europe as options for him to continue playing football in the near future. Outside of football, the defensive back is hoping to continue his academics and study law. “I want to go to law school and study criminal law,” Hutter-Coppin said. “I would like to go to a HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the states and take law,” he said. Whether he continues his onfield career playing in a professional league or chooses to focus on his post-grad law aspirations, Hutter-Coppin undoubtedly made a lasting impact over his five seasons with the Golden Hawks football program.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

SPORTS • 23

OUA

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

Men’s basketball 2021 recap MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

“We need to focus on getting healthy, both mentally and physically.” Coach Justin Serresse and the Golden Hawks men’s basketball team finished their calendar year, splitting two games against the Windsor Lancers this past week. After starting the season 0-2, with two lopsided losses against the undefeated, fifth ranked Brock Badgers, the Golden Hawks have played much better basketball over the past two weekends. Laurier used an all-around performance last weekend against Lakehead to win the first game by 26 points before losing the second night of a back-to-back. Similarly, the purple and gold dominated Windsor this past week, winning their first game on the road by 37 points before losing the home matchup against the Lancers this past Saturday. The Golden Hawks will enter the

holidays with a 2-4 record, sitting in seventh place in the nine team OUA West division – two points back of their previous opponents, Windsor and Lakehead. All-Canadian and two-time OUA All-star, Ali Sow has started the season on fire, averaging 27.3 points, two steals and nearly five assists per game. The President’s award winner ranks second in USPORTS in scoring and is top ten in the country in nearly all offensive categories, while also averaging 36 minutes per game – first in the OUA. The fourth-year superstar guard from Ottawa has made 19 three pointers in six games and has scored over 25 points in five of the team’s six games this year. Following two 30-point games in the past week against Windsor, Sow was recognized as the OUA player of the week as well as being named Laurier player of the week for the 13th time in his career. Sow was the driving force last Wednesday leading the Golden

Hawks to a 110-73 victory over the Lancers in Windsor. Laurier recorded a season high in points, putting forth an incredible offensive performance, draining 17 shots from beyond the arc that night – the highest total in the OUA this year. Laurier had seven players in double-digits that night as a sixpoint lead at halftime turned into a 19-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Rookies, Kareem Elliot and Ethan Passley scored career highs in the purple and gold with 18 and 12 points respectively. Ali Sow led the way, making six three pointers, dropping 31 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists. The 10 assists, a career-high for Sow, while recording his third career double-double. As was the case the previous week, the opposing team adjusted on the second night of the back-toback, as Windsor was able to defeat Laurier 90-84 in Waterloo on Saturday. While Laurier was able

to win the first game of the series handily, the reduced 16-game OUA schedule, featuring back-to-back games against their eight division opponents has led to competitive results across the province. Coaches have made adjustments throughout the season as the intensity has picked up and the players have responded after playing the same team in two consecutive games. Laurier fell behind by 21 points after halftime this past Saturday in what was their final game before the Christmas break. Kitchener native, Telloy Simon made seven three pointers, while scoring a game-high 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in front of his friends and family who were in attendance at the athletic complex. Star forward, Thomas Kennedy recorded 26 points on a highly efficient 75% shooting, as both players improved on their performances from the first game and led the Lancers to their third victory on the season. “He’s a tough shot maker and we knew that his pull up three in rhythm and off the bounce was what he loves,” Coach Serresse said of Simon. Serresse has known both Simon and Kennedy for several years and was proud of their success, despite his team losing the game. “I love them as kids, they’re both exceptional players and it’s always a pleasure to coach against them, even when they play that well,” Serresse said. “I’m happy for them, it’s beyond the game,” he continued. Laurier was able to cut into the lead in the third and had the game within three points in the fourth quarter, while ultimately losing by six points. Coach Serresse was proud of his team’s battle and “selfishly” excited in the final frame, while knowing that his group needs to come out of the gate with better energy. “We shouldn’t put ourselves that deep and down in the hole in the first place” Coach Serresse said. “Selfishly I kind of love those moments because it’s really where you get to be strategic in your coaching and be a better tactical and technical coach,” he continued. Recount-

ing some of the pivotal timeout calls, fouls and other moments down the stretch that he says the team and coaching staff will look back on and improve on throughout the season. Balanced scoring remained a problem for the Golden Hawks in their final game of the year, as Sow, Taylor and Elliot were the only Laurier players in double-digits. KJ Massela after suffering an injury in the Lakehead series, joined Ismael Sow, and a few other newcomers on the bench as they continue to recover from injuries, as a result, limiting the depth of the Coach Serresse’s team. Sow has scored more then double of any other players on the Golden Hawks team. Laurier’s offense however has been a positive sign as they lead the country in shots from beyond the arc, making ten three pointers per game, and in the top half of the OUA, averaging 88 points per game. “When we play well, we play with pace, but we don’t rush offensively and take what the defense is giving us,” Coach Serresse said. Oppositely, Laurier is bottom ten in the country, allowing 87 points per game, something that Coach Serresse will surely be focusing on during the break. “Defensively, we just have a lot of work to do, to be honest, there is just too many mistakes on a lot of different situations,” he said. After splitting their past two series, Laurier will enter the new year with a 2-4 record as they get set to face the nationally ranked Western Mustangs for their first two games of 2022. Laurier will face the Mustangs for the first time since losing in the OUA Semi-finals in London in heartbreaking fashion two years ago. “We need to stay in shape or get even stronger. I told the guys to get stronger, faster and better during the break,” Coach Serresse said. “School, mental health, and physical health is most important and us as coaches are going to use this time to digest what went well and what didn’t go well, focusing on how to get better,” he said.

