THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 9, 2016
EYES ON THE PRIZE.
Laurier’s football team advances to the Yates Cup Sports, page 16
WLUFA NEGOTIATIONS
WELCOMING HARJIT SAJJAN
ART ON DISPLAY IN DTK
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
BATTLE OF WATERLOO
95 per cent in favour of calling strike
Canada’s minister of defence pays a visit
Reviewing NIGHT\SHIFT exhibit
Zayn Malik’s experience with an eating disorder
Men’s hockey takes on UW at the Aud
News, page 3
News, page 5
Arts & Life, page 9
Opinion, page 14
Sports, page 15
DYLAN HINES/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY, FILE PHOTO PHOTO MANIPULATION BY WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
VOCAL CORD
When do you start prepping for the holidays?
The Cord
@cordnews
@cordwlusp
Letter to the Editor: U.S. elections
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
“It’s probably embarrassing, but whenever Starbucks comes out with their red cups.” –Ben Fanelli, fourthyear communication studies
“As soon as exams are done.”
This past weekend, WLU and UW co-hosted the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, the current Minister of National Defence.
–Alex Adams, third-year communication studies
Bag O’ Crime
“I will start preparing for the holidays as soon as November 25.”
Location: On Campus Reported: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 @ 12:29 p.m. A female student complained to SCS to report fraudulent usage of the student’s credit card. The card was still in possession of the student and the charges were from on campus purchases not authorized by the owner of the credit card. SCS officers are currently investigating. The locations of the purchases have been determined to be on video surveillance which will be reviewed to try and locate any suspect(s).
–Varshanan Sivakumar, fourth-year economics and financial management
“I start prepping on November 1.” –Jaimie Ellis, second-year BSC psychology Compiled by Safina Husein Photos by Marco Pedri NEXT ISSUE: NOVEMBER 16, 2016
CORD STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bethany Bowles editor@thecord.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Will Huang creative@thecord.ca WEB DIRECTOR Brian Phillips online@thecord.ca SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin news@thecord.ca NEWS EDITOR Emilia Curcic news@thecord.ca
LUKE SARAZIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Location: On Campus Wednesday, November 2, 2016 @ 9:37 p.m. SCS was notified of a suspicious elderly male, possibly intoxicated, walking along King Street near campus. A second report was received that the male was inside the Laurier Science Building, but was gone upon officer arrival. The male was then located within Wilf’s Pub and identified as an Alumnus who had been frequenting the bar regularly over the past few weeks. Following a fourth complaint about the male making
NEWS EDITOR Maddy Cutts news@thecord.ca
ONLINE EDITOR Andreas Patsiaouros online@thecord.ca
FEATURES EDITOR Mitchell Consky features@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR Vacant editor@thecord.ca
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Manjot Bhullar arts@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Safina Husein news@thecord.ca
OPINION EDITOR Madeline McInnis opinion@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Marco Pedri photos@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Rob Fifield sports@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Emilia Zibaei photos@thecord.ca
GRAPHICS EDITOR Fani Hsieh graphics@thecord.ca
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Christian Paron copyeditor@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR Paige Bush photos@thecord.ca
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Brittany Ditizio socialmedia@thecord.ca
CordNews
females feel uncomfortable, he was asked to leave the property at which time he became belligerent. Given the number of complaints received and the male’s conduct, he was trespassed from any and all Laurier University owned, leased, and controlled properties. Location: 196 Sunview St. (Laurier Place) Reported: Thursday, November 03, 2016 @ 4:20 p.m. SCS attended to the abandoned former student residence in regard to a break in. It was discovered that forced entry had been gained via a rear door. The WRPS Identification Branch attended for a forensic detail. No theft or damages were reported. Location: Clara Conrad Hall Reported: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 @ 1:10 a.m. SCS investigated a report of property damage at Clara Conrad Residence. The glass window of an exterior exit door was struck and sustained several cracks. The damage was not witnessed and there are no suspects.
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE:
Luke Sarazin Alex Trkulja Jessica Dik Meaghan Ince Simran Dhaliwal Philip Su Eric Flockhart Nathalie Bouchard Jordan Baechler Omair Ansari Chris Luciantonio Nicole Stumpf Karlis Wilde Kayla Hegarty Liz Zmijak Vidish Parikh Emily Waitson Don Morgenson Mitchell Kooh Josh Goeree Ferdaous Ayesha
“The twelfth man” by Andreas Patsiaouros
EDITOR’S CHOICE ONLINE: Handshake infographic by Andreas Patsiaouros
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Schummer at care.schummer@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.
Location: Library Reported: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 @ 8:20 p.m. SCS received a report of a stolen backpack from the Laurier Library. The complainant located the backpack turned in to Library staff, but identified that her MacBook Air and pink case were missing. The complainant was unable to track the laptop through her IPhone App as the computer was not connected to the internet. Library staff indicated that an Asian male with short black hair had returned the bag to their desk. There is no available surveillance in the area of the theft and no witnesses. Location: 50 Marshall St. Reported: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 @ 1:37 a.m. SCS was notified by WRPS of a male and female stealing bikes at 50 Marshall St. Waterloo, a Laurier controlled property. No descriptions of the bikes were provided. Upon SCS arrival, the male and female were no longer in the area. Their identities are unknown. A search of the area yielded negative results.
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 reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires
There is something that has been bothering me for the past few weeks and it all stemmed from the event hosted by the Laurier Political Science Association, for the American Election Results Party. But in order to understand this, you have to rewind to the Canadian Federal Election that happened last year. The night of the election, there was a Blue Jays game that was on. Majority of the TV’s in Wilf’s had the game on and only a few were screening the election. Wilf’s was packed as usual, but most people were there for the game. In the Wilf’s Den, they were screening the election, which I found incredibly exciting. But now, we are holding an event in one of the biggest spaces on campus for something that isn’t even happening in Canada. Does it effect Canada? Yes! However, as an institution should we not be promoting local issues that happen in our own home? We need to promote caring about our own home, because if we don’t care, who will? Yes, I understand that “American politics affects the world,” and that “this is the most important election in history,” and that “this affects Canada.” But do you know what affects Canada? What your own federal and provincial governments are doing at home? That effects Canada. Not paying attention to what Trump said, or what Clinton e-mails were found. Last week, the Trudeau government announced drastic changes to how the student loan repayments process works. Did you know that? Go google it! I promise you it will effect you a lot more than any silly Trump quote or Clinton scandal that you share on Facebook. - Farnaz Yaqubian
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: “In the words of Lady Gaga, do what you want with your body!” - Arts & Life Editor, Manjot Bhullar about Donal Trump’s possible mind control
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
News
• 3
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR EMILIA CURCIC news@thecord.ca
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR MADDY CUTTS news@thecord.ca
CONTRACT FACULTY
BARGAINING CONTINUES BETWEEN WLU & WLUFA
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
WLUFA members voted 95 per cent in favour of their committee initiating-job action, if needed KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
The Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association is in the midst of negotiating a collective agreement with the university, which began on May 16. Since then, the two bargaining teams have met approximately 20 times and last met on Oct. 28. Both parties are scheduled to meet again on Thursday. Michele Kramer, president of WLUFA, explained how it is up to the association to negotiate the collective agreements for all faculty staff at Laurier and to make sure the agreements are upheld. WLUFA is divided into two bargaining units: tenured faculty, which is the fulltime faculty, and the unit that represents contract faculty. This year, WLUFA is negotiating the contract faculty agreement. “It’s up to WLUFA to make sure that the collective agreement gets followed and so that’s why we have to check on things like the number of faculty that gets hired is at the right level, [and] that the right balance between contract faculty and full-time faculty are maintained [sic],” said Kramer. WLUFA currently has three main priorities for contract faculty, which they believe have been left inadequately unaddressed: compensation, job security and access to benefits. According to Kramer, contract faculty has had one of the lowest percentage in wage increases since 2008 of all employee groups on the Laurier Waterloo campus. WLUFA has proposed an adjustment amount to rectify this issue, yet an employer from the university proposed an increase, which is equal to the current rate of inflation — a net gain of 0 per cent. As for job security, WLUFA proposed a continuing instructor position, which was rejected, as well as improvements to current
standing appointments and yearahead contracts that would allow contract faculty to know if they will be employed a year in advance. “I’ve been [teaching] for close to 20 years and every year, when we finish our term in April, I don’t know if I’m going to be back in September,” said Kramer. “We have a whole segment of our membership who [are] like me. This is what they do full-time, all the time, every year and for that group of people being able to be told ‘I guarantee you in September. You will have four courses to teach,’
time teaching in a classroom.” Currently, the number of teaching opportunities available to graduate students is limited to 44 per year in the CAS collective agreement. CAS members taught approximately 1,500 courses in the 201516 academic year. The university also pays approximately $7,500 per course to CAS members. Kramer emphasized the ongoing problem for WLUFA to negotiate for access benefits, as there are very few insurance companies who deal with employees that are at the
or a lock-out. At the end of October, WLUFA members voted 95 per cent in favour of authorizing the committee to call a strike, should it become necessary. It was originally believed there would be no interruption to teaching if a strike would occur. However, Kramer explained that there may be a chance of interruption, as it is dependent on when a conciliator is appointed and when conciliation is scheduled. “In a very worst case scenario, if [the conciliation] hurry’s on in the
One of the things we really don’t want is for students to be unnecessarily panicked about something that doesn’t necessarily mean panic. At least not yet and it might never need panic. -MIchele Kramer, president of the WIlfrid Laurier University Faculty Association
would be a huge thing.” WLUFA also expressed concerns that the push to make doctoral students responsible for teaching their own courses after only two years may jeopardize the students’ ability to complete their doctoral degrees. Kevin Crowley, Laurier’s director of communication and public affairs, explained that teaching in the classroom is an important experience for graduate students. The university also hopes to increase the number of courses which students can teach. “It’s not a huge amount but we’d like to bump it up to give our grad students more opportunities to teach,” said Crowley. “[Teaching] helps them build their experience, their resume and so on. It’s important for the entire grad student experience to have
university for less than a year. However, most contract faculty are hired on a term-to-term basis. “We know there are ways for our contract faculty to get access to benefits so long as they’re willing to pay out of their pocket for them and it’s not going to cost the university anything and so that’s what we’re attempting to pursue this time around,” she said. On Monday, the university announced that they have filed for conciliation with WLUFA. According to the Ministry of Labour, conciliation is a process by which a trade union can ask the Ministry for help in resolving their differences so they can reach a collective agreement. If the parties are in the midst of negotiations, they must use the government’s conciliation services before they can authorize a strike
quickest possible timeline, it could mean that the contract faculty could be on strike or they could be locked out by their employer before the last day of classes of this term,” said Kramer. As said on the official Laurier website, in order to authorize a strike position, employees from the bargaining unit must vote in favour of a strike and all parties must have participated in a conciliation. During this time, WLUFA or the university can ask the Minister of Labour to issue a “No Board Report,” and the 17th calendar day after the report is issued becomes a “strike deadline” date, in which the union or university are in a strike or lockout position. Currently, both parties have not requested a No Board Report. “Everyone is hoping that this will never become a strike or a lockout
and certainly if we can’t have that best picture, I think everyone is hoping that nothing is going to happen in first term, but in a worst case scenario it could happen,” said Kramer. According to Crowley, the university is hopeful that the two sides will come to an agreement without any labour disruption. He emphasized that it is also too early to be talking about a strike or lockout. “Just about every set of negotiations at Laurier come down to conciliation and we get everything done without any labour disruptions, so we’re still quite hopeful for that,” said Crowley. However, if the union chooses to authorize a strike, Crowley explained that the university is committed to ensuring students will be able to continue their studies. “The university would remain open and would remain operational, all staff and full-time faculty would be expected to carry out their duties as normal.” Crowley also noted that the university values the contribution contract faculty provide to Laurier and the student body. “We are trying to negotiate a fair and equitable contract, but we have to be good stewards of the university finances and so any agreement that we reach has to align with student needs, it has to align with market standards, what’s happening elsewhere and it also has to align financial realities,” he said. While the conciliation takes place, Kramer encourages students to ask questions to their professors or to members of WLUFA about the negotiations and what this could mean for their university career. “One of the things we really don’t want is for students to be unnecessarily panicked about something that doesn’t necessarily mean panic,” she said. “At least not yet and it might never need panic.”
