The Cord September 3, 2021

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 61 ISSUE 1 • SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

BUILD YOUR BACK-TOSCHOOL VISION BOARD

BEST NEWS OF THE SUMMER

PICKING OUT PLANTS

EATING CHEAP IN KW

MAKING YOUR VOTE COUNT

FAULDS BACK ON THE FIELD

Looking back on the hottest top stories

Waterloo’s newest indoor garden boutique

One week of local restaurant deals

Student voices deserve to be heard

Laurier sports resume after one year off

News, page 3

Arts & Life, page 12

Features, page 16

Opinion, page 23

Sports, page 26

2 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

CAMPUS EVENTS

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SEPTEMBER 3

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Friday, Sept. 3

1783: The Treaty of Paris was signed, bringing the Revolutionary War to its final conclusion.

Laurier 201 Kick-Off Weekend, 8:00 AM Monday, Sept. 6

1895: The first professional American football game is played in Latrobe, Pennsylvania between the Latrobe Young Men's Christian Association and the Jeannette Athletic Club.

Latrobe wins 12-0.

Move-In Day Laurier 201 Virtual Name That Tune, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Tuesday, Sept. 7

1908: Canadian world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns KOs Australian Bill Lang in 6 rounds in Melbourne in a warmup fight for his famous title bout with Jack Johnson.

Learning in University: First Year Starter Pack Session, 10:00 AM Wednesday, Sept. 8 Laurier 201 Headphone Disco, 7:00 PM

1962: American poet and painter E.E. Cummings—who first attracted attention, in an age of literary experimentation, for his unconventional punctuation and phrasing—died at age 67.

Friday, Sept. 10 World Suicide Prevention Day, 12:00 PM, Martin Luther University College Thursday, Sept. 16 Laurier 201 Hybrid Trivia Night, 6:00 PM

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

1976: After a nearly yearlong journey, NASA's robotic spacecraft Viking 2 landed on Mars and began relaying information about the planet's atmosphere and soil as well as colour photographs of the rocky surface.

Wednesday, Sept. 22 LOCUS Let's Tier Livestream, 7:00 PM

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Wednesday, Sept. 22 Aesthetics of the Small: A conversation with 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Souvankham Thammavongsa

1985: 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-returns to Earth.

1991: American director Frank Capra—who was best known for a series of beloved films that included Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946)—died at age 94.

Thursday, Sept. 23 Music at Noon featuring Heather Taves, 12:00 PM, faculty of music

1995: eBay (Electronic Bay) founded by Pierre Omidyar.

Saturday, Sept. 25

2020: Actor Robert Pattinson tests positive for COVID-19, shutting down production of the Batman film he is shooting

Pancake Breakfast With Wallace Wong (BBA '12) Tuesday, Sept. 28 Getting More Sleep, 3:00 PM WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

An article published in the Opinion section of the Sept. 3, 2007 issue of The Cord — 13 years before the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEXT ISSUE OCTOBER 6, 2021

1965: A Rolling Stones concert at the Adelphi Theater in Dublin, Ireland halts after 12 minutes due to riot.

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Crystal Xue arts@thecord.ca

CORD STAFF

OPINION EDITOR Sam Duffy opinion@thecord.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waitson editor@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Mark Cascagnette sports@thecord.ca

MANAGING EDITIOR Brontë Behling creative@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Tim Harrison photos@thecord.ca

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Kashyap Patel multimedia@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR VACANT video@thecord.ca

NEWS DIRECTOR Yasmeen Almomani news@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Ashley Barry news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Victoria Morgan news@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER VACANT photos@thecord.ca

ARTS EDITOR Amichai Abraham arts@thecord.ca

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Ethan Caplan sports@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Anna Muller “The earth is experiencShoffana Sundarmoothy ing a climate crisis and it’s time to act” - Yasmeen Almomani

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.

COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community.

Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily 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 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.

2020: More healthcare workers have died of COVID-19 in Mexico than any other country - 1320 deaths vs 1077 (US) and 649 (UK) according to Amnesty International.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications is located on the Haldimand tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.

This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples.

We recognize, honour and respect these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and water on which Student Publications is now present.

Cover layout by Brit Kovacs, President and Publisher

Quote of the week: “I just want Kim and Kanye to be together.”

- Kurtis Rideout, Interim Executive Director

• 3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

News

NEWS DIRECTOR YASMEEN ALMOMANI news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR VICTORIA MORGAN news@thecord.ca

Top stories of the summer

Part 1 & 2: inequity at the board table In a two-part investigative series, The Cord’s Editor-in-Chief, Emily Waitson, explored the resignations of three former directors from the Students’ Union Board of Directors. Fiza Iqbal, Muna Mohamed and Kianna Low-A-Chee.

The three former directors alleged issues related to director conduct and a lack of equity, diversity and inclusion training resulted in their decisisions to each resign from the board.

The Students’ Union conducted an internal review and the recommendations included the facilitation of equity, diversity and inclusion training, leadership training for both the chair and vice-chair of the board, as well as ensuring board members are aware of available resources to address concerns.

deborah maclatchy appointed for second term as president Deborah MacLatchy began her first term as the president and vice-chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University in 2017.

She was recently appointed for a second term from July 2022 to June 2027 by the university’s board of directors.

A recent achievement on the behalf of Laurier that she spoke to was the provincial approval of adding Milton to the university campus.

She is dedicated to growing the Laurier community and hopes to increase the student population at the Brantford campus from 3000 to 5000 students.

MacLatchy said she hopes to continue focusing on Laurier’s equity, diversity and inclusion practices.

vaccines required to return to campus Wilfrid Laurier University announced on Aug. 13 that they will require all students, staff and faculty to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Laurier joined a growing list of universities who have made the decision to require vaccinations to return to their campuses that include York University, The University of Toronto, among others.

As of Sept. 7, Laurier community members will be required to confirm their vaccination status in advance of attending the Brantford or Waterloo campuses, or other locations, including in Kitchener, Toronto and Milton.

Students who have not been vaccinated will be required to commit to regular COVID-19 testing and receive negative results before attending campus.

hundreds attend anti-lockdown protest in waterloo

laurier to hire more bipoc faculty members

Waterloo Town Square saw hundreds of anti-lockdown protestors gather on the afternoon of June 6 to condemn face mask-wearing, COVID-19 health protocols instilled by the government and local business closures.

A number of speakers were present at the event — which was advertised as the “True North Freedom Assembly” — including People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier; Kevin Dupuis, who is now the People’s Party of Canada candidate for Kitchener-Conestoga; and University of Waterloo chemistry professor Michael Palmer.

The protest took place during the wake of mounting concerns regarding cases linked to the COVID-19 variant, B1617.

Laurier made an announcement in May that it’s making a commitment to hiring “no less than six new Indigenous faculty members and six Black faculty members.”

The hiring strategy is part of the “Inclusive Excellence” initiative which aims to build on the university’s plans for diversity and inclusion.

Faculty scholarship will follow the six themes outlined in Laurier’s Strategic Plan: “environments and sustainability; psychological and social determinants of health and well-being; governance and policy; Indigeneity, decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion; business, technology and inno vation; and society, culture and community.” Positions will be posted in September.

win prizes, welcome kits of Laurier merchandise, and campus tours.

The welcome kits also contain important information about services and resources on campus, and this time will be the only early opportunity for a campus tour as the welcome centres will be closed until the end of September.

There will be tailgate parties on Sept. 3 in the Quad at the Waterloo campus, and on Sept. 4 in the courtyard at Brantford, with games, live music, food, and drinks for students to enjoy.

Kelly plans to follow this kickoff weekend with many events and opportunities throughout September. “[We’re doing] trivia nights, movie nights and a headphone disco. There will also be academic programming, so, faculty mixers, study groups, designated study space for second-year students on each campus, which will be exclusive access for just them, and then a bunch of different social programming and academic programming all through the fall semester,” she said.

This program is essential for students as we return to a new normal on campus this year.

“We’ve been getting a lot of emails forwarded to us from other departments of students asking if there will be orientation activities or any opportunities like orientation week offered to second-year students, so I think a lot of students

want this programming, they just don’t know that it’s happening.”

Kelly is passionate about giving students the experience they should have had during their first year.

CAMPUS missed out on last year. Even if they were living in residence, they were still confined to their own dorm room,” Devyn Kelly, Laurier 201 coordinator, said.

The program has many campus partnerships which include sustainability, the Students Union, athletics, and wellness. “[Laurier 201 aims to] help orient and welcome second-year students to campus since they missed out on a lot of the traditional first-year experiences due to the pandemic and the remote learning environment,” Kelly said.

FILE PHOTO/EMILY WAITSON

Laurier 201 supports second-year students YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

The start of the pandemic was a taxing time for Laurier students who had to quickly adapt to a new online schooling experience.

Incoming Golden Hawks were especially impacted as they did not have the first-year experience that sets up the subsequent years of

their time at university.

This is what prompted the launch of Laurier 201, a brand new, exclusive campus-wide program dedicated to these (now second-year) students to experience what they could not before.

“This program was designed to literally show students campus and to create opportunities for social connection that they would have

[Laurier 201 aims to] help and orient and welcome second-year students to campus ...

- Devyn Kelly, Laurier 201 coordinator

It officially begins with a kickoff weekend on Sept. 3 and 4 on the Waterloo campus, and Sept. 4 on the Brantford campus.

This will be comprised of icebreaking activities, upper-year student mentors, opportunities to

[We’re doing] trivia nights, movie nights and a headphone disco. There will also be academic programming ...

- Devyn Kelly, Laurier 201 coordinator

“They’re going to get the experience that they should have gotten last year, just a year later,” she said “The biggest thing that students are going to take from this program is the connection to the physical campus and the connection to each other because they’re going to have a ton of opportunities to meet other students who are in their program, or at least in [their] second year because they’re all really in the same boat right now.”

Second-year students can register on the website or check their @ mylaurier emails for a Laurier 201 email from last week.

4 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

ACTIVISM

Program aims to transform campus landscaping Laurier project endeavours to integrate more practical, community-based gardens for student-use on campus YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

The Laurier Food Justice Garden is a project that aims to transform campus landscaping from decorative planters to useful community-based landscaping.

The founder, Veda Hingert-McDonald, is a founding member of Climate Justice Laurier, which is where they wanted to incorporate social and racial justice into the climate activism aspect of their group.

“Something that came to mind was advocating for more pollinator planting on campus ... and if we’re going to try to change what’s being grown, why don’t we, as well as benefiting pollinators, benefit students and community by way of feeding people,” she said.

Hingert-McDonald was passionate about this project being visible to the Laurier community.

“I like the idea that rather than having to grow food ‘over there on a farm’ where we don’t necessarily all see it, it can be something that people are really involved in and it can be something we’re all proud of,” she said.

She was inspired by the GSA report that concluded significant inequality in food security status for racialized students at Laurier

Permission to use the main campus for the garden was also an obstacle but it was ultimately approved. Hingert-McDonald and her group wanted to have it near their founding symbol, the climate mural on campus.

The hope is that there will be more educational pieces brought in around Indigenous ways of growing and preserving [food].

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

and she wanted to benefit racialized and Indigenous groups with this project.

“The hope is that there will be more educational pieces brought in around Indigenous ways of growing and preserving [food],” she said.

The food from the garden is distributed through a free food distribution by LSPRIG at Martin Luther University College.

“I feel like in student populations, [food insecurity] is not really that talked about ... I like the idea

of contributing to a solution, in terms of literally distributing food to people who need it, and I like the idea that, hopefully, we can show that food landscaping can be really beautiful and doesn’t need to be hidden in somebody’s backyard,” she said.

Hingert-McDonald faced difficulties when the project launched because COVID-19 guidelines made it difficult to have volunteers on campus.

“I spent a few days just fully on my own shovelling ... eventually we

did get permission to have a small team of registered volunteers, which was really awesome.”

She appreciates volunteers so that they can also be involved in this cause.

“The feedback that I was gettinfrom some of the volunteers was not only just learning how to grow food, but also that it felt really good to be able to have something to contribute to and that’s something that I think can empower people to go out and do other awesome stuff.”

-Veda Hingert-McDonald, founder of the Laurier Food Justice Garden

The food garden will “build a culture at Laurier of caring about each other and caring about racial justice and food justice,” according to Hingert-McDonald.

