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Issue 3 | Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | www.thesputnik.
How can you sleep at a time like this?
Brantford’s first annual Snoozzzefest
Matthew Burley A&C Editor Despite its contradicting name, Brantford’s Snoozzzefest was not a show to be slept on. Tucked away in a pocket of downtown on the corner of Grey and Market St., the music festival went late into the night from September 17 to September 20. Each night featured a different collection of bands who sent positive vibes to all who attended. The lineup featured some of Southern Ontario’s hidden talent; some bands were up and comers while others shared the status of local legends. These local legends include The Sourkeys and Transylvania 500, who hadn’t played live shows in nearly a decade. Despite the nostalgic line up, the bands were just a chunk of what Snoozzzefest had to offer; it was also an op-
portunity for local artists to showcase their work. The walls of the venue were bestrewn with psychedelic paintings all related to the festival; if you stared into some of them long enough you could get lost in the artist’s world. Eighteen pieces were for sale in a silent auction, raising approximately $1,200 for the local artists. The atmosphere screamed creative independence and freedom; bands were selling their merch, art was being shared and friends were catching up on old times. There was even a bed where you could take a breather from the good times. This is exactly what the organizer of the event, Chris George, had intended for Snoozzzefest. When George took the opportunity to hold the event, he wanted to do so without the help of any sponsors,
“Sponsorships can get in the way and be controlling. There’s always a message behind them...this doesn’t have a message, it’s not tied to big bucks.” Compared to events like the recent Jazz Fest or WTFest which took place over the summer, George felt that it was a “different beast” due to the fact that Snoozzzefest is, “less focused on the monetary potential of the artists.” George wanted to promote to Brantford that it’s possible to throw a good show on a shoestring budget; you just need the work ethic and connections. George was involved in the shows that used to take place at the Ford Plant before it’s untimely demise, thus was able to create connections with some of the local talent. It was apparent to everyone that the event was promoting grassroots ideals; even the
bands were getting behind it. Costa Chatzis of Brantford’s own Bad Reed was stoked to be apart of Snoozzzefest because of how personal the venue was, and because of how it helped promote the artists so organically. Bad Reed has been touring Southern Ontario the last few months to promote their new release “Bad Reed EP” and try to play shows that offer the most bang for their buck. Due to Snoozzzefest’s proximity, Bad Reed found it easy to promote the show to the public, but felt they had to be “strategic”. The self-proclaimed “culternative rock” band feel that because Brantford’s music scene is small so making friends goes along way. “Making enemies and friends matter...everyone knows everyone else’s business,” stated Sydney Sollazzo, singer of Bad Reed.
London’s high energy duo I Smell Blood was also grateful for second opportunity to play in Brantford. I Smell Blood’s drummer Eric Lourenco likes Brantford’s music scene due to the fans. Lourenco enjoys that the, “locals feel the shows are worth coming to”, which reminds him of the London music scene. I Smell Blood has a strong DIY attitude which is shown through their merchandise; the band offers custom tshirts and vinyl that are hand silk screened by the band members and their friends. This goes hand in hand with George’s grassroots ideals. George was excited to announce his next event, which will be on October 30. The free show will be featuring Raccoon Wedding, Crosss, New Fries and Nick Persons.
Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct updated Melissa Weaver Staff Writer Last spring the Senate approved Laurier’s update to the Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct, which was last updated in 2001. Separate from the Academic code outlined in each professor’s syllabus regarding plagiarism and late assignments, the code includes the processes that complainants
and respondents go through as well as the interim measures. “I think it’s a much needed update. I really like the way the code leaves it open enough to be inclusive … because it’s very succinct in how it approaches it, it allows it to be adapting to the ever-changing ways that students interact with each other,” said Melissa DiLeo, the first coordinator and
Student Leadership and Conduct staff member on Laurier’s Brantford campus. Drew Piticco, Student Conduct Adminisrator at Laurier’s Waterloo campus explained that the change began three years ago when Leanne Holland Brown, Laurier Waterloo’s Dean of Students, expressed her concern about the code’s lack of attention towards student’s current needs.
“The focus groups really helped to shape the language, some of the sanctions, what the restorative justice process would look like. It was very much a community driven feedback when it came to the actual development of the code,” said Adam Lawrence, Dean of Students on Laurier’s Brantford campus. The renewal includes social networking due to its
popularity amongst students as a means of communication. “It’s going to be reviewed more often but with social media stuff, who knows? We’re getting into social media sites like YikYak, where it’s totally anonymous and some of the stuff said on those sites are extremely problematic,” said Lawrence.
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WLUSP BRANTFORD 202-171 Colborne St. Brantford, ON N3T 2C9 (519) 756-8228 ext. 5948 FRONT PAGE PHOTO CREDITS Left: Taylor Burt Middle: Christina Manocchio Right: Jamaal Owusu-Ansah Main: Jamaal Owusu-Ansah (featuring WHOOP-Szo)
The Sputnik Team
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dillon Giancola eic@thesputnik.ca PHOTO EDITOR Christina Manocchio photography@thesputnik.ca LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Jamaal Owusu-Ansah leadphotographer@thesputnik.ca GRAPHIC EDITOR Sai Gnanaharan visual@thesputnik.ca WEB EDITOR Jaclyn Brown web@thesputnik.ca NEWS EDITOR Chandler Berardi news@thesputnik.ca ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Meghan Gauvin mgauvin@thesputnik.ca
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
KOI Music Festival set to go off this weekend Dillon Giancola Editor In Chief KOI Music Festival is back to provide Kitchener’s punkrockers and head-bangers a fun weekend of rocking out. Taking place this upcoming weekend, it promises to be the best year of the festival yet. The shows get started Friday night, with bands playing on three stages. July Talk headlines the festival on Friday, hitting the main stage at 10:10 p.m. This Torontobased blues/alternative band has been playing Canadian festivals all summer, and are known for their excellent live performances. Vocalist Leah Fay is especially known for what she brings to the stage. Indie-rocker Rich Aucoin is also performing Friday, taking the stage just before July Talk at 9:20 p.m. Saturday sees an insane lineup hitting the mainstage, and nine stages hosting shows in total. The night belongs to August Burns Red (ABR), the metal-core group from Manheim, Pennsylvania. They are known for their outstanding musicianship and the strong vocal and stage presence of Jake Luhrs. ABR released their
Misusing the soapbox
August Burns Red headlines the festival Saturday night. (Courtesy of KOI Music Festival and August Burns Red)
more recent album, Found In Far Away Places, this summer, and it once again has them on top of their game. It both keeps the sound that they are known for and combines it with different genre-features in the middle of half their songs. Whether it is the western-saloon jam on “Majoring In The Minors”, or the surf-rock breakdown on “Identity”, this album will treat fans to an awesome live experience. One of the most anticipated bands performing this weekend are The Ataris. Led by frontman Kris Rowe, The Ataris are still going strong, and after touring last year in support of the “So Long
Astoria” 10-year anniversary, they are showing no signs of slowing down. Some other notable bands playing on Saturday will be: Texas In July, Letlive. and Teenage Bottlerocket. Brantford’s Harbour, fresh off their Japan tour, will be playing on the Seagram Stage at 6:50 p.m. Sunday ‘s lineup features acoustic-only shows. A full list of bands, times and stage locations can be found at www.koimusicfestival.com. Tickets are still available for the weekend. Tickets for Friday are $30, while Saturday tickets are $55. A Friday-Saturday pass will run you $75.
In This Issue News Moksha Yoga 3 Casino Lockout 3
Features Dillon Giancola Editor In Chief You may have noticed that Brantford seems super chaotic this year. In both exciting and inconvenient ways. There is always quite a lot of foot traffic around downtown, but this year even more so. There’s the fact that Colborne Street has been torn up all summer, and the recent opening of one lane has that road and the crosswalk to GRH more convoluted than ever. Or how about walking to school one day to realize that they are putting in all new doors to GRH and apparently holding the roof up by two-by-fours. And then there is the new businesses. The Starving Artist and Tim Hortons opened up over the summer,
and Moksha Yoga opened up just two weeks ago. This is really exciting, and hopefully a sign of more things to come. Whether you think the site of middle aged women with yoga matts crossing the street ten times a day is exciting, well, that’s up to you. But we can’t stop there. Brantford has always been pretty good at hosting events and festivals for a city of its size. But lately they have been outdoing themselves. This past weekend saw the Brantford International Jazz Festival, Snoozzzefest and the Psychic Expo. This weekend sees both the Brantford Busker Festival and Brantford Comedy Festival taking over downtown. As well, if you make the trek over to Kitchener, KOI Music Festival will be showcasing awesome bands all weekend.
At the same time, just as some things are beginning, others are coming to an end. The Brantford Arts Block is closing its doors before any of us really got to enjoy their wonderful space. Perhaps other eras could be coming to an in a couple weeks as well, as the federal election is in full swing. This idea of transition – of beginnings and endings – is the lens we wrote this issue through. I hope it encourages you to try some new things around town, and to be mindful of the hidden gems around us that we may neglect to show the attention they may deserve. After all, since you are likely only here for a short time, you might as well make the most of the Brantford experience. And what an experience it is.