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
INNOVATION
MUNICIPAL
Parental leave seeks changes Bill aims to benefit political figures KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Tech scale-ups selected MADDY CUTTS NEWS EDITOR
Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis Institute recently unveiled the ten technology ventures chosen to participate in its launch of the Canadian Scale-Up Program. The program began over the summer with a cross-Canada roadshow, where presentations were given in major cities to the respective regions’ most promising technology companies. When applications closed on Sept. 16, the program had approximately 70 completed applications, which the program’s judging panel of professionals from New York and Silicon Valley, as well as Lazaridis Institute CEO Carlo Chiarello, then able to narrow down to 20 and then the final winning ten companies. “Because we had different people on the panel that had different ways of looking at companies, it allowed us to take what otherwise could have been a very myopic view of a company and take sort of a broader view of things into account,” said Chiarello. “Of course we looked at their revenue line. We looked at how fast they were growing or accelerating in any one area, but we also looked at other qualitative elements, such as the team size, how the team came to be, the actual focus of the
CEO, the energy level, how they presented themselves, the passion that we saw in the videos. We needed to see the energy level of people that wanted to genuinely grow their companies and really try and go for that moonshot and hit it out of the park.” The winning companies hail from Waterloo, Chatham, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. While all are technology firms, they also represent an array of industries, from cybersecurity to hospital management.
We’ve been able to, I’ll say crack the code of generating start-ups, but we’re still not seeing companies grow into global players. -Carlo Chiarello, CEO of the Lazaridis Institute
All have demonstrated the ability to grow from the new venture stage into full-fledged firms, but have thus far not been able to grow further into globally competitive companies, a problem that is per-
vasive across Canada. “We have great numbers of start-ups and we’ve been able to, I’ll say crack the code of generating start-ups, but we’re still not seeing companies grow into global players at a rate we really need to see in Canada,” said Chiarello. “So while there’s a lot to be said in the start-up community and about accelerators and so on, there had to be an additional focus in terms of the next stages of these companies.” The program kicked off its inaugural session in Toronto on Nov. 3 and will continue on to Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa before concluding in Silicon Valley. Throughout their inaugural session, the companies will be guided and instructed by leading industry experts and chosen to help the companies push past borders and expand into the global field. Though the program is certain that they will be able to offer the instrumental help that firms need to push past the start-up and venture phase to gain an international presence, Chiarello concedes that the move is not a simple one and that it will take dedication from everyone involved. “If anyone thinks starting a startup is hard, or getting off the ground there, becoming a global player is a whole other level of pain and focus that’s required.”
QUANTUM: THE EXHIBITION
“Will Quantum help reduce my daily commute?” Welcome to the Quantum Revolution THEMUSEUM.ca
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER
On Oct. 27, Bill 46, a Private Member’s Bill that calls for a 20week parental leave, opposed to 12 weeks, for Ontario mayors and municipal councillors who become new parents while in office, passed with all-party support. Bill 46, also known as the Municipal Statute Law Amendment Act (Councillor Pregnancy and Parental Leave), 2016, was passed at the Ontario Legislature and was introduced by Kitchener-Centre MPP, Daiene Vernile.
It’s been stressed to me that this business of having to ask permission for the time is degrading.
-Daiene Vernile, Kitchener-Centre MPP
Currently, the Municipal Act, 2001, does not mention or recognize maternity or parental leave for municipal councillors or mayors while they are in office. While there was originally a general leave of 12 weeks, if a councillor or mayor wanted to extend their leave, they would have to stand before council and ask permission for more time. According to the Act, council members who are absent from meetings for more than 12 weeks will have their seat vacated if they do not receive permission from their council colleagues. According to Vernile, some council members have found it demeaning in the past to ask for more time off. “There are some municipal councillors who said to me that it’s degrading to have to do that, to have to beg for time off,” said Vernile. While this practice may be demeaning, the number of women serving as municipal councillors or mayors in Ontario is underwhelming. Currently, only 16 per cent of mayors are female and only 26 per cent of municipal councillors are women, in Ontario. “We don’t really have a whole lot. There are very few examples where you have women in childbearing years who are serving at the local level,” said Vernile. Kelly Galloway-Sealock, a Kitchener councillor who began lobbying for clarity within the Municipal Act when her first child was born, was the inspiration behind Bill 46. However, Galloway-Sealock couldn’t attend the passing of Bill 46 as her third child was born eight days prior. “As a mom of 3 young children,
all of which I have had during my time on Kitchener City Council, I believe it is important for the Municipal Act to recognize and acknowledge maternity and parental leave. My advocacy focuses around changes to the Municipal Act to include provisions and wording specific to maternity and parental leave,” said Galloway-Sealock’s statement regarding Vernile’s Private Member’s Bill. “I feel strongly that changes to the Act should be clear and omit the ability for the municipal council to have authority to vote for a leave extension as is the case in the current Municipal Act. With the addition of any language around maternity and parental leave in the Municipal Act, I believe it will bring the Act up to current standards.” According to Vernile, Kitchener mayor, Berry Vrbanovic, also approached Vernile to advocate for more women in local politics. “[Vrbanovic] said to me, ‘Daiene, you have to fix this. It’s unfair, it’s archaic and essentially it penalizes women for motherhood, so if they are going to attract more women into local politics, we really need more to address this’,” said Vernile. While some may believe serving a local government is more family oriented, Vernile explained that becoming a MP or MPP requires traveling to Toronto or Ottawa, which results in more time spent away from family. “You have to ask yourself, how family-friendly is it if you have a baby while you’re in office if you’re only going to get 12 weeks off after the birth or the adoption of a child. So it’s been stressed to me that this business of having to ask permission for the time is degrading,” she said. While this is a big stride for mothers in politics, Vernile also stressed the importance of having fathers take time off to spend time with their children.
With the addition of any language around maternity and parental leave in the Municipal Act, I believe it will bring the Act up to current standards. -Kelly Galloway-Sealock, Kitchener councillor
“Bill 46 also applies to dads who want to take parental leave. The language in the Bill specifies that term parental leave so it’s either for moms or dads who can take the leave,” she said. “This bill is going to be clarity to parental leave rights within the Municipal Act. We want to have it stated right within the Act and hopefully it will serve to attract more women to local politics.”
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 GOVERNMENT
LUKE SARAZIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Minister of National Defence visits Waterloo JORDAN BAECHLER STAFF WRITER
It was an exciting time for political enthusiasts this past Saturday as Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo Young Liberals co-hosted the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, the current Minister of National Defence. Before beginning his political career, Sajjan served Canada and his community not only as a soldier, but also as a police officer. Now,
Sajjan is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel from the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. The Minister of National Defence has received numerous acclamations for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in the Kandahar Province. He is also a recipient of the Order of Military Merit, one of the military’s highest recognitions. According to Sajjan, his transition to politics was formed off the desire to not just create a structure
in Canada, but also to demonstrate to the world what is possible. “Courage isn’t just about picking up a gun and fighting. Courage is about sticking up for people’s rights,” said Sajjan. Sajjan, who was accompanied by Waterloo MP, Bardish Chagger and Kitchener Centre MP, Raj Saini, emphasized that as politicians and representatives of Canadians, although temporary, they all had a reason for getting involved in politics. “Of course everyone wants to
succeed, but we need to have an impact somewhere and make a difference,” said Sajjan. In addition to his official duties, Sajjan has a strong passion for youth advocacy. “The younger you are, the smarter you are. Youth are globally connected, which allows them to understand more and get information from around the world far quicker than previous generations,” he said. According to Sajjan, this allows youth to get a different perspective than previous generations, allowing them to see the issues that are going on around the world and connecting them. “The impact that you want to make is possible because we have the ability not to just look at what we want to do in our community, but we also get to look at the impact we want to have in the world,” said Sajjan. What Sajjan and other politicians are trying to do is set up the stage for the younger generations. “Don’t define your success by what you want to be, but rather why do you want to succeed. If you can answer that question and believe it, the how to your success will always be automatic, because you will drive yourself internally,” Sajjan said. The Minister of National Defence is travelling to Mali and
We have the ability not to just look at what we want to do in our community, but we also get to look at the impact we want to have in the world. -Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence
Senegal this week to discuss where to send hundreds of Canadian peace troopers. According to Sajjan, Africa is really important to him, but not in just one area. Rather, the Minister is looking at where Canada is able to best contribute. Sajjan emphasized that his trip is more about finalizing his fact-finding in Africa and putting all the information together to prepare a comprehensive plan they can announce. “There’s certain areas that have conflict where other nations can have a bigger impact and we’re going to allow them,” Sajjan said. “We’re not going to focus on one area, but we’re going to look at all aspects that our government can do.”
