November 4, 2015

ARTS & LIFE

CAMPUS

NIGHT\SHIFT covers K-W on Halloween

FEATURES

OPINION

SPORTS

No one is fighting for the things we want.

School has been really fun but these better not be the best days of my life.

Contract staff look for new representation

Is our expectation of university a reality?

page 11

page 3

Ready set ‘Mo

page 8-9

THE CORD

En route to the Final Four page 16

page 13

THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 56 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 4, 2015

NEXT STOP: WESTERN. Hawks stun McMaster to advance to the OUA semifinals for the first time since 2010 page 15

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR

See what’s new

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133 Weber St. N., Waterloo • 519-746-4983 www.shoes22.ca

2 •

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

VOCAL CORD What is the purpose of Movember?

@cordnews

The Cord

CordNews

@cordwlusp

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“To raise money for cancer.”

–Emma Nower, fourthyear languages

SHELBY BLACKLEY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fifth-year Emily Brown celebrates with her women’s soccer teammates after she scored the game-winning goal in Sunday’s quarter-final playoff game.

“I don’t know what that is.”

Bag O’ Crime

–Stanley Xie, first-year business and math

Location: Off Campus Reported: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 @ 10:01 a.m.

A female student complained about having been sexually harassed on Marshall Street by a local taxi driver in the early morning hours on Saturday, October 24. The matter is being investigated by WRPS.

“Growing your moustache for men’s cancer.”

Location: Fred Nichols Campus Centre Reported: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 @ 4:12 p.m.

SCS is investigating the theft of an advertising sign for ‘Smokes Poutine,’ property of Food Services, that had been on display at the main entrance to the FNCC. CCTV camera footage will be reviewed for possible suspect(s).

–Jack Moore, first-year communications

“To raise awareness for prostate cancer.”

–Nick Gauld, fourth-year global studies

WORK YOUR DEGREE WITH A POSTGRAD Our postgraduate certificates help you accelerate your career by providing specialized training that builds on your previous degree or diploma combined with the opportunity to gain practical experience taking on real-world challenges.

“To raise awareness around men’s health and the stigma around it.”

business.humber.ca/postgrad

–Ummesala Potia, firstyear biotechnology and biochemistry

NOVEMBER 11, 2015

CORD STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shelby Blackley sblackley@thecord.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lena Yang lyang@thecord.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joshua Awolade jawolade@thecord.ca MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Mynt Marsellus mmarsellus@thecord.ca

CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin kseverin@thecord.ca

Location: 209 Regina St. Reported: Sunday, November 1, 2015 @ 1:33 a.m.

SCS investigated a report of property damage at 209 Regina Street. The damage consisted of a window pane in the common area of the building which had been struck by an unknown person/object. There are no suspects.

Location: Euler Residence Reported: Sunday, November 1, 2015 @ 2:16 a.m.

SCS investigated a report of property

Compiled by Maddy Cutts Photos by Jessica Dik NEXT ISSUE:

Location: Bricker Academic Reported: Saturday, October 31, 2015 @ 3:39 p.m.

SCS investigated a report of property damage in classroom BA202 in the Bricker Academic building. A ceiling mounted projector unit had been damaged after it is believed that someone attempted to hang off the unit. No suspects have been identified.

GRAPHICS EDITOR Vacant

LOCAL NEWS EDITOR Erika Ymana eymana@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Andreas Patsiaouros apatsiaouros@thecord. ca

FEATURES EDITOR Bethany Bowles bbowles@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Will Huang whuang@thecord.ca

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Zach Guitor zguitor@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Brian Phillips bphillips@thecord.ca

OPINION EDITOR Mitchell Consky mconsky@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Maddy Cutts mcutts@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Drew Yates dyates@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Dik jdik@thecord.ca

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Caitlyn Sageman csageman@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Kira Gelbard kgelbard@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS Efa Abraham Kamil Ahmed Paige Bush Max Chamberlain Ryan Culley Killian Cuppage Alex Dulanovic Marissa Evans Nicole Gatchene Bailey Gembom Serena Gill Fani Hsieh Safina Husein Faraz Iftekharuddin Brigitte Kloss Heather McLeod Nabiha Noorani Christian Paron Fatima Soomro Caroline Spicer Bryan Stephens Elizabeth Zmijak

EDITOR’S CHOICE: The search for a voice by Maddy Cutts

EDITOR’S CHOICE ONLINE: Holiday films before the holidays by Mynt Marsellus

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Schummer at care.schummer@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 6,000 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.

damage at Euler residence. The damage consisted of a window pane on an exterior door (north west side of the building) which had been struck by an unknown person/object. There are no suspects.

Location: Off Campus Reported: Sunday, November 1, 2015 @ 9:30 a.m.

SCS were notified by UW Police of a sexual assault involving three Laurier female students. One of the three females had been sexually assaulted by a UW student while walking in the area of Westmount Road and University Avenue.

The suspect was arrested by UW Police and the investigation has been turned over to the WRPS Major Case Unit.

Location: 59 Bricker Ave. SCS assisted WRPS with a break and enter investigation at 59 Bricker Avenue. At 2:29 a.m., a female Laurier student residing at the property was awoken to an unidentified male within her residence room. The suspect took the females laptop and fled the scene on foot. There are currently no suspects.

Suspect descriptors: Male, brown skinned, beard, wearing a red baseball cap and a black sweater.

Location: Waterloo College Hall Reported: Sunday, November 1, 2015 @ 2:45 p.m.

SCS attended Waterloo College Hall residence to investigate several occurrences of graffiti written on the exterior of bedroom doors throughout the residence. In all incidents the graffiti was written in black marker consisting of homophobic remarks and one or two random words. There are no suspects in this incident.

PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy.

The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff.

The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Cord has an obligation to foster

freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body.

The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.

Quote of the week: “You look like a retired magician.”

- Arts & Life Editor Zach Guitor about Photo Editor Andreas Patsiaouros’ “attempt” at growing facial hair

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Campus

• 3 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN kseverin@thecord.ca

UNIONS

The search for a voice Contract academic staff feel a sense of underrepresentation from WLUFA MADDY CUTTS LEAD REPORTER

Select members of Wilfrid Laurier University’s contract academic staff have put steps towards establishing for themselves a new union.

Laurier’s current union for academic staff differs from most other institutions, in that tenured faculty and CAS are being represented by a single entity, the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association.

WLUFA is responsible for representing both parties in bargaining negotiations with the university, a task which can be complicated by the occasional contradictory goals of either party.

This sense of underrepresentation has led a group of CAS to look at what has transpired at other universities, prompting them to contact the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the group responsible for representing CAS at a number of other post-secondary institutions.

“We just need a voice, just as the Students’ Union is a student voice, we need a contract voice because we get lost within a large union,” said Nelson Joannette, CAS at both Laurier campuses. “Because we are a minority we get lost within our union, and no one is fighting for the things we want.”

“Because we are a minority we get lost within our union, and no one is fighting for the things we want.”

-Nelson Joannette, contract academic staff

Teaching faculty are divided into two categories; tenure and tenure track faculty, who have guaranteed job security, and contract academic staff.

Contract academic staff, or CAS, work on a term-by-term basis, requiring application for each course they wish to teach and being reimbursed on a by-course basis.

“We have to apply for every course we teach. We have to sell ourselves,” said Helen Ramirez, contract academic staff at both Waterloo and Brantford campuses. “So we’re always concerned about how we’re going to pay our bills.”

As a result, WLUFA can find themselves negotiating for something that may not benefit one party, but benefits the other.

“What that means is that it becomes a lot more tricky to negotiate

LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

collective agreements that includes everything that everybody wants,” said Michele Kramer, contract academic staff and president of WLUFA. “So there are occasions where unfortunately the protection of one group means that the other group feels as though they’re not getting what they want and vice-versa.”

The issue of bargaining is further compounded in that contract academic staff hold significantly less negotiating power in comparison to their tenured colleagues, leaving many feeling as if their union is not properly representing them.

Supporters of a move towards an agreement with CUPE have arranged for a caucus in August for CAS to vote on whether or not to remain with WLUFA, providing them with the coming year to spread their message

and garner support.

While many see a new collective agreement under CUPE as an opportunity for CAS to negotiate a fair agreement, Kramer warns that leaving WLUFA would have some potential consequences for CAS at Laurier.

“In order to negotiate, what will happen, if this occurs, is that current contract faculty will have to give up their current agreement, and they will have a point in time where they have no collective agreement at all.”