Bravery And Courage 10 What’s Your Thing? 11
Art & Culture
Featured Artist 12 End Of The Arts Block 13
Sports
Laurier Volleyball 14 Brady Vs Goodell 15
Opinon
Apple And Technology 16 No Olympics For Toronto 16
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
News
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Chandler Berardi | news@thesputnik.ca | @sputnik_news
Employees picket after OLG locks them out
Unifor Local 504 employees picket outside the OLG Casino. (Spencer Campbell/ The Sputnik)
Taylor Burt Staff Writer On May 3, 2015, the contract of the unionized employees of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) Casino Brantford expired. The deadline for negotiations was extended until 12:00 a.m. on September 20,and the employees of OLG Casino Brantford showed up to negotiate on September 18 and 19. At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, OLG lawyers stood up and walked away from the table in unison. This caused the negotiations to stop and have forced a lock out for 650 employees.
“They are only running slot machines,” said Ken Wight, an OLG Casino employee. “There are no table games, there is no restaurant.” The Woodbine security team and the Sudbury employees have also been forced out onto the picket line. No employees know how long they will be forced out of work, and many have started to find second jobs. “The OLG branch of Ontario Government has locked out their employees over a pension,” said Dave Reston, president of Unifor Local 504. OLG lawyers have not been in touch since Friday afternoon. Numerous patrons have
showed their support by honking their horns as they drive by the picket line or by turning around and leaving the Casino once they realize what is happening. The employees are following protocol by holding up each car five minutes while they explain their situation in hopes of gaining support. “This is an information picket. We have the right under legislation to provide people with the information that they need to understand what’s going on with the labour stop,” Reston said. OLG Casino employees have noticed the decrease in patrons since the lockout began
tice, but for the people who might not necessarily be able to afford it,” said Dwornikiewicz. As a result, students receive ten dollars off every pass. Each month Moksha Yoga supports a different charity, mostly local, by offering Friday Karma classes for five dollars. For September, Moksha chose the Brantford General Hospital, and are helping to buy products not covered by the government, like plants, that make patients more comfortable. The products sold at Moksha Yoga come from sustainable companies. All electrolytes are natural with no sugar or sweeteners added, Guru towels and yoga pants are made from recycled water bottles, andyoga mats are made from natural rubber trees. To top it off, all of the products can withstand a sweaty class. During the building process, Moksha Yoga used as little additional resources as possible. They installed Marmoleum flooring, made from natural raw materials, and also kept some of the original Expositor flooring. Benches in the change rooms are made
from Brantford trees by a Cambridge company that plants a new tree each time one is cut down. “It’s not the most affordable way of going for sure, but it’s something we can stand behind proudly and know that what we’re doing is making life, hopefully, a little better for future generations,” said Dwornikiewicz. For Dwornikiewicz, the reason she likes hot yoga so much are the benefits it has on mental health, detoxification and that it creates less chance of injury. All Moksha classes go through a cardiovascular series. The owner explained that one pose in particular called Middle Savasana causes you to feel your heart beating in your chest. “It’s hot, but when you come out it’s a good feeling,” said class member Maia Nguyen. Dwornikiewicz wanted Moksha to reside in downtown Brantford because she wanted to be able to witness, and be a part of, Laurier’s positive influence on the downtown. She also hopes that being downtown will encourage people to
on Friday. “Last night, being a Saturday night, generally we have anywhere between [800] and 900 customers in that building. At 10:00 last night we had under 100,” Wight said. Non-unionized supervisors and managers have been trained to do the jobs of the locked out employees, though sources say the customers are not very happy with the service they are getting. The employees are currently receiving no pay or benefits. “We’ll get union pay once a week, but not sustainable,” said OLG Casino employee, Diane Tocher. “We are having our meeting tomorrow to set up our shifts to come out and
picket, so that’s tomorrow at two.” Though many patrons support the unionized employees, several simply want to gain access to the casino without having to wait five minutes to go in. Aggression has become apparent towards the picketers and some have even been assaulted. The employees of OLG casino want to have a peaceful lockout and spread the word of their situation. The employees are waiting for the OLG lawyers to tell them they are ready to negotiate.
Moksha Yoga: A warmer workout approach
Chandler Berardi News Editor
Downtown Brantford’s newest addition is more of a community centre rather than just a workout space. Moksha Yoga’s hot yoga establishment is a place where everyone is welcome to come and be a part of a greater community. “It’s more than just a fitness class, and it’s more than just a sweaty room. It’s the community that comes from it,” said owner Emily Dwornikiewicz. Dwornikiewcz originally started at Moksha Yoga’s Cambridge location before opening her own studio in Brantford with co-owners Markus Schneider and mother Wendy Dwornikiewicz. Dwornikiewicz’s goal is to make Moksha Yoga a place where everyone wants to come and hang out whether they can afford to be a member or not. Moksha Yoga offers an ambassador program that trades free yoga classes for four hours of volunteer work a week. “Money’s tight when you’re a student. We want it to be accessible not only in the prac-
Emily Dwornikiewicz from Moksha Yoga, the newest addition to downtown Brantford, located at Expositor Place. (Jamaal Owusu-Ansah/ The Sputnik)
walk to the studio or take public transit rather than driving. Moksha Yoga rents out their space for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, kids yoga classes and anyone who is simply looking to book the space. Prices range from $80 to $150.
The original Moksha Yoga studio started in Toronto, Ontario. Currently there are 74 studios across North America.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Chandler Berardi | news@thesputnik.ca | @sputnik_news
Federal candidate profiles Meghan Gauvin Assistant News Editor
Please note: Conservative candidate Phil McColeman was not available for comment.
New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Marc Laferriere was born and raised in Brantford Ontario and has been involved in politics at a local level, since age 14. He believes it is time for his riding to, “go back to those roots.” In the last election, Laferriere came in second with more votes then the Liberal, Green, and Independent candidates combined. Laferriere is a strong believer that the youth in Brantford have a lot to offer the city. “We don’t treat them like a special youth category”, said Laferriere. Laferriere plans on getting students involved with voting by holding a free youth leadership conference in the community to remind everyone how important student voice is. He wants to give students and youth the chance to do something about their government, and plans to do so by giving them the same opportunities as any other member in the Brantford and Brant area. Laferriere believes, “The more you learn the more you can do, but the more you do the more you learn, so do something.” Laferriere expresses his love for the Grand River and says it is his favorite part of the city; he is even working on The Grand River Protection Act, which would bring back federal protection to the river. Due to his passion for politics and love of Brantford, Laferriere believes he is the best candidate for this riding.
NDP- Marc Laferriere Green Party candidate Kevin Brandt was born and raised in Toronto, and moved to Brantford in 2011. Brandt states it was bill C-51 that made him join this riding as a member of the Green Party. “I honestly feared for the future of Canadian democracy,” said Brandt. Some of his goals include reinstating the Grand River into the Navigation Protection Act, putting policies in place to encourage compa nies to recycle aggregate materials, and improve public transit apposed to building more highways. There are a number of plans the Green Party is working towards for students. By the year 2020 it is hoped that all fees regarding post secondary education and skills training will be “abolished”. Brandt says this goal is attainable through, “constructing a system of federal grants collaboratively with the universities and colleges.” Brandt plans to eradicate all existing or future student federal debt that is more than $10,000. Brand says the Green Party is also working towards cutting tuition fees for students with families with, “inadequate financial means”. It is also their goal to remove the two per cent cap on tuition for First Nations and Inuit students. Candidate Brandt mentions his favourite parts of Brantford include Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Bell Homestead, and the Brant Conservation Area. Green- Kevin Brandt Libertarian Party candidate Rob Ferguson considers himself to be an ‘average Joe’ who can relate to the people. He was born and raised in Brantford and confesses the people and the Grand River are his favorite aspects of the city. He has served as the Chair of Brantford Small Business Networking Group, and was the regional coordinator for the Ontario Libertarian party for south east Ontario. When asked why he was the ideal candidate for this position, Ferguson responds, “I have lived on all sides of the fence of life and relate to everyone. I truly understand the issues.” Ferguson is a strong believer that government plays too large a role in peoples lives. According to Ferguson, Federal Libertarians are all about freedom of choice and getting rid of government interference in small businesses and schooling. “We want to reduce the size of government and return some of those personal liberties back to the individual,” says Ferguson. An example of this would be the discussion of boundary changes. Ferguson says the government should respect the county’s wishes and stay out of those conversations. Ferguson says he is running to learn more about the issues provincially and federally, as well as to assist people in making their lives better. Libertarian- Rob Ferguson
Liberal- Danielle Takacs
Liberal candidate Danielle Takacs has always called Brantford home, and says that another community will never mean more to her. Takacs has been on the Downtown Business Performance Advisory Committee for the past four year and currently serves as Chair. According to Takacs, the downtown Brantford area has “thrived” due to Laurier’s presence but admits there is still much to be done. “I want to be an ally to the students and university to do all I can to get funding for what you see to happen”, said Takacs. Supporting Six Nations is one of the top priorities for the candidate, there are plans on implementing new investments to “close the existing funding gap”, said Takacs. According to Takacs, a new investment of $515 million a year will go towards funding First Nations kindergarten to grade twelve educations. Alongside her commitments to Laurier and Six Nations, Takacs is proud to be apart of the Liberal infrastructure plan. This plan will help significantly with unemployment by almost doubling infrastructure investments over the next ten years. The candidate explains that these new investments will help “boost” investments in public transit, help to build more housing units, refurbish existing ones, renew existing co-operative agreements, and provide funding support for municipalities. Takacs reveals that her campaign theme is, “It’s all about you. I want to be a positive fighter that uses my skills to helps to make our community a better place instead of a fighter focused on tearing others down.”