CAMPUS
Talk of plans to renovate the Turret continues NATHALIE BOUCHARD STAFF WRITER
For the past two years, plans have been set in motion for renovations to the Wilfrid Laurier University’s Turret Nightclub to accommodate more events outside the university. This includes semi-formals, weddings and banquets, as well as an additional study space area for students. While the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union has been planning these renovations, Phil Champagne, executive director and COO of the Students’ Union,
said there are currently no plans for the Turret. “We went to the Student Life Levy to approve a certain amount of money to have architects come in and build a plan,” he said. Champagne said he hopes that in mid-to-late January, there will be actual plans to begin renovating the Turret. With the drawings will be a proposed budget to reflect what the drawings show. “We won’t put a shovel in the ground so to speak until we have the finances in place to make sure we’re okay,” said Champagne.
“Being a month into the process, it is difficult to have an exact payment plan in place, as it is up to the Students’ Union to find the source of funding in this project by fundraising.” So far, the Students’ Union has been meeting with the architects, student leaders, internal Laurier hospitality team, student executive and athletics leadership focus groups, Resident Life Leadership and faculty associations. The Students’ Union hopes to get various opinions on what an effective use of space could and should look like.
“General feedback so far has been that the Turret should be a multi-purpose space [that] functions as a night club and a concert hall, as well as still functioning as a catering event space,” said Champagne. Tyler Van Herzle, president of the Students’ Union, explained that the ultimate goal of the renovations is to satisfy student wants and needs. “The ultimate goal here is to return the student space to the students, besides when the Turret just functions as a nightclub,” he said. The timeline of the project’s
initial plans indicates that renovations should be finished by the end of January. The best case scenario for the project to be finished overall is September 2017. However, Champagne and Van Herzele noted how this is not necessarily realistic. “We want to make sure that one, students are consulted, two, students understand and have an idea of what that purpose of the space should be, [and] three, we can take that forward and keep that in the forefront of our minds while we go about the architectual phase.”
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
POLITICS
Laurier hosts election viewing party
Students are invited to watch live results in the Turret followed by a post-election celebration SAFINA HUSEIN LEAD REPORTER
involves spending money, he’s got to go through Congress. And that’s extremely challenging these days,” he said. Additionally, Kay explained that Trump has very few ongoing principles aside from economic nationalism and his opinions on nativism. “He doesn’t really believe in anything other than self-promotion [sic]. I personally think he has a personality disorder, this obsession
Students and faculty around the Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo campus have spent the last few weeks preparing to watch the 2016 American Presidential Election. The Laurier Association of Political Science Students hosted an election results party in the Laurier Turret Tuesday night in preparation. Students were welcome to come and view the results with appetizers, drinks and activities.
We have a lot of ties with America and the future president will impact the way that Canada functions as a country. Aqua Naveed, vice-president of marketing and communications of the Laurier Association of Political Science Students
Games such as “Pie the President,” were played, which gave students the opportunity to pie either Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton in the face. All money raised from the
I feel like this election is definitely going to go down in history. FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
event went to a charitable fund. After the results were announced, there was an after party with a DJ. “It is important for Laurier as a whole because we have a lot of ties with America and the future president will impact the way that Canada functions as a country,” said Aqua Naveed, vice-president of marketing and communications of the Laurier Association of Political Science Students. “The American government is the most significant economically,
politically and militarily in the world. As a result, people from all around the world are following it,” said Barry Kay, associate professor in Laurier’s department of political science and expert on American politics. Before the results were released, Kay said that whoever the president may be, Clinton or Trump, they will both be quite constrained in their ability to make large changes. Kay explained that most Americans, including Trump, do
not understand the American constitution; therefore, they don’t fully comprehend how limited the power of the president is. Trump’s plan to build a wall on the Mexican border, deport various individuals and block Muslims from entering the country will likely never come close to being accomplished as they go against the American constitution. “He can’t unilaterally do all that much to domestic policy. He can do a lot more to foreign policy. But domestic policy, anything that
“It’s a creative and supportive environment for young people who want to launch a tech based business. All you need is a good idea and you’re given work space and it’s all free. With that kind of support, it’s an excellent foundation for success,” said Vernile. Heide also explained that the talent and knowledge that exists within the startup companies helps set them apart. “Many of them have been through a rigorous program at the University of Waterloo, they’ve been through co-op systems and they have a lot of knowledge that they have gained from being in the industry that they can bring back to their business and share with other startups in the garage space,” she said. Velocity Garage’s presence in
downtown Kitchener has also had a positive effect on both the economy and the atmosphere. “Many of our companies move into space in downtown Kitchener when they graduate and many of them are wanting to settle right here in downtown Kitchener. It’s really changed the environment to a very startup-tech feel,” said Heide. Vernile said that the province 0is very supportive of on-campus startup programs, such as Velocity Garage. The province has committed 27 million dollars in the past year, has seen over 1,200 new companies started in Ontario, which has created 2,370 jobs and generated 65 million dollars in sales. “[This is] a proven success that we want to continue building on,”
-Aqua Naveed, vice-president of marketing and communications of the Laurier Association of Political Science Students
with always being in the middle of everything and his narcissistic personality isn’t normal,” he said. “I feel like this election is definitely going to go down in history and we are just a part of it and it’s essential to know about it,” said Naveed.
INNOVATION
Velocity Garage fosters startups SAFINA HUSEIN LEAD REPORTER
Velocity Garage, one of the largest startup accelerators in the world, recently hosted its grand opening in downtown Kitchener. Attaining 37,000 square feet of space and with over 80 startups working in the garage, Velocity Garage is located at the Tannery building at 151 Charles St. W. Many individuals from government, academia and the tech industry attended the opening, including Kitchener-Centre MPP, Daiene Vernile, a VIP guest who cut the ceremonial ribbon. “There were hundreds of young people there for the start, so there was a wonderful environment and there was so much excitement. I was glad to take part in that,” she said. Nancy Heide, associate director at Velocity, explained that Velocity is a non-academic entrepreneurship program that is a part of University of Waterloo. The program includes five program branches, four of them located on the University of Waterloo campus while Velocity Garage is located in the Tannery Building in Downtown Kitchener.
The original Velocity program started in 2008. The different programs and spaces gives students the opportunity to get entrepreneurial support and mentorship through their various events, a science lab and an environment that is motivating and encouraging.
LUKE SARAZIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
There were hundreds of young people there for the start, so there was a wonderful environment and there was so much excitement. -Daiene Vernile, Kitchener-Centre MPP
Velocity Garage provides unique incentives for its companies that are unlike any other university startup accelerator in Canada. Students and recent graduates are able to work in the garage for free. Velocity also does not take equity or intellectual property from its startups.
she said. “The province supports these on campus startup programs because we know that it translates into well paying jobs and it’s pumping dollars into our economy.”
