THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 60 ISSUE 12 • NOVEMBER 13, 2019
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER Lead found in the water of over 2,400 Ontario schools News, page 4
THE PERIOD PROJECT
ACHIEVING ACCREDITATION
FEMALE FILMMAKERS
BIKE LANE BLUES
WESTERN WOES
Kitchener Public Library launches new initiative
WLU Special Constables pursue IACLEA
Zonta Film Festival returns to KW
Local street additions fall flat
Men’s team splits weekend play
News, page 3
News, page 5
Arts & Life, page 11
Opinion, page 15
Sports, 16 PHOTO BY BRIT KOVACS
2 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
VOCAL CORD When is the "right" time to start listening to Christmas/holiday music?
@cordnews
The Cord
@thecord.ca
CordNews THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NOVEMBER 13
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
1789: Benjamin Franklin writes "Nothing . . . certain but death & taxes." 1895: First shipment of canned pineapple from Hawaii. 1937: The NBC Symphony Orchestra, formed exclusively for radio broadcasting, made its debut. 1940: The prototype for the Jeep featuring four-wheel drive, an open-air cab, and a rifle rack mounted under the windshield was submitted to the U.S. Army for approval by the car maker Willys-Overland.
“When the weather starts to get colder and it's snowy outside.” – Odessa Amirziai, firstyear psychology
1940: Fantasia animated film by Walt Disney, starring Leopold Stokowski and Deems Taylor, is released. 1955: Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg is born.
“At the very start of December. ”
1980: US spacecraft Voyager 1 sends back 1st close-up pictures of Saturn.
– Liam Coward, second-year music DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR
Spectators at Laurier's hockey game on Thursday.
1982: Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by Maya Lin, was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 1994: Sweden voted to join the European Union.
READER SUBMISSION
1997: The Disney musical The Lion King based on the 1994 Disney animated film opens at the New Amsterdam Theater on Broadway.
"There is no 'right' time. Christmas music should be listened to all yearround." – Noa Kay, fourth-year music therapy
2002: Eminem releases single 'Lose Yourself' from soundtrack of 8 Mile, first rap song to win Academy Award Best Original Song.
Compiled by Sidney MacDonald, Lead Photographer
2006: A deal was finalized for Google Inc. to acquire YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock. 2009: NASA announced that water had been discoved on the moon
KANDACE BOGAERT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR , DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
A fellow Hawk spotted on campus. From his (or hers) intense expression, they're probably thinking about an assignment that they forgot to complete and hand in. Definitely a BBA student. NEXT ISSUE
OPINION EDITOR Jade Hosick opinion@thecord.ca
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Victoria Marshall copyeditor@thecord.ca
CORD STAFF
SPORTS EDITOR Matt 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
NOVEMBER 20, 2019
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Lauren Rutherford Jana Ibrahim Jennifer Webb Lauren Symbolik Laura Thompson Amichai Abraham Emma McVicar Melissa Marcus Yitian Cai
“Don't feel guilty for your pleasures” - Hayley McGoldrick
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
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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
2017: World's earliest wine uncovered from Khramis Didi Gora, Georgia, in clay pots from 6,000 BC.
reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.
Quote of the week: “It's time for him to die.” - News Director, Hayley McGoldrick, and Arts and Life Editor, Alyssa Di Sabatino, at different points during production night.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
News
• 3 NEWS DIRECTOR HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR SOPHIA COLE news@thecord.ca
LEST WE FORGET
Laurier Remembrance Day ceremony honors veterans AARON WAITSON PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
Last Monday, Nov. 11, marked 101 years since the end of the First World War, a conflict which saw the death of over 61,000 Canadians, and the wounding of over 172,000. To commemorate, Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as the Laurier History Students’ Association, hosted a number of events, including its annual Remembrance Day ceremony in the concourse. The ceremony included the traditional reading of In Flanders Fields, in both English and French, remarks from professors, a performance of The Last Post by a Laurier music student — and finished with a moment of silence, followed by the famous trumpet piece, the Reveille. When talking about Remembrance Day, however, it is important to consider the distinctions between remembering and commemorating these events, especially in how they pertain to today. “When they concern historic events, such as our annual collective ‘pause’ at the [eleventh] hour of the [eleventh] day of the [eleventh] month that marked the Great War’s end 101 years ago, they become conscious, public, national choices to step out of our
busy twenty-first century lives and reflect on the past,” said Cynthia Comacchio, a Laurier professor in the department of History, in an email statement. “How often do we do so actively and purposefully, as a society, as a nation? We do so to remember and commemorate those who stepped out of their own undoubtedly busy lives, postponing or pre-empting forever their personal plans for a ‘greater good’, deserve at least that—a moment of reflection, gratitude, and sorrow for what they sacrificed.” And, she notes, “for what their sacrifice signifies for us.” As a historian, Commacchio describes herself as “cynical” when it comes to the lessons learned from, commemoration and remembrance of events like the First World War. One of the key takeaways she feels is not acknowledged is the “catastrophic outcomes” of catalysts such as “racism, hyper-nationalism, exclusion, hatred [and] violence,” which she believes is numbed by the progression of time. “Amnesia is a debilitating, constricting and dangerous condition — even more so for a nation than for individuals,” Commacchio said. “This is why we remember, and commemorate, all the men and
women — mostly very young — who left homes, families, schools, reserves, farms and factories to participate in two world wars, and all too many others, as well as those who continue to do so.” Professors, such as Peter Farrugia on Laurier’s Brantford campus, believes that these discussions of commemoration are all the more important to explore and evaluate, given the divisive nature of recent events. “The recent controversy over Don Cherry’s Coach’s Corner comments ... underline that we need to be careful when we approach this topic,” Farrugia said in an email statement. “I wear the traditional red poppy, one of my research areas is the social and cultural impact of the two World Wars and I have been involved in a number of battlefield tours over the years. But I find myself getting exasperated at times that there is an expectation that everyone should mark Nov. 11 in the same manner.” Farrugia argues that poppies, traditionally a symbol of remembrance and commemoration, have become more associated with politics instead, which he calls “a shame.” “Furthermore, it seems to me that those who died in the World Wars (as well as other conflicts
SIDNEY MACDONALD/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
in which Canadian troops have served) died to preserve a way of life, a set of values at the core of which is freedom of expression,” Farrugia said. “In the same way that me wearing a poppy does not make me a war monger, choosing not to wear a poppy does not make me a hater of the military or my country.” As well, he agrees that, in “every act of remembering”, there is a sim-
ilar pattern of forgetting that begins to take its toll — a pattern which he endeavors to unravel. “Some stories have been told and others have often gone unspoken. I have been encouraged in recent years by the willingness of Canadians to explore some of those less well-known stories, to examine the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to war,” Farrugia concluded.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Kitchener Public Library offers patrons free menstrual products EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kitchener Public Library’s (KPL) main branch in Downtown Kitchener recently announced that they are joining The Period Project, an initiative designed to make menstrual products more accessible to those who need them. The library began offering these products in their washrooms for patrons to use on Nov. 4. “We are trying to provide more inclusive access to menstrual products, which is important to many of us in terms of creating a more equitable world, for women in particular, who are dealing with menstrual issues that can catch us by surprise,” Mary Chevreau, chief executive officer of KPL said. This is an effort to expand the library’s current services, and will cost an estimated $1,700 per year to continue funding it at the current location. Chevreau recognizes the disparity that currently exists for people who menstruate but may not be able to afford the products they need in order to attend to their monthly cycles. “It can be an expensive product, and not everyone has the funds
to really buy those supplies, so that was the thinking behind it in terms of this period equity and menstrual products. So we are able — through donations frankly — to be able to provide [these] products through all the washrooms at Central to begin with,” Chevreau said.
