THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 6 • SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Hawks face off with the Warriors in a classic rivalry. Sports, page 16
PEPSICO ON CAMPUS
TEACH-IN AT LAURIER
PUPS ON PATROL
SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
MARIJUANA ON THE MIND
President & alumna speaks at Lazaridis Hall
The Diversity & Equity Office opens dialogue
Digging into the roles of service dogs at schools
Student Budget Productions hosts hit play
The pros and cons of lighting up legally
News, page 3
News, page 6
Features, page 8
Arts & Life, page 10
Opinion, page 14
PHOTO BY: TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR DESIGN/LAYOUT BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2 •
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
VOCAL CORD
How are you staying cool through this heatwave?
@cordnews
The Cord
@cordwlusp
CordNews
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
“With Starbucks refreshers..” –Maham Maham, firstyear psychology
“I’m enjoying it because winter sucks here.” –Sapna Rajpu, second-year business administration
SHYENNE MACDONALD/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
This week, on Sept. 22 and 23, Student Budget Productions put on a well-recieved production of School For Scandal at Wilfrid Laurier University.
“I spent most of my time inside with the AC.” –Ranim Chleilat, firstyear communications studies
thecord.ca thecord.ca
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SEPT. 27 1834: Charles Darwin rides a horse into Santa Fe. 1854: Passenger ships collide off the coast of Newfoundland. 1912: W.C. Handy publishes first blues song, “Memphis Blues.” 1923: Lou Gehrig hits first of 493 homeruns.
“Feels like I’m back in Pakistan, I need a pool.”
1964: In their first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Beach Boys perform “I Get Around.”
–Faht Akhter, second-year computer science
1986: Cliff Burton, original bassist for Metallica, is killed in tour bus crash in Sweden.
Compiled by Erin Abe Photos by Luke Sarazin
1991: My Own Private Idaho, starring River Pheonix and Keanu Reeves, debuts.
NEXT ISSUE OCTOBER 4, 2017
CORD STAFF
FEATURES EDITOR Karlis Wilde features@thecord.ca ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Shyenne MacDonald arts@thecord.ca
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kurtis Rideout editor@thecord.ca
OPINION EDITOR Emily Waitson opinion@thecord.ca
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline McInnis creative@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca
WEB DIRECTOR Garrison Oosterhof online@thecord.ca
GRAPHICS EDITOR Alan Li graphics@thecord.ca
NEWS DIRECTOR Safina Husein news@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR Tanzeel Sayani photos@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Jake Watts news@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR Sarah Tyler video@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Nathalie Bouchard news@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Erin Abe news@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Abdulhamid Ibrahim sports@thecord.ca LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Luke Sarazin photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Michael Oliveri copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Danielle Deslauriers socialmedia@thecord.ca WEB ASSISTANT Kate Weber online@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Eliza Moratz Qiao Liu Sara Burgess Tyler Curie Victoria Berndt Serena Truong Jacob Broz Adina Turkonje Omair Ansari
“Laurier faculty holds Teach-In on campus” by Safina Husein
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Lucas at care.lucas@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.
COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily 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 OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used
for principal photography. The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. Cord subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada. The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.
PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to
reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.
Quote of the week: “You know the thing on the wall that says Maddie will notice when it’s medium? Maddie just noticed.” - Creative Director, Madeline McInnis, calling out section editors with no hesitation.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
News
• 3
NEWS DIRECTOR SAFINA HUSEIN news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR NATHALIE BOUCHARD news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR JAKE WATTS news@thecord.ca
ALUMNI
President of PepsiCo presents at Laurier JAKE WATTS NEWS EDITOR
On Sept. 26, Jason McDonell, president of PepsiCo Foods Canada, presented a talk to Wilfrid Laurier University students in the Lazaridis Hall atrium. McDonell, who graduated from Laurier with a BBA in 1996, told attendees various stories about his time as a student at the university and then about working for PepsiCo, in addition to offering several pieces of advice and finally holding a question and answer session. His company, PepsiCo, is a multinational corporation home to many familiar snack and beverage brands. In addition to this, the company is very involved with the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Some noteworthy elements of McDonell’s professional business career include creating Munchies, the widely available mixed snack bags, as well as spearheading the “Crash the Super Bowl” advertising campaign for Doritos, which solicited originally-produced, amateur commercials for Doritos products with the chance that they could be
aired during the Super Bowl. “We’ve been doing several [talks like this] since the dean — Micheál J. Kelly — began his term here at Laurier,“ said Kate Tippin, the director of marketing and communications for the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics.
We just bring CEO’s to the students to be able to give a perspective that’s beyond the classroom. -Kate Tippin, director of marketing and communications
“We just bring CEO’s to the students to be able to give a perspective that’s beyond the classroom,” Tippin said. During his presentation, McDonell offered attendees three main pieces of advice to help them
QIAO LIU/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
through their careers and future endeavours. First, to be constantly seeking new experiences; second, to build skills via self-awareness; and third, to embrace challenges. McDonell attributed these three factors to his success in the business world generally and, in particular, with his company PepsiCo. His company, PepsiCo Foods Canada, is a corporation that has given students co-op at Laurier a chance to have a workplace experience. “We don’t have a formal partnership of sorts, in terms of PepsiCo and the Lazaridis school,
but they do support us a lot,” Tippin said. “They hire a lot of our co-op students, a lot of our grads. There’s more than a hundred grads of ours right now working in marketing, of Laurier grads, not just specifically Lazaridis school. They also sponsor our first-year PepsiCo pitch for the undergraduate students, the business students, as part of BU121,” Tippin said. Tippin noted that McDonell’s history and involvement with Laurier has imbued him with a high-regard for the institution. “He attributes a lot of his skills
and application of those skills to his classroom time, being able to apply the skills he learned in class. And he’s a member of the dean’s advisory board as well. So he does help to give us oversight,” Tippin said. “Me, as a marketing person, I’ve consulted with him many of times when we’ve embarked on campaigns, just to get his feedback to see from an external perspective: ‘are we hitting the right marks? Are we missing something?’ So it’s been really beneficial to be able to have that kinds of expertise to have on hand.”
NUTRITION
The psychology behind eating Comparing the effect between mindfulness and behaviour ERIN ABE LEAD REPORTER
Psychology research at Wilfrid Laurier University has concluded that those who practice mindful eating have healthier eating behaviour. Mindfulness is intentional awareness of experiences in the present moment. Mindful eating, specifically, focuses on the awareness of cues one gets regarding how full they feel and what they taste while eating. Research done at Laurier looked at how general mindfulness affects eating. Studies concluded that those who were mindful about what they ate made healthier eating choices. Those who were high in mindfulness showed a higher preference for healthier foods such as fruit and were more likely to choose fruit over sweets. 100 participants were selected to be a part of a study through the Psychology Research Experience Program, and participants were put through a series of tests, one of them being the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and another being a simple choice between fruit and candy. The research found that people who were high on the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale were more likely to select fruit over sweets
and having a higher preference for fruit led individuals to have a higher probability of choosing the healthier option. “Overall, it is beneficial that [people] practice mindfulness because, in the long run, once they form this habit their individual tendency of being mindful will increase,” Wan Wang, social psychology PhD student at Laurier, said. Being aware of the food that you put into your body, as well as how much, is important to living an overall healthy lifestyle. Especially on a campus of students where junk food is readily available. Mindful eating encourages focusing on the flavour and quality of food you put in your body. “People have to be aware of the balance, how many calories you should consume and how much to burn through exercise,” Wang said. This research began with Christian Jordan, psychology professor at Laurier. Jordan was interested in how mindfulness might affect what drives people’s behaviour. Mindfulness is often used in a lot of clinical work for people who are struggling with depression and anxiety. “In that setting it is described that mindfulness doesn’t necessarily change the experiences you’re having but changes the relationship to those experiences, and I
think the same can be true with eating,” Jordon said. Jordan explained that mindful eating becomes especially useful as it helps to guide one’s relationship with eating to some extent. This can be useful if you are unhappy with your eating habits or your relationship with food. “It’s not to say that you should be eating differently or that you should feel bad or better, but just that it can put your more in touch with the actual experiences you’re having while eating,” Jordan said. Mindfulness can be an individually varied experience where some people are naturally higher in mindfulness and some are relatively lower. States of mindfulness can also be cultivated through meditation. The origins of mindfulness and mindful eating stem back to the Buddhist religion, while the practice was imported here in the 70’s and focused on stress reduction. “When people pay more attention to the actual experiences they have while eating then they notice that there are a lot of flavours in healthier foods they may not expect,” Jordan said. “A lot of junk food and other kinds of food that are less healthy aren’t as appealing or they are initially appealing but lose their burst of flavour quickly.”
