The Cord January 15, 2020

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

J A N U A R Y

1 3.

2 0.

VOLUME 60 ISSUE 16 • JANUARY 15, 2020

LET US POINT YOU IN THE DIRECTION THIS ELECTION

3 1.

2 0.

MILLION DOLLAR MUSIC

SAY GOODBYE TO THE PERCH

COME FLY WITH ME

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

ROUGH START FOR HAWKS

Laurier receives hefty donation

Students’ Union hub for clubs is no more

What you need to know to study abroad

Trump’s impeachment isn’t the end

Women’s Basketball sees two losses

News, page 8

News, page 6

Arts & Life, page 14

Opinion, page 17

Sports, page 20

2 •

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

MIXTAPE JANUARY 2020

The Cord

@cordnews

@thecord.ca

CordNews THIS DAY IN HISTORY: JANUARY 15

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

1559: Elizabeth I crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey.

THE ALARMIST // PINEGROVE

1759: British Museum opens in Montague House, London.

EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE WRONG // BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB

1870: Donkey first used as symbol of Democratic Party, in Harper's Weekly.

BIG BLACK HEART // BETTER OBLIVION COMMUNITY CENTER

1892: Basketball rules first published in Triangle Magazine, written by James Naismith.

DANCE // TIM BAKER

1895: Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" premieres, St Petersburg.

HE WOULD HAVE LAUGHED // DEERHUNTER

1919: Two million gallons of molasses flood Boston Massachusetts in the "Great Molasses Flood" when a storage tank burst, drowning 21 and injuring 150.

ME, MY YOKE AND I // DAMIEN RICE

BLEAK BAKE // KING KRULE

1945: Every Amsterdammer gets 3 kg of sugar beets.

BUT YOU // ALEXANDER SAVIOR DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR

SLUG // SNAIL MAIL

1971: George Harrison releases "My Sweet Lord" single in the UK.

PET PICK

PLACEHOLDER // HAND HABITS

1967: First Super Bowl In the first Super Bowl The Green Bay packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles.

1974: TV sitcom Happy Days begins an 11 year run on ABC.

...FAMILIAR PLACE // LUCY DACUS

1975: Space Mountain opens at Disneyland.

SOPPPING // BAY FACTION

2001: Wikipedia a free Wiki or content encyclopedia is launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.

2007: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel about the Biafran War, Half of a Yellow Sun, is published.

HATES THE PARTY // LONG BEARD

MEASURED // COMMON HOLLY

2016: American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan unveils newest exhibit replica skeleton of a Titanosaur dinosaur, largest known dinosaur at 70 tons, 37m.

VICTORIA MARSHALL/SENIOR COPY EDITOR

2019: Plastic will outweigh fish in the world's oceans by 2050 according to report by the World Economic Forum.

Senior Copy Editor Victoria Marshall's newest feline addition to her family, Scout.

NEXT ISSUE

OPINION EDITOR Jade Hosick opinion@thecord.ca

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Victoria Marshall copyeditor@thecord.ca

CORD STAFF

SPORTS EDITOR Mark Cascagnette sports@thecord.ca

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

GRAPHICS EDITOR Jamie Mere graphics@thecord.ca

CORDCAST PRODUCER Jade Hosick, Victoria Marshall cordcast@thecord.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brit Kovacs creative@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Darien Funk photos@thecord.ca

WEB DIRECTOR Kashyap Patel online@thecord.ca

ONLINE EDITOR Kathleen McCullough online@thecord.ca

NEWS DIRECTOR Hayley McGoldrick news@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Katherine Fitzpatrick video@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Sophia Cole news@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER VACANT news@thecord.ca

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Alyssa Di Sabatino arts@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Sidney Macdonald photos@thecord.ca

JANUARY 22, 2020

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Jackson Carse Amichai Abraham Lauren Rutherford Joe DeFilippis Emma McVicar Summer Patrquin Jana Ibrahim Sarah Caley Jennifer Webb Laura Thompson Ian Schakel Caitlyn Lourenco

“Advice on how to not ruin a date ” - Jackson Carse

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

COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community.

Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily 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.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Quote of the week: “It fits my personal brand.”

- Creative Director Brit Kovacs while talking about masturbation.

S R P E I DEN T I A L

I’m Devyn Kelly, a fourth-year Political Science student and I am #DEVoted to you. I began my Laurier story on house council and have immersed myself in the Laurier community ever since. I have been an Icebreaker three times, I’m a Campus Ambassador, the Hiring and Recruitment Coordinator along with other clubs and committees.

My platform can be broken into three categories; 01 CENTRALIZED ONLINE INFORMATION - ATHLETICS - LIBRARY - STUDENTS’ UNION - FOOD SERVICES - EVENT TICKETS - MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES - CAMPUS MAP - SCS - ACADEMIC Q&A 02 VENDING MACHINES - SCHOOL SUPPLY - HEALTH FOOD 03 PROGRAMMING & SERVICES - ORIENTATION WEEK EVENTS - HOMECOMING & ST. PATRICKS DAY EVENTS - WILFS DELIVERY SERVICE - BRANTFORD FOOD SERVICES - FREE PRINTING Devyn Kelly for Students’ Union President on Facebook @DEVoted2SUPres on Instagram

These platforms were published as submitted.

I have designed my platform to be easily understood and digestible for everybody in the Laurier community. I want you as a voter to fully comprehend what you are supporting and for there to be no unrealistic goals that are hidden by fancy words.

I have organized my platform into three main tiers, each with separate goals that are equally as significant as the other. From being a student at Laurier for five years and taking on many different roles on campus within many diverse groups, I have seen and experienced Laurier in a multitude of perspectives.

I feel as though I am well equipped to be a spokesperson for the student body in a way that is representative of all members in the Student’s Union. I have written this platform based on my experiences and from discussions had with other Laurier students. This is a time for change, with everybody’s voice heard and accounted for when decisions are being made.

TIER ONE Mental Health & Wellness Mental Health & Wellness Resource Guide Mandatory Training for All SU Volunteers PASS Kits (Panic, Anxiety, & Stress Support) TIER TWO Healthy & Sustainable Living TIER THREE Overall Student Engagement Initiatives First-Year Student Engagement Greek Life Engagement

‘Leah Xuereb for Students’ Union President’ on Facebook @LeahX4Prez on Instagram

LAYOUT BY BRIT KOVACS / CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHICS BY KASH PATEL / WEB DIRECTOR

4 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

WLUSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Did not submit a platform.

SHANE SYMINGTON

Did not submit a platform.

Wilfrid Laurier University stands for great values and principles. This university puts great effort and interest in us, its student body. Like this institution, I am committed to put the time and effort to better improve Student’s Union’s involvement in your university experience.

My name is Christy Francis and I am a third-year Biology student running for the Students’ Union Board of Directors, on the senate, and the Board of Governors. From my time involved with on and off campus communities I understand students concerns. From my time in leadership roles in the Students Union I understand the position I am running for. From my time as a Golden Hawk I am ready to improve your university experience in three key ways.

The three pillars of my platform are: providing a clear understanding of Student Union activities, improving Wi-Fi, improving wellness options available for students.

PEGAH JAMALOF

JUSTIN DOOLITTLE My name is Lauren Rutherford. I am a third year political science student, campaigning for election on the Students Union Board of Directors. During my three years at Laurier, I have been involved in the Student Union Committees for First Year Project and Outreach. In addition, to being an executive on the Laurier Model United Nations team, Association of Political Science Students, WLU Fashion Society and as an Icebreaker. All opportunities that have furthered my passion for the Laurier community.

As a director, I will have the opportunity to be an influential advocate for the Laurier student body. In summary, my platform seeks to bring outreach, approachability and direct action to the board.

Outreach: I will work towards furthering the Board’s communications with the student body, by advocating for more open forums. In addition, developing new ideas that enhance the relationship between Student Union policy- measures to coincide with the student body’s voice of concerns.

Approachability: It is of my opinion that a transparent Board will best uphold the interests of students. As a result, I plan...

CHRISTY FRANCIS

LAUREN RUTHERFORD

NICHOLAS QUINTYN

Did not submit a platform.

Being on the Board of Directors would be an honour. I believe that I can address concerns and voice opinions on behalf of the student body to others on the Board of Directors. I have been involved in numerous academic groups and participate in various campus activities.

In my first year at Laurier, I was a member of my house council as an outreach representative. I have been a member of the Alpha Phi sorority since my first year, which has shown me the importance of camaraderie at Laurier. I’m also an executive on both the Laurier Young Liberals and the North American Student Association.

All these different experiences have given me the skills that I believe are necessary to perform well in either position. I hope that I can do my part in maintaining the school we love.

Read full platforms on thecord.ca

NEWS • 5

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Did not submit a platform.

IBRAHIM MUSA

AKSHAT SHAH

My name is Akshat Shah and I am running for the WLUSU Board of Directors.

I am a third-year student who wants to ensure that the future Board of Directors listens to and advocates for the students as they are the representatives chosen by the students. Transparency and honesty are a very important aspect of decision-making bodies that I will use to hold the Board of Directors accountable.

Certain goals I have developed for my role as a director of the board are to connect with more students to understand their perspective, learn their expectations of the institution, and gain input regarding decisions that affect the students.

My experience as a Residence Life Don this year has helped me connect with firstyear students and upper-year student staff who have many great ideas and expectations for this institution. By working with other directors we can transform those expectations into a reality.

My name is Ty Thomas and I am running for re-election for the Board of Directors. If elected, I also intend on pursuing the role of Chair and Chief Governance Officer.

I will work towards a more integrated Laurier community, bridging the gap between our various departments and allow room for collaboration with other organizations at Laurier across both our Brantford and Waterloo campuses. My reasoning for wanting to do this is to challenge the toxicity that is ingrained within the culture of the Students’ Union and those who contribute to it it. as well as enhance the Laurier experience. I will ensure that we create an environment in the Students’ Union that is equitable, cooperative, supportive, and empowered.

The Board needs to be investigating the allegations of there being unfair hiring practices within the Students’ Union and other accusations of negative behaviour that impact the people’s desire to be involved. In order to achieve my goals, I will ensure true transparency with the work that I do with the Board so that all Board members are in the loop with decisions that are made and then ensure that we...

WLUSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TYRON THOMAS

My name is Kayla Han and I am running for a Directors position for the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union Board.

My commitment to you is to help make the most of your undergraduate years by ensuring that your voice is consistently heard.

As a second-year student, I have served as an executive for the Clubs and Associations, University Affairs and Programming and Services departments of the Students’ Union. I have learned the importance of student advocacy and transparent communication.

As a Director, I will be sure to represent your vision for Laurier by ensuring that you are always heard. My passion for Laurier’s commitment to inspire lives still stands by me with the ability to provide more first year opportunities within the Students’ Union and help build the future leaders of Laurier as well as career-ready graduates. Help me make the most of your time here at Laurier.

KAYLA HAN

EZRA CENITI

Looking to develop a stronger connection with Laurier students, I am running for Board of Directors to enhance the student experience and promote what the Laurier Students’ Union has to offer.

My name is Ezra Ceniti and I am ready to serve as one of the twelve members on the Board to represent you, the students. If elected, I will promote events put on by the Students’ Union, listen to and accept your opinions and do my best to collaborate with the institution to advocate for mental health and student services. In addition, I will make sure that Laurier is united as a school and that we continue to foster a positive community.

The health and happiness of students is essential for success at Laurier, both inside and outside the classroom. If elected, I promise to put the students first and advocate for what the Students’ Union has to offer.

6 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

CAMPUS

WLU clubs and associations lose their “Perch” to rest on HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK CORD ALUM

The Wilfrid Laurier Students’ Union announced that it would no longer be using the clubs and associations platform The Perch, one of the main platform points of former president Tarique Plummer’s 20182019 presidency campaign.

The Students’ Union announced via email that the software company that previously hosted The Perch, CampusVibe, would no longer be providing the software, and will thus be ceasing operations of the platform.

All clubs and associations have been advised to stop using the site to upload information and any documentation needed is now being hosted on the Students’ Union landing page until a sufficient new provider is found.

“Mid-December we received word from the software developer[s] that created The Perch were no longer going to be providing that software we use for the platform, so the last day is tomorrow and unfortunately we won’t have access to it,” said Kara McDowell, vice president of clubs and associations for the Students’ Union.

“In the meantime, we’ve moved all of the resources and everything that was really important on The Perch directly onto a new webpage on the Students’ Union website.”

The Perch was a project introduced in October of 2018 to allow clubs & associations one central hub to have events approved, book rooms, schedule events for other

students to see and have members join their club.

“Everything’s still available – obviously it’s not in the formatting that we would like it to be, but it’s a temporary fix,” McDowell said.

Before The Perch, many clubs used Facebook’s events page to advertise upcoming events and relied on shares to get the word around, while The Perch was available for all students to access and see what events were happening from every club on each day.

“For this semester we’re just going to be using the temporary placement that we’ve created on the Students’ Union site, but we definitely have been starting conversations about looking into a new program management software for our clubs,” McDowell said.

“Whether that be looking for another software provider similar to CampusVibe, or looking into the possibility of a customized website that we would be able to manage a bit more on our own, we’re taking what we’ve learned, what we liked and didn’t like about The Perch and that’s what we’ll take for a site to hopefully kickstart for clubs on May 1.”

Though The Perch was a central hub for many campus clubs to interact with students and the Students’ Union in one central location, some communication between student executives and clubs came across unclear, leaving people without answers just days before an event.

“We’ve been directing students to the new webpage that we will

DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR

continue to revamp, so students can click on “clubs” on the top toolbar and that has all the resources for clubs, a listing of all the clubs and everything they’ll need

to access temporarily,” McDowell said.

Wednesday, Jan. 15 will be the last day The Perch sees life for Laurier students, but clubs and

associations within the Students’ Union will continue to strive for transparency as well as accommodations and resources for student clubs.

TECHNOLOGY

Changes to development fees aim to diversify Waterloo housing SOPHIA COLE NEWS EDITOR

The City of Waterloo is hoping to diversify the housing market in the city with a recent change to building development fees.

While previous development charges for two and three-bedroom units had been more expensive that development of single bedroom units, the city has decided to equalize the costs of building units with anything from one to three bedrooms as a means of incentivising developers to pursue more projects with multi-bedroom units.

“One thing that’s important to know by way of background is over the years, the planning we’ve been doing around the units has been to shift the development model from five-bedroom purpose-built housing into housing of a wider variety of sizes and types, from one, two and three bedroom units and tall, medium-sized townhouses and stacked-townhouse buildings,” said Ward 6 Councillor Jeff Henry.

“So you’ve got a wider diversity of housing in Waterloo, particularly in our core areas and around the universities that can appeal to a

wider variety of demographics.”

But while the housing market is more diverse in these central areas, across the city most new apartment developments coming in are exclusively one-bedroom units, which could pose a problem as demographics shift in the future.

It’s about making sure the housing stock that’s being built is flexible and can support what we know will be changes to demographics in the city as people age.

-Jeff Henry, Ward 6 Councillor

“We’ve a very young city over all, we’ve got lots of folks who are university-aged or recently university-aged. And the experience we’ve seen in other places, downtown Toronto comes to mind, as those folks partner up, as they get married, as they have kids, they look in the neighbourhoods

they’ve become accustomed to and can’t find housing that works for them,” Henry said.

“It’s really important for us to look to the future and make sure that as new housing is being built, it is being built not just for the demographics that are here today, but the demographics that you can expect in five, ten or fifteen years, so people can age in place and always find a place to live in Waterloo.”

By reducing the costs for developers to construct two and three-bedroom units, the city is hoping that developers will move towards pursuing more multi-bedroom units which are suitable for small families or aging couples, as opposed to the smaller units which seem to be the focus of most new Waterloo development.

“This was a small nudge to the industry in the right direction, but it was an easy nudge that we could do when that review came up; that’s why I pushed so hard for us to do this, because while I don’t expect that it will have a significant impact on what gets built, it might have some impact and it is an easy thing for us to do that doesn’t cost us anything,” Henry said.

FILE PHOTO/NICK LACHANCE

Moving forward, the city will look at how the demographic evolves, which units are being built and how to move forward and act in the best interest of the cities residence in order to create a more versatile and accessible housing market.

“I think it’s important for us to see how this pans out and look at other opportunities and what gets built to see if there’s more that we need to do,” Henry said.

“It’s about making sure the housing stock that’s being built is flexible and can support what we know will be changes to demographics in the city as people age.”

“It’s important for us to always look at what’s being built and what nudges we can provide and what tools we can use to help the industry come back to balance, because the development industry often won’t do that by itself, it needs us to push it in the right direction.”

NEWS • 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 TECHNOLOGY

FILE PHOTO

Waterloo tech team named finalist in fight against fake news SOPHIA COLE NEWS EDITOR

On Jan. 10, local Waterloo team, the Traveling Wilburys, was announced as one of the finalists in the first phase of a competition in effort to combat fake news using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Out of the 150 teams across the country who entered the competition, the Traveling Wilburys are one of only ten teams who will be moving forward.

The Traveling Wilburys, comprised of Ronak Pradeep, Pratyush Pal and Sidhant Saraogi, are one of the lucky finalists who will move forward into the second phase of

the competition, where they will have a chance to win the $1 million dollar Leaders Prize.

The competition, announced at the 2019 True North conference run by Communitech, chose fake news as its focus due to rising prevalence of misinformation presented as truth and its potentially destructive effects on the demo-

cratic society.

“Fake news is a very big issue now, so it’s also a very good time to start working on solutions to such problems,” said Ronak Pradeep, finalist and natural language researcher.

“I don’t think there’s enough work being done yet, and I think the second round of this competition really brings it down a more real-world path.”

In order to progress in the competition, the teams must create an effective and efficient AI-based fact checking solution. In the second phase of the competition, the finalist’s solutions must surpass 75 per cent of the human baseline result and each team must provide evidence in defense of their solutions truth rating.

“There are patterns to fake news for sure, so some kinds of texts can be verified to be true using the internet. I think that’s what this competition tries to tackle,” Pradeep said.

“The past two years have been a very good time for the field of natural language processing, which is pretty much what this falls under because you’re taking text and trying to classify whether the claim made is true or not.”

The first place prize will be provided by the Schulich Foundation and Leaders Fund, its namesake, in partnership with Communitech and the University of Waterloo.

The competition allows talented Canadian in the tech sector to showcase their skills and work towards combatting real-world problems.

An interest in AI technologies, natural language processing and fact verification are some of the reasons that Pradeep chose to participate in the Leaders Prize Competition with his teammates “Growing up I was always fascinated in AI,” Pradeep said. “And I’ve been a research in natural language processing, I’d say, for two or three years now.”

Going into the competition, the Traveling Wilburys were unsure of how things would play out, but after weeks of hard work, they became more confident that they would be one of the ten finalists.

“As we got towards the end, it did feel that we would probably get through,” Pradeep said. “We seemed to be doing pretty well in the leaderboards.”

Moving into the second phase, the team plans to devote multiple hours a day to the competition.

If they received the Leaders Prize, the Traveling Wilburys hope to use the prize money to collect more data to help fuel future AI solutions to preventing the spread of fake news.

“Personally, I think a lot more data needs to be collected for this task first before we can approach it” Pradeep said. “In general, any of these AI solutions are dependent on data.”

The competition will come to a close on May 8, 2020, when all finalist teams must have their phase two solutions submitted.

The winner of the Leaders Prize Competition will then be announced on June 3 at the True North Festival.

8 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

CAMPUS the new building named the “Savvas Chamberlain Music Building.”

“Usually, donations of this magnitude are the result of discussions over a long period of time — that’s exactly what happened in this instance. What we look for, of course, is the ideal match between a potential donor and a project,” said Glen Carruthers, dean of the faculty of music.

What a gift of this magnitude does is that it’s a tremendous affirmation of the quality of the program.

-Glen Carruthers, dean of the faculty of music

FILE PHOTO

Laurier’s faculty of music recieves four million dollar donation HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK CORD ALUM

Laurier’s Faculty of Music has been given a donation that is getting them closer to their goal of $14

million in the Making Space for Music campaign, created to revamp their facilities for students.

The Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation pledged $4 million to the campaign, bringing the cam-

paign’s total to $9 million – only $5 million away from their goal to expand the music building, needed with the growing student population. The foundation’s generosity is earning them the honour of having

“Considering a contribution that is as large and as transformative as this, they want to know as much about the project as they possibly can, so there were considerable discussions about it: the timelines, the objectives and there was also an agreement that we would reach agreement by the end of the year and they were happily able to do that.”

Sustaining a long friendship with Laurier seeing engagement and philanthropy, Savvas Chamberlain is a member of the Laurier Board of Governors while his wife, Christine, is alumna of the bachelor of music program.

“The understanding is that we will put the shovel in the ground when we reach about $11 million; the university would front us the money for the remainder of the project and we would continue fundraising to get to that $14 million, but we don’t need to raise the entire amount,” Carruthers said.

“Realistically, as of today, we have about $2 million to raise before construction will start, but the architects have been re-en-

gaged, [and] there’s much going on behind the scenes so that once we hit that goal we will be ready to start construction.”

Earlier in the year, the Faculty of Music had a day of giving where students had impromptu performances on campus to raise donations for the campaign as well as awareness for it.

“What a gift of this magnitude does is that it’s a tremendous affirmation of the quality of the program. For someone to make this kind of donation, they need to be absolutely confident that we are indeed a sector-leading program in the field of post-secondary music,” Carruthers said.

“It’s an affirmation for the students that they’re in the right place at the right time. I will admit there’s a tiny bit of trepidation of how we’re going to accommodate continuing classes and so forth once construction continues, but we’re now discussing how that might work.”

It’s an affirmation for the students that they’re in the right place at the right time.

-Glen Carruthers, dean of the faculty of music

Though extremely well-positioned with the donation, the Making Space for Music campaign still has fundraising to do in order to reach their final goal of creating a space with state-of-the-art classrooms and rehearsal space for increased opportunities in music at Laurier.

“I’m very grateful, I think we’re all very grateful to the donor, it’s very appreciated,” Carruthers said.

GAMES • 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 SUDOKU

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, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord. ca no later than Monday at noon each week.

Dear Life, Good morning, winner.

Take a deep breath. [inhales] [exhales deeply] Good.

You’re ready to dominate this day.

You’ve worked harder than everyone, and that is why you’re a champion.

You understand that greatness takes sacrifice.

Visualize what you still want to achieve.

Stand atop the mountain of your success and look down at everyone who’s ever doubted you.

Fuck those losers.

Fuck them in their stupid fucking faces. [“To Whom It May Concern” plays] [car horn honking] - [girl] Hey! - [honking continues] - Oh! - [Molly] Oh! Oh, shit.

Yeah, yeah Hold the phone!

I’m comin’!

- Oh, shit.

- Say, say - I’m a bad motherfucker, yeah - Whoo!

We know it, keep goin’ I came straight off the stage After Glasto - What?

- What? Excuse me.

- Oh, oh.

- What?

- Oh. - What?

- Hey. - What?

- Missed ya!

- I missed you.

- I missed you so much.

- It’s been one night. [snapping fingers] - Are we gonna go to school, or...

- No. I don’t think we are.

No, we’re just gonna stay... here.

I don’t wanna stress you out I just wanna tell ya the truth Motherfuckers try to tear us apart But we are electric linked My revolution - [boy] Move!

- [gasps] Jeez!

It’s time for the next evolution Are you...

- [boy] Whoo!

- I swear to God. - Whoo!

- What are you doing?

- Are you kidding me? Samantha!

- You couldn’t have just gone around?

Where was this energy at my inauguration assembly, folks?

True. [man] I hope I never have to see any of you ever again, okay?

That’s it. Signin’ off.

Go, Crocketts! [feedback squeals] Boom.

- [girl] Principal Brown?

- Oh...

Hi, Molly, Amy. What’s shakin’?

I want to make the transition of next year’s student government as seamless as possible, - so that when I’m up in New Haven...

- Yale. You can just say Yale, please.

Well, our class’s official policy is to not discuss where anyone is attending next year.

We don’t want them to feel insecure.

Very thoughtful.

01 01

THE CORD

When and why did you decide to run for Students� Union president?

DEVYN KELLY

In the summer before my first year, I had a meeting with an ALC counsellor on campus. When I mentioned I was the Prime Minister of my High School, she told me that the Students' Union had their first female President in a while. I asked her what the Students' Union was and as I walked out of thatmeeting with my mom I told her that one day, I would be the Students' Union President. So, you could say I decided to run for president before I was officially a student here. I have been involved with the Students' Union since my first year in various capacities and have developed a deep-rooted passion for the work they do for Laurier students. I am fascinated by the way the organization is student-run and operated and one of the goals I have had since getting involved as a volunteer is that every student has the same experience with the offerings of the Students' Union as I had.

THE CORD

Can you critique one aspect of the current president�s performance?

THE CORD

If president, how are you going to advocate for students on the Waterloo and Brantford campus?

DEVYN KELLY

If elected as President, I will advocate for students on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses with my open door policy.

I will always uphold an open-door policy and encourage students to share their thoughts on the events and operations of the Students� Union in order to make meaningful changes within the organization. I will also work towards polling systems in order to get student input on the events and programming the Students� Union runs. I would also work towards increasing multi-campus transportation for events and giving the students on both campuses equal opportunities to attend any and all events the Students' Union is running on either campus. I will also use my experience from serving on the Board of Directors in raising my voice at meetings, and bringing up important issues...

THE CORD

Why are you the best candidate for SU president?

DEVYN KELLY

WLU Students� Union President for two primary reasons: my experience and my passion. I have a diverse wealth of background volunteering with the Student�s Union which lends me knowledge into the many dimensions of the organization that is unmatched by other candidates. I believe it�s important that Laurier students have the best possible person putting their money to work for them, and this can only be done by someone who knows the ins and outs of the business as well as I do. You are not only electing a President to represent you, but a CEO of a company that you fund. Speaking to the second point, I have been unendingly passionate about this community since before I even enrolled at Laurier...

WATERLOO OPEN FORUM 01. 22. 2020 3PM (CONCOURSE)

DEVYN KELLY

One thing I would critique of the current president's performance thus far would be the transparency and accountability to his platform. As a member of the board, I receive bi-weekly updates from him in board meetings, and although our board meetings are live-streamed and the minutes are availableon the Students' Union website, I would have liked to have seen him provide more accessible updates for students through the available Students' Union social media channels so students could follow along with his progress throughout his term. One of the ways that I plan to do in order to improve upon the transparency and accountability of the President if I am elected, is to provide a platform checklist on the Students' Union website and social media channels in order for students to see exactly what I have accomplished at every point throughout my term.

DEVYN

WLUSU PRESENTS THE PRE

2020. 01

VOTING CO

x h a e l

THE CORD

What is one goal that you hope to achieve if you are elected as SU president?

DEVYN KELLY One goal I hope to achieve if I am elected as the Students' Union president is an increased awareness of the services the Students' Union offers. I believe that the strength of the services and programming the Students' Union offers is found within the number of students utilizing these services and attending the programming that is put on...

ANSWERS CONT'D ONLINE

All interviews were transcribed verbatim

CANDIDATE’S NIGHT 01

When and why did you decide to run for Students� Union president?

LEAH XUEREB

ESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

1. 28 - 30

OMMENCES

b e r e u x

WATERLOO PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 01. 27. 2020 4PM (CONCOURSE)

N KELLY

1. 27. 2020 10PM (WILFS)

02

THE CORD

Interestingly enough, I actually decided to run for President late in 2019, around the end of September. I had always thought about the idea, but never thought I would follow through with it completely. Before I fully committed to running for the role, the idea was brought up in numerous conversations with my new staff team in the department of residence and with others that I had built close relationships with in my many different roles that I have held all over campus. Nonetheless, I am excited that I have decided to go for it and for the opportunity in general.

THE CORD

Can you critique one aspect of the current president�s performance?

LEAH XUEREB

I would like to start this answer with saying that Zemar has done a phenomenal job this far. I just wish there was a smoothie bar in the Athletic Complex.

THE CORD

If president, how are you going to advocate for students on the Waterloo and Brantford campus?

LEAH XUEREB

I plan to build close working relationships with individuals and groups on both campuses, providing me with an opportunity to engage with members of both sides. In my opinion, this would allow me to best address the issues that are already present, and may arise in the future. I have also built my platform in way that is easily transferable to both campuses, which will allow me to facilitate these close relationships

THE CORD

Why are you the best candidate for SU president?

LEAH XUEREB

I believe I am the best candidate for SU president because I bring a new and fresh approach to the position. From being an O-Week Icebreaker, a dedicated employee at Wilf�s, and currently, a Residence Life Don, I have seen and experienced Laurier in a multitude of positions and perspectives. I am well-equipped to act in a way that is representative of all members in the Students� Union.

THE CORD

What is one goal that you hope to achieve if you are elected as SU president?

LEAH XUEREB

The number one goal I hope to achieve is to see my mental health initiatives come to life. I am a firm believer in the idea that you cannot be successful academically if you are not able to deal with any mental health barriers you are battling. Mental health is something very close to my heart. I have seen mental health illnesses affect numerous people who I�ve built deep connections with during my time at Laurier. Mental health is also something I have struggled with in my lifetime. If elected your Students� Union President, my main goal is to bring more awareness, work towards ending the stigma many feel, and creating meaningful, effective responses towards mental health that will benefit the whole Laurier community.

02

LAYOUT BY BRIT KOVACS / CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHICS BY KASH PATEL / WEB DIRECTOR

12 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Arts & Life

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR ALYSSA DI SABATINO arts@thecord.ca

MUSIC

Albums to help you transition into the new year SARAH CALEY STAFF WRITER

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is already here. Big milestones like this can be difficult to adjust to, as it can often feel like time is just pushing us forward.

So, whether this new year has you looking for guidance through a big change in your life, wanting to reflect on your past or even just trying to find your place in the world, these five albums will assure you that there is hope for your new decade.

MAYBE by Valley As the years go by, the rapid rate of change in our society is only becoming more evident. Toronto indie-pop quartet Valley looks closely at theses changes on their most recent album, MAYBE. Tackling all of the troubles of being a young adult in the 21st century, such as moving away from home for the first time, trying not to let social media influence the way you think about yourself, and even the ups and downs of dating culture, this album will let you know that you’re not facing any of

these impossible issues alone.

Fine But Dying by Liza Anne On her third album, singer-songwriter Liza Anne analyzes her own personal habits and mental health with stunning honesty. Through her lyrics, she is able to encourage self-reflection while also reminding her listeners of the importance of staying present in the current moment.

Overall, Liza Anne’s hauntingly beautiful voice offers a reassurance that taking time for yourself is okay, and that you will be alright through it all.

Don’t Get Dark by Del Water Gap Written and recorded after Del Water Gap frontman Holden Jaffe graduated from college, this EP is a collection of personal and melancholic yet inevitably hopeful songs.

Its lush, stripped instrumentals are layered with sentiments of emptiness and yearning for childhood as Jaffe attempts to adjust to his life.

Though this period of life can feel futile, the ultimate takeaway is to not let it get you down, and to

learn how to see hope in everyday.

Whether you’re graduating in 2020 or sometime in the 2020s, this EP will be one to take with you as you go out into the world.

Fine Line by Harry Styles After his solo debut showed his clear effort in stepping out on his own, Harry Styles allows himself to take a more well-rounded journey of self-expression on his sophomore album, Fine Line. Drawing on his most diverse collection of influences yet, the album tells a story of love, heartbreak, growth, and eventual hope, as Styles continues to find his sound and artistic expression.

The process of finding out who you are is ongoing, and Fine Line embraces this process, providing the assurance that it’s okay to still be figuring things out.

Heard It In A Past Life by Maggie Rogers Rising alt-pop songstress Maggie Rogers had a very sudden change in her life when a video of her song “Alaska” went viral and she was abruptly pushed into the spotlight.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

In her 2019 debut album Heard It In A Past Life, Rogers takes you through her journey in grappling with this big change, growing into her new life and being grateful for

everything. Sometimes change comes when we least expect it, and we struggle to figure out why, but this album will teach you how to thrive through it.

shower once you’ve gotten home.

some poor straggler along to listen to my chewing.

But in the grand scheme of things, they’re a terrible idea.

Unless your date is into guys with territorial obsessions over arm rests and the thunderous echo of bodily gas against leather, go get a coffee.

Don’t brag

TIPS

Avoid the batting cages I know you may be tempted to run over to the cages, eager to show off your home run swing perfected in your house league days, but be weary.

Those dimpled rubber pellets tend to show little mercy to the skin. Combine that with the erratic tendencies of antique pitching machines and your next stop might just be the emergency room.

There’s nothing sexy about dental implants.

Don’t overshare

JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Advice on how to not ruin a date JACKSON CARSE STAFF WRITER

I don’t know anything about dating. I have zero validity when it comes to giving sound relationship advice.

But as a smart aleck who tends to think he’s funny, I’ve been

on enough bad dates to at least give some tips on what not to do, some topics to avoid and other things that tend to result in embarrassment, injury or insult.

Don’t vape At least with a cigarette there’s

some aesthetic sex appeal — not that I’m promoting it — but puffing out a fat cloud of mommy issues and instability isn’t going to make you any more attractive.

I don’t care if you’re fiending for that sweet, sweet nicotine on your way to the car after the movie. Save it for after you’re done crying in the

For those who ramble when they’re nervous, try and make a conscious effort to save something for the second date.

I’m as guilty as anyone at this.

It’s alarmingly easy to over share details of your life that these strangers have no business knowing.

Don’t discuss your medically induced erectile dysfunction.

Don’t explain your conspiracy theory about your widowed neighbour Clive seducing your mother with Harvey’s coupons and, most importantly, never ever discuss politics.

Movie dates suck I’m a hypocrite. I love movie dates. I’ll find any excuse to go buy stale, overpriced popcorn. I don’t mind paying a little extra to drag

Be humble, damn it. No one cares about the writing prize you didn’t win; honorable mention doesn’t count, so don’t go out of your way to tell the story.

They don’t want to go to your late-night co-ed soccer game nor do they want to see the crucifix tattoo between where your abdominal muscles should be. Take some interest in the person across the table – maybe they have some incoherent ink as well.

Overall, it really isn’t that hard.

We’re always told to ‘be ourselves’ when we’re anxious over a first date when in reality, most of us are scab-picking, illiterate nightmares frantically looking for someone to tolerate our incompetence for a couple hours.

So instead, I say be your best self. I’m not saying change who you are in any way: just don’t bite your nails or siphon the wax out of your ears for a night.

If you’re the quiet type, feel free to sit back and listen for a while. If you’re an extrovert, don’t hesitate to ramble. If you’re a comic, god forbid, crack some jokes. Find that fine line and ride it.

13 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 REVIEW

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

The Lighthouse: movie of the year AMICHAI ABRAHAM STAFF WRITER

The Lighthouse is a psychological horror film that may be the very best movie 2019 has to offer.

Coming out in late October, I was only able to view it recently and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

It’s refreshing after all the movies I watched over the break, as many of them reused ideas or sequels. It was a pleasure to see Roger Eggers’ artwork dance in front of my eyes.

It’s a film that I enjoyed every second of and also one that I’m excited to watch again.

This is only Robert Eggers’ second film, his first being another horror called The Witch, which was another really great watch, but pales in comparison to his newest release.

The story follows two late 19th-century lighthouse keepers

who man the lighthouse on a distant, mysterious island.

One is the old tried and tested keeper that mans the actual light of the lighthouse, Tom (played by William Defoe) and his worker/ caretaker of the establishment, Winslow (played by Robert Pattinson).

Winslow begins having difficulties on the island with nightmares, being pestered by seagulls, and witnessesing strange behaviour from Captain Tom. A storm then comes and Winslow’s scheduled departure ship never comes. Himself and captain Tom descend into heavy intoxication and madness as more and more horrifying events come to haunt Winslow, as and his relationship with Tom grows stranger by the day.

In terms of the film’s cinematography, I can’t imagine seeing it in color. Going with a black and white

colour palette was definitely the right choice for the presentation of suchthe grim events.

The color also works wonders for the film’s consistent tone.

More colors would’ve disturbed the complete sense of dreariness and isolation that Eggers traps you inside of. While there are many sequences of excellent camera work, they are only so excellent as a result of the lighting that is used.

There are such pronounced shadows that are used on characters that make them appear less like people and more like monsters which itself becomes very apropos to later events in the story. The setting is very believable, further assisting in the continued immersion of the audience.

The island and the lighthouse that sits atop it feel real, almost like you’re there with two stranded lighthouse keepers as you watch them go mad.

To me, Robert Pattinson was never really an actor of much interest up until a while ago. All I ever really knew him as was some pretty boy. Now though, having seen his performance in The Lighthouse has turned me into a fan.

Pattinson nails the progression of Winslow’s slow descent into insanity with the way he moves and interacts with the environment.

The execution of the character is made more impressive due to the fact that we view the plot from Winston’s perspective, so Pattinson must find a way to stay relatable to the audience while also showing his progression into madness. He pulls this off masterfully.

Of course, one shouldn’t discount William Defoe’s performance. While his character was much more stereotypical and traditional, his passion, charisma, and flair really made him a perfect antithesis to Pattinson’s character. Defoe adds to his character’s mystique and personality, and his dialogue really blew me away just with how much conviction it is said with.

The horror elements are introduced gradually, making the eventual payoffs much more impactful.

Where some horror films depend on cheap scare tactics to get a reaction out of the audience, The Lighthouse earns the audience’s fear.

Along with frightening visuals, it uses elements of sound, montage and lighting to collect the audience into the palm of its hand. The mystery of what’s happening to the characters is enthralling;, I was just craving more and more answers as I became fully invested in the fantastical tale.

There is an overwhelming sense of helplessness as the island continues to turn more and more into a nightmare. I feel the need to bring up that along with the overwhelming despair, there are instances where comedy is inte-

grated into actions and dialogue flawlessly. It’s incredible how the film managed to make me horrified one moment, and made me laugh out loud during others.

Speaking of dialogue, the entire movie is spoken in an old seafolk dialect of English. It’s historically accurate and does add to the experience of the film.

Where some horror films depend on cheap scare tactics to get a reaction out of the audience, The Lighthouse earns the audience’s fear.

However, I’d still recommend that you watch it with subtitles. I, for one, did not have access to subtitles and as a result of this, some of the dialogue was hard to really understand.

Also, there are many well done ‘weird’ instances, but there were a couple that I didn’t really understand. I couldn’t help with the impression that one or two of them were weird and scary just for the sake of it. This, admittedly, is very nitpicky but, overall, it’s very difficult to find anything truly wrong with this film.

I recommend this movie to anyone who likes movies in general, unless you don’t stomach horror very well. Often times when watching this, I felt as though I was watching someone’s actual nightmare, which is a compliment I cannot grant many other films. This is the best film of 2019 I’ve seen so far and if you have the time, check it out and see for yourself.

14 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

EXCHANGE

What’s involved with a semester abroad LAUREN RUTHERFORD STAFF WRITER

Every year in the middle of January, a selection of Laurier students make the decision to apply to study for a semester or year abroad.

In pursuit of expanding their post-secondary studies, students have the opportunity in their senior undergraduate or graduate years, to embark on taking their academic careers outside of the nation.

Through Laurier International, students follow an application process that requires the selection of three institutions that Laurier has already formed an international bond with.

It is in this selection of international schools they wish to attend that the Laurier International office then pairs a student with the institution they feel best corresponds to their application. It is weighted heavily on a student’s letter of intent for the exchange.

The choice of three institutions is a crucial component of the exchange application. The international school that a student gets paired with can be the make or break aspect of going abroad.

Sometimes you will not be paired with your top choice of school. This is when you must realize that your third choice of school will be as critically important as your first choice. For many

institutions the semester may be later than Canada’s, meaning you will be having a semester that does not line up to the rest of Ontario universities.

An example is how many European nations will have a spring semester instead of a winter. This is true in my personal exchange to Germany. I will be leaving in the middle of February and staying until July, two months after Ontario universities will have completed their semester.

The decision to take a semester abroad can also come down to being able to sacrifice some amazing opportunities at home.

Some common obstacles against an exchange include giving up your full four-month summer or having to accept that you will have the second semester of third year graded through a pass/fail system.

Essentially, meaning that the GPA you have prior to going abroad will stay stagnant from before you leave to when you come back. This aspect can have an impact on graduate school applications or risk falling behind in course credits.

Understanding if risking other academic pursuits is worthwhile will come from heavily researching your desired international institutions. To make the wisest decision possible, you have to determine if leaving for a semester follows your undergraduate timeline and plans

DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR

at Laurier.

This was something I have personally had difficulty accepting.

To take off for five months halfway across the globe means giving up other exciting opportunities including a summer internship, executive roles on clubs and leaving friends and family for five months.

The last major component of choosing to follow through on an exchange is the financial component. An exchange is more expensive than an average semester in Waterloo. This means students going on exchange may have to look towards saving more money than in their first years of undergrad.

A lot of students will take up part-time work the semester before

they leave to save for the one abroad. Laurier as an institution can be very helpful to students going abroad in its provision of scholarships, in addition to tips on budgeting while abroad. The financial component, albeit stressful, can be navigated with patience and planning for the semester ahead.

To all the students who are sitting in the place I was in last year, considering the opportunity to ‘run away’ from Laurier for a semester, I must say it is a challenging decision.

Although I know that going abroad to meet new people of diverse cultures, travel and attemptimg to speak a foreign language, will be important to my undergrad-

uate education. To other students, it may not be worth giving up all the amazing experiences that being at Laurier or being home in Canada can offer.

Making the life-altering decision to run away to a new institution is a personal choice that must be carefully considered. Even the most adventurous individual will have doubts about leaving for a semester abroad.

However, if you are anything like me, no matter what the challenge over leaving is you might just reach the simple conclusion to go! It may just be the most memorable part of your undergraduate degree and may even make you appreciate Laurier more in the future.

ACADEMICS

Try to dig a little deeper than an easy A AMELIA MOLA ARTS AND LIFE CONTRIBUTOR

“What’s an easy bird course I can take this semester?”: It’s a question I’ve frequently been asked by my friends during my university career.

“Bird courses” are known to be less academically challenging and have smaller workloads than typical core courses. While these might be easier for students, we may be short changing ourselves academically.

Sure, we all want to achieve success in academia during our time at university. But when does it reach a point where we start to compromise our education just to get high marks in bird courses that don’t challenge our intelligence?

University is a time when where we are given the chance to expand our worldviews; to take courses from numerous academic backgrounds, such as geography, philosophy and economics.

The opportunity to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the world can be acquired through academic exploration within higher education. From what I have seen, students have been ditching the interdisciplinary approach for a much easier one. They often refrain from stepping outside of

their major area of study, and don’t take classes that challenge them intellectually.

I mysely began to fall into this trap in my second year of study. I found myself rarely straying from the course offerings of my program and often took electives that I knew would boost my GPA. I was tired. I was bored. I was uninspired.

Now, currently enrolled in my fourth year of communication studies, I have spent the last two years of my undergrad nudging myself out of the comfort zone of my safe and cozy major.

Film studies, geography, and political science are a few areas I have taken elective courses in.

In doing so, I have gotten a better, more well-rounded understanding of the world. We can talk about the academic writing of climate change in Communication Studies, but through taking Geography classes, we can understand how different people from across the world experience the impacts of climate change.

So, what has caused this migration to bird courses? Since the 1970s, governments have begun adopting Neoliberalism as a form of governance, which as trickled down to public universities.

This has caused major shifts in academia, and along the way has

imposed some critical implications in how we view the value of education.

Not only have traditional liberal arts been pushed to the wayside, but experiential learning has become one of the driving forces behind students academic pursuits.

... University is not supposed to be easy.

We have the opportunity to be challenged, both by the classes we take, and by the professors who teach us ...

Gone are the days when students would choose a major to fulfill their passion. Today, students are often asked the question “what are you going to do with an arts degree?” The recent underestimation of the arts and increased corporatization of this historically-pertinent faculty may have negative implications.

Experiential learning has become the new buzz word within post-secondary institutions.

Replacing traditional models of teaching with work placements, otherwise known as “co-ops,” has been occuring in universities since the 1980s. But how does this affect our academic experience and the way we view the value of an interdisciplinary university education?

At Laurier, co-op is offered to students within all faculties. In the faculty of arts, co-op is joined with the faculty of science.

Together, these faculties combined host around 9,000 students.

To be eligible for an interview, students must have an average of 7 (B-), limited by the fact that there are under 100 spots available for students in both faculties.

This is problematic for several reasons, but to me the most concerning is the competition that it instills in students. With so few spots available, and so much emphasis placed on experiential learning opportunities, it forces students to compete for higher marks, and thus encourage them to take courses that are less intellectually challenging.

The first year of university is a learning curve for everyone. It is often assumed that students should expect up to a 10-15 per cent decrease in their marks from high school.

Instead of encouraging students

to explore courses from a variety of faculties, the hopes of getting into programs such as co-op often dictate and shape the students university experience. When we don’t challenge ourselves from the beginning, we begin to get comfortable with courses that don’t stimulate us, but rather leave us with higher marks.

We all have a lot to learn while pursuing higher education and we all have different reasons why we go for a degree. For most, it’s employability, and for some, it’s the pursuit of their favourite area of study.

The point I hope you can take away from this article, is that university is not supposed to be easy.

We have the opportunity to be challenged, both by the classes we take, and by the professors who teach us. It’s not all about an easy A, but rather about exploring classes that might give us a better understanding of the world.

So if you’re looking for another elective for the coming winter term, think a little differently before you choose that easy course that your roommate told you about. Consider something that you have never looked at or thought of before. You may be surprised at the value it adds to your perspective on the world.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

15 •

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR Jade Hosick opinion@thecord.ca

Editors Note: Ecological guilt EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The devastation that has been ravaging Australia due to ongoing bushfires has been continuing for months, threatening wildlife populations, destroying acres of land and people’s homes and claiming the lives of over twenty people so far.

With more than half a billion (the number keeps rising) animals impacted by these fires and potentially millions dead, it feels hopeless to read statements surrounding a seemingly endless disaster that continues to take human and animal life, destroying essential ecosystems and wiping out everything else in the process.

There’s a guilt that consumes me over issues like this.

I don’t like looking at photographs of singed kangaroos and koalas, seeing aerial views of the unimaginable scope of these fires and reading about how dire the state of the natural world has become has a result.

Much like the Amazon fires, it becomes easier to avoid it, overlook it and try to escape it rather than read all of the horrific details surrounding our dying and disregarded planet.

On top of the willful ignorance that helps ease the climate change stress associated with these disasters, it feels incredibly frustrating to not be able to do anything more than share posts on social media and donate a few dollars at a time.

But if that’s the attitude I keep, shutting out everything that I should be educating myself on in order to protect myself, then I’m not doing myself or the world any favours.

The other night, I listened to The New York Times’ podcast episode “Why Australia is Burning.”

It was exceptionally difficult to get through, but I wanted to hear a balanced perspective that challenged me and forced me to learn more about it, as much as I’m able to, from the side of those suffering through it.

As overwhelming as it can feel to constantly see news surrounding the problems that continue to affect the world and our environment, it’s our job to be uncomfortable and face these issues if we want to see any kind of change.

The ecological guilt I feel won’t be alleviated unless I continue to do whatever I can to lessen the negative burden I may have on the planet.

The ecological guilt I feel won’t be alleviated unless I continue to do whatever I can to lessen the negative burden I may have on the planet.

I’m far from perfect, but being more aware of my actions and the consequences they have on the place I call home is far better than doing nothing.

I may not be able to do a lot for countries in crisis like Australia, but I can donate what I’m able to and reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible.

Being more engaged with these world issues is something that I want to continue holding myself accountable to, no matter how hard it may seem.

Charities that you can donate to that assist wildlife, firefighters and people experiencing the effects of Australia’s fires and aid in relief: Australian Redcross, NSW Rural Fire Service, WWF’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund.

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

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

CHAIR Aaron (Hagey) Waitson

DIRECTOR Emily Crump

VICE-CHAIR Alyssa Di Sabatino DIRECTOR Arshy Mann

TREASURER Kashyap Patel

EDITORIAL CARTOON

PRESIDENT Aaron Hagey president@wlusp.com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideout kurtis.rideout@wlusp. com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp. com HR MANAGER Maneesha Suresh hr@wlusp.com

JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Editorial: “You should smile more” ALYSSA DI SABATINO ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR

I was minding my own business as my church’s Christmas Eve service wrapped up when a fellow church member approached me.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, giving me a hug. With one final look, he added “and smile more, it looks good on you.”

My face immediately dropped, and the small smile I had previously worked up specifically for that encounter had faltered. I walked back to my parents’ car feeling dejected.

This was far from the first time I’ve been told to “smile” by someone I hardly know. But for some reason, this time I was just more bothered than usual.

The comment was harmless enough, I suppose. In terms of “insulting things you can say to someone” this is probably pretty low on the list.

But it’s actually quite annoying when a stranger suggests that your face isn’t up to their standards.

If I’m going about my business, please don’t ask me to smile.

If I’m just standing in the corner at church, ordering food at a restaurant or standing in line at the store, smiling usually isn’t typically my natural facial expression.

When my face is in a neutral expression, that doesn’t mean I’m mad or sad. It’s literally just my face, and it’s insulting when someone suggests that I’d become more attractive or likeable if I smiled at them.

Every time someone has told me to smile, I get the sense that they feel like they’re doing me a favour.

I can understand that some people probably don’t say this with any sort of bad intent, but despite this it still feels invasive and inappropriate to be told to smile more — especially when the person telling you is practically a stranger.

Even if a comment like that wasn’t mildly rude (which it is), I’m not quite sure why people feel as though they need to tell others how to emotionally respond to things.

I’ve never been told to “smile more” by anyone who actually knows me well, probably because anyone who knows me knows that I’m a pretty content person, and getting me to smile is not that hard.

So, to the strangers who ask me to “smile” — why are those the first words that you feel you need to tell me? Why is it so important

that I smile at you in the fleeting moments that we encountered each other?

To be fair, sometimes I am just angry. Maybe someone saw me frowning and decided to misguidedly cheer me up by telling me to smile.

But it’s actually quite annoying when a stranger suggests that your face isn’t up to their standards.

Even in that case, I don’t have to smile. I’m entitled to express my emotions, and if I do that by frowning then so be it. Smiling is not my default emotion — it’s probably not most peoples’ default emotion.

From now on, the only person who I’m authorizing to tell me to smile is the person who is taking my graduation photos. If you give me a reason to smile then maybe I will, but other than that I could go without the input.

• 16

WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 15, 2020

Opinion

OPINION EDITOR JADE HOSICK opinion@thecord.ca

Stopping the cycle of giving up New Year’s Resolutions SUMMER PATRIQUIN OPINION COLUMNIST

As we go into a new year, a popular question asked is “What are your New Year’s resolutions?” A resolution can be defined as a decision to do or refrain from doing something for the upcoming year.

This idea is instilled within our society to categorize years into separate chapters of our lives, which is how we get the idea of “new year, new me.” But what are the direct implications of this mindset?

Having a blank slate can be extremely motivating for many people. Speaking for myself, I know that I am someone who is more inclined to make some adjustments in these periods of transition that we create for ourselves.

This “new year, new me” mindset, however, just allows us to set goals that may be dropped within a month and then put us back where we were. New Year’s resolutions give us the ability to procrastinate action.

How often do you hear someone say something along the lines of “I’ll start eating healthier in the new year”? I know I have been guilty of saying this. Goals can be set and reflection can happen any time of year. Instead, New Year’s resolutions are dropped and then procrastination begins once again.

Goals can vary from looking to start a business, lose or gain weight, travel more, commit to a sleep schedule, eat healthier or just be happy. The types of goals are

focus on putting myself first.

So what are you doing your goals for? What is your “why?” Knowing the “why” of your goal is important for determining what this is fulfilling for you. More people follow through with intrinsic goals over their extrinsic ones. This is because they are fulfilling a greater human level need.

This ‘new year, new me’ mindset, however, just allows us to set goals that may be dropped within a month and then put us back where we were.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

limitless, but do ensure you are going after the right goals: goals that don’t hinder your spirit, happiness, mental health, physical health or spiritual health.

When thinking about a goal, an important concept to think about is whether your goal is intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic goals are about doing something that is personally meaningful to you. These goals will fulfill many needs such as com-

munity, passion, growth and your core values.Extrinsic goals can help you achieve something, with a prize at the end. The focus is on the outcome versus the journey.

A common goal going into the new year is to go to the gym more.

An extrinsic version of this goal would be working out to impress others, whereas an intrinsic goal would be working out more to improve your health or feel more

energized.

My goal this year is to put myself first. This is personally meaningful to me as I haven’t been someone to do that, and as a result, my mental health has suffered. I need to make more time for myself – so that means quitting a job.

I am focusing on getting a good amount of sleep instead of staying up late at night doing various tasks, plus many other ways I am going to

As you go into 2020, take time to reflect on your goals and the reason behind them. Ask yourself what they are fulfilling for you.

Figure out your “how.”

If you have a process, you will be more likely to follow through with them. It is also important to state that although it can be positive, New Year’s is not the only time to reflect and set goals.

