Issue 15 - March 26, 2013

sputnik

the

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - Issue 15 // www.thesputnik.ca

News

2

On Campus

4

Features

6

A&E

15

Sports

18

Opinion

19

Partnership with Laurier likely page 3

Student country singer takes on Nashville page 15

Inside the methadone clinic page 10

Merchants of death page 12

LB Golden Hawks finishes fourth page 18

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

NEWS

Jordan Johnston // news@thesputnik.ca

Does UFC have a division for Fallon Fox? Alyssa Molfetta Staff

The introduction of women’s UFC to television is not only a dream come true for male audiences, but a chance for females to show they can keep up with the boys in tackling mixed martial arts (MMA). The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world’s largest MMA fighting league and offers an opportunity for professional fighters to advance their careers in a popularized version of the sport. So far there are 11 fighters in the UFC Women’s Bantamweight division and many hopefuls to be signed in the future.

However, on March 5, one female MMA fighter, Fallon Fox, sparked an ongoing controversy in the world of professional fighting when she came out as transgendered. Fox was a man by birth, but underwent the process

and surgery involved in becoming a woman. Fighters, trainers and officials affiliated with the sport are in hot debate over whether or not it is fair or safe for Fox to be allowed to be paired with women in MMA fighting, let alone be added to the UFC’s roster.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan boldly voiced his stance on the issue via his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.

There is no mistaking his disapproval and denial of Fox being allowed to fight in the UFC Women’s division.

“She wants to be able to fight women in MMA. I say no fucking way. I say if you had a dick at one point in time, you also have all the bone structure that comes with having a dick. You have bigger hands, you have bigger shoulder joints. You’re a fucking man.

That’s a man, okay? You can’t have…

that’s… I don’t care if you don’t have a dick anymore,” said Rogan in his March 6 podcast.

Rogan also said that although he has no problem addressing Fox and respecting her as a woman in general, it is unfair for her to fight against women where she has an obvious physical advantage in her build.

UFC fighter Miesha Tate told ESPN. com this week that she will refuse to fight against Fox “due to health concerns” if a situation arises where she is asked to. Like Rogan, Tate also said that she is not against transgendered people but her decision is one out of concern for her safety.

“I just have a lot of questions and I don’t feel there’s been enough research to safely say it’s okay for Fallon Fox to fight other females,” said Tate to ESPN,

“My concern is that she went through puberty as a man. Does that change bone density? Does it change her body frame?”

Although most parties agree that they have no issue with transgendered people, this conflict lies deeper than the battle between two sexes and who is better at what. The general consensus is that there is a potential issue in the safety of fighters by allowing transgendered individuals to decide which division they can partake in. As UFC only gained mainstream popularity in the last several years and with this conflict demanding media attention, it is clear the UFC will need to address it and devise new policies for the future.

Publication ban: Murder, madness, Magnotta Nathanael Lewis Staff

A publication ban has been placed over the trial of Luka Magnotta.

The ban will extend over the length of approximately two weeks while preliminary hearings are being conducted.

Magnotta, 30, was charged with first-degree murder of Lin Jun, 33, in June of last year. He was arrested on June 6 in Berlin and brought back to Montreal. He has been brought up on additional charges for producing and distributing obscene material and desecrating a corpse, as well as

harassing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other members of Parliament.

Luc Leclair, Magnotta’s Torontobased defense lawyer, made the motion for reporters and media to not be allowed into the courtroom due to the influence their pieces may have on the jury.

On Tuesday, Quebec court judge Lori-Renee Weitzman ruled that the media and the public will be allowed into the preliminary hearing. Although this is not what Leclair was seeking, at

his request his client was allowed a publication ban on testimony – which is customary in preliminary hearings.

The preliminary hearings are where key evidence for the case will be presented from both the prosecution and defense.

In attendance at the hearings was Lin Jun’s father, Lin Diran. Twice now, he has had to remove himself and his translator from the proceedings – no one can report why.

The body of Lin was allegedly dismembered by Magnotta and sent

by mail to various locations. The headquarters of the Conservative Party in Ottawa received a foot; a hand was found in a postal warehouse addressed to the Liberal headquarters later that day; two schools in Vancouver also received a hand and foot; the torso was found in the trash inside of a suit case; and the head was found in Angrignon Park, Montreal.

The publication ban will be lifted after the two-week period is over and the details of the case will be open to the public and available for print.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27 , 2013

NEWS

Jordan Johnston // news@thesputnik.ca

Students open exhibit at Brantford Museum EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Rutt eic@thesputnik.ca ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

Angela Taylor angela.taylor@wlusp.com (519) 884-0710 ext. 3560 PHOTO EDITOR Cody Hoffman photography@thesputnik.ca ART EDITOR Diane Sison art.editor@thesputnik.ca WEB EDITOR Caitlin Henshaw web@thesputnik.ca COPY EDITORS Alicia Saunders Ahmed Minhas Jessica Lalonde SECTION EDITORS Jordan Johnston, Local News Melissa McGuffin, On Campus Layla Bozich, Features Courtney Langstaff, A&E Kyle Morison, Sports Leisha Senko, Opinion

CONTRIBUTORS Dillon Giancola Alyssa Molfetta Nathanael Lewis Sylvia Hernandez-Rassavong Oren Weiner Efua Afrane Ahmed Minhas Sebastien Bell Matt Cook Karly Rath Amber Richardson Stephanie Di Bartolo Madison Hawkins Craig Hagerman Anthony Fusco Emma Dillabough Sebastien Bell Cody Groat Elizabeth Medeiros

Jordan Johnston News Editor As of March 21st, the Brantford Historical Society on Charlotte Street, hosts the grand opening of three new exhibits. This museum of archives has much to show off about local history including photography, hats and clothing that have never been displayed here before. Students from the University of Toronto working on their Masters in Museum Studies have created the ‘tip of the hat’ display.

Chelsea Carss the curator at the museum said these students have been chosen to create these displays and Brantford will host them for three months.

This ‘tip of the hat’ display, created

by Angharad Wenz, Marie-Claire Eylott, Ceiridwen Robbins, and Ashley Machenzie is their way of ‘painting pictures and ideas’ for people, because everyone learns in a different way, with different textiles, you can choose your own way to learn.

The three exhibits featured are community based, incorporating the present and the past.

They work to make past relevant and present relatable, and special. As part of the exhibit pictures from people around town were taken in order to blend into their work.

These ambitious students want everyone to be aware of museum studies. They are all in this for different reasons some including; the advancement of technology and getting museums more involved in communities, opening the eyes of the public and creating outreach and education in many different areas is crucial for the survival of museums.

All of the girls involved in the creation of this hat exhibit come from completely different undergraduate degrees.

“The Brantford Historical Society shares the stories of your community because your history matters,” said Chelsea Carss. Also a graduate from the University of Toronto Masters in Museum studies Chelsea said, a common comment I hear is “I can’t imagine what you do in a museum all day, ‘You’d be surprised.’”

The Brantford Museum (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

Brantford mayor gives advice for Toronto casino Dillon Giancola Staff

WLUSP BRANTFORD MANAGER OF OPERATIONS Allison Leonard allison.leonard@wlusp.com PHONE (519) 756-8228 ext.5948 202-171 Colborne St. N3T 2C9

Brantford mayor, Chris Friel, spoke at a town-hall meeting in Scarborough this past Saturday. He gave the community his thoughts on the proposed multi-billion dollar downtown Toronto casino and resort.

The casino has been met with controversy ever since it was initially proposed. As it gets closer to the time for a decision to be made, there is still no definitive answer as to what will happen. Friel spoke of his experience with Casino Brantford.

“It is not going to be the most amazing thing ever, but you’re not going to drop into

the deepest depths of hell,” Friel said.

He said that a casino is just another industry and will not affect Toronto in a negative way.

However, Friel made sure to let the community know that he wasn’t try to persuade them into approving the casino, but rather to keep an open mind.

Friel stated that there is a lot of experience in Ontario with casinos, and it is worth learning from it. He also mentioned that most of the experience within Ontario has been positive.

One of his main points is the amount of money that can be made and jobs that will be

created. Since Brantford’s casino opened in the fall of 1999, the city has received $48.8 million.

The money has been put to good use, mostly in revitalizing the downtown core.

The proposed Toronto casino would create 12,000 full-time and part-time jobs.

However, with any talk of increasing gambling availability in an area, there is some concern of potential problem-gamblers. There are many opinions telling the city what to do and we may be no closer to a conclusion, but at least for Friel, the benefits outweigh the loss.

Bylaw to prevent smoking at bus terminal WLUSP OFFICE 205 Regina Street Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5 PRESIDENT Emily Frost (519) 884-0710 ext.3565 emily.frost@wlusp.com ADVERTISING Angela Taylor (519)884-0710 ext. 3560 angela.taylor@wlusp.com The Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo. Contact Emily Frost - WLUSP, 205 Regina Street The Sputnik is a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) 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: Cody Hoffman Left: Cody Hoffman Centre: Kenneth Chou Right: Lynne Gulliver

Nathanael Lewis Staff A new bylaw that will prevent people from smoking at the Brantford Transit Terminal will be put in effect soon.

Brantford City Council met on Monday night to discuss issues surrounding improving Brantford.

There has been a bylaw in effect, but it only bans smoking under the terminal’s canopy, yet allowing it anywhere further from the terminal.

The new bylaw was presented at the meeting by councillor Larry Kings, who sits on the Transit Liaison Advisory Committee.

Kings explains the main reason for the

change to the bylaw, “because it’s not healthy and we’re trying to do everything we can.

The secondary reason is because the TLAC … has over the last year suggested that [City Council] do something about the smoking at the terminal.”

The resolution which Kings is in the process of getting from the legal department will allow for the city to post signs on the terminal walls and the fence surrounding the perimeter of the terminal.

The hope is that by posting the signs on the property, the riders will become compliant and this will not result in any issues after the first

week.

Kings mentioned the penalties for incompliant riders would include refusing the customer access to the transit system or calling the Brantford Police Service and having them deal with the person directly.

The new bylaw will go to council at the end of March. With all council members on board with the new bylaw, it is expected to be carried out immediately.

Signs are expected to be posted within the next two weeks and enforcement to begin as early as the start of April.

I guess it is time to say goodbye Olivia Rutt Editor-in-Chief I never wanted to say this, because saying goodbye is too hard. It is doubly hard, as I have to say goodbye on two factions. Goodbye to the Sputnik, and goodbye to Laurier Brantford.

First, thank you to our readers. Without you, we could not exist, and although you may be trying sometimes, we always appreciated feedback.

Second, a huge and loving thank you to the staff of the Sputnik. This year was an interesting one, and I am so glad I could see

you grow over this past year.

Four years ago, I took an opportunity and joined a team that ended up feeling like my family. Today on the cusp of my university career, I find myself looking back at the amazing and frustrating times I have spent with the satellite paper and the people that make it home.

I would also like to give a huge bear hug to Allison Leonard who grew as a writer and ended up becoming the President of WLUSP.

You, who I consider one of my closest friends, are going places.

Leaving would be much harder if The Sputnik wasn’t left in the very capable hand of Layla Bozich, your 2013-2014 Sputnik Editorin-Chief. Layla, good luck and have fun.

With that, I bow out begrudgingly. Let’s be real, I don’t really want to leave.

Stay curious, Olivia

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ON CAMPUS Melissa McGuffin // oncampus@thesputnik.ca

Laurier Brantford spreads the word on mental health Oren Weiner Staff

In a world where the many pressures of life can accumulate, there can be a serious concern for mental health. According to a statistic from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), one in every five Canadians will experience a mental illness in his/her life.

Enter the Campus Education Committee, who organized the Mental Health, Mental Wealth event to raise student awareness.

“The main thing is to raise awareness for students about mental health, and make them aware of what services we have at Laurier and in the community,” said Marshal Rodrigues, the event’s organizer, “This is one of Laurier’s initiatives to de-stigmatize mental health.”

To support Laurier’s cause, several organizations from within the Brantford community set up displays to inform students about mental health and variables associated with it. St. Leonard’s, the CMHA, Laurier’s Criminology department, as well as the Healthy Lifestyle Committee appeared at the event to offer their own input on the issue.

The event was centralized on three primary objectives of informing students and the community about campus services that treat the illnesses, as well as the stigmas associated with it, and emphasizing its political importance. Each participating organization

offered some information relevant to their general cause. In particular, organizations like St. Leonard’s and the CMHA extended their support for counselling services in the wake of a backlog for the university’s counselling services.

“There’s a big backlog for counselling, so it’s an alternative for students to use,” said Mike Parsons, an event volunteer.

Symptoms of mental illness tend to appear between the ages 18 and 25, hence why it’s important to reach out to university students who are in the thick of that age range. Often, students will feel discouraged from getting the help they need to cope with mental illness because of common misconceptions, according to Lill Petrella of the CMHA. “Most people who have the symptoms won’t go for help because of the stigma,” said Petrella, “People feel like they will be misunderstood and misjudged.”

Common misconceptions can lead people to perceive those with mental illnesses as insane or lacking the ability to deal with difficult situations or even violent psychotics.

These myths often lead to people avoiding mentally-ill persons, out-casting them. Jennifer Lavoie, an expert in psychology and assistant professor in Criminology at Laurier explained

that mental illness is “one of the most highly stigmatized illnesses in Canada.”

“Mental illness is an umbrella term, but people tend to focus more on the more dysfunctional disorders,” said Lavoie.

Adding to the common myths of mental disease, Lavoie explained that while we may focus on the more severe symptoms of the disorders, we also mistake psychopathy for being a mental illness. This is why violence is sometimes a perceived characteristic of mental illnesses.

“We assume that people who commit violent crimes are mentally ill, but the vast majority are actually sane,” Lavoie added.

In terms of what the future holds for those suffering from a mental illness, Petrella believes it is getting better as more people are getting the help they need. However, she also asserted that the current situation still isn’t ideal. With improvement necessary, the Campus Education Committee is taking the steps to do just that, by raising awareness on a misunderstood matter and helping their peers whom are in need of finding the right places to go.

