Issue 1 - June 27, 2012

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 -

Issue 1 // www.thesputnik.ca

the

sputnik

News

2

On Campus

4

Features

5

Sports

8

A&E

10

Opinion

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Over 400 graduates urged to be individuals Laurier Brantford Convocation, page 2

From newsroom to residence page 4

Brantford: beyond campus page 6

A call for abolition of the Monarchy page 12

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The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

News Painting a different picture: Contemporary Indigenous artists gather in Brantford editor@thesputnik.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Graeme Gordon eic@thesputnik.ca

Chris Radojewski Guest Writer - The Fulcrum

Part of the display of Indigenous culture, that is Planet IndigenUS, will take place at the Woodland Cultural Centre between Aug. 10 and 19. The festival takes place every three years and activities will occur at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto as well.

This year the Woodland Cultural Centre had decided to play a bigger role in the festival.

“We are trying to bump up the level of performers we have here because we found there were really big acts for Toronto but we want Woodland to have a higher profile,” said Naomi Johnson, artistic associate for the Woodland Cultural Centre.

Planet IndigenUS is the largest multidisciplinary arts festival in the world for indigenous peoples. It encompasses Indigenous people from all around the world, not just from North America. Performers are coming as far as Australia and China for the festival.

“The theme this year is Celebrating the Crossroads,” said Johnson. “The goal of the festival is to try and create awareness for contemporary Indigenous artists and we have various different artists coming to the festival.”

Aside from contemporary Indigenous artists scheduled events will include musicians, dancers, and even stand up comedians. The performances are happening between Toronto and Brantford simultaneously each with their own schedule although the kickoff of the event will occur at the Harbourfront Centre on August 10.

“We have renown stand up comedians coming this year like Don Burnstick and Charlie Hill,” said Johnson.

“We really tried to program with Six Nations in mind but we’re also bringing people like Rhombus, a New Zealand group. So we’re trying to mix it up a bit.”

Johnson explained that the festival is about demonstrating there is more to Indigenous culture than Powwows. The co-artistic directors echo this sentiment.

“Through our contemporary cultural leaders in visual arts, crafts, film, dance, theatre, music, storytelling, and many, other forms we share our visions and voices for a future filled with power and renewal,” reads the curatorial statement by Marc Merilainen and Janis Monture, co-artistic directors.

“Planet IndigenUS will evoke a sense of transformation of ideals about Indigenous cultures.”

The festival is backed by a number of sponsors and gets program funding and support from organizations like the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. The festival only occurs every three years because it takes that time to prepare all the fundraising, resources, and activities. Right after the end of this year’s Planet IndigenUS, reports will be done evaluating pros and cons of the event to prepare for the next one.

The funding allows the event to be easily accessible to the public.

“All the events are free with the exception of two, which are the comedian nights and [Juno Award winner] Susan Aglukark,” said Johnson. “We’re hoping this continues to grow and grow over the years.”

ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR

Angela Taylor angela.taylor@wlusp.com (519) 884-0710 ext. 3560 PHOTO EDITOR Olivia Rutt photography@thesputnik.ca ART EDITOR Diane Sison art.editor@thesputnik.ca WEB EDITOR To be hired web@thesputnik.ca COPY EDITORS Ahmed Minhas Alicia Saunders Jessica Lalonde SECTION EDITORS To be hired, Local News Matt Mente, On Campus Layla Bozich, Features Courtney Langstaff, A&E Kyle Morison, Sports Leisha Senko, Opinion

Lara Kramer, Canadian dancer, is one of many performances during IndigenUS Photo credit: Caroline Charbonneau, Flickr

CONTRIBUTORS Graeme Gordon Allison Leonard Olivia Rutt Diane Sison Matt Mente Courtney Langstaff Layla Bozich Leisha Senko Kyle Morrison Chris Radojewski Alex Zima Anthony Fusco

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

Eddy Robinson,will be the musical host of a world cafe evening-Photo credit: Sevres Babylone, Flickr

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@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.

Pacific Curls, hailing from New Zealand will make their appearance in Brantford Photo credit: Border Crossings, Flickr

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The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

News

editor@thesputnik.ca

Over 400 graduates urged to be individuals

Louise halfe stands during her introduction, awaiting her honourary Doctor of Letters distinction.

Photo credit: Allison Leonard Allison Leonard Manager of Operations On June 19 and 20, 2012 Brantford’s downtown was flooded with gown-clad students and faculty. The 2012 spring convocation transformed roughly 430 students into Wilfrid Laurier University alumni.

Three ceremonies were spread between two days, each beginning with the challenging speech from Chancellor Michael Lee-Chin. An honorary degree was presented to a deserving community member during each ceremony. Laurier Brantford offered the distinction of honorary Doctor of Letters to Joseph Boyden, former writer in residence and acclaimed Canadian author as well as Louise Halfe, also known as Sky Dancer, an Alberta-born Indigenous poet.

“Continue to differentiate yourself in the world,” Chin urges the students before him. This was a suiting introduction for the quite successfully differentiated honorary degree recipients.

Halfe’s purple-streaked hair, dyed especially for the occasion, frames her face as

Indigenous Studies Professor, Gary Warrick summarizes Halfe’s event-filled life.

Born in Alberta, Halfe, was taken from her family at a young age to be placed in a residential school for many years. She completed her high school education in Calgary and went on to study social work at the University of Regina. However, Halfe’s passion was in poetry.

Her publications; Bear Bones and Feathers and Blue Marrow have earned several awards and titles including a nomination for the Governor General’s Award.

Halfe’s eyes welled with tears at the beaming stage lights upon the closure of Warrick’s introduction. Her strong-willed speech invoked a similar reaction from the soon-to-be alumni.

“Today you’ve earned an eagle feather,” she remarked, extending a piece of her culture to the listening audience. The eagle feather marks acknowledgement of high gratitude, love and respect- something Halfe offered to all in attendance, regarding the on-lookers as one family.

Each member of said Laurier Brantford family then crossed the stage to be hood-

ed with gold and purple sashes, marking the achievement of their degree. The class of 2012 is an immense addition to alumni of the very first Brantford convocation in 2002, one of just 12 students. As enrolment continues to grow, Wilfrid Laurier Univer-

sity’s Brantford campus will continue to grant degrees of true distinction to young men and women.

No sash or eagle feather in hand will mark their individuality; their contributions to society will take care of that.

“Continue to differentiate yourself in the world.”

Photo credit: Allison Leonard

Think you might party too much to remember the good times? Pre-order your yearbook today. www.wlusp.com

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The Sputnik // Wenesday June 27

On Campus Matt Mente // oncampus@thesputnik.ca

From newsroom to bedroom: The Expositor Place residence Matt Mente On Campus Editor

With more new students coming in every year it has become a struggle for Laurier Brantford to house them all. Fortunately this September will see students moving into a brand new residence building.

