Issue 4 - September 24, 2014

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - Issue 4 // www.thesputnik.ca

News On Campus Features Arts & Culture Sports Opinion

2 4 6 8 10 12

Laurier buys Market Square for $5.8 million page 5

Partnership with Laurier likely page 3

Meet your mayoral candidates page 2

Brantford Food Drive set to begin page 3

A conversation about self-esteem page 7

Open year round . Friday 7am -­ 5pm . Saturday 7am -­ 2pm Laurier Students get 10% discount Located close to Laurier downtown campus & residences . 79 Icomm Drive

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The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

News Taylor Berzins | news@thesputnik.ca | @sputnik_news

Meet Brantford’s mayoral candidates

Chris Friel

Jan Vanderstelt

John Turmel

Mark Littell

Candidate Friel is vying for re-election. With a combined thirteen years of mayoral experience, Friel believes that his hometown passion for Brantford makes him the ideal candidate. After serving as mayor of Brantford for nine years, Friel says he left politics to take on the private sector, only to return to the position of Mayor in 2010, “I returned in 2010 because local government, and particularly Brantford are what drives my thinking,” says Friel.

Friel says he would like to continue to “diligently” work with Laurier Brantford staff and executives. “I was Mayor when we started Laurier Brantford,” says Friel. He cites his commitment to “space to offer a richer student life experience,” as a way in which he is contributing to student life in Brantford, as he was Mayor during the sale of land for Y-Laurier, and the sale of Market Square mall. He says that continuing initiatives like the Orientation Week Barbeque, creating a new way for the students’ union to communicate easily with the city and encouraging students to propose ideas to the City, are ways in which he will continue to integrate students into the Brantford community, if re-elected. Friel promises to focus on issues like job creation, developing a local culture of “100 mile diet”, implement SMART Brantford, and work towards bringing Go Transit to Brantford.

According to his website, Chris Friel’s platform is not yet available.

Candidate Vanderstelt, was born and raised in Brantford, and in his own words is a “Brantford boy.” After representing Ward 1 for the last four-year term, he believes the greatest issues affecting the Brantford community are “respect, taxes, and transportation”.

Alongside his wife, Vanderstelt runs a popular local artisan shop and restaurant called Serenity. Vanderstelt highlighted his commitment to conscious decision making while on city council, “I have been a consistent supporter of post secondary education in Brantford while voting against waste and mismanagement of public funds,” says Vanderstelt.

In regards to his ideas for helping expand the quality of life for local students, Vanderstelt says, “My primary goal is safety,” promising to further implement safe neighbourhood tools like CPTED lighting, supporting and growing FootPatrol service, and installing WIFI in the downtown core to promote safe travel in the area, “As the student body of Laurier continXHV WR JURZ DQG ÀQG DFFRPPRGDWLRQ well beyond a three block radius of Brantford’s core, we would initiate an open dialogue with students to solve the logistical issues of student safety.”

Vanderstelt also promises to facilitate more convenient meetings with Laurier Brantford student representatives by hosting meetings at the Laurier campus rather than external locations, “I plan to visit students where they are,” says Vanderselt.

Candidate Turmel, a man sometimes known under the aliases of King of the Paupers, Banking Systems Engineer, Great Canadian Gambler, and TajProfessor, wants to be Mayor of Brantford in order to restructure the community to run on an independent local currency known as “Brantford Bond Bucks” to adults, and “Bus Bucks” to students.

In relation to students, Turmel’s concept lies in the idea that youth would perform work tasks around the city for bus tickets. Turmel cites Argentina’s bank crash in the 1980s as his inspiration, as the country used bonds to pay citizens.

Turmel promises to create a local timebank baby-sitting network.

Alongside his degree in Structural Engineering, Turmel holds the world record for the most election attempts, and is known for his signature white hard-hat worn while campaigning. Turmel is particularly notable for bringing his concept of “Brantford Bucks” to the television program Dragon’s Den, and later launching a libel suit against the program.

In regards to his plans for Laurier Brantford’s students, Turmel told the Sputnik, “There could be a nasty winter coming up and gangs of students clearing driveways after the snowplows pass may really be needed.

I’ve written other ward candidates to ask if they would support paying students with Bus Bucks credits at $12 Bus Bucks/hour…I hope we don’t have to shovel out the snow-drifts in our driveways this winter.”

Candidate Littell has lived his whole life in the Brantford community.

Having served on city council for the 2006-2010 term, Littell told the Sputnik that he helped to oversee plans for the development of the Laurier-YMCA, and lead the team that demolished buildings on the South side of Colborne Street, to make room for the future facility. A business owner, Littell has operated a promotion supply and party supply business in Brantford for over twenty years.

Littell believes that developing the downtown core is imperative to Brantford’s future success, “As my family grows and my sons look to build their careers in Brantford, it is important to me that they have a downtown and thriving services and amenities for their families and businesses.” If elected Littell would like to see more accessible, and affordable parking come to the downtown. Littell highlighted that he had worked on the concept of construction of a bridge from Colborne Street to the Grand River; he believes this would help better integrate students with local culture, and local assets like the river. Littell would also like to increase inter-city transit in Brantford, as well, he would support an increase in the amount of entertainment, restaurants, and markets developing in the Brantford community, “What is positive for the community is also positive for the students and for our businesses and services,” says Littell.

Mary Ellen Kaye

Dave Wrobel

Mike St. Amant

Candidate Kaye is a local activist, ZKR VHUYHG RQ WKH FLW\ %URZQÀHOG 6LWH and Trail Committees. Passionate about local services, Kaye would like to continue to act as a “voice for the ‘voiceless’”, if elected Mayor. As a teacher, Kaye advocates for “life long learning”.

Kaye told the Sputnik that she encourages students in Brantford to get out and see all that the community has to offer. In regards to Laurier itself, Kaye says, “We’re glad you came.” Improving public transit services, and making parts of the city more accessible to students is amongst her priorities.

Candidate Wrobel, a thirty-year Brantford resident, has served for three terms as a local city councillor for Ward 4. According to his website, Wrobel teaches skilled trade and engineering technologies at Mohawk College, is a member of the Kinsmen Club and the Branlyn Neighbourhood AsVRFLDWLRQ :UREHO·V SODWIRUP GHÀQHV its pillars as “teamwork, integrity and community.” His platform currently makes no mention of Laurier Brantford, or the student community. Wrobel’s online platform is incomplete at this time, and does not include information in sections outlined as “value plan” or “economic plan”. Wrobel declined to speak with the Sputnik.

According to candidate St. Amant’s website, he has over thirty years of business and political experience, having served on many committees and boards. According to his website, “With Mike St. Amant, what you see is what you get: no hidden agendas, and no promises made to individuals or corporations.” Mike’s platform outlines key local issues as being the shortage of doctors in the Brantford area, the need to improve mobile scooter infrastructure in town, create a better working environment for temp employees, and recognize the needs of seniors.

St. Amant’s platform makes no mention of students; St. Amant declined to speak with the Sputnik.

We want to know what you think of the candidates!