We are trying to provide more inclusive access to menstrual products, which is important to many of us in terms of creating a more equitable world -Mary Chevreau, chief executive officer of KPL
KPL also plans to expand this service to the other library location in Waterloo Region. “Yes, we will be [expanding the project]. The reason we started with Central, it’s just us, we own the building, we’re in the building, where many of our other community libraries are co-located, so it just takes a little more discussion
and negotiation to ensure that every partner is comfortable with our decision to provide free menstrual products,” Chevreau said. Recognizing the realities of period poverty and the need to assist the growing number of people who struggle with this difficult reality is a step in the right direction for the improved availability of services that are needed in the region. Since revealing the initiative to the public, KPL has been met with generous support from the community. “It’s been great [the public response]. It’s been completely positive. I think that a lot of women are very supportive and applaud us for making this decision and making it possible, and I think there are a lot of people who use our library who are quite grateful for it,” Chevreau said. As well, the period supplies that are made available at the library are specifically provided in a way that best services the people who may need to use them, and KPL, who is supplying them. “We decided to offer the supplies in baskets that are free for the taking in all of the washrooms, as opposed to having dispensing units that are on the market right
BRIT KOVACS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
now that provide free products, but the products themselves have to be purchased by that vendor, as opposed to just supplying it through the best price, for instance. So, we decided not to go the dispenser route, and so they’re just in baskets and they’re free to anyone who needs them,” Chevreau said. KPL is looking at this new project as just another way to improve
and expand what they have to offer to library goers in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. “Well I think public libraries, and this library in particular, are all about equal access and equity of all kinds, and so this is just one more way that we can provide an inclusive, welcoming space and ensure that there is equitable access to everybody,” Chevreau said.
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
CLUBS
Foot Patrol celebrates twenty-seventh year MELISSA MARCUS CORD NEWS
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Laurier’s Foot Patrol will be celebrating its twenty-seventh birthday. In honour of the club’s birthday, Foot Patrol will be holding a week-long celebration called Footapalooza. Footapalooza will be held on campus throughout the week of Nov. 18 to 25. All Laurier staff and students are invited to come out and participate in the celebration. Footapalooza events will include free giveaways, carnival games and “Bingo with Twan” on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 19. In celebration of their official birthday, Foot Patrol will be serving free cake and cupcakes in the concourse on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Foot Patrol is a service that offers safe walks or rides home to all students attending Wilfrid Laurier University. If a student is by themselves or does not feel comfortable walking home alone at night, they can call the service any night of the week to receive a free escort home by one of their peers involved with the club. Also, if someone lives more than two kilometres away from campus, they have the option of receiving a ride home from Foot Patrol’s van service which runs at 11 p.m., 12 a.m., 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Victoria Bothwell, an executive member of Foot Patrol, claims that the club is an essential service
at the heart of the Laurier community. She explains the club’s significance on campus, stating, “It’s really important because it promotes safety within the Laurier community.” The safety and peace of mind that Foot Patrol has offered Laurier students for the past 27 years deserves celebration, but Footapalooza is about more than that. The bigger purpose of the festivities is to promote the presence of Foot Patrol on campus so it can reach even more students. “The event is just important to really promote the service to encourage other students to use it because not many people are aware of what Foot Patrol is,” Bothwell explains. While Bothwell hopes that Footapalooza will spread awareness about the services that the club offers to students, she also hopes that it will attract new volunteers. The timing of Foot Patrol’s publicity celebration lines up well with opportunities to get involved with the club, as they are hiring until 11:59 on their birthday. Thanks to Foot Patrol’s members over the past 27 years, Laurier students will be able to celebrate another year of safety on campus during Footapalooza. Whether its applying to Foot Patrol, playing a carnival game or eating a cupcake, all Laurier Students are encouraged to show support for Foot Patrol and participate in the upcoming birthday celebrations.
BRIT KOVACS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PUBLIC HEALTH
“Unlawful” levels of lead found in Ontario schools HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK NEWS DIRECTOR
Reports that came out this past week has released data that over 2,400 Ontario schools and daycares have exceeded the provincial limit for lead levels in drinking water, affecting students across the province. 29 per cent of schools were in an exceedance between 2016 and 2018, with some schools exceeding 1,000 parts per billion, a level of lead so high that it can immediately impact blood-lead levels in children. “The WRDSB considers the following fixture as drinking water fixtures for the purpose of the regulation: drinking fountains, hydration stations, drinking water bubblers, taps in kitchen/kitchenette (not classroom sinks) including staff room, taps in childcare room(s), kindergarten room(s), special education room(s) and family studies room(s) without drinking fountains or bubblers,” said Lynsey Slupeiks, communications officer for the Waterloo Region District School Board in an email statement. “We work closely with our partners at Public Health to determine what, if any, corrective actions are
BRIT KOVACS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
needed. WRDSB developed a FAQ for families about water testing and it is available on our website. As of 2017, all schools that have had a lead exceedance are shared publicly on our website.” In March 2019, Health Canada recommended 5 ppb (5 µg/L) as
the maximum acceptable limit for lead concentration in drinking water. The provincial recommendation in Ontario remains at 10 ppb (10 µg/L), though government officials agree that the preferred amount would most certainly be zero.
July of 2017 saw a change in legislation in regard to Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act which changed to require lead tests conducted by schools and daycares at any fountain or tap that is used for drinking water and/or preparing food. The school board’s website has
every school that has been tested in an exceedance of lead, but also lists the corrective action taken to ensure that the water is safe for students to drink. Some corrective actions that were taken after tests done on Aug. 1 were to flush all drinking fixtures daily for the next 24 months. The reason for such high levels is due to the fixtures that have been put in place as early as hundreds of years ago, rather than contamination at the source of where the water comes from. An estimated economic benefit of $9 billion dollars in Canada could come about if lead was eliminated in all schools in Canada and eliminated the exposure to children. Repairs, however, could cost over $16 billion to get rid of the lead fixtures, something that may seem like a distant dream for schools as it is not on the priorities list. The Waterloo Region District School Board is testing all drinking fountains, bottle fillers and taps used for food preparation at elementary schools and affiliated child care centres by January of 2020 and finishing senior elementary and secondary schools by January 2022.
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 MARIJUANA
Changes coming to private cannabis sales in Ontario
As of last Wednesday, consumers will be allowed to purchase cannabis products online, or by telephone HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK NEWS DIRECTOR
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, it was announced that the province of Ontario would be looking into changing the way private cannabis retailers will be selling their products. “As part of the Bill 138, Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019, our government is proposing changes to allow consumers to reserve and purchase products online or by telephone from an authorized cannabis retailer for in-store pick up only,” said Brian Gray, ministry spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General in an email statement. “If approved by the legislature, these changes will increase consumer access to safe, legal cannabis products and help authorized cannabis retailers to better compete with illegal operators.” Private retailers that exist already in the Ontario Cannabis Store are companies like Tweed, Tokyo Smoke and Whistler Cannabis Co. Currently, the Ontario Cannabis Store has the monopoly in the
cannabis industry since, as of right now, they are the only available online retailer. Even with the new proposal, OCS will still have an advantage among other retailers as they are the only operators who can deliver to a consumer’s door. “To ensure stringent age verification processes remain in place, delivery of cannabis from a retail store directly to a consumer will continue to be available exclusively online through the Ontario Cannabis Store,” Gray continued in an email statement. “Authorized cannabis retailers are regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and all employees in cannabis retail stores must complete mandatory training, which includes the age verification process.” This is one of the many changes that comes to laws regarding cannabis after it’s legalization on Oct. 17, 2018. The legalization is a federal law, but the law regarding online and telephone ordering of the product is only for residents of Ontario. “The Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for regulating Ontario’s cannabis retail stores under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and Regulation 468/18,” said Raymond Kahnert, senior advisor of communications for the AGCO in an email statement. “The AGCO’s role in the changes related to cannabis sales is in development.” Ontario’s cannabis brick-andmortar stores will also be increasing from 25 stores to 75 stores, tripling their numbers after only one year of cannabis becoming legal in Ontario. Cannabis will also be legal in edible forms, with THC-infused baked goods becoming legal to consume in the province, although Health Canada has announced that there is a 60-day waiting period as licensed producers must submit their intent to sell these products. At the moment, all these changes are proposals and any changes will require approval of the legislature due to the nature of cannabis still being newly legal. These proposals have been brought up to decrease the number
BRIT KOVACS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
of illegal sales that still currently happen due to the strict rules that currently exist regarding cannabis, with many consumers arguing that prices are too high. Proposals will be under review
to ensure they are proper to benefit both the government, retailers and consumers, but as of right now there is no timeline as to when these proposals will become a reality.
