THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 61 ISSUE 3 • NOVEMBER 3, 2021
TAKING IT ONE POINT AT A TIME
COUNSELLORS ON CAMPUS
36 YEARS OF ROCKY HORROR
THE UNSEEN STRUGGLE
TRUMP SPARKS CONTROVERSY
BACK ON THE COURT
Wellness Centre offers support to BIPOC students
Princess Cinemas hosts local tradition
Exploring the impact of ADHD on women
Former President makes social enterprise
Women’s basketball team ready for season
News, page 3
Arts & Life, page 12
Features, page 8
Opinion, page 14
Sports, page 16
2 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
CAMPUS EVENTS Wednesday, Nov. 3
@cordnews
The Cord
@thecord.ca
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NOVEMBER 3
First Year Coaching Mid-Semester Check-In, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1534: English parliament passes the Act of Supremacy making Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs the Head of the Church of England.
Thursday, Nov. 4 Turning the Lights Back On: Coping with Grief, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
1793: French playwright, journalist and feminist Olympe de Gouges is guillotined.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
1869: Canada's Hamilton Football Club forms.
Stress Slayers and Worry Dragons Wellness Workshop on Stress and Anxiety, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
1883: American Old West: Self-described "Black Bart the poet" gets away with his last stagecoach robbery, but leaves an incriminating clue that eventually leads to his capture.
Wednesday, Nov. 10 First Year Coaching Presentation Skills, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1911: Chevrolet officially enters the automobile market in competition with the Ford Model T.
Friday, Nov. 12
1913: First modern elastic brassiere is patented by New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob.
ASPIRE: Academic Interview Strategies for Master’s, PhD Students and Postdoctoral Fellows, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR
Thursday, Nov. 18 Self-Care and Resilience, 1:30 PM 2:30 PM
The Cord
1949: Anna Wintour, English-American editor (Editor of US Vogue), born in London, England. 1952: Clarence Birdseye markets frozen peas.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
1955: Scientists Carlton E. Schwerdt and Fred L. Schaffer announce they have crystallized the pure polio virus, meaning they can better determine the virus' chemical and biological properties.
Tuesday, Nov. 23 Seasonal Affective Disorder Wellness Workshop on Zoom, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Wednesday, Nov. 24
1956: The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz televised for first time.
First Year Coaching Mindset, Motivation, and Battling Burnout, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1957: Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2 with space dog Laika aboard, the 1st animal in space. 1992: "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton cover) single released by Whitney Houston (Billboard Song of the Year 1993).
Friday, Nov. 26 First Year Coaching - Preparing for Final Exams, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1992: Rock band Rage Against the Machine release their debut album "Rage Against the Machine" featuring single "Killing in the Name."
Tuesday, Nov. 30 ASPIRE: Finding Legislation and its Analysis for Beginners, 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM NEXT ISSUE DECEMBER 1, 2021
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Crystal Xue arts@thecord.ca
CORD STAFF
OPINION EDITOR Sam Duffy opinion@thecord.ca
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Waitson editor@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Mark Cascagnette sports@thecord.ca
LAURIER ARCHIVES
In 2004, the Laurier women's lacrosse team beat McMaster, then Brock, to claim second straight OUA title.
MANAGING EDITIOR Brontë Behling
PHOTO EDITOR Tim Harrison managingeditor@thecord.ca photos@thecord.ca MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Kashyap Patel multimedia@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR VACANT video@thecord.ca
NEWS DIRECTOR Yasmeen Almomani news@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Ashley Barry news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Victoria Morgan news@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER VACANT photos@thecord.ca
ARTS EDITOR Amichai Abraham arts@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Ethan Caplan sports@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE “The positive influence behind children's television show favourite Totally Spies! ” - Brontë Behling
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.
COLOPHON The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community. Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent. The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used for principal photography.
The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.
PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy. The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently
conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff. The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate. The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body. The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications is located on the Haldimand tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples. We recognize, honour and respect these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and water on which Student Publications is now present.
Cover photo by Tim Harrison, Photo Editor
Quote of the week: “What a rocket.” - Brit Kovacs, President and Publisher, talking about Oscar Isaac
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
News
• 3 NEWS DIRECTOR YASMEEN ALMOMANI news@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER ASHLEY BARRY news@thecord.ca
CAMPUS SERVICES
Laurier counsellors aim to support racialized students YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR
Shevaungh Thomas is the newest counsellor at the Wellness Centre who wants racialized students at Laurier to know that they have resources and supports on campus. “All students are faced with anxiety and nervousness; it just goes with being a student. I think what really sets racialized students apart is the added layer of different things,” she said. There is an added pressure for racialized students to represent their racial group and break certain stereotypes, such as ones that portray racialized students as less intelligent. “There’s lots of self-monitoring or code-switching; this idea to speak the perfect way,” Thomas said. There is also self-doubt when microaggressions occur because students may feel as though they are being “too sensitive.” These added layers are difficult to manage on top of the regular stress of being a student and Laurier strives to help with this issue. “The Wellness Center has tremendous support, I was very happy to join the team and to be able to provide a space where racialized students can come,” Thomas said. Numerous workshops are available to students on the Wellness Centre website, including a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
of my own intersectionality, being Black, being a woman, being an immigrant, having that special lens,” Thomas said. “I bring that speciality to the table where they’ll be able to see that I get it and I can understand.”
I bring that specialty to the table where they’ll be able to see that I get it and I can understand.
-Shevaungh Thomas, Laurier Wellness Centre Counsellor
DARIEN FUNK/ LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
skills group and “Feeling Grand” which helps with depression relapse prevention and managing anxiety. Thomas and another counsellor started the “BIPOC Re-entry Anxiety from a BIPOC Perspective,” sessions which help racialized students with race related stress and are held on the first Tuesday of every month this semester.
Students may also request a racialized counsellor when they seek help from the Wellness Centre. The stigma and lack of conversation surrounding the topic of mental health can make it difficult for racialized students to seek mental health support on campus. “I think that’s a significant barrier because it’s not talked about and it’s not normalized; our racialized
students don’t think that they can reach out or perhaps they don’t even know that [the support] is there.” Racialized counsellors are a wise approach for this matter because of their shared experiences and similar lenses. “Having experienced some of the same challenges that our students might be facing, because
Laurier can help by continuously making resources available and accessible for the student body, and by continuing the conversation about mental health. Thomas continues to support students and hopes that more will seek support if they need it as conversations are started and awareness is raised. “There is hope. That’s the fundamental thing about mental health issues, offering hope that things can get better, despite the challenges, you can get better.”
NON-PROFIT researchers to share ideas with each other. “It’s dedicated to developing links between people […] and promoting the highest standard of economic analysis,” the director of the centre and Laurier professor of economics, Jurek Konieczny said.
It’s dedicated to developing links between people ... and the highest standard of economic analysis.
-Jurek Konieczny, Laurier professor of economics
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Laurier hosts life after the pandemic conference series IAN SCHACKEL NEWS INTERN
Laurier’s International Centre
for Economic Analysis (ICEA) is hosting a series of conferences on the topic of life after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first of these were hosted on Oct. 29. ICEA is a non-profit organization intended to bring together
The series, called “After the Pandemic”, features 10 already-planned presentations on topics ranging from public health to the experience of working from home. They will run from October through to early 2022, although more presentations are planned to
be held besides these. The keynote speakers for the conferences include accomplished academics from Yale, Stanford, Harvard and Laurier, among other universities. Although there are drawbacks to holding the conferences virtually, there are also some benefits as well. Namely, it has allowed contributors from across the world to participate. “We could not possibly do [this many] in-person conferences,” Konieczny said. “Online conferences are much easier, both for organization and participation.” In the first conference we have people from every continent,” he continued. “So, there are some benefits and there are some problems.” The second conference, which focuses on inequality, will be held from November fifth through sixth. “Anyone who would consider going to a regular economic conference would benefit from this one as well,” Konieczny said. The ICEA is also accepting research papers to be included in the conference series. More information about the event can be found on their website.
