meliorist the
your independent student newspaper
For the week of Thursday, November 10 • Volume 45, Issue 11
Campus beat
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November 10, 2011 • 2
Janet Barriage Campus Reporter For more information on contributing to Campus Beat, please contact Janet Barriage, campus.beat@themeliorist.ca
What’s happening on
So you think you can write?
Submit to the Striking Prose Competition
If you want to see your event posted in the “Beat,” please contact campus.beat@ themeliorist.ca for more information. Events must be submitted by Sunday evening to appear in the following issue of the Meliorist.
Auditions for Shakespeare’s Hamlet Nov. 13-15 Audition booking & information posted on the window of W522 (behind the Box Office) If you want to audition you must prepare a blank verse Shakespearean piece of your choice that is two minutes maximum. Everyone is welcome to audition! Imaginus Poster Sale Nov. 14-16 In the University Atrium
Janet Barriage Campus Beat
Do you like to write? Is creative writing your thing? Then this is the competition for you! The English department presents the Striking
Prose Competition. Prose is defined as the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, so not poetry or verse. This competition is your chance to write and submit a work of prose that will be judged against other entries by a
panel of English department faculty. In case the fulfillment of a wellwritten story isn’t enough for you, there are prizes too! First prize is $1,500, second prize is $750, and third prize is $250. The first place winner will also get a public read-
ing on Thursday, March 15 as well as writing support and advice from the jury. This is a great opportunity to enhance your writing skills, get advice from people in the industry, and receive some financial support for your lofty goals! The competition is open to all U of L undergraduate students who are in good standing at the time of the competition deadline. It is limited to one entry per student, so pick your best prose! If writing alone isn’t your thing and you have friends who like to write then you’ll be happy to hear that group entries are welcome too. Entries should be no more than 6,000 words and need to include a cover page with your name, story title, and your contact information for when you win! Submissions opened up on Oct. 3 and close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14, so you still have lots of time to get writing. Go to room A840E to get a submission form and to read the complete list of guidelines. When you are done writing, submit a hardcopy to Bev Garnett at A812. If you need any more information contact Jay Gamble at jay.gamble@uleth.ca. Good luck!
WestGrid C2C Series features Sheldon B. Opps, Department of Physics, University of Prince Edward Island Nov. 15 12:30 to 1:30 in CAETL Learning Lab, L1116 CRDC Please RSVP to tyler. heaton@uleth.ca Coast to Coast features a series of talks presented by researchers from across Canada. These seminars are presented using the access grid videoconferencing facilities. They are usually 50 minutes in length. Gareth Long will speak in Art Now Nov. 16 12 to 1 p.m. in the University Recital Hall Open Mic Night Nov. 17 5 to 11 p.m. at The Zoo Crochet and Knitting Club Sale Nov. 22-23 In the University Atrium They will be selling crocheted and knitted goods, as well as taking orders for custom-made items!
Club Hub
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club Janet Barriage Campus Beat
If you love animals and want to work with them, then I have a club for you! The Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club helps support students who want a career in veterinary medicine or just want to work with animals. They offer their members academic and social opportunities to get involved in the professions they desire. The club has an interesting his-
tory and was started in 2001 but had to stop in 2007. They were able to start it up again last year and are slowly growing their membership; they are now up to approximately 30 members. This club puts on some really cool events for the members. Events they have done in the past include a tour of the Calgary Zoo Vet Clinic, a tour of the UCVM and WCVM campuses. They have also volunteered for the humane society and other local animal groups. They plan to do these
events again this year because they give members such a great inside look at what it means to be a student in veterinary medicine and what it’s like to work in the field. Not only does this club offer those interesting trips, but they will also help students with their vet school applications as well as host “mock interviews” to practice for vet school interviews. Anyone can join, but they do recommend that you have an interest in veterinary medicine or at least
a general interest in animal health and their well-being. They hold meetings once a month to discuss the current issues facing veterinary medicine and to organize events. Come on out to meet a really friendly and helpful group of people with the same career goals and the same love for animals. They have a $5 membership fee and if you want to join or find out when they are meeting, all you need to do is e-mail prevet@uleth.ca.
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November 10, 2011 • 3
Sex, religion, and everything in between Student Forum on Sexuality and Religion Janet Barriage Campus Beat
On Monday, Oct. 31 while everyone was either fighting off their hangover or getting ready for a night of partying, Glenda Bonifacio’s women’s studies 3050 class was putting on their semi-annual Student Forum on Sexuality and Religion. Roughly 30 people attended the event held in AH100 (Andy’s Place), and it was open to the public. They would like to extend a special thanks to Leanne Wehlage and the department of women and gender studies for providing refreshments for the event. The presentations covered a wide array of controversial subjects with a concentration on the history and textual evidence of each religion. Students presented their findings and interpretations on the relationship of sexuality and religion from a feminist standpoint. The projects were heavily research-based and focused on women’s perspectives of the various religious traditions. The students were divided up into groups that focused on a specific religion, including the major Western and Eastern religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. These presentations focused on the issues facing contemporary society like homosexuality, birth control, abortion, and out of marital sex. Each one focused on not only the religious communities’ expectations for each subject and also the canonical teachings, but they also looked at what the followers are told to do versus what is actually practiced in the past and
present. The presenters for Christianity concentrated their project on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of their prevalence in our community. Pre-marital sex was an important topic in this discussion and they demonstrated some
of the ways the church discourages young people from engaging in this behaviour. Judaism was presented, comparing and contrasting orthodox and liberal communities and the way they each follow the religion. Topics such as rites of passage, abortion,
Student debt hurts entire economy Years of debt repayment stalls full entry into economy by graduates
Students have no money | Phoney Nickle (Flickr)
Denis Luchyshyn
The Martlet (University of Victoria)
How many young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 do you know who have an extra $50,000 kicking around in their bank accounts? As a young adult myself, I would say almost none. But the problem isn’t the lack of money; it’s that this number represents the horrendous price tag on a post-secondary degree in Canada. In addition, more and more employers are closing their doors to people without post-secondary education. This leaves the average high-school graduate with one option: Take out a student loan, become one of the millions to hold a bachelor’s degree and then spend the better part of your adult life repaying your debt. Education in Canada should be a right, not a lifetime debt sentence. We need to increase funding for postsecondary education now, because this growing debt affects everyone, not just those in school. To understand the weight of this problem, you have to know where the $50,000 goes. Half is spent on tuition, books and all sorts of other charges. For a single semester of approximately four months with a course load of five classes, a student is expected to shell out
about $3,000. The average BA takes eight semesters to complete. Therefore, your typical student will leave university having spent up to $24,000 in school fees alone. Who in their right mind would live at home with their parents and pass up on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of experiencing the “university life” we see on TV? So on top of the overpriced cost of education, let’s add the expenses of housing and groceries that a freedom-seeking young adult encounters. With rent constantly going up, I was lucky to find a clean home I share with a roommate. We each pay $625 per month. Depending on where you live, a price like this for a two-bedroom basement suite is a bargain. Add groceries at an average of $200 per month and you’re looking at living costs of approximately $2,500 in rent and $800 in food totalling $3,300 per semester. So if mommy and daddy aren’t rolling around in disposable income, the only solution is to take out a student loan. According to Statistics Canada, the percentage of students graduating with a student loan has risen from 49 per cent in 1995 to well over half at 57 per cent in 2005. Consider how long this kind of loan will take to repay. At an average interest rate of 4.5 per cent, and payments of $300 per month, a $50,000 loan will take over 21 years to repay. Students come out of university shouldering a weighty debt. Sadly, this “investment” doesn’t even guarantee a career in your field of study. Is this financial burden the kind of future you want to bestow on your own kids — the same ones who will one day be paying your pension or deciding whether to place you in a retirement home or not? More importantly, these are the future consumers who will inherit the power over this country’s economy. If they are crippled with debt, who is going to sustain the consumerist behaviour that is the underlying cause of the wealth we all enjoy as Canadian citizens? Take action today, and voice your opinion. Let your politicians know that you want more funding for postsecondary education. Let’s see a reduction in debt and school fees as well as an increase in grants and scholarships. This is not a cost; it is an investment in the present and the future for all.
and divorce were covered. Guidelines and rules for women’s behaviour are largely left out in the Jewish religious texts, so much of this presentation focused on societal expectations. The presentation on Islam largely
focused on what is true and false between Western expectation and the religion’s actual views and practices. They tried to bridge the disconnection between expectation and the reality of women’s roles in Islamic society. Buddhism and Hinduism are among the non-monotheistic religions that were covered during the forum. The presenters on Buddhism looked closely at the rules for male and female monks and the possibility of women reaching enlightenment. The presenters also covered some of the lesser-known religions like Nativism, with a focus on the Blackfoot peoples in the area before and after European colonialism, which changed the direction of their religion entirely. The presentation on East Asian and African traditions looked at a specific African tribe and their sexual traditions, including female genital mutilation. Of the religions covered, the most sexually liberal religion for females was the pagan tradition of Wicca and goddess worship. This student-run forum took an academic look at various world religions, sexuality, and a woman’s place in it all. This was not about generalizations and expectations of societies and people who are so different from us. The students succeeded in presenting controversial topics in an interesting and informative way. One message was loud and clear: the more we understand and appreciate each other’s differences, the better we can all get along.
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Sara Parkin News Editor For more information on contributing to News, please contact Sara Parkin, n.editor@themeliorist.ca
Minimum wage by province Alberta $9.40 $9.05 for liquor servers
British Columbia $9.50 $8.75 for liquor servers
Manitoba $10.00 $12.60 for people working in construction
New Brunswick $9.50
Newfoundland and Labrador $10.00
Northwest Territories $10.00
Nova Scotia $10.00 $9.50 for inexperienced workers
Nunavut $11.00
Ontario $10.25 $9.60 for students under 18 $8.90 for liquor servers $11.28 for homeworkers
Prince Edward Island $9.60
Quebec $9.65 $8.35 for workers who receive gratuities
Saskatchewan $9.50
Yukon $9.00
Waging war against the wages Alberta's minimum wage among lowest in country Sara Parkin News Editor
Sitting at $9.40, Alberta’s minimum wage is currently among the lowest in Canada. On Nov. 1, British Columbia raised its minimum wage to $9.50, an increase of 75 cents, nudging Alberta into a lower position in terms of national numbers. The minimum wage for liquor servers in the province is even lower, set at $9.05. Statistics provided by the government of Alberta from April 2010 to March 2011 revealed that people from age 15 to 29 make up close to 60 per cent of minimum wage earners in the province; included in this age group is a great deal of post-secondary students. According to statistics, the number of people between the ages of 20 to 24 who are earning minimum wage has been on the rise in recent years. 44.2 per cent of minimum wage earners either have some post-secondary education or have already earned a degree, diploma or certificate. People with university degrees make up 13.9 per cent of people earning minimum wage. With the cost of living also on the rise, as well as the cost of education, post-secondary students are among those people who are most negatively affected by a low minimum wage; however, a wide range of people earn minimum wage in Alberta. People of all ages, levels of education, marital status, and gender are included in the broad spectrum of minimum wage earners in this province. While both genders are affected by the minimum wage in Alberta, the statistics reveal that they are not affected equally. From April 2010 to March 2011, women comprised 64.6 per cent of the province’s minimum wage earners. This number was up from 58.2 per cent from April 2009 to March 2010. Included in the Alberta Minimum
Wage Profile is a summary profile of a minimum wage earner. According to the government of Alberta, the most common minimum wage earner from April 2010 to March 2011 was as follows. •
15 to 19 years old
•
employed full-time in a permanent position
•
non-union employee
•
one to five years job experience
•
in accommodation or food services industry or in sales and services occupations
•
some high school education
•
female
Non-union employees make up 95.1 per cent of minimum wage earners in the province, according to the same profile by the Alberta government. With so many people being affected by Alberta’s low minimum wage, citizens and organizations alike have taken notice. Public Interest Alberta (PIA) has begun a campaign to spread awareness about the province’s minimum wage and to advocate for a living wage for all Albertans. According to PIA, $12/hour is just below the poverty line for a person who is working full time, meaning a living wage would be much higher than that for someone with children. 17.8 per cent of people in Lethbridge are earning less than $12 an hour. In order to spread awareness, local advocates of a living wage took to the streets on Nov. 1 to distribute $9.40 bills. Their message was that Alberta’s minimum wage, now among the lowest in the country, is too low to be considered a living wage. PIA is encouraging people to include the bills while tipping servers, to encourage them to speak up and take action against the low minimum wage. Many servers do not know that they are earning
Premier Alison Redford
less than minimum wage. The bills that PIA is distributing feature the face of former Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk who introduced the controversial two-tier minimum wage that the province currently employs. Advocates of a living wage across the province have been distributing the bills as part of the campaign. In the midst of PIA’s campaign, Premier Alison Redford has expressed her intentions to reexamine Alberta’s $9.40 minimum wage, concerned by the province’s distinction of having one of the lowest minimum wages in the country. While she may be looking to raise the minimum wage, Redford was an advocate of the two-tier system that has alcohol
servers making $9.05 despite the minimum wage being $9.40. The two-tier system is controversial in Alberta because the province lacks any regulations on gratuities. Businesses are able to take and redistribute servers’ tips, often in order to tip out back-of-house staff. With many servers not making exorbitant tips, the lower minimum wage becomes a point of contention. With the minimum wage at the rate it is currently, many people are struggling to make ends meet despite working long hours, often at multiple jobs. Only time will tell whether Premier Redford will come through on her promise and address the low minimum wage in Alberta.