Brain. (Photo courtesy of OpenClipArt)

Part-time professors: a new reality of the university experience Sylvia Hernandez-Rassavong Staff

Despite Laurier Brantford having many acting Dean of Laurier Brantford explains. professors who have been teaching here “We develop a timetable first, which for years, there are still always brand new is based upon the instructional needs professors appearing in classrooms. of existing students a year ahead,” says Dr.to Stephen (Photo by Cody Hoffman) These new professors are used fill a Haller McCutcheon. need for courses, as John McCutcheon, the The existing faculty chooses what courses

to offer for the year and full-time professors fill the positions. Contract Academic Staff (CAS) fills the outstanding positions.

Experienced professors help to make the learning experience smooth for students.

However, some professors are not prepared to teach a specific course due to their inexperience. This is not to say that they are not qualified individuals as they do have credentials that qualify them to be a professor.

“We hire people, rightly or wrongly, based upon academic qualifications and research potential,” says McCutcheon.

Often, professors are highly skilled in technical areas, but they don’t know how to translate that into the classroom.

However, in some areas, the technical expertise becomes beneficial.

“In some programs, Journalism would be an example, and Business Technology Management; we actually want to have a portion of classes taught by practitioners because there’s an applied aspect to the program,” says McCutcheon.

Many students groan when they become aware that their professor has no experience in teaching because they are reduced to trial and error.

“You kind of just walk in blind. That’s not to say that faculty is not

supportive and helpful, they absolutely are.

When you apply for the job, you’re expected to know how to teach the course already,” says Nicole Cohen, a part-time Journalism professor.

The collective agreement for CAS gives them academic freedom and specifies that it is a collegial environment, which means each professor creates their own course outline and works under minimal supervision.

There are support services available to faculty for professional development and provide support for new professors.

“We need to continue to help them become better teachers. I think the expansion of teaching support services is probably the best example,” says McCutcheon.

Part-time professors are paid per course.

Many of them have to teach more than one course per semester, often at different institutions and programs to make a living.

Sometimes they have to travel.

“Recognizing that most part-time faculty has conflicting demand on their time, we need to offer them the support that we don’t need to offer some of the full-time faculty,” says McCutcheon.

Aside from the frustration students may feel with inexperienced professors, they also feel disconnected from professors.

“It may be hard for students, as it is for faculty, to develop a relationship because they may never see them again,” says Cohen.

Laurier Brantford has 379 sections for both Fall and Winter 2012-2013, 59.9 per cent were taught by full-time faculty and CAS taught 40.1 per cent.

Part-time faculty is only going to increase due to a the lack of government funding and cutbacks will effect staffing.

Professors have earned their job through their academic and professional achievements, but that is separate to teaching ability. Paper is different to personality. This means that there’s a good chance that you may never see a professor again.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ON CAMPUS

Melissa McGuffin // oncampus@thesputnik.ca

Prof profile: Jennifer Lavoie From the Navy to Laurier Brantford Efua Afrane Staff

Professor Jennifer Lavoie is a great example of why it’s important to be open to new opportunities.

With her initial dream to become a police officer, she gained an Honours degree in Psychology from Carleton University.

She joined the Navy in her second year and as a model student, she was either doing schoolwork or training in the Navy. Near the end of her career and after meeting her first mentor, she was immersed in researching; which eventually became her passion.

“I just got bit by the research bug and walked away from the military … [I] changed my mind about becoming a police officer and wanted to do forensic psychology,” said Lavoie.

Though her abilities to detect deception from juries and eyewitness testimonies may not be like its portrayal in shows like Lie to Me, it still remains impressive.

“Our language changes when we talk about events we do all the time,” explained Lavoie as she described her research about deception in children. It is the focus of one of eight projects for which she is currently involved in.

Letting new opportunities shape her direction, Lavoie has held different positions in the field of psychology. As she studied her Masters at Simon Fraser University, she worked for B.C. Mental Health and Addiction services in their forensic institution. There, she was exposed to people who were not criminally responsible by reasons of mental

disorders and who were pronounced unfit to stand trial. Next, she transitioned to a civil psychiatric facility where she worked for many years.

“You have to have hands on experience; you can’t sit in an ivory tower and pontificate about people. If you’re going to do research on people, you should be among them,” said Lavoie.

As her path was verging on research, she never thought she would become a professor and teach.

“We wind up in places we don’t think we’re actually going to be, after 14 years of being in university I thought, okay, I’m going to be a researcher … I moved to Brantford and an opportunity came up to teach here … I thought, let’s try something new,” said Lavoie.

Her teaching approach reflects her flamboyant personality as she strives to be compassionate and accessible to her students. Though it can be tough, she tries to remain enthusiastic when teaching hard courses such as Addiction and Psychology of Crime. Even with courses commonly thought of as boring like statistics, she enthusiastically described how passionate she was about them.

“I cannot deliver all of the information in a three hour window, but I hope at least I’m lighting a fire… it’s great to have a plan … but be open to these unexpected opportunities that come knocking,” advises Lavoie.

Jennifer Lavoie (Photo by Elizabeth Medeiros)

Diversity in the classroom Sylvia Hernandez-Rassavong Staff

Creating an inclusive and diverse community on the Laurier Brantford campus, as well as the city in general, is important. The discussion of how to create this environment is one that is key to community.

“Brantford is a community that needs a lot more education on these types of issues.

It’s not a matter of ignorance, it’s a lack of education on what it really means to be an ally or to be comfortable with being queer,” says Keyena Smith, Laurier Brantford’s Student Diversity Intern.

Diversity in the Classroom by Kate

Reid educates teachers or those taking public service roles on how to create a more inclusive environment and how to deal with these types of issues. The event on March 16, 2013, was funded by Prism and hosted by MyRespect and the Rainbow Alliance.

“We still live in a sort of homophobic society and there is a lot [of] fear about coming out. A lot of people experience bullying and violence from society, family, friends, whatever, and I think it’s really important to lay it out,” says Reid, “Say the words, talk about it, because the more we

are open about it, the more it ‘normalizes’ the whole thing.”

Creating awareness increases communication and encourages a safe, accepting environment for everyone.

“I think it’s really important for Laurier Brantford to have these sorts of workshops because it shows that as we grow as a campus, we’re also taking knowledge about inclusivity and diversity with us on that journey,” says Smith.

With growth, Laurier Brantford’s presence in the downtown area becomes more visible. A welcoming environment on

campus can expand into the community.

“Activism is very important because if nobody is active on issues like this, nothing is going to change. You don’t have to be an extreme activist, but just the little things like telling people not to say ‘that’s so gay!’ or encouraging inclusive language and just stopping bullying overall in the classroom,” says Benjamin Vervaecke, Laurier Brantford’s Rainbow Alliance Coordinator.

Laurier begins revamp of website after receiving complaints Efua Afrane Staff

When Laurier received harsh complaints about their website, the school opted to make a change.

The wlu.ca website has a standardized format which was created in 2003 to appear the same for all searches. However, since there is no clear distinction between different information, users can easily get confused and frustrated. For example, a simple search for details about a journalism course requirement takes students on a confusing trail of links and pages that eventually lead to the Waterloo campus site. With little knowledge about the services provided at Laurier Brantford, it’s easy for newcomers to make the wrong assumptions.

According to a research paper written by Kris Gerhardt in 2012, prospective students at Wilfrid Laurier University have negative experiences with the website and have complained about it in a focus group. The report, “Postsecondary Student Mobility: From College to University, Experience

and Policy” included the experience of registered transfer students, faculty and staff from both campus locations.

As explained by Gerhadt, the issues lie with people’s ability to navigate and find things within the system.

“The research that I’ve done wasn’t focused on websites … one of the most general complaints from transfer students is that they don’t know where and how to access the information they need to answer the questions they have, and they found that very frustrating,” said Gerhadt.

The report suggests that the schools website is an essential tool for students to access information. Unfortunately, the report reveals that all but one student in every focus group had a negative assessment of Laurier’s website. The students labeled the website as, “atrocious” and “not user friendly at all”, explaining that it was “very confusing.”

Issues with the website range from

the little indication provided when the website merges with Waterloo’s website, to inaccuracies within the search engine.

“Our generation and generations after ours would rather go about something on the internet. [It] wouldn’t even occur to us to go speak to somebody,” said one of the focus group students.

Wilfrid Laurier University is in a planning phase, which involves two stages.

The first stage includes an assessment of the website by the Laurier community and a review of web designs and technology.

The second stage involves the development of the new website. The project has been proposed and ideally the change will begin for the upcoming Fall semester.

Tom Buckley, senior leader of the central ICT team and Vice- President of Academic services related about concerns with the website.

“It’s been a known issue that the architecture for the solution that manages

the site … is not current … it’s a number of things that are operating today, we need to look at their functionality and consolidating them and then determine what we’re going to do in what phase and how are we going to do that,” said Buckley.

Faculty members at Laurier Brantford have also had negative experiences with the website as explained by Dr. Andrew Robinson.

“I certainly share these concerns … of course there’s the whole, why do we have a website if you have to phone people to find the information that you were supposed to be able to get from the website? I mean that’s got to be a resource allegation issue,” said Dr. Robinson.

As the website is in progression, students will have to be patient with its current state. Soon, there should be revamped website that, hopefully, it will meet the needs of users.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

FEATURES

Layla Bozich// features@thesputnik.ca

Men’s rights: Over-privileged or a right to defend?

Ahmed Minhas Staff

In the past century, one of the biggest sociopolitical and cultural movements around the world has been feminism.

The movement has fought for women’s rights, from the right to vote to the right to divorce and the ongoing fight for competitive wages in comparison to men.

The rise of feminism has also garnered a new movement on the side, the Men’s Rights Movement (MRM). MRM focuses on issues of perceived discrimination and inequalities faced by men. Major issues of concern are child custody or family law; domestic violence and rape, specifically on false accusation of rape; and divorce and alimony.

Samuel Jobson, a vocal men’s rights activist and blogger, has been part of the movement for three years.

“Men’s rights ha[ve] a history that began in the 1970s to defend the rights men perceived [they] were losing to feminism,” says Jobson, “Not many people know there is evidence showing the movement has roots going all the way back to the 1920s.”

According to Jobson, the MRM rejects feminist principles in a world where men’s rights are being eroded. Many critics have called the movement misogynistic and have even labeled it a hate group. Jobson disagrees with this and says the movement is not against women’s rights.

A crucial component of the MRM is the battle over child custody. Citing cases in the United States and United Kingdom, many men feel they do not have the same civil rights as their female counterparts.

Men have less contact time with their children and lack shared parenting rights.

It has been interpreted that Western courts generally give mothers sole custody of a child without looking at any consequences of the action. Toronto-based Fathers Are Capable Too (FACT) and three other rights groups in Canada attempted to overturn child custody provisions in the existing federal Divorce Act. The groups claimed that the legal test used to decide which parent is granted custody is biased against fathers, thereby violating the discrimination provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Sheldon Gordon, a freelance writer for the Canadian Bar Association Magazine wrote, “Fathers’ rights groups point to data compiled by the Justice Department showing that 80 per cent of parenting orders have given mothers sole custody, while only 10 per cent have given fathers sole custody.”

Another concern with the current child support model in Canada is the 40 per cent rule. On one end, fathers may attempt to

exploit the system and gain 40 per cent of shared-parenting to save money on child support. However, mothers may deny fathers 40 per cent of shared-parenting time to make money. Carey Linde, a Vancouver lawyer and fathers’ rights advocate believes this ratio is 1,000/2 (women/men).

Another crucial component of the MRM is domestic violence and rape against men.

In the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, it was found that men are as susceptible to sexual violence as are women, 5.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively. Nearly 12 per cent of men in the United States reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime.

“Surveys attempting to report on sexual violence always run into one problem,” says Michael Krasnov, a member of the Rainbow Center at the University of Connecticut, “Because of the fear of being embarrassed, many men don’t report cases of sexual violence or rape, which skews the results.”

Krasnov believes the majority of people have a one-sided view on rape, thinking that men cannot be raped. He says that feminist thinking revolves around the belief that only women can be victims of sexual violence.

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey also reported that

5 per cent of men were victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, compared to 5.9 per cent of women.

“There is this whole argument about rape culture that’s dominated by feminists,” explains Krasnov, “Yeah, it’s true that rape is wrong but you can’t just limit rape to one gender.”

The Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality reported a study regarding women as sexual aggressors. The study concluded that women are now taking an active role in sex.

According to Peter Anderson and Dyan Melson who conducted the study, “As many as 7 per cent of women self-report the usual of physical force to obtain sex, 40 per cent self-report sexual coercion, and over 50 per cent self-report initiating sexual contact with a man while his judgment was impaired by drugs or alcohol.”

The MRM is not aimed as an attack on women’s rights; the movement’s aim is to ensure that boys and men are not being ignored and it can be ensured that both women and men can have equal rights.

Old laws regarding alimony and divorce; child support and custody; and perceptions about domestic violence and rape against men need to be changed as our society moves forward.

session with President Barack Obama.

Before a post can reach front-page prominence, it must be submitted to a “subreddit.” These vary wildly and are part of reddit.com’s appeal. On the site, one can find subreddits about anything from politics to pictures of sunlight passing through summer dresses.

The website, however, is largely unregulated. Barring child pornography and its ilk, people can create a subreddit on just about anything.

R/spacedicks is the most infamous of all subreddits. It has the most subscribers of any disturbing subreddit. What is seen on r/spacedicks, it is said, cannot be unseen.

New Redditors are advised against visiting r/spacedicks.

The content of the forum is, I can personally report, distressing.

As a testament to the site’s dedication to the disgusting, the subreddit’s banner is a severed penis, followed by a rainbow, flying across the screen into a prolapsed anus. Whereas Reddit.com allows its members to use upvotes and downvotes

to signal their appreciation for a post, r/ spacedicks calls upvotes “fagets” (sic) and downvotes “feminists.” These are by no means the most disturbing things one is likely to find in r/spacedicks.

In my short time on the site, I bore witness to several dismembered penises, mutilated vaginas, anuses in all manner of disrepair, a man who had a bloody, chunky hole where his face ought to have been, pornographic pictures of an octogenarian (which, frankly, came as a relief), and many other horrors that do not bear description.

For Koenig, r/spacedicks is a place totally separate from reality. It is so overthe-top ridiculous that there is a degree of separation and it almost becomes a form of entertainment like any other. That said, Koenig is not eager to reveal his predilection for the forum. He admitted to feeling a little shame at his pastime.