It’s a creative and supportive environment for young people who want to launch a tech based business. -Daiene Vernile, Kitchener-Centre MPP
GAMES • 7
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
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, Why do u have so many ups and downs? Sincerely, VT Dear Life, We’ve known each other for so long Your heart’s been aching, but You’re too shy to say it Inside, we both know what’s been going on We know the game and we’re gonna play it And if you ask me how I’m feeling Don’t tell me you’re too blind to see Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Sincerely, R.A. Deaf Life, Ain’t no party like a WLUSP party because a WLUSP party has at least one lengthy conversation about the significance of the Oxford comma. Sincerely, It’s the strippers, Obama, and Bush NOT the strippers, Obama and Bush! Dear Life, My goal is to be as excited for life as I was when the Scholastic Book Fair came to our elementary schools. Sincerely, Shit was great Dear Ex-Boyfriend, It’s really shitty that my memories of the World Series 2016 will be waking up in a panic because the guys in the apartment above me started screaming when the Cubs got their run in 10. Even the happiest of things are ruined because
of you now. I shouldn’t start crying just because a guy is yelling. That’s not okay. I’m not okay. You fucked me up and that’s not fair. Even when you’re long gone, I’m stuck with the internal scars you gave me. Sincerely, I just wanted to sleep
SUDOKU
Dear Life, You never realize how badly you were abused until someone treats you properly. Thank you and so much love to those who support me. Sincerely, Grateful Dear no one in particular, Isn’t it crazy how on a huge cosmic scale, nothing we do matters? I spilled coffee on my white shirt the other day and didn’t have time to change, who cares? The Universe sure doesn’t. I forgot to do a couple quizzes for class, it’s ok! Life goes on. So shout out to The Universe for being the real MVP. Sincerely, a basket-case Dear Life, I have caffeine pumping through my veins. Coffee on the go. Did I mention I talk fast? Pop tart, chocolate, strawberry, birthday cake. I want it all. Oh no that’s right, work. I need to go to work. Who else is dreaming of November 25th? Sincerely, A Gilmore Girl Dear Life, Laurier’s sexual violence favours perpetrators and a sexual predator is probably going to be president. Remember the one time women won the right to vote? That was a cool day for feminism. Today, however, is not. Sincerely, Living in a man’s world DEAR AMERICA, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK Sincerely, YOU FUCKING MORONS Dear Life, Brexit round two: the nuclear round. Sincerely, We’re building a wall
QUANTUM: THE EXHIBITION
“Will Quantum help find a cure for Alzheimers?” Welcome to the Quantum Revolution THEMUSEUM.ca
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER
8 •
Arts & Life
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR MANJOT BHULLAR arts@thecord.ca
CULTURE
FOSTERING COMMUNITY THROUGH FILM MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
CHRIS LUCIANTONIO STAFF WRITER
Passing by numerous coloured tapestries inscribed with scriptures of the Dharma, eighty or so people amassed together in the hall of the Emmanuel United Church, took their seats with the chime of a traditional Tibetan Singing Bowl and watched stories of faith, trials, healing, teaching and loss. The 13th Annual Waterloo Buddhist Film festival, put on by the volunteers of the Waterloo Riverview Dharma Centre, is an event that has been growing since its humble origins. “It first started in one of our volunteer’s home,” said the centre’s administrative coordinator and event organizer, Deborah Crandall, “with thirty or forty people and we’ve been growing ever since.” Now, nearly twelve years later, the festival still remains dedicated to spotlighting recent examples of Buddhist cinema for the good of the centre and the community. “What we are hoping to achieve is a visibility in the community at
large and gain a wider appeal,” she continued, “we are not just playing to those who practice Buddhism, but people who show an interest in the culture or just want to be entertained. As the masses made their way to their seats and the lights went out, it seemed that she and her team of volunteers achieved this goal. The first film that was screened was Brian Perkins debut feature Golden Kingdom, a film that holds the distinction to be the first production to be shot in Myanmar by a foreigner after the borders were opened. Taking full advantage of the gorgeous vistas the country provides, the film centers on a remote monastery of four young monks tasked to survive once their master disappears. Highlighting the importance of faith and comradery in the face of uncertain times, the film achieves a wonderfully meditative quality with its presentation of strikingly beautiful shots and sequences of slow meticulous cinematography framing this story of young faith
under fire. Golden Kingdom was a presentation of the Burmese teaching of Buddhism and after a lovely catered vegetarian feast of traditional cooking, the festival continued
We put on the event because film can reach a larger number of people and we aren’t just here to educate. -Deborah Crandall, administrative coordinator
with a change of tone and style with a documentary on a remote school in India. This, according to the event organizers, was part of the film festival’s intent. “We try and select a broad range of films from different schools of
Buddhism or different themes patterned after other film festivals,” continued Crandall, “which helps us to achieve that wider appeal we hope for.” From a remote monastery of four children to a remote school of eighty, the festival continued into the emotional highlight of the night, with the Emmy winning documentary Tashi and the Monk. Chronicling the challenges of a monk named Lobsang who took it upon himself to found a school, Jhamtse Gatsal, for at-risk children, the film is a beautifully shot, uplifting reminder of the goodness of human nature. Focusing on the titular Tashi, the film shows how the school’s altruistic teaching methods can reach even the most troubled youth. Even while showing the harrowing decisions that Lobsang must make concerning enrollment, the film exhumes this warm humanity that can make even the hardest hearted individuals crack a smile. The night concluded with a somber look into the Buddhist’s attitude towards mortality with For the
Coyotes. A contemplative look into accepting death, the film presents a father-son relationship brought together after a long estrangement by a cancer diagnosis. Over the course of several days, the film captures the deterioration of both the father in his condition and their relationship after this strain befalls. Quiet and rife with the teachings of the Dharma in relation to passing, it was a fitting moment to cap off the night. The 13th Annual Waterloo Buddhist Film Festival was an event for the community, as many like-minded people came together to open themselves up to the teachings of Buddhism made cinematic. “We put on the event because film can reach a larger number of people,” said Crandall, “and we aren’t just here to educate. We also want to entertain while we inform.” By presenting stories of juvenile monks, wise teachers and harsh lessons of life, they appeared to hit that balance between enlightenment and entertainment right on its head.
— everyone can have his or her own idea of the proper way to shake someone’s hand. Burgwin also brought up when asked about why young people have a tendency to not properly shake hands is the lack of experience. When young people enter the work force, they often have not had a chance to shake hands with others on a professional level. Not only can the actual grasp of the hand be awkward, but also the
in a certain way,” Burgwin said. For those who are entering the workforce and want to properly shake hands with another person, Burgwin recommended that the handshake should only be three to five pumps long, up and down. Since handshakes are so common in our society, it is often considered rude to another if someone were to reject a handshake. “It’s a greeting behaviour. Someone is offering a social acknowledgement of your existence in a positive way and if you turn that down, you are rejecting them in a sense,” Burgwin said. He went on to say that in today’s world, it is becoming more and more common for people to reject handshakes for hygienic reasons and have started to replace them with greetings like fist bumps. Fist bumps are now becoming a more common and popular way of greeting people. Fist bumping began somewhere around the late ‘60s to early ‘70s originating in sporting events. Handshakes, like people, can vary by region and personality. The best way not to mess up the handshake, as Burgwin explained, is to read the situation and the person who you are shaking hands with and adjust your behaviour accordingly. Like anything else, the more you shake hands the better you will likely become.
ETIQUETTE
ALEX TRKULJA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Grasp the art of a handshake NICOLE STUMPF STAFF WRITER
Some have firm ones, while others have flimsy ones. Others are too long, while some are too hard. Many are just right. Handshakes — chances are we have all experienced one. But how did the handshake come about? As Darryl Burgwin, communications professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, explained, the handshake is a popular and an equalizing form of greeting behaviour. The handshake was made popular by
American business practices. “The handshake has been around for a while,” said Burgwin. According to Burgwin there is even ancient Greek art depicting two people shaking hands. There are theories that suggest it was a way to show that you weren’t armed and it could have been a part of solidifying a contract, or promise. Today, most people associate the handshake with a formal introduction between two people. Often when people shake hands, there is a judgment about the firmness of a handshake. Burgwin explained that the firmness of a
handshake could vary from culture to culture. In our Western cultures, it is expected by many to have a nice firm handshake. However in Mexico, for example, a gentler handshake is considered polite. Even though handshakes are very common within our society, many find themselves messing up this apparently simple act. Often people will either squeeze too hard or too soft while shaking someone’s hand. An idea that Burgwin suggested behind the reasoning why people often mess up the handshake is that there are two people involved
Someone is offering a social acknowledgement of your existence in a positive way and if you turn that down you are rejecting them. -Darryl Burgwin, communications professor
length of the handshake can be uncomfortable. Many have probably experienced a handshake that lasted too long and wondered if who they were greeting was going to give their hand back. “If you hold too long it means you are trying to control the person
ARTS & LIFE • 9
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Arts & Life writer Omair Ansari travels through the streets of Kitchener to explore local artistic talent The tunnel was a sort of flagship exhibit for the event, as it was only a stone’s throw from city hall. As I got inside the building, the ground pulsed with the music, drawing people in. I got through to see what the event was about and immediately noticed the flashing light. The tunnel apparently responded to different frequencies and volumes of sound, producing an almost hallucinogenic experience, further amplified by the experimental music played by various local artists in a very small and personal venue next door. The entire experience boiled down to be like nothing I had ever experienced before, which I’m sure was the intention of Bernie Rohde and Nik Harron, the creators of the tunnel.
INFINITY TUNNEL
Seeing yourself on camera is always a hit-or-miss situation. Either you look great and can’t get enough of yourself, or you can’t wait to find out how to un-tag yourself from a less-than-generous depiction. The 24-hour dolly, run by Dylan Reibling, right in the reception of Kitchener City Hall, drew quite the crowd. “Sometimes it boils down to people having a very quiet and intimate moment in a weird way in a very public place,” Reibling said. The camera shot a 360-degree view of the subject and transcended all expectations of any kind of video. It brought together a closeness amongst the viewers, as if seeing the subject from every physical angle brought a new level of connectedness. Needless to say, the line for this piece was steady and extensive.
24-HOUR DOLLY
Descending the stairs of the Adventurers Guild Board Game Café & Tavern into the medieval setting of the Bloody Theater, the first thing I noticed was the atmosphere. It was dark, with small candles near the screen as the only source of light. The word “medieval” kept popping into my head. The artists in charge of this exhibit, Dan Root and Meg Harder, explained that the work was a multimedia piece, marrying the songs of Dan Root, as well as the projected images of Meg Harder, producing a rather marvelous ten-minute show. The show was inspired by the book, Martyr’s Mirror. “[The book is] a collection of stories about people who were martyred for their Anabaptist beliefs,” said Harder. The basement venue was at mass capacity, with people sitting on cushions to watch the ten-minute show.
RECONSTRUCTION
Approaching the West side of Kitchener City Hall, it was full of noise and activity. People were darting around, drawing onto the large sheets of paper on which segments of downtown Kitchener were projected onto, serving as tracing lines. Shana MacDonald, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo stood in the middle of it all. “[It’s important to take] the art out of the gallery and making it interactive in a public space,” said MacDonald. The place definitely qualified as public, with scores of people waiting in line to make their mark onto the already intricate network of marker strokes, bringing a modified version of the city to life. It was an alternative take on the construction which causes traffic between the two cities, to the chagrin of all commuters.
Collage party reminded me of my early childhood, which admittedly was not that long ago, however felt that way due to many all-nighters, even on school nights. There was an abundance of construction paper, glue, scissors and a whole lot of running around. Stephen Lavigne and Sarah Kernohan, the artists and curators in charge of the exhibit, repeatedly assured people that there were in fact no rules, within reason. This theme of giving over-creative spaces was an overarching theme throughout many exhibits during NIGHT\ SHIFT. The exhibit was more on the light side of the night, with the presence of children attesting to the fact.