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
CLIMATE
Forest fire resilience of black spruce trees declining Laurier study led by professor of biology shows impact of climate change on boreal ecosystems ASHLEY BARRY LEAD REPORTER
A new study led by Wilfrid Laurier University’s Associate Professor of Biology, Jennifer Balzer, has found that an increasing number of black spruce trees are less resilient to forest fires due to climate change threatening boreal ecosystems. The study was published in the journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and evaluates the changes in regeneration after forest fires from more than 1,500 forest sites that burned in the last 25 years across Canada. In western Canada, black spruce resilience is 60 per cent, and ⅓ of forest sites from Alaska to Quebec are declining, or have completely lost all black spruce in the area. Previously, black spruce trees demonstrated high resilience to fire and depended on it for growth and regeneration. They rely on fire because the cones on the trees stay closed until heat from the fire causes the waxy coating to melt away, releasing seeds that start the process of regeneration. As black spruce trees take 50 years to reach reproductive maturity, the time between fires is too short, and there will not be enough seed available for self-replacement. The study has shown that loss of resilience to fire will enable forests that were dominated by black spruce trees to shift toward a
different tree species. Jennifer and her collaborators found that two main factors are making black spruce trees less resilient in recent years. The first reason is that wildfires burn deeply into the layers of soil. The thick peat soil layer where black spruce trees grow has prevented competitor species such as aspen and pine from dominating the area during regeneration. The deeper burning has caused peat soil layers to dry out, becoming more flammable, resulting in the burning of seedbeds that would have favoured black spruce regeneration over other species. Secondly, climate change has made more forests in Canada vulnerable to drier conditions, increasing the burning during forest fires that challenges regeneration. It is important to consider the consequences of climate change and our carbon-footprint as the loss of black spruce trees across Canada is devastating to our environment. Not only are black spruce trees critical habitats for wildlife, they cool spil that enable the process of decomposition that protects permafrost by locking away vast amounts of carbon. This study has demonstrated how the declining fire resilience of these trees could be detrimental to our ecosystems and environment — it’s a wake-up call.
ABIGAIL HECKBERT/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNITY
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Evolv1 green building to promote sustainability in Waterloo region YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR
On Oct. 28, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) and Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR) is holding an event to launch a research report about evolv1, Waterloo Region’s new green building in the David Johnson Research Park.
VERiS is an interdisciplinary applied research centre at Laurier that fosters cultures of sustainability and promotes sustainability justice. “Evolv1 is [North America’s] very first certified net-positive energy multi-tenant office building that was commercially built and owned,” Manuel Riemer, psychology professor at Laurier and director of VERiS, said.
“It has a unique story of how it came about. It was inspired and initiated by an environmental organization, Sustainable Waterloo Region, and by the community.” “It’s a story about collaboration. It’s a story about thinking outside of the box, and integration of systems and people.” This story was captured through 19 interviews with key stakeholders and can be read on the VERiS
website. Riemer has been working with SWR since it was first established. Mike Morrice, who was recently elected in Kitchener Centre as the first Green MP in Ontario, was one of the key founders. Both VERiS and SWR are partners of the innovation hub on the bottom floor of evolv1(known as evolvGREEN), along with the accelerator centre and the faculty of environment at the University of Waterloo. There are more plans for initiatives like evolv1 in the region. “The developer who built the building is now developing a second evolve, evolv2, where they’re going to incorporate what they learned from this first one and go further,” Riemer said. There have also been tours in the building which have sparked inspiration. “I think a lot of people took inspiration from it and tried to do something similar … in our parking lot here, the whole parking lot is covered in solar panels. And now you see other parking lots in the park having solar panels as well.” “I think it’s a real inspiration that we can do more and better for the environment.” The Laurier student body can also contribute towards sustainability and climate action. “Educating yourself is one way to be knowledgeable [about sustainability],” said Riemer. He teaches UU101, a course that
offers students from many disciplines the possibility to engage and learn about sustainability in an applied manner. Students can also get involved in research and innovation. “As a student, you have skills, and there’s some really cool student projects… educate yourself, innovate, just take action.” These student projects include Hillary Scanlon, who made waste disposal, recycling and compost accessible to those who are visually impaired. In addition, Earth Suds which was created to reduce wasteful plastic toiletry bottles in hotels. Riemer also spoke about the importance of environmental activism. Technological advancements for climate action need to be backed by political action. “The Friday for Future protests, for example, have really spurred some action among politicians, and the pressure of young people by voting for green candidates has created pressure.” Mike Morris had a lot of young people on his campaign who talked to community members about climate change. “Educate yourself, be innovative, be engaged in research, and get politically engaged… just advocate for your future.” Registration for the launch event of evolv1, “Disrupt and Evolv: Building the Future Together” is now open.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
NEWS • 5
REGION
NEWS IN BRIEF Laurier will celebrate more than 1.500 graduating students this fall
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
YASMEEN ALMOMANI NEWS DIRECTOR
As of Monday Nov. 1, there were 49 new cases of COVID-19 logged by health officials since Friday in Waterloo region, this brings the active number of cases to 140. There are currently seven outbreaks and 15 residents hospitalized for COVID-19 related reasons. No new deaths were reported in the region. 91.02 per cent of eligible residents aged 12 and over in Waterloo have received one dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine and 87.72 per cent are fully vaccinated. Province-wide, Ontario reported 422 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. 261 of these were amongst residents who were not fully vac-
cinated or who have an unknown vaccination status, and 161 were in fully vaccinated people. 89.18 per cent of eligible Canadians in the province have received at least one dose, and 84.56 per cent are fully vaccinated. Three deaths were reported, and the global death toll from COVID-19 has topped five million in less than two years. This death toll is almost certainly underreported due to limited testing and people dying at home. Anti-vaccine protests are happening across Canada and this is associated with beliefs people hold and technology. “The protests related to vaccine appear to be more politicized than the vaccine hesitant reactions have
been in the past,” Anne Wilson, Wilfrid Laurier University psychology professor, said. “This is something that social media seems to be particularly optimized to pump up and to make even more divisive.” Anti-vaccine movements have become more political. “Perhaps misrepresentations of some of the data that can really make people quite worried about the vaccine,” Wilson said. People feel that their agency or autonomy is being threatened through the new regulations and rules implemented. Social media plays a part in this through confirmation bias. “People tend to be attracted to other people who have similar
views to their own and [are] also attracted to information that’s similar to what they already believe,” Wilson said. The technology used in social media also plays a part in the spread of misinformation. “There are algorithms that are operating behind the scenes essentially, that are optimizing for our attention,” she said. Algorithms detect what people see online and find ways to keep them paying attention to the technology for longer by providing more information or more extreme versions of information. “So it’s not surprising in many cases that we come to very different conclusions about the evidence.”
EVENT
Ryerson to host forum on anti-Asian racism IAN SCHACKEL NEWS INTERN
Ryerson University (name change pending), is hosting a virtual forum on anti-Asian racism. The event, titled the National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism: Building Solidarities, will run from November 9 to 10 and include several different sessions each day, focused on racism within Canadian universities. The forum was preceded by a similar one held by the University of British Columbia. While that event was centered on raising awareness of anti-Asian racism, the upcoming forum at Ryerson is meant to drive action and change. “The ultimate goal of this forum really is about bringing people together,” Gabe Ciufo said, a planning lead for the national forum. “We’ve tried to work up a good definition for what building solidarity is, and for us it’s different communities … standing together to help create that transformative change that’s needed for an equitable future.” The event is free to register for and will include faculty and students from universities across Canada. Recordings will also be available to anyone who had registered. “I think what’s unique about this forum is that it’s nationwide,” Josel Angelica, planning lead for the event said. “There’s representation from the
Nov. 2 will mark the graduation of more than 1,500 students from Wilfrid Laurier University. In-person convocation ceremonies remain postponed. Virtual celebrations have been planned, with a video featuring remarks from Laurier’s chancellor Eileen Mercier and president Deborah MacLatchy. Graduates’ names will also be announced during the video. Degrees and diplomas can either be picked up in person or sent by courier.
New dean of the faculty of liberal arts appointed at Laurier Janny Leung has been appointed as Wilfrid Laurier’s dean of faculty of liberal arts. Her five-year term begins on July 1, 2022. Leung will bring her background in international education and is currently serving as the head of the School of English at the University of Hong Kong. “The intellectual breadth and depth of the faculty have impressed me, as have the curiosity and thoughtfulness of the students, and the sense of community that Laurier has cultivated,” Leung said in Laurier’s press release. “I look forward to learning from and working closely with our staff, students, faculty, and community partners. There will be plenty of work to do as we embrace opportunities and challenges in higher education, but, having met many of you, I am excited to be doing it for you and with you.”