Koenig argues that the impulse to frequent r/spacedicks and the impulse to watch horror movies, like Saw, are not all that different. Horror movies, however, can be considered mainstream due to what film

scholars describe as an implied promise between the viewer and the filmmakers that the images onscreen are not real.

Despite this implied promise, it would seem that an appetite for the gruesome is quite popular. Though some are only comfortable with it as an illusion, others are allowed to indulge their morbid fascinations because of the Internet.

The idea of a completely free Internet is seductive, but most people would likely draw the proverbial line somewhere before r/spacedicks and well before even more nefarious phenomena, such as child pornography.

In his AMA, President Obama was asked about his stance on Internet neutrality.

His answer spoke to the importance of the idea of freedom for the Internet. “We will fight hard to make sure that the Internet remains [an] open forum for everybody,” said President Obama.

The Internet is, in many ways, a battlefield where society will have to decide just how much freedom is permissible.

R/spacedicks Sebastien Bell Staff

It has been said that the Internet is the wild west of our times. It is vast, untamed, and the site of all manner of lawlessness.

For people like Leonard Koenig, member of the popular website Reddit.com, it is a place to indulge fascinations with the truly morbid.

Koenig is a subscriber and infrequent poster to a forum called r/spacedicks.

Though he maintains that he is not active in the spacedicks community, he does “watch sick stuff on the net regularly.” He admits to having seen pictures of all sorts of mutilated bodies and videos of death, among other things.

Reddit.com is a popular Internet forum where people submit news articles, pictures, originally generated content, and other varied media to be viewed by those who frequent the website, called redditors.

If a post gets enough “upvotes” it reaches the front page. Reddit.com has reached such popularity that it boldly calls itself “the front page of the Internet” and recently hosted a question and answer (called an Ask me Anything or AMA on Reddit)

The Reddit alien. (Art by Diane Sison)

7

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

FEATURES

Layla Bozich // features@thesputnik.ca

The trouble with for-profit colleges Matt Cook Staff

For-profit colleges are offering students a variety of new degrees, but not as many job options.

As for-profit colleges enter the Ontario market, they attract students looking to improve their academic future. Many do not even require a high school diploma; students simply must pass an entry test to gain admission. Students at for-profit colleges include people who initially left college or chose not to attend, and are now choosing a new career later in life.

For many, this seems like a dream come true. But some students are finding it difficult to obtain employment after graduation.

John Sargent recently obtained his Addictions and Community Services diploma from Everest College, a for-profit college with a campus in his hometown of Newmarket, Ontario.

He returned to college in his fifties, to further his education after being laid off.

Though he enjoyed the hands-on learning

environment, his experience had its share of challenges as well.

“Everest just isn’t recognized on the same level as, say, Humber College,” Sargent explains, “I wanted to use my degree to get a job working with Blue Door Shelters, which is a local addictions service. But after I graduated, I found out they only accepted applicants with two year professional,

“Everest has no trouble finding you a good placement.

But when it came to actually finding work, things got harder.”

accredited degrees. Mine was finished in sixteen months, so to them it didn’t count.”

Eight months after graduation, Sargent is still unemployed.

“During my college placement, things were working out great,” he says, “Everest has no trouble finding you a good placement. But when it came to actually finding work, things got harder.”

This was not the only struggle Sargent faced while furthering his education.

“We paid for six hour classes – from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. But the professors in my program would dismiss class at 11:00a.m. I didn’t think that was fair, so I wrote some letters to the admissions office. After that, our courses ran until 1:00p.m. But that’s still only five hours a day, not the six we paid for,” says Sargent.

The dubious reputation of for-profit colleges has already reached the ears of employers. Donald Templeton, a manager with aeration company Golfer’s Green Lawn Care, has been hiring students out of college for well over twenty years. He is well acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of every post-secondary institution in the province.

“I won’t rule anyone out because of the college they attended,” he says, “When I hire employees I look for a very specific set of skills that they should have picked up in college. Do I think a student at a for-profit college, like Everest or DeVry, is likely to have been taught those skills? Absolutely not.”

Students of mainstream universities s h a r e Te m p l e t o n ’ s views.

John Proulx, a student at McMaster University, never entertained the notion of attending a for-profit college.

“To me they’re just a waste of money. Attend a community college if you can’t get in anywhere else, but I wouldn’t waste my time at a for-profit school. At my university everyone looks down on them; they just don’t have a good reputation,” says Proulx.

Tuition at for-profit colleges is generally higher than at traditional colleges.

“I had a friend at Seneca who paid $6,000 to $6,500 for a full year of schooling,” Sargent says, “My school expenses, books included, were over $15,000.”

In September 2010, a group of Utah students launched a lawsuit against Everest College, claiming that few schools would accept transfer credits from

the f o rprofit university.

Everest C o l l e g e maintains that they withheld no information from the students. The case is still ongoing.

There were, however, elements of Sargent’s college experience that he found beneficial.

“My education was more hands on, which was better than a public college in that sense,” he says, “We did lots of modules, and I really enjoyed that. We’d act out real-world scenarios, and that was good practical knowledge.”

Sargent does not regret his for-profit college experience.

“I feel more employable having graduated from Everest, and I haven’t given up on job hunting yet.

You’re never too late to change your life around and start a new career. I think that’s what schools like Everest are all about.”

“Attend a community college if you can’t get in anywhere else, but I wouldn’t attend a for-profit school.”

Not-for-profit and for-profit universities and colleges (Graphic by Olivia Rutt)

8

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

FEATURES Layla Bozich// features@thesputnik.ca

Feminism part two: How far do we still need to go?

Karly Rath Staff

“Women who don’t take it up the arse” is the number one definition of “feminists” on UrbanDictionary.com.

Last issue we looked at the monumental steps feminists have made toward gender equality, despite trivial stereotypes. But regardless of constitutional equality, sexism is still embedded in every aspect of our lives.

Laurier Brantford’s Sasha Cocarla,

“‘Women who don’t take it up the arse’ is the number one definition of ‘feminists’ on UrbanDictionary.com.” who we met last week, says that the reason some people think we already have gender equality is because we are no longer working towards a specific goal or law like getting the right to vote.

Yet statistics suggest otherwise.

The documentary Miss Representation, a film exploring how women are inaccurately depicted in media, says that 78 per cent of 17-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies. Plus, Miss Representation says 65 per cent of women and girls have eating disorders.

According to Statistics Canada’s labour force survey of 2012, women in Ontario make $3.33/hour less than men.

Professor Bruce Gillespie is a member of The F-Word Committee, a Laurier Brantford group that discusses gender and social inequity.

The F-Word has discussed myths about feminism in depth. Gillespie mentions a few “gobsmacking” stereotypes such as feminists as angry lesbians, women who have no sense of humour or women who hate men.

Cocarla believes that because of the problematic, one-dimensional way the media paints feminism.

“It’s no surprise that many young individuals may feel less inclined to call themselves feminists,” says Cocarla.

Another common myth is that feminists must be women.

“Sexism is not a problem women can or should fix on their own—it’s a human problem,” says Gillespie.

Last year, The F-Word launched a “Find Your Feminism” poster project to show that feminists are all genders, races, sexual orientations and perspectives.

“Sexism is not a problem women can or should fix on their own - it’s a human problem.”

Around campus, there are posters plastered around depicting people saying, “My feminism is…”

One poster shows Becca Carroll, Dean of Students at Laurier Brantford, saying “My feminism is going from the rugby pitch to the dance studio … unpacking the subtleties of silence … being a pallbearer at my aunt’s funeral.”

To Gillespie, these posters depict diverse people saying, “Here’s what feminism means to me and I don’t think it’s a dirty word.”

For Cocarla, feminism means working towards gender equity, recognizing her privilege and “recognizing how our

culture is structured to benefit a very small amount of people,” namely white, heterosexual, able-bodied men.

Gillespie’s preferred definition of feminism is the one a radical feminist, bell hooks, offers in her book Feminism Theory: From Margin to Center: “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.”

In that case, Gillespie says, “I was a feminist even before I knew what [feminism] was.”

Not only are women misrepresented onscreen, women are rarely used as sources in journalism, even if the content is regarding women’s issues.

The Women’s Media Center’s report, The Status of Women in the US Media 2013, states that in the recent presidential election, 72.5 per cent of sources in articles discussing abortion were male.

“The default position for a lot of journalists is if [the story] is about childcare, family issues, lifestyle or gender, then we talk to women. If it’s about anything else, we naturally talk to men. But there isn’t anything natural about it at all,” Gillespie says.

As a practicing journalist for years, Gillespie believes journalists need to make a conscious decision to find representative sources.

Religion is often another aspect of life where women are not represented whether it is an aspiring female priest or

“Women are 70 per cent more likely than men to have a negative reaction to medication because testing is done on males due to simpler biology.” a woman using birth control. Recently, during the selection of a new Pope in the Vatican, Catholic women protested their lack of representation by releasing pink smoke over the square where the masses awaited the traditional white or black smoke signal.

Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Women’s Ordination Conference, and Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests are just a few of the organizations that have spent decades lobbying for female ordination.

The world of medicine also has gender inequalities. According to The Society for Women’s Health Research’s report, Dialogues on Diversifying Clinical Trials, women are 70 per cent more likely than men to have a negative reaction to medication because more testing is done on males due to simpler biology. The more complicated the biology, the more time and money is required to conduct the trials. The report states, “Diversity is not a natural priority for industry, where decisions often are made by market attractiveness and potential for profit.”

As a feminist who has been fighting for gender equality for years, Gillespie is surprised society has not made more progress than we have.

Gillespie believes the future of gender equality lies in talking about gender issues and conversations about what feminism truly is.

Feminism buttons at the Women’s Museum. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

9

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT Olivia Rutt // eic@thesputnik.ca

COMI C CULTURE BEYOND THE MAInSTREAM BY: Caitlin henshaw

Photo Credit: Caitlin Henshaw ‘The comic book world is a boys’ club.’ It’s the line I’ve heard said dozens of times before. It’s exclusive, misogynistic, and populated by pale, lonely men with an encyclopedia-like knowledge of the books they read. Over and over mainstream media beats this idea into our heads about what a comic book fan should look like, and also what the fandom itself is like.

As a fan, I have to admit, some of these facts do hold some truth. Have I frequented some dark, cave like book stores? Yes. I could also benefit from spending a bit more time in the sun instead of being cooped up in my dark, cave-like apartment, but I’m not lonely and I’m not a man.

According to most mainstream media outlets, I am a unicorn. I am the mythical female nerd who shouldn’t like comic books, but for some reason does. “Why shouldn’t I though?” I ask. In today’s post feminist era there seems to be no real logic connecting the tropes of comic culture to the real world they exist in today. With a cornucopia of exciting characters and a seemingly endless variety of subject matter, there seems to be no obvious reason why any literary lover wouldn’t find something they’d like.

Yet between movies like ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and sitcoms like ‘Big Bang Theory,’ comic book culture has gotten wrapped up in so much mythology that it’s hard for any outsider to know what’s real and what’s not. I mean, if everyone’s saying it, there must be some truth to it, right?

Well, ‘truth’ is a difficult concept to define in this situation. Fandom experiences are as varied as this literature’s subject matter and not everyone’s experience in

T

this culture is the same.

Despite the complicated nature of the issue though, some of these myths can be easily dispelled (or at least explained).

For starters, is the comic book culture as exclusive as people say? The short answer: yes. Now let’s be clear, it’s not some red velvet rope affair but it is hard to deny that without a base knowledge of the genre you may end up having little to contribute to local conversations.

“Comic shops have a life of their own ,” explains J.R. Faulkner, creator of web comic Promises, Promises, “...and the regulars tend to be really regular. It’s not so much that it’s a boys club and they don’t want the girls in. It’s more of a case of that have their core group of friends and they’re not really interested in letting anybody in. So it takes awhile to acclimate and become a part of the scenery.”

Getting in though is not impossible.

Creators are well aware that expanding their readership is good for business and there has been an intentional push by writers and artists to make their comics more accessible. In fact, creators like Amy Chu of Alpha Girl Comics are banking on that exact point.

“We feel that a lot of big players have left a lot of female readers out in the cold,” says Chu, “I mean, they’re focused primarily on male readers and with borders shutting

“We feel that a lot of big players have left a lot of female readers out in the cold. I mean, they’re focused primarily on male readers...”

-Amy Chu

down, essentially cutting off Manga for a lot of people, we think that we can find a sweet spot for comics that appeal to both women and men.”

Chu raises an important point with her marketing strategies. While many myths of misogyny have been over exaggerated, there has been a common complaint raised among women in the fandom about being ignored or dismissed by their fellow fans.

Elisabeth Pfieffer, a long time fan comic book fan and organizer of Comic Book Addiction’s first all female comic book club, says the experience for women can be sadly stereotypical.

“I went into a store in Calgary with my husband and I was totally ignored,” Pfieffer explains, “He doesn’t even read comic books but it’s just that stereotype that men like comic books... and I hear that experience from a lot of women.”

It’s this experience that prompted her to start Ladies’ Night, a comic book club for where female readers can meet other female readers.

“A lot of women don’t feel that they’re welcome and I wanted them to feel that they are...,” says Pfieffer.As a reader myself, I can’t actually say that I’ve felt any particular prejudice from my fellow male fans. Maybe I’ve just been sheltered in my fan experiences or maybe this is a sign of changing times. Either way talking to creators like Chu and Faulkner have given me a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the future comic book literature. For as much as the pangs of misogyny may remain among the readership, it seems that on the production side of the comic book world a totally different tune is being sung.

“I’ve never once felt that ‘Oh, someone is looking at me because I’m a girl’ and I have in other jobs,” says Faulkner, “[It’s] a stereotype that’s passing really quickly and

there are a lot of women in the industry who are really... proactive about dispelling that myth.”

Fellow cartoonist Katie Cook wants to dispel that myth further.

“The comics industry is really accepting of women,” she explains, “especially of indie creators, so I don’t see it as much as people say. I guess as far as mainstream comics go, doing really cutesy stuff is not completely accepted yet, but that market is there and it’s growing... It’s not about being a woman for me; it’s about having my style that’s the problem.”

Indie, for those unaware, stands for “independent” whereas “mainstream” refers to the super hero genre and common artistic style that most people think of when they think of a stereotypical comic book.

According to Cook and several other artists it’s not that female artists aren’t involved in the industry, it’s just that there seem to be less drawing in the mainstream style.

