THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 61 ISSUE 8 • APRIL 6, 2022
RISE HIGH, GOLDEN HAWKS
FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS
RAMADAN AT LAURIER
ANIME ANALYSIS
STRIKING UP A DEAL
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
Menstrual equity initiative pushes for change
Muslim Chaplaincy offers services
A review of Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Breaking down the Liberal-NDP pact
Women’s hockey finishes season with win
News, page 5
News, page 7
Arts & Life, page 12
Opinion, page 16
Sports, page 18
2 •
WEDNESDAY APRIL 6, 2022
CAMPUS EVENTS
Sunday, April 3, 4:006:00 PM
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The Cord
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CORD PHOTO PICKS
The Cord THIS DAY IN HISTORY: APRIL 6
Laurier Recreation Dance Showcase
46 BC: Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Younger) in the battle of Thapsus.
Monday, April 4 Last day of Winter term classes.
1843: William Wordsworth is appointed British Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria.
Thursday, April 7 Final examination period begin.
1889: George Eastman begins selling his Kodak flexible rolled film for the first time.
Thursday, April 7, 11:30 AM-12 PM
1906: World's first animated cartoon is released, "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" by J. Stuart Blackton.
International migration in a changing climate: A role for Canada. Friday, April 8, 12:15 PM
1930: Hostess Twinkies invented by bakery executive James Dewar.
Get to know with Jonathan Newman.
1931: First broadcast of Little Orphan Annie on NBC-radio.
Saturday, April 9, 4:00-5:00 PM
1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 45 performances.
Miriam Nisonen Oliver Voice Graduation Recital
1980: Post It Notes introduced.
Monday, April 11, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
1982: Largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Minnesota 52,279.
MFA for Students Dropin Support Session
1992: George Harrison performs his final full concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, in a benefit for the transcendental mediation based Natural Law political party.
Wednesday, April 27, 7:00-8:00 PM Laurier EdTalks: The Community School Initiative.
2009: Star Trek film reboot directed by J.J. Abrams, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto premieres in Austin, Texas.
Sunday, April 24, 10:30 AM Thirdspace alternative worship.
2020: Nadia, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo (New York City), tests positive for COVID-19, first known case of human-tocat transmission.
Monday, April 25 Last day of final examinations.
2020: US COVID-19 death toll passes 10,000 in six weeks, with more than 356,000 American infected, New York death toll reaches 4,758.
Monday, April 25, 7:30-8:30 PM Jiajun Ou Percussion Graduation Recital
2021: Jeff Bezos, worth $177 billion, tops Forbes Billionaires list of 2,755 people. TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR, DARYL DONATO/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
NEXT ISSUE SUMMER 2022
OPINION EDITOR Sam Duffy opinion@thecord.ca
CORD STAFF
SPORTS EDITOR Mark Cascagnette sports@thecord.ca
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waitson editor@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR Tim Harrison photos@thecord.ca
MANAGING EDITIOR Brontë Behling
VIDEO EDITOR Katherine Fitzpatrick managingeditor@thecord.ca video@thecord.ca MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Kashyap Patel multimedia@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Ashley Barry news@thecord.ca
NEWS DIRECTOR Yasmeen Almomani news@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Elizabeth Nnanna photos@thecord.ca
ARTS EDITOR Amichai Abraham arts@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Daryl Donato photos@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Crystal Xue arts@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Ethan Caplan sports@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Conor Columb Rushi Gandhi Madalyn Mostacci
“Interpretations of the occult” - Brontë Behling
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.
COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.
The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.
PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently
conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications is located on the Haldimand tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples. We recognize, honour and respect these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and water on which Student Publications is now present.
Cover graphic by Kash Patel
Quote of the week: “Is that a cheque under your Croc?” - Multimedia Director Kash Patel to WLUSP President Brit Kovacs after he noticed where she put her pay stub
3 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
REVIEWING THE STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD The following reviews are based on interviews conducted with members of the Students’ Union board of directors as a means to reflect on the term and evaluate their performance as representatives of Wilfrid Laurier University’s undergraduate student body. the information presented in these reviews is pulled directly from these discussions and does not reflect the opinions or views of the cord.
PHOTO NOT FOUND
PEGAH JAMALOF
PRESIDENTT
President Jamalof did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. Pegah Jamalof is concluding her year as President and CEO of the Students’ Union with a stronger understanding of student governance practices, as well as a more adept awareness of board policies and procedures. President Jamalof was praised for her passion for mental health initiatives and effective use of the students’ union’s social media accounts to spread awareness of SU events and projects. She was noted to have room for improvement in the way she commu-
ANDREW DANG
for the students’ union. President Jamalof is wished the best as she transitions out of her role.
CHAIR
After wrapping up his third and final year on the board of directors, Chair Dang is completing his term on a positive note and is recognized by his peers for his dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to treating his team with respect and kindness. Chair Dang was noted for his more consistent responsibility in addressing board concerns this semester. He made a tangible effort to push forward initiatives that the board has been working on establishing. Examples include live streaming board meetings, setting up equity, diversity, and inclusion training, hiring an external consultant, and resolving governance practices internally. As well, Chair Dang worked towards placing less reliance on emails in order to communicate with the board of directors, and meetings were noted to have run more smoothly over the last two months espe-
EZRA CENITI
nicated with the board and when she sent out board materials. For example, knowing which appropriate people to send emails to regarding specific issues. President Jamalof was criticized for not being fully transparent with expenditures, and it was unclear amongst her peers what definitive campus initiatives and goals she has accomplished this year. Although she was noted to have a similarly underwhelming term compared to her work in first semester, President Jamalof was recognized for her unfailing commitment to stand behind the decisions she believed were important
cially. The 2021-22 term presented a heightened number of external and internal issues that required sensitivity and more intensive training, which Chair Dang could have been better prepared to address more comprehensively. Chair Dang’s unfailingly positive attitude and desire to allow every board member to speak uninterrupted sometimes got in the way of productive meetings and led conversations off track more than necessary. Chair Dang is encouraged to follow Robert’s Rules more strictly in order to cut down on irrelevant deviations from the topics at hand, as well as recognizing the weaker performances of certain board members and addressing those problems head-on. Chair Dang was recognized for his approachable demeanor but was noted to be more well-suited for a role outside of a leadership position.
Although there were noticeable improvements this semester, items like agenda packages were still often sent out late, and Chair Dang seemed to continue to stretch himself too thin with his schedule. Overall, Chair Dang’s work and accomplishments during his tenure on the board of directors have been appreciated and valued. He is wished all the best with his future endeavors as he transitions out of his role at the end of this semester.
VICE-CHAIR
Vice-Chair Ceniti will be closing his second and final year on the board of directors this term. Throughout his time on the board, he established himself as a reliable resource and was a trustworthy presence during meetings. Noted for his commitment to seeing through his previous campaign promises, Vice-Chair Ceniti made active attempts to become more knowledgeable about board governance policies. He was able to adapt to difficult circumstances, as well as the transition from online to in-person operations well, but could have exercised more proactive efforts toward shutting down long, drawn-out
conversations in board meetings. During this year’s election period, it was noted that there was contention between Vice-Chair Ceniti and Director Symington, who were both running for Students’ Union President. However, any issues that were present during this time were effectively resolved, and the relationships between board members remained professional and respectful for the remainder of the semester. As well, it was expressed that ViceChair Ceniti could have stepped up to take on more leadership responsibilities and initiative, such as organizing the board’s social this semester.
Vice-Chair Ceniti demonstrated perfect attendance this term and made a concerted effort to attend board meetings prepared and on time. On the whole, Vice-Chair Ceniti has left a positive impact during his time on the board of directors.
NEWS • 4
Much like her performance first semester, Director Bothwell is concluding her term on the board as one of the strongest performing directors. Praised across the board as consistently engaged, prepared and effectively communicative, Director Bothwell has gone above and beyond to make sure she has done her job well. As one of two women on the board of directors this year, Director Bothwell
has done an admirable job of asserting her voice when necessary, asking questions, and proving that she is one of the most capable presences at the board table during discussions. Director Bothwell prioritized multi-campus engagement and board transparency and showcased her commitment through a boots-on-the-ground approach when needed. Her passion for student governance and
desire to hold the board accountable has also persisted throughout the year. Although Director Bothwell will not be returning to the board next semester as she is graduating, she has made a notable impact and her helpful contributions will certainly be missed.
While Director Del Giudice originally responded to The Cord’s request for an interview, he did not attend his scheduled meeting time. Director Del Giudice has solidified himself as one of the most dependable directors on the board this year and has been praised for his devotion to the role. Noted as being a hard-working,
respectful director, Director Del Giudice has prioritized his involvement with the board and has ensured that he remains professional while sitting at the helm of the virtual and in-person board table. Along with his strong attendance, Director Del Giudice contributed to board meeting conversations meaningfully and regularly and did not deviate from the topic being dis-
cussed. Director Del Giudice will be returning as Chair of the Board next semester, and based on his strong performance during his first year on the board, he is expected to take on the role well.
As one of the newest elected directors on the board, Director Phillips has proved himself to be a capable and reliable presence this term. Director Phillips was recognized as an eager member of the board who got along well with his fellow directors. He made an active effort to help where he was needed and worked towards advocating for board transparency. Despite his former unfamiliarity with
board practices and operations, as well as his late entry into the role, Director Phillips was mentioned as one of the stronger directors on the team this semester. Having missed two meetings this semester, it’s advised that Director Phillips prioritizes attendance as much as possible. As well, he is encouraged to increase his involvement with board committees so he is able to become more familiar with
specific governance practices and be better equipped to engage with board-specific information. Director Phillips will be returning to the board next term and is expected to continue the promising path he has paved for himself in such a short time period.
Director Vale will be completing his first and final term on the board of directors and is leaving behind an impressive and noteworthy impression. He was consistently praised for his adherence to board policies and was labeled as one of the top board members in terms of overall performance. Despite his many involvements this term, Director Vale effectively prioritized his position and attended every
meeting on time and fully prepared. He was one of the most vocal members on the board this year, consistently participating in group discussions and continuously demonstrating the extent of his impressive board knowledge. Fair and balanced in his approach, Director Vale’s level headedness and willingness to provide his insight on various issues were appreciated. Director Vale continued to stress the
importance of board transparency and student engagement on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. He pushed for the board meetings to be live-streamed, which was finally achieved this semester. Since he is graduating this year, Director Vale will not be returning to the board as a director. His earnest and forward-thinking approach will be missed next semester.
Director McCarthy did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests Similar to his first term on the board of directors, Director McCarthy had poor attendance and low involvement this semester. It was expressed by multiple board members that he could have paid more attention during meetings and he did not hold an active presence on the board. This will be the last semester of Director McCarthy’s position on the board.
Director Chandhoke did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. Director Chandhoke will be concluding an underwhelming term serving on the board of directors. Unfortunately, due to poor attendance, keeping his camera turned off during board meetings and a lack of engagement during votes, Director Chandhoke has not left much of an impact this semester.
sam bryant
Director Bryant was unable to commit to an interview time due to scheduling conflicts. Despite his standing as one of the two newest directors who were voted onto the board during last semester’s by-election, Director Bryant has risen to the challenge of his late arrival by becoming a strong member of the board. Director Bryant was noted by his peers for his respectable level of involvement with the board in spite of the short turnaround time involved with his training and introduction to the role.
MACKENZIE MAY
for an interview.
Director May did not respond to The Cord’s multiple requests for an interview. Director May was recognized as one of the directors on the board with the most room for improvement this semester. Similar to first semester, she was regularly absent from board meetings and it was specifically noted that it was“lucky that she was a woman or [she] would have been kicked off [the board] but [Chair Dang] only cared about optics.” As a first-time member of the board, Director May’s term as a director will be coming to a close at the end of this semester.
Director Symington did not respond to The Cord’s multiple re-
shane symington
gurgavin chandhoke
AIDEN MCCARTHY
brandon vale
Blake phillips
Francesco Del Giudice
Victoria Bothwell
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
quests for an interview. Director Symington is wrapping up his second year on the board of directors, and he is finishing this term on a consistent and reliable note. He regularly attended meetings and contributed to discussions when needed, and was noted to be very well-spoken. Having demonstrated his passion for student engagement by visiting the Brantford campus last semester, Director Symington has also made a point to advocate for increased awareness about students’ union operations to students. Director Symington will be assuming the role of president and CEO in May.
Even though he will not be returning to the board of directors next term, his contributions to the board this year have been valuable.
*These drawings are based on the photos on the SU website
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
News
• 5 NEWS DIRECTOR YASMEEN ALMOMANI news@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER ASHLEY BARRY news@thecord.ca
ADVOCACY
Initiative provides free period products on campus A promising advancement for menstrual equity has been made through a 3.5 year Laurier project EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A program at Wilfrid Laurier University is aiming to make free menstrual products readily available to students on each of the school’s campuses. This initiative is the result of 3.5 years of advocacy work that has been spearheaded by Hayley Newman-Petryshen and the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group, with support from a collection of campus organizations including the Laurier Sustainability Office, Graduate Students Association, Indigenous Student Services, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Facilities and Asset Management, and the Students’ Union. Hayley Newman-Petryshen, a Laurier alum and current master’s political science student at McGill University, said she was inspired to pursue the initiative when she realized how many students were being caught on campus without proper access to the period products they needed. “We decided to take it upon ourselves and advocate for free menstrual care products at Laurier. It’s been a long-haul initiative. We started the Menstrual Equity Committee which is a default campus group,” Newman-Petryshen said. “We’ve been doing all of these little things to bandage period poverty at Laurier in the meantime. We’ve provided Diva Cups and menstrual care products to people since the pandemic started, as well as [hosting] other educational initiatives.” At the start of 2022, funding was approved through the student affairs advisory committee in order to push the menstrual equity initiative forward. Menstrual care products will now be available to students in 14 bathrooms on the Laurier Waterloo, Brantford and Kitchener campuses until April 23. The project, which includes coin-free dispensing units and new menstrual product disposals, is intended to be both equitable and sustainable. The weekly collection from the disposals will go directly to a waste-to-energy facility, diverting waste from landfills. In order to protect the safety of trans and non-binary folks using gendered men’s washrooms locations, the product and disposal units arelocated inside accessible bathroom stalls. The company managing the machines that provide these products will be documenting usage to keep track of how frequently they’re used. “The intention [after that point] is that we’ll regroup, evaluate, and hopefully roll it out into all bathrooms as the ultimate goal,” she said. “We’ll measure success by administering some sort of survey. In August 2019, we administered a
survey to gouge period poverty at Laurier.” According to the “Musing About Menstruation” survey conducted by LSPIRG in 2019, 77 per cent of Laurier students and staff who menstruate have been on campus without period products. What’s more, 38 per cent of Laurier students and staff struggle to afford the menstrual care items they need. “We’re hoping that even though it’s only in 14 bathrooms right now that [those products] will at least provide a little bit of solace for students who are experiencing period poverty or simply get stuck without a product,” Newman-Petryshen said.
We’re hoping ... that [those products] will at least provide a little bit of solace for students who are experiencing poverty or get stuck without a product. -Hayley Newman-Petryshen, menstrual equity advocate
The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated period poverty over the last two years, causing some individuals who cannot access the items they need to resort to potentially dangerous, homemade menstrual care product alternatives that could pose risks to their health. In order to work towards starting to destigmatize menstruation, Newman-Petryshen noted the first step in breaking down menstrual shame should begin with society collectively talking about periods more. “Sometimes it just takes someone else creating a [safe] space to talk about [menstruation]. I think there’s so much power in people sharing their experiences, because it sensitizes everyone around the fact that these are shared experiences and these are shared struggles around period poverty and the panic that just comes from not having the products that you need,” Newman-Petryshen said. Additionally, the approach in these conversations needs to be reframed, with more emphasis placed on educational discourse surrounding menstruation and the people who are most affected by period poverty. “There’s also intersectionality. If you’re experiencing period poverty, there’s a good chance you’re also experiencing food insecurity. If you’re somebody who’s trans or non binary, you’re more likely to experience period poverty. All of these things intersect, and I think
FILE PHOTO
always centering those [points] into conversations is really important as well,” Newman-Petryshen said.
All of these things intersect, and I think always centering those [points] into conversations is really important as well. -Hayley Newman-Petryshen, menstrual equity advocate
“I see inclusion as the center of this conversation. When we think about the ways that institutions were built, and who they were designed for, it was often not people for people who menstruate. When I walk into places and I don’t see places where you can get menstrual care products, I see that as a historical institutional signal that
this space is not built for me.” “And whether it’s intentional or not anymore, one can debate. But the goal then is to make sure that all students now coming to Laurier and any other public place, walk in, see these products, and even if they don’t need them, that this space is for them and they have everything they need to stay here, participate, feel safe, comfortable and welcome,” she said. The end goal of the ongoing project is to ensure the availability of menstrual care products in every washroom on Laurier’s campuses. “We’re very committed to making sure that doesn’t stop at 14 bathrooms. People need to maintain their basic dignity, hygiene and comfort to participate in daily activities on campus.” The menstrual product dispenser locations Waterloo campus: • Science Building: washroom across from the dean’s office • Library: gender-neutral washroom, main floor • Martin Luther University College: gender-neutral washroom, main floor
• Fred Nichols Campus Centre: gender-neutral washroom, second floor (24 Lounge) • Bricker Academic Building: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor • Arts Building: gender-neutral washroom, second floor • Peters Building: gender-neutral washroom, first floor, by Frank’s Coffee Haus • Lazaridis School: women’s washroom, gender-neutral washroom, first floor • Athletic Complex: gender-neutral washroom, downstairs along the Kinesiology corridor Brantford campus: • Grand River Hall: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor • One Market: gender-neutral washrooms by the lounge area • Research Academic Centre West: men’s and women’s washrooms, basement • Student Centre: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor Kitchener campus: • Faculty of Social Work, gender-neutral washroom, second floor
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
CAMPUS
Space science research brought to WLU through Mission on the Moon JAMES WINSLOW NEWS INTERN
Mission on the Moon is a contribution agreement between the Canadian Space Agency, Wilfrid Laurier University and InkSmith – a 3D printing and tech-education company founded by WLU alumnus Jeremy Hedges. Hedges also founded Canadian Shield PPE, which 3D printed headbands for plastic visors during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a WLU press release, Mission on the Moon is part of the Canada Space Agency’s commitment to “investing in research and educational initiatives related to space science and technology.” “We’re developing, in collaboration with InkSmith, this six-module space STEM educational program for Canadian youth,” sulie Mueller, associate dean and professor of education at Wilfrid Laurier University and Mission on the Moon’s principal investigator said. The program will begin in Waterloo and then expand across Canada. Educational modules in Mission on the Moon will focus on “the background content and knowledge across Canadian astronauts and technology like The Arm,” Mueller said. It will also aim to teach students important computational skills that are transferable to innovative industries more broadly. Students at WLU will play a critical role in the development of Mission on the Moon and its objectives. “Our masters courses may undertake some of the research components … we see it as a
FILE PHOTO
cross-faculty ed initiative that’s very exciting,” Maria Cantalini-Williams, dean of the faculty of education at WLU and co-investigator said. Ideal outcomes for the project include outreach to underrepresented groups in STEM fields, such as BIPOC communities and girls/ women. They also include long-term engagement with the educational material being developed. In addition to short-term reach, “which is the outcome that is often required for government funded programs,” the project aims to inspire students for the long-haul. Questions like “are [students] engaged and what impact does it have?” are important to ask,
Mueller said. The ultimate goal, said Cantalini-Williams, is “to find out if [teachers] see that some [students] are more interested than they used to be.” “The short-term would be the students now, and the long-term might be to see if there’s a sustained interest in STEM education.” Another important outcome, said Mueller, “is really looking at how teacher education approaches this.” The Ontario K-8 educational curriculum is science was updated last week to include “STEM skills and Robotics, and AI and coding.” Given this update, “it’s important that we may be able to develop
another approach to educating teachers, preparing teachers and working within that triangle of the schools and teachers, the universities and faculty of education, and industry partners and community partners.” Mueller is hoping for both input and output from these key players, which ensurethat “we’re not working in isolation so that kids are addressing this at school and not necessarily having to attend a camp after school to learn how to code.” “Part of the inspiration was to make learning around STEM – both for students and the teachers – as authentic as it could be, and this is one way to do that,” Mueller said.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Laurier set to host virtual forum on human migration and climate change IAN SCHAKEL NEWS INTERN
Wilfrid Laurier University is hosting a virtual forum on human migration and the changing climate on April 7. The forum will feature Dr. Robert McLeman, a Laurier professor of environmental studies, and Dr. Edward Shizha, a Laurier professor of youth and children’s studies. It will be moderated by Ali Abukar, CEO of the Saskatoon Open Door Society which provides services for refugees new to Canada. Topics covered will include the human impacts of climate change and the experiences of those resettling in Canada, among others. Dr. McLeman will talk about the effects of changing climate inside and outside Canada and Dr Shizha will discuss how Canada can ben-
efit from the skills of professionals moving here due to climate-based displacement. The forum is part of Laurier’s Inspiring Conversations series. The series has previously hosted events on the topics of affordable housing, international conflict and the empowerment of racialized communities, among others. Like the previous events, the forum on migration will feature a short period of the speakers presenting on their area of expertise and then a moderated question period. It will also be open to the public and free to attend but requires registering online ahead of time. McLeman said he plans to approach the topic in several ways ranging from events in Canada to broader global trends to predictions on what impacts climate
change may have on human migration in the future. He mentioned extreme weather in Canada and abroad throughout the last few years as evidence that the effects of climate change are already being seen, including extreme heat and flooding in British Columbia. According to McLeman, in 2020 30 million people were displaced due to extreme weather events and issues associated with climate change. “When we’re talking about the impacts of climate change on human migration and displacement, it’s not just thinking about what might happen, this is stuff that’s happening right now,” McLeman said. McLeman said he hopes students from a wide range of faculties take an interest in the topic
and consider attending. “The solutions involve everybody […] because we’re talking about physical science, we’re talking about natural science, we’re talking about social science, we’re talking about human impacts, healthcare,” he said. “So for just about every major and every student at Laurier, there is an aspect of their degree and of their learning that is relevant to diagnosing the challenges that we face because of climate change.” For students interested in learning more about climate change and its human impacts, McLeman recommends, besides attending the forum, that they look into the IPCC report on climate change released just last February, which he helped author. More information, including how to register, can be found on Laurier Alumni’s website.
NEWS IN BRIEF Laurier to lift mask and vaccine mandates starting May 1 As Ontario relaxes public health restrictions as part of the Roadmap to Reopen, Wilfrid Laurier University will pause its mandatory vaccination, mask policy and COVID-19 screening through the SAFEHawk app as of May 1. On March 21, the province lifted the mask mandate due to decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time in over two years. With the support and recommendation of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Waterloo Region Public Health and the Brant County Unit made the decision to reduce restrictions, continuing to follow Public Health guidelines, as they have done throughout the pandemic. Although lifting mandatory vaccinations and the mask mandate will be implemented, if the conditions change, these policies can be brought back within a short notice. WLU recommends that staff, students and faculty remain up to date with third and fourth doses of the vaccine, and wear masks in indoor spaces. It is also important to note that many students and staff are at different comfort levels with relaxing these restrictions and everyone should be considerate of the personal or family reasons for continuing to wear a mask. Additionally, if the vaccination requirement is reinstated, WLU will not offer any hybrid or remote learning courses for students who do not meet the mandatory vaccination policy. WLU will continue to monitor any changing conditions in policies and restrictions over the next two months, and will provide free masks on campus for those who wish to wear them.
Fire causes $40K in damages to The Turret On March 24 at 8:20 p.m., a Clubs and Associations event ended prematurely at The Turret in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre due to an active fire that was discovered in the thirdfloor prep kitchen. The fire was extinguished by a Students’ Union staff member and there were no reported injuries. Although the fire was contained quickly, there was residual damage left to materials and kitchen equipment. The SU will be asked to make a claim through property insurance. he deductible for an incident like this would be $10,000, which requires approval from the board. Commercial cleanup to cover the damages is estimated to be $40,000.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
NEWS • 7
DIVERSITY
Student explores heritage through unique lens IAN SCHAKEL NEWS INTERN
Fourth-year Laurier PhD student Ann Marie Beals is exploring different ways to understand the experiences of Afro-Indigenous communities in Canada. In 2016, Beals, who is two-spirit and has both African and Indigenous ancestry, started working on the Proclaiming Our Roots project, headed by Laurier associate professor Ciann L. Wilson. Proclaiming Our Roots was meant to create a digital oral history of Afro-Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island. “[The project is] to talk about who we are, how we navigate on these lands and what it looks like for us, in a sense, being duel marginalized, because we are both African diasporic and have Indigenous ancestry,” Beals said. “But we’re also not homogenous […] so not to lump us together all as one but really a celebration of who we are.” The project began with talks about the lack of efforts there had been to record those experiences. “We really don’t see ourselves represented, we don’t hear anything about our history, we don’t see anything in the Canadian mosaic about who we are,” Beals said. Individuals who identified as having Black and Indigenous ancestry were given the chance to contribute to the project on an
inclusion at Laurier. Students looking to study in a similar field should consider Laurier’s community psychology program which offers unique opportunities for students from marginalized communities, advises Beals.
We really don’t see ourselves represented, we don’t hear anything about our history, we don’t see anything in the Canadian mosaic about who we are. -Ann Marie Beals, 4th year Laurier PhD student
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arts-based participatory basis. Participants created their own personalized digital content, with the intention of encouraging self-expression with opportunities to share their perspectives. The project and the relations formed by it still continue today, said Beals. This happens primarily in the form of gatherings and Afro-Indigenous powwows, some
of which are being planned for the future after having been delayed due to COVID-19. “We really felt it was necessary to do this work on the land and in person,” they said. While currently working on the unceded lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, Beals said they continue to be interested in
exploring self-determination and reconciliation. They also are interested in studying social determinants of health for Black and Indigenous communities. This includes moderating a panel in March on what healing looks like in Black communities, organized by the office of the vice president of equity, diversity and
The program allows students from marginalized backgrounds to engage with their community and pursue knowledge in different ways, they explained. “Community psychology is a great place for that because we look at ways of doing research and ways of being and knowing that are outside the traditional western ways of doing research. It’s not as boxed in, it’s very transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary.”
LAURIER
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Muslim Chaplaincy provides Ramadan services to Laurier YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR
As the term comes to an end, Muslim students on campus are
observing the holy month of Ramadan, a yearly spiritual time for reflection and fasting. “Ramadan is a very special time period for Muslims,” said Selda
Sezen, faculty and Muslim Chaplain at Wilfrid Laurier University. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar and this year it falls right during the exam period at univer-
sity. Sezen said that this can be challenging for students, especially those who live away from home, who have to fast and break their fast away from family. Muslims who observe Ramadan break their fast at sunset, during a meal known as Iftar. The “meals on wheels” initiative run by the Muslim Chaplaincy of Laurier provides Iftar meals to students. “We have been delivering and serving Iftar dinners to students who are observing Ramadan away from their families in Kitchener-Waterloo,” Sezen said. They offer these dinners on campus and for pickup in certain locations. This initiative started two years ago, and they are now serving over 100 students. “Our valuable community members are sponsoring our Iftar dinners by offering sweets and individually packed dessert and healthy snacks for students during the exam term.” She is grateful for such community members that help with this project, including the Women Empowerment Society and WeAreHumaniti. Additionally, the Muslim Chaplaincy partners with the Muslim Student Association on campus to host prayers for students and to break their fasts together. “This is a great support for students who do not have their family here or who have no opportunity to go to the Mosque,” Sezen said. “We are creating a small community on campus to welcome these students and make them
feel that they are a part of a larger community.” She said that all students are invited and welcome to join Iftar dinners. They also give charity to community organizations during this time. “Social supports are important this month,” Sezen said. “Knowing the importance of good deeds and the importance of supporting your community encourages and motivates Muslims on campus to get together to give each other a hand and support each other.”
Developing this sense of belonging on our campuses is very important and affects students’ self-identity and academic success. -Selda Sezen, faculty and Muslim Chaplain at Laurier
“Developing this sense of belonging on our campuses is very important and affects students’ self-identity and academic success,” Sezen said. “When [students] are welcomed and have found a space, they can express themselves, feel accepted and secure in themselves, which affects overall wellness.”
8 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
The following articles are the results of a collaboration between The Cord and FR330
Comment les Canadiens peuvent-ils atteindre le bien-etre financier Traduit en français par Alanna Hillier-Bell, Jocelyne Belanger et Caroline Arseneau. Des facteurs externes, comme le prix des logements, jouent un rôle dans la détermination de la prospérité financière , mais les habitudes d’une personne permettent également de prédire dans quelle catégorie de bien-être se situe-t-elle. Selon Adam Metzler, professeur adjoint au département de mathématiques de l’Université Wilfrid Laurier, toute personne se retrouve dans une des trois catégories suivantes du bien-être financier : soit elle est soumise à des pressions pécuniaires, soit elle tente de dépasser un impact budgétaire ou bien elle est à l’aise avec sa situation matérielle. Celles qui subissent des pressions substantielles ont tendance à être moins capables de s’adapter aux obstacles financiers imprévisibles. Metzler explique à propos de ces personnes : si votre salaire était retardé d’une semaine, vous auriez beaucoup de mal à faire face à vos obligations ou à trouver 2 000 dollars en cas d’urgence. Les personnes à l’aise financièrement se situent à l’autre extrémité du spectre du bien-être, parce qu’elles sont moins susceptibles d’être sérieusement affectées par des facteurs de stress financier imprévisibles. La catégorie de ceux qui dépassent un impact financier représente le juste milieu entre le stress et le confort matériel. Les Canadiens se répartissent à peu près également entre ces trois
Alors que nous avons vu de nombreuses restrictions et fermetures au cours du confinement de l’an dernier, il y avait un type de zone qui a vu une augmentation de la circulation : les parcs publics.
segment démographique plus âgé, en revanche, on ne peut pas dire que les “baby-boomers” maitrisent complètement leurs finances et la génération du millénaire ne le fait pas. Ce fait peut être encourageant car si les finances ne dépendent pas de la démographie, cela indique que le bien-être financier peut être contrôlé par les individus. Les individus ne peuvent pas toujours contrôler leur salaire, et certainement pas leur âge, mais ils peuvent maitriser des aspects comme « leurs dépenses, leurs économies et leurs dettes, dit Metzler.
des changements survenus dans la région de Waterloo. Andrea Bazler, gestionnaire des parcs, des projets d’immobilisations et de l’intendance à Waterloo, fait remarquer qu’il existe d’autres facteurs qui pourraient entraîner une augmentation de la participation du public. Cela inclut une population croissante au centre-ville de Waterloo et des constructions qui pourraient concentrer les gens dans certaines régions des parcs. Il est difficile de quantifier cela », dit Mme Bazler. « Peut-on séparer [le confinement] de tous les autres facteurs qui influent sur la vie ? Visiter les parcs peut fournir une variété d’avantages pour la santé mentale et physique. Ces avantages ont mieux été appréciés dans le temps où la plupart des activités, comme les salles d’entraînement, étaient fermées pendant le confinement l’été dernier. Je crois que les gens commencent peut-être à réaliser le lien entre les parcs et le bien-être qu’ils procurent, a dit Sean Doherty, un professeur dans le département de géographie et études environnementales à Laurier. Outre les avantages de marcher
ou de la pratique des sports, il y a aussi des bienfaits uniques à l’environnement naturel des parcs publics. Au minimum, on va devoir marcher quelque part, et au maximum on pourra participer à des activités dans le parc […] mais aussi, on va assimiler la nature, » a dit Doherty. On va absorber certains de ces effets reposants que les espaces naturels ont sur nous, […] nous savons grâce à des preuves solides que les zones naturelles ont cet effet sur notre bien-être. Doherty, qui a demandé à ses étudiants de troisième année de mener des projets au parc Waterloo l’année dernière, a indiqué que c’était un endroit idéal pour les étudiants de se réunir dans des conditions sûres et de distance sociale. Comme le gouvernement de l’Ontario a récemment annoncé de nouvelles restrictions, y compris les salles d’entrainement et rassemblements sociaux, pour lutter contre la propagation de la variante Omicron de COVID, les parcs demeurent une destination populaire même pendant la saison hivernale. Les étudiants qui souhaitent faire du bénévolat pour l’un des événements prochains au
parc Waterloo peuvent consulter la page des bénévoles sur le site web waterloo.ca. Cela inclut l’aide à la mise en place du festival annuel Winterloo qui se passera dans le parc le 29 janvier. Les étudiants peuvent également en apprendre plus sur les événements prochains, sur la page du parc Waterloo du site web waterloo.ca. Mme Bazler encourage ceux qui sont intéressés à considérer faire du bénévolat, ainsi qu’à s’inscrire au bulletin d’information Waterloo Neighbourhoods pour rester au courant des divers événements et activités de la ville. Quand on s’implique dans sa communauté, en termes de bénévolat, et dans son environnement, alors on commence à s’en soucier davantage, a-t-elle déclaré. La ville de Waterloo a prévu des modifications du parc Waterloo à l’avenir, notamment en modernisant les terrains de baseball et en améliorant l’environnement naturel autour du lac Silver. Les étudiants peuvent trouver plus d’informations sur les projets prochains sur le site web d’Engage Waterloo, où ils peuvent également donner leur avis à la ville sur les propositions concernant les parcs de la région.
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catégories. Pendant une période de dix ans, nous avons trouvé qu’environ un tiers des Canadiens se trouvaient dans chaque groupe, ce qui était très surprenant en considérant que, dans le groupe observé, quasiment 90% de gens avaient des emplois à temps plein, dit Metzler Metzler a noté que certains éléments comme l’âge et le revenu par ménage n’influencent pas nécessairement dans quel secteur l’individu se retrouve sur l’échelon de la prospérité financière. Les difficultés financières sont moins probables pour les familles
Au cours de l’année les parcs publics voient une hausse en popularitè Traduit en français par Maeve Barry, Samantha Hudson et Larissa McLaren.
qui ont un revenu par ménage plus élevé. En revanche, il y avait toujours environ 20% des familles avec des revenues ménagères au-dessus de 150,000 de dollars, ce qui représente le double de la médiane au Canada, mais qui sont toujours en difficultés du point de vue financier et ne peuvent pas gérer un retard d’une semaine, explique Metzler. Les mêmes statistiques peuvent s’appliquer à la population canadienne lorsqu’elle vieillit. La probabilité de se sentir financièrement à l’aise est plus grande pour les gens qui se trouvent dans un
Avoir moins de dettes, économiser davantage et dépenser moins contribuera à un état financier supérieur. En général, peu importe la valeur de son salaire, ces aspects sont au pouvoir des individus. Metzler a expliqué qu’il y a quelques inquiétudes qu’une tendance positive d’inflation et des taux d’intérêts peuvent positionner plusieurs personnes au bas du barème. Cependant, même un facteur externe comme les taux d’intérêts peut avoir un lien avec le niveau des dettes d’un individu. Si vous avez beaucoup de dettes, vous êtes surtout exposé aux résultats des taux d’intérêts dit Metzler. En plus de la surveillance de leurs dépenses, épargnes et dettes, Metzler conseille aux que gens de rechercher des programmes que leurs employeurs pourraient offrir, afin d’économiser plus efficacement. Les preuves, dit Metzler, montrent que les gens qui économisent et créent un compte d’épargne d’urgence ont tendance à être plus aisés financièrement, en général. Un bon exemple d’un programme qui aide les individus à y parvenir est celui de l’Association canadienne de la paie nommé Se payer en premier. Le programme garantit qu’après avoir reçu un salaire une partie de l’argent a été retirée et mise dans un type de compte d’épargne. Metzler conseille aussi d’utiliser un service que l’Association canadienne de la paie offre gratuitement nommée l’évaluateur de la santé financière.
Ces parcs, tel que celui de Waterloo, qui ne se trouve pas si loin de Laurier, ont été des destinations populaires l’an dernier pour les gens de la région. C’est difficile de dire dans quelle mesure cela s’est produit à cause de leur nature sécuritaire et ouverte, pendant le confinement de la COVID-19, ou bien en raison
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
NEWS • 9 Traduit en français par Elizabeth Calcutt et Jannine Crepelca.
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Une politique d’amission spécial de Laurier accorde la priorité aux demandes provenant D’Afghanistan
L’Université Wilfrid Laurier aide les réfugiés afghans à obtenir l’admission directe grâce à une politique spéciale. Depuis que les Talibans ont pris le contrôle de l’Afghanistan en août, le gouvernement canadien a annoncé son engagement à réinstaller plus de 20 000 réfugiés afghans appartenant à des groupes à haut risque. En réponse à la politique d’immigration spéciale du Canada, Laurier soutient les réfugiés afghans qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs études. C’est difficile lorsqu’on a affaire à ce genre de communautés qui essaient simplement de survivre. Nous voulons rendre la transition plus facile pour ces étudiants qui veulent poursuivre l’éducation qu’ils ont peut-être entamée dans leur pays d’origine, a expliqué Julie Hummel, la secrétaire adjointe du recrutement et des admissions à Laurier. L’équipe des admissions s’efforce d’aider tous les réfugiés ayant le statut de personne protégée ou de réfugié au sens de la convention » en donnant la priorité à leurs demandes d’inscription aux programmes de premier cycle, aux bourses d’entrée et aux crédits de transfer. Nous avons développé notre politique pour les réfugiés et les personnes déplacées. Les politiques d’admission peuvent exiger que les documents arrivent avant certaines dates limites et nous constatons que les personnes dans les communautés en crise ne peuvent pas respecter ces délais. La politique pour les réfugiés nous permet de travailler en
dehors de ces directives pour faire des exceptions dans ces cas particuliers a déclaré Hummel. Cependant, organiser et sécuriser ces documents pour les réfugiés entrants n’est pas une tâche facile. Nous rendons également ces étudiants admissibles à des crédits de transfert et c’est un processus long et compliqué. Nous devons collaborer avec les universitaires de Laurier afin d’être certains que les crédits sont transférables et toute bourse que l’étudiant pourrait recevoir dans son pays d’origine serait prise en compte par Laurier, a-t-elle déclaré. De plus, Laurier est un partenaire de référence pour le programme GateWay du World Education Service [WES] qui évalue les qualifications scolaires des réfugiés ayant été déplacés et détenant ont peu de preuves pour leur réussite scolaire. C’est une fierté pour Laurier d’avoir établi un partenariat avec la WES. Nous avons un membre du personnel dédié aux admissions qui examine les demandes provenant du monde entier et elle aide à conseiller ces étudiants sur la façon d’obtenir tous les documents nécessaires ou de plaider en faveur de leur admission, a déclaré Hummel. Grâce aux efforts et à l’engagement de l’équipe des admissions de premier cycle, Laurier espère continuer à soutenir les nouveaux étudiants réfugiés dans leur réussite scolaire et personnelle. Nous avons reconnu qu’il y a des communautés en crise et, en tant qu’université, nous voulons leur répondre et leur faire savoir que Laurier est un endroit sûr, tolérant et accueillant.
Shevaungh Thomas soutient les étudiants raciéss parmi les nouveaux conseillers de Laurier Traduit en français par Tatianna Antunes et Jingqi Hou. Shevaungh Thomas est la nouvelle conseillère du Centre de Santé et veut que les étudiants racialisés de Laurier sachent qu’ils ont les ressources et le soutien sur le campus. Tous les étudiants sont confrontés à l’anxiété et à la nervosité; c’est la nature de la vie estudiantine. Je pense que ce qui différencie vraiment les étudiants racialisés, c’est l’ajout d’une couche d’éléments différents », dit-elle. Il existe une pression supplémentaire pour que les étudiants racialisés représentent leur groupe ethnique et brisent certains stéréotypes, par exemple ceux qui dépeignent les étudiants racialisés comme moins intelligents. Il y a beaucoup d’auto-surveillance ou d’alternance de code linguistique, l’idée de parler parfaitement, dit Thomas. Il y a aussi un doute de soi-même en cas de micro-agressions car les étudiants peuvent se sentir trop sensibles. En plus du stress habituel d’être étudiant, ces épreuves supplémentaires sont difficiles à gérer et Laurier a travaillé dur pour aider à résoudre ce problème. “Le Centre de Santé fournit un soutien énorme, j’étais très heu-
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reuse de rejoindre son équipe et de pouvoir offrir un espace où les étudiants racialisés peuvent venir”, a déclaré Thomas. De nombreux ateliers sont mis à la disposition des étudiants sur le site web du Centre de Santé, notamment un groupe de compétences en thérapie comportementale dialectique (TCD) et Feeling Grand » qui aide à prévenir les rechutes de dépression et à gérer l’anxiété. Thomas et un autre conseiller ont lancé les séances intitulées L’anxiété de la réinsertion du point de vue de PANDC (personnes autochtones, noires et de couleur), qui aident les étudiants racialisés à
gérer le stress lié à la race et qui ont lieu le premier mardi de chaque mois ce semestre. Les étudiants peuvent également exiger un conseiller racialisé lorsqu’ils demandent de l’aide au Centre de Santé À cause de la stigmatisation et du manque de conversation entourant le sujet de la santé mentale il peut être difficile pour les étudiants racialisés de chercher du soutien en matière de santé mentale sur le campus. “Je pense que c’est un obstacle important parce qu’on n’en parle pas et ce n’est pas normalisé ; nos étudiants racialisés ne pensent pas
pouvoir demander de l’aider ou peut-être qu’ils ne savent même pas que [le soutien] existe.” Les conseillers racialisés constituent une approche judicieuse dans ce domaine, en raison de leurs expériences communes et de leurs optiques similaires. J’ai vécu certains des défis auxquels nos élèves peuvent être confrontés, et j’ai une vision particulière de la situation, car je suis noire, femme et immigrée, a déclaré Mme Thomas. J’apporte cette spécialité à la table où ils seront en mesure de voir que je comprends et que je peux comprendre.
Laurier peut aider en rendant continuellement les ressources disponibles et accessibles pour le corps étudiant, et en poursuivant la conversation sur la santé mentale. Thomas continue à soutenir les étudiants et espère que davantage d’entre eux chercheront à obtenir du soutien s’ils en ont besoin, car les conversations sont lancées et la sensibilisation est accrue. Il y a de l’espoir. C’est le détail fondamental à propos des problèmes de santé mentale, offrir l’espoir que les choses peuvent s’améliorer, malgré les défis, et qu’on peut aller mieux.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
• 10
Arts & Life
ARTS EDITOR AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR CRYSTAL XUE lifestyle@thecord.ca
PRACTICES AND TRADITIONS
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Exploring interpretations of the occult and its practices BRONTË BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR
The word ‘occult’ has gained an infamous reputation in western society. Often tied to satanism and ‘mystic’ practices outside of western world comprehension, using the word occult will frequently garner confused looks and skepticism. After all, the largest religion in Canada is Christianity - as declared by the 2011 National Household Survey completed by Statistics Canada. In the survey, 22.1 million (67.3 per cent) of the population said that they were Christian. However, what does ‘occult’ really mean? How is it interpreted in comparison to “traditional” religions such as Christianity? Speaking with Rebecca Plett, a professor in the Anthropology Department at Wilfrid Laurier
University, the same theme was apparent - ‘occult’ being seen as problematic by society despite its actual definition. “All occult means is ‘hidden’… so you know, there’s a number of practices that people do that could remain hidden,” Plett stressed. Instead of the word ‘occult’ Plett describes how anthropologists would prefer the term ‘New Religious Movement’ - a term that Britannica describes as “all new faiths that have arisen worldwide over the past several centuries”. As with the understanding of ‘occult’, New Religious Movements are seen as alternative religious practices that are outside of the “norm”. While not all of these movements are inherently harmful, many have the potential to be, as suggested by Plett. “[New Religious Movements] pretty often start off as something rather idealistic and then they
can turn into something a little bit more harmful, potentially.” In addition, using the term New Religious Movement can be seen as “just a way to kind of put the focus on why people might be interested in joining these groups rather than the harm that they cause.” This is an important distinction considering the idealistic viewpoints pushed by many of these religions. In a world reeling and rapidly shifting due to a global pandemic, it is unsurprising that New Religious Movements with their idealistic views and beliefs are appealing to many. Much of this growth can be seen among younger generations, especially on TikTok. The hashtag WitchTok on the platform has over 25.0 billion views, creators on the app using it to instruct their viewers on how to use crystals, pendulums and tarot.
As with many New Religious Movements, the application and use of these methods are not always harmful - many people seek comfort in them, obtaining answers to spiritual questions that assist in grounding them in reality. In many ways, this is comparable to the act of prayer - asking a spiritual being for guidance or help. Of course, ‘witches’ and those who practice formal religions like Christianity are treated differently by the media. One interesting development in the representation of witches can be found in Scotland, where the Witches of Scotland are seeking “justice for people accused and convicted under the Witchcraft Act” between 1563 and 1736. With 1,104 supporters, the organization has been acknowledged by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister. With recognition being granted for a movement like this, it is clear to see the impact that witches have had - also indicating what they have fulfilled for a certain sect of the population. “What are people seeking for in that moment?” Plett questioned, discussing the growth of New Religious Movements and why they form. The continued growth and prevalence of ‘WitchTok’ and recognition of witches indicates the form of comfort and spirituality many are looking for during this tumultuous period - many unsure as to what their future holds due to the uncertain nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to WitchTok, the pandemic has also and continues to inspire new movements to form - such as conspirituality, as mentioned by Plett. Of course, the term conspirituality refers to the “overlap of conspiracy theories with spirituality”, as defined by Wikipedia.
[New Religious Movements] pretty often start off as something rather idealistic and then they can turn turn into something a little bit more harmful, potentially. -Rebecca Plett, Laurier anthropology professor
An interesting podcast on the subject under the same name has been created by Derek Beres, Matthew Remski and Julian Mark Walker - a “journalist, cult researcher and philosophical skeptic” who discuss the “stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds.” The podcast has over 29.1k followers on Instagram - demonstrating just how many people are interested in listening to presentations on the subject. The podcast
can be listened to on conspirituality.net. It must be noted that the creators of this podcast aren’t anthropologists directly studying the occult. The value of anthropological study, as described by Plett, is being able to take that “holistic view in looking at how practices have developed historically.” Further, Plett stresses the importance in including the human experience angle of studying the occult - focusing on what is going on sociologically, politically and economically in the current moment.
[taking] that holistic view in looking at how practices have developed historically.
-Rebecca Plett, Laurier anthropology professor
Looking at these aspects is crucial to understanding any aspect of the occult and how it relates to human experiences. It is important to ask “who are you rather than saying the a priori I know who you are” elaborated Plett. While anthropologists must uphold this line of questioning rather than assumption, the general public should also adopt this line of thinking. Many are quick to judge ‘occult’ practices and organizations without taking the time to research them properly and learn more about how they have benefited individuals and society. Key to note is the distinction of anthropology as an area of study. As the “study of humanity”, anthropology is key in understanding aspects surrounding the occult and its relation to human beings. As a distinct species with many different aspects, anthropology as the study of humanity has different subcategories such as physical anthropology, cultural anthropology and psychological anthropology. These distinctions and a proper understanding of the role anthropologists play is important, as they help to classify our understanding of our own species and why we adopt the practices we do. Of course, being in the Western world, many are quick to judge without asking questions. Alternative or ‘occult’ practices are discredited. It is both easy and natural to be a skeptic - however, care should be taken when analyzing aspects of culture that may seem “alternative” or “illegitimate” in the eyes of the status quo. New lessons can be learned and those that research effectively to obtain new viewpoints will have a wider and greater understanding of the world.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
• 11 ARTS & LIFE ACADEMY AWARDS
This year's Oscars more memorable than past shows MADALYN MOSTACCI ARTS AND LIFE CONTRIBUTOR
The second least watched Oscars ceremony was held this past weekend. On the evening of March 27, Hollywood’s most esteemed stars gathered at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles to honour this year's greatest films. Last year’s Oscars earned the title of the worst ceremony in Academy history, viewership wise. The low viewership of the 2021 ceremony caused major change to occur within the Academy. Updates ranged from a return to the Dolby Theater to the presence of a host for the first time in three years and a ceremony held at full capacity following lifted Covid-19 restrictions. While viewership did increase 58 per cent from the following year, the 2022 Oscars fell short. The ceremony raked in 15.4 million viewers – a seemingly impressive number. That is, until compared to the 40 million viewer average the Academy held for years until 2021. With strenuous efforts made by the Academy this year in order to redeem themselves, what ulti-
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mately went wrong? Audiences appreciate tradition, therefore returning the ceremony to its historic home of The Dolby Theater and allowing the event to proceed at full capacity were both positive changes that, for the most part,
helped viewership increase. The implementation of a host this year was also a step in the right direction. Comedians Amy Shumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall took on the daunting task. According to statistics found on
Deadline, recent years in which the Oscars operated without a host (2019, 2020 and 2021) viewership had declined. However, when the ceremony operated with more than one host, viewer enjoyment also decreased. With a 44 per cent
enjoyment average on Rotten Tomatoes. For the first time, the Academy implemented a category that is voted on by audiences rather than Academy members. The “Fan Favourite Movie of The Year Award” was created in efforts to include films that would otherwise not be recognized by the Academy at the Oscars. While a voting system seems like a great technique to engage audiences in the ceremony, the category itself felt like a cheap way to bring in action or horror movie devotees. Along with the controversies and faults surrounding the 94th Academy Awards, this year's ceremony did bring forth a historic moment. Best Picture category winner, CODA, made history by being the first film to win Best Picture that featured deaf cast and crew members. Additionally, Best Supporting Actor winner Troy Kotsur, from CODA, became the first deaf man to win in the category. Regardless of the faults made by the Academy this year, the Oscars still honoured the year’s greatest films making for a successful ceremony in the eyes of movie lovers.
POP CULTURE NEWS
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Kanye West's recent behaviour and outburts are concerning CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
For decades, Kanye West (Ye) walked the line between genius and chaos, staggering on occasion. He has now entirely crossed into the latter. The critically acclaimed rapper, record producer and fashion designer has been engaging in online outbursts so troubling that the Grammys even banned him from performing. Most recent are his new music
videos which depict an animated Pete Davidson (the comedian and new boyfriend of Ye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian), being kidnapped and decapitated. The projects follow Ye’s social media rampage against the new couple, during which he unleashed lengthy rants to his 15.9 million Instagram followers. From expressing his desire for Kardashian to be reunited with him and their four children, to sharing photos of Davidson alongside captions insulting him, Ye has publicly shared
his contempt. He also urged his followers to scream at Davidson if they see him in person and say “Kimye forever”, which was Ye and Kardashian’s ship name. In comparison to Ye, who is widely recognized as one of the century’s greatest rappers with over 160 million records sold, Davidson is relatively nameless. While the comedian has certainly attained fame from his involvement in movies and the NBC sketch comedy Saturday Night
Live, he lacks Ye’s long-held prominence in Hollywood. As a result, Ye’s attacks on Davidson, a fairly newer celebrity, are made from a position of advantage. Regardless of whether his fans actually agree with his outbursts, the fact remains that we are observers who guarantee him a large audience. Kardashian has attempted to remind Ye of this reality, revealed by his Instagram post of a text in which she allegedly cautioned him about “creating a dangerous and scary environment” where “someone will hurt [Davidson] and this will all be [Ye’s] fault”. Ye shared the text with a caption asking his followers to refrain from physically confronting Davidson, claiming he will “handle the situation [himself ]”. He proceeded to share another text from Kardashian, in which she asked why he “can’t keep any of [their] conversations private”. Davidson is not entirely innocent- after all, the 28-year-old reportedly taunted Ye with texts about “being in bed with [his] wife”. Even so, Ye has a responsibility as a 44-year-old man and father to handle matters privately instead of on social media. It’s easy to dismiss this as yet another meaningless celebrity feud, but Ye’s violent music videos against Davidson and the relentless nature of his social media rants indicate a more worrisome issue. Those aware of the rapper’s bipolar disorder know his history of manic episodes, during which he has frequently posted to social media and even performed shows. Characterized by an extreme change in mood and cognition to high energy, excitement and euphoria over a sustained period
of time, a manic episode can also cause paranoid delusions. Due to his episodes, Ye has described being “handcuffed, drugged and hospitalized.” Prior to this incident, he has shared his belief that “medication is not really an option, because it just changes who [he] is.” Currently, it is unclear whether he still believes this.
It's easy to dismiss this as yet another meaningless celebrity feud, but Ye's violent music videos against Davidson and the relentless nature of his social media rants indicate a more worrisome issue.
As someone who has also experienced manic episodes where I felt godlike and invincible, I can only imagine the impact that access to an audience of millions would have during that state. This is not to say that Ye is having a manic episode currently – but if he is, he is likely enabling himself through his platform. It’s worthy to note that Davidson has also been open about his own struggles with bipolar disorder, for which he has been medicated. He has even allegedly tried to help Ye, texting that he “struggles with mental stuff too” and “there’s no shame in having a little help”. At the end of the day, it is our own choice how we manage our disorders. The harsh truth, however, is that in order to prevent hurting others, we need to stop viewing our mental illness as part of our identity and get help.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
ARTS AND LIFE • 12
FILM REVIEW As someone who is not a fan of the Jujutsu Kaisen, I did not think that I would enjoy this film. However, as someone who is an anime fan in general, I knew I had to see it anyway. Walking out of the theater afterwards, I was surprised to find that I had really enjoyed myself. Animated by MAPPA (the studio responsible for animating the final season of Attack on Titan), Jujutsu Kaisen 0 looks gorgeous.
Animated by MAPPA (the studio responsible for animating the final season of Attack on Titan) Jujutsu Kaisen 0 looks gorgeous.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Thoughts on Jujutsu Kaisen 0 BRONTË BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR
On March 19, I had the opportunity to see the prequel to the extremely popular series Jujutsu Kaisen. Titled Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the film takes place a year before the series itself and is directed by SeongHu Park and produced by TOHO
Animation. The story follows Yuuta Okkotsu, a cursed high school student who has a ‘tie’ to Rika - his childhood friend and sweetheart who turned into a powerful spirit after her untimely death. Teaming up with Satoru Gojou and the students at Jujutsu High School, Yuuta must learn how to control Rika and defend the world
against those in the Jujutsu world who wish to harm all of humankind. It must be noted that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is very violent and features quite a bit of stomach-churning gore and frightening images. While it is rated PG-13, it is FAR from Disney fare and is not appropriate for children. In my opinion, it suits those 14 and up best.
The fluidity of the animation is masterful and this is a film that has to be seen in theaters in order to get the full effect and experience the animation as it should be seen. It is very clear that a lot of time and effort was taken to make the film a visual masterpiece - and they succeeded. One of my criticisms of Jujutsu Kaisen was that the plot felt extremely convoluted and the abilities of the characters were muddled and not explained well enough. None of these issues are present in Jujutsu Kaisen 0. If you have not seen the anime or read the manga, you would still be able to see this film and understand what is going on. It also works as an introduction
to the series itself - if you wished to watch the anime afterwards, you would be well equipped to understand the goings on and who the major players in the series are.
One of my criticisms of Jujutsu Kaisen was that the plot felt extremely convoluted and the abilities of the characters were muddled ...
The strength of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 in comparison to Jujutsu Kaisen is that, as a film, it is forced to tell a cohesive and structured narrative. It has to have a clear beginning, middle and end - something that the anime does not have. To me, this is one of the reasons that I enjoyed Jujutsu Kaisen 0 more than the series. While Jujutsu Kaisen jumps around wildly with time skips, plot divergences and irrelevant scenes of dialogue Jujutsu Kaisen 0 stays on track and every scene works to paint a picture of the world the characters live in. Characters like Satoru Gojou who play a major role in the anime are at their best in this film, moving the plot along in comparison to the anime where they often disappear for episodes or do very little. If you are an anime fan or curious at all about Jujutsu Kaisen, you must see Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Even though I am not a fan of the anime overall, I liked it enough that I am considering going to see it gain before it leaves the cinema a major compliment.
ENTERTAINMENT
MUBI is a worthwhile alternative streaming service AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
Despite their ubiquity and their ability to destroy the movie theatre industry, most would agree that streaming services are pretty amazing. You already know about the big names; Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime (to name a few). However, for some who are more serious cinephiles, some of these services leave a lot to be desired in terms of content. While these services are rarely lacking in recognizable titles, finding suitable foreign or independent films is often challenging. I say this, hoping that the authorities don’t read the arts and life section. As I am unable to find many of these outsider films, I sporadically resort to piracy. In this day and age, illegally streaming movies is far from an arrestable offence. Still, I doubt that I’m the only one who feels shame when pirating with the knowledge that the creators aren’t receiving any money for the entertainment they have provided me with.
It’s for reasons like this that I decided to try out a streaming service called MUBI. MUBI is a streaming service oriented to people who are interested in lesser-seen films. Every day films are being added and removed to continue to have a fresh catalogue of films that would otherwise be hard to track down. Additionally, they bring your attention to films that would have otherwise gone under your radar. It has rating and review features so people can compare their thoughts on the films at hand. While I think the display and organization of the website could use some work, it was easy to navigate once I got the hang of it. To give an impression of the quality of films featured on the service as well as their diversity, I randomly selected four of the films on the service and gave them a watch. The service is always full of recently released films in addition to older pictures. The four I selected were all released in either 2020 or 2021. The first film I watched was a Japanese film called Wife of a Spy
(2020). Taking place in WWII-era Japan, the film is a typical spy espionage story. Of the four films, this was the one I was least impressed with as I found the on-screen somewhat drab and the story to be predictable. Still, there was good cinematography throughout and the acting was well done. Next, I watched MAAT (2020). While technically an American film, it would be more accurate to call it an Indigenous-American film. The film is very experimental in its presentation, giving the impression that it was an intensely personal project for director Fox Maxy. I suppose it would be considered a short film documentary as we experience disconnected bits and pieces of reality for this director. The film is about the rights of Indigenous groups and this discussion is explored through the use of prominent Indigenous activists giving speeches/being interviewed and by watching the camera operator show how the treatment
of Indigenous peoples affects their life.
MUBI is a streaming service oriented to people who are interested in lesser-seen films.
The method of messaging and visual style is all very innovative it’s just a shame that this is the only film of Maxy’s that I’ve been able to watch. Afterwards, I watched a French film called Honey Cigar (2020). This film is a bit of a genre blend; part romance, part coming of age, part drama, tied together in a feminist bow. The characters in this film I found to be very interesting as well
as the lighting. As someone who typically isn’t a fan of romantic films, this one broke the mould in a really enjoyable way. The last film I watched was a Brazilian film called Madalena (2021), and it is the best film I’ve watched on MUBI so far. It’s an anthology all centred around the murder of a trans woman, showing the reaction of the different parties involved. More than that, the film is a guide to contemporary Brazilian life and society. The shot composition and camera work in this film was beautiful and the chemistry between the characters felt real. Perhaps realism is the defining characteristic of this film as even when the film introduced unrealistic concepts, it did it in a subtle way that didn’t feel out of place. This is a film that made the subscription feel worth it to me. If these types of films sound like the kind you’d be interested in, then maybe MUBI is the streaming service for you. In my personal opinion, the service is worth every dime.
13 • GAMES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
THE CORD’S SPRING PLAYLIST PT. 2
april holidays
A MIX FOR LONGER DAYS AND WARMER WEATHER
SOMEONE NEW // HOZIER
Wednesday, April 6 walking Day
BLOOM // THE PAPER KITES AS IT WAS // HARRY STYLES
Thursday, April 7
SATURDAY SUN // VANCE JOY
beer day
AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE // EARTH, WIND & FIRE
Saturday, April 9
THE WIND // YUSUF/CAT STEVENS
Unicorn day
WARM GLOW // HIPPO CAMPUS SEROTONIN // GIRL IN RED
Sunday, April 10
FAIRYTALE // MILKY CHANCE
hug your dog day
LOST // FRANK OCEAN CRASHED MY BIKE // SUN ROOM
Tuesday, April 12
Grilled cheese sandwich day
8TEEN // KHALID YOU MAKE MY DREAMS // HALL & OATES TIME TO PRETEND // MGMT
Friday, April 15 anime day
JUST LIKE A MOVIE // WALLOWS MAIN THING // ARIANA GRANDE IS IT TRUE // TAME IMPALA
Start
Maze
SUNFLOWER // REX ORANGE COUNTY SUNDAY // HNNY OUT OF MY LEAGUE // FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS RAGGED WOOD // FLEET FOXES DOG DAYS ARE OVER // FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE finish
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
14 GAMES
SUDOKU HARD
EVIL
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Tic-tac-toe x-o
• 15
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca
EDITORIAL
FAVOURITE CORD GRAPHIC
Review of Turning Red AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
Pixar has been one of the most relevant animation studios for nearly 30 years. Whereas the products of some studios have become formulaic and drab, Pixar has continued to innovate the genre creating modern classics like Toy Story (1995), Finding Nemo (2003), Up (2009) – the list goes on. Before watching Turning Red it had been a while since I’d watched a Pixar movie and I wasn’t expecting much but it’s times like these where I’m happy to be incorrect. Turning Red isn’t Pixar’s best film, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a fleshed-out rock-solid film that I’d happily watch again. Like many good films, it brings something new to the table, in this case, it was the presentation and style. There is a constant flow and satisfying tempo the film carries from scene to scene. It helps Turning Red create its own aesthetic, thereby separating itself from other films of the genre. The cutting between angles all feels very natural, you wouldn’t notice it unless it was being looked for. The animation is easily the best part of the film as everything onscreen moves seamlessly. They got the same director that did the short film Bao (2018) which likely helped the animation look pristine. There was even a little homage to Bao in the form of a dramatic cooking scene which is one of the most realistic animated sequences that I have ever seen. The film is worth watching for this scene alone. The movements of the characters all feel very deliberate and carefully considered, it’s one of those rare films where you could tell what’s going on if you removed all of the sounds. The character design itself is round and bubbly which fits the vibe the film emanates, while also providing an interesting juxtaposition when more mature jokes are made. The character’s personalities are reflected in their appearance which, while obvious, is a point that would fly under the radar of a lesser production. While I’ve largely praised the character design, the characters
themselves are more hit and miss. My favourite character was probably Priya who was presented as a comically dry contrast to the other members of Meilin’s friend group. On the other hand, I’m getting bored of characters like Abby. Her character is that she’s loud and “crazy” but still wholesome. I feel like it’s an archetype we see constantly and aside from one scene in particular where she got a laugh out of me, I otherwise could’ve done without her. The protagonist Meilin was competent enough where I could buy her gradual arch, but she lacks the x-factor that many other Pixar protagonists have had. She’s certainly no WALL-E, Mr. Incredible, or Lightning McQueen. The story is generic, it’s basically Teen Wolf (1985). A nerdy eighth-grader with an embarrassing mother suddenly becomes popular after she begins transforming into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited. The story beats are predictable, but the messages (while again generic) are presented well. The film hopes to teach young audiences morals about self-acceptance, honouring tradition, and balancing passions with responsibilities. One notable aspect of the story and script however is how the film seems more oriented to contemporary society. To my knowledge, it’s the first Pixar movie to discuss and joke about menstruation. It wasn’t just a throwaway or forcedin aspect of the film but it fits with the plot and with the underlying theme of growing up. Also pushing boundaries is another part of the film where the friend group begins merchandising the red panda for monetary gain and it was a lot of fun to watch. I think animated films could excel with more traditionally taboo themes like these that find a middle ground between happy-go-lucky idealism and adult topics. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Turning Red largely by the quality of animation and by the willingness to explore more mature themes. While perhaps it won’t be fondly remembered as a Pixar classic, it is still a fun film that the whole family can enjoy.
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EDITORIAL
Party culture in university is a double-edged sword CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Whether it’s teen movies or music that peaked when Kesha’s “TikTok” was topping Billboard charts, the media celebrates party culture. This is understandable – sometimes a sweaty crowd under LED lights is the only place where we can feel young.
Whether it’s teen movies or music that peaked when Kesha’s “TikTok” was topping the Billboard charts, the media celebrates party culture.
From my experience, a college party is an alternate universe where it rains Tito’s vodka and the bass never stops booming. Depending on who’s there, it’s either paradise or purgatory. The latter usually occurs when I find myself surrounded by strangers. Chances are, my introverted
tendencies will take over; I’ll be huddled on the couch fiddling with my hands, feeling overexposed in my crop top. Every so often, I’ll introduce myself to the friendliest looking face there while trying to ignore the knots in my stomach. If I’m among friends, though, or strangers with whom I was lucky enough to have clicked, the night feels like a blurry coming-ofage movie that carries into early morning. We’ll be doubled over in laughter at insignificant jokes and trying to gain control of the aux. For people like myself who enjoy outings with small groups the most, parties can be exhausting. That said, they can also be ideal settings to socialize and meet new friends. I can’t help but wonder, though, how genuine these connections truly are. After all, conversations yelled over blaring music tend to revolve around surface-level topics. Games of beer pong don’t reveal much about a person apart from the skill of their hand-eye coordination after seven shots. Not to mention, I’ve found that the best friends are people with whom I have fun in any state, not just when drunk. Even though parties may not be ideal settings for forming deep friendships, they still contain
value. If anything, they’re opportunities to practice much needed social skills. Besides, events don’t necessarily have to be profound to matter- entertainment is important too.
After all, conversations yelled over blaring music tend to revolve around surface-level topics.
In all honesty, socializing always comes with costs for me. If I push myself to join a party, I’ll have a nagging worry that I’m not being myself or having enough fun. If I go with my instincts and spend time with a few close friends instead, I’ll feel as though I’m wasting my youth. I’m unsure whether others also wrestle with this dilemma or of the solution, if any, but I’m hoping I figure it out before I’m too old to know.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
16 •
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca
What should the West’s response be to Russia’s invasian of the Ukraine? SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR
The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has drawn international condemnation. The fighting has reached the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that sanctions against Russia from Western allies have not done enough and that he needs ammunition, not sanctions, to defend his country. As Ukraine is not a NATO member state, the West has no legal obligation to engage with Russia. However, the moral call remains as loud as ever. When President Zelensky says that sanctions are not enough, he is correct. If economic sanctions were enough to scare Russian President Vladimir Putin, troops would be withdrawing back to Russia and territory would be swiftly handed back. If troops continue to march onwards, the economic sanctions do not work, or do not work fast enough. It is all well and good to stop using Russian oil and stop financial transactions, but if Russian troops reach Poland by the time the Russian economy bears the full toll of the sanctions the strategy is ineffective. What obligation do weas a nation have to protect Ukraine from Russian invasion? That’s the fundamental question. If they were a NATO member
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
state we’d have a military presence in the country at a minimum, as would all other NATO countries. But because they are not, the reasoning used for getting our hands dirty must have a moral basis. One fear that seems reasonable is that, adorned with the belief that they have exceptionalism and they alone can act as the world police, the United States will enter single handedly into the conflict. While I believe this is unlikely,
a lack of will by other Western nations could force the hand of our southern neighbors. The United States does not wage war half-heartedly. Trepidation may come from the precedent that Western involvement would set. If the West becomes involved militarily in Ukraine, they must also become involved if (I am biting my tough to avoid using “when”) China invades Taiwan.
Can you really say one is less authoritarian or militaristic than the other? Western involvement here is future involvement everywhere. And Western involvement now is future involvement always. We cannot pick and choose. We must set our standards now and stick to them. The hesitancy is, even if you disagree with it, understandable. In deterrence theory, peace comes from a balance of power
and will. That is, you have to actually believe that if you push the doomsday button the other person will do it too. There’s a similar concept that I think applies in this case. You can rant and rave about being defenders of democracy all you want as the West, but President Putin has just called the bluff. He did not believe us when we said we would be there for Ukraine. We may have the firepower, but we lack the will. World leaders, including our own Prime Minister, meet this week to decide on a strategy to engage with Russia. A balance must be struck. Economic sanctions have not worked, and if they will eventually work, they’ll take too long. I cannot in good conscience call for full scale Canadian military involvement when other options have not been explored. I also find the instinctual attitude of some people to call for the sons and daughters of Canadians to risk life and limb when they themselves lie peacefully in their beds rather disquieting. I do not know what an ideal solution looks like in this case, but we must find something more than sanctions. The real issue is that our institutions and governments are thought of as weak and that our bluff has been called. Now is the time for significant action, in a time where the will to act is a lost art.
This is what a Liberal-NDP pact means for Canada Breaking down the controversy behind the pact made between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh CONOR COLUMB OPINION COLUMNIST
Mass controversy emerged when both the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and NDP leader, Jagmeet Singh, agreed to form a pact to ensure collaboration between the two parties. This, in turn, will provide security for the government of the day— most contend that this will keep the Liberal Party in power until 2025. Most have labelled this as a coalition, however, this falls short of what this deal is. A coalition requires collaboration between two or more political parties in governance. Trudeau is not inviting the NDP to collaborate on governance but instead ensuring stability and confidence in the House of Commons. Of course, Singh is not being altruistic; there is a motivation. After all, the last election demonstrated his disdain for Trudeau. While most point to the fact that the NDP hopes to gain influence in
matters relating to climate change and indigenous peoples, it is my belief that a large contributor to Singh’s willingness to collaborate is his party’s inability to go through elections like the Liberal or Conservative Parties. Elections are costly and the government of the day is closer to the NDP in values than the alternative. This makes the pact a strategic position for both parties, but what are the ramifications of this pact? How does it change Canadian politics? This pact poses a few problems. The first problem concerns Trudeau. While most contend that he has secured himself majority confidence in the House, he has actually shown himself to be more vulnerable than ever. This pact indicates a plea to the NDP to ensure that the government of the day remains in power, which actually makes it more dependent on the NDP than ever before. This argument could be coun-
tered by the claim that this pact is just a formalised assurance of security and supply for the government. This is certainly true and I do not deny it. However, by making it so formal, Trudeau is signalling the demise of his mandate. He cannot move forward without such a pact in the same way that he did in 2015 and 2019. The second problem this pact poses is that it will diminish the autonomy of the NDP and, in turn, mitigate Singh’s power. He will certainly be able to push for NDP influence in the government’s policy, but this comes with a caveat. If the NDP withdraws support for this pact for a reason such as scandal or disappointment, it follows that it will implicate itself in the government of the day’s mess. Singh cannot simultaneously take credit for pushing forth his policies on the government agenda and then remove himself from it when there is a scandal or policy
fails. He has now made himself a stormy-weather friend to Trudeau. Naturally, such a position negates the NDP’s autonomy within the House of Commons. The third problem that this pact poses is that it dilutes left-wing ideology in federal politics. If Singh is actually able to push forward NDP influenced policies, then it can be said that the Liberal Party will move further left. Such a pendulum swing to the left will likely divide the Party between leftists and centrists. A division within the Liberal Party poses two possible scenarios: one, the Party will have less internal support and consistency, which thwarts the efforts for stability and confidence in the House; and two, the centrist core of the Party will likely defect to the Conservative Party. Of course, the second scenario assumes that the Conservative Party would be able to return to an “open-tent” approach to party politics. This might
be a generous assumption. Overall, the government of the day is now dependent on NDP support and the NDP has conceded a degree of autonomy from the government. This pact may provide security and stability in governance until 2025, but it is at the expense of both parties’ power. The government of the day, ironically, will find itself in a far less secure position than the pact intends. Trudeau will have to steer clear of being too leftist and too centrist: If Trudeau swings further left, this will divide the Liberal Party in future and further upset the Conservative Party; if he is too cautious, then the NDP will withdraw support. Therefore, he is in an impossible position that has only further decreased his power. This pact, in turn, is a double-edged sword for the NDP, which will test Singh’s leadership. All things considered, when it comes to this pact, the Emperor has no clothes.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2021 OPINION • 15 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6,1, 2022
18 •
Sports
SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER ETHAN CAPLAN sports@thecord.ca
FOOTBALL
FILE PHOTO
Seven Golden Hawks sent off to regional and national CFL Combines MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR
Quarterback Connor Carusello and four other Golden Hawk football players participated in the CFL’s Ontario Regional Combine this past Thursday at the University of Waterloo. Carusello highlighted the group of Laurier football players displaying their skills last week in front of CFL coaches, scouts and general managers, hoping to improve their chances of being selected in the 2022 CFL Draft in May. Wide receivers Nick Petermann and Esson Hamilton,as well as defensive backs Shomari Hutchinson and Jordan Veltri were also invited to the regional combine last week, putting forth solid performances at the University of Waterloo’s Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House. The five Golden Hawks had hoped to qualify for the national combine next week in Toronto, joining teammates Braydon Noll and Tommy Bringi who have already been invited to the premier event as part of the top prospects across the country. “When you go play university football, it’s one of those goals and aspirations that most young players have,” Coach Michael Faulds said about the prospects of his players becoming professional. “To finally be there after all the years of training, all of the meetings, practices and games, it’s nice for them
to get the recognition of being in the combine… whether they end up getting drafted or not, we are proud of them,” Faulds continued. Carusello echoed the sentiment, saying that the blueprint for nearly every university football player is advancing to the combine and eventually playing in the CFL. “Coming into the program, your main goal is to make the East-West game, make it to the combine and then be drafted. To get to this point is pretty special,” Carusello said. The Ontario combine was one of three regional combines that the CFL held this month, giving the opportunity for USPORTS players to showcase their skills and improve their odds at hearing their names called in May. While none of the five Laurier participants received an invite for the national combine, the group of five had a major chance to represent the program and display their football skills, characteristics and measurables to prominent CFL decision makers. “It’s not to say that you don’t have a shot at the draft,” Coach Faulds said about the missed opportunity for Carusello and the rest of the players. Highlighting the importance of competing at the combine and mentioning the variety of factors that come into play when CFL teams make their decisions. “There are so many layers that go into CFL teams and their decisions. They obviously watch the film, get
a sense of the characteristics of the men and their testing numbers… there’s a lot that goes into their decisions when they are creating their draft board,” he continued. Carusello has started the majority of the last two seasons for Laurier (2019 and 2021) after seeing time near the end of the 2018 season. Despite battling injuries this past year, Carusello played in five games and started four games, completing 65 percent of his passes while passing for 717 yards and four touchdowns. The starting quarterback will graduate from the program this June, with his eyes still set towards the draft. Hutchinson, Petermann and Veltri all made significant contributions throughout their seasons with Laurier. Petermann was a 2017 OUA all-rookie, while recording a career high 232 yards last season. He recorded 136 yards this past season, including a completed two-point conversion attempt in the playoff game against Guelph. Veltri recorded 85 tackles over 2018 and 2019, while playing in three games and registering nine tackles this past season. Hutchinson was a key factor on the Golden Hawks defense throughout his years with the Golden Hawks, finishing this past seasonsecond on the team with 26 tackles with an additional recorded field goal block, interception and two fumble recoveries. Hutchinson tied the
Laurier single-game record with 14.5 tackles in 2017 against York. Standout offensive linemanBraydon Noll and dominant linebacker Tommy Bringi have already attracted the eyes of numerous CFL teams and general managers across the country and will hope to rise up draft boards and improve their status among the nation’s elite at the combine next week. Noll and Bringi will undergo a slew of measurables and tests while competing in a variety of positional drills and one-on-ones with Canada’s elite football prospects next week. “The two guys at the national combine later this month, have an even greater shot at that goal and I know they’re excited and going to perform well in late March,” Coach Faulds said. 6’6, 295-pound offensive lineman, Braydon Noll has led the way for the Golden Hawks offensive line over his five years with the program, paving the way for Laurier’s top rushing offenses over the years and becoming one of the top offensive lineman prospects in Canada. Bringi on the other hand has been one of the most dominant players to play at University Stadium over the past four seasons. A 2019 OUA football first-team Allstar and one of the best linebackers in the province, Bringi has plenty of eyes on him, after leading a top five Laurier defense this past year that finished first in the country in
takeaways. Bringi led the team with 33 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, while also being second on the team with two sacks. The London Ontario native was third in the OUA in interceptions with three, while also forcing and recovering one fumble. Carusello, like many other CFL eligible prospects was let down by the absence of the East-West game this yearas the top prospects couldn’t display their on-field skills due to the pandemic. Following a trip to Florida last month with the Toronto Argonauts strength coach and various other CFL players and NFL players, Carusello is healthy and is keeping his football options open for the near future. “We did three a day in Tampa, with a morning lift, afternoon physio and evening throws, which was a full week of combine prep down there.” “If I don’t get picked up, I’ll be looking at getting into a camp or try to go down to Europe to play for a season,” Carusello said about his future aspirations. Despite not qualifying for the national combine, the five Golden Hawks at the regional combine last Thursday displayed their skills to CFL scouts Bringi and Noll will hope to do next week. As the CFL enters draft season, expect the Golden Hawks to once again have a heavy presence when the names are called.
SPORTS • 17
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022 HOCKEY
Golden Hawks women’s hockey team ends season with win as Myers and four other seniors graduate ETHAN CAPLAN LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
After a long and hard-fought season, the Golden Hawks women’s hockey team finished their year strong with a 1-0 win against the Guelph Gryphons in their season finale, Mar. 5th. After a difficult year - including the January OUA pause in action - Laurier was able to close out their campaign on a positive note, while honouring their five graduating seniors on that night. Although the Golden Hawks failed to qualify for the playoffs, there were many moments throughout the season that should have the program feeling optimistic moving forward. None more notable than their win on that Saturday afternoon. Star goaltender Cohen Myers recorded yet another shutout, while the game winning goal was scored by Emily Visser, a bittersweet and fitting ending for both seniors who cap off their Laurier careers with
incredible performances and a home win - the team’s first victory at home in over two years. “It was definitely a great day for the seniors and something that I think they will keep with them and can celebrate together as a group,” said Head Coach Kelly Paton after the win over Guelph. The Golden Hawks finished the shortened OUA season with a 3-102 record, including a 1-0 victory over the provincial champion, Brock Badgers back in November. While the season was cut short without an appearance in the McCaw Cup playoffs this year, Coach Paton and her youthful squad have plenty to look forward in the future. For one, this is a very young team with a mix of offensive and defensive players adjusting to university hockey. Defensively, the team didn’t allow many pucks to get behind Myers, allowing only 2.68 goals a game. Much of that stat is credit to the two-time MVP and team leader, Myers, who
was named an OUA second-team All-star at the conclusion of the season. While Myers will depart the team after this season, the Golden Hawks have depth at the goaltender position, with third-year goaltender, Victoria Kelaiditis. In her short tenure with the program, Kelaiditis has shown signs of being able to lead the team between the posts for the upcoming seasons. Acadia Carlson should feature in a back-up role as she enters her second year with Laurier next season. In her only start this season, Kelaiditis played an amazing game, making 37 saves against a Windsor team that finished in the middle of the pack. She finished off the game with a .925 save percentage, showing improvement from her five starts in her rookie year the prior season. Carlson, who didn’t get the opportunity to suit up this year, will ultimately get more playing time next season. Normally goalies
take a little longer to develop and get comfortable with the team, and Carlson will get that opportunity to feature between the posts for Laurier next season. Offensively, the Golden Hawks are very comfortable with their roster, but will look to add more firepower, after scoring only 13 goals in 15 games. Student-athletes such as Mackenzie Marshall, Kyra Minoletti, and Kennedy Choma, among others will be back next year in a larger role, hoping to lead the Golden Hawks to a successful season. Going into next season, the Golden Hawks offense will look to add to their experience, talent, and offensive ability. A strong recruiting class paired with the team’s current roster, should result in more effective and frequent scoring. Coach Paton will have some work to do this summer, hoping to quickly fill the void that the graduating seniors have left. Myers had an incredible season
yet again, finishing top 5 in save percentage, and second overall in saves this season. After four years with the team, Coach Paton described Myers as the “cornerstone of the program’s success.” Senior forward, Emily Visser, finished in the top 30 in overall points this season with seven, just one point shy of her career high she set in 2019-20. Her success was pivotal for the team, especially given the challenges that came with the shortened OUA season. Overall, this past season for the Golden Hawks was focused on development and in getting the large number of young student-athletes to experience hockey at the OUA level. Laurier ended their season on a high note and will hope that the victory brings the program momentum and a burst of energy as they head into next season, seeking to make it back to the McCaw Cup Playoffs.
time OUA All-starSowcontinues to defy all odds. Putting together another phenomenal season, Sow managed to average over 25 points per game, while recording career highs in assists (5.3) and rebounds per game (6.0). This ranks him in-the top three of USPORTS in both categories. As a 2019 Laurier President’s award winner, 14-time Laurier athlete of the week and just recently becoming the second leading scorer in program historySow is hoping to complete his trophy case with a title this year. While Golden Hawks fans have become accustomed to seeing Sow’s dominance, backcourt partner, Romello Taylor has had a coming out party this year. Averaging a career high high 17 points per game and providing a massive boost to the Golden Hawks, Taylor managed the team well following the holiday break. Taylor recorded four games over 25 points in the past seven games and is shooting 44% from the field this season while playing in over 550 minutes fourth in the OUA. The duo of Sow and Taylor has been unstoppable at times this season, having combined for 680 of the team’s 1360 total points – exactly half of the team’s offensive production this season. Their dominance was unmatched in the two Western games earlier this season, scoring 107 of the team’s 177 points over the two contests. Last Wednesday was yet another display of brilliance as Sow and Taylor put on a show in their final regular season game at home, on senior’s day against McMaster. In addition to Sow and Taylor, seven other Laurier student-athletes, including Adnan Begovic, Kareem Elliot and former Hawks Ntore Habimana and Jackson Mayerswere honoured last Wednesday in a pivotal game against McMas-
ter. While trailing for most of the game and stuck 11 entering the fourth quarter, the Golden Hawks outscored McMaster 32-16 in the fourth quarter with 31 of the team’s 32 points in the final frame coming from Sow and Taylor. In front of a packed crowd at home, Sow and Taylor put on a show as Laurier won 87-82 and earned the opportunity to grab a first-round bye with a win in the season finale in Hamilton last Saturday. “Desperation, urgency, a little bit more ball movement,” Coach Serresse said about the fourth-quarter comeback. “Ali got hot, and the crowd was amazing… it was a big, big help and I don’t think we’re ever coming back in this game without the crowd,” Serresse continued as he shouted out the loud supporters at the gym last Wednesday. “What they brought to the team, to the department, to the university… all of them worked really hard for either three or five years and they are committed young man, who perfect their craft every day,” Coach Serresse said about the nine seniors’. “Those guys were the pillars of what we wanted to install and create. There is a lot of love and respect between all of us… I’m very proud of what they achieved, and I look forward to what they’re going to be doing moving forward.” Laurier unfortunately dropped their final game, as McMaster flipped the script and doubled up the Golden Hawks 24-12 in the final quarter on Saturday, winning 75-70. Laurier struggled with their shot, scoring a season low 70 points and four three pointers. This marked their worst offensive game of the season in a variety of metrics - something they hope to fix quickly before their playoff matchup.
BASKETBALL
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Men’s Basketball rematch MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR
Two years removed from their last playoff matchup – a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Western Mustangs in the OUA semi-finals – the Golden Hawks enter the OUA playoffs for the 21st consecutive year, starting their Wilson Cup playoff run on Wednesday night looking to enact revenge on those same Mustangs. In their memorable semi-final game in London two years ago – Laurier’s second consecutive semi-final appearance – the Golden Hawks led with five seconds left in regulation and only four seconds left in overtime.owever, Western made some remarkably clutch shots down the stretch, advancing to the finals with a 104-103 victory. Nikola Farkic, who played his ju-
nior basketball in Waterloo, made a three-point shot with just over a second left in overtime to sink the hearts of Coach Serresse and the entire program. The Golden Hawks roll into the Wilson Cup playoffs this year, claiming the fourth seed in the OUA West division with a 10-6 record, earning the right to host the fifth-seeded Mustangs in the first round. Relying on a mix of seniors - most notably the high-powered backcourt of Ali Sow and Romello Taylor - as well as newcomers such as Benhur Gebrekidan, Laurier won eight of their final 10 games, including two victories over Western last month. Laurier has won four straight games at home, having not lost at the Athletic Complex since before the holiday break (Nov. 27th). After a 2-4 start, Laurier turned their
season around in the second half, playing a more physical style on defense and having impressive performances from MVP candidate Sow as well as Taylor. Both of whom have been performing as quite possibly the best backcourt in the nation. As Wilson Cup finalists in 2020, the Mustangs have an MVP candidate of their own in guard - Omar Shiddo,. Shiddoo leads the country in points per game, averaging over 28 per contest. Western finished their season with a 7-8 record faltering down the stretch - having dropped six of their last eight games, including the sweep to Laurier. Western struggled on the road, dropping their last six games away from Alumni Hall and finishing 1-7 on the road. In his last season with the program, All-Canadian and two-
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2022
SPORTS • 19
VARSITY
Men’s Hockey season comes to an end after hard fought playoff matchup with Badgers ETHAN CAPLAN LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
After a long, hard battled, and frankly unprecedented OUA season, the Golden Hawks men’s hockey season came to an end on Mar. 16th with a 5-2 loss against the Brock Badgers in the first round of the Queen’s Cup Playoffs. Despite Laurier’s season ending much earlier than they would have hoped, Coach Puhalski and the Golden Hawks program fought hard all season and have several reasons to remain optimistic as they head into next season. After a 2-5 start to the season, the Golden Hawks displayed their resilience, climbing their way back up the OUA standings in the second half of the season and earning a home playoff game in the first round. Laurier didn’t miss a beat coming out of the extended holiday break, playing inspired and motivated. The team won six of their final nine regular season games, including two wins over the nationally ranked, Windsor Lancers to clinch their sixth straight playoff berth. More importantly, this season was a huge success for the five seniors who will be leaving the hockey program at the end of this term. Star players such as captain Anthony Sorrentino and Michael Silveri as well as Graeme MacLean, Mack Graham, and Tyler Fassl will graduate following this year and have all shown what it means to be a hockey player at Laurier. At the start of the season, Sorrentino had told me to expect an exciting brand of hockey because everyone on the team just wanted to get back to playing after the postponement of the 2020 season. Sorrentino was true to his word as he spearheaded a quick and effective offense all season that was reliant on a mix of veterans and fresh faces. The Golden Hawks collectively scored 47 goals, 78 assists, and averaged over three goals per game. The balanced roster kept Laurier competitive in nearly every game this year and got better as the season went on, gaining chemistry and earning results in the second half of the season. “Tonight, is a special night for all of us [seniors], anytime you get one at home in regular season that’s always nice,” said Silveri after scoring his final goal as a Golden Hawk in a seniors night win over Waterloo. The seniors who have been playing for this team have all impacted the team and have contributed to the success of the Golden Hawks program. “Everybody has touched the program in their own way and have left an impact for sure,” assistant coach Trent Brown said. “It’s good to see what those guys have done and how they have played and hopefully the first years can take something away from it.” The Brock Badgers went on a remarkable run in the Queen’s cup playoffs, making the championship
game and earning a spot at the national championship in Nova Scotia last weekend. Going into next season, Coach Puhalski and the Golden Hawks will be in a comfortable position, having plenty of depth at every level of their roster. While the losses of Sorrentino and Silveri will create a void, the program has amazing young talent who will look to take a further leap in solidifying the team’s identity
Everyone has touched the program in their own way and left an impact for sure.
-Trent Brown, Laurier men’s hockey assistant coach
next year. The offense of the Golden Hawks was clicking on all cylinders this past season, with contributions from nearly everyone on their roster. First-year center Patrick Brown showed he can compete at the OUA level, leading the team with 13 total points, while rookie defenseman, Adrian Nabuurs showed his talent as a goal scorer, and playmaker, notching seven points on the year. First year goaltender, Christian Propp is one of the main reasons for optimism going forward. The BC native and former OHL netminder had a dominant first year in the purple and gold, including an incredible four game stretch once the schedule restarted in February. Propp was one of the top goalies in the province this season, finishing in the top five in goals against average (2.18) and save per centage (.925). After an amazing rookie season, Propp was named to the USPORTS all-rookie team, while also being recognized as an OUA all-star. Even though the year didn’t end as planned and the team is still searching for their first playoff series win since 2010, and first championship since 1990, there was still plenty of good that came out of this season. The seniors competed at a high level every night, while we saw flashes of skilled young players on special teams, offense, and defense. Coach Puhalski and the Golden Hawks program remain in a comfortable position, as they look at the bigger picture, and continue to trust the process, hoping to break their playoff and championship drought when they return to the ice this fall.
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