THE CORD
THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
Local, page 6
VOLUME 56 ISSUE 9 OCTOBER 21, 2015
ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR
GOT ‘EM MOVES LIKE CHAGGER Veganism is its own language. Some people just don’t know how to be a part of that.
Room for improvement
page 16
The taste of fall page 10
KAITLYN SEVERIN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
pages 8–9
Students’ Union debt decreases to $5.6 million Over the past five years, the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union has reduced its debt from $6.8 million to $5.6 million. In 2010, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Students’ Union came to a five-year agreement to provide the Union with a line of credit for $5 million in total debt and obligations. This was an increase from the existing line, which was $3 million. In 2013, the Students’ Union’s debt was declared at $6,567,498. After multiple lump sum payments, they have brought it down by almost $1.2 million.
“The reason we’re in debt isn’t necessarily improper management, it’s that we wanted to create a few capital projects that really gave back to students,” said Olivia Matthews, president and CEO of the Students’ Union. In previous years, loans were taken out with the university and a financial institution to create more space for students through capital projects, including 24-Hour Lounge renovations, Terrace expansion — which had a price tag of $1,480,541 — and building the Brantford Students’ Centre. “It was more decisions that were made in the past to affect the long term future of students and provide
Threat was a ‘running joke’ UK suspect arrested after 4chan post
Veganism as a lifestyle instead of a diet
DEBT
NICOLE GATCHENE STAFF WRITER
LOCKDOWN
them with a study space and the opportunities that they need,” said Joanna Sadgrove, vice-president of finance and administration with the Students’ Union. While debt is money borrowed, deficit is when losses exceeded profit. WLUSU has debt, but does not run a deficit because it uses a zerobased budgeting process, meaning it breaks even. “We’re a non-for-profit, we don’t make money off of students,” said Matthews. In 2013, Michael Onabolu, president and CEO for the Students’ Union, said they would not increase
Campus, page 3
The aftermath of the lockdown at Wilfrid Laurier University on Oct. 16 has triggered discussion among the school’s student, staff and faculty. The lockdown happened as a result of a threatening post made on the controversial website, 4chan. org. The post was similar to one
“[The lockdown was] a very unfortunate situation.”
-Danielle McKay, fourth-year English and comunication studies
made against Umpqua Community College in Oregon where 10 people were shot. The post read “Some of you /b/ tards are all right. Don’t go to Laurier science building hall tomorrow. Happening thread will be posted in the morning.” Investigations of the threat were made by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Crime Stoppers, who
alerted the Special Constable Services and Waterloo Regional Police Services. After thorough investigation through the Science Building and online, it was determined there was no immediate threat to Laurier and the university decided to lift the lockdown around 11:30 a.m. the same day. In a press conference, Pat Dietrich, superintendent for WRPS said the safety of students and faculty was “at the front” when deciding to lock down the school. “The safety of our community is absolutely paramount. That is what caused us to put in place the lockdown,” said Max Blouw, president of Laurier. Around 165 first-year students remained in residence during the lockdown. The poster, 22-year old Daniel Ransem, posted it from the United Kingdom as a “running inside joke.” “[The lockdown was] a very unfortunate situation,” said Danielle McKay, fourth-year English and communication studies student at Laurier. “But it’s good that it happened on reading week so that there weren’t a lot of students panicking on campus and getting in the way of the investigation.”
Campus, page 4
2 •
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
VOCAL CORD Where were you during the crazy 7th inning of the Jays game?
@cordnews
The Cord
Dear Life
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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 are not edited. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.
“Downtown at the BirdsNest at Nathan Phillips Square celebrating with all the fans.”
Dear “Let me Leave Already”, I wish I could help you find renewed hope & joy. I don’t know you but I bet like most Laurier students that you are smart & inspiring. I know that you matter. Don’t give up if you haven’t found the support you need yet. There is lots of it here. There are people who can help you and who really care about you & your wellbeing. I hope you find them too. Sincerely, I care.
–Trevor Own, first-year economics
“I was watching the game with my parents.” –Christopher Rizzi, firstyear business
“At the Real Sports Bar in Ottawa.” –Pierina Timoteo, firstyear business
“Not a baseball fan, so I don’t even know what day that was.”
WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
Conservative candidate Peter Braid hugs NDP candidate Diane Freeman at Braid’s headquarters on election night.
N E E W O L L A H OUT
W O L B E M U T S O C
s ’ 0 0 10costumes
–Amanda Sampson, fourth-year biology Compiled by Maddy Cutts Photos by Jessica Dik NEXT ISSUE: OCTOBER 28, 2015
of
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
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 Manjot Bhullar Mira Busscher Debra Boulay Ryan Culley Killian Cuppage Emilia Curcic Nicole Gatchene Fani Hsieh Daniel Johnson Jon Johnson Brigitte Kloss Heather McLeod Christian Paron Marco Pedri Josh Peters Christina Somos Fatima Soomro Caroline Spicer
I assume the staircase is a recent addition to the library, as the idea that my fellow Hawks are simply too lazy to avail themselves of it is unthinkable. Sincerely, Stats Canada says almost 60% of Ontarians are overweight Dear 4chan “posters,” Next time you want to post, don’t threaten a school just after another had a shooting. Sincerely, You’re not fitting in anywhere
Dear Grocery Stores, Why do you sell packaged food that’s already rotten???? I was going to have some damn yams but they’ve gone bad already before the expiration date and now my night is ruined. THANKS. Sincerely, Refresh your food
1585 Victoria Street North, Kitchener 10 Manitou Drive, Kitchener 7 King Street North, Waterloo
CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin kseverin@thecord.ca
Dear Laurier, I wanted to give my fellow Hawks a quick PSA that there is a staircase in the library right by the front door. I’m led to believe most students are unaware of this, as I have been watching crowds of people wait patiently to cram themselves into a packed elevator all afternoon.
Dear Life, Burrito Boyz knows my order. Is this a new low or a milestone in my life? Sincerely, Maybe I’m getting beefy
–Melissa Paré, secondyear health science
“I was at a bar in Toronto.”
CordNews
@cordwlusp
EDITOR’S CHOICE: Laurier agrees to a new partnership by Maddy Cutts
EDITOR’S CHOICE ONLINE: Elections infographic 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.
Dear Justin Trudeau, You’re literally the hottest politician in Canadian history. You and your wife have given your children the genetic jackpot. Sincerely, Take your shirt off more
StagShop.com 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.
Dear b/tards of 4Chan, Grow the fuck up. Sincerely, The rest of the human race.
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: “He just came up behind me and I was like well, let’s take this further.” - Photo Editor Andreas Patsiaouros about a photo shoot with Photo Editor Will Huang
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
Campus
•• 33 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN kseverin@thecord.ca
RESEARCH
FROM COVER
Debt lowers
ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR
The research team, lead by associate professor in kinesiology, Michael Cinelli, centres on athletes and their performance after experiencing concussions.
New methods of recovery Research team from Laurier’s kinesiology department evaluate concussions MADDY CUTTS LEAD REPORTER
A research team at Wilfrid Laurier University is investigating more accurate methods of evaluating recovery following a concussion. The research, which stems from work in the department of kinesiology and physical education, is centered on the viability of balance as a measure of recovery in an individual having sustained a concussion. “One of the cardinal symptoms of a concussion, other than headaches, is loss of balance or balance control,” said Michael Cinelli, associate professor in the department of kinesiology and physical education. “Over the past few years what we’ve been doing is sort of trying to find some more objective measures to determine when balance
has returned to normal following a concussion.” The research has indicated that something as simple as a step can effectively demonstrate whether an individual has any impairment to their balance. The problem that emerges is that clinics do not have access to the same equipment as researchers in the lab and cannot test balance as accurately. “We’ve tried to find more beneficial tools for clinicians to use hands on,” said Cinelli. “They don’t have these huge, expensive pieces of equipment in most clinics.” The dangers of resuming activity prior to full recovery are large, with symptoms of concussions ranging from dizziness, headaches, impaired vision and balance issues to the possibility of second impact syndrome, a
rare but potentially deadly occurrence in which individuals suffer a second concussion without having fully recovered. The research Cinelli and his team are performing is centered on varsity athletes and their balance prior-to and following concussions, with the hope that their findings will provide results transferable to clinics and physical therapists off-campus. “[The] university setting is a fabulous setting because at your hands you’ve got sports therapists, faculty members, all these people trying to help you get back into all aspects of life. The people I’m more worried about are the non-varsity athlete population, the people in the work force,” said Cinelli. “By picking a population which we know has a greater than normal chance of concussion and analyzing
them, that work can then migrate over to a working population.” The work done by these researchers is not limited to the lab, with many of the students involved having formed the campus club TeamUp Laurier, a group dedicated to raising awareness and educating the public on concussions. The group performs presentations throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo region on the symptoms of concussions and on proper procedure for recovery following injury. “It used to be one of those things where people didn’t know how to deal with it, and there were a lot of myths and misconceptions about it,” said Laura Fedy, chapter director of TeamUp Laurier. “The ultimate goal is we want it to be treated the same as any other injury.”
