Volume 19, Issue 4 – December 2019
The Sputnik, We Orbit Around You. News, pg. 4
STUDENTS UNION VS DOUG FORD
How the recent changes to OSAP are now in court
Features, pg. 6
INFLUENCIAL PROFESSOR
Taking a look at Dr. Han a history professor
Arts pg. 8
Opinion, pg. 10
MENTAL HEALTH ASSUMPTION TIPS COLLEGE PHOTO
Tips from students on how to stay sane during exams
Students post inappropiroate photo on social media
Sports, pg. 12
MOVEMBER MADNESS
Annual basketball game another success wwv
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS The forty-fifth annual parade comes to town
PHOTO BY VARSHA SRIGANESH
Brantford Christmas parade: preparing for a jolly holiday season BAILEY ZIMMER SPUTNIK NEWS
Buckle your sleigh-belts, grab your tools, prepare your carolling voice and get ready to spread your holiday cheer as Brantford celebrates its forty-fifth annual Christmas Parade this year. The parade themed Santa’s Workshop, took place on Saturday Nov. 30. It began at 6:00 p.m. on the corner of Stanley and Dalhousie St., and finished at Harmony Square. The Christmas parade is an annual celebration hosted by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Brantford, the local chapter of a national not-for-profit organization. People of all ages come to attend the play, from newborn babies to the elderly — everyone enjoys the Christmas cheer. About 25 thousand spectators usually watch the parade, but this year the numbers were lower due to cold weather. People clung to their hot beverages and still celebrated the night. “We’ve got people coming in to
set up for the parade and pick their favourite spot,” said a JCI committee member, Michelle Giffin. The parade was a circus, the streets were packed with spectators, with clowns marching in the parade and independent vendors calling out “popcorn and candy floss for sale.” Joy and excitement was spreading and laughter filled the air. There were 80 floats in the parade this year — the highest number there has ever been for the Brantford JCI parade. The parade costs around 20-to25-thousand dollars to run, and is a free admission community event. Volunteers go around with money buggies, collecting donations from the crowd. The profits from this go back to the parade for the next year’s demonstration. Some of this money will go towards the bands that play music. There were a total of nine bands this year, some that cost $3500 each. The fundrawising helps offset the cost, meaning what comes from the community goes back to the community. All the city councillors volunteer
to be in the parade to push grocery carts collecting food donations, which will go to the local food bank. “You’ll see families that literally have a bag of food ready to drop in the grocery carts as they come by,” Giffin said. The sea cadets also had a boat tugged by their vehicle to fill with food donations. The parade is televised by Rogers, and a live stream is available to watch as the parade is happening Re-runs are also offered throughout the month of December, which spreads holiday cheer after the event has finished. There is also a contest happening throughout the duration of the parade. Those involved with the parade are competing for most enthusiasm and spirit, such as costumes, decorations and engagement with the crowd. “If they’re generating good, you can feel it, you feel the spirit,” said first-time judge of the parade, Stephen Wdowczyk. Some of the categories that are judged are: best overall, most enthusiastic, best school, most
original and best non-profit or church organization. Magic was in the air throughout the whole parade, which had many great floats and decorations, but the star of the parade was Santa. The crowd was buzzing during the parade, but roared when Santa came. “Watching the kids when Santa comes by, that build-up as they see him for the first time; it never changes, and it’s the most beautiful, most pure excitement,” Giffen said. While Santa was the star for most, Laurier students hold the school close to their hearts and loved the schools contribution. The Laurier crew showed their pride and waved banners and sported spirit wear, the yellow and purple danced in the sea of students. Pom-Poms and yellow hats decorated most students and cheer was never lacking. The Golden Hawk mascot was theatrically engaging with the crowd, waving and blowing kisses to spectators, spreading some Golden Hawk love. Even exam season can’t stop the festivities as students were
seen watching the parade from their dorm windows. One setback the parade committee faced was the wrong street being marked where all the people preparing their floats were supposed to get ready for the parade. There were also no “no parking” signs on the road that were to be used. However, everyone sprang to action, and fixed the issue to ensure the parade would be ready on time. The parade brought a sense of closeness and fellowship. “It brings the whole community together. I think it’s really great,” said spectator Brittany Ciolko. After the parade, there was a local party held by Brantford Parks and Recreation at Harmony Square, where pictures could be taken with Santa and festive music and food was enjoyed, as well as watching the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree. The square was packed with people celebrating. The feedback from the crowd was very positive and many said they will be returning next year to join in the festivities again.
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LGBTQ+
Brantford hosts first-ever “Feminist Snowflake Market” SERENA AUSTIN SPUTNIK NEWS
The first-ever Brantford Feminist Snowflake Market was held in Coach House at the historical Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, on Nov. 30. The event, as shared on their Facebook page, was created to “showcase the talents and creations of women, trans, two-spirit, femme and non binary folks in our communities, in the spirit of building relationships, feminism and love.” Admission to the market was a “pay-what-you-can” fee, which will go towards supporting and subsidizing trans community members’ healthcare costs. Rebecca Godderis, a professor of Community Health at Laurier, was a vendor at the market with her business, Killjoy Creations. She was selling handmade scrunchies and throw pillows. “I’ve sewn for many years, but in terms of creating pillows and other things like scrunchies, it’s probably been about six months. This is the first time I’ve come out and sold at a market,” Godderis said.