“There is no sense in complaining” Chandler Berardi & Meghan Gauvin News Editorial Team
According to Statistics Canada, only 50 per cent of people age 18-24 voted in 2011. Laurier Brantford students expressed their concerns about the lack of attention and drive their peers have towards voting by discussing some possible reasons why students decide not to vote, and the importance of voting. Stephanie Alexander Second year student Stephanie Alexander is an active voter who wants students to know that their votes are taken seriously. Alexander believes that voting is a right that everyone is entitled to, and one that should be taken advantage of. She believes that every vote matters, even though students may feel like they are trying to have a say in something that is too big to make a difference. “The candidates who are run-
ning in the election directly reflect what we want, and what we need. The people that are voted into power will be representing us, and we should care about who has the right, and the authority, to do that,” said Alexander. Alexander explained that people tend to complain about politicians and those in power, but continue to have no say come election time. She thinks that if the candidates spent more time trying to create personal connections with the students, more students would be willing to vote. Also, if the candidates advertised more on campus, the students would be reminded of the election and know more about whom they are voting for.
Dominic Audette Second year student Dominic Audette believes that this election could be the most important election in Canadian history due to the fact that this could be the last election that follows
the first-past-the-post method. “That means something. That’s the end of what is essentially an undemocratic system,” said Audette. Audette explained that students are not fully aware of the effects that the government has on their everyday life, and that by taking the time to vote, students could have a say in those effects. “I think it’s a failure to understand that every single part of your life is political, every decision you make. The shampoo you buy in the morning has to pass a regulation, the food you buy at the grocery store has to pass a regulation, the student debt that you’re going to graduate with is based entirely on government policy,” explained Audette. Audette explained that students are reluctant to vote because they believe that the system overlooks the votes that were not a part of the winning party. He believes he has a responsibility to make sure his
peers vote. “To act like your life is so divorced from the reality that the rest of the country is living is silly to say the least and condescending to say the worst,” said Audette. Emilee Kloostra Emilee Kloostra is a second year student who has a real passion for politics. Her interest in politics started from the time she was in elementary school, and by the time she reached high school she excelled in her civics class, claiming to know, “more about politics than the teacher.” Kloostra explains that one of the reasons students are uninterested in voting is due to a lack of knowledge on the voting process. “Candidates aren’t really going out of their way to explain to young voters how to vote, what to vote on,” said Kloostra. Kloostra believes that by not voting, students are giving up the right to complain about the
government. “You didn’t have a say in it [the election] when there was time, so there is no sense in complaining about something you could have been apart of that you chose not to be apart of,” explained Kloostra. Kloostra is frustration with those who do not vote, and thinks this should be important to people and they should take it seriously. “Every student here is paying for tuition, so why wouldn’t you want to vote for someone who is going to do something for your debt one day?” said Kloostra. As a student living in Brantford for the next four years Kloostra realizes that whoever wins this riding will affect the lives of all students. “The idea that you can live your life free of politics is outrageous, but that’s how people seem to live,” said Kloostra. Kloostra intends to encourage all her friends and classmates to vote in the upcoming election.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
News
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Chandler Berardi | news@thesputnik.ca | @sputnik_news
Changes in the Centre for Student Life & Engagement Melissa Weaver
Staff Writer Laurier Brantford’s Centre for Student Life and Engagement rebranded itself over the summer. Previously known as the Student Life and Engagement office, run primarily by Melissa Burke, former Diversity and Leadership Coordinator, and coordinator Jessi Calberry, the renewed Centre for Student
Life & Engagement (CSLE) included a wide variety of student volunteer positions which fell under three categories: off-campus, leadership and diversity. The CSLE included new student groups to go along with the pre-existing ones: LOCUS, Out to Lunch and the Co-Curricular Record. “The really cool thing about these committees is that they can do something different with it - have new ideas be-
“
cause there’s nothing in the past that they need to follow or feel obligated to do because they did it last year,” said student programming intern Katie Monaco. After a summer review, the Diversity & Equity office established itself in another space, and some committees, including MyRespect, Rainbow Alliance and SOUL pulled out of the Centre for Student Life & Engagement. “It was then rebranded and
recognized that there are some student groups within Student Affairs that existed and there was a desire for them to be more supported on campus, which is why they were brought into the Centre for Student Life and Engagement,” said Calberry. Not only has the CSLE rebranded itself internally, but also externally with their new workspaces for the committees to work together and have a space of their own.
Calberry hopes that students will, “... see more programming and more student leadership opportunities available through the new centre.” For any students who are interested in volunteering for any of these positions or have any questions, Calberry and Monaco encourage students to drop by the second floor of the Student Centre to find out more information. Hiring closes September 25.
The following are new committees that students can get involved with:
Mental Health Education Group
Peer Health Educators
Student Conduct Educators
Leadership Ambassadors
The Mental Health Education Group is dedicated to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health through interactive events and campaigns. “We’re really excited to see what they do because it’s never existed before on campus. so the volunteers get to run with it and make it what they think it should be,” said both Calberry and Monaco. “I think it’s important to make students aware of what mental health is, what it encompasses and what the stigmas are so we can figure out ways to beat it,” added Monaco.
Through the Alternative Placement program with Nipissing University, Peer Health Educators promote the physical, emotional and psychological health of students at Laurier through programs, campaigns and presentations.
Student Conduct Educators provide interactive and informative events and workshops with the goal of educating the campus community about the Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct. “I think you’re going to see some really cool things from the Student Conduct Educators, letting the students know about both the Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct and what that means as a Laurier student and how to go through that process and to remind students that it wasn’t created to get them into trouble,” said Calberry.
Leadership Ambassadors engage the Laurier community in leadership learning and development. The ambassadors run workshops and team building activities.
Welcome Laurier Students
Friday 7am - 5pm & Saturday 7am - 2pm, year round. Laurier student 10% discount at Farmers’ Market. • • • •
baked goods fresh meats fruits & vegetables fresh cut flowers
• specialty home-cooked foods • dairy & farm fresh eggs Facebook “f ” Logo
Two streets from campus, 79 Icomm Dr., Brantford •
• fresh roasted nuts and much more
CMYK / .eps
Facebook “f ” Logo
CMYK / .eps
/BrantfordFarmersMarket
Student Recycling Tip:
Visit brantford.ca/environmental for details
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
The Sputnik
Features Laurier Brantford’s fresh new faces
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Brittany Bennett | features@thesputnik.ca |
Gabrielle Lantainge Staff Writer Starting university is an experience that for some, can be frightening, exciting and overwhelming all at once. Earlier this month, hundreds of first-year students began their university careers at Wilfrid Laurier’s Brantford campus. Coming back after summer vacation can be quite the adjustment for many returning students, but for the freshmen, this is a whole new ball game. My photographer Anna and I took to the streets of Brantford to meet some of these freshmen, and to hear their thoughts on Laurier, O-week, and more.
Thomas (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Stephanie (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Alex (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Lacey (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Name: Thomas Pollard Program: History Home Town: Barrie Thomas Pollard decided to come to Laurier after hearing positive things about the school from a friend’s parents. Since starting classes, he has particularly enjoyed the kindness and good sense of humour of his professors. “The teachers are funny and nice.”
Name: Alex Dinning Program: Game Design and Development Home Town: St. Catherine’s Alex Dinning decided to forgo O-week in favour of catching up on some sleep, but has been enjoying his time in Brantford thus far. Before deciding to attend Laurier, he was scouted to play soccer for a school in Rochester, New York. “Well, it’s like the first year that they have the program here so I didn’t really have any expectations,” but Dinning explains his faith in Laurier being a really good school form what he has heard.
Cristiana (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Name: Cristiana Couceiro Program: Criminology Home Town: Hamilton Christiana Couceiro attributes her choice to attend Laurier Brantford to the Criminology program, and is very satisfied with this decision. She loves the freedom that comes with being a university student, and also enjoys singing in her spare time. “The freedom you have … It’s different than high school for sure. It’s really different.”
Name: Stephanie Boudreau Program: Social Work From: Québec Stephanie Boudreau credits Laurier’s excellent Social Work program with bringing her to the campus. After graduating, she aspires to work in the prison system. “I want to help with the rehabilitation, getting inmates back into society in a positive way … I want to make it beneficial for them going back into society and not them coming back in because they can’t handle it.”