Expositor Place was formerly known as the Expositor building, which had housed the Brantford expositor for 115 years until it moved to a new location two years ago. The building has been refurbished and expanded from the ground up. While the original façade and lettering have been preserved the expansion to the building will largely feature a glass exterior.

When completed, the building should house over 200 students and will hold retail space on the ground floor. With the building owned by Vicano construction, Laurier will just be leasing out the space, at least for the time being.

Students moving in can expect the same apartment style suites found in all Laurier Brantford residences. The building will also feature meeting rooms and an internal courtyard beginning on the ground floor and going all the way up to the top of the building.

The project has received beaming reviews form community members. Local heritage groups are pleased that the historic exterior of the building has been preserved while local business owners and city council members are excited by the additional retail space that the building will bring to the downtown core.

Of course Students and university staff are thrilled to have new residence space at their disposal. In addition to the Athenian residence acquired by Laurier last year, the university now has a total of nine residence buildings housing hundreds of first year students in over a dozen different residence communities.

The historical Expositor building will hold 200 students and retail space Photo credit: Olivia Rutt

Four unique things about Laurier Brantford

Matt Mente On Campus Editor

1. It’s exploding.

Growth is a part of life in all universities but Laurier Brantford boasts some of the fastest growth rates of any school in Canada. In the past two years alone, Laurier Brantford has gained roughly 500 students (a 20% increase), two new programs and four new buildings. These include two residences and the Research and Academic Centre which houses lecture halls, offices, the school book store and the tech shop in addition to serving several community outreach functions. With plans for a new gym complex already well under way and more applicants every year Laurier Brantford is only getting bigger.

2. It’s not just a university it’s part of the community.

Brantford was originally selected as the location for Laurier’s satellite campus for a number of reasons but one of them was the city’s economy. Brantford used to be one of the largest industrial manufacturing centres in the world. When that business collapsed it brought the city’s economy down with it. Since opening in 1999 in a unique pilot project Laurier Brantford has been pumping money into Brantford’s economy though jobs and the students it brings to the city. Laurier has also been playing a major role in the revitalisation of the downtown core, making Laurier and Brantford true partners in enterprise.

3. The programming Before coming to Laurier Brantford most people have no clue what exactly

contemporary studies are. And half the people attending the school aren’t entirely sure either. Forming the core of Laurier Brantford’s programming Contemporary studies deal with a wide variety of issues and focus on teaching critical thinking, and taking interdisciplinary approaches to problems. It’s kind of like social studies but kicked up to 11. Along with Business technology Management, and Concurrent Education, which accounts for about half the student body, Laurier Brantford offers courses that can’t be found anywhere else.

4. The Atmosphere Every university has its own culture but there are generally similarities between them. People hang out within their own programs. Nobody likes the cafeteria food. The engineering students make fun of the arts kids, whatever. At Laurier Brantford things tend to be a little different. With just about 3000 students you’re already dealing with a much smaller community. Only first year students live in residence so the rest rent houses or apartments in Brantford. Then you have the classes, regardless of program every student needs to take contemporary studies. So between the small student body, smaller classes (no 300 seat lectures here) and shared experiences Students at Laurier Brantford tend to be more closely knit then universities that have tens of thousands of students.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, June 27

FEATURES

Layla Bozich // features@thesputnik.ca

For the love of liberal arts Layla Bozich Features Editor

A wise professor (Dr. Gary Warrick) once told me that obtaining a liberal arts education from Laurier was one of the best things I could do for myself.

He explained that with the knowledge involved in liberal arts comes the power to change the city of Brantford, and beyond that, the world. His point was not clear to me until I looked at the bigger picture of what a liberal arts education really meant, beyond the literature and philosophy classes that are normally associated with it.

The city of Brantford, prior to the construction of Laurier, was known as a manufacturing city with little education and some of the worst literacy rates in Canada. After the death of Massey Ferguson, a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, Brantford’s unemployment rate increased.

However, Brantford City Council’s Ward 5 member Marguerite Ceschi-Smith was in Brantford to witness groups that paired with NDP and other parties to lobby for a post-secondary institution. Brantford’s Sanderson Center reopened and met with the council and Laurier, and the university was proposed to be built downtown in the

various empty buildings.

Ceschi-Smith obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia in the 70s, and at that time she was in an experimental liberal arts program, which has now become a standard class. She explains that an important theme in their small program was to view the world with two ways of knowing, such as yin versus yang, or science versus art.

“All the way through my life [has] always [been] those two ways of knowing: concrete versus abstract,” she said.

“We’re a planet now, we’re not Ontario or Brantford.”

By engaging in a liberal arts education from Laurier Brantford, doors of opportunity will open for you all around the world. With this education, you will gain more knowledge and more background that can be used to make decisions, which is an ever-increasing skill needed to solve many problems worldwide.

Ceschi-Smith admits that Brantford is still very challenged after having been a manufacturing city for so long. It is clear that it is a hindrance for Brantford

to adapt to changing technologies and different ways of doing things.

According to Ceschi-Smith, the aspiration of enrollment in university was not a part of the Brantford psyche, as many potential students’ parents had not had any higher education. Although Brantford is still dealing with unemployment, the three universities and two colleges now located in the city are helping to diversify things, she states.

During the course I had with Gary Warrick, he stated that it was my responsibility (and every other student in a liberal arts program) to take our education and change the world with it.

The fact is that we are the next generation and our shoulders are being burdened with problems that need solving. He believes that if university was an option for you, seize it and take all you can from it.

Ceschi-Smith believes that the most important thing that Laurier students can do for Brantford is to keep on learning.

“For today’s world, you need to forget about the career for life, because it doesn’t exist,” she says, “Never forget what one person can do – they can change the world, [and] a university education can

provide you with the tools to do that.”

In today’s world, an office job is no longer fulfilling. It is important to follow your passion, according to Ceschi-Smith.

Harness the skills that literature and philosophy lay out for you but use them to make great changes around the world.

Brantford used to have one of the lowest literacy rates in Canada, but the addition of a university sparked new hope in the city and inspired its residents to learn.

This revitalization of the desire to educate should inspire new students, current students, and graduates of Laurier Brantford to be passionate and involved in their studies, to receive the best education they can, and not only change the birthplace of their knowledge, the city of Brantford, but the world as well.

What I understood from Warrick’s speech was that a liberal arts education can take us on an endless number of paths around the world, experiencing different cultures and ways of thinking. Enjoy where your liberal arts education takes you. It may not be exactly where you had planned, but it will certainly produce a reinvigorated generation of learners ready to change the world.

Loans, and bursaries, and scholarships, oh my!

Layla Bozich Features Editor First year is full of changes including new experiences as well as new challenges.