On the web and independent publications women are just as prevalent in creating their art.

Illustrator Agnes Garbowska was also adamant to point out that, “there are a lot of great of mainstream female writers, like Gail Simone... There are also a lot of female editors but that’s not as public because it’s behind the scenes.” Publicity really seems to be the prevalent issue in the comic book mythology of today.

Mainstream media sees the ‘mainstream’ style of comics and culture associated to it, but there is so much more to comic book culture than mainstream. The comic book world is no more a boys club than any form of art or literature. Some may appeal to one sex more than the other, but there’s no shortage of stories to be told, especially in graphic literature.

Photo Credit: Caitlin Henshaw

10

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT Olivia Rutt// eic@thesputnik.ca

INSIDE THE METHA

Photo credit: Cody Hoffman “Straight up the stairs and to the right. And if you need anything, I’ll be outside,” says Steve Hannes, the Victoria Park Clinic security guard as I make my way into the methadone clinic for the first time.

If I need anything? I’m an independent, young student. I eat new experiences for breakfast. I still haven’t put my foot on the first step.

“Don’t be scared,” Hannes says, laughing.

Should I be scared?

I’m just one of over 100 who walk through the yellow-brick door frame at the corner of George and Dalhousie Street that day- but many of them have been there before.

The Victoria Park Clinic has been at the centre of Brantford’s downtown for nine years and at the centre of a debate for nearly two. In March 2012, the committee for the Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area (DBBIA) released an issue and recommendation paper to the City of Brantford stating their concerns with the location of the Victoria Park Clinic.

Since then, the issue has gone to council, sparked discussion of a detoxification cen-

S

tre and had patients wondering whether their treatment would be secure next year.

With this in mind, I swallow my concerns and walk up a narrow staircase to find something different than I ever expected: a very sterile, stark-white, average-in-every way medical waiting room.

Am I in the right place?

The sterile room, lined with stiff, structured plastic chairs hosts three doors, one to a reception office, one to a doctor’s office and one to a pharmacy counter.

“Jaime,” the receptionist in loose, teal scrubs calls from behind a glass partition.

“Your ‘carries’ are ready.” A young woman, no older than 20 rises from her seat and walks to the pharmacy counter to pick up a case of small canisters before returning to her seat and tying up her dark hair.

Another name is called, and the patient in question follows the same regimented pattern. Then another. And another.

It’s like a machine.

I’m still standing in the doorway, an obstacle to new patients who seamlessly enter the structured flow. In an attempt to clear the path, I walk quickly to the empty seat opposite the young woman with dark hair to introduce myself. As I sit down, our bodies mirror each other.

Her dark hair mimics my own. We’re about

the same height. She’s so young. No, we’re the same age. We were probably obsessed with Barbie at the same time. We probably watched the same shows on YTV. We probably started high school in the same year.

--“I take methadone because of my son, he’s 4 years old. I can’t be a mom when I’m on Oxy,” Jamie Lee Laforme begins.

“I’ve been on the program for almost four months now- and this week I can take carries.” She holds up the case of tiny canisters, each filled with a 50 mg dose of liquid, drinkable methadone.

Carries?

“No clean piss, no carry-homes.” An older man in a black, minor-hockey windbreaker leans over Jaime to shake my hand. The sleeve of his right arm reads ‘coach.’ “ ‘Name’s Jim Lafleur, and its not my first time here either,” he says.

Jaime is just one of the Victoria Park Clinic patients from Hagersville, Ont. who Jim Lafleur and wife, Sherri volunteer to drive to Brantford multiple times every week. Unfortunately, a lengthy trek is not unique. Roughly 175 patients drive from Cambridge and nearly 200 are from Simcoe.

“We found Oxy in my son, Marcel’s room two years ago. And we knew Jaime,

his girlfriend, was using too,” says Jim. “I think we reacted differently than most parents- we offered to drive to the clinic.”

--Jaime, boyfriend Marcel Lafleur, and friend Jordyn Hill, frequent Jim and Sherri’s half-hour shuttle to the clinic. Each of them at a different stage of tapering off their dosage, they are but 3 of the 700 seeking methadone treatment in Brantford and 37,000 seeking treatment in an Ontario.

The high demand for a response to opiate addiction has the province asking ‘why methadone?’

Dr. Jatinder Singh Dhillon, a physician at Victoria Park Clinic answers this question daily, to his patients and to those who oppose his profession.

Dr. Dhillon’s office overlooks the Darling and George Street intersection where students from Wilfrid Laurier University and patients alike make their way across the congested streets. The city hall building is visible no more than one block away.

“It’s like a constant reminder of the clinic’s current insecurity,” says Dhillon.

Annette Fitch of the DBBIA lists the reasons suggesting that the City of Brantford relocate the Victoria Park Clinic as drug paraphernalia.” A full year after the

11

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT Olivia Rutt // eic@thesputnik.ca

DONE CLINIC

For nearly eight months, Allison Leonard, a Laurier Journalism student has worked to bring the community into the Victoria Park Clinic through writing. This condensed version of her research aims to inform and engage the community to aid in an educated decision. There are people who need to be heard. These are their stories.

BY: ALLISON LEONARD allison.leonard@wlusp.com

“People are tentative to invest here because of the struggles Brantford’s downtown has seen.”

-Mark Gladysz, City Planner Incentives are offered to desirable businesses wishing to open and expand downtown. The city’s master plan is geared towards making the downtown a cultural, commercial and office destination. A methadone clinic does not fit easily into one of these categories.

“The services offered at St. Andrew’s church simply don’t represent the city well, especially in the heart of downtown,” says Ward 1 Councilor Larry Kings. “We need to find a location that still serves the need, but allows for growth downtown. Whether that is done through friendly discussion, rezoning or licensing is up for discussion.”

--Jaime fidgets in her seat. She has been here nearly 30 minutes and is now waiting for her friend, Jordyn to return from the other side of the white door where he meets with a doctor.

“Every patient is different. I’m tapering off pretty slowly, but Marcel will probably graduate from the program.,” says Jaime. “I don’t think it’s working very well for Jordyn.” The white door opens for the twentieth or thirtieth time since I arrived, revealing a tall, broad man.

“No carries yet,” he sits to Jaime’s left, towering over her tiny frame to introduce himself. “I’m Jordyn. What do you know about methadone so far?”

What do I know? Methadone. Used for treating opiate addictions. Not a great high.

Drinkable. Six dollars a day. Dispensed here.

Unless you piss clean. Then you get carries.

Everyone wants carries- but good luck getting them because you have to be clean. Be clean and have a fridge. If you’re homeless, you can’t have carries.

“I don’t know if anyone has told you yet, but all you need to know is that it’s not really a fix. It’s getting through the day so you can get a job.” Jordyn interjects my thoughts, hunching over far so that his elbows meet his knees. “But it’s hard to get a job when you have to come here every morning.” He places his head in his hands.

“It’s not really a fix. It’s getting through the day so you can get a job, but its hard to hold a job when you have to come here everyday.”

-Jordyn “It just feels like I can be a little more normal,” says Jaime. “It lets me wake up without a headache and lets me go to bed without cold-sweats.”

Evidently, many patients on a methadone program do not cut out other opiates all together.

--“They might still use, but they might only have to use 40 or 50 bucks-worth to get stoned instead of spending $200,” explains Brad Kidder, a social worker at Grand River Community Health.

“Money doesn’t go far when supporting addiction, especially if you can’t hold a job.”

Fifty mg of OxyContin, the now delisted, prescription drug that many patients at Victoria Park Clinic are addicted to, has a street value of roughly $120. If a user doesn’t have a job, it is not uncommon to fund an addiction through theft or prostitution.

“The street value of a stolen T.V. is around 50 bucks and the going rate for an act of prostitution is 20 bucks,” says Kidder. “Users need up to $300 to get their fix. Do the math.”

“Users need up to $300 to get their fix. Do the math.”

-Brad Kidder, Social Worker Filling a methadone prescription, if not covered by personal health care, Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program costs between five and six dollars per day. Though integrated in publically funded initiatives, the Victoria Park Clinic and other methadone clinics in Ontario are for-profit businesses.

“The issue we will have is that this is a money-making venture by a corporation,” says Brantford Mayor Chris Friel.

“The Ontario policy to have methadone treatment as a for-profit venture is questionable.”

“Can you stop eating? Can you stop breathing?” says Dhillon. “This is the

level of addiction opiate users have and they need a solution.” Treatment however is no more than a temporary solution. It is said to supply a steady, longlasting high that allows for regularity, employment and safe relationships in one’s life.

“Is the downtown, in a profit making structure even the best way to deal with addiction?” asks Brantford Mayor Chris Friel. “A rehabilitation centre is absolutely necessary but only part of the continuum of care necessary to deal with addiction.”

Friel leads the committee to bring a holistic detoxification and rehabilitation facility to Brantford as pitched by MPP Dave Levac in February 2012. Friel notes that the city cannot afford funding the facility despite their lead role in providing partners.

“This is a provincial responsibility,” says City Councilor and committee member Richard Carpenter.

The Mayor will pitch the need for a clinic to the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), a provincial group providing health services to over 1.4 million residents of the Southern Ontario region.

--The waiting room continues to fill as Jim, Jordyn and I wait for Jaime’s return.

The seat to my right is now occupied by a woman in her mid thirties who hands wooden blocks to the toddler on her lap. His miniature hands trace the edges before dropping them to the floor. His mother is rewarded with a large, toothless grin. A man in a pristine suit unbuttons his coat before leaning over to rescue the rogue building block. He hands it back to the toddler.

“I bet you’re surprised to see kids here, and people with money too,” says Jim, smirking.

“I bet you’re surprised to see kids here, and people with money too.”

-Jim Lafleur I am.

Seats fill as quickly as they empty.

Each time a name is called and a patient leaves, someone of a different age, race or economic class replaces them. I quickly become aware of the preconceived thoughts I had walking in the door.

I am so naive.

--“We service between 700 and 1000 patients, but that doesn’t mean everyone seeking treatment in the area is tended to,” says Dhillon.

In order to prescribe methadone, a federal exemption is issued to doctors who have undergone extensive training.

Only 370 Canadian doctors hold this certification, resulting in a lack of services and an overcrowding of the widely dispersed clinics that do exist.

Proposed relocation areas are intended to overcome the congested roadways by providing extensive parking in

a semi-industrial area, ideally near the 403.

“The lots on Garden Avenue, with paid parking and poor bus access?” asks Marc Laferriere, social worker at Grand River Community Health. “That’s a disaster. What’s next, removing the emergency meal service downtown or placing a curfew on park use?”

--It’s as if each patient returns from the doctor’s office with a different progress report. I guess with the passing of each patient. Maybe they have made the switch from 70 mg to 60. Maybe they’ve tested clean for a whole week. Maybe they’re still feeling the burn of withdrawal in their chest. Jaime is the last person I see return from the white door to the doctor’s office that day “So what’s this article about anyway?” Jaime asks, folding herself into the original seat opposite myself. “How everyone wants the crack-heads as far away from the university as possible?”

I hope it not about just that. I lean forward for a moment as if reaching for a better answer. Our body structures are a perfect parallel again. I try to formulate an appropriate response, returning to the mirror in my mind.

We probably felt the joys and trials of first loves, best friends and adulthood at the same time. We probably went to prom the same year. We’re probably both wondering what we’ll be doing when we’re 40.

“Everyone wants students like you to move to town.” She speaks before I’ve even opened my mouth. “But not us methadone patients.” Jamie, Jim and Jordyn all rise, ready to leave and I follow them to the door.

“I think the community will decide what its about,” I finally open my mouth in a stuttered response.

A relocation of the clinic won’t affect patients like Jaime who commute to the clinic; how the province and community address addiction will change her life.

“Maybe if you talk to more people you’ll know what you’re looking for. I’ll be back next week, so we can talk then,” Jaime says, her words echoing in the same narrow staircase I climbed an hour ago. “And probably every other week this year.”

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370

37,000

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letter became public; a tripartite debate between the City, the DBBIA and the clinic is still manifest in downtown Brantford.

“It goes against best practice to have this sort of business near parks, schools, retirement homes and places of religious worship.” explains Mark Gladyz, Brantford’s City Planner. “And here we have a methadone clinic right inside a church.”

The Victoria Park Clinic, like any other business downtown is a leaseoccupying tenant who pays rent to St. Andrew’s United Church. The owners of this clinic, Fred Hussey and Mark Simone have not been silent in the past year’s discussion.

“This is a service that needs to be provided. We’re located in a central area, with decent parking and ease of access to transit and other services downtown.” says Hussey. “It would be a human rights issue to relocate.”

The Victoria Park Clinic opened in 2006— occupying the same street corner for seven years, never relocating as the neighboring university grows or businesses come and go.

“People are tentative to invest here because of the struggles Brantford’s downtown has seen.” says Gladysz.

12

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT Olivia Rutt// eic@thesputnik.ca

MERCHANTS OF DEATH BY: LEISHA SENKO

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Chou

Leisha Senko has spent the last year of her BA unlike most-- in funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries. The following story is a unique il ustration of the death industry, and perhaps more interestingly, the people within it.

Death has never looked so good: glistening new cadillac hearses, intricately carved tombstones and painfully polished mosaic urns line the convention center aisles. In a corner booth, concrete angels with soft, haunting gazes look up and out--guaranteed to catch an eye or two in any cemetery plot. Ghostly mannequins, sporting freshly pressed black suits, show off this year’s couture for the coffin. Clean hems hover inches above the floor. Propped up caskets, hand carved and personally finished, are garnished with metallic foil and lavish prints. They scream: who says I can’t take it with me when I go?

The lights overhead burn a bright fluorescent white--everything sparkles.

Glossy banners and signs are equally blinding; rightfully so, the place is littered with them. Big names like Spencer and Batesville loom around every corner. Their products reflect back flashbulbs as cameras click. The carpet, of course, is a deep blood red. Buyers and sellers pace up and down it. They wander through the cluttered rows; a sea of faded ties, slicked back hair and matching dark suit combinations. A few charcoal pencil skirts sway by.

D

Have you seen our environmentally friendly embalming fluid?

Who wouldn’t want to wear some of their loved one’s ashes in our engraved lockets?

This is business after all. Like any other sales conference, promises are made;

products are pushed. Have you seen our environmentally friendly embalming fluid?

Take a look at these memorial boxes! Who wouldn’t want to wear some of their loved one’s ashes in our engraved lockets?

These pieces make up a relatively ordinary Funeral Exposition; a style of meeting industry insiders are more than comfortable with. Events, much like this, take place all over the world: in Bologna, Las Vegas, and here now in Toronto.

They’re designed to bring funeral owners and vendors together.

Rene De Diego remembers his first.

Bright eyed--a big smile plastered on his face--he manned a small booth.

“I’m talking and making some good connections, but then following up funeral owners are saying, yup thanks for the information, nope that’s great, that’s awesome, and then you can hear the crickets,” says De Diego.

He’s the owner of a British Columbia based memorial service; one of many trying to blow the funeral industry open in response to the homogenization of death practices.

De Diego’s company, Ashes to Diamonds, converts cremated human remains into sparkling lab grown gems-a process that, to the layman, sounds plagiarized from the pages of a science fiction novel. And yet it’s a real option; one that requires 450 grams of human ash, and takes up to ten months to complete.

To kick it all off, cremains are turned into crystallized graphite. Next, pressure and high heat are added. Finally, you have your diamonds.

Out of the ordinary perhaps, but in light of more recent memorial choices Ashes to

Diamonds isn’t all that odd. From clown sendoffs, to drive-thru eulogies, saying goodbye to a loved one has taken on some pretty unorthodox shades in the twenty first century. Strippers dance in skimpy outfits alongside caskets in Taiwan. Families, all over the United States, purchase airbrushed, mural style, coffins with images like massive American flags, the band KISS and even Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Celestis Inc. launches cremated remains into the lower hemisphere of earth’s orbit twice a year via a space shuttle.

“A lot of these funeral homes are family owned businesses... you’re going in and saying, I kind of want to rock your world, but if people want to do it they’re going to do it,” says De Diego.

It’s a resolve he knows a little something about.

Years ago, when De Diego’s grandfather Henry died; he was faced with a rather unusual predicament. Henry’s second wife, and recent widow, couldn’t bring herself to pick up his ashes from the funeral home. Instead, she left all decisions and arrangements to De Diego--a weighty responsibility.

“So, I took his ashes home, and my wife was like, what’s that? And I’m like, uh, that’s just Henry. I thought, what am I going to do with this?” says De Diego.

After months of tedious research he locked in on memorial diamonds. At the time however, Switzerland was the only country that offered the service. De Diego’s stomach turned at the thought of shipping his grandfather’s ashes so far. Instead, he flew over with them in tow, and personally oversaw the entire process. It wasn’t long after this trip that he brought the business model back to Canada.

“The reason I went into it is the same reason I’m in it today. I think it’s a wonderful memorial choice,” says De Diego.

Of course, not everyone is interested in funerals with pizzazz. No, for some, death should take on more subtle notes; subtler

even than foiled coffins and rotating urns.

“People get it. Old, young, and in between. To them it just makes sense,” says Janet McCausland on her success in

“The reason I went into it is the same reason I’m in it today. I think it’s a wonderful memorial choice,” -Rene De Diego greening up the funeral industry.

As an employee for the Natural Burial Association of Canada she promotes low impact burials, which include easily decomposable wood coffins, and a total lack of embalming fluids. Formaldehyde is a big no-no. Bodies are buried on sites that look a lot like open fields or parks, sometimes even a meadow if you’re lucky. There are no headstones and no big monuments--just nature.

“When we started talking to funeral directors and cemetery folks about natural burial they all said oh, what a great idea, but there’s no market for it, ” says McCausland.

In the beginning, gaining any sort of traction was difficult. Funeral home owners had the same criticism for McCausland as they did for De Diego--how many people would possibly choose this over a traditional chapel sendoff? As it turns out, quite a number. With a handful of natural burial sites in Canada already, including the first Ontario plot in Cobourg, and an annex in Mount Pleasant, it’s a growing movement--its biggest successes coming from targeting aging environmentalists and activists. For them, there’s no other burial choice quite like it. As McCausland says, “Once a cemetery, always a cemetery.”

Through each death a piece of shared green space is protected forever.

“It just made sense to us to talk to

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT Olivia Rutt // eic@thesputnik.ca

converted environmentalists first. I mean, the story is so good,” says McCausland.

At the forefront of this movement is Ithaca, a small county in upstate New York.

Its natural burial plot, Greensprings, looks like a rolling meadow. Long grass grows between scattered rocks. Wildflowers dot the landscape with bursts of purple. Even in the winter, when the ground is heavy with permafrost and all vegetation curls back, families and friends bundle up and make the trek. For many in the county a funeral isn’t something that’s done behind closed doors, or arranged by a select few-it’s a community affair.

So, when one of their own, Peter DeMott, died--an anti-war activist best known for driving a truck into a trident submarine--300 people attended his burial in minus 20-degree weather. Friends and family, wrapped in thick coats and heavy scarves, carried his body. They sang and wailed along the way. And, when they finally reached the plot, they placed him in the ground gently, taking turns with shovels--his grave filled in a few scoops of dirt at a time. Halfway through, everyone stopped and laid flat rocks, in the shape of a cross, above his body.

“The funeral industry takes that away from the family. They do all the work. A coffin they put in the ground is filled in by a bulldozer, and there isn’t a way to express grief. These funerals are whatever the people in the community want to make of it,” says Kenneth Chou.

As a photographer and an academic, Chou has spent a lot of time documenting these burials in Ithaca. He often refers to the county as a progressive place; ironic maybe in light of the bare bones nature of their funerals. He warns though that progressive doesn’t necessarily mean modern. After completing his thesis on death rituals, Chou says the incredible strangeness of our burial customs in North America have shaken him far more than anything else.

Years ago he witnessed a run of the mill embalming at a Scarborough funeral home, and what he saw deeply unnerved him.

Chou vividly remembers the experience.

The lifeless body, naked on a metal table, twitching and contorting; its head rolling off the block it initially rested on. The sterile worker, clad in a hospital gown and a surgical mask, prodding the flesh with tubes--thrusting a hollow spike in the stomach to suck out any remaining content, so bacteria couldn’t eat the corpse from the inside out. Then there was two more breaking the skin, the first to drain blood, and the second to replenish the veins with a cocktail of chemicals, including formaldehyde. The slow application of makeup to the dead woman’s morose yellow face--blush as thick as paint--made him ill. Up close, he says, it felt like he was staring at a doll.

“Most of them, they don’t look like people to be honest,” says Chou.

Worse than appearance however, was the stench.

“I didn’t realize how bad it smelt until I left the funeral home and was in the parking lot. I was smelling my clothes and it was everywhere. It was the smell of embalming

“I didn’t realize how bad it smelt until I left the funeral home and was in the parking lot. I was smelling my clothes and it was everywhere. It was the smell of embalming fluid.”

-Kenneth Chou fluid,” says Chou, “After seeing it myself, it’s not something I would want someone close to me going through.”

In an earlier era, bodies were washed, and cared for by relatives. Buried, often, on the same day they died, but that’s all changed. Embalming is massively normalized now, and seldom ever questioned. Where did it come from? Chou says it’s a trend that can be traced back to the U.S. Civil war era, right around the 1860s. Families of soldiers wanted to see their sons, brothers and fathers for the last time before laying them to rest. With men fighting days away from their native towns and cities, people began preserving bodies through chemical means, and sending them back via train. Then, around the same time, former President Lincoln died. His body was embalmed, and photographed for all to see--this, the people said, is what a proper burial looks like. Today in North America it’s just what we do.

“That was the way they wanted to remember someone. A lot has changed since,” says Chou.

This is also true in the sense of how ceremonies are run and viewed. Along with shifting burial practices, have come very different memorial practices.

For instance, when Minister Gail McCabe holds a service, more often than not, a body isn’t even present. Held in backyards, living rooms, and sometimes small churches, they take place days, months, even years after a death, and are considered celebrations of life. For McCabe, a humanist minister serving an irreligious group, there is no talk of an afterlife. No traditional liturgy to read through. All of it is free form. Families and friends congregate, much the same as they would at a traditional funeral, but instead of inspecting reworked flesh and features, together attendees dissect memories.

“When I talk about the relationship we had with the person, I talk about how it was a relationship of presence... I help people review their relationship and build a new model, which is of memory,” says McCabe.

With this comes a fair bit of groundwork.

In order to avoid trivializing a life story-something she says many ministers have the tendency to do--McCabe is thorough and open to input. Her preparation includes extensive family interviews prior to the day, where she pours over the anecdotes that are often lost in a time of mourning. She comforts and consoles.

She asks a lot of questions. What was his favorite food, music album, and style of dance? Then, McCabe goes deeper; asking about the deceased’s role in a family or

in a community. Was she funny, devoted, pensive? Finally, she makes sure to find and share a piece of original writing, often penned long before death.

“I did one for an old curmudgeon, probably 90 years old... He had this notebook that he kept. [From it] I pulled out this list to read because I thought it was so worthy of him,” says McCabe. “It had all of his favorite things, and they were jazz, they were Duke Ellington rehearsals, they were borscht, they were all unique things that defined him in a way--what he thought was significant in life.”

During the actual ceremony, everyone has a chance to speak: brothers, sisters, friends, uncles and cousins twice removed, the list goes on. McCabe strongly encourages all to stand up and share stories--the more personal, hilarious and touching, the better.

Her theory is, if each person offers up a little piece of his relationship with the deceased, even just a spark of a memory, a full mural of experience can be painted for the entire group.

“So you come to know so much more about that person than you ever did in life,” says McCabe.

It’s a tedious and time-consuming journey to make it to this point though; next to impossible right after the shock of a death. Those within the funeral industry often admit that people resemble the walking dead the first couple days after a loved one passes. Caught up in a fog of shock, denial and confusion, they’re easy to manipulate and ignore.

“I don’t believe in closure, that’s a very bad term. In my opinion that doesn’t speak to the reality of these things,” says McCabe.

If a person in mourning appears polished, put together and calm, psychologists warn, more often than not it’s because the depth of the situation hasn’t sunk in. Lois Scott, the aftercare counselor for Beckett and Glaves Funeral Home can relate to this feeling.

“I talked to her at 9:30 and she was dead at ten after 10:00.”

-Lois Scott “I talked to her at nine thirty and she was dead by ten after ten,” she says, about her mother’s death, “So I can’t remember it, either that or I blocked it, but I barely remember. There’s bits and pieces, but people have to fill in the blanks.”

Her mother, at age 58, died of a massive heart attack. This tragedy is part of the reason Scott spearheaded programs targeted to helping mourners long after the initial burial. Working for corporate homes in the past, including one branch of a Texas conglomerate she won’t name, Scott says continual counselling was never a viable option--likening their business model to pay up and get out.

“Our philosophy here is we don’t leave you at the door after you pay, and say bye, have a nice day. It’s continuing care. I think

that’s really important...”

This move, in the context of current death practices, is fundamentally strange.

From a young age we’re taught that death is meant to give us the heebie jeebies. In North America, talking about it and being around it, is supposed to set off alarm bells; we shouldn’t want to come back to a place that deals with this reality. Yet, Beckett and Glaves go to great lengths to maintain that connection. They host a wellattended tree planting ceremony each fall, and afterwards, a reception with coffee and warm apple cider. In December, they have a vigil where family members come and light a candle for the person they’ve lost.

And from day to day, Scott leads support groups for mourners within the funeral home. She remains good friends with many of the women who’ve attended her widow’s chapter over the years.

“Honestly, when they come they don’t think they’re ever going to get through it,” says Scott, “At the end of six weeks you wouldn’t believe the difference. They have hope by then.”

This is an overwhelming statement in light of the reality: experiencing the death of a loved one is considered the worst personal tragedy possible. After all, death is a brutal and cruel force, one that has terrorized and terrified man since the dawn of time. What happens when the lights go out? What do we do when someone around us disappears forever? Is it really possible to simply sink some money into a crisp burial suit, and a cherry wood coffin, take a week or so off from work, and be mostly over it?

“There’s this anesthetization of the idea that death is real, and death hurts, and we’re all going to die,” says Reverend Jonathan Massimi.

It’s something people in polite society don’t talk about. That’s why space burials and memorial diamonds often elicit the criticism of being inappropriate. That’s why natural burial, the notion of being laid in the ground to become one with it, makes us squirm. For Massimi, death and life are part of a bigger story: of family, community and faith. He urges us to look at the greater metanarrative of our lives, and place ourselves along the continuum-to remember and honour those who have passed, for the benefit of those who are still living, but to do it simply and honestly.

“If we don’t carry that, it’s almost a double death. You lost a person in life and in memory,” says Massimi.

And he’s right, death is a big deal, not an event that can be easily smoothed over or nullified. And, it isn’t something we can prevent. Bodies, after all, crumble and decay, at a haunting and alarming rate.

Young, old, rich and poor, it finds us all-the great equalizer. As Chou so brutally learned--no matter how much perfume you apply to a corpse, it’s still a corpse.

No matter how shiny and new the coffin, the thing is still going straight into the ground, to be covered in earth, manure and worms. This is the reality; the reality North Americans have fought tooth and nail. But now, some are asking the question; what do we really need to help us remember?

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Chou

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

JOURNALISM PROJECT

Self-publishing is an art. (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

Olivia Rutt// eic@thesputnik.ca

Why we donate: Breast cancer vs. prostateBY cancer CRAIG HAGERMAN

Laurier Brantford Journalism student, Craig Hagerman investigates the destination of your donation dollars, and more importantly, the stigma attached to the associated cause.

The sea of pink, this is what it seems the evergrowing support for breast cancer has become and when we think of prostate cancer we think of the sea of? Well although pink seems to be the only colour that gets associated with cancer the fact is that every type of cancer is represented by a different colour, prostate cancer’s being blue. Did we know this?

How often have we been told to “think pink? Why not “think blue?”

Both breast cancer and prostate cancer, despite their variation in media attention, have historically had similar incidence rates and death rates. However, a stigma has been created that suggests that breast cancer is the most dangerous and subsequently should get the most attention and money, but this is far from the truth; let’s take a look.

Breast Cancer: According to the Canadian Cancer Society in 2012 about 22,700 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, of those 5,100 died from the disease.

The death rate for women was 19 per 100,000 people.

Prostate Cancer: According to the Canadian Cancer Society in 2012 about 26,500 Canadian men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, of those 4,000 men died from the disease. The death rate for men was 19 per 100,000 people.

Looking at the statistics the two types of cancers, they both seem to mirror each other in almost every category.

Lorna Wilson, a 64 year old former Bell Canada employee who is a breast cancer survivor has had quite the battle with breast cancer.

In 1996, after working at Bell for over seven years, she got a call at work that no one ever wants to hear; that a lump she had felt in her breast was malignant.

Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer and was very anxious about opening up to her coworkers about her cancer. However, when another one of her coworkers mentioned that she also had been diagnosed with cancer Wilson opened up. Wilson was shocked to learn that on the third floor of the building, her floor, two other women had been diagnosed with cancer within months of each other.

Wilson realized that the likely cause of their cancer was likely due to the electromagnetic fields from the computers as well as though electric cables, phones, and fax machines that surrounded the women.

After realizing that it was likely her work environment that caused her cancer, Wilson left Bell on long-term leave and

T

got involved with the Breast Cancer Coalition. The Breast Cancer Coalition was a group that Wilson joined that helped to raise money for breast cancer while also spreading awareness about the concerns of workplace hazards that can cause cancer.

When Wilson started her work with the

“I refuse to donate any money to Cancer Care Ontario. I became an activist when I learned how much money was spent on ‘No Smoking’ ads and how little was spent on ‘prevention.’”

-Lorna Wilson

Breast Cancer Coalition she started to really understand how Cancer Care Ontario works. Wilson was upset to hear that most of the money the company takes in does not actually go towards cancer research.

“I refuse to donate any money to Cancer Care Ontario. I became an activist when I learned how much money was spent on “No Smoking” ads and how little was spent on “Prevention,” says Wilson.

Wilson was never on board with the pink ribbon campaign, which has become the international symbol of breast cancer.

In fact Wilson points out, “we used to say pink stinks.”

Unfortunately Wilson may have made the correct decision when she left Bell upon receiving her diagnosis as she was the only one of the nine women who did not return to work and Wilson was also the only one of the nine women who did not lose her life to cancer.

Joe Schonewille is a prostate cancer survivor who, unlike many men who contract the disease, was able to catch it early enough in a stage where it was small enough that it could be treated with a surgery and minimal radiation.

Schonewille believes that when it comes to men and women, women are usually more inclined to discuss their condition where as men tend to try to keep it in and keep their true feelings bottled up.

Schonewille however, says that he had no problem talking about his condition in fact he started to talk to people about it as soon as he learned about his diagnosis.

“As soon as I learned I had it I told my family and I had no hesitation speaking to anyone about it,” says Schonewille., “people actually started making fun of me because I would go up to people and say ‘hey how old are you?’ and they would say

‘50’ and I would ask ‘have you gotten your PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen Test)? And they would say ‘no’ and I would tell them ‘you should sooner rather than later’.”

Schonewille also says that after he went through his battle with prostate cancer he was much more inclined to donate money towards prostate cancer.

“Yes,yes,yes,yes,yes, I was more inclined to. Prior to that by human nature I just didn’t, but after yes,” says Schonewille.

He adds, “I sponsor a motorcycle event in Barrie that raises money for prostate cancer every year and Joel (Schonewille’s son) fundraised for me.”

Prostate cancer, like breast cancer, is just as devastating to those who contract it as Schonewille describes it.

“I was very heart-broken and thought it was the end of the world. I thought they might as well start making a pine box for me because I was very much heart-broken, thinking why me,” says Schonewille.

One thing that Joe Schonewille clearly remembers after his diagnosis was an individual at his work. Joe asked him if he had ever been tested for prostate cancer.

To which he replied, “no and I don’t plan on going, years ago my father says to me I came into the world like a man and I’m going out like a man.”

That always stuck with him because within a year after this, his co-worker died from cancer.

Sandra Wilkins is another breast cancer survivor and she agrees with Joe and believes that men’s reluctance to speak is why prostate cancer doesn’t seem to be as prevalent in the media.

As Sandra suggests, “it may be because of the “sex” of the diseases. Women tend to be more open and talk about personal issues. Where men tend to keep issues to themselves…maybe that has something to do with the perceived difference in the “sexiness.”

“It may be because of the ‘sex’ of the diseases. Women tend to be more open and talk about personal issues. Where men tend to keep issues to themselves…maybe that has something to do with the perceived difference in the ‘sexiness.’

-Sandra Wilkins Fraser Green has spent a great deal of his life teaching charity organizations what it really takes to be a successful philanthropic institution.

Fraser believes that a very well thoughtout mission statement can mean the world to donors. He also believes that there are little things that organizations can do to

keep donors coming back.

“Good mission statements are ones that do a very good job of expressing and articulating the need for their dollars, do something like show a picture,” says Green, “Stewardship, keep communicating with your donors. Show them where the money went, show the outcomes. This helps to build trust with your donors and if you can do that they will become life-long donors.”

Unfortunately when it comes to most organizations that look to raise money for cancer research (regardless of types), Green believes that their mission statement’s fail.

“To put it very simply, they’re lame,” says Green.

Fraser believes this because he feels that cancer mission statements give this sense of false hope to donors; making them believe that with enough money they can make cancer history, which is just not true.

“A world without cancer is not a credible thing,” says Green. He adds, “There will always be cancer, it isn’t something that will just go away. Instead the focus should be that no one fears cancer.”

“A world without cancer is not a credible thing, There will always be cancer, it isn’t something that will just go away. Instead the focus should be that no one fears cancer.”

-Fraser Green Green argues that most of the money should be going to cancer research to find a cure and he believes that a more likely scenario isn’t that cancer is eradicated, but rather that one day we might be able to take a pill when we are diagnosed with cancer instead of the gruelling treatment of chemotherapy.

When it comes to breast cancer and prostate cancer both have had almost the same effects on both women and men yet it seems that breast cancer has been placed on a pedestal that no other cancer can live up to. It seems that one of the biggest reasons for this is the difference between men and women and their ability to talk about their conditions. Maybe if we can talk continue to talk about prostate cancer and not make the prostate out to be a dirty word then the donations will start to come in.

Both breast cancer and prostate cancer can strip both men and women down and change their lives. Cancer is a scary word whether it is preceded by the words breast, prostate or anything else for that matter.

The argument is not that we should ignore one and not the other, but that they should be seen as equals and that donations should reflect that.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A&E

Courtney Langstaff // arts@thesputnik.ca

Local country singer takes on Nashville Courtney Langstaff A & E Editor

It is not everyday when a first year student at Laurier Brantford takes on the official country music city of the world and is successful. James Cameron and his band jumped on the road to Nashville, Tennessee and came back to Canada with a brighter road ahead of them But how did it all begin for him? James Cameron, a native of Kitchener, Ontario, and first year business student at Laurier Brantford comes from a family filled with music, including his sister, Britanie, a fellow band mate. His story all began in the halls of his high school, St. Mary’s in Kitchener, when current bass player, Nolan Greulich, wanted to record some songs and days later put together the band we see now. But country isn’t the ‘go-to’ genre when starting a typical garage band in high school, but Cameron says his inspiration comes from the home; country music has always been in his family.

Like most newly budding singers, YouTube is their number one medium to get their voice and face out into the world. That is exactly what the James Cameron Band did to get their name out there, but it was a spontaneous decision.

“We always kind of knew from other people that YouTube was the way to go. We were just sitting in my buddy’s house one day jamming out some songs and thought ‘Man why don’t we film some songs and throw them on YouTube?” recalls Cameron. “Or send it to Ellen or something? And I think they actually did that but it never worked,” laughed Cameron.

One view at a time they slowly reached to their current number of over 314,000 views of YouTube. To the everyday YouTube user, you would know that is quite the big number and Cameron sheds some light and advice on how his band reached that number.

They “promot[ed] the heck out of it, bugging people. Using Facebook, Twitter and at our shows too. Its all social media but it’s also the fan base from the shows and getting those big opportunities” explains Cameron.

“My videos also have ads on them. Once you reach a certain amount of views you can apply for partnership with Youtube, I have done that and was accepted. And the profit I make from them I actually put it back into my videos, for better recording gear and stuff like that, its all just a cycle,” he continued.

After a couple shows locally including Club NV’s country music Fridays, James Cameron along with band mates, Nolan Greulich, Britanie Cameron, Milan Visnovec, and Sean Flanagan packed their car and headed south to the big music city.

“It was a crazy experience, we went there for six days having booked two shows, and we were just going to wing it once we got there and we ended up playing everyday we were there,” says Cameron.

When the James Cameron Band came to play at Tootsies, one of the most famous bars in Nashville, their first night, they didn’t expect to be invited back to play every single night they were there. They also did not expect when leaving the Tri-city area back here in Ontario that they would be playing on a live television show, the Billy Block Show, and have their performance broadcasted to every home in Nashville. That won’t be the last time the music city sees or

hears from the Kitchener based band, for they will definitely be back.

The summer of 2013 will not be a slow one for the James Cameron Band, from music festivals to playing in bars and clubs, they won’t have a weekend free. One of their biggest shows they have planned this summer is the Music in the Fields Concert. With big Country music names like Blue Rodeo, Big and Rich, and Dean Brody, the James Cameron Band is among the names of performers. Last year, the band won a competition and was picked from voters to play on the side stage at this concert last summer.

“They contacted us shortly after [our performance] and [said] ‘we want you guys to come back next year’ and they gave us a spot on the main stage this year,” explained Cameron.

Out of all the popular Country stars, Cameron is most excited to see Canadian Country Rock Band, Blue Rodeo.

“I am definitely most excited to see Blue Rodeo, excited to see them and I definitely love the heck out of them. My parents and sister have seen them and love them, they are amazing and I hope I get to meet them,” says Cameron. “I have a connection with someone in the band, a guy from Waterloo made a custom guitar for me and that’s the guitar I currently have had since the band started,” he continued.

Cameron explains that it was his grandfather that encourage him to get a custom made guitar.

“My grandpa said you need a good guitar if you are going to do this, so he took me to a shop downtown Kitchener. So this is my first good guitar and her name is Delilah,” he explained while showing his guitar.

Despite the busy summer Cameron has lined up for him and the band, he still remains an everyday first year student, and wants his supporters and fans to know that and also know a little more about him.

“Apart from a country singer, I love business.

I was into it in high school taking economic classes here. I love my friends, I have best friends in the world, they are also a part of my band its pretty cool. I am super tight with my sisters, I don’t do much other then play music and go to school,” explains Cameron, “I have no complaints because I love what I do.”

When asked, there was one thing that stood out that he wanted his fans and supporters to know.

Cameron says, “I want them to know that they [fans] can come over, knock on my door and ask me to play a song sometime, or help me with my essays,” laughed Cameron.

“I’m pretty easy going and I also appreciate the support here in Brantford and at home in Kitchener too, it’s pretty incredible especially lately,” added the country singer.

While only being a first year Laurier Brantford student, James, along with his band members, have a bright future ahead of them, from everyday Laurier students to having their names in lights for big country festivals, it can only go up from here for them. This year Music in the Fields, and next year perhaps the famous Canadian Festival, Boots ‘n’ Hearts, and even maybe the Canadian Country Music Awards.

James Cameron, a country star. (Photos by Cody Hoffman)

16

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A&E

Courtney Langstaff // arts@thesputnik.ca

Vegan lifestyle: Popular and beneficial Madison Hawkins Staff

In today’s society there is always a new trendy, fad diet. One diet in particular that seems to be becoming more popular is the vegan diet. Adopting a vegan lifestyle is proving to be popular not only because of the amazing health benefits, but because it helps protect the lives of innocent animals.

A vegan eliminates any meat and animal by-products, such as eggs, milk and gelatin from their diet.

Amanda Schottlander a third year Criminology student made the transition from vegetarian to vegan two years ago.

After researching the effects that the dairy industry has on animals, she decided that becoming a vegan was the next healthy, compassionate step in her vegetarian diet.

“I have always been an animal lover and realized how harmful it is to us and them [to be] eating meat and dairy [products]. Animals feel just as we do. Now I have way more energy, feel great [and] I lost weight,” says Schottlander.

Choosing to live a vegan lifestyle can be difficult in terms of finding alternative food sources. But it is also difficult, as

many people do not understand why others choose to live a plant-based diet. Schottlander is one of the lucky ones as those who are closest to her have also chosen a vegan lifestyle.

“My boyfriend is [my] biggest supporter as he is vegan himself. My whole family is supportive [as my] parents and my sister are also vegan. But some of my friends aren’t as supportive. They think it is unhealthy or hippie like and extreme. So I always ask them is it extreme for me to know what is going into my body? Is it extreme to know how my food choices effect other beings that were [once] living?” says Schottlander.

It can be emotionally exhausting and socially difficult to live a vegan lifestyle.

There are often judgmental questions about the diet as well as food cravings to overcome.

“Socially it was very hard at first. A lot of people are quick to judge, as soon as they hear the word vegan. I also found in the beginning [that] giving up cheese was hard. But now I [am] repulsed by it,” says

THE CHARTS

By: Stephanie Di Bartolo, The Sputnik’s watchdog of the local, national and everchanging music scene. On this week’s agenda:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

PICK-ME-UP PLAYLIST FOR EXAM SEASON Justin Timberlake – Pusher Love Girl Rihanna – Lost in Paradise Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)

Imagine Dragons – I Don’t Mind Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welch)

More content.

More photos.

More Sputnik. www.thesputnik.ca

Schottlander.

When first starting out as a vegan, it can be difficult to find food to eat outside of your own kitchen. It is important to not get frustrated by the lack of food choices, but rather become an expert on making alterations to menus. Over time it will become easier to adjust non-vegan menus so that they suit your diet. “ Always ask what ingredients are in the food [being ordered]. I usually [tell] the server […] I have a dairy allergy and choose vegetarian options. Do not let what others think of you matter when you order,” says Schottlander.

Now that the veganism lifestyle has become a popular movement, it is easy to find delicious vegan foods in your neighbourhood grocery store. Sobey’s, Zehrs, and even No Frills offer vegan friendly sections, with options from tofu to veggie bologna. There are also specialty stores such as Whole Foods, Goodness Me, and The Organic Garage in Toronto that have a variety of options, making vegan grocery shopping a breeze.

If you are ever in the Burlington area, KindFoods, Kelly’s Bakery, and the Naked Sprout offer tasty vegan lunches and baked goods. Once you try a mile high vegan brownie from Kelly’s bakery, or an OMG grilled ‘cheese’ sandwich from Kindfoods, you’ll never want to go back to eating processed animal products.

For options in Brantford, Sophia’s Bakery often offers a tasty vegan Chili (hold the sour cream) and gluten-free vegan cupcakes. Just be sure to check their website or call ahead to see if these vegan treats are on the daily menu.

Choosing to become a vegan is a big decision full of dietary responsibilities. It is a great way to eat healthy and help save the lives of animals. Just be sure to do your research, get lots of vegetable protein, and remember to not give up when it seems as though there are no tasty alternatives. Experiment with recipes and learn to check out a menu before heading out to a restaurant. With time struggling with your vegan lifestyle will become a thing of the past!

17

The Sputnik // Wednesday,March 27, 2013

A&E

Courtney Langstaff // arts@thesputnik.ca

Rihanna brings it at “Diamond’s World Tour” What’s the deal with female porn?

Amber Richardson Staff

Rihanna lights up the stage. (Photo by Stephanie Di Bartolo)

Stephanie Di Bartolo Staff

The temperature outside was in the negatives in Toronto with the snow tumbling rapidly from the sky on both days, but that didn’t stop pop star Rihanna from heating up the temperature inside the Air Canada Centre with her Diamonds World Tour March 18 and 19.

The singer brought the much-needed heat to her Canadian fans during the two-night stop and we welcomed it with open arms. The arena was packed both nights with fans decked out in their Rihanna-inspired outfits that braved the snowstorm to have some fun with their favourite starlet.

“TORONTO it’s me and you tonight!!!! #DiamondsWorldTour,” the singer tweeted hours before her first show on the 18.

As soon as the lights went dark in the arena, the chaotic screaming ensued, and the music for the singer’s track Mother Mary began to play over the speakers.

A black curtain covering the stage fell to the floor as Rihanna was revealed to her fans and her angelic voice sang the first lyrics of the night.

The soft and slow track was followed by some of her faster tracks Phresh Out The Runway and Pour It Up, which had

every single person in attendance on their feet. After a quick costume change, the singer returned to the stage in thighhigh white go-go boots to belt out her fun track You Da One, one of the best performed songs of the night.

Giant screens at the sides of the stage amplified Rihanna’s flawless beauty as the singer was noticeably having some issues singing some of the lyrics after having very recently suffered Laryngitis. Regardless, her performance was still outstanding; the girl gave it everything she had.

Her songs throughout the night were accompanied by dancers, a live band, real fire effects, lasers, and stage setup changes to keep the audience on their feet anticipating what was going to happen next.

Near the end of the show the singer rose from under the stage in a sparkly dress with a dollar bill print on it to sing one of her most successful songs We Found Love.

“Toronto, are you ready to party?” she screamed halfway through the song as she fearlessly ran off stage and into the crowd to hug some of her fans and dance along with them.

“I love Toronto because everyone here is like one big family and I always feel to welcome. I will always, always, always come back here,” said a very humble Rihanna.

After exiting the stage and saying goodnight, fans waited for an encore from the singer and just as the suspense was at an ultimate high, the singer rose from beneath the stage once again and sang a ridiculously beautiful rendition of her song Stay accompanied only by a piano. The song showcased the singers’ true ability to sing and was a high point of the night. Finishing the show with Diamonds, Rihanna ended the night once again thanking her fans, waving and smiling for pictures before slowly exiting the stage. “#TORONTO I always had a special place in my heart for you! Last night was unforgettable!!! Thank you! Tonight is #Round2 #DiamondsWorldTour,” she tweeted the morning after her first show.

It was easily noticeable that Toronto has a special place in its heart for Rihanna as well, and after seeing a very humble and soft side of the singer at both of her recent show, her music will always be welcome in the city.

It’s no secret that most porn is made by men, for men. It also should be no secret that women are not particularly interested in sitting through myriad male oral sex compilation, because it just doesn’t work for us. Though the fraction of women watching porn stretches anywhere from a quarter to a third of all porn viewers, there is still a lack of pornography geared towards women. Since ladies are undeniably unsatisfied with the erotica that is designed specially for men, this indicates an obvious gender difference in what is found sexy on screen.

According to Steve Hirsch, CEO of Vivid Entertainment, one of the largest adult entertainment studios in the U.S., and Lisa Ling from Oprah, women prefer erotica that focuses on more sensuality and foreplay. Hirsch started creating female pornography after he recognized a large, “untapped” market.

“There’s more foreplay. There’s more tease.

Women, in a lot of cases, like to watch movies with story lines,” says Hirsch.

Ling adds, “It’s more romantic,” suggesting that the majority of females do not particularly want the “I need it now” attitudes portrayed by the actors in “male porn”.

Author of A Smart Girl’s Guide to Porn, Violet Blue, suggests that women may not necessarily want a story line, and that there is a clear distinction between pornography and erotica.

“Porn is something that is a graphic sexual image that conjures up an animalistic reaction in you. You like it or you don’t. Erotica also is graphic sexual imagery, but it has an extra component[s] that resonate with the viewer,” says Blue.

What seems to be happening with the creation of sexual content for women, is that studios are creating erotica for women, and porn for men—which still neglects the “animalistic” urges, which Blue is insistent about women having.

Part of the appeal of female porn, according to adult film star Aurora Snow, is the realistic women being used as leads. Women like to imagine themselves as the character, and tend to immerse themselves in the film, the same way men do. Snow asked her female viewers what they like or dislike about porn, and a fan named Maggie responded, “The most unappealing thing about porn is the women. Fake hair, fake boobs, fake moans? No thanks! How can I put myself in her place if I don’t like her?”

The trick with female porn seems to be realism. Women want to see something that they can emulate in real life, not just a real-life Barbie being objectified onscreen.

The biggest problem in the female porn industry is undoubtedly the lack of women admitting to watching porn. It is important to remember that things can only change if we request it, so to all my female counterparts, let’s start lobbying for woman porn.

18

The Sputnik // Wednesday,March 27, 2013

SPORTS Kyle Morrison // sports@thesputnik.ca

Women’s ice hockey team finishes fourth in Challenge Cup Anthony Fusco Staff The Laurier women’s hockey team wore their hearts on their sleeves in their end of the year tournament where after an intense round robin and subsequent games they lost a tough 1-0 match for bronze against Humber. Despite the tough finish, Captain Brittany Howe was proud of how the team performed.

“With the limited amount of ice time we had, I feel like we did really well. With the school expanding and getting more funding to put towards our extramurals, I feel like the women’s hockey team has the opportunity to be very successful in the future,” said Howe.

The women started off their tournament slowly with a 2-0 loss against Georgian College. Their second game against Fanshawe wasn’t much better, which resulted in a 3-0 loss. The Golden Hawks made it to the quarter finals and again faced off against the women from Georgian College, but this time came away with a 2-1 win to push them to the semifinals. They then faced off against St. Lawrence Cornwall and came up on the short end of the 4-1 game. Their last game was the aforementioned tough 1-0 loss to Humber.

The fourth place finish for the team was a very solid effort. Although a first place tournament win was the ideal situation the girls were extremely proud that their team qualified for their first Challenge Cup in only their second year of extramural play.

“Although the team and staff were really hoping for a first place finish, it’s still a success in my eyes,” said Howe.

The girls prepared hard for the tournament by getting some ice time and working on different plays and situations that could be useful in a game. Howe also made sure the team had dry land and extra conditioning training to ensure that there would be no issue late in the tournament.

“Playing four or five games in a day is very physically demanding and in past tournaments it has come down to who is in the best conditioning in the final game and we wanted to ensure that conditioning

LB Golden Hawks finish fourth. (Photos courtesy of Lynne Gulliver)

was not an issue for us in this tournament,” said Howe.

All of the girls on the squad put forth their best efforts throughout the tournament. Howe was especially impressed with a few of the players.

“I think our goalies Kourtney Hulme and Madison Scott did really well for us all tournament. Kimber Williams, Michelle Anger and Katrina Moczerad all had an

excellent tournament and helped us out a lot,” said Howe.

This was the final tournament of the year for the team and tryouts will be starting up fresh again next year. Howe says that the community support both from staff and students is important for the team. The captain mentioned especially that the athletics staff has been incredibly helpful this year.

“The girl’s extramural hockey team would also like to thank our athletics staff, Greg Stewart, Lynne Gulliver and Kristin Hogg for helping us have such a successful and fun year!” says Howe.

The women’s team broke ground and had a successful and positive year. They definitely put the LB campus and it’s students on the map and made them proud.

Is facial protection in sports necessary?

Kyle Morrison Sports Editor Issues in hockey seem to ebb and flow between concussions and helmet safety and the importance of making visors mandatory for players. And when the 30 NHL general managers met on Wednesday, March 20, the visor debate once again was brought to the forefront.

Usage has certainly gone up; according to a poll conducted by The Hockey News, 69.4 per cent of NHL players are donning the visor. And in the past decade the use of the visor has gone up by more than 40 per cent. If this is the case, what’s the issue?

More and more players are wearing the visor and but THN’s poll shows that only three of the rookie-eligible players do not wear a visor. This may be due in part to a visor being mandatory in Major Junior hockey leagues, but obviously when given the choice, players do not have a problem

with it when they make the jump to the big show.

Therefore, I don’t see the issue and reason to make it mandatory. It is an incredibly unfortunate thing to see a player writhing in pain on the ice, possibly bloodied after being receive a stick or puck to the face/ eye area, but these are the risks players are willing to take if they do not wear a visor.

Second year Laurier student and Leafs fan, Joe Horrigan agrees.

“No, [they shouldn’t have to wear visors] they’re pros and should be able to decide for themselves,” says Horrigan.

You can wear as much protection as you want, but injuries will always occur and such devastating eye injuries that actually result in loss of vision are incredibly rare. If it’s not an eye/facial injury, it will be something else.

But Laurier extramural hockey player,

Michael Bondy feels that there isn’t any reason to even take a chance.

“I really do [think visors should be mandatory]. We see guys getting hurt at the professional level [like Marc Stall and Chris Pronger] and these are permanent injuries which could have been avoided,” says Bondy.

Major League Baseball was also considering implementing some sort of facial protection for pitchers after an incident last season involving Oakland Athletics’ pitcher Brandon McCarthy. On September 5 he was hit in the head by a line drive after throwing a pitch, fracturing his skull.

Just like with a puck, a ball off of a bat is coming at a player at tremendous speeds, but in a million at-bats, that ball will not impact a pitcher, so should he be forced to wear protection?

Protection in baseball is more over-

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looked than hockey and football when it comes to head injuries and the sport should get the same sort of attention, but for the batters – they are the ones facing pitches upward of 100 MPH multiple times a game, which carry a more likely outcome to be struck than a pitcher does.

And this is certainly a different scenario than hockey, as all players involved in the game aren’t all performing the same event.

The merits of mandatory protection are obviously huge, but these things should be up to the players. And with so many players switching over anyway, safety is going in the right direction. The transition is being made and the positive effects of the visor are on display without having to be told what to do, there is no need to change that.

19

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

SPORTS

Kyle Morrison // sports@thesputnik.ca

Men’s hockey team win the Challenge Cup Craig Hagerman Staff Laurier Brantford men’s hockey team took to the ice in Oshawa on Thursday and Friday as they took part in their first ever Challenge Cup. The tournament started off with the Hawks taking on Peterborough’s Flemming College. The game would remain 0-0 until the second period when Captain David Howe made it 1-0 Hawks on a goal set up by Jake Milligan and Tanner Rutland.

Clay Chalmers would make it 2-0 in the third, a margin the team would hang on to taking down Flemming 2-0.

In their second game, the team took on top seeded St. Lawrence College. Like their first game, the guys would hang in and keep it scoreless until the second period when Corey Way put the Hawks up 1-0 on a goal set up by Brian Holland with just 1:29 left in the frame. St. Lawrence College would connect with just 29 seconds left in the second and after both teams played a scoreless third period the teams found themselves in a shootout.

Jake Milligan got things started with a goal on the team’s first shot. SLC would tie up the shootout, but after assistant captain

Andrew Pawluk scored to put the Hawks ahead, Ben Brenner made a stop on SLC’s final shooter to give the Hawks the win.

In game three, the guys took on Sault College. The Hawks would strike 7:04 into the first period going up 1-0 on a goal by Jake Milligan assisted by Galucci and Chalmers. Dave Howe would give the Hawks a 2-0 lead with assists coming from Way and Pawluk.

The team would get into some penalty trouble, allowing Sault to strike twice and tie the game, but after teams traded goals in the third, Captain David Howe would give the Hawks a 4-3 lead with just 1:08 remaining on the clock to send the guys into the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals the Golden Hawks took on Trent College. The guys came flying out of the gate, scoring just 1:40 into the first period on a goal by Way, assisted by David Howe and Kevin Lampough. The team would keep rolling and would eventually take the game 4-0, advancing to the finals.

In the finals the Hawks met Seneca College. Andrew Pawluk would give the team

a 1-0 lead just 17 seconds into the game.

The game would remain 1-0 until 4:02 mark of the second when Michael Bondy made it 2-0 on a goal assisted by Way. Then at the 7:44 point of the third, Tanner Rutland gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead. The Hawks were able to hold on and win the final game 3-0 crowning them Ontario Collegiate Athletics Association (OCAA) champions, becoming the first Laurier Brantford team to do so.

Captain David Howe believes that like in their previous tournaments, goaltender Ben Brenner deserves a lot of praise for his great play, including three shutouts in five games. “Brenner stuck out this tournament as usual, it’s tough to not show respect for a kid who gets three shutouts in the Provincials,� says Howe.

The team won an astounding nine straight games and 13 of their final 14 games. David Howe believes this all really started after the team’s tournament win at home. “The turning point this season was winning the Brantford tournament,� says Howe, “The guys came together, got the

win and we were still hungry for more.�

Assistant captain Andrew Pawluk believes the team’s penalty kill also was also key in the Hawks win. “Our penalty kill was stellar, especially in the semis when we had to kill an eightminute penalty,� says Pawluk.