“I love the idea that it’s a feminist market supporting women and femme identifying folks.” “I love the fact that it’s transinclusive and that it’s local ... it’s great to have an opportunity to see how talented folks are in the area, and get a chance to buy and think about purchasing things for gifts that aren’t from big box stores,” she said.
I love the idea that it’s a feminist market supporting women and femme-identifying folks. -Rebecca Godderis, a professor of Community Health at Laurier
First-time seller Chelsea Noiles was at the market selling handmade Christmas cards, ornaments and tree garlands, made from dried oranges and pine tree clip-
pings. “I’ve been working really hard on going waste free at home, so I wanted to promote a plastic free Christmas,” Noiles said. “One of the biggest things that’s produced in plastic is Christmas decorations — I wanted to show that you can cut back on the amount of waste you produce.” Bethany Broadbridge, also known as “Big Bow Mom”, was selling her handmade hair bows. Broadbridge said that, when she saw the market advertised on Facebook she knew, “this is somewhere I would be comfortable selling for the first time.” Each vendor at the market donated some of their products or services to raffle off for attendees. Some of the raffle items included handmade and eco-friendly gift wrapping alternatives, a free photoshoot session from Honey & Lux, hand-beaded jewelry and one of Godderis’ pillows. Attendees were also encouraged to bring their own mugs and make a small donation to enjoy hot chocolate and baked goods. SERENA AUSTIN/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENT
Brantford declares climate emergency The city has made a commitment to becoming net carbon neutral by 2050, a goal that will begin as of the new year NATASHA O’NEILL EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
The City of Brantford has committed to becoming net carbon neutral by 2050. On Nov. 12, Brantford City Council unanimously voted in favour of passing a resolution declaring a climate emergency, including what actions the city will take to combat it. At this meeting they discussed the outline of the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), and how the city will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. “We’re happy to have completed this first milestone in our Climate Change Action Plan,” said climate change officer of the city, Rochelle Rumney. “I’m excited to be working with our community to support environmental sustainability in Brantford and across the country.” From a report done by the City of Brantford this year, it states that 47 per cent of greenhouse gases are from transportation fuel use, and 46 per cent are from the use of natural gas. Approximately 36 per cent of the city’s natural gas is used by The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. Ward 4 councillor, Cheryl Antoski, has been advocating for the city to declare a climate emergency for a while. “It took a long time to demande some action and not just a piece of paper, but something that will really make some changes,” Antoski said. The following week, the County
of Brant declared a climate emergency that was voted in unanimously as well.
This is a great o pportunity to start a local conversation about climate change and how we can work together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. -Rochelle Rumney, climate change officer of the City of Brantford
“We were very cognitive and thoughtful about this project,” Antoski said.
It took a long time to demande some action and not just a piece of paper, but something that will really make some changes. -Cheryl Antoski, Ward 4 councillor, for the City of Brantford
“What [is] the financial impact, but also what [is] the greenhouse gas impact?” The next steps of the CCAP will
VARSHA SRIGANESH /SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
be setting target emissions reductions and forming a comprehensive plan to meet the targets. There will be an emissions inventory done to provide insight on what areas are producing more emissions and should be considered the first for reduction programs. Over the next year, there will be lots of consultation and planning with residents, businesses and other stakeholders within the city. On Dec. 10, the city will vote in favour of ratifying the document. Antoski says the project will be in the mindset of “what needs to be
done, not what we can do.” Starting January 2020, the city will kick off a new campaign aimed at awareness of climate change and the importance of sustainability. The year 2020 also falls on the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. Each month will highlight a specific topic on how to reduce emissions. The month of August will be Local Food Month, highlighting buying local produce from the area and how that can reduce emissions.
“This is a great opportunity to start a local conversation about climate change and how we can work together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” Rumney said. Earlier this year, the city received funding from the Federation of Canadaian Municipalities (FCM) to hire a staff person to develop a plan focused on Brantford’s contribution to climate change. The network with the FCM is made up of 350 municipalities that will be working to support emissions reduction at the municipal level.
THE SPUTNIK
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NEWS
DECEMBER 2019
EDUCATION
Students win fight against Ford Government in court ruling NATASHA O’NEILL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Canadian Federation of Students won the fight against Ford’s PC Government in a unanimous decision in the Divisional Court last month. In April 2019, the Ford’s government implemented a Student Choice Initiative, allowing certain fees to be optional. Those fees were determined by individual schools. On Nov. 21, the courts ruled that post-secondary students should not be allowed to opt out of their student fees, even those previously deemed “non-essential.” “The Student Choice Initiative was a clear attack on student organizations on campuses by the Ford government,” said Sofia Descalzi, national chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Students will not back down.” The court ruled that the government had no authority to interfere in the affairs of university and college student unions. The fees that were given as optional directly impacted students’ unions, various support centres, student legal aid clinics, food banks and campus media. “Students’ unions are autonomous organizations and there has never been a place for government interference in their affairs,” said
protest Jan. 23 in Victoria park where many students showed up to support.