TANZEEL SAYANI/ PHOTO EDITOR
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
LAURIER TORONTO
Nuit Blanche looks to the future Interactive art performance explores access to nature SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS EDITOR
As part of Toronto’s approaching Nuit Blanche festival taking place on Sept. 30, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Toronto campus is hosting an interactive art performance called the Nature Deficit Disorder Clinic. The installation goes along with Nuit Blanche’s overarching theme this year of “Many Possible Futures.” “It’s a futuristic installation that is set in the year 2067 and it’s an invitation to visitors to sort of contemplate what might happen if climate change eliminates or changes our access to nature and how we access nature currently,” Carolyn Hawthorn, university relations manager for Laurier Toronto, said. The performance essentially invites attending guests to be patients in the clinic. While in the clinic, they will get to experience a combination of visuals, lighting and sound elements that bring the entirety of the futuristic plot together. The team who created, proposed and completed the Nature Deficit Disorder Clinic includes a team of four “futurists,” Bergur Ebbi, Nourhan Hegazy, Prateeksha
Singh and Laurier alumna Jennifer McDougall. The Nature Deficit Disorder Clinic, however, is not the first project that the group has collaborated on. The team has previously worked on a project called NaturePod. The project entailed creating a portable wellness unit in order to stimulate a comparison between humans and nature in an urban environment.
I think that art is such a wonderful tool to stimulate conversation and hopefully invoke action. -Carolyn Hawthorn, university relations manager for Laurier Toronto
“I’ve been really warmed by the reception that the Laurier community has given this installation. To see people coming together to share their thoughts, we have a
great panel of individuals who are sharing their thoughts with us as well.” “I think that art is such a wonderful tool to stimulate conversation and hopefully invoke action,” Hawthorn said. Overall, Nuit Blanche works to invite the members of the community, in this case the Greater Toronto community, to experience art collectively. Specifically, interactive installations at Nuit Blanche aim to stimulate unique and different thoughts surrounding the theme. “I think [presenting the performance in] an interactive way is very special; to be a part of that is very special, especially with a topic like Many Possible Futures,” Hawthorn said. As for The Nature Deficit Disorder Clinic, in specific, Hawthorn hopes that the installation brings forth stimulating, though-provoking conversation for all who attend. “I hope the themes of those conversations [surround] what would be a possible future for some in regards to climate change and our relationship with the environment, but also what a current reality is for other communities,” Hawthorn said. “I think that’s a big conversation
TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR
that is already being had and I think that’s the kind of conversation that will continue after people experience this installation.” Hawthorn also noted the positive feedback and support from not only the Laurier Toronto campus, but also the Waterloo and Brantford campuses who have shown interest in sharing and experiencing the event. “I’ve been really warmed by the
reception that the Laurier community has given this installation. To see people coming together to share their thoughts, we have a great panel of individuals who are sharing their thoughts with us as well,” Hawthorn said. “I believe that this has been such a positive event that’s been shared cross-campus … it’s been really heartening to see everyone coming together to share this with us.”
we can make these situations safer by encouraging the use of de-escalation.” Stigmatization is a major part about training police and implementing these standards of dealing with people in mental health crisis. Lavoie explained that stigmatization can affect an officer’s ability to respond to a certain situation regarding people with mental illness. “Unfortunately, police officers and others have stigmatized attitudes just like everyone else towards those who are mentally ill, so they perceive someone with mental illness as maybe more dangerous or unpredictable than they actually are.” “It’s important to look at police officers attitudes [and] at how police view mentally ill people and try and decrease stigmatized attitudes to more accurately decide when they should be implying use of force when there are opportunities for safe de-escalation,” Lavoie said. Lavoie has implemented a police training tactic meant to assist police with dealing with individuals in mental health crisis by understanding Procedural Justice. “I consult with various police services and the best thing that I think that we do is doing scenario based training,” Lavoie said. “We come up with different kinds of scenarios for officers to move through and we try and inform them on the idea of procedural justice,” Lavoie said. According to Lavoie, there is no national standard for dealing with individuals in mental health crises and many officers do not feel ade-
quately trained to deal with these complex situations. “They already are in law enforcement and now we see this absolute increase in calls that are, to them, to deal with people who are mentally ill, do they have the skill set to do this?”
MENTAL HEALTH
ALEX TRKULJA/FILE PHOTO
Revising responses to crises Professor assists those in mental health emergencies NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR
Jennifer Lavoie — an associate professor of criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University at the Brantford campus — is working with various police services in southern Ontario to better the police response with those in mental health crises. “My work is really looking at how police respond to people that are
mentally ill. The research in Canada tells us that there is an increase in people who are mentally ill who are more likely to have contact with police compared to people who are not mentally ill for a number of reasons,” Lavoie said. Two methods Lavoie is researching about are de-stigmatization and de-escalation. These methods are meant to help assist with the use of force which an officer may
choose to use for an individual in mental health crisis. “Our research right now is looking at how police respond to people who are mentally ill and how to make that safer by focusing in on de-stigmatization and de-escalation,” Lavoie said. “We understand that police have to use force when they are dealing with an immediate threat with someone who is mentally ill, but
My work is really looking at how police respond to people that are mentalli ill. -Jennifer Lavoie, associate professor of criminology at Laurier
“So, there’s a question about do we train officers on how to deal and respond to mental health crisis? Or do we have these mobile crisis units at the ready?” Lavoie also wants the public to note that one can recover from mental illness, and Police can be at the forefront of this recovery. “I like to get across the idea of recovery … generally speaking, they do an excellent job of working with people who are in mental health crisis,” Lavoie said. “It might be frustrating for police to deal with the same person over and over again until that person seeks the proper treatment. Once the person does get treatment, they will be able to recover and live very productively,” Lavoie said.
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 EXPANSION
Laurier opens new research office in Yellowknife JAKE WATTS NEWS EDITOR
On Sept. 25, Wilfrid Laurier University hosted the grand opening of its new research office in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The opening of this new office in Yellowknife is representative of Laurier’s broad focus on conducting research pertaining to environmental matters in the north. This focus has been facilitated by a ten-year agreement the university made with the government of Northwest Territories back in 2010. Robert Gordon, vice-president: research at Laurier, commented that the purpose of the agreement was to help Laurier expand upon their research in the north. As well to learn more about the various pressing environmental concerns that the Northwest Territories have been facing. “Our hope is that this relationship that we’ve established with the government will grow and be stronger and better and that there will be resources provided to Laurier but also our people, students and staff, graduate students, faculty, will continue to play leadership roles here in making the Canadian north better,” Gordon said. Among Laurier’s various research centres dedicated to study-
Our hope is that this relationship that we’ve established with the government will grow and be stronger and better... -Robert Gordon, vice-president: research at Laurier
TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR
ing environmental matters in the north is the Cold Regions Research Centre (CRRC). The CRRC is housed alongside the Laurier Institute for Water Science, another centre that does research pertaining to the north, in a recently constructed facility on the Waterloo campus. “In many ways, that building was supported initially through the partnership,” Gordon said. “So when that was established, we received significant funds from the government of the Northwest
Territories to help build that.” Further external funding allowed Laurier to establish the new research office in Yellowknife. “A strong catalyst for our physical presence here with the office has been through a major grant that we got in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, [the University of ] Waterloo and McMaster University called Global Water Futures,” Gordon said. “We were the recipients of 78 million dollars over the next seven years to do world-class research in
areas related to water management in the north,” Gordon said. Gordon was confident that the research office would help facilitate the work Laurier researchers were already doing in the area. “Having an office provides, I think, a much better structure for how our students, faculty, and staff are engaged in activities here,” Gordon said. Beyond the more typical work that researchers plan to be performing in the area, Gordon hinted at the possibility that they could
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branch out and work on more community-focused projects. “Another area that we’re looking at doing is having a much stronger knowledge mobilization or service role within the region, but certainly for now, the primary focus is strictly on supporting research programs that do work up here in the Northwest Territories,” Gordon said. When asked about plans to establish similar research offices around the north in the future, Gordon was noncommittal. “If we see the fact that there’s opportunities for us to really have other researchers embedded yearround in other locations in the north, we very well may do that,” Gordon said.
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
SOCIAL JUSTICE
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Laurier faculty holds Teach-In on campus
The panelists discussed the events in Charlottesville, anti-black racism and Indigenous activism SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR
On Sept. 25, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Diversity and Equity Office, in partnership with other faculty members, held a Teach-In for the Laurier community in the Senate and Board Chamber on the Waterloo campus. The Teach-In provided a chance for anyone in the Laurier community to come together to learn, listen and talk about many relevant and important issues of social justice currently taking place. Some of the matters brought forth as possible topics of conversation by the three teach-in leaders were Charlottesville, anti-black racism and the activism of Black Lives Matter, The Truth and Reconciliation Report and Indigenous Activism, the re-emergence of overt anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments, amongst other topics. The three teach-in leaders sitting on the panel for the event were Dana Elizabeth Weiner, associate professor for the department of history, Laura Mae Lindo, director of Laurier’s Diversity and Equity Office and Barry Kay, associate
professor for department of political science. The teach-in began with an address from Lindo who proceeded with a land acknowledgement. “The work that we do on campus effects the world off campus,” Lindo said to those in attendance.