Not only must you pick classes, buy textbooks, and perhaps live on your own for the first time, you also need to learn how to budget your time and money.

Tuition and other university expenses may have left you confused and nervous, but if you take early action to understand where your money goes, budgeting becomes much easier.

According to the Laurier Brantford Registrarial Services Office, a student loan “establishes a relationship between you, your post-secondary institution, the provincial and federal governments, and the National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC).”

Lisa Neziol, Finanical Aid and Scholarships Administrator for Laurier Brantford, advises first year students that the most important first step they can take into university life is to apply for OSAP by mid-July in order to be considered in time for the beginning of the school year. Applications for

OSAP can be filled out online or on paper, but the online format is recommended since it takes less time to complete.

Neziol also recommended applying even if you think you are not eligible for any funding, as you may be surprised by the estimate you receive. Even a few hundred dollars can open the door to more opportunities in the world of financial assistance.

However, upon applying for OSAP, it is important to avoid believing the myth that OSAP covers all expenses. Students must remember that OSAP is an assistance program, and cannot be used as a sole form of payment for university expenses. Lines of credit from a banking institution are another important option to consider, as OSAP has been found to not always be reliable.

Carla Howell, a Laurier Brantford graduate of 2011, experienced troubles with obtaining a sufficient amount of money from OSAP. “Those who have single parents, lots of siblings in school, [or] low family income will have no problem whatsoever obtaining OSAP,” she said. “One coming from

a single home family, whose parents are still together, whose parents make enough money to buy a house and a nice car won’t find so much help. Not every parent who has money wants to fork out thousands for their kid’s education. As my parents told me, ‘We paid for our own school, so can you.’”

Howell says she is frustrated with the high interest rate on her OSAP loan and was devastated by the decreasing amount of money she received each year. Therefore, it is imperative to remember that OSAP can’t be your sole dependency for a student loan.

Once you settle into the pace of university life, a part-time job is a key option to consider. However, it can impact how much you receive from OSAP, and because of this, Neziol confirms that about ten hours of work every other week is sufficient.

Keep in mind that comparing your OSAP application to that of a friend is not recommended. This is because every application and student is different. Students receive different amounts of funding depending on their own personal background

information. For instance, a student living far from campus may purchase a car with their OSAP money while another student may only be able to purchase books with their loan.

Neziol says that her best piece of advice for first year students is to be with a parent when filling out the OSAP application. She states that it is the best way to learn where students are getting their money from, and allows them to understand different terms associated with loans.

As a new student it is vital to keep track of your expenses. Tuition, textbooks, groceries, and toiletries will all be a part of your spending during your time at university, and budgeting your money to be able to afford these items will pay off (literally) in the long run.

Take advantage of the Student Awards Office at Laurier Brantford (located in Grand River Hall) and discover bursaries, scholarships, and other forms of financial assistance customized to your situation.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, June 27

FEATURES

Layla Bozich // features@thesputnik.ca

Netty Vintage

The Golden Teapot at Glenhyrst

Going off campus: Exploring the City of Brantford Leisha Senko Opinion Editor Brantford is weird. There’s really no way of getting around it, but after a good deal of subjective research, it seems to be one of its most positive attributes. This city; home to a fairly average transit system, a standard uptown mall and a totally median number of Tim Horton’s per square mile, without its endearing quirks and edges, would be just another small town with an overinflated ego.

That all sounds exceptionally harsh, and yet it’s not intended as such. Most of the students who’ve been on campus for a year or more, while self-depreciating about the strange setup of the city, are fiercely protective and thrilled to be involved. Geocaching, which is basically looking up coordinates and finding hidden treasures around town, is one of Brantford’s major ‘sports,’ and a solid metaphor for how things work here.

Generally speaking, there aren’t flashing neon lights or road maps to fun, you earn your place. Are you into art, fashion, food, or a whole host of other hobbies, fantastic, there are incredibly special nooks for you here, but you have to find them and sometimes you have to carve them out yourself. Hopefully I can provide a small list, and a tiny plea, to be adventurous and get out there.

First piece of advice, take a walk down Brant Street. Do it, I promise you won’t be sorry. At first, it’s going to seem strange.

Though the campus is integrated into the downtown, there are very clear borders that you’ll find yourself maintaining naturally if you don’t make a conscious effort to leave.

On Brant, within the five first blocks you’ll find the best pizza joint in the city, a fair trade cafe and a very trendy vintage shop.

The Blue Dog Cafe is a right of passage. Are you a vegetarian? Do you like live music?

How about political meet ups? Would you like to browse local art? This is the place for you then. It’s low-key, quiet, fun and the hub of Brantford’s downtown culture.

A little further, as promised, you’ll find Netty’s Vintage. This place is an absolute

treasure, with reasonable prices on vintage items (I found earrings made from gold dipped lettuce, how freaking cool is that?), a shop owner who is not only warm but also incredibly helpful and a super beautiful atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to stop at other places along the way.

Second, go to the river. It’s basically a few steps away, and it really is amazingly beautiful. There are trails that take you across the city, serene places to have a picnic and stumps to sit quietly and think. With the exception of wild geese attacks, it makes for a great, fun, safe afternoon. Of course, you can also get yourself a canoe, a raft, even an inflatable tube, and explore the waters. While it’s probably not terribly encouraged by the city, people have camped on the islands in the lake before. In many ways it’s like having a wilderness paradise in your own backyard, without the risk of bear run ins or hunting accidents, yet people often treat it as if they’re going to wind up in Deliverance, part two.

Lastly, try new bars and night joints depending on your mood. You’ll find pretty quickly that Laurier students have their established places, but utilizing the strengths of each spot in town, based on what it offers, and what you’re interested in, will put you ahead pretty quickly. All Brantford students love the Piston Broke; it’s clean, has live music on Thursdays and is crazy close to campus. If you want a low-key evening while watching sports or playing pool, this is the place to go. While in a pinch, Boston Pizza will do. Therapy Lounge is also a great place to go on deal nights or when student bands are playing. Spots that might seem a bit intimidating at first, like The Alex, or Rodeo, can actually be incredibly fun when done in a big group (example, they have rocking karaoke nights).

So, instead of playing it safe, get out and experience the city. It’s very easy to walk right past interesting and fun places, particularly with the stigma that Brantford has nothing to offer. The truth is that there are a plethora of options, but if you never leave campus, you won’t ever find them.

The Blue Dog Cafe

The Bell Homestead

Photography and map compilation by Olivia Rutt, Photography Editor

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, June 27

A city of history Chris Rodajewski Guest Writer- The Fulcrum Just outside the city limits, on a spot overlooking the Grand River, Alexander Graham Bell conceived the idea of a “speaking telegraph” in 1874.

Over a century later, the world has marvelled at, and been transformed by, the telephone. Who knew that outside a town of 90,000, an idea conceived would change the world?

In fact, many people are not aware of the art, culture, and history that inhabit the county of Brant. Important histories, like the story of the telephone, seem to be hidden gems, undiscovered by many, but invaluable to those who have found it. It seems wasteful to come to Brantford, as a student or a resident, and not take in the sights, fun, and learning this area has to offer. The following are just a sliver of what you can do when you are bored this year.

Bell Homestead National Historic Site The prominent green and white house that sits on Teteula Heights Road dates back to 1858. In 1870, the parents of Alexander Graham Bell brought their 23-year-old son, suffering from tuberculosis, from Scotland.

“Brantford has been known for over a hundred years as the Telephone City because of the work Bell did in 1874,” said Brian Wood, curator at the museum. “This basically started the revolution in communications technology.”

In the eleven years his parents worked the farm, A.G. Bell stayed regu-

The Woodland Cultural Centre

Mohawk Chapel

larly during his summer and winter vacations from teaching in Boston. In August 1876, the site was used in one of A.G. Bell’s three major telephone tests—the most famous was the first long distance call from Brantford to Paris.

The property has been a museum for over a century. It includes a visitor centre, café, and two historical homes as well as outbuildings on the property. The second historical home, Canada’s first telephone business office, has the office recreated just as it would have sat when the building was in downtown Brantford. The building houses an extensive telephone exhibit showcasing phones from the present to the late nineteenth century.

Switchboards too. If you don’t know what one is then this would be a good chance to find out.

This museum has a mixture of history covering Victorian life, the Bell family, and the story of the telephone. Want to find out more…Call Them Maybe.

Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks Pine trees from Paris were floated down the river over two centuries ago to create a small Anglican chapel. The chapel, now 227 years old stands as the oldest Protestant Church in Ontario. It is one of only two royal chapels outside the United Kingdom today.

“It fell into disrepair in 1970 because the local residential school closed and the children had made up the congregation,” said Audrey Bomberry, curator of the chapel. “This was the case until Six Nations Council took it over so [now] it is able to function six months of the year.”

The stain-glass windows that adorn the chapel were not installed until the twentieth century but were designs taken from the letters of missionaries—each window with an excerpt from those letters. Each window depicts events in the history of the Six Nation people.

The chapel build in 1785 serves as a reflection of the history in this area from the Haldimand Proclamation when the area deeded to the Six Nations.

Whether Anglican or not, a visit to this chapel is well worth it to take in the marvellous interior of solid wood. It is certainly a place where one can come to seek solitude surrounded by many years of history.

Woodland Cultural Centre Open for the past 40 years, Woodland Cultural centre is the longest running cultural centres in Canada and boasts the largest collection of First Nations artifacts in Canada. The Six Nations of the Grand River are responsible for its operation.

“We are the real deal. We are authentic,” said Paula Whitlow, museum director for the Woodland Cultural Centre. “Since the centre is run by Six Nations, even though we’re located in Brantford, you are coming on to the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.”

The property was once the site of a residential school for First Nations people before it closed in 1972. Since then not only has the property been a space for promoting culture, language, and history, it has been a place for many survivors of the residential school system to come to terms with their ordeal.

There is a permanent gallery of 10,000 square feet with special exhibitions that rotate, including art exhibitions. There is a language resource centre and library for those doing work in Canadian or Indigenous studies.

Woodland Cultural Centre is an amazing place to learn in a variety of methods. It sports everything from art to academic learning, and it is likely after one visit you will return.

Glenhyrst Art Gallery The home on the Grand River once owned by Edmund Lister Cockshutt now goes by the name of the Glenhyrst Art Gallery. Edmund had quite a passion for art and horticulture—accumulating quite a collection of art— and always made his grounds available for the community to enjoy. “[Cockshutt] built this estate, sixteen acres on the Grand River, with gardens and would always leave it open to the public,” explained Marcia Lea, executive director and curator. “When he died he left it to the City of Brantford and it has been used in this way since.”

Glenhyrst not only maintains the well-trimmed grounds that have an array of outdoor sculptures and art, but also rotates displays inside the main building year round. The focus is largely on contemporary art but the museum has a permanent collection of over 700 pieces.

There are a variety of art classes on weekends and evenings in the former coach house to Mr. Cockshutt for all levels of artists. Information on guest speakers and classes are available on the website.

The sculptured gardens are a great place to sit, relax, or have a picnic.

They also connect right into a network of trails that extend around the city.

Whether toning your skills or just taking in the art, Glenhyrst is one place you have to see before leaving this city.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

A&E

Courtney Langstaff // arts@thesputnik.ca

Sanderson Centre brings big acts for the season Courtney Langstaff A&E Editor

The Sanderson Centre may be one of Laurier Brantford’s lecture halls, but this year there will be a lot more than classes and lectures happening on their stage.

The Sanderson is known among the Grand River area as being home to fine talent and creative shows. In the past it has showcased artists like Blues rocker Collin James and Blue Rodeo. They are also recognized for being on the frequent stops list for tribute band Classic Albums Live, who have put on amazing shows like their tribute to Michael Jackson called ‘Thriller’ last year.

But this year they have something for everyone with a whole new lineup in store for their audience in addition to the return of some fan favourites. After last year’s season they wanted their audience’s opinion and feedback on what kind of shows and events they would be interested in. The responses were increasingly highlighting that they want to see more local people in their shows - more country and more classic rock.

Some theatre shows that we can look forward to this season include, ‘A Delightful Quarantine’ put on by Stage 88 and ‘The Little Prince” by Compass Theatre Productions.

Despite their country stars that they will be bringing in this year are unnamed as of now, they are bringing on-going favourites back by popular demand. For instance, John McDermott’s Annual Christmas Show that will be happening on December 11 where he will be performing Holiday season classics.

They also will be repeating the exact same act from this past New Years Eve because it

BRING ME THE

was such a hit and so successful with their audience. The event is entitled Les Coquettes Cabaret Burlesque which is an adult-only dance show. We also cannot forget about Classic Albums Live, the Toronto based tribute band who will be rocking out to Pink Floyd on November 9 with their show “Classic Albums Live Presents: Pink Floyds Wish You Were Here”. But that’s not all for them; the band will be back in February for their “Supertramp- Breakfast in America Show” on February 22.

Classic Albums Live is not the only tribute band that the Sanderson will be showcasing.

On May 31 the band Jeans N Classics will be taking the stage featuring the music of U2.

Classic Rock Fans definitely will not be disappointed this year as the Sanderson recognized and acted on what their crowd wants to see.

If humour is your kind of thing and you love to laugh you are in luck because the Brantford Comedy Festival will be in town early in the school year on September 22. While the headliner has yet to be announced by the Sanderson, they have mentioned that some comedians to look forward to include Nikki Payne and host Steve Patterson.

This is just a tiny glimpse of what’s to come this season at the Sanderson Centre and to see the full list of this season’s shows and events visit their website. Instead of going to Cineplex and seeing a new blockbuster hit, try something different and get in touch with the downtown and local talent. Like they said, they have something for everyone. Head down there, grab some food and drinks, and enjoy the Sanderson Centre’s wide variety of shows.

HEAD OF

ALFREDO GARCIA Alex Zima Staff

For those of you who don’t know, “Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia” is one of many long forgotten films. This obscure title illustrates my obscene take on the past, present, and future of film and television.

Long forgotten: Alien (1979) If you haven’t seen Alien, it’s basically a space invasion by asshole spiders that impregnate you with even bigger asshole dogs that burst out of your chest. They are dicks.

Missed: Black Mirror (2009) This three-episode drama is beyond description. The first episode involved a beloved royal member being kidnapped and held under threat of death. The only condition of his release is if the prime minister has sex with a pig on live television on all government channels she will be set free. As YouTube, Twitter, and government incompetence suffocate the main character, it becomes slowly obvious there is very little a man can do other then sex a pig under pressure - and that’s just the first episode.

Current: Breaking Bad (2008-present) coming back for it’s fifth and final season, split over 2 years, admittedly so, short of cheating. The greatest drama on television is back again, serving cold black delight to everyone who wants to see meth, guns, and whores. Welcome back, Malcolm’s dad.

Looking forward: The Dark Knight Falls (2012) This is Christopher Nolan’s last installment in the Batman series which means: spoiler alert!

Batman dies in this one. BATMAN DIES.

Experience matters: Interning with Entertainment Tonight Courtney Langstaff A&E Editor

After years of studying the fundamentals of journalism, learning the ins and outs of its practices and ethics, all my education and theoretical knowledge came alive with my first internship placement.

I spent this past summer interning at Entertainment Tonight Canada, and one of the main things that was so rewarding about the whole experience was being able to showcase all of the skills and knowledge I have learned through the journalism program at Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College.

To first year journalism students coming into Laurier Brantford this fall you have a lot to look forward to. In your third year of study you get the option to go to Conestoga College and get the hands on experience of being a journalist. As for me, this past year I spent in Conestoga’s post -graduate Videography Broadcast- Journalism/ Documentary certificate program, as part of my broadcast concentration.

The hands on skills I learned, ranging from working with high end HD videography equipment to polishing my on-camera presentation and performance skills, really benefited me at my placement.

My first week at ET Canada was spent in the production office working with the shows producers and editors. My duties included anything from general office duties to assisting producers with organizing video and

photo shoots with talent. We also can go out on location to shoots with the hosts and producers for interviews with guests. But what was really interesting is that in the production office another duty we can do is transcribing actual interviews with Hollywood Celebrities and other influential people and being an entertainment and movie

fascinating to observe their mannerisms in front of the camera, see how they prepare, and also just to get to know them and their personalities off camera. My long-term aspiration is to be an on camera reporter, so it was this particular area of my placement that I found very beneficial. I also got the opportunity to do some behind the scenes

Courtney spends time with Cheryl Hickey on the set of Entertainment Tonight Photo credit: Courtney Langstaff

fanatic like myself, I found that part pretty exciting.

The best part of my placement I would have to say was working in the studio, as a studio and camera assistant. Here I became close with the ET Canada Hosts particularly Cheryl Hickey and Rick Campanelli. It was

(BTS) shots that were implemented into that days’ show, as well as doing camera work that too was on the show later that day. Other areas we also rotated in included working in the control room in the role of teleprompter for the hosts, in addition to being in the newsroom with the shows writers. We

also were encouraged to work wit the editors in the editing suites.

What was really great about the internship program at ET Canada is that they really emphasized that our experience there was what we made out of it. They gave us the freedom to venture in all areas at ET, shadowing writers, producers, editors and even shadow the directors. From my experience I feel that it is really important that you do not waste any of your time at a placement, this is your very own opportunity to get the inside look and actually dip your toes in the industry, and even get your foot in the door to future job positions. Jobs are not necessarily easy to come by, so establish connections, meet new people and don’t be shy because this is your time to shine. Show people what you have learned, and you may even surprise yourself and see your professor’s advice and teachings from their lectures and books coming through. They are all learning experiences, you never stop learning and that is what makes it so exciting.

Internships matter, it’s an enormous part of your university and post secondary experience. For me, mine started at ET Canada and it will definitely not be my last. You don’t have to wait until your third year to start, and you also do not have to be in the journalism program either. Get as much hands on exposure and involvement as you can, because in any industry especially journalism, experience is almost if not equally as important as education. Get out there and put your education and theoretical knowledge into action.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Prometheus: a fallen titan Graeme Gordon Editor-in-Chief

“Big things have small beginnings,” says Michael Fassbender's robotic character, David, midway through Prometheus. Indeed, this line of dialogue may be the biggest lie in Ridley Scott's lackluster blockbuster, with the stark transition from a science fiction film for the first half that then quickly descends into a mindless and weak attempt at a horror film by the end; the movie is actually a small thing with a big beginning.

The movie starts off full of intrigue and sets the viewer up for what appears to be masterful storytelling. The narrative begins on the spaceship Prometheus, billions of miles from earth, in the last decade of the twenty-first century. All of the crew, except for the robot David, is asleep in embryonic capsules for two years, which help to preserve them for the two-year journey through space. Once awoken, most of the crew is in the dark about why they have been brought by the Weyland Corporation to a remote galaxy and are debriefed.

The reason: aliens created us and they are travelling to meet our makers! The religious people were right; it was intelligent design, just evil alien humanoids instead of an almighty and benevolent God. The biologist on the ship (and scientists of the audience) is quickly dismissed for maintaining his silly notion of Darwin's evolution. The heroine of the film, Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) explains — quite definitively I may add — that there are identical star maps (comprised of only several dots) from all of the isolated ancient civilizations of earth. Since these civilizations are unconnected, Shaw believes it must be an invitation from the «Engineers» or aliens who have made us. When the biologist asks her why she has come to this crazy-wild conclusion, she gives the cop-out religious answer of faith, «its just what I believe.» You would assume that a sicfi flick would do a better job at having a basis in scientific reality, but you'd be wrong.

Although at this point Prometheus has already accumulated several plot flaws, the premise is still very intriguing: what if we had been created by an alien race?

On top of this, the android David is a fascinating character, played brilliant-

ly by Fassbender who is completely devoid of all emotion in the role. The character David raises several great philosophical ideas and questions.

The first interesting concept being that he is immortal, and with this infinite life, is able to learn infinitely too. This comes in handy when the crew wants to communicate with their makers, as David in preparation, studies all human languages for years and becomes a master of linguistics.

David also poses a great philosophical question when a crewmember is ruminating on why he was created by aliens only to be asked by David why humans created him. The crewmember is dumbfounded and can only respond with «we made you because we could.»

This empty answer is the beginning of the chaotic and mindless second half of the film. When Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) attempts to speak to an Engineer or an alien creator by using David as a translator, the moviegoer is on the edge of their seat to hear what the humanoid will have to say. Ridley Scott decides to have the superior species not respond at all; instead it lashes out, m u rd e r i n g We y l a n d , decapitating David and killing anticipation, all simultaneously. It seems counterintuitive that a supe-

rior being to us would attack unperturbed, when merely being peacefully approached.

A few other noteworthy flaws and blunders of Prometheus are: the ridiculous growth speed of the starfish-alien-parasite baby of Shaw; the change of alien species down the line of transmitted infection (Holloway becomes a mutated and rabid humanoid, yet Shaw becomes a host of a parasitic starfish-alien and the humanoid alien becomes a host to yet another species entirely); the lack of motives of many of the characters, especially Charlize Theron's character. Yet, the dumbest flaw of all is Shaw's desire to travel to find the real home of the Engineers.

She was just almost torn apart by one, yet she still thinks its a grand idea to go find the planet where the lot of

them live, instead of calling it quits and heading back home to earth.

Overall, Ridley Scott should be ashamed of the riddled scat he produced. He tantalized the viewer with false hopes of an epic movie, with a title from Greek mythology and with philosophical questions posed at the beginning of the film. The end of the movie only answers with a disastrous and childish conclusion, which is laughable and highly disappointing.

Ridley Scott is ironically akin to the Greek titan Prometheus. A titan in the movie industry, Scott has fallen from the grace of the movie gods and is doomed to a lifetime of making a succession of terrible movies.

Prometheus. Art by: Diane Sison

Fall fashion: Jewels, leather and trousers Courtney Langstaff A&E Editor

Keeping up with the latest style in the fashion industry is no picnic, especially with the newest trends changing as quickly as the weather. But with a few tips and trends to look out for you’ll be ready and looking stylish for when September comes.

It doesn’t matter where the runway is or who is walking on it, the same looks are being showcased all over the world for what fashion will look like this fall. From Milan to Toronto, we keep seeing the same styles and colours popping up everywhere.

“Jewel tones, leather, trouser suits, prints and embellishment.” Says Flare Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Lisa Tant on what main things we should be looking out for come September.

But that’s not all. The Editor herself explained that there are much more things to keep our eyes peeled for, including popular colours, patterns and flashy accessories.

Tant wrote on her msn.ca blog that in Milan “for fall it was an overabundant feast of riches. The most directional collection, dished up big chunky jewels stitched to the hems of trousers in ‘70s inspired geometric patterns and scattered over bodies of black dresses.”

When we think of autumn, we usually think of dark deep coloured clothing like dark jeans, jackets and even for the ladies darkening their hair. But surprisingly enough Tant explains that not only is the colour of royalty (purple) a fashion must this fall, but also soft pastels like light pink, baby blue and

even blush are extending across all collections. But nothing completes the outfit quite like the perfect accessory. One item that is coming back in style this Fall is the return of the brooch, which has been appearing in many of the collections as well. Other accessories that are making a statement this year are belts, sashes, flat oxford shoes, and the return of the riding boot. One way or another the outfits are all being tied together with sparkle and jewels even on the footwear.

But we can’t forget about how the 70s and 80s are coming back in more than one way this year. We see it in inspired prints on dresses, shirts, and we also see them with leather jackets and pants. But a new thing to add to the list of trends this fall is trouser suits. You don’t have to be spending top dollar and travel across the ocean to find them either. They have been gradually being introduced in all kinds of stores over the last little while and with decent and affordable price tags. Though that’s not just with trouser suits; if you walk into any store at your local shopping mall like Zara, Forever 21, H&M or even American Eagle to name a few, you can find any (if not all) of these styles with more showing up on the racks, and people are buying and loving them. Whether you’re strutting the halls in leather jackets, pants, shimmering in jewels and accessories or looking like royalty in purple these are just a few ways to help kick start your school year in a fashionable way.

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The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

SPORTS

Kyle Morrison // sports@thesputnik.ca

The emergence of Laurier Athletics Kyle Morrison Sports Editor Even with a campus of fewer than 2,500 students, Laurier Brantford's student athletes are holding their own against the likes of Humber, Seneca and Sheridan colleges, and have their sights set even farther. This past year was the first step in the university’s ambitious athletics expansion, which will bring varsity sports to Brantford for the first time in two years from now.

It's nothing fancy or glamorous yet; Laurier has yet to put together any varsity sports teams. But the extramural teams created -- many of which were in their first year of competition -- were a success. Ranging from men and women's hockey to basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer, the teams played in various collegiate tournaments throughout Ontario. The athletes made the most out of what little is currently available, whether it is poor practice time or not even any facilities to practice at, and making our university proud. A good example of this was Laurier Brantford’s indoor soccer team, who put up a strong third place showing in their first ever tournament, spending some of their practice time at a local high school. With only a few months of training together, the co-ed team went out and beat soccer programs that had trained all year.

The path was paved last year, and if the interest and skill is to be maintained, it is going to lead to varsity sports. Laurier Brantford is planning to participate in collegiate athletic competition as a part of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) full time starting in 2014 with soccer and then add basketball in 2015, Manager of Athletics and Recreation at Laurier Brantford, Greg Stewart said. And as a former OCAA soccer player, Stewart guaranteed the competition and talent level will be just as tough as in the

OUA. In the two years left to go before the first whistle is blown on the pitch, there is a lot to get done off the field to perform the best on it. It takes full staffs to coach and scout for intercollegiate sports teams and the funding to go along with them.

But Stewart and Laurier Brantford’s athletics department are completely committed to doing things right and bring winners to Brantford: “When the time is right, we will support our programs with appropriate leadership and set out to recruit the best available talent to ensure long term, sustainable success.”

With Laurier Brantford's young teams already getting a taste of competitive success, the interest and determination to get better should only grow.

It will be 15 years after the campus opened in September, 1999 with 36 students that the first full squad of varsity players will suit up in the gold and purple.

15 years without homecomings or pep rallies, or rivalry games where Laurier Brantford kicks Waterloo’s ass; all of it will be a thing of the past. The university is showing other universities in Ontario, Laurier’s main campus and their own student body that the Brantford Golden Hawks can proudly perform at the top level on the main stage in varsity athletics.

Blue Jays continue to push for play-off spot Anthony Fusco Staff Many feel that the Jays were Toronto’s only hope for a decent sports team. However, the season thus far has been a disappointment. The Jays are still in the playoff hunt, even though their record stands at 3534 at the time of this article.

I really felt that this year would be a jump forward with the Red Sox injury problems and the Yankees being the oldest team in baseball. Both of those teams are doing better than expected as of late which is a problem for the Jays.

Both of those teams are competing directly with the Jays for a playoff spot. The Jays will have to hang tough for the remainder of the season to be in the hunt.

They have had a problem getting into the playoffs in the past.

It has a lot to do with the fact that they play in the ultra-competitive AL East. They routinely play against teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Orioles. All of those teams are doing better than expected this year, so it will be a definite fight to make the post-season.

With the new playoff format, adding one more team into the mix to try and make it to the Fall Classic, I would say that the Blue Jays have a definite shot, as they would be right at the top of most other divisions in the league. The wildcard should give them a chance to make the post-season but they have to play well and earn that spot.

One Jay to watch for the rest of this season would be Colby Rasmus. He now gets

to hit second in the lineup in front of Jose Bautista, which will see him get more good pitches to hit, and with his sweet swing he can be a very dangerous player. He just needs to find consistency in his game.

A Blue Jay who has been underperforming in my eyes is Francisco Cordero. This is a guy whom the Jays are paying almost 5 million dollars to be their 8th inning set-up man, and someone that they have counted on to be a leader for the rest of the bullpen. He was asked to step in and close out games when highly-touted closer Sergio Santos went down early in the season and did not impress at all now boasting an E.R.A of 5.84 and all of two saves. Granted, he is 37 years old and closing in on the final couple of seasons of his career, but I expected a lot more from the man who has been one of baseball’s better relievers the past few years.

Overall this season should be exciting the rest of the way and competitive for the Blue Jays and their many fans. You can’t give up hope yet; there’s still a lot of baseball to be played and they have a talented group of players. Should they all play to the best of their abilities, there may be playoff tickets being sold in the playoff starved city of Toronto. All we need to do is have a little faith.

Brett Lawrie. Art by: Diane Sison

11

The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

SPORTS

Kyle Morrison // opinion@thesputnik.ca

YMCA still waiting on federal funding Kyle Morrison Sports Editor Laurier Brantford has many high-end facilities on campus, but what the school lacks is a full-sized, dedicated athletic complex. The university currently does offer students the ability to work out and take part in basketball, dodge ball and volleyball intramurals at Wilkes House, but the quantity of these resources and size of the full facility is very inadequate, especially for a student body that is very physically active.

The university is widely aware of this, and Laurier Brantford is well on its way to getting the state-of-theart athletic complex that its students deserve. In conjunction with the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford, the proposed three-level complex will feature a 1,200 seat gym, aquatic centre with six-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool, double gym – with space above for spectators – and full jogging track.

Located in the heart of downtown Brantford, this complex is going to be a community centre in every sense of the word, meeting the needs of everyone in Brantford. It stands to benefit and enrich the healthy lives of the Brantford residents, the Six Nations people and students, not only of Laurier's campus, but also the students of Nipissing University and Mohawk College.

Having the campuses integrated with the city, getting the YMCA and city of Brantford involved are key.

With the current YMCA location not having any aquatic facilities, membership has continued to decline.

The complex hopes to fix this and get people in Brantford active again.

Having both parties involved also helps distribute funding, making

construction possible when it otherwise wouldn’t be.

However, the project has been hitting some snags financially, holding back the start of construction. The 130,000 square-foot complex is estimated to cost $58.4 million, but has so far yet to secure even half of the necessary funds. ''We have been fortunate, in that the province has earmarked a minimum of $16.7M toward the project, as have the municipal government ($5.8M). Should the federal government follow suit in the near future, I am confident the project will breathe new energy,'' Greg Stewart, Manager of Athletics and Recreation at Laurier Brantford said.

Laurier Brantford has set a goal to have 4,500 students enrolled by the time the athletic complex is opened,

and it will be integral to continue the growth of the university: “We need to upgrade what we have, not only to support our athletes and general student body, but to showcase Brantford as a destination of choice. New facilities are becoming integral in the recruitment strategy,” Stewart said.

No facility will have more of an impact for the community of the university and the city more than the athletic complex in the short-term. You can look to get out to the gym and start hitting the weights, swimming or even just hang out with friends, in 2015 in the heart of Laurier Brantford's campus on Colborne Street.

A digital sketch of proposed YMCA athletic faciltiy Photo credit: Cannon Design

NHL draft 2012 sees Staal brothers reunited Kyle Morrison Sports Editor

On this year’s NHL draft day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was not only fresh-faced rookies that will be donning new jerseys for the upcoming season.

Major trades were also happening at the forefront, highlighted by the departure of Jordan Staal, being traded away to the Carolina Hurricanes, ironically, in the arena where his now former team, the Penguins play.

Although the Leafs and a few others were reportedly in the fray trying to acquire the 6’4’’ centreman, there was one team above all that Staal wanted to go to, and that was the Carolina Hurricanes, home to 2006 Stanley Cup winner – and older brother – Eric Staal. The two teams struck a deal in which, in exchange for Staal, the Penguins acquired a slew of young talent in centre, Brandon Sutter, defenseman, Brian Dumoulin, and the Hurricanes’ eighth pick in the 2012 draft, which was used to select another defenseman: 18-year old, Derrick Pouliot.

In Sutter, the Pens received a big, hard-working centre that fits much better in a third line role than Staal and in Dumoulin and Pouliot, two high-ceiling defensemen, which the Pens sorely lack. After Kris Letang, there wasn’t much on the back-end for the

Penguins.

At first it would seem like a surprise that one would not want to sign long-term for solid money with a team that is consistently a threat to win the Stanley Cup out of the Eastern Conference, but when you’ve got Evgeni Malkin and Sid the Kid playing in the lineup with you, your minutes (especially being another centre) are going to be limited. Someone with his talent deserves to play those top line minutes and a trade was the only option. Now teamed up with older brother, Eric, the Hurricanes’ topline is sure to be dominant and instantly makes the team one to watch closely this upcoming season.

And to close off the draft week another band of brothers was united as Brian Burke and the Leafs acquired centre James van Riemsdyk for defenseman Luke Schenn, who will now play with his younger brother, Brayden in the City of Brotherly Love, no less.

Burke had been linked to trying to get van Riemsdyk for months up to this point, a strong, power forward that was in missing up front for the Leafs.

He comes to Toronto coming off a year in which he missed the majority of the season with a broken foot

that required surgery to repair; it will be interesting to see how it holds up throughout the 2012-13 campaign. And injuries aside, JVR still isn’t that first line centre that’s missing between Lupul and Kessel.

The winner of this trade is hard to determine; the Leafs got a power forward and the Flyers got a power defenseman in Luke Schenn. Luke Schenn will fit in nicely in the top two defense pairings in Philly, whereas van Riemsdyk will fit in nicely in the shark tank that is the Toronto media. I mean, be a nice fit in the Leafs’ top six forwards.

Draft days are turning into the trade deadline 2.0 after the Flyers got rid of the faces of the franchise, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards last year and now Staal, who was so valuable for the Penguins, going to play with his brother. It is a great way to cap off the summer and with the free agency period beginning on July 1, there should be more surprises in store with more players wearing different coloured jerseys out on the ice come October.

The Sputnik // Wednesday June 27

12

OPINION

Leisha Senko // opinion@thesputnik.ca

Why we hate the French Leisha Senko Section Editor

There are few things more painful in this life than handing over a fresh check each new semester. At times, one could almost say it physically hurts, and yet for all the snide comments and dramatic eye rolls, in Ontario at least, the call to seriously oppose fees and general increases is virtually non-existent. This fact alone doesn’t seem particularly remarkable from the inside, especially comparing our plight to the crippling debt regularly handed to our neighbours down south via private institutions. Yet peering over at Quebec and their rabble, the whole blueprint for what we consider universal student etiquette is thrown out the window, and quite frankly, we don’t like it one bit.

‘Entitled,’ ‘Spoiled,’ ‘Radical,’ are all terms that many other Canadians have used to describe the protests, marches and writings which are vying to keep tuition for those in Quebec at approximately 2,000 dollars. ‘Wait,’ we all said to ourselves, reveling in the most common eureka moment ever, ‘I already pay more

than twice that much, what a ridiculous notion. How dare they?’ Emotionally this feels like the most sensible result, almost solidified at our core.

Strangely, this cultural, and at times biological, analogy is more important than many would care to admit.

Experiencing quiet loathing for those who choose to openly and stylishly thwart authority is arguably quite an English phenomenon, one that still permeates our thinking and our actions in what we consider an open and democratic society. Fortunately, or unfortunately for some, the French have never been privy to this mindset of debilitating propriety.

In 1789, while British peasants were stoically enduring their place, the original Occupy movement (this time the 98%) of peasants and bourgeois in France ended an illustrious monarchy with a double beheading. Jumping to 1968, students in French universities were so unhappy with their cramped lecture halls and uninterested professors that they virtually set the city on fire, barricading streets for

days, eventually earning some serious reforms. England on the other hand, still has a monarchy and just shelled out millions for a royal jubilee during a major recession because not doing so would be terribly impolite.

Obviously, this is oversimplified, and yes we all remember the tuition riot in Britain a couple years ago, but the differences are so utterly striking.

In France, the government listens to the people because, for the most part, the people listen to each other. Banding together to effect reform is commonplace and encouraged. In England, the opposite is true. Protestors are deemed fringe.

Do you remember what the riots in England got students? A big fat nothing, that’s what, oh and some terrible press scandalizing the horrific nature of a whole generation. Obviously, these two social codes couldn’t be further from one another, or more extreme.

This is where things get tricky, in a world without shades of gray. Clearly, we don’t want fiery riots or beheadings

at our universities, yet we also don’t want to clench our teeth in quiet loathing as we’re pushed around. This is the dilemma, on one hand our Britishness has imparted on us the inalienable truth that revolution generally sucks for the revolutionizers in the short run, and yet on the other hand, the French have rightly warned that if you don’t stand up there’s no end to the subjugation its possible to endure. So, strangely, our proclivities for solemn acceptance often keep us from standing up for ourselves, and therefore begrudging the tradition of peaceful disobedience for no good reason. So maybe, instead of laughing off student protestors as ungrateful, we could actually evaluate the data and see that tuition inflation is higher than ever and that fees are hurting students. While at the same time, maybe organizers of our marches could conveniently forget to invite that one jerk anarchist who kicks in windows.

A jubilee fit for coal Graeme Gordon Editor-in-Chief

On June 3 I turned on my TV and changed the channel to the CBC to get my daily dose of international news. To my chagrin, the CBC had ceased all news coverage in order to dedicate documenting the horrid proceedings of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The well-preserved Queen floated down the Thames doing her contrived half-wave as she celebrated her 60th year of ‘reign’ over England and the commonwealth. She seemed to do well under the heavy strain of it all — her mousey husband not so much.

As I was well informed by the CBC the following morning, a top story was that Prince Phillip (or if you prefer the highlyinflated Duke of Edinburgh) had been hospitalized after suffering abdominal pains.

The poor bloke of 91 had to miss out on the rest of the pomp and extravagance of the following days.

But back to the excessive extravagance of the floating flotilla and the sickly sycophant onlookers who had hijacked the CBC’s coverage. I decided to watch a bit to be entertained at how awful and boring the reporters’ ongoing coverage of the event would be as things dragged on.

The reporter quickly ran out of things to say after beating to death the fact that the flotilla had made a new world record for the largest fleet. I thought to myself “too bad the UN can’t get its act together, they could authorize this largest flotilla ever amassed to go across the Mediterranean Sea to battle Bashar al-Asad. Put this flotilla to real use.”

I was surprised that the Queen was allowing for such extravagances to take place, she’s usually so good at feigning modesty. Especially, with the recession and the past restlessness of the masses towards her free ride. She even has the new power-celeb couple, Will and Kate, keeping their conspicuous expenditures down.

When William and Kate celebrated their birthdays this year they were private affairs that the CBC reported were to have been “low key.”

After the droning on about the procession, the reporter was really in desperation for something to talk about. She thought

she struck gold when she found a grandmother, mother and daughter (three generations under the Queen’s ironfisted rule) in the crowd who were all overzealous supporters of the Royals. These commoners (probably in debt, like most of the country) had lovely accents but not much in the way of substance when it came to discussing the extraordinarily wealthy Queen. All they could really say was how lovely she was and the Grandmother reminisced about a past jubilee and how wonderful it was.

The conversation was really only about past events the Queen had attended, nothing she’d actually done.

At this point I turned it off. I (and I’m sure many others) had had enough of the worn out spectacle, and I’m not just talking about this hyperbolic jubilee. Macleans in 2009 published an article about how Canadian’s now paid more per capita than Brits towards the monarchy. According to the article we spend about $40-50 million a year on our regal majesty. Considering she’s got someone else representing her here (and they aren’t doing any actual governing anyway) as she collects, I think it’s about time we fired her. We aren’t getting anything from our investment. never mind the loyalists who would tell you its vital

as a safeguard to democracy: it’s bullocks.

The CBC itself does a far better job safeguarding democracy, as it is publicly funded and pays journalists to investigate the legislative, judicial and executive branches for abuses of power.

Yet the CBC’s budget is taking massive cuts while we waste money frivolously on a relic. That’s why it is so hard to see the CBC spewing propaganda for the Queen and millions spent on her jubilee while they shrink in size during austerity. If we really wanted some austerity and to grow-up as a nation we’d be abolishing the monarchy.

Jubilee. Art by: Diane Sison