The Student Choice Initiative was a clear attack on student organizations on campuses by the Ford government. - Sofia Descalzi, national chairperson of the CFS
HIRZE E ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
Fatima Babiker, president of the York Federation of Students. “The services that student organizations on campus provide
have been democratically voted on by the students themselves,” said Babiker. When the news broke students
voiced their opinions by organizing protests at Queen’s Park, walking out of class and holding strikes. Laurier Brantford held their own
May 2019 the Canadian Federation of Students and the York Federation of Students jointly filed a lawsuit against the Ontario Government. Their basis was that the government should not be implementing such a policy that directly interferes with student unions without their consent. On Oct. 11, the CFS and the YFS argued before the court. “This is a hard fought victory,” said Kayla Weiler, the Canadian Federation of Students’ Ontario representative. Descalzi calls this moment historic for the student movement.
CAMPUS & LOCAL
What’s happening on campus in December? JESSICA LORCH SPUTNIK WRITER
December 4 Come join Laurier International for a festive Christmas dinner! Taking place between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:15, this event takes place in One Market’s basement. Just be sure to pick up your free ticket from the Laurier International front desk (OM 310) first! If you enjoy entertainment and karaoke, you won’t want to miss a holiday coffee house and open mic night presented by LB Singers! It goes from 8:00 until 11:00 p.m in RCW lobby, and is free to attend.
December 5
PHOTOS BY HIRZE E ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
All faculty and staff are invited to attend the Tshepo Graduate Seminar from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 P.M. at the Laurier International Lounge (OM 310). This is a unique opportunity to hear our visiting Queen Elizabeth II Scholars from Ghana present their MPhil and obtain feedback from the Laurier community. Come out to 97 Dalhousie from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to learn how to Silence Your Inner Critic! Presented by Accessible Learning, this event will identify learning strategies for feeling positive and empowered going into exams and provide positive affirmation cards to take home. Keep Calm and Study On! Hosted by Learning Skills and Development starting at 10 a.m. in Carnegie’s basement (CB 100).
Enjoy free snacks, tea and coffee all day and a hot lunch at 11 a.m. Many destressors and a quiet area for students to study. Drop in math and statistics help is provided from 2-4 p.m. The event wraps up at 4 p.m.
December 6 From 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.. a campus memorial space (location T.B.A.) will be made available to remember the Montreal Massacre of 1989, as well as every victim of femicide. You are invited to join Consent is Golden for commemorative art and activism. From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a safe space will be provided by the Laurier Brantford Women’s Centre in honour of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. You are welcome to stop by at the second floor of St. Andrew’s Community Centre (95 Darling St.) to socialize, reflect, and grab resources.
December 9 & 16 These are the final two Mindfulness Mondays organized by the Student Wellness Centre. Drop by the Multipurpose Room between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to learn and practice stress reduction and mindfulness skills during the exam period.
December 12 Come to OD 205 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. for an all-day Lord of the Rings marathon! This event is partnered by the History and English Student Associations.
DECEMBER 2019
THE SPUTNIK
GAMES
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THE SPUTNIK
DECEMBER 2019
Christina Han: a professor profile CRAIG VAN MENEN SPUTNIK WRITER
At Laurier Brantford we can be thankful for a multitude of caring professors who are more than just brilliant – they’re committed to their students and engaged in campus community. While you may see them in front of a classroom, it’s important to know that most of these educational leaders are also working on their own research projects and contributing to university administration at the same time. These are human beings just like you and I. They too have to juggle schedules and demanding workloads. I’m grateful that I could sit down with Dr. Christina Han – an associate professor in the History Department – and ask her how she manages to do it.
Q: What brought you to Laurier Brantford? A: I got the job here seven years ago. I did my PhD. at the University of Toronto and after finishing my PhD. I taught there for a year and a half. When an opening came up at Laurier in Brantford I applied, did the interview, and I got the job. Q: Why teaching history? A: I didn’t start in the history program – my undergrad was in cultural studies. Originally, I wanted to be a filmmaker, so I was in York University’s cultural studies program which was in conjunction with the film studies program. I did that for three years – I made films – and decided it was very different from what I envisioned it to be. When I was studying film and fine arts I also took a lot of history courses and realized that I actually really enjoyed the academic work. I loved to write, I loved to read – of
course I still liked artistry – and my interests transitioned. I then did my Masters in East Asian studies, which was history heavy, and voila – I’m here. Q: What do you do when you’re not being a professor? A: If you see me teaching a class you may not know that while this is Dr. Han teaching history I am also a real human being. I’m a mother of two, I’ve been married for fourteen years, I cook and do the dishes back home. I’ve been very blessed with my family – it’s hard to manage family life while you’re studying, and I had both kids while I was a PhD. student. My husband who is a pastor has been super supportive and schedule-wise it worked out for us because he’s busy evenings and weekends but during the day he’s able to help with the children.
PHOTO BY VARSHA SRIGANESH
Q: What do you love about being a cultural historian? A: I like to explore my own background and interest in the arts. I love telling stories of the past using different means like exhibits, film, podcasts, books, and articles. I also love creating events and bringing the community together, like bridging student bodies and local communities. The second year here I started the Lunar New Year event – which started very small but grew to become a major event for the campus. Last year the local martial arts school came to perform and Laurier
International got involved. This year I was told we’re expecting two hundred and thirty students! This January the event will be on the 23. Each year we pick a theme and set up displays in RCW lobby to engage and educate students and community. Q: What are your next projects? A: My next book project looks at short classical poems that were shared in 16 – 19 century East Asia in much the same way we share tweets or texts. I also hope to keep telling the stories of Brantford’s immigrant communities as this history of
Brantford has not been told for a really long time. Brantford used to be one of the most multicultural cities in Canada, believe it or not, and I think it’s really important to explore and tell these stories. Hopefully I can turn it into a larger project that students researchers and community members can get involved in. I lieu of a sweeping conclusion about how much I appreciate Dr. Han for doing this interview and her dedication to the Laurier Brantford community I’ll let her student’s comments speak for themselves.
THE SPUTNIK
DECEMBER 2019
FEATURES
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COMMUNITY
Shtetl on the Grand, remembering Brantford’s Jewish community Interactive book displayed in Brantford’s downtown core CHRISTIAN MEJIA SPUTNIK FEATURES
November 26 there was a gathering of many people who once belonged to the Jewish community of Brantford in front of Post House and RCW. The mood is happy and nostalgic for many, and the reason for this event started with a man’s written excerpts of his youth which resonated with the others in the Brantford Jewish community. The now deceased Queens University Academic Gerald J.J. Tulchinsky had studied the Jewish history and community throughout Canada for many years, and wrote the book Shtetl on the Grand. The book beautifully describes the typical life of a Jewish member in Brantford after the Second World War, and the evolution of the city and the Jewish community side by side. On a chilly November day years later, many would walk down memory lane with organizers Bill Darfler, Jack Owetz, Dr. Christina Han and Peter Muir as the stories of Jewish involvement and evolution of Downtown Brantford were explored. “Brantford used to be Canada’s number three city in terms industrial export… that’s why a lot of immigrants came to Brantford,” said organizer, Dr. Christina Han. Exhibits of photographs taken on Colborne St and Dalhousie showed a once thriving metropolitan Brantford that once equaled the cities of Toronto and Montreal. Brantford once showed extreme promise and was the hub of many booming businesses and farm equipment manufacturers such as Verity Plow Co., J O Wisner (Massey Harris), and many others, rivalling the other great cities of the nation. Some of the downtown businesses were run by members of the Jewish community, and as the tour around the downtown core progressed many reminisce and recall memories of their childhood and the connections
with those of the Jewish community. Many attendees also mentioned their memories of the Brantford Synagogue which at its height was larger and more active than the
Brantford used to be Canada’s number three city in terms industrial export ... that’s why a lot of immigrants came to Brantford. - Christina Han, an organizer of the event
Hamilton Beth Jacob Synagogue. Many still visit the Mount Hope Cemetery where many Jewish members rest in peace. As the tours finish and the exhibits comes to a close, the attendees which have travelled from Port Dover, Toronto, Kingston gather for refreshments and reunions were made.
The gleam in our collective eye is to hopefully do the same for other ethnic groups in Brantford. - Bill Darfler, an organizer of the event
Many speak of their appreciation for Tulchinsky’s book and expressed gratitude for the event’s organizers, who were nonJewish themselves, for reminding the people of Brantford their history and bringing their nostalgic memories to life once more. Emails from all over Canada and even abroad in Israel were sent to the organizers, applauding the
organizers and expressing their wishes to attend the event. Speeches and performances by members of Grandview Theatre Company and Brantford Theatre Workshops organized by Peter Muir brought events in the book to life. The artists powerfully expressing the memories which resonated with many of the former and current residents. After the event’s close, many return home happy and hopeful to a future as thriving as Brantford’s past. Students and faculty who witnessed the nostalgic memories resurfaced have a priceless gain. Their appreciation of the history and the spark of curiosity and wonder if the city can possibly return to its former glory. “The gleam in our collective eye is to hopefully do the same for other ethnic groups in Brantford, ” said organizer, Bill Darfler. Other prominent groups the organization is looking to shine light on are Polish, Italians, and Filipinons. The event has been successful in reintroducing the history of Brantford’s Jewish residents and the arts have wonderfully opened everyone’s eyes by animating the thought-to-be forgotten memories of this community. What can this tell us as a Golden Hawk community? That Brantford has so much untapped history and knowledge that we have yet to discover. That there are endless opportunities to thrive not only as an individual, but as a community. That through writers, historians, artists and hopeful academics and future leaders, the memories of a former powerhouse of a city and its ethnic and religious groups can be reincarnated. To challenge the ignorance of those who claim that study of the arts and history is not beneficial to a society and invite them to witness the works of those they ridicule can and have helped many communities. Tell them… look at Shtetl on the Grand and how this event and the efforts of many have on this community as a whole.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN MEJIA/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
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THE SPUTNIK
DECEMBER 2019 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR VACANT arts@thesputnik.ca
END OF TERM
Some helpful tips on how to get through exam crunch time For students, hustling to meet deadlines and preparing for their finals can be a very stressful period. Here are some helpful hints and ways that you can manage this difficult time, and survive this exam season. RASHIDA POWANKUMAR SPUTNIK ARTS
Exams are approaching — and that means crunch time. Students are hustling to meet deadlines and preparing study notes — for finals, which are a big chunk of our marks. As we are in study motion it is important to stay positive and take care of mental health. Reflect as though your body was a vehicle, a car has four tires and each represents one aspect of your life. 1. The first tire is our social life. 2. The second is our mental well-being 3. The third represents our physical health 4.And the fourth represents our spiritual health. If the tires are off balance then so will you. Jodie Lockey-Duesling, with
the Wellness Centre, offers advice and mentions the array of services offered on campus.
The first tire is our social life, the second is our mental well-being, the third repersents our physical health and the fourth repersents our spiritual health.
“Yes, come and see us, reach out, talk to someone, drop in, at the first signs of distress we are here! Early intervention can assist in dealing with stressful situations. Community care is so important, connection, belonging, validation
can go along way,” she said. Duesling also mentions the services offered at Wilfird Laurier that include, a wide array of programs such as drop in appointments with a mental health nurse, drop in counselling, individual booked counselling, group counselling, workshops, groups, mindful drop ins and many other programs. There is also an extra doctor on site. First year student Sandy Werkman’ advice for students who are going through high stressors are; Always reach out to a professional someone who is experienced in mental illness. 1.Take one day at a time— be kind to yourself and listen to your body. 2. Do one minute deep breathing, cleansing breaths, this helps quiet your thoughts. 3. Take a 10-minute study break, for every 50-minute study period. Werkman is in public health and
has experienced first-hand clinical depression. Ken Paradis, coordinator of the English Program shares what he thinks are the best tools for the
Avoid social media; take a massive step back and remove your screening time from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and all of the above. -Ken Paradis, English program coordinator for Brantford
crunch of November. 1. Pay attention to your physical well-being, eat well, sleep well and pay attention to your mental health, please do stay away from
substances, like alcohol. 2. Take time in your day to turn your mind off, take a long walk about 30-60 minutes, this is a recovery period, walking is known to clear the mind and thoughts. 4. Do not be afraid to ask for help, reach out as quickly as possible if you are feeling overwhelmed; there is a lot of help on campus 5. Avoid social media; take a massive step back and remove your screening time from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and all of the above. Focus on course readings and materials. Social Environment Justice student Victoria Redding, is graduating this year gives her advice to students as she speaks about self care. “I need to wake up, and plan out my days, as much as it is important to schedule my school, it’s also important to schedule time for myself, whether that be cooking a meal or catching up on Netflix.”
SARA SHEIKH/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SPUTNIK
DECEMBER 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
09
LOCAL & COMMUNITY
A little look at some of the small buisnesses in Brantford There are so many new places popping up in the downtown core, so check out some of the most recent ones. CHRISTIAN MEJIA SPUTNIK ARTS
Recently Brantford has seen an increase of small businesses in the downtown core. FadeMaster Barbershop at 120 Dalhousie St., has $15 dollar cuts advertised all day, everyday. Some students have already been inside and met the barbers that make the magic happen. These affordable yet fresh cuts are given by the most friendly and authentic barbers you will ever meet and the best conversations are made here while you sit back and become the next masterpiece. Jamrock Jerk Chicken at 118 Dalhousie St., is owned and operated by the same man that established FadeMaster Barbershop literally next door. This restaurant will bring all sorts of good spice in your mouth as authentic Jamaican
cuisine is served. From Callaloo, Jerk Chicken Roti, Oxtail, and Barbecued Chicken plus more this restaurant is bound to bring the islands to you even if you can’t afford to go to Jamaica just yet because of student loans and rent.
I really love the atmosphere the quality of the clothing and this even beats some stores I see back in Toronto.
Sammy’s Creamery at 75 Erie Ave., is underrated and deserves far more attention from The Gold-
en Hawk community. It is owned by the same owners of Sammy’s Rec Room on Mt. Pleasant St. and is an amazing place to go to drink with your friends and play pool. There is a separate room with large TV’s to watch your favourite sport event and play pool, darts, and arcade games. It has the friendliest staff and has good quality snacks like their Jalapeno Poppers and Chicken Wings. Plus, the bar isn’t too far from campus and is close to many student houses. Alt Boutique on Dalhousie St., is a year old small business. This fashion boutique is owned by the artistic Justin Lowe and has a variety of clothing items that will make you stand out as the pinnacle of fashion on campus. “I really love the atmosphere, the quality of the clothing, and this even beats some stores I see back in Toronto” a shopper says about
the store. The Healthy Rabbit at 105 Brant
I love going here, it’s different than the other spots in the city ... and they’re the only vegan/ vegetarian spot
Ave., provides the most wholesome and healthy meals and smoothies. This place is great for the health conscious and the fit junkies in our campus, served by friendly staff and affordable prices. “I love going here, it’s different than the other spots in the city … and they’re the only vegan/
vegetarian spot, close to campus, and they aren’t extremely expensive,” said frequent goer Rosemary Crawford “They offer healthy, delicious options while still having fast service, plus the staff are passionate about what they do, and that’s seen in the food they make,” she said. There will be a Healthy Rabbit kiosk opening at the Laurier Brantford YMCA in January 2020. There are way more businesses that should have a spot here but they will be touched upon in the following articles to come. Stay tuned and go and enjoy the local charm of this city, and explore the diamonds in the rough that you’ll never know existed right near you.
PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN MEJIA/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SPUTNIK
10
DECEMBER 2019 OPINION SPORTS EDITOR JESSA NOW HIRING BRAUN opinion@thesputnik.ca sports@thesputnik.ca
CONTROVERSY
Assumption College allegedly responsible for homophobic photo MATHEW SACKRIDER SPUTNIK OPINION
A group of high school students, from Assumption College in Brantford, are being held accountable by the school board for their participation in an Instagram photo containing homophobic and racist language. To be more specific, the group of all-white males, were posing in front of a cake that had a homophobic slur written across it in colourful icing. In front of the cake, there were yellow letters on the table spelling out a racist remark which starts with a capital N. The photograph was anonymously submitted to CityTV by a fellow classmate and it’s sparked some outrage. The event has pushed the school board to consider suspensions/expulsions as a disciplinary action for the boys involved. It was not taken on school property or during class time, but in the free time of the students and on a private residence. The school claims that the boy’s actions affect the moral reputation of the institution but could also constitute “bullying”. This sort of thing shouldn’t be happening in 2019. Yet, I don’t believe this behaviour is the norm among young people either. Most
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students who had participated in the photo had even expressed their regret for being involved with it. What if it’s simply an act of “boys will be boys”? Or is it a sign of something more vicious? There needs to be some context to my opinion; I’m not vilifying these teens. I’m a thirty-one-yearold male student here at Laurier and although I’m a pretty sensible
guy at this stage of my life, I’ve also been young and much less sensible. Young men like to taunt and tease one another, especially in groups when the liquor is flowing, among close groups of friends and there’s usually no intention to actually hurt anyone. Foul language and obscene remarks are often on the table (although not so often
literally). I can’t personally say that I’ve seen anyone do this sort of thing in the past but I’ve seen the road that will get you there. So, do these boys deserve to be punished? I think so. Teenagers may have poor judgement at times, but they’re still more likely to learn from their mistakes if they are disciplined. It also sends a good message out to
other kids who spread hate messages over social media. The reason I say I don’t think that we can put all of the blame on these boys for their poor judgement is that they’re a product of their environments. We have men like Donald Trump, who make private attacks on others due to their backgrounds or gender and he’s in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the world. Why is it okay for him to do it and not them? I’m sure that’s the message which many youths are growing up today. We may be Canadians but the culture we share with America is certainly influenced in big ways by them, and our politics can be dirty too. We have to focus our energy towards fixing some of these problems with the world before we will see lasting change in the behaviour of our youth. Some of our most virtuous societal values are being degraded publicly, both because of social media and through our politics. Derogatory remarks are getting more support than ever and it’s a scary time to be a minority in many places. What these teens have done was wrong, and they do deserve discipline, but I also believe, we as a society, need to be setting better examples for our youth to aspire to.
COMPROMISE
Is Laurier doing enough for its students? DHRUVI MODI SPUTNIK WRITER
Laurier Brantford turned 20 this year and students still feel as if they are regarded as second best to the Waterloo campus. The two Laurier Campuses feel like two different universities. Wilfrid Laurier isn’t doing enough to include Laurier Brantford as a part of Wilfrid Laurier University. If you ask many Laurier Brantford students, they’ve probably only gone to the Waterloo campus to visit friends, take part in competitions or for a party. Many students feel as if the two seperate schools aren’t even remotely the same, the only similarity being the Laurier part. We have our own sports teams, our own events and our own bookstore. If you go on the Wilfrid Laurier website and look at the dining plans page, all the fast food chains and restaurants are located in
Waterloo. Students at the Waterloo campus even have a meal plan, whereas Laurier Brantford only has apartment style eating. There’s a rare occasion when students from the Waterloo campus come to Brantford; they are captivated by our lifestyle and the way we interact with locals. Laurier Brantford is integrated with the city of Brantford to the extent that we don’t even have our own library. I understand our campus is not as old as the Waterloo campus and we don’t have as many students or programs but still we are a part of Laurier and we should be included. Some students struggle with academic aspects of the two separate campuses. For example, most of the research librarians are located on the Waterloo campus. When Brantford students need to get a hold of them, they have to contact them through email or phone,
instead of visiting their office and having a face-to-face conversation. There have been many times when emails regarding service outages, Wi-Fi issues, upcoming maintenance are sent out to all Brantford students. Some get confused since they don’t clearly specify. Laurier Waterloo events are open to all Laurier Brantford students and many times a bus system is even provided so that students can get to waterloo and back. Should it be for just some events, or should there be a regular bus system for all students all the time? The Brantford campus feel alienated because of the huge differences between the two. Many students on the Brantford campus are wondering if they will always be second best to Waterloo. Is Wilfrid Laurier treating both campuses in the same manner? I don’t think so.
PHOTOS BY HIRZE E ZEHRA TALPUR/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SPUTNIK
DECEMBER 2019
OPINION
11 SPORTS EDITOR NOW HIRING sports@thesputnik.ca
VOLLEYBALL
Brantford coed team goes into first season tournament CHRISTIAN MEJIA SPUTNIK WRITER
The Laurier Brantford Coed Extramural Volleyball team engages in its first tournament of the season and prepares to face whatever the other teams throw at them. On Nov. 22 there were outstanding serves and fast paced volleys that were executed nicely by the team members. The Golden Hawks after a series of matches managed to place third in the tournament alongside the Seneca Stings who put up a good fight. Coordination was clearly the strength of the team, but there are some new factors that make this year’s team different from others. These factors have played into the growing success of these Brantford Golden Hawks. This year the team has hired a coach. Previous seasons did not have a coach involved and this season’s team felt that having a coach be there to refine their skills and provide support was a boost in their morale and ability. Coach David P. “was a pretty solid coach… he had volleyball experience and played here [at Laurier] for four years,” describes a team member, Sarah Bray. Another factor that separates this season from previous ones was the notable increase in first year membership in the team. Members Jeffrey Lee, Alyssa Zoltec, Mackenzie Geofroy are the first years that took up the challenge
positions based on our skill sets, I usually played six back, centre was
It was our first tournament so we were just feeling it out ... we played specific positions based on our skill sets, I usually played six back, centre was Sam etc. -Kieran McGrath, Laurier’s athlete of the week
and contributed well to the team chemistry. The team thinks it’s very encour-
generation. The team is constantly looking for future players to take up the mantle for next season and
noticeable that the team has amazing chemistry and an understanding of each other’s strengths and
aging to see first years involved in extracurriculars and helps shape more experienced players that can pass down their skills to the next
everyone is encouraged to try out. Athlete of the Week, Kieran McGrath along with all the others in the team played hard and it was
how to apply them. “It was our first tournament so we were just feeling it out,” McGrath, “we played specific
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Sam, etc.” These Golden Hawks take pride in the way they work well together, and it is often seen that they gather and congratulate/motivate each other before and after every play. The team dynamic is key in volleyball, and these Golden Hawks are a great example of that. For future games, the team plans on improving more on defensive plays and transitions, as well as more refined serves. Players hope to keep honing their athletics and to have an exhilarating and fun season. Best of luck to these Golden Hawks and please come out and support them with all you got.
HOCKEY
Brantford Hockey teams debut BRENDAN MCWILLIAM SPUTNIK WRITER
Laurier Brantford men’s and women’s hockey teams marked the start of another exciting season with their first tournament at Westwood Arena in Etobicoke. Each team played three games over the course of the day, as is standard in one-day tournaments, and the two teams with the highest amount of points at the end of the day would face off in a final match for the championship. The men’s team played the University of Toronto Mississauga in their first game of the tournament, and nearly rallied back from a 4-1 deficit, but fell just short and came within one goal in a 4-3 loss. Their next game was against Bishops University, which came down to the wire in a shootout, where they, unfortunately, lost 2-1. The third game against Boreal was also a very tight game that required extra time and a shootout, where the men secured their first victory of the tournament with a score of 4-3. The women’s team came out strong in their first game against Canadore College and achieved a win with a score of 4-2. Their next game was against Georgian College, where they came just shy of a win with a 3-2 loss. Humber College was their final opponent and while they looked to come out of the tournament with a positive streak, they fell within another one-goal deficit with a final score of 4-3. Not only, that
the women’s team had only nine skaters and one goalie, making the three games in one day a little tougher. “For being our first tournament of the season, we played amazing and definitely exceeded expectations, considering our short bench,” said captain of the women’s team, Summer Belanco, “we still have a few kinks to work out but it was still an amazing first tournament to kick off the season.” Despite the losses in the tournament, both coaches were very pleased with their men’s and women’s teams and felt that their performance was a sign of good things to come. “I am proud of how hard this group worked in this tournament and they represented Laurier Brantford very well on and off the ice,’’ said coach Doug Cooper, “the ladies had a short bench, but you wouldn’t know it by watching how hard they play for the whole game”. While each team played their hearts out, they still need to reflect on their shortcomings within the tournament. “Do we have things to work on? Absolutely, but we will get there, one of the things we need to work on for the next tournament is our defensive zone coverage” stated Cooper. “[The coaching staff ] feel confident that both teams are buying into our systems and share in our pursuit of a tournament championship,” he continued. “Our biggest weakness in the tournament would have to be the
lack of time that we have been playing together. We have a few new girls on the team and the first tournament is always a challenge to be able to gel as a team, but we can improve on it,” said Belanco. With their first tournament behind them, the only thing these teams need to do is look ahead to future tournaments and focus their energy on winning those. “Our goal for both teams is to be tournament champions, particu-
Do we have things to work on? Absolutely, but we will get there, one of the things we need to work on for the next tournament is our defensive zone coverage -Head Coach, Doug Cooper
larly in our own tournaments coming up in February,” said Cooper, “the Humber tournament was our first real test of what we are capable of moving forward”. The men’s and women’s teams will play their next tournament hosted by Fanshawe College on January 24 at the Western Fair Sports Centre in London.
MEGAN JACKLIN/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
THE SPUTNIK
12
DECEMBER 2019
BASKETBALL
“Movember Madness” charity game raises money for awareness BRENDAN MCWILLIAM SPUTNIK WRITER
Laurier Brantford’s Extramural Men and Women’s basketball team claims Movember Madness Champion title for the first time against the Brantford Police Department, by a score of 79-71. Held at the Laurier Brantford YMCA the team was looking to capture the title last year but fell short after a buzzer beater shot by the cops. This year, the Hawk’s confident play, coordinated offence, and excellent team communication helped them to secure the victory at the 2nd Annual Movember Madness. The basketball game is apart of Laurier Brantford’s Department of Athletics & Recreation’s Pink Strong Campaign. Laurier took the lead early on in the first quarter and had a one-point lead at 33-32 by halftime, but their level of play in the third and fourth quarter extended their lead to a point where the Brantford Police could not catch up, despite outscoring the Laurier extramural team in the second quarter. Laurier scored 46 of their 79 points in the third and fourth quarter, which propelled them to a comfortable victory. The Laurier Brantford extramural team was led in points by Zlatan Catic, who collected 18 points in the Laurier victory. Both of Laurier’s teams will build their strengths from the game to carry into their regular seasons, which begin in late November. This year, both the men’s and women’s team got to participate against the Brantford Police’s co-ed team, as opposed to last year where only the men’s team played the police. Prizes, swag, and snacks were also given out at the basketball game, and at halftime, the KAOS Dance team performed a routine for the audi-
ence.
Laurier scored 46 of their 79 points in the third and fourth quarter, which propelled them to a comfortable victory.
Last year, the Pink Strong Campaign raised $1500 throughout all of their events and this year they hoped to surpass their previous goal and raise $2000. All proceeds collected at the game are being donated to the
All proceeds collected at the game are being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society by the Department of Athletics & Recreation as part of their Pink Strong campaign.
Canadian Cancer Society by the Department of Athletics & Recreation as part of their Pink Strong campaign, aimed to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.Throughout the month of November, a variety of events and activities are being hosted by the Department of Athletics & Recreation at Laurier Brantford’s campus as part of their Pink Strong campaign. PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MCWILLIAM/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY
CROSS COUNTRY
Women’s XC ranked third in Canada CHRISTIAN MEJIA SPUTNIK SPORTS
The Laurier Brantford Women’s Cross Country team brought home a third place medal from Nationals this past month. The historical moment came on November 9 when the members completed the 6km course battling through the freezing conditions and challenging terrain in Grand Prairie, Alberta. Vanessa Brown led the pack with a sixth place finish and a time of 26 minutes and 13 seconds, Faith Nieson placed 17 at 27 minutes and 9 seconds, Kara Hughes placed 24 with a time of 27 minutes 42 seconds, and Jessa Braun in 50 place at 29 minutes 20 seconds. The varsity team is only four years old in its creation and already has the competitive edge in the country. The team was ranked fourth overall in the country heading into the event in Cold Lake, after securing the Gold place finish at OCAA Provincial Championships at St. Clair College on October 26. The girls had many hurdles to overcome in the run, as these
frigid, snowy conditions were not yet seen in southern Ontario as opposed to what the other teams have trained in. “The Golden Hawks came to the event with a goal of a podium finish and they weren’t going to let anything come in the way of that,” said Manager of Interuniversity Sport and Recreation, Kristin Fernandes. These Hawks pushed past their limits and were a force to be reckoned with as the speedy rise to excellence and absolute determination was observable. This was reinforced by the fact that Vanessa Brown was named Women’s All-Canadian at the Banquet following the event. The varsity team’s head coach Cory Currie was nominated as CCAA XC Coach of the Year to add onto his title of OCAA Coach of the Year. The team was also followed and supported by fellow runner Ahad Niam, who also competed and maintained his top 30 record in the championship. “These girls have so much heart and their passion and drive are what got them where they are,” said Currier on the Laurier
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Brantford Athletics page. The training regimen was constant and challenging, but the girls pushed through and kept heart as they aimed to make themselves and their university proud.
The next step for these runners is to recruit future members that can also leave their mark and maintain the legacy they fought so hard to establish for Laurier Brantford. Join the cross country team
next year but be prepared to come across multiple challenges and run in conditions that aren’t familiar to you. And always maintain the drive and the spirit to be the best in what you can be.