The work that we do on campus affects the world off campus
-Laura Mae Lindo, director of Laurier’s DEO
Kay, who teaches and studies the government, politics and electoral behaviour of the United States, brought forth a breakdown of Donald Trump to the Teach-In. Lindo explained to those at the Teach-In that, although President Trump may be a source of some
prevalent issues taking place, he merely represents one dark spot in American history. “In my opinion, Donald Trump might be the focus of a lot of our discussions, but he is not the sole problem. He is not the be-all or end-all, he is not the beginning of anti-black racism, or anti-Semitism or any of that negativity,” Lindo said at the Teach-In. As a result, Lindo described that many people have come forth to the Diversity and Equity Office iterating that Trump has triggered something for them. Lindo explained that, as a result of such triggering events, providing positive, safe environments such as healing spaces are essential in order to have dialogues and opportunities for people to voice their thoughts and opinions. “Silence is a choice and silence can be harmful and sometimes the extent of that harm is such that it’s better for us to choose to speak and let people be uncomfortable for five minutes,” Lindo said at the Teach-In. Lindo reiterated that having proper discussions when individuals are voicing their thoughts and concerns in constructive and positive environments are what will be the most helpful and will open up avenues to reaching common goals among everyone. Weiner, who teaches and researches about race, slavery, rights and citizenship in the early history of the United States, spoke about the rise of white supremacy in the 19th century until present day. She brought forth points illuminating confederacy, the KKK, Confederate battle flag and then spoke to the events and protests which recently took place in Charlottesville. For the remainder of the time, the three Teach-In leaders turned the discussion to the audience and encouraged questions, comments and thoughts from those in attendance. Individuals brought forth various topics of interest or concern, the teach-in leaders would then respond to the questions or thoughts. Later in the event, the subject of the Proud Boys and its connection to the Laurier Brantford campus was brought forth.
The Proud Boys is an alt-right group. The group became more publicly known when five members of the military, who happen to identify as Proud Boys, recently interrupted an Indigenous ceremony in Halifax. “We have had students, faculty and staff members share their concerns and fears that a Proud Boys fraternity is recruiting members on Laurier’s Brantford campus despite members of the Proud Boys in Nova Scotia interrupting a Mi’kmaw ceremony on July 1st, 2017 with pro-West and anti-Indigenous rhetoric,” Lindo wrote in a statement posted to the Diversity and Equity Office Facebook page. “All this while the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Indigenous Student Services strives to guide us all across Laurier in Indig-
was a need for a space like this. And there was a need to open that space, not only to our own internal community at Laurier, but to that broader public because we’re impacted on both sides.”
enizing our campuses and sites in authentic ways,” the statement continued. “There is never a time when anti-Indigenous sentiments are okay. Connecting ourselves as individuals and groups to larger networks that carry with them the potential of harming our Indigenous colleagues and friends is truly troubling.” For Lindo and Weiner, they were both impressed and encouraged by the turnout of the event as well as the interest and curiosity that individuals brought to the conversation. “I think that the Teach-In was absolutely fabulous. I would say it made more of an impact than had anticipated, the idea behind it was to get a dialogue going and I would say that we did not think that that many people would necessarily show up,” Lindo said. “For me it meant that there
Due to the high volume of interest and success of the Teach-In, Lindo and Weiner said they are interested and keen on holding similar events to continue to dialogue and possibly bring forth new topics of discussion as well as different Teach-In leaders who may have different perspectives. “It certainly exceeded our expectations in terms of how comfortable people were bringing up a wide variety of concerns which was great,” Weiner said. Weiner and Lindo want to encourage students to bring ideas forward to the Diversity and Equity Office so that future Teach-Ins and similar events can reflect the concerns or topics about which students want to have a dialogue. “There’s clearly a need to talk, if people want to tell us what the next Teach-In should focus on, I think we would be more than open to that,” Lindo said.
It certainly exceeded our expectations in terms of how comfortable people were bringing up a wide variety of conerns -Dana Elizabeth Weiner, associate professor, department of history
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
GAMES • 7
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Dear Life 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 and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Cord or WLUSP. Submissions 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 Geese, Thank you for making my day by walking down Bricker Ave. All 24 of you have a special place in my heart! <3 Sincerely, Want to join your Gaggle Dear Tarique, You are an amazing person and an even better leader. Do not let ignorance and hate cloud the joy and light you bring to the people around you Sincerely, Golden Hawks love you Dear Starbucks line, I wait in breathless anticipation for you to disappear. Sincerely, Going to Second Cup Dear business students, stop complaining all the damn time. Sincerely, everyone else Dear The Cord, It’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. You apologized for yours and, heaven knows, it was a problematic slip up that no one saw the connotations of that Dear Life that has a similar theme each week. I’m sure there was an oversight and that’s a mistake, not a fault. An apology was necessary, but remember that, even in the public eye, you’re allowed to learn and you’re allowed to fuck up sometimes, as long as you own up, which you have. Something like this happens every year and we all get through it. My heart goes out to all who were affected, and I hope that everyone can find the love to forgive others and themselves. Sincerely, Compassionate Dear Life, If someone sends you an ugly snap it’s proper etiquette to send one back. Sincerely, Ms. Manners Dear Life, There is a pool of sweat in my bra and I am having trouble catching my breath. I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait for it to cool off. Sincerely, Drenched Dear Golden Hawls, It’s nice to see people picking up copies of a student newspaper and holding it accountable when necessary. That is something that can promote dialogue; something that is conducive to growth. That being said
WORD SEARCH the Dear Life with racial undertones was a huge slip up, a mistake none-the-less, but one that The Cord should be held accountable for. It’s important moving forward for everyone to look at things with a critical lens, but it is just as important to open up conversations that promote healing and repairing instead of just trying to harm people’s reputations. This is something that works both ways. What is most important however, is that we remember that this (WLU) is a place of learning. To expect perfection on either side is a pipe-dream; we are all still trying to find our way. Best of luck to The Cord as well as the Students’ Union. I hope they can move forward in a way that is reparative and constructive. Sincerely, Concerned Alum Dear editors, On purpose or not, with or without context, the dear life referring to the SU chair was a huge oversight and I am not impressed with the fact that it made it into print.
ANXIETY BATTLE BUS-RIDE DOGGOS EPONINE FOMO HURRICANE INTRAMURALS LEAFS
Sincerely, holding you to a higher standard
MARIJUANA
Dear Jake, Thanks for being such a good sport with all of our snapchats. You’re not afraid to stand up for your beliefs and you are obviously very knowledgeable about what you know. Thanks for being such a valuable member of the team.