Laurin Liu: From young McGill student to NDP member of Parliament 20-year-old politician talks new job, ‘radical life change’ Micki Cowan — The Ubyssey (University of British Columbia)
VANCOUVER (CUP) — Imagine waking up one morning with the realization that rather than prepping for your exam next week or attending class, you are going to Parliament Hill — and being paid $140,000 to do it. This is what happened to former McGill student — now member of Parliament — Laurin Liu, when she was elected by a landslide vote in a suburban Montreal riding for the NDP on May 2, 2011. “It’s been a radical life change,” said Liu when she visited UBC last week as part of her tour.
The 20-year-old Liu was in her third year of a history and cultural studies degree at McGill when she was elected as the MP for Rivièredes-Mille-Îles. But there are some aspects of her new career which run congruent with her student lifestyle. “Some things haven’t changed; the all-nighters, the multi-tasking and having a peer group are all things that haven’t changed,” she said. Politics played a big part in her university experience. She was involved in student government, where she helped her student society’s vice-president external coordinate political campaigns. She also sat on the board of directors for
the campus radio station at McGill, CKUT. “Politics has always been something that’s been part of my life, but on a more grassroots and local level,” she explained. Liu has had some advocacy in her new position too, and has been able to bring some of the issues she was working on at her student society into Parliament. To help the new MPs transition into their position, each was assigned a mentor from their party; Liu’s was Megan Leslie, an environment critic from Halifax. “I’m the deputy environment critic,” she said. “That’s something that was an interest for me before, which I can work as an MP as well.” Though she has a mentor to
help her out, Liu is often working with people with more political experience than her. And there is no escaping the age difference. Nonetheless, she said it’s more than age that makes a good MP. “To a certain point it goes beyond age and you have to look at the work … sometimes you’ll see a younger MP doing a way better job than an older MP and vice versa as well.” Liu is looking at eventually getting her degree, but said it’s too soon to say what she will do following her term as MP. “I definitely want to continue with politics, whether it be as a politician or in another role.”
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University of Manitoba president makes historic apology David Barnard addresses U of M’s role in residential school system Sarah Petz
The Manitoban (University of Manitoba)
WINNIPEG (CUP) — University of Manitoba president David Barnard made history on Oct. 27, with a statement of apology for the university’s indirect role in the residential school’s system. The statement was made before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Halifax, N.S. Barnard is the first university president to formally apologize for perpetuating the system, which was launched by the Canadian government in the 19th century as a means to assimilate aboriginal children into Canadian society. Residential schools — the last of which closed in 1996 — are widely recognized as abusive and a form of aggressive assimilation. While the university did not fund or help operate residential schools, Barnard apologized to the university’s 1,900 self- declared Aboriginal students, as well as to the U of M’s aboriginal staff, for failing “to recognize or challenge the forced assimilation of Aboriginal Peoples and the subsequent loss of their language, culture and traditions.” “That was a grave mistake. It is our responsibility. We are sorry,” he said. Visibly emotional, Barnard went on to explain that the university educated “and mentored individuals who became clergy, teachers, social workers, civil servants and politicians” that carried out policies aimed at the assimilation of aboriginal peoples in Manitoba. He also acknowledged the damage of the “sixties scoop,” a practice where many aboriginal children
were taken from their biological families and adopted into non-aboriginal homes. Barnard said the university is committed to ensuring that the values “of First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures and communities are included in scholarship and research across the university.” “In order to take the next step in advancing indigenous scholarship and the success of indigenous people, collectively as well as individually, we must acknowledge our mistakes, learn from them, apologize and move forward in a spirit of reconciliation,” he said. Approximately 50 U of M students and staff gathered at Migizii Agamik, formerly known as Aboriginal House, on the Fort Garry campus to watch a live streaming video broadcast of Barnard’s address. Florence Paynter, an elder-inresidence at Migizii Agamik and a survivor of the residential school system, said she felt the apology was “history in the making,” noting that the apology “extends itself to where
people are being trained for the future in different fields.” “There has to be that attitude shift overall,” she said. Paynter said she felt the university had done a good job of fostering aboriginal achievement and being inclusive of the aboriginal community on campus, but that it would ideal if “sometime in the future” there was a full faculty of aboriginal studies at the U of M. “We know that education is the way to change what we’ve been through, but having a way to incorporate ... our own histories is really key to instilling that pride our people have,” she said. When asked what reconciliation meant for her, Paynter explained that “it’s hard to define, and there
are many facets of it.” “Each family has their own reconciliation and mine has been having to tell my children that we can’t teach them the language, and being asked later by a granddaughter, ‘Why didn’t you teach my mom so my mom can teach me?’” she said. “I think that’s one of the emotional hurdles we had to go through.” Mike Dorie, an arts student from Sagkeeng First Nation and co-president of the University of Manitoba Aboriginal Students Association (UMASA), said he was surprised by Barnard’s apology but thought that it was one that needed to be made. Though too young to have gone through the residential schools system himself, Dorie said that he has
done extensive research on the system and its effects on First Nations peoples. “Everything that I’ve looked at, it’s always brought up emotions, because it reflects back on my life, on everything that I’ve had to go through,” he said. “Everything was affected — our language, our tradition, our culture. It was affected so badly that I feel I am a product of that loss.” Skip Gagnon, treasurer for UMASA, said that while he saw the apology as a positive move, “as an individual and unwilling participant of the ’60s scoop ... it doesn’t take away my memories of what happened ... But overall, it’s a good thing that [Barnard] has done.” Gagnon said he felt that the U of M is doing enough work to ensure that the campus is inclusive of the aboriginal community, but pointed out “there can always be more” done. “There are always new ideas coming forward for building relations between aboriginals and non-aboriginals,” he said. He said he thought the university could “be more vocal” about the services they offer to aboriginal students by “opening up to aboriginal people, to those who want to attend university, letting them know that it is possible and within their reach.” “Most faculties have some form of aboriginal student representation. I’m just not sure if [aboriginal community] outside of campus — those that are in high school that want to further their education — know what is offered here,” he said.
More than 30,000 Canadian students seek food bank support every month: report Overall food bank use in Canada has increased by 26 per cent since 2008 Briana Hill
CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief
HungerCount, an annual study of food banks and food programs in Canada, found that in 2011, an average of 851,000 individuals were assisted by food banks each month — and four per cent of them were post-secondary students. “Four per cent means that there [are more than] 34,000 students every month that are going to a food bank for help,” said Food Banks Canada executive director Katharine Schmidt. “It’s a group of people in this country that is important to us. Educating our young people and preparing people for their futures is important, so to know that we’ve got about 34,000 Canadians who are walking into or getting help from a food bank each and every month, who are post-secondary students, I think is a large number.” Pull: Since 2008, overall food bank use in Canada has increased by 26 per cent. “The reality is that someone using a food bank could be your neighbor, it could be a friend, it could be a family member, it could be somebody you sat next to on the bus on the way to school — really, it could be just about anyone,” suggested Schmidt. “The reason people end up at food banks is because their income is not high enough to cover the cost of basic needs.” Two per cent of those receiving assistance from food banks cite student loans or scholarships as their primary source of income. The cost of housing, job quality and accessibility to employment insurance are all barriers students face, according to Schmidt. Food bank use has increased on campuses as well. According to numbers from the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, the
number of people using their food bank has increased from 259 in 2007 to 3,534 in 2011. “It’s amazing because ten to fifteen years ago, there weren’t campus food banks, and I think the majority of campuses now have food banks,” observed Schmidt. “It’s interesting how they’re helping to service those that need help with some really creative ways to do it so that there isn’t a stigma — and it allows students to get some help with a lot of dignity.” Beyond being a student, there is no set of eligibility criteria to access the SFUO food bank service. “We ask that in order for students to have access to the food bank that they produce a student number — it’s really simple. We don’t ask for a lot of details or a lot of specifications, just that they can prove that they’re a student here, [or] that they’re an employee,” explained Chris Hynes, SFUO food bank employee. Hynes and his coworkers are currently collecting information about who accesses the food bank service on their campus. They have found that students with dependents are more likely to be regular clients. Fundamentally, food bank services exist to provide help to those in need. Both Schmidt and Hynes invited any students who need assistance to seek it out. “If you’re struggling and you need it, make the phone call, send the email depending on your food bank, and just get some help, because it’s important — no one’s going to judge you and it will make a difference for you,” encouraged Schmidt. “Students shouldn’t have to choose between paying tuition, paying rent, and buying food,” said Hynes. To find a food bank near you, visit www. foodbankscanada.ca.
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6 • November 10, 2011
An update on the Occupy movement
A look at what’s going on in Occupy Vancouver, Victoria, and more... Sara Parkin News Editor
Protestors who have set up an encampment in downtown Vancouver on the lawn of the city’s art gallery may face eviction by police in the days or weeks to come, but the future of the occupation remains uncertain. Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu has said protestors with the Occupy movement will need to pack up their camp and leave or face arrest. Chu has not yet (as of Tuesday) announced when Vancouver police will make their move, but the city is seeking an injunction to have tents and other structures removed from the encampment. The city was able to apply for the injunction on Tuesday. The city made an announcement on Monday asking the occupiers to take down their tents and other structures and leave the site immediately. Notices that were signed by city manager Penny Ballem also spread the message throughout the camp. The notice said that the city would continue to support the right of the people to peacefully protest and that they are committed to keeping the stage and electrical equipment used by the protestors in place on the site of the encampment, however, the tents would be required to go. The notice said, “By this notice we ask you to take your tents, belongings and any other items or structures off the site immediately so that the safety concerns can be addressed.” The move to shut down the encampment of the Occupy
Vancouver movement comes after the death of a young woman who was found unresponsive in a tent on the site of the occupation on Nov. 5. An official cause of death is yet to be released to the public, but there is speculation that it was a drug overdose that caused the death of 23-year-old Ashlie Gough. Police have made known that drug paraphernalia had been found in the tent where Gough was discovered. If drug overdose is determined to be the cause of Gough’s death it would be the second overdose at the Occupy Vancouver camp in a matter of three days, although the first was not fatal. Last Thursday a heroin overdose almost claimed the life of a person at the occupy encampment. The city of Vancouver is using the recent incidents at the Occupy Vancouver encampment as leverage to have the tents removed once and for all. The city is also citing unsafe conditions as a reason for shutting down the camp. In its application for an injunction, the city has requested to have city staff remove tents and other structures from the site of the encampment and they have also requested an order authorizing the police to arrest anyone who interferes with the removal of the encampment. The Monday announcement for protestors to leave the camp came after an overnight confrontation between police and occupiers. Chu says the clashes resulted in police officers being kicked, punched, and bitten. Monday’s confrontation was among the first incidents to
plague the Occupy Vancouver movement. Until recently, protests have remained peaceful and incidents have been minimal. In its application for injunction, the city noted that protestors have allegedly not complied with orders from the fire department, they have
received notice to remove their tents; notices were distributed to occupiers and pinned to tents around the encampment. The notice called for all tents to be taken down by noon on Monday. Despite the announcement, a number of protestors remained
ignored warnings that they are in violation of a number of city bylaws, and they are trespassing on city land. If the city gets what it has asked for, the injunction will see the removal of all tents and structures from the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery, the banning of new structures on the site of the encampment, as well as a prohibition of removing soil, lighting fires, and depositing garbage. Occupy protestors in Victoria also
in Centennial Square. Protestors were told that they had to leave so the city could move along with activities planned for the area. Many protestors automatically reacted with anxiety and fear, before a general meeting decided to call for even more support rather than to bend to pressure from the city. The Occupy movement was hoping that an upsurge of community support would be
enough to halt the city’s attempts to evict them from their encampment. An eviction notice has also been served to the protestors of the Occupy movement in Quebec City. If police and city officials were hoping that snow and freezing temperatures would put an end to the Occupy movement, Occupy Winnipeg is proving that it is going to take a lot more than that to scare them away. Protestors in a tent village across from Manitoba’s legislative building, who have been in place for more than three weeks, are showing no signs that they are going to be leaving their camp, even in the face of freezing temperatures. Occupy Halifax protestors were cleaning and making preparations to relocate their encampment in order to make way for the city’s annual Remembrance Day event. A recent Nanos poll that was conducted for La Presse and the Globe and Mail has found that a majority of Canadians show some support for the Occupy movement. The poll revealed that approximately seven out of ten Canadians had heard of the Occupy movement. Of those people who have heard of the demonstrations, 58 per cent say they have a favourable or somewhat favourable impression of the protests. 33 per cent of respondents to the poll said that they had an unfavourable or somewhat unfavourable impression of the protests. The rest of respondents said they were either indifferent or unsure of how they felt about the movement.
features
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November 10, 2011 • 7
Matt Baird Features Editor For more information on contributing to Features, please contact Matt Baird, f.editor@themeliorist.ca
Runs like clockwork Matt Baird
Features Editor
Three years ago, Steve Christensen was sitting in the back of a music class at our fine institution when he had an idea. At the moment, he is sitting across from me in our offices, sporting the culmination of three years worth of drawing, marketing, and production: a steel watch. “I had the idea one summer where I worked with a company called Apex. I won some money for a watch. I already had two or three Nixon watches, so I went out to the store and there were still just Nixon watches, nothing different. I like the brand, because they make great watches, but there was nothing else. So, I thought it would be kind of interesting to make my own brand. So, I started the next semester, and started drawing models, throwing out names, trying to figure out what the name of the company would be. Years later, I have a house full of watches!” Steve’s enthusiasm is infectious. Easy going and personable, he has agreed to give the Meliorist the
Meet the new watch in town
first look at his new local brand: NOVO Watch. They’re a luxury watch brand designed for those who intend to live fast and look good while doing it: “People want to be a part of that. Through my university days, I loved being a part of the snowboard and skateboard culture; that’s what I was into. After graduating and, unfortunately, getting older, it gets harder to be a part of that,” he laughs. “When you get a NOVO watch, you remember that this is the part of the industry you used to be in. This is what you used to be involved with. But there’s the other people who are still involved: might be professionals, might be MMA fighters, they can wear that. Hey, I can be NOVO.” But, that being said, “Just because someone doesn’t identify with that extreme culture doesn’t mean they can’t wear NOVO watch. They’re great watches.” These days, with the rise of cell phones, not many people wear watches. I started omitting mine years ago, but that doesn’t seem to bother Steve. “In my opinion, no one is buying watches to tell time, they haven’t been for years.
