The Cord Sept. 1, 2017

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 58 ISSUE 3 • SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

A new year, a new opportunity to slay your dragons

WELCOME NEW STUDENTS

ART OF FRIENDSHIP

KW DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

A NOSE AHEAD

FOOTBALL STRONG START

Fresh events added for new Golden Hawks

The benefits of getting to know your peers

The Cord’s top six hidden picks

Horse race journalism and politics

Hawks bruise U of T’s Varsity Blues

News, page 3

Features, page 18

Arts & Life, page 24

Opinion, page 32

Sports, page 37 MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

2 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

VOCAL CORD

What event would you add to O-Week?

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“A soccer game to help show school spirit.”

–Ryan Mandryk, fourthyear psychology

“A scavenger hunt that helps students get to know the campus.”

–Justin Henry, fourthyear French and Spanish (outgoing) TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR

Fresh off of last year’s Yates Cup victory, the Golden Hawks shut out the Varsity Blues from U of T 39-0 in this year’s season opener.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SEPT. 1

“A water fight of some sort.”

–Meghan Vanderwood, third-year kinesiology

writing, photography, illustration, web development, copy editing, videography ... The Cord is always looking

thecord.ca/volunteer

1956: Elvis Presley buys his mom a pink Cadillac.

1962: U.N. announces Earth population has hit 3 billion.

1998: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released in the U.S.

Compiled by Nathalie Bouchard Photos by Luke Sarazin FEATURES EDITOR Karlis Wilde features@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Sarah Tyler video@thecord.ca

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Shyenne MacDonald arts@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Erin Abe news@thecord.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kurtis Rideout editor@thecord.ca

OPINION EDITOR Emily Waitson opinion@thecord.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline McInnis creative@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Abdulhamid Ibrahim sports@thecord.ca

WEB DIRECTOR Garrison Oosterhof online@thecord.ca

GRAPHICS EDITOR Alan Li graphics@thecord.ca

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Safina Husein news@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Tanzeel Sayani photos@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Jake Watts news@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Dylan Hines photos@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Nathalie Bouchard news@thecord.ca

ONLINE EDITOR Vacant editor@thecord.ca

CORD STAFF

1939: World War II starts as Germany invades Poland.

1995: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opens in Cleveland, Ohio.

–Joanne Jin, fourth-year business administration

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

1715: King Louis XIV of France dies after a reign of 72 years.

1979: The U.S. Pioneer 11 became the first spacecraft to visit Saturn.

“Campus tours and partner activities.”

NEXT ISSUE

1535: French navigator Jacques Cartier reaches Hochelaga (Montreal)

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Luke Sarazin photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Michael Oliveri copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Danielle Deslauriers socialmedia@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Fani Hseih Jessi Wood Kaitlyn Severin Chris Luciantonio Tina Nori Brittany Tenhage Daniel Johnson Rob Fifield Matthew Oliveri Josh Goeree Jacob Broz Vidish Parikh

“Gender accessible options come to residence”

by Nathalie Bouchard

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Lucas at care.lucas@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 Centra Web 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.

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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.

Quote of the week: “Prepare for your minds to be blown.

But be careful because that’s not covered by the school’s insurance policy.” - Senior Copy Editor, Michael Oliveri, on Kanye West

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

News

• 3 NEWS DIRECTOR SAFINA HUSEIN news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR NATHALIE BOUCHARD news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR JAKE WATTS news@thecord.ca

STUDENTS’ UNION

Orientation Week 2017

JESS DIK/FILE PHOTO

Students’ Union has added and removed various events according to previous feedback from first year students ERIN ABE LEAD REPORTER

Sept. 3, 2017, marks the first day of this year’s Orientation Week at Wilfrid Laurier University.

This year’s schedule is filled with entertainment to welcome new students and welcome back returning upper-years.

Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union has aimed this year to “strike a balance between both social programming and different sessions to help [students]

succeed within their academics and student life at Laurier,” said Anthony Tomizza, vice-president of Programming and Services for the Students’ Union.

The Students’ Union has focused on filling the O-Week schedule with quality programming for students.

“We’ve focused a lot on feedback we have received from past orientation weeks and tried to focus on what these first years are looking for,” Tomizza said.

The Students’ Union has taken

away some events that have shown less engagement with students in the past — such as the game show and talent night — in order to spread the most popular events throughout the whole week.

This year, the Headphone Disco and the A-Team Concert will take place on separate nights to ensure students are able to attend both, as opposed to previous years where both events occurred on the same night.

The Headphone Disco will take place on the Tuesday and the

A-Team Concert featuring Desiigner will take place on the Thursday.

The concert is open to all Laurier students. “[The concert] will be on the Thursday this year so hopefully more upper year students will be around to attend that as well,” Tomizza said.

Other larger events will also continue to take place, including Shinerama on Saturday, hypnotist Wayne Hoffman on Friday night and closing ceremonies on Saturday night.

“We’ve spread out the typical programming we’ve had in the past and just ensured that we’re providing those opportunities for students to have something fun and exciting to do every night of orientation week that is engaging for them,” Tomizza said.

This year the Students’ Union have also introduced some new events.

Thursday afternoon features the Waterloo Fest event where students are invited to Uptown Square where there will be live performers, vendors and local businesses.

“This is the first time we’re having an event partnered with the University of Waterloo as well as the City of Waterloo in Uptown Square,” Tomizza said.

The Students’ Union has also gone a different direction this year by introducing a wellness program, called “Positive Pulse.”

Positive Pulse will not only focus on mental health but also physical health.

The Students’ Union has partnered with different partners on campus and the athletics department to highlight resources available to students, including Zumba and Yoga classes for O-Week participants.

We’ve focused a lot on feedback we have recieved from past orientation weeks and tried to focus on what the first years are looking for.

-Anthony Tomizza, Vice President of Programming and Services for the Students’ Union

“[There’s] sessions on how physical activity can affect your mood and how you perform academically, tying together all of the resources on campus to make sure students know how to live a happy lifestyle in their undergrad,” Tomizza said.

“Along with highlighting important mental health topics and resources on campus,” Tomizza said.

Each night of O-Week highlights a different event to keep students entertained.

The full schedule can be found online on the Students’ Union website.

TECHNOLOGY

Honk Mobile application comes to Uptown Waterloo

New mobile application assits Waterloo drivers with additional parking payment alternatives JAKE WATTS NEWS EDITOR

Starting Sept. 1, drivers in Uptown Waterloo will be able to use the Honk Mobile app to pay for additional parking beyond the allotted two free hours.

The app is already available for use at Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. At Laurier’s Waterloo campus, visitors can use the app to pay for parking at the pay and display lots and the metered parking lots.

The app is intended to give drivers a more convenient and reliable way to pay for parking.

“Users can download [Honk Mobile] from Google Play or the App Store and then they can set up an account for themselves to use,” said Christine Tettman, the parking program manager for the City of Waterloo.

In addition to its availability on smartphones, Tettman confirmed that the service would also be accessible through a web browser.

For drivers in Uptown Waterloo, the app will be functional in “all of the City’s off street, no charge parking spaces,” Tettman said.

“There are several surface parking lots where the app will be made available for use. It will be made available in the City of Waterloo Town Square North Lot, Waterloo Town Square South Lot, Museum Lot, Temporary Lot A, Temporary Lot B, the Station Lot, and the City Centre Lot,” Tettman said.

Users can download [Honk Mobile] from Google Play or the App Store. Then they can set up an account for themselves to use -Christine Tettman, Parking Program Manager for the City of Waterloo

Once drivers exceed the two hours of free parking permitted in these lots, they will be able to purchase additional parking through the Honk Mobile app at a rate of $2.75 per hour, according to a media release put out by the City

of Waterloo.

Since the app will be made functional on all of Waterloo’s public lots on launch, there won’t be any room for expansion by the city.

However, Tettman suggested that the app’s use may be expanded to private property.

“Any expansion that would be done throughout Waterloo would be done on private property because the City is already making it available in our public lots,” Tettman said.

With the potential for technology to fail and applications to be hindered by bugs, drivers may be concerned that payments processed through the app won’t reach parking enforcement officers in time and that they will be wrongly ticketed.

However, Tettman was confident that such an event would not occur.

“No there are no concerns with that. All communications are done in real time,” Tettman confirmed.

When asked about whether the city had any further plans to use this new technology to change commuting and mobility, Tettman revealed that she was unaware of

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

anything else that would work like this application.

“Technology is ever-changing and Waterloo has a reputation as a smart city, so as all those options

become available they are things that would be on the city’s radar to consider, but I’m not aware of any specific projects on the go at this time,” she said.

4 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Meet your admin News editor Jake Watts breaks down Laurier’s governance, with files from Laurier’s University Secretary, Rebecca Wickens

WLU Act, 1973 The university’s administration begins with the Wilfrid Laurier University Act, a piece of provincial legislation established in 1973. Now, although the school has been around since 1911, it wasn’t until 1973 that it became a public institution. It was also with this transition that the school’s name was switched from Waterloo Lutheran University to Wilfrid Laurier University.

The Act accomplishes two main things. First,

Senate A vital component of the administration laid out in the Act is the Senate.

Composed of a few dozen members, the Senate stands next to the Board of Governors to form what is called a bicameral system of governance.

Each of the two bodies has their own sphere of responsibility, but much of the university’s operation depends on the interplay of these two groups.

In fact, some members of one body are also members of the other to allow for more collaboration and collegiality.

Broadly, the Senate is responsible for academic decisions.

President

Board of Governors

Wickens noted that it deliberates on things like the particular programs the university offers, what the standards of admission should be, how the academic calendar ought be set up,the procedures for academic appeals and so on.

The membership of the Senate reflects these kinds of responsibilities. “[The Board’s membership is] very academically focused because we need the people who have the academic expertise to be making decisions about the programs and degrees that we offer and whether someone is qualified to say they’re a masters or a bachelors student,” Wickens said.

(Deborah MacLatchy)

Having recently begun her five-year term, Deborah MacLatchy succeeded Max Blouw in the role of president.

In order to obtain this position, she would have been recommended by the Senate to the Board of Governors, and then officially appointed by the Board.

At the end of her tenure, there is the possibility that the Board will renew her presidency for an additional term.

“The president is supposed to actually run the university and then delegates things to vice-presidents.

The president then is overseen by the Board of Governors and the Senate,” Wickens said, noting that because the president is also the Chair of Senate,

according to Wickens, it makes the university into a “person,” legally capable of acting in the world.

Second, it lays out the structure of the administration and delegates power to its various parts. In other words, it lays out the way the administration should look and gives the administration the ability to go out into the world and — for example — buy a building or enter into a contract with another group.

they are primarily overseen by the Board.

The president’s position as Chair of Senate is bestowed automatically.

In addition to this, the president also has an automatic seat on the Board of Governors.

And despite the seeming abundance of administrators, Wickens claimed that there should be no overlap in jurisdiction between the two bodies of the administration and the president or the vice-president’s.

“There shouldn’t be any overlap, there should be a clean line of delegation down the administration to the bodies that have certain ultimate high-level decision making authority.”

Broadly, the Board of Governors is responsible for business decisions.

As Wickens notes, it has the power to enter into contracts while the Senate does not.

“The intent of a Board of Governors, just like a Board of Directors and a Board of Trustees, is that there needs to be a certain number of external people who don’t have a conflict of interest, who are not interested in what we are doing at the university and they can just provide that independent oversight, so that they can ensure that public funds and funds of our students are being spent appropriately,” Wick-

ens said.

In fact, the Act stipulates that the Board must have 34 members, most of which are external to Laurier.

Some of them are there to represent the cities Laurier operates in, some of them are appointed by the provincial government and some of them are there to represent the surrounding community.

Wickens gave several examples of the sorts of things the Board has decided on.

This includes matters from the meal plans in the cafeteria to the new athletic facility on the Brantford campus.

Chancellor The university’s chancellor, currently Eileen Mercier, is most visible during convocation.

“She is responsible for conferring degrees, so anyone who crosses the stage, unless Eileen is away, will receive their degree from Eileen Mercier.

“She’s the one who is responsible for convocation, she opens convocation, she closes it, she confers all degrees,” Wickens said.

(Eileen Mercier)

In addition to this ceremonial role, the Act stipulates that the chancellor, like the President, is an automatic member of the Senate and Board of Governors.

They also sit on several Senate committees, including the honourary degree committee, which is tasked with selecting deserving people to be awarded their honourary Laurier degrees.

Senior Leadership Each member of the Senior Leadership team is, like the president and chancellor, appointed by the Board of Governors on the recommendation of Senate.

“They all fit into the administration under the president and handle the university’s affairs in specialized roles.

“Their precise responsibilities

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

are made evident by their titles. The bodies that have certain ultimate high-level decision making authority,” Wickens said.

To this end, they all work together.

According to Wickens, often the president and vice-president’s will make presentations to two bodies, which will then offer guidance and advice.

VP Academic: Paul Jessop VP Finance and Operations: Deborah Dubenofsky VP Research and Provost: Robert Gordon

VP Student Affairs: David McMurray Interim VP Development & Alumni Operations: Sandra Palmaro Senior Executive Officer of Brantford Campus: Brian Rosborough

*This is a brief overview of some of the basics of the Laurier administration, viewed from a macro lens. Much of it has been simplified and much of it has been left out. For those interest-

ed in learning more about the administration, go to wlu.ca/about/governance.

Further, Wickens recommends that students show up to Senate and Board meetings.

NEWS • 5

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 TRANSIT

Streetscape construction King and Erb intersection will be only of its kind in the region ERIN ABE LEAD REPORTER

The King Street and Erb Street intersection is now undergoing construction by the City of Waterloo to create a more accessible intersection for all modes of transportation.

Upon reopening in early October, the intersection at King and Erb will introduce a protected intersection with wider sidewalks and new off-road cycle tracks, including crosswalks for bikers.

This protected intersection will be the first of its kind in the region.

In addition to the sidewalk enhancement, King Street will be reduced to two through lanes and two left turn lanes.

Erb Street will remain the same with three lanes for traffic.

By reducing the travel lanes on King, the city has been able to add extensions to the sidewalks.

“With these cycle tracks we are now providing an opportunity to include protected intersections which offset the crossing locations for cyclists, making them more visible to motorists and provides a greater reaction time for motorists,” Eric Saunderson, senior

project manager at the City of Waterloo, said.

One of the intentions for introducing protected intersections is to encourage more of the population to cycle. Saunderson stated that studies by the City of Waterloo have shown that 60 per cent of the population would be more likely to cycle if they felt more comfortable sharing the road with motorists.

We want to create consistency for both motorists, cyclists and pedestrians as they approach these intersections.

-Eric Saunderson, senior project manager, City of Waterloo

By making these adjustments to the road and sidewalks, the city is able to create enhanced separation between cyclists and motorists with the intent to make bikers feel

more comfortable and safe.

The enhancement of this intersection is just one of the many improvement projects planned by the City of Waterloo.

Plans to continue the off-road cycle tracks on King Street between Ion Station and University Avenue have been under review.

“We want to create consistency for both motorists, cyclists and pedestrians as they approach these intersections,” Saunderson said.

“That’s important so people know what to expect and know how to navigate accordingly.”

The city has designed the area under construction to address its high collision rate by reducing the number of lanes and making it an overall more inviting and safe environment.

Prior to construction, public consultations were held where the City of Waterloo received valuable feedback from both residents and students, feedback which has been built into the designs.

“The focus has been on construction and completing the work but I think that when people start to see the final project coming together they will get a new perspective of what it’s going to look like,”

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Saunderson said.

The intersection at King Street and Erb Street is not the only intersection on King to receive streetscape improvement.

“We want to make it more attractive for users of the street, we want to make it unique and a place for people to go and enjoy,” Saunderson said.

Many more initiatives have also been proposed to improve the

streetscape of many intersections along King Street, such as introducing new decorative thematic tree lighting along King Street.

The new lighting will illuminate the trees in order to correspond with special events, holidays or themes happening in the area.

Initiatives such as this are a part of the city’s overall plan to improve the roads, some of which are over 100-years-old.

NEWS • 7

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 INCLUSION

Gender accessible options come to residence NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR

Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of residence is working with the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) in order to provide various gender identity categories when applying to residence.

The residence staff are in the process of creating this option but have taken several steps to ensure that current students can be accommodated for their specific needs.

Clayton McCourt, associate director of Residence Life, explained the process as well as the steps the department of residence takes concerning the gender accessibility needs of all students.

“This year we’ve tried to work with students individually as much as possible as students have identified as other or as non-gender specific, so we are working with students on an individual basis … and basically figuring out what the reasonable accommodations are for their needs,” McCourt said.

In the future, the department of residence plans to have a better system in place which involves students knowing their options ahead of time.

“Next year we’d like to set aside some more specific gender neutral options for students and have them labeled or listed ahead of time so students can see what the options are,” McCourt said.

Once students have accepted their offers they can apply for residence at the desired institution.

OUAC currently is based specifically on how the student identifies and then having a conversation

afterwards to ensure that the students are accommodated.

Residence Life hopes that in the future students can have a seamless transition to residence.

“We want to offer students, but specifically members of the LGBTQ community ... a seamless transition into residence no matter who you are,” McCourt said.

Toby Finlay, administrator for the Laurier Rainbow Centre, explained that it is important to have available housing for students that affirms their gender identity.

The most important thing is to give students an option to communicate their gender identity, which is what the university is doing.

-Toby Finlay, administrator for the Rainbow Centre

“When students don’t have housing that affirms their gender identity ... they’re put in a position where the place that they live and call home doesn’t really capture the person that they are and their true authentic self, which is a really difficult place to inhabit within a university,” Finlay said.

“The most important thing is to give students an option to communicate their gender identity, which is what the university is doing,” Finlay said.

HEATHER DAVIDSON/FILE PHOTO

“I think the largest barrier is going to be sort of [the] physical structures of the residence building … the reality is that these buildings [were constructed] under gendered models,” Finlay said.

However, Finlay added that there is a lot of work to be done, not just in the residence department, but within the institution itself.

“There still is a lot of learning that needs to be done by, not just students, but staff and administrators in the institution,” Finlay said. “ “There’s interest in making themselves capable of supporting transgender students as much as possible. I think it will be a matter of residence doing the work to honour their intentions of supporting transgender and gender non-conforming students.”

McCourt explained that the

department of residence also has a priority of educating staff and administration.

“I think the goal is to make residence inclusive for everyone and [to] educat[e] and train all our staff appropriately.”

McCourt explained that this is not going to be a learning process that takes place behind closed doors.

