Issue 10 - January 22, 2014

sputnik

the

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - Issue 10 // www.thesputnik.ca

News

2

On Campus

4

Features

6

A&E

8

Sports

10

Opinion

12

Grand River to experience dangerous icy flows page 3 Partnership with Laurier likely page 3

The Mars One project offers plenty of promise page 3

WLUSP elections page 5

The Calendar Girls are coming to Brantford page 9

2

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

3

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

NEWS

Nathanael Lewis // news@thesputnik.ca | @Sputnik_News

The Mars One project offers plenty of promise Taylor Berzins Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Layla Bozich eic@thesputnik.ca ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

Rohith Sothilingam rohith@wlusp.com (519) 756-8228 ext. 5948 PHOTO EDITOR Cody Hoffman photography@thesputnik.ca ART EDITOR Rebecca Duce visual@thesputnik.ca WEB EDITOR Sylvia Hernandez-Rassavong web@thesputnik.ca COPY EDITORS Kyrsten Lowell Jessica Lalonde SECTION EDITORS Nathanael Lewis, News Oren Weiner, On Campus Dillon Giancola, Features Amber Richardson, A&E Kyle Morrison, Sports Cody Groat, Opinion

CONTRIBUTORS Brittany Bennett Taylor Berzins Kathleen Binder Stevan Bodrozic Jaclyn Brown Hannah Brunsdon Brian Holland Dran Ngo Chris Pimentel Priscilla Popp Kristen Rodgers Swathy Sooriyakumar

WLUSP BRANTFORD 202-171 Colborne St. N3T 2C9 (519) 756-8228 ext.5948

With less than a week to meet their online crowd-funding goal of $400,000, it’s time to get to know Mars One, the not-for-profit organization aiming to create the first human settlement on Mars.

Mars One anticipates that it will be able to engineer and develop a self-sustainable, human friendly colony on Mars within the next ten years. The company in-tends to send a collection of highly trained human beings, selected via online applica-tions, to inhabit the settlement for the rest of their lives.

Mars One’s project, backed by Nobel Prize winning scientists and reality show creators alike, is a first of its kind mission, relying on corporate sponsorship and media funding as a means to financially fuel the ambitious space mission.

The 6-billion dollar project will depend on the crowd funding, and the creation of a reality TV show surrounding the mission’s candidates. According to project ambassa-dor, and Big Brother creator Paul Römer, Mars One has the capacity to combine aspects of reality and talent show, opening doors for a media heyday.

“A lot still needs to happen and the technical facets will determine whether or not this worldwide media frenzy will truly happen, but the idea alone conjures up an endless amount of creative possibility.”

Opening applications in the summer of 2012, Mars One invited the world to apply to

Opinions expressed in The Sputnik are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the Editorial staff, The Sputnik, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc.

FRONT PAGE PHOTO CREDITS: Main: Aldo Zhang Left: Stephen Fenech Centre: Stock Right: Heather Cardle

Fenech mentally prepares for upcoming tests with a humorous visit to the Ontario Science Center. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Fenech)

people who are believers, but who are also retrospective of the planet itself. This is an outpost, this is a colony right? So we’d represent a small microcosm of the Earth itself.”

According to the organization, the remainder of Mars One contenders will be narrowed down over the next ten years through reality television, testing and training. The final se-lection of astronauts to man the Mars One mission will depend on an audience vote, and will ultimately decide which candidates will be the best ambassadors of Earth to live out their lives on Mars.

Detoxification centre to come to Brantford Kathleen Binder Staff

The city of Brantford will be home to a residential withdrawal management and addiction treatment centre this upcoming MANAGER OF OPERATIONS year.

Jessica Lalonde M.P.P. Dave Levac pressed the government manager@thesputnik.ca with support for a detoxification-rehabilitation centre after stating that this was a need as part of his political campaign.

“We are the largest centre in Ontario without [a detoxification centre],” said Levac.

Last year, there were approximately 688 visits to the emergency room by adults that showed withdrawal or addiction symptoms.

Of that, 80 per cent of the visitors could have WLUSP OFFICE benefited from having a detoxification centre 205 Regina Street in Brantford.

Waterloo, Ontario St. Leonard’s and the Brant Community N2L 3C5 Healthcare System are now working in collaboration to provide the services needed PRESIDENT for this centre.

Allison Leonard “What’s very exciting about this particular (519) 884-0710 ext.3565 allison.leonard@wlusp.com model is that we’re going to have both a withdrawal component as well as a treatment ADVERTISING component in the same location,” said Debbie Angela Taylor Bang, manager of St. Joseph’s healthcare (519)884-0710 ext. 3560 “Womankind” addiction service, who is angela.taylor@wlusp.com succoured to St. Leonard’s to assist with the development of the new centre.

The residential withdrawal management The Sputnik is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent and addiction treatment centre is set to be ethical organization established to deal located at 135 Elgin St., directly beside St. with editorial concerns. For additional Leonard’s administration offices. This is information or to file a complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981. currently home to federal offenders co-funded

by Correction Services Canada and the LHIN, The Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo. Contact Allison Leonard - WLUSP, 205 Regina Street The Sputnik is a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP)

partake in the opportunity to be amongst the first human settlers on Mars. The high-stakes mission will require the selected settlers to leave in 2024, and in turn live out the entirety of their lives on the Mars settlement. The 200,000 applicants were weaned down to a short-list of 1058 in late December, and among the thousand names are 75 Canadian potential cosmonauts.

Toronto filmmaker and photographer, Stephen Fenech, says he is excited to have made the shortlist. After working for the Canadian Navy, travelling to 160 countries and creating an award-winning documentary, Fenech believes that Mars would be a profound finish to his adventures thus far, and an idyllic way to complete his travel book. “It’s like wow, what do you do for retirement? Most people say go to Florida, but eh, I’ll go to Mars.”

“You know, there’s a lot of doomsayers,” said Fenech. “Even my friends cover the whole scope, from excitement like ‘That’s so great’, to ‘That’s nuts, it’s a suicide mission!’”

Mars One has received much skepticism from the scientific community. In an August in-terview with the Huffington Post, Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, voiced concern towards the project over its privatization, and the idea of profit superseding humanity’s benefit from the mission.

Despite critics, Fenech believes that Mars One will be able to bring a sense of humanity with it to Mars, “I think you want to send

135 Elgin St. will be the location of the soon-to-be residential withdrawal management and addiction centre. (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

which is being relocated to 19 Buffalo St. “Every year we see 50-60 woman at Womankind from Brantford,” said Bang. Bang emphasized that in Hamilton, on average, seven times a day they had no bed for men because of such a high demand.

The facility in Brantford will have a male residency with 14 beds, while women will have the opportunity to continue the use of services at Womankind, an all-woman facility, in Hamilton. If needed, transportation to Hamilton will be provided by St. Leonard’s.

The hope is that the treatment of men in the Brantford centre, will inspire and provide hope for men in withdrawal, and assist in helping them move toward recovery.

The program will have many steps assisting those who need it with achieving their goals with many services, including counselling.

“The approvals haven’t happened officially yet, but we are told that up to $1.5 million is available,” added Levac.