Email your opinions to news@ thesputnik.ca

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Sputnik

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News Taylor Berzins | news@thesputnik.ca | @sputnik_news

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Layla Bozich eic@thesputnik.ca PHOTO EDITOR Cody Hoffman photography@thesputnik.ca ART EDITOR Now hiring! visual@thesputnik.ca WEB EDITOR Dylan Kellendonk web@thesputnik.ca COPY EDITORS Hannah Brunsdon Roberto Belardi SECTION EDITORS Taylor Berzins - News Swathy Sooriyakumar - On Campus Karly Rath - Features Dillon Giancola - Arts & Culture Kyle Morrison - Sports Brittany Bennett - Opinion CONTRIBUTORS Josh Adesina Anthony Fusco Nadine Saba WLUSP BRANTFORD 202-171 Colborne St. Brantford, ON N3T 2C9 (519) 756-8228 ext, 5948 MANAGER OF OPERATIONS Nathanael Lewis nathanael.lewis@wlusp.com

PRESIDENT Dani Saad (519) 884-0710 ext. 3565 dani.saad@wlusp.com ADVERTISING Tammy Rowe (519) 884-0719 ext. 3560 trowe@wlu.ca

7DNH %DFN WKH 1LJKW PDUFKHG WKURXJK WKH VWUHHWV RI GRZQWRZQ %UDQWIRUG RQ 6HSWHPEHU (Photo by Karly Rath

7DNH %DFN WKH 1LJKW WDNHV RYHU GRZQWRZQ %UDQWIRUG 7D\ORU %HU]LQV News Editor .DUO\ 5DWK Features Editor On Thursday, community members gathered to participate in Brantford’s 23rd Take Back the Night march.

Take Back the Night is an international event born in the 1970s out of a publically challenged, and call to an end, sexual violence against women.

Brant MPP Dave Levac awarded the event’s coordinators a Congratulatory Certificate, citing that he is compelled to help make visible the women who are faceless victims of violent crimes.

The hundred participants marched downtown’s Dalhousie and Colborne streets, beat-

ing drums and calling out chants of, ““Whoever we are, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no�, while carrying signs adorned with slogans like, “No more silence, no more violence�. With women of all ages encouraged to participate in the rally, some families were represented by three generations.

This year’s local rally was held in solidarity with the Sister’s in Spirit campaign, bringing a spotlight to Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous women.

Alongside the traditional Take Back the Night march, participants also had the opportunity to participate in the Brantford’s Faceless Dolls Project. Faceless Dolls is a community art project consisting of handmade felt dolls without faces, which call dialogue to the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada.

For participants like Lynn LaForme, this

year’s Take Back the Night, and the Faceless Dolls Project provided a space of “harmony and awareness�, towards the disproportionate amount of violence faced by indigenous women in Canada, like LaForme’s sister Elaine. “My sister was murdered two years ago and this is my contribution to keeping her memory alive,� says LaForme, “Something has got to be done. This is way too many people gone missing.�

The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, and Brantford’s Native Housing have orchestrated the event annually in the Brantford community since 1991.

Carrie Sinxkowski, Community Education and Development Coordinator at the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, says Take Back the Night is important in all communities so that survivors of sexual violence know that they are not alone.

The Sputnik is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial FRQFHUQV )RU DGGLWLRQDO LQIRUPDWLRQ RU WR Í„OH D complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981.

The Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications (WLUSP) :/863 +HDG 2IÍ„FH 205 Regina Street Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3C5 The Sputnik is a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) Opinions expressed in The Sputnik are those RI WKH DXWKRU DQG GR QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHÍ…HFW the Editorial staff, The Sputnik, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. FRONT PAGE PHOTO CREDITS Main: Cody Hoffman Left: Taylor Berzins Centre: Cody Hoffman Right: Cody Hoffman

7KH RIÍ„FLDO IRRG GULYH ODXQFK ZLOO EH KHOG DW D P RQ 6HSWHPEHU DW WKH (TXDO *URXQG *DUGHQ RQ %UDQWZRRG )DUPV (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

%UDQWIRUG IRRG GULYH VHW WR EHJLQ 7D\ORU %HU]LQV News Editor With their September goal nearly halfway met, the Brantford Food Bank is working to recover from the pangs of summer.

According to Food Bank Program Manager, Cindy Oliver, September’s goals seem more within reach than August’s, “We’re getting there,� Oliver said, “Last month we didn’t quite meet it.�

October will mark Brantford’s annual 0XQLFLSDO )RRG 'ULYH 7KH RIÀFLDO IRRG GULYH launch will be held at 11 a.m. on September 27, at the Equal Ground Garden on Brantwood Farms.

The Brantford Food Bank runs on much more than Kraft Dinner. Last year, the Food

Bank’s community Equal Ground Garden generated over 93,000 pounds of produce, allowing the facility to provide those using the service with fresh vegetables. The Food Bank also distributes other perishable goods like meat, and dairy- but all aid is conditional to goods donated by the community.

Oliver says that July and August are the slowest months for food donations, despite the fact that community needs grow during the summer months as children are out of school, and eating more food at home. ““People tend to forget about the Food Bank during the summer,� says Oliver.

Donations usually pick up close to the holidays, and with Thanksgiving approaching the Food Bank is expecting to see donations increase.

The Brantford Food Bank provides food for approximately 1200-1250 families every month. Of those individuals, Oliver says that 30 per cent are children.

According to Oliver the Food Bank is seeing a lot more two parent, working families using the service, “minimum wage doesn’t go far if you’re paying a mortgage, and utiliWLHV VR ZH GR Ă€QG WKDW WKHUH¡V D JRRG PL[WXUH of families that are using the food bank.â€?

Whether they are looking for a place to volunteer, or are in need of food, Oliver wants to remind students that the Food Bank is available to them, “Being a university town now, we want to make sure students know we’re here,� says Oliver.

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The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Sputnik

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On Campus Swathy Sooriyakumar | oncampus@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikoncampus

The market Square mall on Market St. was purchased by Wilfrid Laurier University. (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

Laurier buys Market Square for $5.8 million Swathy Sooriyakumar On Campus Editor On Thursday night, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus purchased the Market Square building on Market St. for $5.8 million.

With the school year just beginning, Laurier Brantford’s community is quickly expanding to a bigger and better campus with this new purchase. “Because we have a commitment to expanding our campus here in Brantford, WKH IDFLOLW\ ZLOO SURYLGH XV ZLWK UHDO Ă H[ibly to continue to grow and to take on expanded programming,â€? explained Brian 5RVERURXJK VHQLRU H[HFXWLYH RIĂ€FHU DW WKH Brantford campus.

With the continuous revitalization of the downtown core, Rosborough further explained the positives to this decision. “Market Square is fully integrated into the downtown,� he said. “[It] is an ideal addition to our campus properties that will help us to continue to be a part of [the] downtown and support our expansion.�

Rosborough explained that after a year of discussion and a vote in favour of the deal, the purchase of Market Square coupled with Laurier’s investment in the YMCA facility demonstrates the university’s commitment to grow in Brantford and remain part of the community in the long term. “There’s a number of city services in the Market Square facility and they will remain in place for the foreseeable future as we consider how best to start using the space for university purposes,� Rosborough said. Currently, Market Square holds many empty units and very few functioning services that include a coffee shop, discount stores, and a call center.

Space inside will provide the Laurier community with opportunites for a heavily requested campus food facility, library, RIĂ€FHV DGGLWLRQDO FODVVURRPV DQG PRUH $PEHU 6WUDWWRQ D Ă€UVW \HDU &RQFXUrent Education student at Laurier Brantford, is excited to hear the news so early in her university career. “All of O-Week I was saying to myself,

‘Why don’t we buy Market Square?’� she said. “We need a nice big central place – let’s face it, RCW isn’t really that big!�

Stratton enjoys the small campus and KRZ DIĂ€OLDWHG LW LV ZLWK WKH FLW\ “My class today was talking about how some of the citizens of Brantford were concerned about the university just abandoning the downtown core,â€? she explained. “I think this proves even more to the citizens of Brantford that the university is here to stay and we’re going to continue to work on it!â€? “There are a number of things here on campus that we still need to consider in terms of having a complete array of services that meets the needs of our students and faculty,â€? said Rosborough. “We see the Market Square facility as an ideal location for us to explore how to create those services to meet the needs of the campus.â€?

Second-year Journalism student Stephanie Taylor misses the way downtown Brantford used to be growing up as a child. “Being a Brantford local, I love how

[Laurier] brought life back to the downtown,� said Taylor. “[It] makes me appreciate the city a little bit more.� “It continues to grow the downtown campus, it offers many amenities and opportunities for students - which will increase student satisfaction,� explains Mayor Chris Friel on the sale of Market Square.

The sale of the mall had been an ongoing negotiation since last May; Friel believes there “could not be a better solution� for the nearly vacant mall. “We only sold the bricks and mortar,�

FODULĂ€HG )ULHO WKH VHFRQG SDUW RI WKH PDOO is the head lease, owned by GK York, property management services. “Laurier has to come to an agreement to pick up the head lease,â€? Friel continued.

The head lease includes aspects such as the functions of the mall, such as mainteQDQFH DQG OHDVLQJ 'HDOV DUH VHW WR EH ÀQDOized within a few weeks.

Field of Dreams on exhibit at Yellow Brick Wall Swathy Sooriyakumar On Campus Editor Field of Dreams, a collection by 43-year -old Aaron Robbins is the current exhibit at Laurier Brantford’s Yellow Brick Wall.

Scarborough born and raised in Markham, Robbins has a passion for Canadian landscapes. Driving across the counWU\ PXOWLSOH WLPHV PRVW RI KLV ZRUN UHĂ HFWV these vast landscapes. “I do travel and get certain ideas and inspirations - but for my paintings it’s about where I am and the feelings I get with where I am.â€?

Having lived in Vancouver for about ten years after graduating from York UniYHUVLW\ 5REELQV¡V FDUHHU UHDOO\ WRRN Ă LJKW “Grade eleven is really when I dove into LW Âľ 5REELQV H[SODLQHG DERXW ZKHQ KH Ă€UVW took an interest in painting. Moving back to Toronto was a way for Robbins to hit a bigger art market, be closer to family and have “a better home.â€?

Travelling around the world from

Europe, London, Belgium, Paris and the 6WDWHV 5REELQV Ă€QGV KLV ORYH IRU SDLQWLQJ within his home country. Gaining inspiration through “being one with nature,â€?

Robbins believes there are some things you can’t explain when you really get into the wilderness. Instead he channels his feelings through painting. “Being alone with nature ‌ but you’re never really alone. There’s always something happening, there’s always something out there, whether it be a spiritual presence or just animals, bugs, insects ‌ life.â€?

Field of Dreams displays multiple ZRUNV VKRZFDVLQJ DEVWUDFW WDNHV RQ Ă€HOGV and wilderness. “I’ve been doing different genres of painting and technique in landscaping for a while but this collection in particular is more about the medium I use, and the techniques I use.â€? “I really like how he’s got depth going on,â€? commented Dr. Kathryn Carter, Interfaculty Associate Dean: Academic Coordination, and the Art Advisory Committee’s Chair.

Robbins uses different techniques to provide a three-dimensional experience for observers. “It’s like a liquid glass and I pour it in layers and I paint in-between each layer so it gives a three-dimensional feel to it.� “If you get up close you can actually see shadows being cast from the layers of paint and the different layers pop out through the painting,� said Robbins. “I’ve been really pushing 3D dimensional art with my painting.�

Using varieties of colour that pop throughout the pieces, Robbins likes to explore his options, “I’m not afraid of colour, LW¡V GHĂ€QLWHO\ YLEUDQW Âľ While working, Robbins has the habit of listening to “mostly electroâ€? music, but can take on different genres for depending on the type of work he hopes to create. “It’s more uplifting and inspirational, [it] gets me kind of going, keeps me energized and keeps me moving. If I’m painting in detail, I do slow the music down a OLWWOH ELW EXW WKHUH¡V GHĂ€QLWHO\ UHODWLRQ WR

the music from the art.�

Robbins is currently working on an expensive project that includes the use of digital media. He explains the process for this work that includes “incorporating digital photography, mount it either behind or on Plexiglas, and then painting on top of that in layers as well.�

The Yellow Brick Wall was started up by a group of students and faculty members ZKR EHOLHYH WKHUH VKRXOG EH D VSDFH IRU Ă€QH and expressive arts on campus. “[To have] a space where students can walk by and think [that art is] something the university thinks is important,â€? explained Carter.

The exhibition has an exciting schedule throughout 2014 and 2015, with hope of collaboration with future projects and research with Laurier.

This fairly new exhibit space, located RQ WKH VHFRQG Ă RRU RI 'DOKRXVLH 6WUHHW has been designed to provide appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian art and cultures to members of Laurier community and beyond.

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The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Features Karly Rath | features@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikfeatures

The power of the people ing aware of it. The security software that requires human users to type misshapen letters and numbers, reCAPTCrowdsourcing can take on just CHA, also often asks the user to type about any size or shape possible to the out one clearer word. Typing this word digitalizes publications such as New imagination.

From paying for a surgical proce- York Times. Rodrigues cites this free GXUH WR ÀQGLQJ WKH EHVW JDV SULFHV LQ archiving method as a powerful intown, people can turn to the masses to stance of crowdsourcing.

Associate Professor Dr. help achieve their goal. Even a resource many people use every day is entirely Christopher Schneider provides an unexpected example crowdsourced: Wikipedia.

These examples may be complete- of crowdsourcing: “crowdly rational, but that is not the case for sourced policing�.

Specializing in crime all cases of crowdsourcing. This past summer, a user named Zack Danger and media, Schneider anaBrown, asked for ten dollars to make lyzed 12,587 Facebook posta potato salad on crowdfunding site ings over the two weeks after Kickstarter. After one week, he raised the 2011 Vancouver Riot, one of the most documented riots in $50,000.

Appealing to the masses can be ef- human history.

Hordes of people posted phoIHFWLYH DQG HIĂ€FLHQW Yvan Rodrigues, 40, uses crowd- tos in the hopes of helping the police sourcing regularly in his work as a identify the rioters. People turned over 30 terabytes of digital information to technology consultant. “As a software developer, I am al- police afterwards, including videos ZD\V Ă€QGLQJ ZD\V WR XVH FRPSXWHUV and pictures. “An image on the internet, on Fato automate tasks or solve problems; yet there are so many tasks that can be cebook, might appear as though the accomplished more quickly and accu- person is guilty as hell but resituated into context, maybe what they were rately by humans,â€? Rodrigues said.

For instance, Rodrigues employed doing was totally normal and legit,â€? three of four people to accurately cat- Schneider said. For example, someone egorize thousands of countertop de- UXQQLQJ DZD\ IURP D FDU RQ Ă€UH GXH WR signs and colours. This made the seem- the danger, may appear as the culprit ingly massive task manageable and of the crime. “People are being found ‘guilty’ affordable.

Also, Rodrigues mentions another on the internet, even before the police crowdsourced project that most people have done anything at all.�

Crowd-sourced policing, when have participated in without even be-

Karly Rath Features Editor

civilians choose to take on the job of a positive or negative way, there is no WUDLQHG SROLFH RIĂ€FHUV WKHPVHOYHV FDQ denying the vast power of the people. have serious negative effects.

Innocent bystanders were seen as guilty, youths’ identities were made public which violates the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and rioters who did commit crimes were punished more severely.

One woman who was charged and sentenced for theft during the riot dropped out of university DQG ZDV Ă€UHG IURP WKUHH MREV “In some ways, the debt that she will pay is life-lasting,â€? Schneider said.

Even after doing her time, this woman’s name and face are still all over the internet due to the online crowd-sourced policing.

Whether crowdsourcing is used in

Crowdsourcing is used to collect money, ideas and more from the public to achieve different tasks. (Art by Nathanael Lewis)

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Sputnik

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Features Karly Rath | features@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikfeatures

Toying with gender Nadine Saba Staff MJ Garcia, 21, recalls her childhood of accessorized Barbie dolls and Easy-Bake ovens. “When I was growing up, my parents were very set on giving me toys that were very female-dominated ... they didn’t really encourage me playing with ‘boy toys.’�

Soft, passive, pink toys and loud, aggressive, blue toys are often seen on separate shelves. This division categorizes toys based on gender stereotypes.

Yet Garcia’s nine-year-old brother is growing up with a more gender-neutral perspective on toys. “My brother goes with his own gut.

If he wants to play with something he will play with it, regardless of [the stereotypes],� said Garcia.

Natalie Kouri-Towe is a lecturer of Gender Theories and Culture at Laurier Brantford. She said the gendering of toys mirror society’s ideas of gender difference.

There are implications that come as a result of categorizing toys by gender. “If toys and play are the main way that children develop [their experiences] ‌ they DUH OHDUQLQJ SUHWW\ VSHFLĂ€F FXHV DERXW KRZ they are supposed to be gendered,â€? KouriTowe said.

Youth and children’s studies Assistant Professor Dr. Vanessa Oliver said the binary gender roles are harmful for all genders. “When we start so young clearly delineating that this is what masculinity means and this is what femininity means, it gives kids this really static conception of who they’re able to become,� she said.

Domestic roles are promoted through cleaning kits and grocery baskets for girls and work-related toys such as doctor or police kits for boys.

Oliver said the levels of toy marketing are invasive due to transmedia, the idea that a story is told using many media plat-

Often toys are categorized based on gender stereotypes. (Art by Nathanael Lewis)

forms such as print and television. “Toys are becoming a franchise ‌ it’s really insidious, both the drive towards consumerism but [also] consumerism in a very gendered way,â€? she said. “The marketing of toys is as gendered as the toys WKHPVHOYHV DQG , WKLQN WKDW LW¡V UHĂ HFWHG LQ our larger society too.â€?

“We see that as people grow up and become adults they do take on less normative gender roles but it’s harder to do as they haven’t been encouraged to do this [while growing up],� Oliver said.

In August, Julie Ovington opened a Brantford location for her Paris-based toy store, Marvelous Toys Inc. Marvelous Toys

Inc. sells educational toys that are genderQHXWUDO 2YLQJWRQ VDLG JHQGHU VSHFLÀF WR\V are not as important at a preschool age because toys should focus on being educational. ´, ÀQG JHQGHU VSHFLÀF >WR\V@ FRPHV more with school age kid ‌ because there’s a little more peer pressure,� she said.

Kouri-Towe said children develop experiences of shame or self-regulation as part of the larger processes of learning social norms around gender difference. “[Children] start to self-censor the acWLYLWLHV WKH\ GR LQ RUGHU WR IXOĂ€OO WKH JHQGHU roles that are circulating through popular culture or advertisements of toys or even their relationships with their families or in schools,â€? she said.

Oliver said companies are driven by consumer demand. “I’m not sure that there are so many people making a fuss about [the gender stereotyping] aspect of toys ‌ if people were a little more active and politicised around it things would probably change.â€?

Kouri-Towe said that corporations create a market for consumption of their products. “By creating gendered toys, you can produce more objects to be purchased and circulated. For example, you can sell double the number of Legos because boys and girls get different [coloured] Legos.�

Oliver said children should be able to make their own choices when it comes to toys. As Garcia’s younger brother illustrates, children are capable of making decisions. “Kids are a lot more savvy than we think they are,� Oliver said. “Recognizing that kids also have agency and choices to make and letting them be a part of the conversation [is positive] rather than just assuming [what is good and what is bad for them].�

Looking inward: A conversation about self-esteem Karly Rath Features Editor Like everything else from childhood to adulthood, people’s views of themselves DUH FRQVWDQWO\ HYROYLQJ D à XFWXDWLQJ UHà HFWLRQ IURP SULGH WR VKDPH DQG HYHU\thing in between.

Assistant Professor of Youth and Children’s Studies and Psychology Dr. Danielle /DZ GHĂ€QHV VHOI HVWHHP DV KRZ SHRSOH LQternally evaluate themselves. “[Adolescences] may suffer from lower self-esteem simply because they’re comparing themselves to other people and they ZDQW WR VHH ZKHUH WKH\ Ă€W LQ Âľ /DZ VDLG As they mature, many teenagers with low self-esteem recognize that everyone is Ă DZHG MXVW OLNH WKH\ DUH ZKLFK LPSURYHV how they see themselves.

However, Law said that there are some teens who “just can’t get out of that rut�. “They continually think that things will never get better and that they are worthless or they can’t do anything,� she said.

Through Laurier’s Youth Leaders on Board (YLOB) program, Leadership student Zaid Hashmi, 21, became a board member for Arts After School Kids (AASK), a notIRU SURÀW RUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW SURYLGHV \RXWK aged 11 to 14 with activities like visual arts, music and drama on two evenings a week.

In his experience with receiving feedback, Hashmi said there is a huge improvement ZLWK FRQĂ€GHQFH “The kids notice that they are getting better and better every week and that really makes them happy,â€? Hashmi said.

Hashmi works hard, alongside the rest of WKH ERDUG WR NHHS WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ ÀQDQcially stable.

In 2007, Laurier Brantford alumni Gay-

The Diversity Space in Laurier Brantford’s Student Centre provides many tools for students who need a self-esteem boost. (Photo by Cody Hoffman)

le Myke founded the organization with the goal of helping the youth of Eagle Place, an area in Brantford with low socio-economic factors, realize their potential and build self-esteem. This year, 50 students are enrolled.

Board member Matt LaRocque said that the feedback from the volunteers, students and instructors proves the program works. LaRocque recalls a particular eyeopening moment when he heard the feedback from an 11-year-old student. “[They said that] if it weren’t for the program, they would probably have been hanging out with their 13-year-old cousin who smoked hard-core drugs.�

LaRocque said they offer support to any child who is referred to the program and they go from being very shy, to putting a few brushstrokes onto paper, to “blossoming into the person they will be down the road.� “[The children] create something as opposed to destroying something, whether it’s in the community or even themselves in the case of abuse or addiction,�

LaRocque said.

Law said parents and other members in youth’s support system should communicate that trying their best will cause positive things to happen but if “life happens� and they do not succeed right away,

encourage resilience.

Research has shown that just saying ‘You’re awesome’ does not improve selfesteem, said Law. “It’s about overcoming adversity that makes someone stronger, overcoming failure.�

There are several groups at Laurier Brantford that help students to overcome adversity.

Jaime Medeiros, Diversity and Leadership Assistant, oversees Rainbow Alliance, SOUL, Leadership Team, MyRespect and F-Word. These groups not only offer fun and educational workshops and campaigns, but they also connect students to others who have the same passions. “[These programs] show that you aren’t alone with whatever things you are feeling,� she said.

Medeiros sees a huge difference in volXQWHHUV¡ FRQĂ€GHQFH RYHU WKH FRXUVH RI WKH year. “Once they get into a space that encourages enthusiasm and all sorts of ideas, WKH\ UHDOO\ VWDUW WR EUDQFK DQG Ă€QG ZKR they are.â€?

For students, problems such as failing H[DPV RU QRW Ă€QG D MRE FDQ FKLS DZD\ DW FRQĂ€GHQFH %XW ZKDW PDQ\ GR QRW UHDOize is that they are comparing themselves to the few with straight As and new jobs because they are the ones celebrating on Facebook. “It’s about recognizing that ‘I am not WKH RQO\ RQH ZKR FDQ¡W Ă€QG D MRE 7KLV LV not an isolated problem. It’s not me who is incapable, this is just how life is,’â€? Law said.

8

The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Arts & Culture Dillon Giancola | arts@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikarts

TIFF wrap-up: Must-see movies this fall Dillon Giancola A&C Editor If you’re like me, a hard-core theatre buff that will go see anything that looks half decent, there’s a good chance you have not been to the theatre in over a month. As unfortunate as that is, there is just no getting away from this being one of the worst movie stretches in years.

Guardians of the Galaxy and TMNT, as good as those movies are, remain in WKH WRS IRXU LQ ER[ RIĂ€FH UHYHQXH WKLV past week with under $10 million each.

It is fair to say that you should go see Denzel’s newest revenge thriller “The Equalizerâ€? this week, but after that the pickings appear slim. The Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF, just wrapped up, and what is usually a sign that great movies are once again on the horizon, the landscape seems different this year. Missing from the festival were this year’s Gravity or 12 Years a Slave, RU HYHQ MXVW WKH YHU\ HQWHUWDLQLQJ Ă€OPV that were Prisoners and Rush a year ago. Nevertheless, they do give awards at these festivals, and somebody had to win them. Here are a few of the gems they unearthed for us to watch between now and Christmas.

The Imitation Game The most unanimously praised movie, The Imitation Game seems to be WKLV \HDU¡V ´LW¾ ÀOP 6WDUULQJ WKH HYHU present Benedict Cumberpatch, this movie tells the story of a mathematician who engineered the code-breaking operation in World War II. He eventually endured hardship from the Brittish Government over his homosexuality. It also stars Keira Knightley and is due to hit theatres on November 21.

Foxcatcher Another acclaimed movie, Foxcatcher stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo; that cast alone is enough to make me go see it when the time comes. It is based on the true story of Mark Schultz (Tatum), an Olympic wrestler whose relationship with benefactor and Coach John du Pont (Carell) results in a very unlikely event. Carell is being heralded for a chilling performance. This movie comes out on November 14.

Welcome to Me Welcome to Me, starring Kristen Wiig, looks to have heaps of potential.

It is a comedy-drama starring Kristen Wiig as a woman with Borderline Personality Disorder who wins the lottery,

and details the next year in her crazy life.

May Allah Bless France!

This movie could be the surprise dark-horse come award season. A French-made movie, it is the adapted autobiography of French rapper and author Abd Al Malik. It tells the story of how hip hop and religion transformed him from his criminal and drug-involved upbringing.

in her therapy group, becomes involved in an affair. I like Anniston, as well as KHU FR VWDU 6DP :RUWKLQJWRQ DQG ÀOPV taking on the issue of depression are DOZD\V LQWULJXLQJ WR PH VR , ZLOO GHÀnitely be checking this one out.

The Judge

One of the few movies from the festival coming out right away (October 10), The Judge stars Robert Downey Jr. as a hot-shot lawyer who returns to his home-town after his Judge father Cake played by Robert Duval, is suspected of Some are saying this is the movie murder. This is the kind of thriller that WKDW ÀQDOO\ OHWV -HQQLIHU $QLVWRQ DFW is excellent for a night out at the movwhile others think she could have Osies. car momentum. In Cake, Anniston is Claire, a woman with chronic depression who through a unique encounter

U2’s newest record is simple, pleasant and hopeful mother, who died when he was a boy.

It is a beautiful tribute, as in the lyric “I’ve got your life inside of me,� and while not quite tinged with regret or sadness, Bono takes us through some old memories to show us the effect she

Dillon Giancola A&C Editor I do not consider myself a huge U2 fan. Like everyone, I have certain songs that just get me every time, and I respect everything they have accomplished and their place in the all-star band hierarchy. But I have just never been able to get into their sound on a constant basis; there is always something that throws me off. Either way, when Apple announced they would

“Bono takes us through some old memories to show us the effect [his mother] has had on who he is today.�

“Bono said this was not a concept album, yet there was GHĚ˝QLWHO\ D WKHPH WR WKLV &' one of beginnings, of nostalgia, of everything that is pure in our world and lives.â€? be releasing their new album, Songs of Innocence, for free as part of their iPhone 6 launch, I was intrigued, and had to check it out.

The result is I was pleasantly surprised. I know it was not received as highly as some of their more recent albums by diehard fans, nor did critics have anything remarkable to say about it, but it left an impression on me almost as if it was on purpose.

Bono said this was not a concept alEXP \HW WKHUH ZDV GHĂ€QLWHO\ D WKHPH to this CD, one of beginnings, of nostalgia, of everything that is pure in our world and lives. It is rumoured that a follow-up CD, “Songs of Experienceâ€?, will be out in the near future, which further highlights the ideas of Innocence.

What I keep comparing this album too is Coldplay’s newest, “Ghost

Stories�. Both albums are relatively lacking in any huge chart-toppers, or catchy anthems, but both tone things down and reveal a relaxing listen.

They both have valuable things to say, although the records are birthed from vastly different origins (Ghost Stories’ themes stem from heartbreak and the end of something great leading to the beginning of something new).

The CD starts off with three midtempo tracks, of varying positive vibes. “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)� brings us that classic U2 sound, and is a tribute to Joey Ramone, who Bono credits for his own vocal inspira-

tion. “California (There Is No End To Love)� has that familiar theme of personifying the beautiful state, and lines like “I’ve seen for myself there’s no end to grief, that’s why I need to know that there is no end to love,� remind us that the band is ultimately always focused on love and higher callings, that no distractions and problems on Earth should distract us from love’s power to ease the pain.

Next are two really heartfelt songs. “A Song for Someone� is a message of hope, to always hang on and always stay true to what’s in your heart, while “Iris� is an up-beat song about Bono’s

has had on who he is today.

The last half of the CD adds some innovation and originality to the mix. “Raised by Wolves�, possibly the strongest track on the album, built perfectly with unique sounds, and then adds a searing chorus that will be in your head for days. The songs continue to groove one after another, making you want do dance and sing along, until “Sleep like a Baby Tonight�, the most distinct song. It’s unconventional sound for a U2 song grabs your ear, and Bono’s voice takes over. His use of the upper register here is magical, as he sings: “Hope is where the door is, when the church is where the war is. Where no one can feel no else’s pain.� This song perfectly captures the idea of innocence, and of the whole record.

Overall, it is a great record, they’re best in years. And while the band may EH JHWWLQJ VRPH à DFN LW LV QRW DERXW the CD, so don’t let that stop you from checking it out. It is free, after all.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Sputnik

9

Arts & Culture Dillon Giancola | arts@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikarts

Is Apple’s goal total world domination? (Art by Nathanael Lewis)

The Apple objective: Total domination Dillon Giancola A&C Editor The iPhone 6 is here people! So is the Apple Watch, and now our lives are going to be so much better! I’ll cut the sarcasm here for a brief disclaimer.

I am not just here to bash Apple and the millions of followers who believe that Apple is the only way and every other product is inferior, and how dare anyone else try to tell them that the Samsung Galaxy 4 is a good phone. But rather, it is a look into the Apple marketing train, and how it has shaped culture and consumerism in our lives.

The iPhone 6 was hotly anticipated and rightfully so. Apple is still a respectful innovator of technology, and the world wanted to see how they would respond to the growing model of big Android phones. The Android user has been saying for years that the iPhone was going big; the iPhone user would say no I don’t want my phone that big. They would make fun of people carrying a tablet in their pocket, or holding a laptop up to their ear. Yet here the big wigs at Apple were unleashing their new phone, a big, rectangular, Android looking thing. It is not just them playing catch-up; they have a new predictive text feature, wow! However, Android has had this feature available for years. They re-

leased a sweet new watch, wow! But SURGXFW DUH GRLQJ MXVW Ă€QH you do need a phone in your pocket What elevated this launch above all to use it. If the phone basically elimi- previous ones was the announcement nated the need for watches, why can’t that Apple would be giving away U2’s the new technical watch replace the new album away for free. I am not a need of the phone? Otherwise I would huge U2 fan, but I was ecstatic. This rather still wear my cool brown Guess was the perfect way to get the averwatch that I bought from the Bay and age fan to listen to a CD they might JRHV JUHDW ZLWK P\ RXWĂ€W not normally listen to. I thought it was All kidding aside, smart-phones great on U2’s behalf, and thought it are amazing things. The stuff they can was progressive of Apple. But then all do was unheard insanity broke out. of even just four The CD automati“People love U2. Nobody years ago. And cally downloaded if you love your ever says anything bad about on iPhones and iPhone, that’s them, and if they do, they are iPads, and people awesome, and if freaked out. What lost amongst the praise. But an invasion of you love you’re Sony Xperia, this is one of the few times that privacy this was! that is okay too. a reeveryone was mad at U2.â€? Furthermore, But there should port came out that not be any status Apple paid U2 a involved with which phone you buy. huge amount of money, possibly up to There should not be any of us against $100 million, to release the CD for free. them. Nobody really cares any more And that makes more sense, but it has if you have a PC or a Mac, or if you caused people to look down on both have an X-box or Play Station. But the U2 and Apple. And this is the most phone debate is raging. With the re- fascinating aspect of all this: people cent iPhone reveal, one got the impres- love U2. Nobody ever says anything sion that Apple was really going out of bad about them, and if they do, they their way to assert themselves as num- are lost amongst the praise. But this is ber one, and trying to blow everyone one of the few times that I can rememDZD\ ZLWK KRZ FRRO ELJ DQG Ă DVK\ ber everybody being mad or upset at their company was. After all, the new U2. Now the criticism is misdirected.

Samsung Galaxy 5 did not have this People are not reviewing the CD as big of a reveal and I think sales for that much as they are letting their frustra-

tions with the band carry over to the actual music they made. But a light bulb has to go on in Apple headquarters when they can turn the public against both themselves, and U2. That just does not happen. I for one did not mind the promotion, and thought it was cool and daring by U2. If it is just a huge aggressive marketing push by Apple that is another thing, but I do not blame U2 by signing up.

I can guarantee that this caused everyone in both the smart-phone industry and the music industry to take a step back and consider what happened. We will not really know for a while if this launch and the U2 release was a success for Apple or not. Time will tell us if the iPhone 6 is a successful product, and if the huge, insane lineups in Australia are any indicator, LW LV GRLQJ MXVW ÀQH %XW WKLV VHHPV WR be a turning point in the tech industry business or at least in Apple’s businessplan going forward. Will they come back bigger and more controlling than ever, or will they look at these recent events and change their direction? After all, if recent phone sales are any indicator, people are becoming less and less interested in being told their social status is tied to what phone they own.

10

The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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

/DXULHU RIIHUV VWXGHQWV D ZHDOWK RI VSRUWV FOXEV WKLV VHPHVWHU Mia Vamos-Yuhasz Staff

that sports clubs have that intramurals and extramurals don’t. It’s not necessarily competitive, so we accept absolutely Not interested in the limited numeveryone,� she says.

EHU RI H[WUDPXUDOV FDQ¡W ÀQG MXVW ZKDW The fee for joining a sports club is you’re looking for in intramurals? Or minimal, only $20 unless a club is very maybe you want to bring a new sport competitive, in which case the fee could to campus. That’s where sports clubs be slightly higher to cover competition come in. expenses. The money paid towards the Sports clubs are completely studentclubs goes right back towards keeping lead groups that are bringing new and sports clubs running and also provides exciting athletic opportunities to Lauthose students with a gold discount rier Brantford students. card. The card includes a discount at There are seven registered sports Golden Grounds Coffee House, Colclubs so far, with at least two more joinlege Source for Sports, and a 15 per ing the fray this year. KAOS Dance Team cent discount at the Stedman Commuis the oldest and most well-known club nity Bookstore – so you can load up on on campus, followed by the CheerleadLaurier swag. The Laurier Athletics and ing Team and Powder Puff Football, Recreations team is hoping to add even ZKLFK LV D FRPSHWLWLYH ZRPHQ¡V à DJ more sponsors this year. football club. There’s also a women’s If you’re interested in starting a new basketball club, women’s rugby club sport on campus, the process for startand a badminton club. Run Laurier is ing a new club is almost as easy as getWKH QHZHVW UHJLVWHUHG FOXE $ ÀJXULQJ /DXULHU %UDQWIRUGȑV FKHHUOHDGLQJ WHDP LV MXVW RQH RI WKH PDQ\ VSRUWV FOXEV RIIHUHG RQ FDPSXV /DVW ting involved. It really puts the power skating club and an aquatics club are \HDU WKH WHDP ZRQ WKH L&KHHU &DQDGLDQ )LQDOV DW 870 (Photo courtesy of Ally Bochek) in the students’ hands to shape their also starting up this year. university experience.

Many of the clubs are female ori- perience with sports clubs on the Cheer- change and such a big difference,â€? says “You could be interested in the ented because Laurier Brantford’s large leading Team. She went from never Bochek. strangest sport in the world but as long Bochek also stresses that sports clubs female student body began expressing having cheered in her life to eventually DV \RX KDYH WHQ SHRSOH LQWHUHVWHG Ă€OO to one another their desire to have more becoming the president of the team and are for everyone, whether you’ve been out a two page application, you’re set to athletic opportunities for women on KHOSHG EULQJ WKHP WR WKHLU Ă€UVW FRPSH- playing a sport all your life or have zero go and we give you 100 dollars to start campus, and the opportunities are still tition last year. She says opportunities experience. the club,â€? said Bochek. ´7KH Ă€JXULQJ VNDWLQJ FOXE WKDW LV increasing. Women’s softball should be like that set Laurier Brantford apart For more information on sports clubs from other universities. starting this year, there’s girls and men coming to campus this year. visit https://www.lbstudentaffairs.ca/ “That’s what I love about this cam- who have come to us saying they’ve $OO\ %RFKHN D Ă€IWK \HDU FRQFXUathletics-recreation/sportsclubs.htm rent education student and the current pus, it’s truly a small enough campus never skated before but would love to Sports Club Co-ordinator, began her ex- that one student can make such a big learn, and that’s the nice opportunity

Ray Rice and domestic abuse in sports Anthony Fusco Staff Professional athletes are often in the public eye. It comes with the territory. They are paid millions of dollars to play the sport that they love in front of droves of adoring fans.

They are looked upon as heroes, inspirations and most importantly, role models for the young and old alike.

So what happens when one of those players winds up in a huge amount of trouble for committing an act that has no place in society today?

If you hadn’t guessed by now, I’m referring to the recent Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal that is currently rocking the NFL. The incident is so disturbing that the story is now receiving national news coverage across both the United States and Canada.

Rice was a star running back for the Baltimore Ravens. The former Super Bowl champion had a good reputation around the league and with fans.

That’s what makes his particular case so shocking.

It all started when news broke that police had taken Rice into custody. He was arrested, charged and released from jail on assault charges. Then came WKH ÀUVW YLGHR ,W VKRZHG 5LFH GUDJJLQJ KLV ÀDQFpH¡V OLPS ERG\ RXW WKH HOHYDtor doors.

About a month later Rice was addressed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and he was made aware of the situation and said that as soon as the full facts came out there would likely be a punishment.

On July 24 Rice was suspended two games by Goodell. The Ravens were aware and prepared for the running back to miss some time at the beginning of the season. There was a ton of

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was recently cut from the team and suspended LQGHÍ„QLWHO\ E\ WKH 1)/ (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes/Wikimedia Commons)

backlash to the seemingly lax suspension.

On August 28 the NFL admitted that they had made a mistake and subsequently announced a new domestic violence policy. Under the new rules,

D ÀUVW WLPH RIIHQVH IRU GRPHVWLF YLRlence would earn the offender a ban of six games. A second incident would be punishable by a lifetime ban.

The situation would only get worse, as on September 8 a video surfaced of

Rice punching and knocking out his now wife. TMZ got ahold of the full tape and published it.

The video was met with reactions of shock, disgust and anger. The Ravens and the league reacted immediately as the team terminated his contract and WKH 1)/ VXVSHQGHG KLP LQGHĂ€QLWHO\ Goodell was slammed with negative criticism because of how he handled this incident. On September 9th, he denied seeing the video before it was released. Then the Associated Press reported that the NFL had received the video in April. Goodell, despite calls for him to resign has no such plans.

It’s an incredibly ugly incident both for the NFL and Goodell. While fans should be focused on the great weekto-week matchups, they are instead bombarded by shocking and appalling incidents concerning domestic abuse.

One way that situations like this can be resolved and avoided in the future is by giving players full access to domestic abuse aid organizations.

That would be a good place to start.

The NFL is already taking a step in the right direction by creating a new educational program that is set to debut in the near future.

Every employee of the league, which includes the players, will be going through an educational course on domestic violence and sexual assault.

Domestic abuse has no place in society today. No matter who you are or what you do, behavior like that is unacceptable and should be punished harshly and accordingly. Hopefully the NFL and Ray Rice learn from their mistakes and incidents like these are eradicated in the future.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Sputnik

11

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

Carson Ouellett and the Golden Hawks look to replicate their 44-0 performance vs. Waterloo in Saturday’s Homecoming game against Carleton. (Photo by Heather Davidson)

Golden Hawks football team prepared for Carleton at Homecoming Kyle Morrison Sports Editor In no time the Golden Hawks’ men’s football team has surpassed their 2013 single game win total. Laurier has to be pleased with their 2-1 start that sees them holding down a fourth place spot with Carleton, who they will be playing this upcoming weekend, in the OUA West division.

Carleton also has to be pleased with their record, which is a complete turnaround from 0-8 in 2013 when WKH\ SOD\HG &,6 IRRWEDOO IRU WKH ÀUVW time since 1998. The Ravens will step RQWR WKH ÀHOG DW 8QLYHUVLW\ 6WDGLXP RQ a high, coming off a huge win against

“The offense is shining through four weeks of the season, ranked top ten in the country in yards gained and points scored and second overall in Canada in yards rushing.� cross-town university rivals Ottawa U in the annual Panda Bowl. With under ten seconds left quarterback Jesse Mills found Nate Behar on a 55-yard Hail Mary for the victory.

Meanwhile, the Golden Hawks had the week off, something Coach Michael Faulds is happy to have. “We’ve

got some guys that were injured [are now] healthy again and that’s the great thing about a bye week,� he says. “And we get some of our young guys even more experience.� This gives the second and third-stringers most of the reps in practice while the veteran starters take a bit of a break to stay healthy for the rest of the grind of the football season. “As a whole I think we’re going to be that much stronger [because of the week off].�

The offense is shining through four weeks of the season, ranked top ten in the country in yards gained and points scored and second overall in Canada in yards rushing, thanks to the continued dominance by running back Dillon Campbell. No one can FDWFK KLP RQ WKH ÀHOG DQG KLV VWDWV RII RI LW UHà HFW WKDW &DPSEHOO OHDGV WKH CIS in rushing yards with 674 – 200 more than second place Ashton Dickson of St. Francis Xavier University.

7KLV KDV UHDOO\ RSHQHG XS WKH Ă€HOG for second-year quarterback James )UDFDV ZKR KDV EXLOW RQ WKH FRQĂ€dence he received at the end of last \HDU ZKHQ KH Ă€QDOO\ VHHPHG PRUH comfortable with Faulds’s new offenVLYH VFKHPHV ´>)UDFDV¡V@ FRQĂ€GHQFH is now through the roof because he knows now why we’re calling certain plays and what we’re looking for as a coaching staff,â€? Faulds explains. “He’s distributing the ball to all our playmakers.â€?

However, discipline has been a real issue for the purple and gold.

The team leads Canada in most yards allowed on penalties (452 yards) and second-worst in number of penalties

taken (44). It’s the little things like penalties that are increasingly becoming a big problem for the Golden Hawks which will kill their hopes of playoff success.

Coach Faulds wants his team to be high-energy and play hard, but WKHUH¡V D Ă€QH OLQH DQG WKH\¡UH FURVVLQJ it, committing too many late hits and swearing penalties. The good teams know how to control this and against teams like Western and McMaster, giving them free yards won’t end well. “There’s probably eight to ten penalties this year that were just stupid,â€?

Faulds says. “These are things that

“Coach Faulds wants his team to be high-energy and play KDUG EXW WKHUHČ‘V D Ě˝QH OLQH and they’re crossing it, committing too many late hits and swearing penalties.â€? we can eliminate and these are things that I stress to the guys on Sunday and hopefully we can clean that up by the time Homecoming comes around.â€?

The thousands of screaming Laurier students and fans hope so, too.

The Golden Hawks should be the favourite on Sunday and bring lots of ÀUHZRUNV RQ RIIHQVH %XW LW ZLOO EH the defence and team discipline that will close out games. And although it’s early, the Golden Hawks, on the backs of Fracas and Campbell, should ÀQDOO\ UHWXUQ WR PHDQLQJIXO IRRWEDOO in October.

12

The Sputnik

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Opinion Brittany Bennett | opinion@thesputnik.ca | @sputnikopinion

Protestors march through Ferguson streets. (Photo courtesy of Jamelle Bouie/Wikimedia Commons)

Police brutality and the community Josh Adesina Staff Police brutality has been an issue covered in the media multiple times this year.

As disturbing as the issue sounds, it has long been a serious problem for many different communities. It has always been interesting to see how the police force chooses to respond to these various situations. There have been incidents where the authorities have fought against those they had sworn to protect. As a member of a community, your opinion on how the authorities carry out their duties is important. Although there are issues that go unresolved, there ought to not be violence between the authorities and the public.

Building better communication through the media, communities and its authorities will build stronger ties and stronger trust.

Over the past few years there have been several incidents involving police brutality. Countries in Europe such as England and Ukraine, along with different cities in America and even Canada have had their fair share of authorities abusing their powers. Now that social media has expanded

through platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, the actions carried out by the police can be captured in an instant.

Although police brutality can be spotted worldwide, America seems to hold the number one spot for the most cases.

The recent killing of African-American teenager, Michael Brown, has received worldwide attention. According to CBC news Brown was questioned for being on the street instead of the pavement before JHWWLQJ VKRW VL[ WLPHV E\ 2IĂ&#x20AC;FHU 'DUUHQ Wilson. The outcome of the incident was seen as unjust by the residents of Ferguson because Brown was unarmed and pleading for his life before the killing. As a result of Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death several riots have broken out in Ferguson, Missouri. The community has begun protesting against the local police and looting from local businesses. SurSULVHG" <RX GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ VKRXOG QRW EH Protesting and rioting in a city will only lead to governments lending millions to damaged businesses and injured bystanders. Communities ought to understand that responses such as these will not solve any problems. On the other hand, when have you heard of a situation where an unarmed

teenager had to be shot six times? Police RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV PXVW XQGHUVWDQG WKDW WKHLU DFWLRQV will strengthen or weaken the trust of their communities. Violent actions such as these can only lead to more violence.

Similar scenarios have occurred in London, United Kingdom. The death of Mark 'XJJDQ RI RQO\ ZDV RQH WKDW VSDUNHG a huge riot in north London. According WR WKH *XDUGLDQ 'XJJDQ ZDV IDWDOO\ VKRW WZLFH E\ D SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU EHFDXVH KH ZDV seen strategizing an attack while possessing a handgun. Although forensics found a JXQ QHDUE\ DW WKH WLPH RI 'XJJDQ¡V GHDWK ² 'XJJDQ ZDV QRW LQ SRVVHVVLRQ RI LW GXUing his confrontation with the authorities. ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU WKDW VKRW 'XJJDQ ZDV QRW IRXQG JXLOW\ RI XQODZIXO killing. The result of this situation led to lethal riots that began in north London and spread across the rest of Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital.

The damage caused by the looting ended up costing taxpayers approximately ÂŁ300 million.

7KH 5REHUW ']LHNDQVNL FDVH ZDV RQH RI the most shocking I have come across; the fact that it took place in Canada was even PRUH GLVWXUELQJ ']LHNDQVNL ZDV FRQIURQW-

ed at Vancouver International Airport and UHVLVWHG SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV EHIRUH EHLQJ WDVHG to death. There is nothing that can justify tasing a man to death. It is understandable the police must be aggressive but not to the point where it costs a man his life. ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU ']LHNDQVNL¡V GHDWK ZHUH QRW SURSHUO\ GLVFLSOLQHG ZKLFK VKRZV WKH Ă DZV LQ WKH Canadian court system.

7KH VWRULHV RI %URZQ 'XJJDQ DQG ']LHNDQVNL SURYH WKDW WKHUH DUH SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;cers that misuse their powers. I do not think it is fair that certain members of authority feel they are above the law. As a community, we depend on members of the police department to protect us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we should never have a reason to feel threatened by our own protection. Although, there are several members of the police force that are responsible and trustworthy, the poOLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV WKDW DFW LUUHVSRQVLEO\ RXJKW WR be disciplined. Violence cannot be used to solve problems because violence is a problem itself. There ought to be more laws that SUHYHQW SROLFH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHUV IURP EHLQJ YLROHQW in their communities.

The reality of Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2014 enrolment numbers Brittany Bennett Opinion Editor I had set out on an adventure over the past month or so trying to answer the question: Is Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enrolment down this year?

At the time, I did not fully understand the GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW\ LQ DQVZHULQJ WKLV TXHVWLRQ %XW , am going to attempt to explain the logistics and reality of Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s undergraduate part-time and full-time registration this school year.

There are three important factors that you need to understand the difference between to follow this article properly: apSOLFDWLRQ QXPEHUV FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHUV and enrolment numbers.

A universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application number is the amount of people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether it be high school students, international students, mature students, etc. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that have taken the WLPH WR DSSO\ WR WKDW VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F VFKRRO 2Q average, high school students apply to approximately three or more universities, and RQH FRXOG DVVXPH ZH ZRXOG Ă&#x20AC;QG WKH VDPH trend with the other groups. Therefore, this is not an extremely reliable number when considering how many students will actually go to that university.

7KHQ WKHUH DUH FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHUV These are a step up from application numbers because these students have actually WDNHQ WKH WLPH WR FRQĂ&#x20AC;UP WKH\ DUH JRLQJ WR go to that university, but, students can drop

RXW RI WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPHG VFKRRO HDVLO\ ZLWKRXW losing any money. Therefore, this is also an unreliable number to go by.

Lastly, there are enrolment numbers.

This is the amount of students going to FODVV LQ WKDW VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F XQLYHUVLW\ $JDLQ VWXdents are able to drop out but with consequences such as loosing tuition fees, so the dropout rate is less extensive then with WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ DQG FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHUV Therefore, this would be the most reliable number of the three.

7KH PRVW GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW SURFHVV RI WKLV LQvestigation was getting my hands on the numbers. All my questions went through Laurier Brantfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s associate director of communications and public affairs, Kevin Klein. I spoke with Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting university registrar, Ruth MacNeil in person, as well as Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s director of recruitment and admissions, Holly Cox through email.

I am very appreciative for all their help, but some of the data was hard to attain; proving how complicated this issue truly is.

I stress that some of these numbers are only rough estimations as there is a month in between the current data and last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers. It is not until Nov. 1st that each university Ontario-wide will be handing LQ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;QDOL]HG HQUROPHQW QXPEHUV IRU the fall term (the number found on each universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s registrarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report). Klein deĂ&#x20AC;QHG LW ZHOO ZKHQ KH VDLG ´7KH\¡UH EDVLcally, sort of, rolling set of numbers. So you

have to make sure your comparing apples to apples.â&#x20AC;? Which is another hard thing to do when the data is inconsistent (some inIRUPDWLRQ LV MXVW Ă&#x20AC;UVW \HDU VWXGHQWV FRPLQJ straight out of high school, some are in percentages and some as standard numbers).

Let us start off with the unreliable number, the applications. As of Sept. 11th LauULHU¡V DSSOLFDWLRQ QXPEHUV IRU Ă&#x20AC;UVW \HDUV coming straight out of high school are down about 5.1 per cent from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers, according to Ontario Universitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Application Centre. This puts Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application UDQNLQJ DV WKH Ă&#x20AC;IWK ZRUVW RXW RI WKH XQLversities listed on the statistical chart.

To move a step up in reliability, we have WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQV /DXULHU¡V GLUHFWRU RI UHcruitment and admissions, Cox said we are GRZQ DERXW SHU FHQW IURP WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;Umation target number Laurier-wide. As of 6HSW WK /DXULHU¡V FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHUV IRU Ă&#x20AC;UVW \HDUV FRPLQJ VWUDLJKW RXW RI KLJK school are down about 13.5 per cent from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers, according to Ontario Universitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Application Centre. That puts XV DW WKH IRXUWK ZRUVW FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHU UDQNLQJ RXW RI WKH XQLYHUVLWLHV OLVWHG RQ the statistical chart.

Finally, to get to the numbers that actuDOO\ PDWWHU $V RI 6HSW WK /DXULHU %UDQWfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall enrolment numbers are up about 136 students compared to last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s November 1st projection, said Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acting university registrar, MacNeil. Mac-

Neil explained this number is estimated to GURS DERXW SHU FHQW EHIRUH 1RY VW OHDYing Brantford up approximately 1.5 per cent by then. MacNeil estimated the Waterloo campus will be down approximately HQUROOHG VWXGHQWV FRPH 1RY VW DIter taking into account the dropouts in the month between.

When it comes down to it, Laurierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apSOLFDWLRQ DQG FRQĂ&#x20AC;UPDWLRQ QXPEHUV ZHUH GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ GRZQ WKLV \HDU DV ZHUH PDQ\ other universities across the province.

While looking at statistical charts on Ontario Universitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Application Centre, I could see that the majority of universities have had the same decreasing trend as Laurier.

What Laurier does have though, is a great DGPLVVLRQV DQG UHFUXLWPHQW RIĂ&#x20AC;FH 7KH H[pected drop in enrolment numbers due to our low application numbers was not as seen as drastically. Somehow, our admisVLRQV DQG UHFUXLWPHQW RIĂ&#x20AC;FH KDG VXFFHHGHG in turning a large amount of the lowered application numbers into enrolled students and that is something to take note of. But the most important factor for our campus is that through all of this, Brantfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers are up! Our campus is growing and expanding into a place that people want to be and it is showing through this provincewide hardship of low university applications.