Former Laurier staff member and her family donate $500,000 to the Faculty of Music
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
West to East coast, which showcases the diversity of the Asian community.” The sessions planned cover a wide variety of topics relating to systemic racism and the lived experiences of Asian Canadians. There will also be musical performances throughout the event, including Ryerson’s Urban HipHop Union and Adrien Southerland, of the band Midnight Shine. While the event is being hosted by Ryerson’s Faculty of Arts, the planning leads have placed an emphasis on engaging both students and university faculty in conversations surrounding race and action. “We have emphasized having this role of listening and learning, and even contributing, from various forms of university leadership,”
Ciufo said. “We’ve constantly been asking ourselves the question of who needs to be in the room to hear these conversations.” The planning leads encourage students from Laurier to attend any of the sessions being offered. Laurier itself announced the Laurier Legacy Project earlier this year, a research initiative meant to look at the colonial legacy of the University’s namesake Prime Minister. Prime Minister Laurier was directly involved in shaping anti-Asian policies during his time in office, noted Heena Mistry, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training Specialist at Laurier. Mistry indicated that she was looking forward to the national
forum. “National conversations in these public forums help those who don’t share those lived experiences understand what [systemic racism] means,” Mistry said. “But also, folks for whom this is their lived experience get a chance to contribute to that dialogue.” More information can be found on the official website, including the schedule and registration information. Laurier student’s MyLearningSpace page also offers a free course, titled EDI - Inclusive Research, which contains resources about anti-Asian racism in higher education. The course is accessible through the Self Registration tab on the MyLearningSpace homepage.
Former Laurier staff member Lois Macdonald and her husband donated $500,000 to the faculty of music. The donation is to establish a student bursary and to provide support for high-needs within the faculty. The Lois and Charles Macdonald Bursary is going to support second, third and fourthyear undergraduate students in the faculty, as well as full-time graduate students who meet academic requirements and have financial need. Macdonald previously worked as secretary to the dean of faculty of romance and languages. “This award was created from a deep love of music, and a desire that the gift of music be widely shared,” Macdonald said in Laurier’s press release. “We wanted to find a way to acknowledge how much Laurier has done not just for us, but for so many generations of students. We hope to help students who, like Lois, may be struggling financially to preserve and pursue their career in music,” Charles said in the news release.
6 • GAMES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
THE CORD’S
MIXTAPE MAIN CHARACTER STUDY SESSIONS
CHERRY WINE - LIVE // HOZIER WHITE WINTER HYMNAL // FLEET FOXES THE BOXER // SIMON & GARFUNKEL THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT // THE SMITHS SELF CARE // MAC MILLER POV // ARIANA GRANDE GIRLS // GIRL IN RED 4EVER // CLAIRO NOVEMBER // TYLER, THE CREATOR GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY // BOB DYLAN, JOHNNY CASH NIGHTS // FRANK OCEAN EASY ON ME // ADELE MEET ME AT OUR SPOT - LIVE // WILLOW SMITH, TYLER COLE JE TE LAISSERAI DES MOTS // PATRICK WATSON STOLEN DANCE // MILKY CHANCE AGAPE // NICHOLAS BRITELL LET IT HAPPEN // TAME IMPALA NEW SLANG // THE SHINS RUNAWAY // AURORA CIGARETTE DAYDREAMS // CAGE THE ELEPHANT TO BE ALONE WITH YOU // SUFJAN STEVENS
SUDOKU
GAMES • 7
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
MAZE
Monthly horoscopes This month’s horoscopes were submitted to The Cord by an anonymous source. ARIES: You may be feeling tired but don’t worry. This too will pass. New opportunities await you in the near future, so don’t be afraid of ramming directly into them with enough power to break some bones. The Ram is your patron animal, after all. TAURUS: You’re interested in saving money, and confused about how to deal with a new relationship in a positive manner. Make the right decision, right now. It’s almost too late already. GEMINI: I bet you’re tired of all that “two-faced” stuff you see in these just because Gemini represents twins or whatever. But worry not, for now, you are whole. You are complete. NOTHING is missing. There is no need to check your personal belongings. CANCER: Don’t surrender to mediocrity. Embrace the image of the crab. To those who seek to put you down, assault them with a stapler in each hand. Show no mercy to those who wouldn’t show any to you. If you can’t discern them, err on the safe side and be utterly merciless. LEO: Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT follow any talking animals around, especially not the squirrels. You can’t trust them. They WILL attempt to harvest your organs. And you WILL still have to write your exams. VIRGO: A relationship is soon to turn sour. Feel free to take the slightest issue as reason to perform a pre-emptive attack, as it’s eminent, anyways. Feel free to
do it more than once too, because you don’t know if the bridge you burned is the one doomed to collapse. LIBRA: You’re in a tough situation. Your house burned down and your identical quadruplets prefer their new stepmother over you. Don’t worry. Be honest about your feelings and your kids will feel it. For the financial situation, the insurance will pay out, but you may need to threaten Jerry to ensure it does. Once the chaos passes, things will begin to resolve. SCORPIO: You’re always looking to evolve as an individual. Your mind is preoccupied with beauty and wellness, so be careful of evil spirits taking revenge. Trust your intuition to avoid danger. SAGITTARIUS: Great joy awaits you in the near future. Embrace it like a child. Waste all your money on robux, it’s the new bitcoin. Play an ungodly amount of Fortnight and watch Minecraft YouTubers. It will help you on your finals, I promise. CAPRICORN: You are the number one wizard in this universe. You may be nervous about your romantic prospects, and for good reason. Consider becoming a Pisces instead. AQUARUS: Man there’s a lot of these. PISCES: You should go write fake horoscopes for your school paper it’s pretty fun. Hell, write multiple and send them all in simultaneously. You don’t actually have to care about what the sky is doing. I totally do though. The sky told me all of this. Pinky promise.
Want to beef up that resume?
Write for The Cord. Contact editor@thecord.ca
The Gradients of a Late Diagnosis The hidden struggles of women with ADHD: how overlooked symptoms can lead to problems later in life Written by Emily Waitson / Layout by Brit Kovacs
Trigger warning This article contains mention of suicide, depression, and sexual abuse
T
his year, my boyfriend was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Having struggled with symptoms for the majority of his life after suggestions of him having the condition were shrugged off when he was a child, he was finally able to seek out proper treatment and support. His diagnosis, coupled with the accumulating number of videos on my TikTok “For You” page about ADHD in adults, redirected my attention to a number of symptoms I’ve experienced since I was a teenager. My yo-yoing moods, the constant “noise” in my head — among the other laundry list of signs I’ve experienced — were continuously labelled as depression and anxiety by doctors. My embarrassment over the traits that have made me feel less intelligent, capable and worthy has waned in my recent endeavour to receive potential treatment for ADHD, which is not an easy task as an adult woman. ADHD occurs in at least four per cent of adults worldwide. October was ADHD Awareness Month, and people across Canada continue to grapple with the stigmatization and misconceptions associated with it. There are barriers that already exist with diagnosing ADHD in adulthood, but women can face even more obstacles in receiving a diagnosis and proper treatment. Stereotypes and myths surrounding ADHD often contribute to its skewed and frequently inaccurate public perception. High-strung little boys disrupting classrooms are over-generalized examples that commonly come to mind when identifying ADHD. However, the disorder is not limited to boys or children and presents differently depending on the individual. While speaking with Heidi Bernhardt, founder and director of education and advocacy at the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada, it’s clear more needs to be done for girls and women who are living with this condition. “We know girls get referred for assessments far less often by teachers and parents,” Bernhardt said. “We also know that girls try very hard to fit in, to appear competent at school ... So a lot of times parents will say, ‘Oh, my daughter can’t have ADHD, she’s not failing in school.’ But when you dig deeper, she’s spending three and four hours every night doing homework to make sure everything is done and perfect.” Masking ADHD symptoms is common with girls especially, which adds to prolonged and complicated periods of diagnosis. “Since girls don’t present in this classic way, they often get missed. And let’s face it, our medical professionals are not very well trained in ADHD, period, let alone in these different, subtle presentations,” she said.
“But unfortunately, we know it’s primarily that attention regulation and emotional dysregulation, and in the executive functioning that is impairing lifelong and it’s just as impairing for girls and women, if not more so, than males.” Gender bias and gaps in education within the medical community play a large role in delayed treatment. “We see an awful lot of coexisting anxiety, depression, eating disorders. I mean, recent research has shown one in four women with ADHD has attempted suicide. We see more chronic pain, insomnia, unwanted pregnancies,” Bernhardt said. “Let alone the [typical] things we see with ADHD: less post-secondary education, more unemployment, relationship problems, poverty. It just goes on and on.” Women with ADHD have three times the prevalence of chronic pain, suicidal ideation, insomnia, childhood sexual abuse and generalized anxiety disorder. “The other thing we see a lot happening is the misdiagnosis. So not only do we totally miss diagnosing, we often misdiagnose it as other disorders like anxiety and depression. Because family physicians and adult psychiatrists are very well trained in anxiety and depression. Sometimes it comes with ADHD, sometimes the ADHD causes it,” she said. “We see women who are unsuccessfully treated for decades because their underlying ADHD has never been diagnosed. We did a survey of Canadian women and 46 per cent said they were first misdiagnosed with another disorder. And 60 per cent of those women said they were untreated for their ADHD for more than two decades.” An article published by CBC News recently highlighted a woman’s diagnosis of ADHD in her 50s. A story from BBC News featured a woman who wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until she was 34. This trend of women receiving later-term diagnoses and being disbelieved is unfortunately common for those who have the condition. “We are really doing a disservice to these women by not assessing and diagnosing and treating successfully,” Bernhardt said. College-aged students face numerous barriers if they’re entering post-secondary education with ADHD or wish to get tested for it. Bernhardt has worked to address the difficulties young people face when seeking accommodations and support from their universities. “I did a review of 50 schools that we looked at in 2015, again in [the] fall of 2019, and they have all stopped asking for psych assessments and clearly stated students with ADHD had the right to accommodations [and] support from accessibility centre[s]. But then again, it still takes ongoing advocacy,” Bernhardt said. “I’d say what we need more [from] post-secondary [schools] is to educate our professors
so they understand that ADHD is truly a medical and neurodevelopmental disorder, very similar in impairment to learning disabilities and autism.” “A lot of students still talk about having to advocate for themselves on a daily basis. We’re never going to build awareness, decrease stigma and be able to do more advocacy around this unless those with ADHD start opening up and really feel free about sharing their struggles their entire life,” she said. Laurier’s Waterloo campus offers “registered social workers and psychotherapists who work within a short-term, goal-directed model for all registered Laurier students.” As well, the Accessible Learning Centre aims to provide students with disabilities and learning impairments the tools they need to succeed. “Most often students talk about having to put in two and three times the amount of hours and work than their peers to be able to be successful. So they really need that help. But they need both the school and their peers to understand that they actually have the right to those accommodations.” For students who suspect they may have ADHD and have yet to receive a formal diagnosis, the process can become complicated. Bernhardt advised people in this position to start with their school’s health services. “I’d say go to their health student services. Also going to see their family physician who can refer them [to a specialist]. The difficulty is, in Canada, we have a lack of adult psychiatrists, period. And then we have a super lack of adult psychiatrists who specialize in ADHD.” “I would highly recommend, they make sure who they see, whether it’s a psychiatrist or a psychologist, they specialize in ADHD.” “The uphill battle for students in those environments is huge. They can also contact [the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada], we have resource lists. Psychologists generally are much easier to get in [to see], but they’re not covered by provincial health care plans,” she said. People who are looking to receive formal ADHD assessments will discover those aren’t cheap either. According Bernhardt, “these tests [can] cost $3,500 to $4,000.” Focusing on equitable access to resources and pushing for comprehensive, widespread education are important in providing sufficient support for individuals, especially women, with ADHD. “[Women are] very, very hard on themselves. It really, really chips away on their self-esteem,” Bernhardt said. “They don’t see themselves as being good students and good daughters and good mothers and good friends because their ADHD symptoms get in the way. We end up with a lot of mental health problems with a lot of suffering that really doesn’t need to be there if we could get better at this.”
•
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
ARTS & LIFE
Arts & Life
ARTS EDITOR AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR CRYSTAL XUE arts@thecord.ca
TELEVISION
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
The positive influence behind children's television show favourite Totally Spies! The Family Channel cartoon was a beloved staple in the lives of early 2000s audiences BRONTË BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR
On Nov. 3, 2001, the very first episode of Totally Spies! Aired on ABC Family Channel out of the United States. The world of children’s television programming as we know it would never be the same. For Canada, the creation of Totally Spies! was a particularly notable accomplishment. The show was produced by Marathon Media and F1, two French companies. However, for seasons 3-5, the show was co-produced with the Canadian company Image Entertainment Corporation. This is the most notable series produced by the company; however, there is very little information about the company available online. The series itself follows the daily lives of three high school aged girls — Sam, Alex and Clover. By day, the girls attend school and confront many problems that young women face in high school — dating, mean girls and balancing getting good grades with having a social life. However, they all have a shared secret — they are living a double life. Along with being students, they work as super spies for the World Organization of Human Protection
(WOOP). After being recruited by Jerry (the leader of WOOP), they must travel the globe to fight crime. Each girl has her own unique personality and traits, ensuring that each child who loves the show can find one of the main trio to relate to. Of course, these are rather stereotypical. But what can you expect from an early 2000s show? Sam is the “smart” one. Always the first to think of a plan and get the trio out of a sticky situation, she is the de facto group leader and the most mature. She wears a green spy suit, and has long red hair. Due to these qualities, she was the favourite of many children around the globe and proved to be a good role model. In a poll taken about the show, two out of three respondents said that Sam was their favourite character. When asked why the character was her favourite, one respondent enthusiastically replied “I love her hair and her leadership! I also liked the colour green at the time so I loved her outfit!” The second of the trio, Clover, is a girly fashionista. With a ton of confidence, charisma and a killer sense of style she provides many of the comedic
aspects of the show. She has short blonde hair, blue eyes and a red spy suit. One participant in the survey responded that Clover was her favourite character when she was watching the show regularly as a child, citing Clover’s “outgoing & funny” nature.
Each girl has her own unique personality and traits, ensuring that each child who loves the show can find one of the main trio to relate to.
Lastly, Alex is the ‘sporty’ one of the trio. Appearing to be the youngest of the group, she is naive but well meaning. With short dark brown hair and an orange spy suit, she is the one who balances the group. The least outwardly stereotypical, she makes the characters of Sam and Clover more palatable. Of course, as with any show
geared towards children, merchandise related to the show was made. Much of the merchandise was related to the unique spy gadgets used across the show’s airtime. Some of these gadgets include the compowder, laser lipstick and the expandable cable bungee belt. As the girls had to remain undercover, all three gadgets had to appear as if they were regular items. The compowder in particular was a key item used by all three of the spies. Shaped like a powder compact, the compowder allowed the spies to communicate with Jerry back at WHOOP HQ as well as do analysis. After season three, it was called the X-powder and allowed the spies to change their vehicles and disguises. Another memorable gadget was the laser lipstick, which helped the girls to spring themselves out of traps. It was used primarily in the first and second season before being replaced. The expandable cable bungee belt, while iconic, is later added to the spy suits of the trio instead of being a separate prop. All three survey participants mentioned one or all of these gadgets, indicating just how popular they were to kids growing up
during the early 2000s. After a 156 episode run spanning 12 years, Totally Spies! stopped airing. However, during the period of the show’s run, it managed to have a large impact on audiences. The premiere of the show’s sixth season took place at the Palace of Versailles, a huge honour for a television show geared towards children. In addition, the show has been aired all over the world and inspired a spin-off series — The Amazing Spiez! When asked to reminisce on their memories of the show, one respondent detailed how she thought the show was “empowering” through the way it depicted three young girls who looked different but banded together to battle high school and the world. “ I wanted to be a spy just like them, kicking butt,” she adds. As someone who was a little girl over the show’s run, I echo this sentiment. While the show can (and should) be analyzed through a critical lens to highlight its questionable aspects — such as the boy-obsessed antics of Clover and the fact that all three of the girls are ultra skinny — it influenced the lives of many children who are of university age today. When I watched the show, my favourite character was Sam. Like her, I felt that I was super studious and mature for my age. I was inspired by her loyalty to her friends and wished to have a friend group like she did. In addition, as someone who didn’t have a lot of confidence in herself, I wanted to have the leadership qualities that she possessed as well.