The initial proposal that was planned by both the city and LHIN in collaboration of $3.6 million was denied, and the amount of $1.5 million is available from the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Brant Local Health Integration Network.

This was the only proposal that the LHIN supported for funding after Labour day in Brant, according to Bill Sanderson, Executive Director of St. Leonard’s.

Both the staffing model and service models are under construction, and in the midst of being worked out.

“What I want to portray is the real positive attitude of improving your community by providing this service,” Levac mentioned. “I don’t want this to be seen as ‘Oh my God, we’re an awful community because we need a detox centre.’ The opposite is true. We’re intelligent and smart people because we want to fix it.”

“I’m very happy that we’re able to come together as a community and make the decision that we collectively agree that having this service is a piece of the puzzle for a better community.”

“If we do this right, we won’t need a methadone clinic because we’ll have changed the habits of the people who need the methadone clinic.” said Levac.

Grand River to experience dangerous icy flows Kathleen Binder Staff A late January thaw is expected to make the watercourses of the Grand River watershed dangerous to locals.

The Grand River Conservation Authority are advising civilians to keep themselves, children and pets away from the river banks.

Because of the warm temperatures occurring, ice-covered rivers, streams and ponds may have weakened.

“It’s not unusual to get one or two warm spells over the course of a winter, including one in January,” said Dave Shultz, the Manager of Communications at the Grand River Conservation Authority. “While we had the

warm, rainy spell, we saw flows rise in many rivers and streams, but we didn’t experience any river flooding.”

“One thing that the warm spell did was cause some ice to move down the Grand and its tributary rivers,” Shultz explained. “There’s now a lot of ice lodged in the Grand River through Brantford.”

The Grand River goes through some big turns in the southern part of the city where there are a lot of shallow areas, so it is not unusual for the ice to build up in these locations.

“We call this an ‘ice jam,’” explained Shultz. “When there’s an ice jam, water will back up behind the jam just as it would behind a dam.”

GRCA staff will continue to monitor the

rivers in case of an ice breakup causing an ice jam. This has the potential to lead to rapid flooding during a mid-winter or spring melt.

“The dike system in Brantford protects the low-lying parts of the city in West Brant, Holmedale and Eagle Place,” said Shultz. “In 1996, during a mid-winter melt, the water level in Brantford got to within a foot of the top of the dikes, so there was a risk of water spilling over the top and flooding some neighbourhoods.

“Fortunately, the ice jam broke and the water levels dropped.”

Shultz said Brantford is still far away from a repeat of that situation, but “GRCA and city staff need to keep an eye on the jam in case conditions change.”

They will issue updates as required.

4

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

CENTENNIAL TOWERS

Limi tedT Promime o Avai tions lable

Situated in the heart of downtown Brantford, Centennial Towers is the perfect place to call home.

Conveniently located minutes from the Farmers’ market, libraries, shopping, restaurants, biking and hiking trails, the Brantford Greyhoud Station, as well as the VIA Rail Train Station. !"#$%&$'()*+,"+-.-%/ !"0,1+*"2,%$.3),& gym & media room !""41-55-%/"6$$+ !""732&,%"),2238, !""#$%)2$++,&"388,(("+$99* !"":3+8$%-,( !"";,)"<2-,%&+* One bedroom suites from Two bedroom suites from Three bedroom suites from

940 $1025 $1199 $

Grey

Colborne

129 WELLINGTON STREET & 150 DARLING STREET

866.474.1089

Call today to book your viewing

timbercreekcommunities.com

Clarence

Darling

Wayne Gretzky

Wellington

5

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

ON CAMPUS

Oren Weiner // oncampus@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikoncampus

Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications elections The below candidates are acclaimed. Applications have reopened and will close Friday at midnight. Find the nomination package for board and presidential candidates at: http://www.wlusp.com/elections/ Photos courtesy of Ryan Hueglin.

Shelby Blackley

Abdiasis Issa Since May, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of this organization and what it takes to make every volunteer experience run smoothly as a currently member on the board of directors. While at times it has been challenging, my experience dealing with the hardships surrounding this year will help me if I am elected for another term. WLUSP has, in all senses of the phrase, become my second home, and I would love for nothing more than to help steer the direction of the organization for 2014-15 and beyond. With a returning board member elected, I can help with a smooth transitional period so the board can help WLUSP continue its invaluable contribution to students. I hope to continue to help mold the face of Student Publications for the future, and I will focus on being able to provide consistency while helping mend the issues WLUSP tries feverishly to eliminate.

For the past six years I have had both the pleasure and honour of being a community leader and youth advocate in Toronto.

For several years I have lead and oversaw numerous youth initiatives, committees, and organizations. I was elected the past president of the Etobicoke-High Park Youth Council in partnership with Toronto Community Housing Corporation. I also served as a youth liaison on several committees and groups while creating and maintaining lasting partnerships with public organizations and agencies such as the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Community Housing, and Government of Ontario. If elected on the board I would use my past experience and knowledge as a youth leader and combine it with my thoughts and perspectives as a new student to Wilfrid Laurier University. I will use my experience to assist the President and other directors on how to create a holistic and robust strategic plan on how to move WLUSP forward and reach its full potential.

Students unhappy with university’s used book buyback system Oren Weiner On Campus Editor Because money is not in abundance for the average student, he/she will do what is possible to save here and there. What better way to make a little pocket change than sell used course textbooks that will likely never be needed once the course is completed?

It may appear to be an excellent way to go about doing so, but students feel the system put in place by Laurier to do so is unfair.

“I think it’s unfair,” says second-year Criminology student, Natasha Holland.

She elaborates, sharing one of her own experiences, “We pay high prices for

textbooks that we need, which if fine, that’s original price, and I understand that. I paid $100 for a book for a religion course and at the buyback they offered around $10. I don’t see why the buyback prices couldn’t be more reasonable.”

Laurier, like many other universities across North America, hires an external source to buy back students’ used textbooks.

Follett, in Canada since 1983, is hired by Laurier, and in Brantford, each year sets up at the Research and Academic Centre West wing lobby. Here, students can take their used textbooks that they no longer need, and in exchange, receive some cash.

Although this is an easily accessible and advertised option, students still feel

that they are being “ripped off,” when often offered very little money for their used books, even if in reasonably good condition.

Natalie Wasik, a fourth-year Concurrent Education student, certainly feels this way. She says, based on her observation, “Students buy textbooks for the full amount from the bookstore, but when they go to sell them at the buyback, they are given less than half the amount back or sometimes even less.”

Since trying to sell some of her used textbooks at the buyback in her first year at the university, Wasik has not gone back, feeling that Follett “cheaps out the student,” and tells the student that the book is “not in demand.”

“I don’t know what they do with these texts that they say are not in demand,” says Wasik.

While students express dismay over the current system, bookstore management had a more optimistic view.

“As far as a buyback system goes, I feel this is the best system that is available, for both students and the university,” says Tara Velanoff, the Brantford campus manager of retail, printing and distribution services.

“I can understand the students’ frustrations; I was a student once. I want to offer the best we can to the students.”