NUIT-BLANCHE
Sincerely, Positive Vibes
SYMINGTON
Dear Kurtis, You are a great EIC and we all apperciate the hard work you do for campus media. You work so hard to create a great newspaper and we all see the passion you have for your craft. You rock don’t ever change! Sincerely, Some cool friends
TEACH-IN
Dear Life, I love taco farm and I wish it was open on Sundays. I get the crispy chicken taco and it’s my favourite. Sincerely, Taco Tuesday everyday even Sundays
PESPICO PLAYS
TRIUMPH WARRIOR WSOCC
8 •
FEATU
FEATURES EDITOR/KARLIS WILDE/FEATURES@THECORD.CA
Service dog
News Editor Nathalie Bouchard and Creative Director Mad classroom — and a case wh At Laurier, we seem to be characterized by our love of dogs. Walking across campus is a joy because we get to see all the happy pups. But it’s not just the playful dogs on the school grounds. It’s not uncommon to find a service dog, or a service dog in training, studying along with their person. It’s a popular place to find your friendly canine friends taking a snooze below their person’s feet. Michelle Borg, puppy raiser for the organization National Service Dogs, explained that service dogs work to make various environments more accessible for people who use them as an aid. “My role, along with the other 100-plus families who puppy-raise, is to socialize the puppies and teach them basic commands and behaviour to be able to live in a home and work in public places,” Borg said. “I wanted to be a volunteer because, first of all, I love animals and also because of the opportunity it offers to change someone’s life,” Borg said. Katie Brandon-Wheeler is a second year Wilfrid Laurier University student who is currently training a future dog guide with the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Brandon-Wheeler explained the obstacles of raising a dog guide. In her opinion, the commitment to a dog guide is extensive but manageable. “It’s been difficult but rewarding. It’s difficult because you need to realize that you take them to all your classes with you and you take them to lectures and she [Westlyn, Brandon-Wheeler’s dog] has good days and bad days,” she said. “She goes to training once a month in Breslau at the Lions Foundation. There, we teach her things like to walk beside us, along with special commands. Usually once a month, they also do a home inspection or you go to the mall where it’s a busy environment and they see how she does.” And these dogs do change people’s lives. “It’s not so much about need [of service dogs] than quality of life,” Danielle Forbes, executive director of National Service Dogs, said. “Do you want to go through 50 years of life living with that kind of anxiety and fear… or, for the addition of a dog and the additional support, having a fulfilled life? For me, that’s a pretty easy trade off.” For the Fee family, it seems like a pretty easy trade off as well. Kenner Fee, a nine-year-old fourth-grader in the Waterloo District Catholic School Board, has autism. To assist him, he has a service dog named Ivy. His family has been trying to get Ivy into the classroom with Kenner for three and a half years. “Ivy helps regulate [Kenner’s] anxiety and that can’t be quantified,” Craig Fee, Kenner’s father, said. The Human Rights Tribunal recently upheld the decision of the school board to bar Ivy from coming to school with Kenner, claiming that the Fee family did not provide sufficient evidence that Ivy’s presence helped Kenner with his education. “How can you prove that your [mental disability] is severe enough that you require a service dog?” Fee continued. Fee also explained that Kenner’s doctors, therapists, the Lions Foundation — the organization that provided his dog — and even the staff at the school all agreed that Kenner’s quality of life improves when his service dog is present. “We were never told, and we still don’t know, what would it have taken for Kenner to qualify to have his service dog in class,” Fee claimed. To make matters worse, Fee also claims that, at the Human Rights Tribunal, Kenner’s special education resource teacher testified that “he would be open to Kenner and Ivy in the classroom at this point because he feels he has exhausted all possible options.” For Justin Leckie, a Wilfrid Laurier University student in the music program, his service dog is an asset in his daily life. A service dog was recommended for him by a psychiatrist. “I was having an assessment done and the psychiatrist suggested it would be really helpful. That’s when we started exploring it. This was about a year ago,” he
said. “With high anxiety, [with the psychiatrist] knowing what she did about service dogs, I guess she thought that they would do the things that I thought they said they would do. The effect they have [on people] fits with my needs,” he continued. According to Forbes, service dogs can help regulate the anxiety and bolting behaviour of children with autism, as well as help people with PTSD to prevent self-isolation. Fee also explained that his son has bolting behaviour and is often tethered to his dog. He explained that Kenner’s anxiety levels are dramatically reduced when he has Ivy to help him. Of course, there will always be the argument that these people who require service dogs could just go somewhere else. But it’s not that simple. According to Fee, his son does not want to leave his friends, teachers, educational assistant and the general school environment, despite this lack of accommodation. Kenner likes school. No one should be forced into an uncomfortable situation simply because of a disability. “Our relationship with the people in the school has been nothing but supportive,” Fee claimed. “It’s the unfortunate scenario where the people above them don’t wish to allow the staff… to use this tool, which is completely free to them — it does not cost a cent.” Now Kenner is on what is called a modified curriculum. He learns at the grade level in which he can receive a grade of B, rather than being on an curriculum where he would be doing work at his grade level with accommodations. Leckie seems to have been luckier with his classroom accommodations. Eponine is Leckie’s service dog and she assists with his everyday life as a student navigating through university. Anxiety can strike at any time for Leckie and Eponine helps with the everyday challenges he faces. “Just to see [Eponine] makes me calmer; to see her and to touch her makes me feel calmer than I am,” Leckie said. “She already is doing it without being trained. She comes up to me and she’ll put her head on my lap or get right up on my lap. She’ll try and come up to me like a hug or something like that. She kind of knows if you’re feeling anxious,” Leckie said. Borg agrees that service dogs are important when it comes to the individual living their best life. They help with everyday challenges and help the individual tackle those challenges with the support they need. “I think service dogs are important because they give the people they work with a chance to live to their absolute full potential,” Borg said. “For every situation what they give is different but they ultimately offer the skills, protection and care that the client needs to live in a world that does not offer the accessibility that they require.” With regards to Leckie and his experience, Eponine has given him the confidence to be more outgoing. Doug Chivas, a professional service dog trainer for Canine Support Services
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 • 9
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says that service dogs in general help with confidence building. “I’ve worked with older individuals with Asperger’s and what happens is [that] the dog helps with communication and then confidence building which opens doors [for the individual],” he explained. “They’re very comforting … they make you feel more confident.” “They make you have more confidence about yourself personally, which make you more confident outwardly as well and they make you feel more stable [which will help] stabilize your mood,” Leckie continued. Leckie also said that Laurier has been supportive in the sense that no one has ever stopped Eponine from coming into a classroom or from being on campus. “They have been very supportive in terms of her being here and being in the school. They have been very accommodating,” Leckie said. Despite the acceptance that Leckie gets on campus, his own journey is not without struggle. Due to the age Leckie was diagnosed, he is not able to receive funding to train Eponine, so that is something he must take on himself. He has set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for training, but the continued support from the Laurier community has not gone unnoticed. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for the Fee family and other families who have experienced the barring of their service dogs from the classroom. The scariest part is that Fee is already seeing situations like Kenner’s on the rise. He claims that another Catholic school board in the Halton Region is now also taking steps to remove a service dog from their classrooms — and that’s just the beginning. “The other kids with autism or PTSD … can now be questioned,” Fee said. However, there is still some hope for children like Kenner. Fee explained that the MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, Michael Harris, is collecting paper copies of a petition to close the loophole that currently allows school boards to override the g Fee, father of Kenner Fee, student with service dog decisions of children’s medical teams with regards to service dogs. Once enough names are received with Ontario addresses, he will bring this issue up at legislation. Kenner’s lack of accommodation is not the only challenge that is faced by the disabled community. Forbes also stressed her concerns with assumptions raised about the people on the other end of a service dog’s leash. “A lot of times, adults that are out with the dogs who have invisible disabilities, [whether] it’s PTSD, or seizure disorder or diabetes, people will think the dog isn’t actually a working service dog. [The public] will assume that person is a trainer, not the actual user,” Forbes said. “And if the dog is in a jacket, you should assume that the dog is working for the person at the end of the leash. Those are probably the biggest misconceptions for people to realize: that there are invisible disabilities that make the
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dog a significant part of somebody’s journey.” Brandon-Wheeler explains that she has had some struggles with students on campus trying to pet Westlyn while she was working. “A lot of people at Laurier know that these are service dogs or dog guides and to not pet them, but I find a lot of first years don’t know. The biggest thing that I want everyone to know is that we’re not being rude when we tell you [that] you can’t pet them; she’s working and she’s in training.” Regardless, the cycle of training dogs to help those people continues. Borg has raised a now-graduated service dog named Huxley. She is currently raising a seven-month-old service dog named Vador. Both of the dogs are part of the National Service Dogs organization and have special stories to tell. “Huxley, my first, is a certified PTSD service dog. She is now working with her forever family and helps them feel safe and secure. She is incredibly attentive and is able to recognize her client’s triggers and helps her tackle the challenges of living with PTSD,” Borg said. “Vador, my second, is seven months old and is already mastering his basic skills. He’s learning to be comfortable in places such as movie theatres, on public transit and in restaurants. He already is so calm and grounded that he puts people at ease.” Hopefully Vador and his comrades can help people, both within the classroom and outside of it, to feel more confident and welcome in the world around them. At the time of print, Waterloo District Catholic School Board had not responded to The Cord’s request for comment.
GRAPHICS BY: ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR PHOTOS AND LAYOUT BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
10 •
Arts & Life
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR SHYENNE MACDONALD arts@thecord.ca
MENTAL HEALTH
Keeping peace through the stress of life ELIZA MORATZ STAFF WRITER
As a student, I know that the transition to a new school year can be difficult. As someone that lives with anxiety and depression, I know that it can be especially hard for those with a mental illness. While things may seem fine at the beginning of the semester, soon I become overwhelmed with work and find symptoms of my mental illnesses becoming more prominent. As workloads become heavier through the semester, it’s imperative to pay attention to potential symptoms of mental illnesses, in yourself and your friends. I spoke with Julie Gamble, a mental health nurse at the Student Wellness Centre on the subject of students and their mental health. As the title suggests, the Student Wellness Centre is focused on just that. So, whether it’s your mental health, your physical health, or you need help with goal setting or just someone to speak with, it’s there at your disposal. There’s an array of staff and nurses there to provide well rounded support for those needing it, and are able to refer students to Accessible Learning or other com-
I think hope and help are the two biggest elements of recovery from any mental illness -Julie Gamble, mental health nurse
ways come first, which may mean occasionally missing a class, a game, or a night out with friends to help yourself heal. “Talking is really helpful for most people … sometimes family and friends aren’t the right person to talk to,” Gamble said. If someone doesn’t have a person in their life that they are able to share such experiences with, Gamble recommended phoning Good2Talk, which can be reached at 1-866-925-5454. Good2Talk is a free and confidential helpline for post-secondary students. Professionals are available at all times to provide
counselling and information. Reaching out and talking about your mental health, whether it be to a friend, family member, or professional, can be terrifying — especially if you’ve never done it before. It took me years of living with anxiety before I was able to. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to ask for help is a necessary first step in your recovery. It will allow you to begin on your own path, and eventually let you lead your best life. “The biggest part is reaching out, regardless of who is it, just talking to people and from that gathering hope and help,” Gamble said. “I think hope and help are the two biggest elements of recovery from any mental illness.”
students took it upon themselves to bring more art into Laurier. “Student Budget Productions started two years ago and it was founded by Rachel Kalap, who graduated last year,” explained Mike Fan, current president of Student Budget Productions. “She was a voice major at the faculty of music and she and her friend Aidan Tessier who is still the director of our shows, they founded this group together.” Their first play had been Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. “I was one of the four people who originally auditioned for the show, obviously that’s not enough,” Fan said. “We told this one girl that there’s just a small part we wanted her to read for and she actually turned out to be the female lead for the show.” From those small origins, Student Budget Productions has earned a bona-fide spot at Laurier in association with the faculty of music. School for Scandal was their fourth show and, as aforementioned, they did a wonderful job. As the title of the club suggests, they don’t have a lot of money to operate with. The costumes seen throughout the play were of their own making. “A lot of it is Value Village,” Fan said. But the actors and actresses
also used clothes from their own closets. And since the actors and actresses are students, they have schedules to work around. Which meant a mere two weeks rehearse. Do I sound impressed? Because I am. I’m a sucker for multifarious art groups. And that’s what Student Budget Productions is; it isn’t just music students who have a monopoly on the play. While plays do feature original music written and performed by the cast members, all are welcome to try out. Are you intrigued? Because if you are, you’re welcome to try out for the January show. As for the Sept. show, well that ship has sailed, but it won’t soon be forgotten. School for Scandal was entertaining and a refreshing change from Shakespeare. You would think, because there’s no theatre program at Laurier, any attempt at a theatrical performance would be a hatchet job. However, need I remind you that Laurier’s Waterloo campus doesn’t have a journalism program and yet The Cord not only persists, but is actually fairly successful. Student Budget Productions proves that all you need is passion and it’ll see you through.