So, what’s the point of me building a watch with all these dials that people aren’t even going to pay attention to anyways? I can design something simple, that looks really nice, that does the trick, but more than anything, something that when people see it; it’s attractive.” With a priority of style over function, NOVO watches aren’t high tech metal monstrosities. “The thing about NOVO watch is a watch is a watch,” he shrugs. “In my opinion, watches sometimes are too confusing, way too many dials. My approach is more the simple kind of mix between business and fun. What makes it different is more of the culture. That’s what we’re building.” After leaving the U of L two years ago and graduating with a Masters in Real Estate and Development from John’s Hopkins, Christensen decided that he was “so turned off” with the idea of working for someone else that he decided to become “that guy.” “These days, everyone who graduates from university is going to be in some sort of business. Do they wish they could be on the snowboard every
day? Probably. Do they wish they could be at the skate park? Probably. Do they wish they could be surfing? Hell yeah! They probably have to wear a collared shirt, they probably have to wear nice pants, or have some sort of dress code. But what can they change that shows I am this person? Their watch.” He likens the idea of individuality through accessory to that of dog tags. “NOVO watch is the ID for the extreme individual. For example, in the military you wear dog tags, and afterwards many people wear them to show that this is who I am.” I broach the idea that some people just grab their dog tags from Hot Topic, and he laughs it off. “That’s right, but with NOVO watch, people would wear this to show that they are extreme.” Additionally, you won’t be able to roll to Hot Topic and grab one of his watches; if he sold anything at Hot Topic, I’m not sure he would have gotten the interview. NOVO Watch is currently sold entirely online; brick and mortar be damned. “Right now, we’re focused on social media. All the marketing books I’ve read were written more than three years
ago, before the explosion of social media, and right now we don’t have the money to really try anything else. Until everything picks up and I know how business works... that is, I know how it works, but I don’t know how it works, we’re sticking with this.” One of the problems with any start up is the initial lack of information: “my worst nightmare is hitting retail, and not having enough watches or not a type someone wants, and I cannot supply it for them. Once I have an idea of demand, how many I need at all times, I can go from there. But the last thing I want is a retailer calling me up saying ‘Hey, we need 20 of these watches,’ and I have to say it’ll be two to three weeks.” “These are for the people who are never beat to the gym in the morning, who never miss a powder day, who are the last ones out of the ring. These are the people we like... we think these people are really interesting, and a lot of people live up to them.”
Combine your vodka, ice, Irish cream, liqueur, espresso, and cocoa into your shaker. Shake until chilled, and strain into your shot glasses. Yes, it is that simple. However, if you find straining from the shaker into your shot glasses is a whole lot of trouble, as it can be on some top-filtered shakers, try this: shake the drink, and then crack the lid of the shaker off gently
and strain using the top and bottom half of your shaker through the small gap. It’ll give you enough precision to get it into the glasses. If that fails and you just end up spilling your drinks everywhere, I have lost faith in you. Crack a beer and clean up your mess. Now, make the drink again, and this time, use a goddamned funnel.
Drink of the Week: Vodcachino Matt Baird
Features Mixologist
It’s coffee time once again! Then again, if you’re a post secondary student, coffee time doesn’t so much begin and end as it does perpetuate your ability to deal with everything in your life that has a set deadline: papers, meals, and relationships that begin at Studio 54, for example. As such, we are combining our love of coffee with our love of everyone’s favourite social lubricant: vodka. And while vodka can be acquired from any liquor dispensary or discerning high school student, the problem with this drink is the acquisition of cold espresso coffee. You could go to Starbucks and pay out the nose for something they willingly throw away, refrigerate it, and then use it in a shot, but instead, I advise on grabbing yourself a one-cup Moka Pot. What the heck is a Moka Pot?
Well, it’s an Italian espresso maker that consists of a three-part chamber: the bottom for your water, a centre full of coffee, and a filtered top for your brew that percolates up thanks to steam. Simply toss in the water, put in the coffee, and put it on the stove. The steam from the water bursts through the coffee, and then up through a cooling shaft where it ultimately pools back down into the actual pouring chamber. As the steam condenses, all that coffee flavour condenses as well, creating a rich, frothy espresso. They’re like $10 on Amazon, and you can probably find a hot plate on there too if you lack a stove. Remember: for those of you living on campus, your RA loves hot plates – adores them so much, in fact, that you should have one in every room. They are an invaluable tool for heating everything from coffee to canned beans! By the way, while you’re on Amazon, get a cocktail shaker;
they’re a pain in the ass to find around town, and are a crucial addition to the home of any student. (By the way, you really don’t need the Moka Pot for this. Espresso will make a nicer drink, but we all know that plain old brewed coffee will do the trick. Heck, if you’re not a coffee drinker, substitute in a half an oz of Kahlua for the espresso. If you like neither coffee nor Kahlua, crack a beer. I’ve nothing more to say to you.) Vodcachino You’ll need: A cocktail shaker Four shot glasses A couple of ice cubes 3 oz of vodka 1 oz of Irish cream 1 oz of coffee liqueur 1 oz of cold espresso 1/2 tsp of cocoa powder And a dash of simple syrup
the
Features
meliorist
8 • November 10, 2011
What is rape culture? Debunking the myth
Briana Krushelnicki, with contributions from Madison Webber, Danika Jorgensen and Sabrina Roberts Features Op-Ed
On Sept. 15, an article came out in the Meliorist written by a student at SFU about how the term “rape culture” offends him. He doesn’t believe that such a thing exists, and he feels upset when people use that term to describe the culture we live in every day. I’m not sure preventing rape and violent assault are part of this gentleman’s everyday routine. When it’s dark and I’m getting off work, or leaving the library or any other situation where it’s a little shady and a little scary, I only unlock my driver’s door. I get in and relock it speedy quick because I am a female, and that makes me a more likely target. I’m not saying I am in danger all the time. But I am saying that the likelihood of me being targeted is far more likely than Mr. Rape-
Culture-Is-A-Myth. He has a lower chance of ever being assaulted. My chances, well… they’re not so low. There are arguments made that our culture isn’t a rape culture, it’s just a highly sexualized one. I have a question for you: have you ever heard one of your friends tell you, “Man, that exam was so hard. It totally raped me.” Why is that funny? Why are we comparing a difficult exam to a violent crime? Why is that permissible and acceptable in Canadian culture? I would like to state, at the outset, that rape is an extremely gendered crime: 98 per cent of rapists are male, and 95 per cent of victims are female (Winterdyk, 2006). It’s also important to note that rape is not about sex – it’s about power. Power over the victim, which is almost always power over a woman. The Thursday before Halloween, there was an article that advised women to “keep an eye out for sex offenders – a skimpy costume is a lure for even the most wholesome boys.” Ladies, I am going to drop
some truth on you right now. You are not responsible for the actions of other people. It is entirely false that if a man sees a woman in a “skimpy costume,” he will become so overwhelmed with lust that he will feel compelled to take what he wants – whether it’s grabbing someone’s bum or grinding up on them uninvited, or the worst case scenario: rape. This is simply not true. Men (and women) are capable of keeping their hands to themselves when they are not invited to touch other people. Those people who are incapable of keeping their hands (and other appendages) to themselves are at fault. To blame the victim by saying that she brought it on herself is to take the onus off the rapist. Unless I blatantly verbally communicate to Joe Handsy at the club, “Hello sir, I would love it if you would please grab my bum right now,” then he is not welcome to touch my bum. Silence is not a form of acquiescence. He or she should be held accountable. A symptom of the
rape culture we live in is that people feel it’s okay to blame the victim in these cases. The dominant idea at play is that if I put on a “slutty” Power Ranger costume or a “slutty” nurse costume or even if I wear nothing but a bikini to the bar, it’s normal to assume that someone might take advantage of me. And that I would be bringing that upon myself. Revealing clothes, flirting and a variety of other behaviours employed by men and women are a means to attract attention, absolutely – they are not an open invitation to rape. Alright, you might be thinking, “No, that isn’t right that you could go out wearing revealing clothes and be sexually assaulted. But that is, unfortunately, the world that we live in.” And I would say, “You’re right, dear reader! That is the world we live in!” and that is why feminist scholars have coined the term “rape culture” to describe this culture that promotes victimblaming and sexual objectification. You may not agree with this article.
You may not agree with the term rape culture and you may be one of the fortunate people in this world who do not unlock only one door of their car when it’s dark and scary out. You may not believe that the justification of sexual violence is rampant in our society or that this constitutes a problem for women and men alike. But I urge you to consider the statement made by a member of the Toronto Police – the statement that started the SlutWalk movement. When asked how women could avoid sexual assault, the officer advised that they “don’t dress like sluts.” When we focus on telling women nothing but how to avoid rape, we treat rape like an unalterable fact of life, something that will always exist, and we simply cannot allow that to be true. So I’m begging you: ask yourself why Meliorist contributors, members of the Toronto Police and a plethora of other people in our culture are so busy telling women what to wear that they somehow forget to tell men not to rape.
The Misanthrope’s Guide to Life (Go Away!) “Hell is other people”
Rebecca Colbeck Features Bibliophile
“Lord, grant me the irritability to deal with those people I cannot avoid, the flight-reflex to avoid those people I can, and the patience to get it all over with quickly” I’ll admit it, I lean towards misanthropy. Shopping, for
example, always finds me grumbling, mostly under my breath, at the idiots who park their carts in the middle of the aisle and then stand there for 10 minutes deciding between store brand and national brand eggs. Really? And don’t get me started on the exactchange types at the “express” lane. This book aims to give fellow
misanthropes a guide on how to cope with a genetically hard-coded disdain for others – in a sarcastic way. It reads like an excerpt out of a Louie C.K. memoir, full of cynical, insightful commentary on what is commonly misconstrued as antisocial behaviour. What makes this book so enjoyably funny? It takes fairly
normal situations and exaggerates them, and then gives advice on how to deal with them, again in an exaggerated manner. An example: inappropriate cell phone conversations in public. “Tap the person on the shoulder, apologize for interrupting, and explain that there’s a marvellous new fad called blogging that allows a**holes who want to share their “thoughts” with the world to do so, but in silence. Offer to help her come up with a catchy URL address and point out that social media is the key to any blog’s success, so if you were her, you’d reserve @PhoneC**t as soon as possible.” The running theme of the book is essentially how to feign interest in people. Turner-Neal and Rowland touch on awkward social situations like “How to End a Conversation with That Guy” and focus on advanced defence mechanisms for how to avoid uncomfortable scenarios with strangers, colleagues or family. The authors argue that even though misanthropes are commonly accused of being “antisocial” members of society, they are in fact superior at grasping situational ethics whereas “normal people” cannot. Turner-Neal and Rowland address everyday contradictions for misanthropes like how to engage socially as well as deal with having and maintaining friends when you’d clearly prefer solitary confinement. After reading this book, I realized that the situations described within that drive most misanthropes
crazy don’t really bother me. Of course, they are exaggerated for comic effect in this book. I’m fairly certain that no one but the most extreme misanthrope would smoke cigarettes in front of a class of children just to get out of being the homeroom mom. I also found a few quotable gems that are worth mentioning. The first is “Irony is the whip of a sarcastic God.” A sarcastic God is one that I might actually get behind. There’s also this from the section on using Wikipedia to avoid talking to people to get information: “A pound of avoidance is worth an ounce of inaccuracy.” I can get behind that! After reading this book, I’ve come to realize that I am a very specific type of misanthrope (yes, there’s a test!): I am occasionally a Stealth Misanthrope. “Heavily socialized, but a people-hater nonetheless, I put the “Ass” in passive-aggressive. Always willing to grin and bear it, I appear likeable, but may eventually frighten people off with the pulsing vein in my forehead.” I’ll end with a quote from somewhere near the middle of the book in the travel section: “If you take one thing away from this book, let it be this: Misanthropes hate doing something if there’s no apparent reason for it.” This pretty well sums up the philosophy of the book. If you feel the same, you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did. A Misanthrope’s Guide to Life (Go Away!) is available in fine bookstores everywhere, including your U of L Bookstore.