belled “use of force” and “detainee processing and transportation,” which suggested that SCS would be given certain legal authorities if provided with this level of certification. In the “Use of Force” section, the subsection “Use of Deadly Force” indicated that “if the agency authorizes the use of lethal weapons, it has a written directive that officers may use deadly force only under a reasonable belief that the action is in defence of human life or in defense of any person in imminent danger…” The “Detainee Processing” subsection of the document discussed that “those agencies with custodial arrest authority may need to temporarily hold a detainee while certain processes are completed …,” giving reason to students to suggest that SCS would be given the ability to detain students. On Nov. 8, Laurier released an official clarification of this process and designation. Confirming that this was a significant concern, the statement read that “the university wishes to emphasize that Laurier’s Special Constable Service is not seeking to carry or employ weapons of any kind. The university must abide by provincial and federal laws regarding firearms, and these laws do not permit special constables to carry such weapons.” Instead, the goal of accreditation was designed to improve the quality of the professionalism, accountability and competency
that SCS members demonstrated on a daily basis. This process involves consultation with, and feedback from, the Laurier stakeholders — which include students, faculty and staff. The university also recognized that, due to these miscommunications, it became clear that “we need to provide more context and more opportunity for dialogue and feedback.” Furthermore, Kevin Crowley, director of communications and public affairs for Laurier, issued a formal statement regarding an update on the matter of Laurier SCS accreditation. “Wilfrid Laurier University acknowledges the questions and concerns raised about a professional accreditation designation that Laurier’s Special Constable Service has been working toward,” the statement read. “The primary reason for pursuing the accreditation is to enhance the professionalism, accountability and transparency of the Special Constable Service. It is not about seeking greater powers.” “It is clear, however, that more consultation and communication are required. For this reason, the university has suspended Laurier’s involvement in the accreditation process to allow time for additional discussion and feedback.” “The university will provide further information once we have had the opportunity to reflect and develop next steps,” the statement concluded.
SPECIAL CONSTABLES
JENNIFER WEBB/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
Confusion sparks controversy over Laurier SCS accreditation AARON WAITSON PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
This week, Laurier’s Special Constable Service (SCS) received backlash over confusion regarding the pursuit of an “elite accreditation process,” stemming from a concern that Special Constables would be given the authority to possess lethal and non-lethal firearms, as well as search and detain students. This concern gained recognition when the Twitter account “Spotted At Laurier” released a tweet indicating that “Laurier is moving
towards arming Special Constables and allowing them to use deadly force if deemed necessary, if you feel that this isn’t okay, please use the info below to call and voice your feelings.” On Nov. 1, Laurier released an official statement confirming that the SCS was “scheduled for an initial on-site assessment at the Waterloo campus by an accreditation team from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).” On the IACLEA’s website, the
organization notes that process for accreditation “signifies an agency’s ongoing commitment to excellent, state-of-the-art performance in every aspect of its operations. Accredited agencies demonstrate to their personnel, the campus community and outside experts their professionalism and mission focus.” Included in Laurier’s assessment was to determine the SCS’ level of compliance with IACLEA standards. The majority of complaints came from the sections of the accreditation standards guide la-
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
STUDENT HOUSING
Information night educates students on tenancy rights
JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR
SOPHIA COLE NEWS EDITOR
On Nov. 12 the University of Waterloo hosted a student tenancy rights information night with the goal of equipping students with the tools they need to navigate the often treacherous student housing market. The event was open to students of all institutions and was held in the Engineering 7 building on the University of Waterloo campus from 6 to 8 p.m. There were several different speakers present including MPP Catherine Fife, City of Waterloo Ward 6 Councillor Jeff Henry and Giordano Modesto from Waterloo Region Community Legal Services. The event included a one hour presentation devoted to going over the rights and obligations of tenants, followed by a brief presentation of the Student Legal Protection Program that was recently introduced by the University of Waterloo and Conestoga students associations. After the presentations, attendees were free to participate in an open house session where they had the opportunity to interact with local community partners including members of municipal enforcement services, community legal services, Laurier’s student rights group, city councillors and more. The event was planned and orchestrated by the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association in conjunction with Laurier Students’ Union, Conestoga Students Inc., MPP Catherine Fife and Student housing activist Sylvia Skoruch.
The idea for the event was fueled by WUSA President, Michael Beauchemin, after hearing about and witnessing the often negative experience that students have when dealing with student housing.
If students don’t know their rights, they’ll let themselves be walked all over by landlords and property managers. Even armed with this information it can be difficult sometimes. -Micheal Beauchemin, WUSA president
“As a member of the student housing group for Waterloo, I sometimes get a front-row seat to what plays out,” Beauchemin said in an email statement. “I decided it would be a good time to run an event for increasing student awareness and hopefully provide students with the information and the tools they need to know and exercise their rights.” Students are a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to renting because the majority them are first time renters without the experience or legal knowledge to defend themselves. “Students are almost 100 per cent first-time renters, and many people don’t get exposure to that
world in their family life at home. There are lots of things you have to watch out for, and time and again companies have taken advantage of inexperience,” Beauchemin said. “Students need to find housing to continue their studies. There’s a huge power imbalance and a student who is homeless is going to suffer academically, which impacts their ability to do part time work, look for co-op jobs, or even strive for post-graduate jobs or a master’s.” Researching tenant and landlord rights can be difficult and time consuming, especially for the already busy student. Hosting a student tenancy information night takes some of the weight off of students and gives them the opportunity to make themselves aware of their rights, which will make them significantly less vulnerable to being taken advantage of by their landlords or suffering because of lack of information. “If students don’t know their rights, they’ll let themselves be walked all over by landlords and property managers. Even armed with this information it can be difficult sometimes, but with anyone able to put up an ad on Kijiji for ‘student housing’, you sometimes run across things that are definitely not allowed,” said Beauchemin. “It’s also important for students to know their obligations as tenants which cannot be stressed enough. If a person isn’t meeting their obligations, it’s harder for them to argue for their rights.” While it is clear that students in the Waterloo Region are experiencing significant difficulties with
the student housing market, this is not a Waterloo-exclusive problem. Students across North America are experiencing similar issues with housing while at university or college. “Student housing is an issue that has gone largely unnoticed by politicians and people in positions of power because everywhere, people think it’s a localized issue. I’ve read articles from across North America, where university neighbourhoods are being bought up by developers to throw up mid-rises and high-rises of luxury student housing. It’s a far cry from student ghettos, but it means that the price of rent is driven way up, and these developers and property managers don’t have to worry about filling beds because they know that stu-
Student housing is an issue that has gone largely unnoticed by politicians and people in positions of power because everywhere, people think it’s a localized issue. -Michael Beauchemin, WUSA president
dents need housing.” Not only are students forced into paying high rental prices, they often must settle for sub-par living conditions because they have no
other choice but to settle for what is available in their area and most student rental options only offer fixed-term leases, which means students are locked in once they sign on. “[Landlords and property management companies] don’t have to worry about keeping good living conditions like an experienced renter would expect because students are inexperienced and are willing to settle if it means they have someplace to sleep while they attend university. If a student is studying at a university or a college, they need housing,” said Beauchemin. While at the moment, the student tenancy information night is a one-time event, Beauchemin is speculating on the idea of running a similar event annually. “The way we have organized this event as a partnership with other schools and with MPP Fife is probably a one-time deal. However, I really like the idea of running the event annually around this time, especially with a focus on students living in residence because people start to look for housing for their second year right about November to January,” Beauchemin said. For students, knowledge is the best defense against the many challenges that come with renting in a student-oriented market. Knowing the rights and obligations of a tenant will give students a leg to stand on when dealing with people who seek to capitalize on their inexperience. “Students are vulnerable everywhere and we are taking steps to ensure our students go in with their eyes wide open.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
GAMES • 7
Dear Life
SUDOKU
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.