PHOTOS BY: JESSICA DIK
BLOODY THEATER
COLLAGE PARTY
10 •
ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
DATING
Haunted by remains of a conversation BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
When I was a kid, my mom, like most parents, told me to treat people how I would want to be treated; don’t be a bully, don’t poke fun, show respect. This ideology, treating others how you would like to be treated, is a fairly common approach to being a decent human being. So why is it that this ideology has not translated into the world of adult dating? Picture this: you have a dinner date with someone that doesn’t go well. Maybe you don’t have the same interests or sense of humour. Maybe they were better looking in their pictures on their Tinder profile. Maybe they ordered seven beers, got wasted and knocked over a chair. When the night is over, you smile, hug good-bye and say, “We should do this again sometime.”
MEAGHAN INCE/CORD GRAPHICS
You have no intention to do so, but you say it because that’s the nice thing to do. The next day, your shitty date texts you, “Hey, how are you?” And you don’t respond. Three days later, they text again: “Hey! I had a great time with you last weekend. We should do it again!” Once again, you don’t respond. Boom. Ghosted.
Ghosting is a disappearing act. It’s a tactic used when you don’t have the courage to tell someone you just don’t like them. It happens frequently in the single world, without any notice or explanation. In his book Modern Romance, Aziz Ansari explains that the two most frequent ways to show someone you’re not interested is to either ghost them, or pretend that you’re too busy to make plans.
On the other hand, Ansari’s subjects said that if someone wasn’t interested in them, they would like that person to be honest and straight-up. That would save the rejected person from the anxiety and uncertainty that coincides with being ghosted. Picture another scenario: you have a dinner date with someone that goes very well. You both love the same music and you spend an hour talking about the same countries that you’ve both traveled to. You find them wildly attractive. You stay until the restaurant closes, talking and laughing. The next day, you muster up the courage to send that person a text: “Hey you, how’s it going?” They don’t respond. A week later, you send another message: “Hey! If you’re around this weekend, I’d love to grab another drink!” They don’t answer. And you know sending any more texts would make you seem needy and too available. All that’s left are hours of over-analyzing what you did wrong. You really thought they liked you. Maybe they lost their
phone? Maybe they got back together with an ex? Or maybe they just really didn’t like you. Ghosting is cowardly, but it’s just way too easy. Especially with the digitalization of dating, ghosting someone is the easy answer, because a new love interest is just a swipe away. Here’s my rule of thumb: ghosting is fine when you haven’t met the person in real life. Been talking to someone on Tinder for a couple weeks and the conversation just flat out sucks? Ghost away. Been talking to someone on Tinder for a couple weeks, finally meet up for drinks and they aren’t what you expected? Give them the common courtesy of responding to their text. You can let someone down without being an asshole. And, if being honest and letting someone down is too stressful for you, I’ll let you use my method. Pay close attention. “Hey, you seem like a great person, but someone from my past has recently come back into my life and I’m really committed to making it work again. I’m so sorry.” No one can argue with that.
WRITING
Deadline authors MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR
November, for most, is simply the month that comes between Halloween and Christmas. It’s Black Friday for the cross-border shoppers and when the crows finally decide to fly away, making mornings a little more quiet. Much less known, however, is that November is National Novel Writing Month — NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo is a worldwide notfor-profit that works to provide a platform for creativity. The project, admittedly ambitious, is a sure-fire way to challenge yourself and push your creativity and time-management skills as far as you can. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. For those of you who enjoy math, that’s roughly 1,667 words a day. That’s more than the average firstyear paper every day for a month. If you manage to meet this challenge, you receive various “winner’s perks,” which have included (in years passed) several discounted subscriptions to writing programs and a hardcover version of your novel, among other writing-related prizes. Of course, every winner receives unlimited bragging rights. Writing a novel also doesn’t look too shabby on your resume. If you’re in for more of a physical reward, you also get a swanky certificate proving your accomplishment.
I also bought a winner’s shirt in 2013 to show off my newly written novel and support the charity that NaNoWriMo is. This will be my sixth year participating in NaNoWriMo and though I’ve already fallen behind in my word count, I know I can make it up if I just sit down for a few hours and focus. Winning NaNoWriMo all comes down to your style. Some people prefer to write in blocks of words all at once and others prefer to do an even number every day. Some authors find it more effective to plan their novels before November and others choose to wing it. It all comes down to your style and how you work best. If I’ve learned anything about the program, it’s that you have to be passionate to win. This isn’t an assignment you can do the night before it’s due. If you want to succeed, the project becomes your child. When you treat it with care, it will infinitely reward you. You obsess over it to the point where all of your friends probably want to stop hearing about your fictional world. If you’re into creative writing, I’d highly recommend NaNoWriMo. It’s a great gateway into novel writing because you’re accountable for what you get done and you get to pick your own topics and genres. Nothing has taught me how to write under a deadline quite like NaNoWriMo has. Whether you want to be the next Charles Dickens or you’re writing Harry Potter fanfiction, the world needs your story. This could be your opportunity to tell it.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
• 11
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS editor@thecord.ca
Municipal officials’ parental leave shows gender equity mothers do. In maternity leave, mothers are expected to breastfeed and allow their bodies to rest after childbirth. Does that mean that men don’t deserve a chance to take time off to be with their new children? Of course not. That’s why this act is so important. The updates also include parental leave for new parents of adopted children. These updates go far beyond the physical birth of a mother to her child. It’s about the connection and lifestyle changes that happen to any new parent. It’s 2016 — every parent should have time off to spend with their new child. We’ll hopefully see more representation of young candidates and more gender equity in Ontario’s municipal governments as a result of these changes.
Recently, an act called the Parental Leave Bill for Municipal Elected Officials was unanimously passed at Queen’s Park by our members of provincial parliament. This is an update to an act that was last passed 15 years ago, detailing the rights to parental leave for people elected to municipal governments and it was spearheaded by Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener-Centre. It’s important to note that it has been since 2001 since this act was last edited. That’s a long time for our society to change. What do we still need to work on? Paternity leave is still so highly stigmatized in our society. There’s still the stereotype of the man being the breadwinner of a heterosexual family. Fathers also don’t experience the same physical changes that
Handshakes and cultural greetings are overcomplicated The best way to avoid an awkward encounter is to assess the situation and act accordingly. If it’s a formal setting, be formal. If it’s casual, be casual. In the same way you wouldn’t grab someone’s ass in an interview, don’t shake hands at an orgy. Of course, as always, if you’re unsure, just ask for permission. After all, these gestures are supposed to be natural. When we overcomplicate the process by thinking about it and analyzing it, that’s when our cultural gestures get complicated. Even if you accidentally shake hands instead of kissing cheeks, we all have to realize that there’s no one right way to greet another person. Chill out, be awkward and introduce yourself to some new people. Don’t worry too much about the handshake that starts it off.
The idea behind shaking hands is all a social construct. You think your firm grip asserts dominance and makes you seem powerful. All it really does is make someone else’s hand hurt. It’s all in the culture of your area. Some places kiss cheeks, others shake hands. There’s no one universal way to greet another person, especially through the touching that many cultures use for introductions. What happens when you get it wrong? There’s a whole social anxiety aspect to these physical greetings. How do you casually tell someone that you don’t want to be touched when it’s in their culture to touch you? Beyond that, if we’re to always accept touching that we don’t want, where does the line of appropriate touching end?
These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor. The arguments made may reference any facts that have been made available through interviews, documents or other sources. The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of The Cord’s volunteers, staff or WLUSP.
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Life-long high school friends MANJOT BHULLAR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
High school is a crazy time in everyone’s lives, whether that experience is positive or negative. You’re just beginning to learn about who you are. You’re also learning just as much about the type of people you want to surround yourself with. If you’re from a high school where no one really understands your point of view or finds interest in your hobbies, that’s okay — wait until university. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to be exposed to students who may share similar interests and values, more than those in high school. While I agree that those who can’t seem to get past high school are trapped in a delusional bubble., I don’t agree that relationships some of us do foster within those four or five years are trivial. You may not have found like-minded individuals to create lifelong bonds with in high school, but don’t discount the experiences of others who have. I found my best friends in those
years. It may have had something to do with being in a program with like-minded individuals, but I found my people. Even in high school, we all wanted to experience new friendships, but we knew that we held a special bond, so much so that we didn’t reveal our final university decisions until they were concrete. We didn’t want to stick together too much that we wouldn’t grow as individuals. At the beginning of my first year, I too bought into the idea that maybe my high school relationships weren’t as strong as I believed. Maybe I should distance myself from those friends because real friends are only made in university. It took me about two weeks to realize how toxic that sort of thinking can be. I was letting others change my perceptions of people who have seen me grow and go through some of the most troubling times of my life thus far: times where I wanted to share my new experiences with my best friends. I chose not too because my floor mates saw it as being automatically unaccepting of new friends. Sure, I’ve made lasting friendships in university, but those don’t rank above or below ones I made with my high school best friends. Like Mindy Kaling said,
best friends are a tier, not a single person. There were, of course, a few friends from high school with whom I grew apart, but with many I grew together into an even more diverse and cohesive core.
I was letting others change my perceptions of people who have seen me grow and go through some of the most troubling times of my life thus far...
Every reunion, we notice subtle changes in each other and it was just a change in environment that needed to happen in order for us to live our own truth – staying connected but each an individual. Keep your poor memories and judgements on others’ abilities to move on from high school to yourself. I had a wicked time in high school and a completely different (but equally wicked) time in university.