meliorist
features
the
November 10 , 2011 • 9
A canticle for lebensraum How the glorious People’s Republic of China freed its Tibetan brothers and foiled the schemes of the power mad fascists of the CIA
Olivier O’Brien Features Op-Ed
1. Fiat Lux Most debate centering around Tibet these days reads like Goebbels on meth, and this will be no different: in 1959 the peace loving Na’vi of Tibet were overrun by the murderous red Chinese storm troopers who then proceeded to ban religion, loot the monasteries and disrespect women and the elderly. The Chinese’ near-sighted industrialist tendencies (1) forced them to overrun Tibet in order to secure its vast reserves of... boron and hydroelectric dams, which they had to build, and potentially copper; they’re still prospecting. They looted the monasteries but that was mostly random militias so they never really saw much of the cash. Perhaps the invasion was a move to secure Tibet as part of the endless Cold War fun of grabbing potential missile sites and proving a certain Sicilian correct? Inconceivable! But when has anyone ever been willing to fight long, bloody proxy wars over potential nuclear sabrerattling puppet states in Asia? (2) The invasion was a logical Cold War move by a threatened world power; it was not right, but a government’s duty is to put the safety of its people first – no matter how many smurf babies it must burn alive – which is why the West also moved to secure puppet states. We were far more democratic about it though – in that we would (and still do) assassinate democratically elected leaders, allow a civil war to develop and then fund whichever side is more corporation-friendly. Whichever general is willing to set himself up as an old school colonial governor and provide us with dirt cheap primary resources/Middle East peace in exchange for cash/ military advisers/black ops spooks (3)/military hardware. Yes we can ship in containers marked UN medical aid, and yes we can ship at the same time as the regular medical aid. Incidentally, where did Mubarak pick up all those nifty Lockheed Martin products he was using on his own people? The distinction is that we never directly torture/murder/rape anyone so much as we invest in it. (4) Alright so we’re just drowning in the fetid seas of brackish rotting blood of our brothers that we butchered in our endless rage for acquisition – nobody wants to hear
it, Cato. But perhaps we should examine our own behaviour before we sermonize to oth– oh [expletive deleted] it. 2. Fiat Homo What about Tibet and its people? Stop. Just stop. They were by turns good and evil, gentle and cruel like any other human being. Just plain old-fashioned people. There never was a peaceful Buddhist kingdom in the sky. The history of Tibet has as many Tarquins, Herods, Alexanders and Nixons as anybody else. The first Dalai Lama took his throne at the head of an Imperial Chinese army (5). Yes his throne – he was the king of a feudal theocracy. The feudal theocracy play-set comes with the following: aristocratic landowning class, downtrodden peasants, state and religion in bed together, wars of religion, and inquisition! (6) But surely the Tibetan people have the right to choose their government? They certainly do and did! Ever wonder why there was no popular resistance among Tibetans? The last year has shown that a people can spontaneously overthrow a dictator and elect a new one, so why didn’t Joe and Jane Tibet? Why does it mostly seem to be monks (who are mostly descended from disinherited landowners) who are protesting the occupation? Why is it that when the CIA parachuted those same landowners, recently trained as commandos, into Tibet, they all disappeared? Were they eaten by a grue? Or were they handed in to the Chinese authorities by their own people when they showed up in the middle of the night and asked to re-enserf them? Think, if Prince William rang your doorbell at 3 a.m. wielding an assault rifle and told you that you owed him 120 days of field labour but only after you helped him to kill Stephen Harper, wouldn’t you phone the police?! The point is that just because Buddhism is a peaceful religion doesn’t mean its adherents are automatically peaceful. Come to think of it, just about every major world religion thinks that murdering people is wrong. People are ennobled through the power of an individual, not through a magical ennoblement machine that collects tithes and lays little nuggets of pure objective good. What about the kindly old Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama is a heroic man; if anyone might make Plato’s philosopher king, it might be him.
Maybe that’s secretly why we like him, but I have my doubts that anyone actually reads Plato – I skimmed the dust jacket. But the point is he is an old man, old people are prone to dying, and I sense a syllogism. (7) Theoretically the next Dalai Lama is the same guy, but he seems to have bizarre mood swings that last approximately one human lifespan. At the same time, how far can you trust him? A politician trying to curry pity and support? Let alone that he wants support so that he can go back to being king. Bearing in mind that his childhood tutor was a member of the SS. Can you, as a person who exercises your right to abstain from voting, really want to reinstate a king trained by Nazis
as absolute overlord over a people who have never personally offended you? When you think about it as a Buddhist, he really shouldn’t be that hung up on material possessions anyway. 3. Fiat Voluntas Tua The majority of the public outrage and protest at China’s handling of Tibet comes from a very noble and good impulse, which I can respect while simultaneously laughing at its childlike idiocy. But do not allow your empathy for others to become a tool for others. Ever wonder why the U.S. warmed to the Free Tibet movement quicker than to the antiapartheid movement? Were Ralph Nader and Nixon in on this together with Noam Chomsky running interference? The evidence to prove some kind on elaborate conspiracy involving the U.S. government using human rights movements to its advantage in order to spite a Cold War opponent is shaky, despite how obviously true it is. (8) China treats protestors in Tibet with horrific brutality, but shouldn’t you then be protesting how China treats all of its citizens rather than ones from a specific region/ethnic group? Then again, you are petitioning to reinstate a Nazi-trained king. It’s not that I think that there’s anything wrong with instating fascist dictators in foreign countries, it’s that you’re not even trying to haggle in a few kickbacks.
Footnotes 1. Before the Great Leap Forward, Chinese factories actually ran on social injustice; thus the tiny feet.
2. Every. Single. [Expletive deleted]. One of them. / Alternate punch-line: they shot William Dafoe!
3. Yes, your government rents ninjas. No, do not phone to request.
4. Actually come to think of it, third world countries are a lot like stocks – don’t trust people who deal in them, they’re volatile, and they’re usually covered in cocaine. Also, I dare you to Google Congo+Rape squad+Ipod. No reason, just do it.
5. I guess the People’s Army was just being thorough.
6. Buddhist inquisitions are nothing special - late night kidnappings, tools borrowed from meat packing plants, endless questions about which nostril Siddhartha was breathing out of when he achieved enlightenment. Ah well, nothing new under the sun, etc.
7. Therefore the Dalai Lama will die soonish. Alternatively, hit yourself in the face with a philosophy textbook.
8. Much like aliens and FEMA internment camps.
opinions
meliorist the
November 10, 2011 • 10
Kelti Boissonneault Editor-in-Chief For more information on contributing to The Meliorist, please contact Kelti Boissonneault, einc@themeliorist.ca
Our Truth and Effort: Keep the past present for our future
Illustration: Elizabeth Porter
Lethbridge has a beautiful and colourful past. It is a small city or a large town, depending on whom you are talking to, with family histories that date back to the foundations. Lethbridge has seen boom and bust, feast and famine, war and peace. It has grown and shaped itself from the riches of the Coalmines and the reputation of our red light district, through to the modern era as a prosperous yet friendly metropolitan centre. It is a hardy town, as many of the old-west towns were; nowadays it is reminiscent of its past in all its haggard glory. The old town of Lethbridge had many treasures that the modern city is now missing. Most new residents wouldn’t know that the downtown area used to boast a streetcar system back in the early years of the 20th century reminiscent of those found in San Francisco. People wouldn’t typically guess that there used to be a giant slide for swimmers in Henderson Lake, or that we used to have a small zoo out there. The newcomers to our city might hear rumours of Camp 133, which is now the industrial north side, but they would never guess that the Exhibition Ground itself was once a prisoner of war camp as well (during WWI). Visitors to our city might scoff at the size of our airport, but they probably would not know that there was once a bombing school there that trained some of the top pilots in the Canadian forces.
Our city of Lethbridge is famous for its own reasons. We have the longest and tallest viaduct bridge in the world, spanning over a mile and rising a glorious 300 ft. from the river-valley floor. It celebrated its 102nd birthday this year, and at the time of its construction it was considered one of the manmade wonders of the world, though probably few of us know that. Our coal industry birthed this city, and Lethbridge coal was famous nationwide as some of the highest quality. Our red light district was famous too, but for other reasons. Yes, as Canadian old-west towns go, Lethbridge has its history. It has been my pleasure over the past several years to speak and work with experts on that history – people who think of this town not as just a place to go to school, but as a place to put down solid roots. You can still see pieces of that history lying here and there; just take a
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Lethbridge has seen boom and bust, feast and famine, war and peace.
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Editor-in-Chief
walk downtown and see what I mean. Sadly, however, it seems that the past is slowly slipping away as people forget. The edifices of our memory are crumbling with the buildings that once made this city
one of the richest in the province. The essence that was Lethbridge is not wholly gone, yet; the good news is that if we act quickly, we can save it. For the past several years, the city has been involved in a project aimed at revitalizing the downtown core. The core is considered the area between 1st Ave in the north, to 6th Ave in the south, and between Scenic Drive and 13th Street on the south side of town. Historically, that area has been the commerce centre of town, with special attention surrounding present-day Galt Gardens, and 5th Street (previously known as Round Street). When I first came to Lethbridge five years ago, my initial impression of this area was “scummy.” The majority of buildings were run down, many were vacant, there were transients wandering around, and nothing appeared friendly. It became the area I tended to avoid, preferring to stay within the populated, box-store utopia of Mayor Magrath Drive. Over the years, the revitalization project that has targeted this area has made some dramatic improvements. The restoration of the beautiful Alec Arms, the Metcalfe Block, the Wallace Building, and so many others has added a touch of nostalgia back into the heart of our city. Galt Gardens, with the addition to the SAAG, and the rebirth of the historic buildings surrounding it, is alive in the summer time with families, music, and laughter. The feeling of this part of the city has become newly invigorated and welcoming
to people from all walks of life to enjoy the heart of our downtown. It now lacks only Bert Coulter and his popcorn stand. The project is far from over as there are still many properties that
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…their absenteeism will no longer be tolerated.
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Kelti Boissonneault
must be reclaimed and restored. City Hall boasts a continued plan to assist with new and vibrant business life in the downtown core, but they have met a stumbling block. Some of the historic buildings in the downtown area – the Oliver building, the old butcher shop beside Catholic Charities Clothes Bank, the Bow on Tong, and the Chinese National League building – have all fallen into disrepair and are empty of active business. Other buildings such as Fire Hall No. 1 are notorious for being unable to sustain business longevity. With the majority of these buildings, especially the vacant ones, the problems derive from absentee landlords who neither repair the structures nor rent to prospective businesses. Indeed the absent owner of the Oliver Building has allowed the repair of the building to lapse so dramatically that a portion of the rear wall began to crumble and the city had to knock the wall down in 2009. The half-constructed Atrium
building next to the CIBC on 7th Street has been a scar on the face of our historic downtown for over a decade. City Hall has made strides, and for that they should be commended, but a more forceful approach must be considered to reclaim some of these buildings. If something is not done quickly to reclaim these icons of Lethbridge’s history they may be lost forever. I encourage the city to hold responsible the owners of these buildings; encourage them either to sell the properties back to the city at a minimal cost, or acquire the funding available to revitalize historic buildings and fix the properties so new businesses may move in. The sorry and dismal state of the historic structures of the downtown continues to be an eyesore, despite being easily reparable with a little money and time. Let the downtown once again be the beating heart of our city. With the reclamation of these buildings, Round Street can once again become beautiful. It is up to the city to act, it is up to our citizens to support them, and it is up to those missing landowners to realize that their absenteeism will no longer be tolerated. To those conglomerates and individuals who own the historic buildings and properties in our town and let them become so ruinous: shame on you. The message must now be clear: commit to Lethbridge and the people who live here, or, as the trains have done for over 100 years, keep moving down the track.