Name: Lacey Seifert Program: Criminology Home Town: Brantford So far, Lacey Seifert has really been enjoying her criminology classes. “I heard a lot of good things about the criminology course, because I know a few people in year three and year four and they really recommended it.” After graduating, she hopes to work in the criminal justice system as a parole officer. Aside from her interest in criminology, she also harbours a great love for animals.
Mitchell (Anna Principato/The Sputnik)
Name: Mitchell Howell Program: History Home Town: Cambridge Since starting at Laurier, Mitchell Howell has particularly enjoyed the small community atmosphere and the up-beat attitude of Laurier students. “Everyone’s been super friendly. I haven’t really had any problems. It’s been a good time.” Howell visits Wilkes House on a daily basis, and invites readers who see him there to come by and say hello.
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The Sputnik
Features
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Brittany Bennett | features@thesputnik.ca |
The skeleton in the family closet Jaclyn Brown Web Editor
You think that it will never happen to you. This exhausted cliché has a sneaky way of working its way into the lives of the naïve, ignorant and unsuspecting, but nonetheless I still didn’t think it would happen to me- not our family at least. I vividly remember a slightly obsessive fascination with eating disorders. I would gingerly sift through biology textbooks just to stare at the bare ribs of some self-absorbed former model sporting a desperate grimace on her pale face. How could someone just stop eating? How selfish and attention seeking could a person be? Irony surely sensed my uneducated vulnerability as a short six months later my older sister was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and eventually bulimia nervosa. As a proud overachiever my sister would clean sweep athletic banquets and award ceremonies, to the point where faculty would just let her sit on the stage to save her the trip. At six foot two, she was the star of the volleyball and basketball team and was already modeling for a prestigious local agency at sixteen years old. I can’t pin point when I started to notice she was sick, similar to the way you fall asleep every night – I know it happened, I just couldn’t recall when. I started to notice her athletic frame shriveling. She started to borrow my clothes since they were smaller. Vomit stains adorned our toilet and the occasional fainting at the grocery store became a regular occurrence. The day I came home to the cupboards and fridge frantically sealed in scotch tape, I knew it wasn’t just a phase. The last sliver of control my sister had over her mind and body was fading, her thoughts deeply fixated on self-sabotage and obsessive control. Curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor, I looked into her watering eyes and couldn’t see my sister anymore. The lights were on, but nobody was home. The deteriorating perfection my sister had desperately slaved to maintain her entire life was circling the drain. She was circling the drain. My parents were mostly in denial at first. My mom did her best before seeking profes-
“
sional help. She would arrive home weekly with an armful of “how to get your daughter to stop having an eating disorder” books from the library. She would fervently read them into the early hours of the morning, convinced that Oprah’s advice could cure anything. We watched my sister’s weight dwindle to somewhere around a hundred pounds. A simple trip to the mall would turn heads as her exposed bones coaxed judgmental gazes out of bypassing shoppers. The severity was no longer something we could sweep under the rug and my entire family sought immediate medical attention for what was left of my sister. I dealt with it in my own way you could say, I only wish anger was an appropriate response. I slowly sunk into an all-encompassing inner rage. It got to the point where I feared going home, since I could feel my blood boil if we even shared the same room. I completely ignored her existence for two full years. How could she do this to me, to us? Why can’t you just eat something? It took me nearly six years and three family councilors before I uncovered the ugly root of the anger I had towards my only sister. I was so afraid she would die that I had already began to mourn her life while she was still living. I distanced myself from her to prepare myself for her death. After years of doctors telling her that her organs were shutting down, it almost seemed inevitable- even palpable. I even knew what song I wanted to play at her funeral. I never realized my own coping mechanism of hatred and anger was detrimental to her, but I’m blessed to say after intense counseling our relationship has made a full recovery. I would surely have my entire university tuition paid for (in full) if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked, but why her? There is no simple answer but all her doctors agreed it’s undeniably related to perfectionism, a trademark characteristic of eating disorders. If one aspect begins to breakdown, the loss of control causes them to seek to control other areas of life- in her case, food. She was devastated going to prom alone and the pending pressure of nursing school admission was
overwhelming. The infamous final straw was when a new modeling agency told her she was “fat” and had “thighs like pickles.” The director grasped the minimal skin on her hips and continued to ask her “how could you ever consider wearing a bikini?” She cracked into a million tiny pieces, some of which she is still trying to glue back together today. The ignorance surrounding eating disorders is disturbingly wide spread, as even medical professionals felt uncomfortable in her presence. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have doctors, friends, dates and even family tell you you’re faking it for attention. Men would simply tell her she was “self absorbed” and they could never date someone with an eating disorder. Her favorite piece of medical advice still turns my stomach, as an ignorant doctor explained, “On your way home, I want you to do something. Stop at a fast food restaurant, and eat the biggest burger on the menu.” This wasn’t exactly the diagnosis she was longing for, and she went onto a variety of other doctors that would tell her she is too skinny and just needs to eat. It wasn’t until 2015 that she actually found a doctor openminded enough to ask questions about her condition to try and understand more. Etched in her delicate skin are the words, “bravery and courage,” in her own handwriting as a permanent reminder of the internal battle she will continue to fight. Although she still has a long road to recovery, I am proud to say she has recently graduated from a six-month recovery program. She is learning to wear her scars proudly and has dedicated her life to self-love and forgiveness. I squeezed her extra tight as we said our goodbyes before I flew back to school and for the first time in years I could see a familiar yet dim sparkle in her eyes, almost as if her passion for life was being slowly resurrected from a painful past. Today, I couldn’t be more honored to call this strong individual my older sister. She has gone through more adversity than some will witness in a lifetime, and I am beyond grateful for her life, presence and undying commitment to regaining control. I need people to know that eating disorders are not
If you or someone you love may be suffering from an eating disorder, immediately contact the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) hotline at 1-866-633-4220
about food, and even in their later phases they’re not often about body image. They are a mental disease like any other, deeply entrenched in control and cannot be cured by a Big Mac or Whopper. Many who are diagnosed with an eating disorder will struggle their entire lives, yet society still seems hesitant to admit it’s a problem. Bulimia jokes still run ramped on reality TV and Saturday Night Live. Piercing conversations and tweets about people, “trying to be anorexic” still raise my pulse. Mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and OCD have made remarkable strides for awareness, yet eating disorders seemingly simmer out of control on the back burner. Many recovery programs cost $1000 per day, making eating
disorder recovery facilities extremely difficult to access. It’s going to be a fight to end the discrimination against eating disorders, but after years of shame and hiding, my sister is finally ready to share her remarkable story. In recovery she is still learning how to cope with her triggers, but lately the trembling in her voice has diminished as her strength continues to gain momentum. I can’t wait to witness her strides and accomplishments and she continues to hope her story will educate people and inspire those struggling with anorexia or bulimia to find inner strength.
Tattooed in her own handwriting, Jaclyn Brown’s sister wears these words as a permanent reminder of her internal battle, and dedication to self-love and forgiveness. (Jaclyn Brown / The Sputnik)
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Features
The Sputnik
11
Brittany Bennett | features@thesputnik.ca |
What’s Your thing? Brttany Bennett Features Editor
M
eet Mandala Ataksak, the Whirling Warrior. Eleven years ago, 20 year old Ataksak found herself on a road trip hitting up festivals in the South Eastern United States with her cousin. One festival in particular changed her life forever. The String Cheese Incident was playing, and unknown to Ataksak at the time was that they had a large group of hula hooping followers. “I just thought I would try it and I put it on my waist, and man, it was the most, it just felt so right. It was great, I absolutely enjoyed it.” This new form of movement captivated her enough to leave her with bruises on her hips, a smile on her face, and a desire to learn more. Ataksak just had to have a hoop of her own. But she had a hard time finding one, as very few places sell these larger hoops for adults. So she thought she may as well look into making her own instead.