Velanoff explains that Follett does market research, by analyzing the demand for and whether or not there is a newer edition of the used textbooks all over North America.

Because of these factors, according to Velanoff, the buyback prices that the selling students are offered seem low.

Michael Zybala, the associate director of the bookstore systems at Laurier, believes that the program in place is

“really good,” adding that students, “in most cases, are getting the value for the books they are selling back.”

Regarding the student sentiment of being “cheaped out,” Zybala still feels that although unfortunate that some students will receive low buyback rates due to low demand, these students are still getting the “top dollar.”

Kayla Doucette, a third-year Contemporary Studies in Child Education student, is also unhappy with the buyback system. She sees the external company as undermining the students’ need for money for school.

“I still just find it frustrating, because it seems all companies are just in it for the profits, and it’s already hard to afford the education on top of books. So to offer such low prices almost seems like a slap in the face, seeing as we are already in debts from our education,” says Doucette.

Doucette, Holland and Wasik all agree that the best way to solve the problem immediately was use alternative options, one of which is to sell directly to other students who need the used textbooks for the same courses. Velanoff suggests that students might want to consider doing some of their research to determine the market value of their items and then decide which course of action to take.

Zybala reiterated his belief that the university’s current program is “really good” and that “it’s important that students understand the process, and that we can help them make an informed decision.”

Kayla Doucette has her own ideas for solving this problem. She suggests cutting out the middle man, Follett, and the school taking matters completely into its own hands, by conducting the buyback on its own.

“The university should be doing it themselves and giving people at least a decent amount back seeing as most professors don’t care what version of textbooks students use,” Doucette suggests.

Currently, students also have the option to advertise the used textbooks they wish to sell over a Facebook group called “Laurier Brantford Used Books.” With over 2,600 members in the group, it continues to be a popular place for students to sell their unwanted academic literature. With continuing discontent over the university’s system, this group could become the new system.

6

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

FEATURES Dillon Giancola // features@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikfeatures

The end of a beautiful friendship: More than just a dog Brittany Bennett Staff

I realized what had happened seconds after I asked those few words, “How’s my boo-boo?” People say when tragic things happen, their heart stops, or drops or whatever, but that was not the case. Instantly there was silence from my parents, then soft humming sounds as they could not find the words.

My heart seemed to rise rather than drop, into my ear drums of all places.

All I could hear was a, “thump, thump, thump,” getting louder and faster with the seconds. The emotion drained from my body as I pleaded, “What guys? Seriously, what?!” Mom said, “Let’s pull over.”

For the past week, I had been at a journalism conference in Edmonton and was currently getting picked up from the airport. Dad took my suitcase and put it in the trunk, and as I hopped in the back seat eager to tell them all about my trip, I noticed the large stuffed dog in the seat beside me. I shrugged it off, thinking it had to be for one of my little cousins or something. I later found out it was for me, and something about donating others to the Humane Society on Cotton’s behalf, but everything had turned into static at that point so it is all very unclear what was actually said.

As dad pulled the truck over, I began the denial phase. I just kept thinking, oh they are pulling a good one, trying to make me squirm, very funny guys. Dad took a deep breath before saying, “She’s not doing well.” Things felt as if I was in a dream: time stretched, sounds were muffled and deeper than usual, and I just could not believe any of this was actually happening. Once again, I went for the false hope in the sentence and thought, she is still alive, he said ‘she’s’ as in ‘she is’, that is present tense, she is still alive. But I forgot my dad is not too great with grammar, and he was trying to say this in the most delicate way possible.

He explained the days starting from when I had asked about her on Wednesday. Everything had spiraled down from there. They took her to the vet Friday to find out that her lungs had already filled up with fluid due to a viral infection. Putting her down was the only option. Mom sat silently while dad went on. I am not too sure if she was already crying at that point, but she definitely joined me in crying the rest of the ride home. I was also at a loss for words, and I could not spit out a damn sentence

for what felt like forever. They did not want to ruin my trip, but they also did not want to make that decision for me.

They chose to wait it out, and scheduled to put her down Monday so I could say my good-byes and make the final call.

She did not make it to Monday.

Cotton was my world. She was my best friend, my baby girl, my boo-boo.

I find it funny when people say, “it is just a dog.” Just a dog? An animal that exists in your home, purely to give you unconditional love is just a dog? An animal that accepts you just the way you are, as long as you give it love back, is

day I put her on a leash, and plopped her down on the sidewalk in front of our old house. She looked at me like I was an idiot. Did not move an inch. After a few more tries, she began to fight the leash by biting at it furiously.

Cotton trained very quickly, the smartest dog I had ever met. She only made a mess in the house a handful of times, and was such a good girl. She always listened to me, and only began to have selective hearing when she got older, but I think she was just using it to her advantage, the sneaky little doggy.

I could never stay mad at her for lon-

Bennett and her dog, Cotton. (Photo courtesy of Brittany Bennett)

just a dog? An animal that lives to make sure you are safe, always watching the front door, is just a dog? No. They are not, “just dogs,” they are furry, slobbery, cute, loving, best of friends.

We got Cotton when I was eight years old, from my Uncle Ford. I got to watch her grow from the first week she was born, and picked her because she came to me the day we went to choose one of them. She was one of a pair of twins, pure bread Pekingese. My mom thought of the name Cotton because she was just a handful of puffy white fur at that point. When we drove her home, she climbed up my body and wrestled into my hair around my neck, where she stayed the whole ride, quivering with fear.

What a little bundle of attitude she was, just like her mommy. It is crazy how some dogs turn out to be so much like their owners. I remember the first

ger than 30 seconds. As soon as I would try scolding her she would oh so slowly creep up to me with those big puppy dog eyes staring up at me, and then oh so slowly reach her one paw out to me and gently scratch at my leg. Then I would melt, apologize and hug and kiss her.

I have always had troubles confiding in people. Just too afraid they will leave me I guess, that they would take a piece of me away while stranding me to suffer with my deepest darkest secrets. But my boo-boo, well she would never leave me, I had thought. She knew every little detail about my life, and the funny part is, she would actually sit there and listen the whole time. When I cried, she kissed my tears away. Not too sure if she just liked the salty taste, or she knew what was really going on, either way it always made me laugh. She was the only thing in my life that would make the

pain go away, not distract it or camouflage it, it would literally disappear with her kisses.

Every time I left home, I kissed her good-bye, and every time I came home she greeted me with happy whimpers and kisses as well. There was never a day that I did not instantly get happier at the sight of her smile. Yes, she actually smiled, her “smushed” little face shined a wide grin while her curled tongue panted out to show her cute black birth mark peeking from the bottom.

I noticed something about her was off the week before I had left, I was so scared I cried all night and barely slept a wink on the floor beside her. I called the vet the minute they opened the next morning, and got her in a couple hours later. She had an ear infection, and all her other symptoms seemed to have been caused by the pain of that. We had no idea something much worse was going on.

The thought did cross my mind, that maybe I should not go to the conference and stay with my boo-boo. It seemed like a silly idea at the time, throwing away a once in a life time opportunity because your dog is sick. The conference was amazing, I learnt and gained so much from it, and I am honoured that I was chosen to go. But I cannot lie, there will not be a day that goes by where I will not regret that choice and wish that I stayed with my baby girl. I would do anything to go back in time, to be there, to have taken her to the vet Friday and said my good-byes so she did not have to suffer any longer. Just to hold her in my arms one more time, to thank her for all that she had helped me through, I would do anything for that.

But I was not there to hold and comfort my baby while she suffered that week. I was not there to sleep with her on the floor, and tell her she is a pretty girl and everything is going to be okay, as I had many times before. I was not there to say good-bye.

Some may think I am pathetic, some may know exactly how I feel right now.

It does not matter; all I know is that Cotton was my everything. She helped me in ways no human ever could. And for that, she deserves the recognition of an audience, for being the best friend anyone could ever have asked for.

This is my boo-boo, and she passed away on Jan. 11, 2014 at the age of 11.

That day, I lost more than just a dog, I lost my whole wide world.

You have the opportunity to host your own radio show on radiolaurier.com apply online Today @ www.wlusp.com/volunteer

7

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

FEATURES Dillon Giancola // features@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikfeatures

Finding the good in all genres of music Dillon Giancola Features Editor It is hard to deny that music plays a huge role in our lives today, and in society.

Online shopping and illegal downloading may have hurt the music industry in terms of sales, but it has only increased the ease at which we are able to access music. Indeed, it is easier for the average musician to produce music and share it with the public than ever before. But while this fact exists, it is also true that there seems to a huge divide between the mass amount of pop music, which is loved by the masses yet hated by many, and the large amounts of personal, inspired music, whether it be folk/singer-songwriter stuff, or angry toned metal with a message to preach.

As a trained musician myself, and one that has a huge appetite for music of all kinds, I learned over many years that there was no better gift you could give yourself than allowing one’s self to explore and enjoy all genres. It takes effort, and intention, but is very rewarding. My brother and I call this “planting the seed”, forcing yourself to listen to other styles and attempt to find something great in them, or at the very least identify and appreciate the talent.

Where once I would not be caught dead listening to country music, and preached my dis-taste for it every chance I got, I eventually grew to love certain artists in that genre as much as those in the genres I grew up listening to as a snobby, cynical youth (in regards to my musical tastes, anyway).

This sentiment resonates with Carollynne Quinn, a singer out of Edmonton.

Quinn studied at Grant MacEwan University, and is now the lead singer of the band Rend and teaches the prep-course at the school for students hoping to get in to the program. Quinn says that she used to be just into rock, and bands like DC-talk, but that all changed when she went to Grant MacEwan, which is jazz-oriented.

“At first you get so surrounded by jazz music, and I noticed I went through a period of time when you think that genre is better, or harder, more elite, and almost look down on other genres. But then with being out of the program, I’ve noticed amazing musicians in all genres. I’ve almost done a

writer of her own band has led her to further appreciate the talent and effort in all styles. “A lot of what I learned from music school was respecting hard stuff that is hard to play. Now I respect a song, as a songwriter, that people can really connect to, but that might sound simple and easy.

Finding the good in all genres of music. (Art by Rebecca Duce)

360, so if there really is a well written pop or rock song, then it’s awesome, and I have just a ton of respect,” Quinn says.

Quinn’s new role as singer and song-

Quinn says there is a place for both music that really means something, the music she gravitates to the most, and also to fun, catchy, top 40 hits. “I’m in a cover band for

the knowledge and the skill-set, but it’s become the norm to do an internship to prove it.

“I know I’m good at what I do and I understand the purpose of an internship.

I think it’s a great learning experience and opens up a lot of doors, but to do work for free is something I can’t really justify, especially with student loans and the fact that I’ve proven my worth before”, Sanderson adds.

Fourth year Laurier student Monica Fenech has completed both paid and unpaid internships. In addition to completing tasks in the role she was taken on for, she also completed other administrative duties and worked beyond the normal 40 hours per week. She suggests that students should work towards gaining unpaid work experience while they are in school, and by gaining relevant experience early they are less likely to resort to unpaid internships.

“I don’t suggest unpaid internships, but I don’t think its something to avoid either.

I’ve worked hard in school and volunteered both on and off campus. I’ve gained paid and unpaid work experience, so I feel at this point that my knowledge and skills are market worthy and I deserve some financial compensation for them”, she says, “I’d be willing to do unpaid work to increase my exposure, but I’m not longer willing to commit to full-time, unpaid position.”

In addition to being eager to start their careers, many students are also in stressful financial situations after graduation. A large number of students graduate from college or university with a mass of debt from student loans. Many are eager to get working in order to beginning paying back their debt. A Globe and Mail article found that the average debt for students is roughly $27,000 and on average takes a little over ten years to pay back. Student debt from programs like OSAP also increases as a result of interest. Dedicating a large amount

of time to something that does not guarantee a job is a big gamble for many students who do not want to spend years carrying the burden of student loan debt.

Wes Tyler graduated in the fall and began his job hunt right away. He says he has since been offered a few internships, but no full time positions or anything that is guaranteed to lead to full time.

“I was offered an internship with a company in Toronto. I had to turn it down because I need to start paying back my debt right away. I can’t afford to do an internship with only the possibility of getting a job”, says Tyler.

“I thought the whole idea of unpaid internships was more for people trying to break into media, advertising and journalism, but I guess it’s becoming more common for positions in human resources and business analysis” he adds.

Gaining industry experience and building connections while trying to pay down student debt puts many people in difficult positions. Many students simply can’t af-

top 40, and playing those songs, some of them are hard, but it’s hard to write a top 40 hook. Lyrically, it depends what you’re listening for. There’s a place for music that means more, and a place for pop when people don’t want to think about it as much,” Quinn says.

Duran Ritz, a freelance drummer who currently resides in Vancouver, went through a similar transition. Ritz has his bachelor of music in jazz studies at the University of North Texas, and then went on to spend a couple years playing music on cruise ships.

“The cruise ships were a pretty big blend of everything. There was nights when you were in the night club, so like top 40 stuff, but sometimes you’d have a show with a sax player, playing like Kenny G stuff, or even a rap song. It was such a big blend of music. I found that most people don’t seem to know the differences between the music, but there are things to pay attention to in every style, that’s what makes them interesting, and they can’t be glossed over,” says Ritz.

Ritz points out how the pop scene has changed over the years. It was once classical music, then swing and jazz in the 1920s, and then the Beatles. He says people usually just like what is presented to them, and what they are exposed to the most. It is important to remember that when being critical of other genres. “Music is music regardless of what style it is,” says Ritz.

When asked what he would say to someone either coming up in the music industry, or just someone looking to find some different, but good music, Ritz says, “Don’t be too closed minded, be open to what you’re hearing. You’d be surprised at what you can find in different genres of music and how connected it all is.”

Unpaid internships: learning experience or free labour?

Stevan Bodrozic Staff Internships have long been used as a form of on-the-job teaching for students and new grads, similar to apprenticeships and co-ops. While apprenticeships and many co-op programs are paid, the vast majority of internships are unpaid. This is particularly true for interns in media, public relations, advertising and journalism, where they are often offered internships with the incentive of doing work that will “contribute to ones portfolio”.

While gaining practical, hands on experience and building a wealth of industry connections will undoubtedly help ones career grow, the idea of essentially working a full time job for free for six months to a year is off-putting for many prospective interns. There is also no guarantee of a job offer once the internship is completed, with many internships advertising that the intern may be considered for full time employment after the internship. In other words: spend half a year working for free and maybe you’ll get a job offer.

Jake Sanderson is a graphic design graduate and is eager to begin his career.

Like many others have found, design firms are offering fewer full time positions and more internships, again with the incentive to add to ones portfolio.

“I just spent three years in school doing design projects, I’ve already built my portfolio”, says Sanderson.

In media related careers for example, especially design, journalism and public relations, students are already building their portfolios from the day they start their classes. Journalism students here at Laurier write articles in almost every class they take. Graphic design students create logos and work on branding and design projects throughout their programs. Students have

ford to take on an internship and gain the experience because they have an increasing amount of debt. However, it’s that experience that will help them secure a job down the line. It’s a difficult position to be in; you can’t gain experience without working, but in many cases the only way to work is to take unpaid work.

For some, the benefit of getting real experience and building a network outweighs the cost of increasing student loan debt and a lack of income. For others, their financial position dictates whether they take an unpaid internship or find work in another industry, relevant or not. Graduates come out with an expectation that they will have a job waiting for them. However, this isn’t the 1980’s, jobs aren’t as plentiful and competition is as fierce as ever. Sometimes the only way of getting your foot in the door and starting your career is through unpaid internships, but like all things in life, it’s not for everyone.

Unpaid internships will wear you out. (Art by Rebecca Duce)

8

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A&E Amber Richardson // arts@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikarts

The world of paparazzi: High prices and no privacy Priscilla Popp Staff

Click, click, click. Many of us experience the sound of a camera at family gatherings, before a night out or when we see that perfect “Kodak moment”. Celebrities, on the other hand, experience that all too familiar sound at the grocery store, at the hair salon and even while out with their children. Paparazzi – the people who Lady Gaga dedicated an entire song to – are both loved and loathed in Hollywood. While paparazzi provide frequent publicity to those who want their name in the news, having a camera in the face all the time does not particularly bode well with some.

Though celebrity photographs seem to appear more and more frequently, the love-hate relationship between celebs and a long lens is about much more than thousands of images on TMZ. The right and expectation of privacy is a major issue that has surfaced in recent years.

Paparazzi frequently look for “money shots” – that is, a shocking or exposing image of a celebrity – that can rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars. If a celebrity is passed out at a club or pictured while engaging in questionable behaviour, the value of an image skyrockets. Even photos of singers and actors doing regular activities like shopping or eating at a restaurant can have a high price tag.

Until several years ago, being pictured under these circumstances was viewed as acceptable – expected even.

However in the last several years, some celebrities have turned the tables on the paparazzi themselves. A-listers

Paparazzi are both loved and loathed in Hollywood. (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

have begun to willingly sell or post pictures of themselves in an effort to

prevent the “first-photo frenzy” that comes after a baby or wedding. For

example, in 2012, Beyonce released the first ever picture of baby Blue Ivy through Instagram. Suddenly, the race to capture that coveted first image was gone. Wedding photos are also in high demand, with many celebrities choosing to personally sell them, sometimes for charity. Selling these types of photographs allows the famous to reveal themselves on their own terms and on their own time - a spread in a magazine certainly seems much more ideal than a swarm of tooeager photographers ready to click away. However ironic, freedom in selling personal photographs is one of the first steps some celebrities have made in trying to affirm their right to personal privacy.

More recently, stars with children have advocated for new laws that protect young eyes from intrusive – and blinding – flashes. In September 2013, a law was passed in California that increased the criminal penalty for paparazzi who harass children based on who their parents happen to be.

The new law now enables a first time offender to face up to a year in jail and fine of $10,000.

The new legislation is likely the first step of many in protecting both celebrity children and future expectations of privacy. If the California law is any indication, courts seem willing to consider the fact that celebrities are asking for something that many of us easily take for granted – the ability to live our lives without thousands of archived photographs documenting our every move.

Is reality TV realistic?

Kristen Rodgers Staff

Reality TV fans often find themselves questioning whether or not the events taking place on their favourite reality TV show is reality or staged. Reality TV shows often captures our attention because it is a reality we do not live in. Who wouldn’t want to live in a Kardashian’s shoes for a day? Shows like Teen Mom, Keeping up with the Kardashians and Duck Dynasty, for instance, give their audience a glimpse

into the lives they live.

Reality television is defined as a genre of television programming that documents unscripted situations and actual occurrences. Often when people think about reality TV, they believe the show is scripted and those people are often right. Reality TV stars including Kim Kardashian from Keeping up with the Kardashians and Spencer Pratt from The Hills have admitted to

staging scenes on their show.

However, Brody Jenner, who has been a reality TV star on both The Hills and Keeping up with the Kardashians, will be the first one to defend Keeping up with the Kardashians. In a television interview, Jenner said “As far as the Kardashians go, that’s real life. I was going through that with my father pretty much just on a daily basis, getting to know him. And they were filming for their show, and they basically said to me, ‘Do you want to put this on air or do you not?’

Whether you agree with Jenner or not, a celebrity’s reality TV show can be compared to an average person’s everyday life online.

With the growing amount of Twitter and Facebook users, it has become second nature for users to document their lives for others to see. Users document where they are going for lunch, their relationship status, what friends they have, where they

work and important details of their lives that does not make it a whole lot different than reality TV. “Is it your true self or is it what you hope people will think of you because you’re not going to show the boring parts of your life like doing laundry or playing video games for a solid 12 hours,” Chris Alksnis, psychology professor and program coordinator said. “Nobody wants to watch you do that, so you’re going to show a piece of yourself that you’re hoping people will say ‘her life must be like that all the time’.”

So maybe their lives aren’t that different than the average person.

Today, people are used to the idea of sharing important events taking place in their lives with their families, friends and even strangers online. Some might say that the generation growing up with this technology all the time may feel differently about being in front of a camera and documenting their lives.

“We know from psychology that when we’re taping people for a study, at first they are a little bit nervous about the camera being there and then eventually they do forget,” Alksnis said. So maybe all the hair-pulling, drunken screaming and misadventures truly are real life for some.

9

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A&E

Amber Richardson // arts@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikarts

with Amber Richardson

with Amber Richardson The Calendar Girls ring in the New Year in the buff. Left to right: Deanna Stevens, Linda Lloyd-McKenzie, Sophia Buzzelli, Elizabeth Durand, Jessica O’Connor and Valerie Harrison. (Photo courtesy of Heather Cardle)

The Calendar Girls are coming to Brantford Amber Richardson A&E Editor Everyone has seen, or at least heard of, the resourcefully raunchy group of women from the United Kingdom who created a calendar full of domestic nudies for charity.

Calendar Girls is a real life story that found a home in cinema and is now ditching the big screen for the stage at Sanderson Centre.

The play, which is written by Tim Firth and directed by Rick Toews, tells the story about a group of women belonging to The Women’s Institute in Britain, looking for innovative ways to raise money. They often

focused on highly domestic skills such as jam-making, flower pressing and baking.

In Calendar Girls, the women make an unusual decision to take their baked goods and flowers and pose fully naked behind them to create a calendar that not only raised money, but launched them into superstardom.

Toews’s Calendar Girls includes a cast full of local talent, with both men and women from Brant County and surrounding areas. The cast has a large age gap, with some actors being in their 20’s,

stretching right to their 70’s. Susan Dignan, a representative from Stage 88, disclosed that six of the women are the calendar girls and yes, there will be nudity! However, similar to the movie, we won’t see boobies or bums, as the props will be meticulously placed to cover all the goods. Since there isn’t any actual nudity, the performance is appropriate for all ages - and from comedy to tearjerker, this production captures all the emotions and is suitable for fans of almost any genre.

Stage 88 is a local non-profit theatre

company and they are committed to “[enriching] and [entertaining], by providing a superior theatre experience through creative community involvement,” says Dignan. Calendar Girls is sure to leave an impression, so grab your friends and roommates and have a night on the town!

Calendar Girls will be playing at Sanderson Centre on February 6 and 7 and tickets are $27 each.

Changing the rap game Jaclyn Brown Staff One could effortlessly deduce that mainstream rap has undergone a major transformation in recent years. To say the least, we’ve come a long way since “rack city chick rack rack city chick” (now that song is stuck in your head). Lyrics have undergone a major overhaul and society’s perception of rap has dramatically shifted to something even mom can not only tolerate, but also enjoy. Who knew that in the 21st century, rap would be a major platform for promoting gay equality? Macklemore and Frank Ocean are the epitome of game changing rap artists. Although Thrift Shop may have been your drinking anthem at some point, beyond face value these artists are using their creative juices to influence a generation. Once taking the tequila out of the equation and taking an afternoon to put those Christmas iTunes card to good use, I’m pretty damn sure I cracked the code.

Macklemore’s debut album The

Heist features an intimate array of songs touching on issues that past rappers failed to breach, such as gay rights and equality.

You’ve probably heard and belted the catchy hook in the shower and it’s the track with the most influential zeal, Same Love. It took music critics and audiences by surprise when it hit mainstream airwaves, with truthful lyrics such as “The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision and you can be cured with some treatment and religion”. The beautiful thing about radio and music is that it penetrates the ears of those who don’t want to listen; from grocery stores to dental offices- it’s inevitable. The ears of the ignorant were graced with a little perspective and Macklemore himself feels that its time for rap to shed some light on these issues.

“The fact that hip hop artists are starting to talk about, that we have a president who endorses it. It’s just an issue that’s at the

forefront of civil rights at this moment in history. And I think that’s why I wanted to write about it because its prevalent of what’s going on right now,” said Macklemore in an interview with Q13 Fox in Washington. He’s started a movement where rap no longer confined to lyrics revolving around die-hard partying and one night stands.

Infiltrating rap music with human rights issues is a powerful method of education, especially from a straight perspective.

In July 2012, Frank Ocean came out as gay through a compelling lament on Tumblr about falling in love with a man and he’s using his stardom to promote equality and acceptance.

On the R&B side of the spectrum, Drake has been widely accredited with the latest quasiR&B rap style. We are all occasionally a sucker for those slow and articulate lyrics peppered with Meet representatives the sultry sounds of the froma variety of school ballad chorus (AKA sexy boards and international time music). Whatever Drake has started, Frank teacher/recruitment Ocean might be finishing. agencies. Students from His powerful imagery with a smooth essence all programs and years of jazz sets his music are welcome! apart from conventional www.wlu.ca/career lyrics, several of his songs feature lyrics about relationships with men. This excerpt from his coming out post on Tumblr exposes the innermost morsels of his

soul, as he fell hopelessly love. “Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence ... until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless...” Transparency in Hollywood is hard to come by and posts like these let audiences take a glimpse into labelless love, in a way that is intrinsically human instead of love being branded with homophobic titles. Love is love and Frank Ocean built his newest album Channel Orange on that notion.

The bottom line here is that music isn’t gay and music isn’t straight, it’s inherently human. Having rap as a platform to embody this notion is what society needs to propel equality issues forward. Living in an era where artists have finally harnessed the educational power mainstream music possesses is compelling and inspiring. For these artists, the name of the game isn’t (always) money, fame, women and sex. It extends into a realm where music is more than a creative outlet, but an outlet to advance social acceptance and to promote human dignity. Although we are still barely scratching the surface on marriage equality and human rights equality, it’s invigorating that in the 21st century rap has become a platform for promoting it.

Changing the rap game. (Art by Rebecca Duce)

10

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

SPORTS

Kyle Morrison // sports@thesputnik.ca | @sputniksports

Men’s basketball team tries to keep season alive on Friday Chris Pimentel Staff The extramural men’s basketball team is looking to get on track in what could be their final tournament of the year at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus on January 23. The biggest task for the Golden Hawks is to overcome their slow starts. “Usually what happens is that we go into the first two games and we lose because we aren’t use to the basketball court, once we get use to them we start winning,” says Ojeifo Izirein.

The Golden Hawks could be playing in their final tournament thanks to how they placed in previous tournaments. In the final tournament, teams are given invitations based on previous performances in previous tournaments, but due to a couple missed opportunities and overtime losses, the Golden Hawks have a lot of ground

to make up in order to qualify for future tournaments.

However, in the last tournament, the Golden Hawks were able to start fast. They played well in their first two games, but things fell apart at the seams for the team when they played Sheridan College. “Yeah, we played back to back to back games and you can say we were tired, but the thing is that we weren’t prepared for that team,” says Izirein.

One of the strengths with this team is their team defense. Izirein acknowledges that, saying that the key players like Alex Packer help communicate with the other players on the court to spread out while playing a zone defense. The team switched from a man-to-man to a zone defense, where everybody is responsible for an area

of a court, which puts emphasis on who is the better athlete on the court.

This team is very balanced in terms of age, with three first year players on the team. Jacob McConnell is the biggest talk on the court, according to Izirein. “He is very vocal on the court, he is the guy people look to when something goes wrong, he is there for positive re-enforcement.

As the season went along, the team started to learn their roles, which is expected to happen over the course of a season. The issue is that the Golden Hawks have to succeed quickly or their season will not last for long, because there is such a limited time to gel as a team.

The main thing that this team wants to work on is getting the ball in the middle of the court and scoring effectively on offense.

In the last tournament they played in, the Golden Hawks were leading by 23 points when the first string players came out. The other team was able to storm back from that lead and the Golden Hawks lost the game.

Sometimes, teams need a killer instinct and to know that they should never take their foot off the gas. That is what this team needs to do and something Izirein stressed during the interview.

It remains to be seen if this team can continue their season, but the one thing that is for sure is that the next tournament is their biggest so far.

Dodgeball team hopes to leave George Brown victorious Kyle Morrison Sports Editor The extramural dodgeball team is looking to end their season on a high note on January 23. After two third place finishes to start the season, it’s going to take all they’ve got to finally break through with a place in the finals and a gold medal around their necks.