It can be seen on the main campus where students will walk by it every day.

“I think it can be really beautiful, just like a decorative flower garden, but have a deeper purpose.”

GOVERNMENT

Student voting: how to mark your mail-in ballot for the election ASHLEY BARRY LEAD REPORTER

In the upcoming federal election on Sept. 20, Elections Canada anticipates that their mail-in-ballot service will be a primary source voters will use to mark their ballot.

The challenges imposed by COVID-19, including social distancing and indoor capacity restrictions, have made the mailin-ballot service a convenient way to vote through the safety of your home.

Elections Canada is prepared to receive up to 5 million mail-in-ballots in this year’s election.

In contrast to the 50,000 mailin-ballots in 2019, this is a drastic increase.

If you’re 18 years old by election day, you are eligible to vote and are encouraged to do so.

With Elections Canada cancelling their Vote on Campus program, young voters will have to choose between in-person voting at an elections office or a mail-inballot.

Without the Vote on Campus program, it is crucial that students who are interested in voting are aware of the options and resources that are available to them to cast their vote.

The Vote on Campus program would have temporarily opened voting offices on university and

college campuses, making voting accessible and convenient for students.

If you choose to vote by mail, you need to apply online or at an election office by Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m.

You can also vote in advance at your local election office starting on Friday, Sept. 10, to Monday, Sept. 13.

The election office in the Waterloo region is 725 Bridge Street West, Suite 101, Waterloo, ON; hours of operation, Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m - 9:00 p.m; Saturday: 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m; and Sunday: 12:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m.

If the application for your special ballot is approved, you will receive a voting kit with two envelopes and instructions to properly mark your ballot.

The ballot you receive will be slightly different than what you would receive at the polling station.

It won’t have a list of the MP’s (Members of Parliament) in your riding — candidates in your electoral district who, if elected, represent their party as an MP in the House of Commons.

The party with the most number of MPs across the country usually forms the Government, and the leader of that party will become the Prime Minister.

Instead, your mail-in-ballot will

have a blank space to write the first and last name of the candidate.

It is not mandatory to write the name of the party you are voting for on the mail-in-ballot — just the candidate’s full name.

In the Waterloo region, the riding candidates are: Liberal Bardish Chagger; Conservative - Meghan Shannon; NDP - Jonathan Cassels; Green Party - Karla Villagomez Fajardo; and People’s Party - Patrick Doucette.

Once you mark your ballot, you will need to place it in the unmarked inner envelope you received in your voting kit and seal it shut.

Then, place the sealed inner envelope in the outer envelope — the one that displays your information.

After you have sealed the outer envelope, you will have to sign and date the declaration on the front of the outer envelope.

The final step involves just one more envelope.

You should have received a pre-addressed return envelope in your voting kit.

Put the signed outer envelope in the return envelope and seal it shut.

Finally, all you need to do is go to your nearest mailbox or post office.

Check out www.elections.ca for more information on the election, candidates or voting.

FILE PHOTO/BRIT KOVACS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

NEWS • 5

PROMOTION

NEWS IN BRIEF said in email statement.

“The financing of the professional videography project approved by the Board of Directors will create a multi-use visual representation of the Students’ Union’s purpose, services, and diverse programming that aims to raise awareness and connect undergraduates to the social and extracurricular experiences that will define their time at Laurier.”

A key priority of my presidency has been to explore new ways to meaningfully and effectively communicate with students.

-Pegah Jamalof, Students’ Union president

FILE PHOTO

Laurier Students’ Union approves $15k video project EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHEIF

On July 26, 2021, the Board of Directors for Wilfrid Laurier University’s Students’ Union had an emergency board meeting to discuss — and approve — a decision to outsource a promotional video project of up to $15,000.

During the meeting, the “Student

Union Story” proposal was framed

by Students’ Union president Pegah Jamalof as both a significant part of her presidential platform and aligned with the marketing and education goals of the Students’ Union.

“A key priority of my presidency has been to explore new ways to meaningfully and effectively communicate with students,” Jamalof

The video is planned to be finished in time for Orientation Week, with the goal of getting the attention of students and helping them understand the programming and services, and volunteer and employment opportunities that are available to them through the Students’ Union.

Since the video will only be approximately 2-3 minutes in length, the full scope of the video is still unclear.

It was the subject of questioning by directors of the board Victoria Bothwell and Francesco Del Giudice during the meeting.

The video is also going to be produced by Memory Tree Productions, a Canadian-owned video production company based out of Kitchener, ON. The company has produced films for Laurier over the last eight years,

and was chosen over a student for a number of reasons, including their already expansive footage of the Laurier campus, the need for the video to be professional-quality and the significantly reduced timeline available for its production.

Following the meeting, the decision faced criticism online, both related to its cost and the decision to not allow the video to be made by a Laurier student.

A Spotted at Laurier tweet was published on July 27 that brought attention to the decision.

Several unconfirmed Laurier students noted their disapproval of the choice, with one user going as far as to label it “large scale fraud.”

“Hiring a Laurier student from the digital media and journalism program is a far better idea @students_union. It would help launch a Laurier student’s career and save the Student’s Union and in turn the students money. A video should not cost $15k,” one user tweeted.

Laurier to examine impact of namesake prime minister Wilfrid Laurier University aims to re-examine the political legacy of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier in what it calls the Laurier Legacy Project.

The aim of the study is to further public knowledge about Laurier and the politics of his era.

This research is expected to take place over the next two years and will involve three qualified scholars heading the effort, with the hopes of engaging interested students in the process.

While there is a body of research on Laurier, the project offers new, modern insights into his life. Part of that is how Laurier’s policies may have fueled the oppression of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Proof of vaccination required to attend Laurier campus ... will create a multiuse visual representation of the Students’ Union’s purpose, services, and diverse programming -Pegah Jamalof, Students’ Union president

To watch the full video of the board’s discussion and decision related to the Laurier Video Project, you can find links to the recorded sessions on the board’s resources page.

As of Sept. 7, all students, staff and faculty will need to show proof of full vaccination in order to be on Wilfrid Laurier University’s campuses.

The university released an updated statement on Aug. 30, stating that returning students must follow three important steps before Sept. 7: ensure you are fully vaccinated, get proof of vaccination, and download the SAFEHawk app on your mobile devices.

The third step requires you to upload your proof of vaccination status to the app, which will be used for a variety of COVID-related procedures, including daily self-assessments.

PUBLIC HEALTH

COVID-19 region updates AARON WAITSON HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

As of Aug. 31, the Waterloo region had 30 new positive cases of the COVID-19 virus, bringing the total number of active cases up to 165, with a single case of a variant being detected on Aug. 26.

There have been 18,988 total positive cases, and 18,530 total resolved cases, within the region.

Seven of the current active cases are being hospitalized, and five are currently in intensive care.

As of Sept. 1, there have been zero confirmed positive cases on either the Waterloo or Brantford campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.

However, public health linked two cases, confirmed in employees and reported on Aug. 15 and 18, to an outbreak.

The last significant outbreak of COVID-19 variants, which included numbers up to 120 new daily cases (Apr. 19), began in April, in which the total number of variant

cases was close to or higher than the total number of regular cases.

This trend had not begun to see improvement until Aug. 17, when the number of variant cases began to fall below 31 per cent.

While new active cases have been trending between 11 and 30 daily, there have been no significant variant spikes as of this week.

Currently, Waterloo region is surpassing the Ontario average for cases per 100,000, with a seven-day moving average rate of 4.5 per (KW) versus 3.9 (ON).

During the April spike in variants, Waterloo region nearly doubled the moving average rate of new cases, with Apr. 18 seeing 30 cases (KW) versus 13.8 (ON).

As of July 16, Waterloo region officially entered step three of “Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen,” part of the province’s public health guidelines for observing the ongoing progress of vaccination rates and the impact of the Coronavirus and its variants to determine when

public health measures can be lifted.

From the government of Ontario’s website, step three includes “expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn.”

The final stage, “Exiting the Roadmap,” involves lifting the majority of public health measures, with a small number still in place.

Ontario is currently paused in response to information regarding the Delta variant of COVID-19, who “will continue to monitor the data to determine when it is safe to exit the Roadmap.”

According to Wilfrid Laurier University, as of Sept. 1, the university plans to move forward with its strategy for navigating the fall term.

The strategy includes in-person learning, outdoor accommodations for studying and socializing and various health measures in place.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

6 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

ENVIRONMENT

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

The earth is experiencing a climate crisis and it’s time to act YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

Climate change is unfolding rapidly before our eyes and a lack of inaction would lead to disastrous outcomes worldwide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released their working group 1 report on Aug. 9th and it starts with a clear statement: “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.

Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.”

This report is the first one to undoubtedly state that humans have greatly contributed to climate change.

Debora VanNijnatten, associate professor in the political science department at Wilfrid Laurier University, explained that the IPCC was created by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program in the late 1980s.

“It asks scientists from around the world to go through all the relevant scientific literature related to climate change and then make conclusions based on what they found,” she said.

Every seven to eight years, the IPCC carries out assessment reports which are composed of three sub-reports: working group 1, working group 2 and working group 3.

The report that was released last month was the working group 1 report, which gathered information about climate change science from the literature and will contribute to the assessment report that is due in Sept. 2022.

It involved over 750 scientists who reviewed 14,000 scientific publications and summarized the best of what is known about climate change. “This report gives

us the most up-to-date natural science information on what’s happening with global temperatures and with some of the climatic impacts,” VanNijnatten said.

Three basic takeaways from the report are that climate change is human caused, its impacts are already underway and worse than anticipated in previous reports and our future corresponds to how much action is taken to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

The impacts outlined include increases in extreme heat events, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, monsoons and extreme precipitation events.

These events are not only catastrophic for the earth, but they are also a hazard to our health, which is clear in the Ontario climate change and health modelling study that was done at the University of Toronto in 2016. “[This study] made some predictions that our area would experience the most heat waves in Ontario, higher levels of ground-level ozone or smog, higher levels of West Nile virus transmitted by mosquitoes and increases in extreme precipitation events,” VanNijnatten said.

Rising temperatures and reduced air quality leads to an increased incidence of heat-related illnesses, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases and the high temperature increases the risks of West Nile virus and Lyme disease, which are transmitted by vectors benefitting from the changes in the ecology.

Extreme weather events, such as flooding and thunderstorms, increase the risk of food and waterborne illnesses and the weakened infrastructure caused by these events causes injury and death.

Climate change has progressed faster than it was previously anticipated for multiple reasons, one of

them being our energy system.

“We build our entire energy and economic system on fossil fuels and just about everyone in the system profits by keeping the system in place,” VanNijnatten said.

The IPCC report lays out five scenarios ranging from “kind of bad to intermediately bad to really bad” depending on the action taken. Scenarios four and five are the worst ones.

“They foresee a much greater increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and much greater global temperature change.”

Although these increasing concentrations are irreversible, we can still do something to mitigate the severity of them and avoid the worst scenarios.

“We can’t walk back the stuff that’s already happening … but what that report says is that we can stave off the very worst stuff if we act,” VanNijnatten said.

The government and policymakers are responsible for preventing a worse progression.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the government stepped in, shut down the economy, mandated masks, expanded hospital capacities and funded social welfare programs for its citizens.

“I think that the impact of that is that the impression of what government can do has changed … the idea of spending huge amounts of money on anything, that also became more acceptable.”

VanNijnatten spoke about the Liberal government’s climate mitigation policies, which are policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas.

“They are active on the whole range of areas from focusing on specific pollutants, like methane, black carbon … what we call HFCs. All of those are particularly bad greenhouse gases, so they’re regulating in those areas and trying to

reduce those … and they’re trying to move on the whole electric car thing,” she said.

The IPCC report concluded that these policies to reduce greenhouse gas need to be ramped up more quickly.

We can’t walk back the stuff that’s already happening ... but what that report says is that we can stave off the very worst stuff if we act.

-Debora Nijnatten, political science associate professor

“As a political scientist, I can sit here and tell you that I think the Liberals are working at the very end of their tether. They’re pulling on that leash as far as they can on climate policy, but there’s a whole bunch of political constraints in place. A big one is money, and a second big one is that we’re fighting a pandemic. There are so many other things: equity issues, Indigenous reconciliation, and the government is trying to address all of these things. There are many very serious challenges at once, so there are other things that are competing for the government’s attention,” she said.