Aware of the discontent with representation, WLUFA understands the need to change the way in which parties hold bargaining power at Laurier.

“The union is going through a process of trying to make changes to the association’s constitution to see

if there are better ways to have all of our members represented,” said Kramer.

“I think that there could be changes that could help to make a lot more contract faculty more comfortable with the way they’re represented with the union.”

Despite the risks, a select group of CAS feel the need to step away from the status quo and attempt to forge for themselves a better path.

“We also recognize that sometimes it is important to forge a road, a more singular road, where you can have everybody involved,” said Ramirez.

“We want people to understand that there are other choices for them in terms of learning how to push their needs for a more secure work life forward.”

GROWTH

Developing the future of Laurier

Laurier’s campus master plan addresses the challenge of adapting old buildings on campus KAITLYN SEVERIN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

Students at Wilfrid Laurier University may be surprised to know the school has created a campus master plan, a way to plan goals for the future of buildings and resources on both the Brantford and Waterloo campuses.

“The campus master plan sort of outlines a roadmap for the institution on both campuses to guide its development over a five, 10, 15 or 25-year horizon,” said Gary Nower, assistant vice-president of Laurier’s physical resources.

Created in 2008, the master plan was made through a collaborative process involving a range of stakeholders and interest groups under the leadership of Nower and Jim Butler, vice-president of finance and administration.

“[The plan] outlines a roadmap for the institution on both campuses to guide its developments over a five, 10, 15, 25-year horizon.”

-Gary Nower, assistant-vice president of physical resources

“[The plan] kind of triggered some speculation on the part of developers.”

-Gary Nower, assistant-vice president of physical resources

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR

The campus master plan wants to transform King Street into a gateway for both campus and downtown core.

The Waterloo campus master plan will address the challenge of adapting already existing buildings on campus lands. Nower explained the master plan tries to meet Laurier’s academic program requirements, residences and the replacing of old buildings to reach Laurier’s goals as an institution.

“It’s a nice mix between the physical aspects of developing the campus and integrating those with the

academic and student life aspects of the university.”

One plan for the Waterloo campus includes a contemporary approach to parking and transportation, the main focus being on alternatives modes of travel, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The plan also hopes to establish new residential villages, which aims to maintain a supply of 1,300 beds within new and existing buildings

while expanding the number of residence students.

The new residence buildings will be gathered on the main campus, the east side near King Street Residence, and the west side of campus near the old, unused Laurier Place Residences.

Another initiative of the master plan is transforming King Street to act as a gateway to both the university and to Waterloo’s downtown

core. Plans include wider sidewalks and improving signage, which are in the works.

The last time the master plan was updated was over a year ago, but according to Nower, changes made to the plan weren’t released to the public and were kept confidential.

“What we found is we released the first master plan and we shared that broadly, and it kind of triggered some speculation on the part of developers,” he said.

“The latest iteration is a confidential working document that we have, but as you can imagine there’s not much different or change about it, it’s just we didn’t want it out there in the public.”

The master plan will be reviewed and updated on a three to five-year cycle, depending on the extent of change in environment at Laurier.

4 • CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

RESEARCH

Evaluating decisions for graduate school

SUSTAINABILITY

Depending on a students’ career and goal, graduate school may not be necessary for everyone at Laurier NICOLE GATCHENE STAFF WRITER

For students at Wilfrid Laurier University, deciding whether or not to go to graduate school is a serious decision which requires research and self-reflection.

“If you’re really passionate about a subject, I recommend that people think about it but acknowledging that it takes time, it’s very intense, it takes money,” said Joan Norris, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies.

Norris noted it’s important to recognize that graduate school is not for everyone.

Some careers may require from internships, volunteer positions and work experience rather than another piece of paper.

“Depending on what your career goal is … it might not necessarily be needed for what you want to do,” said Katherine St. Louis, manager of career resources and operations at the Career Centre.

“If you can’t think of anything else to do, it’s not a good reason to go to grad school because it’s an intense experience and if you’re not really

“Depending on what your career goal is ... it might not necessarily be needed for what you want to do.”

-Katherine St. Louis, manager of career resources and operations at the Career Centre

enthused to start, I can guarantee you’re not going to be enthused halfway through,” said Norris.

On the other side, Norris said there are also many reasons why students should consider graduate school.

Passion and looking for promotion opportunities are among the reasons education after an undergraduate may be worth it.

“The main reason [to go] is because you have the passion in something,” Norris said.

Statistics Canada reported salaries for 2010 Ontario graduates working full-time three years after they graduated from a post-secondary institution.

Those with only bachelor degrees had annual median incomes of $54,000 compared to those who had master’s degrees who earned $70,000 annually.

“It’s going to take up a lot of your time, but I would also say it’s 100 per cent worth it in terms of the skills that you develop but also the people that you meet,” said Caitlin Mulroney, a student in the master’s of history program at Laurier.

Both Norris and St. Louis emphasized that graduate school is a very individual decision and there is no “rule” of who should or shouldn’t pursue graduate studies.

Of all 2014 Laurier graduates, 40 per cent pursued further education within a year of completing their bachelor’s degree, said St. Louis.

A survey of Laurier graduates in 2014 divided students by faculty where science students ranked the highest at 62.6 per cent and business students the lowest at 11.3 per cent

“The main reason [to go] is because you have a passion in something.”

-Joan Norris, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies

when pursuing a post-graduate degree.

Music and arts were in the middle with 58.9 per cent and 45.6 per cent respectively.

“For a lot of the fields that [science students are] looking for jobs in, they need that graduate degree to get there … for a lot of business type roles, the [business] undergraduate degree is going to give you the information, the field knowledge that you need for those jobs,” St. Louis explained.

Students interested in graduate studies can strengthen their applications by researching desired programs and getting quality reference letters from professors, as well as out of the classroom experience to find out what passions they have.

Letters of reference from professors are “very important,” said S. Louis, and it’s important to keep good relationships that are going to help.

“All that research that you’ve done helps you to take that research combined with your own experiences and interests and put forth a really strong letter of intent,” St. Louis explained.

SERENA GILL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Sustainability Office developed two initiatives in 2015 including CABS.

Award given for sustainability Laurier awarded with a silver rating KAITLYN SEVERIN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

Wilfrid Laurier University has been awarded a silver rating in the 2015 Sustainable Campus Index for their work in sustainability and governance. The award, given to the university by Associations of Advancement of Sustainability and Higher Education (AASHE) and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), assesses how post-secondary institutions are doing over time in sustainability.

Claire Bennett, manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office, says this is the highest rating the university’s Sustainability Office has received.

“This is our highest rating so far.

We started with a bronze rating [and] three years later we moved up to silver, but that was with a way more rigorous framework,” she said.

According to Bennett, Laurier ranked in the 100th percentile for the corporation and planning category.

They were also recognized as a “rising star” for their improvements from their previous STARS assessment in 2010.

“That’s exciting because it shows that not only [do] we have good strategy for planning, we’re also engaging members of the community in the process.”

Since receiving the STARS award,

“We have good strategy for planning, we’re also engaging members of the community in the process.”

-Claire Bennett, manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office

Laurier has received international recognition from other universities who are participating in the assessment.

“It’s really great recognition for us because it’s not just against Ontario partners, this is an international framework so it kind of helps put Laurier on the map,” said Bennett.

Bennett noted that part of the recognition comes from having the Laurier Sustainability Action Plan

— a document which provides guidance for supporting sustainability practices over the next five years on campus.

“Part of the recognition that we got from having a Laurier Sustainability Action Plan is that’s what’s really going to guide you in order to implement projects.”

Along with the silver rating,

“A lot of students don’t have cars and we’re trying to promote more of a multi-mobile way of getting around.”

-Claire Bennett, manager of Laurier’s Sustainability Office

Laurier’s Sustainability Office has launched two initiatives to demonstrate their continuing dedication to sustainability efforts, the first being the Community Access Bikeshare.

“There’s already stations around Waterloo Region, which makes it so useful so we have a station here on the Laurier campus and we’re the first university in the Waterloo Region to get one,” said Bennett.

Presently, two bike stations are located in uptown Waterloo and several others in the Kitchener region. Students can access CABS memberships at these stations for $40 per year.

“A lot of students don’t have cars and we’re trying to promote more of a multi-mobile way of getting around not just depending on the car considering we’re an urban network.”

Their new initiative with Laurier Entrepreneurship, the Sustainable Hawk Fund, is a way for students to implement their sustainable project ideas that will benefit the Laurier community.

