Volume 23, Issue 3 - November 2023

The Sputnik,We Orbit Around You.

Volume 23, Issue 3 - November 2, 2023

News, pg. 3

Sports, pg. 6

Arts & Culture, pg. 8-9

Opinion, pg. 12

The Infinitum, pg. 14

HANDS OFF GAZA PROTEST

THE NBA IS BACK

LEATHER, LACE AND MORE

THE WAR ON DRUGS

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS LINE THE STREETS

AN OVERVIEW OF THE NBA’S FIRST GAMES THIS YEAR

ALL ABOUT FALL 2023 FASHION TRENDS

CANADA AND THE U.S.’ COLLOSAL FAILURE

A SHORT STORY ABOUT A BRUTAL JOURNEY

MIDTERM MADNESS The Midterm Issue

SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

A puzzle.

02

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

WWW.THESPUTNIK.CA

THE SPUTNIK STAFF LEAD OPINION WRITER Jada Phillips

EDITORINCHIEF Umaymah Suhail eic@thesputnik.ca

INFINITUM EDITOR Tusharika Tyagi infinitum@thesputnik.ca

NEWS EDITOR Lauren Kuivenhoven news@thesputnik.ca

LEAD INFINITUM WRITER Thando Bhebhe

LEAD NEWS WRITER Simran Jha

SPUTNIK_NEWS

WEB MANAGER VACANT

LEAD SPORTS WRITER Mitchell Hartman

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Sathyashini Suresh social@thesputnik.ca

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Alexa Ford arts@thesputnik.ca LEAD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER Sienna Bilancia OPINION EDITOR Mitchell Baldwin opinion@thesputnik.ca

VIDEO EDITOR VACANT SENIOR COPY EDITOR Victoria Blagdon copyeditor@thesputnik.ca

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Waitson ed@wlusp.com

BRANTFORD MANAGER OF OPERATIONS VACANT

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Serena Austin president@wlusp.com

HR MANAGER Lia McGinnis hr@wlusp.com

FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks.com

WEB MANAGER Sam Nabi web@wlusp.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideout ads@wlusp.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Serena Austin

TREASURER Madalyn Mostascci

VICECHAIR Jacob Rice

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

STUDENT DIRECTOR Jack Vrolyk

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Shelby Blackley

SECRETARY Maryka Van Wyngaarden

CONTRIBUTORS Karen Savoy Olga Steblyk Niyati Pancholi Sanya Oberoi

Katie Bird Bachir Miloudi Erika Breman

ADVERTISING All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com.

THE SPUTNIK IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Mailing address: 205 Regina ST. N., Waterloo ON The Sputnik office location: 50 Market St., Brantford ON OD102 COLOPHON Started in 1999, the Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital.

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THE.SPUTNIK

Editor’s Note: To say or not to say

PHOTO EDITOR Serena Anagbe photography@thesputnik.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Celina Shamon sports@thesputnik.ca

THE.SPUTNIK

UMAYMAH SUHAIL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says, “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: … freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.” At times when the world seems to be on fire, scientifically, politically and emotionally, this fundamental freedom of mine comes to mind quite often.

As creatives, no matter what the current state of the globe is, we can always anchor our spinning thoughts through writing, drawing, filming, speaking, showing and feeling — until we can’t.

Since the events on Oct. 7 between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Air Canada pilot Mostafa Ezzo was fired for holding signs that critiqued Israel at pro-Palestine protests. Hamilton’s New Democratic Party MPP Sarah Jama was kicked out of caucus for posting a statement calling for a ceasefire and an end to all Israeli occupation on X. Some of these messages were nowhere near neutral, but the extent of the professional consequences received are frightening at best.

At Harvard University in the United States, 34 student groups signed a statement critiquing Israel and bringing attention to the 75-year-old occupation. Five withdrew their signatures after backlash from Harvard leadership and powerful CEOs and posted brief statements

on social media calling for peace and condemning only Hamas’ violence. Law firms revoked job offers from three Ivy League law students for co-signing this letter.

Earlier this year, Swedish police gave anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika a permit to burn Muslims’ Holy Book, the Quran, following their free speech laws. The police started to investigate this as an act of inciting hatred only after several protests broke out to prevent the arson. Ten people were detained and three were arrested for their “violent” response to the hateful burning, labelled as “disturbing public order” rather than “freedom of expression”.

Time and time again, French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo publishes political comics often mocking natural disasters and bombings in Middle Eastern countries, while depicting Middle Eastern political leaders and Islamic figures in desecrated ways. These drawings have always been defended by publishers and even French president Emmanuel Macron out of the freedom of expression. No consequences have ever followed.

These acts of not-sohidden racism and Islamophobia are always justified and normalized, even though they blatantly target Arabs or Muslims, disrespect them and threaten their safety in the case these “expressions” influence someone to commit a worse crime. There appears to be a rock-hard line between hate crimes, threats to a perceived group, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and “art” that’s always solely defined by the “artist” themselves.

Of course, freedom of expression must have its consequences, especially when it bleeds into threats of violence. However, if these consequences are never remembered when people uphold a specific political agenda and only apply to everyone who questions the status quo, do we really have the freedom to express ourselves? Affected groups should equally be given the stick to draw the line between what’s hateful and what’s not. But whether your stance is correct or incorrect, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, freedom of expression should be just that — free.

BACHIR MILOUDI / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

THE SPUTNIK  NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

03

ACTIVISM

CELINA SHAMON / SPORTS EDITOR A woman holding up a sign at the protest.

Hands off Gaza protest in Brantford Protestors lined the streets of Brantford to show support for Gaza

CELINA SHAMON SPORTS EDITOR

Hundreds of community members gathered in front of Brantford City Hall on Sunday, Oct. 22 to voice concerns about the Canadian government’s lack of support for Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war Gaza’s Health Ministry reported a death toll of 5,791, including 2,360 children, and the displacement of over 1.5 million Palestinians. Israel’s Ministry of Health reported their death toll at 1,400 since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

Non-for-profit organization Toronto4Palestine organized this protest with the Brantford Muslim Association, the Palestinian Association of Brantford and Brantford

Police Services.

“Palestinians have been dealing with this for over 75 years, so it’s a shame to say that this is nothing new to us,” said Nabil Jalbout, a Canadian-Palestinian at the protest.

Nabil has been a volunteer organizer at Toronto4Palestine since 2017, advocating for the rights and needs of Palestinians under Israeli military occupation in Gaza.

“It is something happening that fits every definition of war crimes and inhumane acts, and they still somehow justify it,” he said.

“At this point we are tired, we want the occupation to end, and we want our people and Palestine to be free.”

The protest began at 1 p.m. and the crowd was led by Brantford police up Dalhousie Street to Brant Avenue, Colborne Street and Clarence Street, then back to City Hall.

“It was overwhelmingly peaceful” said Adil Khalqi, one of the many Brantford police officers

present at the demonstration.

“Everybody has the right of peaceful assembly in this country and the Brantford Police Service is happy to be here and support

“I have my uncles, aunts, and all of their children living in Palestine right now who have lost all of their homes and businesses, -Rawan Alashi, Brantford Resident

anyone that wants to peacefully demonstrate.”

The police assigned five to six cars to follow and lead the protest to ensure the safety of protesters

and manage traffic interference.

The large presence of supporters rallied alongside the Brantford Palestinian and Muslim community consisted of a variety of people gathered for one cause.

“We wanted to stand with Palestinians around the world who are calling for an end to Israeli siege and the 75 years of Israeli apartheid in Palestine,” said James Cairns, a humanities professor at Wilfrid Laurier University who attended the protest with his wife and daughter.

Cairns has been active in the organization Faculty4Palestine for 15 years, advocating for the rights and protection of Palestinians all over the world. Faculty4Palestine is a non-for-profit created by the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto since 2008 and it consists of over 600 faculty members from all ranks across Canadian universities and colleges.

Many people who attended were

directly affected by the violence in Gaza and held up photos of loved ones who have passed since the Hamas attack on Oct 7.

“I have my uncles, aunts and all of their children living in Palestine right now who have lost all of their homes and businesses,” said Rewan Elashy, a local resident at the protest. “They are just living in the rubbles now.”

“We have so much faith in Canadian people and we have so much faith in God,” she said.

“It might take time, but the truth will prevail and if it’s not in our generation’s lifetime, it will be in our kids’.”

Bystanders downtown refused to comment on the protest. Protests condemning the Israel-Hamas war continue around Ontario and in the Greater Toronto Area.

“We did not live in Palestine, but Palestine has always lived in us,” said Elashy.

THE SPUTNIK  NEWS

04

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

EVENTS

Brantford hosts Remembrance Day Service The overnight vigil is held to remember and honour veterans

UMAYMAH SUHAIL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The City of Brantford will hold an overnight lighting display and a Royal Canadian Sea Cadets vigil for Remembrance Day to honour veterans.

The lighting display and the cadet vigil will take place at the Brantford Cenotaph in Brant County War Memorial Park, found at the corner of Dalhousie Street and Brant Avenue.

The overnight lighting starts from Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. until Nov. 11 at 7 a.m. The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets will stand on the Cenotaph and hold the vigil, which begins Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and continues Nov. 11 from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

“It’s just the least we can do to show our appreciation for people who have done so much for us,” said Dennis Jackson, who’s been a

volunteer with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in Brantford since 2013.

“Many of them paid the ultimate price to ensure we can live relatively peaceful now.”

Community members can drive by within these times to view the lights and attend the vigil ceremony. Free city transit and lift service will be available on Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for those travelling to and from War Memorial Park. Seating at the Cenotaph will only be available to veterans and their spouses or companions.

“I find that not a lot of people understand what we do and what sacrifices we have to make to ac-

tually do this job,” said Brice Nutley-Butler, who’s been a member of the Canadian Army for eight years now and is currently based in Petawawa. He said Remembrance Day ceremonies help educate people.

“Just showing up means a lot to us and we know for sure that people are out there that actually support us,” said Nutley-Butler.

In Ontario, Remembrance Week is from Nov. 5 to 11 and Indigenous Veterans Day is on Nov. 8, which is a Canadian memorial day to honour Indigenous contributions to the military service.

Historically, Remembrance Day marks the end of World War I

BACHIR MILOUDI/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

The Brantford Cenotaph in Brant County War Memorial Park

in 1919 and ceremonies are held nationwide to honour members of the armed forces who died while serving. This is also a time to reflect on the impact of war.

“Remembrance Day to me just means I can kind of remember my friends and the other people who I’ve worked with that have actually passed away,” said Nutley-Butler.

“That way, we can always be there to remember them, even though they’re not with us today. They’ll always be with us, you know, tomorrow and furthermore.”

The Royal Canadian Legion in

Brantford has already started the poppy campaign on Oct. 27. Volunteers will hand out poppy pins for donations in local retail and grocery stores until Nov. 11.

“We’re going to have maybe 10 days of seeing poppies around,” said Jackson, adding that this is a very short amount of time to raise awareness for veterans, the soldiers who died while deployed and current members of the military.

“Just be there and recognize what’s going on because, you know, they deserve it.”

ONE MARKET

Laurier’s podcast studio reopening The Laurier Library reopens podcast studio post-pandemic ERIKA BREMAN NEWS WRITER

The Podcasting Studio has reopened at Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford for the use of the campus and community members.

The studio is in the One Market Building in room OM210, near the Student Commons. The studio is open Monday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The studio is run by Avery Moore Kloss, Laurier’s first podcaster-in-residence and the founder of Folktale Studio. It is accessible to all students, professors and anyone in the community free of charge.

“Come use the equipment, see if you feel comfortable with it, but you want to think about

what you’re making before you come here,” said Moore Kloss as advice for anyone wanting to use the podcast studio. “Think how much time and energy you do have paired with what do you think the audience who you want to attract want to hear?”

The Podcasting Studio was built with a Stedman grant of $15,000 that required it had to be opened to the community for use free of charge. The studio took a break during the pandemic but has now since reopened under the guidance of the Laurier Library.

It’s currently a digital skills service offered by the library that encourages and promotes research, collaboration, creation and a presentation of digital stories.

“I feel like the studio is opening up more opportunities to students

to have access to that equipment and explore and learn with a studio-based space,” said Piper Force, a fourth-year digital media and journalism student and a receptionist at the studio. “It is an access to a free podcast studio for anyone with a great team of support to help along with trouble shooting and any questions.”

To use the studio, users must bring an external drive or storage mechanism to store their work.

There are two spaces available to use in the studio. The recording studio is a professional 4-person setup that must be run by one person in the studio. The Hindenburg equipment is a digital audio station which is intuitive, standard and easy for someone to learn.

The editing studio has two different kinds of Mac monitors.

The podcasting studio has all the equipment needed to record, as each studio is equipped with professional-grade microphones, headphones and software for mixing and editing audio.

“I encourage people to record their stories to find their voice as it is important and having a space like this that anyone can come and use for free and get some advice and support is not common, so this is a special place where everything is available to help on your podcast studio as it removes the barrier to ask for advice and learn,” said

SERENA ANAGBE/PHOTO EDITOR

The podcasting studio in One Market

Moore Kloss.

Appointments for office hours with Moore Kloss are three days a week in person on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and virtual meetings on Thursday. They include 25 minutes of anything that can vary from a tutorial on how to use the studio or a workshop on audio editing to advice on a podcast.

The recording or the editing studio can be booked for 55 minutes online using the same link, https:// calendly.com/Brantfordstudio.

THE SPUTNIK  NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

05

HOUSING

Trillium Way Housing development near completion Brantford’s Trillium Way Housing is an initiative to provide affordable housing for those in need

UMAYMAH SUHAIL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brant County’s Trillium Housing development is on track to be completed by spring 2025 to provide affordable housing.

A multi-residential, 4-story apartment building with 49 one and two-bedroom units is being built across a 0.4-hectare property on 174 Trillium Way, Paris to increase affordable housing. This is a collaborative project with the City of Brantford in partnership with Brantford Native Housing, the Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services in Brantford and the Sensity Deafblind and Sensory Support Network in Paris.

“We are hopeful that through our partnerships with the city, we can continue to create opportunities that will positively impact residents,” said Brant County mayor

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / CITY OF BRANTFORD Trillium Way Housing development.

David Bailey.

Brant County received $2.4 million in a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation federal grant, $340,000 from the Social Services Relief provincial fund and another $260,000 in provincial funding, all included in the total $12.5 million approved budget.

The Trillium Way development will be open to households in need of affordable housing in Paris and Brantford. This includes those on Brantford’s centralized housing wait-list for community housing, which has over 975 households.

One-third of households are seniors, one-third are singles and

couples waiting for one-bedroom or bachelor units and another third are families. Wait times can be from two to 12 years, depending on the type of household, the number of buildings applicants selected and if the application has priority status.

The wait-list is also open to com-

munity members in need of affordable housing outside of Brantford.

To qualify, applicants can’t owe rent, other housing costs or damages to another housing provider without a repayment schedule in place. Household members can’t be convicted of an offence related to housing assistance and at least one needs to be 16 years old or older and able to live independently. If an applicant owns a home, they have to agree to sell it. More information on the eligibility requirements for affordable housing is available in the Brant Access to Housing Applicant Information Guide and on www.Brantford.ca/ FindAffordableHousing.

“Everyone should have the chance to feel secure and improve their quality of life through stable housing,” said Brantford mayor Kevin Davis. “While we know there’s still a lot of work ahead to reach our goals, working together with our neighbors in the County of Brant on projects like Trillium Way is a very positive step forward.”

POLICY

Ban on plastics difficult for businesses The transition from plastic to paper is inconvenient for local businesses and consumers

LAUREN KUIVENHOVEN NEWS EDITOR

As the federal ban on single-use plastics looms closer, local businesses in Brantford are struggling to adapt to paper products.

The federal ban is coming into effect on Dec. 20 and will prohibit the use of checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks and straws. The ban is under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and is expected to decrease plastic waste by four per cent each year, according to the Government of Canada’s website.

“It’s affecting businesses, it’s affecting the consumer,” said Mahmoud Alrejleh, the owner of Chinese Sisters, a halal Chinese restaurant. “Plastic is cheaper to produce and that’s why it’s used.”

The transition from plastic to paper is expected to cost Canadian consumers $2 billion over the next 10 years. According to the Fras-

er Institute, a plastic straw costs around 0.75 cents, while a paper straw costs up to 4 cents.

Mahmoud Alrejleh, the owner of Chinese Sisters, a halal Chinese restaurant in Brantford, said lawmakers should’ve considered business owners’ opinions first.

“Are they involved in the business, do they come and talk to us?

No!” said Alrejleh.

The use of paper products will force smaller businesses to raise their prices.

Bi Liang, the owner of Fridays, a local coffee shop, said she is spending double the price on paper straws compared to plastic straws.

“Not allowing me to use the plastic is not the solution,” said Alrejleh. He said he supports the movement toward sustainability, but now must buy his paper supplies from China, whereas he used to buy all his plastic products from local suppliers.

Buying a paper bag is 700 per cent more expensive than buying a plastic bag, excluding the cost of shipping, said Alrejleh. Customer complaints are increasing about

the use of paper.

“I give them something that’s going to collapse in their hands,” said Alrejleh. He said his customers are complaining that the paper products aren’t strong enough.

Both paper straws and paper bags are causing customer dissatisfaction. Alrejleh said some even came back to complain that their paper bags of food fell apart in the rain before they could reach their car.

“The government has made the law, so we have to follow,” said Liang, even though she is expecting customer complaints about the paper straws.

Many Canadian businesses have been using paper products for a few years.

“Right now is kind of crunch time for businesses to start switching over,” said Brandon Leeds, co-founder at SOFi products. He said demand is increasing by approximately 50 per cent, as SOFi products has replaced over 100 million straws.

A recent study from Belgium has found that replacing plastic straws with paper is not an eco-friendly

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / UNSPLASH

or healthy alternative. The study found that paper straws contain more per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances than plastic straws.

PFAS works as a water repellent, but most PFAS are not biodegradable and can be toxic to humans.

THE SPUTNIK · SPORTS

06

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

EXTRAMURALS

Cross-country team prepares for provincial championships Laurier athletes share how they plan to dominate provincal championships

MITCHELL HARTMAN LEAD SPORTS WRITER

Cross-country Team Races Provincial Championships Laurier Brantford’s Varsity Cross Country Team prepared for their upcoming provincial championships race, which took place on October 28th at Conestoga College.

The team prepared hard over the past few weeks, as the most important race of the season was coming up and a spot at Nationals was on the line.

“The team has been putting in some good training over the past 2 months leading up to [the] championships,” said Head Coach of the team, Cory Currie. “We will hit some key workouts in the next week to be ready for peak performance,” he added.

Both the men’s and women’s teams were excited for the biggest race of the season so far, and are preparing extra hard for the provincial championships.

On the women’s side, despite only being a team of 2 runners,

they are still strong competitors who had high expectations for the upcoming race.

“My goal for provincials is to finish the race feeling like I ran my best,” said third-year runner and criminology student Kennedy Finch. “For the upcoming race, I need to try and be less nervousthan

SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

Criminology student Jonas Dewar.

I was at previous races, and to make sure I’m not too tired going into the race.”

On the men’s side, the team hoped to build on previous race success and keep improving into the provincial championships.

First-year BTM student Ethan Firsoff said “[his] goal has been… beating his last score,” and hopes to continue that in the coming race.

To help prepare for provincials, the team was putting in extra work in practices, including “a lot of interval workouts to help prepare for the race,” as said by Finch.

The runners also used previous races to help prepare for provincials, which could end up being the team’s final race of the year.

“Previous races gave me the opportunity to see what works for me and what might not,” said Firsoff.

“Too often I go out at 100% instead of working my way up to that,” he added.

The Golden Hawks represented the school strong at the provincial championships, with Jackson Rice leading the way for the men’s team, finishing 23rd in his race, and it was Finch leading the way for the women’s team, finishing 29th.

The Laurier Brantford Cross Country team had a strong season,

and they continued that at provincials.

SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

Third-year criminology student Hay Dewar.

EXTRAMURALS

Homecoming in Hawk Dome gymnasium Laurier Alumni takes part in hosting Laurier Brantford HOCO

CELINA SHAMON SPORTS EDITOR

Laurier Brantford kicked off their homecoming weekend hosting the second annual Alumni Basketball Game.

On Saturday, Oct. 21, Laurier Brantford’s Extramural Men’s Basketball team hosted their Alumni in the Hawk Dome gymnasium for an intense and competitive match-up.

Alumni from as far back as 2012, joined together and came out victorious against the current Golden Hawks with a tight score of 62-56.

Our Alumni team managed to stay ahead of our Golden Hawks throughout most of the game, as they led the first half at 37-27.

Laurier Alum Mason Kilevik led the team with fourteen points, with Oje Izirein trailing behind him at eleven points.

Our Golden Hawks remained competitive throughout the entire game, as Jamie Kirsch and Devayne Afriyie led the team with ten points each.

Laurier Brantford’s Men’s Basketball team will face off against University of Toronto-Mississauga on Friday, Nov. 10 at UTM Athletic Centre.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ UNSPLASH

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

07

THE SPUTNIK  SPORTS

NBA

The NBA is back An insight to the return of the 2023-24 NBA season

CELINA SHAMON SPORTS EDITOR

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / FLICKR

The NBA season is back for a new season and it started just like it ended last year. A double-header on opening night featured the Denver Nuggets versus the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors hosting the Pheonix Suns.

The Nuggets received their championship rings in Denver, just

before defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 119-107. The Suns also came out on top of the Warriors at 108-104, without their new star Bradley Beal.

The Denver Nuggets came out blazing, with each of their five starters scoring double-digit points. The returning finals MVP Nikola Jokic led the pack with his

106th triple-double of his career at 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

Jokic received huge support from Jamal Murray, who always seemed to be whenever he was needed. Murray ended the night with a 21-point, 2-assist and 6-rebound performance, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope trailing behind him at 20 points and three steals.

The Suns came out victorious at Chase Centre against the Warriors, with Devin Booker’s leading performance of a 32-point, 6-rebound, 8-assist debut. Kevin Durant was also healthy and dominant throughout this game with eighteen points and ten rebounds.

Chris Paul made his debut as a Golden State Warrior with a 13-point, 8-rebound and 4-assist performance. This resulted in Paul coming off the bench for the first time in his 19-year career, against the Houston Rockets.

Despite the winning debut for

the Suns, the Lakers came back to Los Angeles and defeated the Pheonix Suns 100-95.

Lebron James was able to win the first match-up he had with Kevin Durant in five years. Despite the loss, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points by the 3rd quarter without star players Booker and Beal.

Durant ended the night with 39 points and 11 rebounds, while James left victorious with a 29-point, 9-assist, and 8-rebound performance. Anthony Davies was right behind him with his season debut of 30 points and 13 assists.

The Lakers’ pair ended the night with a combined five blocks and five steals.

Even in the face of a loss, Kevin Durant moved up to number twelve on the NBA All-Time Scoring List after facing the Lakers.

The highly anticipated debut from Damian Lillard as a Milwaukee Buck, resulted in a tight 118-117 victory. Damian Lillard broke the franchise record for most points scored in a debut with a 39-point performance, while scoring 14 out of the team’s 16 points in the last quarter.

Here in the north, Dennis Schröder was able to fit right into

his new team dynamic with the Raptors as him and OG Anunoby led the team to a 97-94 victory against the Minesota Timberwolves.

Schröder came out with a 22-point, 7-assist, and 3-rebound debut performance as a Raptor, while Anunoby was right behind him with 20 points and six rebounds.

Despite the loss, Anthony Edwards’ remained dominant on both sides of the court for the Timberwolves with 26 points and 14 rebounds.

Coming down from the season debut victory, the Raptors saw themselves in a 114-107 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Scottie Barnes remained persistent throughout the entire game with 24 points, five assists and eight rebounds. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with both players scoring 34 points and combined for 15 assists and 15 rebounds. The team was without star player James Harden.

The NBA continues its season with highly anticipated games from the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and of course, Toronto Raptors.

BRANTFORD

Brantford Bulldogs win home opener Brantford Bulldogs come out victorious against Oshawa Generals

MITCHELL HARTMAN LEAD SPORTS WRITER

The Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs won their home opener in a 5-2 victory over the Oshawa Generals on Oct. 7 In front of a sold-out crowd, the Bulldogs did not disappoint in their first home game of the season.

After surrendering the opening goal of the game, the Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 with a goal from none other than fan-favourite and prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, Florian Xhekaj.

Following this goal, the Bulldogs did not look back. Brantford dominated the 2nd and 3rd period, led by two goals from Nick Lardis, a 2023 draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks.

“The home opener was unbe-

lievable,” said Connor French, the sales and operations co-ordinator with the team. “The fan reception has been fantastic…Brantford has passionate fans who have been waiting for OHL hockey for a long time.”

This was not only the Bulldogs’ first win of the season, but also the first OHL game to be played in Brantford since 1984, which was the last time the City of Brantford had an OHL team.

The Bulldogs’ recent move from Hamilton changed this, however, and Brantford will now have an OHL team until at least the end of the 2025-26 season.

“It was a busy off-season getting prepared for October,” said French, “but now that we’re here, we’re more than happy with where we are.”

The Bulldogs are currently playing out of the Brantford and District Civic Centre, which underwent hefty renovations before the season started.

“Five to six months were dedi-

cated to getting the arena ready for the first game…and once that first puck dropped, a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders.”

Seating just over 3,000 people, the Civic Centre was sold out for the home opener and has continued to sell out many more home games this season.

The Bulldogs will look to build off this terrific win this season and in their coming years playing in Brantford.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / FLICKR

THE SPUTNIK  FEATURES

08

FASHION

Leather, Lace and Shoulder Pads…

Oh My As the weather changes, so too do fashion trends. What’s in style this year?

ALEXA FORD ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

As the sun sets earlier, the days feel crisper and fallen leaves crunch under feet, it is clear the seasons are changing. With fall hanging in the air, it is time for strappy sandals and sundresses to be packed away and chunky knits to re-emerge in the closets of all.

But what cuts, colours, waistlines or hemlines are on brand for this fall? There is no need to worry, fall’s 2023 ready to wear collections from major designers have provided the blueprint for what should be filling closets this chilly season.

Every year, iconic household names in fashion grace the runways with their newest creations all around the world. Designers like Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Gucci and Chanel to name a few have thrust their newest collections on the world. Paris, New York, Milan, London and Tokyo buzz with the prospect of new clothes on display in the hearts of these fashion capitals that serve as a guide and set the trends for the fall season and winter seasons.

Marc Jacobs nodded to fashion trends from the 80s in his collection. A simple black and white palette with an emphasis on heart shaped necklines and bold shoulders. This collection feels very New York-inspired and reminds audiences of classic

fashion from the decade of perms, leg warmers and shoulder pads.

On the other hand, Versace’s collection shone a light on the cuts, hemlines and styles from the 1990s. Well-tailored black suits with silver embellishments are the front runners of this collection.

Black, denim and the occasional brown leather moment were broadcasted in Versace’s collection. The focus being structure and unusual waistlines, there are many pieces in this collection that feature a drop waist or lower waistline than has been popular in the past 15 years. Like in Marc Jacobs’ collection, shoulder pads are heavily represented.

Leather, lace and flowers. The only three words needed to convey the elegance of Chanel’s fall 2023 collection. In typical Chanel fashion, delicate necklines, simple yet classic designs and lace details were on full display this year. Mixing of textures, leather skirts with a wool sweater and lace stockings are very popular in their fall collection. The recognizable black and white palette was joined by soft pinks and beautiful patterns featuring a spring flower, camellias. Once again, emphasis on shoulders and the use of shoulder pads should be noted in this fall collection.

Louis Vuitton brings two opposites together in this year’s fall collection. Loose-fitting items cinched in the waist by dainty black belts. Mini tank tops coupled with chunky knit scarves and yes, once again, shoulder pads. The colour palette in this collection is more varied with specific focus on neutrals like charcoal grey, taupe and camel

brown along with a pop of colour like electric blue.

Stella McCartney brought the beach to fall fashion, literally. The models sported this year’s fashions on a runway made of sand, taking

lowed similar trends of bold shoulders, structure and form fitting tailoring are Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Colours that have been seen this season from designers

place in a stable. Strutting down the sand was a beautiful mixture of leather, fur, plaid and ruby red.

Plaid suit jackets with bold shoulders and sweaters with cape-like attachments truly set this collection apart.

Other notable artists who fol-

focus a lot on neutrals with occasional pops of bold colours such as pinks, reds and electric blues.

Accessories this year are a mixed bag of overstated and simplified. Mixing metals, previously looked at as a

fashion no-no, is being seen in several collections. It is up to personal preference whether or not a chunky necklace will pair with a black suit or if a simple gold piece will complete the look.

KAREN SAVOY / SPUTNIK PHTOTOGRAPHY

When stocking the fall closet this year, stick with the classic neutrals and a bold colour that complements the complexion.

Shapes and cuts are very relaxed this season and yet a cinched waist never a bad idea. Patterns are very welcome this season as well as the mixing of metals and textures. Mixing leather and lace or fur and denim, there are no rules. Experiment and see how far an outfit can push the envelope.

If the mood strikes and a bold shoulder is calling your name, wear it. Fashion is a cycle and the 80s and 90s are coming back with a bold shoulder and strong suited look.

As trends come and go, what’s important to remember is that fashion is personal and entirely up to the person wearing it. A person can wear whatever they want on their body and rock it, the most important accessory a person can keep in their wardrobe is confidence.

THURSDAY NOV. 2, 2023  09

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THURSDAY NOV. 2, 2023

THE SPUTNIK · ARTS & CULTURE

ENTERTAINMENT

New series: Black Community Mixtapes

Five part series bringing forgotten stories of Black Canadian history to the forefront

SIENNA BILANCIA LEAD WRITER

History, the past. Something that is there for us all to learn from and celebrate. The first episode of a five-part series, Black Community Mixtapes, released in September on Citytv. Each of the five parts is dedicated to a different aspect of Black culture: Hip Hop, the Toronto Carnival, Photography, Literature and Archivists.