The department of residence plans to include various groups on campus in order to learn and grow during this process.

“We haven’t gotten there just yet,” McCourt said. “This is not going to be an insulated process, were not going to be sitting behind closed doors cooking up what the process is going to be.”

“Essentially there are going to be numerous members of our team who are going to be involved in this

strategy,” Mcourt said.

The department of residence plans to start this project as soon as possible, aiming to have more options for students available next fall.

Finlay also wants to stress that this residence option isn’t a perfect solution to violence and discrimination.

“It’s really important that we strive towards having space that, first of all, is supportive of transgender and non-binary students,” Finlay said.

“But also, [to set] a tone within the institution that transgender and gender non-conforming students are valid and [their needs] are just as important as everyone else’s.” * This article has been reduced for spacing. To read the full version of this story, visit thecord.ca.

nication studies, such as film, radio and television production and media history, amongst others.

Heyer, originally born in Montreal, studied anthropology in New York before becoming a professor across Canada. Heyer came to Laurier in 2001 after having taught at Simon Fraser University, McGill University and Concordia University, and still teaches part-time at the university.

Heyer has published approximately 15 to 16 pieces of work, most of which he has written and co-edited, such as Titanic Century: Media, Myth, and the Making of a Cultural Icon.

He has also written the textbook used in Introduction to Communication Studies 100, Communication History: Technology, Culture and Society and is currently working with Peter Urquhart, Laurier’s chair of the department of communication studies, in co-editing the new edition of Communication in History: Stone Age Symbols to Social Media.

During the conference, Heyer presented his keynote address, “Media Ecology and the Performing Arts — Virtually,” in which he examines the accessibility of the performing arts, such as opera, ballet and musical productions, through broadcasting them into movie theatres, which he called

“digital broadcast cinema.”

“I talked about how it has evolved in rule of the different media because it’s partly cinema, it’s partly live theatre and also probably television so it’s a real media mix,” Heyer explained.

During his keynote, Heyer also addressed the future of art programs in the United States.

According to Newsweek, President Donald Trump’s administration has called for the total elimination of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in its budget proposals for 2017 and 2018.

In his keynote, Heyer wanted to stress the importance of maintaining the arts and using broadcast cinema to make the arts affordable for those who are financially unable to attend events in person.

“So I went there and one of my goals was to critique the arts policy of the new administration in Washington.”

Heyer has two published articles on this phenomenon, while also working on the legacy of Edmund Snow Carpenter, an American anthropologist who worked with Canadian intellectual, Marshall McLuhan at the University of Toronto.

“If it interests me, whatever it is, I’ll go after it.”

AWARDS

ROBERT FRANCOS/CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Heyer presents a keynote talk at the 18th annual convention of the Media Ecology Association, held this past June.

Heyer recieves Ong award KAITLYN SEVERIN CORD ALUM

Paul Heyer, a long-running educator and researcher at Wilfrid Laurier University, has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Media Ecology Association’s (MEA) Walter J. Ong Award for Career Achievement in Scholarship.

The award was presented to Heyer at the 18th annual convention of the MEA, held from June 22 to 25 in San Francisco.

The MEA, created in 1998, is a not-for-profit organization that aims to promote media ecology in “educational, industry, political, civic, social, cultural and artistic contexts.”

The organization created the Ong Award in memory of scholar Walter J. Ong, whose work played a major contribution to the study of media ecology.

In winning the award, Heyer’s work has been characterized by its breadth, collectivism and cross-

over and the fact that his published work appeals to both an academic audience and the general public. “[Crossovers] are based on the kind of research we do as academics but they’re also an attempt to write about topics and write in a manner that will interest the wider public as well as the academic community to try and reach both audiences,” Heyer said.

During his time as a researcher, Heyer has explored topics pertaining to the field of commu-

8 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

News Director Safina Husein explores the newest way to help you cook Dorian Wilson — a communications student at Wilfrid Laurier University — and his business partners recently began their first campaign on Kickstarter in order to launch their mobile app which brings a ‘personal chef’ to a person’s smartphone.

NISE Tech Inc. launched their campaign on Kickstarter on June 18.

“Since then, it’s been going much more well then we could’ve ever expected it to,” Wilson said.

“We’re currently, in all of Canada, the top funded live Kickstarter. We’ve made more than any other Kickstarter that’s live in Canada.”

As well, there have been approximately 23,000 Kickstarter projects within the food category. Out of all of these projects, the NISE Wave is in the top 25 most funded projects ever.

Wilson and his partners began creating the NISE Wave device and mobile app almost a year ago.

The device uses a cooking method called sous-vide, in conjunction with the mobile app, to make the technique both automatic and specific to each person’s desired cooking.

The technology, which has been in use since 1970, works by sealing food and placing it in water.

The device, which also sits in the pot or container in use, controls the temperature of the water which cooks the food to its desired specification.

The device, controlled by the mobile app, can heat the water as well as spin the water around. This action brings the water to the temperature which perfectly cooks

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

the food being prepared. “[Sous-vide is] a type of cooking that’s used a lot in high end restaurants. They love it because it takes the guess work out of cooking, they don’t have to worry about how long to leave it in the oven or when to take it out,” Wilson said.

Wilson explained that food is cooked primarily based on the temperature that it needs to reach, in comparison to the duration of it being cooked which is a common misconception amongst many individuals.

“Every single different food has its own specific temperature that you want it to reach in order for it to be done.

“For example, if you have a steak, the difference between rare or medium rare just depends on the temperature that the steak reaches,” Wilson said.

Wilson explained that the NISE Wave will be able to cook most meats, such as beef, fish and chicken.

The technology and device can also cook foods such as eggs, rice, mulled wine and crème brûlée.

The unique aspect which NISE Tech has added to the sous-vide technology is the mobile app’s ability to control how and when the food is cooked.

“We’re trying to bring that technology to everybody at home and with the app, it also makes cooking simple because it has recipes right in it. It helps you with the cooking prep and with the actual cooking,” Wilson said.

Also within the app is the ability to schedule when you would like to eat the desired food. For example, the app has the capability to begin cooking food in the morning for seven or eight hours, and finish cooking right before the time chosen. “[We] realized that we can actually heat it at different temperatures throughout the cooking time and that way, if you lower the temperature down a bit, you can schedule your food for when you want to finish cooking,” Wilson said.

“It’ll start cooking right away, but it won’t taste weird even though it’s cooked for 7 or 8 hours. You can come home and your dinner is ready because

you’ve set it up in the morning which is kind of neat.”

For example, Wilson said hat common uses of the NISE Wave might include having eggs cooked and ready in the morning for breakfast or having a steak cooked to your desired preference as soon as you get home from work in the evening.

Not only does the NISE Wave save time, it also makes cooking simple and easy for those who may not have the skills or experience.

On the mobile app, in addition to being able to specify how and when you want your food cooked, users have the ability to use the app as a social network.

Built into the app are various features such as recipes with the necessary supplies and ingredients needed for the recipe.

Additionally, users will be able to track their nutrient goals and post photos of their results after using the NISE Wave as well as see finished recipes posted by others.

“So we’re trying to bring that technology to everybody and with the app, it also makes cooking simple because it has recipes right in it. It helps you with the cooking preparation and with the actual cooking,” Wilson said.

For students, Wilson explained, the NISE Wave can help to save money in addition to saving time.

“Eating out gets expensive, but we do it because it’s convenient,” he said.

“We know that eating at home costs less, but it’s more work so this way you can save the money by not eating out, but have less work as well.”

NEWS • 9

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 HEALTH

Abortion pill becomes readily available KAITLYN SEVERIN CORD ALUM

Mifegymiso, a two-drug combination also known as RU-486 or as the “abortion pill”, will be available in the Waterloo Region starting today, Aug. 10.

The medication was first approved by Health Canada back in 2015, but become available in the country this past January.

On Aug. 3, the province of Ontario announced that Mifegymiso will be freely available with a prescription starting on Aug. 10 as part of their provincial budget.

New Brunswick and Alberta are currently covering the pill for free, with Quebec hoping to follow suit later this year.

While Mifegymiso has been available in the country for the past eight months, the medication was not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

Individuals in the Waterloo Region who wanted access to the medication were required to pay $300 to $460 out of pocket and travel to clinics in Toronto.

“It created a two-tier system where people who were able to afford the $300 to $460 medication and travel to Toronto to access the medication can receive it, but

There’s still a number of barriers to actual access, so we’re just trying to work through those with the health care community...

-Lindsey Butcher, executive director of the SHORE Centre

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

An aborition pill will now be readily, freely available for those in Ontario who have a perscription covered by OHIP.

those who could not afford the money had to opt for an in-clinic abortion,” Lindsey Butcher, executive director of the SHORE Centre, originally Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region, said.

Since Mifegymiso became available in January, the SHORE Centre has referred more than 120 individuals from the Waterloo Region to clinics in Toronto to receive the medication.

According to Butcher, the 120 individuals were those who were actually able to pay for the medica-

tion and travel.

“There’s still a large number of people out there who were not able to pay the money or travel to Toronto for it and so the need is quite significant here in our community.”

In order to gain access to the medication, women are required to be less than seven weeks — or 49 days — pregnant, based on the first day of their last menstrual cycle.

Women cannot have an ectopic pregnancy, meaning their pregnancy needs to be developed in the uterus and not in the fallopian

tubes.

Women will also need to have an ultrasound or blood work done prior to receiving the prescription to Mifegymiso.

Butcher noted the main challenge right now in having free access to the medication is recruiting family doctors and nurse practitioners to become providers of Mifegymiso.

The centre is also looking to recruit pharmacists in the area who will keep the medication in stock in order to establish a “network of

abortion care” in the region.

“There’s still a number of barriers to actual access, so we’re just trying to work through those with the health care community so that there can be a nice, seamless process for patients accessing abortion care in the community,” Butcher explained.

Before gaining access to the medication, Butcher encourages individuals to talk to their doctors or nurse practitioners or to reach out to the SHORE Centre for any questions about Mifegymiso.

“We really hope to be able to recruit as many doctors and nurse practitioners as possible so that we do have access here in the Waterloo Region,” Butcher said.

10 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

YOU ARE LAZY DIRTY AND DISORGANIZED.

CHARITY

Shining tradition “CF ain’t no thang” continues to be the goal of the long-standing event

GET A WLU’er.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

SHYENNE MACDONALD ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

CONNECT SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:30 AM 2 2 W I L LO W S T R E E T • U P T O W N W AT E R LO O FREE STUDENT LUNCH - SEPTEMBER 10

ELEVATIONWATERLOO.COM

On Sept. 9, Wilfrid Laurier University will be celebrating its annual Shine Day. A day where volunteers and first years gather in the community to raise money for research toward Canada’s leading fatal genetic disease, Cystic Fibrosis.

Shine Day, in conjunction with Shinerama, is held every year by the Students’ Union during Orientation Week. “[Shinerama] is the largest post-secondary fundraiser in Canada,” said Hannah Cinel, the 2017 Shinerama coordinator.

Laurier founded the charity Shinerama back in 1961 and has held events for it every year since.

“It was a pretty small thing that’s grown into this massive phenomenon that occurs across Canada.

We raise to help support Cystic Fibrosis research and care.

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease in Canada today, so money that we raise goes to support research efforts, patient care and things like that,” Cinel said.

Anthony Tomizza — vice-president of programming and services for the Students’ Union — and Cinel both spoke to the community that Shinerama fosters.

“We’re integrating into the community and getting students to get that outreach to Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge region,” Tomizza said.

“I just know for myself that, from my first year, Shinerama was the first day that I really bonded with my floor and felt like I was part of the Laurier community, and the KW community. I think that’s a huge impact that we have and it’s not necessarily monetary in nature,” Cinel said.

However, Shinerama’s impact reaches well beyond Laurier.

“Every year that the Shinerama campaign runs we extend the median life expectancy of a patient by ten months, just by contributing all this money to research efforts and care,” Cinel said.

“Just looking at stats, last year we were the top fundraising school in Canada. That was a pretty large accomplishment,” Tomizza said.

“We’ve pretty consistently been number one per capita in Canada.

Which means, while Laurier may be smaller, we’re mighty in our efforts. Just that culture we create around wanting to get involved with these things,” Cinel said.

Shine Day isn’t the only event held by Shinerama. Through Orientation Week, they’ll be hosting the annual Shine BBQ. As well, a softball and dodgeball tournament will be held this year.

The dodgeball tournament was a change made last year that will be carried on.

“But it’s more about adapting to the needs of different students every year,” Cinel said.

Just looking at the stats, last year we were the top fundraising school in Canada.

-Anthony Tomizza, vice-president of programming and services, Students’ Union

“It’s things that are traditional to the orientation week program that we kind of take a different look at [every year] … it’s a great opportunity to be able to look at tradition and see what’s working and how we can adapt,” Tomizza said.

The efforts of Shinerama aren’t just confined to O-Week.

“We also do an online fundraising program where we get orientation week volunteers and their friends and family to reach out and ask for donations … we help with the KW chapter, we provide volunteers for their annual walk that they have where they raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada,” Cinel said.

According to the official Shinerama website, over 35,000 students volunteer with Shinerama and 50 post-secondary institutions work together to help find a cure.

Further, because of efforts to help find a cure and develop more effective support, “the median age of survival of Canadians is among the highest in the world, at 52.1 years of age in 2015”.

NEWS • 11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 CONSTRUCTION

Peters building renovation MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Construction on the Peters Building is well underway.

“Almost all of the demolition is complete,” Brent Carpenter, project manager of capital projects, physical resources at Laurier, said. “New walls are going up and the new building is starting to take shape.”

The project, which is expected to be completed around April 30, 2018, should have students studying in Peters again in the Fall 2018 semester.

“There’s going to be construction in that area for the next little while and when it’s all said and done, it’s going to be a fantastic space,” Carpenter said. “It’s going to refresh that entire corner of the university, inside and outside.”

During the school year, there will also be some construction work happening in the Schlegel building on the second and third floors.

“We’re going to try our best to keep it as quiet as possible,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter claims that working around class schedules will be “a challenge,” but he is confident in the construction team and their ability to handle the amount or noise and disturbance to class activities.

“Obviously, it’s a construction site and there could be some noise happening, but we’ve got a good contractor on board who’s going to work with us to try and keep things under control.”

As more and more students found their schedules saying “Lazaridis Hall,” there was an opportunity to update the Peters

building and bring in some different kinds of students.

“The school of business has a new home, so we had a building that could house new groups,” Carpenter continued. “A lot of the mechanical-electrical systems are well past their usable age, so that was the main aim of this: to improve all of their systems.”

In addition to the modernization of the building, Peters should be much more energy-efficient when the project is complete, as this was another main focus of the renovations.

Bear with us for a few months and it’s going to be a great space for everybody in the future.

-Brent Carpenter, project manager of capital projects

The biggest physical change students should find is a new entrance to the building off of the corner of Albert and University, making the building more easily accessible to students living on that side of campus.

The new Peters building will become home to many of the services that are currently available at the 202 Regina Street administration building.

“I think this is going to benefit

everyone,” Carpenter claimed.

“The welcome centre will be relocated to the first floor of the Peters building, which will be right next to Service Laurier… on the main floor of the Schlegel building.”

In addition to these changes, the registrar’s office will also be in the Schlegel building and teaching and learning services will be on the second floor of Peters.

The third floor will be faculty offices for some of the Arts’ department, including philosophy, women and gender studies and archaeology.

What the university will do with all the new empty space in 202 Regina has not yet been totally decided, but one idea includes moving some of the faculty and staff from the 255 King building. “[202 Regina Street] will be more of an administration building,” Carpenter said. “I’m not exactly sure the plan on classes, whether or not there will be classes there.”

The aim of bringing these services to campus was one that reflects the opinions of students.

“I know a few years ago there was a campus-wide survey put out for where some of these services should be and how it should be rearranged,” Carpenter said.

Bringing these essential services onto the main campus was one of the major themes of this survey, so as Lazaridis Hall created extra space, there was an opportunity to listen to the students’ requests.

“Bear with us for a few months, and it’s going to be a great space for everybody for the future,” Carpenter said.

“We’re pretty excited about this building.”

WRITER IN RESIDENCE

Pasha Malla named new writer-in-residence SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR

Pasha Malla will be joining the Wilfrid Laurier University campus this fall semester as Laurier’s new Edna Staebler Writer in Residence for the intensive residency program.

Malla is a well accomplished and recognized writer in numerous genres and formats, including novels, poetry, short stories and literary journalism, amongst others. “[Pasha] is a young writer so I think that will help him to connect with students,” Jenny Kerber, assistant professor in Laurier’s Department of English and Film Studies and chair of the Edna Staebler Writer in Residence Committee said. “He is also very accomplished for his age and stage in his career.”

Malla has received various awards and recognitions, including the Trillium Book Award, the Danuta Gleed Literary Award, amongst many others.

As writer in residence from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, Malla will devote his time to both nurturing his personal career and spending time with students and the campus community. “[Pasha] brings a diverse background … he sort of has that

attention to diversity as well that I think will be good for Laurier,” Kerber said.

In terms of his personal career, Malla will be focusing on two main projects — a magic realist novel as well as a nonfiction book.

My goal is really just to be as encouraging and — I hope — as inspiring as possible.

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

-Pasha Malla, Writer-in-Residence

Aside from his own works, Malla hopes to get involved as much as possible with Laurier’s community of writers.

Kerber explained that a writer in residence will spend a significant amount of time helping students with creative writing projects of various genres, directing students

Malla will have the option to spend his residency in Lucinda House, A Laurier building on Albert Street, seen above.

towards resources that might help publish their work, visiting various classes and giving at least one public talk or workshop on campus.

“I think having been a student at a university with a writer in residence, I think my goal is really just to be as encouraging and — I hope — as inspiring as possible,” Malla said.

Most importantly, Malla hopes to motivate anyone who is interested in pursuing writing as a future career, something which he had

experienced through meeting a Writer in Residence during his undergraduate degree.

“In high school I didn’t really know that being a writer was possible, so I think it’s nice to meet somebody who’s trying to make a go out of it as a living and dedicated their professional life to writing and literature and books,” Malla said.

Malla also feels that his experience as an educator at the University of Guelph, the University of

Toronto and Brock University will also dictate how he will be able to provide encouragement and constructive criticism to the writers he meets with on campus.

“If you like [writing] and you find something in it that is valuable and you feel like it’s satisfying some instinct you have as a person then it’s worth pursuing. It can be a really great way to spend your time,” Malla said. “I feel lucky to do what I do and I want to share that with other people.”