Mandala Ataksak dances with her hoop in the September sun. (Christina Manocchio/The Sputnik)
After hitting up the hardware store, Ataksak made hoops like there was no tomorrow. She sold them at the festivals, and ended up funding herself for another six weeks of travelling during that same road trip. Ataksak has been making and selling hoops ever since, playing with different types of tubing such as polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) irrigation tubing, polypropylene (polypro) tubing and high density polyethylene (HDPE) tubing. PVC tubing was the first material Ataksak began working with, which makes for a slower moving hoop best for beginners and adults. It is the polypro tubing that changed Ataksak’s way of hooping, as this mate-
cameras, incense and wide eyed people, ready to contact the deceased, find out their future or how to cure their ailments. Walking into the room, I was greeted by a man named Paul. Grinning, he said, “You must be the journalist from Laurier.” It was kind of spooky that he knew who I was especially since I wasn’t wearing my press pass. Noting my surprise, Paul nodded his head and said “I know.” Still a little startled, Paul allowed me to pick a crystal before beginning my journey, I opted for the amethyst that was supposed to help me creatively. The room was set up for a convention, heavy blue drapes cased everything in. For someone who practices the art of self reliance as religiously as I do, the whole set up felt hokey. And expensive. The average readings ran about $75. Why would anyone spend money to have somebody else prattle off vague information about your future? There isn’t even any kind of verification process or licensing these people have obtained. Do people really orient their lives around these readings? I wandered over to the Altruistic Apothecary booth, where a man named Nick greeted me. Nick’s face was blanketed by a friendly beard, and a long brown bead necklace dangled from his neck. “Want a brochure?” he asked. I scanned the paper hesitantly, and Nick asked me if I’d ever been to a psychic expo before. “Take a walk around to every table,” Nick cautioned me, explaining that I will know which psychic would best be able to help me out. “We’re all a little psychic here,” he explained, some would
be better for me than others and that hopping to the first table I see is a rookie mistake. I gazed around. Most booths were composed of a psychic and their helpers. The helpers often served passer-byers the sales pitch associated to the psychic they were helping. “She is a forth generation clairvoyant” or “If you cannot be read today, we guarantee your money back.” I noticed one booth to the far right, in which a woman called Johanna sat alone at a table. Her booth seemed more authentic than the acts escorted by a sales team, in that you get what you see. Approaching her booth, she immediately told me I could record her reading with my cellphone, another plus, considering I’d need to record everything for the sake of journalistic accuracy. She eyed up the camera, and told my partner that he could take pictures so long as she could take a look at them first. She was afraid we’d run something that would look unflattering. I opted for the 20-minute reading, which included a palm reading followed by a tarot card reading. After ensuring that I was right handed and not ambidextrous, the palm reading began. My heart line is frayed and short, which told Johanna that I’m a cautious lover. I could see my boyfriend squirm, we had made a pact before going in that we would not disclose that we were dating in hopes that it wouldn’t affect my reading. “If you had a choice of staying home with a best friend to watch a movie or go out in a big, big crowd, you’d probably pick staying home,” Johanna said. Nailed
rial is much lighter and more responsive for off body hooping, tossing and isolations. “To have a form of expression and a way of moving your body is super, super important. Because, like, if you’re not expressing, than who are you? It really helps you to feel like yourself when you have a creative outlet,” explains Ataksak. Ataksak has always loved the movement in dancing, and sees hooping as an extention of this. Ataksak explains that hooping is not only great for exercise and strengthening the body, but also empowering the mind and soul. As the Whirling Warrior, Ataksak not only makes and sells custom hoops, but she also offers workshops, private lessons and performances, mainly throughout the Brantford, Paris and Hamilton area. Ataksak says there is a large hooping community growing throughout the Toronto and Guelph area, with many very talented hoopers whom she connects with. Further, she added that the hooping scene is also beginning to grow in Hamilton as well. Ataksak ex-
plains that hooping in itself helps create community, and this meeting in movement and inspiration from other hoopers has added to Ataksak’s happiness. “For me, honestly, hula hooping is such a beautifully grounding experience, and it puts me totally in the moment. You know? It’s very present and I think that that’s my favourite thing about it. It’s such a… It’s a practice where I truly feel like myself. I don’t know how to put it any other way.” Ataksak can be found busking and selling hoops at the Hamilton SuperCrawl when she is not busy working at an organic vegan smoothie bar, teaching yoga or spending time with her 7-year-old daughter, River Dawn. Ataksak plans to hold upcoming lessons at the Spice Factory, as well as Soul Session both in Hamilton once the back-toschool roar has tamed down. Events such as these will be announced on her Facebook page titled Whirling Warrior or Instagram @whirling_warrior.
it. When she got to my life line, Johanna explained that I will get sick in my middle age, and likely need a major surgery. I will be followed by a spirit during my recovery for a few years, and then carry on with my life. The bracelets around my wrist mean, I’ll probably live to be in my early eighties. Johanna noted that reading bracelets isn’t a North American tradition, “I don’t one hundred percent believe in this myself,” she explained.
accidentally only grabbed nine. Upon turning the forth card, Johanna explained, “this is the beginning of a love story,” assuring me I’d find new love in the next few months, likely by Christmas. My tarot cards ended with The Sun, which Johanna assured me was a positive place to be, and that despite the gossip and self doubt that had emerged in my reading, I would be confident in my choices and likely be pretty happy in the end. Leaving the Expo and stepping into the rainy fall air, it felt like
That’s not what I signed up for... Taylor Berzins Brantford Manager
Being of the Type-A personality, I take a sick amount of pleasure in ensuring that my life is mapped out. I know where I want to be in the next hour, month and year. I have colour-coded calendars and my life operates on a series of carefully developed timers and checklists. My worst nightmare lays somewhere in between running late for a meeting and missing an assignment deadline. I plan to graduate this year, spend summer 2016 travelling Canada, and then in the next two years I hope to be heading to law school. I would like to eventually marry my current partner and would like to live a relatively long life. To test the authenticity of my meticulous planning, I decided to check out the Psychic Expo being hosted at the Brantford Civic Centre last weekend. Bringing nothing but my cellphone, a photographer (who full disclosure, also happens to be my boyfriend), and an open mind, I was ready to see my future, or at least compare it to the one I’ve planned. The closest experience to the super natural or psychic dimensions I had ever had was in the girls change room of my middleschool. With a homemade pizza box Ouija board we’d hide from our teachers in an effort to escape the awfulness that was outdoor recess on wintry days by talking to ghosts. Sadly, the pizza box never really worked. The Psychic Expo, as it turns out, is exactly like what you’d imagine a Psychic Expo to be. A room full of crystals, glamour shots of famous psychics, aura
Taylor Berzins pays close attention as Johanna explains the tarot cards. (Spencer Campbell/The Sputnik)
Reading the side of my hand, Johanna explained that I am to have a baby soon, before I’m married, then eventually get hitched and have two more children. I had to fight back laughter as I watched my boyfriend stare at my hand, having any more than one child is not a part of my life plan, and having one relatively soon is certainly not on the agenda. According to my palm, I may even get married twice. After the palm, came the ten card Celtic spread. Johanna asked me if I had a question I wanted answered, but I hadn’t thought that far ahead, so I opted for a general reading. For the exercise, you’re meant to pick ten cards, I
I’d left another world behind me. “I hope you don’t actually fall in love with someone new by Christmas,” my partner laughed as we walked away from the Civic Centre. I haven’t really thought much about the readings since Saturday, except for when my amethyst crystal fell out of my pocket while I was doing my pre-scheduled laundry. I don’t truly believe I’m going to have a kid soon, or get followed by a spirit for about a decade, but I think that having my future predicted has definitely helped me acknowledge that no matter how many calendars I fill in, or alarms I set, it’s okay to just let whatever happens, happen.
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Arts and Culture
The Sputnik
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Matthew Burley | arts@thesputnik.ca |
The Featured Artist: Vichael Ho Matthew Burley A&C Editor
The Featured Artist is a Laurier Brantford student who is constantly striving for creative and artistic excellence. The medium isn’t what’s important; it’s the art. This week’s Featured Artist is Vichael Ho. How long have you been doing tattoos for? Seven months. Have you always seen yourself doing tattoos or was it unexpected? I can picture myself having a career related to art. I’ve always had a passion for art ever since I was young. I never took tattooing seriously until I started apprenticing at a tattoo shop, and now I have a deeper appreciation for this art style than I ever could have imagined. Who or what is your biggest influence artistically? Are there any specific tattoo artists that you look up to? Mainly my influences in tattoo art are Norm, Dave Blow, James Acrow, Sara Fabel, Lilbtattoo… They all have very unique and distinctive styles that inspire me to strive to their excellence. Do you feel pressure when you do a new tattoo? If so, how do you cope with it? I wouldn’t say I feel pressure, I’m still very new in tattooing so I always set a safety net for myself; I only do tattoo designs that I’m capable of doing and people that I am comfortable with. What are some of your favourite things to tattoo? Favorite things to tattoo… I would say cool clients or tattoos with a cool background story. How about your least favourite? Least favorite things to tattoo… Designs or placements that don’t mold well to the client, but the client still insists on doing the design. Do you have a favourite tattoo style (new school, American, traditional, etc) that you enjoy doing? I don’t really have a favorite style… I enjoy sketch work, Neo Japanese, Surrealism, new school… I love them all. How do you stay on top of your game? Do you have any little rituals or things that you do to stay current? Working at a tattoo shop throughout the summer really helped me a ton. I practice whenever I have spare time. I also follow a lot of art forums
and great artists through social media, so I can always be up to date with what’s happening in the art world. How much time do you spend sketching? Is it hard to fit it into your schedule? During the summer I found it a lot easier to draw more frequently, and now that school has started up sketching has become a greater challenge. With that being said whenever I have time to spare for art I am willing to give it. So you were in Asia over the summer, can you tell us about that? Sure, I actually visited couple countries in Asia over the summer. First spot was Japan then I visited Taiwan, China, Malaysia and last Hong Kong.
Bottom: Vichael Ho showcases his Nemisis tattoo gun as it glistens in the sunlight Left: Vichael Ho displays his most recent tattoo (Christina Manocchio/The Sputnik)
How did your trip influence your tattooing? When I was in Japan, I was working for my mentor, he was organizing an international tattoo convention. I was super lucky and had the honor to work with famous artists Norm and Dave Blow. Their work ethic is something I strove to inhabit. Would you recommend travelling there? Traveling to Asia? Yes, just don’t ever go to Malaysia during summer, it gets very hot. How have people responded to your work? Past clients seem to be pretty satisfied, but that doesn’t mean I don’t aim to do better work with every client I get. When a client asks you to create something challenging for you, how do you feel? Do you like a new challenge or do you feel intimidated at times? I’m still pretty new to the tattooing industry; I typically will only do designs that I feel comfortable with, which in a way is good. No one wants a tattoo artist that doesn’t feel confident. Needless to say, I enjoy a challenge and I’m always looking to broaden my horizons when it comes to tattooing and art. Is there anywhere that people can check out your work? I have an Instagram, check it out @vicbrew.
What are you listening to? Anya Eland Staff writer
Upon interviewing fellow first years at Laurier Brantford, it can be noted that they enjoy a wide variety of music. However, it seems that, The Weeknd, is an artist buzzing in a lot of headphones lately. Originally named as Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd, is a Canadian artist who has been actively making music since 2010. He sings with a falsetto and his songs consist of bass and echoes, which for many is a fresh, unique style. People enjoy his sound due to it being different. Many students know about The Weeknd, as a result of his songs always being played on the radio and his memorable lyrics. One of his popular songs, “Earned it” is featured in the movie Fifty Shades of Grey. Many first year Laurier Brantford students, who listen to The Weeknd, have many good things to say about his music, like, Husnain Ahmed who said that, “He doesn’t play your typical pop songs. He has a uniqueness about him, and you can’t compare him to other artists”. Before all the fame, The Weeknd would anonymously
upload songs he had produced featuring his rapping on Youtube. Kemi Abolarinde, a first year Laurier student said, “I started to like him before he was famous.” Many people like the fact that The Weeknd’s music is relaxing and catchy. “He’s just super chill,” said Aimee Lamont. The Weeknd continues to gain popularity and support from his fellow music artists such as Sam Smith and Drake. Aside from The Weeknd, EDM is amongst the first year students interviewed. “It is fun music to dance to,” said Aimee Lamont. Rap music is a notably touchy genre, and appears to be a style that students either ardently love or hate. Popular rap artists first years are listening to on campus are Kanye West and Macklemore. “I like Kanye West because he is a genius. His music is upbeat and makes me want to party,” said Nolaawi Afework. “Macklemore’s lyrics talk about the real issues of the world,” said Stephan Reilly. Many of the first years interviewed had an aversion to country music. It seems to be as a result of students finding
it annoying and hard to dance to. “I’ve grown up in the city so country music to me is not fun,” said Tyler Hall. “Personally, it’s not relatable and I find most of the songs sound the same and that the tunes are not catchy for me to listen to them,” said Erin Watson. Some students are on the other side of the spectrum when it comes to country music. “The lyrics actually mean something. There are more positive messages in country music such as family and friendship,” said Matthew Petitti. “[Country is] relatable and tells a story,” said Julianne Roberts. Although Taylor Swift is not represented as a pure country artist anymore, some students at Laurier Brantford express how they still love her old country style of music. “Her music is romantic, fun to dance to and easy to sing” said, Chloe Holmeshaw. While The Weeknd may be the most popular artist listened to by the interviewed first year students at Laurier Brantford, there remains to be so many different types of music out there that appeal to a variety people.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Arts and Culture
The Sputnik
13
Matthew Burley | arts@thesputnik.ca |
Why the Libertines matter: a brief history. Spencer Campbell Copy Editor
Perhaps one of the greatest rock and roll stories to ever be told, the turbulent tale of the Libertines is one filled with fights, substance abuse, but also great romance and friendship. But the story of this ever-popular English musical act rarely finds its way to the ears and eyes of listeners west of the Atlantic. This is an unfortunate reality for many English bands, whom all but a small handful fail to gain recognition in North America. When the Libertines first came on the scene in 2002 with their debut album Up the Bracket and later their self titled sophomore album in 2004, the British press ate it up. As far as the media is concerned, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat are the Libertines. The two men have fronted the band since its inception and are credited for the lion’s share of the songwriting. The band’s fan base steadily grew as well, likely due in part to their reputation of having no barriers between themselves and their listeners, going as far as hosting a series of guerilla gigs in Doherty and Barat’s home, and inviting
The Libertines performing in 2014 (Wikimedia Commons)
fans to take items from the home as souvenirs. By mid 2004, Doherty and Barat’s relationship had soured, mainly because of Doherty’s battle with crack addiction, and the Libertines fizzled out. But the story of the Libertines does not end there. The next 10 years consisted of Doherty and Barat forming their own bands, Doherty with the crack-fueled Babyshambles, and Barat forming the punky Dirty Pretty Things. The most attention the Libertines ever received from North America was in 2005 when Doherty began a two-year relationship with supermodel
Kate Moss. The band had a few one-off reunions over the decade, but with Doherty’s lingering drug problem the partnership with Barat could not be reconciled. In 2014, the band announced they would be reuniting to headline a show at Hyde Park in London. Later that year Doherty announced he was entering a drug rehabilitation program in Thailand, and by January 2015 he announced that he had completed the program and had joined the Libertines in recording new material for an album. On Sept. 11, 2015, the Libertines released Anthems for
Doomed Youth, their first studio album in over 10 years. Over the years since their dissolution, the rock and roll mythology created by the Libertines has continued to expand their fan base in England, but in North America the new album fails to chart whatsoever. Their sound has always been compared to the Clash, and the new album still fits this comparison quite nicely. The album is excellent. Fans have always been captivated by the poetic lyrics from Doherty and Barat, who take inspiration from romantic poets such as Lord Byron and William Blake. The first single re-
leased for Anthems for Doomed Youth was “Gunga Din”, which borrows its name from a Ruyard Kipling poem. The song goes into Barat and Doherty’s past issues with addiction, being strung out on drugs and booze, and the road to recovery. Many Libertines songs deal with addiction, broken relationships, as well as various other shenanigans and shady situations, and paired with catchy guitar lines and vocal melodies, it’s an appealing combination. The other part of the Libertines major appeal is their live show. While many bands today give a very tidy, choreographed live performance, the Libertines have always been the exact opposite, and this has always been something that comes through in the band’s sound. The story of the Libertines is potentially one of the greatest rock and roll stories of all time, and this is a story that needs to be told. So if you gravitate toward the sounds of White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, the Strokes or the Clash, the Libertines may be for you. So head out to your local record store and pick up a copy of ANY of their material – you cannot go wrong.
Brantford Arts Block to close its doors Taylor Berzins Brantford Manager
You know those times when you hear that something is really cool, and you mean to check it out but by the time you get around to it, that thing is gone. When you grow up in Brantford, so it goes. Lucky for me, I managed to make it out to Stir It Up, the cool vegetarian cuisine and speciality smoothie place that used to operate on Dalhousie before it disappeared. I saw Tokyo Police Club, Spiral Beach and many others at The Ford Plant, Brantford’s former all-ages music venue before it shut its doors. I can tell stories about buying records from The Backroom, I’ve eaten fritters and enjoyed open mics at Brown Dog, attended the Brantford Film Festival and spent some time stretching it out at Stone Roots Yoga. Perhaps it’s as the old adage goes, only the good die young. When I was in high school, I’d skip class to go grab a coffee and check out the Brantford Arts Block. Back then, it used to occupy the downtown space that is now home to The
Works. After leaving high school and beginning my university education at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, I only went back to the Arts Block once. In the time it had moved to its Sherwood location and I made excuses about why I hadn’t ventured over, despite the fact that I had even returned to finish up my BA here in Brantford. I had interviewed Gerry Lafleur from the Arts Block last summer for an article about things students could check out Brantford. Lafleur told me that the Arts Block offered art courses, a venue for live shows, studio space for artists, a recording studio, gallery space and monthly events. He told me about how the Arts Block organized an community art boat to drift down the Grand River and that there was room for students to organize film screenings if they were looking for something to do. On Monday, Brantford Arts Block announced in a Facebook post, that as of September 30, the venue will be closed.
