THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 19 • JANUARY 25, 2017
“THIS SEAT IS TAKEN” Student starts petition to free up reserved study space in Lazaridis Hall for undergraduate students News, page 3
A VISIT FROM THE PREMIER
LSP SURVEY RESULTS
THE VINYL REVIVAL
TRUDEAU VS. TRUMP
PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT
Kathleen Wynne holds town hall at Laurier
Are students engaged with the election?
Exploring the resurgence of old technology
A Muslim woman’s thank you
Boateng and Onyeka await their fate
News, page 6
Features, page 10
Arts & Life, page 12
Opinion, page 17
Sports, page 20
2 •
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
VOCAL CORD
What’s the weirdest food combination you’ve tried?
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Editor’s Note: Elections engagement
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
“Salt and vinegar potato chips and chocolate pudding.”
BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
–Meaghan Mascarenjs, third-year business administration
TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“Maple syrup and Kraft Dinner — it’s actually really good.” –Lindsey Erin Feltis, third-year psychology and communication studies
“I put one hand in peanut butter and one hand in jelly and I lick my fingers.” –Alexander Sokolowski, third-year communication studies
“Havarti Cheese and Nutella.” –Emma Tranbo, second-year political science
Last weekend, Laurier hosted the Toronto Varsity Blues, taking the win 91-80. Kokko scored a record-high 29
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: JAN. 25
LAURIER WATERLOO DOESN’T HAVE A JOURNALISM PROGRAM. THAT’S WHERE WE COME IN.
FEBRUARY 1, 2017
JOIN THE FAMILY.
CORD STAFF
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Manjot Bhullar arts@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bethany Bowles editor@thecord.ca
OPINION EDITOR Madeline McInnis opinion@thecord.ca
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Will Huang creative@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Rob Fifield sports@thecord.ca
WEB DIRECTOR Brian Phillips online@thecord.ca
GRAPHICS EDITOR Fani Hsieh graphics@thecord.ca
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin news@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR Paige Bush photos@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Safina Husein news@thecord.ca
ONLINE EDITOR Andreas Patsiaouros online@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Shyenne MacDonald news@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR Garrison Oosterof video@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Marco Pedri photos@thecord.ca LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Emi Zibaei photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Christian Paron copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Brittany Ditizio socialmedia@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTORS Mirra Busscher Karlis Wilde Emily Waitson Aruba Khurshid Jordan Baechler Josh Hortaleza Erik Danudjaja Philip Su Erin Abe Dylan Leonard Esme Rigden-Briscall Erika Ymana Abdulhamid Ibrahim Tristan Renaud Victoria Panacci Tanzeel Sayani Qiao Liu
1949: First Israeli election: Ben-Gurion’s Mapai party wins
1994: Accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, Michael Jackson settles a civil lawsuit out of court
DID YOU KNOW LAURIER HAS A RADIO STATION? TUNE IN AT RADIOLAURIER.COM
LEAD REPORTER Nathalie Bouchard news@thecord.ca
1721: Tsar Peter the Great ends Russian-orthodox patriarchy
1988: Longest winless streak in Toronto Maple Leaf history (15 games)
THECORD.CA/VOLUNTEER
FEATURES EDITOR Mitchell Consky features@thecord.ca
1533: England’s King Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn, his second wife
1964: Comedian and actor Bill Cosby marries Camille Olivia Hanks
Compiled by Nathalie Bouchard Photos by Marco Pedri NEXT ISSUE
CordNews
EDITOR’S CHOICE “Blind optimism doesn’t help your health” by Madeline McInnis
1998: Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh) and soccer player David Beckham get engaged 2010: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, killing all 90 people on-board.
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COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily refl ect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used
for principal photography. The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. Cord subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada. The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.
PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to
This Students’ Union election season has been the mildest and least exciting of all Students’ Union elections that I have observed in the past five years. With only one candidate for president and CEO, and with that candidate running a very thought out and well prepared campaign, the result seems inevitable. This year, there are only 15 students running for board of directors and 12 spots. Out of that 15, only one has prior director experience, three are from Brantford and 12 are from Waterloo. While we back up and support the four board candidates that we chose to endorse, most of the candidates appeared to be unprepared or even absent. Four board candidates were absent from the Waterloo Open Forum — four. And those four were students at the Waterloo campus. The three candidates from the Brantford campus were there. Open Forum is the chance to sell yourself; to engage with the students and answer questions about your platform. How can you expect to accurately represent the student body if you can’t even show up? Student elections aren’t a joke. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s not something that should be done just to add flavour to your resume. It’s not something to do because your friends are. Being a director is a commitment and a responsibility. Your job is to represent the students and to be a leader. That’s why being engaged as a voter is so important. It’s your duty, as a Laurier Golden Hawk, to vote for the candidates who you felt were engaging. Vote for the candidates who are taking this seriously. Vote for the candidates who showed up.
reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.
Quote of the week: “He’s the nicest fuckboy I know.” - Senior News Editor Kaitlyn Severin RE: another Cord staff member who shall not be named
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
News
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN news@thecord.ca
• 3 NEWS EDITOR SAFINA HUSEIN news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR SHYENNE MACDONALD news@thecord.ca
STUDENT LIFE
VICTORIA PANACCI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
There are currently 400 spots througout Lazaridis Hall made up of chairs, tables and couches, available as study spaces. Once construction is complete, there will be more access to them.
Undergraduates fight for more study space A petition started by a first-year undergraduate advocates for study spaces accross campus SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS EDITOR
A petition was recently created in order to raise awareness about the concerns of undergraduate students who feel there isn’t enough study space available to them in Lazaridis Hall, located on the Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo campus. The petition was originally created on Jan. 17 by a Laurier student in first-year business administration, who did not wish to disclose her name. “It originally started last semester when I was finding myself spending more time trying to find a spot to study rather than actually studying. During group projects it was impossible to find anywhere more than at least two people could sit down to work together,” she said. In just a week, the petition now has over 900 signatures, gaining the attention of undergraduate students in all programs at Laurier, not just those having trouble in Lazaridis Hall. The creator of the petition explained she feels that graduate students’ studies are just as important as undergraduate students. “I think [undergraduate students] deserve the same amount of space because, first of all, there’s more of them and, also, you won’t be able to have graduate students if your undergraduates don’t earn
the marks to get there.” While Lazaridis Hall is still under construction, it currently holds 400 seats for study purposes with about 60 tables spread on all of the floors. Each level holds a mix of chairs, couches and tables. Michael Kelly, dean of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, said that though there is still a fair amount of space which isn’t being currently accessed to due to construction, there is almost ten times more space then what was available in the Frank C. Peters building and the Schlegel Centre. Kelly also explained that the issue concerning the petition stems from a lack of communication between the building’s administration and students. “I think we probably have not done a very good job of indicating the space available to students. I notice that students have been saying there’s no space above the first floor — there’s tons of space above the first floor,” he said. According to Kelly, the student who started the petition allegedly spoke with The Lazaridis Hall building director of undergraduate programs, who clarified the miscommunication. “[They] outlined for her all the space that was available and I think she actually didn’t realize what was available to undergraduate students,” Kelly claimed. As for designated space for graduate students, Kelly does not
feel that the spots that belong to masters of business administration students and other graduate programs in the building creates an issue and does not take away from the many spaces available to undergraduate students.
The graduate students’ specific spaces on the fourth floor, in our opinion, shows Laurier’s commitment to being a comprehensive university -Samantha Deeming, president of Graduate Students’ Association
As well, he mentioned that a number of spaces dedicated to the needs of graduate students in the Frank C. Peters building and the Schlegel Centre were recently lost. These newly allocated spots in Lazaridis Hall make up for what was taken away. Kelly and other Lazaridis Hall administration plan to use a number of communication vehicles in order to clarify the miscommunication and ensure that students are aware of the space that is available. Once the building is complete, Kelly plans on looking into how the
rooms and space are being used, then determining how to make the best use of what is available. “This is a fantastic building. The students should recognize it’s one of the best business school buildings in the country. It’s phenomenal space. We will do a much better job of letting people know what space is available to them and as we get a better sense of usage, we’ll look at how we can use the space better,” Kelly said. Samantha Deeming, president of Graduate Students’ Association, also said that with more communication in regards to space available and timelines for construction, students’ concerns can be addressed. “The graduate students’ specific spaces on the fourth floor, in our opinion, shows Laurier’s commitment to being a comprehensive university,” Deeming said. “I do understand where the undergraduates are coming from — from the perspective of space because there is a limited amount on campus. But I think it is just as important at the graduate level for students to have space as well.” Deeming said that she is hopeful the issue will be further addressed once the building is no longer under construction and being used to its full potential. The issue regarding lack of study space, however, is not limited to Lazaridis Hall and has been a concern for students in various other programs.
“Study space is not a new problem for students … I don’t think there’s enough space on campus for students in general to do things like sit-down and study in groups or have that alone, quiet time,” Tyler Van Herzele, president and CEO of Students’ Union, said. While Van Herzele explained that he enjoys being able to hear thoughts and opinions of the student voice, he wishes he had heard more from students who had concerns in order to enable him to address the issue. “If we don’t hear about something until a petition has been made, in my opinion, that’s something that we’ve failed on because we would love to be able to act and assist students in their endeavours as opposed to only finding out there’s a group of disgruntled students down the line,” he said. Van Herzele and the Students’ Union have been discussing the issue of study space on campus for quite some time. They plan to work with Laurier Student Affairs to have conversations about creating more access for students on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. “What the Students’ Union plans to do is to continue to advocate for more access to areas on campus for undergraduate and grad students,” Van Herzele said. “Of course the Students’ Union focuses on undergraduate students [sic], but student access in general.”
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
AWARENESS
ADMISSION
Safety training is launched KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
On Monday morning, Ontario’s Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn officially launched the 2017 Occupational Health, Safety and Prevention Innovation Program (OHSPIP) at Wilfrid Laurier University. Announced in the Paul Martin Centre on the Waterloo campus, MPP Flynn explained that this year’s support will mainly focus on initiatives to improve workplace mental health, address mobile equipment hazards and prevent occupational diseases and secondary injury, such as reducing the impact of workplace injuries and preventing workers from long-term work-related disabilities. “Investing in inventive approaches to workplace health and safety focuses our resources on where they will make the biggest difference. These projects will foster collaboration and spur innovation to help reduce injuries and save lives in workplaces across Ontario,” Flynn said. In July, the university was awarded $197,702 to lead a range of community partnerships and increase workplace transportation
safety through developing training and awareness. In the fall of 2015, the university’s Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management (SHERM) submitted their proposal to the Ministry of Labour’s Health and Safety Prevention Innovation Program.