12 • NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

GSA O-Week plans KAITLYN SEVERIN CORD ALUM

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Graduate Students’ Association is kicking off their annual ‘Graduate Student Orientation,’ which is set to begin on Sept. 6.

This year, graduate students can look forward to a day of sessions, activities and a keynote presentation from social media celebrity, Lego Grad Student (LGS).

Natalie Gleba, the GSA’s vice president of student experience, said they are expecting approximately 300 new graduate students to attend Graduate Student Orientation. Gleba noted the events and sessions will be focusing on support and services that are offered to graduate students through the GSA. “It will give them an idea of what we have available and help them with their degree just kind of getting them that knowledge when they first come,” Gleba said.

During the day, students have the opportunity to choose a concurrent session to attend, some of

them being “Building Financial Success” and “Career, Professionalization and Skill Development.”

At 6:30 p.m., Lego Grad Student is set to present his keynote in the Turret. The character, created by an anonymous narrator, posts scenarios about the daily life of graduate students on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, where he has gained thousands of followers.

During his keynote, LGS is set to focus on how graduate students need to take their personal health and lifestyle into consideration when attending school.

“It’s really easy to kind of forget about yourself while you’re going through your studies whether you’re in a coursework program or in classes or you’re doing a PhD, there’s just many different areas of personal health that we kind of forget about,” Gleba said.

“There’s been a lot of hype over [the keynote] and even past graduate students and alumni are wanting to buy tickets to come see him, so we think it will be a full house for that.”

On Thursday, students can look

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

forward to the GSA’s annual Patio Party at Veritas Café, where they will have the opportunity to meet fellow graduate students from different programs and faculties.

“With grad schools, you can get stuck in those [areas where] you don’t really meet anyone else outside of your program so the

Patio Party is a really great opportunity for students to socialize and network with those outside of their programs,” Gleba said.

Returning graduate students, as well as those on the Brantford campus, are also expected to make an appearance during the sessions and presentation.

“Our main focus for orientation is just reminding students that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows,” Gleba said.

“You really have to take a personal interest into your own health too throughout your studies to have the most happy and most successful degree.”

DEVELOPMENT

Seminary updates continue with name change The name “Martin Luther University College” attempts to reflect the program’s multi-faith evolution SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR

Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (WLS) has recently announced its official decision to change its name to Martin Luther University College.

The WLS’s 54-year-old building on Laurier’s Waterloo campus recently underwent a $9-million renovation project and is currently in the midst of being completed.

WLS is federated with Laurier while the students that attend the seminary earn Laurier degrees.

The name change to Martin Luther University College stems from the seminary’s wish to honour its origins and roots.

Allegedly, the word “seminary” itself does not sufficiently demonstrate the values which the WLS has come to embody.

According to a statement released by WLS, the decision to change its name is their way of affirming their Lutheran heritage, reflecting how they have changed over the years and how they con-

TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR

tinue to grow and change through time.

“Waterloo Lutheran Seminary is striving to be faithfully re-formed by the challenges and opportunities of our own day,” read the statement. “It’s a way of affirming where the roots of this school are,” Mark Harris, dean of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary told The Record. “It was the Lutherans of this community, predominantly German Lutherans,

who founded the seminary back in 1911 — Lutherans who have a very, very strong tradition of promoting, not just theological education, but general education.”

A public announcement for the name change will take place this coming fall.

Along with the name-change announcement, WLS has confirmed that they will be acquiring a new visual identity to match their

new name.

New logos and associated graphics are said to be implemented and finalized in time for the 2018 school year.

The finished building ensuing the reconstruction is also set to open in the fall of 2018 at the same time. The finished building and renewed design are anticipated to expand the seminary’s courses and programs and feature various common spaces for students.

WLS has grown in size and in what programs they offer greatly over the past few years. For example, students can now get a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies and Global Citizenship.

As well, the WLS now offers a PhD in human relationships.

This program essentially provides further training for counsellors and pastors.

Currently, there are approximately 250 Laurier students enrolled in WLS classes each school year. The WLS represents 31 different faith traditions.

“We are very multi-faith that

way,” Harris said to The Record.

“That is what our communities are becoming. That’s who we are.”

It’s a way of affirming where the roots of this school are.

-Mark Harris, dean of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, in statement

In addition to such expansions, WLS still continues to offer emotional and spiritual well-being through the Delton Glebe Counselling Centre. As well, WLS’s Centre for Public Ethics holds public forums to assist individuals looking to investigate questions surrounding an ever-changing society.

do you LOVE reading The Cord? trying to get involved, but don’t fancy yourself to be a writer? we ALWAYS need copy editors, because even the best fall down sometimes.

copyeditor@thecord.ca

NEWS • 13

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 SAFETY

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Break-ins rise in district NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR

Waterloo Regional Police Services [WRPS] is in the process of investigating various break-ins and robberies which occurred from Aug. 19 to Aug. 20 in various student housing buildings.

The specific student housing buildings have not been disclosed as of yet, however six rooms in total on both King Street North and Spruce Street were targeted.

Cherri Greeno, media relations coordinator for the Waterloo Regional Police Service, explained

the details of the investigation in a recent interview.

“What we believe happened is that someone was either given access into the secure door or somehow found their way inside.

“Once they were inside, we believe they would try multiple doors and whatever doors were unlocked they would enter and [take] what they could,” Greeno said.

The kinds of items that were allegedly stolen range from luxury electronics to everyday household items. “[Gaming consoles], identification, laptops and backpacks …

really anything that they could get their hands on,” Greeno said. “[WRPS is] really stressing the importance of locking your doors when you’re not home,” she added.

There are various ways in which students can take precautions in their residences and own homes.

“The main thing is locking your windows and doors as well as keeping laptops and cell phones out of sight so people can’t see what kinds of items you have,” Greeno said.

“Sometimes people don’t think about this, but when you buy an item and throw the box away at the

curb that’s letting someone know that you have that expensive item,” she said.

“To help track things down that are stolen it’s important to write down the serial number make model of the items you have.”

It’s important to take precautions to prevent robberies but also to take precautions when it comes to walking around in the general university area when you are alone.

“One-on-one person crimes and robberies are the crimes that we’ve been seeing on the rise recently, so were putting out these safety tips so that we can educate students so they can have a safe and enjoyable academic year,” Greeno said.

Project Safe Semester is a program from WRPS that promotes safety and well-being for university and college students in the area.

The program is operated in conjunction with Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo campus police, WRPS, City of Waterloo by-law and Waterloo Fire Department.

“We have officers designated to the student populated areas as well as resources in the area all year round especially back to school time like the door knocker campaign by talking to students and letting the know some tips they can take, that’s all part of our project safe semester.”

Social media is a tool that WRPS will be using to try to reach out to students as well as to share

important messages about crime and safety.

WRPS has a twitter account and a Facebook account which can be followed by the general public for important upates regarding safety.

“Any time that we want to warn students about anything going on in their heavy student populated areas recent crime sprees we put it out on social media so that [students] are aware of it,” Greeno said.

... we’re putting out these safety tips so that we can educate students so they can have a safe an enjoyable academic year.

-Cherri Greeno, media relations coordinator, WRPS

Ultimately, students can take all possible precautions, but WRPS stress that it’s important to call 911 if any person feels fearful of their safety and security in any circumstance.

“If you see something going on that is an obvious safety concern and if you are fearful for your safety or someone else’s safety this gives us the opportunity to make a quick arrest,” Greeno said.

14 • GAMES

Dear Life Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to your life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public forum.

All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.

Dear Life, Roses are red Violets are blue I’m back motherfuckers Harambe has risen, Sincerely, A boy who misses his ape Dear Life, It would be so nice to be able to eat healthy food out at restaurants at the same price it is to eat healthy food at home. Eating at home, while cheaper, adds a lot of extra work.

You have to plan out meals, buy the proper groceries, and cook. It’s hard to balance all that with a busy lifestyle. And frankly, why would anyone want to?

I mean, I could eat out for cheap, but then I would be getting in a lot of unhealthy foods and that’s not very sustainable.

The real solution here is to get wealthy enough that I can eat out all the time and not even worry about it.

Good talk, Life.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 Sincerely, Determined Dear Life, Jake Watts is a total babe magnet in the Laurier pool, I’d eat peanut butter off his ass cheeks.

Sincerely, Hot for Watts Dear Life, Why did I not wake up after 7 alarms, 9999 phone calls and doorbells Sincerely, 1 Dear Life, I don’t know how I ended up in the position that I am in now but I know that I am grateful and content. I am enjoying the time spent around colleagues in a university setting and I have never felt as home as I do at Laurier (most times).

I’ll be sad when this is over, but I will most definitely smile because it happened. It has already been such a pleasure to be familiar with the people I have met at WLUSP and the City of Waterloo has blessed me with experiences I can’t quantify.

Hats off to all of you. Hats off if you are reading this. Hats off to the wonderful team of people that selflessly assembles The Cord on a regular basis. To know about your existence has been a pleasure.

To a future together.

Sincerely, Cord Daddy

WORD SEARCH CLUBS CRICKET DESIIGNER FETISH GEMS FIRST-YEARS HEART FITNESS KESHA FREE-WEEK FRIENDSHIP GRADUATES HEYER KIVIAHO MEMES ORIENTATION PASHA PETERS SCOOP SEMINARY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

GAMES • 15

SUDOKU

COME WORK FOR THIS GUY. www.wlusp.com

2018 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE DEADLINE: Tuesday October 10th, 2017 at 5PM

16 • PHOTO SPREAD

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

PHOTO SPREAD • 17

PHOTOS BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR & ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PRESIDENT LAYOUT BY: KURTIS RIDEOUT/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

18 •

FEATU

FEATURES EDITOR/KARLIS WILDE/FEATURES@THECORD.CA

Where do you Features Editor Karlis Wilde gives you the definitive — and objective — guide to making friends

In a brand new, terrifying place, one begins to feel the deep traumas of loneliness.

This is inevitable: people are weak. We need the nurturing and care that only the solid foundation of a relationship with another person can create.

But fear not, new arrivals to the Wilfrid Laurier student life  this article aims to help you make sense of the necessity of friendship and, by creating that understanding, assist you in piecing together brand new, lasting relationships of your own.

In short, I got you.

To begin, it’s imperative to recognize what exactly a human friendship is in the modern, always-online world.

In order to gain a bit of better understanding on this, I spoke with Joy Lang, a registered social worker with - Jo y La Cardinal Counselling. ng, “It’s really hard to figure out how reg iste to go out and make friends if you don’t red belong to … a social group,” Lang said. s Car ocial w “A lot of people come here and they don’t dina or know anybody. They come for a new job, or l Co ker w they come for university.” uns ith ellin “It can be a really hard place, I think, to make g friends,” she said, “so websites like MeetUp have actually been very helpful for a number of clients that I have because it allows them to meet other people with similar interests.”

For those unaware, MeetUp is a popular website that acts as a social matchmaker.

People register in their area and then sift through communities based on their particular interests.

The options are wide and varied, with incredibly niche focusses like ‘Girl Geek Dinners’ and ‘K-W Salsa Meetup’ still scoring memberships of over 500 people.

But MeetUp is most interesting because of what it reveals about the human condition: the fact that, no matter how far our society pushes toward a digitized, pragmatic world, people naturally yearn for the interpersonal connection of other like-minded human beings simply being around them.

“One of the drawbacks [of the digital age] is that so many people are connected to their phone and social media that it is hard to get out of the house and to go and actually engage in friendships face to face,” Lang stated.

“I see a lot of clients who talk about being quite lonely. They are on social media a lot [and] often

“It c plac an be e, I a r thin eall frie k, to y har nds ma d .” ke

there’s envy about the life that they think everybody else is living and the activities they’re involved in.”

This lack of satisfaction found in the online social world is a prevalent topic of study when attempting to understand the latest generation.

Known by several different monikers (including Generation Z or iGen), those born after 1995 have grown up in an unprecedented world of perpetual interconnectedness thanks to the evolution of the smartphone.

But this creates many unforeseen differences that interplay between living on one’s phone and finding satisfaction in one’s life.

While hardly conclusive, studies show a staggering correlation between youth — since the advent of the iPhone — spending less time physically with friends, spending more time online with friends and a deep-seated feeling of perpetual loneliness.

This claim was substantiated in a study that recently appeared in The Atlantic magazine, appropriately titled Has the smartphone destroyed a generation?

In short, no matter how much we attempt to justify it as such, living online is not truly living.

There’s a psychological barrier in place that keeps a person from feeling the same belonging and the same social cohesion that real interactions with human beings allows for.

This devalues the digital world, giving a person’s online life — and by extension, themselves as a whole — a feeling of much lower value.

In order to gain a more practical understanding of platforms like MeetUp and social organization at large, I spoke with Tim Laurence, the organizer of one of the KW region’s larger MeetUp.com groups, boasting approximately 3600 members: The KW Backcountry Travel Meetup.

“Historically, people used to belong to social groups,” Laurence said, making reference to a book by Robert D. Putnam entitled Bowling Alone. “Like a bowling league, or a knitting club, or bridge club.

Things like that.”

“Almost everybody belonged to some number of groups like these in their area. With the internet, people continued to be socially engaged, but they were being disengaged from their physical neighbourhood — from the people who were physically around them.”

“MeetUp is a way of taking the internet and actually creating a physical connection. It’s probably an improvement in some ways because you can have smaller communities, more niche communities who can find each other more easily.”

“I think that there’s also a lot to be said for the depth of relationships … [they’re] different in person and on the internet.”

This kind of alignment illustrates something important about human nature: it prioritizes a component of physical human connection.

URES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 • 19

In? “You can go to a show — for example … go see your favourite band — People strive to be alongside one another and deeper, more real connecand you might enjoy the energy that’s there, but it doesn’t allow you to tions are forged in these types of environments. connect with other people on a personal level,” Lang said.

It’s a difficult world to make sense of and the necessity of non-digital “You’re just enjoying an experience together.” friendship is hard to understand; the real world is a scary place and yet “I would say that that’s quite different from friendship. I think that that interactions can be forged and nurtured from the safety of one’s own room. can still be really lonely” So what’s the point in leaving?

To bring this into some semblance of a conclusion: you freshman kids The point is that we’re still asking these questions. That we still feel the are lucky and you’ve got to realize that. You’ve got a whole world here, on need to go out and interact with people. campus, barely beyond the reach of your fingertips.

While 90 per cent of the KW Backcountry MeetUp group tends never to This is your chance to engage with your world on a totally personal level. involve themselves in the actual, real-world activities, the fact that so many This is your chance to get out and meet people and to be a part of a larger people join the website and sign up on what Laurence sees as an aspiracommunity. tional basis is significant.

In doing so, you will be nurturing your humanity and simultaneously This is transitory: interests are an enormous part of how a person accounting for your social needs. operates and how they spend their time, but in a lot of ways these interacAs I discovered in setting out to write this article, it’s hard to break a tions are merely tools by which people create more permanent, intimate friendship down into a quantifiable series of actions or steps. Human relationships. beings are a diverse group of creatures with different likes and dislikes, with Laurence spoke easily about seeing fragments of the groups breaking off different senses of humour and different things that drive into smaller, more personal friendships and romantic relationships. them.

“A friendship is deeper than an activity,” Lang So the question is, how can I make friends? reaffirmed. “There needs to a be a conversation; “The universal advice that I would give is be there needs to be a feeling of understanding.” interested in other people,” Lang said. “Ask them “Human beings are social creatures. If you questions as well. It’s not all about us, when buy the evolutionary psychology view of you’re making friends.” it, if you didn’t have friends and family “It shouldn’t be one-sided, but I think someand connectedness, you were in dantimes it’s easier to connect with someone by ger — literally — of dying.” asking them questions about themselves and be“You were in danger of being ing able to say ‘wait, I like that too,’ or ‘wait, I’ve expelled from a group and that would had an experience like that as well.’ I think often mean certain automatic death; we’re that’s how a friendship is born,” she finished. engineered to be social creatures.”

So join a club. Get involved.

“So I think friendship is about meeting Even if there’s nobody you interact with on certain needs. It’s about feeling belonga daily basis (roommates, classmates), there’s ing, it’s about feeling there are people still a whole list of diverse opportunities perwho actually accept you for who you are, y KW Backcountr p e fectly tailored to your needs within this very Th who like you … all of those I think are f o r e iz n a , org Travel MeetU issue of The Cord (flip the page to find out), really important. I think life is really tough -Tim Laurence or a thousand different MeetUp groups just if you feel like you’ve got nobody that waiting for you online. actually cares.”

Where it becomes difficult is recognizing New students, new Waterloo residents, anybody else the difference between a simple interaction taking the time to read this in hope of some more significant insight on interpersonal relations than I can possibly reveal to you: recognize that you’re and the creation of a legitimate friendship. just a bunch of diverse, chaotic, beautiful souls looking for the same thing.

These factors lack distinct, quantifiable details, especially because there We’re all in the same boat, so do what you can to turn it into a friendare substantive ethereal qualities that tend to be lacking in simple human ship. energies.

Lang spoke briefly of the qualitative differences between embodying the same space as people with similar interests and actually being a part of a community.

of y a w a s i p U t e “Me nd a t e n r e t n i e h t taking ga n i t a e r c y l l a u t c a ion.” t c e n n o c l a c i s phy

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Sports

Arts Personal Interest Games & Activities

FEATU

FEATURES EDITOR/KARLIS WILDE/FEATURES@THECORD.CA

Food

20 •

Club Sandwich Club Sandwich is exactly what it sounds like. Recently, this club won an award for being the best new club on campus - and for good reason.

If the name peaks your interest at all, you won’t be dissapointed by what goes on here.

Laurier Fantasy League

Vegan and Vegetarian Association (VAVA) For those with healthy eating or ethical animal treatment on mind, you’ll be happy to learn there is a wonderful network of people around campus who share your passion.

Sports Analytics Club of Laurier

If you’re going to play any fantasy football this season you’ve got about a week until the Patriots kick-off against the Chiefs.

For people who really dig the statistical aspect of sporting events, this is your club.

You’ve still got a month or so to wait if you are a hockey fan, but it’s never too earlier to start thinking about your roster.

Those interested in joining Laurier Fantasy League might find some benefit in checking out this club as well.

Laurier Visual Arts Club

Golden Hawk Films

Sushi Lovers Association I mean, realistically, who couldn’t get on board with this one?

This group is sure to point you in the right direction when it comes to all your sushi recommendation needs.

Laurier E-Sports For those unfamiliar with the fascinating and emerging trend of eSports, it’s worth checking out.