For many veterans on the team, the Challenge Cup marked the last time players like Kelan Herr, Tanner Rutland, Andrew Pawluk, Dylan Parnell, Bruce Moffat, and Paul Galluci would get to don the purple and gold, as they all played in their last games. Captain David Howe believes getting to play alongside these gentlemen was an honour and a privilege. “I speak on behalf of the team and just say what a privilege it was to play with such great guys,� says Howe, “They are the reason this team came together so quickly and it’s an honour to win the championship with them.�

With the veterans moving on there will no doubt be some big shoes to fill come next year when the team takes to the ice in the fall to retain their Challenge Cup title.

likely to stick with it.

Next, prepare a gym plan so you will stay focused once you step into the weight room. For example a three-day training plan may look like this: Day 1: Upper body Day 2: Lower body Day 3: Cardio While a five-day training plan could look something more like this: Day 1: Chest & Abdominals Day 2: Legs Day 3: Shoulders & Abdominals Day 4: Biceps & Triceps Day 5: Back However you decide to build your

training split, include at least one or two days off from the gym. These days are crucial because they allow your muscles to rest, recover, and rebuild.

Third, be sure to incorporate cardiovascular exercise and stretching in your workout routine. Cardio is great to warm-up before weight training and stretching after an intense workout will reduce injuries Finally, all of your efforts at the gym will be in vain if your eating habits aren’t in check! Try to eat clean every day and enjoy a cheat meal once a week. If you need more tips on eating clean, look back on my previous column about healthy eating.

Best of luck!

Hitting the weights!

Emma Dillabough Staff

Weightlifting is good for you! (Art by Diane Sison)

With final exams just around the corner, summer is getting even closer! Right now is the perfect time to begin an exercise plan and get a head start on your beach body.

Whether you’re a guy or a girl, weight training can take your physique to the next level. This week I will walk you through some steps to get you on track in the gym.

First, decide how many days a week you can realistically commit to working out. Even if you only have thirty minutes three days a week it’s still better than not working out at all. Or perhaps you have an hour to commit five days a week. Whatever the case, build your training plan around your own schedule; this way you’re more

OPINION

Leisha Senko // opinion@thesputnik.ca

Female politicians aren’t “cute�

Cody Groat Staff We live in a nation with some of the best policies, some of the best ideas and some of the greatest people. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave us immune to scathing comments, participation in regretful events, and ideas that can be second-guessed by the international community and ourselves.

For me, March 13, was a day of conversing with politicians, although luckily, not about politics. The basis of my political interviews was really more about the person behind the title, which is just as informative. In the morning I had the chance to meet with Dave Levac, MPP for Brant County, as well as the current speaker of Legislative Assembly of Ontario. We concluded the meeting with conversation about the interview I had lined up for later that evening; one with Sheila Copps, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (under the ChrĂŠtien government).

Saying that the Copps family is well known in Hamilton is an understatement.

Younger generations in Hamilton may look to the Copps Coliseum Sports and Entertainment Centre, yet older generations know the names Sheila, and her father, Victor. Victor had a fourteen-year (the second longest), tenure as mayor of the city, from the early sixties to the late seventies. Sheila recalls, as a little girl, traveling with her father to bingo halls across the city; passing out fliers, while he gave speeches to those playing their game. These first memories of politics stuck in the mind of the young girl.

It was something she clung to through her

political career, through her battle being a female in politics; back when that wasn’t well heard of, and now in her retirement from politics.

Copps was a Member of Parliament for Hamilton East for twenty years, as well as the Environment Minister and eventually the Minister of Heritage (while still an MP).

She also became the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. There was even some indirect offers to become Canada’s ambassador to UNESCO. While in the former role of Deputy Prime Minister, she had approximately thirty-two hours of meetings a week before even seeing someone outside of the party, which added on another round of meetings and interactions. Personally, I’m shocked that at the things she was well known for like, “being the first person to have a baby in office� and by the degrading comments she received by male counterparts when she would get passionate about an issue including: shrill, cute and perky. This shouldn’t be allowed.

Unbeknown to several Canadians, there are some words that have been deemed unparliamentarily and therefore not allowed anymore in the House of Commons. This list includes such things as A trained seal, Canadian Mussolini, pompous ass, piece of shit (used by Justin Trudeau) and fuddle duddle (used by his father). Yes, fuddle duddle (the Pierre Trudeau fuddle duddle incident is worth a read) but in my mind, the words directed at Copps were in fact

unparliamentarily.

Therefore, immaturity and discrimination Copps stated to me that this was anoth- should be habits of the past in our so-called er one of the challenges of being a woman mosaic of a nation. For the past forty days, entering a man’s world (of Canadian poli- we’ve had an openly lesbian Premier in this tics). Now, we have six female Premiers province. Kathleen Wynne shares a hurdle spread across the provinces and territories with Sheila Copps, but also has a new one (just under half of the total). But, when to face. I honestly wonder if our nation will Copps was starting out, there was really be mature enough to view the person beonly the short-lived Prime Minister Kim hind the gender and behind the sexuality.

Campbell before her, so the idea of a strong It’s only been seventeen years since female voice was unique.

Copps left her role has the Deputy Prime The fact that our elected members of Minister of Canada. Only one new generaparliament were openly sexist, as recently tion has had the chance to reach voting age as in my lifetime, is simply disgusting. I since the comments made to her. So, I rethought we were a nation of open minds ally don’t know how personalities such as and cultural diversity; a nation of the fa- Kathleen Wynne or even Eva Aariak, the mous five, who asked the government of Premier of Nunavut, will be treated in the Canada: “Does the word persons in Section House of Commons. I just hope my male 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, counterparts will be respectful, and restrain include female persons?� This would allow from categorizing them with the derogawomen to run for Senate. Canada answered tory term cute. no. This was contested eventually, and the persons case won. Personally, I thought our nation would have moved on from this behavior after sixtytwo years--apparently not.

As a nation, we are only 146 years old. We are a comparatively young country, but this still is the 21st Century. 5PMM 'SFF

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20

The Sputnik // Wednesday, March 27, 2013

OPINION Leisha Senko // opinion@thesputnik.ca

Last Call: a memoir of the last four years Leisha Senko Opinion Editor I leafed through Arthur and Junie B Jones picture books in the downtown library. I ate Super-kid ice cream cones on the benches in Victoria Park. I watched the Lion King, for the very first time, in the old Odeon Theatre. Brantford, in all it’s splendor, and all it’s squander has always been ground zero of my life. I’ve written before about the impossible magnetism it has over me; the irresistible pull that leaves me wondering about it in the dead of night. Only now, on the eve of my departure, do I understand the magnitude of that force: bags packed, trinkets boxed and posters rolled. I’m heading home, but I’m having a hard time deciphering where home is anymore. Is it where you had your first kiss, your first dance, and your first drink? If so, the answer is Brantford.

Oddly, I know for a fact that I’m not the only one. Piggybacking my way through campus tours, it became clear that the same strange draw lives on in many. Ambassadors, leading perspective students all over the downtown, had it too. I hear past students quietly admitting they’re experiencing, “Brantford withdrawal.” And I’ve seen the look of relief on their faces when they make it to the county.

I know now that it isn’t just me. It has never been just me. And though I often gush, writing through my own fuzzy emotions, I’ve never stopped to analyze why? What’s so special about Brantford? It feels like I’m trying to catch the wind.

To be fair, it’s a big question. One that I’ve only managed to brace after a drink or two. You see, I have a theory; Brantford’s hodgepodge of bars in the downtown--more specifically, each individual bar--represents the many personalities of the city.

Two Doors. You walk in the front door, and immediately sit on the couches: soft, spring-less and chronically groaning. The band playing to your left doesn’t skip a beat. They wail on their instruments-chanting and strumming. A veil of utter darkness, and a three-quarter-foot raise make them seen a mile away. Do they take requests? People are screaming from the back tables. Oh god, you think, do they know something about the couches that we don’t? Guys, do they feel sticky? Really, this is just the material isn’t it? But, that seems a little...

The bartender catches your eye--alarmingly handsome--serving behind a barrage of old street signs, and well past a worn pool table. He’s only mildly distressed as a woman with a bleach blond ponytail, and flat runners, grabs for his arm; pulling him in for an embrace. Well hello there! A lush in his late forties, swaying happily from drink, holds out his hand to you and your friends. “You just came out of the bathroom,” one says in a concerned voice, “did you wash your hands?” He smiles wryly and walks away. More bands mill onto the stage.

The tempo changes again. It’s loud, and brash and wonderful. You feel like a badass, drinking from a plastic disposable cup, as a mild rendition of a song by the Hip fills the room.

Two Doors, you suddenly realize, is that cool cousin who wears Morrissey T-shirts to family reunions. Two Doors, it’s that lip ring you always wanted to get, but were just too chicken shit.

Piston Broke. It’s polished--pristine really-and that shocks you every time; the shiny caramel wood, and warm lighting are surreal. But, you just can’t place the atmosphere. Irish? American? Canadian? The slew of back lit foreign bottles; sparkling like sea glass, don’t help. Men, with fleece sweaters and shaggy haircuts, drink alone at the bar. Pints clink all around the room as waitresses in head-totoe black rush around corners frantically.

You beeline it to the back room, where there are pops of laughter, and short, crisp knocks as pool balls bound off each other. Windows and TVs are everywhere. What’s the score? Who’s playing?

What sport is this? None of it matters. Suddenly you’re at a long table, with pitchers everywhere.

You feel like you’re in the midst of a yuppie last supper, but instead of sharing wine and bread, you partake in Rickard’s Red, and Coors Light, sweet potato fries, and hot chili nachos. In place of disciples there’s just a slew of university students in baggy dress shirts, arguing over existentialism.

Some can pronounce it; others, not so much.

But, you fall into the rhythm anyway. How can you not? The lights in Harmony Square twinkle through the clear front wall. The laughter, from all corners, acts as a strange, soothing narcotic. These people, if only for a moment, feel like some kind of kin. You know this because at any moment you feel like you might burst out in spontaneous song. Bohemian Rhapsody anyone? It’s all just so perfect.

And it hits you; Piston is like that pressed, starched blouse in your closet--absolutely flawless.

It’s that patch of snow no one’s dared to walk over.

A warm cup of tea your Grandma made.

Rodeo: It’s dim, and loud and hectic. Miniature pints are everywhere, sloshing around with what looks like lukewarm piss. The only lights present are strobes, bouncing around the tiled dance floor.

It’s empty; surrounded by a cast iron fence--the type you’d find on a decaying house porch. No matter, you think, I’ll just sit on the outside. You’re perched on the high chair, facing directly towards the stage. Good thing too, its karaoke night, and the woman up front, belting out Love is a Battlefield, is a fantastic spectacle. You watch in wonderment as she kicks out her thick calves, flails her arms and rattles her Mardi Gras beads, threatening the whole room to challenge her.

You rise to the occasion. Do you have anything

by Queen? The woman at the front tilts her head.

Yes--she rolls her eyes. You pick Fat Bottomed Girls, of course. The beer is weak, but after five, and not a drop less, you get on stage. Blinded by the spotlight, it begins... Are you gonna take me home, ah beside the red fire light...You hear whoops and woot woots from the back corners of the room. A sea of faces: some old and worn, others fresh and glitzed up stare up at you. Frayed shirts, jerseys and a suit jacket come into focus... Are you gonna let it all hang out? Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go round... young girls pop up on the dance floor. They kick up their feet, like the woman who sang, Love Is a Battlefield. It’s such a mess--all of it. You can’t wait to do it again.

In the morning, after a strong coffee, and three extra strength Tylenols--for good measure-- you say to yourself, Rodeo is that roman candle fight you never should have agreed too, but are damn glad you did. It’s that battle scar you can run your finger along, and smile.

N.V. Wub, wub, wub. Wub, wub, wub. The bass hits your first. Like a jackhammer, drilling into your eardrums. Then come the people, wallto-wall people, in short dresses, low tops, and sporting bare midriffs. It’s humid, burning like a Californian summer, in the middle of January. You push your way to the bar. Elbow in among heavily made-up woman. Cherry red lips whistle for the bartender. Vodka cranberry, you scream overtop of the masses. That sounds about right.

You swivel your head and see a whole slew popping on the stage--thrusting fists and shaking hips. One girl’s shoes, well they have to be at least six inches tall. Don’t those hurt? You don’t think about it too hard. The stairs beckon; carpeted in a scratchy grey material, they loop slightly to the left. You climb, and climb, only to be met with a bird’s eye view. The screams, from below, feel more like white noise now. On top, people are whispering and touching. Hands lightly grazing over bare arms. Chunky, silver bangles tap on kneecaps. The room is pregnant with expectation, drowning in its own tension. Eyes only move one way--vertically.

Sex on tap anyone? You question; is their featured shot red because it’s the colour of lust? You’ll never know.

But, when you wake up in your bed, lipstick and mascara streaked across your pillowcase, tangled in your own sheets, you’ll realize that N.V. is the appletini you’ve always wanted to order. That ultra eenie-meenie, teenie-tiny, sequined skirt you keep hidden deep, in the darkest recesses of your closet.

Vegas. It cuts like a knife, deep and searing.

Neon letters blink over the street. Men, smoking thick cigarettes, scream out to their friends. The words are lost in the shuffle--a car zooms by. Do I dare go in, you ponder? Of course not. Walking home, you can’t help but stare, wide-eyed, at the thin girls in white tank tops, swaying on the bar.

The music, pounding like a hundred ghetto blasters, shakes the old brick. Customers, unseen but always heard, whoop and holler like animals. Do I dare go in, you ask? No. The answer is simply no.

Vegas is a car crash, rife with twisted metal-you can’t look away. It’s a burning fire, ferocious and capricious, licking at the corner of your house.

You’re too smart to let it envelop you. Too smart to be that moth to the flame.

And so, here I am. Happy as I walk back from the bar; taking in every piece of the city. I’ve caught the wind, I think to myself, flushed and giddy. Can it be? I’ve tasted Brantford’s rugged culture. The funky, gritty side, I’ve always known was there.

I’ve chatted cordially with its clean, pristine face.

I’ve laughed, and danced with its bawdiness. Hell, I’ve sung a duet with it too. I’ve exchanged eyes with its cosmopolitan edge. And yet I know, even in a state of drunk megalomania, there are so many more. Maybe that, after all of this, is the real reason we all love this city so.

The selection of bars and clubs to spend your four years in.

(Photos by Cody Hoffman and Kim Jackson)