In the team’s first tournament at Humber Lakeshore back in October, they continued where they left off last year, earning the squad another third place finish. The tournament was definitely an opportunity missed, as they finished the round robin with an undefeated record before losing in the semifinals.

In their second tournament at Redeemer

two weeks later, once again the co-ed team left with a third place finish. They once again had a strong round robin showing, winning three of the four games, but lost again in the semis to Humber North.

“I think we’re going to have to pick up our strategies we’ve been practicing in practice as well as being smart while in play,” Co-captain Tim Miller says.

“It doesn’t just take a good arm to play dodgeball competitively. It takes strategy and being able to always have a smart plan and execution.”

It takes a strong core team to at least be consistent enough to always make semifinal appearances in tournament after

tournament like the dodgeball team has the past two seasons. But the team craves winning, especially Miller, as this will be his last tournament, both on the team and as team captain. “We’ve been practicing very hard all year and have been striving for first place. The upcoming tournament is my last, so I’m looking to go all the way.”

Miller knows the team is ready to go and has got what it takes. The only thing that has separated them all season has been a few unfortunate losses at inopportune times.

But the good teams overcome those. And those good teams that have given them the most trouble that they need to dominate are Humber Lakeshore and Humber North if

they want a chance at the title on Thursday.

“Both [Humber Lakeshore and Humber North] have very good players, as well as coaches,” Miller says. “They tend to have a higher turnout for their program which gives them strong players.” But the Golden Hawks cannot take George Brown lightly, who will have home court advantage.

And whether they win or not, Miller is looking forward to the team hosting their second annual Stand-Up Comedy Show, which doesn’t have a date set yet, but will take place sometime after the season. Last year the team made over $500, bringing in Yuk Yuks comedians Patrick Haye and Arthur Simeon.

Social @ 6pm, Voting @ 7pm in the Turret 24

11

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

SPORTS

Kyle Morrison // sports@thesputnik.ca | @sputniksports

The Golden Hawks hockey team heads to Seneca College for a tournament on January 24 as their quest for a second straight Challenge Cup victory continues in 2014. (Photo courtesy of Laurier Brantford Athletics and Recreation)

Golden Hawks hit the ice, ready for upcoming tournaments Kyle Morrison Sports Editor

The Golden Hawks men’s extramural hockey team’s season is hitting full stride with the team heading to Seneca College on Friday and the University of Toronto Scarborough campus January 31.

After winning it all last season, claiming Laurier Brantford’s first Challenge Cup, results following their first tournament haven’t been the same.

However, Captain Dave Howe likes what he’s seeing. “There’s a couple things we need to work on [power play, breaking out of our zone], but overall, the boys are getting together pretty well and the new guys meshed well, so I think the next tournament is going to be a bit more proving of what kind of team we are.”

“The boys know what’s on the line and we want to win.”

- Dave Howe Getting the new guys to mesh well and buy into that championship

mentality is huge for Howe and the Golden Hawks, primarily because there has been lots of turnover on the team, with seven or eight new players on the squad. These rookies certainly have big shoes to fill with limited time to get lots of tournament experience, considering most of last year’s lineup had almost three years under their belt together.

Howe acknowledges the lack of experience the team now has after the departure of some key players from last year’s championship run, but a learning curve is expected and the team is taking it in stride.

“We’ve really sent a message – Mike Mazurek’s a big part of that,” Howe says. “We hate losing here. Coming off that one tournament we were a little bit in the dumps, but it’s not too big of a deal. The boys know what’s on the line and we want to win.” In order to win on Jan. 24, they’re going to win some hard-fought battles against George Brown, who Laurier lost to in a shootout in their previous tournament, and Trent, a fellow 2013 Challenge Cup

participant.

The Golden Hawks have the opportunity to gain up a lot of ground in the standings with good results in the upcoming two tournaments over the next ten days. And although there won’t be a lot of time to re-group and prepare for the tournament on Jan. 31 from UTSC, Howe likes the fact that they’ll be able to step back onto the ice so soon. “I think it’s an advantage for us. Playing back-to-back weeks allows

“We want people to come into the rink knowing that they’re playing the best team.”

- Dave Howe us to get more comfortable with each other and work on some plays.”

The Challenge Cup Tournament is changing its format slightly, with the expansion from eight participant teams to twelve (including the tournament host), playing for Ontario college

hockey’s biggest prize. Even though Laurier will have to go through more teams to re-claim the Challenge Cup trophy, they will get to do it on home ice, as the Brantford campus will be hosting the event in March.

“Any pressure’s good at this point,” Howe says. “And being champions is a pretty good reputation to have … It’s definitely better to be on the top than the bottom. We want people to come into the rink knowing that they’re playing the best team.” Come March on the Brantford Civic Centre ice, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not they still are the best.

Do you love sports?

Write for us!

Go to www.wlusp.com/ volunteer

12

The Sputnik // Wednesday, January 22, 2014

OPINION Cody Groat // opinion@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikopinion

A plea for inclusive language Hannah Brunsdon Staff I was standing outside of a classroom a few days ago and I overheard a story being shared about a crazy weekend. The punch line was that their friend did something really stupid, but instead of saying the word ‘stupid’, they exclaimed “Man, it was soo gay!”. Really? Because the last time I checked, doing something that could be classified as unintelligent has nothing to do with being attracted to someone of the same gender. I understand why they say this; people have been socialized into believing that since everyone says it, it automatically makes it okay.

I would like to raise the idea that our words, just like our actions, have consequences. But what could possibly be the consequence of using a gay slur as the punch line of a joke? Unfortunately, there are many. First of all, since the LGBTQ+ community is a vulnerable group due to the fact that they are constantly being discriminated against and don’t have equal rights in most places of the world, making a joke about them is extremely detrimental to the improvement of their status in society. Discrimination, although not as commonly seen in Canada, can be seen with the new Russian anti-propaganda laws related to “non-traditional sexual relations.”

Secondly, “gay” is not synonymous of “stupid”, but when you equivocate them, you are saying that you think being gay is stupid. And that’s a pretty horrid concept in 21st century Canada to voice, if you think about it, which most people obviously don’t because some people use this expression daily. Another problem that isn’t as obvious is when people use noninclusive language, such as gay slurs, it shows that they are too lazy to think of other words that could accurately describe the situation. Come on people, we are in university! We should all know how to use a thesaurus. I understand that some people don’t enjoy spending their Saturday afternoon looking in a thesaurus to learn new words, because this is not what I’m suggesting. However, most people do have data on their cell phones and all it takes is a quick thesaurus.com search to find other interesting, more accurate words. It would be awesome if these words don’t reference a group of people, or a person, negatively.

I like to think that we have a very inclusive, safe campus. With the groups on campus, such as MyRespect, promoting inclusive language, I think we are a very progressive student body. My first experience with this campus was coming to LEAP in

August, and I was very pleased when my Skillbuilders explained the importance of inclusive language on campus. Some of my friends were slightly confused as to why they couldn’t use homophobic, racist, or sexist slurs, but they caught on after a while. Unfortunately, some others didn’t understand the importance and ignored the message. I like that we have members in our school community who are dedicated to making everyone feel respected and I think they outweigh those who choose to exclude people with their attitudes and words. However, those people are still out there, making our campus a less inclusive place, one comment at a time.