In their Facebook post, The Arts Block states, “In the downtown days, The Arts Block created things like Find Your Spirit and the Funeral for the South Side. We put community art into a health clinic and a park. We showed the weirdest movies around, like an Italian slasher film and a film about driving around in a convertible with Einstein’s Brain. “Then on Sherwood Drive, we brought Debra Brown’s Circus to town and throat singing punks from Mongolia. Indie rockers from The Netherlands went to number one in Holland with a track they recorded here in West Brant...We put up visual art. Installations. Theatre. Poetry. Comedy. Magic. Twice we floated down the Grand River on boats we made out of art. We put on wrestling and the Monsters of Schlock. We had a wedding. And day after day we met interesting people from all over who shared their curiosity and creativity.” I asked Sydney Sollazzo, who played a gig with her band Bad Reed at The Arts Block this past summer, about how she
felt about the space closing. “As for my thoughts on playing at the Arts Block: it’s an absolutely beautiful space, so much room, and great sound; it’s possibly the best equipped venue in Brantford. However, promoting for the show we played there was really difficult because nobody knew where we were playing. Very
“
Arts Block closing is a statement about our artistic community; we would rather meet up downtown. - Sydney Sollazzo
few people I have spoken to in the community know where the Arts Block is, or exactly what goes on there. “I remember when I first heard about the Arts Block it sounded so exciting. Space for artists to rehearse, play, record. It sounds like something from Toronto rather than Brantford. Without the
proper outreach the project had very little hope of success in Brantford. Particularly while in the back corner of West Brant that is its current home,” Sollazzo explained. “Maybe the artistic community is too small, and too spread out in our town to support the grand ideals embodied by the Arts Block. We are, however, mighty and prolific. I believe that the Arts Block closing is a statement about our artistic community; we would rather meet up downtown.” It sucks to look back at all the great things that grew up in Brantford, but didn’t make it. It especially hurts when I recognize that I often allow the ‘Brantford sucks’ funk to take hold of my perspectives, rather than legitimately engaging with the outlets making an effort in our community. Let this be a lesson to the naysayers, who believe that good, cool, cultured things do not happen in Brantford, because they do. Culture is there, right under your nose, and if you don’t look fast, it could be gone.
14
The Sputnik
Sports
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Devon Momy-Gamache | sports@thesputnik.ca |
Laurier men’s baseball team on the road to yet another great season
A Laurier runner got home safely after a nice slide (Jessa Braun/The Sputnik)
Jessa Braun Staff Writer The Wilfrid Laurier men’s baseball team is well on their way to having a successful season this fall. The Golden Hawks are consistently one of the top teams in the OUA, including their championship victory two years ago. Just last fall, the team finished a fantastic season with a 14-4 record, landing them in third place. This year the team is predicted to go far yet again. Laurier entered their first regular season game having gone undefeated in seven preseason games, playing a mix of universities and colleges. Their preseason included a series of three games against the defending OCAA champion St.
Jordan Pertuska was the starting pitcher for the season opener and pitched well, allowing two earned runs over eight innings. (Jessa Braun/The Sputnik)
Clair College. “We had a very productive preseason, as we played some really strong teams and managed to find ways to win the games,” said Laurier’s head coach, Scott Ballantyne. “Our pitching was excellent and we got our freshmen players exposure to the level of competition they would see in conference games.” Laurier has twelve rookies coming onto the team this year, and some of them will receive a chance to contribute on the field right away during the regular season. Returning players Jonathan Brouse, Jeff Hunt, Alex Kupchak and Adam Raithby will play larger roles in carrying the team offensively. They will be accompanied by an experienced starting rota-
tion, led by pitchers Jordan Petruska, Andrew Ziedins and Adam McBride. Laurier opened their OUA season with a double-header against the Queen’s Gaels on Saturday, September 12 at Bechtel Park in Waterloo. Unfortunately, the Gaels were coming out of a preseason almost as strong as the Golden Hawks, having already won a tournament. Fans were surprised when Laurier’s first game resulted in a 5-3 loss, but the team knew they could do better. “They were disappointed,” Ballantyne recalled, two days after the loss, “but they knew that we didn’t play our best. We had plenty of opportunities to score runs and stranded a lot of runners on base. We
Daniel Apostoli went 3-for-9 during the double header and contribute two runs and two stolen bases. (Jessa Braun/The Sputnik)
didn’t get the breaks that we had been getting in the preseason and Queen’s capitalized on our mistakes.” Although the team lost their opening game, they didn’t lose their confidence. Pitcher Andrew Ziedins, a fifth year starter, shut down Queen’s over seven innings on route to a complete game shutout, earning Laurier Athlete of the Week honors along the way. A few hits here and there slowly generated some runs, and the Golden Hawks pulled out a 4-0 victory in their second game against the Gaels. The following Wednesday, the Golden Hawks came through with yet another win by a score of 9-1 against the University of Toronto in a friendly non-conference game
at Bechtel Park. Ballantyne is pleased with the way the team is shaping and sees more success in games ahead. “If we play up to our potential, continue to get better each day and work together, I think we’ll be in the mix for a championship just like we have been the last four or five years.” Laurier continued their strong play during their doubleheader against Ryerson on Sunday, September 20. Laurier won the first game 15-5, and extended their winning streak to three games with a 10-3 win in the second game. Laurier’s next regular season action is a doubleheader at Brock on Saturday, September 26.
Golden Hawk volleyball team prepares for season
WLUSP Recruit Night
Yellow Brick Wall 7pm-10pm Hayden Hellye used his skills to make the volleyball team (Konnor Huard/The Sputnik)
Devon Momy-Gamache Sports Editor
Laurier Brantford’s co-ed volleyball team is getting ready for the upcoming season. The team held tryouts on September 14 and 18. Now that the roster has been set the team can begin practicing. Their first OCCA tournament of the season will be on October 16 at Redeemer College. Last season the team won their tournament at Redeemer, but lost in the championship game in the only other tournament they competed in. Another strong season is expected from this team. While playing in a tournament this early may prove to
be a challenge for the team, it can also help the players. An early tournament provides the team with an opportunity to test themselves, so that they can learn what areas to improve on. Their next tournament is not until November 27, at Centennial College, and they are playing three tournaments in total. The team will be coached by Brian Kloet, who won the team’s MVP award last season. He is hoping to continue the success he had as a player. When discussing the early season tournament and achieving success, Kloet stated that it will depend on, “how many returning players we have,”
and team chemistry. The volleyball team has the extra benefit of competing in an adult league in Brantford, giving them extra preparation for a real game atmosphere. When discussing the effects of playing in a weekly league, Kloet mentioned that it would be “very helpful because it allows us to play in a competitive situation which is good practice.” After reaching the finals in both tournaments they competed in last season, a strong showing in Redeemer would be the perfect start to the season.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Sports
The Sputnik
15
Devon Momy-Gamache | sports@thesputnik.ca |
Did Tom Brady finish Judge Goodell? Devon Momy-Gamache
Sports Editor
If you watched the opening game of the NFL season, you may have noticed a familiar scene. Tom Brady threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns to help the New England Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21 to start their title defense. It was business as usual. However, Tom Brady was never supposed to be on the field. Brady was suspended for the first four games of the season until a judge overruled the suspension. The NFL has a history of issues regarding the way it handles player discipline. Commissioner Roger Goodell has complete control over the process. He has the power to suspend players and is also responsible for hearing their appeals. In the past, players have gone through the court system because they do not believe they have been treated fairly. When one man has all the power without anybody to check on his work it is easy to question if he has crossed any lines. Brady was suspended by the league as a result of the Patriots being accused of deflating balls below the minimum PSI, during the AFC championship this past January. The NFL hired an independent investigator, Ted Wells, to investigate the situation. In his report, Wells reported, “it is more probable than not that Brady was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities.” After the NFLPA and Brady lost their original appeal when Goodell upheld the suspension, they brought the case to a New York district court. The judge determined that the NFL did not properly investigate originally and therefore did not have enough proof to suspend Brady. Goodell is facing a crisis;
his authority is being questioned. Since being elected as commissioner by NFL owners in August 2006, Goodell has had complete control over player discipline. There have been many cases where his authority has been questioned by independent arbitrators and appeal panels, and many have begun to question the entire process that Goodell uses to discipline players.
ing Rice assaulting his thenfiance, and there was public demand for a longer suspension and Rice was suspended indefinitely. The suspension was overturned and the NFL reinstated Rice in November. In the report in which the suspension was overruled, Judge Barbara Jones stated, “The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.”
another person should be in charge of determining suspensions. The players did put themselves at risk during the last CBA negotiations when they allowed Goodell to be the one with all the power for future disciplinary issue. They could have fought harder to change the process so that either an independent arbitrator is required or for to create a com-
The recent Tom Brady situation has further damaged the reputation of Roger Goodell. (Sai Gnanaharan/ The Sputnik)
After all, how can a player face equal punishment for possibly “being generally aware” of his team deflating footballs as a player who was punished for domestic abuse? The most famous examples of the latter are Ray Rice and Greg Hardy, who just had his suspension reduced from ten games to two. The Race Rice case has risen the most question marks in regards to Goodell’s authority. Rice was originally suspended two games to start the 2014 NFL season for assaulting his fiancée at the time. A couple months later, after a video was released show-
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Not only was the suspension determined to be unfair, some questioned if Goodell knew about the video before suspending Rice originally. After reports surfaced that Goodell knew of the video, one unnamed owner told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, “ this is very bad for our league and for Roger. No owner will support him if this is true.” On top of this, suspensions for four players involved in ‘Bountygate’ had their suspensions overturned. When your decisions are continuously proven to be too harsh after being reviewed, maybe
mittee to deal with player discipline. Players aren’t the only ones who are getting upset with the Goodell. One of the most influential owners in the league, Robert Kraft, has publicly criticized Goodell. After Brady’s appeal was denied by the league, Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, said in a press conference, “I was wrong to put my faith in the league.” Kraft has been one of Goodell’s biggest allies as commissioner, so it is alarming to see him express these concerns. This is not the first time Goodell has faced challenges
of his authority Ray Rice was originally suspended two games to start the 2014 NFL season for assaulting his fiancée at the time. After a video was released their was public demand for a longer suspension and Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely. After the suspension was overturned the NFL reinstated Rice in November and he was eligible to sign with any team. In the report in which the suspension was overruled Judge Barbara Jones stated, “The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.” With more owners questioning Goodell, the pressure is mounting for him to either relinquish some of his disciplinary power, or risk being replaced as commissioner. Goodell has talked multiple times about “protecting the shield” and now his actions are damaging the reputation of the league. Fans and media are constantly questioning his decisions, and the focus is on him instead of on the football field. It is important to note that Goodell has beneficial to the league in some ways. Goodell has almost doubled the annual profit since taking over in 2006 when the league made 6.54 billion dollars. The NFL generated the highest revenue of any sports league with 11 billion dollars of revenue in 2014, the next closest globally was MLB with nine billion dollars. Don’t expect Goodell to be going anywhere anytime soon no matter how many problems he faces. He signed an extension in 2012 that guarantees his contract until the end of 2018 season. Unless Goodell folds under the pressure from the owners, which does not appear close to occurring, he will continue to rule with an iron fist. Well, at least until a neutral arbitrator reverses his decision.
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16
The Sputnik
Opinion
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Josh Adesina | opinion@thesputnik.ca |
Apple and its impact on technology Josh Adesina Opinion Editor
Take a minute and think about the world’s most influential corporations. Did Apple turn out to be one of them? Of course it did.There are several establishments that have changed the world in one way or another. However, Apple is without a doubt, one of the world’s most impactful companies. Even as we speak, Apple’s newest products are being pre-ordered online, and are selling out quite fast. The influence Apple has had on technology is clear, and it does not seem like it will slow down anytime soon. Although many other companies have left their stamp on the technology we cannot live without, it seems as though Apple is in a league of its own. If you had to pick one logo to represent technology and its impressive arsenal of gadgets, what would it be? I can think of one. In a generation where technology has become a lifestyle, Apple has maintained its posi-
tion as one of the most impactful corporations in the world. Apple was founded in 1976, and has grown to become responsible for creating the gadgets the world cannot seem to get enough of today. The iPod, iPhone, iPad and iMac are all products that most of us are familiar with, and they are constantly reinvented to satisfy consumers. The iPod was first created in 2001 and in comparison to the older MP3 players and the current versions of the iPod, it wasn’t that great of a gadget. Alongside the iPod, Apple created iTunes as a space to download music exclusively for iPod users. Using a regular MP3 can be quite the task, because you have to worry about formats and such. As Steve Jobs would have guessed, consumers would want the iPod because of its ability to hold large amounts of music without difficulty. Apple’s impact on cellphones has also been tremendous. Cellphones and their perks have become as popular as ever, and consumers will pay as much as they
can for the latest phone. In the past, other companies that produced cellphones, such as Nokia and Blackberry, were controlling the market. Once Jobs introduced the world to the iPhone in 2007, other phones became less popular – according to Tech Radar. Although the iPhone made the touchscreen popular, Apple did not invent it. The first touchscreen phone was the IBM Simon which was created by IBM in 1992. In addition, HTC created the first android phone in 2008, the HTC Dream, which was also a revolutionary piece of technology. There are several companies that have helped pioneer the progress of technology but nonetheless, Apple was able to reinvent touchscreens for phones before commercialising it. That can pass as something to brag about. Fast-forward to Apple’s current standing in the tech market, and you will see that it hasn’t slowed down. Apple is preparing to release the iPhone 6s, which will be its latest version of the iPhone. The release date will be
Apple’s influence on technology has been undisputed, and continues to reinvent itself to keep it that way. (Christina Manocchio/ The Sputnik)
September 25, for selected countries including Canada and the UK, according to The Telegraph. In addition, customers worldwide that have pre-ordered will face waiting times of approximately four weeks. In addition, the iPhone is projected to sell 209.4-million units this year, and 221.2-million next year, according to the Telegraph. Apple is also releasing a string of other products including the forth generation
Apple TV, and the iPad pro. Like I said earlier, Apple has not slowed down at all. Although there are numerous companies that have created products that make our lives easier, Apple’s presence in technology is commendable. Apple is not the only company in the world but it is definitely one that has helped shape the culture of technology consumption.
where my classes were. However, my purpose for attending Orientation Week was to emerge into a new environment. I was not so keen on meeting that many people. I felt that I had to make an effort outside of the events to meet new students and such. To be clear, the fact that I did not entirely enjoy Orientation Week didn’t affect my perspective of my university. Although OWeek did not turn out how I expected, I knew how my academic year would be.
It is important to go into university with a positive mind. After all, you have four years to learn, mature and understand yourself. As a student, you should expect to get what you put out. The experience you have at any post-secondary institution depends on your effort. Yes, there is only so much that you can do, and you will not get along with everyone. The most important thing is to be yourself, and allow others to do the same.
O-Week: It’s not everyone’s cup of tea Josh Adesina Opinion Editor
The transition from high school to university can be overwhelming for a lot of us. A lot of thoughts cross our minds about what’s next, and we may not know what to expect. Being concerned about the relationships you’re going to make is fine. The chances of good coming from the relationships made at university can be high. Various events that take
place before lectures such as Orientation Week give students a chance to socialise early, and prepare themselves. Regardless of how your Orientation week was, you will find upper-year students that can give you an honest opinion about their own experience. Everybody has a different opinion about student life at university. Regardless, you should make your experience worthwhile. I can recall what my Orientation Week at Wilfrid
Laurier was like. I remember being quite anxious, and not knowing how to approach people. The best thing to do was to remain optimistic but that could only last so long. On the other hand, a lot of the students in my year enjoyed themselves, and I was happy for them. There were some events that were fun, but Orientation Week did not turn out how I expected. The Icebreakers did a good job of making me feel welcome and were kind enough to tell me
in hosting the Olympics in 2024. However, in comparison to other cities, Toronto is not in the best standing. Los Angeles has proposed an Olympic bid of $4.5 billion, according to the Star. An Olympic bid would cost Toronto up to $60 million, and hosting the Olympics could cost up to $8 billion, according to the Globe and Mail. Besides the possibility of hosting the Olympics, Toronto already has a lot on its plate. The Star pointed out what Toronto ought to focus on instead, such as: Infrastructure, public housing stock, transit and public schools. Hosting the Olympics in Toronto would distract from a lot of the mandatory work the city needs done. The city of Toronto can look at countries that have previously hosted the Olympics as examples. Athens hosted the Olympics in 2004, and spent up to $14 billion on a venue, according to the Daily Mail UK. It has been 10 years since then, and the venue has not been put to any good use. It is also worth noting that Athens spent twice as much as it originally planned to. Al-
though the Olympics brought millions of people to Athens, the aftermath was not worth it. Montreal had a similar outcome to Athens in 1976 when it hosted the Olympics. The construction that Montreal needed done to host the Olympics was a struggle. In addition, workers protested against the Olympics because of work days that were lost. In the end, the Olympics cost Montreal up to $2 billion which left the city in debt for three decades, according to The Main Mtl. You have to admit, having the Pan Am Games in Toronto was exciting. It is always interesting to see tourists in your own city having a good time. The city was very busy, and people were enjoying the events that the Pan Am Games hosted. Toronto Pearson Airport had its hands full with 200,000 more people travelling to and from the city, compared to last summer, according to the Globe and Mail. Hosting the Olympics would also be exciting, but it has to be worth it. Mayor John Tory put an end to any hopes of Toronto hosting the Olympics in a re-
A city not destined to host the Olympics Josh Adesina Opinion Editor
The Pan Am Games have wrapped, as has the athletic fuelled media attention that was brought to the city of Toronto. It was a good look for the city. However, there is a question that must be answered, and it is whether or not Toronto is ready for the Olympics. Is Toronto really ready to host such a big event? Unfortunately, it is not. It is probably best for Toronto to hold off on the Olympics because of the issues the city is currently facing. Although hosting the Olympics would bring in a lot of revenue to the city, it is worth wondering what it could cost the city as well. Other countries that have hosted the Olympics have had experiences that were not so pleasant. Toronto does not seem like it is prepared to take on that burden. Ontario was expected to have a GDP boost of $3.7 billion between 2009 and 2017, according to the Globe and Mail. The Pan Am Games were supposed to be part of it. There is potential for the city
Mayor John Tory’s decision to avoid hosting the 2024 Olympics will benefit Toronto in the long run. (Sai Gnanaharan/ The Sputnik)
cent article published by CBC News. “I believe that one day Toronto will be a great venue for the Olympic Games, but not in 2024,” said Tory. The article mentioned Tory being in the process of creating a board that can advise about hosting major events. In addition, Tory mentioned that hosting the Olympics was a possibility but that now was
not the time. Mayor John Tory is determined to get Toronto where it needs to be financially before considering something as large as this. I don’t think Tory wants this city in anymore debt where not necessary. Furthermore, I don’t think Canadians do either.