Dear Life, Social life is hard in college when you’re demisexual. My friends and roommates are always talking about sex and it is hard for me to add anything to the conversation. They already know my sex stories because I’ve only had sex with people that I was genuinely very into, and there haven’t been a lot of those. It is also hard to date. Because when I am into someone and want to be physically intimate with them, I know that this means that I am also starting to become emotionally attached. Many people in college are not looking for a relationship and just want to have a good time (which is still meaningful, don’t get me wrong). This leaves me in a state of conflict between wanting to be with the person physically because I am attracted to them, and then not wanting sex due to the complications that could potentially come with it. The last person I was intimate with was very confused and although they liked me and wanted to see things through, I was scared to death and shut the whole thing down. I wish I could have explained to them that us being physically intimate together meant more to me and that they also meant more to me which is why I even considered it in the first place. C’est la vie I guess, you live you learn. If you’re also a demisexual and feel the same please write a dear life prompt and let me know that I am not alone!
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Sincerely, Lover Dear Life,
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I found it very surprising all the nationwide media outrage over Don Cherry’s comments on this past weekend’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on the CBC. Obvious racial overtones aside Don might have a point that not enough Canadians (Canadian born and immigrants) seem to be aware let alone understand or respect the significance of Remembrance Day. Whether that is wearing a poppy, attending a ceremony or raising the Canadian flag to many in 2019 it seems this day is just a seasonal trend like Halloween and Easter not an actual day to remember and respect those Veterans who sacrificed so much so all of us could have a home whether current, new or old called Canada today and beyond. Take for example the fact that a torn Canadian flag was flying all through the weekend and on Remembrance Day at 79 Seagram Drive./Classen House. This a WLU property and it seems no one employed at the school found it to be an issue that a torn Canadian flag was flying prominently on Remembrance Day on the campus for all students and Veterans visiting and driving by the school to see. Maybe these individuals thought no one would notice because the flag is located on a side street and there was also a snow storm on Monday. Sincerely, A True Canadian Patriot
Had a ‘ruff’ day? pet some pooches to ease your stress.
10 • ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
Arts & Life
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR ALYSSA DI SABATINO arts@thecord.ca
CAMPUS
AARON WAITSON/PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
De-stress with dogs is an un-fur-gettable event EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As the semester progresses and students balance midterms, looming assignment deadlines and the fast approach of exams, school becomes more and more stressful. Luckily, there are resources and events on campus that are designed to help students manage
their stress and unwind, even if it’s just for a few minutes out of their day. On Friday, Nov. 8, Laurier’s Career Centre hosted their “De-stress with Dogs” event to give people on campus the opportunity to relax with some four-legged friends and momentarily forget about their lists of to-do’s and deadlines. De-Stress with Dogs was made
accessible to students during the Career Centre’s drop-in hours, so the option to have resume critiques done by their student career centre peers was available as well. Frances Humphreys, associate director of career development and external relations at the Career Centre, understands the importance of engaging students in ways that best support their mental
health and wellbeing, and she sees where students often struggle the most. “We’re always wanting to connect with students and connect with students where they’re at as well. With all of our individual appointments, and the conversations that we have with students, often it’s just stress and sometimes, if it’s a first-year student, they’re [experiencing] homesickness,” Humphreys said. Being in school, for many people, means being away from home and family, and part of that family often includes a pet. “We think about how we can make them feel at home, how do we make the Career Centre a welcoming place and support the students? So, we thought ‘okay, DeStress with Dogs.’ Often, students have pets at home that they miss — they can’t always have a pet while they’re at school or in residence, so how do we bring a little bit of home [here]?,” Humphreys said. Animal therapy has become a common tool that is used to support people who may live with a variety of different disorders or experience stressful triggers in their day-to-day life. “It’s known that dogs will help de-stress as far as any anxiety, depression, loneliness ... just an escape from the rigour of day-today university life. So we really look at bringing that welcoming atmosphere to the students,” Humphreys said. The added benefit of the event was that it further promoted the specific services that are available and accessible for those in need of career support. “It’s also a way for them to engage with us at the Career Centre,
to understand the resources that we have to support their career wellness, because often careers are stressful for students as well. We align the timing of De-Stress with Dogs to our drop-in hours,” Humphreys said.
We think about how we can make them feel at home, how do we make the Career Centre a welcoming place and support students? -Frances Humphreys, associate director of career development
Light refreshments were provided for anyone who dropped in, and four different dogs were stationed in the area with their owners who are volunteers with St. John’s Ambulance. They were happy to answer the questions that were asked about their easy-going canines, and everyone seemed to enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. The event was clearly very popular, with dozens of students crowded around waiting for their chance to pet each dog and excitedly take photos of the ones they got a chance to meet and interact with. “And as you can see, we had overwhelming success with 184, an all-time high, with the number of students coming to engage with us,” Humphreys said.
ARTS & LIFE • 11
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 ADVOCACY
Zonta Film Festival puts female directors centre-stage KASHYAP PATEL/WEB DIRECTOR
ALYSSA DI SABATINO ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
This week from Nov. 6-9, the ninth annual Zonta Film Festival was held at The Princess Twin Cinemas in Uptown Waterloo. The festival features films by and for women, covering a broad range of topics. With the film industry being largely male-dominated, Zonta provides female filmmakers with a platform to showcase their work to the community. “This is our ninth film festival, and all of the films have a female base to it and they are all done by female filmmakers. So, whether they’re directors, writers, producers, there’s females involved in the creation of it and all the films are about a female topic,” Brenda Graham, co-chair of The Zonta Club of KW said. Zonta is a global organization of professional women who work together to advocate for the advance-
ment of women across the world. “[We] advocate and empower women through service and advocacy. So, we get involved through service within the community, we volunteer, we raise money, we march in Me Too, in Nevertheless, all those kinds of things,” Graham said. Founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919, Zonta celebrated their hundredth year anniversary on Nov. 8 — just in time for the film festival. Graham explained that the Film Festival is one of three fundraisers that Zonta Club of KW holds each year. This year’s lineup included 12 films which were screened throughout the four days, ranging from topics such as Indigenous rights, human rights, women in prison, the beauty industry and more. “We have a committee and we look at topics that are key, we never choose any film that is older than
about 18 months old. So we look at relevant topics, we look at individuals who have inspired others, we look at TIFF, we look at HotDocs, we look at other female film festivals, and we got through all of that and come up with (the lineup),” Graham said.
...So, whether they’re directors, writers, producers, there’s female’s involved in the creation of it and all the films are about a female topic. -Brenda Graham, co-chair of The Zonta Club of KW
“I’ve talked to a number of peo-
ple, because I’ve been sitting out in the lobby, and a lot of them have said that they think this is probably the best lineup that we’ve had. So, it’s very diverse...there’s so many topics that we covered this year,” Graham said. For a total of $70, viewers were able to purchase all-access festival passes, or were able to buy tickets individually for $15. To date, The Zonta Club of KW has raised $110, 000 through the film festival alone for various women’s charities in the region. This doesn’t include numbers from this festival, which would raise the figure even further. “A festival like this is really important for women. To help and encourage other female filmmakers, to know that they can succeed, to spread the word about women who have made empowering decisions... to get women to step up, and champion and advocate in their community. It’s a wonderful
thing to see,” Graham said. While the festival covered a broad range of topics, two films which were popular among university students were Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, and RBG, a film about Ruth Bader Ginsberg. “We had a number of university students here that just said ‘I want to hear more about this empowering woman that you hear about who’s (an associate) Justice in the States’,” Graham said. “It’s really nice to see the reception, and know that they’re really enjoying the line up this year,” Graham said. This festival is the largest in KW — and since its conception, it has grown from a one day festival to a four day festival, signalling the impact that it has had in the region. “If people didn’t get an opportunity to visit the Zonta Film Festival, we’ll be here next year, same time for our tenth, bigger and better than ever,” Graham said.