There are the obvious references that make people uncomfortable that can be classified as non-inclusive (“that’s so gay”, “that’s retarded”, racist, sexist, ableist, and any other “ist” comments). But something that I did not know before attending LEAP was saying “that’s so lame”, “I’m starving”, and “hey guys” can also be seen as non-inclusive. Think about it- lame is ableist and you’re basically saying that people who are disabled aren’t cool. Can you imagine having lived through ACTUALLY being starving and having someone use it every day without understanding how horrible it

felt? And calling everyone “guys” insinuates that only the men are worthy of hearing your message. See how some innocent words can have a negative meaning that can exclude certain groups of people? And this is just the beginning of non-inclusive language. First, non-inclusive words or comments are used, then there are some jokes made about marginalized groups, this then turns into stereotypes, and that is how normalized “isms” start. Using the word “gay” as a punchline to a joke can turn into people believe that the LGBTQ+ population should be valued less than heterosexual people.

I’m not suggesting that you need to monitor everything you say, nor am I suggesting that someone can be a “perfect inclusive person”. I’m merely requesting, on behalf of everyone who would like their university to be a safe place, that you think before you say something that could make someone uncomfortable or feel excluded.

The best thing you can do, the best thing anyone can do, is educate themselves and try to speak as inclusively as possible at all times. Consider this my plea, Laurier Brantford.

Dennis and the dictator: Rodman’s friendship with Kim Jong-un Cody Groat Opinion Editor Kim Jong-un is a name some may have never heard, but those who have can attest to the fact that he fits the widely accepted definition of “dictator”: “a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.” Even his titles in the North Korean government attests to this, “Supreme Leader of North Korea”, as well as “First Chairman of the National Defence Commission”, and “Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army”, among others. All of these titles were given to the then 28-year-old upon the death of his father, dictator Kim Jongil,who had received them himself upon the death of his father, dictator Kim Il-sung.

Needless to say, the family has had a strong hold on the nation nearly since the day Korea was divided as a partial solution to the (never-ceased) Korean War, when ‘North’ and ‘South’ were divided along the nonmilitarized 38th parallel.

The closed nation usually holds minimal to no contact with Western nations and their residents, along with animosity, such as the continued arrest of American Christian missionary Kenneth Bae. A hint of a promising future was seen in 2000, in the second term of United States President Bill Clinton. The then Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright (a distinguished and awarded politician with experience with the United Nations), held discussions with the current leader’s father, Kim Jong-il, regarding ceasing their missile program and development. I’ve seen promising photos of the two of them smiling and clinking glasses of champagne, a rare-candid moment from the dictator. Yet, for a few reasons, no deal was ever made. It leads one to wonder, if a 63-year-old Secretary of State, with full

government support from the most power- for hard-labour from his “goal to try and ful nation in the world, couldn’t cease the overthrow the North Korean government.” violence of the closed nation, can a 52 year After reading this, on May 7, 2013, Dennis old former National Basketball Association tweeted from his authorized twitter acplayer, laced with tattoos and piercings count: (and formerly the bearer of bright green “I’m calling on the Supreme Leader of hair), with no government support, do the North Korea or as I call him ‘Kim’, to do me job? Dennis Rodman thinks so. a solid and let Kenneth Bae loose” Dennis Rodman first travelled to North Although to many this was taken with Korea on February 26th, 2013 with Cana- anger as Rodman making light of the situdian founded Vice Media to host basketball ation, he was seemingly redeemed upon a exhibitions, which were w i d e l y second trip to North Korea where he again seen as controversial m e t with his friend, dictator Kim from the start. While Jong-un, in the counthere, Rodman first tries capital Pyongmet the dictator yang, to apparKim Jong-un in ently discuss the person, widely release of Bae (and regarded as the basketball) in perfirst American to son. Little is known ever meet him. Conof what was actutroversy was ally discussed. further T i d e s fuelled turned rather w h e n recently, for R o d both Kim m a n and Rods u g man, in Degested cember and Barack January reRodman and Jong-un. (Art by Rebecca Duce) Obama “pick s p e c t i v e l y. up the phone” and call On Decemthe Supreme Leader seeing as they were ber 13, 2013, North Korean state run new both fans of basketball, that Kim Jong-un agency “Korean Central News Agency” was a great father (the issue around this (KCNA), reported that Jang Sung-taek, the being his mistreatment of several North second in command of the country, also the Korean families) and referring to him Rod- uncle of Kim Jong-Un, had been tired in a man’s “friend of life.” military tribunal and executed by machine The issue was further fuelled when the gun firing squad for his work of “antibasketball champion read of the Ameri- party, counter-revolutionary factional acts can Kenneth Bae, now serving 15 years in a bid to overthrow the leadership of our

party and state and the socialist system”.

Several believe this to be a false charge so as to clear anyone of power.

Rodman came under heat while on his third trip to North Korea (in which he left January 6, and has just returned) when he implied in an interview with CNN that Kenneth Bae was justifiably in prison, a very different response than his previous discussions on the matter. His apology?

Reliant on the fact that “he didn’t mean that”, and he “had been drinking” during the interview.

Personally, I agree with several who believe that Dennis Rodman is nothing but a puppet for the dictator of North Korea.

No good is coming from Rodman’s conversation and birthday celebrations with his “friend for life”, and I personally find it a slap to the face as someone with family who has fought in the Korean War against the destructive minds of North Korea. The sister of Kenneth Bae, Terri Chung, is recorded as telling KOMO Radio in Seattle “It’s clear he has no idea what he’s talking about. I’m not sure who he’s talking to, where he’s getting his information, but he’s certainly no authority on Kenneth Bae.” In my opinion, Dennis is being a massive detriment. If any form of official communication was approached now with Obama or his new Secretary of State, John Kerry, Rodman would form an awkward hurdle, only interrupting I’m sure delaying the process of international relations by thinking he knows North Korea and their desires off the back of his basketball.

On Wednesday, January 15, Dennis Rodman checked himself in to a one month long alcohol-rehabilitation centre in the state of New Jersey. This story is ongoing.

In response to... Hentai isn’t sexy (Issue 9) Responses have not been edited from original While I respect the right that the author has to his opinion, I disagree with the main argument in this article. I personally do not watch hentai. However, I respect that some people might enjoy it. Human sexuality is incredibly di-

verse and we all have different preferences, likes and dislikes. For instance, some people might enjoy adult videos featuring same-sex couples. This is not everyone’s thing, and it falls outside of the “norm” for sexuality -- but

does this mean that it should be ripped off the shelves for being ‘disgusting’?

Similarly, hentai is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is not harming anyone as long as it is only being viewed by willing adults. If you don’t like it, then

don’t watch it; nobody is forcing you to. We should not penalize people for their sexuality just because we do not understand it or because it does not fit with some constructed notion of “normal”.