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
munity resources. Students dealing with stress and anxiety, or those afflicted with a mental illness, will benefit from taking time to relax and do the activities they enjoy. This differs for everyone, but may include participating in extracurriculars, exercising, being artistic, or even just taking time to watch Netflix — guilt free. “The biggest part is reaching out, regardless of who is it, just talking to people and from that gathering hope and help.” For those looking for a way to destress, Peer Connect — a Students’ Union committee focused on mental health initiatives — runs
board game nights in the Concourse every Thursday. This year, they will begin Oct. 5. Dealing with a mental illness does not have a one-size-fits-all approach. For me, a combination of eating right, exercise, medication and counselling help me stay on top of my academics and feeling good. Each person has to find their own path to recovery, which may be completely different than mine or anyone else’s. Remember, even those on the path to recovery have bad days, and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Your mental health should al-
THEATRE
SHYENNE MACDONALD/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
The students put on a scandalously good show SHYENNE MACDONALD ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
On Sept. 22 and 23, Student Budget Productions hosted their rendition of School for Scandal, a play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan written in 1777. Unlike most comedies in his time, Sheridan had taken the focus from court life and put it onto the
newly influential merchant class. When the play opened in the eighteenth century, it had filled houses and quickly became recognized as a smashing success. Today, with Student Budget Productions performance, the sentiments are the same. Before I continue my five star-review, do you know what Student Budget Productions is?
Because I didn’t before this week. You would think, because we have theatre auditoriums, that the space would be used for play productions and not exams. But Wilfrid Laurier University doesn’t actually put on play productions. We do, on the other hand, play host to a pretty mean opera. So, a few years’ back, two keen
ARTS & LIFE • 11
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 TRENDS
Music from the other room Looking into the trend that has become prosperous through loneliness
SHYENNE MACDONALD ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
In the immortal words of Goyte’s 2011 hit “Somebody that I Used to Know,” you can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness. Except, this sadness isn’t born from an unhealthy romantic experience, instead it’s the FOMO. Which means — if you’re perpetually out of sync with the latest acronyms like me — the feeling of
missing out. Typically, it’s brought on from watching snap stories of your friends at a bar, or listening to your sister or mom describe that heartwarming family dinner you missed. However, like most pain, there is a way to self-inflict. ‘As if it was being played in another room’ is my new music obsession. As the title suggests, it’s a whatever song as if it was being played in another room. This trend was born originally from a meme, as per most things in 2017. If you can recall back to the blockbuster Get Out, during the
ALAN LI/GRAPHIC EDITOR
end credits Childish Gambino’s remix of his song “Redbone” played. The remix was, basically, an extremely diluted version of the original. As most of the tweets that followed its release suggest, it’s “Redbone” as if it was being played in another room. The song quickly spiralled into a joke and others followed. If you go onto YouTube and search ‘songs played from another room’ you’ll
get a bundle of prompts of familiar songs that you may have heard at a middle-school dance. But instead of being in the lazily-decorated gym, it sounds as if you were sitting in the hallway heartbroken and talking to the teacher’s assistant because Adam asked Hailey to dance. The ‘as if it were being played from another room’ trend isn’t about listening to music barely
heard because now it’s all about the beats and not the lyrics. It’s that feeling of nostalgia mixed with that sharp pain of missing out. Whether it’s missing out on the dance, hiding in the bathroom while all your friends cut the rug, or even walking by a house full of laughter and light. You’re missing out on a big unknown something, and that’s what I’ve become addicted to.
MUSIC
The Cord Picks: Songs “Revenge Song” By: Corbin Picked by: Kurtis Rideout/ Editor-in-Chief “Know you have it in you girl/Don’t hide, you’re a god tonight” It’s always really hard to pick one song but I feel like it’s easy if you can pin it to a mood. Thankfully I’m starting to get fall vibes, so the debut album from Corbin (FKA Spooky Black), aptly titled Mourn, has 10 prime examples to choose from. A standout for me would have to be “Revenge Song.” Although the whole album is worth a thorough listen, this song stands alone as the ultimate revenge tale —more retributive if anything — fused with a twisted tinge of raw romantic passion. Its content is dark and I would advise those sensitive to potentially triggering imagery to listen with caution. But the story that unfolds is one that is multi-faceted, cinematic and ultimately an enduring tale of compassion and closure; one worth diving into on a bleak fall day. For ultimate effect, this song, and by extension the whole album, is best experienced at night, ideally in a car with loud speakers.
“A Storm is Coming” By: Howard Shore Picked by: Garrison Oosterhof/Web Director “A Storm is Coming” is the first song from The Return of the King’s official soundtrack. This song is like an opening monologue in a Shakespearean play as it sets up the experience of the album. My favourite thing about this piece is that it uses several movements from the rest of the score: “The Ring theme,” “The Shire theme,” and what I think is “The Orc theme.” As I listen to the album, I feel like I am halfway between the book and the movie. My mind imagines what the movie left out but remembers the great scenes that it illustrated. This album has been my go-to for long drives and studying. It can be a calming, ambient background music but also a contemplative experience on its own. Even if you think soundtracks aren’t your thing, if you like the Lord of the Rings you will enjoy this audio experience.
“Black Water” By: Timber Timbre Picked by: Shyenne MacDonald/Arts & Life Editor “All I need is some sunshine/All I need” “Black Water” is a song that always seems to bump its way to the top of my playlist. It is one of those songs I had originally heard around Oct. and now I perpetually associate it with the approach of Halloween. First off, bonus points for keeping it Canadian, Timber Timbre is a band from Bobcaygeon, Ontario. To me, the song is about willingly surrendering yourself over to darker desires that inevitably ruin you. This idea is brought on by the vocalist, Taylor Kirk, singing about a siren in the first verse. In the outro, Kirk repeats the line “black water/pull me down,” which I feel further adds to this idea of being consumed – and ultimately, destroyed – by desire. As for the musical part of the song, I would describe it as languid. Which I think creates an air of indifference to the situation Kirk created. There’s also a noticeable beat from the drums, that has the effect of preventing the song from being too slow. Overall, it’s a haunting song that leaves me with major Fall vibes.
“The System Only Sleeps in Darkness” By: The National Picked by: Katherine Weber/ Web Assistant “Why are you hiding from me?/We’re in a different kind of thing now” Naturally, I like to listen to songs that my apple music account places their famous grey star beside. The grey star that you look for when you are trying to find a crowd pleaser at your friend’s birthday party or to receive a notion of what the hits are on the album. “The System Only Sleeps in Total Darkness” was in fact the first song on Sleep Well Beast I listened to and was pleasantly surprised. The song starts off with a smooth, calm and collective vibe; only this time with a hint of classic rock. It opens with a layered choir effortlessly singing in perfect pitch which escalates towards a snazzy couple of chords on the guitar and a boxy drum loop. The most captivating part of the song is the clean-cut guitar solo. This develops in progression towards the bridge. It is executed through a similar nature of your most favourite classic rock band’s guitar solo. Something so unexpected from a laid back alternative band; but carried out perfectly from a group of guys in the industry for quite some time now.
“Echoes” By: Pink Floyd Picked by: Michael Oliveri/ Senior Copy Editor “And no one knows the where’s and why’s/But something stirs and something tries” “Echoes” by Pink Floyd is the band’s early career masterpiece. The song was released on the album Meddle in 1971. This song comes in at a sort of turning point for the group, a moment when they were on the cusp of a great change. The surreal atmosphere of previous albums is still somewhat present. Also present is the poetic and reflective lyrics that the band is known for. Speaking of lyrics, they are few and far between throughout this piece, as most of the song is ambient noise and a beautiful instrumental showing. Another thing to note is that this is a 23-minute-long song, clearly not designed for easy and quick listening. Personally this song puts me on a journey of self-reflection, a journey that feels like I’m in going through the void of space. I know it sounds strange and it’s not for everyone, but trust me on this one.