The Sustainability Office is providing $20,000 for funding. “[The fund covers] all areas of sustainability, not just environmental sustainability but also on the social side, which is a little less tangible so we really want to promote ideas in social sustainability so that’s ideas related to human rights, social justice, diversity, equity, those sorts of issues.”

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Local

• 5 LOCAL NEWS EDITOR ERIKA YMANA eymana@thecord.ca

STARTUPS

Cultivating your own business FANI HSIEH/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Staff Writer Marissa Evans spoke to Communitech and Waterloo Region Small Business Centre to discuss the elements behind a successful startup business and additional advice for students The word startup gets thrown around a lot in Kitchener-Waterloo. But what does it actually take to start a startup?

We talked to representatives from Communitech and the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre to get a glimpse into the world of startups.

Rob Clement, small business advisor at the Small Business Centre, and Angela Larraguibel, director of startup services group at Communitech, talked about their experiences working with individuals breaking into the industry.

What are Communitech and Waterloo Region Small Business Centre?

Communitech is a not-for-profit innovation centre that supports tech companies located in Waterloo Region.

In terms of their offerings for startups, they provide two years of service at no charge. During this time you will be assigned a lead advisor who will liaison and advocate on your behalf.

After this time, if your venture displays growth, they will consider giving you another year of free assistance. You can also pay a membership fee of $300 for companies with one to five employees.

They also offer educational programs, such as Business Fundamentals, which is a six-part series that acquaints individuals with entrepreneurship. They also run networking events and provide human resource consultation.

The Small Business Centre is a primarily government-funded organization dedicated to assisting entrepreneurship in all industries and at all levels.

This means they support individuals who are in the first stages of investigation, who perhaps don’t even have an idea yet, but know they want to get into entrepreneurship, as well as existing businesses who want to expand.

What are some first steps?

According to Clement, the process of starting a business begins with identifying some needs in the community and what your own skills and interests are.

The idea for the startup will emerge out of the intersection of these.

“Come into the centre and we’ll sit down and talk to you about the things that excite you, the things that are interesting to you, the things that get your creativity and your passion flowing,” he said. “And then look at what sorts of things you can offer the community at large to capitalize on those particular passions and that particular mindset.”

Is there a set process?

Both Clement and Larraguibel noted the development of a startup is differently paced for everyone.

Individuals come from all walks of life — some are working on their business while still working full time or are in school, while others are able to devote a vast amount of time to their project.

Regardless, Larraguibel said they start everyone with an orientation session before working through a lean business model canvas.

This is a one page business plan that’s meant to help individuals easily identify where the gaps are in their idea. They also encourage their clients to attend the Business Fundamentals series.

“We always describe it as a gym membership model, so the more you put into it the more you’re going to get out of it,” she said.

Clement continued that the process and length of time this takes

“If you’re looking to get into it, slow growth, organic growth is always the way you want to do it.”

-Rob Clement, small business advisor at the Small Business Centre

depends on what the business idea is.

Where planning, viability and market testing all come into play for all startups, that’s really where the similarities end.

“Some people can jump in and do a quick business model canvas and then do a quick launch with some viability studies and evolve the business based on customer feedback,” he said.

“Other people require more in-

depth resources in the beginning and then they’d look at putting together more of a formal business plan, possibly looking for bank financing, that sort of thing.”

What credentials do you need?

According to Clement and Larraguibel, formal business training isn’t necessary to get your startup going.

“I would say the majority of the people we encounter have a pretty strong academic background and usually a very strong technical background, but perhaps not so strong on the business side of things,” Larraguibel explained.

Clement said there are generally two groups of people who approach the Centre.

One has a particular passion they want to provide the community with, the other sees a problem that they want to solve.

They come to the centre, though, because they’re inexperienced in the business world.

How much money do you need?

It depends on what your idea is.

From a tech perspective, Larraguibel said it depends on elements such as whether the startup requires software or hardware or how crowded the marketspace is.

Clement echoed this, explaining that it depends on what you want to do with your business.

Smaller businesses might need more money in the beginning to get it off the ground, whereas scale-up startups can be developed on a smaller budget, but will eventually require more investment.

What are some difficulties people are met with?

From Clement’s perspective, some of the problems people have with startups arise from their lack of business experience.

“A lot of times they get into it where there’s a situation that the business has to work, or there’s no room for failure,” he explained.

“And that can really tie yourself to something. If you’re looking to get into it, slow growth, organic growth is always the way you want to do it.

Forcing the issue can be really difficult.”

He highlighted the importance of being willing to take the longer route.

The shoestring method, as he

called it, involves individuals recognizing they don’t have enough money to launch their startup, but going through with it anyways.

While a lean model involves using your money to do smaller things successfully and using these experiences as learning opportunities that can then be leveraged later on. This method, he said, is much more successful.

“The entrepreneurs that come to us, they’re really driven and passionate individuals.”

-Angela Larraguibel, director of startup services group at Communitech

For Larraguibel, validation is key for individuals who have an idea for a startup. This means going out and talking to potential customers about their needs and desires.

“The entrepreneurs that come to us, they’re really driven and passionate individuals,” she said.

“And that’s a really admirable quality, but you have to temper that with reality in that there has to be a good fit for it in the marketplace.”

Opportunities for students The Small Business Centre offers two programs that are specific to students who are interested in trying their hand at entrepreneurship.

The Summer Company program provides post-secondary students with financing, training and mentoring to assist them with running their own business for a minimum of 12 weeks in the summer.

They’re given money at the start of the summer to invest in their business, money at the end of the summer to compensate for the possibility that the business didn’t do well, and they’re able to keep all the money they earn.

“At the end of the day, the worst case scenario is you get 12 weeks of business experience and you’ve discovered whether this is something that excites you and is interesting to you or not,” Clement said.

The Starter Company program is for post-secondary graduates

who want to launch their business full-time. The program also provides individuals with training, mentoring, and a $5,000 grant.

Other advice If you’re interested in starting a startup, Larraguibel recommended attending events like Startup Weekend Waterloo Region, hackathons and other networking events for entrepreneurs.

“All of those sorts of things — come out to them, get a flavour for what’s going on in the community and start having a discussion with people about their experience with it,” she said. “They’re going to learn a lot that way.”

She also advised individuals to familiarize themselves with the resources available in the Waterloo Region. Clement noted the goal is to help individuals be successful and so they’ll quite often refer individuals to other resources that might better suit their needs.

He recommended keeping an open mind even when it comes to what your business plan might look like. Every business plan will look different.

“Take some time to think about what you want to accomplish in your business and build from there,” he said.

What other startup resources are available in K-W? • Waterloo Region Manufacturing Innovation Network • Laurier Entrepreneur • Velocity • Accelerator Centre • Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

WANT MORE CONTENT? CHECK OUT THECORD.CA

6 • AD

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

GAMES • 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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 BU283 Profs, How about instead of having to curve all your exams, you don’t rely on technology to do everything for you and actually give students marks for the work they do, not just their final answer.

Sincerely, CFO is bullshit Dear Life, While the waitress at Frat Burger meant well by telling me I can place a take out order as plain despite the sign that says “no modifications”, it becomes pointless when I receive my burger with all the stuff on it anyways.

Sincerely, Picky eater who is now too far away to go return it Dear PRISMRESOURCES, Why would you let your front desk attendant serve a customer while wearing ear phones?

Sincerely, I thought you pride yourselves in customer service

Dear Life, Hello, It’s me. I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet to go over everything. They say that time’s supposed to heal ya, but I ain’t done much healing.

Hello, can you hear me? I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be, when we were younger and free. I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet. There’s such a difference between us and a million miles.

Hello…

Sincerely, From the other side Dear Life, Our boy JT is getting sworn in today as Canada’s sexiest Prime Minister.

Sincerely, #WeeklyReminders Dear Life, Why do people think trashing someone’s house makes a party cooler?

Sincerely, You’re still a douchebag Dear Life, Why do I have to get inspired by the topic of my paper proposal 4 hours before its due. All I want to do is read the 6 books I just took out of the library but I have to write this proposal being like, “ideas are cool, I need to read more of them”.

Sincerely, Ti-i-ime is (not) on my side, yes it is!

than I already do.

If I’m reaching out to you it’s because I’m scared and need someone.

Sincerely, Relapsing Dear Relapsing, Don’t be scared. Depression can hurt, but you’re sick, not weak.

Sincerely, A concerned Cord editor Dear Life, I am destined to live in a wine cellar with a horde of cats Why don’t you like me?