12 •
Opinion
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca
The bashed head in The Walking Dead Violence in our TV shows is getting excessive, but it sells in an age where shows are streamed
EMILY WAITSON OPINION COLUMNIST
Television audiences today are given the luxury to choose precisely what they want to watch, whenever they want to see it. We have the gift of choice and selection, which means we have an endless stream of continuous entertainment at our fingertips. Gone are the days where you had to settle for whatever was on TV. Today, it’s as though we demand things that are continuously more shocking, outrageous and envelope-pushing, or we become bored. Our hunger for the kind of television that has been created in more recent years has raised the bar that was previously reserved and set by paid-for-cable networks like HBO. The Sopranos, a ridiculously good, mafia-based crime drama dawned on people’s screens in the late 1990’s, essentially saving the network from its own failure. Since then, the network is not the only one to pick up violent television. AMC, Netflix and FX are notable examples of more
easily accessible mediums through which people can watch whatever they please, regardless of the violent content it may contain. On Oct. 23, I tuned into the latest episode of The Walking Dead with bated breath. With obvious spoilers ahead, I can safely say that what I watched was certainly not what I was expecting. Fictional violence is a staple in the shows I binge watch in my spare time and The Walking Dead is no exception. For a show that kills off characters almost as easily as Game of Thrones, it showcases a universe in which violence is depicted as a mere necessity in order to survive. We all knew that at least one person had to kick the dust this season, just not which one. Negan, the newest villain, quickly answers this question by sadistically beating in the skull of Abraham, a formerly loveable, red-headed tough guy. He doesn’t stop when he’s dead, either. He keeps on going like he’s playing a game of whack-a-mole and this poor bastard is the ticket to an oversized teddy bear. Abraham is left in a graphically unidentifiable smashed pumpkin state on the ground, and each character is perched in horrified shock (much like myself at that point). The audience is momen-
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tarily lulled into thinking that this might be it until Negan swings his bat again, onto the beloved fan favourite, Glenn. Barely conscious, with his eye popping out of his broken skull, he manages to choke out some heartbreaking last words to his pregnant wife: “I’ll find you.” Glenn is unceremoniously beaten into a bloody mess, Rick is almost forced to cut Carl’s arm off and the episode ends on such a bleak, hopeless note, that I sat choking on my own tears for a good ten minutes. This is a turn that a show like this had yet to make, regardless of its tendency for tying in as
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Sadness can be inspirational DON MORGENSON COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTER
An extensive study of British artists and writers revealed that highly creative people often suffer from a mood disorder. The data confirmed what letters, diaries and biographical accounts of well-known poets, artists and composers reveal — creative people tend to experience extremes of mood, which in turn, fuels the creative process.
Little remains of the creative products of melancholia: that painful sense of beauty often giving rise to art, music and poetry. Depression is the “common cold of psychiatry,” which seems to suggest it is common and perhaps merely bothersome as the common cold. Chronic depression is crippling and more debilitating than a common cold; we seek psychotherapy and other forms of treatment to get help. Depression’s causes are often related to personal or situational difficulties (ignoring for the moment a serotonin hypothesis) and can result in the most disturbing aspect of depression: hopeless-
ness — that persistent feeling that circumstances are just not going to improve. People with depression are often told that something is very wrong with them. The truth is that they sense something is seriously wrong with their world. Complicating the situation even more, today, depression is often considered “unacceptable.” Society is characterized by an activity ethic — as long as we keep moving, stay active on the treadmill or in the activity wheel, society accepts us. In the past, melancholia was accepted as a natural state, an appropriate attitude to adopt when things began to fall apart. Today, the person with depres-
much heartbreak and slaughter whenever possible. It’s pushing its boundaries and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t pull me in even further. The graphic nature of this violence is truthfully no rarity in television, as shocked as many were to see it portrayed in such an explicit manner. Breaking Bad is a show that mixed it’s violent corruption with undisputedly clever humour. Game of Thrones encapsulates realistic bloodshed woven amongst a rich, fantasy laden storyline. Hannibal managed to depict incomprehensible, nauseating gore, to the tune of a beautiful soundtrack and
sion is seen as needing some form of therapy, lithium perhaps, or anti-depressants certainly. Looking closely at the person with depression’s assessment of their world, we note that such evaluations are quite accurate. Given such assessments, we wonder exactly what is happening in the therapy session. Rather than focusing on the intra-personal world, perhaps the goal of therapy should be to recapture the emotional and spiritual strength to interact with and influence our external worlds, confronting the many needs of others as well as the self. Every time we get angry about the way someone bullies someone, we get frustrated with the government’s corrupt ways, or enraged about the slaughter of innocents, we take this legitimate anger into our next therapy session, ventilate it all away thereby depriving ourselves of creative rage. With our therapists, we introspect, rather than engage ourselves, in the fight for justice and such might contribute to our sense of helplessness regarding society’s general decline. I will admit, it may be difficult to make precise distinctions between the suffering of feeling blue and what may be mental illness. We do tend to have a low tolerance for sadness or its sibling, “existential angst.” Such urgings as “Don’t Worry,
visually stunning cinematography. American Horror Story has viewers returning to its blood stained, hour-long nightmares of episodes, regardless of how disturbing the subject matter may be. A common topic of discussion that I see is the debate about how much violence is too much violence on the small screen. Noting this valid argument, I still can’t deny the draw that these shows have. Shedding any Norman Bates vibes that I may be giving off here, the fact remains: violence sells. The Walking Dead generated buzz all over social media, both good and bad, ensuring a solid audience for at least the beginning of their new season. It’s a smart way to produce a show that might otherwise fall to the wayside in a sea of forgotten TV that grew stale, especially when it’s been running for seven years. I think the key to actually enjoying this brand of entertainment and looking at it critically is seeing it for what it truly is. Violence can be put down to the fact that if you’re living in a world of zombies, at war in a fantasy universe where dragons exist, become drug lords in a web of crime, cannibalistic psychiatrists who eats our patients, or are a murderous, horror concoction built to terrorize, it’s simply par for the course.
Be Happy” or the computer-generated oblique smiles in our e-mails suggest a blissful addiction to the bright side. When you and I do get “blue,” our friends and family will tell us to lighten up or snap out of it.
People with depression are often told that something is very wrong with them. The truth is that they sense something wrong with their world.
Rather than “lighten up,” some healers, such as therapist/writer, the late James Hillman, argue that we cannot understand something if we are actively fighting it. For Hillman, when depression occurs, uncomfortable truths are forced on us. Hillman wrote that “any legitimate social revolution, a way of bettering all for all, must begin with those individuals who can be true to his or her depression.” Just maybe, we might then be driven to do something about the many injustices facing us, which, admittedly, can be very depressing.
OPINION • 13
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 , 2016
Narcissism is a real issue JOSH GOEREE OPINION COLUMNIST
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Do what you love Following passions leads to success
VIDISH PARIKH STAFF WRITER
Society often has such rigid expectations of who you should become. We are constantly blasted with strict ideologies about what jobs are respectable, what hobbies are more popular and which lifestyle choices are acceptable and which ones are not. With that being said, I am here to tell you that it is completely acceptable to do what you truly enjoy. In fact, I believe that you do your best work when you are doing what you love. University is all about finding yourself. It is about breaking out of the metaphorical cage that society has placed you in your entire life. If you take a minute to consider all the benefits of following your passion, you will understand what I am talking about. When you do what you are interested in, I believe that you are more likely to excel. This is because you are naturally motivated to put in more effort. The work you do doesn’t feel like a chore, but rather something you enjoy. As a result, your desire to learn and grow are very high. In this way, following your passion is not only rewarding financially but also emotionally, because, at the end of the day, it will make you feel accomplished and content. As an added bonus, your enthusiasm and desire to learn are often contagious, which means you are more likely to give off positive energy to inspire those around you. For example, I have always enjoyed the idea of learning a second language. I studied French in depth throughout high school and when I came to university I considered taking it as an elective. The idea of being bilingual appealed to me. After all, language does have the power to transcend cultural and geographical barriers. Learning French made complete sense to me, personally. After all,
the world economy is more integrated today than ever before and our dependence on international trade means learning a second language would be a good business decision. This does not mean that there haven’t been struggles and difficulties along the way. If you think that just because you are good at something, there won’t be hurdles you have to leap along the way, then you are mistaken. Today, I am proud to say that I am doing what I am truly interested in. When I go to French class, I am eager and prepared for the challenge. This is why I believe that you should never be afraid to be ambitious. Do not give up on your dreams — whatever they may be — just because you feel that they are out of reach. Be prepared to challenge yourself and take calculated risks.
University is a learning experience and this is why you should take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you truly enjoy.
Even though something may be unpopular, if you love it, chances are that you will succeed at it. The beauty of a developed economy is that it provides chances for everyone. If you are good at something, there will be a market for it. You will have numerous opportunities to advance your career. At the same time, if you have not found something that you truly enjoy yet, there is no reason to worry. You are not going to find your passion overnight. University is a learning experience and this is why you should take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you truly enjoy.
For the last two years, life has taught me a valuable lesson about narcissists. Within the last year alone, I have dealt with enough self-righteous speech and dramatic antics from these people to make Donald Trump look like a kid having a temper-tantrum (although I believe he has already shown that). People who are narcissistic crave to be the centre of attention and to make sure everyone knows who they are. Deep down, it’s a self-esteem issue and an overall need to make themselves feel better. They take themselves way too far in their path for self-lust and feelings of adequacy that they transform their objectives from feeling better into feeling superior to others. My roommate dated a girl last year – let’s call her Janice. She was nice and sweet at first, like most narcissists are. But when they started dating, an evil demon emerged
that turned my friend into her puppet and brought my roommate to their knees to be sure they were available to her whim. Every time she came over to our house, she would suck the energy out of all of us to feed her excessive need for compliments and attention with no empathy to how we were feeling or doing. As far as she was concerned, she was the number one priority and had to be the centre of everything, like an expensive art piece. Opposed to an expensive art piece, narcissists are nothing but garbage looking to suck all the force out of others for themselves. Their journey to feel better turns them into the supervillains that they all believe that they are fighting against. They think that they are the heroes and they should be treated as such. They couldn’t be further from the truth. No matter how the narcissistic personality is formed, whether it be the way one was raised, genetics, social media popularity, or not getting enough love as a child, the whole idea that one needs to push others to the point of breaking to feel better about themselves is childish.
I have compared the actions of children and narcissists I have encountered and the similarity is staggering. I watched Janice, who is a few years older than I am, act like a complete child when faced with criticism. She is not a child, but her narcissism pushes it so far that she looks like one. Wouldn’t that be rather embarrassing? To have the mental capabilities of a child because the urge to feel better than everyone else has completely corrupted your psyche? The main idea here is that narcissists believe that they all have these needs and everyone must help them meet those needs. To quote my favourite comedian George Carlin, I say this to all narcissists out there: “Drop some of your needs! Life is a zero sum game.” And he’s right. No matter how hard it is to accept, we are all going to die someday and being extremely selfish is, in my opinion, pointless. If a narcissist will not give you the common courtesy of being human, do not give them the satisfaction of being the centre of attention.
14 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Malik breaking stigmas Representation of mental illness is important for students
MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR
Very recently, Zayn Malik announced that he dealt with an eating disorder during his time with One Direction. This came very shortly after his acknowledgement of his anxiety from consistently being critiqued in the spotlight. I think this is an extremely important representation for our students. Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about eating disorders. When I think of eating disorders, I think of binging and purging. There are connotations that eating disorders are only to become thin. That’s what is represented in movies and books; that’s what we’re led to believe. Malik, however, fits into neither category. He states that his eating disorder was based on his busy schedule and simply forgetting to eat for days at a time because of everything he had going on. Eating was not a priority because everything else seemed more important. That’s so scary because it’s so familiar.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the university life. We all have so many responsibilities that our selfcare can sometimes be thrown by the wayside. Between class, jobs, extracurriculars and relationships, it’s difficult to keep up with everything that you have going on. It’s sometimes easy to pull three all-nighters in a row or forget to eat while you’re running around to various commitments.
He’s a strong, successful man. No one is looking down on him for his mental state. No one blames him for the unrealistic expectations that are placed on him.
As Malik is demonstrating, even though it seems natural, it’s not healthy. Western society, especially in the university setting, has a work-’til-you-drop mentality. If you’re taking a break, it’s seen as lazy. If you’re not looking towards a goal, you’re wasting your
time. That’s simply not healthy. Busyness and time commitments come down to your priorities. Your own personal health should always be your number one. There’s been no shortage of celebrities speaking candidly about mental illnesses lately. Malik is just one of many. As always, representation matters. I’d argue that Malik is one of the most popular stars in the world, today. Since the drama of his break from One Direction, he’s found his own sound and fanbase outside of the “Directioner” world. As silly as it sounds, knowing that there are people who are society’s view of “successful” that have the same struggles as you do can be inspirational. When I was diagnosed with OCD, I took solace in Leonardo DiCaprio. Even if he isn’t as public about his mental illness as Malik is, it shows that anyone can be successful while simultaneously having a mental illness — or any struggle, for that matter. If DiCaprio can win an Oscar with OCD, I can surely make something of my life, as well. If I didn’t have this representation, I’d probably still think of my mental illness as an insurmountable barrier that prevents me from reaching my goals. The representation really
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matters to people like me. The stigma Malik is working to break goes beyond representing mental illness in our society. He is also breaking down barriers of men with eating disorders. Representation of eating disorders, from what I’ve seen, has been confined to female actresses and models. We all know about the pressure to be thin and the photoshopping that comes with it. He’s a strong, successful man. No one is looking down on him for his mental state. No one blames him for the unrealistic expectations that are placed on him. No one is telling him to “man up.” People are acknowledging
that this is very real for him. They realize that the male body is scrutinized in a similar way to the female body. Right now, no one is attacking him for that. That’s a huge step in the right direction. Whether it be an eating disorder like Malik, OCD like DiCaprio, depression like Pete Wentz or J.K. Rowling, generalized anxiety like John Green, self-harm like Angelina Jolie, or any of the other mental illnesses that real people face, the stigmas of our mental illnesses are slowly disintegrating. Like our favourite stars, we can still be successful, not despite our illnesses, but with them.
Value of arts degrees in perception of students trying to fashion themselves as “social sciences.” Consider the number of arts curricula teaching hyper-liberal, non-traditional ideas. How can we explain the fact that first-year political science students spend as much time discussing Communism as they do free-market Capitalism? I’ve read The Communist Manifesto three times at university and I’m not even in political science.
MITCHELL KOOH OPINION COLUMNIST
There has never been a worse time to be an arts student, but not for the reason you’d expect. Ask some arts students and they’ll probably say their greatest problem is securing a job. No big surprise there. The starving artist is an enduring cultural symbol, personified in literary figures like James Joyce’s poor aspiring writer Stephen Dedalus. Abundant research, however, has pretty much debunked the stereotype of the “starving English graduate.” No, the greatest problem facing arts students today is more Dangerfield than Dedalus: they just don’t get respect. The tricky thing is, the arts themselves are largely to blame. Never has an arts education been looked on with as little regard as it is today. A glance at history supports this bold claim. 2,400 years ago, Plato famously declared that “there is an ancient quarrel between philosophy and poetry.” Modern readers might substitute “STEM” for “philosophy” and “arts” for “poetry.” Still, though Plato disliked poetry, he always treated the subject with tremendous seriousness. Writing a few decades later, Ar-
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istotle elevated the arts to a further position of respect. In his Poetics, Aristotle described the objective shape and function of literary forms. In doing so, he proved that art could be studied in a serious manner. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, much of the classical philosophic tradition was lost to the West, yet the arts persisted as a respectable academic subject. Consider, for example, the high-water mark of late-Antique/ early-Medieval philosophy. Augustine of Hippo, who wrote that “veils hang at the entrances to the schools of literature, but they do not signify the prestige of elite teaching so much as the covering up of error.” Though he generally
denounced the seductive charms of secular literature, Augustine acknowledged both the perceived respectability and practicality of an arts education. At the same time, the masses never abandoned the arts. Even in the Modern era, common people respected a man of letters. Up until the mid-20th century, if you told someone you were studying the arts, you would be viewed with respect. I’m pretty sure nobody asked Tolkien what he was going to do with a degree in philology. So why are so many people today ashamed to be arts students? Some critics have blamed the rise of empiricism and its many offshoots. Basically, as the value
placed on the empirical sciences goes up, the value of arts degrees goes down. There is, however, a problem with that theory. If empiricism inevitably leads to a denigration of less tangible subjects, why did the arts flourish in the highly empirical 19th and early-20th centuries? Well, during each of the periods mentioned so far, people viewed the arts in an objective framework. Plato discussed poetry via Socratic dialogue. Aristotle systematized the elements of literature. Augustine described the practical merits of rhetoric. In the 19th and 20th centuries, various arts disciplines attempted to “empiricize” themselves. The “humanities” were increasingly
Though he generally denounced the seductive charms of secular literature, Augustine acknowledged both the percieved respectibility and practicality of an arts education.
Universities should teach more traditional texts and conservative viewpoints. Variety is essential to academic growth. The respect for arts degrees should come from their individuality and the respect of their own significance in the world, rather than comparing to other faculties in a university setting. We can be diverse without making such unorthodox choices.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Sports
• 15 SPORTS EDITOR ROB FIFIELD sports@thecord.ca
MEN’S HOCKEY
Battle at the Kitchener Auditorium ROB FIFIELD SPORTS EDITOR
On a rainy Wednesday evening, the Battle of Waterloo was just heating up as both the Laurier Golden Hawks and the Waterloo Warriors men’s hockey teams travelled down the road to play in the Battle of Waterloo, hosted at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, home of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. Early on, the teams exchanged chances back and forth for the first ten minutes in the opening frame with neither team establishing a proper setup in their offensive zone. 12 minutes into the period, the Warriors seemed to find a bit of a rhythm keeping the puck in the Laurier zone and generating some shots on net and pressure towards the goal. Laurier goaltender, Colin Furlong, stood tall to keep it scoreless. With just under five minutes to play in the first period, the Golden Hawks were on the power play as a two minute tripping penalty was given to Waterloo’s Daniel Perigo. Laurier had a flurry of quality chances on the power play, but Warriors goaltender, Mike Morrison, was able to sniff them out and the Warriors killed the penalty. After a fast paced and energetic 20 minutes of play, the game was scoreless headinginto the first intermission with the shots tied at nine a piece. Only a minute into the second frame, Waterloo’s Tommy Tsicos was given two minutes for a cross check and the Golden Hawks were
headed back to the power play. Shortly after the power play expired, the Golden Hawks got a 3 on 2 towards the Waterloo goal and Jimmy Soper found the back of the net for his first CIS goal. Shortly after, Murphy was finally able to beat Furlong, but not the goal post as rang a hard shot off the cross bar. Waterloo continued their push and earned their first power play of the game when Laurier’s Brandon Robinson was given two minutes for interference. With 6:52 left in the second frame, the Golden Hawks found the net again as Andrew Fritsch scored in close and gave the Golden Hawks a more comfortable 2-0 lead. Less than 30 seconds later, the Golden Hawks found the back of the net again, as former Kitchener Ranger Brandon Robinson was able to tip one home and find the back of the net to extend the Golden Hawks lead to 3-0 heading to the second intermission. As the third period got underway, the Warriors came out strong and were looking to capitalize at least once on their extended power play. Waterloo’s Nick Halagian had a great chance in front of the goal, but Furlong was able to make the stop and reverse the play towards the Waterloo zone. With just under ten to play in the period, Waterloo’s Cole Murphy found the goal on a controversial play as the puck just barely squeaked across the line. That was the closest the Warriors
MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
All I can say is that if there were 20 pieces of pie, each one of our 20 guys had a piece of the victory tonight
-Greg Puhalski, head coach
would come, as the Golden Hawks were able to add a few empty netters and take this one 5-1, sweeping this season’s Waterloo series. Head coach, Greg Puhalski, was quite pleased by his team’s effort “This was probably our most complete game as far as playing
good for 60 minutes,” he said. “For us, it was a good 60 minutes of hockey and a good team effort. All I can say is that if there were 20 pieces of pie, each one of our 20 guys had a piece of the victory tonight.” Former Kitchener Rangers, Brandon Robinson and Jimmy Soper, were also excited to come back to the Kitchener Aud, an arena they both played many games at as a Ranger. “I spent two and a half years here. I loved my time here and it was great to have one more game here or hopefully three more over the course of my career here,” Robinson said. “It’s always a good feeling being back at the Aud,” Soper added. The Golden Hawks will host the McGill Redmen and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees this weekend at Sunlife Financial arena.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
New era for the Hawk’s basketball program ERIC FLOCKHART STAFF WRITER
The end of last season also marked the end of an era for the Laurier men’s basketball program, as long-time coach Peter Campbell celebrated his retirement. An extensive search conducted by the department of athletics led to the announcement that Justin Serresse would be Campbell’s successor in early May, becoming the tenth coach in the 53-year history of the program. At only 29-years-old, Serresse, a native of France, is undoubtedly one of the more youthful head coaches in the CIS, but this is certainly not a testament to his wealth of experience. Prior to Laurier, Serresse served as the lead assistant coach to the Ottawa Gee-Gees, under the tutelage of former CIS Coach of the Year, James Derouin. As an assistant with Ottawa, Serresse guided the team to four OUA medals and three CIS medals, including a narrow single-point victory in the
2014 Wilson Cup final against the Carleton Ravens. Serresse believes that this success is on its way for the Golden Hawks as well. Despite facing the challenge of a young and inexpe-
If they play hard and follow the game plan, there is no reason we shouldn’t be in a game with anyone in the country. -Justin Serresse, head coach
rienced team in his first year at the helm, he is confident that Laurier will soon be competitive with the top teams in the nation. “The goal is obviously to get another strong recruiting class next
year and then take that team and become a strong contender in the OUA,” said Serresse. “And within the next three years, hopefully we make it to the final-four in [CIS] Nationals. That would be the goal.” With lofty goals on the horizon, Coach Serresse is looking to put the proper groundwork in place this season, taking inspiration from his coaching idol, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. “I’ve always liked the way that [The Spurs] build around their system,” he said. “Their system changed a little bit as they got older, or younger, or different, but the ground work was always there. The foundation was always there.” Serresse hopes to cement a foundation into his young squad this season in preparation for the years ahead. “The overall goal is really to learn how to compete on the regular,” remarked Serresse, outlining his expectations for this season. “I think we have a young team that gets down on themselves if
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things don’t go well. But if things do go well, they’re shown that they are capable of competing with a lot of teams.” As his first season as head coach slowly gets under way, Serresse knows that his leadership both on and off the court will be extremely important in the future success of his young squad. “Trying to keep them calm is definitely a goal of mine. But at the same time, they have to have that sense of urgency.”