The state of the environment may seem hopeless for citizens, but people and communities can help too.

“Here’s your political science professor saying the first thing you can do is go out and vote. Vote on the basis of who’s going to actually do a good job of climate change,” VanNijnatten said.

She emphasized the importance

of going online and looking at the party platforms and contacting the local candidates in whichever way is accessible to you.

“Get out and talk to them, ask some questions, give them a really hard time, inform yourself on some of the legal action that’s happening,” She said.

VanNijnatten said that speaking about the topic is important too.

“I understand how scary it is, and that we all need a break sometimes, especially now, when all the news is so depressing … it’s important to talk about it, and to bring it up … make sure that your friends understand what’s going on and that your families talk about it,” she said.

Climate action on the streets is also a way for people to be involved.

“In 2019, before COVID hit, we had the biggest climate demonstrations ever around the world, especially in Canada,” she said.

Hopefully, people can be protesting and pushing for change again soon post-COVID. Finally, online activism is an asset for this generation.

“Get on Twitter, highlight some of these reports, pose questions to your elected representatives, bug people, ‘what are you doing?’ and really point out that some of the decisions they make are not climate-friendly,” she said.

It is especially vital for younger generations who are growing up with this looming climate threat.

“We have to act now … we have run out of time, and people your age should be furious, absolutely furious about what the older generations have done and continue to do.”

The climate crisis is not a future concern.

It is happing now and something must be done to mitigate the severity of it and save our earth and its inhabitants.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

NEWS • 7

ACCESSIBILITY

Mask wearing is a barrier for hearing-challenged people YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

One of the barriers that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to is that wearing masks makes it difficult for hearing-challenged people to read lips.

There are other methods of communication accessibility, such as hearing aids.

“It’s not as bad as it could have been without hearing aid because I still habitually lip-read and the barriers [of the pandemic] do make it harder to hear people,” said Chuck Fulton on the CBC Morning Edition KW. Sandra Fulton, vice-president of marketing for the Kitchener hearing aid manufacturer Unitron and Hansaton, is Chuck’s daughter and advocates for hearing health.

“Your ears and hearing should be like any other health aspect and I don’t know why people don’t think about it the same way. If your vision is deteriorating, you certainly would go have an eye exam but I think people quite often with hearing loss, will just not perceive it as the same medical consequence,” she said during the episode.

She emphasized the importance of having hearing tests as part of the annual physical exam, especially after the age of 50, so your doctor can refer you to a hearing clinic. Hearing clinics can also be visited without a referral.

“When you can’t hear what people are saying… [it] makes you anxious and tense and I put up

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

with that for years before I finally got the hearing aids. The anxiety that went along with struggling to hear what people were saying went away,” Chuck said.

A big part of opposing hearing aids is the stigma surrounding them and aging.

“When I began to realize that I wasn’t hearing properly, I resisted the idea of hearing aids… I connected it with being old,” Chuck said.

It is also a concern for hearing-challenged people that hearing aids are “very visible.”

“Hearing aids, I think, is a popular mind have a greater stigma, they really indicate that you’re old, so you’re really shy about them being visual.” He stated.

The electronic advancements with hearing aids have made them smaller, which has helped some people come to terms with them.

“One thing that’s really helped people to be more willing to try them is because now they’re definitely more discreet,” Sandra explained.

Chuck wants the stigma around hearing aids to be mitigated.

“They’re so discreet now that people never mentioned that I’m wearing hearing aids … you have to help people to understand that they don’t make you look old ...” he said.

Aging is a natural process and the stigma surrounding hearing challenges can prevent people from seeking hearing support.

8 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

PANDEMIC cine gives the recipient COVID-19 has also been a cause of worry, but it is untrue.

“The vaccines that we are administering now do not contain SARS-CoV-2 … both the RNA and the virus vector vaccines are just using pieces of the S protein … you’re not going to be able to get a live SARS-CoV-2 virus from these vaccines. You’ll never get an infection of SARS-CoV-2 from the vaccines. It is physically not possible,” DeWitte-Orr said.

Furthermore, there are beliefs that the vaccine alters DNA, but the vaccine does not even enter the nucleus where DNA resides.

We need to create simplified scientific concepts so that the general public has confidence and they can evaluate some of this themselves.

-Stephanie DeWitte-Orr, health sciences associate professor

KASH PATEL/MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Dismantling COVID-19 vaccine myths YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR

As of July 28, 81.10 per cent of adults in Ontario have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 69.22 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Despite these positive vaccine rates, there are still reluctant residents. More than 2.5 million eligible Ontarians have not yet been vaccinated.

Misinformation has been rampant throughout the pandemic and is partially responsible for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Some residents are also unaware of how a vaccine works, which is discouraging them from receiving it.

“A vaccine works by introducing pieces of a virus into your body so that your immune system recognizes the virus and establishes memory,” Stephanie DeWitte-Orr,

associate professor in the departments of health sciences and biology at Wilfrid Laurier University, explained.

If there is an infection in the future, these established memory immune cells would activate quickly and work to eliminate the virus.

In Canada, three COVID-19 vaccines have been approved: Pfizer and Moderna, which are mRNA vaccines; and AstraZeneca, which is a viral vector vaccine. The mRNA vaccines are currently more in use.

DeWitte-Orr explained that these vaccines weren’t developed with mixing in mind; however, there have been applications in the past, such as HIV vaccine trials, that show evidence of better immunity after mixing vaccine platforms. Public health has evaluated the risk of mixing platforms as much lower than the risk of the

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virus and have gone ahead with it.

One of the common myths about the COVID-19 vaccine is that it was produced “too quickly,” which makes it unsafe.

DeWitte-Orr clarified that the technology behind the vaccines has been around for a long time.

“Scientists have been working on these technologies for decades. It’s just that our original platforms, the inactivated or attenuated vaccines, have worked thus far so we didn’t really need to change platforms; but now that we have this virus where the traditional vaccine platforms don’t work very well for various reasons, we needed to change platforms,” DeWitte-Orr said.

“As for safety concerns, the vaccine still had to go through the same steps of approval as any other vaccine, they just were given priority.”

The misconception that the vac-

“The nucleus is like a bank vault and nothing is getting in there unless it has a special code to get in,” DeWitte-Orr explained.

“The vaccines do not have this code, and even if they did, the RNA cannot recombine with our DNA; our cells are not capable of doing that.”

Long-term effects of the vaccine have also been a concern, especially regarding women’s fertility.

DeWitte-Orr clarified that the RNA in the mRNA vaccines have a short half-life, meaning they are only going to remain active in the body for a couple of days.

After the muscle cells take up the RNA, they make the S protein.

This stimulates immune cells to remember it so that they can recognize it in the future on a real virus and shut the virus down.

After one or two weeks, only these memory immune cells remain in the body, meaning there is nothing left that can cause longterm effects.

“If you were going to see [longterm effects on fertility, the cardiovascular system, or the pulmonary system], it would only be in a short period of time within a week or two of vaccination. After that, there’s no S protein left, there’s no mRNA left, it’s all been degraded,” DeWitte-Orr said.

For Canadians who have previously contracted the virus, there

is a belief that they are protected from future infections because an immune response has been triggered.

While this may be true for other viral infections, it is not the case for COVID-19. Antibody levels against the virus, which are an indicator of immunity in the body, decrease rapidly for people who have had mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, meaning they are not protected.

“If you’ve been infected and you have a mild case, you likely don’t have protection after a few weeks to months. Whereas so far, with the vaccine, we’re seeing protection [from the clinical trial that was happening last year] … protection by the vaccine is actually lasting longer than what we’re seeing for people who were actually infected,” DeWitte-Orr said.

Vaccine hesitancy is normal in the community, but public health must ensure that communities are well-informed.

“Public health is trying to communicate the need for vaccines in a simple way … I think that the community wants more, yes we’re not all scientists, but we’re human beings who can understand if you explain to us, and I honestly think public health could probably step up their game in explaining why [we need to get vaccinated], like addressing these concerns in a very clear way,” DeWitte-Orr said.

“We need to create simplified scientific concepts so that the general public has confidence and they can evaluate some of this themselves.”

She also emphasized that people with autoimmune disorders or pre-existing health concerns should speak with their healthcare provider, and eligible residents should do their research using multiple reputable sources to see what the majority says.

“If I believed that these vaccines weren’t safe, I would say something,” DeWitte-Orr reassured.

This is true for other scientists and scholars as well.

During this critical time in the pandemic, it’s important to vaccinate the majority of people to get herd immunity and stop the virus from replicating.

Otherwise, the virus will eventually create a variant that is far from the reference vaccine strain and our vaccines will not protect us from it.

Eligible individuals should ensure that they are getting vaccinated to protect themselves from getting sick and to protect their community from a potentially dangerous variant of COVID-19 lurking in the future.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

NEWS • 9

AMENITIES

New COVID-19 app required to access student resources ASHLEY BARRY LEAD REPORTER

As students prepare for a safe return to campus this Fall Term, Wilfrid Laurier University has taken important steps to prioritize student and faculty safety.

SAFEHawk, Laurier’s mobile safety app, introduced a COVID-19 self-assessment feature, where students will have access to newly available resources and study spaces on-campus, in person.

The SAFEHawk app is designed for students wishing to safely indulge in on-campus resources and amenities throughout the semester, including access to the Waterloo Campus Library, Athletic Centre, food services and classrooms.

Before stepping onto the campus, students will fill out and submit a daily self-assessment questionnaire.

They will need to download the app on their smartphone and log in using their Laurier credentials.

If approved, students will be provided with a 24 hour “green pass” that contains a unique QR code.

This QR code may be required to present to staff to access certain areas on- campus.

If a student’s self-assessment is not approved, they will receive a red “fail badge,” and will be prohibited from accessing any amenities on-campus and will instead be advised to stay home or reach out to Public Health.

This small, yet crucial step of enforcing self-monitored COVID-19 screening, coincides with WLU’s requirement for students to be fully vaccinated upon returning to campus with hope of reducing COVID-19 outbreaks.

As of Aug. 9, the Waterloo Campus Library is now open for students to book study spaces.

Located at the west end of campus across from the Martin Luther University College and Dr. Alvin Woods Building, the library has 35 study spaces available on a rotating half-day basis.

The booking times are available in three-hour time blocks (one user per block), and is open Monday through Friday: 10:00am-1:00pm (morning time slot), 1:00pm2:00pm (no bookings - closed for

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cleaning) and 3:00pm - 6:00pm (afternoon time slot).

Students will need to book appointments through the Eventbrite booking system on WLU’s Library website and will be asked to show their OneCard, proof of Eventbrite registration and “green pass” from the SafeHawk COVID-19 self-assessment app.

Other resources to check out this semester through WLU’s Library are Scan on Demand and Mail on Demand.

WLU’s Scan on Demand service was launched as a pilot during the Fall of 2020 with faculty and graduate students serving in the trial.

Because of its success and easy accessibility, this service is extending to undergrad students.

The Scan on Demand service lets users request scans of book chapters or journal articles held at WLU’s library.

Users must log in to Omni, an academic search tool connected with the Library (accessible via WLU’s Library website), to be presented with the Scan on Demand option.

Along with the reopening of study spaces and the continuation of COVID-safe services at WLU’s library, here is a list of more amenities that will be open this semester and will be accessible to students with a “green pass” on their COVID-19 self-assessment: -The Athletic Complex; open Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m and Saturday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.

-The Fresh Food Company and The Terrace Food Court (hours to be determined) -Study spaces; Alumni Field, outfitted with four large tents and picnic tables across artificial turf and no reservation required.

WLU hopes to further reopen more amenities as the school year progresses, depending on the guidelines in terms of maintaining COVID-19 protocol from Public Health.

As of now, there are a plethora of resources available to aid academic success, as well as create a positive and comfortable environment.

By continuing to follow COVID-19 safety protocols, students will be able to have a semi-normal university experience this 2021/2022 academic year.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

10 • ARTS & LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Arts & Life

ARTS EDITOR AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca

LIFE EDITOR CRYSTAL XUE arts@thecord.ca

Local coffee shops to visit in KW

WATERLOO

The pandemic has been hard for everyone, especially small businesses.