–cover fees for students to make up the debt. A debt repayment plan is also set up when loans are taken out. It is revised every five years to adjust for interest rates. In 2010, a five-year moratorium was implemented which freezes spending on capital projects. Sadgrove said WLUSU is currently in its third year and will not fund capital projects through its operating budget, however last year the Union began renovations on Turret Nightclub. At the Board of Governors meeting in September, the Students’ Union was approved for a renewal of the line of credit effective June 24, 2015 and the “comprehensive loan,” effective Sept. 1, 2015. The Union was also administered $800,000 in operating advances, which is a short-term advance for maintenance. The Union plans a full repayment on this balance in the fiscal 2015-16 year. “This agreement addresses the renewal of the line of credit and loan agreements with WLUSU as well as facilitates WLUSU’s return to financial stability to remedy the default,” the board’s meeting agenda package read. “It aims to protect the university from further financial obligations.” “[It’s] a way to properly financially manage over the next couple of years,” explained Matthews. During the budgeting process, plans are made for how much debt WLUSU will pay for the fiscal year which runs from May to April. The remaining funds are allocated to the operating budget, which is approved at the May board of directors meeting. “There is a solid plan in place to eliminate the debt in years to come,” said Matthews.
ACADEMICS
Laurier agrees to a new partnership MADDY CUTTS LEAD REPORTER
Wilfrid Laurier University has entered into a new partnership with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, allowing students to simultaneously complete a bachelor of arts degree and a law degree. The six-year degree would have students complete an initial two years in criminology, human rights and human diversity or law and society at Laurier’s Brantford campus, or political science in Waterloo. Participants would then head to England to complete their law degree over a three-year period before returning for a final year at Laurier. “We’re always looking ahead to see what opportunities we have for Laurier to partner with other institutions in order to give our students opportunities they otherwise don’t have,” said Deborah MacLatchy, vice-president of academic and
provost. “Because Laurier doesn’t have a law school, one of the interesting partnerships that we started looking at was whether or not there were opportunities for students who do want to do that.” In addition to reducing a student’s degree by a full year, the partnership would guarantee students who met the admission requirements and maintained their academic averages admission into law school at the University of Sussex, without the need to complete the LSAT’s mandated by North American institutions and Law School Admission Council. The other advantage to the combined degrees is the ability for students to study abroad in the U.K. and tailor their degree to their chosen career path. “One needs to choose their law school in part by the value added that they get at that particular location,” said Heidi Northwood, dean of
the faculty of liberal arts. “If you want to practice law in Toronto and do the Toronto finance stuff, then it makes sense to go to Toronto. If you want to do more international focused, it might be in the interest of a particular student given what their interests are to study abroad.” The program would require that students work closely with academic advising throughout their time at Laurier to ensure they complete all necessary courses for their Canadian BA. “We haven’t completely developed that final year, but it will be a combination of the course material that they will need for their exam preparation, and also any final things that they need to finish up the BA’s that they’re in,” said MacLatchy. An equivalency exam through the Canadian Federation of Law and Society will be required for students to practice law in Canada, though the
LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
content learned in the UK is largely transferable between nations. “[The University of Sussex] has hired a Canadian who’s on their faculty, a Canadian PhD in law, and she is teaching some of those courses over there,” said Northwood. “Because the number of Canadian students over there studying law isn’t insignificant, they want to make sure that they’ve got that Canadian knowledge base.”
The school has begun advertising the partnership to prospective students with the first cohort planned to arrive in September 2016 and leave for the University of Sussex two years later. The school is however communicating with students currently enrolled in one of the four partnered BA’s to verify if there is interest enough to warrant extending the partnership to them.
4 • CAMPUS NEWS
LAURIER IN BRIEF
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 FROM COVER
Microsoft Word given to Laurier students Wilfrid Laurier University created an agreement with Microsoft to provide Microsoft Office to every student on campus for free. Laurier’s information and communications technologies department recently announced this on the university’s website and ensures students will always have the latest updates of Microsoft software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Post-elections panel taking place Wednesday Speakers from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy and professor’s from the political science department will case their opinions on the recent federal election and their results. Panelists include political science associate professor, Barry Kay, professor Brian Tanguay, lecturer Geoffrey Stevens and practitionerin-residence, John Milloy. The event will be held in the Ernst & Young Boardroom in the Schlegel Centre on October 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Members welcomed to Task Force Wilfrid Laurier University’s Gendered Violence Task Force has recently welcomed three faculty members as part of their ongoing development of the organization. The three faculty colleagues include Rebecca Godderis, associate professor in community health and society, culture and environment as well as associates in the faculty of social work, Gientte Lafrenière and Michael Woodford. The Task Force includes over 150 Laurier students, faculty and community members who oversee gendered-violence awareness.
ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR
Laurier’s Waterloo campus was put on lockdown on Oct. 16 from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. when investigators reported the building was safe for students.
Investigators target 4chan threat poster in UK SCS team was “outstanding” in responding to the threat as an emergency –cover According to CTV News, Ransem, a resident of the UK, has been charged with creating the post. In an interview with Ransem, he confessed the Laurier name was taken out of another post made on the website. “When you post on 4chan you don’t expect it to take it seriously,” he said in the five-minute CTV interview. Ransem said users on 4chan create what they call “grinch postings,” where people create false statements on the site. Ransem did not think people across North America would take his post seriously. “In my eyes it wasn’t considered a warning, it was considered a joke
… I was under the assumption that people don’t take 4chan seriously.” Ransem was charged with malicious communications by the British police service, and is currently on bail and will be heading back to court in January. A hearing will also be taking place in the near future. Mike Haffner, staff sergeant of WRPS said when reports of threat are connected to the university, they are taken seriously. “We connect with the school or vice versa, so we obviously have the safety of the staff, faculty, students, the community, at the forefront,” he said. According to Haffner, neither WRPS nor anyone who investigated the online threat on Friday have ju-
risdiction over any arrests or charges made in the UK. “Part of it was identifying where the message or the posting was from, that was in the UK,” said Haffner. “So just liaising with a number of law enforcement agencies including the Metropolitan Police Service in the UK to provide them with as much information as we can so they can substantiate a charge.” As for SCS, Haffner believes the team was outstanding in their services, especially with the SafeHAWK mobile application that notified all students about the lockdown. “[The school’s] notification systems work wonders, and it’s just a great way to get all that messaging out to students and faculty [and] staff.”
”The safety of our community is absolutely paramount.”
-Max Blouw, president of Wilfrid Laurier University
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
AD • 5
6 •
Local
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 LOCAL NEWS EDITOR ERIKA YMANA eymana@thecord.ca
ELECTION
49.6% 32.4%
49.6%
14.9%
PHOTOS BY ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR, WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR, JESSICA DIK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
LOCAL • 7
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 COMMUNITY
K-W celebrates Oktoberfest ‘15 EMILIA CURCIC STAFF WRITER
After nine days of events, KitchenerWaterloo’s Oktoberfest came to a close this past Sunday. This year the festival took place from October 9 to 17. The Bavarian festival marked 47 years of celebration this year, with close to 50 events being organized. Events ranged from beer exhibitions and farmers’ markets to sporting events and the renowned Thanksgiving Day parade. Every year the festival attracts thousands of people that come from all over the world to be a part of the unique experience. Among some of the events was the annual Miss Oktoberfest Gala Ball, which took place on October 2. This year Holly Pearson was crowned Miss Oktoberfest, giving her the opportunity to represent the community for the year to come. There were 19 Festhallens located throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo region for guests to go to. Many of these locations have been a part of the festival for many years. Maxwell’s Concerts
“The 2015 edition of the Parade has once again shown everyone why K-W Oktoberfest is Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival.” -Dave MacNeil, executive director
and Events was introduced as one of the new venues for this year, hosting a number of concerts at their accustomed “Uber Haus.” “This was my first time attending Oktoberfest. I attended an event at the Schwaben club. People were dressed in all kinds of traditional German clothing, there was music from a live band, so many games to play and the food was really great,” said fourth year Wilfrid Laurier University student Heather Imrie. The appeal for Oktoberfest lies within the exciting and inclusive atmosphere all of the volunteers and attendees work so hard to cultivate.
WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
Oktoberfest 2015 kicks off with the annual keg tapping (pictured above). The Bavarian festival runs for a week.
“Everyone was so friendly. It didn’t matter who you were with, you all danced and socialized together,” Imrie added. Appearances during the week included a few political candidates and Ron MacLean, the former face of Hockey Night in Canada, as this year’s parade marshal.
Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau made stops at various events during the festival while on the final leg of their respective campaign trails. Harper was found in the crowd of the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. The parade had a route change to accommodate for traffic along King
Street. “The 2015 edition of the Parade has once again shown everyone why Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival. Every year the Parade gets better and this year it set a new standard,” said Dave MacNeil, executive director, in a media release.
DRUGS
Meth deemed as drug of choice in region CHRISTINA SOMOS CORD NEWS
MARCO PEDRI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Meth is cheaper and easier to obtain in comparison to other hard drugs.
Crystal meth is finding its place on the streets of Waterloo Region. Crystal meth, the more common name for methamphetamine, is a central nervous system stimulant that is used recreationally, mostly as a euphoriant and an aphrodisiac drug. It is highly addictive and making it one of the deadliest drugs to become addicted to. Guelph Police Services and WRPS drug units are reporting an incredible spike in usage and the illegal selling of this drug in the last few years. Crack cocaine used to be the most common drug of choice in the tri-city area, but the numbers are proving this is no longer the case. According to CBC, the amount of meth seized in Guelph has increased over 1500 per cent, but the amount of cocaine and crack cocaine has dropped 90 per cent. Waterloo is following a similar pattern but the numbers are not as extreme. The CBC also reported that
there was a 200 per cent increase in the amount of meth seized from 2013-14. In small doses, meth induces an elevated mood, increases energy, concentration and alertness. Large doses of crystal meth are known to cause psychosis, brain bleeds and rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which the striated skeletal muscle breaks down into the blood stream and puts incredible strain on the kidneys. This can result in permanent damage and death. Meth has devastating long-term effects on the brain and nervous system. Medical researchers report a reduction in grey matter, the physical “meat” of your brain, as well as permanent damage to neurons and receptors alike. Crystal meth can be snorted through the nose, inhaled through the lungs or injected directly into the blood stream. So what is drawing the majority of drug users to a narcotic that has such adverse effects on the person taking it? Staff sergeant with WRPS, Mike
Haffner, said that the shift from crack cocaine is a matter of supply and demand. “Drugs such as cocaine and heroin come from source countries requiring an importation process which drives the cost up and ultimately affects the availability of the drug,” he said. This is opposed to meth, which can be made locally. It essentially becomes a cheaper alternative. “It [meth] is cheap to buy and easy to obtain thus driving the supply and demand – dealers are plentiful due to the high demand and high profits,” said Haffner. Although the WRPS conducted an investigation in 2014 that led to 15 local residents being indicted with 65 charges related to crystal meth, whether making, distributing, or selling. Haffner believes it is only through a “collaborative approach with community partners involving enforcement, harm reduction, prevention, education” that will create safer and healthier communities.
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.
open. online. everywhere. go.athabascau.ca/online-courses
8 •
FEATU
FEATURES EDITOR/BETHANY BOWLES/BBOWLES@THECORD.CA
The vegan lifest
Features Editor Bethany Bowles tries veganism for 3 and digs deeper into the philosophy Every year there seems to be some new dietary trend. A few years ago it was Atkins and then everyone seemed to be going gluten-free, even those without celiac disease. Now, millennials especially, are increasingly becoming vegan. The interesting thing about veganism, though, is it cannot be discussed as a dietary trend. Its limits are far narrower than Atkins, gluten free, or salt-free diets — making veganism a philosophy or lifestyle, moreso than a hot new weight loss diet. I know several vegans, and to them, veganism is more than just wanting to lose a couple of pounds. The philosophy of veganism is multi-faceted; it includes the desire to be healthier in body and mind, the desire to be more environmentally-friendly and the desire to boycott the use of animals and their byproducts for our consumption. Some vegans even go so far as avoiding clothes that use animal byproducts such as leather, and using beauty products and toiletries that do not have animal byproducts as ingredients or are not tested on animals. This is what sets veganism apart from vegetarianism, or any other diet that is only concerned with what you eat on a daily basis. For some vegans, it makes up a huge part of how they live their lives everyday. Morgan Biasuzzi, Fanshawe College alumna, has been strictly vegan for four months. When she returned to Canada after a long trip touring Asia, she decided to give veganism a go. Her experience of witnessing animal cruelty in Asia was something she just couldn’t shake. “I [also] scared myself through documentaries and it opened my eyes to the whole thing,” Biasuzzi said. “Then I started researching it myself and decided it was the right thing to do.” Biasuzzi described her vegan experience as being “perfect.” “I was told that my hair would fall out, that I would break out really badly and that it would mess up my hormones and everything,” she explained. Thus far, Biasuzzi has experienced none of these phantom symptoms. Biasuzzi, at the request of her doctor, recently had blood taken to ensure that she
To understand veganism better, Caroline Valeriote, registered dietitian, shared her knowledge of the philosophy. Quite simply, Valeriote explained, “[veganism] definitely excludes meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs and the products containing these.” Valeriote said when people come to her seeking advice about a vegan diet, she is by no means stating her personal thoughts on the philosophy, but moreso to provide information and advice to help her patients be as healthy as possible. “Basically a healthy vegan diet has many health benefits,” Valeriote said. “There’s lower rates of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type two diabetes and also reduction of risk of certain types of cancers. There’s definitely a medical or health benefit to going vegan.” Valeriote continued to explain that although veganism can be an extremely healthy lifestyle, there are certain concerns that she has when a patient inquires about it. The main concern is the patient is obtaining adequate amounts of protein in their diet, as protein is generally associated with eating meat, poultry and fish. “For most individuals that are vegan, it’s the protein [that they’re at risk of losing], so the amino acids are the building blocks for the protein components of your body and my body. We need to make sure that you keep your muscles and your blood cells healthy [to ensure healthy] growth and development,” she said. For some vegans, this is the hard part. Valeriote explained, however, that there are several other foods that vegans can source protein from such as tofu, soy, tempeh, nut butters and beans. She also stressed the importance of combining foods. “Grains are not a direct exchange for protein. They don’t contain as much amino acid composite as, let’s say, a bean would, but the unique combination of a grain and a bean … is making more of a complete protein that the body can use.” Valeriote explained that all balanced diets should be like a puzzle of fruit, vegetables, protein, carbs and dairy sources that comes together to make a complete picture. Any diet that favours one food group while neglecting another is going to bring only negative results.
While I go through spells of healthy eating and exercise, for the most part, I’m like every other student: too poor and too busy to care about eating healthy. To test my own personal willpower and also to put a little more thought into what I was eating, I decided to go vegan for 30 days starting on the first day of school. While basically everyone around me set me up to fail — I have problems with sticking with things — I was determined to embody veganism. On the first day of being a vegan, I woke up bright and early, ready to start my first day of classes. Every morning I do the same thing: ignore everybody in my household until I’ve had a cup of coffee. After realizing that milk, an animal byproduct, couldn’t be a part of my morning coffee ritual, my day was starting to take a turn for the worst. Black coffee. Yuck. The first week was very difficult. All I ate was salad, fruit, stir fry and veggie subs from Subway — who knew their white bread was vegan? I was too busy with school to investigate any good vegan recipes or substitutions and I was starting to feel seriously lethargic. My protein intake was essentially non-existent. In that first week, I wish I could say I didn’t cheat. There are three foods that somehow snuck their way shamefully into my stomach: a single kernel of buttered popcorn, cream cheese in what I thought was vegan sushi and honey mustard on a sub. What astonished me about cheating in the first week were the responses that I received from my family and friends. Nearly all of them thought that because I cheated, I was done. My journey as a vegan had concluded; I had failed. Apparently this meant I had free range to start eating cheesy pizza and burgers again like a madwoman. The main reason why I support veganism is because I don’t agree with the large-scale factory farming industry, for the sake of the animals and our environment, both of which are abused during this process. For that reason, I didn’t view my cheating as a failure. I was still not eating meat; I had still cut my meat and dairy intake by about 99 per cent. I believed I was still making a difference. After that first week, I educated myself a bit better. I was learning to prepare tofu in tasty ways, I was researching more recipes that incorporated vegan proteins such as beans and I also found more restaurants in the Kitchener-Waterloo area that sold food that I could eat on the go. The only downfall was that I was eating out a lot. I commute to school every day, so going home to fix lunch isn’t possible. All I can say is that I’m forever grateful to Thrive Energy Lab, Freshii, Subway and Burrito Boyz for keeping me standing during those 30 days.
Beth goes vegan
Veganism outside of the home
If you can imagine a spectrum with strict veganism on one end and a butcher on the other, two months ago I would have been hanging out with the butcher, knocking back a coffee with milk and eating a burger.
Quick meals were the hardest part. I came to realize I needed more than a salad to keep me going. My body composition thrives on protein. Maybe it was just laziness, but preparing a lunch to take with
was still maintaining a healthy diet, even without animal byproducts. All of her tests came back better than normal. “[The toughest part] is dealing with ignorance,” Biasuzzi continued. “I think people are very cold towards [veganism], which I was guilty of too.”
What the heck does veganism actually mean?
me every morning di schedule. My wallet t Although I explain is almost inevitable fo there was one cheat I that I’m seriously not It was a Saturday n ing with some friends McDonald’s and thos kicked in. Yes, I ate a Junior C the next morning all my head. Being vegan and w food late at night is n Most chain fast foo vegan-friendly food. they aren’t able to ser people that is only in In turn, vegan rest generally pricey and dating for people wh being introduced to v Jonnie Karan, own in Waterloo, explaine reasons why his resta bel itself as strictly ve it is vegan friendly. “We don’t really us here; we don’t really Karan stated. “We jus crafted whole foods.” Karan’s hope is tha not, will feel comfort restaurant. “[Veganism] is it’s people just don’t kno that. Health food sho we’re trying to make to everybody,” he said This mentality is on shared among more f Kitchener-Waterloo. ditional fast food, wit and bagged French fr that are meant to be e your 30-minute lunch
Being flexible
Karan’s thoughts on t veganism were unexp society likes to box ve sive, pretentious grou develop a more accu this topic. “Every vegan I go t your definition of bei ent for everyone,” he “The way I like to lo it simple … I don’t lik of what we’re doing h fuses people. It kind o categories [and for] p what [being vegan] is foreign to them. Mea is eating healthy; all w ing back to the way o to eat.”
URES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 • 9
tyle
30 days
idn’t always fit into my took a serious hit. ned earlier that cheating or a first-time vegan, I made in the last week t proud of. night. I had been drinks and we ended up at se drunk munchies
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wanting savory junk nearly impossible. od joints don’t offer This ultimately means rve a large group of ncreasing. taurants or cafés are can often be intimiho aren’t vegan, or just veganism. ner of Thrive Energy Lab ed that that is one of the aurant doesn’t like to laegan cuisine, although
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own language. Some ow how to be part of ouldn’t be like that … health food accessible d. ne that should be fast food restaurants in While Thrive isn’t trath a drive-thru window ries, it is quick meals eaten on the go, or on h break.
the ideology behind pected. Like feminism, egans in to an excluup. Karan helped to urate understanding of
to, I ask them, ‘what is ing a vegan?’ It’s differsaid. ook at it [is to] just keep ke the ideology aspect here because it conof brings out these new people who don’t know s, it [can be] completely anwhile, all we’re doing we’re really doing is goour grandparents used
Really, veganism is quite simple. Instead of eating a bunch of processed junk that kills our bodies, vegans go back to eating in a much more natural form. Karan stressed that rather than trying to fit yourself into a distinct category, you should just focus on eating healthy. “I’ve seen vegans, too, that are unhealthy,” Karan said. “Don’t think just because you’re vegan that you’re healthy. Some vegans are so stressed out that … they’re just not healthy. It’s all about finding a balance.” Valeroite, too, suggested that veganism could mean one thing to one person and a totally different thing to someone else. She then introduced the new, loose term, “flexitarian.” “When you’re a flexitarian,” she began, “you may have certain standards and criteria set up to eat certain types of proteins. For example, if you’re willing to be vegan or vegetarian, but you open the door to having ethically farmed fish … or you go to a farm where you know exactly what’s going on there and you have a good understanding of how [the animal is] raised … It’s flexible in that you can consume some animal protein based on certain criteria that meet your specific needs.” While to some, flexitarianism may seem like a cop out, I believe it to be a more inclusive term. It allows people to build a diet that suits their dietary and moral needs. In the end, vegetarianism, flexitarianism and veganism are all about being healthier and more ethical. Healthy eating should be something all students are concerned with and while it’s easy to fall off track, Karan explained the benefits of eating healthy while being a student. “You’re going to be more focused. You’re going to be less sick. You don’t want to be sick while you’re writing exams. You want to have better memory retention,” he said.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Makes: two dozen muffins Wet Ingredients
4 Vegan Eggs (4 tbs of flaxseed meal + 10 tbs of water) ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce ½ cup of almond milk 3 cups of E.D. Smith canned pumpkin pie filling 1 and ¼ cup of brown sugar 1 cup of melted vegan butter such as Earth Balance
Dry Ingredients 4 and ¼ cups of flour 2 tbs baking powder 1 tbs baking soda 2-3 tbs of ground cinnamon Pecan halves for topping 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Whisk the wet ingredients together thoroughly. The vegan butter has a tendency to rest on top, so make sure to get it all mixed together. 3. In a large, separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients slowly, beating continuously with a wooden spoon. 4. Spoon the batter into muffin tins. Fill the tins to the top to ensure your muffins will have a big, fluffy top. Add 3–4 pecan halves to top. Bake for 25–30 minutes.
Reflection Those 30 days really taught me a lot about my own self-control. Even if you don’t find yourself a follower of the vegan philosophy, I encourage everyone to try veganism for at least a couple of weeks, as it can be a really good way to test your dedication. Will I remain a vegan? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no. While I will definitely be paying more attention to what I’m eating, veganism didn’t fit into my lifestyle. There were several substitutive products that I discovered that I would continue to buy — French vanilla coconut milk for coffee is delicious! For those who can live vegan every day, I applaud you and for those of you who think veganism is stupid, that’s not really for you to say. The bottom line is that everyone should be concerned with what is entering their bodies, vegan or not.
PHOTO BY WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
10 •
Arts & Life
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR ZACH GUITOR zguitor@thecord.ca
BEER
AUTUMN IS HERE...
WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
... SO IS THE BEER
Wellington Brewery Imperial Russian Stout
Collective Arts Brewing Rhyme & Reason
Cameron’s Brewing Rye Pale Ale
Grand River Brewery Highballer Pumpkin Ale
Wellington Brewery Trailhead Lager
My favourite style of beer for winter is the Russian Imperial Stout. With big roasted, chocolate and burnt malt characteristics, as well as a high ABV, this type of beer presents a ton of flavour and warmth. Wellington’s Imperial Russian Stout is my go-to. It’s a great example of the style without being over the top. Enjoyed best when not too cold so that the flavours become more pronounced. It’s thick, dark and the flavour is both sweet and woody, allowing it to go down smooth. Best served in a snifter or a pint glass, enjoy a beer fit for Russian royalty while you relax with dessert, or before bed.
This fall, I’ve continuously reached for Collective Arts’ Rhyme & Reason, a crisp extra pale ale that strikes a nice balance of pine-bitterness and palatable citrus. The brew goes down as easy as an India Session Ale, but the extra ABV comes in handy once the assignments start to pile on. Although Rhyme & Reason’s flavour notes recall brighter seasons, every sip of this brew feels like a vacation from the impending dry and cold weather. Collective Arts Brewing is committed to supporting local art by featuring select artwork on every bottle of Rhyme & Reason, making it a perfect fit in my fridge.
The India Pale Ale for me is a classic summer beer. However because it is my beer of choice all year round, I’m always looking at the LCBO for new takes on the classic hoppy formula. This season the beer that really lit my taste buds on fire was the Rye Pale Ale from Cameron’s Brewing Company out of Oakville Ontario. The beer has a weight from its rye base that softens the bitterness from the hops without sacrificing the beautiful citrusy flavour, which is also complemented by hints of spice. It’s the perfect beer for the end of a long cold day, which is just what you need for this beautiful Canadian autumn.
The pumpkins used in this beer come from the garden of Bob Hannenburg, owner and president of Grand River Brewery. The Highballer yields an orangecolour body and frothy cream-white head that looks and smells like pumpkin pie. This beer melds a subtle pumpkin taste with its balanced malt and hops profile. Its malty, caramel sweetness is contributed with the use of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla. What this beer accomplishes is taking the taste of pumpkin and letting the spices combine with it to help elevate this beer to the perfect companion for fall.
Let’s be honest, sometimes you just want to get shit-faced. Why else is Phil’s still standing? If you’re looking for a mediocre brew that will get you the buzz you’re searching for, without having to compromise your hard-earned money, go for Trailhead Logger. It’s beer. Tastes like beer. Smells like beer. Spills like beer. If you’re planning on throwing a final backyard kegger before the weather feels like knives stabbing your face, grab a keg of this cheap party juice. You might not feel like a pretentious intellectual showing off how cultured you are — but fuck those people.
–Jon Johnson
–Zach Guitor
–Mynt Marsellus
–Bryan Stephens
–Mitchell Consky
FOOD
Just a total Sausagefest ZACH GUITOR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
On October 17, the City of Waterloo hosted the first-ever Sausagefest in Waterloo Public Square. Sausagefest is a festival aimed at celebrating the prolific meat cylinder and local craft beer while bringing the community together one last time before the end of Oktoberfest. Tracy Suerich, a festival and events specialist for the City of Waterloo, emphasized that the festival was more than just a clever name. “There’s something synonymous with October, sausages and beer in this town,” said Suerich. “There weren’t as many Oktoberfest events happening in Waterloo this year and we wanted to step in and help the uptown businesses by drawing people in.” While some of the offerings were quite tasty, the lack of diversity in sausage-centric vendors led the festival to fall flat. Only five food vendors participated: Abe Erb, Zoup!, Molly Blooms, Beertown and Top Meat Market. Of the five, only three vendors presented sausages in their true form. Molly Blooms presented a classic rendition of bangers and mash, slathered in a savory gravy. The sausage was said to be imported from the United Kingdom, which made
the dish feel like true British comfort food. Next up was Zoup!, who presented two soups that contained pieces of sausages. Shrug. Zoup! is not exactly the most prolific sausage producer, which led their appearance at the festival to feel like a last ditch effort to expand the vendor list. All things considered, the soup certainly hit the spot given the frigid temperatures during the festival. From there was Abe Erb, who served up a solid pork and fennel sausage. No complaints here. This was the first sausage tried that was actually made in-house by the vendor and Abe Erb earned kudos for using local ingredients as well. Unfortunately, Abe Erb’s excellent brews were absent from the festival beer list. However attendees still had a solid list of local brews with offerings from Innocente and Block Three Brewing, to name a few. Beertown offered a pork sausage taco that presented the best value for those in attendance, but failed to leave a lasting mark. For a festival that is intended to celebrate the sausage, Beertown’s experimental dish came off as a questionable attempt to either stand out among vendors, or rather mask an uninspired sausage. As a standalone dish, the tacos were solid, but felt out of place at a festival that was already
lacking in vendor support. Finally there was Top Market Meats, a family-owned farm out of Ariss, Ontario that specializes in rabbit meat. This vendor boasted eight different sausages to sample, including a delectable souvlaki goat sausage and their specialty rabbit sausage. “It’s something different that people can try, it’s seasoned perfectly for them … [rabbit sausage] was the beginning of our niche and unique sausage offerings,” said Leslie Zinger, a farmer at Top Market Meats. By delivering in both quantity and quality, Top Market earned the praise of most in attendance, and certainly made them a festival highlight. In the end, Sausagefest failed to meet most expectations, but should still seen as an admirable effort for a first attempt. Rather than the competition style expected from food festivals, Sausagefest felt like a giant, friendly potluck — which inevitably led most vendors to lack ambition and dial-in their dishes. If organizers expect to capture a greater audience next year and deliver a memorable experience, they must put more of an emphasis on vendors that specialize in sausages. With proper time and effort, Sausagefest has the potential to be more than just an excuse to get day-drunk.
ARTS & LIFE • 11
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 CONCERT
WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR
A five-year reunion with STARS MANJOT BHULLAR CORD ARTS
On October 18, STARS made their triumphant return to Starlight Social Club after a five-year absence and brought energy unseen from previous shows. Coming out after the soothing and ethereal opening band, Seoul, STARS began their set by voicing their thoughts on the then upcoming election to an amused crowd. Many dedicated fans expected nothing less given the band’s history of vocal political stances. “Welcome to the first official Harper going away party,” exclaimed STARS frontman Torquil Campbell, who took no time in slamming the
outgoing prime minister. The band used Laureen Harper as a segue into “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” while Campbell donned a “Stop Harper” tee, which garnered a roaring response from the audience. STARS transformed the energy in the intimate venue by injecting the audience with heavy drums, bright lights and powerful vocals — which commanded attention and captivated the audience. As the audience was swept out from perimeter tables and onto their feet, the stage got closer than ever as onlookers beamed at the return of the beloved band. The crowd remained transfixed on the duality of vocals as Campbell’s powerful voice beamed in and out of Amy Millan’s
FILM
Movie review: Joe Wright’s Pan This dark Peter Pan origin story both captivated and divided audiences
MYNT MARSELLUS MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
Joe Wright is a well-known British director whose best film, the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Kiera Knightly, is well regarded as a modern classic. Since then he’s been known for stylistically imaginative if not always critically acclaimed films like Atonement, Anna Karenina and Hanna. Pan is a perfect addition to his canon as one of the weirdest and certainly most controversial films of 2015. Pan is a Peter Pan origin story where we learn about his parents, his initial trip to Neverland, his meeting Tinkerbell, Captain James Hook, Smee and Tiger Lily, and of course how he learned to fly. The story is hard to describe without entering spoiler territory, but these questions could help give you a sense of the tone Joe Wright went for. How would you feel hearing The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in a movie that ostensibly takes place during World War II? How would you like to see Hugh Jackman playing a pixie dust-huffing slave driving pirate looking for immortality? Could the origin story of Peter Pan really be a fantastical rehashing of James Cameron’s Avatar? These questions
should provide a good barometer of whether this movie is for you. The production values of this film are stunningly beautiful. With four major distinct set pieces, Wright managed to take an enormous mining pit, a wild jungle, a mystical fairy crystal land and a World War II era British orphanage right out of Oliver Twist and make a world that feels fresh and original. Every shot feels perfectly crafted with Wright using his signature long takes to maneuver around Neverland, adding to the magic of the experience. The cast is universally extravagant. Levi Miller has intense chemistry as the young Peter and Garrett Hedlund mugs Harrison Ford circa 1981 in the role of Captain James Hook. While the casting was rightly controversial, Rooney Mara’s performance as Tiger Lily was very solid and Adeel Akhtar shows off his comedy chops in the role of Mr. Smee. The performance that will determine how you feel about the movie as a whole though, is Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard. He is swinging for the rafters in every shot and the intensity with which he plays the role is truly shocking. Pan really rests on his shoulders and it is not surprising that many were not positive on the film given how divisive his performance is. Pan is a movie that kids will love, and adults who love gorgeous and audacious filmmaking will appreciate. But if you are expecting the Peter Pan you grew up with as a kid, get ready for something new.
“[Starlight] is such a classic venue, it was a great way to end this leg of the tour. [Tonight] sort of feels like the end of the tour.” -Patrick McGee, drummer for STARS
euphoric vocals. “Unlike some concerts I’ve been to, STARS fans for some reason are very proactive and participatory,” said Patrick McGee, drummer for STARS. The excitement built up to an
enthralling performance of “No One Is Lost,” the lead single off their latest record of the same name. Speaking to the band’s career and commitment to staying creative, McGee mentioned, “When you’re living in the [music] world, you don’t want to drop the ball — and it’s totally inspiring.” STARS definitely did not drop the ball as “No One Is Lost” proved to liven up many in the audience who waited the entire night to hear the track performed live. “Friends and business can become abrasive, and we wanted to remain friends [with Arts & Crafts],” McGee commented when asked about leaving Arts & Crafts and creating their own record label Soft Revolution Records.
The sounds off No One Is Lost, are said to reflect both upon the studio atmosphere where it was conceived and a gay discothèque nearby whose music moved the album to have a more electronic sound. STARS took the stage one last time for an encore performance of their hit single, “Dead Hearts.” The audience fell into a trance as they were gently brought down into the conclusion of the night. Anticipating a walk home in below zero temperatures, couples took this final opportunity to warm up with scattered slow dances. “[Starlight] is such a classic venue, it was a great way to end this leg of our tour. [Tonight] sort of feels like the end of the tour, and that’s just a cherry on top,” said McGee.
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12 •
Editorial
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015 OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca
The imminent rise of the Toronto Blue Jays bandwagon Regardless of what happens next against the Kansas City Royals, the Toronto Blue Jays have managed to win the hearts of countless Canadians from coast to coast. Thousands of fans have tuned in eagerly for each game, anticipating the suspenseful action with eyes glued to the screen and hearts aching for victory. And victory is what has been served. After defeating the Texas Rangers and becoming the American League Division Series Champions, the Toronto Blue Jays are now one series away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 1993. But it wouldn’t be the first time our hopes and dreams have been viciously ripped from our souls… *cough— Leafs —cough*. Whether you’ve been a “die-hard” for the last 20 years, or an excited fan for the last two weeks, the Blue Jays are receiving explosive encouragement and support from a wide range of spectators. But unlike the other teams currently fighting to advance, the Blue Jays have more than their city rooting them on. Canadians all over are cheering for every hit, screaming for every pitch and booing every ques-
tionable umpire call. Players like Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, David Price and Kevin Pillar have become household names for families everywhere — even for those who have never watched a game of baseball until recently. Yes, the bandwagon is getting bigger every day, and that is no bad thing. We believe victory is the fundamental basis for generating a following. The last time the Jays won the World Series was in 1993 and there have been countless fans cheering them on ever since. Perhaps it’s not a matter of who’s a band wagoner, but rather who’s been on the wagon the longest. At some point, every supporter needs to feel the inspiration to jump on, but the true fans will stay on even after the ride is over. The Jays have given Toronto their long-awaited taste of victory, and in order to go all the way, they’ll need all the support they can get. So “die-hards,” “two-week-fans” and even those who don’t know what “stirring the pot” is, are all welcomed.
University officials maintain strong communication As journalists, it is essential to have immediate access to imperative information in times of emergency. It is our duty and obligation to inform the public about important developments in times of need, especially when lives can depend on it. On October 10 at 6:00 a.m., Wilfrid Laurier University was placed on lockdown because of an Internet threat that was suspected to put the lives of students in danger. Throughout the day, we were informed in detail about significant developments through the department of communications, public affairs and marketing at Laurier, the Waterloo Regional Police and Special Constable Services. As a result, we were able to do our job to the best of our ability, notifying the student body and keeping as many people as possible informed about what was going on. Never once did we feel out of the know, which is important when working on something as intense and potentially severe as a lockdown. The university’s SafeHAWK mobile safety application proved useful for students and officials, notifying students when the lockdown was in place, when it was lifted and when the suspect was caught.
Interviews were done in quick timing and access to information was relatively easy given the severity of the event. We were able to report constant developments to students, keeping them aware of what was happening. We were respected for our work by city and university officials, and were notified immediately about the press conference with president Max Blouw. Our job and mission will always be to inform and engage the student community, and through the information we were given Friday, we could do this to the best of our abilities. Such a strong network of communication was and is extremely valuable for our role on campus. Student journalists are the first line of communication when campus emergencies occur. The exchange of information would not be possible if not for the empowering connections that kept us in the loop. Our duties will only be carried through if those internal resources continue to give us the disclosure we require. That is the only way we can continue being the tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University.
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.
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JOSHUA AWOLADE/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
End of the political storm MYNT MARSELLUS MULTI MEDIA DIRECTOR
This is my third opinion piece on the 42nd Canadian federal election and I’ve got to say, I’m pleased with how my predictions from last December and May have panned out. I told the NDP to swing left to mobilize progressive voters, and when they swung to the centre instead they lost the momentum they had developed in May’s Alberta election. I told the Conservatives to stay calm, and when they got excited with issues like the niqab and barbaric cultural practices the world shamed us in embarrassment and progressives united under a surprisingly resistant Justin Trudeau. I told the Liberals to not screw up and not freak out and their passionate progressive approach resonated with voters to the point where for the first time in Canadian history, the third-place party from the previous election has formed a majority government. This 11-week campaign was absolutely grueling at times, but I think it may have been the best national campaign in Canadian history. At different points in the campaign, all three leaders were in first, second and third place in the polls and their messages informed a debate on both substantive issues and the politics of values and personality. Like many Canadians, I went into this election not knowing who I was going to vote for and coming out of it, I am both proud of the decision
I made and proud of the people around me who chose differently. This election was not fought on one issue, it was fought on many different and competing priorities. Stephen Harper defended his role in the current shape of the Canadian economy, rightfully putting the choice for voters concerned with tax policy that the Conservatives were the only choice people wanting no tax increases. He also offered a vision for Canadian leadership in the world that neither Thomas Mulcair nor Justin Trudeau could find a good response to. And on the issue of the niqab he found an issue that resonated with, if polls are to be believed, a large majority of Canadians. Stephen Harper played to his base, and tried to play to those outside of his base yet his poll numbers never got much above 35 per cent. This is in part because Mulcair put forward a vision for a fiscally responsible but socially progressive Canada. While it would turn out to be his downfall, he did not shy away from his critics on issues like the Senate, the niqab and balanced budgets. But his poll numbers started falling in mid-September and they never recovered. Trudeau was the ultimate winner of this election, and it was because he built a tent that pulled together Canadians looking for change with various different priorities. Half of his support was already sold on his promises of electoral reform and his vision for a new way of doing politics. Some old school Keynesian Liberals came back to the party when he promised infrastructure investment
and deficit spending, some democratic socialists joined up with his talk of using taxes to better redistribute wealth. And finally some people of all political stripes saw in him the politics of hope that they saw in Barack Obama’s presidential run in 2008 and Jack Layton’s campaign in 2011. Trudeau and his team crafted a vision that understood how diverse Canada is as a country, and the 11week campaign let him prove that he is in fact ready to be prime minister. It was a feat no one, not even Justin Trudeau himself expected, and yet here we are. The question now is where do we go from here? With this result the 42nd Canadian election will likely be the last decided by the first-past-the-post system. Mulcair is going to stay on as leader of the NDP, but for how long we don’t know. The progressive vote in Canada is still divided, and this election has not resolved the deeper issues of what it means to be a Liberal or a New Democrat, especially in a more proportional system. Stephen Harper’s resignation was swift and the Conservative Party is going to be in a chaotic struggle for its heart between the progressive conservatives and the social conservatives that both felt underserved by Stephen Harper’s leadership. 2015 is less the first election for a new Canada and more the death knell for a way of doing politics that Canadians are tired of. If a new system of voting is implemented, the parties and all their supporters will be taking their first steps into uncharted territory. The future is bright for new methods of engagement in Canadian politics.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
• 13
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca
MITCHELL CONSKY/OPINION EDITOR
The Middle East may be storming with political tension, conflicting ideologies, violence and absolute corruption, but it is also a land of beauty, technological developments and social advocacy.
Unveiling the Middle East life Beyond the controversy and chaos, the Middle East has much to offer for travellers and locals
FARAZ IFTEKHARUDDIN OPINION COLUMNIST
Media and social media alike oftentimes paint a very grim, one-dimensional picture of the Middle East. From afar, all that is evident is a hostile region where nobody gets along, unrest is rampant and human rights are violated on a daily basis. The above is certainly true to a degree. Yet, it is nowhere near everything this region has to offer. More intricate realities of the Middle East are usually known to only those who have lived in the region themselves, none of which include riding a camel to school. Although religion takes precedent in this part of the world, people are not obsessed with it. People do not shun themselves to their homes in fear of the state. They are a lot like you and I, who will grab a coffee at a corner café and talk
$2.75 Domest ic
... Throughout most of the region, strong family values prevail, possible even more so than much of the West.
about soccer, movies, global events or what they did on the weekend. They spend time with their families. In fact, throughout most of the region, strong family values prevail, possibly even more so than much of the West. Not everyone in the Middle East is Muslim, not everyone in the Middle East speaks solely Arabic. One of the several languages spoken in this region is Persian, Turkish, English, Urdu Kurdish and Hebrew. Apart from the obvious Jewish population in Israel, there are significant number of Christians and Jewish communities in the area.
P l ay Pong for Prizes
Contrary to popular belief, a majority of the region is not a dangerous, hostile desert land. Indeed, 60 per cent of the region’s population lives in big urban cities such as Cairo, Dubai and Riyadh. Life happens just like it would anywhere else. Traffic jams consume the morning times and early evenings, malls get filled up on weekends with all kinds of shoppers who can stroll along the likes of Gap, Zara, H&M, Gucci and all else. Free tables are in scarcity at a range of shisha bars, eateries and cafes to drop by, including prominent names such as Chili’s, Applebee’s and several other steakhouses. In Dubai? You could go indoor skiing at the Emirates Mall, one of the greatest malls in the world. There are plenty of things to do in this area ranging from desert dune dashing in an SUV to jet-skiing in the Red Sea, to having a camp fire under the star-lit night sky of the desert. Many people who have not lived in the Middle East themselves have not witnessed the yearning for social responsibility present among each
other. A tradition urged by religion requires one to look after their neighbours, the poor and the sick. While food and presents are constantly exchanged between neighbours, the poor are offered free breakfasts during the fasting and holy month of Ramadan. A characteristic we all know too well is the inequality of opportunity for women across the Middle East. Nevertheless, many governments have made modest strides towards improving conditions for women. Many Jordanian women have started managing their own businesses and taken up traditional jobs dominated by males. More women in the United Arab Emirates are starting to get involved in politics. In the United Arab Emirates employment for women has gone up from 11.6 per cent in 1995 to 66 per cent in 2007, with two female ambassadors serving abroad. Yes, the Middle East still has its problems. Violence, intolerance and corruption remain an underlying reality.
But is it worth visiting the Palm Islands of Dubai, pyramids of Cairo and rock-cut architecture of Petra, Jordan ...
But that is not the extent of reality. With a few exceptions, these issues do not dominate the realm of Middle Eastern culture any more than handgun violence and immigration tensions in the United States. The majority would probably not consider living in the Middle East, even if it meant that you would pay less for gas than you would for water and mostly live a tax-free life. But is it worth visiting the Palm Islands of Dubai, pyramids of Cairo and rock-cut architecture of Petra Jordan, party central of Beirut? Firsthand experience tells me there is no shadow of a doubt.
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14 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
New flavours are in poor taste An unnecessary variety of flavour options are taking away the enjoyment of original snacks
ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS PHOTO EDITOR
Just the other day I had an overly powerful food craving — the kind that consumes your mind. It was for a specific brand of cheddar cheese crackers and I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had a whole bag to myself. When I was finally at the store, reaching for a bag with joy, I realized that the only flavour available with cheddar was “cheddar-jalapeño.” My whole world suddenly went grey. Anyone who knows me knows I can’t do spicy. It was as if someone placed a winning lottery ticket in front of me, coated it with my own personal kryptonite and said “DO IT. JUST DO IT.” I know, it’s a very first-world
Parents are always telling their kids, “don’t play with your food,” yet it seems adults are the ones who tend to play ...
problem, which I obviously got over. But it made me think that we have an extremely large abundance of random flavours. Are the majority of them even good? For those who can actually handle spicy food, cheddar-jalapeno might not be as horrifying, but nowadays there are so many random flavours that it seems to alienate us as consumers. There are butter-chicken chips and jelly beans that taste like vomit. Realistically, we all cringe at the thought of vomit but when we decide to put it in jelly bean form it’s considered fun to eat. Instead of mass distributing an overload of different flavours, let’s just slow down and enjoy one flavour at time. A lot of crazy flavours don’t even seem to taste anything like what they are supposed to be yet we go crazy over them. Parents are always telling their kids, “don’t play with your food,” yet it seems adults are the ones who tend to play with food more than anyone. Eating has become a game. We have taken food to a whole new level and created a Frankenfood monster out of it. Once upon a time, food used to be an art that we had the privilege of enjoying. This doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Some people get a huge kick out of playing Doritos roulette, where a bag has mostly the chips you want to eat
The next time you just want a regular flavoured snack, it might not be there ...
with the exception of a small amount of insanely hot ones. Buying chips no longer has anything to do with wanting a tasty snack, but to see our friends burn their taste buds off. Regular flavours also seem to be more obsolete. The next time you just want a regular flavoured snack, it might not be there because the demand for extreme new flavours are too high. I remember when drinking cherry coke used to be such a special occasion since I could only get it once in a blue moon. Now thanks to McDonald’s, you can get every flavour imaginable from their drink machine of endless possibilities. That special value of getting rare flavours is lost on us because we have such easy access to all of them now. Snacks just aren’t the same anymore. Stop the madness involved with the flavour revolution, and someone please just find me a regular bag of cheddar fucking cheese crackers.
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHIC ARTIST
Waterloo: Conestoga Mall (former Target) Kitchener: Sunrise Plaza (former Future Shop) Guelph: in Stone Road Mall Brantford: King George Rd across from Wal-Mart London: former Future Shop on Wellington
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
Sports
• 15 SPORTS EDITOR DREW YATES dyates@thecord.ca
SOCCER
Scoring slump continues Playoff push continues despite losing offensive touch KILLIAN CUPPAGE STAFF WRITER
JESSICA DIK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Luca Pietropaolo battles for a ball during Laurier’s 2-0 loss to the Windsor Lancers on Friday night. Laurier lost both contests over the weekend.
SPORTS IN BRIEF Women’s fastball captures silver For the second straight year, the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s fastball team captured the silver medal at the provincial level. The team went into the Ontario Intercollegiate Women’s Fastpitch Association along with seven other teams to compete for gold, but lost to the champion Western Mustangs 7-0. The Hawks remained dominant in round robin play, winning 10-2 against the Carleton Ravens before carrying that momentum with a 5-3 victory against the Ottawa Gee-Gees and a 3-1 victory against the Brock Badgers. After winning their semifinal game in a rematch against the Gee-Gees, the Hawks would go on to capture the silver medal.
Slow start for men’s hockey Despite kicking off the season with a 3-2 overtime win against the York Lions, the Wilfrid Laurier University men’s hockey team dropped the next two road games 6-1 and 4-2 against the No. 9 Western Mustangs and Toronto Varsity Blues. After taking a 2-1 lead in the second, the Lions tied the game with six minutes left in the game. Mike Webley ended the overtime affair 46 seconds in for the Hawks first win at home. The next two away game losses brought Laurier to 1-2 overall in the season. The Hawks will look to end their skid when the RMC Paladins will be entertained for Laurier Brantford Homecoming.
The spotlight has shifted away from the Wilfrid Laurier University men’s soccer team. Since their Ontario University Athletics championship in 2008, the Hawks have yet to make it further than the quarter-finals while missing the playoffs in two of the last six seasons The Hawks faced two nationallyranked teams this past weekend, the Windsor Lancers and McMaster Marauders, dropping both contests 2-0 and 1-0 respectively and failing to score a goal in both games. Laurier has been shutout for their last four games, with their last goal coming on October 1 in a 1-1 draw with the York Lions. Second-year defender Tahrik Rodriques leads a scrappy Hawks backline. According to Rodriques, the Hawks have yet to reach their potential. “I felt the first game against Windsor, we didn’t come out as strong as we could have, we didn’t play as a unit. We hope from here on out that despite the losses we can move forward. Our energy against McMaster
“We hope from here on out that despite the losses we can move forward.”
-Tahrik Rodriques, second-year defender
was a lot better than in our game against Windsor,” he said. Laurier has shown glimpses all season of being able to compete with the OUA elite. They had a stint where they went 3-1-2 midway through the season, but have lost their last three contests heading into the final weekend. “We’re more organized and disciplined in the way we played, we kept our shape a lot better, communication was better, ball movement a lot better,” Rodriques said. In early October they tied twotime defending OUA championship York and shutout Guelph 2-0. Guelph sits fourth in the OUA West
division and currently is one spot ahead of the Hawks. Sitting at a 4-6-4 overall record, Laurier sits fifth and could be making a trip back to the playoffs. Rodriques has high hopes for the team to close out the season. “Hopefully we can bring that same energy and intensity in our last two games against Guelph and Brock,” he said. Laurier could have the offensive and defensive power to beat any team in the remaining weeks of the season. Niklas Bauer is tied for second in the OUA in goals with nine, and has established himself as a top midfielder. Goalkeeper Stephan Brudiu has kept the Hawks in games, evidenced by his four shutouts this season. This may be a valuable asset for teams looking to make a playoff run. Brudiu sits second in save-percentage with .855 and is tied for third in fewest goals against with eight. The Hawks have pulled an upset in the first round of the playoffs three straight years. The road continues as they host Guelph on Friday at 8:15 p.m., before heading to St. Catharines to take on the Brock Badgers Sunday.
16 • SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
SOCCER
SHELBY BLACKLEY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With a 0-0 draw against Windsor and a 1-0 victory against McMaster, Laurier moves to 10-2-2 on the season and currently chases second place, held by Western for first-round bye in playoffs.
Laurier left with much to prove Hawks keep chasing first-round playoff bye after pulling within one point of Western Mustangs JOSH PETERS STAFF WRITER
Although the Wilfrid Laurier University women’s soccer team walked off the field Sunday with a win on the scoreboard, they still feel they have much more to prove. The Hawks downed the McMaster Marauders 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at University Stadium, moving to 10-2-2 on the season and pushing the Marauders to 6-6-3. Laurier now sits one point back of the secondplace Western Mustangs with a game at hand with two games left in the season. The win followed a 0-0 tie against the fifth-place Windsor Lancers on Saturday night. The lone tally of the match be-
longed to second-year striker Nicole Lyon, as she slid one into the corner of the net from the top of the 18-yard box 33 minutes into the game. First-year goalkeeper Ashley Almedia was also able to pick up the shutout, making key saves down the stretch to keep her team in the lead. According to head coach Barry MacLean, the win was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance. “Well, it was good to get a win, but I think our performance was one of our worst of the year,” he said. “We have got to find a way to get back to playing the way we play. But, definitely good to get a shutout and definitely good to get a win.” MacLean was not impressed with his team’s ability to control the game
through 90 minutes, seeking out several areas of improvement. “We didn’t keep possession of the ball, we didn’t move the ball and we didn’t keep the tempo of the game. I think the other team probably had more chances than we did. Those are things that are not hallmarks of our game,” he said. The Hawks busted out of the gate this season, going undefeated in their first nine games, and filling the stat sheet along the way. However after two losses to the first-place York Lions and a tough match against Western, the team simply has not been playing up to par. “The past few weeks have not been our best games. We’ve been strug-
gling a bit. We have had two games Saturday and Sunday one after the other, which obviously makes it difficult, but we have to get some character and pull through in order to get back and stay in second place,” Lyon said. Lyon’s goal on Sunday afternoon was number 12 for her of the season, moving her just one back of her teammate Emily Brown for the league lead. Lyon’s presence on the field has been crucial for Laurier as a strong, aggressive player, filling the gap left by graduate Julie Maheu. The production has drawn the praise of her coach. “She has had a great season and she scored a good goal. She’s an
exceptional, gifted player for sure,” said MacLean. The Hawks will play two more games against the Guelph Gryphons and the Brock Badgers to close their season. Lyon said these two games are important not only for the standings, but for their confidence as a team. “It’s crucial for us to stay where we are. We can’t take first place, but we really need to get second place. We need to pick our game up, find it deep inside of us and work on things that have been lacking these last couple of games,” she said. The Golden Hawks will play their last home game of the year against the Gryphons on Friday, October 23 at University Stadium, at 6 p.m.
FOOTBALL
One last step in postseason pursuit Laurier battles Queen’s with a win or go home scenario DREW YATES SPORTS EDITOR
Michael Faulds is treating the Wilfrid Laurier men’s football voyage to Kingston like a business trip. The Hawks will take on the Queen’s Gaels on oct. 24 in the Ontario University Athletics season finale. A win sends the Hawks to the playoffs. A loss? Home with an early offseason. Laurier is coming off a 30-21 loss against the McMaster Marauders, which held them back from clinching a playoff spot for the second straight season. After getting their passing game up and running, the Hawks offence has found some diversity, switching between moving the ball in the air and on the ground to generate points in the endzone. The potent offence buried the Ottawa GeeGees 30-65 on Oct. 9, but falling against McMaster means the squad still has work to do if they hope to make it to the playoffs. “The situation and the reality is that we need to win to get into the playoffs, so if that doesn’t make you focus then I don’t know what will,” Faulds said. “Queen’s is a good football team. They beat Guelph last week and they are peaking at the right time, so we need to come away with a victory, and that’s going to take a business-like attitude to do so.”
“It was a different attitude after [the game against Windsor], we really got to business, and started working harder, started being more disciplined in practice,” first-year Matt Williams said. The Hawks threw a wrench into Ottawa’s postseason dreams by playing what was considered a “playoff game,” knowing full well the season was on the line. Second-year pivot Eric Morelli has stepped up in the starting role, using a multitude of receiving targets like rookie Kurleigh Gittens Jr., fifth-year Greg Nyhof, fourth-year Anthony Pizzuti and third-year Marcus Arkarakas to drive the Laurier offence. On the ground, fifth-year running back Dillon Campbell continued as the main carrier for the Hawks, totalling 362 rushing yards, shattering records along the way in tying for most carries in a single game and putting up another over-240 yard game. The Laurier defence held strong, limiting two of the OUA’s strongest quarterbacks in Ottawa’s Derek Wendel and Asher Hastings of the Marauders. Even special teams seemed to be clicking, as they contributed a 101-yard touchdown courtesy of Gittens Jr. during the McMaster tilt, igniting his breakout. Gittens scored
two of his three touchdowns against the Marauders and showcased his explosive speed when he caught the ball. Laurier gave Hastings and the Marauders a scare, picking Hastings off twice and matching his total interceptions for the season in a single game. The Hawks came close to defeating the defending Yates Cup champions, but missed various opportunities on offence. After a run-and-gun first quarter where each team put up 21 points, McMaster got the better of the Hawks by forcing a safety and finding the endzone one more time in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t without trying. The Hawks marched down the field on the strong effort of Campbell, but Morelli fumbled in the red zone and McMaster recovered. The Hawks also missed a field goal that could have helped cut into the Marauder lead. “Definitely the one on the top of my list on plays I would like to have back,” Morelli said. “It was just a weird sort of play, I pulled [the ball] back quickly and it sort of slipped out. That’s solely on me on that one.” The only obstacle that stands in the way of the Hawks going to the postseason is the Gaels. The Gaels sit comfortably in fifth place and will provide a challenge after upsetting
JESSICA DIK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Carson Ouellette carries the ball during Saturday’s 30-21 loss to McMaster.
the No. 7 Guelph Gryphons two weeks ago, but struggled against the bottom-dwellers, the York Lions last week. Faulds is looking to make the necessary adjustments to the Hawks in order to succeed and make the postseason a reality. “My message to the guys was we got to do better inside the red zone. In the second half [against McMas-
ter] we had some really good drives and we just didn’t capitalize, so we had the one really big fumble and then a third down conversion in the end that we didn’t convert,” he explained. “These are plays we need to make and we’ll need to make them next week in Kingston.” Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Richardson Stadium.