So if your process doesn’t seem to be working, or you lose your motivation, reflect again. Don’t wait until 2021 to make a new goal that you may give up on a month in.

Want to gain experience being on a Board of Directors?

Have a passion for student media, volunteerism, and enhancing the student experience?

Apply today! Applications will be due next Tuesday, January 21 @ 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit https://wlusp.com/wlusp-elections-2019-2020/

OPINION • 17

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Trump’s impeachment is just the beginning JADE HOSICK OPINION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

January 2020 has probably been one of the most eventful months I can honestly remember, and it is only halfway over. The new decade started off with U.S. President Donald Trump issuing a drone strike against Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian Major General in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corporation.

This strike was unprecedented by a lot of Americans, but the Trump administration has stated that there was an “imminent” threat against American diplomats that were in the region. The administration, though, is having difficulty explaining what they mean by an “imminent” threat.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News that “We don’t know precisely when and we don’t know precisely where, but it was real.”

The Wall Street Journal had reported that President Trump told his associates after the strike that he was under pressure to do so by Senators he views as important in his upcoming impeachment trial.

If this is true, it is very hard to not think of how dangerous it could be for a president to start a war to pacify some Republicans

to potentially get help during his impeachment trial.

This is not the first time that a U.S. president has ordered an airstrike during an impeachment trial. Bill Clinton was impeached 21 years ago, and during the impeachment process he has ordered an airstrike on Iraq.

Although the two men are very different and on opposite sides of the American political spectrum, it is quite easy to see some similarities between their presidencies.

Both men had taken part in some questionable conduct and repeated the actions later – Clinton had repeated incidents of infidelity and Trump had similar repeated incidents of foreign influence (firstly with Russia and then with Ukraine, which was what kickstarted the impeachment process).

We will never know the real reasoning behind why President Trump issued the airstrike, but a tweet from 2011 have made many people question his very intentions. The tweet that was posted in November of that year says “In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.”

If Trump has started this strike to start a war, he might have succeeded in his mission. On Jan. 8, 2019 a Ukraine International Airlines flight crashed after taking off from Tehran, the Iranian capital.

Originally, Iran had claimed that the plane has suffered from some technical problems after takeoff.

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization chief Ali Abedzadeh stated that they were certain that the plane was not hit by a missile.

Although on Jan. 9, 2019 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there is intelligence from multiple sources that the plane was hit by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. Something that could have been unintentional. This was later confirmed by Trudeau.

A subsequent statement delivered by the Iranian military read on state television stated that the flight was hit by a missile by mistake. They claim that the plane was headed towards a sensitive military centre, and because of the heightened tensions with the United States, the Iranian military was very ready in case of another incident. But this incident itself happened because of human error.

If Trump is trying to start a political unrest around the time of his impeachment, he is achieving this goal as the world is preparing for the worst-case scenarios.

The only way I could see the possible war and tragedies surrounding it going away is if President Trump’s impeachment trial continues on as planned. President Trump is trying to make himself seem as though it is unnecessary to look at his conduct since other dangers are happening in the world, and he is the only person ‘brave’ enough to do anything about it.

How to market yourself when you leave university EMMA MCVICAR STAFF WRITER

Millions of people worldwide leave university every year, many with the same degrees, having read the same textbooks, heading out into the world with the same dreams.

But what can you actually do when you leave university? In this article, I’ll outline the top three ways you can market yourself, not just to an employer but as an individual who loves what they do, has the increased possibility of self-employment success and whose value and skill others come to know, love and trust.

If you think that by the time you finish your four-year degree you’ll leave to immediately find a comfy job in your field with a salary, benefits and ample time off, you’re wrong. This is not the world we live in anymore. The world we inhabit is a much more complex sphere that requires us to adapt our skills to the needs of others. You might say it’s a “service over self” kind of thing.

Someone I work with has really embodies this philosophy. Instead of a university education, she spent

seven years in college. She’s been a private chef, dietitian, author, dead doula, server and gardener.

Her full-time week of work never consists of the same thing each day. She earns respect through her competency and value as a flexible, skilled professional and because she gets variety in her day through doing what she loves. She’s a happy person that people love and trust.

So, my first tip for marketing yourself is to focus on your skillset.

By recognizing where you are strongest and which skills you are currently working on, you change the philosophy you show up with in the world. Let’s call the old philosophy “philosophy A” for “alright” and this new one “philosophy B” for “better.”

Philosophy A is asking yourself what degree and experiences you can get to be the top choice worker for employer. Your value is based on how you can serve others. That changes over time. It’s not stable.

Philosophy B is asking yourself what strengths you can capitalize on and what weaknesses you can build. This philosophy also serves others, but it comes from a place of recognizing that you are already valuable. Instead of becoming a person who is a useful tool for others, you become a person who is valuable because of your purpose.

My second tip for marketing yourself is to find your “why.”

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

You’re here for four years. You could be doing literally anything else in these four years. Why are you here? Having a “why” statement to reflect on is important for two reasons – You aren’t always going to be motivated to push on.

Having a “why” reminds you of exactly what’s important about what you’re trying to accomplish.

Secondly, there are so many useless activities we engage in that we aren’t consciously asking ourselves about. Having a “why” makes you pause and ask yourself if what you’re doing is really that important.

My third tip for marketing your-

self is to communicate clearly and efficiently.

If you’re the kind of person that can say exactly what you mean, answer questions directly, form questions clearly, speak with precision and accuracy and listen to others, people recognize you as a force of authority and respect your opinions on the matter.

This may be the third tip, but it is my number one way of becoming more respected as a person.

Speech is our most potent tool to accomplish any major feat. It isn’t just important for teamwork; it’s important for our internal dialogue.

If you’re constantly trying to figure something out in your head and haven’t found a way to articulate it well to yourself, you aren’t going to be able to wrap your head around it well enough to ask questions and problem solve, not for yourself, not for others.

These tips aren’t supposed to help you look sexy to employers, although you will if you follow them. They’re meant to make you the kind of person that other people talk about and whose time is values because of your professionalism, attitude and dedication.

Stop selling yourself short and start securing success.

18 •

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca

MENS HOCKEY

Dominant weekend at home for Golden Hawks MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR

Coach Puhalski and his Golden Hawks men’s hockey team have started the new year with a bang!

Laurier came out of this weekend’s games with two dominating home wins, and have won six of their past seven games dating back to the end of 2019.

On Friday night against their rivals, the Western Mustangs, Laurier was able to win on the strength of seven goals scored.

Laurier was able to get scoring from almost all of its forwards, as 14 different players ended up getting a point on a night in which the Golden Hawks offense looked unstoppable.

The following night, the Golden Hawks relied on goalie Matt Williams who played a stellar game and led the team to a 3-1 victory over the nationally ranked Ryerson Rams.

Williams stopped 38 of 39 shots and made some crucial saves to hold one of the top offenses in the country to only one goal on the night.

These two factors have been the consistent driving force for Laurier’s hottest stretch of the season.

An offense that has seen production from all of its lines and has scored four or more goals in five of their last seven games has significantly helped, especially with the powerplay unit.

As has rookie goaltender Matt Williams who has started five straight games for the team and was named male athlete of the week after last weekend’s games.

The rookie continues an impressive season that has him positioned inside the top ten of the OUA for goals against average (GAA) as well as save percentage (SV %).

The offense scored ten goals over the two games on the weekend, which included a power-play hat trick by Anthony Conti, who scored all the goals for the Golden Hawks against the Rams.

Conti leads the team with 23 points and was named the male athlete of the week for this week, which is his first time winning that award.

With 11 goals on the season, the fifth-year winger Conti has already hit a career high in goals and points.

Laurier is playing their best hockey at the right time and is finally winning at home to the delight of coach Greg Puhalski.

After losing their first four games of the season at home, the Golden Hawks have now won four of their past five games at the Waterloo Recreational Complex, including the two wins this past weekend.

Coach Puhalski’s team has also been fortunate as the Golden Hawks were credited a win from one of last weekend’s game due to the Windsor Lancers having to forfeit.

The explanation given to coach Puhalski was that Winsor had an ineligible player, which led them to forfeit their win.

“One of [Windsor’s] players should have been suspended and he dressed against us,” said Puhalski.

Laurier continues to climb the rankings in the tight OUA West division, as they surge towards another playoff appearance.

Coach Puhalski was impressed with his depth scoring against the Mustangs on Friday night and stressed the need for that to continue.

“Any success we have as a club relies on scoring by committee and we need to have goals by everybody, including our defense, which was nice to see tonight” Puhalski said after Laurier’s win against Western.

A big reason for Laurier’s continued success is the penalty kill and power play units.

Laurier was successful on all three of their penalty kills against the second ranked power play unit of the Western Mustangs on Friday night, and capitalized themselves on Saturday night by scoring three power-play goals, all from Conti.

Coach Puhalski has not been impressed by either of the units over the course of the season but was pleased with the team’s performances this week.

“I thought our angles were good, we took away time and space and was one of our best jobs of the season,” Puhalski stated.

Laurier’s power-play has rapidly climbed the rankings over the past couple of weeks, as thier powerplay is now ranked fourth in the OUA, having scored a power-play goal in five straight games - seven total.

On the other hand, their penalty kill unit is still near the bottom of the league, although there is reason for optimism as they have killed their last four penalties and looked much better against Western.

Coach Puhalski knows that the team is hitting their stride at the right time, but they do have more work to do, with a tough upcoming schedule.

The Golden Hawks still have a game left against nationallly ranked Ryerson and will shift their focus to their next game, which comes on the road this Saturday against the third ranked team in the country, The University of Toronto Blues.

Following this the Golden Hawks have a pivotal matchup with the Guelph Gryphons who sit six points ahead of them before returning home to play the Blues again on Jan. 25.

This is a significant opportunity for the Golden Hawks, as coach Puhalski must keep his athletes motivated in order to catch some of the teams ahead of them in what is currently a jam-packed division, with only six points separating the five teams.

19 •

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

82 Student Athletes honoured by Laurier in ceremony ALYSSA DI SABATINO ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR

This Fall, U Sports Canada announced its 2018-2019 Academic All-Canadians list, a distinction awarded to student athletes who achieve a graded average of 80 per cent or higher while playing on one of their university’s varsity teams.

In late November, Laurier Athletics hosted the first ever annual reception, honouring the 82 Laurier student-athletes who were named Academic All-Canadians, marking the highest number of students awarded in Laurier’s history.

“It’s really nice to get that recognition and know that the school is also behind you and your ambition,” said Zach Savlov.

Savlov, a fourth year cross country and middle distance runner on Laurier’s varsity team is no stranger to this award, as he was named an Academic All-Canadian for the third time in as many years.

With 82 student athletes being honoured in the 2018-2019 season, this figure has increased by 22 per

cent since the previous season alone.

In 1988, U Sports introduced the first ever Academic-All Canadians.

Although the figure was small in the earlier years, Laurier’s Academic All-Canadian numbers have steadily grown since then.

“The athletics department really does offer a lot of great resources to not only first year athletes, but athletes of all years,” said Savlov.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes in that program and really great initiatives they’ve undertaken to make sure that their varsity athletes really are prepared, not only for life on the field and off the field, but also in the classroom as well, and I really think that shows in the number of Academic All-Canadians.”

Laurier athletics runs the Athlete Academic Success Program (AASP) which offers resources for student-athletes such as a study hall mentoring program, and various other study aids that help students prioritize their work.

“They do say that you’re a

student athlete, so the student part comes first,” said Savlov.

Various workshops that are offered allow student athletes to learn skills that they can apply both on the field and in the classroom.

“The time management skills

The athletics department really does offer a lot of great resources to not only first year athletes, but athletes of all years -Zach Savlov , Varsity cross country and indoor distance athlete

are one thing for me that really stand out [that I’ve]been able to develop the most throughout my time on the varsity program. So, being able to juggle a variety of different practices, gym sessions.

“They could be, you know, 6:30 in the morning, 6:30 at night – it can be all times of the day. You really have to be able to juggle that around your class schedule,” Savlov added.

“These are really those soft skills that really can take you far, not only in the classroom but also in the workforce or whatever you may do after graduation. I think these are the skills I’m always going to remember and bring with me.”

The 2018-2019 season saw a total of 20 per cent of Laurier’s student athletes be awarded with the Academic All-Canadian distinction.

“I commit probably around 10-15 hours a week just for my sport alone. You throw in class, you throw in other commitments, and it really does take a portion out of your time. So being not only able to succeed in your varsity sport but also in class where you’re recognized for that — that’s something that is really special to me, and it’s really great that U Sports takes time to really honour it now,” Savlov

said.

Laurier director of athletics and recreation, Peter Baxter was thrilled with the announcement.

“Today’s recognition event in celebration of student athletes success highlights Laurier’s collaborative approach to partnering with academic departments, faculty members, coaches and staff along with the teaching, learning and retention department for being champions of the Academic Success Program (AASP),” Baxter stated.

From cheerleading to swimming, 82 student athletes were honoured over 20 different varsity teams in the athletic deparment.

The cheerleading team had nine students recieve the honour, while the mens baseball team honoured seven students.

The upward trend of Academic All-Canadians is a promising trend for the outlook of Laurier’s athletic department as well as the hundreds of varsity student athletes who continue to strive towards that excellence.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

20 • SPORTS NEW YEAR

Women’s Basketball begins 2020 with pair of losses

DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR

JOSEPH DEFILIPPIS CORD WRITER

For Laurier’s women’s basketball team, a long winter break was seemingly just what was needed to turn around a recent slump and resolve some nagging injury troubles.

After reeling off a five game win streak early in the year, propelling the team to an impressive 6-3 record after nine games, the Golden Hawks dropped their final three contests of 2019, leaving the team at 6-6 entering the new year.

During the entirety of both of those streaks, Laurier battled multiple injuries, including a serious and lengthy injury to fourth-year starter Rachel Woodburn, that forced the team to constantly juggle lineups before every game.

“I thought going into the break it had been a decent first term,” said head coach Paul Falco. “We’ve done well given the different lineups we’ve had to put out there.”

The team’s first test after the month-long break came last week in a much anticipated matchup against cross-town rivals at the University of Waterloo.

The Battle of Waterloo is always a game that is circled on both team’s calendars, but this matchup was even more important, as it was the first time that these two teams

would meet this season.

The Golden Hawks, despite being down after the first quarter, battled back to take the lead going into the half, thanks to strong efforts on both sides of the ball in the second quarter.

Unfortunately, Waterloo pushed back strong in the third quarter, stymieing Laurier’s offense to only six points in the quarter, and mounting themselves an 11 point lead going into the fourth.

Despite a valiant effort to fight back, including a late push in the final three minutes of the game, the Golden Hawks fell just short, ultimately losing by a score of 70-65.

“Overall, we weren’t very pleased with the result, especially on the defensive end,” mentioned Falco.

“We’ve generally played some pretty good defense in the first term, and this is the first game back after a long break, and sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get from a team.”

Falco continued by saying “to give up that many points and a lot of key baskets, we weren’t too pleased … We’ve got to go back to work and get back on track defensively.”

One positive to take from the loss was that Laurier seemed to be clicking offensively for most of the game, with four players recording

double digits in points.

Leading the way on the offensive end was third-year guard Maya Day, who scored 14 points while also grabbing nine rebounds and picking up seven assists.

Laurier’s next chance to get back in the win column came a few days after the Waterloo game.

The Golden Hawks stayed at home for a matchup with the the sixth ranked women’s basketball team in Canada, the Winsdor Lancers.

This was the second matchup between the two teams this season as they met a few months ago for a game in Windsor.

“We played them the second game of the season and, except for one quarter, we were right with them,” mentioned Coach Falco.

“They’re well balanced, they’re experienced and they’re playing pretty well right now. [Overall], they’re a tough team.”

The second matchup between the teams proved to be very similar to the first, with the Golden Hawks hanging in with the Lancers in the first half, with Laurier only down by five points.

However, Windsor showed in the third quarter why they now boast a record of 11-1 on the season, pouring in an impressive 25 points in the quarter to pull away with a large lead.

Laurier simply didn’t have

enough in the fourth quarter to pull back into the game, ultimately dropping the contest by a score of 75-57.

Similarly to the matchup against Waterloo, it was Laurier’s defense which the team had relied heavily upon in the first half of the season, that let them down once again, allowing Windsor to score just a few too many baskets.

The one standout for Laurier  despite the loss was fourth-year forward Tayania Siwek-Smith, who put in her best performance of the season so far, scoring 13 points and three rebounds in limited minutes off the bench.

Despite the tough start to 2020 so far, Coach Falco is still optimistic about his team going forward.

“We are hopeful to make a good push here in the second term – we just got off on the wrong foot.

Overall, we think we are in a decent spot to make a run.”

“We’ve challenged some of the top teams in some close games in the first term,” Falco said, “and hopefully we can knock some of them off [during] the second term.”

In order to make a push to the playoffs in the second half, Falco pointed out a few key areas of improvement for the team.

“We need to reduce our turnovers and we need to become a better offensive rebounding team, [in order] to improve our point

production,” Falco said.

Following the two losses to open 2020, the Golden Hawks slump has now reached five straight losses. The team now holds a record of 6-8, putting them fourth in the OUA West division.  Laurier is comfortably ahead of Waterloo and Algoma, who hold the bottom two spots of the division.

Western and Windsor have put together stellar seasons and seemingly will finish with the top two spots in the west.

However, Laurier is a game behind Guelph for third place in the division and coach Falco knows he has work to do in the second half of the season if they want to catch the Gryphons.

Laurier’s next game is a big one as they will travel to Guelph to play that very Gryphons team with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 tonight.

With a win, they will leapfrog Guelph to become third in the standings.

This will be the second meeting between the teams, as Laurier defeated the Gryphons here at home on Nov. 20. A 55-51 win that was in the midst of the teams five game winning streak.

With eight games remaining in the regular season, Laurier needs to start stringing some wins together to ensure that they are still playing well come playoff time.