As Golden Hawks return to campus life it’s important that we support the small businesses in our community.

warmer months. They invite local vendors from the KW area to their store to sell their products too. In addition, they often add specials like having bread from a local vendor on their menu for the day.

If this has not sold you so far, then let’s talk about the atmosphere.

The location is surrounded by nature, the walls and tables are painted in a way that fits the aesthetic. All making for great photo opportunities.

Cafe Pyrus Outpost - 150 Roger Street, Waterloo, Ontario

Seven Shores Cafe - 10 Regina St. N. Unit 4, Waterloo, Avenue

At Cafe Pyrus Outpost there are many dietary options, the atmosphere is right on trend and it is not too far from campus. There is a little trail off King Street that takes students from our busy uptown through a nature-centered path where this cafe lies. This bistro has options for those who are gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.

There are occasionally farmers’ markets run throughout the

Another great cafe not far from campus is Seven Shores. They seriously make great coffee. This is a great place to bring your textbooks, grab a coffee and get ahead on your readings of the week.

The patio is on a first come first serve basis, no reservations allowed. Their staff is so friendly! If you are not sure what to order, ask the barista what is their favourite.

They have a bunch of vegan and

ANNA MULLER ARTS AND LIFE CONTRIBUTER EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

gluten-free options available. Specifically, their cookies are beloved as their fresh aroma frequently fills the cafe. On the weekends they often feature different brunch specials.

Smile Tiger - 100 Ahrens St W., Kitchener Smile Tiger is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy place to study and drink a good cup of coffee.

The service is always warm and friendly and their bags of coffee are definitely worth the purchase.

Matter of Taste - 115 King St W., Kitchener A bright space with a nice patio, Matter of Taste in DTK is perfect for a casual date or a few hours spent working on a project. They have a decent drink selection and their gelato is delicious. A great option if you’re craving something sweet!

LIFESTYLE

How does decor affect your mood?

CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Crowds not unlike those of Black Friday — the American one, that is — often flock to home furnishing stores during the back-to-school season.

After all, the home decor market is predicted to surpass $770 billion by 2024.

This can reveal a common desire for a comfortable space tailored to our likes.

It also calls attention to whether home decor is important; or if we should spare ourselves the time, money and surprisingly difficult process of assembling wallpaper.

That said, interior design can be a tool to improve well-being.

Namely, here are three ways home decor can support quality of life — and the costs involved in each.

The most you “I wouldn’t say home decor is any different from other forms of self-expression,” Anne Wilson, psychology professor at Laurier said. She was quick to add that budget plays a role and can be limiting.

From minimalism to vintage, the range of interior design styles allow those with the financial means to create living spaces that show personality.

“It can be a reinforcing way of identity expression,” continued Wilson, “When people believe

their space reflects something authentic about themselves, that tends to make them feel good.”

The cost of attuning a home to individual tastes depends on size, style and amount of work needed.

For those who opt for an interior designer, the price is $1893 to $11,180 on average.

Catch a breath Through acts such as enhancing air quality, houseplants not only reduce stress, but improve concentration and memory retention as well, according to Texas A&M. In this case, the cost is two-fold; money and time.

An indoor plant from Home Depot can be up to $59.97 and must be watered, fertilized and in certain cases, pruned regularly.

This can be stressful — 67 per cent of millennials surveyed by OnePoll believe the care process to be more than bargained for — while an NCBI study found interaction with indoor plants can be soothing.

Buckling Down We’ve all been there; faced with a daunting goal that we unconvincingly promise ourselves to “start tomorrow.”

In such situations, visible and memorable reminders come in handy.

“Having cues that inspire you, whether it’s a motivational poster or picture of yourself accomplishing something, can be helpful

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

[with goal pursuit],” explained Wilson.

The main cost for wall decor is financial, since little time and upkeep is typically needed.

Depending on style, a picture frame from IKEA can be up to $59.99 and a poster anywhere from $4 to $39.99.

Finding the balance Home decor’s popularity can be seen as yet another case of rampant consumerism. It can also show an effort to set foundations for happiness using material items.

One truth is clear; it’s costly, but doesn’t need to be. Cheaper alternatives aim to serve as a welcome solution for a more subtle living space.

“It doesn’t have to be a fancy or expensive space, right?” Wilson said. “It’s a worthwhile reminder to do it for who you are.”

ARTS & LIFE • 11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 FITNESS

Pump up your workout playlist SHOFFANA SUNDARAMOORTHY ARTS AND LIFE CONTRIBUTER

To make the most out of your next workout, curate the perfect playlist!

Music Speed

One component of music to keep in mind is tempo/speed, specifically the amount of beats per minute (BPM).

During physical activity, our body subconsciously synchronizes movements to a song’s tempo. In doing so, our body fixates less on the impending exhaustion and allows for better performance by optimizing energy.

This trend reflects the results of a 2006 study where participants ran on a treadmill under different conditions (ex. mMusic or no music, fast music or slow music). Participants who listened to fast music ran at a greater pace and a further distance before feeling fatigue.

Volume Another factor with music to consider is loudness.

If you listen to soft-spoken music, you should expect an

easy-going workout that relaxes the body. High-energy music, on the other hand, features lively instrumentals and powerful vocals that push you to take on a strenuous workout.

Keep in mind that your music should not be too loud- that will damage your hearing or take away from your workout.

Music loudness serves as motivation to increase work capacity, resulting in greater payoff and contributing to “rhythm response.”

According to Scientific American, psychologists use this term to express “how much a song makes you want to boogie.”

This is important to recognize considering that listening to music during exercise has the added benefit of elevating our mood.

Certain music genres utilize tempo and loudness more effectively and, in turn, seem ideal to incorporate to your workout music. Examples include hiphop, rock, rap and even electronic dance music (EDM).

Section of Workout There is one other factor to consider when selecting workout

music; the given point of your workout.

You shouldn’t go straight into an intense workout without proper warm-up or stop without cooling down.

It is a good idea to start off slow at the start of your workout as it gradually increases in difficulty and intensity.

High-energy music during the warm-up would throw off your composure and can leave you feeling drained before getting to the actual workout itself.

This is why careful planning of your exercise music is important.

Rather than using the same genre throughout your whole workout, you can rely on different genres for different sections of it.

For instance, a good genre for both pre-workout and post-workout is classical music.

The pre-workout stage relies on gathering your energy and preparing for the workout ahead, whereas the post-workout stage emphasizes on the body.

Next time you go to the gym or begin your workout, be sure to make a high-quality playlist so that you can have a high-quality session.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRPAHER

TELEVISION

Invincible makes a big smash on the small screen AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR

Animation is such a freeing medium where live-action requires you to fit the narrow constraints of physical limitation, impossible camera movements, and safety. In animation, you are only restricted by your artistic abilities.

Despite this, up until the last few years, animation has been seen as something directed predominantly at children.

This isn’t wrong; I mean who’s childhoods weren’t influenced by Disney and Pixar movies. There are dozens of children’s animated movies that have trailblazed and have become so much more than just a light children’s flick.

There has been, however, always a darker intriguing side to animation, a side that appeals to adults.

With the freedom of animation comes the freedom to tell any kind of story you want.

So while you could go for a gentle family-friendly tale, you could also go for something much more gritty, serious, and grounded.

In these stories, there is a place for brutal and grotesque violence.

This violence can be found in the Amazon Prime original Invincible and while the series isn’t the first animation to have this kind of violence, it is the magnum opus that violent animation has been building towards for years.

Violence has been a part of animation for nearly as long as animation itself, however, the type of violence has typically been (perhaps appropriately) cartoonish. Popeye hits Bluto harder after

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

he’s eaten his spinach, Daffy Duck shoots himself in the face causing his bill to flip around his head.

Realistic or gory violence however has been scant.

An early example is the 1978 film Watership Down. An English animation based on a book of the same name, the film follows a group of bunny rabbits in search of safe refuge.

It is animated similarly to other animated features at the time but with the realism associated with being a rabbit in the wild. Rabbits scratch, scream, foam from the

mouth, and die exposing to filmgoers the potential animation had in showing darker subject matter.

Anime has long been an appealing alternative to western animation when it comes to wanting to experience animated stories with more R-rated content.

One of the trendsetters was Akira (1988), a sci-fi dystopian film with superpowers, motorcycle gangs, and grotesque bodily carnage.

Akira would inspire many other Anime shows and movies. Its influence is still felt today with Invincible making a clear reference

to the classic film during the first season’s finale.

There are other examples too, Waltz with Bashir (2008), Batman: The Killing Joke (2016), a couple of scenes in the original Robocop (1987) if I’m being generous.

Few have used graphic animated violence and even fewer have used it as effectively as Invincible has.

The Violence in Invincible is its defining trait. The plot of the series isn’t too unique; the show exists in a world where superheroes are simply a reality of existence and are looked on favorably by the

public as they are there to stop supervillains. This black and white, good vs. evil setup is why the gore works so well.

As the season progresses the audience learns that the show cares little for animated norms or for what may be visually appealing to the viewer. In Invincible people die constantly and usually not in heroic ways.

They are maimed, gutted, and destroyed with few exceptions.

Most importantly, the violence isn’t just a part of the show for the sake of appealing to fans of that kind of thing. The violence enhances the plot.

Without spoiling too much, betrayals are made more impactful, characters dealing with certain realities become easier for the audience to identify with as we see the cruelty the characters must endure firsthand.

It raises the stakes because the consequences of actions are felt so much harder when you know the visual lengths the show is willing to go through.

The animation style while again not particularly innovative, similar to the setup, makes the eventual violence much more impactful.

The exterior is black and white until, through the use of character decisions, motivations, and (as if I haven’t already mentioned it) violence the story turns into a picturesque shade of gray.

Invincible is not a show for everyone, but if you’re a fan of superheroes and you want a completely different perspective into that genre, Invincible is a lethal slam dunk.

12 • ARTS & LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

LOCAL BUSINESS

Gold Leaf Botanicals isn’t your garden variety nursery Shop owner Bryan Dobson has a carefully curated selection of tropical plants that are sold with a smile EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It’s no secret that millennials and Gen-Z seem to be leading the houseplant-craze that’s taken over social media.

TikTok is now rife with individuals who debate over the best methods to water, prune and maintain their “plant babies,” which, I have to admit, I watch all the time.

Nurturing houseplants is a commitment that is both rewarding and surprisingly difficult at times, making for a hobby that requires an unexpected amount of patience and dedication. For those who take pleasure in collecting them, finding places to buy plants that aren’t grocery stores or out-oftown nurseries can prove to be a challenge.

I help you from when you first come in, to when you leave, as well as after you bought the plant with any issues you have.

-Bryan Dobson, owner of Gold Leaf Botanicals

Gold Leaf Botanicals, located at 189 Park St. in Waterloo, markets itself as “Kitchener and Waterloo’s tropical plant boutique.”

Owner and self-professed plant enthusiast Bryan Dobson grew his passion for the craft as a way to support his mental wellbeing.

He left his previous career to pursue plants and cited the poor quality that was available from most retailers as one of the reasons for wanting to improve the stock

that was currently accessible.

“I delved into plants five years ago due to my mental health. And it just was about quality. I couldn’t find quality anywhere. And everything kept dying,” Dobson said.

One of the main ways he keeps his stock healthy is by ensuring no pesticides are used.

“Here we use beneficial bugs. So we do everything as biological as possible. I don’t use chemicals at all on my plants,” he said.

Another aspect, according to Dobson, that sets Gold Leaf Botanicals apart from other plant shops is the experience and customer support.

“I help you from when you first come in, to when you leave, as well as after you bought the plant with any issues you have,” Dobson said.

“I don’t want people to walk in and feel overwhelmed by a plant that’s not going to live in their house. Because a lot of plants need certain lighting. And some people just don’t understand lighting and water for plants. And then it just ends up dying.”

Dobson’s customers are varied, but he’s seen a lot of students come into his store who want to buy plants for their dorms.

For those who are beginner plant owners with fledgling green thumbs, he advises people to do the groundwork before committing to plants that don’t suit their home environments.

“Do your research on the plant and know where it comes from. So example right now, I have eucalyptus. They’re native to Australia, so they need full sun all the time.

Zz [plants] are native to Africa, but they’re mostly in the jungles. So they don’t need a lot of light.

“And they go almost a month without water. Then you have plants that come from places where it’s monsoon season, so they get pounded with water and then they don’t get a lot for a while,”

Dobson said.

“It’s about knowing that and not rushing into it. Start off with one plant first. My problem was I got 15-20 the first time I started and I was overwhelmed.”

Dobson’s favourite aspect about running his store is the people he gets to meet — calling back to his mom who is also rooted in the business of plant sales.

When I started this journey, I grew up around plants.

-Bryan Dobson, owner of Gold Leaf Botanicals

“When I started this journey, I grew up around plants,” he said.

“My mom worked at a prestigious flower plant shop in the ‘90s in Cambridge, and when I call suppliers, I will mention the name and we end up talking because they’ve been in the business so long. It’s sort of like a full circle,” Dobson said.

Although originally coming from a career in nursing, Dobson’s passion for both people and plants is clear.

“As well as when people come in. They’ll be like, ‘I bought plants from you when you were doing this out of your house.’ It’s like everyone’s coming along this journey with me,” he said.

“And I’ve met so many interesting people. Sort of like Cheers here.”

With files from Aaron Waitson.

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Bryan Dobson has run Gold Leaf Botanicals primarily through the pandemic

ARTS & LIFE • 13

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 LAURIER

New campus features to experience this fall CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

are still there in the winter, then we’ll leave it up,” Joseph said.

It’s no secret that COVID robbed many students of traditional university experiences.

Thankfully, Wilfrid Laurier’s Waterloo campus will offer a range of in-person services this semester, in accordance with public health guidelines.

In addition to O-Week and some in-person classes, here are three of the amenities to look out for.

New Outdoor Gathering Space

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

Laurier’s Alumni Field is home to a new outdoor space with picnic tables and benches to boot.

“The students will dictate how that space is used,” Ivan Joseph, vice president of student affairs said. “We hope they’ll say, ‘Let’s go there to hang out’ or ‘Let’s have a study session’ or ‘Let’s get underneath the tent, it’s raining’. ” This could be a chance to enjoy campus sights reminiscent of a brochure — the space will be open all year if it’s well-received.

“We’ll keep it up as long as the weather permits. If we see students

Health and Wellness Services

The in-person activities are meant to do what Laurier is known for and create a sense of belonging, purpose and connection.

-Ivan Joseph, vice president of student affairs

Food Services Frappuccino-lovers will be glad to hear about the Starbucks on campus, which has been newly renovated. As the semester moves along, more expanded food services will open in line with public health guidelines.

Notably, dining hall hours are now from seven in the morning to seven at night, with the full menu available.

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We’ve all been there; stressed and overwhelmed, with the last peaceful moment a distant memory.

Both in-person and remote appointments can now be booked for counselling, and it’s worth a shot to help with those sleepless nights.

The same delivery model is used for medical appointments, to support physical health needs.

“What we’re trying to do is give students a choice,” Joseph said.

“Everything that we offer will be in person and it will also be online.”

COVID-19 protocols remain in place for student and staff safety “All across the university, we’ve got enhanced sanitation, cleaning and indoor masks policy,” Joseph said.

“The in-person activities are meant to do what Laurier is known for and create a sense of belonging, purpose and connection.”

“ IF YOU COME TO A FILM AT AN INDEPENDENT CINEMA you’re

not just supporting the film industry and the entertain ment industry

but you’re also supporting your community

- CARA WATSON, , director of operations at apollo cinema

THE REEL IMPORTANCE OF

INDEPENDENT CINEMA

Managing Editor Brontë Behling spoke to local theatres about the impact of COVID-19 and why supporting them now is more crucial than ever before.

Over the course of 2020, many small-businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo region were forced to close due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of opening and closing fluctuations as waves of the pandemic rose and subsided, businesses in the region have been allowed to re-open to the public with enhanced safety procedures.

Due to the many requirements of each stage of Ontario’s reopening process, one of the industries most affected by reopening fluctuations was film and entertainment. This is highlighted in Kitchener-Waterloo by two well-loved independent cinemas - Apollo Cinema in Kitchener and Princess Cinemas in Waterloo.

For most businesses, safely reopening to the public included procedures such as mask wearing and caps on the amount of patrons allowed in the space depending on the size of the building. However, cinemas also had the added stress of maintaining adequate space between patrons in each theatre.

For larger cineplexes, this was a far more simple process. For smaller independent cinemas, this is a more in-depth process.

Speaking with Joel Brubacher, manager of Princess Cinemas, a key issue voiced was the struggle of assuring their audience that their cinema was safe after the near continuous isolation that the community faced: “The biggest challenge is convincing people that it’s safe to come see movies, honestly,” Brubacher said. Cara Watson, Director of Operations at Apollo Cinema, expressed that they have faced similar challenges while illustrating to prospective audiences that the cinema allows for effective spacing and seat buffer placement.

Similarly, both Brubacher and Watson noted how essential their respective cinemas are to the Kitchener-Waterloo community and the many cultural losses experienced during their time closed. While many businesses were permitted to open during Step 2 of Ontario’s reopening plan, indoor cinemas were barred from opening until Step 3.

While Princess Cinemas had an online streaming platform available to use during the cinema’s time closed, Brubacher stated that it wasn’t profitable for the cinema and that regulars would rather come to see a movie in person: “Even if it was available online, they would come. They’d come out and

watch it in person”.

Watson echoed this sentiment, noting the unique experience cinemas provide to an audience: “There’s never going to be anything quite like watching a film with a group of people at the same time and experiencing something together”.

However, the sense of community created by both Princess Cinemas and Apollo Cinema has sustained both businesses.

Due to this, both cinemas hold a special place in the region’s cultural consciousness that surpasses the ‘grip’ multiplexes often hold on the film industry. Both being accessible through public transit and by foot has assisted them in becoming crucial meeting spots for the community.

When reflecting on the Apollo’s role in the community, Watson remarked on the special role independent cinemas hold in comparison to multiplexes: “If you come to a film at an independent cinema you’re not just supporting the film industry and the entertainment industry but you’re also supporting your community”.

In addition, Brubacher noted the unique position independent cinemas have to show films that are often missed by mainstream cinemas that play guaranteed ‘hits’ such as Marvel films: “[There are] a lot of movies that are just kind of culturally aware and I feel like people come out to kind of expand their horizons”.

Both Apollo Cinema and Princess Cinemas are also easily accessible to members of the community through public transportation and by foot. Apollo Cinema is located on 45 Duke Street West in Kitchener while the Princess Twin can be found at 46 King Street North in Waterloo. The Original Princess Cinema is located at 6 Princess Street West in Waterloo.

Being located in the center of each city, both cinemas are committed contributors to the community: “You can go have dinner on the block and then just walk over to the cinema and check out a movie,” Brubacher said, detailing the appeal that Princess Cinemas has by being located in Uptown Waterloo.

“We do something to incorporate other businesses and other small independent businesses,” Watson states, describing how Apollo Cinema assists in enriching Kitchener’s cultural landscape. “It feels like there’s a real community around our

cinema and you can really feel that there’s regulars that come out every week and we just have a real community around it.”

Brubacher adds, noting the sense of community present in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

As the region reopens, supporting independent cinema is crucial to maintaining what Kitchener-Waterloo is known for being - a culturally rich and artistic community. “It just feels like it’s more of a rich experience when you’re uptown rather than at a mall in a parking lot,” Brubacher notes.

Both Watson and Brubacher remain optimistic about the future of independent cinema in the region, Watson asking that audiences take the time to wait for smaller cinemas to show the larger films they really wish to see before going to a multiplex.

After all, as Brubacher notes, the community in the region has provided immense support: “Being closed for almost a year and having all the support from all of our community is really cool. It says a lot about the culture around cinema.”

Both Apollo Cinema and Princess Cinemas have begun operations once more, Princess Cinemas hosting their Bicycle Film Festival - the first festival held by the cinema since its reopening.

Apollo Cinema has upcoming partnerships with other local businesses while preparing for their showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey in September. “The best idea really is to watch our social media because we try to work with as many people as possible for fun events,” Watson states. This process of collaborating with local artists in the community extended into the Apollo’s summer programming, which included showings of Stories of Landback in collaboration with the Landback Camp in Waterloo Region.

“If you just keep an eye on our instagram feed then you’ll definitely find something that is there for you,” Watson closes.

You can follow Princess Cinemas on Instagram @princesscinemas or on their website www.princesscinemas.com.

Apollo Cinema can be found on Instagram @apollocinema or on their website www.apollocinema.ca.

Photo & layout done by Brit Kovacs

“ IF YOU COME TO A FILM AT AN INDEPENDENT CINEMA you’re

not just supporting the film industry and the entertain ment industry

but you’re also supporting your community

- CARA WATSON, , director of operations at apollo cinema

THE REEL IMPORTANCE OF

INDEPENDENT CINEMA

Managing Editor Brontë Behling spoke to local theatres about the impact of COVID-19 and why supporting them now is more crucial than ever before.

Over the course of 2020, many small-businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo region were forced to close due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of opening and closing fluctuations as waves of the pandemic rose and subsided, businesses in the region have been allowed to re-open to the public with enhanced safety procedures.

Due to the many requirements of each stage of Ontario’s reopening process, one of the industries most affected by reopening fluctuations was film and entertainment. This is highlighted in Kitchener-Waterloo by two well-loved independent cinemas - Apollo Cinema in Kitchener and Princess Cinemas in Waterloo.

For most businesses, safely reopening to the public included procedures such as mask wearing and caps on the amount of patrons allowed in the space depending on the size of the building. However, cinemas also had the added stress of maintaining adequate space between patrons in each theatre.

For larger cineplexes, this was a far more simple process. For smaller independent cinemas, this is a more in-depth process.

Speaking with Joel Brubacher, manager of Princess Cinemas, a key issue voiced was the struggle of assuring their audience that their cinema was safe after the near continuous isolation that the community faced: “The biggest challenge is convincing people that it’s safe to come see movies, honestly,” Brubacher said. Cara Watson, Director of Operations at Apollo Cinema, expressed that they have faced similar challenges while illustrating to prospective audiences that the cinema allows for effective spacing and seat buffer placement.

Similarly, both Brubacher and Watson noted how essential their respective cinemas are to the Kitchener-Waterloo community and the many cultural losses experienced during their time closed. While many businesses were permitted to open during Step 2 of Ontario’s reopening plan, indoor cinemas were barred from opening until Step 3.

While Princess Cinemas had an online streaming platform available to use during the cinema’s time closed, Brubacher stated that it wasn’t profitable for the cinema and that regulars would rather come to see a movie in person: “Even if it was available online, they would come. They’d come out and

watch it in person”.

Watson echoed this sentiment, noting the unique experience cinemas provide to an audience: “There’s never going to be anything quite like watching a film with a group of people at the same time and experiencing something together”.

However, the sense of community created by both Princess Cinemas and Apollo Cinema has sustained both businesses.

Due to this, both cinemas hold a special place in the region’s cultural consciousness that surpasses the ‘grip’ multiplexes often hold on the film industry. Both being accessible through public transit and by foot has assisted them in becoming crucial meeting spots for the community.

When reflecting on the Apollo’s role in the community, Watson remarked on the special role independent cinemas hold in comparison to multiplexes: “If you come to a film at an independent cinema you’re not just supporting the film industry and the entertainment industry but you’re also supporting your community”.

In addition, Brubacher noted the unique position independent cinemas have to show films that are often missed by mainstream cinemas that play guaranteed ‘hits’ such as Marvel films: “[There are] a lot of movies that are just kind of culturally aware and I feel like people come out to kind of expand their horizons”.

Both Apollo Cinema and Princess Cinemas are also easily accessible to members of the community through public transportation and by foot. Apollo Cinema is located on 45 Duke Street West in Kitchener while the Princess Twin can be found at 46 King Street North in Waterloo. The Original Princess Cinema is located at 6 Princess Street West in Waterloo.

Being located in the center of each city, both cinemas are committed contributors to the community: “You can go have dinner on the block and then just walk over to the cinema and check out a movie,” Brubacher said, detailing the appeal that Princess Cinemas has by being located in Uptown Waterloo.