I was inspired by her loyalty to her friends and wished to have a friend group like she did.
Today, I recognize that she inspired me to have more confidence in myself and be proud of the fact that I was (and still am) a “nerd.” Lots can be said about the influence of television shows on the psyche of a child. While Totally Spies! was far from perfect, it meant a lot to children growing up in the early 2000s (especially in Canada). As a show that demonstrates the importance of friendship, it did an excellent job. Today, you can find many episodes of the show on the official Totally Spies! YouTube channel. It is still updated regularly with clips from the show so long-time fans of the show can reminisce on their favourite childhood episodes.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
11 •
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The death of Halyna Hutchins is a tragic accident that future movie productions should learn from AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
“One in a trillion” is how Alec Baldwin recently talked about the tragic accident on the set of Rust. It was on Oct. 21, when Alec Baldwin shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a gun that he believed to only be filled with blanks. It’s a story as wild as it is heartbreaking. It seems almost like something out of a pulp magazine — a famous actor involved in a situation like this. The consequences will be and have already been immense for Baldwin, the director Joel Souza and the film industry as a whole. However, those who have been hurt the most have been Hutchins’ husband and nine-year-old child as Halyna was taken from them so suddenly and without any warning. God only knows what they’re going through. Rather than focus on the ramifications, I think it’s important to look at some different perspectives on the incident. We still don’t have all the information but one thing is certain, it has been a horrible incident for everyone involved. One thing that I believed has been widely overlooked in the coverage of this story is Alec Baldwin’s role not just as an actor, but as a producer for Rust. He cites Hutchins as having been a friend in a recent interview and while hiring people may not always serve as evidence of friendship, it should be considered that at the end of the day, Baldwin approved of her enough to hire her to direct the cinematography. Hiring people is a large part of being a producer, which is why I’m
personally much more upset with Baldwin in that role, rather than in his role as an actor. Let’s break down the situation for Alec Baldwin the actor. He is given a prop gun from the assistant director, Dave Halls, who shouts out “cold gun!” indicating that the gun is safe to use. For the shot, Baldwin has to point the gun at the camera, he does so, and then it fires — whether or not Baldwin pulled the trigger or the gun misfired is still unclear. Baldwin as an actor should be none the wiser to the danger in his actions leading up to the incident. Now I’ll talk about Baldwin as a producer on Rust. For clarification, not all of the blame I am about to mention falls on Baldwin, he isn’t the only producer and far from the only man to blame. The point that I intend to make is that if people want to blame Baldwin for this incident, it makes far more sense that he be blamed as a producer rather than as an actor. The fact is the gun that fired could’ve been in any actor’s hand and the same thing was just as likely to happen. Now on the same day of the shooting, it is important to note that seven unionized members of the production walked off the set citing insufficient payment, poor COVID-19 safety, loss of benefits, and most pertinently to this situation, unsatisfactory on-set safety. It was mentioned in the complaints there were multiple incidents of prop guns firing unintentionally. It has also been revealed that on set there were various types of blanks and fake ammunition, but that there also was for whatever reason, live ammunition found on set. How the live ammunition got
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
into the revolver used has been the subject of conflicting reports, one claiming that some of the non-unionized replacement workers were firing live ammo for target practice during one of their breaks, however, this is as of now unconfirmed. Gutierrez Reed was the armorer for the production at this point and she seems to have been very inexperienced in the role. She laid out three guns for the assistant director to choose which one would be used for the scene. He chose a revolver and only ended up checking half of the chambers before announcing
the gun was cold — he usually performed a much more thorough check — then he handed it to Baldwin. The warning signs were all there, and Baldwin as a producer certainly had the potential to change things, as did nearly everyone else I’ve mentioned throughout the recounting of information. That is something I believe that all involved are still wrestling with. After seeing the media circus and how one news team seemed to harass Baldwin and his family for an interview, it’s difficult not to feel some sympathy for him. This was a freak accident that
seems to have been a victim of negligence. While assigning blame and doling out justice, it is important to once again recognize that above all is that there is now a broken family. A person died in a situation that should’ve never been possible. What matters more than deciding who’s at fault it was is healing the wounds of this incident. Those close to Halyna Hutchins have helped organize a Gofundme to raise money for her family in this most difficult time. I implore everyone to donate to this cause and to help those who’ve lost so much in such a short time.
Best local study spots in KW
MIDTERM SEASON
CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
At some point when the empty water bottles multiply and piles of clothes get bigger, studying in your room starts to feel impossible. In times like these, on-campus and local spots in Waterloo offer us sanctuary to get work done. They can be hard to find, though, so here are five of the best-rated ones to save you some time. Princess Cafe
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Located on King Street North, this cafe is ideal for those who prefer quiet study environments. While it can get noisy on early evenings over the weekends, it’s usually a peaceful place that helps with productivity. The menu is a comfort food lover’s delight, with soups, paninis, and rotating craft beers for poststudy celebrations — or pain-relief.
Peter’s Building Maybe I’m biased and just like seeing the name of my faculty plastered everywhere, but the Peter’s Building Arts Atrium on the Laurier campus is perfect for latenight cram sessions. It’s a smaller space, which offers more privacy and limits distractions. At the same time, the large tables and circular layout make it suitable for group studying. Davis Centre Library There’s a certain appeal to this University of Waterloo library that comes from its sheer vastness- or the amount of hyper-focused students inside. With power outlets on nearly every desk, a silence policy, and Tim Horton’s right outside, it has all the necessities covered. The only inconvenience is the shortage of chairs that often befalls visitors, so make sure to arrive before the crowd.
Seven Shores Warmer days can be spent on the patio of this bakery/cafe on Regina Street North, and colder ones indoors. Customers describe it as a relaxed atmosphere with a local friendliness that can provide relief for school-related stress. The menu is also flexible and will appeal to vegetarians in particular, with options such as fresh spring rolls and veggie burgers. Science Building This on-campus study space has the comfort of a supermarket food court without too much of the bustle and smells. Trees and skylights offer a refreshing, natural element that can come in handy during winter months. It’s a common choice for study groups who prefer to collaborate on work. As the semester gets busier, these study spots just might be the backdrop you’ve been looking for to support your studies.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
• 12 ARTS & LIFE FILM
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
High hopes for next Robert Eggers film The Northman AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
Robert Eggers currently has two feature films to his name which many would deem as two of the finest horror films of the decade.
The horror genre seems to be always evolving. There are usually a few prominent directors that help guide horror cinema. George Romero popularized the contemporary zombie movie single-handedly, John Carpenter
has made several classics and Wes Craven revitalized the dying genre in the mid-nineties with Scream (1996). It may be bold of me to say, but I believe that Robert Eggers will be that director for this generation.
Surprisingly, he seems to be stepping away from horror in his upcoming film The Northman which is scheduled to be released in April 2022. What can we expect from this upcoming project that seems to be a departure from his prior work? Let’s talk about that prior work. One unifying aspect that Eggers seems to be carrying over to The Northman is setting his stories in a very specific time and place. In his first film, The Witch (2015), he places the story in 17th century New England. His follow-up, The Lighthouse (2019), was set on a small island in the late 1800s. Notice that both of these choices were not made randomly. Both settings service the plot, amplify tension and highlight the character’s isolation. Setting horror films in these eras was a great way to stay away from plot holes lesser films have to confront. There are no cell phones to call for help with, no easy modes of transportation and general ignorance from the characters can just as easily be viewed as them being a product of their time. Therefore, I find it interesting that Eggers is stepping back from horror and isolation while still entrenching his film in a historical setting. The Northman is set to take place during the time of the Vikings, as a Viking prince pursues vengeance for his murdered father. While a historical epic is a far cry from horror, I think this is a good project for Eggers. One thing I’m excited to see is how he chooses to play with language in the film. In The Lighthouse, Eggers vigor-
ously studied the phraseology of New England sailors to provide authenticity to the dialogue. I am glad to hear he has been working on the film with Sjón, a famous Icelandic poet and novelist.
One unifying aspect that Eggers seems to be carrying over to The Northman is setting his stories in a very specific time and place.
What many are eager for is to see how Eggers intends to allocate his budget. The Northman’s budget is $110 million, which is nearly 10 times the budget of The Lighthouse and 27 times the budget he had for The Witch. Obviously, this budget is better suited for the epic Eggers and the studio have in mind, but if Eggers could make masterpieces with such a small price tag, the mind is overwhelmed with ideas of what he can accomplish with the pot of gold he’s been given. There are already some big actors attached to the project; Alexander Skarsgård is set to star alongside his brother Bill (who some may know better as Pennywise from It), as well as Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy and Willem Dafoe. With this anticipation mounting and the film currently in the process of being edited, April can’t come soon enough!
LOCAL
Cult classic saw another year at Princess Cinemas AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
The year is 1986. Janet Jackson’s “When I Think of You” is playing on your walkman as you jog throughout Uptown Waterloo. Of all of the times to be alive, this is certainly one of them. The Cold War seems to be cooling down, you may have just caught one of the first-ever episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show, and the Leafs’ season just started — I bet this is finally the year they win the cup! As you go on your jog, you pass by that new independent theater that just opened up last year, Princess Cinemas. Looks like they’re playing a movie called The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Seems kinda weird; perfect for tonight, the eve of Halloween. Thirty-six years later and RHPS is still going strong. For a few special nights around Halloween, citizens come from all corners of Waterloo, and from the edges of the galaxy to let loose, look ridiculous and watch this majesty of a musical. While RHPS has garnered one of the largest followings in cult film history, Princess Cinemas has the distinction of having the longest annual streak of showing RHPS,
EMILY WAITSON/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
with this upcoming Halloween marking the 36th anniversary of their very first screening of the picture. It has remained a popular Halloween pastime among Waterloo residents as many have dressed up as their favourite characters, memorized lines and jokes, and returned year after year to watch the same film over again. But to pose the obvious question: why? I recently talked to John Tutt, the founder, and manager of Princess Cinemas. He is a huge fan of RHPS in his own right so he helped me understand people’s fascination
with the nearly 50 year-old film. He explained to me why RHPS is the quintessential cult film. While cult films vary widely between quality, genre and release date, one near-constant is that the film is off-beat. There is always something about the film that makes it stick out, that separates it from the other motion pictures. RHPS is a perfect example of this from its bizarre plot to the character’s eccentric costumes. While this alone would’ve been enough to let RHPS achieve cult status, it has much more to offer. The film, if anything, is a blend of
genres. It’s a musical with music so catchy I’m convinced that after only one viewing you could recall some of the songs decades later. The comedy, while often dark, has never stopped being funny. It finds a way to make gruesome horror hilarious rather than scary. The notions of sexual liberation that the film openly expresses even add some social commentary that remains relevant even to this day. It has everything from rock and roll, to space lasers, to saxophone playing bikers. As Tutt put it simply: “It’s fun.” A large part of the appeal is the
rebellious attitude the film has; an attitude that the audience themselves pick up as they watch the movie. This is rather appropriate for Tutt. After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with a BBA, he set out to open an independent theater. It was and continues to be the type of theater that shows the films that one can hardly find elsewhere, one that often favours the obscure over the mainstream. Going against the grain, Tutt has succeeded now with Princess cinemas being a hit, with multiple locations, and still running strong. If that’s not rebellious, I don’t know what is. Going to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time in The Princess may be daunting. You will be surrounded by those who have been there before (known as the veterans). They know how to dress, all the words, all of the moves to the “Time Warp.” I asked Tutt if he had any advice for incoming newbies (known as virgins) this year and this is what he had to say: “Sit back and learn from those around you. It’ll be a night you won’t forget.”
13 •
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca
EDITORIAL CARTOON
EDITOR’S NOTE
Try to stop stressing about small things EMILY WAITSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As I’ve gotten older — not much wiser, but somewhat more experienced with life— I’ve slowly began to realize what’s “worth” getting myself stressed out over. I’m a fairly emotional and sensitive person. When I was younger, things had the tendancy to get under my skin easily, my pateince was often not very high and my response to stressful situations was not as measured and composed as it probably should have been. This is not to say that I’ve become a drastically different person, but I’ve started to learn what stiuations warrant getting excessively upset over. Working in a job where I am required to interact with a number of people, mainly students, on a daily basis has really helped shaped my expectations and understanding that I apply to every day circumstances. I still often get frustrated, as most people do, but I don’t allow that frustration to ruin an entire day or consume my emotions for longer than what the problem warrants. I allow myself to sit with the feeling, but I now ask myself, “does this problem really matter?” My six month old kitten recently decided to knock over a plant, and
proceeded to get dirt all over the floor. Was I pleased with this little stunt, especially when he proceeded to roll and play in said dirt? Absolutely not. But I took a breath, cleaned it up and moved on. There’s no point in wasting energy on a situation that can’t be controlled, and in the long-run, isn’t that big of a deal. Especially when it comes down to interactions or social situations where I have the the habit of overanalyzing someone’s tone or the way they phrased a message, I could question for hours what someone really meant to say, but if I’m not going to ask them outright, then it’s better to accept it and move on. I used to get obsessed with making sure people liked me, that my responses to things were “just right” and capped off with a smiley face. I will always endeavour to be kind to the people around me, but I’ve realized that I often put myself through more grief and stress trying to be over the top with my niceness, especially towards people who don’t necessarily deserve it or took advantage of it. And, at the end of the day, the majority of life’s stressors will come and go and be forgotten within a week. I say this, while currently stressed out about a dozen small things, reminding myself on a loop that it won’t last, and soon I’ll be sitting on my couch, watching Netflix while my cat inevitably makes another mess. Such is life.
KASH PATEL/MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
When meal plans go out the window the week after Halloween, leftover, discount candy becomes a go-to food.
Don’t be a dodo.
THE CORD IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 REGINA ST. N., WATERLOO
WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne
CHAIR Brittany Kovacs
DIRECTOR Emily Crump
VICE-CHAIR Jacob Rice
DIRECTOR Arshy Mann
DIRECTOR Sarah Sheikh
TREASURER Vacant
DIRECTOR Mythra Kulan
PRESIDENT Brittany Kovacs president@wlusp.com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Vacant
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kurtis Rideout kurtis.rideout@wlusp. com HR MANAGER Aaron Waitson hr@wlusp.com
Volunteer for The Cord. we’re always accepting new contributors. email editor@thecord.ca for more info.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2021
• 14
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR SAMUEL DUFFY opinion@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Trump shouldn’t be the man to create new social media outlet SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR
Former President Donald Trump has announced that he will launch a new media enterprise, which will include a social media app named “Truth Social,” and a television network that will feature “non-woke”
programming. This comes after the former President was banned from other social media networks following the Capitol Hill riots of Jan. 6, 2021. This should come as hardly no surprise, as there has been discussion of Trump launching his own media brand since he first ran for
President. Somepeople believed he would have been satisfied losing the 2016 election, as it was the perfect springboard to launch his new network. But alas, having lost the 2020 election, he can now focus on this new project.
It is my opinion that Trump has correctly identified a problem with today’s social media, but it is not apparent to me that he has found the right solution. He may actually be making it worse. The issue with social media is that power is concentrated in very few hands. If politicians or other public figures are not allowed to use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, their ability to engage with supporters is greatly diminished. As they are private companies, media outlets can ban users from their platforms for any reason they see fit, though they usually cite community guidelines when policing activity. Tasked with playing the role of policymaker and police, these companies, consciously or unconsciously, have become partisan. Legislation is not the answer. But the problem of social media outlets having unbridled control over so many aspects of politics and society, and many of the people who run those corporations being of the same political persuasion, is something worth addressing. The proper answer to this monopolistic control would be to launch a media platform where freedom of thought can flourish. A place where bad ideas are allowed to live, precisely because they are wrong, is more productive than banning users. Public debate changes minds in a way stopping the conversation cannot. But Trump has not shown me in his time in the public eye that he is the man for the job. Of course, he is capable of launching a social media app, and it will undoubtedly attract many users that feel traditional social
media outlets have used their tremendous power in a partisan fashion. But Trump’s base will be the first users of “Truth Social,” and this may turn the new platform into a conservative echo-chamber rather than a bastion of liberalism.