Sincerely, Cat Lady Dear Canada, JT got sworn in today as PM, and we all swooned collectively Sincerely, #WeeklyReminders Dear Life, Got any gluten-free recipes for leftover inner turmoil?

Sincerely, Baguette me out of here

THERE’S PLENTY MORE ONLINE. thecord.ca

Dear Life, To all the gay guys out there who are in the closet… You’re missing out.

Sincerely, What’s good Dear Life, floorcest – it’s a way of life Sincerely, Your floor-mate

Dear Friends, Saying “you don’t have anything to be depressed or sad about, your life is great.” That’s like saying “what do you mean you have asthma? There’s so much air in here”.

Please don’t make me feel any worse

Sudoku HAVE ANY LEFT OVER BOTTLES FROM PARTIES?

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By Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

You don’t have to sit in school to stand among greatness. › Thomas Edison: Relentless Inventiveness Failure is no biggie. Just ask Edison. If he stopped at failure, he would never have moved on to invent a little thing called the light bulb. So if you’ve failed a class somewhere else, or have a scheduling conflict, come on over. You can catch up with our world-recognized online courses, then move on to bigger successes. Talk about a light bulb moment.

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8 •

FEATU

FEATURES EDITOR/BETHANY BOWLES/BBOWLES@THECORD.CA

MAKING THE (MO)ST OF MOVEMBER Features Editor Bethany Bowles and Campus News Editor Kaitlyn Severin explore the phenomenon that is Movember

“ “

MOVEMBER AT LAURIER In association with campus clubs and organizations such as Laurier Athletics and Bridging the Gap, Movember WLU will be hosting events to bring awareness to men’s health throughout the month of November around Wilfrid Laurier University.

Along with planning and hosting numerous events, Movember WLU’s organizers, Hary Shanmuganathan and Rutik Patel have booked the Laurier Concourse during the month for students to learn more and to donate whatever they can to the Movember campaign.

Because Movember is not just associated with prostate cancer, but also mental and physical health, Movember WLU will be collaborating with several other clubs on campus this month to raise both funds and awareness.

Their first event, the Open Mic Night at Wilf’s, was on November 2 with the Laurier Letterman club.

On November 4, Movember WLU will host a cycle-a-thon with Laurier Against Childhood Cancer in the concourse starting at 9 a.m.

Their next planned event, in association with Laurier Athletics, will be the Mental Health Education Group speaker panel on November 20.

“With the speaker panel and stuff we’re having athletics come in and talk about mental health, prostate cancer — it’s more of an awareness sort of thing,” said Patel.

“We still have a couple of events in the works right now, so we’re hoping to get a trivia night and we’re trying to reach out to the community as well, so we’re looking to possibly volunteer at hospitals in the area as well,” said Shanmuganathan.

The association will also be campaigning within Laurier residences where students and dons can receive prizes for promoting and taking part in Movember. In 2014, Laurier residences raised over $7,000 for the cause.

“All of it has been focusing a lot on the Laurier community, but also like branching out too, so getting local businesses involved, like Smoke’s Poutinerie … all these different businesses to just further the cause,” said Shanmuganathan.

“We’re hoping to branch a bit more on a social media presence [and hopefully] decide to do a social media challenge of some sort,” Patel explained.

This year, Shanmuganathan and Patel wanted to include all genders in their Movember campaign. Along with

IT’S NOT JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A CONVERSATION FOR ONE MONTH EVEN THOUGH THAT’S WHAT IT KIND OF SEEMS LIKE IT IS.

raising awareness for their cause, the pair promoted breast cancer awareness during the month of October.

“October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I don’t think most people know that and the last time anyone on campus has done anything for breast cancer awareness was in 2009.”

When November comes to an end, the two organizers hope students can have an awareness of Movember and what the cause is all about.

“A lot of people think after Movember you don’t really have to think about it anymore and people just think of it as a fade and stop, but it’s so much more,” said Shanmuganathan.

“It’s not just supposed to be a conversation for one month even though that’s what it kind of seems like it is.”

THE PURPOSE OF MOVEMBER IS TO RAISE BOTH FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR DISEASES AND ILLNESSES THAT AFFECT MEN.

THE HISTORY OF MO’ GROWIN’ Every fall, promptly after Halloween comes to an end and just as that icy frost makes its first appearance on car windshields, men shave their faces only to grow lavish facial hair as a part of Movember.

This trend has been taking over for the past several years and like most trends, its initial purpose seems to have been misplaced in a sea of beards and moustaches. Movember started in Australia and in less than 15 years, this phenomenon has spread globally.

The purpose of Movember is to raise both funds and awareness for diseases and illnesses that affect men. Since its birth in 2003, the Movember Foundation has raised $677 million and funded over 1,000 programs that focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for Canadian men overall, while testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian men ages 15-29.

By growing out one’s facial hair, the Movember Foundation hopes to turn moustaches into a “walking, talking billboard for men’s health.”

Participating in Movember takes a little more effort than just growing a gnarly beard. This is where the purpose of this challenge is sometimes misconstrued.

Many men will grow lavish facial hair for the month of November, just to go along with the trend. To actually participate in Movember, you must raise both funds and awareness about men’s health.

On the Movember Foundation’s website, you can sign up to participate and from there people can sponsor you online by searching your name and donating. You can also make a general donation to the Movember Foundation at any point during the year if you don’t have anyone to sponsor.

The Movember Foundation also has a free game in the app store that you can also download to make donations called Run Mo Run. While it is supposedly fun and addictive, it also allows you to make purchases that further you in the game.

These purchases support the Movember Foundation.

While Movember is fun and heavily marketed, it’s important not to lose sight as to why this movement is so important.

To find a cure or treatment to any disease or illness, the research being done must be heavily funded. Most of this funding is reliant on donations.

If you’re planning on sporting facial hair this November for the purpose of Movember, make sure you’re participating for the right reasons and in a way that supports the Movember Foundation’s vision. Trends will come and go, but supporting hard-working charities will never go out of style.

URES

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 • 9

THE LILAC LUMBERJACK

THE DELICATE FRENCHMAN

THE HARLEY DAVIDSON

This is only for the stylistically bold. Some men can’t handle the sexual attention that coincides with placing flowers in your beard, while others can’t handle the swarms of bees that will follow you around all day.

Simple yet stylish, this facial hair will pair perfectly with a buttered croissant, a black coffee and a used copy of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Everyone will expect you to quote poetry, and you will, flawlessly.

Motorcycle or not, this moustache will have everyone wondering why you aren’t wearing leather chaps.

Women will love you and men will fear you.

THE SINISTER SIDEBURNS

THE CAREFREE SCRUFF

Moustaches are so basic, so why not get more creative with this villainous look? Sure, people may think you’re completely bonkers, but at least you’ll stand out in a crowd.

Heaven forbid you put any ounce of effort into your appearance every morning, so instead you just let your face do its thing. You’re a low maintence guy; why spend time grooming yourself when you can be out there helping old women carry their groceries and rescue kittens from trees?

THE CURLY CUE This moustache puts the ‘hip’ in ‘hipster’ and rightfully so, because it looks so damn cool on your face.

People will know that you probably partied with Drake before he was famous and that your perfectly tailored jeans were a secondhand find at some cool consignment shop in Toronto.

THE URBAN COWBOY

THE GANDALF

THE PREPUBESCENT GO-GETTER

This moustache suggests that you can’t be defined by your surroundings. Sure, you can handle the hustle and bustle of city life, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find comfort in nature.

You’ve always been the best at growing facial hair.

Why not use Movember as another excuse to throw it in everyone’s face, yet again? It’s only been a week, yet your beard is so lush you could knit yourself a scarf out of it. It also provides warmth for these upcoming winter months.

Growing facial hair isn’t easy for every guy. Movember shouldn’t exclude these guys who can only grow three or four strands.

PHOTO BY WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR GRAPHICS BY LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

10 •

Arts & Life

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR ZACH GUITOR zguitor@thecord.ca

FILM

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF ‘BOND, JAMES BOND’ A retrospective look at 53 years of James Bond and a glance into the future of the British icon MYNT MARSELLUS MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Once you have 20 films in a series, you have developed institutional status even among those who have never seen any of the pictures.

“Bond, James Bond,” having martini shaken not stirred, the Aston Martin, the Walther PPK, Q’s gadgets, M’s parental placement: these are icons of Euro-North American culture and Bond himself is a legend.

Philippa Gates, a professor in the department of English and film studies has been a long-time fan of the series.

“I remember when the Eastern Bloc broke up my father said, ‘James Bond can’t exist without the Cold War,’” Gates said.

And yet the series kept going.

“I think what they managed to do with the Daniel Craig series is reinvent a genre that was disappearing.

The Roger Moore was too hokey and cheesy and campy — it didn’t really have relevance. Then you get to the Timothy Dalton era and it’s a British version of an American fantasy, and then Pierce Brosnan is kind of

the American version of a British fantasy,” Gates explained of the actors that have played Bond over the years.

“I remember when the Eastern Bloc broke up my father said ‘James bond can’t exist without the Cold War’” -Philippa Gates, professor in department of English and Film Studies

Craig’s Bond is different though.

Gates said it feels “real” because the novels are about a very “traumatized, damaged guy.” ”So Daniel Craig makes more sense, but then I think it really is just about him as a person now. Skyfall is all about his trauma, it’s not about national politics.”

In an informal survey of 56 ranked lists of the Bond films from the past few years from sources listed online, it’s abundantly clear the Bond series

means different things to different people. There are some trends that most fans fall into.

Connery and Craig are the most popular while on the whole, Moore and Brosnan are the least popular.

In the middle is Dalton who qualifies as the most divisive Bond. Some love his two films and compare his run to Craig’s while others see him as too serious after Moore. George Lazenby’s one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, used to be the most reviled film in the series but has seen a critical revival and now appears in the top five in most lists.

Die Another Day and A View to a Kill are by far the least popular while Goldfinger and Casino Royale rank in the top five 90 per cent of the time.

The most divisive film of the series is License to Kill, which ranks anywhere from the best to the worst in series’ history.

But when you go in and read the reasoning for the rankings, you get a more complicated picture. Some people are committed to the more jocular Bonds like Brosnan and Moore, enjoying the puns in their films and their light-hearted nature.

Those fans are generally quite negative on Dalton and Craig for being too dark and dour while the exact opposite is true for other fans — finding the puns and silliness to be the weak point of the series.

Connery is still universally beloved, but some are starting to see cracks in his films, especially given

Bond is so iconic that he is beyond canon, beyond continuity, he can truly do anything.

how he treats women. Goldfinger, still the fan favourite, and is starting to be known rightly as the only film where Bond rapes one of the Bond Girls. Modern trends in film style are also starting to affect the Connery films, with fast pacing being valued

more over the slower sequences found in Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.

But what unites all the fans of this series is that they are always looking forward to the next film, hoping to be exhilarated and entertained again.

Bond goes anywhere, does anything and can be all things. The continuity is really unimportant to Bond’s ability to last as a character because he’s already eclipsed more genres than one would expect for a British Spy. Bond is so iconic that he is beyond canon, beyond continuity, he can truly do anything.

That potential makes Bond fascinating to look at for the future. Will we see a Bond set in a different era?

Will we ever have a female Bond, or a gay Bond (we already have a potentially bisexual one)? Will we have a person of colour as Bond at some point (Idris Elba)? With development of film industries in Africa and East Asia, will we someday see a multinational Bond franchise?

Bond’s lasting power is a real force of culture and for fans of the series it keeps us excited for the next time we see him walk across the screen.

ARTS & LIFE • 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 FESTIVAL

NIGHT\SHIFT haunts the downtown

This past Halloween, Arts & Life Editor Zach Guitor explored the region’s best in experimental art

Attendees were invited to the alley behind Café Pyrus to try their hand at graffiti art

Onlookers were teleported to the roaring 1920s at the underground Gatsby lounge

You/I blended the soundscapes of the region to present an immersive electronic patchwork

THEMUSEUM was festival HQ, equipped with a monster mask station and live performances PHOTOS BY ZACH GUITOR/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

CONCERT

Alvvays a good time The Maritime indie darlings deliver a solid set at Starlight

BRYAN STEPHENS PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

Indie music can be a fickle thing.

With new bands coming to the spotlight every few months, some can get lost in the mix — regardless of the critical acclaim and hype they received the previous year. Alvvays fits this mold.

When their self-titled album was released in 2014, publications like Rolling Stone called it “sharply drawn indie-pop wonder, steeped in romance, wit and melody.” The band was even nominated for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize, a form of recognition bestowed to albums of the highest artistic integrity.

Alvvays once again brought their live show to Starlight on October 28 with openers Taylor Knox and Nap Eyes. The show as a whole was a comfortable time; it would be hard to argue that anyone walked away feeling disappointed.

Starting the evening off, Taylor Knox delivered a set that showed a lot of promise for the rising artist.

His stage presence relaxed, following the summery, guitar-oriented

grooves that dominated tightly-kept harmonies. Following the release of his first solo EP Lines back in March, the Canadian rock scene can expect big things from this artist.

If Knox got the ball rolling with his performance, Nap Eyes certainly left it feeling stagnant. This by no means indicates that the Halifax-based band had a poor performance. Their music was a mix of The Velvet Underground with some folk to mellow, which the crowd received warmly.

However the level of enthusiasm displayed by the band matched Starlight’s cobwebs that were up in the spirit of the upcoming weekend.

There was little to no interaction with the audience or any noticeable components to their set in which to get the crowd excited for the evening.

Overall, Nap Eyes was true to their name, putting people to bed like a lullaby drenched in long hair and jangly rock. One of the most memorable and fun components of Nap Eyes was the uncanny similarities their bass player had to 1994–era Dave Grohl.

Alvvays took to the stage and for the first time of the evening the audience finally started to show some excitement, offering a roaring cheer to welcome the band on stage. The strong applause also accompanied the ending of each song, a strong signal of the approval of the set.

Making their set something fresh and appealing was certainly one of the hurdles Alvvays faced.

With their only studio album consisting of nine songs, they had to rely on some stage antics and strong musicianship to keep the audience interested. The banter of front woman Molly Rankin between songs served as a way to help extend their set time.

One of the highlights from the night wasn’t from the band, but the venue. The quality of sound coming through their public address systems was crystal clear and in perfect equilibrium.

The treble, mid and bass were all balanced in tandem with one another that helped to highlight the smaller nuances in each band’s sound.

It was that quality of sound engineering that helps bring an enjoyable listening experience to performers and audiences alike.

For every time the evening seemed stagnant, there followed moments in which a performance would pick up. Although at times Nap Eyes was static in their sound, both them and Knox served as appropriate openers for Alvvays.

Mixed with the high quality sound delivered by Starlight, Alvvays was able to deliver a set that was anything but unsteady.

WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR

Frontwoman Molly Rankin’s undeniable stage charisma kept spirits high.

12 •

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca

An imminent birth of innovativeness in modern cinema The Godfather, The Wizard of Oz, Casino Royale, Harry Potter, The Wolf of Wall Street, Jurassic Park, Jaws, The Shining, American Psycho, The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, The Avengers. What do all these cinematic successes have in common?

They all came from some other form of storytelling; they have existed beyond the ‘magic’ of the silver screen. Whether through short stories, novels or comic books, countless iconic characters have won the hearts of fans everywhere often long before their cinematic debuts.

But why do some of the most appreciated movies often come from stories that have already been told?

Are moviemakers facing a lack of creativity? Is cinematic originality dying?

Marketability is an important factor. It is undoubtedly easier to promote a new movie with an old following than marketing an unrecognized project that could very well be a hit or miss. After all, movies are expensive, and people would rather not put their hard-earned money on the line for an unfamiliar story that can quite possibly be a twelve-dollar

disappointment.

Familiarity equals comfort and comfort equals fandom.

Since movies are more condensed, movie directors seek engaging worlds and complex characters that viewers can already appreciate before buying their ticket; they want characters that fans can easily commit to.

The industry may be telling old stories, but they are telling them in ways they have never been told before.

Cinema is carrying classic tales to new heights, exploring familiar worlds through new eyes, rocketing our imaginations in ways that would never be possible if not for the trust of characters and ideas that have already been long established.

Technological advancements have evolved to enhance the visual experience in ways that jump far beyond original forms of storytelling.

Great minds have thought up ways to further complicate iconic and wellknown characters.

The industry is not facing a death of originality, but a birth of innovation.

The overcrowded expectations of university parties Parties are meant to be a social environment. They are for meeting new people or for celebrating with a gathering of friends.

In a blur of swallowing crowds, it’s hard to find much room (literally) for normal socialization — unless you like replacing initial handshakes with breathing down people’s necks.

That’s not creepy at all.

Sometimes good company is all that’s needed — even if it means having a party of only 20 people instead of 400.