“Stars and Satellites” By: Dan Griffin Picked by: Sarah Tyler/Video Editor “And I’m hoping that the stars and satellites/Will always bring me home” “Stars and Satellites” by Dan Griffin gives me all the feels. It’s mellow, beautiful, sad, nostalgic and it’s full of hope all at the same time. The authenticity of the lyrics makes it the perfect song when you want to just let it all go until you run out of tears. It’s kind of cool to have somewhere so close to home mentioned in the opening as well because it increases the familiarity and attraction of the song itself. For me personally, “Stars and Satellites” both have meaning relatable to my family’s history, ultimately playing a role in my own identity. The instrumental though, I could listen to the classical guitar forever. It’s the kind of song someone could listen to as they paint their emotions into a masterpiece, or maybe fall asleep because sometimes that’s all you need.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGES LAYOUT BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca
Note: Just go to class pay to go to school. In the second half of my undergrad I missed just two classes and I still beat myself up for it. I let the respective professors know weeks in advance and I expressed frustration with my extra-curricular obligations. I’m not saying you should go into a dark place every time you miss class — shit happens — but if you want to skip out on 90 per cent of your readings, you should at the very least go to class. Besides, you’re paying something like 50 dollars a lecture — depending on the frequency and length of said course — so when you frame it like that it’s pretty hard to miss class anyways, at least it was for me.
KURTIS RIDEOUT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I spent roughly the first half of my undergrad hanging out in dorm rooms watching sci-fi epics with my then partner — who admittedly happened to share some of the same awful habits as me. We definitely enabled each other, but that’s a story for a different time. A key point in this memory was waking up together each day around 8 a.m. to try and make it to lecture at 8:30. I only had one early morning lecture in my whole first year and — to be succinct — I literally went once, falling asleep to boot as well. Sorry Dr. Lavery. It wasn’t until I entered my third-year at a different institution that I realized why I struggled to maintain a decent GPA up to that point. I should add also that by this time my partner and I had gone our separate ways. I still feel like a bad influence honestly, because I made it seem plausible that one could still pass if they left everything until the last minute and never went to class. This is an effect I have had on a lot of people noticeably, and for that reason I now preface any advice or story I have with some sort of disclaimer along the lines of, “this works for me, but it’s your life, I can’t tell you how to live it,” so nobody can ever say I ruined their life. That said, I am about to hit you with a Tracy Morgan truth bomb, so read on at your own discretion. If I could give anyone one solid piece of advice drawing from my own personal experience at university, it would be to just go to class. Go to every class. Hold yourself accountable when you miss one. This isn’t a publicly funded education system. I’m not certain as to how many others came up through the public school system — I’m sure many of you have had an experience similar to mine — but having a free education really helps you see the immense value and benefit that comes when you
Besides, you’re paying something like 50 dollars a lecture ... when you frame it like that it’s pretty hard to miss class anyways, at least it was for me.
Regardless of all the money talk, once I began to make a point of being involved and engaged in all of my classes I noticed a huge change in how I interacted with staff and peers. I also noticed numerous changes in the way I was interacting with the material being presented to me. For example, when I was in first year I struggled to gather notes and began to rely on those too-helpful teachers who post all of their teaching materials on MyLearningSpace. At this point I almost never critically engaged with any of the material I was studying unless it really, really captivated me — which was super rare, I’m ashamed to admit. But once I started going to all of my classes — every single one of them — I found myself at the centre, or at least on the periphery of all the important discussions taking place. So much so that I began to take my discussions far beyond the reaches of the classroom.
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A reclaimed love of hockey GARRISON OOSTERHOF WEB DIRECTOR
As a long time fan, the new Toronto Maple Leafs team has been a welcome change. I have always been an avid Leafs fan, especially during my hockey career. Mats Sundin, Tie Domi and Bryan McCabe were my idols growing up and I memorized their names and numbers before I could read. My hockey life was filled with bus trips to cities across southern Ontario, every week having several games and practices. Days off were rare and usually filled with “dry land” training anyway. Every day of the week, winter or summer — it didn’t matter — hockey was the focus all year. The thrill of playing made it worth it. I had a hard time redefining myself when my own hockey career ended. The end was due partly to an injury and partly to life in general. I stopped playing hockey competitively and later, I stopped playing altogether. When I quit playing hockey, I also quit watching it. I didn’t know how to handle the loss of my identity, so I didn’t want to have
anything to do with it. Losing the structure and purpose I had from playing hockey brought about the hardest moments in my life so far. Drugs, alcohol and other temptations filled the void and started to become who I was.
I didn’t know how to handle the loss of my identity, so I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.
Due to persistence from my loving family, I played intramural hockey at Laurier and began to feel the love for it again. It was healthy for me to be surrounded by players that encouraged the fun part of the game and left out the rest. Needless to say, hockey is a very personal thing for me. So naturally, I am very passionate about my favourite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The biggest change that brought me back to the sport was when the Leafs finally hired good man-
agement. Mike Babcock and the changes he brought to the team got me interested again but I was “rehooked” when the Leafs changed their emblem to the classic maple leaf (as part of their centennial celebrations). The new logo is reminiscent of the 60’s leafs logo which, coincidentally, is the decade of the last Leafs Stanley Cup win. From that point on, I’ve seen hockey in an entirely new way. Before, all I saw was my failure and the waste of my time because I didn’t become a hockey player. Now when I see the Leafs play, I feel proud to be a fan and I remember the priceless moments when I was young; when I was five my Dad snuck me downstairs — after bedtime — so we could watch Don Cherry together. Or when I would watch highlights of Mats Sundin’s goals so I could try to replicate them in practice. My teenage years nearly tainted my childhood with the idea that it was all a waste, that the thousands of hours and dollars had no point. Now that there is pride in being a Leafs fan, I feel pride in my time as a hockey player. After all these years of average hockey players and boring seasons, the Leafs have an exciting new beginning. It took the Leafs looking back and honouring franchise history to make me reconsider my own.
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca
Be mindful of bus behaviour
SERENA TRUONG/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Selling marijuana JACOB BROZ STAFF WRITER
During the 2015 election, I spoke to many people — the majority of whom did not understand politics all too well — that planned to vote for Justin Trudeau because of his support for the legalization of marijuana. Fast forward almost two years later to present day; Justin Trudeau is our nation’s Prime Minister and the July 1, 2018 date of marijuana legalization is fast approaching. As a Libertarian, I am an ardent supporter of marijuana legalization. If someone wants to hit a bowl, eat Cheetos and watch Netflix, that is none of my business. Further, legalization can be an effective mechanism to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs that would not have existed under its prohibition. Unfortunately, Ontario’s plan for the introduction of legal cannabis to the public is incompatible with basic tenants of the free market. Recently, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that the sale of marijuana would be restricted to government run stores in vein of the LCBO. As a student in Canada that buys alcohol fairly frequently, I feel like I get gouged every time I shop at the liquor store. Take a 26-ounce bottle of Captain Morgan spiced rum, for example. In Ontario, it costs $29.45 for a single bottle. In the United States, adjusting for the current exchange rate, the same bottle costs $22.13. In this instance, alcohol costs 33 per cent more than it does at the generic run-of-the-mill liquor store in the States. The average Ontarian spends around $300 on alcohol a year. If Ontario’s prices were brought in line with American prices, using the 33 per cent generated from the Captain Morgan example, Ontarians would spend an average of roughly $225 a year on alcohol. The market for alcohol in Ontario does not operate efficiently, arguably due to intervention from the government. Given the LCBO’s pricing of
alcohol, it is likely that consumers of recreational marijuana will be disappointed at the price tags they encounter at the store. Furthermore, at its core, the government’s monopolization of marijuana is hypocritical. Anti-trust laws exist in Ontario that penalize companies, preventing new competitors from entering the market in which they already have an established position. In the domain of alcohol, the LCBO has a stranglehold on the market. They have the freedom of setting prices and Ontarians have little flexibility in deciding where to shop. The government is breaking their own laws by not allowing independently run stores to serve alcohol to the public. Consumers are denied lower prices and convenience in order for the government to promote their condescending policies. Ontario claims that the LCBO is necessary in order to protect the citizens of Ontario from themselves. Grown adults above the legal drinking age should be able to consume alcohol without the government lecturing them about how they are the arbiters of appropriate behavior. The same logic will likely apply to the sale of marijuana; the government will control the sale and claim they are protecting Ontarians from themselves. Meanwhile, for this “privilege”, consumers will pay greater prices and have less variety to choose from that they would have under privatization or decriminalization alternatively. Finally, the Ontario government is stifling personal initiative with their monopolization of cannabis. In Colorado, for example, a whole new generation of entrepreneurs has emerged that specializes in the sale of marijuana. The new breed of entrepreneurs in Colorado spur employment and encourage competition which ultimately benefits consumers. Ontario’s plan lacks this free market element. In the government’s monopoly, less innovation will be undertaken by individuals and there is no incentive to consider consumers first. Essentially, they are putting the priorities of the government before those of the constituency.