“It is a call to action,” said host KhaRå Martin.

This project all started with creators Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George. The series focuses on the forgotten, never seen or unheard stories of Black Canadian history.

KhaRå Martin, who was brought onto the team to help with the researching and eventually hosting the show, talked about how much

time, research and interviewing went into the creation of the show.

“In 10, 20, 30 years, people can look back and watch and learn,” said Martin.

To highlight one story or person, Joella Crichton, a nine-time queen of the Toronto Carnival. Getting to hear people’s stories. Events that happen all the time. There are stories that are never heard.

After watching this series, it may give people the chance to look at the old files or videos they have from family and friends. There might be some untold or forgotten stories that may just be worth sharing.

“I hope that it is the beginning in discovering and untapping Canadian history, lost history, unrecovered history,” said Martin.

There are cultures like Black Canadians with history that should be told. Also, all of us can learn from our own history. There are some stories that haven’t been told, but there is always a place to start and there is still room to learn more.

SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

LITERATURE

What Books It Up is reading now Hot reads for the fall semester from campus club KATIE BIRD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

Every term, book club chooses two books and creates a poll on their Instagram story to decide which one the club should read.

This term, it was a close race. The two novels up for debate were The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest and Iced Out by C.E. Ricci.

The Neighbor Favor is a cute romance that follows Lily Greene who feels like she’s constantly facing disappointment. Trying to look on the bright side, she is enjoying being distracted by the entertaining conversations over email with her favourite fantasy author. Although Lily is not ready to entertain a relationship, she does feel their conversations have

moved from the friend zone to maybe something more…that is until he ghosts her. Trying to turn her life around, Lily starts to look

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / LB BOOK CLUB

for a date for her sister’s wedding.

Who better than Nick Brown,

Lily’s gorgeous and charming neighbour? Lily finds herself very intrigued by Nick and might be catching feelings.

Nick, a famous fantasy author has his reasons for using a pen name. Nick usually finds himself pushing people away, so when he finds out that the stunning, shy woman a couple doors down from him, Lily, is the same, he falls in love with her over email and he knows it can’t get more complicated. Nick decides that he is going to set up Lily with someone else, but this favour between the neighbours quickly gets complicated when Nick finds himself constantly thinking about her.

Iced Out by C.E. Ricci is a hot romance book that follows two hockey players who couldn’t be more

opposite and that are never not at each other’s throats. So, when Quinton and Oakley are put on the same team, the two can’t help but get under each other’s skin. With both finding the common ground of their love for hockey they realize they will both do whatever it takes to win, including falling into bed with each other. We all know that hockey players are superstitious and when their hookups lead to the team winning, how could they stop?

These two books both grabbed the attention of our club members, but Laurier Brantford’s Books It Up is excited to share that this term we will be reading Iced Out by C.E. Ricci.

THURSDAY NOV. 2, 2023

11

THE SPUTNIK · ARTS & CULTURE

LIFESTYLE

Heating to battle the cold Heading into the chillier season with helpful hints from local heating heating expert

SIENNA BILANCIA LEAD WRITER

Canadian weather is hard to predict. There is never one season that follows the guidelines of what it is “supposed” to be. During fall, right now, the weather is traditionally supposed to be cool and a little breezy while we watch the leaves change colours and fall.

Next is winter, very cold Canadian winters.

Living alone is challenging for students because there is so much to learn and be responsible for in a home. For first-years living in residence, climate control changes between buildings and off-campus housing heating is an entirely other beast.

“Putting in a request for them to change the temperature may not get actioned in time. By that time, the weather outside may have changed, and it isn’t needed anymore,” said Emily Chau, a second-year user experience design student and learning cluster advisor. “It was quite necessary for us to have our own fans or heaters to be able to change the temperature on our own.”

The same applies to those who rent. You can learn from what happens this year or stories from others, but sometimes adapting comes with time.

Simon Bernath, founder and CEO of FurnacePrices.ca began his site after realizing many people do not know what to do when the winter comes around and people need to start heating their homes.

“There was not a lot of information and heating and air conditioning systems isn’t something

that most people know much about or think much about until they kind of have to if their furnace breaks down,” said Bernath.

The website was designed to help others and give tips on how to heat their homes in the winter. The website provides people with free information about getting quotes, buying guidelines and quite a few resources, many of which are free of charge.

When it is too cold outside, many of us stay indoors with a blanket and a good book or movie. But one issue that may arise may be your furnace.

Students might be first-time renters who are learning what they have to do. Bernath encourages students and tenants alike to stay consistent with their furnace maintenance, no matter how new it is.

cept of love. There was this girl who I had been talking to on Tinder that I thought looked so beautiful and cool in every way. I wanted to fall in love with her and have her fall in love with me. For this reason, I may have bluffed about how much I enjoyed walking and the outdoors.

I truly don’t. On our first date, she made me walk as my makeup melted in the heat. My bag broke while we walked around and I was bitten by countless mosquitoes. By the end

of the date, she told me she wanted casual sex and my brain was melted enough to have me saying yes, even though I was exhausted and looked like the ghost of Bly Manor.

The relationship never happened.

Loving love can be such a downfall, I get it! The idea of love is so intoxicating and all consuming. Unfortunately, as you prove my point, it can lead us into situations we wouldn’t normally put ourselves in. There is nothing

OLGA STEBLYK / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

KAREN SAVOY / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

ALEXA FORD ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

The following submission has been modified for readability.

I’m gay and I’m also pathetically romantic. Not as in I fall in love easy, but more like I love the con-

wrong with trying new things, however making up hobbies so that someone else will love you isn’t fair to you or the other person.

They deserve to know you, who you really are, not who you think they want you to be. You also owe it to yourself to let someone love you for who you truly are because you deserve it!

ALEXA FORD

Scan to submit your own story!

THE SPUTNIK

12

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

POLITICS

The War on Drugs The criminalization approach is a colossal failure

MITCHELL BALDWIN SECTION EDITOR

Before 1908, all narcotics were legal within Canada. In fact, at the dawn of the 20th century, many Canadians had become dependent on opiates to function and carry on with their day-today operations.

Despite this, in the year 1908, the Canadian parliament criminalized all opium products to jail the newly unemployed population of Chinese railway workers who constructed the National Transcontinental Railway, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. Additionally, almost every act to criminalize narcotic substances within Canada had been done so as a means of targeting minority communities.

This is not meant to be solely a history lesson, but to instead set

the stage for the hypocrisy that is the Canadian war on drugs.

The War on Drugs made famous by former United States President, Ronald Reagan, in 1986 was one of the longest lasting initiatives taken by the United States in combatting illicit drug use. What is not often discussed however, is that two days after President Reagan, then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney surprised both the nation and his aids by announcing a Canadian war on drugs.

A high-ranking official within Health and Welfare Canada said on record, “When [Mulroney] made that statement, then we had to make it a problem.”

Simply put, there was not even a single iota of evidence to support claims that a war on drugs was at all necessary for the nation.

The hopeful mimicking of his American counterparts’ plan had been so abysmal, it ultimately cost the Conservative Party their majority in the House of Commons. Fitting for Mulroney to fall flat on his enactment of

legislation so erroneously based in populism, as out of the trio that he, Reagan and Margaret Thatcher made, he served as the forgotten middle child frequently left behind at home.

With this said, it unfortunately does not come as a surprise to hear that the war on drugs was mainly an ill-thought bid to gain political power by utilizing populist rhetoric.

The War on Drugs pushed out and perpetuated a devastating impact on people of colour and their communities. The impact in question can still be felt today when looking at the sheer volume of broken homes, people locked up for outrageous amounts of years and the never-ending collection of whittled-away communities lost to extensive drug violence.

On a fundamental level, the criminalization approach for narcotics does not work. It does not reduce drug usage, it does not reduce drug violence and it most certainly does not get rid

of drugs. Our approach to drug policy should be one of public health, where those suffering from addiction can find federally supported ways to overcome their illness.

Throwing people in a cell for using a substance that was only criminalized in the first place because a fundamentally racist parliament passed a law prohibiting those very same substances, reeks of compromised interests and bad governance. Any perpetuating of these laws renders our contemporary parliaments no better or morally superior to the racist conduct of past parliaments.

Until there is a fundamental revamping of our criminal drug laws and how our nation

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / UNSPLASHED

Recreation of Narcotic Substances

approaches drug usage, we can only conclude that our elected representatives are no better that those who came before; and as such, are undeserving of the privilege that it is to represent the people of the nation.

If our elected officials truly cared to serve those they have been elected to represent, we would see no short presence of initiatives to provide clean and affordable housing, safe and timely access to medical professionals as well as safe means for the most vulnerable members of society to access narcotic substances. Much like prostitution, the danger within it is an inherent result of its criminalization.

SOCIAL LIFE

What happened to being BFFs?

The loneliness epidemic and buidling long-lasting friendships in the digital age

JADA PHILLIPS LEAD OPINION WRITER

Humans have always been social creatures. That is the basis on which society was created. An innate need for community and companionship. Friendships, in turn, are part of that natural need for social interaction.

Friends are there for important milestones in life, support us in difficult times, share similar interests or hobbies and shape who we are as people.

A lack of friendships can have detrimental impacts on our mental health and quality of life.

According to Dr. Jacques Lee, a physician at Mount Sinai Emergency Department, loneliness is as harmful as smoking. It may also be a contributing factor in 45,000 deaths a year in Canada, according to current clinical trials by Mount Sinai Hospital.

Loneliness can be a taboo topic to talk about. Nobody

wants to actually admit they’re lonely. Loneliness can feel like a personal failure, like we are defective somehow.

Additionally, we’re around people more than ever since the end of the pandemic. We go to school with others, work with other colleagues and see each other’s lives on social media. Yet we are missing that deep, meaningful connection with others.

This loneliness epidemic is particularly prevalent among Generation Z. According to the Canadian Social Survey, one in 10 people aged 15 and up said

OLGA STEBLYK / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

Loneliness Hurts Us All

they always or often felt lonely.

Furthermore, young people are more likely to express experiencing loneliness more frequently than older people. It’s a strange paradox that our generation has had to grapple with, which is felt by even those at Wilfrid Laurier University.

“I think it’s easy to make friends in the digital age because it allows you to be a lot more connected, but I don’t think it’s easy to make long-lasting friendships,” said Mona Shavrnoch, a

final-year criminology student in the Sussex program.

“I think a lot of people tend to stay connected via phone, but generally, I think friendship takes a lot more than that.”

We are the most disconnected, hyperconnected generation to have existed. It doesn’t matter how lonely we actually are, as our feelings of loneliness depend on how lonely we perceive ourselves to be.

We can be surrounded by a room full of people and still be lonely. The key to combating loneliness is the quality and intentionality we put behind our friendships.

“A true friend requires a level of effort that we can’t always give in our day-to-day because we are so busy with our own stuff. I heavily distinguish friends from people who I speak to briefly.

I think the word friendship means a lot and should be taken more seriously than it is,” said Shavrnoch, sharing her definition of what a true friend means to her.

We need to nurture our friendships and approach making

friends with an openness, no matter how difficult.

“In order to make friends, you must put yourself out there.

Go outside and don’t be afraid to approach people,” said Franchesca Graham, a final-year law and society student in the Sussex program.

“The best thing is to be yourself.

Start by finding activities and/ or communities that align with your values and interests, such as a sports team or a club.”

The loneliness epidemic is only going to get worse as we spend more time working from home and social interaction is automated or takes place through a screen.

The only way to manage loneliness is through intentionality. It’s purposely introducing yourself to a stranger, it’s taking up a new hobby or joining a club to meet others with similar interests and it’s putting time aside to spend with your current friends.

More importantly, intentionality means enjoying the connections we share with others. All it takes is a change of perspective.

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

13

THE SPUTNIK

ENTERTAINMENT

Film and the power of nostalgia As the 15 year anniversary of the premier appraoches,The “Twilight” rennaissance is in full swing

JADA PHILLIPS LEAD OPINION WRITER

I’ll admit it. I was (and still am) a Twilight fan. I went to all the movie premieres.

I collected all the holographic cups and magazines with the cast on them. Even now, I have a mug with Taylor Lautner’s face on it that says his infamous “Where the hell have you been Loca?” line. Now that I am far older, I can look back at how ridiculous and, at times, controversial the movies are, but I still regard them with a certain fondness.

The book series written by Stephanie Meyer was adapted into a blockbuster movie franchise that attracted millions of fans around the world. Twilight featured the clumsy, compassionate human Bella Swan as she navigated high school while being involved in a love triangle with a brooding vampire, Edward Cullen, and her playful werewolf best friend, Jacob Black.

Whenever The Twilight Saga is brought up, it is bound to be met with either complete contempt or loving adoration. No matter what your personal opinion of Twilight is, its cultural impact is undeniable.

Even a decade after the movie franchise premiere, it seems that Twilight is all over the internet, whether it be a Twilight comfort playlist on Spotify, Team Edward or Team Jacob shirts in Hot Topic; or vlogs on TikTok of people spending the day in Forks, Washington, where Twilight was filmed in the Unites States.

Out of all the masterpieces in cinematic history, Twilight is severely lacking in many areas.

I still strongly believe Twilight should be watched as a comedy or else the borderline uncomfortable awkwardness of the films will become tedious.

So why is Twilight still so relevant and popular?

The real allure of The Twilight Saga is nostalgia.

Nostalgia can hit us in unexpected waves. It can reappear through an old song or a familiar place. Nostalgia represents cherished feelings or memories that

SERENA AGNABE / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

Twilight.

make up formative pieces of our identities. Nostalgia can manifest as a deep longing, sadness or joy. Personal nostalgia can be triggered by memories specific to individuals, while group nostalgia can arise from collective experiences of cultural phenomena that members of a certain group share.

As researcher Ekaterina Kalinina, a researcher at Södertörn University in Sweden, wrote in her article titled “What Do We

Talk About When We Talk About Media and Nostalgia?” “Nostalgia, therefore, can be regarded as an essential tool that individuals use to adapt to unavoidable changes in life. Nostalgia can restore a sense of personal identity by ‘reweaving the broken threads of life history’ and can even enhance group identity by enabling connections with others.

For many of us who grew up with Twilight, it represents an escape to the past where every-

thing was simpler. It was younger us who wore the cringy t-shirts that said “I <3 Edward”, who got driven to the movie theatre by our parents to meet our friends, who had our fill of movie theatre popcorn while fangirling over the cute actors, all the while staying out past our normal curfews Even Bella as a main character was many of us in our teenage years. Bella wasn’t the most athletic, outgoing or beautiful.

She wore baggy clothes and spent most of her time reading at home. She had intense human experiences and emotions, like unrequited love or depression.

She didn’t always say the right thing; she hated attention, but she still wanted people to like her.

The current appeal of Twilight is entirely based on the feelings it brings people while we face the hard challenges in life, especially now, when life feels the most uncertain and turbulent that it can be.

The Twilight fandom could be toxic; the films and writing are arguably mediocre at best with problematic themes, but it gives us a sense of nostalgic comfort.

POLITICS

Animus of the Affluent A societal death by affluenza

MITCHELL BALDWIN OPINION EDITOR

Financial crisis after financial crisis, all we are told by the nation’s lead finance bros is that everything is on the up and up.

I’m old enough to remember the 2008, “once-in-a-lifetime” financial crisis which had resulted in, according to Investopedia, a whopping 3.1 million people losing their homes in the United States alone.

I am also cognizant enough to remember the endless lines of cars for food banks and food relief that occurred just as recent as 2020. So, let me ask you a question, dear reader. Doesn’t it make you mad that these rich,

soulless, desperately working for daddy’s approval, bottom feeders; keep parading the dead corpse that is our beloved capitalist economy around? I know it does for me.

Would you believe me if I said there was a time where, at least in the United States, the wealthiest individuals had paid up to 75 per cent of their income in taxes? This seems crazy to think about now, but as a direct result of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program in 1935, this was exactly the case.

Well, at least it was, until Ronald Reagan cut the tax rate for the richest members of society from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, then to 38.5 per cent, with it resting at an abysmal 8.2 per cent as per PBS & Wikipedia.

Make as many arguments about bootstraps and work ethic as you want, but 61 per cent of

OLGA STEBLYK / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

A slow death by affluenza.

Americans are living paycheque to paycheque in 2023, as per CNBC reporting, there is a clear and fundamental failing with the financial organization of our economic systems.

Now, it’s time to use our critical thinking skills to consider why this may be. Wouldn’t the allowance of our more affluent members of society to retain their financial gains result in more money being put back into their businesses, as Reaganomics foretold?

Wouldn’t this result in higher wages for workers that keep the business running? The short answer is no.

Reaganomics was the wool the rich pulled over our heads to deceive us. In fact, this whole premise would have been illegal until 1982, as stock buybacks

were illegal until the second year of Reagan’s presidency.

As per The Washington Post, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s lifting of financial regulations was a necessity, according to Conservative Tax Foundation think-tanks’ Will McBride.

Frequently, the only people that receive additions to their pay in large organizations, such as Ford Motor Company, are the executive teams who essentially, do nothing.

As per the Detroit Free Press, CEO Jim Farley raked in a mind boggling $20 million in the form of an executive compensation package, with other executives John Lawler, Bill Ford, Kumar Galhotra and Doug Field receiving a total of $71 million in 2022.

As if this was not enough, Farley

had a bonus of $2.75 million that year as well.

But why bring this up? To most of us, these are just numbers on a page. Fifty dollars is something we can feel in our hands, $20 million is just an image in our heads. It’s simple. The richest members of our society have routinely showcased an utter disgust and contempt for the middle and working classes.

They could care less if we starve underneath their Louis Vuitton boots, so long as we keep the engine of their success marking forward.

Like a cancer cell, they seek to continue the growth of their obscene empires simply for the sake of growth. If we continue down on this path, just like a cancer cell, they will exterminate us. 

THE SPUTNIK  INFINITUM

15

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, , 2023

SHORT STORY

Welcome to the Jungle

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / UNSPLASH

A story about torture and war.

THANDO BHEBHE LEAD INFINITUM WRITER

The year was 1968, I remember those days of past, the bright yellow sun sizzling on my skin, the sound of the ocean battering on the beach, ahhhhh, good times. ‘’Don’t get lost now, stick to the story.’’ ‘’Oh yes, the story.’’

So, what’s the story you ask, well here’s the setup. The country I was in had been under the repressive rule of a totalitarian regime helmed by a power-hungry dictator. The country was held in a stranglehold and the dictator wasn’t letting loose anytime soon. Me, well, I wasn’t exactly a native to this suffering state. I was born and raised in the west.

I was a stranger in a foreign land, but my blood said otherwise.

See, my parents were immigrants and lore and behold, this country was my, what do you say, father’s nation.

So, you’ve got a westerner in an African state in the 60s, yes, I was CIA, well, my birth nation’s equivalent at least and no, that’s my little secret. ‘’We need all the details Mr. — ‘’ ‘’Hey! I agreed to do the interview, but I didn’t agree to revealing everything. Some of these operations aren’t closed, you know.’’ ‘’This happened in the 60s!’’ ‘’The regime is still running that damn country, last thing I need is a hit team on my ass.’’ ‘’Fine, go on.’’

Alright, so, here I am in the beautiful tropics, and my mission was to overthrow the government. I’ll tell it to you straight, there was no hope. I mean, the regime was backed by the Soviets, so their army wasn’t a third world circus. It was a highly trained, greatly organized and powerfully equipped war machine, and I haven’t even started talking about the KGB trained

intelligence systems already watching me. From the moment I stepped foot in country, they were on my ass.

The constant tails that followed my taxi rides, the men in glasses and hats snapping pictures whenever chance they got, I was being watched, and that wasn’t exactly conducive to my mission.

So, you’re going to ask, what was my plan. ‘’Yes, what was your plan?’’

Well as it turns out, the cold war was still very much hot, thus, the regime had enemies, western backed enemies. My mission was to make contact with them, I had to survey their operations. How many men, how much ammunition, what kind of munitions, but most of all, who was the big boss in charge!

My state’s intelligence didn’t know too much about these rebels. All we knew was that the regime was dealing with a heavy resistance, and they wanted nothing more than for them to, well, not resist. ‘’But why, what did your country gain in this conflict?’’ ‘’Well, if you listened, I’d tell yah.’’ ‘’Forgive me it’s just, well, its context isn’t it.’’ ‘’See, back in the 60s, my country was desperate to get in on the fun. They’d missed out on the scramble, so the least they could do was a little neo-colonization.’’ ‘’So what, they were searching for resources?’’ ‘’Resources, influence and significance.’’ ‘’Significance?’’ ‘’Exactly, they were tired of being background characters in international politics, it was a reinvention, and they wanted to be a superpower!’’ ‘’And how about you, why were you here?’’ ‘’My country didn’t give a damn about this state’s future, it was just politics for them, but for me, this was my father’s nation, my birthright. I had to make things right!’’ ‘’Ok, so, you’ve got spies on your ass.’’

Yes, seated outside a beachside

café, I sipped my tea, my eyes hidden in the morning newspaper. I can’t recall the headlines now, probably America in Vietnam or some shit, I just needed to breath. This was my first in-field assignment, I’d spent years behind a desk typing up reports, but now, they’d be writing reports about me. It was a big moment, but terrifying as hell, and it only got worse.

I was going to wait the spies out, then try my luck in the evening, but they had other plans.

As I relaxed in my chair, feigning oblivion, the spies dropped their cover and came in for the kill.

I saw them, two of them, dark shades and black suits. They shot from their seats and marched for me, angry. Everyone knew who they were, the waitresses and other civilians freezing in sight of my detention. Once I figured what was happening, I panicked, trying to make a run for it.

The men broke into chase as I fled, running into the café, dodging past chairs as plates and cups fell, my eyes bound for the exit.

Yet right as I escaped, the outside sun blinding my eyes, a black car screeched right in front of me, the door swinging wide as a man with a gun shot me a death stare.

I froze, terrified, then the men chasing me tackled me to the ground, cuffing me as I dared not resist. It was over, so why even fight it. ‘’Welcome to the jungle.’’ ‘’No shit.’’

When I woke up, I was in a cold dark room, a loose light hanging above, flickering on and off. This was bad, and it was only going to get worse, I could feel it.

I knew how these things played out, the regime would detain whoever they wanted and just like that, you disappeared. ‘’You thought they’d kill you?’’ ‘’I knew they’d kill me!’’

The door burst open and the men in suits entered, shades still adorned. I gulped my fears, trying to feign strength, but it was worthless, you could smell my fear from a mile away. ‘’So, you know you’re a deadman, so just start talking!’’ Said

one of them.

I froze up, my mind rushing for excuses. I told them I didn’t know what they wanted, I begged them to release me, saying I was nothing more than a tourist. ‘’Keep lying, I beg.’’ Said one of them.

The way he said it, his eyes bursting open, a smile scarring his face in villainous glee. I was in deep shit, and he reveled in it. ‘’So did you talk?’’

Keep lying, I beg

‘’I could’ve, I should’ve……’’

But this was my first assignment, the first time I’d been trusted with such a daunting task. All my life I’d always dreamt of being a field agent, so when finally gifted the chance, I couldn’t fail. I wouldn’t fail, no matter how painful nor deathly it was, I’d finish the mission, I wouldn’t talk.

So they tortured me, they beat me up, pulled off my nails, finger by finger, whatever you can think of, they did it to me and through it all, I didn’t break, I was dead anyway. ‘’How’d you get out?’’ ‘’After having spent God knows how long, tortured and starved in isolation. The doors finally opened, and I was taken back to that cold room, my nail-less fingers on a metal desk. The same men entered, a gun in hand.’’ ‘’This is your last chance!’’ They said, ‘’Do you want to live, or die like a dog.’’

I just looked at them.

They told me my name; they told me who I worked for, and they told me my mission. I was here to contact the rebels and pictures of meeting sights and informants were dropped. Some of the intel they revealed wasn’t even known to me, but they knew, they knew –

‘’Everything!’’ They said.

I was baffled. ‘’All your pain, all your suffering, for nothing, you are nothing!’’

They had everything and I had nothing, but it wasn’t over yet. I looked one of them in the eye, his gun’s barrel meeting my blink. ‘’You have lied to us, and for this, you shall die. But there is hope.’’

I blinked. ‘’Admit, tell the truth, and maybe you shall be spared………’’

That’s all I had to do, I just had to admit to what they already knew. There was nothing to lose, I was already a deadman whose secrets were known, with this, I could only gain. ‘’Sounds like the perfect deal.’’

Yea, but if I admitted to it, then I had failed my mission, and all I had was the mission. ‘’But they already knew everything.’’

It didn’t matter, I wasn’t going to be the one to tell them, they’d never break me. They knew everything, but they hadn’t gotten it from me, they hadn’t won, and I wouldn’t let them. ‘’So you would die, for what?’’ ‘’For honor, death before dishonor!’’

The man looked at me, his eyes cold and furious. I sat back, looking into the eyes of the gun, a smile scarring my face. They hadn’t broken me, so they killed me.

BOOM! ‘’Yet you’re still here.’’ ‘’What a twist, right?’’

When I opened my eyes, my ears still rung as smoke spurred from the barrel, but I wasn’t dead. The men then sat down, handing me a smoke as I connected the dots. The gun was a blank, and the regime hadn’t captured me, it was all a test.

Once I figured it out, I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘’Welcome to the resistance.’’

END

THE SPUTNIK  INFINITUM

15

POEM

POEM

Blood for Blood

Venom

A story about ‘revenge’

THANDO BHEBHE INFINITUM LEAD WRITER

There’s a story of a father.

A father and his sons His sons ran to their friends.

Their friends told them what happened. ‘’They beat us, they beat us up, they keep beating us!’’

His sons were their father’s sons.

His sons followed their friends.

Their friends led them to the soldiers.

The soldiers who stood with guns The soldiers who stood with cold faces The soldiers who beat them The father told his sons to stay away.

The father told his sons to never look the soldiers in the eyes “They’ll beat you,” he said.

“They beat us already,” they replied.

He beat them for this.

Then again, he said. ‘’Never look them in the eye.’’

The sons stared with pain.

Now the sons stared with anger.

Looking the soldiers in the eye But this day would be different.

This day, the sons wouldn’t just look at the soldiers in the eye.

They would beat back.

They picked up some stones.

There’s a scene of young David, one day to be king, today a Shepard, he bends down near a stream, picking up some stones, these stones he will use against great goliath, these stones he will use to kill a giant, these stones he will use to rise a kingdom, these stones he will use to birth a legend, these stones he will use to immortalize a people.

These stones the sons would use on the soldiers.

The first one wrought an insult.

The second wrought a warning.

The third wrought a bullet.

Then bullets The soldiers killed the father’s sons.

The father cried.

He cried at the sight of his sons.

His dead sons.

He looked to heaven, to God, to the world.

But nothing Nothing He was his sons’ father.

He went to the soldiers.

And he wailed in front of them.

He mourned in front of them.

He tore off his clothes.

Shouting and screaming Looking them in the eye Desperate, desperate for them to feel his pain.

But they stared on, guns in hand.

“We warned them,” they said.

There’s a scene of planes flying above, military planes. A thousand leaflets drop from them, striking to the ground, people pick them up, hearts dropping at the sight, it’s a warning, warning of coming doom.

The father learns the soldiers’ names.

The soldiers that killed his sons He learns that they too are fathers.

And they too have sons.

The father wants them to feel his pain.

He mourns and grieves in front of them yet again.

Looking into their eyes Uttering their fatherhood upon them Then he warns them ‘’Blood for blood’’ They beat him, they beat him brutally.

But they do not kill him, Pushing him right to the edge, but they do not let him fall.

He turns to the sky, to God, to the world.

Where is justice, “where is my justice!”

Nothing Nothing Nothing

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

The symbiotic love Then the day comes, a day that would be different.

For this day, the father would not just look the soldiers in the eye.

He would beat back.

He picked up a gun.

And he killed the soldiers’ sons.

He looked upon them, and he saw his own sons.

The sky looked upon him, God staring down, the world watching.

In horror, Utter Horror The soldiers cried.

The soldiers mourned and grieved.

Shouting and screaming Tearing their clothes Ash upon their face They looked up to the sky, up to God, up to the world.

And something The sky rumbled in thunderous vengeance.

The world demanded justice.

And God was with them.

The soldiers came with their guns, rage and hurt in their hearts.

The father looked upon the marching army, watching doom.

He stared into the soldier’s eyes.

“I warned you,” he said.

The soldiers killed the father.

Then they killed the father’s family Then they killed the father’s friends Then they killed the father’s friends’ families Uttering ‘’Blood for blood!’’

And the sky looked upon them, God looking down, the world watching.

And they all cried, “Justice!”

“Justice is being served!” *** Now blood lines the streets Bodies under all the rubble And sons’ wander Looking upon their dead fathers And they utter to themselves. ‘’Blood for blood’’

SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

Street where we were two

TUSHARIKA TYAGI INFINITUM EDITOR

One is enough for you One is too much for me Staring into my soul I am enough for you

Death is our beginning, Life is a ticking star Fading away Leading astray Time won’t change for me Time won’t change for you Please lead me to the SERENA ANAGBE / PHOTO EDITOR

Open my mouth you say Feeding the endless cave No matter how much I pray We’re one till my last day I am not your doll You are not my heart But till the end of time We will never part

THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2023

16

If you had a theme song, what would it be?

“Alter Ego by Tame Impala.”

“This Is Me Trying by Taylor Swift.”

– Thando Bhebhe, Lead Infinitum Writer

– Lauren Kuivenhoven, News Editor

“Born Tired by Jhené Aiko.”

– Celina Shamon, Sports Editor

“I’ll Be There for You by The Rembrandts.”

– Simran Jha, Lead News Writer