But Trump’s base will be the first users of “Truth Social,” and this may turn the new platform into a conservative echo-chamber ...
The solution would be a social media app whose founders believed more in their liberal values than their political convictions. This is, of course, a dying breed. If you hold so much control, fighting the temptation to wield it in a way that conforms to your vision of a better society is difficult. But liberal values dictate that we must encounter views that make us uncomfortable, and by having those conversations, we become more informed and educated. “Truth Social” will not be the answer to partisanship in social media. It will fight fire with fire. But the experiment may pave the way for a new social media that addresses the problems inherent in the monopoly structure of today’s social media.
Noam Chomsky’s vaccine comments are in poor taste SAM DUFFY OPINION EDITOR
World-renowned linguist and political commentator Noam Chomsky received significant media attention following his comments about people who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. Chomsky claimed that voluntary isolation should be expected of people who refuse to be vaccinated, as they pose a potential harm to society. He was hesitant to claim enforcement would be necessary but acknowledged that if steps were not taken voluntarily then state intervention may come into play. Many people respect Chomsky’s political commentary, but I cannot say I share their admiration. He is an intellectual who engages with subjects beyond his specialization, but he is still lauded as an expert in any field he writes on. Chomsky’s comments follow a string of bad judgements, namely, finding moral equivalence in U.S. foreign policy and the attacks of Sept. 11. So, when I heard Chomsky had made comments
about those who have refused the vaccine, I was not holding my breath for thoughtful commentary. In the interview he gave with the Primo Radical YouTube channel, he claimed that unvaccinated people should be informed that they should voluntarily isolate themselves from society because they are a danger to public safety, and that those with moral capacity will do so. I find it incomprehensible that Chomsky opines on moral capacity, while he ignores the moral consequences of state intervention. If a state chooses to move people into isolation based on a personal medical decision, then that state borders on tyranny. Vaccines should be encouraged. The state should not forcibly remove people who refuse. Both positions can be held simultaneously. Chomsky’s most inflammatory comment came when he was asked how this isolated class would receive food. He remarked that this was a problem for the unvaccinated. The solution then, according to Chomsky, is to appeal to moral capacity and then claim that those
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
who do not understand should live in an isolated existence with food uncertainty. There are those who claimed that Chomsky was simply getting tough on COVID. People have been getting tough on COVID since last March, and those who are unvaccinated still hold the same views. This strategy has run its course. The constant temptation to dichotomize society has become worse during the COVID-19 pan-
demic. Essential versus non-essential workers. Vaccinated vs. unvaccinated. Mask-supporters and anti-maskers. This dichotomization comes with the price that we find within us the ability to completely devalue another human being. We regard them with contempt rather than compassion. This is the trap Chomsky has fallen into, as he is unconcerned with food insecurity in his new isolated segment of
society. The answer has always been, and always will be, education on these topics. State intervention means you have failed to make a good moral case or have failed to try. Chomsky’s comments do nothing but anger people who already feel they are being isolated. His words should not be taken as a unifying prescription for our already divided society.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
Sports
OPINION • 15• 15 SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER ETHAN CAPLAN sports@thecord.ca
FOOTBALL
Golden Hawks host Gryphons in first playoff game at University Stadium in over four years MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR
The Laurier Golden Hawks men’s football team will prepare for their first playoff matchup since 2017 after ending their two-year post-season drought last weekend against Waterloo. While the Warriors were able to defeat Laurier 36-8 last weekend, Laurier played well enough near the end of the season and turned their season around with crucial victories over McMaster and Windsor to earn the second spot in a tightly contested OUA West division. “The nice thing about the playoffs is that no matter what seed you are, the regular season as this point does not matter… It’s do or die football now,” Head Coach, Michael Faulds said of the upcoming matchup. Coach Faulds and the Golden Hawks - like many other OUA schools - have had an up-anddown season. They finished the first half of the year at 1-2 as they headed into the bye, after tough losses against Waterloo and Western. Since the bye, Laurier was able to shut out the defending Yate Cup Champion Marauders, 22-0, while holding Windsor off the scoreboard until the last minute in their 33-8 victory on senior’s day. Although the team suffered a setback in the “Battle of Waterloo,” last weekend, Coach Faulds has been impressed with his team’s fight and performances since the bye week. “We’ve had four really good weeks of practices and play, outside of ten minutes of game time. We can’t look at the last month and not feel about ourselves, not have confidence based on a ten-minute span of the fourth quarter of the last game,” Coach Faulds said.
LAURIER ATHLETICS
Laurier battled a desperate Waterloo team last week who needed a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. While Waterloo won by a 28-point margin, the final score was not at all indicative of the matchup itself, an 11-8 game entering the fourth, before Tre Ford and the Warriors took over and scored 21 points in a matter of 92 seconds. “The sample size of good practices, good workouts and good meetings is much larger than the negative ten minutes,” Coach Faulds said. Despite the loss, the schedule broke in favour for Laurier and the second seeded Golden Hawks were granted a home playoff game, giving another opportunity for their seniors to play at home. After two consecutive 4-4 seasons in 2018 and 2019, just barley missing the playoffs in each year, this Saturday against Guelph will be Laurier’s first playoff game since the 2017 Yates Cup, a 75-32 loss against eventual Vanier Cup
winners, the Western Mustangs. It will also be the Golden Hawks first home playoff game since defeating McMaster in the provincial semi-finals that same year to advance to the Yates Cup. “I know our guys will be excited! They’re excited that we are playing at home and family, friends, some of the community members we’ll be out… It should be a very exciting atmosphere,” Coach Faulds said. Guelph was the only team from its division that Laurier did not play this year. The Golden Hawks and Gryphons have not met in three years, with Guelph winning the last contest, 27-24, in week six of the 2018 season. While the two teams have been evenly matched throughout the last decade, the Golden Hawks are 1-5 against Guelph in Coach Faulds tenure, losing their last two contests. Laurier’s last win against Guelph came almost five years to the date of this Saturday’s playoff game, during their memorable provincial championship season
WLUSP IS
INTERESTS:
hiring POSITION Editor-in-Chief PUBLICATION OF CHOICE
radio laurier
the cord
in 2016. “Guelph is a good football team. They’re led by their defense much like us,” Coach Faulds said. The two 3-3 teams will be evenly matched this weekend, playing a similar brand of football, both relying heavily on their top-five OUA scoring defenses. Guelph is second in the entire country with 24 sacks this season, while Laurier is first in USPORTS in takeaway’s, leading the country in both fumble recoveries and interceptions. While both offenses have been inconsistent at times this year, they have been able to carry their weight and compliment their defense’s performances nicely. The passing game has been important for both schools, with Guelph and Laurier relying on their playmakers out wide at receiver to generate points this season. “Offensively, [Guelph] has some of the most explosive weapons, including a couple of really good receivers who are their returners on special teams also,” Coach
Faulds said. Making note of both Kiondre Smith and Clark Barnes who have their names atop many of the OUA and USPORTS offensive leaderboards. Smith leads the nation with over 1,000 all-purpose yards this season, the only player to eclipse that mark. He is also second in the OUA with 35 catches, third in the OUA with 472 receiving yards to go along with four touchdowns. Hist teammate, Clark Barnes is tied for first in the OUA with five receiving touchdowns. Gryphon’s quarterback, Shawn Lal has been one of the top performers at his position in Ontario with eight passing touchdowns this year, including a 393-yard, four touchdown performances against Toronto two weeks ago. Barnes and Smith combined for 293 yards and five touchdowns during Guelph’s 48-0 drubbing of the Varsity Blues. Laurier will rely on their opportunistic defense and veteran secondary to hold Guelph’s dynamic receivers in check, while the Golden Hawks have one of the best weapons in the league on their side as well. Given the cancellation last year and two years away from the post-season, Laurier only have a handful of guys on their roster with playoff experience. Eguavoen, Tommy Bringi, Christian Hutter-Coppin and Will Amoah to name a few, were a part of the 2017 Yate cup finalist team. “We’re looking at that as a good thing. We’re going to be excited, but not too high,” Coach Faulds said. The Golden Hawks and Gryphons will play a tightly contested matchup this weekend, as Laurier looks for their first playoff win in over four years. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at University Stadium.
the keystone
GRAPHIC DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY WRITING CAMPUS LIFE
WHY YOU SHOULD GET INVOLVED...