meliorist the
opinions
mel•io•rism (meel’e riz’m, me’le e-), n. the doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort
Letters
An autonomous body, separate from the U of L Students’ Union SU-166, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 Phone: 329-2334 www.themeliorist.ca
A choice for life To the Editor: Those pictures of aborted fetuses were disgusting! Indeed, that is why it disturbs me that this is happening approximately 300 times per day in Canada. But why show the world? Because Lethbridge Students for Life is a minority rights advocacy group. The minority group we stand for is the preborn sector of society. The right we advocate for them is the most fundamental of all human rights—the right to life. This of course operates on the proposition that the unborn are human. Thankfully, that’s not an assumption we have to make, but that’s scientific fact. The genetically unique offspring of two human parents is itself a human. Now what about choice? I think choice is also a very important right. However, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. put it nicely when he said, “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” I have a right to swing my fist, but you also have a right to personal security. That is the big problem with ‘choosing an abortion’. Unborn children have the right to LIVE, just like any other person would. Choice is a wonderful freedom, as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s rights. I am calling on society to acknowledge the unborn’s right to
life. Perhaps you’re wondering about our right to show you pictures of abortion. Don’t we have the right merely to reveal the truth about something so commonplace in society? Agreed, you have the right not to look at the pictures; just look the other way. You could also politely decline our requests to share your opinion, or you could just walk away. That’s your right, and I won’t be offended (I told you I’m all for choice!). However, we do have a reason for showing these pictures. We want the university community to have an accurate realization about the effects of abortion. This is to inform individuals about what they are choosing when they decide to have an abortion. These reasons are parallel to those supporting imagery to discourage drinking and driving. The images are intended to inform people about the consequences of their decisions. As disturbing as they are, they depict reality, and therefore should be in the best interest of everyone to see. Sometimes critics argue that morality and human rights are decided by societal values, and that since society has not given the unborn the right to life that we are doing nothing wrong by killing them. Even if that were the only criteria for morality, it
would be very inconsistent of us as a society to distinguish human rights in that way. We uphold the right to life for all other human beings, regardless of age, size, level of development, environment, or degree of dependency. It is logically inconsistent to bar one sector of humanity from enjoying this fundamental right to life for reasons not sufficient to deprive any other persons of the same right. Think about it: there are no laws in Canada restricting abortion throughout the entire term of pregnancy. Now consider a baby at 30 weeks gestational age, which has approximately 90% chance of viability outside of the womb. That child has no right to life so long as it is in the womb, but if something were to happen causing premature birth, suddenly he/she would be protected by law. How inconsistent is that? It is just as irrational to deny babies under 30 weeks gestational age the right to life as well (e.g. first trimester). We need a point where we can distinguish these living organisms as humans, and the defining scientific criteria for humanity begin at conception. Sometimes they are referred to as a “clump of cells” or “clump of tissue.” I am merely a clump of tissue, too—just somewhat more differentiated; but in both cases the
clumps of tissue have the properties of belonging to humanity. Other people become upset that men are advocating the pro-life cause, as they feel this has to do with women’s rights. Yes, I’m a guy, but I can’t help it—I was born that way! It doesn’t bother me to be actively pro-life, because I’m not trying to intrude on women’s rights, but I am acting on behalf of the unborn. As far as I know, they are roughly 50% male and 50% female. That makes me a protector of women’s rights too! And as a side note, often women are coerced into abortions by their boyfriends, in which case men are also taking a stand on this issue. I know, I’m imposing my views on you. But that’s because this is a debate. A debate is not a mere sharing of feelings on issues, it is an act of using sound logic and rational explanations to try to reach the truth. So if you disagree with me, please say something! Back up your argument with valid reasoning, and answer the call of the editor-in-chief of this newspaper, who encouraged everyone to let themselves be heard. Go online and reply to this article, or write your own letter to the editor! Tim den Hollander Lethbridge Students for Life
Mr. Yeoman’s latest response appears to be a hoax, which is fitting, since that also applies to The 9/11 Commission Report. He says the Twin Towers were not adequately fire-proofed by citing remarks from 1972. He knows so little, he may be unaware that, after an intense fire in the North Tower in 1975, which burned at around 2,000*F for three or four hours, enhanced fireproofing was installed—as well as a sprinkler system—and that none of the steel had to be replaced. He may simply be prevaricating. NIST studied 236 samples of steel from the two buildings and found that 233 had not been exposed to temperatures above 500*F, which is the temperature of an ordinary office fire, and the other three not above 1,200*F. Since I made this point in the very letter to which this one by him is supposed to be a rebuttal, why should anyone take him seriously? He is practicing the “special pleading” fallacy by citing only that part of the evidence on his side—even if it is outdated and incomplete—to make his case. Lest anyone doubt that most of the jet fuel was consumed in those massive fireballs, I suggest they pour out a cup of gasoline and see if they can make just part of it burn.
Indeed, since the melting point of steel is more than 1,000*F higher than can be attained with jet fuel, his theory is preposterous, as I have already explained. The Twin Towers were constructed with a safety margin of 20, which means every floor could support 20 times its expected “live load”, including personnel and property, which he similarly ignores. The truss-sagging theory, incidentally, has no more plausibility than the floor-collapse theory. Either would have involved violations of laws of physics and of engineering, because below the alleged “hit points”, those buildings were stone cold steel—and could not have collapsed through their points of greatest resistance. Why he persists with this charade requires explanation, since I have already observed that 1.4% of the mass of the steel (in the North Tower) could not have overcome the lower 98.6%. Perhaps Yeoman believes in miracles. He cites this point but dismisses it on the false grounds that I did not take into account the additional mass of the personnel and property. If the two buildings had collapsed, there would have been a massive stack of pancakes, but, as Fr. Frank Morales of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church near “Ground Zero”, a first
Editor-in-Chief Kelti Boissonneault einc@themeliorist.ca Business Manager Nelson Chin b.manager@themeliorist.ca Advertising Manager Brandon Wallis
ad.manager@themeliorist.ca Production Manager Calvin Shiu p.manager@themeliorist.ca Creative Director Jeff Henry c.director@themeliorist.ca Account Rep Jillian King
Yeoman’s response a hoax, or just wrong? To the Editor,
The Meliorist is the student newspaper of the University of Lethbridge, published most Thursdays throughout the academic year by The Meliorist Publishing Society, an autonomous incorporated body. Please address all correspondence to The Meliorist, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, or drop it off at room SU-166. Deadline for submissions is Sunday 4pm. The Meliorist appreciates and encourages the writing of thoughtful, concise, timely letters. However, The Meliorist will only consider for publication those letters which are signed by the author. Special arrangements may be made for those wishing anonymity, but absolutely no pseudonyms. Letters should contain the authors legible name, address, telephone number and student identification number. The address, I.D. and phone number will not be published. The Meliorist reserves the right to edit submissions and will not print libelous material. Letters may be edited for brevity, clarity and legality.
account.rep@themeliorist.ca responder, explained during two appearances on my radio programs, they were actually destroyed below ground level, as photographs and witness reports confirm. The enormity of the deception that Mr. Yeoman attempts to foist off on readers of the Meliorist is nowhere more obvious than his blatant disregard of the visual evidence that confirms the towers were being blown apart from the top down, which requires explosives. Gravity operates in only one direction (down), which means that, once again, he is ignoring or distorting the evidence. Take a look at “New 9/11 Photos Released” on my own blog and judge the matter for yourself. Mr. Yorman’s performance here reminds me of the old Richard Pryor joke, “Who are you going to believe—me or your lying eyes?” That is all he has going for him: confidence that you will not even bother to search for evidence that refutes his position and verifies mine. As if that were not bad enough, he did not reply to the question I posed: “Flights 11 (North Tower) and 77 (Pentagon) were not scheduled to fly that day and the planes corresponding to Flights 93 (Shanksville) and 175 (South Tower), according to FAA
Registration records that I have in hand, were not deregistered until 28 September 2005. Perhaps Yeoman can explain how planes that were not in the air could have crashed on 9/11 or how planes that had crashed could still be in the air in 2005?” Yeoman did not answer, presumably hoping no one would notice. If you take a look, you will see that virtually everything he says simply “begs the question” by taking for granted propositions I have already proven to be false. He does not even get my links to Dr. Judy Wood right, since I support the study of her work but would like more proof of the use of directedenergy weaponry. What he says about those who jumped from the building, however, ironically suggests she might be right: the fires were not hot enough to cause them to jump but, as Ch. 1 of Where Did the Towers Go? explains, exposure to electro-magnetic radiation could have done that. He should read her book. James H. Fetzer, Ph.D. McKnight Professor EmeritusUniversity of Minnesota Duluth
News Editor Sara Parkin n.editor@themelisorist.ca Features Editor Matt Baird f.editor@themeliorist.ca Entertainment Editor Billy Davey e.editor@themeliorist.ca Sports and Lifestyle Editor Nicole Meech s.editor@themeliorist.ca Campus Beat Reporter Janet Barriage campus.beat@themeliorist.ca Photo Editor Jon Martin p.editor@themeliorist.ca Illustrator Elizabeth Porter Copy Editor James Forbes Distribution Manager Tracy Fairs Production Assistants Jeff Henry Emma Ferguson Creative Designer Brandon Wallis Webmaster Chris Morris Printing Southern Alberta Newspaper Group Contributors Rebecca Colbeck Olivier O’Brien Briana Krushelnicki Zoe Migicovsky RJ Balog RM Schafer Cover Brandon Wallis Jon Martin
Procrastination Freshman 15 Unicorn
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November 10, 2011 • 15
Crossword
Across 1- _ lift?; 6- Seine feeder; 10- Attempt; 14- Approvals; 15- Heath; 16- River in central Switzerland; 17- High-speed separator; 20- Monetary unit of Afghanistan; 21- The Younger and The Elder; 22- All there; 26- Regain strength; 30- Fate; 34Plunder; 35- Writer Hentoff; 36- Asian holiday; 38- Become less intense, die off; 39- DC bigwig; 40- Subway turner; 42- “... _ the cows come home”; 43- Cry _ River; 44- Taoism founder; 45- Caution; 49- Listener; 50- IRS IDs; 51- Considers; 54- Freight weight; 56- Naive; 64- Buenos _ ; 65Area of 4840 square yards; 66- Musical drama; 67- Actress McClurg; 68- Norse god of thunder; 69- Water vapor;
Look for the Freshman 15 Unicorn hidden somewhere in this week’s Meliorist. Email einc@themeliorist.ca with the page it’s on as well as a brief description of where you found it. At the end of the month we’ll draw a few names for a special prize. You can only be entered once per week, but you can re-enter every issue.
Down
Sudoku Crossword provided by BestCrosswords. com •••
Puzzle Answers on Page 23
1- Big Apple sch.; 2- Conger; 3- Cornerstone abbr.; 4- German article; 5- Quickly, quickly; 6- Beaten egg dish; 7- Charged particle; 8- Drunkard; 9- Be human; 10- Adventurous expedition; 11- Lacking slack; 12Jason’s craft; 13- Apians; 18- Swearword; 19- Rapper born Tracy Marrow; 22- Herring type; 23- Semitic language; 24- Kathmandu resident; 25- Prepare a book or film for release; 27- Filmic; 28- Son of Judah; 29- Large container; 31- Chemical ending; 32- Inflammation of the ear; 33- Wrestling hold; 37- Ages between 13 and 19; 39- Big rig; 40Pouch; 41- Small children; 43- Mire; 44- Vive _ !; 46- Branching; 47- Pointed end; 48- Hogwarts attendee; 51Type of ranch; 52- Children’s author Blyton; 53- Actor Morales; 55- Sgts., e.g.; 57- Covering for the head; 58- German pronoun; 59- Hit sign; 60- Appropriate; 61- Driver’s aid; 62Baseball stat; 63- Block up;
OPEN MIC NIGHT
THURSDAY, november 17 doors open at 5:30pm
in the Zoo
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November 10, 2011 • 16
Billy Davey Entertainment Editor For more information on contributing to Entertainment, please contact Billy Davey at e.editor@themeliorist.ca
New restaurant opens on campus!
“Let’s bring the presence of the food back” Billy Davey
Entertainment Editor
“I’m trying to show a reciprocal relationship with what we eat,” said Rita McKeough as we looked at glasses of milk that had the shape of a cow tongue to lick back. McKeough aims to bring a better realization of what we eat, saying “I’m trying really hard to not take things for granted.” The Lion’s Share opened on Nov. 3 and will be in the U of L Main Gallery until Jan. 5. Entering the “restaurant,” you will see hotdogs killed by spears everywhere, an exhausted chicken trying to lay eggs in the back room,
milk trying to lick you, fish fighting for air, and carrots looking on in horror. The restaurant is meant to make people think about what they are eating and how it goes from living to dead to eaten. Most people ignore the conditions of their food before it is killed and prepared and just eat the seemingly magically created food. “I think we forget the animal… I’m just trying to bring some awareness to that,” said McKeough. She feels that once you see you have to kill something to eat it, people will think very differently about what they eat. “There is a line everyone has to see with their food… people must think ‘how do you kill
it in a respectful way,’” explained McKeough. McKeough has been a vegetarian since she decided, in her early 20s, to go into a slaughter house and see her food’s condition while it is alive and just before its death. However, she said she sometimes eats eggs when her options are slim. “I tried to use what are my contradictions,” said McKeough, referencing all the rubber eggs in the exhibit. She believes that everyone should make their own choices about what they eat, and not just blindly order their food. “Everyone makes their own choices… I don’t know any better than anyone else,” said McKeough.
The carrots on the wall, which have comic book-style speech bubbles, express their horror of the scene below them. They seem to show McKeough’s vegetarian side and her shock at how animals are treated. This is her using humour to make the scene while also making a serious statement. “I like the chaos of this. Some of the conditions are horrific… [it’s] a kind of humour sanity,” revealed McKeough. While all the hotdogs are being hunted and killed in the dining area of the restaurant, a chicken has fainted from exhaustion in the back room from trying to lay an endless amount of eggs for customers. In
the front is a pen filled with hotdogs, crawling in their own feces, waiting to be selected for eating. The two scenes are meant to show the tragic conditions of animals that are kept alive, as slaves, with the single job of feeding humans. McKeough brings to life an amazing setting of realization. She finds common ground with everyone in the topic of food, either as the observer of the madness, or as a participant. If making people think about their food was her main goal, she has accomplished it.
Feist Metals (Arts & Crafts Productions/ Cherrytree/ Polydor)
Selena Gomez & the Scene When the Sun Goes Down (Hollywood)
Scott McCreery Clear as Day (Mercury Nashville/ 19 Records)
Metals starts with decisive percussion and guitars in “The Bad in Each Other.” The trumpets and vocals carry the song through rising and falling tension. The album utilizes violins, trumpets, and woodwinds sparingly but effectively and to a very pleasing extent. “How Come You Never Go There,” the album’s first single, has a very powerful yet soft chorus, and a delicate whisper for the verses. Each song seems to find its own place in your head and sings inside, rather than into your ear.
Selena Gomez & the Scene appear to be, in their current form, a pretentious attempt at music. While some of the members in the Scene may be good musicians, Gomez cannot use her musical talent as a claim to fame. The electric rhythms in “Love You Like a Love Song” and “When the Sun Goes Down” are decent but the vocals sound like a generic creation. “Who Says,” which also has a Spanish version on the album, is surprisingly good, with an acoustic guitar and creative vocals. But I feel most of the credit for this album should be given to its many producers.
Quickly earning a number one chart position shortly after its release, Clear as Day pulls out all the country stops. “Clear as Day,” the album’s flagship, is a slow tune with a sweet sounding guitar being finger picked and McCreery’s large sounding vocals. McCreery has a range that goes very deep, and the American Idol winner uses this undyingly through Clear as Day. After “The Trouble with Girls” the album really takes off with some great slow and lively tracks.
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Will Grayson, Will Grayson Zoë Migicovsky
Entertainment Writer
Although I have loved books by both John Green (Looking for Alaska) and David Levithan (The Lover’s Dictionary) separately, together they simply blew me away with a story that is heartwarming, hilarious, and completely honest. Their co-written novel Will Grayson, Will Grayson alternates between the perspectives of two very different characters with one thing in common: their names, a shared trait that brings them together in unique and surprising ways. The Will Grayson written by Levithan is the only child of a single mom, cynical and depressed with life, whose only real connection to the world seems to be the boy he talks to online despite refusing to admit to anyone in his “real life” that he is gay. His portion of the novel is written entirely in lowercase as a way to represent how small he feels. His counterpart, written by John Green, has a best friend named Tiny Cooper and a set of rules he follows to keep his heart safe that involves not caring even when it comes to the girl he maybe sorta likes. Although initially it would seem that it would be confusing keeping straight the two main characters with the same name, but even without the differences
in capitalization to guide me while listening to Will Grayson, Will Grayson on audiobook, they were immediately different. Each Will Grayson showed a unique and genuine perspective on the teenage experience. That’s really what I loved about this book; not only is it absolutely hilarious – especially anything to do with the larger-thanlife Tiny Cooper – but it’s incredibly authentic as well. Even though the book is marketed at young adult, the issues that Green and Levithan deal with are those that follow people through the rest of their lives – themes like self-acceptance and learning to open up your heart. I also completely recommend the audiobook experience of Will Grayson, Will Grayson as I think it brings Tiny Cooper’s songs to life in a way that isn’t quite possible on the page. Because yes, by the way, Tiny is putting on a musical based on his own life. My only slight dissatisfaction with the novel came with the way things tied up with one of the Will Graysons and Tiny, but it’s possible that’s just my own personal preference. Overall a humorous and touching story, Will Grayson, Will Grayson has certainly left me hopeful that Green and Levithan decide to collaborate again in the future.
DC’s New 52 RJ Balog
Entertainment Writer
It’s been an eventful couple months for comic book readers. While the summer was full with epic events for both the industry’s main competitors (DC and Marvel), it was DC that aimed to change the playing field in a way that’s never really been done before on such a grand scale. At the end of DC’s summer epic Flashpoint, DC Universe re-launched with 52 New “#1” issues. Spearheaded by veteran writer Geoff Johns (Green Lantern Blackest Night, Flash: Rebirth), DC used the momentum from Flashpoint (written by Johns) to usher in the New 52, with the story’s conclusion leaving the door open for endless opportunities. Coinciding with the conclusion of Flashpoint we got our first look at the New 52 with DC’s flagship title, Justice League. The intro of Justice League takes us back to the past, where superhero events are contained to isolated incidents and there’s no real crossover between the supers – yet. Drawn by the fantastic artist Jim Lee and written by, you guessed it, Geoff Johns, Justice League was the picture perfect way to kick-start the numerous new franchises. A lot of people questioned this massive reboot of the DC universe. Some long-time readers felt alienated by this, as if DC was taking back 80 or so years of heritage. But that wasn’t everyone. Most old readers and new readers alike rejoiced in the chance to be
part of a new beginning. And two months into the reboot, it looks like DC was right all along. Not only did DC open up the accessibility to new readers, but they kept continuity among franchises to preserve the ties to those long-time readers. Add on two months of huge sales and profit, and DC now has leverage to push forward with new frontiers. Not to mention that many of the #1s are currently in third and fourth
printings. As we approach the third month of the New 52, readers have had two issues to get a feel for each of the respected titles, and some titles stand out far and beyond the others. Some of the best titles to jump right into include Aquaman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Action Comics, and DC’s namesake Detective Comics. All of these comics start off with fresh new takes on their title superhero (Action Comics depicting Superman, and Detective Comics following Batman), going back to the hero’s origins and exploring how they evolved before
any of the massive crossover tiein events. Some comics like Green Lantern and Batman and Robin have continuity from previous storylines in a manner that might be less accessible for those new readers without a little back story first. But that’s not to say that those big franchises haven’t expanded for first time readers. There are four quasi Green Lantern titles among the New 52, all with new stories to tell. As for Batman – well, Batman was given different titles with different stories dedicated to our Dark Knight, but along with several other tie-ins from Batman-originated characters, (like Batgirl, Nightwing, and Batwoman). And if DC hadn’t done enough, their master plan looks far into the future, leaving a little Easter egg teaser in every #1. If you look close enough, every #1 issue includes a picture of a mysterious red figure, always watching as our heroes develop. So go check out some of these great new titles. Apart from the titles mentioned before, some of the best include Animal Man, Swampthing, Justice League Dark, All Star Western, and many many more. You’ll just have to go down to Showcase and see what jumps out for you. But if you don’t know where to start, my top five are the following: #5-Wonder Woman, #4-Justice League, #3-Detective Comics, #2-Aquaman, and of course, #1-Batman.
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18 • November 10, 2011
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A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas R.M. Schafer
Entertainment Writer
This past weekend saw the premiere of the third instalment of the relatively successful stoner comedy Harold and Kumar series in their new movie A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. Personally, I am starting to get quite tired of the epidemic of 3D movies; to me they just seem unnecessary and sometimes nauseating, but Harold and Kumar managed to 3D to the upmost. With trees, shattered glass, eggs, confetti, and smoke coming right at you, you almost want to cough. All of these things flying at you may sound annoying and
played-out, but Harold and Kumar manages to use these elements to their full comic effect without becoming irritating. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas was (as would be expected) tailored to the pot smoker, and as one of the movie-goers commented: “I liked the movie a lot more than my other friend, simply because I was really high at the time.” That being said, being “high” is not a necessity for your enjoyment of this movie – obviously. The third movie picks up a few years after Harold & Kumar’s Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and the two best friends have grown apart as their lives diverged. Har-
Nov 11
Emotional Blackmail @ Southern Alberta Art Gallery 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
James Oldenburg @ Mocha Cabana 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Nov 13
COUP DE COEUR FRANCOPHONE 2011 @ La Cité des prairies 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Nov 12 Brock Zeman Band with Herky Cutler @ Wolf’s Den 8 p.m. Tom and Curt @ Lethbridge Casino 9 p.m.
Nov 15
Between Material and Imagination Open mic with the @ Southern Alberta Sunday Nature Walk New Weather Machine @ The Slice @ Helen Schuler Art Gallery 9:30 p.m. Nature Centre 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. C.R. Avery with Wil Bring Fire @ Geomatic Attic Scott Nolan @ Owl Acoustic 8 p.m. @ The Slice Lounge 9 p.m. 9 p.m. Open mic
Folk Club Open mic Edward the Great @ Wolf’s Den Iron maiden Tribute 8 p.m. @ Sound Garden 9 p.m. Shout Out Out Out Out Pickle @ The Stone In A World Created @ Average Joe’s 9 p.m. by a Drunken God 9 p.m. @ Sterndale Emotional Blackmail Bennett Theatre Blackberry Wood @ Southern Alberta 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. @ The Slice Art Gallery 9:30 p.m. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scott Cook with Matt Robinson @ Owl Acoustic Lounge 9 p.m.
life appears to be in shambles and it takes the reuniting of these two old friends to inspire one another to overcome the obstacles in both of their lives. Kal Penn (Kumar) accepted a role in the Obama administration as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement which he accepted in early 2009. Penn left his position in the White House in 2010 to film the new Harold & Kumar, and returned in November of 2010; now Penn seems to have left his White House roll for good, as he now has a role on CBS’s How I Met Your Mother. Penn and Cho have also both signed on to voice their characters in the Harold &
Alex Vissia Trio with The Magnetic North @ Owl Acoustic Lounge 9 p.m. Hippodrome @ The Slice 9:30 p.m.
Nov 14 Open mic @ Owl Acoustic Lounge 9 p.m. Stellar Radio Choir @ The Slice 9:30 p.m. Between Material and Imagination @ Southern Alberta Art Gallery 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
@ Bo Diddly’s 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Between Material and Imagination @ Southern Alberta Art Gallery 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nov 16 L.A. Beat open jam @ Owl Acoustic Lounge 9 p.m. Ballgag N’ Chain Gang with Toques and Beards @ The Slice 9:30 p.m.
Kumar animated series which is currently being shopped around by Lionsgate TV. The bromance aspect of A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is a typical plot line, but it only plays a small part in this movie which is a story dominated by alcohol, drug and 3D shenanigans. Overall, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is quite entertaining, and as always they run into hilarious obstacles. Best of all, Neil Patrick Harris comes back from the dead (after being shot in that back last movie) to make a hilarious appearance, which is one of the highlights of the movie. It might be a bit early for a Christmas movie, but Harold & Kumar is a pretty great way to kick it off.
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••• Got nothing on the go? Go to an event. Write an article. Contribute it to The Meliorist.
November
Nov 10
old (John Cho) is now married and works for a large corporation in the financial district where he must fight off protesters as he comes to and from work every day. Now living the typical “suburban dream,” Harold strives to earn his father-inlaw’s respect by having the perfect Christmas and proving that he can take care of his wife. Through the magic of Christmas, a mysterious package is delivered for Harold at his previous residence, where Kumar (Kal Penn) now lives alone in the incredibly dirty apartment after having broken-up with his girlfriend Vanessa and having been expelled from medical school for his drug use. Kumar’s
TLFs
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walking by the pool… boy 1: what did they even do to that place? boy 2: they put water in it thanks for making my day boys! =] it’s a valid point..looks pretty much the same. Have Sex With a Guy With a Mustache, Day. You are not a whore if it is for charity. Lost your headphones? good news! I found them and will be dropping them off at the security desk in the morning (November 3rd). – MS To the guy who keeps putting his hand up in Sociology 1000 in PE 250. Stop. Just stop it. Seriously…stop it. Movember, No Shave November… whatever you celebrate, looking forward to it boys ;) To people who complain about stuff via TLF (everyone), stop claiming you’re speaking on behalf of a whole bunch of people. Take ownership, say “I personally do not like this!” Wtf happened to Mojo’s? It used to be the only cool cool place to hang out on Wednesdays. Guess it’s off to shark club. Ever notice that the Drama department casts the same people over and over again? Give others a chance, you favoritist jerks. Trying to hook up through the TLF’s is as useless as balls on a Pope… Grow a pair and talk to the person your interested in. to the girl with the van , it was in lot E
To all the cute ladies in psych 1000, let’s study some time! Maybe we can share notes on mounting behavior! =P to the girl i sit beside in neuro you keep my brain stimulated ;) Jeff Winger type looking for Community style study group. Shirleys need not apply.
It snowed out; winter cuddles are here. Honey Badger don’t care about your crush on that guy in your psych class! He just wants funny TLFs! And he just takes what he wants, he don’t give a sh!t!!! – The Honey Badger To the honey badger who almost knocked me over chasing a mouse “WATCH OUT!”
Just walk up to her, tell her she caught your eye, ask her for a coffee and a walk. COME ON GUYS IT IS SAHHO EASY, beautiful women aren’t intimidating they are people too :)
To the hot chick who looks like Natalie Dormer Who walks by D6 every m/w/f at around 13:40… Can we hang out?
To the girl who drives a silves VW beetle in parking lot N with a orange flower inside… I think your cute… Too cowardly to say it to your face though… from some lame guy
Sure is a lot of really sexist and racist TLFs. What happened to the passiveaggressive library grievances and the harmless anonymous compliments? Can we be kinda again?
If I am actually the biggest asshole you have ever dated then I think you do need to tell me to my face. Stop wishing you could and just do it.
/r/uleth
When bad news surprises you, painful memories flash back or heavy moments that turn your stomach to mush, it’s great to fall into a warm and comforting pair of big,wide open arms. Dear cute guy with the white hat and backpack, Don’t be shy, come say hi. ;) For all those free mustache rides out there..I wouldnt mind giving a couple for a whirl. Ladies, it is NOT attractive to back-comb your hair to the point of it looking like a giant tumor lives there. A little goes a lonnng way.
To the group in UHall Friday afternoon geeking out over Homestuck: Keep on rocking. 8o) HONK!
November 10, 2011 • 19
Cat-Woman, Why you no dress up no more? … i miss your cat ears ;) There isn’t enough chamomile tea in the world to quell the rage in my heart. Does anyone else want to go to New York with me and occupy Wall Street? Sexy girl walking out the social work class Thursday, motorcycle boots, skrillex cut. One day Ill work up the nerve to talk to you, just like one day this might make the tlf page! Dear Ladies: if you still look cute at the end of your workout, you didn’t work hard enough! We need to have ugly christmas sweater day every wednesday till exams are done. I just bought one online, can’t wait to wear it! My friends and I are single so we went to the owl for the first time to see if we could meet a group of single men that go to the U. Its awesome, but practically a couples lounge.
Haha Looch!! I talked to you once @ the linc study area, you offered to give me a ride home. Wish I got your name, cause it frankly is driving me insane. You are a neuroscience major. Msg back What happened to the Anime club? I have nobody to talk with now. :( Things could always get weirder. Tired of Pulse. Which pubs are the most popular?
Ladies, the only time we want to see your duck lips is between your legs Where are all the queer girls these days? I got a tattoo that’s so nerdy that I just tell most people “you wouldn’t understand.” It’s a Halo tattoo. Nerd4Life. Quickly, to the Women’s Centre! Free pizza and great company this Thursday from 11:30 to 3! Why doesn’t the ULSU put its budget or minutes for its meetings online?