ENTERTAINMENT
Why professional wrestling deserves more attention AMICHAI ABRAHAM STAFF WRITER
Pro wrestling is the greatest madeup sport that has ever existed. It’s fake, it’s exaggerated, it’s silly and sometimes pretty stupid — but it’s always entertaining. Unfortunately for me, a lifelong wrestling fan, sometimes I am taunted for my admiration for liking such an odd form of entertainment. And yes, it’s fake — very fake. I, just like many other wrestling fans, however, still love to watch it. Here, I’m going to talk about the basis of pro-wrestling and, hopefully, by the end of this article, I’ve convinced you enough to go check it out for yourself. Being a successful wrestler requires two major components: physical ability and talking/character attributes. With physical abilities, one requires extensive training in order to learn how to perform wrestling moves and how to react when another wrestler performs a move on you — this is referred to as “selling” in the industry. Most wrestlers have to work out constantly, stick to a strict diet and train regularly as part of their job. The other aspect is more characterrelated, as being a wrestler isn’t all about pure athletic skill.
JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Being able to speak your character’s intentions on the microphone is essential to being a great wrestler. In pro wrestling, there are usually two characters: the face and the heel. It is the job of the ‘face’ to get the audience to cheer for him and support him as a semi- heroic figure. The job of the ‘heel’ is to make the audience hate him. As the bad guy, the audience should be cheering just to see you get your proper comeuppance — heels of-
ten berate the audience and other wrestlers with insults and personal arrogance. These two characters usually wrestle in contrasting ways and are typically fighting one another. The faces typically will fight honorably and straight forward, the heels, in contrast, will often use dirty tactics and cheat to win. Sometimes you can get characters who blur the line between faces and heels. A very popular wrestler during his time in WWE, Eddie
Guerrero, was usually a face, but would often use very underhanded tactics to win matches. Since he did this in funny or charming ways, however, the audience adored him for it. “Stone cold” Steve Austin, a beer-drinking, monster truck driving, bird-flipping redneck was the face of the organization for many years. One of the all-time greats in the business, The Undertaker, has been playing the part of a zombie
with magical lighting summoning powers has been wrestling for over 30 years! These characters are fascinating to watch evolve and grow, and even if many of them are ridiculous if you suspend your disbelief and just watch a match where a Bulgarian strongman is beating up an adult film star in a fake fight, you’d be surprised how enjoyable the experience can be. Wrestling is as close to an intricate dance as it is to simulated violence. This is more true than ever in the modern era. The performers are in top physical condition and can perform outlandish moves that make the viewers lose their mind, often it’s a move that was practiced for months or years in order to be executed to perfection. From the outside looking in, of course wrestling is silly and ridiculous in principal. What is misunderstood however is that when you get invested in the strange universe it encapsulates, there’s nothing else in the world like it. So do yourself a favour: just go watch one show or a part of one show. It’s not for everyone, but it should never be overlooked. In its own way, it’s something really beautiful.
12 • ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
HOLIDAY
Waterloo decks the halls at local Christmas Market ALYSSA DI SABATINO ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
On Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the third annual Waterloo Christmas Market was held at Rim Park, where local vendors gathered to display and sell their unique wares. The event was hosted by All-Canadian Events, a company set on providing platforms for local artisans and vendors to showcase their talents and small businesses. Various events similar to this one are held and organized by the company throughout the region, and those who are interested can apply to become vendors for a fee. Although I wish the entry fee was not as steep, four dollars still seemed like a relatively reasonable amount to pay considering it gave shoppers like myself access to the entirety of the market.
As someone who sees the value in shopping and spending locally, I was more than excited to be able to attend this event, and I definitely wasn’t the only one who felt this way. I showed up around 2 p.m. expecting the event to be winding down by then, but the market was packed. Despite the crowd of eager shoppers, the area was still navigable. The makeshift marketplace was held in the recreational room above the arena, and every inch of the space was smartly arranged in order to maximize the amount of vendor tables that could be there. Shoppers were able to go up and down the aisles of the marketplace and gradually browse the broad range of gift items. Items being sold ranged from soaps, candles, ornaments, knitted hats, homemade teas and much more. Regardless of whether or not shoppers were looking for something specific or simply browsing like myself, it felt as if it were
almost guaranteed that you’d be able to spot something that caught your eye. And while I’m sure many of the shoppers in attendance were searching for the perfect gifts for their loved ones, I shopped solely for gifts for myself. No shame though, I am my own loved one. Although the space lacked conventional holiday decorations, the Christmas music that was being played still provided a sense of holiday cheer. Unexpectedly, the place also smelled amazing — the wintery scents and spices of some of the products that were on display added to the Christmas atmosphere. When it comes to gift-giving, I can’t help but feel like handmade gifts are so much more intimate than the mass-produced gifts available at the mall. Gifts produced in small scales are individualized and personable, so if you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone, it might be in your best interest to start looking locally.
YITIAN CAI/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
The Waterloo Christmas Market is definitely a worthwhile venture for those looking for locally-made gifts and fare.
So, while I technically failed at doing my Christmas shopping, my Christmas cheer levels are practically through the roof.
RECOMMENDATIONS “Texas Funeral.” 2. Pkew Pkew Pkew Although their name is uncomfortable to pronounce and confusing at a glance, this Toronto based band is fantastically hilarious. With songs named “Let’s Order a Pizza” and “A**hole Pandemic” it’s hard not to laugh at these loud, emphatic anthems about binge drinking, teenage rebellion and growing up in a big city. Pkew Pkew Pkew unifies outcasted youth with their inviting, communal chants while giving their listeners pulsing headaches to discover between the end of the set and the encore. For those looking for an energized modern punk rock band, I couldn’t recommend anyone better. Songs to listen to: “Mid-20s Skateboarder”, “Adult Party” and “A**hole Pandemic.” 3. Dr. Dog
SIDNEY MACDONALD/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Bands you should know about JACKSON CARSE STAFF WRITER
1. Hop Along Hop Along, originating out of Seattle, is one of the best indie rock bands on the scene today. Lead singer Frances Quinlan brings a raspy yet delicate head to front the band.
In their song “How Simple,” Quinlan writes about her realization of aging and healthy relationships coming to an end. “Don’t worry we’ll both find out. Just not together,” a lyric, while heartbreaking, shows that as we grow older, it’s not abnormal to take your own path to self-discovery. Hop Along plays with a unique
sound that seems to be fleeting in today’s musical climate. With modern bands regurgitating the same bland, banal content yearly, it’s refreshing to listen to a group refusing to repeat their ever-changing style. If I could suggest one band on his list, this would be it. Songs to listen to: “Sister Cities”, “How Simple”, “Look of Love” and
Talk about range. Dr. Dog can do it all. From the whammied riffs on “Lonesome” to the harrowing, miserable lyrics on “Too Weak to Ramble,” these guys are the best at what they do. What looks to be a group of three dads and someone’s nephew is actually an intoxicating, almost hallucinogenic encounter. Jeff Tweedy of Wilco once called them “the greatest band nobody knows,” which ten years later remains accurate. They’ll sing you to sleep with shallow, gentle orchestral rifts and wake you up with storming chants of self deprecation. Songs to listen to: “Shadow People”, “Under the Wheels” and “Nellie”, “Survive.”
4. Julien Baker Not for the lighthearted, Julien Baker is the depressed college teen’s Madonna. Between haunting instrumentals and pessimistic lyrics, Baker has composed a vast discography of unique music. No band, no back up vocals. Baker does it all by herself with a ratty guitar and an empty stage. Although soft spoken in conversation, she fills the stage with a bellowed delivery. Australian singer Courtney Barnett was penciled in at number four but was ultimately beat out by Baker solely due to her thunderous vocals. Songs to listen to: “Everybody Does”, “Go Home”, “Something.” Although not necessarily unknown, the two bands I felt uncomfortable leaving off this list were The National and Wilco. In the community of indie music, they’re probably the two most well known bands of the 21st century, but amongst the university community, it’s safe to say they’re relatively obscure. Rather than add a fifth spot to this list, it felt more important to at least mention these two powerhouse bands. Give these groups a try. Sure, they might not be as financially stable as your favourite rappers, but at least they can spell. Some of these bands have changed my life. “One Sunday Morning” by Wilco induces tears every listen, a song that reminds of my father. Pretty much anything by The National reminds me that I’m not alone with my personal anxieties, that even the greatest rock stars don’t always want to socialize at parties.
13 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMEBER 13, 2019
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR Jade Hosick opinion@thecord.ca
Editor’s Note: T.I. isn’t fatherly, he’s creepy EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
American rapper T.I. recently made headlines and regained some of his lost relevance since 2010 for the troubling comments he made regarding his teenage daughter on the podcast Ladies Like Us. During the episode, he told the two hosts that he accompanies his daughter to her annual gynecologist appointments to make sure that her “hymen is still intact.” T.I.’s bizzare admission contained a series of justifications about his decision to attend — which should be private — appointments with his 18-year-old child. He commented that he realizes the hymen can be broken in more ways than just sex, yet stated, “I say, ‘Look, Doc, she don’t ride no horses, she don’t ride no bike, she don’t play no sports. Just check the hymen, please, and give me back my results expeditiously.’” T.I. continued by acknowledging that his 15 year-old son is sexually active, but the same standards are not applied to him. This baffling segment was followed by an onslaught of criticism after the internet caught wind of his statements — and rightfully so. There’s quite a lot to unpack with such a terrible confession regarding the bodily autonomy of his daughter, who, in the eyes of the law, is legally an adult. And even if she wasn’t, there would still be no excuse for this level of controlling behaviour. Not only is virginity testing a practice that has been deemed unethical and inaccurate by countless physicians and medical professionals, it plays into the incredibly problematic notion that a woman’s “virginity” — something that is entirely subjective and holds no true medical merit — is something to be proven and used as a tool to
shame women’s bodies, choices and, what should be, their own sexual freedom. And while it might seem like T.I. is an outlier, this “two-finger test” is not as uncommon as people would like to believe. According to a 2016 survey discussed in Rolling Stone, of 288 physicians, 10 per cent were asked by parents and family members of patients to do the test and 34 per cent said they had performed it themselves. You would think that in 2019, practices like this would remain in the past where they belong (and should have never existed to begin with), but it seems that, in many ways, society still has a long way to go. T.I. has successfully placed himself on the top of the douchebag list this week, and his poor daughter, the victim of his possessive transgressions, seems to be in agreement with that sentiment, as indicated by the tweets she’s liked that have disgraced his actions. And while I don’t believe the podcast hosts are completely blameless in this situation — they have since removed his segment from the episode and issued a public apology — I don’t think it’s on them to apologize for a man’s inappropriate behavior. Their reaction to his confession, although questionable, was likely out of discomfort and surprise, and the focus should primarily be on T.I.’s statements, not them. No matter what your beliefs on parenting are, the bodies of young girls and women are not the possessions of their parents. T.I.’s actions cross personal boundaries that venture into unquestionable creepiness — and he has simultaneously outed his controlling behaviour while exposing personal information about his daughter, who I’m sure feels humiliated by this violation of privacy. Regardless of whether or not T.I. addresses this (hopefully) career-ruining admission, an apology won’t really cut it. I just hope, for his daughter’s sake, that she is able to move past
THE CORD IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 REGINA ST. N., WATERLOO
WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TREASURER Kashyap Patel
CHAIR Aaron Waitson
PRESIDENT Aaron Waitson president@wlusp.com
VICE-CHAIR Alyssa Di Sabatino DIRECTOR Arshy Mann DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne DIRECTOR Emily Crump
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
EDITORIAL CARTOON
JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Editorial: Balancing a hectic schedule DARIEN FUNK PHOTO EDITOR
I have three, no — wait — four calendars on the go at all times. One in my bag, my fridge, my phone and one that floats around all willy-nilly. Each day is separated into five categories; kids, work, school/ homework, ex’s work schedule, and elusive free time. Subsequently, my brain is also subdivided into those same five categories. I am fueled by coffee and bagels on the go —-- plain, toasted with butter if you are asking! Here’s what an average day looks like: 6 a.m.: Alarm goes off, coffee steams and I wander through my cold house in search of a mug to help wake me up. I check the fridge to make sure I’ve got the right schedule for the day ahead before making my way up to my office to do some editing. 7 a.m.: First signs of life come from my oldest finding his way into my room and whispering something about being sick (he’s not) and asking if he can play on the iPad (he can’t). This wakes up my middle child who forever wakes up
ready to rock. 8 a.m.: My youngest wakes up in a fit of hunger. We all wrangle our way downstairs and spill into the kitchen in a flurry of breakfast, making lunch and left shoe finding panic. 9 a.m.: Forever late getting my oldest to school, we pull up in the bus loading zone in a tuck-and-roll situation. If it’s a weekday, then it’s time to drop the kids off at their dad’s house and get back home to get ready for school, answer emails and maybe shower. 11 a.m.: Throw the audiotape version of the book I was supposed to read before class today on the radio and continue to half listen and half mentally go over today’s to-do list. The daily hour and a half drives make for a quiet panic-induced ride to school when forgotten things that were on my to-do list suddenly reappear in my mind. I cross my fingers there will be a parking spot when I get there! 5 - 8:30 p.m.: It’s family time! Time to drive home, pick up the kids so my ex can go to work and make dinner. I’m not much of a
cook (sorry kids!) anything that comes in a box is my specialty! Dance parties, dinner, baths, and cartoons end our night. 9 p.m.: Time to work! More coffee and back in my office. Editing, deadlines, essay writing. I split my screen into the homework side and the editing side and bounce between the two all night while Netflix plays Gilmore Girls in the background for the 2329078398th time. 1 a.m. - 3 a.m.: finish work, crawl into bed and wait to do it all again the next day! Look, I know I’m not the first person to go back to school with a job and kids and I won’t be the last but, man, learning to juggle has not been a smooth ride! Things get lost in the shuffle all the time! But, I love it. I’m happier than I’ve been in years, this has been my favorite fall yet, I’m excited to wake up and do all that craziness! So, what I’m really saying is, if you have kids, work and school and want to grab coffee sometime in that elusive free time part of the calendar — I want to know you!
14 •
Opinion
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 OPINION EDITOR JADE HOSICK opinion@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Don Cherry “cancelled”
for problematic remarks
EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After a bigoted rant directed at new immigrants during “Coaches Corner” on Saturday night, Don Cherry aligned himself perfectly with the “O.K. Boomer” meme, and has
since been fired by Sportsnet. The Hockey Night in Canada host criticized immigrants in the Toronto area who he claimed did not honour Canada’s veterans, angrily stating, “You people … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that.” He continued by saying, “These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys
paid the biggest price.” Sportsnet’s response was swift and succinct, releasing a statement that wrapped up their distaste with his words pretty clearly, “Sports brings people together — it unites us, not divides us,” the statement from Bart Yabsley, Sportsnet president, said. “Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night’s broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down.” “During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for. Don is synonymous with hockey and has played an integral role in growing the game over the past 40 years. We would like to thank Don for his contributions to hockey and sports broadcasting in Canada.” The polarizing nature of this issue has already been debated across social media. The 85-year-old has established himself to many as a legendary Canadian sports icon, and people associate him with the passionate hockey culture that Canada is known for. Family friendly, zealous Don Cherry with his tacky, overthe-top matching suits and his bull terrier mascots named Blue — how could he possibly be fired when he was just “telling it like it is?” This idea that there is an all-consuming media-fueled crusade on political correctness — similar to the so-called “war” on Christmas — has become the forefront of arguments that are centred on people who say inappropriate, often racist things that end up resulting in consequences that people aren’t happy with. In this case, Cherry is on the receiving end of the backlash, and rightfully so. Just because some people have fond associations of him on Hockey Night in Canada when they were growing up or
HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK NEWS DIRECTOR
Don’t feel guilty for your pleasures BRIT KOVACS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
A lot of the things I enjoy in life may be things that the average person might find strange or weird. To fall asleep every night, I love listening to YouTube videos of people tapping on random items, also known as autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR. I don’t like listening to people eat, but other people do, and that’s okay. I also love the show 90 Day Fiancé, not only for the humour it brings but the genuine people on the show looking for love who may think finding someone abroad is the only option they have, yet being strong enough to realize they are being used for a green card and dumping their significant other on to the street. The problem with these things is that there is no problem at all, yet people feel ashamed to be linked to them and believe that indulging in these activities is a “guilty”
simply enjoy his sports commentary, shouldn’t overshadow the offensiveness of the comments he made or take away the problematic nature of them. Cherry’s remarks are indicative of a deeper problem that not-sothinly veils his intolerant opinions regarding immigrants and exposes his privileged ignorance. He could have easily generalized his comments and positioned this rant towards all people who don’t wear poppies on Remembrance Day, but he specifically singled out an entire minority group instead. While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that it’s important to respect and acknowledge the sacrifices veterans have made for our country and to value their service — I personally have family members who have fought for Canada, and my 93-year-old grandfather is a veteran himself. But the way to illicit the reaction Cherry supposedly wanted — to care more about our service men and women and to wear poppies in order to honour them — shouldn’t be done by targeting one demographic of people who have almost nothing to do with the issue he wanted to focus on. How on earth does he know that immigrants don’t wear poppies? How is he even able to identify who an immigrant may be, and more importantly, why does that matter to him? Instead of using the public platform he had to discuss the importance of Nov. 11, he chose to warp this into an entirely different argument and a meaningless one instead. Cherry has successfully fuelled the “us versus them” mentality, furthering the idea that this issue, and many others like it, rest solely on the shoulders of new Canadians. This also isn’t the first time that
the hockey host has made his prejudices publicly known. For someone who is revered by so many Canadians and is regarded as an icon, he has said his fair share of questionable things before. “It’s been a long time coming, several decades in the making, I would say,” said Ken Campbell, a senior writer with The Hockey News, on CTV’s Your Morning Tuesday. “This was not an isolated incident. It wasn’t a one-off transgression. It was a pattern of behaviour that we’ve seen over the past 25, 30 years.” His distasteful behaviour has been shrugged off by devoted NHL fans for years, and though the majority of his target demographic has been brawny Canadian men who sit at home drinking Budweiser — the sponsor of his show (who he has also criticized) — times are changing, and it’s no longer laughable to be the physical embodiment of “locker room talk.” Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP party, responded to Cherry’s latest blunder by saying, “Don Cherry, let me introduce you to ‘you people.’ My great grandfather, Hira Singh, who served in WW1 & WW2 under the British. All sorts of people have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Canada. Women, immigrants, LGBTQ2S Canadians, Indigenous people. There is no ‘you people.’ We’re all as Canadian as the next. We honour all who served. That’s what Canada is all about.” If you think this response and the removal of Cherry by Sportsnet is merely a series of whiny overdramatics rooted in sensitivity, then have fun watching reruns of “Coaches Corner” from 30 yearsago while the rest of the world progresses to a point of acceptance and tolerance.
pleasure. Personally, I believe you should never feel ashamed of something you enjoy or are passionate about. Take for example the boy band One Direction; at the ripe age of 14, I became obsessed with the band. Many people thought the boys weren’t talented, or that the band was stupid and their music was terrible. Their music isn’t terrible and they are very talented - their solo careers all speak for that. I don’t need to defend a band that has billions of streams and has made millions of dollars of CD’s and tours. Yet I feel the need to, but not anymore. Just because someone doesn’t like the same music as you doesn’t mean an artist is bad. I for one am not a fan of heavy metal music, but that doesn’t discredit that those artists or other people can’t enjoy their music, it just isn’t my cup of tea. Enjoying something shouldn’t be policed by other people because they have deemed it uncool. If a boy you like says that One Direction is a dumb band and their music sucks, he will need to be introduced to the song Stockholm Syndrome before you promptly
block his number. I also enjoy talking to myself in the car as if I’m on a podcast, I enjoy tea with too much milk in it, I enjoy holding my cat re-enacting The Lion King movies and I enjoy swearing every other word because frankly, they’re still just words. These things that may come across weird to other people are things I unapologetically enjoy because I have learned that living your life for other people will just make you extremely unhappy in the end. I will continue to listen to ASMR true crime stories to fall asleep and then retell the stories at work the next day because I thought it was interesting, but being told in ASMR is a lot less scary so I can still sleep afterwards. I will continue to blast One Direction on road trips because, quite frankly, I spent five years of my life dedicated to them, their music and will have every lyric engrained in my brain for the rest of my life because each and every song is a banger. The less I’ve felt guilty about liking things that are uncommon, the more happy I’ve become in my life and no approval from any person could feel better than that.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
OPINION • 15
Putting the brakes on bike lanes JADE HOSICK OPINION EDITOR
The summer of 2019 meant many changes for the Waterloo community — one of the biggest and most well known being the road changes that occurred. King Street from the intersection of Columbia and King to Bridgport Road used to be two car lanes, but during the summer months the City of Waterloo changed to make the road one lane with space between cars and bike lanes. Other bike lanes have also been added onto other major roads like Albert Street and University Avenue. The idea of having bike lanes around the universities is something that makes a lot of sense, but it does not come without faults, as a driver and a pedestrian, I think I can speak to the things that I see on a daily basis travelling around Waterloo. Since the changes on King Street have occurred, new and old drivers might not have noticed them, I know it took me by surprise when I got back after summer. There is not a time where I am stopped at the lights at the intersection at King and University where a car is not parked in between the lanes because they are
unaware of the changes. This then gets messy when the lights change and both vehicles that were stopped side by side try to go through the intersection. This is something I see as rather dangerous — if both cars do not notice each other, than an accident is bound to happen. Within the last month, the City of Waterloo has also been adding other objects to block cars from being able to pull into the bike lanes. On Albert, we see the addition of empty flower beds. On Columbia, there are poles with the city’s logo on it, and on King Street and University, we see the addition of curbs to separate the lanes. I see these barricades being an issue for two major reasons: one being just something that annoys me and the other being more legitimate. With the addition of these mechanisms, it makes it more difficult to do right-hand turns, especially on one-way streets. Let’s use the intersection of Albert and University as an example. The road is one lane for its majority – at this intersection it does have a designated left-turn lane with the normal lane allowing for cars to continue going straight or turn right. Since cars are not able to move closer to the right curb when turning and we live in a city where people are always walking, a traffic
SIDNEY MACDONALD/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
jam is caused as no one is able to get through the lights with great timing. The other thing that these dividers do is make it more difficult for people to pull over for emergency vehicles. Again, using Albert as an example, there is literally no room for any car on either side to move slightly over to let emergency vehicles through. And if there is an accident, I see that this is likely to become more difficult. Also now that the first snowfall has happened, I’ve felt the more unsafe driving in Waterloo than ever before. Just yesterday I was in the right lane on University Avenue and one
EMMA MCVICAR STAFF WRITER
Is Social Justice a trend? JAMIE MERE/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Coming off the recent election high, it seems that the internet has died down completely almost overnight. Facebook has quickly returned from videos of political candidates, their policies and smears to dog videos and memes about Christmas. Where did all of the social and political stuff go? It’s easy to think that these issues go away right after we discuss them because once “breaking-news” breaks, there’s only so long it can stick around before somebody mops it up and we’re waiting for more to spill. But even after they fall out of fashion, these issues still exist all around us, continuing to move and grow in dynamic ways. The Brock Press notes in the article, “Is Social justice Trendy?”, “Social Justice is trendy if you’re posting about it on social media or sporting some sort of clothing label that ‘gives back.’ People don’t want to participate in a Social justice event if they don’t get the credit for it – pics or it didn’t happen.” Something that makes this statement ring true for me is climate change.Over 7.6 million people participated in climate strike week from Sept. 20 - 27 to encourage awareness of sustainability mea-
of the cars in the left lane was going faster than me and was halfway in my lane. Without the barricades, I would have just shifted slightly into the bike lane (since its a snow storm and I didn’t believe many people would have been biking), instead I thought I was either going to get sideswiped by a minivan or crashing into the barricades. It's dangerous to have these mechanisms right now, as people still are not used to them and it's now snowing, which causes people to become worse drivers. It’s not only cars that I see having an issue with the new lanes and such — as I routinely see bikes using the sidewalk as their lane since
they know that cars are not used to the new changes or do not know about them, leaving the bikers to be vulnerable to accidents. I know that this plan is something that Waterloo wanted to implement a while ago, and I’m not saying that it was a horrible idea. I believe that a better design would have helped to improve the issues I see. Also, I understand that these changes occurred during the summer when a lot of the students were not in Waterloo, but there should be more of a focus on letting the community know that there are changes being made, so student drivers are made more aware.