On behalf of Laurier University, we are proud to be creating a program ... to make Ontario workplaces safer. -Stephanie Kibbee, director of SHERM
Also known as En Route to Safety, SHERM’s proposal aims to reduce the number of workplace transportation accidents and provide training and awareness resources to employers across the province. The En Route to Safety project
features a range of community partners, such as the University of Waterloo, the City of Brantford and the City of Waterloo, among many other services. Stephanie Kibbee, director of SHERM, was also in attendance at the announcement. According to Kibbee, the project will provide employers in the province with free guides on how to create a traffic safety program for their workplace. “We really appreciate the grant we received from the Ministry’s Occupational Health, Safety and Prevention Innovation Program which we are using to help reduce workplace traffic incidents and fatalities by providing resources to employers whose employees drive, walk or cycle at work,” she said. According to Kibbee, the project is well underway. The SHERM development team, led by Sarah Lamb, Andrew Good and Janet White-Bardwell are currently in the midst of bringing this multi-media project to life. “On behalf of Laurier University, we are proud to be creating a program with a singular objective: to make Ontario workplaces safer,” Kibbee said.
FILE PHOTO
Almost 1990 additional secondary students applied at Laurier this year.
Laurier recieves rise in applicants University sees 8.8 per cent increase DYLAN LEONARD STAFF WRITER
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For the third year in a row, Wilfrid Laurier University has seen an increase in applications from Ontario secondary school students. The university has experienced the largest three-year increase in applications amongst all Ontario universities. On Jan. 11, the university saw an 8.8 per cent increase in applications from secondary school applicants, translating into roughly 1990 more applicants than last year. This number is above the overall 2.4 per cent provincial system-wide increase. There has also been an increase in applications from students who are no longer in secondary school, as well as those individuals who classify as international or domestic applicants.
I think that it was pretty evident last year that the increase has been a result of new programming.
-Julia Hummel, associate registrar, Recruitment and Admissions
As of Jan.11 these first-year applications increased 30.2 per cent, compared to a provincial system-wide increase of 26.5 per cent. A variety of factors could be behind the higher application numbers. “I think that it was pretty evident last year that the increase has been a result of new programming. If
you look at some of the innovative new programs the university launched such as the management option and also the law program with the University of Sussex … a lot of the growth was in those programs and other new programs,” said Julie Hummel, associate registrar, Recruitment and Admissions. Wilfrid Laurier University was also ranked No. 1 for student satisfaction by Maclean’s magazine as part of its annual Maclean’s University Rankings, published Oct. 26. The general opinion of friends, family and neighbours may also contribute to the rising trend. “We know empirically from not only our own research but system wide research at how influential peers are in decision making. Having a great reputation for both academics and student life is really the best marketing tool you can have,” Hummel said. There is also a recorded increase in graduate student applications. As of Jan. 16 there has been a 9.3 per cent increase in applications recieved, compared to the same period for graduate students last year. Applications for graduate student studies follow a different set of timelines than those for undergraduate programs, therefore, application numbers will continue to change throughout the spring and summer months. “The number one message that I always tell students is that if they haven’t visited the campus yet then they should come for a visit … There’s just something about physically being on a campus where students seem to have a distinct feeling that ‘I can see myself here,’” Hummel said. “Because that’s the most important thing and it helps you ultimately to be successful, if you can be comfortable where you are,” Hummel said.
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 RESEARCH
Trials to cure dementia are underway SHYENNE MACDONALD NEWS EDITOR
Research to find a cure for dementia has begun its first stages at Wilfrid Laurier University. At the Waterloo campus, the movement disorders research and rehabilitation centre (MDRC) has been working with science facilities across the country to work towards a cure or possible mitigatory to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. “The goal of the research is to basically try and pull together the best community of researchers in the field of neurodegeneration from across the country,” Quincy Almeida, a professor for kinesiology and physical education and director of MDRC said. The federal government has backed this research and begun an initiative called Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in
Aging (CCNA), resulting in a total amount of 55 million dollars for funding from partners. CCNA will be focused on the prevention and mitigation of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. “We’re testing strategies that involve cognitive training, physical exercise and vitamin D. The clinical trial involves delivering all these treatments in different combinations, to subsets of patients in hopes to find a treatment strategy that will work,” Almeida said. CCNA will attempt to bring together 20 research teams, which will include over 340 of Canada’s top researchers in neurodegeneration. Other universities included in conducting the trials are University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto. However, Laurier has been leading the research.
“One of the greatest things about the trial is that ... undergraduate students are the ones that are hands-on involved with the patients. It’s a very unique opportunity that many universities don’t have,” Almeida said. “Imagine as an undergrad
student … to be able to work with those patients and do assessments of their memory, their walking, balance, then actually be hands on with them in treatment, helping them with their exercises and rehabilitations. It’s unique for the undergraduates involved and of
course there’s PhD students and masters’ students also involved.” The research has been broken into three sections. The first will focus on primary prevention, which will be aimed to prevent neurodegenerative diseases from ever developing. The secondary prevention focuses on delaying an already developing disease. Lastly, the research will focus on quality of life, which is designed to help not only the patient recieving treatment, but the caregiver as well and additionally the health system within the context of a clinically developed disease. “We are really fortunate that Laurier was selected to take the lead role in this trial. Normally, we will tag along with what other universities are doing. But to be able to be one of the lead sites of research, it helps put Laurier on the forefront.”
various campuses. There are two application periods throughout the academic year when students are welcome to apply for seed funding or one time funding from the Sustainable Hawk Fund. In order to apply for the funding, students must follow a series of conditions. Their projects must focus on the environment, be socially or economically sustainable, be located on Laurier’s campuses and be applied towards one-time expenses or seed funding rather than operational costs. “Sustainable Hawk Fund is a funding program through the sustainability office whose goal is to increase and promote sustainability projects across the Laurier campuses … to that end we ba-sically open up the program to students, faculty and staff to apply to and contribute to ideas [sic] that would contribute to sustainability on campus,” Tyler Plante, outreach and program coordinator for the Sustainability Office said. Plante also explained that the
funding is meant to be a one-time use expense or seed funding that may also require additional funding from outside sources. “We have budgeted $20,000 dollars per year and have two application periods per year so we run the academic year … one is Nov. 30, which has just passed and another is due on Mar. 31.” Plante explained that the EcoHawks at Laurier’s Waterloo campus have greatly contributed ideas that meet the pillars of the Sustainability Office’s mission for the projects. “A great program we funded is the Thread and Thimble, which is a self-repair clothing project which will be hosting an event where an instructor from Conestoga College comes in and teaches students, faculty, staff and whoever wants to attend and repair their clothing and other garments,” Plante said. “It’s very cost effective. They are basically just paying the instructors for their time so it was easy to fund that one. It also hit on all the three pillars: reducing waste, social and
economic.” The interest of this program is growing and will hopefully receive more money to fund projects. The goal of the fund is to promote an environmental and sustainable Laurier. Plante explained that other schools have inspired Laurier to create this program. He hopes one day Laurier will reach the same success as other schools. “The goal for this program is that it grows much larger than $20,000 dollars in funding and there’s many ways that can happen … for example, there is a program at McGill that has $800,000 dollars a year, so imagine what we could do with that kind of support,” Plante said. The deadline to apply for the Sustainable Hawk Fund is Mar. 31. Plante encourages students who have thoughts of applying to reach out. “There’s lots of opportunities to get involved. I really want to see students try and get something off the ground. It also looks fantastic on a resume,” Plante said.
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHIC EDITOR
ENVIRONMENT
EMI ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Sustainability gives funds to six projects which will make a postive impact.
New sustainable projects funded NATHALIE BOUCHARD LEAD REPORTER
Wilfrid Laurier University’s Sustainability Office is funding six new projects through the Sustainable
Hawk Fund. The projects that applied to the fund are scored on requirements that meet the Sustainability Office factors, as well as contribute to reducing a negative environmental impact on Laurier’s
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6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
GOVERNMENT
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Kathleen Wynne talked to students in Waterloo about concerns surrounding tuition and finances and how the provincial government would address them.
Premier meets with students in Waterloo Wynne visited Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus on Tuesday for a town hall meeting SHYENNE MACDONALD NEWS EDITOR
On Jan. 24, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited Wilfrid Laurier’s Waterloo campus to hold a town hall. The town hall focused on the problems university students face and how Premier Wynne and the provincial government would address them. Students’ concerns varied. Some attendees raised issues about the competitive job market and how Premier Wynne could help create more jobs in Ontario. Other concerns focused on Grassy Narrows and increased work to raise the rates of Indigenous graduates. However, concerns continued to circle back to whether students could trust Wynne with their future. Her approval rates have dropped down to an all time low of 16 per cent and concerns over the new carbon tax is largely attributed to it. “It’s not about my personal popularity,” Wynne said during the address. Premier Wynne continued to
assure all in attendance that, with the help of private sectors, as well as the public sphere, Ontario will benefit.
We will not [eliminate the deficit] at the expense of the services for the people.
-Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario
“As a society in Ontario, we have not done as well as we should,” Wynne said. She has been touring Ontario’s universities, with her next conference being at held at the University of Guelph. Before coming to the Laurier Waterloo campus, Wynne made an announcement at Conestoga College’s Doon campus and was joined by the Minister of
Research, Innovation and Science, Reza Moridi. Her announcement focused on a $20-million research and development fund which aims to help community college students apply their classroom learning at Ontario companies. This is not Premier Wynne’s first campus tour, but this time she hopes to raise more awareness of the changes being made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). “Young people who live in families that are earning $50,000 or less, will be eligible for free tuition or better than free tuition.” On the provincial government’s official news website, it is explained that families who earn less than $50,000 dollars will also be receiving grants that are sometimes greater than the average tuition. “About 210,000 students will be eligible … it’s a huge change. We know that the gap between high income and low income students, that it is often the difference between going to college and university and not going.” Premier Wynne explained that the benefits of the changes
being made will not be limited to students coming right out of high school. For graduate students, as wellas mature students, incomes will be put under consideration when and if they apply to OSAP “The 30 per cent off tuition only applied to students coming right out of high school, they were eligable for four years. Now, this new Ontario student grant will be available to students, no matter how long they’ve been out of high school. Also, for adults trying to get back into the system, as well, for graduate students. At the conference, Premier Wynne said that even with these new regulations in OSAP, they are still working to eliminate Ontario’s deficit, which has been speculated to increase at a minimum of 50 million in the next four years. “We will not [eliminate the deficit] at the expense of the services for the people,” Wynne said at the address. “Students have access to eight semesters, the equivalent of four years, of support. If they don’t have that support [from OSAP] in their undergraduate, then they could qualify for it later,” she said, reiter-
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ating that the provincial government would still be working toward more affordable and “free tuition” for Ontario university students. The new regulations to OSAP will be implemented during the academic year of 2017-18.
As a society in Ontario, we have not done as well as we should.
-Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario
“What we’re trying to do is give students a break on tuition, whose families can’t afford to help them or whose families only help them a small amount,” she said. “We’re trying to give them more support so that they won’t accumulate so much debt.”
NEWS • 7
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 FOOD
Laurier recieves fair trade campus designation The university has been named the twentieth campus in Canada to be designated trade free ERIN ABE CORD NEWS
On Jan. 17, Wilfrid Laurier University received a fair trade campus designation from the Canadian Fair Trade Network and Fair Trade Canada. After over a year of changing products on shelves and filling out applications, the Sustainability Office and Food Services have made Wilfrid Laurier University the twentieth campus in Canada to be designated fair trade. Being recognized as a fair trade campus means that the university and Students’ Union food operated locations have gone above and beyond the bare minimum in terms of product offerings and awareness activities on campus, explained Tyler Plante, coordinator of outreach and programs for the Sustainability Office. In order to obtain the fair trade campus designation, Laurier was required to change all university and Students’ Union operated food service locations that sell coffee to be 100 per cent fair trade. In addition, the university and student operated locations that sell tea must serve at least three fair trade teas. Those that serve chocolate must also have at least one fair trade chocolate option. By
adopting these standards, Laurier was able to obtain the fair trade campus designation. BYTE 75, Veritas Café, Wilf’s, Student Union Catering, Laurier catering and the dining hall are the university and student operated locations that serve 100 per cent fair trade coffee. Although, third party vendors such as Starbucks, Williams, Tim Hortons and Second Cup are not a part of the requirements. Despite this, some of these franchises do offer a fair trade coffee option.
For us, it’s about giving the students a choice.
-Corrie Bird, marketing and communications manager, Food Services
On Jan. 25, an open house style event will be held at BYTE 75 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to raise awareness within the Laurier community regarding fair trade. The
LUKE SAZARIN/CORD PHOTOGRAPHER
Various places on campus already serve 100 per cent fair trade coffee.
event will also feature coffee tasting and have prizes to give away. BYTE 75 and food services have also teamed up to create a custom Laurier coffee blend which will be aimed to cater to Laurier’s taste buds by gathering students’ flavour
preferences and creating a perfectly unique blend. By choosing to purchase fair trade coffee, consumers have the ability to support an important program that benefits environmental, social and economic
sustainability. By providing fair trade coffee on campus, students have the opportunity to support small-scale farmers that produce these goods. “For us, it’s about giving the students a choice,” said Corrie Bird, marketing and communications manager for the food services department at Laurier. “Coffee is a piece of the student lifestyle and one product students consume the most of. So in that way we can make the biggest impact because of the volume of coffee students drink here on campus,” Bird said. The fair trade designation will not increase coffee, tea or chocolate prices on campus. The university has also not priced any items at a premium because they are fair trade. “[Students] have options every day to make a positive impact through their choices and we see this as a really big and positive opportunity on campus,” Plante said. “We’re not saying that the fair trade campus designation or fair trade products are the silver bullet, they’re not going to solve all the problems we have in terms of sustainability, but they’re one piece of the puzzle and a great way to start engaging Laurier and food sustainability.”
WRITING
Little named as Edna Staebler Writer in Residence ESMÉ RIGDEN-BRISCALL CORD NEWS
As of January, Canadian author Ashley Little began a three-month contract as the Edna Staebler Writer in Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University. The position, coming into it’s fifth year, allows the Laurier community to gain one-on-one feedback on their writing from a professional author. They will also be able to attend seminars and workshops that the writer-in-residence runs. The writer-in-residence does not only act as a resource for the Laurier community but is also required to devote time to their own works. According to Jenny Kerber, Chair of the Edna Staebler Writer In-Residence position and professor at Laurier, Little will be a resource for students, staff and faculty who want to improve their creative writing or talk about any aspects of the publishing process. Little currently provides office hours in the Dr. Alvin Woods Building room 2138, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. Members of the Laurier community are welcome to drop in or to make an appointment and have Little look at their work. “I always like exploring new places and working with the
community, working with aspiring writers and offering them what I can,” Little said. Little has worked as the writer in-residence for the Vancouver Public Library in 2015 and for the Alexandra Writers Society in Calgary 2014. Little will also be sharing her expertise through a variety of talks she will be giving. On Jan. 26, there will be an inaugural talk and welcome event for Little. The talk is titled “Place as Character Moving Beyond Landscape and into Genius Loci” and will go from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Hawk’s Nest. Later in the term, Little will be running a workshop entitled “Damn Good Dialogue” that will go into how to develop good dialogue not only for novels, but also for film and theatre. Working with the Undergraduate English Student Association, Little will be holding a creative writing contest for students and prior to the deadline, will be running a writing workshop for applicants. According to Kerber, Little will make a wonderful new addition to the Laurier community as she will bring her versatility and expertise “[Her] gift of dialogue [is] striking,” Kerber said. Little has been a part of the writ-
ing community within Canada for a number of years and is moving swiftly through, having published four books in the past five years, as well as a number of short stories. During her residency, Little will be working on two novels; the revival of her novel: Confessions of a Teenage Leper, working to double it in size, that will be published Fall 2018 and her new novel: BIG ME, a story of a teenage giant.
I always like exploring new places and working with the community, working with aspiring writers and offering them what I can. -Ashley Little, Edna Steabler Writer in Residence
“[Having Little join Laurier is an] opportunity to really introduce the community to someone who we think is going to become really a great well-known major Canadian writer over the next decade or so,” Kerber said.
CHRIS BOWERMAN/CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Ashley Little is the fifth Edna Staebler Writer in Residence at Laurier.
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GAMES • 9
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SUDOKU
Dear Life Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to your life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public forum. All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.
Dear Life, Bernie would have won. Sincerely, Canadian Bern Feelers Dear Life, Roses are red Harambe is black Catch me outside How ‘bout dat? Sincerely, A boy that misses his ape Dear Kaitlyn, You are beautiful inside and out. Sincerely, Positive vibes
THECORD.CA
To the person who submitted the Dear Life about PC, Do you even read The Cord? Or just the articles that are actually PC? Sincerely, Offended Dear Life, Congratulations to all applicants for the various positions on campus. Regardless of the results, it takes guts to get up there in the first place and you should be very proud of making your voices heard. Sincerely, Laurier voter Dear The Cord, Actually, NOT everyone is studying what they think is best for their future. Some of us are studying what our parents, friends or significant others think is best for our future. Sincerely, We Can’t All Chase Our Dreams Dear Laurier, Tens of million of dollars once again announced for renovations, and zero dollars once again goes toward remodeling the music practice rooms. Do you know how hard it is to “get inspired” in a windowless, cream coloured room
with holes in the wall and moldy carpeting? Please stop forgetting about us. Sincerely, Even some paint will do. Dear The Cord, Why are you guys pretending the Yes/No vote for Kanwar is even a hard choice? I totally agree that everyone should do their due diligence, but even from an unbias perspective like mine it only takes one conversation with Kanwar and/or one read of his platform to see that he is not only the best choice this year (opponent or no opponent), but will likely be the most effective CEO the WLUSU has seen in a number of years. Sincerely, I believe in Harvey Dent Kanwar Brar! Dear Life, Trying to argue with a Trump supporter is like trying to talk to a one eyed grape: there’s no point, it doesn’t make any valid points, and logic doesn’t exist at this point. It boggles my mind how blindly ignorant these people are. Sincerely, I’m also not a fan of grapes
10 •
Features
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 FEATURES EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY features@thecord.ca
When asked to name the current president, approximately 16 per cent of students could do so correctly (including answers such as “Tyler,” “Tyler H” and “Van Herzel” along with the correct spelling of “Tyler Van Herzel”). Ten students also provided similar sounding names, such as “Taylor”. Meanwhile, 75 per cent of students did not even make a guess. Interestingly, three students were able to name previous president, Olivia Matthews. Some other responses we received were “that really nice looking guy” and “Emma Watson.” In line with the various polls and data presented in this report, many students polled seemed to have a general disconnect from the Students’ Union and were not entirely interested or knowledgable about the election.
Reflecting on the obtained data, it was discovered that arts, business, economics and science have the highest levels of interest in the Students’ Union election. This could be attributed to the fact that they are the largest faculties on campus. There are several other variables that could account for this that deserve further research in later surveys; variables concerning the issues discussed and perception that candidates will benefit their faculties are some hypothesized theories. However, it is evident that students in the arts faculty, on average, maintained a greater level of interest towards the 2016-17 election when compared to their counterpart faculties.
Observing the data concerning student’s knowledge about the position of Students’ Union president and CEO, a majority of students across all faculties (business and economics were more knowledgable than most) failed to identify correctly that the position is salaried. Considering this year’s election, there is only one candidate running for president which means that it can be hypothesized that there could potentially be a lack of general knowledge about the benefits or compensation for Studens’ Union president, which could have deterred some students from running. Students may feel the position is overwhelming but may reconsider once they are made aware that the position is paid. The Arts faculty, on average, maintained a greater level of satisfaction towards the Students’ Union when compared to their counterpart faculties. Again, this could be attributed to organizations like the Lazaridis Students’ Society that may satisfy the needs of business and economics students better than they perceive the Students’ Union can or has in the past.
TOTAL STUDENTS POLLED: 285 Words by: LSP Market Research Manager Harrison Neill Morabito & LSP Analytics and Insight Specialist Jess Chorney
• 11
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
Arts & Life
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR MANJOT BHULLAR arts@thecord.ca
RESTAURANT
Seafood chain opens at a boiling point in K-W KARLIS WILDE STAFF WRITER
A fundamental shift in preconceptions associated with dining out occurs inside of The Captain’s Boil, an award winning new restaurant chain now in uptown Waterloo. First, the customer is saddled with a cartoony plastic bib, decorated with a pirate’s bandana. Then, they are supplied with a pair of plastic gloves. The marketing urges one to “Feast like a Pirate; Dine like a Captain.” Modern, electronic dance music plays over the speakers and the large, flat-screen TVs that hang overhead silently broadcast the news. The two coincide, creating an odd interruption to the otherwise unique, thematically cohesive environment: that of a pirate ship. There are ropes jutting from the walls and ceiling, securing imaginary sails. The walls are decorated with images of sea creatures. and the environment is bright, fun and lively. The Captain’s Boil is a unique, new, Louisiana-style chain of seafood restaurants popping up all over Canada since opening their first location in the GTA, in November 2015. They now have 16 locations, from Vancouver to
Montreal. “Waterloo is lacking in seafood restaurants,” said co-owner Angus Lee. “[The vision is to] start a new trend within the Waterloo region, for a new style of seafood.” Even the orders are unique: first, the customer chooses their ‘catch,’ or style of protein. Options, priced by the pound, range from crawfish and lobster to shrimp and mussels, or even chicken for the fish-adverse. Second, a selection of sauces: cajun, lemon pepper, garlic or ‘Captain’s Boil’ — a mix of all three. Lastly, a level of heat is selected. It’s a three step process for ordering, but it’s the messy style of eating that begs for tutorial: the restaurant is outfitted with a hand washing station, because they don’t provide any utensils. One is to remove their catch from its plastic bag presentation, peel the shell by hand, dip and consume. “It’s a dining experience,” said hostess Sarah Charron. The style of the restaurant is capitalizing on, or perhaps even creating, the latest trend: the freshest, most interesting style of contemporary dining since the Mission-style burrito, known simply as the ‘seafood boil.’ It’s a coastal method of commu-
nity eating, branched out from Cajun style shellfish meals, that has been a part of Louisiana culture for over a hundred years — perhaps limited regional access to fresh fish has been what kept it from spreading earlier. But thanks to the interconnectedness of the modern world, the seafood boil has been able to spread. And thanks to globalization, the version at The Captain’s Boil has been fused with Asian spices, lemongrass and ginger, as added to the recipe by immigrant fishermen in the 1970s. The atmosphere is cool and inviting and the visuals are fun: a cute, friendly cartoon serves as the brand’s label, softening the usual murder and pillaging connotations associated with burglars of the sea. This captain’s big, black beard boasts the name of the restaurant and instead of a skull and crossbones decorating his hat, he’s got a friendly lobster. To combat scurvy, the most common issue of the pirate life, the restaurant offers vegetables as a side, including okra and broccoli. Perhaps even more important is the fully stocked bar at the back — one cannot fully immerse themselves in the role of a pirate without a large glass of rum to sip on.
PHOTOS BY: EMI ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, MANJOT BHULLAR/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
DOCUMENTARY
Casting a shadow on cultural acceptance MANJOT BHULLAR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
After viewing the trailer for this documentary, it was clear that although not an experienced film critic, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dissect and review Mostly Sunny. The film took only 1:47 to pull me in head first. Not for the troubled past of the Sunny Leone, an ex-adult film star turned actress, but for the underlying issues between women’s issues and acceptance in a very traditional religion. Let me begin by saying that this film, although a documentary, revealed itself as almost a fictional tale — you really couldn’t make this stuff up. Told in a three-part plot, the movie takes the reader for a ride and remains is engaging from beginning to end. “What we’re trying to do with our studio is demonstrate that southern Ontario is a hot bed of talent and people who want to make films,” Craig Thompson said, co-producer of Mostly Sunny. As opposed to going to the screening blindsided, I hoped to gain a backend perspective from
Thompson before viewing the film. “Over the course of shooting, [Sunny Leone] became more and more popular ... The more she got famous and accepted by mainstream Bollywood the more she wanted to distance herself with her adult film past,” Thompson said. Realizing her past has taken her as far as possible, Leone tried to shed the skin of her previous profession in hopes to reap the benefits of acceptance within Bollywood, the goliath of worldwide film industries. It’s just interesting that someone who’s such an open book to ask for the film to make her past less vivid for the viewer. In my opinion it made for a greater understanding of her identity as a woman — jumping between her childhood photos, to adult film clips to her Bollywood career destigmatized her career rather than have it overpower her success today. Although it wasn’t desperation that brought Leone to the adult film industry, her penchant for fame and attention definitely was the catalyst. “She always had a business plan
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
and an exit strategy,” Thompson assured. This wasn’t going to be the rest of her life — she knew exactly what purpose this career would serve. Tying in this dicey career that somehow worked wonders for Leone to her family life, at the time, truly defined how destructive her choices were. Losing the love of her relatives and community back
in Sarnia, Ontario was the most challenging, yet freeing hurdle she would face. My personal opinions, and the impressions that I got from the light shined on the ‘acceptance’ in India, it worried me that still she was being objectified for her body after leaving the adult film industry. It’s also still unsure if Leone is being accepted as an actress, that
unlike other porcelain-clean actresses, could be seen in both adult films and mainstream Bollywood cinema. But then I’m at a standstill of feminism, where it must be understood that as an adult woman, she has the right to choose what roles she plays. Being sexualized in Bollywood cinema is as an opportunity to capitalize on a new, exponentially larger market. It’s her body and she knows exactly how she’s using it — and it will be her decision whether she’d like to continue to be a cameo performer in Bollywood films, or take on larger acting roles. And just like her adult film career, Sunny Leone will have an exit strategy once she’s churned out every dollar of Indian male lust in the country. Mostly Sunny provides an indepth look at the intriguing story of a second generation Sikh-Canadian and how she strives to find her place in the world. B-lining so far from the traditional values of Sikhism, and even general societal beliefs, Sunny Leone achieved great success amongst disapproval from a community that once accepted and loved her.
12 • ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
MUSIC
TRISTAN RENAUD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Why vinyl isn’t leaving KARLIS WILDE STAFF WRITER
There’s an incredible correlation between an increase in availability and a degradation of value. During the Great Depression, children were excited to open their stockings on Christmas morning and find an orange inside: it was a rare, tropical delicacy, dripping with juicy sweetness. Using the orange as a metaphor for music, streaming services are the modern supermarket: they
offer a dirt-cheap, convenient way to listen and in bulk. Whether through Spotify or Apple Music, the average consumer turns to a compressed, cheap, convenient option to listen. It’s a smart way to combat piracy and remonetize the flailing music industry — all without using up too much data. But there’s no significant hobbyist aspect. There’s no ownership. And more than anything, there’s no challenge or effort necessary in procuring additional content — a new album from a favourite artist
is barely a few keystrokes away. Over the past ten years, the digital marketplace, compounded by streaming, has caused the vinyl industry to enter a new sort of revival. The vinyl record is the antithesis of what streaming represents. Where Spotify essentially offers continuous rentals, vinyl records give the status of ownership. Where Apple Music keeps art-work sequestered to the corner of the screen, vinyl records come in a 31.43 cm square, boasting a large
version of the album cover, supplementary artwork and liner notes. Where TIDAL is available through any computer or internet enabled device, vinyl records actually require a physical exchange, which cultivates exterior relationships. Events like the annual ‘Record Store Day’ are an exciting way to connect the hobbyist of music collectors over interesting, limited releases. They are a physical representation of the virtues of capitalism.But does vinyl sound better? The answer really isn’t that simple. It’s an analog format — that means that the recording is directly pressed onto the disc, rather than being stored in code, like with streaming or CDs. Even when listening from the more quality-oriented TIDAL, the listener only receives the same sample-rates as a compact disc. The reason for that is that a digital rendering of a recording is only a snapshot of pertinent information; the more tertiary noises are left out from the final file as it’s processed and shaved down to fit within a confined space. From an analog recording, the imprint of the entire sound is directly embedded into the grooves of the vinyl disc. The issue here is that most modern recordings are made digitally, which immediately negates vinyl’s potential. While some artists like Jack White, Wilco and Radiohead have committed to analog, the
direction of the industry has by necessity pulled them away from it: Radiohead’s newest album, A Moon Shaped Pool, uses both analog and digital techniques. Perhaps the definition of these digital elements could sound better when pushed to vinyl, but the capacity of a high-resolution digital file is enough to theoretically carry the entire digitized sound — even if it would take more specialized equipment to properly listen to it. While the argument could be made that this vinyl renaissance is about the sound quality, it’s worth realizing that it isn’t just vinyl that’s making a bit of a comeback: Charles Janzen, the co-owner of Orange Monkey Music, noted an increase in all sales. “People are buying used CDs that they sold us five years ago,” he said. To an extent, the vinyl resurgence can be credited to a better, more authentic sound. Janzen described the analog vibe of a vinyl record as “a lot warmer,” which certainly contributes to the value. But what could be more realistically argued is that it is the physical state of an object that reflects that additional value — the more transparent, tangible reflection of effort spent. Strangely, the reward inherent to the inconvenience of vinyl is perhaps the most important factor when considering its current, elevated state.
FOOD
BRARritto Food Review MANJOT BHULLAR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
Now, I have my share of Indian cuisine on the regular, so the novelty of combining one ethnically appropriated food with the flavour of another isn’t enough to glaze my eyes over with wonder.
But the BRARitto doesn’t need to do that. It’s good, for just being plain good. Taking the original burrito recipe and adding butter chicken sauce is perhaps the easiest alteration to the meal for this Presidential Election season but also one of the most effective. You have options to customize the protein inside the burrito between chicken, beef and beans — but if you’re going to have a burrito properly and with butter chicken sauce at that, the choice is obvious.
For the portion size you get, the burrito is worth it. If you’re not the type to get a take-away box, I’d suggest not eating for — I don’t know — the entire day. The only shortcoming of the meal is the ratio between rice and, well, everything else. Adding guac for an extra $1.50 saved me to be able to write this very review. Overall, however, this presidential meal gets a solid 8 out of 10 full beards from me — a 100 per cent, legitimate and reputable food critic.
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
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ARTS & LIFE • 13
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 KITCHENER HOT SPOT
MOVIE
Quote-Along impresses again MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR
EMI ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
That’s a Rhap! ERIKA YMANA CORD ALUM
Rhapsody Barrel Bar is an inconspicuous restaurant and music venue situated in the heart of downtown Kitchener. I describe the place as inconspicuous because it’s difficult to predict what this place can offer. I remember walking by and feeling confused. The restaurant is attached to a clothing store, hosts its own café at the front and if you peer in, you can also see multiple event flyers posted on its door. On a Saturday night, though, the place takes on a much more solid identity. Rhapsody Barrel Bar is the definition of dad-core and I can’t even lie: I dig it. We arrived at the restaurant at around 7 p.m. and the hostess asked if we were here for dinner or music. That night, the restaurant was hosting a David Bowie tribute. Other nights you’ll find local bands and comedy shows on its stage. The menu is simple and easily shareable. My date and I started with dry Cajun duck wings, which was served with a blueberry bourbon barbeque dip. These wings were substantial and full of flavour. The salty Cajun flavour paired nicely with the sweetness of the dip. Wings are usually served with ranch, but it was nice to see such a simple dish prepared with more effort. The second item ordered was the Salty Pig Flatbread, which consisted of pulled pork, bacon, capicola and their three cheese
blend. After the duck, I thought I’d be overwhelmed with this dish but I wasn’t. We were planning to take this dish to-go, after realizing we ordered too much food but after the first bite, we devoured the whole thing. Again, a simple pub staple like the flat bread, which is usually such an uninspiring dish, shines on its own at Rhapsody. The main course we ordered was the bacon wrapped, mushroom and walnut stuffed chicken leg and thigh, with a mushroom risotto. The dish itself came with red bell peppers drizzled with red wine. The chicken was soft and baked and while there were a lot of flavours going on in this dish, you can taste all of them within the first bite. All three dishes offered a lot for their value. The prices of their main course ranged from 14-32 dollars, with the steak being the most expensive. Since everything is affordable and shareable, it easily caters to groups. The restaurant also offers several vegetarian options. As for alcohol, the barrel offers sixteen different types of aged scotch, with the 18-year-old Highland Park being the oldest, ten different types of bourbon and seventeen options for whiskey. While this venue can easily be forgotten by someone who is not aware of its place in the downtown community, once you take a step inside, you are automatically attune to the fact that Rhapsody Barrel Bar brings people together— with their weekly events, simple yet delicious food and their luxury options for alcohol. All in all, it’s a place that caters groups, dates, lunch meetings and on-the-go professionals. But for a Saturday night, it’s perfect for a dad’s night out.
It’s not every day you walk into a movie theatre to be greeted with a “Welcome to the Fire Swamp, watch out for the R.O.U.S.’s, but I don’t believe they exist.” On Thursday, Princess Cinemas and the “folkes” from the Royal Medieval Faire hosted a The Princess Bride quote-along (think sing-along with subtitles instead of song lyrics). They gave away free inflatable swords to the first 100 guests and the atmosphere was full of excitement. The theatre was filled with children and children-at-heart for this sold out show. Everyone seemed happy to spend their dreary Thursday night shouting at a screen over a movie they’ve probably seen more times than they can count. This is one of many interactive films that The Princess screens throughout the year. Though the Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings around Halloween are arguably the most well-known in our university bubble, they also have a screening of The Room and their Oscar Night celebrations coming up in the next month. So what makes these interactive events so successful? Well, from what I experienced on Thursday, it’s getting involved in something that you already love. Before the show, one of the ladies from the Royal Medieval Faire asked the audience to shout their favourite quote, then joked that we didn’t even need to screen the movie: we could all just quote it by heart. I think that’s a good summary of how the evening went. Everyone was excited to be there and there was an expectation of fun from people who already loved this film.
MADELINE MCINNIS/OPINION EDITOR
It’s not like going to see the latest blockbuster and giving it a value judgement when you finish. All the guests have an expectation of a great film and getting involved with the crowd. As a film studies major, my professors always stress the experience of sitting in a darkened room with other people and how that changes the viewing of the film. But this wasn’t just a screening, it was an interaction with the film. You can’t have that watching Netflix in your room alone. These events also go beyond the usual theatre experience. You can participate as much as you want without fear of scorn from the staff or the other viewers. In fact, you’ll probably be the most popular person there if you talk the whole time. On the event’s Facebook page, costumes were strongly encouraged. I tried to pull off my best last-minute Buttercup, but I saw some amazing Inigo and Dread Pirate Roberts costumes, even beyond the Royal Medieval Fair participants. The lucky 100 raised their swords
during appropriate scenes. The famous quotes from the movie like “murdered by pirates is good” and “I’m not a witch, I’m your wife,” were crowd favourites. People cheered when major events unfolded. There were some very Rocky Horror-esque interjections, responding to the characters’ dialogue. There was a round of applause at the end. Someone even brought a kazoo to “play along” with the trumpeters of Humperdink’s court. Even after the screening ended and the participants started to leave, there was nothing but praise from the people who walked by me. I agree with them. It was a really great time. If you’re into the cult-film scene or are even just interested in it, I’d highly recommend the Princess’ showings. Though I am “no one of consequence,” you shouldn’t “get used to disappointment” if you’re planning to check out one of these special screenings. It’s “inconceivable” that you’ll have anything but an amazing time.
WLUSP’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FEBRUARY 1 7 P.M. SENATE BOARD AND CHAMBER BE THERE. (FREE FOOD)
14 •
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca
ENDORSEMENT: STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT & CEO
KANWAR BRAR As the only candidate for Students’ Union president and CEO, The Cord encourages students to vote “yes” to Kanwar Brar this week. Throughout his university career,
Brar has been more than present on campus. His resume is wide with experience — he’s been a director on the Students’ Union board, he’s been a participant in
Students’ Union events and he is currently a Residence Life don, to name a few. During his time as a student, as well as during the campaign period, Brar has listened to the voice of the students. He has reached out to several different groups of students to learn about the individual needs of each group. When you speak to him, you can tell he’s really listening and absorbing the information that you give him. During both campuses’ Open Forums, Brar was engaging and prepared. He didn’t struggle to answer questions and appeared to have either an opinion or a desired solution for all questions that were asked. He has been a transparent candidate and we believe that will translate into how he approaches the role of president. Because of his prior experience with the Students’ Union and consistent gallery attendance this year at board meetings, we are confident that his
transition will be quick, giving him more time to dive into projects in the summer months. We also believe that Brar will strongly advocate the importance of diversity and tolerance on Laurier’s campus. While Brar has not written for The Cord in this school year, we recalled an opinion piece that he wrote for us last year about his experiences with racism. In this piece, he explained that the best way to deal with ignorance and intolerance is not with anger, but through education and engaging in a positive dialogue. This is the kind of approach and attitude we want in a future Students’ Union president. This is the kind of person we want advocating for all Laurier students. While his platform is more so an extension and unpacking of values and plans that already exist or have been put into practice by former president Olivia Matthews and current president Tyler Van
Herzele, Brar’s platform is realistic. His five main pillars are: student experience, advocacy, communication, transparency and representation. While these buzzwords are just that — buzzwords — they are important topics that can’t be pushed aside. He realizes that one year is not enough time to plan multiple huge projects or make drastic changes, but is enough time to extend projects that are already in the works. Although Brar does not have an opponent, he is running as if he were in a race. He is not being lazy. He is still dressing well every day, he is still learning students’ names, he is still showing up. His campaign has been in the works for a long time and for that reason, even if he were competing against others for the position, he is the best possible candidate and we eagerly await Brar’s term as president and CEO of the Students’ Union, if elected.
STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR:
VICE-CHAIR:
DIRECTOR AT LARGE:
DIRECTOR AT LARGE:
After careful consideration, The Cord’s Editorial Board has chosen not to endorse any of the three candidates that have shown interest in being considered for chair of the board. Instead, we encourage Idris Omar Hassan to consider the position of chair of the board, opposed to vice-chair as he stated at the Waterloo Open Forum. Omar Hassan has been a memorable candidate throughout the campaign season and although he has not been a director before, he has experience that we believe to be valuable to the role of chair. Omar Hassan previously attended Mohawk College, where he gained experience with their board of directors for their students’ union. Given the large possibility that the chair of the board will be a new director, Omar Hassan has experience with Robert’s Rules — necessary to fill the role without previously being a director on the Students’ Union board. In his platform, Omar Hassan stressed listening, awareness and communication: three factors we believe to be highly important when chairing the board. He comes across as well-informed, confident and personable, all crucial characteristics of a good leader. Our only concern is his platform summary. He was unable to stay within the word count, which shows that Omar Hassan may have to pay closer attention to small details if elected chair of the board. Also, as a Brantford student, Omar Hassan must ensure that he is well informed of the issues and needs on the Waterloo campus and ensure that he can easily find transportation to the Waterloo campus, frequently.
Emily Rezkalla has made her presence known during this campaign season. She appears to be mature, well-informed and confident about what she can bring to the board table next year. Rezkalla has experience with the Laurier Law Society Moot Court, which means she has the potential to be the unbiased voice of reason at the board table. Although she does not have prior board experience, we believe that she would be an asset to the board and her knowledge and confidence should be utilized as vice-chair of the board. In the Waterloo Open Forum, Rezkalla expressed some interest in chair of the board, but felt she needed to be more informed or take more time to think about it seriously. We encourage Rezkalla to take the appropriate steps to educate herself about the roles within the board, as we believe with the proper knowledge, she could be a great vice-chair and support system to the chair of the board.
Michael Del Bono has been the token “nice guy” of this election season. He takes the time to talk to students and appears to be passionate about students’ needs and opinions. He is a good speaker and always appears to be prepared and well-informed. Del Bono’s approach seems to be optimistic, yet professional. He appears to be supportive of those running alongside him, which will hopefully translate to the boardroom if elected. As a Brantford candidate, Del Bono will effectively represent the needs of the Brantford students, but also appears to be prepared to learn about the Waterloo campus, too. We believe, if elected, Del Bono will be a responsible and reliable board member.
Throughout the campaign season, Moumita Paul, while soft-spoken, has come across as well-informed, responsible and reliable. She presented herself well in the Waterloo Open Forum and was engaged with the questions that were asked. Paul has extensive experience within the Students’ Union as she was a clubs communications executive and is currently a students’ rights advisory committee executive. Both of these experiences, especially her experience with SRAC, suggest that she will advocate well for students and is interested in finding solutions to issues. If elected, we encourage Paul to be firmer with her opinions, as she has the knowledge to advocate and represent the Laurier student body.
IDRIS OMAR HASSAN
EMILY REZKALLA
MICHAEL DEL BONO
BOARD OF GOVERNORS The Cord will not be endorsing any candidates for Board of Governors, as they are all acclaimed.
MOUMITA PAUL
SENATE After having little to no information or contact with the candidates for the remaining spot on Senate, The Cord has decided to abstain from making an endorsement.
The following endorsements were done through discussions with The Cord’s Editorial Board and Editor-in-Chief (14 members). These are not necessarily a reflection of WLUSP, The Cord’s volunteers or staff. They were originally published online on Jan. 23.
• 15
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca
Blind optimism doesn’t help your health You don’t always have to find a silver lining in life; it’s perfectly normal to not be okay all the time
MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR
Today is Bell Let’s Talk day and I want to talk about something very important: you don’t always have to be positive and grateful. The mentality that we have to find the silver lining can be extremely harmful, especially to those of us with mental illnesses. More often than not, there are fluff articles explaining “10 easy ways to think more positive” or “the best ways to drop the depression and get happy.” Finding the beauty in the world is great, but it does absolutely nothing to help my experiences with mental illness. Mental illness isn’t a choice. It’s not something that you can find beauty in. It’s not the tragic love story that tumblr portrays it as. Mental illness is fucking scary. It’s days spent in a haze. It’s forgetting to eat or pee for an entire day because you’re pushing yourself too hard. It’s the dread of getting out of bed every single day
because you don’t want to face the world outside your door. Those are the facts. I don’t have to be grateful for any of that. Validating your situation is the first step to seeking help for your symptoms.
My mental illness is not something that I can think away. It’s not like I can look around, see all the blessings in my life, then magically be cured.
TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
You can’t do that if you’re pushing away your real feelings in favour of constantly finding positivity in your terrible situation. Different things work for different people, but I guarantee that covering your illness in a layer of false positivity isn’t going to make it go away. This goes for telling other people to think positively as well.
Telling someone to stop being so negative because someone has it worse follows the same logic as telling someone to stop being happy because someone has it better; it doesn’t make any sense. Just like your happiness isn’t hindered by someone having a better life, my emotions are valid, even though someone has it worse. Frankly, if someone tells a per-
son with anxiety to “think positively” or a person with depression to “just smile,” they’re ignorant. No exceptions, no apologies. This rhetoric of finding the positivity in every situation is only adding to the stigma. If I know that I’m in an area with “good vibes only,” or with someone whose answer to everything is “think positive,” I’m sure as shit not
rallying against “offensive” Halloween costumes, as well as offering safe spaces for students. If you aren’t particularly offended by Halloween, nor have a need for safe spaces, opting out of this fee is an easy way to eat out an extra time per academic school year or buy some extra school supplies. Other fees, like the dental plan and the health plan, can be opted out of, if you can prove you have a similar plan. Opting out of these fees can save you $105.54 and $112.45 per year, respectively.
MADELINE MCINNIS/OPINION EDITOR
Opting-out of student fees ERIK DANUDJAJA OPINION COLUMNIST
Among the several areas of concern for Canadian university students, perhaps none are more pertinent than rising student debts, often driven by rising tuition. According to the Canadian
Federation of Students, average student debt stands at $27,000. The Toronto Star recently reported that nearly 40 per cent of Canadian post-secondary students experience food poverty. Since 1990, average tuition has risen by 6.2 per cent per year. That’s three times the rate of inflation. That’s a huge gap. Clearly, university has become expensive to the point of bearing massive financial costs on students. While there is little that I (or
anyone else for that matter) can do about the general rise in tuition, there is a way you can curb your tuition costs, if only marginally. Many of the fees in our tuition are optional and you can opt-out of them. Have you ever heard of the Laurier Student Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG), for example? If not, you may be surprised to know that you give them over $10 every academic year. This politically charged group does work ranging from campaigns
It is problematic that when speaking with students, many (if not most) do not know about the fees they pay and whether they can opt out of them or not.
While Laurier’s tuition has several services, not all of these services are created equal. The Cord, which operates under Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications (WLUSP), for example, is funded via a life levy and cannot be opted out of. This newspaper offers a power-
going to open up to them about my mental illness. When I’ve been doing nothing but work for 36 hours straight, not stopping to eat or sleep, that’s not a “think positive” moment. That’s a “things are really bad right now” moment. Even for someone without a mental illness, it’s not healthy to constantly be happy. It’s ridiculous to think so. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. It’s tears, exhaustion and heartache. A true friend would never tell you to think any differently. Be unapologetically sad. Don’t be afraid to be afraid. When you’re feeling alone, validate that experience. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you when you can’t find a silver lining. My mental illness is not something that I can think away. It’s not like I can look around, see all the blessings in my life, then magically be cured. Do you think I haven’t tried that? Though it’s great to recognize the beauty in your life, it doesn’t mean you have to ignore the nasty parts in favour of a constant silver lining. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes.
ful platform for students such as myself to voice their opinion, as well as contributing to the sense of community that Laurier has become known for. On the other hand, as someone who has never used public transit in Waterloo, it is questionable that I must pay $80 per year for a bus pass that shall go unused. It is problematic that when speaking with students, many (if not most) do not know about the fees they pay and whether or not they can opt out of them. The bottom line is that, for too many students, each and every dollar counts. As a student body, we should carefully follow our dollars and opt out of the fees that do not align with our beliefs and values. Furthermore, we should put pressure on our elected students, as well as school faculty, to ensure there is more insight and accountability to where our dollars go and how they are spent. The trends towards rising tuition is a troubling one and I wish I had a better solution that saving a dollar here and a dollar there, but that is the precarious situation in which we find ourselves. A vocal and interactive student body will help, but at the end of the day, the problem of student tuition and added fees is very much a political one. While millennial political engagement remains low, perhaps in future years our voices will be heard and problems addressed.
16 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
Pain as a source for change JOSH HORTALEZA STAFF WRITER
Whenever the new year rolls around, I hear of my friends, my acquaintances and my family attempting to change some aspect of themselves that they find to be negative. They may also be trying to change some form of their circumstance to a better one. While this happens at all times throughout the year, January is the when I am reminded of this desire to change. The new year looks like a blank slate. It looks like a chance to start over. “I’m going to lose weight.” “I’m going to get a higher GPA.” “I am going to ask that person I like to be my significant other.” The reason why some people scoff at new year’s resolutions is because they never seem to get done. Surely, for people who seek these goals, achieving them would
be positive and beneficial. So why don’t they get done? If you ask a person who wants to achieve a broad goal what it takes to achieve that goal, they may list many factors. However, I believe that individuals not dealing with circumstances out of their control know exactly what it takes to achieve their own goals. What’s holding us back has not been set. Honestly, do we really need to lose weight, get a high GPA, or find a significant other? Not really. We are happy in our complacency because our mediocrity is not a bad ordeal. However, when pushed into a corner, we do things that we believe to be beyond our range of ability. We are able to achieve when we are forced out of our comfort zone. We are able to achieve only when we have to. An individual who survived a heart attack will be more than eager to hit the gym and shed pounds. An individual who entered academic probation and is on the verge of academic expulsion
is more than eager to use all the resources available to stay in university. An individual who realizes that the most important thing to them is not money, social status, or image, but interactions with fellow humans, will be more than eager to be more social and more altruistic towards others. The most painful part of it all is that we know exactly what we need to do to achieve our goals. We were complacent in our mediocrity until it was too late and that trigger was finally released, resulting in pain. Eventually, your opportunity to achieve your goals will be missed. Some people never fully end up finishing all their goals and becoming the person they truly wanted to be. That may be seen as sad, but it’s just the truth. There is no one who knows our faults like ourselves, but there is also no one who will lie to us better than ourselves. Why does pain have to be the force behind our desire to change? If all of us were perfect logisticians, we would surely recognize that our goals are worth pursuing and pursue them.
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Inauguration of Donald J. Trump JORDAN BAECHLER STAFF WRITER
Whether it was denial or ignorance, there was something preventing many from accepting the reality that Donald Trump won the election and was going to become the 45th president of the United States. Well, Friday Jan. 20 made it official: Donald J. Trump was sworn into office. No more denial, it finally became real. As per tradition, Donald Trump gave an inauguration speech. It must be acknowledged that he did fairly well in portions of it. The speech was very consistent to the campaign he ran and was very easy to follow, regardless of your education or profession, a tactic that really helped bring him success throughout his campaign. Trump honoured and thanked the people who got him into power — everyday, ordinary citizens who were scared about job loss, scared about their loss in wealth, scared about their borders and scared about the safety in their neighbourhood. People certainly voted with their fears in this election; they didn’t vote with their hopes and Trump was certainly able to thrive off of that. That was clearly displayed in the type of picture Trump drew of America in his inauguration speech. Trump clearly stated a very pessimistic view of the shape America is currently in: a dark country that has been in despair and taken advantage of by political elites and unacceptable deals with other countries. Trump, in response, stated in his speech that “from this day forward, it’s only going to be America first.” Trump said every decision on trade, taxes, immigration and foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and their families. Trump’s call for patriotism appears to be a popular one and a major cornerstone of what got him elected. However, I find it simply irre-
sponsible for the president of the United States to think that the country he is now in charge of leading does not have an imperative duty to the rest of the world to help countries in need. He doesn’t believe in cooperating in international negotiations or peacekeeping and using the world power they possess for good. There’s a popular phrase going around right now that you’ve probably heard: “Trump’s success as president’s is everyone’s success.” Whereas that may be true at a very broad level, when you look deeper into it, it is not so sound. For example, the economic success that Trump promises is something that Americans should undoubtedly be hopeful for.
People certainly voted with their fears this election; they didn’t vote with their hopes and Trump was certainly able to thrive off of that.
On the other hand, if Trump succeeds in bringing forth some of the hateful, malicious and backwards policy that he is promising to bring forth, such as repealing affordable health care that has helped millions, registering Muslim Americans, banning foreign Muslims from the U.S., building a wall that will cost billions — then no. That is not success for everyone. Rather, it is pain and suffrage for millions of Americans who Trump now has a commitment to. So yes, I do think it only makes sense to hope for the success of Donald Trump as president, but I do not think that success should be at the expense of millions of Americans and people around the world. And just as the reality has come that Trump is indeed the new president of the United States, reality should set in to Trump to be the president for all Americans.
OPINION • 17
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
A perspective on leaders A Muslim woman’s thoughts of Trump and Trudeau’s views
ARUBA KHURSHID OPINION COLUMNIST
On Nov. 8, 2016, I did something I don’t normally do: I made a brash Facebook post expressing my disgust for the results of this American election. I genuinely felt hurt that people were voting for someone I found to be a vindictive bully towards women, Muslims, Latinx, LGBTQ+, as well as those living with disabilities. The next day felt like a cloudy nightmare. I don’t know why I felt far more emotional than I usually did, but there was something extremely disheartening about the fact that there were now going to be over 300 million people in pure pain — whether from internal or external hate. But there was something shining through the clouds: the support and love from my fellow peers. Rather than ruminating over the inauguration of he-who-shall-notbe-named, I think it’s best to tame
my own sanity by acknowledging what I, a Muslim-Canadian citizen, am thankful for: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. So, Prime Minister Trudeau, as a Canadian-born Muslim woman, I have one thing I desperately need to say to you: Thank you for humanizing me.
But I strongly believe hearts can change for the better and that change starts with someone in power who is willing to embrace the beauty of difference.
I admit, on the day of our election (which also happened to be my birthday), I made a strategic vote against a government that I felt didn’t allow me to express my own religious freedom and often misinterpreted Islamic contexts.
I will also admit that I am not someone who is politically intelligent: most of the stuff I read was from my Facebook feed, and therefore, while you were not my first choice (of a choice I blatantly did not know how to make), you were the choice that I felt needed to oust that particular way of thinking. Little did I realize that I was voting for someone whose actions have spoken far louder than his words. Since elected, you have taken the culture that had been slandered across my television screen for years and allowed the citizens of Canada to learn about its beauty from an unbiased and welcoming point of view. You’ve participated and educated others about the month of Ramadan, wished us a great Eid and taught me many other traditions my fellow citizens celebrate that I never learned about in school. You have allowed countless members of my Muslim family to take refuge in our well-equipped land. You have encouraged forms of free expressions in love and understanding of those differing in points of view.
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
However, Islamophobia, homophobia and xenophobia haven’t been totally eradicated since your elect. Unfortunately, those who have no choice but to fight the battle will need to continue doing so as there are hearts that have not yet been able to accept difference. But I strongly believe hearts can change for the better and that change starts with someone in power who is willing to embrace the beauty of difference. In theory, you don’t receive any personal benefit from this. You are what would represent the “majority” in Canada. This is why your actions have
touched my heart in ways beyond what you can imagine and why I will continue to fight my battle valiantly. Thank you for teaching others that I am a human being. Thank you, Prime Minister Trudeau. I promise to do my best to be an exemplary Canadian citizen. I promise not to let the negativity displayed in the press alter my optimism for peace. I promise to make you proud as I venture off to my own journey as a Canadian citizen. Thank you for being the best birthday present I could ever ask for.
Escaping with video games The fantasy found in our virtual worlds is “an extra life”
EMILY WAITSON STAFF WRITER
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
One of my favourite sentimental items is my Playstation 2. I received it over twelve years ago for Christmas, having never touched a video game before that and it ended up becoming one of my main comforts and beloved hobbies. Whenever I look at it, it gives me a pleasant, warm feeling of nostalgia and even though it currently sounds like a space shuttle about to blast off whenever it’s turned on, it somehow still works just fine. As someone who has always been drawn to fictional worlds in any shape or form, video games felt like a natural pathway into universes I was already so enamoured with. Instead of merely being able to imagine various places and the characters within them, I could control what happened and I could be the hero. Whether or not I was ever good at playing video games was never really a factor for me (spoiler alert: I wasn’t and I’m still not). I just enjoyed the thrill of something being so fun and furiously challenging at times. My infatuation with games waned and faded for a significant amount of time in my teens until just a few years ago when I stum-
bled onto my long lost pastime once again. Dating my boyfriend was basically my reintroduction into the world of video games and it thrust me back into the simple pleasure that had grown so much since I had last visited it.
Instead of merely being able to imagine various places and the characters within them, I could control what happened and I could be the hero.
I look at games like I look at books or movies: with fondness. The ones I like become passionately fuelled obsessions that end up being a very relaxing, anxiety-aiding tool. I get to escape to them and the events that unfold through each one. I become attached to the characters and end up having to pace myself through each game so I don’t overindulge myself in one go and finish it too quickly. Since I played them in the mid2000’s, I’m happy that the worlds I once loved so much have evolved so heavily and drastically from when I last saw them.
Not having to wait a solid five minutes for a loading screen is a nice improvement. As someone who is generally disinterested in online game playing, I take the most joy out of being able to singlehandedly kill a monster on my own or play my way through challenges by myself, other people be damned. It also doesn’t matter to me at all whether I’m playing a game on an Xbox One, a Playstation 4 or a PC. I think they all have their own merits, as unpopular and potentially contentious of an opinion as that may be. I think part of what I really relish about this incredibly “nerdy” activity that I’ve picked up again is the fact that it feels like it’s my thing. Like books, each story is what I make of it. I unwind and get lost in whatever storyline I’m taking my character through, relish in the all too therapeutic art of masterfully slashing my way against a siege of enemies and I take personal pride in the little accomplishments that pop up on the screen in front of me. Not everyone may take the same thrill out of video games as I do, or even understand why I like them, but that’s the amazingly wonderful thing about the hobbies we choose to embrace as individuals. There’s something that will personally resonate with everyone and I’m thankful that I’ve come back to one that brings my mind so much peace and contentment, even if it’s just for a little while.
18 •
Sports
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 SPORTS EDITOR ROB FIFIELD sports@thecord.ca
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Hawks outlast Toronto Varsity Blues ROB FIFIELD SPORTS EDITOR
The Golden Hawks played host to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday afternoon in hopes of getting back into the win column. For the Hawks, this game was all about containing the U of T offence as they are one of the top shooting teams in the OUA this season, lead by Devin Johnson. The Hawks came out flying within the first few minutes of the game as they were able to grab a quick 10-0 lead over the Varsity Blues, forcing a U of T timeout early. “I think [Laurier’s fast start] started with changing up our lineup to start the game, I’m not usually a big fan of it, to tell you the truth, but we needed a spark … Toronto is a great offensive team so we knew we had to shut them down for at least two quarters which we almost did,” said head coach Justin Serresse. The Blues managed to grab some points back and the quarter ended 18-12 in favour of the Golden Hawks The second quarter started out quickly as Tevaun Kokko and Johnson exchanged 3’s to open the quarter and keep Laurier lead at 6. Laurier extended their lead to 12 in the quarter, but the Varsity Blues battled back and kept this one close at 39-35 in favour of the
Hawks, going into the half. The true star of this one was the Laurier offence lead by first-year rookie, Kokko. Kokko finished the first half with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists including going four for nine in three-point shooting. “It’s all about his speed and his shooting ability. He’s so quick and he shoots the ball so well. If you can do that, you’re going to be very successful in this league,” Serresse said. Johnson lead the scoring for the Varsity Blues in the half as he rounded out the first half with eight points. The Varsity Blues came out to start the half on a mission — in the first minute of play, the Blues had taken a quick 40-39 lead. A very tight third quarter by both teams finished up with the Golden Hawks leading by a basket: 62-60. Johnson had a strong quarter putting up 11 points for the Varsity Blues. Laurier came out in the fourth quarter ready to shut the door and they did exactly that. The Hawks put up a game high of 29 points in the fourth quarter, which was good enough to secure the win. Laurier had a great day on both ends of the court, shooting 30 for 60 field goal percentage and holding the the Varsity Blues to just 24 for 71.
TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Laurier offence was once again lead by Kokko who managed to drop 29 points in the contest. “He’s a scorer. He’s always been a scorer and he’s very fluid. I try to help him as much as possible, but I also try not to over coach him because I don’t want him to lose his offensive flare,” Serresse added. “But when he’s playing well, he can do whatever he wants.”
However, it was Blues star Johnson who had the game high total, dropping an impressive 37 points for the visitors. Next up, Laurier will head down the road in hopes of avenging their Loss to the Waterloo Warriors from a week ago. “We were extremely selfish in that game, not just one guy, our whole team was being selfish, as
if they were going to do it all by themselves, forgetting it’s a pretty good team out there and we need to do it together,” Serresse remarked. “We’ll re-watch the tape, make some adjustments and go from there. It’s going to be another close game so hopefully we can show some pride. I’m still mad about that last game against them.”
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Laurier steals one from the Warriors ROB FIFIELD SPORTS EDITOR
The Golden Hawks headed just down the road on Saturday to face off against their neighbours in the Battle of Waterloo, The Waterloo Warriors. In a bit of a one sided match for the Warriors, the Hawks managed to come out victorious with a 2-1 victory. The game started out with a fast pace, as the Waterloo Warriors began to dictate the pace of the game controlling possession and hemming the Hawks into their own end. The Hawks got some momentum going down the ice and on only the Hawks’ second shot on net firstyear defenceman ,Jamie Watson, was able to find the back of the net and give the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead. That’s the way the period would wrap up as goalie Amanda Smith would keep the Warriors scoreless after one. The Warriors’ hard work paid off early in the second, as Rachael Marriott managed to beat Smith from the slot on the power play and tie this one up at one a piece
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
for her eighth goal of the season. That’s all the action that would be seen in the second as the teams would break for the second intermission all tied up. The third period began and the Warriors came out strong and were poised to take the lead in this one. The Hawks weren’t making it easy on themselves in the final frame as they took three minor penalties in the period. The final frame remained scoreless until the the final five minutes when Carly AuCoin was able to
find then back of the net for her first OUA goal. Smith was quick to deflect the praise from herself and point out the strong play from the entire team. “I think our girls were really into the game — definitely a lot of hard work going on. 2017 has definitely been a lot different for us compared to the first half of the season. It’s nice to see some of the girls starting to find some chemistry,” head coach Rick Osborne said. That would be enough for the
Hawks as they were able to skate away with a 2-1 victory over the Warriors. The story here was really the outstanding performance from Smith, who recorded 37 saves for the win. “In a game like that, I’d definitely rather be on the 40 shot side than the 10 shot side. It’s easier to find your groove,” said Smith. The Hawks can thank Smith for this win as they were only able to muster up 10 shots of their own towards the Warriors net. “[Smith] had to be really, really
good and she’s given us a chance and we’ve gotten points in every game so far in 2017 … she’s given us real consistent lately which is something we didn’t have early on,” Osborne said. Osborne didn’t seem overly concerned, however, about getting badly outshot. “I was fine with getting outshot … the shots on goal are counted differently in each building you go to. I was more concerned with us not giving Stephanie Sluys [of the Warriors], who’s a very good goaltender, a lot of easy catches on shots from the outside.” When asked about having to adjust to the smaller ice surface that UW has, Osborne said it has a big impact on the players. “Waterloo is a smaller ice surface, a narrower ice surface and on this particular day it was a more hostile environment because of it being alumni day for them, as well as a big promotion for the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. There was a lot of excitement around the rink,” he said. The Hawks are back in action this weekend as they host the Guelph Gryphons and University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
SPORTS • 19
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Big fourth quarter leads Hawks over the Blues Laurier wins its third straight with big win over UofT ABDULHAMID IBRAHIM STAFF WRITER
The Golden Hawks women’s basketball team came into the Saturday night game against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues hoping that their win against Guelph was a sign for things to come together after starting out the new year losing three straight.
Coming off of Christmas, we had a rough start there but we got our mojo back a little bit in the Guelph game and ... getting Nicole back helps. -Paul Falco, head coach
EMI ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
They continued getting back to their winning ways this past weekend, as they came back from being down in the first quarter to turning out a strong win and as coach Paul Falco called it, “a sound game,” by the score of 73-57. In the first quarter, both teams came out aggressively, playing at a fast pace with good ball movement. U of T proved to be a force, dominating the boards with 21 rebounds and making their money attacking the basket, getting to the free throw line and making Laurier settle for jumpers as the score was 21-13 in favour of the Blues. In the second quarter, Laurier
came out hot scoring seven points in the first two minutes of the quarter and at one point, bringing the U of T lead down to four. That’s when U of T turned it up led by Rahshida Atkinson and Charlotte Collyer going on a 9-2 run as they continued to attack the basket. Laurier would follow that answering with a 13-3 run to close out the last five minutes and end the half being down 36-35. Going into the third quarter, both teams were quiet on offence as U of T only managed to score four points in the first four minutes. The Hawks scored the first points in the quarter by the 6:08 mark. The game was kept close as both teams traded baskets and finished the quarter with Laurier being down 51-49. The fourth quarter is when the game turned around. It was kept close in the beginning with Keyira Parkes of U of T scoring their first six points of the quarter. But the momentum turned once Laurier’s Rachel Woodburn scored five points to start them off. Kaitlyn Schenck then keyed a 9-4 run to give Laurier the lead. From that point on, Laurier was able to hold onto their lead, due to the Blues’ inability to make free throws, at one point, missing five of six attempts that would have given them the lead. The Hawks were able to ice the game on free throws and took the win at 74-67. The biggest factor in this game was Laurier’s ability to turn it up at the right time and play with the urgency that’s got them in the playoff race. “It was definitely a good sign for us because lately, we haven’t
had too many tight games down the stretch, so that was good sort of practice for us in terms of how we’re going to execute in the fourth quarter, get stops and rebounds and we’re going to execute our offence,” Falco said. Laurier’s getting healthy at the right time as they continue to get closer to the playoffs and they appear to be getting their rhythm back. “You’re gonna need as many people going as you can because we got lots of tough games ahead of us and the more weapons we have, the more people contributing, the better we’ll be,” Falco said.
You’re gonna need as many people going as you can because we got lots of tough games ahead of us.
-Paul Falco, head coach
“Coming off of Christmas, we had a rough start there but we got our mojo back a little bit in the Guelph game and especially getting Nicole [Morrison] back helps as well. We played a sound game against Waterloo and followed up with a tough game against U of T.” Up next for the Golden Hawks, they will play Waterloo on Jan. 28 at the University of Waterloo.
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20
• SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
FOOTBALL
Boateng and Onyeka ready for the big stage Laurier stars Kwaku Boateng and Nakas Onyeka both ranked in the top 20 for upcoming CFL PRANAV DESAI LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
The Laurier men’s football season was capped off in phenomenal fashion, as the Hawks came back against the Western Mustangs to lift the Yates Cup. Two key players behind the Hawks’ title winning campaign were defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng and linebacker Nakas Onyeka. Boateng led the team in a number of defensive categories, including sacks, forced fumbles and knockdowns, while Onyeka lead the team in total tackles. Their outstanding performances throughout the season has earned them high praise. The CFL scouting bureau has ranked Boateng as the number six overall prospect and Onyeka was ranked as the number 18 overall prospect as of the rankings that were put out in early December. Boateng and Onyeka discussed the Hawks’ season and their preparation for the CFL draft. For Boateng, this journey started at the beginning of high school. “I started to play football in grade nine. I just really enjoyed playing the sport and have been playing ever since,” he said. Boateng is Laurier’s all time sack leader. He has also been a Second Team All-Canadian, First Team All-Star and an All-Rookie, just to name a few of his accomplishments. Even though Boateng has a long list of individual accomplishments and awards, he gave all the credit to his teammates and coaching staff for his great Laurier career. “The combination of all my personal awards comes down to how our team does overall. I was blessed to have a great coaching staff and great teammates by my
side that pushed me, which makes the game a lot more fun and takes my game to another level,” he said. Contrary to Boateng, Onyeka had to stay patient to get his chance. He didn’t get much playing time in his first year with the Hawks, but he didn’t let that discourage him. “I knew coming in that the situation was going to be a part of it. The coaches worked me through and I knew I wasn’t ready to play. But I knew my time would come and it did. My waiting definitely paid dividends because it allowed me to become the player I am now,” said Onyeka.
Making the CFL wasn’t an immediate goal at first, but seeing older players go through the draft process motivated me to get to where I am. -Nakas Onyeka, linebacker
The coaching staff took their time with Onyeka and their patience paid off, as Onyeka developed into a defensive force for the Hawks. Since Onyeka didn’t start out as a starting linebacker for the Hawks, it would have been hard for anyone to predict that he would one day be preparing for the CFL draft. But Onyeka never lost faith. “I’ve always had high hopes. I’m just a really competitive person. Making the CFL wasn’t an immediate goal at first, but seeing older players going through the draft
process motivated me to get to where I am,” he said. When asked to comment about his preparation for the CFL draft, Boateng mentioned that it takes much more of a mental toll than a physical toll. “The hard part is just the waiting. It’s less of a physical battle and more of a mental battle because when you’re training for the combine it’s not always about the physicality, it’s also about getting the attitude down,” Boateng said. “The physical aspect mostly includes how fast your hands are, improving your stance, turning your hips. I think that’s the biggest transition. It’s no longer just about strength. It’s more so how athletic can you really be.” Onyeka pointed towards time management as the toughest aspect of draft preparation. “It’s really hard to manage time when you have speed training one day, strength training the next day, along with constant school, extra curricular activities, etc. I basically have a four-day week to get all the stuff down.” One can only imagine how hard it must be for athletes like Boateng and Onyeka to mentally prepare months ahead of the combine and the draft. The waiting game consists of months of preparation leading up to just a few days that decide your fate for years to come. Making a career out of football is not an easy decision to make due to the inherent risk in the sport. The physical nature of football surpasses other popular sports such as basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, etc. Many football players report head injuries even after their career is over and this affects their lives after football. Boateng discussed the physicality of the sport, especially the
WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
concussion concerns that have risen from football over the past few years. “The way I play, I almost play like a rugby player. I try focusing on tackling just the legs. There’s a big push for a healthier tackling style in the league. A combination of all that helps decrease the concussion concerns a lot,” Boateng said. “But at the end of the day, concussions aren’t something to joke about, which is why I have a back up plan which is my [business administration] degree. So I’m not too worried about it because I know if it ever comes down to that point, I’ll be prepared to move on.” It is easy to see why Boateng completed his business administration degree before even thinking about becoming a professional football player. The injury risk in a sport like football provides no guarantees. But, with a Yates Cup win under their belt, it’s important for Boateng and Onyeka to realize the potential they have to play professionally. It was a joyous moment for Laurier students when the Hawks completed the comeback against Western to win the Yates Cup. Boateng and Onyeka commented on what winning the Yates Cup last fall meant to them and the entire team. “It was pretty exciting. It was a great way to wrap up my career here at Laurier,” Boateng said. “It kind of embodied all of the hard work we put into this team. Since my first year, we went 1-7 to flipping that around and going 7-1. It definitely means a lot. It was a great victory and it was something I’ll always appreciate.”
Onyeka explained that the team felt like it was their time to take the win. “Obviously being down 21 points isn’t the most ideal situation in the world, but we were able to keep faith. Our coaches always
The hard part is just the waiting. It’s less of a physical battle and more of a mental battle.
-Kwaku Boateng, defensive line
preached faith and pride. We felt like we were a really prideful team. We never felt like we were down and out.” As for the future, both players are hopeful to still keep playing the game they love. “Being drafted and playing in the CFL is what I hope for. I want to pave the way for younger guys the way older players did for me. I’m sort of a role model for the current players and I think me going through this can pave the way for whatever they go through in the future,” Onyeka said. There is no doubt that Boateng and Onyeka were special players for the Hawks. Both will be great additions to whichever CFL team that drafts them and it will be exciting, to say the least, to see where they end up.