HOCKEY

Golden Hawks hoping to bounce back after 3 losses ETHAN CAPLAN LEAD SPORTS REPORTER

With six games down in the 202122 OUA hockey season, the Laurier Golden Hawks men’s hockey team sits in last place in the OUA far west division following three straight losses – two of them to Western. While that may sound like a negative, there is a lot of optimism and room for improvement on the ice with a large chunk of the season left to be played this year (14 games). “It’s the idea that they’re able to play games with a lot of enthusiasm,” said Coach Greg Puhalski following a 5-4 loss to Windsor on November 13th. The Golden Hawks had a tough loss that night after managing to put 47 shots on net that game. Laurier led 3-1 in the second and held a lead into

the third period, before conceding three goals in the third, including the game-winner by Sean Olson with a minute to play. Star goaltender, Noah Giesbrecht stopped 43 of 47 shots, while the Golden Hawks true Achilles heel was their discipline recording 10 minutes of penalties and allowing two power-play goals in the third period. Even though there were a lot of penalty minutes, the shots were there and that is a great deal of positive progress going forward for this hockey team. The offence has been hitting on all cylinders this year, with Laurier averaging 3.1 goals per game through six contests this year. “It’s great to get scoring from a lot of different people and when you do that, you’re kind of tough to defend as a club, because teams

can’t really match up with you.” said Puhalski on the creation of shots. The Golden Hawks started their season 2-1, with the defense also becoming a big part of the team’s identity. Allowing your goalie to have a boring night on the ice and not making the opposing team work as hard as the others can be key in winning at the OUA level. “We didn’t give up a ton of grade A scoring chances, so, in the end that’s what your goal is,” said coach Puhalski after their effort against Western later that week – a 3-2 loss. Optimism is something that Puhalski is looking for in the team as they try to overcome their struggles and work their way back into a top spot in their division. Following their home loss to Western, the Golden Hawks lost their last game to the Mustangs

4-1. Coach Puhalski has continued to stress putting the puck on net and creating opportunities as that will be crucial to the scheme and style of play that the Golden Hawks are trying to accomplish this season. Shooting on net, however, is not the only thing that is going to make the Golden Hawks win multiple games consistently. “I thought we lost our battles for a lot of pucks 1 on 1. We had some spurts where we were okay, but generally, we didn’t want to get our nose dirty tonight,” said Puhalski on the team’s 3-2 loss to Western two weekends ago. In order for the Golden Hawks to get better and to move forward together as a team they need to work collective as a group and play consistent to win games. Three goaltenders have played

in six games for the Golden Hawks this season, which is area that they will continue to look for some consistency. “For me I’m more concerned about the effort level and playing together as a team,” said coach Puhalski on the team’s chemistry after the loss to Western. Puhalski has been happy about the team’s effort throughout the first four games of the season, before the setback in their last two games against the nationally ranked Mustangs. In their first two wins, Laurier’s success was largely a part of the team coming together as a group and having balance, not relying on one person to carry the team. The Golden Hawks will finish the calendar year with a game this Thursday against the Guelph Gryphons.

top sports moments of 2021 Following the cancellation of OUA sports last year, sports editor Mark Cascagnette highlights the Golden Hawks’ return to play and their most memorable moments from the past year

OUA announces a return to play for all fall and winter sports; USPORTS announces the resumption of national championships (June 2021):

Men’s football returns to the gridiron with a dominant 37-6 victory over York after 700 days off (Sept. 2021):

A year removed from competition, the OUA and its member schools agreed on a plan to return to play in the fall of 2021. The Golden Hawks football program became the first team to return in September, while baseball, golf and the men’s and women’s soccer and rugby teams began their season later that month. Track, hockey and basketball returned later in the fall.

pandemic began, the Laurier football team used their defense and run game to dominate York and increase their win streak over the Lions to six games. Laurier recorded eight takeaways . Following the win, coach Michael Faulds and the Golden Hawks earned their highest ranking of the season,eighth in the nation.

In the first Golden Hawk varsity sports game since the

Men’s Football breaks their two-year playoff drought and hosts their first playoff game in four years (Nov. 2021):

Ali Sow drafted fourth overall in the Canadian Elite Basketball League draft (April):

The Golden Hawks finished their regular season 3-3, finishing second in the OUA West division, hosting the seventh ranked Guelph Gryphons in their first playoff matchup since 2017.

Superstar guard and two-time OUA all-star, Ali Sow was drafted fourth overall to his hometown, Ottawa BlackJacks in the 2021 CEBL Draft. His second consecutive year of being drafted into the league.

The Cord December 1, 2021

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