“If they play hard and follow the game plan, there is no reason we shouldn’t be in a game with anyone in the country. If we play the right way and do what we’re supposed to do, we should be able to compete with anybody.” With the era of Serresse just beginning, there seems to be little doubt that under his guidance, the Golden Hawks will rise to meet their goals of becoming one of the top programs in the province and eventually the nation.
16
• SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
FOOTBALL
YATES CUP BOUND
Golden Hawks return to the OUA finals cup for the first time since 2006 PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
ROB FIFIELD SPORTS EDITOR
Last Saturday, at University Stadium, the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks hosted the McMaster Marauders on a beautiful afternoon in the Yates Cup semifnal match up. This was the first time since 2009 that the Hawks had hosted a playoff game. The winner was to advance to the Yates Cup and the loser would pack up and go home. Asher Hastings made a great pass on his first possession for a first down and the Marauders looked to make a charge downfield. It didn’t last long, as the next pass was picked off by Laurier’s Ron Kinga and the Hawks were back to the offence. In an eerily familiar sight, a Golden Hawks’ star running back was injured in an OUA semi final game. The outcome didn’t appear to be good for Guiltinan as he was unable to put any weight onto his leg and was subsequently carried off of the field. The Hawks attempted a 28-yard kick to get the game’s first points. Thanks to Nathan Mesher, the Golden Hawks advanced with a 3-0 lead, with seven and a half minutes left to play in the quarter. With three minutes left in the
quarter, McMaster was pressing forward. Hastings made a 30yard completion down field and suddenly they were on the Laurier 15- yard line. The Marauders were able to convert on their field goal and tied the game up at three a piece with less than two minutes to play in the first quarter. On the next drive, Laurier quarterback, Michael Knevel, made a great pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. He was able to break free and take it all the way to the house for a 63yard touchdown. The first quarter finished with the Golden Hawks leading 10-3 after one. To start the second quarter, the teams traded punts back and forth before the Golden Hawks were able to get the chains moving. Gordon made a great run to pick up a first down as he hurdled a defender to pick up some extra yards. The Golden Hawks got into some more penalty trouble and were forced to punt. On the ensuing punt, the ball bounced right off the chest of a McMaster player and right into the hands of Laurier’s Brandon Calver. The Hawks would take over on the Mac 19-yard line. The Golden Hawks were forced to go for the field goal and converted to extend their lead to 10. With Just over two minutes
left in the half, the Marauders were putting the pressure on and marching down the field towards the Laurier end zone. The Golden Hawks defence, however, came up big, stopping the Marauders at the 24-yard line, forcing them to settle for a field goal. The score was 13-6 in favour of the Golden Hawks with less than two to play in the half. The Hawks wasted little time as Knevel had an impressive run down the field to put the ball on the 13-yard line. The Hawks were pressing late. In close, Osayi Iginuan was able to get a big touchdown just before the half to give the Golden Hawks a 20-6 lead at the half. The second half kicked off and the Golden Hawks defence was looking to continue their roll. With four minutes left in the second quarter and one yard to go, the Marauders went for their first third and one of the game. It paid off, giving them a fresh set of downs with the ball on the nine-yard line. The call worked out for the Marauders, as they were able to get their first touchdown of the game on a pass to end zone. Laurier’s lead was cut to 21-13 with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter. With 11 minutes left in the quarter, the Marauders decided to go for a 50-yard field goal in hopes of
cutting into the Laurier lead. The kick was wide left and taken out of the end zone by Gittens Jr., who was hit hard at the end of the play. Once again, the Mac defence came up big and the Golden Hawks were forced to punt once again with under seven minutes to go in the quarter. The Marauders were pressuring again, running the ball up the field and into scoring range. Their efforts paid off as McMaster scored a touchdown and would go for a two-point conversion to try and tie up the game. The Hawks lead was down 21-19, with just over five to play in the game. This one came down to the final seconds where the Golden Hawks defence managed to stop the Marauders on third and short. This allowed the Hawks to regain possession and run out the clock. “What an unbelievable performance by our guys today,” head coach, Michael Faulds said. Knevel was also named the Porter player of the game and Faulds was very happy with how he handled the pressure of his first ever OUA playoffs start. “Knevel was unreal today,” Faulds said. “Even at the end there, we were like ‘Michael, you’re going to have to throw it’ and he threw it. He was calm back there and using his
legs. He hadn’t used his legs a ton this year and we knew they hadn’t seen it on film, so he was able to turn that into a couple of huge runs today.” Knevel was quick to differ the attention from himself and praised the fans and families that have supported the team throughout the season and this game. “We’ve got to give back to the fans, the friends, the families, the supporters and everyone that came to watch us. Laurier is a great place and that’s why a lot of us chose to come to Laurier because of that family feel that we have here at Laurier is just so tremendous,” Knevel said. “Having everyone here to watch us play and win this tight game, it means the world to us.” The Golden Hawks are headed to the Yates cup for the first time since 2006 and will face off against a familiar opponent: the Western Mustangs, the only team that the Golden Hawks lost to this season. “[Western has] been a premier team in this conference for a long time. That’s the one team we’ve never beaten. Obviously we respect them a ton and we’re going to have to play a perfect football game, but our guys are up for that challenge,” Faulds said. The Yates Cup kickoff is set for 1 p.m. next Saturday at TD Stadium in London.
PROFILE
The twelfth man on the field ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS ONLINE EDITOR
It may be difficult to notice at first glance, but the Laurier football team has an unofficial mascot, proudly attending nearly every game to support them with a high degree of enthusiasm. His name is Darian Cameron, eight-year-old son of Dwayne Cameron, the Special Teams Coordinator for the Laurier Golden Hawks. Darian’s sideline spirit stands by the players, cheering them on as he is always fully engaged in the grid-iron battle at hand. And it just so happens that this little guy is a football coach in the making, just like his father. He is already a passionate football player in his league and is determined to play professionally, starting out with college football and eventually coaching in the NCAA. “It’s pretty fun, most of my friend’s think it’s a great experience and it really is and now we’re going to the Yates Cup,” Darian said. He gives pep-talks, helps with drills and gets to do what he thor-
oughly enjoys – talking football. The advice he gets from players helps him in his own development as a football player, Darian explained. Godfrey Onyeka, defensive back for the Golden Hawks, is a good buddy of Darian’s and has developed a special relationship with him as they play the same position in football. He has taken particular note of Darian’s contributions to the team. “Darian is very knowledgeable about football and about people at a young age, which is pretty rare. So, when he’s talking to you, you know he knows what he’s talking about … he’s a very intelligent kid so you take him a lot more seriously. And he’s so adorable, you can’t not,” Onyeka said. For coach Cameron, nothing gives him more enjoyment than being a dad and to incorporate that into his career is a win-win situation for him. The family values he brings to the team also does something profound for the players. Onyeka explained that it’s a driving factor for why they’ve been able to be so
successful. “When he always brings his family around us, he treats us like family and we feel like we can be ourselves around him and the rest of our coaches … Having their family around makes them more relatable,” Onyeka said. Darian has essentially become the team’s little brother. For the players, they’ve gained a friend and a respected member of the team. For Darian, he gets to be the youngest member of the Golden Hawks and day-by-day, he learns what it’ll take to be a great coach himself one day. “Many teams say this, but our team genuinely is a family and we’re very accepting,” Onyeka said. “He just fits in with us.” It seems we’ll see a high level of dedication from Darian as he pursues his football career, with all the experienced he’s gained from his role with the Golden Hawks. “They’re pretty much like my best friends at school [sic],” Darian said. “And they’re like my family.” One thing is for sure, Darian will be cheering loudly this weekend.
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR