Volume 20, Issue 6– February 2020
The Sputnik, We Orbit Around You.
LAURIER ELECTS DEVYN KELLY STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT REUBEN JAMES SORIANO/SPTUNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
BAILEY ZIMMER SPUTNIK WRITER
Wilfrid Laurier University recently elected its first female president and CEO of Student’s Union in a number of years. On Thursday, January 30th of 2020, Devyn Kelly was elected by the students at Wilfrid Laurier University as the Student Union president for the 2020-2021 school year. The reveal of the election took place at Wilf’s restaurant and bar at the Laurier Waterloo campus. Kelly and her supporters all crowded in the room decked out in orange to show the support for her campaign. The announcement took place at 9:00 p.m. and a drum roll took over the audience. When Kelly’s name was announced, the crowd went wild. “I was in a sea of orange. I don’t think I’ve ever hugged so many people in my life,” said Kelly, “myself and my campaign manager immediately started crying, it’s kind of a blur.” Kelly won the election to presidency by collecting 69.02% of the votes, 1872 votes in her favour which was over half the votes that were cast. This was the first race for president and CEO that was all News, pg. 4
women, making Kelly even more delighted with her new title. To start off her presidency while still in the learning stage, Kelly will be hiring her vice president committee before her effective term date starting May 2020. During the race season Kelly was calm, cool and collected. Throughout the last days of the campaign and while students were voting, Kelly remained confident in herself, in her campaign and was at ease even with the anxiety and excitement of the event. “I know that the students vote for what’s best for them and at the end of the day that’s all I wanted,” she said, “ I was doing what I think is best for the student body and my opponent was doing what she thought was best and I think ... if she had won, I still would have been very confident in the campaign that I ran and very proud of it.” Kelly’s campaign is pushing the university to create a more accessible online atmosphere for Laurier students. Kelly wants to limit the amount of different websites for students such as LORIS, MyLearningSpace and others and put it into one cumulative accessible website. The biggest plan she has in store Features, pg. 6
PRIMARY SCHOOL LETS GET STRIKES POPPING
Elementary schools in Ontario on strike
New traditional bubble tea shop open
is to draw attention to the Student Union (SU), who they are and what they do on campus. Students are unaware of what the SU is and what they do for the school so Kelly would like more light on them so they get the recognition they deserve. Laurier Off Campus University Students (LOCUS) often feel as though they do not get the same university experience that the students living in residence do. To help build the bridge between the seemingly separate worlds Kelly wishes to see a stronger partnership between residence life and off-residence life. Kelly wishes to work with the Department of Residence to implement the same programming for LOCUS that happens during orientation week throughout the year. Kelly is also considering having LOCUS Dons to be Icebreakers for first year LOCUS so that off campus students have someone to talk to. Kelly wishes for this to be brought from the Waterloo campus to the Brantford campus. Taking into consideration the gap between on and off campus Laurier students, Kelly wishes to instil a stronger open door policy Features Cont’d pg. 8
by the Student Union for anyone who has any suggestions to increase the similarities of experience and decrease the difference between on and off campus students. The experience of going to university and living away from home for the first time is daunting. Getting used to living without parents, with roommates and surviving in a next to new world can be intimidating. Everything is different, from the course load, the student life and the city you’re in. With Kelly’s plans first year students can feel more at ease with the transition of leaving high school and going to university. She has already been working on forming a stronger relationship between the Department of Residence and the Students Union to make the transition as easy and comfortable as possible. As a president of one university with two campuses Kelly has the best interests of the student body at heart. She wants the voices of the students to be heard and accounted for. Kelly represents the school and all the students within it. “I’m a representative of the student body, the students and Opinion, pg. 10
HOMELESSNESS WHY FEB. 14 IS IN BRANTFORD THE WORST
Some background and stats Why I don’t believe in on the crisis Valentine’s Day
the institution all act in the best possible way for the student body,” said Kelly. Kelly would also like to incorporate a greater Foot Patrol presence in downtown Laurier Brantford campus so students can get home without feeling scared or uneasy. Kelly also wishes to join the Special Constables of Laurier Brantford to give them the support of the SU. During the race Kelly had some minor setbacks. With school, a job, extracurricular activities, campaigning and travelling back and forth between the Brantford and Waterloo campuses, Kelly was absolutely exhausted, but never once did she question if all the trials were worth it. “This is something I’ve been pretty set on, I was very committed to it as of a year and a half ago and I’ve always said since my first year I would do it,” said Kelly to her presidency. She had a fantastic support system that endlessly encouraged her to keep fighting and put out the best campaign possible. With 170 volunteers, about 25 of which were from the Brantford campus to help build her platform. Sports, pg. 12
ALUMNI HOCKEY
Re-cap and coverage of the annual hockey game
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Editor’s Note: “I have a job because racism exists” NATASHA O’NEILL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Laurier Brantford still needs to do more to support Indigenous students and faculty by creating safer spaces and eliminating racism on campus. On a daily basis Kawennakon says she is racialized. She is Mohawk from Six Nations, south of Brantford, and every day she comes in contact with someone who doesn’t understand the amount of trauma she and her people continue to go through at the hands of colonialism. “A lot of it is having difficult conversations day after day with people and trying to explain to them why a certain practice or a certain thing that they’re doing is not acceptable,” says Kawennakon. She is Laurier’s special projects officer since 2012 and she works out of the Indigenous student centre. Her main role on campus is to create safer cultural spaces as well as work towards decolonizing the campus. There has also been more discussions about who at Laurier is allowed to teach what classes. There are still courses being taught about Indigenous people not by Indigenous professors. “That is a very good and very clear answer as to why somebody like me needs to exist on campus,” she said, “I have a job because racism exists.” Another example of this is when a group of Indigenous students came to Kawennakon and told her about a class that was very harmful to them. She describes the class as “negative stereotype, after negative stereotype” of Indigenous peoples. Kawennakon worked with academic services and the students to have this class set aside, but it wasn’t until the students had to reiterate the trauma and issues before they understood. “It had to be a very vivid example in order for it to be seen,” Kawennakon remembers. Last month Laurier hosted a worst practice session at Hudson Public, an event aimed at having difficult conversations about what the institution can do better. It was hosted by the centre for student diversity, inclusion and equity (CSEDI) and the women’s faculty colleague.
Michelle Skop and Lauren Burrows put together an engagement activity for students and stakeholders of the university to come together to think critically about issues happening on and around campus. At this session Kawennakon brought up the fact that Laurier students and faculty don’t always realize what could be hurting Indigenous people. Vanessa Oliver has been working with Kawennakon on a research project the last few years and they’ve become close friends. Through seeing firsthand the comments that people make towards her, Oliver has come up with an analogy to explain. “Whiteness is like a blind spot, and sort of like driving your car, if you don’t check it when you change lanes then you crash into racialized Indigenous folks who are trying to do work in their own community.” Since September 2018 Kawennakon has been helping faculty with lectures focused around racism and decolonization. “A lot of time in big classrooms I could be the first time they’ve [the students] heard that conversation … there’s all of these feelings because no way has been paved for me,” she said. Recently more professors have been taking it upon themselves to have the beginnings of the hard conversations with students. This is a necessary step in order to make Kawennakon’s job easier while keeping a safe environment for learning. Wilfrid Laurier University — like every university and college in Canada— is a colonial institution. Its main job is to spread euro-centric ideas through education. Through the years Kawennakon has seen how many students still do not fully understand how poorly Indigenous people in our country are treated. The reason behind it is not just ignorance or lack of knowledge, but how institutions deliberately teach students their version of history. “It’s crazy to think having conversations like this inside these institutions is going to be easy, it’s not supposed to be easy, it’s designed in every way to reject people like me,” said Kawennakon. When entering into these classrooms
most of the time she feels very vulnerable, she needs to get the class to trust her and make them feel comfortable so that she can teach them about privilege and whiteness. “I have to manage their feelings, just so we can talk about what whiteness is and the need to decentralize whiteness,” she said. Many want to be an ally to Indigenous people and believe they are, but Kawennakon says it’s more than just basic knowledge on history. “If you really want to be an ally to Indigenous peoples then take it upon yourself to learn about decentering whiteness, what whiteness is, what white fragility is, what white tears are, what white saviorism is,” she said. So much of her job consists of continuing to educate students and faculty on these terms and having them get offended if Kawennakon has to tell them they are being racist. “Everybody wants to think they’re a good person, and just saying the word racist, nobody wants to be called that it hurts,” she said. By continuing to support Indigenous ideas and show more support Laurier can become better allies. Another step Laurier can take is to have only Indigenous professors teach Indigenous classes. “I think that indigenous hiring is a huge topic of conversation,” said Melissa Ireland, director officer of Indigenous initiatives, “in our strategic plan we left a recommendation that the university needs to hire Indigenous faculty across the board in all departments.” Ireland who has been in this position since October 2019 is developing a strategic plan with Wilfrid Laurier University to combat the racialized issues on the campuses. “We are ready to launch a new module on MyLearningSpace for the Laurier community to have more understanding and knowledge of Indigenous context in this land which has a big allyship component,” she said. Something as simple as using Kawennakon, instead of Bonnie Whitlow which is what many people know her by can make a difference.
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THE SPUTNIK
FEBRUARY 2020
03 NEWS WRITER NOW HIRING news@thesputnik.ca
SPORTS WRITER NOW HIRING assistantnews@thesputnik.ca
EDUCATION
Law students campaigning for additional instructors JESSICA LORCH SPUTNIK WRITER
Law and society students have seen a considerable decrease in the amount of instructors in their classes. They are currently campaigning to secure more full-time faculty members, reasoning that class sizes and course selection are negatively impacted and continue to worsen. While the program is expanding and flourishing in terms of enrolment numbers, it seems that this growth is not matched with an increase in fulltime faculty. The current co-ordinator of the Law and Society program, Dr. Jonathan Lavery, acknowledges this discrepancy and understands the way in which it might be falling short of expectations. “In one sense, the program has expanded too much already [its student body], whereas in another sense it requires significant expansion … at least two full-time faculty members are sorely needed right now.” Many students express that the brimming class sizes are frustrating, because this is not what they were promised when they applied to the program. Kayana Smith, a senior Law and Society student, sheds light on the reality of how few instructors are available to teach mandatory courses, let alone electives. “Our program currently has three full-time professors, next year there will only be one, “said Smith, “the problem with this is that the university has a requirement to have a 1:25 ratio, next year it will be a 1:250 ratio.” Aside from the issue in itself of failing to meet requirements, Smith lists innumerable ways in which this lack of faculty has negatively impacted her academic career, as well as that of other students in the program. Smaller class sizes allow for a
more personal and participatory learning experience, which can be impossible to achieve when all classes are at their already high capacity for enrolment.
This year due to budget cuts and lack of instructors they had to change the graduation requirements. They couldn’t offer the course so they had to remove it for students to graduate, which is sad. - Kayana Smith Law & Society student
“As a senior student, the expectation is to have seminar courses as you progress through your undergraduate career, however, because of the large sizes, these classes have turned into minilecture,” she articulates. Many students studying in this degree plan to advance to some form of further education after completing their undergraduate degree, and the lacking experience with this different learning style might provide an unfair disadvantage to Laurier students when compared to students coming from other institutions. This is especially problematic, as it’s already a very competitive field. Not only have learning styles been influenced due to this lack of instructors, the program itself has been altered because it cannot afford to offer even the courses listed in its requirements. Smith recalls how the university’s solution was not to hire additional full-time faculty, but instead to take out these courses as essential components of the
degree. “This year because of budget cuts and lack of instructors they had to change the graduation requirements,” she said, “they couldn’t offer the course and it was a requirement to graduate, so they had to remove it for students to graduate, which is sad.” On behalf of the university Dr. Kathryn Carter, the Academic Dean of Liberal Arts, comments on the action Laurier is taking and expresses that this issue is being taken seriously. “Administration [my office and the Vice President Academic’s office] is doing and has been doing everything in their power to address the issue in Law and Society,” she said, “we are currently pursuing additional strategies that will get us the resources we need, but we will not have answers about whether or not we’ve been successful for a few more weeks.” Dr. Lavery provides some insight about possible reasons behind the substantial class sizes these students are experiencing, and suggests that this occurrence isn’t unique to Laurier Brantford. The government and changes in funding might be a central factor influencing the overflowing classes at Laurier and at other schools. “I think expanding class size is a problem across the university and at other institutions,” he said, “when I was an undergraduate, the provincial government funded roughly 75 per cent of the cost of each student’s university education … now that percentage has fallen to approximately 50 per cent.” While appreciating that students are justified in their frustration with these large and limited classes, Dr. Lavery considers that an intimate learning environment with a high ratio of faculty to students simply might not be realistic anymore. “University life is characterized in promotional literature and
HIRZE E ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
popular culture as if intimacy and small classes are still a norm; even as these things are disappearing, students today have some point of reference to justify their dissatisfaction,” he points out. However, while the media’s portrayal of university is clearly not reality, this doesn’t account for the discrepancy between the official requirements set for the university and what’s actually happening. “Keep it up,” said Dr. Lavery, when asked what he would say to the students currently campaigning for an increase in faculty. He reinforces that administration understands the struggle and
frustration and are working toward a more efficient and personal university experience at Laurier. “Student voices are indispensable and can coordinate well with lobbying already begun by Law & Society faculty,” he said, “we have been arguing for two new positions for the program and, certainly, enrolment figures support at least that, but we can only do so much, and students will do themselves a great service by speaking up.” He reiterates that those with authority in the program, and the student body, have similar goals and can be encouraged to work together to achieve them.
coming back from holidays and returning to their studies.
silence today to pay their respects.” Students or staff members were lost from many universities and colleges across Canada. Since the accident, Iran has admitted to shooting down the plane, they say “human error” is to blame and that it was not intentional.
CAMPUS
Moment of silence held at Laurier for plane crash victims
As the university community comes together it is important to remember the family and friends of the impacted members of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. -Joshua Wall, councillor for the City of Brantford
It was deeply sad and shocking to hear the news of the Iran plane crash, it was specifically terrible to hear that we lost members from our country. -Ali Ibraham, Human Rights & Human Diversity student
RASHIDA POWANKUMAR SPUTNIK WRITER
Wilfrid Laurier was among multiple universities in Canada
SPUTNIK ARCHIVES
to gather on Jan. 15 at 1p.m. to remember those who lost their lives in Flight 752. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, left Iran and was going
towards Ukraine when shortly after take off, caught fire and crashed. There were 176 people onboard; 57 of those were Canadians, no one survived. Many were students
Faculty members at Laurier are here to help, listen, and speak to anyone who this is impacting on a personal level. The dean of students, Adam Lawrence spoke at the gathering. “As the university community comes together, it is important to remember the family and friends of the impacted members of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752,” he said, “Western, Guelph and McMaster institutions are also holding a moment of
“It was deeply sad and shocking to hear the news of the Iran plane crash, it was specifically terrible to hear that we lost members from our country,” said Ali Ibraham, third year, Human Rights & Human Diversity student. “My prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families that were affected by this unfortunate incident,” he said.
THE SPUTNIK
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NEWS
FEBRUARY 2020
PROTEST
Education cuts in Ontario leads to Brantford teacher strike Elementary school teachers across the province are on rotation strike as they negotiate with the union. NATALY MANYCHANH SPUTNIK CONTRIBUTER
Elementary and secondary teachers in Brantford and BrantCounty go on strike to fight for the quality of education after the province fails to negotiate with ETFO and OSSTF as of Jan. 15. On Jan. 21st, more than 1,100 faculty and staff members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), 850 members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and 2,000 members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) picketed their signs in protest of recent changes to the education system. Strikes took place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as picketers braved the cold, splitting the protests into a morning and an afternoon shift. “The fight for better quality education for a day is worth it,” said David Shaver, secondary teacher of 25 years at Tollgate Technological Skills Centre. He, along with 100 OSSTF members from three other secondary schools marched in front of the Brantford Collegiate Institute. Onlookers driving by honked in support of teachers as they walked up and down King George Rd to intersections Richmond Street and back to Waterloo Street. Legislation of increased class sizes were implemented as of September last year for the 2019 to 2020 school year. “It wasn’t something that was negotiated,even with five to eight more students in the classroom, I can’t get around to each student,” said Shaver, “students have even mentioned that it’s a lot more difficult because of less contact time.” Changes to the education sys-
pushed back or put on hold. “I know that parents are frustrated with these one-day walk outs, but I think… [for] the longterm, they will realize that we need to support the public education system the way it has been built up,” he said.
For the students that might be at higher risk of deciding that they are not going to attend school, those are the ones that we really want to keep -David Shaver, Teacher, Tollgate Skills Centre
PHOTOS BY LIZ SHIRO/ SPUTNIK CONTRIBUTER
tem include cuts to funding school programs and assistance to special needs students. In addition, class sizes are being raised from 22 to 28 students, limiting few teachers to large class sizes such as 100 students enrolled in an online course. Lastly, moving school curriculum to online learning which not all students are able to access due to not having a computer or internet at home. “For the students that might be at higher risk of deciding that they are not going to attend school, those are the ones that we really want to keep in the classroom, if they have questions, they need that one-on-one time to be successful,” he said. Funding cuts are also affect-
ing class choices for secondary students when choosing which courses to take. Laiyla ValarieGrappie, 17, attending Brantford Collegiate Institute says that the changes have led to discontinuation of courses in the Arts such as film and drama classes. “It seems as though everything is being forced,” she said, “now, [students] will need more resources as they will instead rely on technology.” “It changes how students learn in the classroom from students communicating with the teacher, students asking questions, not everyone has the same learning ability, some need to listen instead of just reading on a screen,” she continued.
Class divisions that end up having too few students enrolled can lead to cancellation of the course for the semester. Limited selection for certain courses can lack motivation and interest in students to attend their classes. “I teach [physical education and health] and have noticed, especially with the larger classes, that there are not as many options across the different grade levels for the students,” said Shaver. Parents also have added stress finding babysitters and additional daycare services for school children in elementary and nursery as the strike calls for school closures. Moreover, the strikes have also made students uncertain of whether final examinations will be
Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced the province is offering compensation to parents whose children that have been affected by the strikes as of Jan. 15. Parents whose children from zero to age 12 may be eligible to receive up to $60 per day. However, some believe money is not going to fix these problems in the education system. “You can’t buy back our education or, our time,” says Jude Jarvis, 40, intermediate teacher at Woodman Cainsville Elementary Public School, “parents have said to me that if they do apply, they will use that money to put it back into the education system.” Karlo Fortino, 47, acting President from the OECTA says if the unions and the province do not come to an agreement, there is a possibility that strike action will escalate.