“I’m not like most girls.” -most girls
Submit your TLFs at WWW.THEMELIORIST.CA or to THEMELIORIST@GMAIL.COM. All TLFs must be submitted via a valid uleth account. Keep in mind that slanderous or offensive TLFs my be edited or omitted. The TLFs do not reflect the views or opinions of The Meliorist Publishing Society.
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lifestyle
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November 10, 2011 • 20
Nicole Meech Sports and Lifestyle Editor For more information on contributing to Sports and Lifestyle, please contact Nicole Meech, s.editor@themeliorist.ca
The art of multi-tasking: Friend or foe? Nicole Meech
neural circuitry, which is in charge of human contact, is weakened. This means our social interactions may become awkward and we will misinterpret subtle, non-verbal messages since we will lose the ability to pay attention to detail.
Lifestyle Editor
We live in an age bombarded with deadlines, social networking, text messaging, and the constant need to get more done. With this increasing list of activities came the inevitable evolution of completing multiple tasks at the same time; this, my friends, is what they call the art of multi-tasking. Not only are we rushing to get that essay or assignment done, but we also have Facebook or Twitter in the background, we have our phones by our sides awaiting those unlimited text messages, we have dinner on the go, and we maybe even have the TV going in the background. GAH! Overwhelming much? Well according to most people, this summarizes a typical day. Society outlines life as a constant go-go-go. Even during our down time there’s usually something going on around us. But is this the most efficient way to live? Are we really getting more done than our ancestors? And more importantly, are we really getting all we can out of life in the process? According to research at the University of California, multitasking may actually hinder shortterm memory, while the constant interruptions of smart phones and social networks spell trouble for long-term memory and overall mental performance. Ironically, regular multi-taskers are actually worse at multi-tasking because they’re more easily distracted by useless information. As a result, our brains lose the ability to filter irrelevant information and stay on task. A 2009 study at Stanford University found that constant multi-taskers performed worse on tests that require them to jump
from task to task because they get distracted by irrelevant information. Physiologically, the human brain isn’t exactly designed for multitasking. When we perform multiple tasks you may just think of all that information being processed in one chunk, but your brain actually only fully focuses on one thing at a time. It quickly switches between tasks, giving each item a small chunk of attention (item being your phone, computer, book, etc.). This is why the distracted driver law came out – our brains can’t fully concentrate on driving while fully concentrating on any other activity we do while behind the wheel. The negative effects of multitasking are most seen when your
brain tries performing two similar tasks at the same time – for example, talking on the phone while writing an e-mail. Since both these tasks use the same part of your brain, a competition is formed between the e-mail and the conversation, resulting in your brain simply slowing down. Studies have shown that multi-tasking has a negative physical effect as well. When your brain is forced to switch quickly between different tasks, the release of adrenaline, a stress hormone, is prompted. This can lead to a vicious cycle – we work hard at being “good” multi-taskers, we take longer to get things done, feel stressed, and thus feel compelled to multi-task more. The University of California
study mentioned above also proved that when people are constantly moving from one task to another they work faster but produce less. After 20 minutes of interrupted performance, people reported higher stress levels, frustration, workload, effort, and pressure. This may explain the behaviour of students. We feel pressured when deadlines approach, and we work faster because of this pressure, yet we don’t eliminate the distractions around us which cause us to multi-task in the first place. Although you may not be feeling the negative effects of multitasking too extremely right now, it does have negative implications for the future. Over time the brain’s
The fix All hope isn’t lost for those of us who are cursed with being born into the multi-tasking era. There is a fix in the long run – we need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time to capitalize on our brain power. This isn’t as unrealistic as it sounds. You can start by setting time limits for each task you want to get done in a given period of time. For example, spend 30 constant minutes getting a reading done for a class, 25 minutes to watch your favourite show, 10 minutes to check e-mails, 10 minutes to text, etc. It may sound tedious but you’ll achieve more than when you do all those things simultaneously. As long as you’re spending a portion of your day focused on one thing at a time, you can help train yourself to use your brain the way it was intended. If you must multi-task, there are a few ways to do it without causing significant harm to your brain. First, practice multi-tasking with simple tasks. Your brain can handle simplicity better than many complex tasks at the same time. Next, get into meditating. By increasing your mindfulness you’ll be better equipped to deal with the wear and tear that multi-tasking does for your brain. Lastly, try not to do it in the afternoon. Studies have shown that our brains are least functional in the afternoon so they don’t need the extra overload of multiple task completion.
Running on empty:
Why your body needs breakfast every morning Nicole Meech Lifestyle Editor
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It comes as no surprise that many in our student population deprive their bodies of food in the morning. I’ve heard many different reasons for this: “I didn’t have time,” “I just can’t eat in the morning,” “I’m never hungry,” “I would rather sleep an extra 10 minutes...” The list goes on and on. Unfortunately no matter what your excuse is, it’s just not a good one. Your body needs that fuel in the morning to be energized for the day. So I’m hoping after reading this article you’ll promise yourself that you’ll never skip it again – your body will be thanking you for sure!
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Reasons to eat breakfast: 1.
After a long night’s sleep (or in some typical student cases, a fairly short sleep), your blood sugar is extremely low. Low blood sugar affects everything from thinking to physically exerting yourself – think of it as driving your car long past your oil change date. It’ll still run,
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but not as efficiently as when it has fresh oil in the tank. Likewise, your body will still run but at a much lower performance level than if you had eaten breakfast. If you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll have a much higher success rate than if you had skipped the morning grub.
Without breakfast, your metabolism is slow and lethargic which means that when you eventually consume food, your body will hold on to every single calorie since it has been starved since the previous day. On the other hand, eating something (even if it’s not substantial, like a piece of fruit or
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a granola bar) will ensure that your metabolism gets a kick start for the day. In addition to a slower metabolism, when your hunger eventually strikes you’re more likely to crave something sugary for a “quick fix” rather than something nutritious. You’re also more likely to eat more than you normally would if you had eaten breakfast. Your diet thus becomes less balanced, which affects your overall well-being in the long run. If you’re someone who likes to stay active, breakfast will give you the “pre-fuel” you need for your workout, despite the time of day you like to exercise. Breakfast also helps you recover from previous workouts because it keeps your body in a steady fuelled state. According to cognitive research, children performed better on standard achievement tests and had fewer behavioural problems in school when they consumed breakfast. This proves a link between nutrition and cognitive
development, something that can be transferred to adult life as well. If you’re still questioning whether breakfast is for you or not, just try to start small and work your way up from there. It would be a big leap to eat a Denny’s sized breakfast when you’re not used to any food in the morning. It is recommended to include all food groups in your morning meal (grains, dairy, fruit, meat/ alternative), but if you’re starting out slow just be sure to include fibre and protein. Even a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter would do the trick. If you are really dreading breakfast, don’t make it a long term goal. Just tell yourself that you’ll try it for a week and then see how you feel. Also, leave breakfast until the end of your morning routine to allow your body to at least feel a little hungry – even breakfast lovers can find it somewhat hard to eat as soon as they jump out of bed. Lastly, if you’re not a fan of typical breakfast foods then just try eating dinner. Even that leftover pizza will get your body moving in gear.
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Lifestyle
November 10, 2011 • 21
P90X: “Extreme Home Fitness”
Nicole Meech
Lifestyle Editor (Op-Ed)
The world of fitness and nutrition is constantly adopting different trends. The latest trend that has become the number one best selling fitness program in North
America is what the designer Tony Horton likes to call P90X. Although the program was launched in 2003, it has become a huge hit over the past year. It is a program based on fighting plateaus during workouts by confusing one’s muscles. There are three levels to be completed in
90 days which are filled with different moves that challenge muscles to grow and change. The 12 different routines within these levels ensure that people are not working on the same muscles on consecutive days. The workouts include the following: chest and back, plyometrics,
shoulders and arms, yoga-x, legs and back, kenpo-x, x-stretch, core, chest, shoulders and triceps, back and biceps, cardio-x, and ab ripper. As with any program, there are pros and cons to consider before deciding if P90X is right for you. It can be a great program for beginners who dislike the gym or any public physical activity since it provides a schedule which takes the guesswork out of exercise. Worksheets are used to track progress by reps and weights used, and Tony is a quirky instructor who tries to make the best out of each routine. On the other hand, each workout is at least an hour which seems like a lot to ask from busy students. They require dumbbells and resistance bands which is not something everybody wants to invest in, plus the actual cost of the DVDs is over $100. So the question then becomes, do I want to utilize the school gym which is included in our tuition, or do I want to invest in a program that I may or may not even like? Personally, I am always up for trying something new, so when I found out that a friend of mine is trying the program I decided to join her to see what Tony is all about. The CardioX video was a bit of a disappointment. The routine started with a two minute warm up followed by static stretching for five minutes. Static stretching (holding a stretch for 30 seconds or more) is some-
thing that should always be done after exercising while muscles are warm and pliable. So this small detail threw me off right in the beginning. How can someone with over 20 years of experience focus more on cooling the muscles down before the routine rather than warming them up? Tony then instructed us with some yoga which then really made me question if we really were completing the cardio disc. But once the cardio actually started it definitely was effective in raising my heart rate and making my muscles burn. The 60 minute program could have been a 20 minute one with the amount of time that was wasted at the beginning. Overall I would give the program a seven out of 10 based on the two videos I completed. Tony has the right idea with fighting plateaus which is perfect for beginners. The structure and ease of use is appealing for anyone who is intimidated by fitness. If this is something you would like to try out, I would recommend starting it with a friend, not only for the split cost but also for the motivation and accountability you can be for each other. But like any other program, do not expect to get “jacked” in an allotted amount of time – doing it for a chance to get more active is a great way to start a healthy lifestyle.
Ask M M. Deschanel
and condoms is a personal one, and can be discussed between you, your partner, and your doctor. If you are worried about the other possibilities of something being wrong with your reproductive system, you can talk to your doctor about that too. There are simple tests to determine a possible cause for infertility in both you and your partner. I hope these answers have been satisfactory and that you find a doctor who will listen to you and whom you can trust. I do encourage you to look into all these possibilities and make appropriate choices for your sexual life. An accidental pregnancy can be extremely detrimental to your lifestyle, especially when there are proven, safe methods to prevent it.
Lifestyles Contributor
To M, Okay, so here’s the deal. My boyfriend and I have been sleeping together for a year and a half. And never once have we used a condom (or any other type of birth control for that matter). And also, I haven’t gotten pregnant. We’re just careful in making sure he always pulls out in a timely fashion. Naturally, I’m curious about the risks of this, but because we’ve never had a problem, I didn’t worry too much. However, everywhere I go and everyone I talk to tells me something different about whether or not pre-ejaculate contains sperm. My question is: why can’t they get a straight answer out there? Is it a debate and nobody really knows for sure? Or is it that the pharmaceutical companies out there are just making way too much money to give a shit about the women out there pumping themselves full of bullshit chemicals “just in case”?? Unless there’s something wrong with my baby making system or I am simply one of the lucky ones, I am proof that pre-ejaculate does not contain sperm; I just wish there were more women out there who believed this rather than their doctors who are out there for the quick big buck. Sincerely, An Irritated Woman Dear Irritated Woman, While most medical professionals will not condone the “timely pullout” method, there are probably a lot of women out there who employ this technique. Oral or hormonal birth control does have a few side effects that come along with it, and can be expensive. Condoms are also expensive, can reduce the feeling of intercourse, and are not always readily available when you’re in the appropriate mood. In regards to your question on pre-ejaculate containing semen: the
answer isn’t a simple yes or no. In the past, it was believed that preejaculate did not contain any sperm, but recent tests have proven otherwise. This is not a hard and fast rule for all men, however, so there is the possibility that your boyfriend doesn’t regularly have any sperm in his pre-cum (other men might!). Pre-ejaculate or “pre-cum” is a fluid produced in males in the Cowper’s glands and is sometimes known as Cowper’s fluid. It usually takes the form of a clear, colourless, viscous fluid that emits from the urethra at the tip of the penis during foreplay and arousal. The fluid is intended to lubricate the penis for penetration, and neutralize the acidity of the vagina to allow for semen to later make a safer journey to the uterus and ovum. While the pre-seminal fluid doesn’t typically contain sperm, there is the possibility, which is why you can get a lot of different answers when asking this question. While I wouldn’t put it past the pharmaceutical companies to be pushing birth control or the “plan B” pill to make a profit, there are women out there more susceptible to pregnancy than others (that whole “we’re all different” thing again). Women who have a tendency for fertility in their family histories might find it prudent to take oral or hormonal contracep-
tives to make sure they don’t have any unplanned pregnancies. Hormonal-based contraceptives don’t contain many unnatural chemicals, and instead contain hormones already naturally found in the female body to convince the body it is already pregnant, and in that way prevent actual pregnancy. At the end of a cycle, sugar pills are taken (or no pills; you just stop taking them for a week) so you can menstruate, before starting right back on the cycle again. Talking to your doctor, and keeping in mind probably most aren’t out there just to make a quick buck, will likely result in them recommending birth control – because it’s a proven safe method to keep you from worrying too much. That’s a choice you and your doctor have to discuss. Condoms are another good way to prevent pregnancy, though we all know they aren’t totally effective. In the realm of condoms, keep in mind that more and more latex companies are coming out with thinner but stronger condom designs to keep that “authentic” feel. They are also designing condoms that have unique characteristics to enhance pleasure (whether these will work for you depend on you). Condoms are mostly designed to prevent insemination of the ovum, and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections between
partners; if you’ve been with a faithful partner for as long as you have, there isn’t too much to worry about there. Essentially what it boils down to is your risk factor. While I personally wouldn’t rely on the pull-out method as being entirely accurate or safe against pregnancy, the decision to use hormonal birth control
Cheers, M. If you have any questions for M. you can e-mail s.editor@themeliorist.com or go online to contact Nicole, who will forward those messages on!