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR
Riding the city bus can be quite a harrowing experience, despite it being such an arbitrary necessity of my everyday life. As a student who has no car, I rely on the public transportation system to take me back and forth from my home in Kitchener, to school in Waterloo. I’ve regularly ridden the bus since I was a teenager and there is one unshakable aspect of it that stands the test of time: the people. Understanding basic etiquette while riding the bus shouldn’t be a difficult concept to grasp. Yet, I have countless stories that revolve around other passengers making me uncomfortable. Just when I feel like I’ve seen all there is to see — within the confines of an otherwise harmless space — a man twice my age sits behind me and strokes my hair. I turn around with a “what the fuck” expression plastered across my face. He produces a Cheshire cat grin in response, clearly proud of his obvious creepiness. A guy slides next to me, talking a mile a minute despite my awkward silence, until he removes my glasses from my face and tries them on. In his words, “these looked nice on you, so I thought I’d try them myself.” As she passes by me, a middle-aged woman makes a loud comment about my “slutty” shorts, despite the thirty-degree heat outside.
Coming home from a late class on a nearly empty bus, a man who looks like a walking mug-shot pointedly stares at me. His lip curls in obvious delight over my discomfort, saying lewd things in my direction every few stops for good measure. These are the moments that stand out to me, ones that I wish were rare, but have been compiled into a seemingly never-ending list. They range from mere annoyance, to flat out concern over my safety and what could happen if they didn’t lose their disgusting interest in me.
Picking up on social cues that indicate an unwillingness to engage in conversation should be respected.
Instances like this are so common that I see them happening to other people around me as well. A person reading a stranger’s texts over their shoulder, a guy bothering a girl who is clearly disinterested in his advances, a loud-mouthed blowhard who thinks it’s their God-given right to make judgments about everyone around them. I am not at all against friendly, mutual chit-chat with someone who is non-threatening. A little old lady who gives me a genuine com-
pliment, a passing comment about the weather, or a baby grinning at me from their stroller are always acceptable forms of communication in my books. It’s when these interactions are distinctly divided, malicious or unnecessary, that I have no tolerance for them. I have no idea how or why someone would incessantly pester another person when they clearly do not want to talk, they’re reading a book, or have headphones on. Picking up on social cues that indicate an unwillingness to engage in conversation should be respected. If you miss these initial indicative hints of disinterest, and someone explicitly tells you to leave them alone, listen to them. Harassment shouldn’t be a fear that sits in the back of my mind whenever I want to go somewhere, but it’s a relentless aspect that can go hand-in-hand with public transportation. Being followed home after I’ve stepped off the bus is another occurrence that’s happened more than once. Holding my keys in a sweaty hand while my phone is gripped in the other ready to call 911, is frightening, to say the least. Riding the bus should be simple, harmless and frankly, boring. It shouldn’t feel like stepping inside a circus tent with Pennywise the clown lurking on the other side. As a general rule, play it safe. Don’t take a gamble with your next lay on a person half your age or make it your goal to make someone else feel uncomfortable. When in doubt, just don’t be an asshole and you’ll make the commute better for everyone there because of it.
14 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Caring about the Caribbean islands in crisis ADINA TURKONJE STAFF WRITER
When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, every news channel was reporting the devastation. People panicked and some even planned long drives down just to help the people there. Then hurricane Irma blasted through the Caribbean, but the focus was on the destruction in the sunshine state of Florida. Hurricane Irma was a category five hurricane that went through the Caribbean, leaving it incredibly damaged. In Saint Martin, structures were swept away and in Saint Barthélemy, the streets were transformed into rushing rivers. Anguilla’s only hospital was utterly destroyed, along with its schools and a vast number of homes. The British Virgin Islands were affected to such an extent that satellite images showed areas of the islands in complete and utter ruin. The impact doesn’t end there.
MADELINE MCINNIS/FILE PHOTO
Laurier residence learning communities travelled Puerto Rico for two years — and now wait to hear how it fared.
Hurricane Irma ruined the islands of Culebra and Vieques in Puerto Rico. The bridge that connects Haiti and the Dominican Republic was broken by heavy rain and whiplashing winds. In Cuba — everyone’s favourite vacation spot — floods took away the homes of many people in the provinces of Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila. Buildings collapsed in the city of Santa Clara. The country has been left with billions of dollars in damages. Hurricane Jose was said to be the next major storm to hit the Lesser Antilles. It was a category four hurricane that was downgraded to a tropical storm once it caused minimal destruction. Antigua and Barbuda were spared, after Irma
damaged the areas drastically. Hurricane Katia, a category two hurricane, destroyed parts of Mexico which created floods in numerous areas and mudslides in Xalapa. Many residents have been left without power. A current hurricane, Lee, is on watch. The current storm status is a category one, located east of Bermuda and seems to be remaining small. Unfortunately, Hurricane Maria has made an alarming appearance. Maria has created extreme havoc in the Caribbean islands and has been declared more intense than Irma. It is the second Category five hurricane of this season. In the southern Windward Islands, the banana industry suffered
and power outages were triggered. In Dominica, water levels alarmingly increased. In Puerto Rico, heavy rains created unbearable floods and left millions of people without electricity. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, homes are gone and the power is completely out. People are struggling to communicate in and out of these islands for help and for assurance to relatives living outside of the islands. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated, “the stars have fallen, Eden is broken. The nation of Dominica has come to declare an international humanitarian emergency.” Hurricane Maria has decreased to a category two but her damages
are unprecedented. Like Texas and Florida, the Caribbean Islands and Mexico have been largely impacted by these recent hurricanes. Tourists are too captivated by the cheap deals to visit during this time of need. The constant news of the hurricanes seem to not have the same effect it once did when Harvey first arrived. It is as if these storms are becoming too recurring, to the point that the impact is being ignored; the hurricanes’ effect on the United States consequently overshadowing the extent of destruction throughout the Caribbean islands and elsewhere. Nevertheless, there are real people out there that need help. This is what you can do: Fundly and GoFundMe are campaigns that aid numerous victims during this time of need. Taller Salud and Hispanic Federation are Puerto Rican campaigns that are devoted to help families affected. Team Rubicon and All Hands are recruiting and sending out volunteers to assist. With a bit of research, you can find out numerous ways to help these victims. Sharing the news and having people aware with what is going on is also still a great way to assist.
Not keeping up with tech OMAIR ANSARI STAFF WRITER
QIAO LAU/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Early on in my life, I came to the realization that my peers and I were being rebuked for our constant engagement with technology. All around me I saw parents saying things such as “get off your phone, it’ll give you a headache,” or teachers advising us to “do re-
search in libraries, not online.” At first, I thought this was something unique, that perhaps our generation was in fact too reliant on the technological advances we’ve seen since the paradigm shift that was the creation and mass-use of the internet. Suddenly, repositories of knowledge could be accessed not exclusively through extensive travel, hardship and general inconvenience, but through any device that could connect with the mass network that was the world wide web. Nothing of this scale had ever been seen before and it revolutionized the world. Every industry was dealing with at least some facet of its organization online. In order to remain competitive, every business had to engage in the online world, whether it be through e-commerce, online customer service, advertising, or a plethora of other avenues. Not being online almost meant that something could be non-existent. Then, the social networking boom hit in the early 2000’s and yet again the world was changed in a way no one could have predicted. Communication became a major constituent of the average person’s internet usage. Emails were seen as formal and social networking sites provided a platform for communication not necessarily related with one’s professional life. My parents grew up in a time when the internet was not a daily fact of life. Taking notes meant a pen and a notepad. Engaging with friends meant a face-to-face conversation or a phone call, not the “impersonal” texting we’ve become so
accustomed to today. Our society has jumped very far ahead in a short amount of time. This has led us to a phenomenon where we are not keeping up with our technology as a society, leading to the tension we see in our everyday lives. Professors insisting on no laptop or phone policies in classrooms; our parents judging us for being plugged in for a majority of the day.
I, for one, believe that we should completely embrace the advances we have made.
To an older generation — one that was fostered without this tether to the virtual world — the fact that we can’t be anywhere without our phones is preposterous. I, for one, believe that we should completely embrace the advances we have made. Where would we be if we had listened to those who preached against industrial innovation, against medical progress and everything in-between? This friction towards our engagement with technology from the older generation is nothing new; every generation looks at the next and ponders upon the end of the world they will surely bring.
WEDNESDAY, 18 • SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
Sports
• 15 SPORTS EDITOR PRANAV DESAI sports@thecord.ca
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Hawks bounce back
RECREATION
Getting involved with RAC ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
ABDULHAMID IBRAHIM LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
Coming off of a tie and loss last weekend, the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s soccer team was looking to show out in a match up with Algoma. Coaches in different sports speak on not wasting any steps or movements. It’s something that is key in order for the athletes to perform at a higher level. Well, the Golden Hawks wasted none, opening the scoring within the first minute of the game with second-year defender Ellie Reid scoring her first goal of the season. The snowball effect would start from there, as Laurier proceeded to go on a tear. By the 13-minute mark, Maxine Murchie tallied her second goal of the year beating the goalkeeper to the ball and scoring. The 22-minute mark would bring a penalty shot for Laurier as Gagan Parhar got tripped by Algoma goalkeeper Alexis Trigiani-Kirkwood. Midfielder Nicole Lyons would materialize, securing her first goal of the year. Six minutes later, Natalie Berry would score off of an assist from Maxine Murchie to make it 4-0. A minute later, Murchie would score her second of the game to make it 5-0. Not too long after that, Gagan Parhar would also score off of an assist from Victoria Conforti. Asked about whether he had expected the first half outburst Coach MacLean said: “not necessarily 6-0 but I think we have the ability to score goals and create goals.” “We were a lot more mobile and we had a lot more players changing positions in the first half, kept the ball moving and created a lot more real opportunities for us, which was good.” “I think we stopped doing that in the second half and that was the biggest difference between why we created so many in the first half and not the second half,” he added. The Hawks not only dominated
the scoreboard but also possession of the ball as Algoma really had no chance to make anything happen. Their answer to the flurry of goals — which had calmed down by then — came in the form of a penalty shot scored by Sarah Von Boerdonk at the 87-minute mark. A minute later again, the Hawks would answer, this time with Danielle Ortlieb making it 7-1 which would be the final score of the match.
We were a lot more mobile and we had a lot more players changing positions in the first half ... which was good. -Barry MacLean, head coach
Whereas last week, the problem was finding a rhythm in the first half of play, this week, Laurier made a statement. Having not been pleased with his team’s competitiveness and first half efforts last week, Coach MacLean was much happier with his team’s effort this time around. “Today we really went out to focus on our patterns of play and keeping possession of the ball and trying to hurt them off of that and I think in the first half we did well,” MacLean said. “Second half, we lost our way a little bit, didn’t play with any real intensity and you know, it was hot today, so it’s like the game kind of died its own death. But I would have said first half, I was pleased with the way we went about it, second half, it was okay.” With the rematch on Sunday versus Algoma called off, next up for the Golden Hawks will be the McMaster Marauders on Friday.
Intramurals registration is closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play sports for the rest of the year. The registration for intramurals in the winter opens in January and if you’re in first year, you can participate in Residence Athletic Council [RAC] activities and sports. “We do registration again in January. Hockey registration doesn’t end until October 5. Anybody who wants to play RAC can speak with their don. This year they have ultimate Frisbee, soccer, European handball and dodgeball playing in the fall,” Jennifer O’Neill, manager of recreation and facilities, said. “We do have a ton of sports. The
best thing to do would be to find a team and register as a team.” RAC play begins on September 28 and it will be interesting to see which residences shine. “RAC is only for first-years, while every other sport is available to everyone. Every one of our leagues is tiered. There are some very competitive athletes, but there are also recreational athletes,” O’Neill said. There are some exciting new sports that have been added to intramurals this year, so there is something for everyone. “We have added table tennis as a new sport this year in the winter. We also have ‘wallyball’, which was new last year and gained a lot of popularity,” O’Neill said. “We also have two against two
soccer in the squash court. Those are all the new sports offered in the winter and anybody who didn’t have time to register in the fall can take part in those next semester.” It doesn’t matter what level you have played at in the past. With the amount of leagues and divisions in intramurals, you will be able to find what you like. “Some of our sports that people might have played at a rep level are a little bit more competitive. Then there are other sports that are a bit more recreational such as badminton and table tennis,” O’Neill said. If you missed out on registering for the fall, make sure you set a reminder for January, as intramurals are something that every student should experience.
SPORTS • 16
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 FOOTBALL
Hawks take flight in Battle of Waterloo PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR
The Golden Hawks prevailed in their highly anticipated match up against the Warriors this past Saturday. The game was very tight in the first quarter, as both teams were trading punches. In the second quarter the Hawks started to pull away, thanks to two interceptions, a huge 44-yard touchdown from Michael Knevel to Brentyn Hall and a 65-yard punt return touchdown. The Hawks led at halftime by a score of 33-15. Laurier took control of the game in the second half and never looked back, as they ended up dominating the Warriors, winning by a final score of 71-24. “Obviously it was kind of back and forth a little bit in the first quarter. We took a 12-0 lead and then they came back,” head coach, Michael Faulds, said after the game. “The game is won and lost on a few plays here and there towards the end of the half, getting a touchdown on offense and then following it up with a 2-and-out on defense, followed by 65-yard punt return touchdown,” he continued. “It went from 19-15, to very quickly 33-15 at the half and from that point on there was no looking back.” Although the Hawks won this game with ease, there were some negative plays for the defense in the first half. Tre Ford, quarterback for the Warriors, caused the Hawks’ defense many issues as he was
constantly escaping the pocket and rushing for big yardage. The Hawks compounded the problem by adding on a few latehit penalties. “Penalties are always a focus for us. It’s always something we try to clean up. We’re a tough, hardnosed football team,” Faulds said.
I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in the first four games... We’ve got a couple of more months to figure out what type of team we are. -Michael Faulds, head coach
GARRISON OOSTERHOF/WEB DIRECTOR
“Sometimes hard tackles get called as late hits just because some of our guys are very physically imposing,” he continuted. “I tell the guys don’t argue the calls, let the coaches do that and move on to the next play.” Both the Hawks and Warriors were undefeated coming into the game. This led to many fans thinking that the game would be tightly contested. But the Hawks showed why they are the defending Yates Cup champions. “I think the outcome of Waterloo is kind of what we expected ... We’re very confident in our
BASEBALL
abilities. We’re right where we’d thought we’d be at this point of the year at 4-0,” Faulds said. “We’ve already moved past Waterloo and we’re dissecting Western film. Western is going to be a really tough team to play at homecoming and our guys will be excited and ready to play.” Next up for the Hawks is a rematch of the Yates Cup final. In what many people will call the biggest game of the season, the Hawks will need everybody to be at their best. Faulds mentioned that the Yates Cup victory was a deserved one for the Hawks and they are going to need some big plays to win again.
“A lot of people think it was a fluke that we won that game. But I think a lot of people are forgetting we were leading at halftime. So was that whole first half a fluke as well?” Faulds pondered. “Western had an outstanding third quarter. We happened to have an outstanding fourth quarter. So obviously we made all the plays that we needed to at the end of that game.” “We’re going to need several big plays again this week. We’re going to need defense, special teams and offense to play their best game of the year for us to win this football game,” he said. Although it is very early to be
looking ahead to the playoffs, this Hawks team looks like a strong contender once again. “As of right now, we have a ton of room to grow. Do I think we could get to that point by November 25? I do. Would a September 24 team be ready for that? No. It’s a long season and we have to continue to grow each week,” Faulds said. The goal for the players is the Vanier Cup and with all the talent on this team, the sky is the limit for the Hawks. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in the first four games. If we can maintain that trajectory of momentum upwards, then we’ve definitely got a shot.”
Symington finds success PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR
QIAO LAU/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
The Wilfrid Laurier University baseball team has started the season strong by winning four out of their first five games. The strength of the pitching staff has been put on display and it has been the main catalyst for the Hawks’ success so far. One of the best pitchers on the team, Kyle Symington, has been a bright spot and he is building on what was a very impressive rookie year last season. “I found that the baseball forces you to manage your time and keep your days structured. When you’re on the field those three hours a night during the week, it’s just all baseball,” Symington said. “That’s what prepared me for the games on the weekend and that’s why I did so well.” Getting off to a hot start is a great sign for this team. It shows that last season’s disappointing playoff exit hasn’t had too much of a negative impact on the team chemistry. “I don’t think anyone has forgotten about last year. We did view
it as a disappointment. But even our preseason timely didn’t go the way we would’ve liked,” Symington said. “Winning three out of four early on was definitely big, especially with a lot of new players on the team this year.” “Sophomore slump” is a term that is often thrown around in sports, indicating the inevitable drop in performance of players in their second year. However, Symington has shown no signs of slowing down; he only seems to be getting better. The business major mentioned how important it was for him to get so much playing time in his first year with the team. “Having a year under my belt and having the opportunity to play as much as I did kind of puts me at ease going into this season,” he said. “I know what to expect and I’m able to focus on the opponent instead of worrying about playing time.” “With as young of a group as we have, a leadership role is just thrust upon you maybe earlier than you would’ve expected, so I’m thankful
to have played as much as I did last year.” Under Scott Ballantyne, the Hawks have consistently been a playoff team. Year in, year out, this team is a playoff contender and in 2013 they were even able to put it all together to become OUA champions. Although last season was a disappointment, this is still a very well-rounded team that once again shouldn’t have any problems reaching the postseason. Expectations are high for the Hawks and the depth of this Hawks team should elevate them above their competition. “The expectation is definitely to make the playoffs and perform well once we get there. Coach Ballantyne has set the team up well to perform down the stretch, with the amount of recruits he brought it and with the depth he’s developed, Symington said. “This has historically been a pitching dominant team and we have a good pitching staff again this year. “You add some timely hitting and there’s no reason we can’t do something special this year.”