NATALY MANYCHAN/ SPUTNIK CONTRIBUTER
THE SPUTNIK
GAMES
Valentine’s Day Riddle You can touch me, you can break me, you should win me if you want to be mine. What am I?
05
Answer: A heart
FEBRUARY 2020
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THE SPUTNIK
FEBRUARY 2020
BUSINESS
Brantford’s first bubble tea shop gets popping on campus SERENA AUSTIN SPUTNIK WRITER
Brantford’s first traditional bubble tea shop has opened on campus. Moon Tea is located in downtown Brantford at 75 Dalhousie St., Unit 103, directly behind Coffee Culture and overlooks Harmony Square. The shop has a laid back atmosphere and could double as a quiet study space for Laurier students. It’s deceivingly large as the back of the shop features seating similar to restaurant booths. “I thought the interior of the shop had the potential to be super cute, however at the moment it is rather empty looking.” said Kyle Peavoy, a third year student. The shop has a modernindustrial feeling to it which may be due to the recentness of its opening, but they create a comforting environment through three T.V. monitors, one of which constantly features Top 40 and K-Pop music videos. The boba-baristas at Moon Tea are very helpful and are quick to welcome you to the space. They also have an extensive knowledge of the menu which can come in handy for those who are less familiar with bubble tea or milk tea.
“I wasn’t a huge fan of their menu, but the staff were absolutely lovely and helped me pick out a drink to try,” said Katherine Duckworth, a first year digital media and journalism student.
I don’t mind the wait because the atmosphere they’ve created is so nice, whether you go alone, or with friends. -Sherona Bagwandeen, First Year Student
Duckworth ended up trying the strawberry slush with tapioca pearls as the barista’s suggestion. Moon Tea’s menu may present as intimidating for some people as it includes many flavours that are common in Eastern Asian countries, but far less so in North America. Such as fresh taro as opposed to powdered which gives drinks a lavender colouring; yakult, a probiotic milk beverage; and cheese foam, which floats on top of the beverage. “I like getting the original milk
tea with cheese foam, and if you like cheesecake, you’ll love it,” said Sherona Bagwandeen, a first year social work student. “Sometimes they can be a bit slow, they could work on staffing and putting out orders in a timely manner,” she said, “but I don’t mind the wait because the atmosphere they’ve created is so nice, whether you go alone, or with friends.” Bubble Tea is definitely on trend right now, but like most trends it is not very budget friendly. Customers can expect to spend about six to eight dollars per drink depending on what kind of toppings are added. “The prices are way too high, but they have good options,” said Jessica Doal a first year criminology student. Doal has visited Moon Tea on multiple occasions and has tried the brown sugar milk tea, original milk tea, and their fruit teas. Currently, Moon Tea is having a promotion where they encourage customers to share one of their photos on their social media and they will use the amount of likes received to give up to a 50 per cent discount on their order. They also give out stamp cards so guests can receive their eleventh drink free. A Sputnik reporter tried to access the owner multiple times, but they declined to comment.
ALL PHOTOS: HIRZE ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SPUTNIK
FEBRUARY 2020
FEATURES
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COMMUNITY
VARSHA SRIGANESH/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
Skating season in full swing at Harmony Square BAILEY ZIMMER SPUTNIK WRITER
Snowy evenings, frost bitten fingers and toes, rosy cheeks and red noses all mean one thing; winter is here in Brantford.
Harmony Square, the heart of Downtown Brantford, is made into a skating rink in the winter months. The Square, located at 80 Dalhousie St. opened for skating on Dec. 13 of 2019 and will continue to be in use for skating
until March 21 of 2020. The Square is free admission and is open every day from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Despite the freezing weather and mountains of snow falling from the sky, the chilly
temperatures and typical Canadian winter doesn’t keep skaters off the rink. Most nights people of all ages crowd the rink, calling and laughing to each other. This family oriented activity is suitable and fun for all. Members of the public join students of Laurier with the fun evening activity. The rink is home to those taking their first glide on the ice, to people learning to skate and to skaters of all talents ready to show off their skills. The ice is never empty and is often seen being used by students and families. Skaters who have not skated for ages have used the rink and loved it. People from young to old alike are all filled with joy as they use their skills and take part in the winter’s sport. “Once I got on the ice, I thought to myself, ‘where have I been all this time? I should be on the ice more often,” said Laurier student Monica Van Ittersum, “it’s a good place for people to hold hands, learn to skate and have fun., it’s a judgment free environment.” Lovers holding hands adorn the rink, keeping each other from falling, laughter twinkling through the air as a light snow drifts from the night sky. The light of the moon and Christmas lights illuminate the ice, the sharpened skate blades add a music cutting through the wind. Children are howling with joy as they glide across the ice, some learning how to skate for the very first time. The crisp air chills the sky, and brings friends to huddle closer together for warmth as they struggle to stay balanced on the slippery ice. Harmony Square is a public meeting spot for people to meet
one another, enjoy company and make lasting memories. Parents and children alike share memories that will dwell in their hearts. In the past, many lessons performed by parents to teach their children how to skate have been conducted at Harmony Square and many more will be held in the future. “My wife and I foster children so I’ve brought quite a few children down to learn how to skate here,” said Pete Swanson, “it’s always great around Christmas when they’ve got the ice and the parade and everything going on down here ... It is a great thing.” An outdoor ice rink brings back a sense of old times, like living in a memory filled with nostalgia. A free skate for the community that brings everyone together is what Harmony Square promotes. The festive lights, cheery music from nearby stores and sounds of glee from Downtown Brantford are all focused on the Square. Friends are easy to make when there is one thing everyone has in common; the love of the ice. Strangers talk to each other while lacing up their skates, soon turning to acquaintances and then to becoming friends. Adults, students and children all join in on the harmonious evenings and fun that will be made into memories. “We’d like to come back here as often as we can during the winter, it’s a nice location, it’s bright, it’s beautiful with the lights and it’s got a really good sense of community,” said first time attendee and mother of children at the rink, Carolyn Freeman. “The kids have already managed to make some little friends here, so I’m sure they’re going to build a lot of memories that way,” she said.
