Feb. 27, 2013

Early exit Women’s hockey team falls short of nationals for the first time in 10 years Sports, page 20

THE The tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University since 1926 Volume 53, Issue 23

thecord.ca

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mel’s comes home News, page 3

WLUSU debt piling up Loans and guarantee from the university combine to exceed $5-million limit JUSTIN SMIRLIES NEWS DIRECTOR

KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

Mel’s Diner returns to old location after devastating 2010 fire great — they were anticipating our return,” Smith continued.

It’s been almost three years since Mel’s Diner, along with a number of local businesses located in the Campus Court plaza at 140 University Avenue, went down in flames. The devastating fire was determined to be arson after a police investigation, at the centre of which was a complex arrangement to pay off a drug debt and burn down Tabu nightclub that seemed straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

The fire was started when two men threw molotov cocktails into the windows of what was then Tabu Night Club. It eventually spread throughout the plaza. Details later emerged revealing that Brent Campbell — former owner of now-closed Titanium Nightclub in Uptown Waterloo — allegedly hired Daniel Campbell and William Schneider to burn down Tabu to eliminate competition in the bar scene.

Daniel Campbell and Schneider pleaded guilty to a number

Tough road ahead

Return of the ‘blah’-scars

Old print, new era

Newly elected Premier Kathleen Wynne faces heavy pushback from Opposition

Visual Director Wade Thompson raises qualms with Sunday’s 85th annual Academy Awards

Features Editor Colleen Connolly looks at how used book stores remain relevant in a digital age

National, page 8

Arts, page 14

Features, page 10

LINDSAY PURCHASE LOCAL AND NATIONAL EDITOR

Mel’s Diner is back in business.

The iconic local diner reopened its doors for business at 7 a.m. on Feb. 19 and according to owner Jerry Smith, since then it’s been “packed from open ‘til close” in spite of no advertising.

“I didn’t expect a whole lot considering it was reading week … but it was full the first day, as soon as they saw the ‘open’ sign. Which is

Inside

According to the 2012 Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union auditor’s report — which compares their financial data from April 30, 2011 to April 30, 2012 — the Students’ Union, without the current liabilities included, owes a debt load of $4,250,156 to the university.

WLUSU currently owes the university one loan of $1, 902, 855 while also still owing the university a figure of $2, 347, 301 for a different loan. In addition, the Students’ Union has two external non-revolving long-term loans that total about $2.4 million in 2012, which are secured through a guarantee of $3 million from the university.

The report outlines that WLUSU will have to make a payment of $233, 979 for their long-term debt in 2013 — which includes the $1.9 million loan from WLU — and will also make a payment of $118,000 this year towards the other loan from the university, which totals $2.3 million.

According to the report, WLUSU was “not in compliance with certain of its lending covenants with the university” as of April 30, 2012 for the loan of around $2.3 million and the university and the union then “reached an agreement to waive the covenant breach.” As a result, the Students’ Union makes annual payments on that particular loan.

“We’re at a point where we don’t have a lot of wiggle room before the cap.”

—Michael Onabolu, WLUSU president and CEO

However, according to Jim Butler, the vice-president of finance at WLU, the loan agreement that the university has with WLUSU has a cap of $5 million. This number includes both money the university loans to the Students’ Union and the $3-million guarantee on outside loans.

According to Butler, WLUSU has exceeded that limit.

“They are in excess of the $5 million agreement,” Butler confirmed.

“We’re working with them to bring it back down…. We’re working with them to help them with their cash flow on that.”

2012-13 WLUSU president and Campus, page 5

2 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Editor-in-Chief Justin Fauteux jfauteux@thecord.ca

The tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University since 1926

Editor’s choice This year at the ‘Ughh’-scars

Editor’s choice online Photos: This Week Around Laurier

Arts, page 14

thecord.ca

Photo of the week

Inside News ………………………3 Campus ……………… 4 Local ……………………7 National ……………… 8 Classifieds …………… 9 In Depth ……………… 10 Life ……………………… 11 Arts ……………………… 14 Editorial ……………… 16 Opinion ……………… 17 Sports ………………… 19

75 University Ave. W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 519-884-0710 x3564 FEB. 27, 2013 Volume 53, Issue 23 Next issue: March, 6, 2013

Advertising All advertising inquiries should be directed to Angela Endicott at 519-884-0710 x3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com In 2011 the Canadian Community Newspaper Association awarded The Cord second place in the campus community newspaper category.

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

Vocal Cord

Editorial Board

presented by

Editor-in-Chief. ............................. Justin Fauteux

jfauteux@thecord.ca

News Director.............................. Justin Smirlies

jsmirlies@thecord.ca Visual Director ....................... Wade Thompson wthompson@thecord.ca Campus News Editor............ Elizabeth DiCesare edicesare@thecord.ca Local and National Editor ....... Lindsay Purchase lpurchase@thecord.ca In Depth Editor. .............................................Vacant editor@thecord.ca Features Editor ........................ Colleen Connolly cconnolly@thecord.ca Life Editor..............................................Carly Basch cbasch@thecord.ca Arts Editor ...............................Cristina Almudevar calmudevar@thecord.ca Opinion Editor...................................Devon Butler dbutler@thecord.ca Sports Editor .................................Shelby Blackley sblackley@thecord.ca Graphics Editor ........................Stephanie Truong struong@thecord.ca Photography Manager .................Nick Lachance nlachance@thecord.ca Photography Manager ........................ Kate Turner kturner@thecord.ca Web Editor................................................Shaun Fitl sfitl@thecord.ca

Senior Staff Lead Reporter ............................... Katelyn Cullum Lead Reporter ..................................Marissa Evans Lead Reporter .................................... Alanna Fairey Lead Videographer ........................... Jeremy Enns Lead Photographer ................. Cristina Rucchetta Copy Editing Manager .....................Gillian Lopes

Contributors Ara An Heather Barnes Brieanne Berry Laura Buck Kelly Burwash Chantel Conway Robin Daprato Dana Francoeur Scott Glaysher

Ryan Hueglin Heather Landells Carley McGlynn Don Morgenson Adele Palmquist Julia Pollock Alex Reinhart Janelle Scheifele Erin Sheehan

Becca Silver Autumn Smith Alex Watson Lena Yang

WLUSP administration President and Publisher.................................................. Emily Frost Executive Director ....................................................Bryn Ossington Advertising Manager .............................................. Angela Endicott Treasurer..................................................................... Tom Paddock Vice-Chair .........................................................................Jon Pryce Director...................................................................... Kayla Darrach Director.................................................... Joseph McNinch-Pazzano Corporate Secretary ...................................................... Allie Hincks Distribution Manager ............................................. Angela Endicott Web Manager .......................................................... Adam Lazzarato

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 refl ect 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 Mac OS X 10.5 using Adobe Creative Suite 4. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.

KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

A view down one of the aisles at used book store Old Goat Books in Uptown Waterloo.

Bag o’ Crime By-Law Complaint: Location: 232 King St. N. Reported: Monday, Feb.18, 2013, 12:35 a.m.

A 19 year old male (U. of W. student) was issued with a Provincial Offence Notice by SCS pursuant to the Waterloo Public Nuisance ByLaw #20112-125. He had been spotted urinating on W.L.U. controlled property at 232 King St. N. Graffiti: Location: Faculty of Social Work Reported: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, 8:01 a.m.

Custodial staff reported that graffiti (offensive slogan) was found in the middle stall of the women’s main floor washroom at the Faculty of Social Work. CCTV video footage was reviewed, with negative results. No suspects. The graffiti was removed

by Physical Resources.

Person Stop: Location: Mid Campus Drive Reported: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, 1:03 a.m.

While on mobile patrol, SCS Officers observed a suspicious looking male, wearing all dark clothing walking through the middle of Campus near an all female Residential building. He appeared to be nervous upon seeing the SCS Patrol vehicle.

Due to a recent number of break and enters into Residence buildings, Officers stopped him for identification purposes. He was identified as a 26 year old (non student). Officers verbally trespassed the male as he had no known business on WLU property.

Location: Fred Nichols Campus Centre Reported: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2013, 11:12 am SCS Officers attended to the 24 Lounge (2nd floor of the FNCC) to investigate a report of property damage and theft of a sign. The directional sign was made of metal and attached to the ceiling tile outside of the men’s washroom. An unknown male was seen on video surveillance pulling off sign, causing the ceiling tile to fall on the floor. Two unknown females were seen with him, exiting through the Dr. Alvin Woods building carrying the sign.

The sign was recovered by custodial staff. The investigation remains open and further video footage has been obtained in an effort to identify the culprits.

Suspect Descriptors: Male, Caucasian, early twenties, 6’, medium build, clean shaven, short black hair, wearing a black waist length jacket, black pants and footwear.Two females, late teens, Caucasian, 5’6”, medium build, wearing black ¾ length coats (One with white fur trim), black leggings and footwear Unwanted Person Location: Fred Nichols Campus Centre Reported: Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, 9:20 a.m.

A SCS officer on foot patrol encountered a male sleeping on a couch on the 2nd floor in the 24 Lounge. He was identified as a 34 year old local resident (non student). Having no legitimate business on campus,

The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfi ed complaints can be sent to the council at info@ ontpress.com.

Campus Plus is The Cord’s national advertising agency.

The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfi lled 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.

Quote of the week: “And I’m nugget salad.”

–Visual Director Wade Thompson after hearing the name Freiburger (pronounced “fry-burger”).

Unwanted Person: Location: Residence Reported: Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, 9:50 p.m.

While on mobile patrol, SCS Officers observed a male walking through the underground parking garage near vehicles. The male did not appear to be a student; therefore the Officers stopped and requested identification from him. He identified himself with an Ontario Health Card. He stated he was looking through dumpsters for metal or copper. The male was requested to leave the property as he had no known business pertaining to WLU. He was verbally trespassed from any W.L.U. properties.

Check out more Bag o’ Crime on thecord.ca –Reports courtesy of WLU Special Constables

$4.50/ tall can Monday & Wednesday- all day Friday & Saturday Before 11pm

Preamble to The Cord constitution

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 KitchenerWaterloo, 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.

Property Damage: Location: Residence Reported: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, 10:06 p.m.

One of the Dons in the student residence returning to campus after Reading Week discovered that person(s) unknown had jammed an unknown glue like substance into the door lock of her residence room.

This occurred sometime between Feb. 15 to the reporting date. Physical Resources attended for repairs.

There are no suspects.

“Print. It’s easier on the eyes.”

–Kelsey Grant second-year, archaeology

“Print. It’s easy to follow along and highlight.”

–Elizabeth Peters fourth-year, global studies

“Screens. It saves money and trees and you can bypass stuff quicker.”

–Spencer Burton second-year, psychology

Pabst Attack

The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP)since 2004.

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.

he was ordered off the property and sent on his way.

Weekly Specials

The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 8,000 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. Cord subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada.

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.

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“Print. Screens mess up my eyes.”

–Damien Coles fourth-year, history

CORRECTION

In the Feb. 13 article “Is there enough room for everyone?”, The Cord credited Duncan Clements as the executive director of local transport advocacy group TriTag. However, no such title exists as the organization is a consensus-run committee and has no hierarchical organizational structure. The Cord apologizes for this error.

Cover photos (hockey and books) by Kate Turner.

• 3

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

NEWS

News Director Justin Smirlies jsmirlies@thecord.ca

KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

In its old location, Mel’s Diner returned to the plaza last Tuesday.

NICK LACHANCE FILE PHOTO

In April 2010, Mel’s was burned down from a blaze starting at Tabu.

Beloved community diner revived —cover

of charges, including arson, in November of 2011. Schneider was sentenced to eight years in prison, Daniel Campbell received seven. Brent Campbell is still facing charges.

After insurance complications were sorted out and the plaza was reconstructed, Smith was finally able to rebuild.

“It feels good,” said Smith. “It’s good to be able to trade in my

construction shoes for some runners now. Done building, I just want to operate. Focus on the food quality and the customer service.”

Returning customers to Mel’s shouldn’t expect any major changes.

“I tried to keep it familiar,” Smith explained. “So you walk in and it feels like Mel’s did. And I think we did that. A lot of people are very impressed with how much the same it feels in here.

“That’s the real glue to the whole thing … is the memories.”

Customers have expressed

satisfaction with the reconstruction thus far.

“It was nice to see they made it the same as before,” said local student and customer Beth Crouse.

“It’s so iconic, at least to this area,” added Amanda Caputo, another student in the area.

Both agreed that the all day breakfast was their favourite feature.

The diner’s late hours have traditionally been a main attraction, as it is open 24 hours Thursday to Saturday and until 10 p.m. the other nights of the week. Many students

who frequented the diner may have graduated by now, however, raising questions about whether Mel’s will be able to re-attain its old popularity.

When asked if he thought the current student population has the same awareness of the eatery, Smith responded, “I think the awareness is there, whether they’re checking it out because they’ve heard so much about it over the last few years.

They’re not here for nostalgia purposes, they’re here because it’s convenient and it’s hopefully very good.

So it’s good to see new faces too.”

He expects to see more familiar faces now that students are back from reading week, as “it’s a short enough window that first and second-year students [at the time of the fire] still remember us, so we’re fortunate that way.”

“I would just say thanks to everybody for being there to support us at our return. It’s just been amazing,” Smith expressed.

“I think it’s a community thing.”

KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

The new interior of Mel’s Diner looks remarkably similar in placement and style to the version of the retro restaurant during it’s initial existence by the Waterloo plaza.

Local and campus break-ins investigated After a number of recent thefts at Laurier and in the K-W area, WRPS and Special Constables crack down KATELYN CULLUM LEAD REPORTER

ELIZABETH DICESARE CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

In the past few weeks, students at Wilfrid Laurier University have been experiencing a seemingly increased amount of break-ins, both on and off campus.

While both Special Constables and the Waterloo Regional Police have been constantly reminding students in all forms of student housing to be vigilant and lock their doors, not all of them seem to be listening.

Chris Hancocks, operations manager for Special Constables, said that the main reason for recent break-and-enters is because, generally, students don’t lock their doors, which criminals have come to expect.

“Some of these things are crimes of opportunity, [someone] will go up and try a door and if it’s open they’ll go in,” he explained. “We did a campaign over reading week with Special Constables here and we went through every residence building and checked every door, and it’s amazing how many doors we found

open.”

A Residence Life don in WLU’s Leupold Residence, told The Cord she was unaware these campaigns would be happening, and has never been informed of any break-ins occurring in residence at all this year.

“I think everything in Res Life is hushed up, to be honest,” she said.

“It’s a rock and a hard place because we want to respect confidentiality and we don’t want our students gossiped about . . . but I think that if break-and-enters are becoming popular, students need to be warned.

“The fact that they don’t openly talk about this happening makes me think that they [Residence Life] don’t really want people to know,” she continued.

The don was also unaware that Special Constables had made three arrests in the past two weeks for break-ins as well as theft.

Hancocks explained that while these arrests were made — in a residence he could not name — the break-ins that occurred in Waterloo College Hall over Christmas break are still under investigation.

However, over reading week, the new apartment building at 167 King St. N. — primarily occupied

by students — also experienced a break-in.

Early in the morning on Feb. 14, a white male broke into the apartment complex and stole some property. The suspect was confronted by a victim and later fled the scene on foot, leaving the victim uninjured.

On Feb. 25, Ryan Scheifele, a 21-year-old man, was arrested and charged with this recent break-in, along with another break-and-enter and theft that occurred at the same residence in November, 2012.

Brittany Downey, a fourth-year Laurier student who resides at the 167 King building but was not directly affected by the break-in, expressed that a large part of the reason why strangers get into the building is because of the buzzer.

“People just come in and they buzz every number, and I know a lot of people in the building that will just accept people in without asking,” she said.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) had asked the community if they had any information regarding the identity of this person to contact them and reminded students to keep their doors locked and not let unknown people into their buildings.

“[Scheifele is] charged with a series of break-ins,” said Olaf Heinzel, the public affairs coordinator for WRPS. Heinzel explained that the WRPS keeps their website page updated on all events like this in the “Latest News” section.

Scheifele was additionally charged with break-and-enter and theft/possession for a break in that happened in December at 125 Lincoln Rd. in Waterloo.

He remains in custody on all the outstanding charges.

When asked if she believed criminals targeted student areas because of the vulnerability they possess, Downey stated that she definitively thought it would be a target, especially due to the high rise of expensive apartment complexes being built around the Laurier and Waterloo campuses.

“It’s an easier target because [students] tend to be more careless,” she said.

Hancocks echoed these comments. “[Students show] absent mindedness [and] I think they’re in a rush to leave or they think their roommates are still home so they don’t lock the door,” he said.

“It’s an easier target because [students] tend to be more careless.”

—Brittany Downey, resident at 167 King Street

4 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Campus Inside Ride to return

Campus News Editor Elizabeth DiCesare edicesare@thecord.ca

ashley denuzzo StAFF WRItER

Skylar Rushton and Jayme Krane aren’t your typical University students.

The pair has dedicated the last two years of their university careers to fighting childhood cancer.

They helped co-found Laurier Against Childhood Cancer (LACC), a recent club added to Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus that is devoted to promoting the issue of childhood cancer and fundraising.

“We’re more of a holistic approach to supporting children living with and beyond cancer,” said Rushton. “We’re really building towards our biggest event which is the Inside Ride.”

An indoor cycling event, The Inside Ride, is a popular fundraising function that started in 2007. In the last six years, it has raised over five million dollars and has done over 500 events across Canada.

One hundred per cent of the profits go towards an external foundation called Coast to Coast Against Cancer. The money is then used to take care of financial costs for families and help pays for treatment, hospital beds and of course sponsor research.

In fact, the founder of Coast to Coast is actually Jeff Rushton — Skylar’s father.

“That’s how I got involved,” Skylar explained.

Krane found her place at LACC when she was put into contact with Rushton in her first year.

“It just so happened that we were in the same year, same program, and same business lab,” Krane laughed.

From there, the two decided to create an on-campus organization that hosted the Inside Ride. “[Cancer] is actually the leading non-accidental cause of death in children under 18 and it’s also the most underfunded research in Canada,” Rushton said.

“Usually a lot of children who have treatments so early get other side effects later in life,” Krane added.

However, Rushton and Krane explained that they are organizing the Inside Ride to both raise funds and to bring more spirit and enthusiasm to Laurier’s student body.

“The energy and the community it builds are fantastic,” Rushton commented. “That’s why both of us want to bring it to Laurier.”

“It’s a lot of the same enthusiasm as Shinerama,” Krane compared.

The Inside Ride event is scheduled to run Saturday, March 9 at University Stadium. The event usually runs about two and a half hours and requires teams of six to bike ten-minute intervals while the others “dance” around the rider.

Krane also explained that LACC is hoping their event will inspire clubs, teams, and residences to participate.

“We’re really trying to promote that this year,” she said. “Like doing it with your floors.”

However, apart from the fundraised money, Krane and Rushton explain that the best parts of Inside Ride are the energy and feedback.

“While we’re running our events, you have people coming up to you and tell you their stories,” Krane said. “It’s just so eye opening to see who is effected by this.”

Optimistic, Rusthon emphasizes that the event is supposed to be empowering, exciting, and energizing.

“It’s more of a celebration for what we do for these kids.”

nick lachance FIlE photo

University sticks by Aramark Despite problems at Ryerson, laurier assures food service provider’s reliability

marissa evans lEAD REpoRtER

An article recently published by the Toronto Star reported that Ryerson University has been footing the bill for expenses incurred by Aramark Canada, the university’s contracted food service, which is the same that Wilfrid Laurier University’s food services uses. According to the article, over the last five years Ryerson has covered more than $5.6 million in losses causing students to call for change. News of this may set off alarms in the heads of students at Laurier: could the same situation arise here?

Dan Dawson, assistant vice president of student services, assured that he doesn’t “foresee anything that would evolve [at Laurier] like what is happening [at Ryerson].”

With the implementation of the new meal plan this past September, Laurier’s contract with Aramark has

changed and appears to be different than Ryerson’s.

“In the environment we’re in currently, the relationship is pretty clearly defined as to what costs and responsibilities Aramark has and what Laurier has,” explained Dawson.

“The revenue is captured — a percentage of sales is paid to Laurier as a commission and we are responsible for certain types of expenses to the facilities available and operational for food service.”

According to Jim Butler, vice president of finance and administration, Aramark’s financial performance is reviewed annually.

He explained that the contract with Aramark is “an opportunity for [Dawson’s office] to enhance the financial situation for food services, which has been operating at a loss for the last number of years.”

Dawson and Ryan Lloyd-Craig, director of food services, meet monthly to review the financial

operations to ensure everything is on track.

Dawson went on to comment that, in addition to the different contract, the campuses at Ryerson and Laurier function dissimilarly.

“It may have nothing to do with Aramark,” he said.

“There may be conditions at Ryerson that just make it a very challenging account for anybody to be successful at.”

Laurier is different from Ryerson as it has a meal plan that is required for all residence students, has less off-campus food options and many student employees.

“I think that Aramark does the best job that they can in terms of providing food for students on campus. But there’s always room for improvement,” said Micahel Onabolu, president of the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, who handed over operations of the Terrace Food Court to Aramark in the summer of 2011.

According to Onabolu, WLUSU engages in consistent dialogue with Aramark to ensure student concerns are being addressed and rectified.

In response to student concerns, Dawson said that he has seen changes already being implemented, such as an increase in protein in the Fresh Food Company.

Onabolu expressed that WLUSU is very interested in the feedback students have about food services, particularly with the change to the meal plan.

“It’s a lot more informed perspective and it’s very useful going forward,” he said, referring to the feedback they will receive now, versus at the beginning of the year.

“Because we can say that students have tried it: this is what they do like and this is what they don’t like.”

In a survey already completed by students in residence Dawson emphasized that “their overall satisfaction levels were much higher than they were a year ago.”

WLu Library looking for feedback heather barnes StAFF WRItER

Before reading week, the Wilfrid Laurier University Library sent out surveys to students in order to gain knowledge regarding their concerns with the library. While these library surveys are not new, they are continually sent out every few years as student’s concerns often change.

According to Greg Sennema, an associate librarian, the survey is put out by the Association of Research Libaries organization every year.

“Every three years Canadian libraries co-ordinate a group effort, and we can join in or not,” explained Sennema.

The previous surveys in which Laurier participated were used to improve campus and judge how the library was developing. He said the goal was to “get three years worth of data and compare across to see if we improved or not improved over the years.”

Data from the survey is viewed in both qualitative and quantitative ways to discern how the library is doing. The information provided in the survey can help the library know if they are providing adequate and appropriate materials for students.

The survey addresses the physical library space itself, the materials that are accessible, as well as the staff and over-all experience provided to students.

In 2007, the largest concern were the hours in which the library was

open, and in 2010, wireless connections were a problem that needed to be addressed.

Sennema said that the preliminary results of this year’s survey suggest that the major issue mentioned by students who completed the survey revolved around the need for more space.

“It’s no surprise...that space is an issue,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a surprise on campus, but this is just more evidence that...space is an issue.”

The survey is not the only way in which the Laurier Library reaches out to students. There is also a library student’s advisory council, which meets regularly and connects librarians with students in order to make the library as helpful to students as possible.

Mike Hylton, a third-year student, completed the survey and found it useful in voicing his opinions.

“During intense study periods, around exams and midterms, it’s almost impossible to find a seat anytime throughout the day,” he said.

Eric Vero, a second-year student, did not complete the survey, but still has concerns about the library’s resources.

“We need more books,” he told The Cord. “I often find that I will have to go to the University of Guelph or UW to pick up a book; although [the Laurier Library] is really speedy about delivering books, there’s still that time delay.”

yusuf kidwai FIlE photo

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

CAMPUS

Report shows drop in revenue

Study released on insider leaks Three Laurier finance professors find common practice among brokerages MARISSA EVANS LEAD REPORTER

Many recall the highly publicized Martha Stewart case in 2001: Stewart dodged hefty losses by selling her stocks after receiving insider information from her broker which, in turn, landed her in prison for just over a year.

While scandals like this appear to be rare, a new study by three Wilfrid Laurier University professors indicates that in Canada it is common practice for brokerage firms to leak insider information to their clients.

The study was conducted by WLU professors of finance Andriy Shkilko, Brian Smith and William McNally, who used data provided by the Toronto Stock Exchange about a set of brokers who handled insider transactions between 2004 and 2006. The particular data they looked at documented the amount of activity brokers engaged in with their other clients after they handled the trades of these insiders; the study revealed that their activity spiked.

“What we found is that it looks like brokers who execute these insiders’ transactions tell a few other people about these transactions right away -- literally within the half hour,” Shkilko explained. “Those people who are told mimic insiders’ positions, presumably making money by doing so.”

According to Shkilko and Smith, this practice is unethical.

At the time of the study, regulators stipulated that brokers must wait ten days before the market is notified of an insider’s transaction.

Therefore, if certain clients are privy to information before others, it’s unfair and inequitable.

However, there are currently no explicit rules done by this.

The study confirms that this tipping is practiced, and Smith

“The gratification here is rare and when you get an award on a relatively fresh paper that hasn’t been published yet.”

COURTESY OF WILLIAM MCNALLY

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Revenue (in millions) at end of 2011

Revenue (in millions) at end of 2012

—cover

—Andriy Shkilko, WLU finance prof

mentioned a number of measures that could be implemented in an attempt to mitigate this.

However, he emphasized the nature of their study “isn’t to prescribe the regulations or what enforcement they should do, it’s to make the public aware that this is happening.”

The study was recently awarded the 2012 Canadian Investment Research Award, sponsored by Hilldale Investment Management and the Toronto Chartered Financial Analyst Society.

Shkilko and Smith were enthused at being recognized. Shkilko explained that being in an academic research profession means that papers take a significant amount of time to write and get published, which is often the most recognition a researcher will receive.

“The gratification here is rare and when you get an award on a relatively fresh paper that hasn’t been published yet, it’s definitely nice,” he continued.

Shkilko, Smith and McNally came to work on the study together due to, as Smith put it, “a convergence of

• 5

McNally was one of three profs involved in the study.

interests.”

Shkilko conducted a similar study in the United States, but due to the nature of the data, was only able to establish the link between the broker and the insider and not between the broker and their other clients.

Smith and McNally have been doing insider trader studies using Canadian data since 2000. Together, they were able to bring Shkilko’s study to Canada and fill the missing link with Smith and McNally’s work.

According to Smith, their success is a testament to the research culture at Laurier where “[they’re] not stuck in this box that other schools are.”

Other schools, he explained, strive to be like top American schools, and use mainly American data.

“Some departments in other schools often have toxic environments just because of the competitive nature of the profession,” Shkilko added.

“But here, it is amazingly collaborative.”

CEO, Michael Onabolu, addressed some of the questions asked

by The Cord in regards to the public auditor’s report. The report was signed off by the auditors on Jan. 31, 2013, and subsequently uploaded onto WLUSU’s website.

“We always monitor our financial situation constantly, especially this year. We obviously have a plan to mitigate be within that cap,” he explained. “We’re at a point where we don’t have a lot of wiggle room before the cap. So when you’re in a position like that, you’re not able to take on things like capital projects and different things that we would’ve done in the past.”

Onabolu, however, did not speak about many specifics since it’s an on-going discussion WLUSU is having within their administration through in-camera, private meetings within their board meetings.

When asked if WLUSU— of which all undergraduates are members — is going to be communicating any information with the students in the near future Onabolu said, “There’s definitely an intention to communicate with students.”

Onabolu declined to comment when asked if this forthcoming information had to do with finances.

While the in-camera sessions aren’t entirely always financial matters, WLUSU board chair and chief governance officer, Jon Pryce, confirmed the board and management team have been discussing financial matters within in-camera sessions for 2012-13.

“We’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff in camera because there has been a lot of confidential stuff in terms of finances,” Pryce said. “We couldn’t have that out of in camera because the problem is if you discuss something outside of in camera, and it’s not confirmed or hasn’t been established fully yet, problems could arise.”

Pryce noted that the increase of in-camera sessions during board meetings this year has also been due to the weekly board evaluations as an attempt to create a more comfortable environment for the directors.

When asked if financial matters are typically dealt within in camera, Pryce responded by saying, “Not really, this was more so with the auditors and some of the financial conditions that we have, and

the university. We’re just trying to get those terms sorted out. A lot of them are basic updates, [such as] getting the board’s opinion.”

“It was not unexpected, and that’s what I can say,” said Jordan Epstein, the vice-chair for this year’s board and the incoming chair and CGO for next year’s board, about the auditor’s report. Part of his mandate for next year is making the board more transparent.

“That’s sort of what I’m getting at with the transparency thing. That’s not a human resource situation, it’s not a contract [issue],” Epstein said about discussing finances in camera. Epstein, because of the confidentially of the financial matters and the in-camera sessions, declined to discuss any specifics in regards to the financial matters.

The recently released report also outlined a drop in total revenue of 54 per cent. 2012 saw WLUSU’s total revenues fall from $14,497,956 in 2011 to $7,890,159 in 2012, something that Onabolu attributes to the closing of Wilf’s due to flooding in late 2011 and the separation of the Student Life Levy fees that used to flow through WLUSU’s operating dollars.

Roly Webster, WLUSU’s executive director, who started in his position in December, expressed some concern with the 2012 auditor’s statement.

“I want them [the numbers] to be better than that, [but] I’m not concerned that they’re going to impact the organization,” he explained.

“Let’s better those numbers faster so we’re be able to do some other things.”

“We’re going through a budget process right now, and where we can tighten up is on the budget side,” Webster said, noting that this situation should not impact the services they annually provide students.

Pryce, Onabolu and Webster all claimed that the point of the incamera sessions this year was not to hide important information for the students. Instead the sessions have been used as a precaution taken by WLUSU. “We wouldn’t go into camera if it wasn’t absolutely necessary,” said Onabolu.

Webster echoed Onabolu’s remarks, “Our goal is to always be transparent with the students…and in-camera sessions doesn’t mean we don’t want to communicate with students.”

6 •

LocaL

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Local Editor Lindsay Purchase lpurchase@thecord.ca

Police search for prowler An unidentified man was seen looking in residence windows lindsay purchase LocAL AND NAtioNAL EDitoR

coURtESY oF WRPS

This man was spotted looking in windows on Noecker Street.

Waterloo regional police are looking for public assistance in identifying a man that has been spotted looking through windows of residences on Noecker Street.

There have been six incidents since September, with five of these occurring between December 2012 and January 2013.

The man, estimated to be 30 to 40 years in age, is described as approximately six feet tall with a muscular build, bald or shaved head and possibly having tanned skin. Police do not have a suspect at this time.

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) public affairs coordinator Olaf Heinzel explained, “Once we had that image available, we put that out because we’re hoping someone

in the public might recognize him or have some information about him as to who he is and that would be helpful for the investigators at this point.”

The prowler has been seen looking into the windows of houses in that area. Heinzel confirmed that the photo was taken on Noecker St. but could not identify the source of the photo.

“The focus has been in the Noecker Street area, but we don’t know if there have been other incidences that have not been reported either,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it fairly broad.”

Heinzel had several suggestions for precautions residents can take to protect themselves against trespassers.

“We’re asking them to contact police if they see any suspicious

activity at any time, so to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times if they’re out walking, but if they’re in their homes and they see anyone trespassing on their property or anyone is seen where they’re not supposed to be, we would urge them to call 911 right away,” he asserted.

Heinzel also highlighted ensuring doors and windows are secure, as well as having exterior security lighting, for protection measures.

“Sometimes when people are trespassing they don’t want to be seen, obviously, so a well-lit area is an area they might more likely avoid than an area that is very dark and has a lot of bushes to hide behind,” he said.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact North Division at 519-650-8500 x6399 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.

Record identifies outstanding locals katelyn cullum LEAD REPoRtER

Forty of Waterloo Region’s brightest have been acknowledged and celebrated for their contributions to the community and inspiration towards the next generation of leaders.

Waterloo Region’s community newspaper, The Record , published their pick for the Top 40 Under 40, with three of the recipients sharing Wilfrid Laurier University as a connection.

Jim Moss, 35, is the founder and chief happiness officer for the Smile Epidemic. The initiative started in early 2012 and aims to create the happiest community on Earth by simply uploading a photo that states what you are grateful for.

Moss was acknowledged for his efforts in spreading happiness amidst the Waterloo community, as well as engaging Laurier students earlier this year by launching the first-ever “A Happier Campus Project,” which has helped the Smile Epidemic differentiate and analyze the significance of publicly expressing gratitude and the impact of social reinforcement.

“I’m really quite honoured,” said Moss, in regard to making the list.

“It’s a pretty cool group of people to be a part of.”

Moss explained that being acknowledged by the Top 40 list will raise more awareness of the importance of the Smile Epidemic and encourage people to learn more and engage.

“It instigates them to reach out and ask to learn more,” he said.

Paul Maxwell, 28, is the founder and president of Maxwell’s Music House, a full service music facility that has hosted over 1,600 events and helped over 400 students through their degrees.

Maxwell promotes and exposes the talent among locals in the community and raises awareness about the importance of youth in the world of music. He is a business graduate from WLU and at the age of 23, opened up Maxwell’s Music House.

“It’s awesome to represent Laurier as one of those 40 under 40,” Maxwell said.

He also expressed the importance of being acknowledged in the arts culture in a city that is very

technologically based.

“To be recognized as someone in the arts community as an entrepreneur is a nice change of pace for the community,” he continued.

Melissa Durrell, 39, is a Waterloo city councillor and founder of Durrell Communications. She was recognized for her service to the public as a councilor and additionally for her advocacy for women’s issues and human rights. Durrell is passionate about the film festival that she hosts every year — the KW Zonta Film Festival — which helps fundraise for local women’s charities.

“It’s a very humbling experience to be on a list with so many incredible Waterloo region people,” Durrell expressed.

“I’m really lucky to live in a

community where we can start new and different things, we can try stuff and the community is open towards that.”

“Part of my job, I feel, is to promote what a creative community we are so we can keep brilliance. We have two world renowned universities and if we can continue to inspire and help young brilliant people to innovate then that’s the kind of community I want to live in,” she continued.

Adam Lawrence, 32, the acting dean of students at Laurier, as well as the manager of the Diversity and Equity Office, was also acknowledged for his promotion of diversity and equality in the community and on campus. Lawrence was unavailable for comment.

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

LocaL

• 7

K-W in brief Former mayor passes away

Herb Epp, former Waterloo mayor and Liberal MPP, died on Monday at the age of 78. Flags at Waterloo City Hall were flown at half mast and a moment of silence was held at the Tuesday morning regional council meeting.

In addition to a lengthy career in politics, Winnipeg-born Epp also worked as a teacher and in real estate.

The funeral is set to take place on Friday

ryan hueglin StAFF photogRAphER

King Street will be a site for developments in both bus and light rail rapid transit, changes for which will begin taking place in 2014.

Transit open houses come to close Strategies for community building around the transit corridor will soon be finalized lindsay purchase locAl AND NAtioNAl EDitoR

A year-long process to develop strategies for community building around the Waterloo Region transit corridor will soon be coming to an end.

The Central Transit Corridor Community Building Strategy (CBS) will close for public feedback on March 19 in order to move from the draft proposal to a finalized report that will later be presented to regional council.

The CBS aims to create areas of focus and initiatives involving how to build communities around rapid transit, an issue that is highly pertinent to Waterloo Region, as both construction on Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will begin next year.

The last in the final series of open house community consultations,

which have been taking place throughout various stages of the process, concluded on Monday, although online feedback can still be given for the next couple of weeks.

“If there are any specific actions or initiatives or even ideas that are not currently included in the strategy that came out of these discussions at the public meetings or the comment sheets that are filled out, those are things that can be explored and possibly added to the strategy as additional options before the report is finalized,” explained regional principle planner Becky Schlenvogt on the practical implications of public feedback sessions.

Open houses involved an explanation of the major points of the CBS, a presentation and a short video, followed by open roundtable discussion. Schlenvogt acknowledged that the discussions help the region to identify any gaps between the priorities of citizens and what’s

been included in the report, adding that “now would be the opportunity to add anything additional.”

The work will be far from over once the report has been submitted to regional council, which Schlenvogt anticipates to be in April or May of this year.

“We also want to work after the strategy report is finalized and complete,” she said. “There will be additional work in the future around implementing some of the initiatives, and so to understand what the priorities are from members of the community is really important as we move forward and make decisions about initiatives that we’ll be completing sooner rather than later.”

The CBS and additional feedback from community members will also be drawn upon to determine “what priorities might be for staffing and budgets” for future development projects.

Within the CBS eight principle

community building opportunities are identified, including “enhancing mobility, fostering investment, creating high quality urban spaces, strengthening the employment opportunity, enhancing the learning experience, encouraging a healthy inclusive community, greening the corridor and creating a great place to visit.”

This is supported by specified development types and related initiatives to be explored.

Local post-secondary institutions will undoubtedly be impacted by future developments, something which is acknowledged by the Strategy. Improving the walk from Seagram station to Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo and integrating Conestoga College with the expanded iXpress bus are some of the proposed initiatives.

The CBS and feedback opportunities can be found at centraltransitcorridor.ca.

New proposal for local political riding divisions

After receiving feedback on two previous proposals, the Federal Elections Boundary Commission of Ontario has proposed that a new riding be created in the Waterloo Region area. This riding, which would be the fifth riding in the Region, would be called Kitchener South - Hespeler. It would span from Kitchener south of Highway 7/8 to the 401 and Fischer-Hallman Road to Townline Road in Cambridge.

Although it lost the riding of Hespeler, the report determined that the Cambridge riding would be expanded.

The report was tabled Monday in the House of Commons.

Pedestrian hit in Kitchener

A woman was hit by a car in south Kitchener on Tuesday morning . The accident occurred in the Doon area at Oakdale Court and Woodfield Street.

The woman was transported to hospital with injuries after rescue crews were called at 7:30 a.m.

Initial reports by the Waterloo regional police did not identify the extent of the woman’s injuries or her condition.

–Compiled by Lindsay Purchase

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8 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

NATIONAL

National Editor Lindsay Purchase lpurchase@thecord.ca

Liberals face tough opposition LAURA BUCK STAFF WRITER

CRISTINA RUCCHETTA LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

A judgement presented by the Ontario Court of Appeal validated the search of an unlocked cellphone.

Ruling permits cell search JUSTIN SMIRLIES NEWS DIRECTOR

Protect your cell phone with a password or the police might have the right to look through it, a court ruling ordered last week.

The Court of Appeal of Ontario, in a recent ruling for an appeal attempt by Kevin Fearon, has deemed it acceptable for police officers to search through a suspect’s cell phone upon arrest.

Fearon was arrested in 2009 for a jewelry theft in Toronto when police found incriminating evidence on his cell phone upon his arrest. Officials, however, do not have the right to search through a phone that is password protected and will have to request a warrant in that situation.

“The cell phone was turned on and there is no evidence that it was password protected or otherwise locked to users other than the appellant,” the court document for Fearon’s appeal stated.

“The photographs and the text message were not in plain view and it was necessary to manipulate the key pad in order to move the phone into its different modes.”

The document went on to state that if the phone were to be protected by a password it “would not

have been appropriate to take steps to open the cell phone and examine its contents without first obtaining a search warrant.”

However, the public reaction about this ruling has been skeptical.

“I think it’s an appalling invasion of privacy rights,” explained Jesse Brown, a technology journalist and blogger for Maclean’s magazine.

“It’s certainly not good for our privacy… if we think about kind of how these things play out in practice.”

“Personally speaking, a search of the phone would be more evasive to me than a search of a home,” he added.

“It’s like saying, ‘oh you left your window open, so, of course, the police have the right to crawl in through and search your bedroom.’”

According to Brown, mobile devices are still sometimes declared to be a “thing” in the eyes of the law, whereas a computer or a “minicomputer” would be declared as a “place.” Therefore, a warrant would be required to look though the “place.”

Since the definition of a cell phone isn’t completely determined in legal terms, a warrant would not be required and cursory look will be allowed.

Brown did note that this ruling for this particular appeal doesn’t automatically give each police officer the right to check everyone’s phone, but what a cop can and cannot do with cell phones is still foggy. This ruling might also have the potential for abuse from authorities especially if the suspect in question isn’t aware of their full rights.

“It seems like that is something destined for abuse,” Brown said, adding that most people don’t password protect their phone because it’s an inconvenience.

“It’s going to become the standard for certain people with their interactions with the police to expect that their phones are going to be searched.”

For Brown, this ruling signaled a need for the courts to have a discussion on the future of mobile and Internet security.

“I think a pretty obvious guess is that our lives going to be more intertwined with mobile technology and we’re going to be carrying more and more sensitive personal data around with ourselves on these devices,” continued Brown.

“Rather them having the debate on what cops should be able to do, it should be what they are absolutely, explicitly not able to do.”

A new way to educate KATELYN CULLUM

STEPH

LEAD REPORTER

TRUONG

A new form of university education has arisen in certain institutions across Canada, one that allows students to learn a semester’s worth of course work in the span of a few weeks.

Block classes have been introduced this year at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), as well as at Quest University, developing from a successful program at Colorado College in America.

Block Classes foster a full course condensed into a few weeks. For UNBC, the course pans out across two-and-a-half weeks. Then, students are given three or four days of break and start back up again with a new course. Since it is difficult to expect students to write research papers in the constricted time period of the semester, there is a concluding slot at the end of the semester that requires students to work solely on a research paper.

Neil Hanlon, chair of the geography program at UNBC and one of the professors teaching in the block program, explained that this program is a pilot and required the recruitment of students to participate.

“We had to really carefully recruit them ahead of time to participate in this and make sure their schedule worked,” Hanlon said.

Upper year geography students were given the opportunity to enroll in block classes and experience a different type of post-secondary education.

“The value of it is that it is an interesting idea,” expressed Zach Dayler, the national director at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).

“It’s something that’s getting a conversation going about the structure of our educational model.”

Hanlon elaborated on the fact that it takes a commitment, from both students and faculty, to ensure that it will be successful.

“It’s just a different way of doing things, it has its strengths and weaknesses,” Hanlon said.

“It’s not for everybody, but everybody agrees that you can dive into the subject matter and you can really build on the things you are learning.”

Hanlon explained that it is all about the kind of student learner you are. He added that one of his students expressed that he was a procrastinator before, but after enrolling in the block classes, he can no longer be one.

Dayler furthered this critique, acknowledging that “it does come down to your learning style.”

Hanlon additionally explained that their program has arrangements in place if students do get sick, which hasn’t happened thus far at UNBC. “We have a Skype system set up,” he discussed. Students who are unable to make it to class but can Skype in from the comfort of their home and are able to participate in class.

At UNBC, the program began in January and Hanlon expressed that it was going “extremely well.”

“It is everything we thought it would be.”

When asked by The Cord if there were plans to permanently establish block classes at the university, Hanlon responded that a lot of it is beyond their control.

“I know that we will use this model in non-traditional types of teaching because we run a lot of field schools and this is a good way to prepare students.”

Block classes are not beneficial to all fields of study, in particular to the ones that require extensive reading, such as English and history courses.

“This might be the thing we need to draw people into a larger conversation about what are the positive changes we need in our education system,” concluded Dayler.

Ontario’s newly instated Premier Kathleen Wynne may be facing an uneasy road ahead with another uncovering of controversial documents that shed light on the Liberals’ costly 2011 cancellation of power plants in Oakville and Mississauga. The plant cancellation cost Ontario taxpayers about $230 million.

The Liberal Party insisted that they had produced all information about the power plant cancellation in two separate pieces of data: one in September of 36, 000 pages and the other released a month later with 20, 000 pages. Last Thursday morning Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli announced that more unreleased documents had been found.

“From our point of view, we were beguiled and lied to,” said Conservative MPP and provincial accountability critic John O’Toole in response to the uncovering of the additional documents.

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party was outraged by the revelation, alleging that the Liberal Party was attempting to withhold information from the public and the opposition. The NDP is calling for a public inquiry.

O’Toole asserted that the controversy over the power plant issue was indicative of a greater problem in Ontario’s Parliament. “I think the whole House is fazed by this,” he said. “I think that they have lost trust in the Liberal Party.”

John Milloy, Liberal MPP for Kitchener-Centre, defended the government, acknowledging that with millions of pages of documents, mistakes do occur.

“It’s regrettable, I think the Ontario Power Authority has apologized and certainly everyone has been acting in good faith to get all of the documents out there,” he said.

Wilfrid Laurier University political science professor Barry Kay commented on the Liberal party’s current situation saying, “The fact that the Liberals are now in their third term, means they’ve been in power for ten years. Usually governments turn over after a couple of terms. History would suggest it’s time for change.”

“It’s not just the power plants scandal,” he added. “Anybody coming into power, as Kathleen Wynne has come in, is facing real issues.”

While the controversy over the power plants will certainly call for an improvement in the provincial government’s transparency and has created a strong backlash from opposition parties, the government

“From our point of view, we were beguiled and lied to.”

—John O’Toole, Convservative MPP for Durham

claims to have made positive steps in ongoing issues with provincial teachers that plagued the McGuinty government during his last few months in office.

“We had a very positive announcement from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation that they were going to suspend their extra-curricular boycott because they feel they are making some progress in discussions with the government on how to move forward with their negotiations,” said Milloy.

Another issue the Liberals will have to address in the near future is getting their April budget passed by provincial legislature. Tim Hudak, leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, has publicly acknowledged that the Conservatives will be voting against the upcoming 2013 provincial budget, with the hopes of triggering a spring election.

“We have a budget that hasn’t even been written yet. We’ve offered to not only consult members of the public but also consult the opposition party and they’ve said that they’re not interested,” Milloy said in response.

“I’m quite frankly appalled the Conservatives won’t even talk about it or engage in it, it’s quite disappointing.”

Catherine Fife, MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo, also commented on the current issues facing the Premier, acknowledging that “Kathleen Wynne is inheriting a mess.

There are real challenges in front of the Premier and there are real challenges, more importantly, for the province.”

Fife emphasized that the NDP’s focus will be on getting results for Ontarians.

“Our approach to the legislature has been very open and transparent.

We are in stark contrast to the PCs,” said Fife. “The onus is on Kathleen Wynne to work with the NDP and Andrea Horwath.”

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT

The Liberals have come under scrutiny since legislature resumed.

• 9

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Classifieds DearLIFE

Advertising Manager Angela Endicott angela.taylor@wlusp.com

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We’re always on the look out for news. Got some?

E-mail: editor@thecord.ca

Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to your life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public forum.

All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life.

Submissions can be sent to dearlife@ thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.

Dear Life, It seems like everyone has something to complain about these days.

I know I complain about small stuff too, but I try not to. If my biggest problem is that I have a midterm coming up, my life is pretty damn good. There are people out there with next to nothing, and here we are freaking out because we’re gonna miss some stupid electro artist at Beta. Get over it, at least you have food, a house and the chance to attend school. Start appreciating what you have and start thinking about those who don’t have anything.

Sincerely, First world problems aren’t real problems Dear Life, Someone needs to get rid of the folks who leave their stuff in cubicles at the library and don’t return until hours later.

Sincerely, Screw first come first serve Dear Life, I hate the fact that the Oscars is just a publicized popularity contest.

Sincerely, A Comm student finally applying what she’s learned to analyze our world today Dear Life, Who Facebook messages the person

who lives above them at 1 a.m. to tell them they are doing ”naughty things” too late on Valentine’s Day? Sincerely, That’s apartment life, get used to it

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Dear Life, This is so weird … but can you have a crush on someone years after you’ve actually talked with them??

Sincerely, Fantasy crush Dear Life, Ok, seriously, all “school spirit” versus “non-school spirit” arguments aside, can we all agree that “It’s great, to be, a Laurier Golden Hawk” is a fucking terrible chant? I mean, come on. It’s boring, it’s lame, it’s just stating a fact (that’s rarely true), yet you can’t go a fucking day without hearing it or seeing it in a Facebook post.

Sincerely, O-Week shit is one thing, but it’s flat out embarassing to hear it at football games Dear Life, Another Academy Awards come and gone and still Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium gets snubbed?

What the fuck?

Sincerely, That’s how the Oscars work, right?

Dear Life, So they start a TV show called Sinbad and they don’t get the man himself to be in it? Did they somehow miss his generation-defining performance as Mr. Wheat in the 1997 cinematic masterpiece Good Burger?

Sincerely, I just don’t get Holly-weird

Look for the solution in next week’s paper

Dear Life, Fuck. The Internet has made people suck. Makes me wish I was born in the 1800s.

Sincerely, #YOLO (#irony)

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10 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

FEATURES

Features Editor Colleen Connolly cconnolly@thecord.ca

Old Books in a New Age Visiting used bookstores around the area, Features Editor Colleen Connolly investigates their sound position in a digital world and what the future holds for the written word

Floor to ceiling makeshift shelves, tightly packed with an ancient, musty medium, line the quiet, crowded rooms of Old Goat Books in Uptown Waterloo. These volumes have supplied Michael Loubert’s basic income for the past 12 years since he and his former co-owner Scott Wicken first started the business after gaining experience working at Second Look Books down the street.

Managing a used bookstore stands apart from entrepreneurship, however, because it is not substantially lucrative but provides fulfillment in ulterior ways.

“An entrepreneur is somebody whose involved in capital and manipulation of capital and there really isn’t a lot of that in the used book trade,” said Loubert. “I mean you can play around with your stock and try to make some money but the returns are pretty marginal.

“If you got into the trade to make a ton of money, you’re in the wrong trade. It’s not going to provide that for you. It’s going to provide you with a lot of work satisfaction.”

Owning a used bookstore can offer a comfortable living in a modern technological era, one that independent bookstores, who are forced to compete with the likes of Amazon and Chapters, have not been able to withstand.

Prior to teaching print communication and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University, Gregory Cameron managed a bookstore in Halifax during the late 1980s when book super stores were on the rise and forcing smaller stores out of business.

“It wasn’t really whether or not people were buying books that drove the small bookstores out of business, it was the amount of profit per book,” said Cameron.

People were still buying books, but larger stock and variety had them flocking to chains such as Indigo and Chapters, where they bought their publications for a fixed price, despite the profit that the company was receiving due to having bought the books in bulk. Being smaller in size, independent book stores were forced to pay more for less and could not keep up.

But used bookstores can bargain their own price.

“You can’t really compare used bookstores to a retail bookstore because the situations are completely different. I’m not buying books from a whole sale distributer, I’m buying them from the public,” said Loubert.

Loubert acquires most of the books in his shop from locals who have brought them in and received a small sum in return, or even an amount of store credit.

Tom Konyndyk however, who started White Rabbit Books two years ago in the smaller market of Georgetown, Ont. has had to gather the majority of his inventory

from book sales and thrift shops.

“We’re basically just using our liberal arts education and our instincts when we look at what we want. And also, you get a feel for stuff that’s sat on the shelf,” said Konyndyk, referring to his wife and four daughters who help him run the shop and have all been to school for English, himself included.

Having to seek out what comes into his store, Konyndyk has developed a sense of what to look for and what to avoid.

“What you have to be careful of is stuff that dates rather rapidly,” he cautioned.

This includes travel books and textbooks especially. However, Konyndyk added that there’s a large market in nostalgia books, old reads that people experienced as kids, this category often intersects with collectables.

“In the used book business, there is a collectability factor,” said Konyndyk. “[But] just because a book is rare doesn’t mean it’s going to be valuable, some books are deservedly rare.”

The public’s interest in rare and old publications pushes against the surfacing threat of books being read digitally, which could have the potential to put even used bookstores out of business.

“Just in the last few years there’s been the impact of the e-book and e-readers and that’s mostly affected the best-seller mass market sale which has shrunk,” said Loubert. “I’ve shifted the focus of the store away from that and more towards the books as cultural artifacts as well as books being very interesting, they’re attractive and they furnish a room.

“Just the fact that you’re handling a book that is 50 or 60 or 100 years-old is an experience that you can’t replicate on the Internet.”

In a sense, no book can be replicated in the digital world for the experience of handling a publication as opposed to viewing it on a screen alters the experience of reading it.

“The problem with e-readers and reading from the computer is that although you can scroll to any part, flip to any part in a sense, the tactility of the position of the work that your reading in relation to the whole is lost,” said Cameron.

Simply by looking at a book, its reader is able to gauge where they are in the text and this makes it easier to stop and start or flip from one point to the next, especially in regards to research books as Cameron noted. Reading, after all he said, is a constant process of flipping.

With this technology only improving in increments, used bookstores and the big box bookstores are actually benefitting from digitization in regards to the Internet, allowing sales to occur over vast distances, providing advertising through online

catalogues and even assisting business owners in getting to know their product better as with Marg Clark, owner of The Bookworm.

The Bookworm has existed in Waterloo for over 18 years, originally a family-owned business until Clark and her husband took over nine years ago as avid readers looking to own their own business. Without much past experience, Clark has and continues to spend much of her time on the Internet researching books and becoming increasingly familiar with the industry.

Big box bookstores have especially profited from the Internet, building warehouses for the books they can’t fit in their stores and selling them online so they can place larger orders. These days, many of the warehouses contain more books than the stores.

“With something like Chapters where it’s both, they have the mega store and they have the warehouses, you go in there and you look around and it’s like advertising,” said Cameron.

The experience of being in a regular bookstore has become similar to window shopping, it is a place where people can go and take in the inventory full scale, scan titles and flip through pages, then head home to their computer and order or download their findings online at often a cheaper price.

“I think you need both, do the downloading which is great but I think you need to go to the library and see the books or go to a used bookstore and see the book,” said Clark. “I judge a lot of books by their covers and I’ll buy them based on what the cover looks like.”

Cameron predicts that there will definitely be a demand for both the digital and the physical book in the future, but the industry will certainly look different than it does at present.

“It’s very similar to vinyl. People who really love music listen to their music on vinyl … the technology of music reproduction is getting better for the computer but it’s still nowhere near the quality of vinyl,” he said.

“Books are going to become specialized in the same way a vinyl is specialized.

There’s going to be experts on books or on texts that are going to use books. People who are just reading will use e-readers or whatever is being used 50 years from now.”

For now, books, and consequently the stores that are successful at selling them, have no expiration date in sight. But there is no way of being sure what is coming.

“Really, I do think that books themselves are safe, they’re not going anywhere,” Cameron said. “They will remain a part of our world, especially the university, at least for the next generation.”

KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

• 11

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

LIFE

Life Editor Carly Basch cbasch@thecord.ca

YouTube famous

Staff Writer Scott Glaysher explains how to become an internet sensation

STEPHANIE TRUONG GRAPHICS EDITOR

Different prints, same pants

Forget snow, it’s time to hit the stores and get on board with the newest spring trend

BRIEANNE BERRY FASHION COLUMNIST

As difficult as it may be to believe now, rumour has it that we will be enjoying an early spring this year.

While I doubt that this spring weather will enter moderate temperatures until April, the preparation for spring shopping does not have to wait.

Already hitting the shelves of numerous clothing stores and gracing the pages of magazines, it’s hard to

ignore this loud fashion statement.

It’s time to pick up a pair of printed pants.

Back in September during London’s Fashion Week, designers such as Matthew Williamson, Peter Pilotto and House of Holland flooded their catwalks with colourful bottoms. And it’s slowly becoming the right season to wear them.

Printed pants are a quick and simple way to update your wardrobe and make a statement without looking tacky. Luckily for us, there are several options available.

American Eagle Outfitters has a handful of styles currently on sale with the changeover from winter to spring and H&M has dozens to choose from.

Other fast fashion outlets such as Sirens, Forever21 and Urban

Outfitters have also hopped on this spring trend and will have affordable options.

I’m a fan of basics with a twist so anything that can be worn in multiple ways is always a bonus in my opinion.

Not only can you dress these bottoms down for class; they can also be worn for a night on the town, replacing the repetitive winter uniform of dark jeans and a cute top.

While I admit that it can seem a little daunting to wear something that can easily become a “Fashion Don’t,” here’s a few tips to keep in mind: Make the print your focal point.

Unless you’re walking a runway, you don’t need big patterns on the top and the bottom to make a statement. Less is more.

Small prints, as opposed to spread out prints are more flattering, and if in doubt black and white patterns will work with anything.

If you’re feeling daring, pile on the accessories or a crazy shoe, such as an embellished slipper.

While I usually believe that you don’t need to add on, it can keep your look fresh. Just stick with a neutral face to keep from going overboard.

When in doubt, a white t-shirt will always look polished. To channel a more monochromatic look, pick a colour from within the pattern to wear on top.

Do not attempt to mix patterns, as the only people who can get away with it are models and they do not exist in classrooms.

Happy spring shopping everyone!

Start sweating the small things in life AUTUMN SMITH CORD LIFE

At a time when we are conditioned to work toward specific goals, meet high standards and recognize our achievements, it is difficult to imagine anything outside of our university bubble.

However, now more than ever is the time to celebrate the small things.

A lot of people say “don’t sweat the small stuff,” but I say that we should indeed sweat this small stuff.

What is more important now is our ability to celebrate the small things that we accomplish on a daily basis in order to remind ourselves of the good work we have put forth — whether it be measured daily, weekly or monthly.

It is so easy to become overwhelmed with the essay to write, the assignment to finish, or the presentation to prepare for.

In the midst of all of these things, stop and realize the small things you

are accomplishing every day.

The salad you ate for lunch instead of the burger you were craving, the 30-minute workout you managed to squeeze in between classes or the one class concept you finally understood; although they sound simple it still matters.

Stopping to celebrate these small things will put a smile on your face and help in accomplishing a bigger goal.

Negative energy can erupt as we get into the core of our academics.

The assignments may not provide us our best feedback, we are swamped with having things due in one week, the push for us to stay motivated until the end of the semester can feel almost impossible.

Remember the lighter things in life can alter the harder things that you need to work on and make your days turn out to be the better than expected.

Sometimes a little positive push can drive us forward to tackle the big things. Reflecting by acknowledging what you did can make tasks that seem more daunting to be a challenge that can be achieved instead of a chore you are dreading to tackle on.

Motivation is channeled by what has been done and what you can do

Ever wonder how a Korean pop singer, a British baby with a bitten finger and a man dancing through history got famous? How does 30 seconds of a Panda sneezing generate buzz internationally in a matter of hours?

With the help of YouTube, watching and participating in viral videos has become a growing interest and trend. Causing numerous people to participate whether it’s watching or uploading.

But the art of creating a viral video and what the right criteria is, can be hard to narrow down.

Some of the most notable and widespread viral videos are simply strange, unique and amusing.

Videos such as last year’s “Gangnam Style,” “Chocolate Rain,” “The Evolution of Dance” and Charlie’s bitten finger have all passed the 100 million view mark on YouTube.

The most recent viral video that has made news in several parts of the world is the “Harlem Shake.”

Despite the popularity of viral videos, the real question is how does a video get selected to become viral? What is it that makes Internet videos so vital and prominent in our culture?

Based on my own viewing, most viral videos count on the number of views one can generate. Many people feel as if the more views a video gets, the more important and noteworthy it is to watch.

This might be true, however, views are not the only thing that makes these videos important to us.

A viral video can be deemed popular and influential based on three specific criteria: 1. The video needs to reach a large age range, 2. Be a part of pop culture and 3. You can watch it on YouTube The accessibility of the video is an obvious must for the success of any video. If it isn’t easy for people to see, it won’t be significant. If the video is limited can’t reach a wide variety, it won’t have the potency and relevance to last in people’s minds.

Finally, if the video doesn’t become a cultural phenomenon for at least a short while, then odds are it won’t be classified as a must see.

Viral videos have been known to be a fun and inclusive way to connect people from across the globe.

Their humorous nature and widespread popularity prove that they are here to last. But keep in mind that views aren’t everything and there is more to a viral video than a number at the bottom of the YouTube page.

Like us on Facebook STEPHANIE TRUONG GRAPHICS EDITOR

in the future.

Adding in the smaller goals can add a boost in confidence and self-acknowledgement.

We are easily defeated when what we’ve been working for doesn’t succeed, but getting excited about the little things along the way is what makes it all worth it.

You may have to walk to school today, but appreciate the fact that it’s not pouring rain. You may have

just spent your last five dollars on a latte, but at least it was the best latte you’ve ever had.

It’s hard to recognize the good things when we are so preoccupied trying to stay afloat in the sea of university, but the challenge is clear — notice the simple things. Do you accept the challenge?

Catch Autumn’s radio show, The Healthy Hawk on Radio Laurier every Monday at 7 p.m.

12 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

LIFE

Does my face look funny?

Cord Life’s Erin Sheehan voices her disapproval of the harsh criticism ‘interfacial’ relationships has received in the media

ADELE PALMQUIST CORD INTERN

From media planning and management to account co-ordination and sales, this program offers the unique skills you will need to launch your career in an advertising or media company.

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business.humber.ca/postgrad

Follow us @cordarts

Judging appearances always starts at the face. It’s the first thing we like to analyze.

Is it weird? Is it pretty? Is it familiar? Is it funny?

What facial aesthetics determine whether or not the face that you’re staring is considered a good-looking face?

What about when two differentfaces get together and they become a couple.

Do people view them as being compatible based on their personalities that emulate from the sidewalk or do their clothes match and their looks balance each other enough to confirm that yes, they look good together.

While the show is continuous with bringing up controversial subjects, Girls tackled on the sexual taboo of combining two people together, one who apparently was way “better looking” than the other.

The episode — which turned from a disagreement on the meaning of the word “sext” between Hannah (played by creator Lena Dunham) and her manager Ray into a two-day tryst between her and the handsome doctor, Joshua (Patrick Wilson)— caused much controversy in the press.

The issue is that, the interfacial relationship seemed too unlikely to ever happen in real life.

Those who are classified as “hot” individuals are better than the average looking person. If one is exceed-

Although society may not see it, someone will notice something about you and find it intoxicating.

ingly more attractive than the other, then the idea of this couple just does not work.

The blame gets put on the person who isn’t seen as being as aesthetically pleasing as their significant other.

As a fellow “Funny Face” — somone who is beautiful, but is not considered it by society — these responses made me furious.

I have been seen as cute, adorable or “interesting.” One time my friend said I would not get a guy I liked because I was not conventionally pretty.

So when this Ted Moseby look-alike, who I thought was too good for me, said that I was attractive I, like Hannah, couldn’t believe it. In the 1957 Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn

film Funny Face, Quality Magazine tells society to “Think Pink!”. Today’s Western culture, seen in part through the media, tells us to “Think Tall,” “Think Thin,” “Think Miranda Kerr.” Society internalizes and maintains these beauty ideals by going against those who do not fit in them.

Interfacial relationships are judged immediately. Instead of focusing on the balance and overall feeling the two have with each other, people just zone in on who looks better.

How does one who has a “funny” face land a date with someone who should be a model?

Although society may not see it, someone will notice something about you and find it intoxicating.

See it for yourself first because understanding your external, as well as your internal beauty is important.

It brings confidence so when your Fred Astaire says he loves “your sunny, funny face” you won’t think of them as mad, because you know you are or will be someone’s Hepburn.

Funny is beautiful. The social constructions are the only ugly thing in our culture.

While society may try to create an attractiveness hierarchy in your relationship, as we all do from time to time, remember there is something about you, both inside and out, that makes the other person want to hold your hand.

• 13

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

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14 •

Arts

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Arts Editor Cristina Almudevar calmudevar@thecord.ca

Arts bites The latest news in entertainment David and Tilda forever

Recently, David Bowie released a music video for his latest single “The Stars (Are Out Tonight).” It stars Tilda Swinton, Bowie’s longlost twin, and a bunch of very Bowie-esque models who appear to be stalking Swinton and Bowie, an aging married couple.

The Bowie-esque models appear to represent Bowie in his younger years. It’s easy to forgive the fact that Bowie is married to his clone and is being stalked by himself because the song is so damn catchy.

wade thompson VISUAL DIRECTOR

This year at the ‘Ugh’-scars wade thompson VISUAL DIRECTOR

Ugh. It didn’t have the makings of a classic show by any means, but the 85th annual Oscars ceremony actually dwindled lower than my already modest expectations.

Starting with the announcement that Seth MacFarlane would be hosting, I knew it was just going to be one of those nights.

Before I start with the negatives though, I will admit that once it began, he was perceptively charming.

MacFarlane is a performer at heart and he does have the right aura to be a host.

His opening monologue even started out okay, and I did laugh at the Flying Nun bit, but the night ultimately slipped out of MacFarlane’s hands, as I expected it would. Jokes about Chris Brown and Mel Gibson were easy and unnecessary.

Bits featuring “celebrity boobs” and a sock-puppet rendition of Flight

seemed ripped from throwaway jokes on his TV show Family Guy, a show I haven’t cared for since I was 15.

The pieces throughout the night seemed too akin to an episode of one of MacFarlane’s animated series; a random assortment of poop humour and bad pop culture references thrown randomly at an oscillating audience to see what will stick.

My theory is that the Oscars thought they had found a personality with humour that, on paper, seemed to match Ricky Gervais, the Golden Globes host from 201112.

Gervais walked the line between funny and offensive during his stint and if people didn’t love it, it was at least water cooler fodder the next morning. This year’s Academy Awards producers must have thought that MacFarlane was the right man to mimic that sentiment for their Oscars telecast.

The problem? The Golden Globes are not the Academy Awards and Gervais’s humour does not boil down to a Comedy Central roast.

The Oscars are a classy affair. They represent prestige and elegance.

The Globes are the lesser-respected little brother who also provides a dinner because the show itself

would be boring on it’s own.

MacFarlane is also, predominantly, a TV actor. I think David Letterman proved when he hosted in 1995, that TV performers should maybe try the Emmys before jumping to a film awards show.

That being said, I will easily admit that MacFarlane was not the show’s only issue. Overall, it left me asking too many questions.

Why were Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Joseph GordonLevitt and Daniel Radcliffe in the opening? What do they have to do with this year’s awards? (Or past awards, for that matter.) Of the bunch, only Theron is a former Oscar nominee or winner.

And then William Shatner showed up. What does Captain Kirk have to do with anything? Same goes for Michelle Obama.

Why did someone think a 20-minute opening was a good idea?

Why were there only three musicals in the “musical tribute” portion of the show? I’m fairly certain that there were more memorable, albeit “non-Oscar” musicals from the past ten years.

I did think the Les Miserables cast killed it on stage, but why did a 2012 movie get that much stage time over any of its competition?

Is long, volumous “Legolas” hair now a thing? Those cinematography and visual effects winners think so.

There were five “Best Original Song” nominees, so why did we only get to hear two and a half of them?

It’s distracting to only go half in on something like that.

Was that James Bond retrospective supposed to be boring? And why was that the only montage of the night?

All in all, there were very few memorable moments from the night. Adele’s performance was wonderful, as always. Daniel DayLewis was the only absolutely inspired speech. And Jennifer Lawrence falling up the stairs will forever be enshrined into Academy lore.

But the host, the set and the presenters seemed to fall flat. None of it seemed to make a lasting impression. And while I must admit that I’m not sure it was as poor as the James Franco fiasco of 2010, it was still as uneven, perhaps more so.

The Oscars is about class. While the awards themselves have diminished to a self-referential joke, at least you should be able to count on the ceremony for some entertainment, and the 85th Oscars provided little in that category.

Back to the drawing board, Academy. Might I suggest Kevin Spacey?

Kris Jenner is crying tears of joy right now

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are having a girl. The only person who is more thrilled than Kris Jenner is Blue Ivy who has been gifted a lifelong frenemy. Maybe Blue and Beyonce can take this terribly dressed child under their wing and help little Kash Kow. But more likely than not, it’ll just be another stupid “K” named spawn.

Who is the real Suri Cruise?

Apparently Suri Cruise is in some form of (probably imaginary) danger as she officially has a body double.

Seriously? The kid is six. There isn’t a lot of trouble she could be in unless she’s angered the great god Xenu somehow and Tom (Crazy) Cruise is trying to distract him. It all makes sense now.

Does murder run in their family?

Carl Pistorius, the elder brother of alleged murderer Oscar Pistorius, has recently been charged with murder as well. According to reports, he was driving very recklessly and hit and killed a cyclist. Even better, the prosecutor to defend him was also allegedly charged with murder.

This just sounds like a set-up for the world’s worst joke.

–Compiled by Cristina Almudevar

WLUSP is hiring!

We’re still looking for an HR Manager for the 2013-14 term Find the application online at wlusp.com/volunteer

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

ARTS

• 15

Survivor fails to ‘outlast’ competition Staff Writer Scott Glaysher questions the relevance of the reality TV pioneer “Outwit, outplay and outlast.”

Sound familiar? Does this catchphrase make you think of your preteen TV habits?

If you answered “yes” then you have undoubtedly witnessed the once popular reality game show known as Survivor. If you answered “no,” then let me bring you up to speed.

Survivor is a reality game show that maroons a group of strangers in a deserted location where they must find food, water, fire and shelter themselves.

On top of surviving, they compete in challenges to earn either a enticing reward, or immunity from expulsion from the game in the next successive votes for elimination.

The show started off with a bang.

For its first 11 seasons, Survivor was amongst the top ten most watched shows in American TV for that time.

It was commonly considered the leader of American reality TV, because it was the first highly rated and profitable reality show on broadcast television in the USA and became something of a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s.

However, with the show’s 26th season premiere this past week (Survivor: Caramoan), it doesn’t seem to have the same impactful effect.

If we look at the numbers, we can clearly see that Survivor is not the show it used to be.

Last week around 14 million

viewers watched the season premiere. But those numbers can’t match or even top American Idol ratings, which have an average of over 25 million viewers every week. In its first two seasons, Survivor averaged over 28 million viewers.

That’s double the viewership it averages now.

Survivor’s quality and creativity has also plummeted significantly. It was once compelling to watch because it was different from other reality shows. Their unique concept and interactive characters made it a front runner in reality TV. The shock value of the show is also gone. Their ideas are getting old and it seems to be the same storyline season in and season out.

Survivor has also fallen victim to shows that focus more on dating and talent.

These shows are the most popular shows on television right now.

Viewers now prefer watching Simon Cowell rip singers apart than see people on an island eating coconuts and making fires for a million dollars.

There is no doubt that Survivor has been a huge part of TV legacy but since their first few seasons, the feeling just isn’t the same. The show must radically change their structure or watch their viewership fade away.

Sorry Survivor, the tribe has spoken.

DEREK WEIDL CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

One love, one exhibit KATE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER

Dogs at play ‘Pat the Dog’ workshop gives local talent an opportunity to workshop ideas CRISTINA ALMUDEVAR ARTS EDITOR

Nestled in the heart of downtown Kitchener on Queen Street is The Walper Hotel, vestige of hotels of days past. It’s not the first place you would think to play host to an avant garde theatre troupe.

The Walper is home to the third annual event of the Pat the Dog theatre troupe, entitled Piece/Meal, where playwrights go through an intensive one to six day workshop.

During the workshop, the playwright works with up to three dramaturges (drama speak for researcher) who help improve the play.

The workshop then culminates with a staged reading that is open to the general public.

This style of workshopping is described as an incubator process.

Lisa O’Connell, the current artistic director of Pat the Dog, stresses that they are not a producing company, but facilitators of a process.

They workshop the play to make it as tight as possible; their aim is to help the playwrights tell their stories. “[Pat the Dog] started as a result of a play-writing program that was closed that used to be in Kitchener,” O’Connell explains.

“It had to cut a whole bunch of programs and the first program it cut was the play-writing unit, which is not unusual. Because we had had some success with the playwrights in that unit, the Ontario Arts Counsel grants officer called me and [she] encouraged me to write a grant to keep the unit open as a collective.”

Currently home to more than 200 playwrights—many of whom have worn awards—and operating from offices in Kitchener-Waterloo and Sudbury, the Pat the Dog playwright

development centre has thrived in the six years since O’Connell wrote her first grant.

A playwright developing centre deals with the research and development aspect of playwriting. For a play to be written, it often takes a team one to seven years from the first draft to the final performance.

This is where Pat the Dog comes in to help. The team assists established or emerging writers.

“We could have continued only with the [big] names but what are [we] doing with the next generation of playwrights?” O’Connell explains about Pat the Dog’s decision to open its doors to both developing and already well-known playwrights.

“The established playwrights are in their forties and fifties creating amazing and important work, but if you’re only serving people that have already made it then you’re not assisting the people who are up-andcoming. We try to serve both as much as we can.”

“It can take ten years to build a voice as an emerging playwright.

The more you work, the more you write, the better you get,” O’Connell says.

Piece/Meal will feature a public staged reading and a meal to compliment the theme of the play.

A public staged reading greatly differs from the typical play. It offers a bare-boned look at an upcoming play without the polished look that costumes, a completed set and heavy rehearsals would give to the final product.

The first of five monthly staged performative readings will begin with Jessica Anderson’s My Purple Wig on Wednesday March 20.

Tickets are a suggested $15. For more information visit piecemeal2013.eventbrite.ca.

35 years ago, Bob Marley’s message of love and unity radiated through Jamaica during the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston. Mid-performance, he brought the Jamaican Prime Minister and the opposition leader on stage and joined their hands together over his head in a gesture of peace.

This week, THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener will be opening an exhibit called One Love: The Bob Marley Exhibition, celebrating his life, music and legacy. The exhibit coincides with this important 35year anniversary in both Marley and Jamaica’s history, which occurred on April 22, 1978.

“I’m really interested and delighted to have Bob Marley’s message here...in how we can take it to younger children. Love, peace and anti-bullying—we’re working on that very hard through our programming,” said David Marskell, CEO of THEMUSEUM. “It was a turning point in Kingston and in Jamaica’s history, because it was very rough times, and Bob brought the two together on the stage. It’s pretty emotional, you can see that in the exhibit.”

However, THEMUSEUM is hoping the exhibit is going to show the community more about Marley.

Aside from being exciting for fans of Marley’s music, this unique experience is also a chance for people to discover new things about him, while still enjoying his music that has transcended generations.

“This is more or less a retrospective of Bob’s life, but we really wanted to show other aspects of who Bob Marley was. Not just the musician, but also Bob Marley the man— the family man, the father, the religious person,” said Ali Stuebner, guest curator from

the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, where the exhibit was created.

One Love features photographs and artifacts that help demonstrate the lesser-known, personal side of the musician, that have come straight from the Marley family, friends and musical collaborators.

Artifacts vary from stage outfits Marley wore, to personal photographs provided by his family, to the highlight of the exhibit: his modified Gibson Les Paul guitar.

“Very few pieces of his actually remain, or are known, so his family has told us. Apparently he didn’t really have a lot of stuff when he was alive—he gave away almost everything that he had. He just didn’t really hang on to a lot of things,” said Steubner This is the Canadian debut of the exhibit, which is part of an exclusive three-city world tour. Before coming to THEMUSEUM, it was featured at the Summer Olympics in London, and it will continue on the Miami after its time in Kitchener.

Since his death in 1981, Marley’s fan base has grown exponentially because of his music, beliefs and legacy of “one love.”

Now, residents of Kitchener-Waterloo have the opportunity to explore his life through artifacts seen by so few, and younger generations have

the chance to experience his music and learn from his philosophy.

More than 30 years after his death, Marley’s message of love, peace and unity is still as relevant as when he was alive, and his music is still just as popular.

“I think its just going to be flat out fun for people who get into reggae and remember the history and the music itself. Its a neat little treasure we’ve got here, I’m really excited about it,” said Marskell.

One Love: The Bob Marley Exhibition will run at THEMUSEUM from March 1 until Sept. 2.

16 •

Editorial

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Opinion Editor Devon Butler dbutler@thecord.ca

WLUSU keeping students in the dark The vast majority of students pay their mandatory student fees to the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union begrudgingly, without ever knowing exactly where that money goes or how it is being used.

However, in paying a fee to WLUSU, every student at Laurier becomes a stakeholder in the organization.

And while those in positions of power within the Students’ Union like to say that every student is very much a part of the union, it appears the vast majority of the organization’s stakeholders are being left in the dark.

One look at WLUSU’s auditor’s report for the 201112 year, released following the annual general meeting — which occurs in the shadow of the elections for the organization’s president and board of directors — reveals that the organization has run up considerable debt.

Currently WLUSU owes the university over $4 million and other institutions over $2 million.

However, this is something WLUSU appears to be doing their best to keep from the average student – or, stakeholder. Financial statements for 2011-12 are posted quietly amid the chaos of the election, any financial information from years prior is unavailable on the Students’ Union website and the organization’s board of directors rarely discusses any financial matters publicly. While the board did briefly discuss the audit report at the Jan. 25 meeting, only two directors voiced concerns about the draft version of the statement before the board went on to another matter.

The sheer amount of time the 2012-13 board of directors has spent in camera — a portion of a board meeting not open to the public — is troubling. In camera sessions have become a regular, if not frequent part of WLUSU board meetings, often times occupying the bulk of the meeting.

If it is these worrisome financial matters they are discussing, how is it fair to leave the many students that pay into the organization out of the conversation?

While it is understandable that WLUSU may be trying to avoid worrying their stakeholders as well as to a degree saving face, matters of this magnitude should be open to all students. WLUSU needs to be accountable to students. Discreetly posting complicated financial statements online and burying critical information in exhaustive agenda packages and minutes is not transparency.

It’s time students were given the chance to understand where their money is going.

citizens’ mobile privacy threatened Last week when the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled that police officers have the authority to search a cellphone that is not password protected upon an arrest, Canadian citizens realized the diminishing privacy we have in the face of the law.

While this will only apply to individuals who are arrested, it still creates a blurred boundary surrounding what is classified as a “thing” and what is a person’s private property. If police find a person’s front door open, they do not have the right to enter the home, let alone search it without a warrant. However, if you are arrested and searched by a police officer and your cellphone happens to not be password protected, its contents can easily become public knowledge.

What is so threatening about this possibility is the significant amount of personal information we carry around on our phones. In this day and age with Twitter, Facebook, photos, texting and e-mails available on mobile devices, it is increasingly easier to access a multitude of personal platforms.

Considering how much personal information most of us store on our mobile devices, it is reasonable to see having your cellphone searched as a greater breach of privacy than having a police officer enter your home.

While it is worth mentioning that this ruling can be viewed as positive, as it could potentially reveal evidence of a crime, it still blurs the regulations surrounding what is and is not acceptable police behaviour.

Since this ruling allows police to search the cellphone of an arrested person, at what point will they rule it acceptable to search the cellphone of a suspicious person?

For these reasons, it is important we understand our rights as citizens, especially when it comes to the basics of our right to privacy.

–The Cord Editorial Board These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor. The arguments made may reference any facts that have been made available through interviews, documents or other sources. The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of The Cord’s volunteers, staff or WLUSP. The Cord is published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications.

Contact Emily Frost, WLUSP President and Publisher 75 University Ave.W, Waterloo ON N2L 3C5

stephanie truong gRAPhIcS EDITOR

Our parents are people too It’s easy to take our parents for granted, but they deserve appreciation

OPINION EDITOR

...living apart often leads you to forget to appreciate them not just as parents, but as people of value.

While many cultures tend to honour their elders and praise them for their knowledge and experience, contemporary western culture often views our older population as nothing more than an embarrassing burden.

Similarly, when we consider the concept of “respecting our elders,” we tend to think about having to thank our shrivelled grandmothers for their tacky presents or loathingly eat their undercooked potatoes. However, rarely do we ever consider applying this concept to our own parents.

Nearly every awkward teenager has gone to great lengths in order to protect their image by pretending they have no parents.

This often entailed being dropped off at school around the block, cringing when you had to go in public with them and ensuring you never, I mean never, visited a movie theatre or mall with them on a weekend.

It was easier as an insecure 14-yearold to pretend a stork gracefully laid you on a stranger’s doorstep than to admit you have old parents who discipline you, govern you and most embarrassingly, love you.

Once you age and mature, the embarrassment may subside and you feel it has become more acceptable to enter the public sphere in their presence.

This realization however, often

accompanies the time when you leave the nest.

While you may feel more comfortable acknowledging their existence, living apart often leads you to forget to appreciate them not just as parents, but as people of value.

Even once you’re in university, there is a considerable stigma surrounding the relationship you have with your parents.

There is a fine line between spending time with your family and becoming a complete loser.

It would be more acceptable to spend a Wednesday night eating dinner with your parents than spending New Year’s Eve celebrating together.

In the midst of this social stigma, most 20 year olds feel compelled to identify themselves as an individual and often forget to appreciate the selfless care their parents have continued to provide during the course of your life.

We tend to rely on our parents primarily for financial support and

Devon butler

following that, random favours, rides and other problems we know they will be able to solve for us.

It isn’t until much later in life —perhaps when you have a family of your own—that you realize just how important they are and unfortunately, this realization often comes far too late.

Witnessing my own parents struggle to accept the deterioration of their parents has awakened an appreciation most people my age unfortunately lack.

When you observe the passing of a grandparent and have to slowly watch your grandmother lose her memories and basic understanding of mundane activities, you realize just how precious and fleeting the time you have with your parents is.

While the inner 14-year-old in us may feel compelled to reject our parents and limit the time we spend with them, we need to remember, parents are people too.

They have lived a life full of experiences that give them the qualification to give us good advice, problem solve and tell stories.

We can learn from their mistakes, but also, get inspired by their carefree past of hitchhiking and travel to take risks of our own.

It may be easier to take our parents for granted than to take the time to appreciate them. But, it’s important to realize that they won’t always be around for us to ignore.

So don’t feel ashamed by watching movies on Friday night with your family rather than bar hopping.

You may only be young once, but you also only have a select few precious years to enjoy the company of your parents. letters@thecord.ca

• 17

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

OPINION

Opinion Editor Devon Butler dbutler@thecord.ca

Talking mental health:

Relationships HEATHER LANDELLS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR

Nearly all of us have observed, or even experienced, a romantic relationship that didn’t seem right.

Maybe you had a friend who seemed smothered by her jealous boyfriend, or were surprised to hear the way a friend spoke to her partner.

Maybe you wondered why that person stayed in the relationship or it helped you clarify how you want to be treated by the future people you date. We all want to feel heard, respected and supported and that is exactly what a healthy relationship should do for you.

A healthy relationship is based on honesty and trust. You should feel safe to make decisions freely, and should extend that right to your boyfriend or girlfriend.

When you value fairness, openness and equality in your relationships, you convey trust and high regard; everyone deserves a relationship that makes them feel that way. When you work toward open communication intentionally, you ensure that your partner can share their true feelings with confidence.

Everyone has a unique identity and personality, and your relationships should not undermine your confidence or self-esteem. When communication slows or starts to break down, it can easily become miscommunication.

Miscommunication is one way that a healthy relationship can turn into an unhealthy one. Every now and then it is important to examine your relationship and how it makes you feel to detect any gradual changes; it’s a slippery slope from a healthy relationship to an unhealthy one and into an abusive one.

Negative changes that become the norm can lead to acceptance of a relationship that isn’t healthy for you.

Just because you’ve developed unhealthy patterns in your relationship, doesn’t mean things can’t change. As long as you both still

trust and respect each other and want what is best, negative patterns can be resolved in a comfortable and healthy way.

Sit down and talk about how you are really feeling. Don’t make accusations, instead use ‘I’ statements like “I feel rejected when you want to go out with your friends instead of me” or ‘“ I feel hurt when you text other people while I am talking.”

These statements give your significant other the chance to understand you better and the opportunity to express themselves instead of being defensive.

Your partner might explain that maintaining a social life outside of your relationship is important, this gives you the opportunity to be supportive rather than working against it.

When two people respect each other and value each other’s autonomy and individuality, an unhealthy relationship is not likely to become abusive. A relationship is abusive when someone is being controlled or threatened by the other person.

There are many examples of abusive behaviour.

If one person suggests that something bad will happen if the other doesn’t comply with his or her decisions, for instance. Or if one person feels intimidated by certain looks, actions or gestures from the other.

Other signs that you are in an abusive relationship are if your social life is being monitored or controlled, if you are being coerced into having sex against your will, if you are being teased or ridiculed in a way that makes you feel bad or if you are being treated like you are subservient in any way rather than equal in the relationship.

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, it’s important to get help. If you feel unsafe you can contact the Waterloo Region Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Centre or go to the emergency room at St. Mary’s Hospital. You can also always call or drop into Counselling Services for support in dealing with any aspect of your relationships.

Heather Landells is a counsellor with WLU counselling services letters@thecord.ca

ADELE PALMQUIST CORD INTERN

Balance vital to success CARLY BASCH LIFE EDITOR

When I was 16 years old I learned the most valuable word in the English language. It was exposed during my orientation for becoming a counselor in training (CIT) at the camp I had gone to for the past nine years. Huddled at an indoor volleyball court we were told to sit as our coordinator stood to introduce himself.

I was impatient and uncomfortable with the wet sand getting in between my toes and ruining my new pair of jeans. I didn’t care what he had to say, I just wanted to eat pizza and mingle with my friends. But the moment he started talking we all focused in on him.

“Guys, I have come up with our motto this upcoming summerBalance” he announced. We giggled when he asked us to acknowledge the word and incorporate it into our staff positions. Little did I know this motto was going to become the motto of my life.

The word “balance” was one I had

always utilized during my childhood. It was the word that prevented me from messing up my pirouettes during dance rehearsals or made me able to get down the ski slopes without wiping out.

Balance was just a physical word added on to my activities.

But my coordinator wasn’t focused on whether or not I could balance while turning across a dance floor, he meant something much bigger. I didn’t think it had much meaning or importance to my life other than the physics of my own gravity.

That all changed when I got to university. Balance became the word that defined the biggest challenge that I would earn besides my degree. I used that word to help me make sure that I got enough groceries to feed myself while maintaining good hygiene.

It taught me to juggle my courses while making sure I reconnected with my friends and family. It helped comfort friends who were sobbing and needed help because they were scared or felt insecure. It was the word that finally got me out of my bed after suffering a terrible anxiety attack. In fact, it gets me out of my bed every single day of my life and wanting to move forward.

The scariest part of acknowledging the importance of this word is not knowing how to utilize it fully.

It’s more valuable than your university degree. It’s the connection and struggle you try to handle as you take on more responsibility. It’s the balance of learning, of being social, setting goals, love and trying to get a hold on your life.

That’s what we must learn when we are shipped off to our campuses and immersed in academia, living and experiencing new chapters in our life. It’s how we handle ourselves and try to figure out that balance.

I have yet to master this word and confidently say that I know how to balance. No one knows how to do it; we’re just trying to figure it out, one life lesson at a time.

Since that summer, I have never seen my coordinator nor ever thanked him for teaching me the most important word I have carried with me throughout my life. If only I knew then, as I wiped the wet sand off my pants, grabbed a slice of pizza and laughed with my friends as we were getting ready for our big summer term as the “CITs of 2006,” that his motto has saved and shaped my life.

Instead, I carry it now and remember that even in the scariest moments of our lives, everything is going to be okay. We just need to learn how to balance it better. letters@thecord.ca

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THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Liberal studies an important discipline

While there is pressure to study what will secure you a job, humanities subjects encourage critical thought

DON MORGENSON COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR

Certainly no one needs to remind students that job hunting and employment opportunities are not exactly rich in these recession-prone times. And for me, a very outspoken advocate of liberal learning, such a state does not bode well for students of the humanities.

Students feel that they must study a discipline that can lead rather directly to employment; they pursue what is “functional” in terms of their career aspirations.

In some universities, there already exists a 50 percent drop in the number of liberal arts students and more worrying, such a trend appears likely to continue. We have seen the same tendency in the past when recessions or depressions hit the nation’s economy.

In my own limited academic history, I can remember when the study of the humanities used to be the primary reason to go to university at all. Desperately starving for national profit worldwide, many systems of education are ignoring those very skills, essential to keeping democracies vibrant and alive.

What democracies need are fully developed citizens who can think for themselves, criticize pernicious traditions and customs and understand another’s experience, achievements as well as suffering.

In the current emphases in our schools, we are in danger of losing that focus on the creative and

CRiStiNa RuCCEtta FILE PHOTO

Studies in the humanities give students a chance to critically think and examine their interior lives.

imaginative aspects, a focus on inquiry-based thinking, while neglecting those faculties of cognition and imagination that make us fundamentally human.

The natural sciences and social sciences at their best, can be pursued with critical inquiry and imagination. By searching critical thought, empathetic understanding of human experiences of many different kinds and understanding of the complexity of the world we live in, a world in which we all face each other across wide various expanses of culture, nationality and territory.

While greater knowledge cannot guarantee wise behavior, ignorance can certainly engender ruthless behavior. Citizenship requires the ability to assess historical evidence, to think critically about economic principles, to compare conflicting views of justice, appreciate a foreign language and culture and confront the complexities of the world’s religions.

Some years ago, while I was chair of the department of psychology at WLU, the department was in the midst of a radical curriculum change and we were encouraged to bring

to a faculty meeting suggestions for a new set of guidelines, even requirements.

I brought what amounted to my own classical education, including philosophy, language, literature, the natural sciences as well as the social sciences. It amuses me today to remember that the department voted against my suggested requirements, 20-1. So much for a liberal learning orientation.

What I do remember and continues to puzzle me, is that after the meeting, some of my colleagues whispered to me that their own

education was very similar to the one I had just tabled and had been defeated resoundingly.

The humanities encourage students to examine thoroughly their interior lives. The students’ first year is an amalgam of different courses, they are exposed to a variety of perspectives because, it is thought, such courses stimulate them to think and argue for themselves, rather than simply deferring to ironclad tradition and artificial authority, such is vital today as we live in a world increasingly polarized by ethnic, religious and moral conflicts.

The unexamined life poses some serious problems. Such an unreflective state can lead to confusion regarding personal goals; people may not examine themselves and their beliefs, and may be easily influenced by others (and our world has many demagogue seeking disciples); finally, such people may treat others without respect.

The most important contributions of the arts and the humanities to life, during school and after, is developing the students’ emotional and imaginative resources. Through imagination, we are able to perceive the full humanness of others, without which our daily encounters will be superficial at best or at worst, be demeaning and dehumanizing.

As Harvard University’s President Drew Faust, put it: “Human beings need meaning, understanding and perspective, as well as jobs. The question should not be whether we can afford to believe in such purposes in these times, but whether we can afford not to.”

Don Morgenson is a professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University letters@thecord.ca

Pope resignation could give Catholic Church hope aLEX REiNHaRt OPINION COLUMNIST

A few weeks ago now, as I am sure you all know, Pope Benedict XVI announced he would resign his leadership of the Catholic church.

Would it be too ironic for an atheist to proclaim “Praise the Lord?”

For the first time in nearly 600 years, the Pope has resigned his position. For some unknown reason, much of the world saw this as a scandalous, somehow suspicious resignation.

As most of my peers are probably

already aware, I have never been a big fan of the Catholic church, nor any organized religion for that matter.

Personally, I view Pope Benedict’s resignation as a potential new opportunity for a stagnant organization.

To say that the Pope is leaving his position at a time when the Catholic church is suffering would be a massive understatement.

To say that the current situation regarding sexual abuse within the church has been damning, would be a gross understatement.

As such, the current situation has the potential to, dare I say, resurrect the faith. Given that Pope Benedict was a rather hard-line leader, few people expected any sort of revolution in the Catholic perspective on contentious issues such as gay marriage.

The current situation has the potential to, dare I say, resurrect the faith.

A new leader has the potential to change a great deal of doctrine within the faith.

It is a well-known fact that societal views towards gay marriage, and those of the church, are continually diverging.

While it is unreasonable to expect a complete reversal of Catholic

doctrine on the topic, perhaps a revised outlook on the topic would help lead some sheep back to the flock.

Likewise, the Catholic church now has the opportunity to investigate the ever-increasing allegations of sexual abuse.

While Pope Benedict attempted to keep the entire scandal as quiet as possible, it has not only been ineffective, but unconstructive.

If a new Pope is willing to investigate these allegations, and take the proper legal recourse, it would aid the church down the long road to recovery.

Undoubtedly, the aforementioned examples are only a few small instances; however, no one can deny the great many hurdles the church faces if it wishes to survive in our modern world.

A newly elected Pope provides the

opportunity to bring about change, and the Catholic church should take full advantage of the situation.

While many people have attempted to speculate as to the reasoning behind Pope Benedict’s resignation, I do not view this as important.

A man in failing health, at the head of a failing organization; the reasoning seems logical, which is surprising, given the nature of the church.

Personally, I would have no problem seeing the church fail. Given their sordid past, and the current scandals, it might be better for everyone if it did.

I know the Catholic church probably hates change more than any organization in the world, but with any luck, they can finally leave their backwards views behind and join logic in the 21st century. letters@thecord.ca

• 19

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, fEBruArY 27, 2013

SportS

Sports Editor Shelby Blackley sblackley@thecord.ca

Basketball teams eliminated SHELBY BLACKLEY SPOrTS EDITOr

Wilfrid Laurier men’s basketball head coach Peter Campbell looked back on the 2012-13 season after Wednesday night’s 81-75 loss to the Brock Badgers.

“If you’d said in September that we were going to finish exactly where we finished last year with this team compared to last year’s team, you’d have said no way,” he said.

In the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West quarterfinal last week, Laurier hosted the Badgers after finishing fourth in the OUA West, winning four of their last five contests.

It was quite the surprise for the Hawks after posting a 2-6 record before the winter break, with their only wins coming against the Toronto Varsity Blues and the York Lions.

But after the Badgers failed to secure home court advantage in the final week and the Hawks dominated the Western Mustangs, WLU played the surprising host to a first-round playoff game.

However, in a game where the Hawks had an eight-point lead, Brock was able to climb back and advance to the OUA West semifinal.

The loss ends the Hawks’ season, however with everyone potentially returning for Laurier, Campbell will focus on improving the depth of the team.

“I don’t think we had a great season,” he said. “We struggled a lot.

There a lot of things that we didn’t do well, but we got better over the course of the season and I think with everybody coming back, if they make a decision to get better, we’ll put them through some situations

CHAD LEITCH LAurIEr ATHLETICS

Max Allin tries to drive the ball down the court during Wednesday’s OUA West quarterfinal game.

so they can get better and we should be a better basketball team come October.” “[It’ll be] just another year for me,” added fourth-year star Max Allin, who in the final game of the year played a full 40 minutes and recorded 23 points and eight rebounds.

“I’ll just go home and train and get as good as I can and hopefully help this team win next year.”

As for the women’s team, the Hawks finished fifth in the OUA West and travelled to London for the OUA West quarterfinal against

Western on Wednesday night.

In their third meeting in less than two weeks, the Mustangs and Hawks again played down to the wire, matching nearly point-for-point.

However, the fourth-seeded Mustangs defeated Laurier 58-54 to advance to the OUA West semifinal and finish the Hawks’ season.

The loss came just four days after Laurier pulled out a one point win off a basket by fifth-year Amber Hillis with 12.1 seconds remaining on the clock versus those same

Mustangs.

“I think for us, it’s consistency,” women’s head coach Paul Falco said. “You can see that when we’re good, we can play with pretty much anybody. But it’s a matter of doing it consistency for 40 minutes.

“Obviously we take some confidence from [the win against Western], the way we battled back late in that fourth quarter to get the victory.”

Laurier will only lose two members of their squad, including Hillis and fourth-year Alena Luciani.

Daniels signs pro contract For the second time in his hockey career, Ryan Daniels is heading to the CHL. Only this time, he’ll be a professional.

On Tuesday it was announced that Daniels signed a pro contract with the Central Hockey League’s (CHL) Missouri Mavericks. Before Laurier, Daniels was a standout in a different CHL (the Canadian Hockey League) with Saginaw Spirit and Peterborough Petes, before being drafted in the fifth round of the NHL draft by the Ottawa Senators.

“I’m very happy to have signed a pro contract as it was something that was very important to me in order to finish off my career,” Daniels wrote in an e-mail from Missouri.

Daniels arrived at Laurier before the 2009-10 season and after a year splitting time, he emerged as a star in his second year. In 2010-11, Daniels earned Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West MVP and goaltender of the year honours, as well being named a first-team all-star and team MVP. He was named an OUA second-team all-star and team MVP in 2011-12.

His career record with the Hawks was 43-50, with a career save percentage of .921 and goals against average of 2.96 with five shutouts.

Daniels added that Laurier head coach Greg Puhalski even helped set up the opportunity with Missouri.

Signing what he called a “standard CHL player’s contract” with Missouri, Daniels will come into the fold as the team’s back-up goalie.

– Justin Fauteux

‘Experience’ year for WLu curling SHELBY BLACKLEY SPOrTS EDITOr

It was a year of learning for Wilfrid Laurier curling, as both the men and women’s seasons came to an end last weekend.

From Feb. 14–18, the Hawks competed at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) curling championships in Guelph. Both teams finished with a 3-3 record through round robin play and did not advance to the semifinals. The men’s team finished third in their pool while the women finished fourth.

The men’s team, consisting of skip Aaron Squires, vice Fraser Reid, second Spencer Nuttall and lead Joel Waters, defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 8-5 before falling to the Waterloo Warriors 3-1, the Brock Badgers 5-4 and the Trent Excalibur 6-5. Trent and Waterloo advanced from the pool.

Although Laurier’s men’s team has been trying to find their niche in the past few seasons, it was the first time in three years that the women’s title was not brought back to WLU. In 2011-12, Laurier curling was dominated by the team of skip Laura Crocker, vice Sarah Wilkes, second Cheryl Kreviazuk and lead Jen Gates, who won the OUA championship, the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship and the Kariuzawa International Curling Championships in Japan in 2012.

However, despite following last year’s heavyweight team, women’s head coach Maurice Wilson insists that having a target on their backs is just another factor in Laurier’s game.

“They’re still Laurier and we’ve had a lot of success in the last couple years,” he said. “[But] I kind of always look at it this way: we may have a target on our backs, being Laurier, but if they’re looking at the target on our backs they’re not looking at the target on the other end that they should be looking at. You just need to take advantage of it.”

The Hawks welcomed three new members to the team this year, with only Kreviazuk returning. Secondyear Carly Howard served as skip for first-year vice Kerilynn Mathers, first-year second Evangeline Fortier and second-year Kreviazuk.

After being eliminated from the tournament in a 6-5 loss in the final round robin game to the Carleton Ravens, Wilson and Howard both emphasized that this year’s OUA championship was a learning experience for the newly-molded Hawks.

This is the first year that this set of players have played together.

“It’s a much younger team, not quite as experienced, but there’s only one way to get experience and that’s go out and play the game,” Wilson said. “I thought they showed a lot of courage and skill this week.”

“We have tons of time,” Howard said of her team’s experience. “This was our first year together as a team so it was just an experience this year and see how far we could go.

For Howard, moving forward is her main goal.

“It doesn’t matter who came before you, you just have to play your own game and do as best as you can,” added Howard. “Whatever they did doesn’t matter right now and I have to try as best as I can.”

thecord.ca

20 •

THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

sports

All PhOTOS BY KAtE

turnEr PhOTOgRAPhY mANAgER

Hawks stunned in semifinal loss SHELBY BLACKLEY SPORTS EDITOR

Fiona Lester stood up tall, choked back her tears and spoke into the microphone.

“I don’t know,” the fourth-year captain managed to get out, “I really couldn’t tell you. I think everyone played as hard as they could, but it just didn’t happen.”

After coming back to tie the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women’s hockey semifinal series against the fourth-seeded Western Mustangs one night earlier, the first-seeded Hawks came home Sunday night with every intention of winning the deciding game three and moving on to face the third-seeded Queen’s Gaels in the championship.

But after five consecutive penalties in the first period, a stellar performance by Western netminder

Kelly Campbell — who was spectacular all series — and a bouncing puck in front of Laurier’s net, Western would put the series away with a 1-0 win, eliminating the Hawks from the playoffs.

“I had no idea, but, it was definitely not where I was expecting that puck to bounce which is tough, but that happens and you’ve got to be ready for it,” Lester said.

“The third period we were playing a 0-0 game and you’re playing for one bounce,” head coach Rick Osborne said.

“We had a ton of bounces around their net. They’ve got a great team and a great goaltender and they got the bounce and made it pay off.”

This is the second time in three years that Laurier has been eliminated in the semifinals of the OUA playoffs after a streak of sevenstraight provincial championships.

However, this will be the first time

since the 2002-03 season that Wilfrid Laurier will not be at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships.

“My hats go off to them,” Osborne said of Western and their performance. “It’s their party tonight.”

Laurier gave up the first game of the series Thursday night with a subpar performance, losing 2-0 at home.

Saturday night at Western, the Hawks played a do-or-die game and defeated the Mustangs 2-0 to force game three.

Osborne stressed that the Hawks playing with only three lines throughout the playoffs was a factor in their performance.

“We probably had 60, 70 per cent of our players that were just real warriors out there and there’s still a small percentage that we kind of had a boot camp in the second half and that eventually does come back to

bite you,” he said.

The Hawks have five players graduating this year. Lester will graduate after four years with the Hawks, recording seven goals and 12 assists, for a total of 19 points, and has won two OUA championships.

She has been named an OUA firstteam all-star twice, a CIS academic all-Canadian three times and won the Luke Fusco Academic Athletic Achievement award last year.

“It’s been amazing. I can’t believe it’s over,” Lester said of her tenure at WLU. “But it’s been a great four years and each and every team member every year has been awesome to have as a teammate and a friend and I’m going to miss it.”

Also graduating are fifth-year Caitlin Muirhead and fourth-years Brittany Crago, Paula Lagamba and Maureen Mommersteeg.

“The people that are walking

out the door have such unbelievable character. The work ethic that’s walking out the door is going to be really tough to replace. You don’t replace a Fiona Lester, a Crago, a Muirhead, a Lagamba, a Mommersteeg ... you just don’t replace those players with players moving up,” Osborne said.

Osborne explained that he is looking for “well-conditioned, dedicated, fast and tough players” for next year’s edition of the Hawks.

He also mentioned that forward Megan Howe, a transfer from Oswego State in Western New York who had to sit out this season due to the CIS transfer rule, would join the team.

“You’re going to see a different type of style from Laurier next year,” he said.

“It’s going to be four lines deep and it’s going to be a pretty pesky, tough-checking team.”

Men’s hockey bounced

guelph takes back-and-forth OUA quarterfinal in three games SHELBY BLACKLEY SPORTS EDITOR

CHAd LEitCH lAURIER AThlETIcS

ryan Daniels sits on the ice after the ot winner in game three.

In the second half of the season, the Wilfrid Laurier men’s hockey team seemed to figure it out.

The Hawks went 9-3-0 after the winter break, defeating every team in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West division once at least once. But when it came to the postseason, Laurier just couldn’t keep it going.

“That’s really the essence of hockey,” said head coach Greg Puhalski.

“You’ve got to compete, you’ve got to battle and we did that. We did that much better. Unfortunately I just don’t think we were able to carry that into the playoffs.”

In the first round, the Guelph Gryphons defeated the Hawks in three games to eliminate them.

In game one, Laurier scored four unanswered goals to come from behind and win 4-3 in overtime. The Gryphons defeated the Hawks 3-2 in game two and 3-2 in game three in overtime after WLU tied it up with less than 18 seconds left.

“I can’t say enough about the team. We always came back, never quit,” said fourth-year forward Mitchell Good. “It was that kind of series that it was so close that it could have gone either way.”

In all three games, one goal differentiated the winner. The shots were 117-86 in favour of Guelph, with WLU fourth-year goaltender Ryan Daniels stopping 108 of the shots he faced in the series. His counterpart, Andrew Loverock, stopped 78 of 86 shots.

On two occasions, Laurier was able to tie the game when trailing by two goals. However, Puhalski said his team failed to put in a full effort.

“For us, we need to be better,” he said. “We need to play better team hockey in clutch situations. That’s the part we have to learn from.”

Three players will leave the Hawks this year, as fourth-years Ryan Daniels, Mitchell Good and Kyle Van De Bospoort will graduate.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks,” Good said. “Just to be able to say I was a Hawk and that I

went to Laurier and played hockey.”

“For me, it was really special,” Daniels echoed. “Before I came here I didn’t think it was going to be with Laurier that I’d really find the passion for hockey that I found again. I absolutely love it here.”

Van De Bospoort agreed. “Obviously you miss the hockey, but more than anything you miss the connections and relationships you make with guys over the years.”

Van De Bospoort, Daniels and Good were also the last three players that were recruited by previous head coach Kelly Nobes. But Puhalski recognized the dedication that the three graduates had to Laurier hockey.

“In my three years [Daniels] has definitely, singlehandedly been the best player our team has had,” he said. “[Kyle’s] battled a lot of injuries. He’s played hurt almost every game that I’ve been here.

“Mitch plays real hard, he cares, he wants to do well and that’ll do him well the rest of his career whether it be in hockey or something else.”