You’ll get to share your passion and talents by commemorating student life in 2021/2022 while gaining transferable skills and some pals along the way
application: submit cover letter, portfolio and/or resume to president@wlusp.com
16 • SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
Women’s basketball season preview with coach Paul Falco ETHAN CAPLAN LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
After sitting down a few weeks ago with basketball guard, Cassidy Hirtle, it was obvious to see the amount of excitement and positive energy that is currently happening within the Laurier women’s basketball program. As a basketball fan, I always want to hear from the players, coaches, and everyone else who plays a role in shaping the team’s season. Laurier women’s head coach Paul Falco, who is entering his 14th season as the team’s leader sat down with me to share his thoughts and plans for the upcoming season. A season that should be electrifying,
given ovr 600 days off. With preseason wrapped up, and the Golden Hawks finishing with a 3-1 record, the Golden Hawks are preparing to tip off their season this Wednesday, Nov 3rd against Brock University in St. Catherine’s. Coach Falco told me he has been getting the student-athletes in shape by implementing a style of play where there is a lot of transition scoring and a “more disruptive and destructive defense.” “We’ve been able to create a lot of turnovers and that has helped us spark the transition game, and that’s been a focus this year, trying to score in transition,” said Coach Falco on what the team did well during the preseason matchups.
Second-year guard Cassidy Hirtle told me that the team has 11 new women apart of the squad for this season. Falco is optimistic about the challenge and the opportunity for many fresh faces, saying that it has to lead to a “very enthusiastic group.” “Combined being off a year and a half there is a lot of enthusiasm in the gym. We’ve seen that in them and in the games and in the practices… having that energy and life in the gym” Of course, having a young core can be quite difficult with the lack of experience that it can bring onto the court. However, the younger group has a lot of positives that can weigh out the negatives.
“The enthusiasm they all bring to the gym, also brings a lot of competitiveness and passion to the game,” said Falco. “If we keep learning from our mistakes and get better every day then we should be where we want to be as the season goes on.” The young team will be a pivotal part of the programs identity this year with their only being a few players that returning to the team from the previous season in 201920. In turn, the next big part of the upcoming season is regarding scheduling. This year the Golden Hawks will be playing the same team twice in essentially a twogame series. When they play Brock on November 3rd, they’ll come back to Waterloo for their home opener on Nov. 6, playing in the Badgers in the second end of the back-to-back. “It’s a game of adjustments,” said Falco. “I think the biggest thing for us is at merging and understanding that the overall goal is we’re trying to get better every game.” The goal of the season this year for the team is to progress positively as the season goes on and by the end of it be cutting down the nets in the championship game. It has been a few years since the program has won a playoff game and Coach Falco has his ambitions set on that this year. “Playing the same team twice in a row can be difficult if coming off a loss and losing the motivation to play them again,” said Coach. The adjustments, while trying to get better each day will have to be something that is enforced greatly in the Golden Hawks mentality this season. The transition game in basketball is something that is being seen more frequently in play. Longer
passes, shorter dribbles, quick shots, and quick movements are now how teams are putting points on the board. The season before COVID-19, the Golden Hawks were ranked in the bottom tier of field goal percentages. This year Falco is trying to change that. The transition game helps by getting quick and easy baskets at the rim, taking open looked shots, layups, and getting fouled to shoot free throws. “If we can score in transition, those shots are normally high percentages on scoring… being patient in our offense and waiting for the high percentage looks is something that we have talked about as a team,” said Falco. The saying defence wins you championships is something that is emphasized always in basketball. “We want to be disruptive on defence,” Falco said emphasizing another key idea into the gameplan for the season and a crucial part of his over decade long coaching stint with the Golden Hawks. This year should be another exciting year of women’s varsity basketball at Laurier. With the young core there is a lot of excitement to watch and plenty of optimism in the fold. A lot of speed, youth, energy, enthusiasm and of course fun, have all being integrated into the team’s identity, which makes for one of the most unique seasons yet. The opener against the Badgers on Wednesday night can be seen on OUA TV, while tickets for the home opener, Saturday at 4 p.m. are available for purchase on Laurier Athletics website. All home games will be played at the Athletic complex gym on Laurier’s campus.
GOLDEN HAWKS
Women’s hockey set to begin season Wednesday MARK CASCAGNETTE SPORTS EDITOR
It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging year for everybody - including student-athletes across many different sports. Both Golden Hawks hockey team’s, men and women will finally resume competition this week following an extended period off the ice due to the OUA cancellation of sports last year. “I think the energy over the past six to eight weeks leading through our entire training camp and pre-season has always been positive, knowing that we’re just back competing again,” Women’s hockey coach, Kelly Paton said. 627 days removed from their last game, Coach Paton and the women’s hockey team will begin a new season and kick off the entire OUA hockey schedule on Wednesday night as they host their cross-city rivals – the Waterloo Warriors. “I think that’s going to be a big part of the energy that we bring this week through the start of the regular season. We’re trying to keep focused and have a clear plan on how we can be competitive against Waterloo, while also just taking in the excitement and ap-
preciating the sport again, enjoying it as best as we can,” Coach Paton said. The 2019-20 season was a disappointing year for the Golden Hawks, after losing 12 of their first 14 games and finishing near the bottom of the OUA with just five wins in the 24-game season. While many results didn’t go their way, the team was able to stay competitive throughout the whole year and finished on the wrong side of six overtime losses, a reason for Coach Paton and her team to be optimistic heading into this season. The OUA will be one of the last conferences in Canadian university sport to get underway once the puck drops on Wednesday night. With a lengthy delay and a pandemic still very much present, the league made several changes to the season’s schedule and structure, as they did with most fall sports. “I think there are the right protocols in place to allow both staff and spectators as well as student-athletes to feel comfortable in that environment and have success in their sport again,” Coach Paton said. Coach Paton, who is in her fourth year as head coach of the program will be one of many
coaches across the province adjusting to a shortened schedule and a new two division structure, focused on reducing travel. The league created a 20-game schedule featuring multiple two-game sets against each of the five division members. “It’s definitely different and it’s going to offer different strategies with the coaches especially, in terms of maybe offering a few more adjustments… just knowing that we are playing the same team twice in the same week,” Coach Paton said of some of the changes. With so much time having passed and two new recruiting classes in the fold, the lady hawks will be a much different team than from the last time they were on the ice. Their last game, Feb. 15, 2020, was a 1-0 upset victory over the nationally ranked York Lions to close out their season. It was one of three victories over ranked programs that year. Team leaders such as Jaden Head, Aynsley Harrison and captain Jamie Watson all played their last game in that contest against York, as Laurier will feature 15 players this season who have yet to experience OUA hockey.
“We are a young program. I think that we’re obviously going to lack a little bit of experience knowing that we have that many new players to integrate into a new system,” Coach Paton said.
We may go through some growing pains early on, but I’m confident that we have the right foundation to have a successful season. -Kelly Paton, women’s hockey coach
While on the flip side coach Paton is looking forward to the challenge of having many fresh faces on the ice and believes it will bring a “welcome of energy.” “We may go through some growing pains early on, but I’m confident that we have the right foundation to have a successful season.” One of the returning veterans is star goaltender, Cohen Myers who
recorded 28 saves in that York contest to finish her latest season with a shutout. Myers as well as Emily Visser and Rebcca Hall among others will be leaned upon heavy this year as they take on a leadership role with the team. Myers has had a fantastic OUA career thus far, while Visser was tied for second on the team with eight points back in 2020. “Now more than ever, we will look to our returning group to take the leadership reigns especially inside the locker room,” Coach Paton said. After a 1-4 record in five pre-season games, including two losses against the Warriors, the Golden Hawks are eager to start the real action and will be looking for improvement in a unique OUA season this year. “We’ve always set goals internally to be a part of the post-season and I think that’s something we still have in place for this year,” she said. “The Battle of Waterloo” will resume on the ice for the first time in a long time on Wednesday night at SunLife Financial Arena in uptown Waterloo. Laurier will look to begin their season on a winning note and end a 12-game losing streak at home.