Here is your on-campus access point to the world of competitive video-gaming.

Laurier Ancient Music Society (LAMS)

Where the WLU Film Society is for people who love watching movies, Golden Hawk Films is for all those who love making them!

If you’re into music and like history, LAMS could be a great fit for you.

LVAC also does a new project every week so you can get your hands dirty with all kinds of materials and have art to show for it at the end.

They need all filmies from screenwriters to editors, so whatever your production interest, they have a spot for you.

Even if you’re not, say, musically talented, they always put on at least one concert a year for your enjoyment.

Laurier Guitar Club

StreetWear Laurier

Laurier Backpackers

Whether you’re a “Renaissance man” or you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, LVAC takes them all.

All the strummers out there on campus who are looking for people to jam with, this is your club.

You never know, your future bandmates could be hiding in plain sight!

Laurier Billiards Society Pool sharks watch out! The Laurier Billiards Society meets up pretty often.

Better yet, there are some pretty sweet places to play pool around Waterloo; this group will show you the ropes.

Calling all sneaker-heads and hypebeasts, if you are looking for the next ‘grail piece’ to add to your collection, it will only help if you have a partner in crime.

Nomads rejoice!

It never hurts to have a second opinion anyways.

Get (un)familiar with Laurier Backpackers!

WLU Euchre Club For Golden Hawks keen on playing cards, this is a good way to get in on the fun.

Those who prefer Texas holdem, worry not, there is always the Laurier Poker Club if you don’t fancy yourself a Euchre player.

If you spend most of your waking hours daydreaming about your next big adventure, you are certainly not alone.

Kult of Gaming If you’ve left your D&D group back in your hometown, this is the place to pick up a new bunch of adventurers.

It’s also a great place to meet people that love gaming — from Nintendo ‘64 to the “cardboard game night.”

Laurier Golf Association (LGA) Lovers of golf rejoice! Laurier’s presence in the golf community is pretty expansize.

Get together with some peers and gear up for Laurier’s annual Golf Classic!

Laurier Creative Collective It’s pretty hard to start a zine all by yourself.

It’s also good to know you are in the same vicinity as so many creative people. Don’t be intimidated, collaborate.

Harry Potter Alliance Love Harry Potter? Love social justice? This is Laurier’s chapter of the worldwide organization that promotes wellness and human rights. Our chapter focuses on mental health.

Make a difference in the community with a bit of hard work and magic to show for it.

Laurier Origami Club The ancient art of paper-folding gets a modern take in this club.

Maybe folding 1000 paper cranes won’t make you ace your finals, but this sounds like the kind of club to keep you mindful and creative.

URES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 • 21

Find Your Space Editor-in-Chief Kurtis Rideout and Creative Director Madeline McInnis team up to blast off into some of the most out-of-this-world Laurier clubs and why they’re important

Getting to know people on campus can be both challenging and intimidating. Thankfully, there are more places to meet people than just in the classroom.

Involving yourself in campus clubs and organizations is a sure-fire way to situate yourself around people with similar interests, but with so many amazing groups to join, it can be a task in itself just to narrow down the choices.

Thankfully, the only thing stopping you from joining every single club on campus is a lack of time.

Before you carve out your place in one of Wilfrid Laurier University’s many great campus clubs, take a gander through the plethora of options available to you.

Here, we’ve compiled a short list of clubs based on interest, but it is by no means exhaustive.

If you are looking for a more comprehensive list, the Students’ Union website features a page dedicated to all of Laurier’s clubs and associations.

Facebook is also a great resource, as almost all active clubs use Facebook to communicate their events.

If you want to know more about any of these clubs, or any others that Laurier boasts, the most sure-fire way to gather information is by attending the Get Involved Fair during the orientation week programming.

It’s happening from 10:00-3:00 on Friday Blueprint Magazine September 8 and, according to emails sent to club presidents, the organizers of this year A bit of shameless self-promoare expecting over 200 clubs to be boothing tion here — we have the same throughout the day. publisher — but still a fantistic That, of course, can seem intimidating in artistic outlet worth mentionitself. It’s important to remember, however, ing to any new or unfamiliar that many of the executives of these clubs are student. involved with several other clubs as well.

If you can afford the time to do so, research Whether photography, art, posome of the clubs you’re interested in beforeetry, creative writing, Blueprint hand so that way they won’t get lost in the sea of publishes a quarterly art magazine based around a theme.

Pun Conglomerate of Unique Literary Talents One of Laurier’s newest clubs, the Pun Conglomerate of Unique Literary Talents, takes pride in the true artform of puns.

They can be cheesy, but they can also make you feel grate.

WLU Chess Club There’s a reason that chess is stereotyped as a “smart” game to play.

They may not smash each other to smitherines like in Harry Potter, but we’re fairly certain it’s a better way to make friends (and safer) when they don’t.

Fashion & Lifestyle Society (WLUFLS) Director, model or simply an appreciator of fashion, WLUFLS has a spot for you.

It’s sure to bring out the best and brightest fashionistas of Laurier.

Laurier Salsa Club Salsa (as in the dance, not the food) is a great way to keep active and try a new shoe on for size. No matter how comfortable you are Your hips aren’t lying: come on and dance with somebody.

possibilities.

That said, if you can spare the time, wander around as much as you can.

Some of the best opportunities can come from clubs and associations you just happen to stumble into.

Make sure you aren’t afraid to ask questions. There are a tonne of clubs that all have similar interests, but those can make the difference between having a great time and dreading attending meetings.

Maybe you’re into writing. There’s a creative writing magazine (Blueprint), an academic arts journal (Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts) and, of course, journalism is always an option (and we never stop hiring at The Cord). If you don’t ask, you might end up with the wrong fit.

Just in Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications (WLUSP), on the Waterloo campus, you can get involved with Radio Laurier, Blueprint, Laurier Student Poll, Keystone Yearbook, and us (The Cord).

Reach out to us at any time if you’re interested — we promise we won’t bite.

Take a look at how much time you have too. Maybe rush a fraternity or a sorority or maybe just join Laurier photography club. Ask around to see how involved you have to be and see if that’s the best fit for your lifestyle.

The new year also brings new opportunities to try new things. Don’t be afraid to attend a meeting or two of clubs you’re interested in to try it out.

If you’re not interested, there’s no obligation to continue. If you love it, great! You just made a group of new friends.

Laurier also has a pretty awesome system that allows you to start your own club.

In order to start a club with the Students’ Union, you’ll need an executive team and a list of 20 active members (or people who are interested in joining). It’s also a pretty good idea to make sure a similar club doesn’t already exist.

The president is recommended to have a GPA of at least 5.0, and you should include a club constitution, outlining how the administration of the club works and what it stands for.

You can also start your own faculty club, but there may be some extra requirements. For example, to start a club that falls under the faculty of arts, your membership needs to be 50 per cent plus one arts students.

And sometimes you’re just overwhelmed at the beginning of the year with everything that’s going on. Almost all clubs are always looking for general members and all you need to do is come out to their events, no sign up necessary.

No matter what you end up doing, make sure you talk to the executive to see how involved you need to be to get the club on your co-curricular record.

The co-curricular record (CCR, as it’s affectionately called) is a list of all of the extra-curricular activities you participated in throughout your university career.

It can be printed off and used in your applications to jobs, further schooling, to post on grandma’s fridge, etc. It’s a pretty useful tool, but each club has different requirements for your involvements to be accepted.

And getting involved can only be beneficial. You could have a straight 12.0 average and not land a job because you have absolutely no experience beyond the classroom.

For a more immediate benefit, beyond the obvious ones of making friends and staying mentally well, a lot of scholarships are also based on extracurricular involvement.

Making friends, gaining experience, volunteerism, whatever you want: there’s a club for that. Don’t be afraid to get involved — your future self will thank you.

Super Smash Club

(WLU Smash)

Super Smash Bros has arguably ended more friendships than it has started, but its still pretty much impossible to turn down an opportunity to play.

Members of The Cord’s editorial board are also in...

Blueprint Magazine, Keystone Yearbook, Pun CULT, LUJA, WLU Film Society, Harry Potter Alliance and many others!

KURTIS RIDEOUT/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

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ARTS & LIFE • 23

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Arts & Life

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR SHYENNE MACDONALD arts@thecord.ca

MUSIC

A fascination with “Fetish” TINA NORI CORD ARTS

Looking for a summer song to obsess over? Selena Gomez has just released her steamy new single, “Fetish,” featuring rapper Gucci Mane.

Earlier this season, Gomez tantalized us with a teaser of the tune at the end of her “Bad Liar” music video, the first release since her hiatus after the Revival era. So was her newest single worth the wait?

Yes, yes it was.

“Fetish” is every bit as sexy as the title suggests. With lyrics about origami sexual positions, “Fetish” is one of the quirkiest songs of

Selena Gomez’s career. Even more so than Talking Heads sampling “Bad Liar.”

The scandalous song starts with an almost rushed “Take it or leave it/But I know you won’t leave it cause I know that you need it,” depicting a lover who can’t keep himself from the thing he craves most. The instrumental is light and airy as are the vocals.

The track comes alive once the instantly addictive chorus hits: “You got a fetish for my love/I push you out and you come right back,” Selena serenades over spooky synths.

Even though the song is safe vocally, I still yearn for that special someone when listening to it. The eerie instrumentals transport me into a world of fantasies. Almost like a masquerade ball hosted by Chuck Bass.

The creepy and off the wall video

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— on the other hand — resembles early episodes of Dexter.

Starting in a 70’s-set suburban neighborhood, all appears well until Selena arrives at her home to find a crashed car casually perched on the lawn. It’s as if I’m watching a horror film unfold.

Once she steps inside, you’re immersed into her world of fanta-

sies … which include sticking her tongue in an eyelash curler, eating lipstick, and dancing in an icebox.

Now this may be a completely possessed side of Selena we aren’t usually graced with, but through the actions — which had me cringing in my seat — a deeper meaning starts to materialize.

Selena tries to eat glass or peaches and instantly spits them out, only to try once again. She’s mimicking the push and pull of the lyrics: “I push you out and you come right back.” No matter how much she wants to stop, this underlying addiction affects her being.

Lyrically, Fetish steps away from her regular stance of desiring an individual. In her previous singles like “Hands to Myself,” she sings about that certain man who’s the “metaphorical gin and juice” she can’t get enough of.

But in “Fetish,” she confidently proclaims that she knows she’s worth it, piling on the old adage: “If I were you I’d do me.”

Instrumentally, we’ve seen her transform from cheeky pop star to taking a more alternative route similarly mastered by Lana Del

Rey. My only complaint is Gucci Mane’s verse which almost feels like a marketing ploy. Though, that still doesn’t detach from the joy of hearing Selena transform into her new style.

Even though the song is safe vocally, I still yearn for that special someone when listening to it.

With two solo albums under her own name, and three albums under Selena Gomez & The Scene, we have witnessed her ditch her Disney days and grow into a mature young woman.

This couldn’t be more true with Fetish, where she successfully dabbles into a new, yet predictable sub-genre.

24 • ARTS & LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

A new school year beginning means a new round of first years. Whether you’re new to the area or a local, there’s no denying you’re in for a year of new experiences. That is why your friends at The Cord have elected themselves to

be your helpful guides and together compiled a list of our favourite spots in Waterloo that may not have caught your eye at first glance. From libraries to card shops, here’s a list of our hidden gems in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Kinkaku Izakaya — a contemporary Japanese all you can eat sushi restaurant — is located on Kitchener’s main drag of King St. W, directly across from city hall.

The popular lunch and dinner spot is known for its fresh signature rolls, as well as original chef suggestions.

If you don’t mind long lineups and wait times ranging from 15-45 minutes, this may be the sushi place for you.

If you have a party of six or more you can make a reservation by calling the restaurant a few hours before your arrival. The dishes served at Kinkaku Izakaya are not your typical California roll (although they still serve those).

If you are an adventurous foodie the Ikayaki and the Okonomiyaki will tickle your taste buds like never before.

Kinkaku Izakaya has the same old classics we know and love while offering something exciting if you’re sick of the usual salmon roll.

- Nathalie Bouchard, News Editor

The Timeless Cafe is a perfect place to grab a delicious meal or a coffee on the go. You can bring your family, bring a date, or book their second-floor space for a private event.

It has a warm allure and charming staff.

The building itself is an old hen-house, which creates a comforting environment with a unique rustic appeal.

Each dish is truly a wonderful masterpiece as the talented chefs strive to use locally-sourced ingredients and make tasteful flavour pairings. Brunch is a fan-favourite with selections such as French toast accompanied by salted walnuts and brie or their “Brunoise Omelette.”

Reservations are recommended and they are open seven days a week for your dining pleasure.

- Sarah Tyler, Video Editor

Tucked away on Balsam St. in the heart of the university district is this little unturned stone called Bao Sandwich Bar. Let me preface this the only way I know how: since I was introduced to Bao shortly after moving to Waterloo, I have taken several people there to try it out — including my mom and my best friend — and not one of them has been anything short of blown away.

If you aren’t familiar, a bao is a Vietnamese sandwich/ taco/sub-type fusion, but calling it a sandwich is almost blasphemous because it is like no sandwich you have had before.

With options that everyone can get on board with — ranging from fish (“Fried Nemo”) to veggie (“Avocado Banger”) and pretty much everything in between — the menu is as diverse as it is refreshing, surely never to disappoint. But don’t just take my word for it.

Take everyone to Bao. Take your lover, your co-worker, your friend, your Tinder date. Take me.

Bao is satisfying in a way that doesn’t leave you wanting more, but I guarantee once you try it you will be planning your next visit.

- Kurtis Rideout, Editor-in-Chief Not so much hidden as it is overlooked, the Waterloo Public Library is a haven for book-lovers and the studious alike. It’s completely free to join (you just need a photo ID and proof of your residence in Waterloo) and you’ll get unlimited benefits from your sign-up.

The main branch, just a short walk down Albert Street from campus, is one of the most clean, beautiful and modern libraries I’ve ever been to.

There’s usually plenty of study space and I guarantee they’ll have a book to help you for every essay, no matter how niche. For you film studies majors out there, they also have tonnes of Criterions and indie movies — when I can’t make the screenings, I take a lot of the DVDs out of the library!

Whether you’re looking for the next great novel, a resource on Communist propaganda or a new soundtrack, getting a public library card is completely worth it.

- Madeline McInnis, Creative Director

A gem of Waterloo is something that people will come from far and wide to visit. That’s why J&J Cards and Collectibles is probably the most worthwhile store in town.

The selection of board games — from Monopoly Jr. to Catan to Twilight Imperium — is incredible.

The clientele and the staff are passionate and always ready to ‘talk shop’ and the prices are somehow cheaper than buying on Amazon.

Not to mention, it’s only about a ten-minute walk away from the University.

Whether you’re looking for Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks or a party game to get drunk to, this is the place to hit up.

- Karlis Wilde, Features Editor

Seven Shores Community Cafe is the perfect location for anyone looking for a cute coffee shop with a warm, positive vibe and healthy, tasty options for food and drink. Seven Shores is located at 10 Regina St. N, unit four.

Not only does Seven Shores serve their organic, fair-trade coffee and other drinks in mason jars and cute coffee mugs, the cafe offers a variety of fresh, locally sourced food.

The cafe also offers vegan and gluten free options, hoping to attract a wide demographic.

The coffee shop has numerous plugs available for anyone wanting to study or work, despite their earlier closing times.

In fact, employees of Seven Shores encourage customers to spend time in their shop, in contrast to chain coffee places that may discourage students who spend larger portions of time doing homework.

The large tables and warm atmosphere make Seven Shores the ideal study spot for students.

- Safina Husein, News Director

Hot tip from Co writer and coffee rd @coffee.pleasee: blogger coffee is refillable!

COMPILED BY SHYENNE MACDONALD/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR PHOTOS AND LAYOUT BY MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ARTS & LIFE • 25

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 TELEVISION

Is South Park playing it safe or playing it smart?

CHRIS LUCIANTONIO STAFF WRITER

On June 30, South Park co-creator, Trey Parker, made a shocking announcement while speaking to the Los Angeles Times.

I’ve been a longtime fan of how South Park viciously skewered seemingly everything, from organized religion to celebrities in the spotlight. When the creators announced that their infamous mentality of “anybody could be next” now has an exception, I was taken aback.

Parker and co-creator Matt Stone, in all their boisterous identification as “equal opportunity offenders,” have finally found something even they aren’t willing to mock. Seemingly — like all things these days — this is Trump related.

“We fell into the same trap that Saturday Night Live fell into,” Parker said to the Los Angeles Times. “We’re becoming ‘tune in to see what we’re going to say about Trump.’”

The recently completed seasons

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

19 and 20 of their long running satire series saw Trump placed front and center in their mockery, and the results left a lot to be desired.

The 20 episodes that made up those seasons were preoccupied with excessive diatribes on “political correctness,” female comedians, online trolls, anonymity and tiny fruit that reminisced about the good ol’ days.

Stone and Parker are outspoken as political centrists and given the nature of their show’s “take no prisoners” approach to commentary, it’s pretty understandable.

By carefully avoiding identifying with one side or the other, they get more targets to lambaste. This approach has allowed them to reach a wide audience while avoiding

pissing off their fan base.

They want to piss off celebrities, Scientologists and the Catholic Church, but not their average viewer. If everyone is a target, how could they only stay on one for a whole season?

In each scenario I have laid out, Parker and Stone come across not as the devil may care satirists whom view every person, ideology and sacred concept as ripe for its own inevitable 30-minute treatment.

Instead this decision comes across as gutless for the writing duo, a craven admittance of defeat for what they attempted to accomplish with their last season.

Parker went on to say in the Los Angeles Times interview that being

shockingly current was never his intent for the show.

“We would do an entire season and there would be one moment that played off something that had just happened and people would go, ‘South Park is the show that does that.’”

Filling the expectation of the audience to be the first to laugh off a newsworthy event clearly fatigued the creators after a whole season of scouring headlines for material.

“Kids being kids and being ridiculous and outrageous,” is what Parker says South Park is all about.

However, South Park did not build its reputation on simply being about crazy kids in Colorado. It carved out a niche as being a first response commentator to a newsworthy event.

Parker and Stone may not realize that despite being a low-brow gross out comedy, the show is a contributor to the discourse no matter how insensitive or polarizing it may be. It wasn’t uncommon to find myself wondering when something noteworthy was occurring “I wonder what South Park will do with this”.

Since when has South Park ever been afraid to piss somebody off?

Are you telling me this kind of belligerent voice would find anything off limits?

“But what people don’t realize is, we’ve thought this for 20 years.

We’ve been ready for it,” Parker said, concluding the interview.

I’ve been a fan of South Park since I was crafty enough to view it without my parents knowing and avoidance has never been their strong suit.

When the creators announced that their infamous mentality of “anybody could be next” now has an exception, I was taken aback.

I am hopeful that Parker and Stone just won’t be able to help themselves; they’re provocateurs and damn talented ones at that.

I am not asking for them to defeat him or anything ridiculous like that because that’s not the point of comedy or satire.

All I am asking is for them to be themselves and push that envelope no matter where it is placed, because pushing always looks better than folding.

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26 • ARTS & LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

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Kesha’s music after the rain BRITTANY TENHAGE STAFF WRITER

Kesha’s fourth studio album, Rainbow, was released on August 11. For me, the album is a triumph in every sense of the word. She has come back from the pain of her court case with new music that

explores genre and style.

Her court case was between her and her producer, Dr. Luke, who allegedly raped and sexually assaulted her for the first years of her music career. She claimed he kept her quiet by threatening to ruin her career.

After the trial her record label Sony, refused to release her from her contract. Now, she continues to work with Dr. Luke, and she must split proceeds of her next album with him.

Despite the situation, she has

released “Rainbow.” It has something for everyone and is sure to lift up one’s soul. From party tracks like “Woman” and “Let ‘Em Talk” to soulful, life-affirming tracks like “Praying” and “Bastards,” Kesha releases an album that is a success.

Rainbow experiments with the “old” Ke$ha — who had a dollar sign in her name — and combines her with a new, soulful and experienced Kesha.

From the beginning of this album to its close, you can feel the complex journey that this woman

has been through to make her who she is.

You can hear pain in her lyrics and music, but you can tell she came out of the hell she suffered with a smile on her face and love in her heart through the fun, party song she shares.

Songs like “Learn to Let Go” are fun to listen to while being full of wisdom and the album is so very full of emotion. On first listen of the album, I shed many tears, danced in my computer chair and smiled so hard my face hurt.

This album isn’t simply important because it’s fun. But it holds so much emotion and wisdom in the lyrics.

It’s important because it’s a comeback from a woman who overcame multiple obstacles to produce the music she wanted to, who is still stuck in a contract with her alleged assaulter and who worked extremely hard to produce a work of art. Kesha has always been talented and produced good music.

All her albums are fun and flirty and have emotional, soulful tracks while also having dance and party tracks. The difference between the old ones and this new one is the journey she went on to create it, and the journey that it sends you on.

“Bastards” tells you to love yourself. It reminded me that what people say does not truly matter.

“Let ‘Em Talk” tells you to ignore the haters. “Woman” tells you to be yourself. It’s a fun, empowering female dance track. “Hymn” is a love song for a modern generation.

“Praying” is a ballad for those who’ve wronged you. It reminded me that when people do some-

thing horrible to you, you don’t have to let it ruin you. Every time I listen to it, I get chills. “Learn to Let Go” is a reminder to let go of the pain. It gives me hope about being able to change the way I feel about things. “Finding You” is an emotional love ballad. “Rainbow” is a power song about becoming yourself.

It’s easy to get caught up in the mentality that your bullet journal can’t be functional or pretty without the best products, but it’s really what’s in your mind and what you put into it that counts.

Most importantly, your bullet journal never has to be perfect.

I first started a bullet journal in my first year of university, but I ended up putting it down because of the pressure I would put on myself.

If I missed a day, I would refuse to write down the current tasks until I had logged the ones from the day before. Eventually, I procrastinated filling in the days because

I would have weeks to catch up on and it just wasn’t any fun anymore.

In second year, I carried around three different agendas everywhere I went to track everything I needed.

This year, I’m combining all three of those into one slim notebook designed to have everything I need — plus more of my own personality and flare.

Starting a new bullet journal going into third year, I’m putting less stress on getting it picture perfect.

I’m focusing on what the journal can do for me and how I can use it to better my life.

It doesn’t have to be — and shouldn’t ever be — a chore.

From the beginning of this album to its close, you can feel the complex journey that this woman has been through to make her who she is.

“Hunting You Down” is a fun experimentation with genre. “Boogie Feet” is a super fun dance song.

“Boots” is a sexy, strip-it-down son, contrasting her older song “Boots and Boys.” “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)” is a nostalgic, 80s style song. A duet with Dolly Parton, it sends me back to the music of my dad and makes my heart full.

“Godzilla” is an unexpected, metaphorical song. “Spaceship” is a beautiful song about friendship.

It makes me feel like a kid again, happily playing with my friends and being imaginative.

With this album, Kesha travels to the end of the rainbow, and instead of a pot of gold, finds herself.

STATIONERY

Take a shot at creativity MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

If you’re looking for a new way to stay organized and make memories this school year, you might want to try your hand at bullet journaling.

A bullet journal, at its core, is a no-strings-attached way to track your life. It’s a mix of a to-do list, journal, scrapbook, notebook, sketchbook — or whatever else you may want to include.

That’s the best part about it: there are no rules or set pages. You get to include exactly what you want to include.

The basic layout for a bullet journal is an index at the front, a monthly overview — typically a list of the day numbers and the day of the week they fall on — and spreads that outline daily or weekly tasks. Whatever you don’t complete, you can carry it on to the next spread if it’s important enough.

Depending on how creative you want to be with it and how much

time you have to devote to it, there are some absolutely gorgeous setups you can take beyond the standard daily layouts and lists.

Some more popular add-ons that people often put in their journals are habit trackers, mindfulness charts and expense lists.

Depending on what you want to track, you can always adapt these ideas to map things like work schedules, grades or even when your library books are coming due.

If you’re looking for inspiration, try searching Instagram and YouTube for bullet journalists and “plan with me” sections. Some of my personal favourites are AmandaRachLee and Caitlyn’s Corner.

However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with just making standard column layouts. With all the beauty and aesthetics of some of the journals you’ll see online, it’s easy to forget that a lot of these people are doing their bullet journals to show them off, not to actually use them.

My biggest tip for starting a new bullet journal is to keep it simple.

Limit yourself to one colour of pen and a highlighter or marker for the first month or two. Skip the pressure and work your way up to the fancy spreads, if you even want to.

If you start simple, you’ll be able

to figure out what you actually need and want in your bullet journal, rather than getting overwhelmed with trying to make it look like what you see online.

Maybe you start a habit tracker and realize that it takes too much time to update it every day. If you’re focusing on the actual content instead of how it looks, you’ll be less prone to repeatedly doing layouts that don’t work for you.

That’s what bullet journaling is all about, after all. There are no lines or boxes to contain your needs.

If you need space to draw, go for it. More of a list person? Check it off! This is your own creation and you are completely in control of what goes into it.

There’s also quite an elitist mentality in the bullet journaling community. Regardless of what you see on Tumblr, it’s really not necessary to own Mildliners or Tombow markers. You don’t desperately need a dotted Leuchtturm to write in.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, use whatever you have lying around. Even something from the dollar store will do. All you really need is a notebook and a pen.

Use what you’re comfortable with and what you enjoy writing with.

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ARTS & LIFE • 27

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 MOVIES

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Scene better seen on the big screen MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

There’s something special about seeing your favourite movies on

the big screen.

Going to the theatre is an experience beyond the actual movie itself. It’s not just the two-hour run time, it’s the atmosphere created around the theatre that keeps us coming back time and time again in this age of digital streaming.

When I found out that the Apollo Cinema was doing a ‘90s throwback week, I was beyond excited to

see some of my favourite movies in a way I was not alive to be able to do in their first run — on the big screen.

Sure, I could have watched Jurassic Park on Netflix, where it has found its current home for our generation.

I just watched my boyfriend’s DVD copy of The Silence of the Lambs with him a few weeks prior to seeing that the Apollo was showing it on the big screen.

He and I went to both of those movies during the throwback week, regardless.

Movies — good movies — are meant to be seen and enjoyed with what film majors call the “cinematic apparatus,”: a darkened room, screen, projector and audience members.

This is how movies were designed to be viewed and this becomes extremely apparent when you’re present in that atmosphere of communal awe in the darkness.

That seems to be going by the wayside, as some of our screenings for film courses are even being cancelled due to low attendance.

It’s undoubtedly easier — and probably cheaper — to just pop open your laptop and screen the required film.

But enjoying the film, really truly enjoying it, means no distractions.

No pausing to make some more pasta, no texting your buddies, no stopping to go to class and coming back.

The roar of the T-Rex is supposed to be over-bearing, to the point of discomfort, so there’s no point in turning it down on your DVD player.

We’re supposed to follow Clarice’s journey from training to “having an old friend for dinner” completely uninterrupted and were supposed to be completely

absorbed by the mystery.

The theatre is the natural movie-going environment and should never be discredited for its power and its merit.

When you see an old favourite, regardless of whether you’ve seen it before or not, you know it’s withstood the sands of time and it is worth the watch.

Hell, I have two copies of the Harry Potter DVDs, but when Cineplex announced that they’d be showing the series on the lead-up to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I was one of the first people to buy tickets at my local theatre.

I watched Deathly Hallows Part 2 seven times in theatres when it first came out, but now I can boast that the number of times I have seen it in theatres has jumped to eight.

It still made me cry.

Harry Potter has had a huge impact on my life and seeing that in all its detail and focus was an experience in itself and that’s something I can’t replicate in my DVD copies.

Movies have the power to transport us to other worlds, give us new life and bring us to daring new places, and the best way to experience that is to fully immerse yourself in the story.

Especially with throwback

movies like the Apollo’s ‘90s week, Cineplex’s “family favourites” and classic film series and the popular events at the Princess, you’re not making a gamble on the latest blockbuster.

When you go to see an old favourite, regardless of whether you’ve seen it before or not, you know it’s withstood the sands of time and that it is worth the watch because it’s still making money.

You shouldn’t ever walk out of one of these disappointed; you know exactly what to expect.

Whether it’s a cult flick like The Room, the annual screenings of Rocky Horror Picture Show, or a classic throwback like Casablanca, next time you hear about a throwback on the screen, think about picking up a ticket.

Movies — good movies — are meant to be seen and enjoyed with what us film majors call the ‘cinematic apparatus’...

These movies that can still bring in a crowd years after their primary releases tell us a lot about human nature: what we liked back then, what we like now and what never fades in our conditions.

It’s an experience that can teach us a lot about ourselves — all by sitting in a darkened theatre with a screen, a projector and an audience.

LITERATURE

Reaching a mental peace through her “Catharsis” Fourth-year psychology major, Sofia Fortino, explores mental health issues through prose SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR

Catharsis: a noun used to describe the process of release thereby providing relief from repressed or strong emotions.

Catharsis is also the name of the progressive poetry book regarding experiences of mental health which Sofia Fortino, fourth-year psychology student at Wilfrid Laurier University, is currently writing.

For Fortino, the idea to write the book stemmed from her personal experiences with mental health.

“The idea all started when I had my first panic attack which was really scary for me because it happened out of nowhere and I started feeling all these weird emotions that were really scary and confusing,” she said.

After realizing that the feelings she had experienced were common reactions to stress and trauma, Fortino began to feel a sense of relief.

“After reading that it happened to other people, I started to feel much better and that’s when I

started to open up and tell my family about it and speak about it more to friends.”

I just experienced catharsis in writing about what I’m going through and I want other people to experience that, too.

-Sofia Fortino, author

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

The sense of relief that Fortino felt after being able to open up reminded her of the term catharsis.

Fortino felt that being able to share experiences of mental health with others through the form of poetry would allow those who read it to feel a similar feeling of catharsis and potentially help them throughout their own experiences

with mental health.

“I just experienced catharsis in writing about what I’m going through and I want other people to experience that, too,” Fortino said.

In order to share a wide variety of experiences, Fortino created a website that allows individuals to send her submissions which entail their experiences or struggles with mental health.

“They’re all different mental health issues ranging from anxiety

and depression all the way to personality disorders and eating disorders,” she said.

“I hope that they experience a cathartic release too, by getting everything out and talking about something that they previously haven’t spoken to anyone about.”

After that, Fortino will take the story or experience and turn it into progressive poetry. Each poem is anonymous, descriptive and honest.

“Some of them have happy endings, they show the person getting help and working through their problems,” Fortino said. “But there are people who have sent me stuff who are still struggling every day.”

“I’m just telling them honestly how they are because I think that’s what will be the most helpful thing to people.”

When Fortino is finished writing, she plans to self-publish the poetry book and distribute them amongst high schools, mental health clinics, rehab centres and more.

All the proceeds from the sales of Fortino’s book will be donated to the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health.

So far, Fortino has written 25 poems that provide insight to readers about unique mental health experiences.

She plans to accept submissions until December and intends on writing poems as she receives submissions.

“They’re all very different from one another, so I hope that a lot of different people can relate to them,” Fortino said.

28 • ARTS & LIFE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

FOOD & DRINK

Take a journey through the milkyway

before I was even able to look at the menu.

When I finally got to the front of the line my caffeine jitters from the Timmies latte had waned. I ordered a tall latte and when the barista asked if I wanted to make any modifications to my order I said, “no thank you, just regular milk and espresso.”

At Starbucks you can significantly alter your latte to taste like a hot chocolate or caramel macchiato — almost unrecognizable from its original form. The total for my order came to $3.94 for a small latte with no substitutions or add-ons.

For a student budget, spending four dollars on a small coffee is a lot, especially considering the fact that the average student will likely buy or make another coffee in just a few short hours. That being said,

the latte had a beautiful finish to it, with the espresso ring around the front face of the coffee and all.

The first word that comes to mind when tasting the Starbucks latte is “smooth.”

The espresso — which I can clearly taste — and the steamed milk are swimming together in harmony. After three sips I can already feel the caffeine doing its work.

I can tell that this espresso is just right because it is not too sour or bitter; I taste the richness of the coffee bean as it collides with the creaminess of the 2% milk. This latte is enjoyable and everything I would want in my first coffee of the day.

Evidently there are pros and cons for any coffee establishment and these two are no exception.

The Starbucks latte is pricey for the size and amount of coffee you receive, however the quality is significantly better than Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons has an efficient system when retrieving your beverage; you say latte and you get one at the reasonable price of $3.14.

Ultimately the quality of the espresso could not be commented on due to the fact that it was almost non-existent.

If you want an authentic coffee experience without the plane ticket, head over to Starbucks. If you want a latte that’s inexpensive — and loaded with milk — make a trip down to your local Tim Hortons.

In addition to the flavour of the day, Scoop Du Jour has also introduced various other unique incentives to visit their truck, such as alcoholic ice cream floats.

Every Wednesday, customers can purchase a scoop of ice cream from Scoop Du Jour, then bring it next door to Chainsaw to combine it into an alcoholic ice cream float for those who want to add a kick to their ice cream.

The location of the food truck also stems from its connection to Chainsaw. An owner of Scoop Du Jour, Ryan Good, is also part-owner at Chainsaw, thus making the

proximity to one another a more feasible location.

“The location was already here and there isn’t really another great spot to get ice cream in Uptown Waterloo,” Humphrey said.

Despite Scoop Du Jour’s proximity to the construction and various closures around Uptown Waterloo Humphrey explained that business has been consistent.

“It’s just starting to get the word out that we’re open and here,” Humphrey said.

As of yet, Scoop Du Jour will close once the summer season ends.

NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR

This year Tim Hortons introduced its “perfectly uncomplicated” latte to Canadian and international consumers.

The usual hotspot for a double-double or a Boston cream donut is now attempting to size up with its Seattle-born competitor Starbucks — known for their Macchiatos and Frappucinos.

Starbucks is the kind of place that allows your not-so-typical coffee consumer to get their dose of caffeine in fun, less traditional ways.

The two coffee spots have their various differences. The Starbucks menu has more options comparatively, but the prices at Tim’s — even with their recent price increase — are significantly less expensive.

Both coffee establishments have their pros and cons, but when it comes to comparing the new Tim Hortons latte with the classic Starbucks latte — which can be altered to suit various taste and dietary restrictions — there is most definitely a clear winner.

First I am going to take you on a caffeine induced journey to compare and contrast the ‘latte’ at both coffee jaunts. To start, Tim

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Hortons made the decision to start serving lattes, which is admirable considering Starbucks is the fuel that drives most 20-somethings as they take their venti, non-fat, vanilla-something-or-other into their dreaded 8 a.m. lecture.

This Tim Hortons latte is as uncomplicated as they say. I approached the counter and simply said “latte please,” and I got one within 10 seconds. The bill was another thing that made my wallet happy; only $3.14 for a medium latte? Definitely complimentary to a student budget.

Upon taking off the lid I was happy to see that foam finish you would find on an authentic Italian latte—minus the fancy design you would get from most baristas in Italy. So far so good.

Taking my first sip, however, I

was overwhelmed with this milky coffee taste that I would usually anticipate when free-pouring cream into my half-empty coffee cup at my mom’s house — definitely not the espresso taste I was anticipating.

The espresso is hidden in the foam topping, which I just realized makes up half of the cup.

Overall this does not taste like a latte; this tastes more like a triple-triple. That being said, I’m sure if you added an extra espresso shot for $0.70 you could improve this beverage significantly.

The Starbucks in my hometown is busy and crowded as usual, but I managed to find a table to set my belongings down upon as I set up camp, situated nearest to an electrical outlet of course.

I stood in line for five minutes

SHOPPES

New parlour new tricks New ice-cream shop, Scoop Du Jour, shakes things up in Uptown Waterloo with local sources and alcohol option SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR

Amongst the many restaurants, shops and unique places to visit in Uptown Waterloo, a spot to go for ice cream has yet to remain in the core of the town.

This past July 1, however, Scoop Du Jour opened up on 28 King Street North in Waterloo. The food-truck-style ice cream shop is

located right next to Chainsaw.

Scoop Du Jour held its grand opening on Canada Day. For the occasion, the ice cream truck served a special flavour for Canada 150 that featured maple cream cookie chunks and a real maple syrup ripple.

Open daily from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., the newest spot in uptown provides customers with a variety of rotating artisan ice cream

SAFINA HUSEIN/NEWS DIRECTOR

flavours.

Scoop Du Jour means “scoop of the day,” explained Calvin Humphrey, manager of Scoop Du Jour.

The ice cream truck’s main feature is their daily flavour of the day.

“What we try to do is we have a bunch of flavours from different artisan ice cream makers in the area then we change the flavour each day so someone can come and try it for a little less than the regular price,” Humphrey said.

Customers can come to the truck and purchase the flavour of the day in a cup for three dollars, while most other flavours can be purchased for five dollars in a cup.

What makes Scoop Du Jour unique from other ice cream connoisseurs in Kitchener-Waterloo is their focus on sourcing local, Canadian ice cream.

Currently, the ice cream truck receives their local, artisan ice cream from three suppliers, Shaw’s Ice Cream being one.

“We continue to change [our sources] so people can get kind of the best ice cream in the area without having to leave Waterloo,” Humphrey said.

SAFINA HUSEIN/NEWS DIRECTOR

ARTS & LIFE • 29

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 ALCOHOL

LOCAL

Lowlands, Highlands, in between MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

History: a walk in the park MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

“It’s sort of fun to learn what was here in the past,” Janet Seally, manager of information services and local history at the Waterloo Public Library, said regarding the walking tour of Waterloo Park she led on August 12.

Oftentimes, we seem to take our surroundings for granted and we don’t think about local history.

Even us history majors can tend to think of far-off lands rather than our own backyards.

“There’s so much innovation in the region that it’s nice to see the foundation — where it all started,” Jenna Hazzard, an employee of information services and local history at the library, stated.

That could have been why the Waterloo Public Library’s historical walk was so entertaining — we were forced to acknowledge the history that happens all around us and how our university city came to be what it is today.

“People do love walking around and learning history at the same time,” Seally stated. Seally had taken several walking tours in the past, but this was her first-time leading one.

As we learned on the walk, a lot has changed in the 127-year history of the park and, for one thing, everyone seemed to have a lot more fun when there were no safety standards to worry about.

From skating and swimming to massive toboggan hills, Waterloo Park was a massive hit with students and families right from its beginnings.

That, of course, hasn’t changed.

Despite some unsavoury weather, the walk drew quite the crowd and the park was full of life during our trek.

Umbrellas in tow, we marched around the park, hearing stories of noise complaints, sports teams, cannons and even the former resident bear.

It’s no coincidence that the walk happened this summer.

In a year when Canadians are examining our history more thoroughly than ever, the library also picked up on the historical buzz.

There’s so much innovation in the region that it’s nice to see the foundation — where it all started.

-Jenna Hazzard, information services and local history, WPL

“We kind of thought of it as a way to celebrate the 150th of Canada,” said Seally.

This historical walk was one of several that the library thought of and executed this summer.

For those who missed the walk, there’s no need to fret. The history of Waterloo Park is extensive, but it’s manageable due to the resources the library provides.

To learn more about Waterloo’s local history, you can visit the Alice Little History Room at the main

branch of the library during regular library hours.

In addition, there are also many pictures and references online for the public to view.

“Visit anytime and we can show you around and if you’re looking for something in particular, we really focus on Waterloo … so you can do that too,” Seally stated.

Hazzard, who is also a fourthyear Laurier student in English and medieval studies, also encouraged students to use the Laurier archives in the basement of the library.

“I always want people to go down there … there’s lots of cool stuff down there too,” she continued.

For more events like these, as well as other events that the Waterloo Public Library is hosting, more information can be found on their website and social media pages.

The adult program guides are also printed quarterly and can be found in-library or online.

“It’s so close to Laurier too that it’s really easy to get there,” Hazzard continued.

Educational or fun, the library is a great way to get involved in the community without breaking the bank.

It’s not far outside the Laurier bubble and, in my opinion, getting a card is well-worth the Albert Street walk.

All in all, I think Hazzard’s positive message summed up the walking tour the best: “I think it helps you to form an attachment to the place you live when you understand what happened and you want to invest and make it better for the future.”

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

MICHAEL OLIVERI SENIOR COPY EDITOR

The world of Scotch whisky is an intimidating one to enter. You can find its section at any local LCBO, and it will always be stocked with a variety of bottles from various distilleries.

The hobby is hard to enter and is incredibly subjective.

So, how does one navigate the crowded field of Scotch whisky?

Allow me to recommend a few whiskies for you to try if you’re looking for something new and exciting.

Each whisky selected is from a specific whisky producing area of Scotland.

Lowlands The Lowlands is a great place to start because these whiskies are traditionally very light in taste and flavour.

The first whisky to discuss is the Auchentoshan 12-year-old single malt.

This particular whisky is notable for a very fresh taste of assorted fruits — like apples — and distinct oak element. Auchentoshan 12-year-old is a fantastic start to exploring scotch and one that can be easily enjoyed in a casual setting.

Speyside Whiskies from the Speyside region of Scotland can be characterized by rich and sherried notes.

Aberlour 12-year-old single malt is a firm example of how delicious and sweet these whiskies can be.

This whisky has strong tastes of a lovely honey sweetness (coming from the sherry casks used in the aging process) and light spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg.

This is an excellent dessert whisky, perfect for an after dinner treat.

Look at distilleries like Glenfiddich for a more floral and fruity Speyside whisky.

Highlands Transitioning further north we arrive in the Highlands.

This is the largest whisky producing region in Scotland and because of this it is difficult to summarize a general regional style.

This can be part of the fun when exploring whiskies from this

region.

My recommendation is Aberfeldy 12-year-old single malt. This whisky combines vanilla sweetness with orange citrus with a strong baking spice note that shines all the way through.

Aberfeldy 12-year-old is a whisky that can deliver more intense and robust flavours than seen in other whisky regions.

The Islands This region covers a vast amount of island distilleries that all have their own unique taste and profile.

My choice for this region is Highland Park 12-year-old single malt, a whisky from the Isle of Orkney.

Everyone can find something to enjoy in this whisky. There is a creamy lemon citrus taste on the palate, a very light toffee sweetness and ends with a light and fragrant smokiness.

This smoke note comes from the peat used in the production of this whisky.

This whisky is perfect for those who can’t decide what specific flavour they would like, or for those who want a bit of everything.

Islay We arrive finally at the Isle of Islay. Whiskies from this region are known for their incredibly strong peat and smoke notes, a taste almost exclusive to Islay.

My recommendation for Islay (and one of my personal favourites) is Laphroaig Quarter cask single malt.

The taste can best be described as drinking smoke from a campfire mixed with seaweed and some medicinal iodine elements.

Smoke and marine notes dominate throughout. The taste really isn’t for everyone but if you like bold smoky flavour in your whisky; this is the single malt for you. Try it; you might end up loving it.

There’s no reason to believe whisky should be a drink reserved for those with a bourgeois attitude.

With these whisky recommendations in your arsenal, you can now begin your own journey of scotch discovery.

The ones I’ve covered, though I’ve only scratched the surface, are single malts that act as good starting points.

So please do yourself a favour and explore and keep trying new things, you may very well find your new favourite drink.

30 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca

Presidential address graphic design, live broadcasting or any number of other modes of expression, there is a place for you within student publications and I encourage you to find your voice and never be too shy to speak up.

With my time at WLUSP, I was able to have media access to concerts, be on the sidelines of major football games, hear the words of established professors and ultimately gain incredible insight into how the infrastructure of university and the KW community is shaped and affects me as a member of that community.

It is the skills you build by being engaged that will allow you to be successful here and also in any future career route you take along the way. This is your time to explore new venues and pave the path that works best for you.

Unfortunately, there can be a lack of understanding when it comes to just how important of a role each student has in simply being aware with Laurier affairs.

Last year, in a study published

by Laurier Student Poll, students were asked to name the current Students’ Union president with approximately 16 per cent of students being able to do so correctly.

You can see why this is more than a bit problematic.

It seems ridiculous that such a small number of people don’t know the name of a figure so vital in shaping part of their university experience, yet I can admit that in my early days of university I was in the same boat. That’s simply because I didn’t yet appreciate the value of staying informed with the things that effect us so closely.

Once you become integrated within a community, whatever it may be, you ultimately have the responsibility to stay aware and engaged to some degree.

I am by no means saying the only way to do this is by contributing pieces to our publications, but you should never be hesitant to learn about relevant topics or to add to the conversation and challenge us to do better.

We are all here for the same reason and we wish to improve the experience for all of us.

So, during your time at Wilfrid Laurier University always remember that you are a part of a larger community and you can bet we’ll be here to give you a platform and a voice to speak with.

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS PRESIDENT OF WLUSP

I’m Andreas, the 2017-18 president and publisher of Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications.

Throughout my time at Laurier I’ve become heavily involved with various WLUSP publications — such as The Cord — and I have come to appreciate the role that student media plays within any university community.

As a first-year, new to the whole university thing and also as an off campus resident, I was extremely out of the loop with anything that didn’t have to do with my classes. Looking back, that’s a flawed way to get through school because there’s so much that goes into shaping your education and university experience than simply just the classes that you attend — shocking, I know.

The more that I became involved with student publications, the more I began to understand the significance of being engaged and informed.

WLUSP houses nine established publications across the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. This includes an online radio station, two campus newspapers, a community newspaper, an arts and literature magazine, the student planner, two yearbooks and a market research group. Each publication offering a unique outlet to express your voice in a variety of ways. These nine publications all work to one common goal — to offer the Laurier student population a collective voice.

And that is exactly the major objective that student media is tasked with every year.

I myself actively wrote articles and took photos for The Cord, becoming immersed in things that I had no idea even existed. My thirst for knowledge and ability to express myself grew tremendously.

I realized at the time that I wanted photography to be my main source of expression and my skills began to improve.

That was just me though, and whether you’re most comfortable with creating writing, reporting,

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

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Editorial board polarization JAKE WATTS NEWS EDITOR

A change to The Cord this year that readers may notice is the absence of “Unsigned Editorials,” at least from most upcoming issues.

The Unsigned Editorials, appearing on our editorial page, were published weekly with the following descriptor: “These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor.”

Basically, editors would have a group discussion on a given topic while the opinion editor took notes.

Afterward, the opinion editor would compile their notes from the discussion into a brief piece meant to convey the editorial board’s consensus on said topic.

Dropping the Unsigneds was a decision supported by myself and much of The Cord’s 2017-18 team.

Reasons motivating the decision included the difficulty in finding a new important topic each week to discuss and the sometimes

awkward process of discussion that goes into putting the piece together.

It has occurred to me that another pernicious effect of unsigned editorials is that the process of putting them together is an exercise in group polarization among members of The Cord’s editorial board.

Group polarization, an established phenomenon in social psychology, happens when group discussion among a set of individuals with initially shared attitudes leads to each individual developing even stronger attitudes than they began with.

In other words, if a group of people who all have a similar opinion about a topic come together and have a conversation about said topic, they will all walk away from the conversation with an even stronger opinion than they went in with.

It is important to note that the group polarization phenomenon only strengthens the opinions and attitudes that are initially shared by the members of the group. It does not account for the division of a group into two increasingly opposed sides should attitudes not be initially shared.

When The Cord’s editorial board would come together before each issue to prepare the unsigned editorials and each member would

come to the discussion with a set of somewhat similar beliefs, opinions and attitudes, the group polarization phenomenon would begin.

After the ensuing group discussion, rather than coming to an even consensus on whatever topic was being discussed, an opinion perhaps more extravagant than that of any one member emerged and was solidified on the editorial page.

This result, however, does not seem like something to be desired for.

Despite the fact that unsigned editorials are meant to be opinion pieces, the opinions expressed in them may not in practice turn out to representative of the opinions of the people they are meant to represent.

Further than merely being a potentially inaccurate representation of the editorial board’s views on a given topic, the resultant opinions disseminated through The Cord and carried on through the minds of the editorial board members who are a part of unsigned discussions may needlessly intensify discourse around contentious topics.

It is for these reasons, in addition to the aforementioned reasons considered by the rest of the editorial board, that I support the decision to eschew regular unsigned editorials, at least from most upcoming issues.

OPINION • 31

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Opinion For your news, it’s not that buzzworthy OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca

EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR

Recently, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed when I saw a link to a quiz posted by Buzzfeed called, “Choose a Deranged Doll And We’ll Determine Your Very Worst Habit.”

I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but somewhere along the line I fell right into the overhyped and problematic black hole that is BuzzFeed.

The relationship that I have with this site is conflicting. I get sucked into their nonsensical quizzes and fluffy, feel good pieces whenever I see them pop up all over the internet.

Yet, I still can’t ignore their mixed basket of lacking articles and the countless examples of lazy journalism that they share on their numerous social media pages.

It becomes more difficult to merely accept the website’s flaws when there’s an increasing number of YouTube videos being shared titled, “Why I Left BuzzFeed.”

The format typically follows a former employee who sits down in front of a camera to detail all

the reasons why the company is basically garbage, including the ways they completely mistreat and neglect their staff.

Journalistic integrity is not something I would necessarily associate with BuzzFeed either, for that matter.

They continuously run into problems with careless fact checking, poor editing and flat out plagiarizing what they publish.

More often than not, they’re an incredibly biased news source that fails to keep writers opinions out of their articles.

BuzzFeed churns out content the way Forever 21 mass produces their clothes.

Their primary concern seems to be predominately focused on clickbait and what will inevitably drive the most traffic to the website.

I can see the merit behind this method of media production, but it severely hinders their ability to be taken seriously as a reliable source of journalism.

Another problem with their endless stream of publishing is that their more exceptional articles get buried amongst inane horoscope predictions and unending updates about the Kardashians.

Whenever I stumble upon an article from BuzzFeed that is a genuinely well written and immersive, I bookmark it.

It feels like a rarity when I read

through something that looks like it took actual time and effort to create.

Recent standouts that I’ve read have been an article about the fascinatingly morbid Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blancharde case and another engaging body of work that chronicled an anonymous writer’s life of abuse.

Buzzfeed churns out content the way Forever 21 mass produces their clothes.

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

They were detailed, thought provoking and nearly all of the comments on each one were entirely positive, a scarcity with a lot of BuzzFeed articles.

It’s fairly easy to assess that BuzzFeed shouldn’t be a go-to news source for hard hitting journalism.

Their goal is to keep up with what they deem to be the low attention

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Dilemma with Andrew Scheer JACOB BROZ STAFF WRITER

On October 19, 2015, Justin Trudeau, the leader of the Liberal Party at the time, won the election to become Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister.

As demoralized as I was by the defeat of Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party and the man who led Canada through one of the worst financial crises

in modern history, I invited the opportunity for the Conservative Party to choose a new leader.

My political beliefs are guided by a central philosophy: the government is ineffective, inefficient and, all too often, infringes upon personal freedoms that enable economic progress.

This philosophy would most likely place me in the Libertarian camp. However, since the Canadian Libertarian Party lacks the numbers to influence an election, I swing Conservative.

I feel most people are Libertarians. In general, people tend to detest patronization — an act which the federal government is

more than culpable of.

Harper did not fit the bill of a Libertarian. Although his government reduced the General Sales Tax and championed new free trade agreements, the Harper government introduced higher mandatory minimum prison sentences and was mired in scandals involving corrupt political appointees.

Harper met the standards that Conservative voters expect of a Prime Minister, but he did little to dismantle the suffocating apparatus of the federal government.

This brings me to Maxime Bernier. Bernier was one of 14 candidates that vied for the Conservative Party leadership in May 2017.

spans of their readers, constantly providing them with something new, even if it’s an idea that’s been used countless times before.

Former employees have all stated that the company’s spotlight will never truly be on the artistic freedom and ideas of their workers.

They present themselves as an incredibly fun, low-key place to work at, the ideal dream job for any millennial that wants to roll around with puppies and film videos taste testing weird food.

However, when you have a website that consistently runs into

various issues with workers, other content creators and also neglects to edit basic grammar mistakes in articles, their ultra hip image ends up feeling very forced and fake.

I will always be a schmuck when it comes to reading insipid articles about celebrities, or taking a quiz that’s supposed to tell me which Hemsworth brother I should date, but I think it’s beneficial to see a company for what it really is.

BuzzFeed isn’t something you should take too seriously, especially when they don’t even have the content to justify it.

Prior to his leadership run, Bernier served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Harper government and gained national attention for potentially compromising national security by leaving classified documents at the home of his girlfriend, who had links to the Hells Angels Biker Gang in Montreal.

Despite scandal in the past, the platform he ran on was built on free-market principles and the sanctity of individual liberties — a foundation that would make a Libertarian’s mouth water.

Bernier is the Canadian Reagan: He believes that government is the problem, not the solution. His passion for free-market principles is genuine, indicated by his break with the Conservative Party on the issue of supply management.

Essentially, supply management is a government policy to artificially inflate dairy prices at the benefit of dairy farmers while consumers bear the additional cost. His opposition of this policy is all the more courageous given Quebec, his home province, is home to some of Canada’s largest dairy farms.

Unfortunately, even though Bernier stood for the ideals that any true right-leaning party should stand for, he failed to secure the nomination.

Andrew Scheer, former Speaker of the House of Commons and a Saskatchewan MP, won the leadership by a slender margin.

Scheer’s victory is a rejection of courageous conservatism in favour of familiarity.

The media has dubbed Scheer as “Harper 2.0”. In addition to this, he maintains socially conservative stances towards abortion and same-sex marriage — a stance that typically does not resonate with Canada’s socially progressive electorate.

The Conservative Party has made the powerful mistake of embracing the past in order to achieve victory in the future.

Scheer’s victory is a rejection of courageous conservatism in favour of familiarity.

Currently, Trudeau’s Liberals maintain the edge if an election were to be held today. Andrew Scheer and his appeal to the policies of Stephen Harper are unlikely to overcome the Liberal edge.

In our uncertain, ever-changing world, brave and audacious policies — like the ones championed

by Maxime Bernier—are needed to win elections. Hopefully Scheer becomes cognizant of this fact by 2019.

32 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Horse race journalism is taking the lead

Treating politics like sporting events has become normalized, especially since the recent election

This is when the the primary focus of news is on numbers and poll performance as opposed to policy.

This is part of a vain attempt to remain objective, the mindset being “if we report objectively on the numbers then our job is done; people can make up their own minds.”

Obviously striving to be objective should be a primary focus for most journalists, but when the current political climate resembles a dumpster fire more closely than of any sort of respectable government institution, maybes it’s time to say something other than “Trump leads the race.”

By covering the recent US election in an “objective” way, a lot journalists attempted to relieve

themselves of the responsibility of holding Trump accountable for all the stupid shit he says. And as the old adage goes: “no publicity is bad publicity.”

Look at election night in the US in 2016. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox News averaged 12.2 million viewers and CNN averaged 11.2 million viewers watching Trump become president. During all three presidential debates, 74 million people were averaged across all three networks that aired them. To compare this to sports, the last game of the World Series, when the Chicago Cubs won for the first time in 113 years, averaged 40 million viewers.

The point being that the media needs to stop acting like they’re marketing sporting events. Be it the stealing of language, or treating elections like horse races, political platforms are trying to be something they’re not. By attempting to be cool and get high ratings on news channels, it has turned a once respected sector of society into a farcical, bloated source of entertainment.

If, in the end, political institutions are going to be marketed like sporting events driven by ratings, then the next time Uygur and Shapiro debate, I elect that Cenk must pile-drive Ben on stage after being trash talked over his personal beliefs. Only then would a political event truly be a “title match.”

for what he stands for. He actively makes his stances known and regardless of whether or not you agree with him, his affiliations and beliefs are clear.

Johnson, I have noticed, remains consistently mute or vague in comparison regarding noteworthy events.

Though it is not his job to use his Twitter to speak out against white supremacy, if he was serious about becoming president, then he would have to use his commanding voice for more than loosely

worded motivational quips about life.

I also just like living in a world where Dwayne Johnson can be The Rock and not have his name associated with a position of power.

He’s the happy-go-lucky bald guy that doesn’t challenge my positive opinion of him, whose alarm clock app wakes me up in the morning to “hit the iron paradise.”

He’s a bulked up powerhouse that I’m happy to see in an overhyped Fast and Furious movie, but he’s not president material.

JOSH GOEREE STAFF WRITER

At the end of July, the political equivalent to Comic-Con, rightly called “Politicon,” took place in California.

Events ranged from movies, to guest speakers, to heated debates between members of the left and the right. One of the main events was the debate between progressive superstar Cenk Uygur, co-creator of The Young Turks and Ben Shapiro, the editor of The Daily Wire, host of The Ben Shapiro Show and a social justice warrior’s worst nightmare.

Typically with a political debate, the atmosphere is kind of eye-rolling, boring and “meh.” Instead, this debate was pumped up like the fight between Mayweather and McGregor.

Cenk Uygur, in a video before the debate, called it a “title match” with a conservative “heavyweight.”

Snapchat stories show Ben Shapiro getting off the bus like an NFL player before a game and the crowd going nuts between points that were being shot back and forth.

This small example of “pumped

ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR

up politics,” shows that they are trying to act like sporting events.

Politics trying to emulate sporting events is like my 84-year-old Dutch grandmother trying to play Call of Duty: it’s just odd.

One key way politicians attempt to achieve this is through language.

Going back to the Uygur-Shapiro debate; the words that were used to describe Ben Shapiro.

Shapiro is not a “heavyweight.”

Heavyweight is defined by Dictionary.com as “heavy in weight,” or “of more than average weight and thickness.” Ben Shapiro is a small, skinny, white guy from California. He is a brilliant conservative commentator and attorney, but he

is not a heavyweight.

Politics utilizes language from sports to make it sound more entertaining than it actually is.

Heavyweight, title match, game plan, slam dunk or “home Run for money in politics” according to an MSNBC anchor.

To average people, politics is supposed to be boring. Someone attempting to explain politics is like an IT guy explaining why a computer system crashed; most people simply lack the interest to fully understand it.

One thing that has been successful at making politics accessible to the general population — for better or worse — is a phenomenon known as “horse race journalism.”

Dwayne Johnson gets political EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a famous figure that has gained widespread notoriety for not only being a box office powerhouse and HBO star, but an insatiably likeable good guy to boot.

He’s come a long way from his poorly animated appearance as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns, a 2001 sequel that pretty much jump started his acting career.

Currently, his Instagram account boasts over 92 million followers alone, featuring his perfectly white, chivalrous smile in nearly every post that he shares.

The Rock is the epitome of a loveable tough guy, his “blood, sweat and respect” motto being used as a motivational mantra by his legions of inspiration-hungry fans.

It’s hard not to like him. He represents the hard working, do-gooding American that people want to see in the limelight.

With a seemingly spotless persona and a never-ending work ethic that only aims to prove his worthiness as an impeccable celebrity, it would seem to many that he’s made to be a presidential

candidate in the next election.

In an appearance alongside Tom Hanks, Johnson dramatically opened Saturday Night Live for the fifth time, booming to an applauding audience, “Starting tonight, I am running for the president of the United States!”

There have been countless rumours about his potential presidency run, fuelled by the media and by the man himself. He’s plugged this allusion into several interviews and social media captions, dubiously stating that he wouldn’t “rule it out.”

The idea of Dwayne Johnson becoming president doesn’t sound completely ludicrous, especially given the state of American politics as of late. He’s said it himself: he could be the relatable president that everyone needs.

Johnson’s charisma is undeniable and the dedication he has to his fans is an aspect that makes him so magnetically charming.

He may be able to serve up a slew of wise cracks in a summer blockbuster alongside Kevin Hart and jump out of an exploding car with barely a scratch, but his qualifications don’t go beyond his entertainment status and being able to, in his words, “Lift heavy shit.”

Regardless of the public image he presents, I have my doubts that he would be the best choice for a role that isn’t in an action movie.

At this point, I think Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a better

fit for the job, regardless of whether or not he could actually run for it.

Though they share similarities in their attitudes towards pumping iron and their testosterone-fuelled mindsets about success, Arnold has actual political experience. The 38th Governor of California was in office from 2003-2011.

... I have my doubts that he would be the best choice for a role that isn’t in an action movie.

He may be a widely known namesake because of his bodybuilding and acting career, but I’ll give him credit where credit is due.

He has a background that’s actually relevant for the position.

I never thought I’d be promoting Mr. Universe, of all people, to run a country. Yet, when he’s matched against the voice of a Disney character who has no political involvement to speak of, I’ll take my chances.

To give another point to Arnold, he continuously stays involved with ongoing issues and uses his social media accounts as platforms

ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR

OPINION • 33

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Is your heart in it?

ALAN LI/FILE GRAPHIC CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Checking your privilege MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

What happened in Charlottesville a few weeks ago, unfortunately, came as no real surprise to me.

These days, it’s popular to stand up for what you believe in. And it’s easier to believe in a cause when you seem like an underdog.

The protesters, or “weekend Nazis” as the world sees them (myself included), believe that they are having their rights, history and status taken away from them.

They’re playing the victim in a race struggle to which they play an extremely scary part.

When you’re actively looking for somewhere to play the victim, that’s when you’re showing your privilege the most.

People who have to live with their lack of privilege don’t have the option to play the victim because that is just a part of their everyday lives.

If you’re uncomfortable with your privilege, it’s because you probably should be.

Make yourself feel better by addressing the issues, rather than trying to make yourself seem like you don’t have privilege in the first place.

I think the most well-known example of a real group being victimized because of their lack of privilege, and one that’s still extremely relevant today, is that of

the Holocaust.

Hitler and his Nazi Party attempted to strip the rights, history and status of the Jewish people.

They weren’t just trying to kill them — they were trying to make sure that they would have no way to survive and no culture to return to if they did.

That’s what these “white supremacists” believe is happening to them. Of course, it sounds ridiculous when you say it like that, but it’s ridiculously true.

They’re equating the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue with a Star of David that must be worn in plain sight, but they feel that their way of life is being threatened.

In short, the world is finally changing, white privilege is finally starting to be acknowledged, and these weekend Nazis are scared of what will happen to their status at the top of the racial food chain as other groups attempt to make the world more equitable.

But, of course, because they don’t have to be identified by any marker at any time, they can get away with being just weekend Nazis. They expect to go back to work or school on the Monday afterwards.

Here’s the bottom line. Jewish people couldn’t just change their religion when it was convenient.

Black people don’t stop being black on Mondays. Disabled people can’t just walk away from their disabilities to an office job waiting for them after they’ve finished protesting for their rights.

That’s the epitome of privilege and it should be made an example of. Their privilege is that they can

play the victim when it’s convenient for them, but be secure and safe every other moment of the day.

And that’s something we should all learn from.

Everyone has something that they are privileged with and a privilege that they don’t have. No one is a poster-child for privilege because we all have things that bring us down systematically.

They’re playing the victim in a race struggle to which they play an extremely scary part.

You may not be a Nazi or anything close to it. You may not protest or demonstrate. But it’s never “nice” to be lacking privilege.

Acknowledge your discomfort with your privilege being questioned. Listen to people who aren’t like you. Don’t think that being called out because of your privilege somehow makes you the victim.

If you think that it’s nice to be a victim of the system, you are a part of the problem and part of what makes the people at Charlottesville think that they are underdogs.

None of that should be okay.

KURTIS RIDEOUT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I was driving in my car listening to Life After Death, the posthumous masterpiece by The Notorious B.I.G., when I had an epiphany of sorts. It happened about two thirds of the way through track 20, “Sky’s the Limit (feat. 112),” a masterpiece I should add; right at the end of the final verse.

“Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart’s in it / And live the phrase “Sky’s the limit.”

The most important part here to me being the “only make moves when your heart’s in it,” bit. It’s a pretty ambiguous statement, but when applied generally I feel like it captures the true meaning of existence. Bear with me.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a while, but I always knew that writing was something that moved me. Better yet, I was always pretty okay at it, too, but it wasn’t until I was like 20 — halfway through my undergrad — that I realized deadlines and stress and Canadian Press style are all appealing to me.

Up to this point of realization I have to admit I was fully confused about what life was about —and that’s not to say I have things figured out at this point.

But once I came to the conclusion that I wanted to actively pursue a career in journalism — that it was even a possibility — everything kind of just fell into place.

My own personal advice is to figure out your thing — and just to clarify, “your thing” isn’t just what your parents/guardians think is best for you. I was lucky enough

to have parents who encouraged my creativity and tried their best to understand it. For someone to pressure a developing mind into anything is kind of ridiculous.

I get that it is important to push your kids and that the intent is usually not malicious at all, but I’ve watched people crash and burn under this pressure, trying in vain to conform to an obviously ill-fitting mold.

Maybe you will spiral into debt trying to figure out what you love to do, but at the end of the day it’s better than having to wonder about what could have been. I think that what life is really about finding the thing that moves you — the thing that touches your soul.

We are all on the same journey; we might start at different places, but at the end of the day we just want something to fill the gaps between bedtime that won’t make us dread waking life.

I get it, though. If you are reading this, you are probably not all that different from me and your parents probably made it perfectly clear to you from a young age that post-secondary school was an option.

You are privileged enough to be here, as am I. This is something I struggle with internally; I am lucky as fuck to even have the opportunity to chase a dream.

But that doesn’t mean that I have to sit here and feel bad about it. Acknowledge it, move forward; as long as you don’t take advantage of it and waste your time partying and chasing a degree that means nothing to you.

If you are in the business program but you want to be a rock star, I think it’s fair to say you wont be truly happy until you are strumming a guitar or whatever it is you like to do.

Failure is putting on a mask and telling people that you love the job you hate.

34 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Kathryn Bigelow’s problematic storytelling CHRIS LUCIANTONIO STAFF WRITER

The reception of Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, which dramatizes the 1962 Detroit riots, has been thus far split between white and black film critics.

While one side was quick to heap praise onto Bigelow’s latest controversial thriller, a minority of voices in the film criticism community took immediate umbrage with Bigelow’s presumptuousness in tackling such a racially charged story as a white woman.

Angelica Bastien, when writing for RogerEbert.com, called it “directed, written, produced, shot, and edited by white creatives who do not understand the weight of the images they hone in on with an unflinching gaze.”

Understandably, Bigelow has proven herself as a director to champion and promote, especially this year, when the absence of

female directors in the mainstream has become impossible to ignore.

Being the only woman to this date to garner an Oscar for direction, the unanimous support that this production received all through its development doesn’t necessarily shock me, but I am mildly surprised that her involvement didn’t raise eyebrows from the start.

This stark discrepancy in audience reception points to a teachable moment of the 12th Street Riot of Detroit that was adapted to cinema. What exactly in Kathryn Bigelow’s background — as a Californian who would have been only sixteen years in age when this event occurred — would make her qualified to cover such a bleak moment in America’s history of race relations?

Unlike her other projects wherein the anchoring point was reliably a white male or female of middle class origin, Detroit places the focus on black characters, something Bigelow has not dealt with at a starring capacity since Angela Bassett’s leading role in 1995’s Strange Days.

Having now witnessed her attempt, the results were decidedly

mixed, but I found myself agreeing with the opposing critics I referenced earlier.

Bigelow embodies the event that took place, but it’s undeniable that her understanding is based around shock value and audience manipulation.

Her representation of racial violence was visceral, but ultimately unjustified and deeply problematic in a tone-deaf way.

Her representation of racial violence was visceral, but ultimately unjustified and deeply problematic in an unshakably tone-deaf way. It was obvious to most in the audience that what we saw was presented by someone who just plain didn’t “get it.”

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

The failure of Detroit is a reminder that the person telling the story has a huge affect on its reception. Bigelow, even with her attention to accuracy and detail, proved ill-equipped for the greater implications and meanings of the story she shared. What the film needed was someone behind the camera more adept to sensitive portrayals of black characters.

Is it so uncalled for to state that Bigelow was not the right person to tell this story? That a director more savvy — preferably of colour — would have done the event more justice?

From the point of view of an observer — particularly one who

has paid attention to Bigelow’s career — nothing immediately points to her capability of handling such a controversial, inflammatory subject. I’m reminded of the fight over Malcolm X, where the initial decision to have Norman Jewison direct — as opposed to Spike Lee, who ended up taking on the project — was met with public outcry.

Despite the strong focus on historical accuracy, Detroit still ended up feeling inauthentic because of the person behind the camera.

Filmmakers need to understand the limits of their own creative potential; whether or not they can tell a story supersedes whether or not they should.

Eyes ahead so you’re not dead Distracted driving is never worth the risk it poses to safety

VIDISH PARIKH STAFF WRITER

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

September is by far my favourite month. It seems like the perfect way to end off a pleasant summer — at the very least a far better transition than any of those cold, wintery nights could be.

Be that as it may, it also marks a busy time of year. As we return to

school, the number of cars on the roads will increase. There will also be more people getting off school buses and crossing streets.

This means that we need to talk about distracted driving and how to avoid it when — come September — there will be a lot of moving parts in each of our lives.

There are quite a few sources of distraction out there. The most obvious being our cell phones and by extension, social media.

Don’t text while you are driving.

Just don’t do it. I think we as students can sometimes become carried away.

There is a tendency to act like we are invincible. We have this notion that we can get away with things like texting and not paying attention like it’s no big deal.

Well, in case you didn’t know, it is a big deal. It can have a tremendous impact on your ability to stay focused on the road. So yes, really, that text you just got while you were driving can wait.

You can check your social media later and if that phone call is so important, I suggest you find a safe place to pull over before you make the call.

For right now, keep both hands on the wheel and keep your eyes forward.

I know what some people might be thinking, one text or phone call can’t hurt. After all, it’s just one.

That’s where you are wrong.

Even if you think your focus isn’t being affected, you are being subconsciously distracted.

If your car has hands-free technology, take advantage of it, but don’t use it as a means to defend your persistent distracted driving habits. In other words, a handsfree system won’t be very helpful

if you continually reach for your phone to look up addresses while you are driving.

The start of the school year means there’s also a higher tendency to consume alcohol. If you choose to drink, don’t drive.

Don’t be careless. Plan ahead for alternative ways to get to wherever you need to go. Remember, you are responsible for your own actions.

...if that phone call is so important, I suggest you find a safe place to pull over before you make the call.

The burden falls on each and every one of us to avoid distractions, but also to report them if we see them.

There is really no excuse for being distracted behind the wheel.

However, in my view, busier times of the year are when we are most susceptible to errors in judgment.

I think I like September the most because it’s a month where I can hit that metaphorical refresh button. It’s a fresh start for all of us.

We can take this opportunity to make a conscious decision to

recognize any poor driving habits we may have.

Like any other bad habit, it will require you to make a lifestyle change first.

OPINION • 35

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

Memes and their legacy

FANI HSEIH/CORD ALUM ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Cartoon perspective EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR

“D’oh!” was added to the Oxford Dictionary of English in 1998. It’s an exclamation of frustration that is universally associated with The Simpsons and recognized as the catchphrase of loveable dimwit Homer Simpson. It’s a definitive example of the impact that cartoons have had on pop culture history.

As a little kid, along with my “normal” arsenal of television shows that I would regularly watch, The Simpsons was always at the top of my list. I loved it. It was something that my dad allowed me to put on when my mom was at work and she eventually gave up fighting its influence over me when she realized her attempts were fruitless.

The value that these cartoons have don’t begin and end at their crude humour, silly plot lines or ridiculous one liners.

For as long as I can remember, cartoons like The Simpsons, Futurama and King of the Hill were staples on my journey from overly talkative, curious child, to very opinionated adult. They were essential entertainment staples that I could never get sick of and I ended up gaining something valuable from the episodes that I would tune in to watch each week.

I heavily related to Lisa Simpson and admired everything that she stood for. I marveled at Bobby Hill’s unshakable confidence, I envied Leela’s independence and I endlessly wondered what Kenny looked like without his iconic orange coat.

They sparked my interest in numerous things that I love today, from music to books to movies.

Catching an episode of The Simpsons pretty much ensured that I was subject to countless references that would peak my curiosity if I didn’t understand them. Without the constant bombardment of historical allusions, countless

guest stars and political jokes, I likely wouldn’t have had the same exposure to pop culture knowledge that I did.

The unexpected heart that beats inside these cartoons is my favourite element about them. I can honestly say that I’ve cried more than I’d like to admit over certain episodes of these animated gems, in a way that I haven’t with other movies or television shows.

The first time I saw the Futurama episode “Jurassic Bark,” the emotional fallout I experienced watching Fry’s beloved dog Seymour wait twelve years for him before he died, was indescribable.

Seeing Homer tearfully wish his mother goodbye for the second time and look wistfully up at the stars in “Mother Simpson,” still gets me no matter how many times I watch it.

The value that these cartoons have don’t begin and end at their crude humour, silly plot lines or ridiculous one liners. They are a small part of the larger impression they leave on their audiences and entertainment as a whole.

The social commentary of South Park, evolved my understanding of what satire really was and what it looked like when it was done right.

They touched on issues almost no other television show would even attempt to use for humour and they continue to do it well.

I have an unending fondness for Hank Hill and his love of lawn care. He’s a stereotypical Texan with simple tastes, but he loves his family and he grows to accept his somewhat peculiar son. These simple values are entwined into nonsensical stories like Peggy sneaking Hank extra testosterone to give him more energy.

It’s television at its finest when I’m able to grow attached to animated characters and still laugh through their 20 minutes of screen time.

The legacy that cartoons will leave and have left, is incomparable to almost anything else on television. Globally recognizable and iconic in their own right, these are the creations that will inevitably be remembered for years to come, regardless of whether you enjoy them or not.

Rather than being a poor influence on me growing up, I somehow managed to learn something from them and shape my own sense of humour through the jokes that I heard. Episodes of The Simpsons may not be up to snuff with what they once were, but I can safely say that I’ll never lose that familiar feeling of fondness when I hear the theme’s opening notes and see the famous family crowding onto the couch.

MICHAEL OLIVERI SENIOR COPY EDITOR

I think a large majority of people are familiar with what a meme is, but it’s doubtful many of us could define what exactly it is. Our classification of a meme will vary from person to person. Most will say memes are some form of joke seen on the internet; however, they aren’t restricted to the online world.

Many, including myself, repeat and imitate memes to everyone else’s disappointment and annoyance.

Memes are so prevalent and widespread that they can be seen on everything from clothing, to references in movies and television shows.

This raises the question of what memes say about us and our generation. I believe that memes will be our legacy and I think this is a good thing.

One beneficial thing memes have going for them, is their ability to bring people together. Memes have created large communities — not just limited to the internet — of people who are incredibly passionate about them.

Do a quick search on Facebook for meme groups and you’ll see what I mean.

They even get oddly specific, from groups dedicated to “stolen,” Vaporwave and “A E S T H E T I C” memes, to ones centered around philosophy.

Memes have created tight-knit, niche communities which have inadvertently connected people around the world through their passion for them.

These connections can be vital in allowing people to be social, without being physically near others. It’s healthy to be social, right?

This leads into how positive memes can be, specifically when encouraging and developing creativity within groups of people.

Memes have consistently demonstrated what creativity people have, while also saying something about their particular sense of humour.

Memes have created tight-knit, niche communities which have inadvertently connected people around the world...

Whether or not you find them funny, there is certainly an audience for them — an audience that continues to encourage their cultivation and circulation.

Creativity is nurtured online through this medium, shaping a new generation of designers that could potentially put their talents into jobs of the digital world.

While it takes a completely separate discussion to determine what constitutes tasteful, politically

correct humour, it can still be said that artistry is developed through various memes, regardless.

Another aspect of memes that I think will have a lasting impact on this generation, will be their new function as a news source.

Many events can be seen in memes extremely quickly after they happen.

An example of this being the events that happened in Charlottesville, Virginia in mid-August.

Updates surrounding the deaths of protesters and escalation of violence were just as quickly spread by memes as they were on the news.

Since a great number of people now directly get their information about the world online via sites like Facebook, these memes can often be the first look people get into world events.

Whether you believe this is valuable or not, it is an astounding change nonetheless. We live in a world where people can get news and updates directly from an online, picture-based medium, showing just how far we’ve come.

The argument can be made that the above points are invalid, misguided even.

Some may say that memes are not a great, new form of communication due to the potential harm that they can cause.

I agree that memes can be challenging due to their content, but I don’t believe that it takes away from the power of the — dare I call it — art-form.

Memes have risen to such a sophisticated plane of being, that this generation will certainly be remembered for them, if nothing else.

36 •

Sports

FITNESS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 SPORTS EDITOR PRANAV DESAI sports@thecord.ca

FITNESS

The September struggle to stay healthy

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR

The transition from August to September is difficult for many university students.

A four month break from studying is not easy to overcome, even if most people are working during the summer.

The university mindset is much different and students often find themselves falling behind in the first month of the school year.

Although many people may describe this as simply “going through the motions,” there are several solutions to this problem; none more important than maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“We do see a lot of students who are struggling with mental illness, students who feel that their mental health is not where they like it to be,” said Julie Gamble, a mental health nurse at the Wilfrid Laurier University Student Wellness Centre.

“I usually look at the big picture, like their lifestyle and which aspects they can improve on. Whether it’s instead of medication or with medication, fitness is always a key piece to health and a key part of recovery from mental illness,” she added. This problem of a lack of physical activity is compounded during exam time.

Students often make statements such as “I’m going to spend 12 hours in the library today,” without realizing how much that actually

harms their mental health.

Gamble mentioned the inefficiency of students and how they can make better use of their time.

“People always tell me that they don’t have time. But when you look at it, they’re spending their time reading the same chapter four times over and still not understanding it,” Gamble said.

“So instead of doing that they could have gone for a walk, or a run, gone to the gym and then focus on the chapter and spend less time overall.”

The other side of this equation, healthy eating, is just as important as staying fit. People are quick to mention how expensive healthy food can be, but that does not mean that they should resort to junk food.

Although it may seem convenient for students due to how inexpensive it is and how much time they save by avoiding cooking, Gamble pointed out how crucial it is to resist that urge.

“There’s a few different options.

If they live with other people, often doing group meal preps are

It’s not just ‘Oh I can’t eat healthy food, so I’m going to eat junk food,’ there’s an in-between.

-Julie Gamble, mental health nurse

really helpful. In the seasons that allow it in Canada, there are some community gardens where you can get heathy food for very little or no money,” said Gamble.

“If they don’t live with others, I tell them to look at their meal prep, to look at what they do have available and then make the best out of the situation,” Gamble said.

“It may not always be the optimal choice, but it may be a better choice. It’s not just ‘Oh I can’t eat healthy food, so I’m going to eat junk food’, there’s an in-between.”

RECREATION

Staying your fittest for free MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

This September, getting involved at the athletic complex has never been easier.

“Our Group-X classes, intramurals, dance classes and rock wall are all paid for separately from the membership, but then everyone is free to come and use the gym with their OneCard,” Stef Kubacki, recreation assistant, explained.

However, for the week starting Sept. 11, these activities have no charge for all students to try.

“Try anything you want. You don’t know if you like it until you try it,” Jennifer O’Neill, manager of recreation and facilities, encouraged.

Some activities, like Positive Pulse on Sept. 5, are only available to those with an O-Week ticket.

These activities, aimed at first years, should be an excellent opportunity to see what the Athletic Complex has to offer in terms of activities and opportunities.

For first years, Monday and Wednesday evenings will also be orientations to the athletic complex.

But free activities like classes and the rock wall are free for all students to try before being able to pay an early-bird rate for their passes, regardless of their academic year.

The Athletic Complex is committed to being as welcoming to all students as possible and the staff

stress the benefits of staying active along with your academic life.

Kubacki even claims that getting involved and staying active can improve academic performance.

“Working out doesn’t have to be a compromise between choosing to work out or choosing to study,” she explained.

“It’s a beneficial part of helping you focus, get some relaxation and relieving stress.”

If dance classes, Group-X and the rock wall don’t seem as interesting to you, maybe picking up a sport might be.

Intramurals can be for people who just want to pick up a new sport.

-Jennifer O’Neill, Manager of Recreation and Facilities

During the same week as the free activities, on Sept. 12 at 8:00 p.m., there will also be an intramural open house and hiring fair for the referees and other staff for the intramural season.

“It’s a tight turnaround, so come join us,” O’Neill stated.

Fall sports include softball,

inner tube water polo, European handball, dodgeball, volleyball, ball hockey, ice hockey, soccer, bouldering, squash, badminton, cricket, table tennis, basketball and wallyball.

“Wallyball is kind of like a volleyball game, but it’s played in the squash courts. It’s three on three and [the players] can use the walls to bounce,” Kubacki explained.

Though volleyball still seems to remain the most popular intramural sport, according to O’Neill, badminton also saw a rise last year, especially in female students.

For almost all leagues of intramural sports, you don’t need a group to play. “Free agents” are either placed on pre-existing teams or grouped together to form their own team.

“One of my happiest moments is when that free-agent team stays together for multiple leagues,” O’Neill stated.

This, of course, suggests that these sports aren’t just for staying fit, but they can also create lasting friendships and countless memories. And not all intramural leagues are the same, either.

Depending on the sport, there can be several different leagues, ranging from people wanting to pick up a new skill to those who are very experienced and don’t want to lose the skills they gained throughout high school.

“Don’t think of intramurals as the most hardcore-involved sports people ever. Intramurals can be for people who just want to pick up a

MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

new sport,” O’Neill explained.

For more information, the athletic complex social media pages will be continually updated with deadlines, promotions and reminders.

“Don’t be hesitant! There is so much to join,” Kubacki encouraged.

She also stressed that there is a fit for everyone at the complex —

from competitive dancer to firsttime gym patrons.

Along with the free activities, there will also be representatives from the Athletic Complex giving tours.

Whether you’re in fourth year looking for a new hobby or a first year looking to learn about the campus, now is a great time to find out how you can get active.

SPORTS • 37

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 FOOTBALL

Golden Hawks soar to opening day victory The team managed an easy sweep win over University of Toronto in their first game of the season PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR

The Hawks began their Yates Cup title defense with an emphatic win over the University of Toronto in their opening game.

Led by defensive lineman Rashari Henry, the Hawks proved their defensive prowess throughout the game as they managed to shut out the Toronto offense, winning by a final score of 39-0.

Henry was a standout for the Hawks, as the Ottawa native racked up a sack, tackle for loss, as well as a pass break-up on a deep pass, all in the first quarter. “I thought our defense was outstanding. They played very well, obviously shut out Toronto’s offense. Offensively there’s a lot for us to cleanup, but I’m happy with the win,� head coach, Michael Faulds said after the game.

On offense, the Hawks managed to keep a very balanced attack and their patient approach paid dividends as the game progressed into the second half.

Although the passing attack looked inconsistent at times, especially during the first half, quarterback Michael Knevel was

TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR

able to find his rhythm in the third quarter. “You could kind of tell it looked like the first week. As the game went along you could tell both our passing and rushing attack was definitely better in the second half,� Faulds said.

The run game gained momentum in the second half as the Hawks built a sizeable advantage.

The Hawks tried to test the Varsity Blues secondary a number of times in the second half by throwing it deep downfield and although they were unsuccessful, this opened up the underneath routes.

A particular highlight was his connection with receiver Carson Ouellette in the second half, as they linked up for a 52-yard touch-

down, increasing Laurier’s lead to 25-0.

Both ‘thunder and lightning’, as described by coach Faulds were able to knife through the Toronto defense and gained some important first downs.

The Hawks’ special team’s unit was very impressive as well.

Laurier was a consistent threat on kick returns and the offense was

constantly set up in favorable field position. “Special teams-wise, we had some outstanding returns. Kudos to the entire unit,� Faulds said. “We can definitely build off [of ] this.�

Next up for the Hawks is a much needed bye week early in the season, as this game had no shortage of injuries.

After the bye, Laurier gets Carleton, a team that gave them a lot of trouble last year.

The two teams dueled it out in a nail-biter last fall, as the Hawks were able to escape with a 17-16 victory.

Faulds was quick to mention what the Hawks needed to improve on over the next couple of weeks. “Offensive execution: we’ve got to get a lot better. We got to clean that up, but we have to improve in all phases. As a coach you look more at the negatives than the positives,� Faulds said. “So it’s a good time for a bye week, get healthy and clean a lot of this up.�

It won’t be easy for the Hawks to go 2-0, but with a fast start in their opening game, the team seems to have picked up right where they left off last year.

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38 •

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

FOOTBALL

Golden Hawks ready to defend Yates Cup DANIEL JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

The Laurier men’s football team looks to build upon the incredible Yates Cup run they had last season.

When a program competes at this level, improvement becomes a constant necessity, as each OUA team has been working hard to push the needle further and further in order to find success this season.

“Our veteran players that all returned are very hungry and eager to work to take a step further than we did last year,” head coach, Michael Faulds said.

Faulds also noted that they have added approximately 30 players to the team, all of which are meshing well with returning players.

Young players have to fill roles and provide depth every year and this year is no outlier. “There have been some young players flashing and I’ll start by saying we have so many returning vets that there’s no pressure to play first years,” Faulds said.

The reality of running an OUA program is that players leave.

You spend some time developing players, they play and then they have to leave, so development becomes key and next man up becomes more than a cliché.

With departures of key players Kwaku Boateng and Nakas Onyeka, the defense has the task of replacing some very high caliber players.

Kwaku’s skill at rushing the passer racked up sacks, quarterbacks hits and allowed the defense to cover for far less time.

Nakas’ skill at getting off blocks and chasing down running backs kept opposing offences off schedule and in unfavourable down and distance.

Coach Faulds is no stranger to roster turnover either. “You lose a couple good players every year and those more senior players kind of rise to the occasion to become leaders,” he said.

Replacing departed players is something Faulds and his staff have faced before.

“When we lost Chris Ackie … and some of those guys in the past, it’s like ‘what’s Laurier going to do?’ The key for us is the competition and depth within the roster and we continue to have guys that are ready when we have some nice senior guys depart.”

Quarterbacks have to be leaders and more importantly, they have to be analytical players on the field.

In addition, they direct the players on the field with the immense details of motion, snap counts, etc.

FILE PHOTO/ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS

This is why development is so important for the position and repetitions are key.

This is Michael Knevel’s first full offseason as the starter and this means more reps with the starters, which will improve their chemistry as a unit.

“As a quarterback it’s all about timing and continuity within an offense … he’s got some really dangerous weapons and receivers and in the backfield at running back, you got a good veteran, solid offensive line in front of him. So

you can see it at practice, Michael’s in complete control,” Faulds said.

The Faulds regime is going into its fifth year and every year it has seen improvement.

“Culture. We kind of set it in the first year but I think there’s just more familiarity now,” Faulds said, stressing the importance of a strong, set culture to the teams success.

“This is the first season that I’ve been here where every single player was recruited by our coaching staff, so there are no old regime

players. Every single player knows from day one they stepped on this campus what the culture and everything they were stepping into.”

Faulds notes the momentum the program has gained each year and think this year should be no different.

“It’s not a team that’s won a Yates Cup that’s going to glow around and wear t-shirts all around, parade the Yates cup around. It’s a hungry group that’s constantly reminded of the 36-6 score we had at Laval.”

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Kiviaho makes Team Canada Former Hawk to participate in Ringette Championships PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR

LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

The annual World Ringette Championships take place this winter and Wilfrid Laurier University is going to be well represented, as former Golden Hawk, Erika Kiviaho, has been named to the Team Canada squad.

The women’s hockey alumna spoke about her achievement in a recent interview.

“It’s definitely a big accomplishment for me, making the national team at this scale. Even though I have been making teams throughout my life, when you get to this level, it’s a special feeling,” she said.

Kiviaho saw tremendous success during her time at Laurier, as the Hawks were able to reach the playoffs every year during her career, including being crowned OUA champions in 2014.

That type of consistency is very hard to come by and although hockey is a team sport, Kiviaho was a major part of those Golden Hawk teams.

Kiviaho credited the people around her when asked about what worked for her off the ice.

“I have always gotten a lot of support from family and friends. I think that’s always been the biggest key for my individual success and because of them I have always been able to push myself to get bet-

ter every day. I’ve also been very fortunate to be on great teams with amazing teammates and coaching staffs that have helped me become a better player,” she said.

In addition to her accomplishments at Laurier, Kiviaho has also won a gold medal in ringette for Team Ontario in the 2011 winter games.

The Whitefish native also played ringette with the Richmond Hill Lightning while she was studying psychology and playing hockey at Laurier.

During her time with the Lightning, Kiviaho added to her accolades with a silver medal victory at the National Ringette League.

Kiviaho pointed out the fact that although the two sports seem very similar, there is a bigger contrast than one can notice.

“Both sports are played on ice, but the difference in rules actually makes them more different than you would think. Balancing hockey and ringette was tough, but looking back on it, I think doing both was well worth it.”

It’s easy to see why Kiviaho was named to the Team Canada squad, as it takes a great amount of commitment and hard work to play two sports at a competitive level, all while studying for an undergraduate degree.

Transitioning from playing on a provincial level to playing for Team Canada is not an easy task

for anyone.

But Kiviaho has proven that she has the work ethic to be successful, even on a bigger stage.

“I think being nervous is natural, especially at this level,” she said.

“I’ve played in important games in the past, but obviously this is bigger than anything I’ve been a part of.”

Balancing hockey and ringette was tough, but looking back on it, I think it was well worth it.

-Erika Kiviaho, Laurier alumna

Despite the pressure, Kiviaho plans to power through training in order to prepare for the tournament.

“It’s definitely going to be difficult,” she said. “But I think just practicing as much as possible and getting my mindset ready before the championships will help me deal with the nerves.”

SPORTS • 39

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 CRICKET

Newest club on campus

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

GARRISON OOSTERHOF WEB DIRECTOR

Cricket can now be added to the list of Laurier club sports this year.

The Laurier Cricket Club is the direct result of several years of development lead by Abdul Rehman Naeem. When Naeem came to Laurier, he found a substantial cricket fan base among students.

At that time, there were no cricket teams at Laurier but now students can participate in intramural and club cricket.

Three years ago, Waterloo’s com-

munity cricket league was the only option for cricket players at Laurier. Sunrise Cricket — a recreational league — was the popular alternative for current students rather than make the trip to London or Toronto for league matches.

At Sunrise, Naeem found a community of cricket players, support for taking cricket to the next level and the opportunity to make cricket more accessible for Laurier students.

Many intramurals and sports clubs require almost exclusive student planning and organization.

Naeem took the initiative to promote and recruit students and gathered a strong enough following for an indoor cricket intramural league of four coed teams.

He also orchestrated friendly

indoor matches between Laurier, Western, Waterloo and McMaster.

The Laurier Cricket Club is the direct result of several years of development lead by Abdul Reham Naeem.

With growing participation, Naeem addressed the Laurier Athletics department in the hopes of making cricket a club sport.

Through the Laurier Athletic

department, Naeem secured the necessary equipment from MB Malik International in Pakistan and secured jerseys from a local sponsor Abdullah Lawendy.

By this time, news of Naeem’s drive to grow cricket in Canada had reached the Canadian College Cricket league (CCC).

The President of the CCC, Hassan Mirza, had only praise for the Laurier student.

He was quick to remark that Laurier has done a fantastic job promoting the sport and providing opportunity for people of colour who share a vision for cricket.

The Laurier Cricket Club is one of ten universities and colleges that make up the The Canadian College Cricket league.

The majority of the matches

are played in various indoor and outdoor cricket championships as well in league play.

Throughout the year, the results of matches and the participation of students is recorded and the CCC ranks the teams based on performance.

Teams participating in the inter-school league play provincial championships and the indoor league have a combined score that determines the standings for the National Championships.

The CCC also launched a summer league where Laurier Cricket Club is currently playing.

Abdul Naeem’s remarkable effort has greatly advanced the cricket influence in Ontario and connected Laurier cricket fans to the sport that they love.

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