sures and voice their displeasure about the level of effort being made towards global warming. That’s awesome and all, but the odds are that when all of those people went home that day, they opened up social media, posted a couple things about the event, liked, commented and carried on with their day. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course. Just because you’re an advocate for something doesn’t mean it needs to consume your life. But it’s strange to me that a big, boisterous rallies are portrayed as the most effective way of getting your point across when it comes to larger issues. Ironically, I think protests can actually work against the long-term results we want because they’re so focused on intense bursts of energy rather than a consistent expenditure of effort. While partaking in a protest makes us feel good, we tend to ride this dopamine high all the way to the next protest, instead of implementing small actions into our everyday lives that may not be as visible or rewarding but make an exceptionally stronger impact. For example, have you heard of grey water? Most people haven’t. It’s the water leftover from your shower or bath, dirty dishes and laundry. It’s not fresh, but it’s not really dirty enough to have to be drained and sent away to a chemical plant and be cleaned only to end up back where it started. It also happens to be one of the easiest
ways to implement sustainability into your life. Two litres of clean water gets sent away to be chemically treated with each flush. Imagine you flush five times a day. 10 litres daily. That’s more than some people live on for a week. You’re using 3650 litres of clean water each year to flush your toilet. Now imagine each of those 7 million people who participated in climate strike week do the same as you. 10 litres per person per day adds up to 70 million litres daily and 25.55 litres yearly of clean water using energy to be sent away and treated with harmful chemicals. About a year ago, my family started using only non-toxic soaps and washes so we could save the water from our showers. We kept it in empty construction buckets and used large pitchers to lift water from there into the toilet. Flush, no new water used. 18,250 litres a year saved. It seems so simple, and yet I’ll ask you, how many climate change activists do you know that actually do this? Nobody wants to sacrifice the daily effort for the great change it amounts to over time. If we want to see real change, we simply cannot be concerned for the few days that protests are going on or that an issue is in the news. We need to stay informed and ensure that whatever big actions we’re trying to advocate, we’re willing to do the small, yet mighty actions that nobody will see but everyone will feel the impact of.
16 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca
HOCKEY
Men’s team split weekend games against rivals
DARIEN FUNK/PHOTO EDITOR
JOSEPH DEFILIPPIS STAFF WRITER
After starting the regular season with five straight losses. For the second straight year, the mood surrounding Laurier’s men’s hockey team was beginning to look grim. If the team wanted to salvage a successful season, they needed a turnaround to happen fast. After winning two of their last four games, including two impressive victories on the road against McGill and at home against Guelph, the Golden Hawks were looking to continue their success with two pivotal weekend games against two of the teams’ biggest rivals. In game one of the weekend, the Golden Hawks traveled down University Ave, to meet the Waterloo
Warriors in front of a packed crowd for another Battle of Waterloo. After losing 6-3 the week prior, Laurier was looking for redemption in their second matchup. Backed by a strong special teams’ performance, that saw the Golden Hawks convert on two of their four power-plays, while being perfect on the penalty kill, Laurier was able to knock off Waterloo by a score of 3-1. The goals came from veterans Danny Hanlon and Captain Will Cook, as well as second-year winger Ethan Wiseman. Wiseman scored his team high sixth goal of the season and continued his hot-streak as he has now scored in four of the past six games for the Hawks and has already doubled his goal total from last season. The following evening, Laurier was looking to keep their momen-
tum going as Western came into town. With early first period goals from the team’s leading scorer, Anthony Conti, as well as fourth year player Lucas Batt, the Golden Hawks were up by two halfway through the first period and looked poised to sweep their set of weekend games. However, Western responded strongly in the second period, capitalizing on some Laurier mistakes to pull ahead. In what was a disastrous start to the second period for Laurier, the Mustangs were able to score three unanswered goals in a span of 4:28 seconds to get Western on the board and in the lead 3-2. Despite battling back hard in the third and tying the game on a Kyle Jenkins one-timer Western proved to be just too much for Laurier to handle.
As a minute after Jenkins tied it up for Laurier, Mustang forward Alex Turko capitalized off of a Laurier mistake and put the Mustangs back in the lead for good, as they left Waterloo victorious with a 6-3 win. Coach Greg Puhalski, was upset about the uncharacteristic and self-inflicted errors that his team had made. “Two of the first five goals were directly off turnovers,” said head coach Greg Puhalski. “We’ve got to clean that up, that’s something that we talk about. Turnovers in hockey are real important, and we proved it.” Another one of the big stories of the weekend for the Golden Hawks, was rookie goaltender Matt Williams, who was given back to back starts, something that is often uncommon to see. Williams played one of his best games as a Golden Hawk on Friday night in the win against Waterloo as he stopped 30 of 31 shots. “I think for us it was just trying to give him a chance,” said Puhalski. “Just see how he can perform and try to get some momentum in his game.” “We’re just trying to get one of our goaltenders to get some consistency in their game and maybe roll with them a little bit,” mentioned Puhalski. “To this point in the season, neither has really been able to grab the #1 position.” Williams, who came to Laurier with previous experience in the QMJHL and Junior A, managed to turn aside 64 of the 70 shots he faced on the weekend, moving his save percentage on the year to .918. It will be interesting to see whether Williams’ performance so far has shown the coaching staff enough for them to roll with him
going forward, or if Puhalski will continue to split the reps between both Williams and second-year goalie Tyler Fassl.
To this point in the season, neither [of our goalies] has really been able to grab that number one position.
-Greg Puhalski, men’s hockey head coach
Following the weeknd split, Laurier currently holds a record of 3-6-2, placing them 10th in the OUA West. With only the top 8 teams in the conference making the playoffs, Laurier needs to continue to string together some solid play to ensure that the team can keep playing come spring. The next test for the Golden Hawks will come this weekend, when the team faces off against two of the top teams in the OUA. Hosting the nationally ranked Brock Badgers on Thursday night, before travelling to Windsor the next night to to play the Lancers. This will be the second matchup against Brock this season, as the Hawks lost in St. Catherines a few weeks ago. The Golden Hawks have yet to play the Lancers this year, with the last matchup between the two teams dating back to early January of this year.
CROSS COUNTRY
Laurie(r) caps off remarkable season at nationals MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR
This past Saturday at the USPORTS Championship in Kingston, Lizzy Laurie and the Laurier Golden Hawks women’s cross country team ran remarkably well to cap off one of their best seasons in program history. The fourth-year communications major Lizzy Laurie, has been making history for the Golden Hawks all year and she continued that trend this past Saturday. Laurie finished 12th place at the national championships, posting a time of 29 minutes and eight seconds. The 12th place finish for Laurie, was the best individual finish ever for a Laurier runner, surpassing the previous best 22nd place finish by Bettina Boucher in 2017.
The Kitchener, native not only earned the best individual finish for a Golden Hawk runner, but she is also the first Laurier runner to be named to an All-Canadian team. As she narrowly missed out on the top ten, Laurie earned second team all-Canadian honours, in addition to being named an OUA all-star. For the performance, Lizzy Laurie was also named female player of the week once again, marking the fifth time in the past eight weeks that she has won that award. Although it is up for debate, Lizzy Laurie may have just completed the greatest individual season for a cross-country runner in program history. After a first place finish at the Bayfront Open a couple of weeks ago, Lizzy stated that she was
“shocked” and given the fact that this is her fourh and final year, she mentioned that she“wanted to go out with a bang” Laurie did just that, and a whole lot more, as she was even battling a lingering stress facture in her leg for the majoirty of the season. Sydney Pattison, who also had a great season and was named an OUA all-star with Laurie, had a strong performance Saturday, finishing in 25th place, about 22 seconds after Laurie crossed the line. Laurie and Pattison’s results give the Golden Hawks, two runners in the top 25 nationally and contributed greatly to the overall team performance. A team which will finish in 17th place in the standings, their best result since the 2010 nationals.
FILE GRAPHIC/ALAN LI