sports
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November 10, 2011 • 22
Un-Bearable lost for the Horns
Pronghorns Athletics Sports Contributor
Sean Ringrose, the Golden Bears’ leader scored twice as the Alberta Golden Bears took game one of the weekend series. They won 3-1 over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Jesse Craige had the other goal for the Bears, while Nick Hotson replied for the Horns. Both
goaltenders had solid nights for their respective teams, as Bears starter Real Cyr made 30 saves, including 15 in the third period to keep the Horns at bay. At the other end, Scott Bowles turned away 28 of the 30 shots he faced. The Golden Bears generated and maintained offensive pressure early, setting and controlling the pace of the game. Early penalties plagued the Horns and an ensuing power play
opportunity saw sophomore Craige notch his second of the season, as he found the back of the net with a rocket from just inside the blue line. Later in the first, Greg Gardner was denied on the doorstep by the quick reflexes of the Horns netminder Bowles. Ringrose was more successful, however, beating Bowles far blocker side from the top of the faceoff circle – off the post and in, giving the Golden Bears a 2-0 edge
headed into the first intermission. Lethbridge found life in the second and a successful cycle down low led to scoring chances. Horns thirdyear centre, Hotson, managed to find an opening, controlling the loose puck and sneaking it past Cyr to make it a one goal game. A turnover at centre ice led Daniel Iwanski to out-skate the Alberta defence, creating a breakaway chance as the second period drew to a close. Cyr held strong between the pipes, though, and denied the streaking winger who tried to go up and over his glove. Outshooting the Golden Bears in the second 13-10, Lethbridge looked to complete the comeback going into the third and final frame. Looking for that elusive goal to tie things up in the third, the Pronghorns battled hard in the offensive zone, creating chances in front and forcing Cyr to play quick and smart, deep in his crease. The late effort was too little too late, however, and the Golden Bears held on for the win. Ringrose went on to score an empty netter with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock to seal the victory. With this win, University of Alberta improves to 5-2-2 CW while the Horns slip to 2-5-1 CW.
Basketball Roundup
Sports Highlights
Game 2, pool A: CIS Women’s Rugby Championship Canada West champ Pronghorns dominate Trent Excalibur Nov. 4, 2011 Peterborough, Ont. (CIS) - The Lethbridge Pronghorns (1-0) opened their Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship tournament with a 35-0 win over host team the Trent Excalibur. Women’s hockey
U of W Sports Information Sports Contributor
Men’s basketball: Horns fall in season opener Nov. 4, 2011 A fourth quarter rally lifted the Winnipeg Wesmen to a dramatic 74-71 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns in the regular season opener for both sides Friday night in Winnipeg. Winnipeg trailed 66-59 with over four minutes to play and soon afterwards regrouped scoring 12 unanswered points to take the lead and close out the game. Eric Zimmerman’s two three-pointers highlighted the rally. Zimmerman finished the game with a game high of 27 points, including three threepointers. Dominique Brown added 15 and Mark McNee finished with 10. Guard Craig Sharpe led Winnipeg on the boards with seven rebounds. Five Lethbridge players scored in double digits with Dominyc Coward and Logan Reiter scoring 12 each. Daryl Cooper and Alex Fletcher scored 11 while Morgan Duce finished with 10. Horns rebound to earn road split Nov. 5, 2011 The Lethbridge Pronghorns gained a weekend split in dra-
matic fashion defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen 69-68 in a barn burner Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg. The Pronghorns, who dropped the opening game 74-71 Friday night, erased a seven point halftime deficit for the victory. Daryl Cooper led the Pronghorns with 16 points. Dominyc Coward finished with a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. Terrance Blake added 10 points. Winnipeg had the lead early on in the contest, leading 19-18 after the opening quarter. In the second quarter both teams exchanged baskets and key defensive stops in a fast paced opening seven minutes. A three-pointer by Alex Fletcher gave the Pronghorns the lead at 29-27 with under three minutes to play in the opening half. Winnipeg responded in a big way scoring nine unanswered points to take a 3629 lead into the halftime break. Lethbridge outscored the Wesmen 20-13 in the third quarter to tie the score at 49-49 after thirty minutes. The teams took turns holding slim leads in a wild fourth quarter. A McNee free throw with 1:10 left tied the score at 68-68. Coward hit one of two free throws to give Lethbridge a 69-68 lead with 26 seconds left. A Winnipeg turnover and two missed free throws by Derek Waldner with eight seconds left gave the Wesmen a chance to win the game, but Eric
Zimmerman’s shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim to make the final score 69-68 for the Pronghorns. Next weekend, Lethbridge (1-1) will host UBC-Okanagan on Friday and Thompson Rivers on Saturday. Women’s basketball: Ladies also drop opener to Wesmen Nov. 4, 2011 It was not easy but the Winnipeg Wesmen battled in a 63-57 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns Friday night in the regular season opener for both teams at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg. Winnipeg trailed 17-12 after the opening quarter but were sparked by a 15-0 run midway thru the second quarter to take a 31-30 lead at the halftime break. Lethbridge cut into the Wesmen lead in the second half but Winnipeg held off the charge for the regular season opening victory. Lauren Taal led the Pronghorns with 12 points. Katlyn Olsen and Kim Veldman added 11 apiece. Natalie Nichols hauled in a game high of 11 rebounds.
Horns drop second straight Nov. 5, 2011 The Winnipeg Wesmen completed a weekend sweep over the Lethbridge Pronghorns after posting a 61-51 victory Saturday night at the Duckworth Centre in Winnipeg. Lauren Taal was the top scorer for the Pronghorns, finishing with 13 points. Natalie Nichols, Kim Veldman and Deanna Dotts all finished with 10 points. Nichols was the game’s top rebounder with 14. Winnipeg was in complete control of the game in the first half leading 20-13 after the opening 10 minutes. The Wesmen took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Lethbridge 25-9 to take a commanding 45-22 lead into the halftime break. The Wesmen’s strong outside shooting was evident in the first half connecting on 6-of-11 from three-point territory. Lethbridge fought back in the third quarter outscoring Winnipeg 14-5 in the opening six minutes to cut the Wesmen lead to 50-36. The Wesmen held a 52-39 lead after thirty minutes. The Pronghorns managed to cut the Wesmen lead to seven points on a few occasions in the fourth quarter but Winnipeg came through with clutch baskets down the stretch to secure the win. Lethbridge (0-2) will host UBCOkanagan next Friday and Thompson Rivers on Saturday.
Nov. 5, 2011 Edmonton - For an unprecedented sixthstraight game, five needing extra time or a shootout, the no.7 Alberta Pandas were on the losing side of a one-goal decision as the Lethbridge Pronghorns earned their first-ever sweep against their provincial rivals with a 2-1 OT win, Saturday night at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. Swimming Nov. 1, 2011 Horns relay breaks school record. A total of 28 U of L swimmers represented Lethbridge in Saskatoon on the weekend. The Horns won 31 individual medals including 12 gold. Swimming to CIS qualifying times were Ryan Thornley and Jeffrey Nicol. The team has qualified 16 swimmers for the Canada West Swimming Championships in January.
classifieds Career and Employment Services JOBS JOBS JOBS!!! WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!! Let us introduce you to CES CES is a student service office dedicated to assisting you with your Career and Job Search needs. We’re within the Career Resources Centre in AH154, along with Applied Studies and the Management and Arts & Science Cooperative Education programs. CRC office hours are 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm Monday-Friday.
RECRUITING (OCR) On-Campus Recruiting is the process by which employers recruit students for full-time and summer positions for NEXT YEAR! Fulltime positions can start any time between January and September 2012, while summer positions generally start in May. Employers often come to campus to conduct their interviews. You must sign up for OCR in CES! (AH154) Go to our website: www.uleth.ca/ross/ces for more information.
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OCR POSTINGS
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Go to our website for more detailed information on our services: www.uleth.ca/ross/ces.
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UP-COMING EMPLOYER INFORMATION BOOTHS & SESSIONS:
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Please sign up in CES to get times
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and locations (AH154 or ces. students@uleth.ca)!!
Information Sessions • Operation Wallacea – Nov 16 11am-1pm
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WORKSHOPS to November 25:
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Please SIGN UP for workshops at CES (AH154) or email ces.students@uleth.ca
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CES Resume/Cover Letter Workshops: * Thur, Nov 10, 9:30am-12pm * Wed, Nov 16, 3-5:30pm * Fri, Nov 18, 10am-12:30pm * Tues, Nov 22, 3-5:30pm
CES Career Portfolios Workshops: * Mon, Nov 14, 3-4:30pm * Wed, Nov 23, 12-1:30pm
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CES Networking & Job Search Workshops: * Thurs, Nov 17, 3-5pm * Mon, Nov 21, 10am-12pm * Fri, Nov 25, 12-2pm
CES Interview Techniques Workshops: * Tue, Nov 15, 3-5:30pm * Thurs, Nov 24, 1:40-4pm
Richardson International – Various Locations – AgriBusiness Summer Students; Agri-Business Full Time Assistants (Nov 28) Parrish & Heimbecker, Bow Island/Mossleigh/Vulcan – Agribusiness & Agronomy Summer Positions (Dec 15) College Pro, Leth – Summer Franchise Managers (Nov 15) Monsanto, Various Locations – Technology Development Assistant; DEKALB Assistant; Canola Agronomist (Nov 18) Canola Breeding Tech (Feb 1) Pioneer, Alberta – Agronomy Trial Intern (Dec 5) Deep River Science Academy, Deep River – Research Assistant/Tutor (Feb 1) Dow AgroSciences, Leth – Summer Hybrid Canola Seed Production Assistant (Nov 25) Johnston Morrison Hunter & Co, Brooks/Cgy/Med Hat – CASB Student (Nov 25) Matson, Driscoll & Damico Ltd, Cgy – Staff Accountant (Nov 11) Canadian Camp Staff, Various Locations – Camp Councillors & Camp Specialists (May 31) Library of Parliament, Ottawa – Parlimentary Guide (Jan 13)
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CHECK OUT OUR NEW ONLINE JOB BOARD!!
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Visit our website www.uleth.ca/ross/ces and click on the student section to find our new online job board!
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ON-CAMPUS
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InStore, Various Locations – Liquor/Product Demonstrator (Nov 24) Premier Service, Leth – Mystery Shopper, Restaurant (Nov 30) Crossmark, Fort MacLeod – Data Collection Associate (Nov 17) Brand Momentum – Vendor Sales Assist (Nov 17) Community Neurorehab Services, Leth/Cgy/Edm/ Brooks – Kinesiologist (Nov 18) Chanet Taylor, Leth – Dependable Nanny (Nov 22) Leapforce Inc, Work From
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Home – Search Engine Evaluator (Dec 31) Kalau Jewelry, Leth – Web Designer, Temp (Nov 23) Clearview School Division 71, Stettler – Phys Ed Teacher (Nov 18)
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Autonomy Systems, Cgy – Software Development Support; Software Developer (Dec 11) Home Depot, Various Locations – Loss Prevention Investigator (Nov 16) Trico Centre for Family Wellness, Cgy – Fitness Centre Coordinator (Nov 16) AmerisourceBergen Canada, Cgy/Edm – Field Program Nurse (Nov 17) US Department of Commerce – Commercial Service , Cgy – Intern (Nov 18) Golds Gym, Leth – Retail Salesperson (Nov 19) Investors Group, Cgy – Financial Advisor (Nov 30) Arete Human Resources, Cgy – Intake Coordinator (Jan 16) Lethbridge College – Mechanical Instructor, Wind Turbine, Temp (Nov 18) Lethbridge College – Intellectual Property Officer (Nov 14) Correctional Service of Canada, Grande Cache/ Drumheller/Bowden/ PrinceAlbert – Nurse Officer (Dec 7) OBACS Corp, Leth – Junior Software Developer (Nov 30) Agrium Wholesale, Cgy – Marketer in Training (Nov 27) Make A Future, New Westminister – French Immersion Resource Teacher (Nov 27) Scotia Personnel, Halifax – Daycare Jobs (Nov 27) OBACS Corp, Leth – Junior Software Developer (Nov 30) Arete Human Resources, Cgy – Intake Coordinator (Jan 16) Library of Parliament, Ottawa – Parlimentary Information and Research Service Internship Program (Jan 11) Orchestrate Inc, Cgy – Programmer (Dec 2) Parks Canada, Waterton – Townsite Manager (Nov 18) Sik-Ooh-Kotoki Friendship Society, Leth – Youth Coordinator (Nov 14) Wild Rose Public Schools, Condor/Leslieville – Teacher/Student Support Facilitator (Nov 25) Lethbridge College –
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ACLE, Italy – Summer Camp Tutoring 2012 (Mar 15) Aclipse, South Korea – Teach English in Asia-Travel & Earn Money! (May 31) TFA Recruitment, South Korea - English Teacher in South Korea (Nov 19) Ecoteer, Various Locations – Volunteer Internationally (Dec 1)
Africa Outlook – Intern or Volunteer in Kenya (Nov 20) Avalon English, South Korea – Teach English in South Korea (Feb 3)
For details of the postings and information on the application processes go to www.uleth.ca/ross/ces and check out the WorkopolisCampus Postings section.