“We do something to incorporate other businesses and other small independent businesses,” Watson states, describing how Apollo Cinema assists in enriching Kitchener’s cultural landscape. “It feels like there’s a real community around our

cinema and you can really feel that there’s regulars that come out every week and we just have a real community around it.”

Brubacher adds, noting the sense of community present in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

As the region reopens, supporting independent cinema is crucial to maintaining what Kitchener-Waterloo is known for being - a culturally rich and artistic community. “It just feels like it’s more of a rich experience when you’re uptown rather than at a mall in a parking lot,” Brubacher notes.

Both Watson and Brubacher remain optimistic about the future of independent cinema in the region, Watson asking that audiences take the time to wait for smaller cinemas to show the larger films they really wish to see before going to a multiplex.

After all, as Brubacher notes, the community in the region has provided immense support: “Being closed for almost a year and having all the support from all of our community is really cool. It says a lot about the culture around cinema.”

Both Apollo Cinema and Princess Cinemas have begun operations once more, Princess Cinemas hosting their Bicycle Film Festival - the first festival held by the cinema since its reopening.

Apollo Cinema has upcoming partnerships with other local businesses while preparing for their showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey in September. “The best idea really is to watch our social media because we try to work with as many people as possible for fun events,” Watson states. This process of collaborating with local artists in the community extended into the Apollo’s summer programming, which included showings of Stories of Landback in collaboration with the Landback Camp in Waterloo Region.

“If you just keep an eye on our instagram feed then you’ll definitely find something that is there for you,” Watson closes.

You can follow Princess Cinemas on Instagram @princesscinemas or on their website www.princesscinemas.com.

Apollo Cinema can be found on Instagram @apollocinema or on their website www.apollocinema.ca.

Photo & layout done by Brit Kovacs

thursday ETHELS

meatloaf mania! served til its gone. . . . . . . . . . . . .

MONDAY

mel’s diner

blueplate specials w/ beverage purchase. . . . . . .

ETHELS

EIGHT OZ BURGER WITH DRINK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MELTWICH

STANDARD BURGER COMBO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MCCABE’S PUB

1LB WING DISCOUNT (AFTER 4PM). . . . . . . . . .

MEL’S DINER

BURGER WITH BEVERAGE COMBO.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KENTUCKY BOURBON

1LB WING DISCOUNT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . molly blooms

burger deal.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$5.00

$10.00

$7.47

$6.99

$7.00

$5.00

sonny’s

hamburger combo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bobby o’brien’s

wing deal after 7pm.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

la cucina

appetizer deal.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MELTWICH

classic poutine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pub on king

fish and chips.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

taco tuesday (four beef tacos). . . . . . . . . .

MELTWICH

classic grilled cheese.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sonny’s

charbroiled burgers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pub on king

taco tuesday.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . white rabbit

3 piece taco & 5 piece taco.. . . . . . . . . . .

$2.86

$3.50

$3.29

$2.00 - $5.95

$12.00 - $15.00

la cucina

pasta discount.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

mccabe’s (kitchener)

10oz new york strip loin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MELTWICH

MELTWICH

tattooed chicken club.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sonny’s

rib deal.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pub on king

$9.00

$1.00

pound and a half of roasted wings.. . . . . . . . . . .

$10.00

hungry ninja

$13.00

ninja cali.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$6.50

-$2.00

$10.95

-$5.00

all sides discounted.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . howl at the moon

mushroom hats.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$3.00

$6.50

appetizer discount.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

-$2.00

$0.39

saturday la cucina

wednesday

$6.99

-$2.00

fish and chips discount.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ETHELS

$3.50

friday bobby o’brien’s

tuesday

$11.00

-$2.00

sunday la cucina

pasta discount.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MELTWICH

-$2.00

mac attack melt.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . montana’s

save on take out.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mel’s diner

discount on cakes and pies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$9.00

15% off

1/2 off

CHEAP EATS: ONE WEEK OF EATING ON A DIME IN KW

WRITTEN BY EMILY WAITSON

LAYOUT BY BRIT KOVACS

18 • GAMES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

THE CORD’S

MIXTAPE BACK TO THE BOOKS CHANGES // DAVID BOWIE CAMPUS // VAMPIRE WEEKEND MOTION SICKNESS // PHOEBE BRIDGERS SOLAR POWER // LORDE NEW FRIENDS // PINE GROVE FLAMING HOT CHEETOS // CLAIRO VIENNA // BILLY JOEL WE FELL IN LOVE IN OCTOBER // GIRL IN RED GOING TO CALIFORNIA // LED ZEPPELIN KIDS // MGMT SEE YOU AGAIN // TYLER, THE CREATOR (FEAT. KALI UCHIS) AUTUMN SWEATER // YO LA TENGO WARM FOOTHILLS // ALT-J LIFE IN THE CITY // THE LUMINEERS ALL I NEED // RADIOHEAD COFFEE BEAN // TRAVIS SCOTT RAGGED WOOD // FLEET FOXES 1979 // THE SMASHING PUMPKINS APOCALYPSE // CIGARETTES AFTER SEX WHERE’D ALL THE TIME GO? // DR. DOG

SUDOKU

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

GAMES • 19

MAZE

E R M E O C UNT E L V O TH US I W your voice, your media

• 20

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca

Editor’s Note: the perils of being a people-pleaser EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always strived to be a people-pleaser.

It’s an aspect about myself that I’ve accepted without much critical thought or question, even if it means that I expend more mental energy, effort and time than I can realistically deliver in a given day.

I’ve only just started to see how detrimental this quality can be on my mental health and my overall wellbeing, and more often than not, I don’t end up any happier or more fulfilled because of it. It’s usually quite the opposite.

I excessively apologize, even if something isn’t my fault. And if someone is upset, I have adopted the tendency to unnecessarily take on the responsibility of other people’s feelings.

My anxiety, coupled with my crippling fear of people thinking any less of me – or, God forbid, being mad at me – has caused me to be a “yes man” more often than not.

Somewhere along the way, I seemed to blur the meanings of kindness and people-pleasing together, and I’ve absorbed the notion that saying “no” equates meanness and being involved in any kind of confrontation that may arise in my life will automatically label me as an uncaring bitch.

I so desperately want to be seen as a nice person that I’ve had to work incredibly hard at gaining back the baseline of respect from people that I know I deserve.

In my professional and personal relationships, it doesn’t do me any favours to present myself as the ever-agreeable, nonchalant presence who isn’t honest when faced with situations that require criticism — and could potentially turn into conflict as a result.

I would obsess over sounding just “right” in emails — never

wanting to give the impression that I’m being too blunt, direct or unapproachable.

If you want messages littered with exclamation points, “sorry to bother yous” and happy faces, well, I’m your gal.

But I eventually started to realize that this ultimately hurts me more than it makes people like me.

It’s this attitude that contributed to my silence in relationships and friendships where I was unhappy or wanted to voice my concerns about something, but opted to keep my feelings to myself.

I needed to be perceived as easygoing and likeable, and deluded myself into thinking that this was the way to do it.

I’ve finally started to understand the difference between being a genuinely kind human being — which I will always strive to be — and a pushover.

I don’t have to be a doormat to be nice to someone and I don’t have to be an ogre to stand behind my standards or beliefs either.

Putting reasonable boundaries in place, giving myself time to consider a request before automatically saying “yes” to it and recognizing that I can be empathetic and assertive without having to sacrifice one or the other, are techniques that I’m starting to implement.

The leadership roles I’ve been in over the past few years have certainly put this mentality into perspective and I’m finally beginning to learn how to better adapt to situations where my first impulse is to go along with everyone else just to keep the peace.

I probably won’t ever meet the directional standards of Miranda Priestly, but there’s certainly some merit to her management style and method of direction.

To simplify this into one, succinct message: you can be a nice person who also doesn’t take any shit.

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

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

CHAIR Brittany Kovacs

DIRECTOR Emily Crump

VICE-CHAIR Jacob Rice

DIRECTOR Arshy Mann

DIRECTOR Sarah Sheikh

TREASURER Vacant

DIRECTOR Mythra Kulan

PRESIDENT Brittany Kovacs president@wlusp.com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideout kurtis.rideout@wlusp. com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Care Lucas ed@wlusp.com HR MANAGER Aaron Waitson hr@wlusp.com

EDITORIAL CARTOON

KASH PATEL/MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Welcome back, golden hawks!

Volunteer with one (or more!) of wlusp’s publications to kick off the school year: the cord radio laurier blueprint the sputnik the community edition the keystone/carnegie laurier student poll

• 21

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Opinion

OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca

Ryerson is changing their name — Laurier should too AARON WAITSON HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

After years of pushback from Indigenous activists, students, community members and faculty at Ryerson University (or “X University”), the university’s board of directors have officially voted to change the school’s name.

There are a number of reasons that I think it’s time for Wilfrid Laurier University to do the same.

The call to action was prompted, among other things, by the history and legacy of the university’s namesake, Egerton Ryerson. More than 300 Ryerson professors supported the decision.

Ryerson, as documented by the Standing Strong (Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win) Task Force, was deeply involved in the history of both “racially segregated schools and the residential schooling system” of Canada.

With conversations about historical legacies, the generational impact of colonization on Indigenous communities and the calls to action made by groups like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Laurier is well positioned to seriously evaluate how they want to be connected to that history, and the message they are sending as an institution rooted in colonization.

On July 28, 2021, the university announced the Laurier Legacy Project, focused on examining the history and impact of its namesake, Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

Laurier, though celebrated by some as a Prime Minister, encouraged western expansion. His government was directly tied to policies and treaties that led to the annexation of large areas of Indigenous land for the crown — ~840,000 km that was home to 39 First Nation communities.

Laurier’s government ignored a 1907 report, entitled Report on the Indian Schools of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, in which the chief medical officer of the federal Department of the Interior and Indian Affairs noted the “unhealthy conditions and very high death rates of residential schools in the Prairies.”

Laurier’s government also passed anti-immigration policies that were targeted at “African American, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian migration to Canada,” and laws that specifically targeted Black migrants during the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination in the United States.

The Laurier Legacy Project, in providing this information, takes a step towards the university’s overall goal of decolonizing its practices.

As noted by Laurier president Deborah MacLatchy, the goal of the project is to “research and reflect upon” Laurier’s legacy and history in order to “appreciate” its meaning from a scholarly perspec-

tive.

As such, I will reflect on it as well.

It’s likely that this project was motivated by a number of reasons: the recently-discovered, unmarked, Canadian residential graves, Ryerson’s statue being toppled and the call to change its name, the current political climate and calls to action for Laurier to improve its own approach to anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity being among them.

Laurier is an institution that claims it values “diversity and a culture of inclusivity,” “learning through experience”; has a vision that offers a commitment to justice and “the courage to engage and challenge the world in all its complexity”; and guiding principles focused on “openness to change,” “community citizenship” and “making strategic choices for the long-term health of the institution.”

Why should we feel content or indifferent to be associated with a figure who has caused so much lasting harm to the people of this country?

It is clear that Laurier knows what changes need to be made to make it a more inclusive, diverse and politically-conscious institution that reflects the needs of its community.

If that is the case, it has the same obligation to question its connection to a figure that no longer represents the university’s values and commitment to its students and community.

It is most likely that if Laurier were to announce a name change, they would not do so until 2023, when Laurier will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its renaming with a “scholarly and public education workshop.”

However, I believe the university should consult with Indigenous and other racialized members of the Laurier community.

An earlier announcement would have a far greater impact and go further in showing Laurier is committed to actionable goals towards decolonization.

As a history student, I’m well aware of the fear-mongering around “erasing history” through these kinds of decisions.

I don’t think there’s merit to it.

But I do know that everyone who

attends this university, especially racialized and marginalized folks, deserve to feel proud of the name and symbol associated with their university.

You can call it performative activism.

You can call it unnecessary or symbolic.

But language leaves a lasting impact, as do our actions.

To quote Elie Wiesel, “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Why should we feel content or indifferent to be associated with a figure who has caused so much lasting harm to people of this country? Shouldn’t we want more for our university’s legacy?

If we do nothing, what does that say about us?

FILE PHOTO/DARIEN FUNK

22 • OPINION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Volunteering for my political party helped me grow BRONTE BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR

On August 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would once again be going into a federal election. Naturally, there was outrage online - why call an election during a pandemic?

Is this all just a ploy by the Liberal Party to gain a majority?

What’s the importance of voting when you don’t like either of the parties that have consistently competed over the citizens of Canada?

Like many, I haven’t been happy with the Liberal Party or the Conservative Party.

Being surrounded by the general cynicism that overtakes those who can vote, I assumed that the best way to vote had to be for one of the “big two”.

While many steer away from discussing politics, I have always been the opposite.

If we don’t discuss politics, nothing that we wish to change ever will.

With this belief in my mind, I made a promise to myself - no longer would I let myself be a bystander.

While I have taken the time to vote in each election I have been eligible to participate in, I never felt like I was doing enough.

By voting for the Liberal Party, I had been fulfilling what I believed was my place.

This had made me steer myself away from my true beliefs, which had most closely aligned with the platform put out by the New Democratic Party.

As a student at a progressive Canadian University, I do realize the irony of this.

In a moment of pure adrenaline and desire to be a part of the change I desperately want to see, I went to the website of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and signed up to volunteer.

I haven’t looked back since.

Being a volunteer in a political cause you believe in changes your perspective on many fronts. In my

time volunteering so far, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of Canadians from many different places and professions.

From individuals in Alberta who desperately want to see improvements in their COVID-19 response to high-school students from Ontario who can’t vote but still hold a passion for the NDP’s platform, I’ve had the opportunity to expand my view on the kinds of individuals that Canada is made up of.

If we don’t discuss politics, nothing that we wish to change ever will.

In addition, it also has made me reassess my role as a student.

As university students, the party we vote for will have a direct impact on what our future coming out of university will look like.

As much as most of us don’t like to think about the inevitability of our graduation day coming closer, it’s a reality that we will all have to face at some point.

To see change, we have to be the change.

This includes helping to boost the beliefs and party that we believe will push Canada to be the best country that it can be.

What may seem like a small step can make all of the difference — by volunteering for the party you believe in, you lose nothing.

In fact, you might leave with a new perspective of Canada that will inspire you to be an agent of change in many facets of your life.

Don’t be caught unprepared.

BRIT KOVACS/PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

OPINION • 23

FILE PHOTO/DARIEN FUNK

The importance behind the student vote SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR

Voter turnout among Canada’s youth, defined as those aged 1824, is always a pressing issue for policymakers.

In 2019, youth voter turnout was down by about 3 percent compared to the previous election.

A decline in this number is not a positive trend.

It is important that voters of all age groups feel represented by their government. It is extremely worrying then that students will be unable to vote on campus come this election.

It would be easy to dismiss young people as uncaring in matters of politics.

The perception still exists that many students are too busy playing beer pong to worry about the intricacies of tax policy or national debt reduction.

But people aged 18-34 will be this year’s largest voting bloc.

This is the demographic every political party is scrambling to secure votes from, and it’s the one they must appeal to, at least somewhat, to form a government.

Many students are politically active. When they rally around a cause there is little anyone can do to stop them. But protests and demonstrations aside, the best way to get one’s voice heard in politics is to vote. After all, politicians must make and propose laws.

And they lose or gain very little if

not proposing a law will not affect them at the ballot box.

All this said, it is saddening that students cannot vote in their home riding from their university campus.

Voting should be, and in Canada is, designed to include everyone who wants to take part in the process. Polling stations are plentiful.

Hours are fair. Mail-in ballots are accepted. But voting this year will not be easy for those students who want to vote for their home candidate.

Voting in this way on campus is only as old as 2015, so this is no departure from long running tradition. But Elections Canada moved in the right direction to set-up the program, so it makes sense that

students would be upset that the program has been halted.

When people are upset, especially in politics, they often want to assign blame. The blame is often assigned to the political party they dislike.

But in this case, there really isn’t much blame to go around.

Until very recently, universities had not even announced the extent of their in-person activities.

If every class was remote, why would a voting station on campus make sense?

It’s a fair question, and because universities were late to announce their intentions, preparations could not have been made in time.

An election process is not to be set up half-heartedly, so ample time is

needed.

The minority government was also a contributing factor.

And no, that doesn’t mean the Liberals are at fault.

Minority governments can call elections when they wish, so Elections Canada woke to the news that election day was Sept. 20 exactly when the rest of us did. It’s perfectly within the rights of any minority government to do this.

So really, there’s not much blame to throw around for no voting on campus this fall. It’s simply a product of circumstance.

If you do need to vote in a home riding, you can via an early mail-in ballot or at an Elections Canada office. But please, vote, even if it takes that little bit of extra effort.

24 • OPINION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Ways to resist white supremacy culture That does not simplify complex issues.

Sometimes there isn’t a primary cause for this or that.

Sometimes the effect can be influencing the cause just as much as the cause is creating the effect.

Be open to the idea that sometimes the answer isn’t this or that.

Sometimes it’s this and that.

TANYA O’CONNELL OPINION COLUMNIST

White supremacy culture is so pervasive that it can be hard to even recognize its characteristics as being anything but the “norm”.

Resisting white supremacy culture means rejecting things that feel ingrained in our existence.

Because these things are ingrained in our existence.

If you want to resist white supremacy culture, then you should be promoting a culture that embraces the things it rejects and rejects the things it thrives on.

To resist white supremacy culture, promote a culture: That understands our worldview shapes how we understand things.

When you are trying to make sense of something, remember that your lived experience shapes how you understand the world around you.

Instead of using a cookie-cutter approach to your life and work, remember that what people need is based on who they are and who we all are is rooted in an identity made up of various markers, like skin colour, that directly influences our experiences. Our lived experience shapes our worldview.

For the power and privilege that comes with white supremacy culture to remain, things need to stay the same.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Where making decisions in an atmosphere of urgency is not the norm. Take time to critically reflect. You don’t need to respond immediately.

Of foresight. This is a benefit of critically reflecting upon your actions before you act.

That understands growth happens during times of discomfort. Lean into the discomfort that

comes with confronting privilege. where defensiveness to new or challenging ideas is understood as a fear of losing power and privilege.

When I was first introduced to the concept of a gender spectrum, I felt like something was being taken from me as a woman. It’s ok to feel it.

Take the time necessary to

critically reflect upon what those feelings are based on, whether it’s subjective or objective information.

Ask yourself what assumptions you are making.

That honours the process over the agenda. The process is hearing and/or engaging with people’s needs.

Where the process is always part of the plan.

That understands why diversity makes everything better.

Because it really does make everything better.

The way that we each understand the world influences the ideas we have about it.

It only makes sense that a group of people with shared lived experience would share perceptions of the world and therefore ideas about it.

A group of people with a diverse background of lived experiences is capable of producing ideas about the world that are far richer and more innovative because they can collectively perceive the world and conceive ideas about it in a way that collects their diversity.

Take the time necessary to critically reflect upon what those feelings are based on, whether it’s subjective or objective information.

That is transparent about who makes what decisions.

Resist the urge to not ask those questions because answering is inconvenient and uncomfortable.

That does not make decisions without those affected by the decisions at the table.

Whether it is a decision about a policy that affects workers, a programming change that affects clients of a non-profit or something that affects the students of a high school if you are in a position to make decisions that don’t affect you but do affect others, you.

Allies amplify voices they don’t speak for people.

That knows change is inevitable.

For the power and privilege that comes with white supremacy culture to remain, things need to stay the same.

People need to be afraid to reject the benefits that come with white privilege.

Resist the temptation to become comfortable in the status quo.

That has leaders that develop the power and skills of others.

When you have power, use it to empower others.

Don’t hoard your skills and don’t hesitate to ask others to help you develop your skills.

Never uses the ways in which issues are raised as an excuse not to address them.

This is gaslighting.

Don’t let folks steer the focus to the reaction.

The focus should always be kept on the issue that is causing the reaction.

Where cooperation is more valued than the competition.

I did my undergrad with a bunch of people who wanted to be police officers and a bunch of people who wanted to be lawyers and a few people, like me, who had no idea what they wanted to be.

I noticed that it was when we were competing that people would come alive and there was a palpable bond being developed.

I’ve heard friends describe the same thing happening in team sports.

When my cohort was forced to work as a team, and we definitely were forced to work as a team, we all resisted and complained and said it was the worst experience ever.

We were actually toddlers about it.

But the memory highlights this point.

We value competition and we resist cooperation because white supremacy culture has taught us to.

Of appreciation. Give praise to the people who actually did the work as opposed to those who oversaw the work being done.

WSC would have you praising the Executive Director for an event that was organized by everyone but the ED.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

OPINION • 25

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

The Suicide Squad is a step in the right direction for DC AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR

The other night I watched Suicide Squad (2016) for the first time and it was one of — if not the worst — superhero movies I’ve ever seen.

Watching it was akin to trying to pass a kidney stone while being on fire. Okay, maybe not that bad but I didn’t enjoy it. Then I watched The Suicide Squad (2021) and while it’s not a perfect film, it’s still a step in the right direction for DC movies.

A simple way to see how successful the remake was is to compare it to the original. In that original, the entire film was coated in a dark filter sucking all of the color and visual pop from the environment and characters.

The remake understood that we’re dealing with colourful ridiculous characters that are complemented well by bright, vibrant hues.

In the costumes, setting and noticeably in the lighting, there’s always a wide array of colors. These colours contributed to the stylish touch the film received.

Surprisingly, there were many artistic moments that were shot in a way I’ve never seen done in a superhero movie before. A particular example that stands out to me is Harley Quinn’s rampage where flowers expel out of her victim’s wounds .

The Suicide Squad goes so far in its style as to unlock its inner Tarantino and try some non-linear storytelling, which was a good way to shake up the presentation. They also made use of environmental title cards to indicate time and location, a method that I’ve seen done scarcely throughout other movies.

That especially gives the film its own flavour as it turns something mundane into a fun aspect of the movie’s visual style.

Going back to comparisons between the original and the contemporary feature, the new film functions much better as both a comedy and an action film.

A lot of the jokes are... actual

jokes! They have a set-up, punchline, and everything! . The action is noticeably more gritty than other DC films; there’s a substantial amount of gore and graphic violence, but it makes the film stand out more in comparison to other DC movies. I think back to watching Shazam! (2019) and thinking that DC was going in the right direction by taking itself less seriously. I’m happy to say that The Suicide Squad continues to follow that trend. The movie knows what it’s trying to be, which allows the tone to remain consistent throughout the film.

Now to the cons. My biggest gripes with the film are all centered around the writing. James Gunn wrote and directed this film and I will give him due credit for his directorial ability. I can say confidently now that Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) wasn’t a fluke, however, I think that James should stick to directing. I mentioned earlier that a lot of the jokes land, but there are just as many that really flop. Characters often force lame lines designed to manufacture laughs that only end up putting a blotch on some otherwise great performances.

I thought John Cena was a great fit for Peacemaker but he’s given these horrible lines to try to sound funny, or maybe hip? I can’t really tell.

Speaking of forcing things, some plot points are really shoehorned into the story, especially near the end. The Suicide Squad takes a lot of risks that pay off but does other things in just a silly mundane way that audiences have already seen a thousand times.

The Suicide Squad is a step up from the original movie and a step up for DC as a whole. It’s not afraid to experiment which frequently yields really enjoyable results.

It still has a very long way to go before it can compete with the upper echelon that Marvel has to offer but considering where DC was just a few short years ago, the studio has made real progress in making higher quality films.

26 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca

STUDENT ATHLETES

Laurier varsity teams “excited” as they prepare for a return MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

Following the OUA’s announcement in late June, university sports will finally return to Ontario this fall.

After nearly 500 days without competition, the Laurier Golden Hawks will return to the field for the first time since March 2020, as the men’s football team hosts the York Lions on September 18th.

Student athletes across both of Laurier’s campuses endured an incredibly challenging year last season as the OUA cancelled both fall and winter sport competition.

Many athletes who are accustomed to weekly practices and live games, saw their routines disrupted without access to gyms and absent competition.

“Student-athletes last year really had the athlete part taken away from them,” men’s football coach, Michael Faulds said.

Several Golden Hawk athletes found creative ways to continue their training last season and deferred their eligibility hopeful for a return to play in the fall.

Student athletes last year really had the athlete part taken away from them.

-Michael Faulds, Laurier football coach

While Laurier did see record accomplishments in academic achievement, with over 100 student-athletes receiving academic honours this past season, many of the varsity athletes are eager to return to their field of play.

“We are super excited. We just started to train, and it has been great already,” men’s basketball coach, Justin Serresse said.

“Our coaches, our players, everyone is excited,” Coach Faulds echoed.

Both Coach Serresse and Coach Faulds mention that practices and intensity for the upcoming season will pick up once September comes.

The football team has had monthly OTA’s this summer and various strength and conditioning workouts throughout the past month as training camp quickly approaches, just three weeks away.

Most varsity Laurier teams will see vast changes to their sports’ structure and schedule this year as

the OUA prioritized the safety of everyone involved.

Both fall term and two-term sports will see a reduction in the number of games played as well as a schedule focused on regional travel.

Our coaches, our players, everyone is excited.

-Michael Faulds, Laurier football coach

The Golden Hawks Football team will play a six-game schedule with their longest trip being a short travel to London to face Western.

Both men’s and women’s basketball team’s will play a 16-game schedule facing eight different opponents back-to-back throughout the year.

Soccer, hockey and rugby will also see changes to the usual structure as the OUA embarks on an unusual year.

It’s going to be interesting: it’s going to bring a new challenge and it’s going to make it fun.

-Justin Seresse, Laurier basketball coach

Coach Serresse is not bothered by the changes to the schedule but rather excited for the chance to be back on the court.

“16 games is less than what we are used too, but it is not too bad.

We were worried about 12 games or less then that,” he said. “It’s going to be interesting; it’s going to bring a new challenge and it’s going to make it fun,” he said.

After 18 months without sports, the OUA has remained committed to a return and has crafted a schedule reducing long travel and overnight stays.

Much of their plan remains reliant on provincial health authorities and the province’s reopening plan as they continue to endorse vacci-

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

nations, banking on a safe return to sport this fall.

In Laurier’s release, director of athletics and recreation, Peter Baxter commended the Golden Hawk student-athlete population for their “grit, determination and training,” throughout the course of last year’s cancellation.

As Coach Faulds acknowledges, there will certainly be “growing pains after a long 18 months without competition and a transition

back to the fast-pace of university sport.”

With the fall term quickly approaching, some questions remain with the OUA’s sports return.

It still remains to be seen if fans will be allowed to attend varsity games, as Laurier has not made an announcement. Across the OUA there has been little confirmation about fans and if they will be able to attend the week 1 slate of OUA football games just over a month

away.

Vaccine mandates were also a hot topic across the OUA, with Laurier joining several schools announcing the requirement before mid-August. The conference just recently mandated vaccines for all student-athletes from their member schools. While some questions still remain, Laurier’s teams across both of it’s campuses remain eager for a return to play this upcoming fall.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

SPORTS • 27

OUA

DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Student athletes require COVID-19 vaccines to compete MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of athletics and recreation announced late last week that all student athletes who wish to compete in Golden Hawk sports will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The move comes based on the recommendation by Ontario University Athletics and endorsements from both regional health departments, Brant County as well as the Region of Waterloo’s.

The top doctor of both Brantford and Waterloo’s health departments, Dr. Malcolm Lock and Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang endorsed the policy enacted by the university.

Laurier had already mandated vaccines for all students living in

residence and joined several other OUA schools in implementing that requirement on student-athletes.

The University of Toronto, Brock, and Guelph among others have also made the decision to require immunization for sports competition.

While the OUA announced last week that all member schools will require their student-athletes to be vaccinated to compete Laurier will require all student-athletes and trainers to have two doses of a vaccine, be required to wait 14 days after the second dose, before they can compete in competition. The university is asking that all students receive their first dose by Aug. 16 and be fully vaccinated no later than Sept. 30.

“The vaccines have shown to work, and the school is listening to

recommendations and prioritizing safety for the upcoming season,” men’s football coach, Michael Faulds said.

The school is strongly encouraging all student-athletes to get vaccinated as soon as possible so they can arrive for training camps, beginning in less then a month for men’s football as well as women’s and men’s Rugby and soccer.

The move is enacted by Laurier to emphasize the safety of their athletes and in order to minimize challenges that may arise in the upcoming fall season and the OUA’s return to play.

The school announced that non-vaccinated student-athletes will be able to train with their respective teams but are barred from travelling or competing in any sport events.

Laurier university will help to facilitate access for student-athletes to receive the vaccine as they currently operate immunization clinics on both of their campuses.

Coach Faulds spoke to me on the day Laurier made the announcement and pointed to the policies that have been enacted by several other businesses across the world as well as the NFL. Stating that vaccines requirements may be a key component to avoiding cancellations and embarking on a safe and successful season.

Given the concerns with university sport such as far travel, overnight stays and close contact in the locker room, Laurier is hoping to minimize the risks of serious illness and disruption to the schedule with the implementation of this

policy.

The OUA released a press statement earlier this week endorsing the decisions by many of the OUA schools who have made an announcement.

“The OUA commends the mandate that several of our universities have established with regards to their vaccine approach,” President and CEO of the OUA, Gord Grace said in a press release on their website.

“We fully endorse school’s decisions to make vaccinations mandatory for student-athletes,” the press release read.

Laurier will of course recognize exemptions protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, asking all student-athletes to submit an accommodation form if they are ineligible to take the vaccination.

28 • SPORTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

FOOTBALL

Starting quarterback excited for upcoming season MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

Nearly 23 months and over 700 days since the last time the Golden Hawks football team saw the field, veteran quarterback, Connor Carusello is “pumped” for the regular season to begin.

“I’m pumped man. It’s actually crazy the amount of emotions I’ve been through,” Carusello said.

With training camp staring this past week and the opener against the York Lions only two weeks away, Carusello shares the excitement of his entire team as they prepare for a return to the gridiron after a lost season.

“I think everyone in the locker room has the same feeling of getting started,” Carusello said.

“After a year without football, we are extremely excited to get back,” head coach Michael Faulds echoed.

Following the cancellation of the 2020 Ontario University Athletics football season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, each team in the OUA will have to adjust for a challenging yet unique upcoming season.

The OUA and it’s 12 member coaches met regularly throughout the pandemic and were able to agree on a reduced schedule prioritizing regional travel.

After leading a top three offense in 2019, quarterback, Connor Carusello will return for the Golden Hawks this year, playing in his senior season and slated as the team’s starting quarterback.

With several changes on the coaching staff, offensive and defensive stars selected in the CFL Draft and losses to eligibility due to the cancellation last season, the Golden Hawks will enter the upcoming year with many fresh faces in the football locker room.

2019 leading rusher, Levondre Gordon and leading receiver,

TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR

Brentyn Hall are no longer with the team, while core players in Bryce Bell, Brad Cowan and Sam Acheampong have moved onto a professional career in the CFL. Fourth-year quarterback, Carusello is not worried about the youth in the locker room and is optimistic the team will minimize the growing pains.

Carusello points to a strong balance in the roster make-up and an advantageous familiarity with new offensive coordinator Todd Galloway.

“We have some key guys on defense coming back and Ente [Eguavoen] coming back. I feel that the veteran guys will help lead the way for the young guys to own their role,” Carusello said.

Coach Faulds hired Laurier alumni, Todd Galloway as their new offensive coordinator a couple of months before the pandemic started. Bringing nearly two decades of USPORTS coaching experience, Galloway led suc-

cessful offenses with the Guelph Gryphons and McMaster Marauders before returning to the purple and gold.

“I didn’t know Coach Galloway too much before he joined us… it took about ten minutes through my first meeting to gain a cray amount of respect for that guy,” Carusello said.

“The stuff he does behind the scenes to develop his offense is crazy,” he continued.

While acknowledging a year without football, both Coach Faulds and Carusello believe that the pandemic was a blessing in disguise as the team was able to learn and implement the new playbook that Galloway was looking to install.

With a reduced schedule this year featuring only six games compared to the usual slate of eight games, the Golden Hawks know that they will need to start the season strong.

“We’ve been fortunate this year.

[Galloway] came in early and we got to practice our plays and learn the playbook super early. We got everyone familiarized with the playbook,” Carusello said.

“The timing of the pandemic wasn’t bad. We would have been rushed to implement the new system and playbook. Having an extra year has certainly been beneficial with bringing in Todd Galloway,” Coach Faulds said.

After their second consecutive Yates Cup appearance in 2017, the Golden Hawks had back-to-back 4-4 seasons in 2018 and 2019, missing the playoffs both seasons.

Laurier will rely on Carusello and some key defensive returns as they set their sights towards a return to the post-season this upcoming year.

With a tough schedule and several new pieces to the coaching staff and roster, Carusello will take on an increased leadership role this upcoming season. He was one of six Laurier Golden Hawk players

FILE PHOTO/DARIEN FUNK

20 months.

“It’ll be an adjustment. It’s been so long since a lot of the guys have done consistent skating. We just got to ease ourselves into it and gradually increase our workload,” Puhalski said.

The Golden Hawks last played on Feb. 16, 2020, when their season came to an end during their firstround playoff matchup with the Guelph Gryphons.

Since then, the Golden Hawks have brought on over 15 players through two recruiting classes and have lost a large share of their most productive players due to graduation.

Their top three scorers in 2019; Anthony Conti, Danny Hanlon and Kyle Jenkins have left the team as has captain Will Cook, who graduated after the 2019 season.

The Golden Hawks signed 11 recruits last season and announced six additions this past summer to make up their roster for the upcoming season.

“I’m really looking forward to all of us getting together and starting

the process of practicing again,” Coach Puhalski said. “I know the guys are in good shape and are really excited to get going,” he continued.

Coach Puhalski is not worried about the “aches and pains” that will come with the fresh faces and a return to play as he knows teams across the conference are on a level playing field, dealing with similar issues.

“A lot of teams will be in similar situations where half of their teams are basically brand new,” Puhalski said.

“We will rely on our veteran guys to provide some guidance. We got some great leadership from our returning players and their committed to leading in the right way,” he continued.

Veterans such as Anthony Sorrentino, Jeremy Pullara and goaltender, Tyler Fassl who will enter his senior season are likely to be leaned upon for the upcoming hockey season.

The OUA and their member universities were able to agree on

to be selected to the East-West bowl showcase this past spring. A game intended for USPORTS athletes to display their talent for the CFL, however cancelled this past year due to the pandemic.

Carusello appreciated the recognition in being named to the roster but was disappointed that the game could not take place.

“It sucks, because I would have liked to showcase some of my talent in the game itself,” Carusello said.

Due to his performance in 2018 and specifically in 2019, leading a dynamic Golden Hawk offense, Carusello has been nominated for the OUA cover vote.

The conference voting competition started earlier this week and will continue into next week, with Carusello currently in the second-round semi-finals at the time this is written.

“I got a bunch of support from back home which was great to see,” Carusello said. “I appreciate all of the votes and support.”

Laurier fans can vote on the OUA social media page and will surely see the post promoted by all of Laurier football’s socials throughout this upcoming week.

With OUA sports finally returning and the home opener against York quickly approaching, Carusello enters the season with complete optimism.

“Everyone in the locker room is working towards a winning mindset,” he said.

Asked what would deem this football year a success, Carusello said, “We are going in with a mindset that we want to put up points and that we want to win every football game we play in.”

Training camp for Coach Faulds and the men’s football team has already begun, with the home opener against the York Lions kicking off Sept. 18 at 1:00 P.M.

HOCKEY

Wilfrid Laurier’s return to the ice MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR

“Everybody’s got a high anticipation. We are really excited to get going,” Men’s hockey Coach Greg

Puhalski said.

Coaches across the Ontario University Athletics conference will have to adjust to a unique season this year as their teams prepare to take the ice for the first time in over

a return to play structure this past summer, releasing a unique hockey schedule.

Laurier avoids a Ottawa or Montreal trip, with their furthest travel being a weekend trip to Windsor for two games after the Christmas break.

The conference also restructured their divisions in order to prioritize regional travel and competition.

While the season will look different for all OUA teams, Coach Puhalski remains optimistic, focusing on the bigger picture of OUA sports being back.

“It’s not ideal for anybody but it is what it is. The big picture is that we are able to get on the ice and play some games,” Puhalski said.

“I think that in itself is what it is all about regardless of the opponent,” he continued.

Read more on thecord.ca.