Unlike struggling to walk through an overwhelming mob of intoxicated visitors, you can find yourself connecting and having fun with individuals.

If you plan on throwing a house party, remember it is always better to spend a night with people you actually want to be with than a bunch of strangers that may do nothing but cover your floors with puddles of beer or break some furniture.

As is often the case, the more is not always the merrier.

Don’t you love it when you go to a party and the music is blasting so loud you feel as if your eardrums are about to burst and you barely have enough personal space to expand your lungs to take a breath?

Well, we sure don’t.

With Halloween behind us, it’s important to reflect on what we’ve experienced.

There is an unnecessary expectation for parties to be as crowded as virtually possible.

Students believe the foundation of a successful event is to have as many people boxed in as a venue can allow up to the point of undeniable discomfort. Why is this the case?

Movies like Project X and American Pie demonstrate adolescent parties that set the standard for ‘epic’ celebration.

These movies depict excessively large parties that maximize entertainment for all who join.

Is this realistic? Or can too many people often lead to too many problems?

JOSHUA AWOLADE/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Defending esports Gamers should not be degraded because of their passion and hobbies; their interests should not be minimized

WILL HUANG PHOTO EDITOR

These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-inChief and Opinion Editor. The arguments made may reference any facts that have been made available through interviews, documents or other sources.

The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of The Cord’s volunteers, staff or WLUSP.

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

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Bryan Stephens VICE-CHAIR Abdiasis Issa DIRECTOR Rafey Sattar DIRECTOR John Pehar

DIRECTOR Tom Lillo

DIRECTOR Angela Foster DIRECTOR Fred Kuntz DIRECTOR Gary Doyle

PRESIDENT Bryan Stephens president@wlusp. com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Caroline Schummer care.schummer@ wlusp.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@ wlusp.com HR MANAGER/ CORPORATE SECRETARY Emily Crump hr@wlusp.com

To most of us, this past weekend was Halloween, but to a sizeable part of the population, it was also the final game of the League of Legends World Championship, held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena located in Berlin, Germany, where the two remaining teams play for the grand prize of $1 million USD. I am not at all ashamed of enjoying playing the game and being a part of the esports community, however, when I mentioned this hobby of mine to one of my coworker, the individual’s response was, I paraphrase: “Will, my respect for you has just dropped so low.”

This is not the first time someone has shared their negative view of esports to me, nor will it be the last, but coming from someone that I work along side with, it was a bit of a shock.

Before we move on, I want to clarify that I’m not trying to convince you that esports should be considered an official sport.

I just simply want to eliminate, or even just soften, society’s adverse prejudice towards the esports community — specifically the League of Legends community.

What I don’t understand is what

makes enjoying playing a video game so “nerdy” as I’ve been told over and over again, by friends as well as strangers.

Take football, or any other sports fans for example. They are a group of people that show excitement for the sport by watching it religiously on TV and supporting their favourite teams — all of which are socially accepted and considered a normal thing to enjoy.

When a group shows the same amount of passion for a video game, they are immediately treated like outcasts and geeks.

A large majority of the public have this preconceived notion that League of Legends players are these scrawny 20-year olds with neckbeards who do nothing except play League of Legends in their basement all day and night.

While that’s completely unrepresentative of the gaming community, why is it so bad that people are passionate about League of Legends?

Before an athlete becomes professional, they would typically commit all their time into training and practicing for their respective sport in order to get better, and to eventually play professionally.

It’s no different for a competitive video game such as League of Legends, where the prize pool for this year’s World Championships was over $2 million USD. If you think that’s a lot of money for a video game, the prize pool for a similar game, DOTA 2, was just under $18.5 million USD.

When a group shows the same amount of passion for a video game, they are immediately treated like outcasts and geeks.

So will society’s narrow-mindedness towards League of Legends fade away as esports is more integrated into our culture?

Especially in a world where the growth and development of technology is crucial, why is it still so hard for people to accept a new possible career that is centered around it?

Going beyond just League of Legends or esports, regardless of whether something is new and different, or if it’s old and lame, isn’t it common courtesy to keep judgment to ourselves?

Maybe, one day, League of Legends will become something of a norm within Western culture.

But until then, there will still be new games that are criticized.

We will probably never fully eliminate prejudice towards esports in our culture, but we can at least try and tone it down on an individual level.

So please keep your judgements to yourself, and let League of Legends players game in peace. Maybe it’ll make the world a less toxic place.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Opinion

• 13 OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca

The dimensions of correctness An overload of politically correct ideals is pushing society overboard

EFA ABRAHAM OPINION COLUMNIST

There has been a lot said about political correctness this year. It follows a fairly predictable pattern: famous person says something and controversy ensues, which naturally leads to a discussion about “pc culture.” It did not begin this year, nor would it end this year.

Like many topics, it is churned out frequently and is incredibly divisive.

There seem to be two major viewpoints regarding political correctness. The first category chalks it up as much ado about nothing, merely people whining that they are not free to say offensive things as much as they could in the past. The second category views it as a real issue, one that threatens free speech as we know it and leads to needless coddling of the current generation.

Divisiveness notwithstanding, these views are dynamic to a degree.

People might stand on each side depending on their identity, political views, personality and overall sensitivity. There are also those who straddle both views and reach conclusions on a case-by-case basis.

Someone on one side might suddenly agree with the other viewpoint, an epiphany of sorts.

Offenseiveness plays a major role in much of the dialogue surrounding political correctness; the fear of offending someone or the feeling of being offended by someone’s words or actions. This is also a topic of some debate — does it truly matter if someone is offended by something we say? Do we have a responsibility not to offend others?

Whichever way one might feel about both questions, there is a reason why euphemisms exist. There does appear to be an expectation of courtesy and common human decency for our neighbors, but even

There has been an inextricable link between language and oppression throughout history.

these expectations can be murky.

Who are our neighbours and how far must this courtesy be extended?

Questions that become harder to answer in this progressively globalized world.

The existence of euphemisms further stresses that language does not exist in a vacuum. There has been an inextricable link between language and oppression throughout history.

Conversely, language evolves with social change, either trailing or leading it. Ergo, greater importance is attached to language, one that goes beyond offense to possible sociohistorical reasons behind it.

The general population is aware of this. People shy away from taboo

words and subjects in public. Nonetheless, rapid social change adds another dimension. There are those who may not support the specific change and therefore will not want to alter their language, while others simply do not know when or why seemingly regular words, sometimes even euphemisms, become contentious.

The “euphemism treadmill” is a product of this added dimension.

It is a term coined by Steven Pinker that refers to the ways in which euphemisms develop negative connotations over time and are replaced by other euphemisms that could, in turn, become taboo. One example is the chronological change from “the blind” to “people with blindness” and “visually challenged” as the “correct” terms.

However the correctness of such terms are rarely reasonably unanimous. In 1993, for instance, the National Federation of the Blind referred to some of them as “being totally unacceptable and deserving only ridicule because of their

Potential backlash is arguably the impetus to the fear of offending a particular group.

strained and ludicrous attempt to avoid such straightforward, respectable words as blind.” But many of these terms were initially proposed by advocacy groups. What rules, then, must the general population follow?

Disenfranchised groups face such conflicts. Some accept these evolving terms as necessary progress, others view them as separatist and contrary to the goal of equality. The lack of clear consensus, coupled with the tediousness of monitoring linguistic changes, typically makes this more than a simple case of one side versus the other. Moreover, there are real life implications.

Potential backlash is arguably the impetus to the fear of offending a particular group. Largely dependent on context, it could taint or end a career and a reputation. People are increasingly careful about what they say to avoid this dreaded backlash.

They are fervently asking: “has political correctness finally reached its tipping point?”

But the situation is not nearly as grave. Backlash might often be loud and ample, but that is usually attributed to the nature of the Internet and media sensationalism.

It is not always representative of those groups that might be offended and is rarely as destructive as some of the extreme cases we are bombarded with.

There are demonstrable benefits and issues associated with political correctness. Abundant questions, but few resolutions. People will continue to say things and controversies will continue to follow. The sky has been falling for the past couple of years, yet the cycle somehow persists.

FANI HSIEH/GRAPHIC ARTIST

‘Best’ days of our lives ALEX DULANOVIC OPINION COLUMNIST

During family gatherings throughout the year, uncles and aunts coax students to share their experiences at school.

“So how many girlfriends do you have, Joe?” “You spend all your summer job money on booze yet, Emily?”

Before you can deflect the flurry of questions, Uncle Tom has already begun reminiscing about his own time at university which always seem to end in, “Those were the best days of my life.” Millions of nostalgic uncles and aunts cherish their university or college experiences and get excited when given a chance to reflect on them.

Their tales are about peak versions of themselves: fearless, young adults that threw themselves into wild situations which always resulted in laughs.

They were admittedly out of

control but still, it was a period of pure bliss.

This type of reminiscing has entrenched itself within our culture.

As Red Bull claims: “No one wishes they’d slept more through college.” There is a slew of movies that presents post-secondary education as an eight-month all-inclusive carnival.

It’s presented as a place where young kids engage in their wildest fantasies, only to wish they could return after they are part of the “real world.”

When these ideas become standardized within the population’s upbringing, it becomes confusing for those that are really living inside the moment. The student needs to constantly wonder, “am I doing this thing right?”

My focus isn’t on media portrayal but about calling attention to the the process of placing expectations on someone’s personal experience, especially when they’re are as weird as this one.

School has been really fun but these better not be the best days of my life.

That’s comparable to watching a

movie, only for a disclaimer to come up at the half an hour mark that says: “This is the best part of the movie, it just gets worse from here.” Why would I want to finish that movie?

That’s how nonsensical and depressing that projection of the university life ends up being.

Ultimately, I think the expectations and reverence surrounding the university experience are based on it being a time and space where we’re allowed to make mistakes.

It’s not exclusively just the wild nights that aunts and uncles miss, it’s the freedom to mess up without the increased consequences that accompany adulthood. Therefore, forget about the pressure to make university the peak of your human existence.

It makes no sense and contradicts what you can gain from the experience. It’s about figuring out what the “best days of your life” specifically mean for you.A trial and error approach where we can learn what we’re passionate about as well as the types of things we want to avoid.

Set yourself up for “the best days of your life” instead of facing the pressure to use them all up now.

14 • OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

American gun control is mandatory Facing the importance of societal restrictions in a country loaded with easily accesible firearms

For many, progress means change and fear of the unfamiliar.

FARAZ IFTEKHARUDDIN OPINION COLUMNIST

It wasn’t the first mass shooting massacre in Australia, but it was one which shook the entire nation. The 1996 Port Arthur shooting killed 35 people, including children and the elderly.

Gun laws in Australia never remained the same.

In the United States, there have been 994 mass shootings in the past 1,004 days, yet nothing has changed and hopes for the future are grim.

Evolution is best defined as a gradual development or change from a simple to a more complex form.

The majority of American attitudes are resistent to evolution.

In the wake of the most recent Oregon shooting at a community college, Obama reasoned: “When Americans are killed in mine disasters, we work to make mines safer.

When Americans are killed in floods and hurricanes, we make communities safer ... We have seatbelt laws because we know it saves lives.”

Yet, a large percentage of Americans fail to understand that implementing gun laws will save lives by

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

There are more American firearm deaths on home soil than overseas.

preventing an individual with mental illness or prior history of misconduct to get a hold of assault rifles.

According to U.S State Department, the number of American citizens killed on American soil and abroad as a result of terrorist activities amounted to 3,380, between 2001 and 2013.

The amount of deaths caused by firearms on American soil is 406,496 according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: almost 85 deaths a day.

These include homicides, suicides

and accidents.

“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” some argue. Well sure, but there is a call for gun safety courses for people, not guns. There is a call for thorough background checks on people, not guns.

An individual takes the final decision to pull that trigger and end someone’s life.

But if restrictions on gun ownership were increased, the likelihood of the latter happening becomes substantially less likely.

So what is stopping the aforemen-

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tioned change in gun laws?

Firstly, the pro-gun lobbyists, mostly comprised of the National Rifle Association.

The group boasts itself in being a major political force with over five million members who pour money into the organization, and in turn fund pro-guns politicians who get elected into office.

These politicians will then go on to block and oppose any attempts at gun ownership legislation.

Secondly, the Republicans are an issue.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting of 2012, a gun violence task force was legislated.

It included background checks and bans on assault weapons.

It was then introduced and denied by a Republican-dominated Congress. Handcuffed by his own Congress, Obama may never see the

change he dreams about.

Finally, there is the American constitution itself.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms and Americans seem to be emotionally chained to this.

The constitution reads, “a wellregulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

A constitution written in 1787, after the end of the War of Independence, at a time when local threats were imminent and violence was rampant.

Today, with the mightiest military in the world and the most sophisticated security agencies at home, it is ludicrous to believe access to guns is as easy as it was in the army-less America of almost 230 years ago.

The founding fathers did not create an untouchable constitution for eternity and beyond with no room for change or amendment.

For many, progress means change and fear of the unfamiliar. But changing attitudes towards women and race allowed amendments to the constitution granting women the right to vote, abolishing slavery and extending voting rights to African Americans.

So why must the changing attitudes towards gun ownership be an exception?

www.ecusolutions.com TECHTOWN 103–340 Hagey Boulevard Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6R6 • 519.772.3050

SHELBY BLACKLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When I started at The Cord in 2011 as a quiet sports writer, the first rule my editors taught me was ingrained in my mind.

Be impartial.

As a student at Wilfrid Laurier University, of course I wanted to support my school in any way I could. But as a journalist, you must be critical and analyze every move of the players and coaches. If they played shitty, you reported that they played shitty. Your job isn’t to spin a positive story, and you sure as hell don’t cheer for the team.

Five years later, after covering far too many regular season games, a few dozen playoff matches and three national championships, I’ve become critical beyond compare, wondering how each move will affect the team. It’s translated into my news reporting, analyzing the administration and Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union’s plans, moves and words to be the best journalist I can.

It’s what we’re taught: a good journalist has a critical eye.

But this doesn’t seem to translate to all members of the journalism community. When I’m in press boxes, fellow student journalists are clapping, cheering on their respective school’s football team as if they’re cheerleaders. There is no analyzing statistics or questioning the play the coach called — rather,

Good journalism, regardless of whether it‘s at the student or professional level, starts with good, objective coverage.

it’s mumbling under their breath, “go team go.”

I’m all for being supportive of your school. Of course I’m happy when Laurier’s teams make it far. Not only is it great coverage, but it’s fun and exciting to see such an exhilarating moment impact the culture of a university.

But as a student journalist hoping to make it in this industry, it’s hard to watch other student journalists act as part-time cheerleaders and don’t at least ruffle the feathers of their school’s public relations department.

Good journalism, regardless of whether it’s at the student or professional level, starts with good, objective coverage. Considering both sides is necessary so that bias doesn’t impact the reader’s experience. Regardless of whether you are writing about sports, news, arts or health, objectivity is the main component of journalism. Don’t be afraid to be critical of what you’re covering. It makes your work stand out and gives you an opportunity to look beyond the “ra ra team” that surrounds you every day.

Besides, no one respects a writer without a spine.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Sports

• 15 SPORTS EDITOR DREW YATES dyates@thecord.ca

FOOTBALL

CHECK OUT MORE CONTENT @ THE CORD.CA

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR

The Hawks were firing on all three cylinders — offensively, defensively and special teams and won their first playoff game in 2010 in Faulds’ third season.

Faulds hits milestone in upset DREW YATES SPORTS EDITOR

HAMILTON, Ont – The season for the Wilfrid Laurier men’s football team is turning out to have every component needed to write an underdog story.

Laurier begins the season 1-4. Check.

The Hawks have a shocking loss that completely shapes the team’s mentality going forward. Check. The team turns their season around, delivering two losses to potential playoff contenders on their journey to the playoffs. Check. They secure a spot in the playoffs with a huge win in a stadium they haven’t seen victory in since 2007. Check. Laurier upsets the third-seeded McMaster Marauders in the quarter-final and comes out with a 29-15 victory, their first playoff win since 2010.

Check.

With the win, the next item on the checklist is revealed: score a date with the team coming in as the heavy-favourites to win the Yates Cup. The Western Mustangs are waiting.

“Honestly, I love it when they count me out or plan to stop me. I use it as an additional challenge, take it that way,” fifth-year running back Dillon Campbell said. “Being an underdog doesn’t bother me because

we came here ready to play.”

Saturday was just another day in the office for Campbell.

He rushed for 285 yards, breaking the record for most rushing yards in a playoff game in Laurier history.

He also broke the record for most carries for Laurier with 39, and tied the Ontario University Athletics record in the process.

Despite not being at 100 per cent the entire year, Campbell continues to lead the nation, putting up a total of 1115 yards over the season and adding almost 300 in one playoff game.

“He’s still really banged up,” head coach Michael Faulds said of the fifth-year defending OUA MVP. “I give a ton of credit to our offensive line because that’s a really solid defensive line we just faced. They have two outstanding defensive ends and our offensive coordinator Mark Surya came up with an unbelievable game plan, we switched a few things in our game plan.”

“Dillon didn’t want this to be his last football game, and it’s not.”

Campbell is not the only Hawk to have a strong season. Second-year quarterback Eric Morelli has gone 5-2 in his last seven starts in his first year as the starting Hawk pivot.

He started his first career playoff

“I like adversity and I think our guys respond well to it.”

-Michael Faulds, men’s football head coach

game against McMaster Saturday and walked away with his first career playoff win.

Morelli’s comfort in the pocket was evident, as he used many tactics to move the ball, including the running game featuring Campbell, his various air targets featuring Greg Nyhof, Daniel Bennett, Zeph Fraser, Carson Oullette and Anthony Pizzuti.

When nobody was open, Morelli ran it into the endzone himself.

According to Faulds, Morelli has grown into his role as a leader of the team despite coming into the position with a lack of experience.

“He’s like a puppy. Even though he’s a fourth-year player, he’s like a puppy in terms of quarterback play,” Faulds explained. “Eric’s gaining confidence, our receivers have unbelievable confidence in him,

he’s a great leader for us. He keeps everyone calm and I’m really proud of him.”

The defence also stood tall, holding the new Canadian Interuniversity Sport single-season passing touchdown holder Asher Hastings to only two touchdowns. They also held him to 327 yards and a fumble, including four sacks courtesy of Nakas Onyeka, Trevaughan James and Kwaku Boateng.

The victory propelled the Hawks to ninth in the country, their highest since 2011 when they ranked No. 8.

Now with everything clicking at the right time, that next item on the checklist is waiting to be crossed off.

Western comes in as the top seed in the OUA and No. 2 in the country.

The winner gets a berth into the Yates Cup final, somewhere Laurier hasn’t found themselves since 2006.

Despite being underdogs, Faulds believes the Hawks will be up to the test and thinks disciplined football is the key to success.

“We’re the underdogs so we just have to go out swinging like we always do,” Faulds said. “I like adversity and I think our guys respond well to it.”

The showdown commences at 1 p.m. at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London.

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16 • SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

SOCCER

Brown propels Laurier to Final Four

Fifth-year striker leads Hawks to 1-0 victory over the Windsor Lancers to punch semifinal ticket DREW YATES SPORTS EDITOR

In the final home game of her career, fifth-year striker Emily Brown of the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks fired a rebounded shot from Katie Bishop in the 68th minute to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead in the Ontario University Athletics quarterfinal game against the Windsor Lancers.

This proved to be the gamewinning goal, sending the Hawks to the OUA Final Four in Ottawa this coming weekend for a chance to vie for a berth to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship in British Columbia.

“It’s funny — when you’re in the moment and your adrenaline is rushing so much, I don’t want to say zone-out but things are happening so fast you’re not really registering them,” Brown said about scoring the goal.

“I honestly remember the shot, and I don’t remember the goalie hitting it, and I just remember it being at my feet and I was just thinking, ‘just calm composure. You don’t need a fancy shot, just tap it in.’”

The goal originally started when rookie defender Natalie Barry launched the ball towards the sidelines to a streaking Nicole Lyon who battled down the field against three Lancers defenders to set up the initial shot.

The second-year shot it past two other Lancer defenders and Bishop raced towards it, taking the initial

“Things are happening so fast you’re not really registering them.”

-Emily Brown, fifth-year striker

shot.

The ball perfectly rebounded into Brown’s feet, who swiftly kicked it into the back of the goal.

“It’s fitting that she scored because she is a natural goal scorer but she did a ton of other work that goes unnoticed, like what Nicole Lyon did on that goal was phenomenal, breaking two or three defensive challenges and then putting Katie Bishop in,” head coach Barry MacLean said.

“There was a lot of good positive things in that goal but Emily finishing is good for us.”

The Hawks faced an unusual opponent in the quarter-finals after Windsor upset the No. 7 Western Mustangs last Wednesday. With the Lancers’ history of battling teams to a scoreless draw, Brown said it did not change her approach to how she viewed the game.

“We needed the same intensity, the same passion, the same result as if it was any other game, or any other team. We were just focused on winning and not really who the other team was,” she explained.

SHELBY BLACKLEY/EDITIOR-IN-CHIEF

Second-year Nicole Lyon heads the ball over a Windsor Lancer player during Sunday’s 1-0 OUA quarter-final win.

MacLean’s approach to the game did not change either.

“They’re a tough team to break down, their goalkeeping is excellent, they are aggressive offensively and it’s tough playing in this wind.

Wind is the biggest enemy of soccer, and definitely factored into how we possessed the ball,” MacLean said. “I think that was great for us that we got

the goal and I think if we can score then, we can score another time.”

With the win, the Hawks qualify for their ninth consecutive OUA Final Four championship.

Up next, the Hawks face a familiar opponent in the No. 3 Ottawa GeeGees. The Hawks and Gee-Gees have a long history in meeting up in the semifinals with a national berth on

the line. Last year, the Hawks came close, but fell to the Gee-Gees 1-0 in extra time after Bishop missed a penalty kick in the 88th minute failing to seal the game for Laurier. The Hawks are also 2-3 in their last five meetings with their East division rival.

The two will clash in the Final Four on Nov. 7, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. at Matt Anthony Field.

BASKETBALL

Hawks work to build on momentous 2014 season After finishing 17-3, Falco hopes for team to bounce back from a huge upset that ended their stellar season early KILLIAN CUPPAGE STAFF WRITER

HEATHER DAVIDSON/FILE PHOTO

The Wilfrid Laurier University women’s basketball team look to bounce back after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the playoffs last season when they were upset by the Queen’s Gaels in the Ontario University Athletics quarter-finals. This came after their strongest season to date with a 17-3 record and peaking at No. 6 in the country going into the playoffs.Head coach Paul Falco, who has led the Hawks to the playoffs in all of his seven years at the helm, hopes his team can bounce back and use the loss as motivation heading into the upcoming season.

“Tough losses are part of sports.

The key to bouncing back is to learn from it, put it behind you, and use it to help motivate you on the court,” he said.

The Hawks have nine returning players from last year’s squad.

Defence remains the priority with a team filled with a handful of pesky, speedy guards. The Hawks have had five different players record three or more steals in a game this preseason.

But after a 3-5 preseason, the team’s defence still has some areas that need improving for the regular season, according to Falco.

“We were fortunate to play some top teams in the pre-season, which allows you to quickly see that we need better team defence and re-

“There are so many good shooters in the OUA and we hope to again make it difficult on the opposition.”

-Paul Falco, women’s basketball head coach

bounding to be successful. We have to keep teaching the girls how to improve in these areas as it doesn’t just happen overnight,” he explained.

After losing 6’3” star center Whitney Ellenor to graduation, it’s no surprise that defence and rebounding are areas that need improvement. Ellenor was the Hawks’ leading rebounder and shot-blocker last year. However the Hawks may not necessarily need to replace her, but instead adjust their strategy to their current group of players’ skills and make alterations to defensive schemes.

After taking time to adjust to the next level, Falco hopes contributions from his first-year players can make the Hawks a deeper team with a handful of players ready to contribute when their number is called.

“Our first-year girls are adapting to the speed and intensity of the university game. If they work hard day in and day out, they will continue to

improve and become more valuable as the season goes on,” Falco said.

One of the areas that could be a real strength and staple for the Hawks’ defence is how well they defend the three-point line. The Hawks have led the OUA in fewest opponent three-pointers made for two seasons, and coach Falco hopes to once again be strong in this area.

“There are so many good shooters in the OUA and we hope to again make it difficult on the opposition.

It will require focus and good team defense to continue this trend,” he explained.

Laurier has carried their stellar three-point defence into the pre-season.The Hawks held Trine University to only one three-point shot made and Université de Québec à Montréal Citadins to two threes made.

The Hawks are in good hands with Falco, who has led the team to a winning record for five straight seasons, and Falco is excited to see how this group of players comes together.

“Having the opportunity to assist players as they work towards achieving personal and team goals while at the same time seeing them grow and mature throughout their time at Laurier, is very satisfying. Every year we have a different group as no two years are the same. I am excited to see how this team comes together and improves over the course of the season,” said Falco.

HEATHER DAVIDSON/FILE PHOTO