HOUSING
A landlord’s advice to new prospective student renters Here is some helpful tips & suggestions on how to be a good tenant and how to pick the right landlord. JESSICA LORCH SPUTNIK WRITER
Laurier’s Brantford campus is fast-growing in terms of its student population and that can create a scramble when it comes to students renting for the first time. Residence at Laurier is only guaranteed for first-years, most students look elsewhere for living arrangements in second year and beyond. The process of signing a lease and choosing a new place to live can be daunting, which makes a landlord’s perspective and advice valuable when making these decisions. Lawrence Hopman has rented out both commercial and residential units in Brantford for ten years. His idea of an ideal tenant is simple: someone who is quiet and pays rent on time. In fact, Hopman’s criteria for an exceptional landlord is not complicated either. “It’s difficult, of course, to qualify a landlord prior to renting, but you want one who is quick to respond and deals with issues promptly,” he mentions. He also identifies a secure building and a convenient location as important details to consider for student tenants specifically. Harold Howe, a landlord from Brantford, has an experienced perspective on what students should keep in mind when thinking of signing a new lease. He and his wife Marian are in
their tenth year of renting out student housing. They currently operate with five of these properties, and have enjoyed restoring distressed century homes for this purpose. According to Howe, it’s important for a student tenant to make a good first impression, and there are a few specific ways to do so. For younger individuals who haven’t had a chance to rent before, this is especially imperative. “From our perspective, we can’t do a credit check on you or a character check, so we have to go by good instinct,” he said. “we’re very protective of our properties, and we don’t want party animals.” Presenting one’s self as mature and prepared proves to make a substantial difference in this realm. “Never, ever, make an appointment and don’t show.” Not only does being prepared and organized reflect well on the tenant, it can also provide a considerable advantage relating to choice and quality of their options. “The best houses go first, and early,” says Howe, “likewise, the best tenants go first and go early.” He recommends that students begin their search for a new rental as early in the school year as Thanksgiving. Shifting the focus to a landlord’s qualities, Howe has a simple rule of thumb for selecting who you should rent from. “You want to have someone you would feel comfortable introducing to your mother,” he
suggests. He also considers upper year students who have been through the process of signing a lease to be a useful source of knowledge when making this decision. Iona McMahon, a second-year student at Laurier who has been renting off and on since 2014. She has rented in both Toronto and Brantford, and has a clear idea of which qualities are essential in a landlord. “I think ease of communication is really important,” she emphasizes, “I realize some people manage multiple buildings with dozens of people living in them, but we’re paying to live here and it really sucks when major issues go unaddressed or requests to have something looked at go ignored.” Howe suggests a few simple but valuable tests to hold a property to when touring it for a potential lease. The first impression should begin before the prospective renter even enters, because the state of the front door matters more than one might think. “If somebody has got the front door painted up nicely, they give a damn,” he said. According to Howe, the next evaluation at a showing should come as soon as the door opens. While it’s difficult to tell an individual’s character in the first or second meeting, a lot can be said depending on whether or not they are ready to meet you at the door. “If I’m not there as a landlord, scrap it, they don’t have the ambition to meet you,” he said.
HIRZE ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
Finally, if the property has passed all of these tests, Howe suggests one more unique step. “Ask yourself, ‘do I feel comfortable going around here in my bare feet?’ If you don’t, leave,” he urges. When selecting a property, issues like room size are relatively insignificant and Howe identifies the kitchen and bathroom to be the most crucial rooms to consider. He also encourages student tenants to refrain from making decisions based on small
differences in the price of monthly rent. Overall, the process of renting a house, apartment, or other dwelling should be a simple arrangement where both the landlord and the tenants honour the lease. However, when you do find that one great landlord, there is one easy way to make sure they stay happy. “The greatest way to get on the good side of a landlord is baked goods,” said Howe.
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THE SPUTNIK
FEBRUARY 2020
CREATIVITY
How to get started with your very own podcast at Laurier WESLEY STRASSBURGER SPUTNIK WRITER
Each and every one of us has a story to tell and Laurier Brantford is giving you the opportunity to tell yours through the launch of the new Creativity Hub. Located in One Market, the Creativity Hub will be offering a variety of programs, workshops, and equipment for the use of students and faculty at Wilfrid Laurier, as well as the general community of Brantford. One of the most exciting developments in progress is the podcast studio. With the help of our professional podcaster on residence Avery Moore Kloss, you have the chance to tell the world the stories that your friends have heard a thousand times before. “Just start making something and as you go you’ll learn … even if you only end up making two episodes of a thing then great, you tried something, you made something and you should be proud of yourself for that,” said Kloss. As a podcaster on residence, Kloss has been funded by the university to continue her work here in Brantford while offering her expertise to aspiring podcasters. After spending some time with Kloss, we have a few tips and tricks for you to use to get your story heard. Keep it simple, your podcast doesn’t need to be the most complex to catch a listener’s attention. Look at some of the most well-known podcasters, such as Joe Rogan. While he may have some very interesting guests, his podcast is built upon simply talking to people about life. A simple podcast will make for an easy listening experience. Structure it so that stories don’t become mixed and entangled with others. Often we can find ourselves moving from one story to another to give our audience background
ALL PHOTOS BY VARSHA SRIGANESH/ SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
information, losing the fluidity of our story. This is what makes structure so important in the creative process. Write out your ideas, create a general script to follow, and help the listener re-live this story with you. If you’re looking to use an interview-style approach to your podcast, the Creativity Hub will be your friend. The industrylevel equipment that this studio provides will give an air of professionalism to your podcast that recording in your apartment with an iPhone just doesn’t have. But don’t concern yourself with starting off with the biggest names or the most unique individuals. Kloss herself started her podcast, Grown Up, by interviewing the people in her life about how they got where they are. Ask friends, colleagues, or professors to join you on your podcast. Many
will jump at the opportunity to talk about themselves. When starting something new, whether it be a hobby or a personal project, we can often come up with very exciting, idealistic yet impractical goals. What is important to remember when making a podcast is that you are going to have a life outside of it. If you want to release content regularly, make sure you don’t set too high of an expectation upon yourself. Start with something small and see how it goes. A key question to ask yourself is how long to make your podcast. Thanks to their accessibility, many people find themselves listening during their commute, which averages at 27 minutes in Canada. This means a good starting point is close to the half-hour mark. Then you can leave your listeners to tell you when they want more.
The biggest tip is to just get started. We can often be concerned with perfection. Having the most unique ideas and using the best equipment, while being as engaging as possible. But you have to start somewhere, and the experience is what helps you improve. Here is your chance to start. Some of our own students at Wilfrid Laurier have already been getting hard at work in creating their own podcast. Mason Goodfellow and his team have been eager to launch The Student Lounge podcast and are taking advantage of the equipment that the Creativity Hub provides. “At first I felt that the whole process of creating and putting out a podcast would be very simple,” said Goodfellow, “the last couple months have been very different from what I expected, it’s a grind but the team and I are all in and
very excited to see what happens.” In the near future, the Creativity Hub will have this podcast studio and so much more available to the Brantford community. It will be available through a monthly membership or through individual sessions. Kloss and her company Folktale Studio will be available for bookable hours on Thursday evenings for help. They offer personal coaching, editing and scriptwriting. You can contact Kloss directly at avery@folktalestudio.ca For more information on the Creativity Hub or the podcast studio, check out their webpage on the Laurier Website. This has all been made possible thanks to our local Stedman Foundation, who donated $15,000 towards funding the podcast studio at the Creativity Hub.
COMMUNITY
Listen to your neighbours
Humanizing those who need help the most. CRAIG VAN MANEN SPUTNIK WRITER
If you’re a student at the Laurier Brantford campus, you’ve come to realize that the streets of our campus are all too familiar with homelessness. It’s easy to ignore the many unfortunate and sad stories around us and much harder to listen to—let alone understand—these neighbours of ours. It’s easy to stereotype and much harder to humanize. According to the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, there were at least 186 homeless in Brantford as of 2018. Unprecedented rates of addiction and rental prices are just two of many factors that are responsible for the homeless crisis observed today. Unfortunately, those in our city who struggle to make ends meet often find relief from anxiety and work-related stress in highly addictive escapes. These escapes take
many different forms; whether it be the casino or the needle.
The rates of overdose in Brantford give little hope that things will change at shelters like Winter Warmth unless better administrative structure and policies are implemented.
Toronto’s ever-rising housing and rental prices have driven up demand in Hamilton and Brantford as more and more residents of the GTA fond housing westward; down the highway corridor. When students, young professionals and families are having a hard time finding housing and rental options,
GRAPHIC BY NATASHA O’NEILL/ EIC
it’s hard to be a hopeful homeless individual struggling with unemployment. Just last month, Brantford opened the Winter Warmth shelter downtown in the old police station to stem the flood of homeless in the area. The closure of a tent city of homeless friends self-titled Love Camp, that was located just behind the newly opened shelter, forced Brantford to make an availability quickly. This means there’s somewhere
warm to stay that can receive and administer food donations efficiently, but it doesn’t begin to patch together the frayed threads of the bigger picture. There are those looking to get out of the cold, those searching for a place to get their next high, and many finding both. The rates of overdose in Brantford give little hope that things will change at shelters like Winter Warmth unless better administrative structure and policies are
implemented. Naturally, many homeless aren’t particularly fond of strict rules and rigid structure, for that matter, not many of us students are either. As the homeless crisis develops and solutions are tested, we wish to particularly focus on the people who are at the heart of the issue, those struggling and hurting, who just want to be heard. It’s only when we value all of our neighbours as human beings that we can begin to understand them as such.
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FEBRARY 2020 OPINION SPORTS WRITER EDITOR JESSA NOW HIRING BRAUN eicww@thesputnik.ca sports@thesputnik.ca
CLIMATE ACTIVISM
The extinction rebellion is our only hope to fight climate change Sputnik staff writer, Mathew Sackrider, explores how to combat climate change more forcefully.
KATELYN THOMSON/ SPUTNIK CONTRIBUTER
MATHEW SACKRIDER SPUTNIK WRITER
In December, Premier Doug Ford was left a steaming pile of dung hand-delivered by climate activists known as the Extinction Rebellion. The activists emptied an entire truckload of manure on the driveway in front of the Premier’s office in Etobicoke, with a sign next to the pile of dung hung a sign that read “Extinction Rebellion. Don’t panic… it’s organic.” Shortly after, another sign was pitched in the manure that read, “Ford’s Climate Plan is Bull****.” In the past, the Extinction Rebellion has also been responsible for shutting down busy bridges across Canada, for several hours at a time, in order to bring further awareness to our current crisis. Around the globe, they have been pulling similar stunts in the United Kingdom where they’ve originated, and the United States.
The Extinction Rebellion began as an activism organization against climate change in the United Kingdom, utilizing arrest as a tactic to spur government action. They have since grown rapidly into an international organization. They believe in nonviolent civil disobedience similar to the tactics employed by the American civil rights movement of the 1950s. These protestors are not afraid to be arrested for their cause and in fact, many of them even find pride in it because they believe our circumstances require drastic action. The organization is aimed to press governments who are making unacceptable progression towards addressing ongoing climate change. The activists do not believe that we, the people, should politely await our inevitable destruction at the hands of governments who are supposed to be looking out for our best interests. In October of 2019, news broke
that more than 300 scientists from across 20 different countries had endorsed non-violent civil disobedience in order to mitigate the effects of inaction worldwide. Emily Grossman, a scientist with a Ph.D. in molecular biology spoke in London, England, as the voice for all signatories stating. “We believe that the continued governmental inaction over the climate and ecological crisis now justifies peaceful and nonviolent protest and direct action, even if this goes beyond the bounds of the current law … we therefore support those who are rising up peacefully against governments around the world that are failing to act proportionately to the scale of the crisis” she said. As humanity teeters on the brink of ecological disaster and countries like Australia literally burn up before our eyes, it is becoming painfully visible that without global unity and decisive action
from government officials, we are bound to destroy our habitats. One may agree or disagree with the methods that the Extinction Rebellion is using to relay their messages to the world, but can we blame them for trying? I, for one, can not. I care about the quality of life that my daughter will have when she becomes an adult in 17 years and the lives of my eventual Grandchildren. What kind of a world are we offering to the next generation of humanity, and what other personal goal is worth fighting for if we allow our planet to be destroyed? The United Nations released a report in October of 2017 named “Climate Change and Social Inequality,” detailing how the coming climate crisis will further fuel an unequal divide across the globe. The poorest and most vulnerable people of the world will be affected disproportionately by this impending disaster in comparison to the
world’s most wealthy. The world’s most wealthy individuals are often the ones influencing legislation and the response to our coming crisis. Many of our democracies are beginning to look more and more like aristocracies which favour the wealthy and shun the poor. After all, protecting the poor is not immediately profitable in our capitalist societies first and foremost. I, for one, fully support the Extinction Rebellion and their cause alongside the likes of Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old climate change activist from Sweden. This obstacle may be one of the greatest challenges that humanity will face in our lifetimes and if left unaddressed, holds the dearest consequences. It is time to stop taking our government’s indifference so politely. It is time to begin taking action for our futures rather than merely hoping for the best.
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FEBRUARY 2020
HOT TAKE
Why I don’t agree with the concept of Valentine’s Day DHRUVI MODI SPUTNIK WRITER
February 14, the one day of the year, where buying chocolates, flowers and heart shaped anything is a must. The one day of the year, every person in a relationship needs to celebrate being in love. The entire year, you would be fine without spending time with your significant other but if you don’t plan something romantic on this one day, don’t expect anything but a broken heart. What started out as a clever marketing strategy to promote love and selling of flowers and chocolates is becoming a contest of showing people around you how you can express your love in the most basic way. Flowers, chocolates, a teddy bear—preferably red or pink or heart shaped—and a fancy dinner apparently is the best way to show the world you’re in love with your partner.
Couples will spend hundreds of dollars just to prove their love for each other. In 2016, Global News published statistics on how much Canadians spend on just this one day. The numbers were shocking. The average person spends about $191 on candies and chocolates. In fact, $70.9 million were spent on just flowers and about 12.3 million dozen of roses were imported from Columbia and Ecuador to respond to the needs of Canadians. Valentine’s day is the day of love that has turned into the day of showing off. How many times have you heard couples fight or break up because of what happened on Valentines day; the day meant for celebrating love. Lisa Kadane, in her article ,the Pros and Cons of Valentine’s Day writes, “just because my husband has never given me a tennis bracelet or diamond earrings for Valentine’s Day does not mean he doesn’t care. everyone knows that
everyday acts of kindness speak louder than expensive gifts—unless it’s February 14.” There is this need to buy expensive gifts for your partner after planning a romantic day. Many times, the expensive gift is either a piece of jewellery or an expensive watch. However, is this really the ideal way to express your love? Wouldn’t you much rather have your partner respect, care and spend time with you instead of organizing so-called romantic dinner dates? Instead of spending all our time planning and saving up for this one day where you spoil your partner with expensive gifts that mean nothing in the long run, why don’t you support them in their daily struggles and with kind gestures of love? Valentines day shouldn’t just be a day of celebrating love but it should be the start of a new year filled with kind gestures of love and respect for your partner.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Proud Boys postering prompts pushback
SPUTNIK ARCHIVES
SABREEN RAI SPUTNIK WRITER
When the Grand River flooded Spring 2018 many communities in Brantford were in need of help. Regardless of who the people were and what they stood for, the community came together to aid those in need. This ability to come together warms your heart. However, not every storm will have the same effects, and they can not always be things that we can be ready for. One particular storm that the community has fended off already once has made an appearance again. In the downtown area of Brantford, there sits a campus of Laurier University, which has expanded as time goes on and there is an increase of students. If you look closely, you will find that there have been a number of posters hung up at our brand new YMCA. I ask that you remain vigilant and whatever else that you may do,
please refrain from contacting or aligning yourself with the organization that the posters are meant to advertise. The organization that has recently taken up residence in the city of Brantford refer to themselves as, the proud boys. Do not be fooled by whatever cool exterior they may give off. The posters are in actuality, representing a chapter of a white supremacy hate group, a chapter of which has inserted itself in parts of the city. In order to better understand who they are and why exactly it is, that they are here, I believe that a considerable amount of context is needed. The Southern Poverty Law Centre, acts as a wealth of information on many topics, the proud boys is an example of this. Through this resource, I have found an article that was meant to explain the incredibly disturbing origins of this horrific assembling of people, that would eventually spread beyond the United States, where they were first known. The group has been tied to extremist organizations. They have an utterly deplorable tendency
to spout hate speech, which is generally targeted towards people of colour, and the various religious beliefs, that may be practised. They tend to appear alongside other groups at such gatherings as unite the right rally, that had taken place in Charlottesville Virginia. It is vital to note that they present religions particularly Islam, in similar forms as other extremists, expressing such vile falsehoods about the faith, that they are not worth mentioning. The organization is anti-Semitic, and is pro-nazi. Is not by any stretch of the imagination the founder of this disgusting faction happens to be Canadian. They had assembled several people who had shared their beliefs and began meeting in dive-bars in New York City. And so, the group had been born. It is also worth noting, that they had not officially come into the public light until 2016, the year that Trump had been able to secure his presidency, which should be an opinion piece in and of itself.
These people spew hate as though it is of monetary value. Their movement has gained traction, and that is why a chapter has made their presence known throughout Brantford. There are degrees of membership, and at one point, a man is supposed to aggressively approach others. As a person of a visible minority, the reader can probably or at least I hope as such, imagine my complete and utter anger and dismay. I have been born and raised as a citizen of this country. Many people that I know, had emigrated here. The very idea that such hate speech exists, not only in the country, but in the city where I live and learn, cannot be fully comprehended let alone expressed in some decent fashion. My friends and family have been welcomed nearly everywhere we turn. It is sickening to be aware of the fact that such a group exists anywhere for that matter. This is not the first time that they have reached out to the campus
of Laurier Brantford. In November 2017 they held a rally to gain supporters on campus. Though I suppose that you cannot call it as such, as only one person had shown up from the chapter. At the time, there had been a counter protest about an issue that was not in relation to the proud boys chapter. The heads of the two protests met a coffee shop, and the meeting had been drawn to a close, after the Brantford police had been called. I believe that I may speak for the majority of both students and faculty alike, when I express my intense displeasure. The campus of Laurier University condemns this organization, to the highest degree possible. It is not what they stand for, and I for one, find this entire concept hateful and intolerant. Know that anyone regardless of where you come from, what you do or do not believe in, your sexual orientation, or whatever your limitations may be, you will be openly embraced here.
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THE SPUTNIK
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 2020 SPORTS WRITER NOW HIRING sports@thesputnik.ca
VARSITY
The future plans of athletics on the Brantford Campus With the success of the varsity programs this year, can there be more Brantford sports coming in the future? CHRISTIAN MEJIA SPUTNIK WRITER
Can and will Laurier Brantford’s athletics department continue to grow their varsity programs and introduce others? As the Laurier Brantford YMCA continues to draw the attention of future Laurier students and current students, many are wondering what sport opportunities are available on this campus. Specifically, what are the plans for future upgrades to the Varsity Sports program in Brantford Campus? What are the sports currently available in varsity? What about scholarship opportunities for student athletes? Many questions are asked as Laurier Brantford Campus continues to expand and carry its own weight alongside Waterloo Campus. Laurier Brantford is growing fast, and with new programs like user experience design and the Laurier-Sussex joint degree programs, students are searching for further recreational outlets in athletic excellence as well as academic excellence. “There’s nothing in the plans to advance at this point in the next year or two, but we are always looking to expand our varsity programming,” said Kristin Fernandes, Manager of InterUniversity Sport and Recreation. “Especially with the new facilities at the Laurier Brantford
For those students seeking the establishment for more varsity sports on the Brantford Campus, a great way is to show a proven interest in the sports is establishing sports clubs for those unavailable for both Varsity and Extramurals.
Especially with the new facilities at the Laurier Brantford YMCA... right now we are waiting for our commitments with the OCAA as well and we can only start certain leagues -Kristin Fernandes, Manager of InterUniversity Sport
BRENDAN MCWILLIAM/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
YMCA... right now we are waiting for our commitments with the OCAA as well and we can only start certain leagues and things like that on certain rotations and bases as well,” she said, “we are focusing on the teams we currently have.” Currently, there are no coaching opportunities for the varsity teams at the moment as they are already
filled, but for those interested they can try to help out with both the extramural and intramural sports programs and volunteer time with them. Many student athletes currently at the university are busy with the varsity sports on the table, as some take on both and occupy both semesters with training and tournaments in the year.
Signing up for intramurals and extramurals sports that are currently available will also show Laurier Athletics, the leagues, and the university overall that a great and consistent interest in these sports will be worth investing in creating more varsity opportunities. Although there are currently no scholarship opportunities for sports in Brantford Campus, it is within the radar of Laurier Athletics.
“We have built a reputation and it looks like varsity is here to stay, so now it’s time for us to start looking for those opportunities for scholarships for student [athletes]” said Fernandes. “There isn’t much left to expand for extramurals… we’re restricted,” said Megan Jacklin, Coordinator of Recreation and Student Life on Brantford Campus, “cricket would be the only thing that we would have potential in changing over, but we don’t have the valuable core club program that’s running for cricket just yet so we just need commitment and participation first.” This concept stems into varsity as well since commitment and a general, consistent interest needs to be shown by students for expansions to occur. The varsity program in Brantford has proven to be competitive nationwide in just four years, and with continued support from students and the determination of athletes the program is sure to grow and involve more in the future. The most important thing to focus on is that even though we don’t have much varsity opportunities at the Brantford campus currently, we do have sport club programs and a collective of interested students need to establish new clubs on campus, and consistently participate to show the passion and interest.
THE SPUTNIK
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FEBRUARY 2020
HOCKEY
Men’s team suffer defeat to Alumni, looking to next tournament BRENDAN MCWILLIAM SPUTNIK WRITER
On January 10th, 2020, the Laurier Brantford Men’s Hockey Team faced off against Laurier Alumni in a heated match, with the men’s team looking to reclaim the title and the Alumni team looking to shut them down. Both teams started off strong but after the Alumni team opened up the scoring, they managed to dominate the rest of the game, resulting in a 7-1 loss for the Golden Hawks. Captain Kyle Chrishop reflected on their team’s loss after the game, stating “We need to work on our neutral zone coverage. We let them into our offensive zone with too much speed and didn’t close gaps which caused scoring chances we could have stopped”. Coach Eric Collins noted, “Both teams played very well and we ran into a very hot goaltender on the Alumni team as was reflected by the Athlete of the Week nod by the Laurier Athletics Department”. Despite the loss, the team is hardly fazed, and they are already looking forward to their next tournament, where they will be able to show what they are truly capable of. “We need to continue to grow as a group and build on some of the positives from the game”, said Collins. “We have some incredible talent on the squad and we are getting stronger as a group
the more we are playing together. We are very lucky to have veteran goaltending, our defence is strong, and it’s obviously not hard to miss the speed we have with our forwards”.
I think we have a very resilient group in the room. They understand what needs to be done and are excited to continue to progress as a team. -Eric collins, Head Coach, men’s hockey
“As a team, we just scratch off that loss and every other loss and focus on what we can do next game because we know we’re capable of winning”, said Chrishop. The team and coaching staff are training with as much simulated game type scenarios as possible so that they are ready for when these situations happen in-game. ”As we continue to practice and play together on the ice, the more comfortable they continue to get with each other, and the more success we will have as a group,” emphasized Collins. Teams in sports are often told not to dwell on losses and instead move forward and focus on
the next game, which is exactly the mindset that the Golden Hawks have.” We all have a winning mindset, we’re a fast team with a simple plan,” said Chrishop. “Knowing that, one game does not affect us”. “I think we have a very resil-
ient group in the room. They understand what needs to be done and are excited to continue to progress as a team”, said Collins. “Our captain Kyle Chrishop and the entire leadership group are doing a great job of keeping guys focused and motivated and dwelling on any bumps we may
face in the road”. The men will put their skills to the test in their next tournament, which will be played right here in Brantford on February 14th, 2020, at the Laurier Brantford YMCA.
PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MCWILLIAM/ SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY