Volume 18, Issue 2 - September 19, 2018

Volume 18 Issue 2 – September 19, 2018

The Sputnik, We Orbit Around You. NEWS, pg. 4

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE?

Excercise your right to vote in city’s elections

Arts, pg. # 9

Sports pg. 10

‘SIERRA BURPLACED SECGESS IS A LOSER’ OND AT MEET She’s also manipulative but don’t get us started

Features, pg. 7

OUR RECAP OF O-WEEK 2K18

Won tie-braking race Relive some of your greatagainst Humber for second est moments in first year

Opinion, pg. 12

SURVIVOR: TO USE OR NOT?

Our response to Christie Blatchford’s video

A Return to Vinyl A nostalgic blast from the past, or a subtle protest of streaming?

Arts pg. 8

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

02

THE SPUTNIK

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SPUTNIK_NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

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THE SPUTNIK STAFF EDITORINCHIEF Dellesia Noah eic@thesputnik.ca

GRAPHICS EDITOR Adrienne Hoe graphics@thesputnik.ca

DESIGN MANAGER Sidhant Kapahi design@thesputnik.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Madelin Moses photography@thesputnik.ca

NEWS EDITOR Shreya Shah news@thesputnik.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Mitchell Emmanuel-Kalu leadphotographer@thesputnik.ca

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Avery McIsaac assistantnews@thesputnik.ca

WEB DIRECTOR Alex Vialette web@thesputnik.ca

FEATURES EDITOR Jennany Thillairajan features@thesputnk.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Jason Morgan video@thesputnik.ca

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Hyrra Chughtai arts@thesputnik.ca

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Gabrielle Lantaigne copyeditor@thesputnik.ca

OPINION EDITOR Avery Mclssac opinion@thesputnik.ca

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Stephan Reilly copyeditor@thesputnik.ca

What was your most memorable summer moment?

SPORTS EDITOR Jessa Braun sports@thesputnik.ca

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp.com

BRANTFORD MANAGER OF OPERATIONS Maiya Mistry manager@wlusp.com

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Terrence Mroz president@wlusp.com

HR MANAGER Paige Bush hr@wlusp.com

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WEB MANAGER Sam Nabi samnabi@wlusp.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Terrence Mroz

DIRECTOR/CORPORATE SECRETARY Maiya Mistry

VICECHAIR Shyenne Mcdonald

DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

DIRECTOR Maiya Mistry

TREASURER Garrison Oosterhof

“Moving into my new house with my roommates” –Cassidy Coborn, 3, Criminology

“Going to the Canadian Pet Expo and getting to hold a ball python” - Jennifer Moore, 3, Digital Media & Journalism

DIRECTOR Hayley H.G. Watson

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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

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“Strawberry picking with my girlfriend” –Harjyot Sohal, 1, Criminology

All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Lucas at advertising@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.

THE SPUTNIK IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 Regina ST. N., Waterloo WLUSP Brantford 206-171 Colborne St. Brantford, ON N3T 2C9 (519) 756-8228 ext. 5948 COLOPHON The Sputnik is a bi-weekly campus newspaper intended to engage and inform the community.

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“Hanging out at the cottage with my friends”

“Preparing for Orientation week and being an ice breaker”

–Nathan Hartl, 1, Game Design

–Paige Murtagh, 3, Social Work

THE SPUTNIK

WENDSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

03 NEWS EDITOR NOW HIRING news@thesputnik.ca

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR NOW HIRING assistantnews@thesputnik.ca

POLITICS

Your mayoral candidates this election

What each candidate wants you to know about them before you head over to the polls to cast your vote

ALEX VIALETE WEB DIRECTOR

Being as we the press are an essential component to this democratic process, we decided to do a deep internet dive into all the candidates running for office, because you the people deserve to know about who you’re going to vote for when you exercise your democratic right to vote.

Here’s what we found online: Barbara Berardi Berardi is a former hairdresser and income property owner. If elected, her biggest promise is to donate half of her salary to the the Brantford food bank. This figure could reach as high as $50,000 based on her own estimates.

Berardi plans to turn the casino

BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR

Brantford’s city hall on Wellington street, where your mayoral elect will run the city’s operations.

into a cultural center, building an amphitheater along the Grand River and fix the city’s budgeting process.

If she wins, Berardi would be the second woman elected as the mayor of Brantford.

Kevin Davis Davis is a former city councilor as well as a member of various committees and boards. Some of his roles include: president of the Brantford Boys and Girls Club; Director of the Brantford YM-YWCA Housing Corporation; and president of the Brantford Chamber of Commerce.

As mayor, Davis hopes to: - Manage the city’s budget consciously–”smart spending”

- Improve infrastructure - Improve links between cities such as Cambridge, Kitchener and Hamilton - Build strong relations with neighbouring communities - Ensure affordable living http://davisformayor.ca/about/ Chris Friel Friel has served as the mayor of Brantford for a total of 16 years. He was first elected in 1994 at the age of 27 and held the position until being defeated by 15 votes in 2003.

Friel was re-elected in 2010 and has continued to serve as mayor since.

Friel’s online platform has not been altered since 2011, but states that he will make Brantford

“economically diverse”, “culturally dynamic”, “environmentally responsible”, “open and inclusive” and that his government will be “progressive”.

Additionally, the website chrisfriel.ca has been dedicated to criticizing Friel’s relations with Six Nations. The website highlights some quotes of his and urges the city of Brantford to reconcile with Six Nations for the stolen land the city was built on.

Michael Issa Issa is a tri-lingual business owner who heralds to a degree as a mayor-for-and-of-the-people.

His platform states that he will: - Promote Canadian values - Improve standards and better equip the education syste - Improve housing by creating jobs - Examine the local healthcare system to cope with the aging population - Promote diversity through “better relations among the different ethnic groups” - Maintain an open-door policy at city hall - Adhere the city to UN environmental initiative http://www.ilovebrantford.ca/ platform Wayne Maw Little of Wayne Maw’s platform is available online, save a tweet from @edward101963 which reads as follows: “VOTE FOR WAYNE EDWARD MAW RE : OUR NEXT ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 22 2018 UP COMING FOR CITY MAYOR OF BRANTFORD ONTARIO CANADA Long time member of Dalton Mc Ginty & late Jack Layton Ministry of Health of ONTARIO my plans r to make many

changes to the Telephone city to help those” John Turmel Turmel is a “perennial candidate”, meaning he runs for office more often than not and loses the election more often than not. He is the founder of the Pauper Party of Canada, which he has used to give himself the nickname “King of the Paupers”—meaning “King of the poor people”.

Turmel has run in elections at municipal, provincial and federal levels, but has never managed to secure a seat. In total, he has run for office over 90 times and has lost all but one, where he won a byelection in Guelph. His win/loss ratio has earned him a spot in the Guinness World Record book for “most elections contested”. http://johnturmel.com/ David Wrobel Wrobel has served as a councillor for Ward 4 in Brantford for the past four terms. He has worked with the Brantford Kinsmen club, Branlyn Neighbourhood Association, Brantford Welcome Inn and Yes Church, which he believes help him know what areas citizens want the most change in.

If elected, Wrobel plans to: - Budget the city for the long term rather than a year–which is the current method - Develop infrastructure and industry - Improve social services such as housing programs - Ensure his government is transparent http://wrobel.ca/

THE SPUTNIK

04

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

POLITICS

Brantford elections approaching soon Election day, Brantford citizens can take their voices to the polls to vote on their next city representatives DELLESIA NOAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I once heard a Brantford native describe the city as a battle between the “haves” and the “have-nots”.

He was irate at the state of the transportation system in this city; on various occasions he had waited over an hour for a bus to arrive, or had stood at a stop only for a bus to not show up, or had stood at a stop that was no longer in service without being made aware of any such changes.

He criticized the governance of our current municipal system and accused our municipal representatives of prioritizing certain wards over others and certain people over others.

“But, I can’t just be mad about it, I can’t just talk about it, that’s why you and I got to vote,” he said.

I’ve heard many conversations along these lines: Brantford citizens criticizing their municipal government and the way it runs things.

But whether your grief is with the state of the transportation system, the maintenance of roads downtown, or what services have been allotted with a certain amount of budget, we can all agree that we are not going to see any types of changes in this city unless we vote.

Why should you vote?

Voting is the most powerful and democratic way of having your voice heard. Where you place your vote tells your municipality, your government, your institution, exactly where you stand on certain

issues.

If this is your first time voting as someone who may have just turned 18, you are not too young.

If anything, the fact that you are voting at such a young age lets your representative know that you are an active constituent whose voice needs to be heard and whose needs need to be met along with everybody else’s.

If you are temporarily residing in Brantford while you attend college or university, you are allowed to vote if your name appears on the voters’ list.

A lot of the time, the argument is, “well, I don’t agree with anyone’s platforms, so I’m just not going to vote”.

Nope, because there are ways of legitimately spoiling your ballot (i.e. casting a blank ballot) that lets your government know that you are not satisfied with any of the platforms or candidates, and that is a powerful way of having your voice heard instead of throwing your vote away.

How can you vote?

First, please ensure that you are registered to vote. You can register yourself as a Brantford voter for the municipal election at voterlookup. ca.

According to the BrantordVotes website, if any of your personal information has changed since the last election (i.e. last name or address) you can amend that information during the voters' list revision period, which will begin Tuesday, September 4 and end on election day, Monday, October 22, with online voting beginning

DELLESIA NOAH/EDITOR -IN-CHIEF

Campaign signs for Brantford’s mayoral candidates can be seen placed in the yards of home owners across the city.

October 1.

During this time, voters can visit city hall and correct their personal information, or voters may add themselves to the list if they are not currently registered as Brantford voters.

Even if you had updated your information with Elections Ontario for the provincial election that took place on June 7, 2018, you must also update your information with

the city of Brantford.

No revisions or additions can occur online or over the phone with city representatives – all changes must be made in person at city hall.

Who is eligible to vote?

You are entitled to vote in the Municipal Election if, on voting day, you: - Reside in the local municipality

- Are the owner or tenant of land here, or the spouse of an owner or tenant - Are a Canadian citizen - Are at least 18 years old - Are not prohibited from voting by law Election day is October 22, polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

For more information please go to brantfordvotes.brantford.ca

THE SPUTNIK

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

NEWS

05

DIVERSITY & EQUITY

DEO to go through changes this year

Laurier’s new approach to decentralization of the diversity and equity office leaves students’ concerned

SIDHANT KAPAHI/DESIGN MANAGER

Queers Sphere, SOUL, students’ muslim association, and the women’s centre are among the many groups to run out of the diversity and equity office on the Brantford campus.

On Friday, September 7, Wilfrid Laurier University released a statement about the changes to be implemented at the Diversity & Equity Office (DEO).

The initial statement was released via email by CPAM (communications, public affairs, and marketing) and was followed up by a letter from the DEO in Waterloo.

The email states that a new approach to enhancing diversity and promoting a culture of inclusion “will shift from a centralized Diversity & Equity Office to a model where DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] areas of responsibility and expertise are embedded within functional units throughout Laurier”.

These changes are to be applied across both the Brantford and Waterloo campuses.

What this means is that Laurier will be hiring three new staff members on each campus to support and work on a multi-campus mandate that will further diversity, equity and inclusion.

But students who work at and are supported by the DEO have concerns about the university’s plans for decentralization.

“I think my main concern in this initiative is that decentralizing the DEO radically de-politicizes them,” said Maxwell Beckett, a member of the queer sphere.

Decentralization presents other challenges as well, on top of the de-politicization of its values. It turns diversity to be more about numerics than about the types of values it holds, and presents the problem of who will be placed in these positions.

Beckett and other students that work out of the DEO were not made aware of such changes beforehand.

“Everyone who got the email was made aware of this the day-of, or at least the students were. We were all really shocked; there was no indication of these changes beforehand,” said Beckett.

Education and Inclusion Coordinator Lauren Burrows ensures that these changes will not change the work that the student groups are doing.

“They’re still going to be connected to the role that I am in now and they will still be able to do their education and peer support work within a student diversityfocused office,” said Burrows.

Students and faculty who do work through the DEO will report

up through student affairs and through dean of students Adam Lawrence.

They will in turn be working with the Students’ Union and the Grad Students Association to ensure that the priorities of the students are represented in the diversity work that’s being done.

According to the email, Pamela Cant, assistant vice-president of human resources, will momentarily “take on an expanded role within finance and administration of assistant vice-president: human resources and equity. Employment equity will fall under the responsibility of human resources, including the roles of employment equity & AODA officer and employment equity coordinator”.

A senior DEI advisor will be appointed from within the faculty to

advise the university on DEI issues.

The email also states: “a new diversity, equity and inclusion curriculum specialist role will be created. This position will support all faculties in developing course content and pedagogy related to diversity, equity and inclusion and collaborates with accessibility experts to ensure best practices in teaching, learning and physical design.”

“Depending on which staff they appoint to these roles there could definitely be some concern,” said Beckett. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Beckett and other students feel that in spite of these changes, they will still act in solidarity with each other and with the needs of marginalized groups within the DEO.

LB alumni speak on their degrees earned

These four alumna share about what they gained at Laurier TAYLOR BURT LAURIER ALUM

“There’s a university there?”

The question that gets asked to every student who says they attend Laurier in Brantford, but Laurier Brantford has a lot to offer, according to its graduates.

“My experiences as a student at Laurier catalyzed my current research.

I owe a lot to my time at Laurier, and am incredibly thankful to the professors who helped to encourage, challenge and inspire me,” said Taylor Berzins, Laurier Alumna.

I spoke with some recent graduates from Laurier Brantford about where they are now and how Laurier helped them get where they are today.

Chandler Berardi says she wouldn’t have the job she has now if it wasn’t for Laurier Brantford.

Graduating this year from the Digital Media and Journalism program, she now is working as a communications assistant for the creativity hub that is being developed on campus.

“Laurier Brantford has some of

the best faculty you will find. They are amazing, dedicated, highlyskilled and from the field,” said Berardi. “It’s a talented pool.”

Attending school at a small campus has so many benefits, according to Melissa Weaver, Laurier Alumna.

“You don’t get the same experience as you do when you’re on a small campus,” she said, further explaining that it’s great knowing your professors on a first name basis, and are able to network easily.

“On my first campus tour, I knew this is where I needed to be.”

Another key factor that draws students to the small university, is the fact that it offers so many clubs, associations and teams.

“My number one piece of advice to any student would be to get involved on campus. In doing so I was able to discover my passions and build connections with various organizations,” said Kodey Hewlitt, Laurier Alumna.

“My experiences at Laurier also shaped my activism - which is an integral part of my work and my student life - which has led me to some of the greatest people in my life,” said Berzins.

Laurier Brantford also has some unique majors and courses, allowing students to broaden their horizon and dabble in multiple fields.

All four graduates agreed that Laurier gave them skills that they can use at their current and future jobs.

“I use a lot of the design and research skills I learned in the Journalism program in my current research. I'm currently a masters student at the University of Toronto and am majoring in a field that's so different from Journalism but I'm always a little pleasantly surprised by how useful and relevant a lot of the things I learned at Laurier are,” said Berzins.

Although a lot of students go on to do further schooling, graduates say that Laurier gives them the skill base they need to jumpstart their careers.

“There is never a bad degree to get,” said Berardi, explaining she’s an advocate for education. “You can go to school for something you love and still be successful.”

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

A.fter four years of university, laurier graduates feel prepared for what’s next.

06

FEATURES EDITOR/NOW HIRING

THE SPUTNIK

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

07

THE SPUTNIK

08

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR HYRRA CHUGHTAI arts@thesputnik.ca

DOWNTOWN

The age of vinyl returns to Brantford

Forch’s record store is looking to be the place where music enthusiasts can listen to good vinyl records

MADELINE MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

Outside Forch’s record store on Dalhousie street, Forch hopes that his record sho[ will be a place where customers can come in and explore and expand their taste in music.

HYRRA CHUGHTAI ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

During the past year, Brantford has had many new businesses open close to campus.

Luckily, as a student, experiencing new things is a treat.

Brantford is potentially a small city compared to where most of us have grown up, and therefore the limited places to hang out are an issue.

As a music enthusiast, my first two years at Laurier didn’t include a place where I could share my interests.

That is until this year; I was casually walking to Tim Horton’s when Forch’s Record Store caught my eye.

Forch’s Record Store, located at 59 Dalhousie Street, is the second location for Paul “Forch” Fortune.

With his main store in Cambridge being a success, Forch decided to try his luck in Brantford.

Walking into the store gives a nice retro feel right off the bat.

Records are labeled by genre in crates leading all the way to the back, and the walls are covered with vinyl sleeves of modern and even vintage music.

Forch’s also includes CDs and cassettes.

The collection includes a large range of genres across a large expanse of time in music history.

But what really caught my eye, and what I haven’t seen in many record

stores, are the vintage music magazines for sale.

Forches boasts two big crates of magazines filled with The Rolling Stones, Exclaim! and Kerrang.

But, coming from Cambridge, which is much bigger than Brantford, there are differences in audiences and population coming into the store.

“To me record stores belong in a ‘downtown’ core amongst independent and unique retail, food, etc. I was very intrigued and excited with the revitalization of Brantford’s downtown core and saw a fit for the unique music buying experience offered at Forch’s Record Store,” said Forch.

This broadens the appeal to a greater audience in Brantford: a place where students and locals can go and enjoy music together.

Once a month, Forch’s has an artist perform in the store. People are encouraged to go out, enjoy, and listen to some new tunes.

There are giveaways, prizes, vinyl features and add-ins to do as well, allowing more opportunities to bind the community together.

“Live music in-store really supports the vibe we’re going for...a place to come and browse, take your time, feel comfortable in a space that you can really appreciate music and the next best thing to vinyl is live music. An introduction to live music or an artist hopefully garners further support for that artist(s) in other venues,”

said Forch.

As most people who follow trends in media can vouch that there has been a significant shift in our culture where people are bringing back nostalgic objects and trends that were once popular a decade ago.

A big example of that in our culture would be music. From collectors to artists, people are bringing back tunes and sounds to create an ambiance of the past.

“It’s amazing to see the appreciation of the younger generations for tangible items as well as the music itself...and [to see them physically involved in and enjoying the buying experience,” said Forch.

On Facebook there are many groups vintage vinyl collectors’ groups.

Usually those groups are filled with older men or women trying to find the best deals.

This can be intimidating for younger people, who may feel left out or feel as though they may not be knowledgeable enogh about music to participate in the discussion.

Forch allows anyone to come in and ask questions, regardless of whether they know a lot or just a little about music. “[I am] very much driven by chatting with customers and getting an idea of what they like and/or where they might like to explore. One of the reasons [we have] diverse music, -- loving staff

so we can introduce each other and customers to great music in all genres and eras,” said Forch.

Along with members of the younger generations being involved with vinyl collecting or purchasing, many of them will be attending Laurier in the future.

Being given easy access to music can further enhance students’ interests in different genres or different platforms.

“I think that a campus is a really cool place to open a record store.

It might bring more people out to further engage with the community and will give students the opportunity to meet new people that have similar interests, where they otherwise would not have met these potential acquaintances… it would inspire more discussion about culture apart from the academic setting,” said Kaitlyn Stewart, a third-year social work student.

Forch feels strongly about the rebirth of vinyl and thinks it creates a great opportunity for everyone to share their love of music.

“A large part of the vinyl resurgence is driven by music lovers wanting more for their money something tangible, better sound, taking the time to appreciate and enjoy, and ensuring musicians get their fair share…Vinyl without questionsoffers the best sound, but the experience of playing vinyl and sitting down and listening to it allows the listener to get more from

the music and the experience... to say the least of the cool added features that come with covers and sleeves artwork, lyrics, etc.,” said

I think that a campus is a really cool place to open a record store.

It might bring more people out to further engage with the community...

-Katelynn Stewart 3rd Year Social Work Student

Forch.

“To ‘plug’ the store, we offer a great selection of genres and artists, both independent and mainstream.

As an independent store we have great leeway to bring in a variety of artists, offer the service of ordering things we may not have and very importantly not only competitive but fairly and best priced in the market,” said Forch.

If you are unsure of how to take care of a vinyl, Forch and his staff would be able to assist you and help you with your music needs.

There are endless opportunities for one to explore in a record store and to discover new music and cultures.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

THE SPUTNIK

ARTS & CULTURE

09

NETFLIX

Review on ‘Sierra Burgess is a Loser’

How about Sierra Burgess is also manipulative, spiteful and childish, just to name a few *spoilers ahead* HYRRA CHUGHTAI ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

SPOILERS Another rom-com starring Noah Centineo, but this time he is getting catfished. Exactly what we needed next. With 61 per cent positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, I don’t think this is exactly what I imagined when I first saw the trailer for “Sierra Burgess is a Loser”.

After watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, I was ready for another heartfelt high school romcom that I could quickly binge, avoiding all my responsibilities but still feeling like I didn’t waste my day away.

Right off the bat, I was amazed by the way this movie was filmed: it had a nice aesthetic and felt like a good heartfelt family movie – that is until the acting began.

Now, Shannon Purser is a good actress. Don’t get me wrong, Barb was a little annoying in “Stranger Things”, but nevertheless the acting was on point. For some reason though, I couldn’t get over the weird, quirky, very dramatic eyerolling motions this movie had to offer.

Going into this movie I had high hopes. I was ready, but Netflix, you disappointed me greatly. Let’s get the characters straight: the protagonist, Sierra Burgess, who doesn’t adapt to social norms, dresses how she wants, and doesn’t care at all how she looks; then she has a best friend, whose name I forgot throughout the entire movie, but I figured it out to be Dan. Next, we have Veronica, who is the extreme-

IMDB

Sierra Burgess is a Loser’ has earned a 6.2 out of 10 by critics on IMDb and a 65 per cent on rotten tomatoes.

ly mean and popular school bully.

I’m used to bullies in movies being obnoxious and dramatic with their remarks, but it really threw me off-guard in this movie, especially the jabs at Sierra’s weight. Finally, we have Jamey, (played by Noah Centineo), who is the guy getting catfished by Sierra.

The premise of the movie is that Veronica gives Jamey Sierra’s cell number to get back at Sierra for saying something very miniscule to her in the bathroom. Jamey

starts texting Sierra’s number, but Sierra pretends to be Veronica and then starts to fall in love with Jamey.

Veronica (the bully) becomes friends with Sierra because they each need something from the other – Sierra needs Jamey to think he’s talking to Veronica, and Veronica wants to be tutored to seem more intelligent -- and so they help each other.

Jamey eventually finds out the truth and like any normal human

being cuts Sierra Burgess from his life and never sees her ever again… just joking.

He falls in love with her only after being mad at her for a short amount of time. Then they end up together.

This is only the skin of it all, there is much more to this story.

Aside from the acting, there was one scene I found just off. To buy this fake storyline, Veronica agrees to go on a movie date with Jamey while Sierra secretly tags along.

Veronica and Jamey are alone and are getting ready to kiss when suddenly she tells him to keep his eyes closed. They then switch out Veronica with Sierra. This scene was just wrong to me.

When I first saw this scene, it screamed sexual assault. Even before I saw other people on the internet agreeing. Along with feeling disgusted, I was also squirming with secondhand embarrassment at how far Sierra would go to do this.

Another reason why I may not ever see this movie again would be the fast plot development.

Throughout the movie Sierra ditches her friend Dan (who is the only sane person and tells her catfishing is wrong) to hangout with Veronica and continue to catfish Jamey. Eventually he stops talking to her and they aren’t seen together as much; seems reasonable.

Jump to the end of the movie: it’s prom night, everyone’s happy, Sierra ends up with Jamey, and Dan is still mad at Sierra. They meet at the school, look at each other, and suddenly everything is okay. I, for one, hate when movies rush a section or plotline. It feels unfinished and choppy. Also, how could someone as sane as Dan go back to someone as insane and manipulative as Sierra?

Anyways, I could go on about how this movie was just not for me and how it had more flaws than successes, but I’m pretty sure if you go on YouTube you could search “Everything wrong with Sierra Burgess is a Loser” and find all the answers you are looking for.

MUSIC

Dilly Dally debuts sophomore album

The sound on the bands album has an extensive range; from fierce shrieking to soothing instrumentals HYRRA CHUGHTAI ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

Toronto’s music scene never ceases to amaze me. From great acts like Daniel Caesar and Jessie Reyez - who recently was on a track on Eminem’s ‘Kamikaze’. Torontonians have amazing talent.

But what most people may not know is that we specifically have a great punk scene. From my experience of going to a few punk shows, Toronto does not like to play around.

From intense moshing to constant crowd surfing, it is a non-stop rollercoaster. And we have good reason to go all-out: Dilly Dally, a Toronto alternative rock and grunge band, gives us all reason to do so.

Coming out with their second album, “Heaven”, on Sept 14, they have everything one would need to in order to tag along on their journey to notoriety.

Having released their debut album, Sore, in 2015, the band has been pursuing music and constantly touring to release a second album. Katie Monks, the guitarist and vocalist, gives a dominant performance on each track with fierce, shrieking vocals, but can quickly alternate into soothing sounds.

The band gives a very earlyto-mid 90s feel - a bit like The Cranberries but with a little more head banging. I recently had the

opportunity to go see them when they opened for FIDLAR, and the juxtaposition of Monks’ calming presence on stage compared to her loud voice was not what I had expected. The loud powerful screams matched with a woman standing still, barely making a face, had me leaning over the barrier for more.

“I Feel Free”, the first track off of “Heaven”, and also their first single, starts with breathy vocals and almost made me think of the band Hole fronted by Courtney Love.

I can already picture an alternative music video with the band in a dark room rocking out way too aggressively while staring into the camera - sorry for describing “Smells Like Teen Spirit, but it’s what I envision.

The emotional vocals quickly match the long, powerful screaming of Monks and then fade to match with the instrumental of Liz Ball, the guitarist, and Jimmy Tony, the bassist, belting out with Benjamin Reinhart’s loud pounding on the drums.

The album’s lyrics display a stronger meaning and allows the listener to look between the lines.

“Heaven” touches upon themes of self-care, relationships, confidence and even sobriety. “Sober Motel” brings a lot of passionate words to accompany a time of struggle.

“Wanna tell you/I’ve been waiting so long/ When I’m sober/ My soul comes screeching/

BANDCAMP.COM

A dead, bleeding eye, angel figurine is depicted on the cover art for Dilly Dally’s sophmore album ‘Heaven’.

Screeching.” The track creates an emotional trip for the listener, and even made me feel like I had been down the same rabbit hole.

When you feel enough sentiment for Monks in “Sober Motel”, get ready for “Marijuana”, a love/hate song about something that keeps Monks “still” but with “anxiety” qualities. This track opens up a door to a different tone for Dilly Dally and allows for a softer feel for the band. The song slowly starts to break down towards the end with fast-paced pounding and long, slow howls.

From its release I have listened

to this album from top to bottom a good few times. It gives such a throwback vibe but with a modern twist. If the album cover doesn’t give you enough reason to pick it up and give it a whirl, then I hope this review does. Artists like Dilly Dally, I would say, like to evolve their sound and are not afraid of to cater to different audiences. We’ve seen it with bands that have come out in the 80s and had to re-establish their sounds for the grunge era. It’s not an issue because music is forever changing and evolving, but I do think it is time for another round so that everyone can get

back into the teen angst culture.

Dilly Dally’s previous album, “Sore”, had also given a similar vibe of emotional and angsty vocals, but “Heaven” allows that to shine through more instrumentally.

Although this genre of music may not be widely appreciated on the radio or on most people’s playlists, I say give it a good listen. I feel like the punk music genre and its subgenres aren’t given a good chance by mainstream listeners because its time has passed, but I still very much stand by the saying “punk is not dead” - it is alive, well, and thriving in Toronto.

THE SPUTNIK

10

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 SPORTS EDITOR JESSA BRAUN sports@thesputnik.ca

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Seattle Storm wins 2018 WNBA title JESSA BRAUN SPORTS EDITOR

Breanna Stewart led the Seattle Storm to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) title on Wednesday in game three of the best-of-five semi-final series against the Washington Mystics.

Steward scored 30 points in the Storm’s 98-82 victory. Named both league and finals MVP, she averaged 25.6 points in the three games in the finals series.

The six-foot-four forward was also named to the 2018 All-WNBA First Team, being the only player to be named on all 39 ballots by the national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Seattle’s big victory had 9,164 in attendance at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena.

It was their first title since 2010 and their third in franchise history.

With an offence that consisted of star players Steward, Sue Bird and

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

Breanna Stewart led the Seattle Storm to victory with a game-winning 98-82 score, she won both leauge and finals MVP

Alysha Clark, Seattle was able to storm through the Mystics defence, shoot at angles the Mystics didn’t anticipate and gather rebounds.

The Mystics had been struggling with shooting in the finals series, and their struggle didn’t go away for game three. Their appearance

in the finals did, however, prove their rise from mediocrity in just a couple years.

With 2018 All-WNBA First

Team’s Elena Delle Donne powering the team, the future only looks more promising for the Mystics.

A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was named WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Like Stewart, she received all 39 votes from the national panel.

Wilson averaged 20.7 points this season, obtaining the third highest average in the league and becoming the second rookie in WNBA history to average at least 20 points per game.

She set multiple rookie records, including shooting 46.2 per cent from the field, 77.4 per cent from the free throw line, 192 free throws made and 248 free throws attempted in a single season.

Courtney Williams of the Connecticut Sun led the playoffs in points, averaging 27.0.

Liz Cambage of the Dallas Wings held first for rebounds while her teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith led the playoffs in assists.

CROSS-COUNTRY

LB places second in first meet of the season TASHA O’NEILL CONTRIBUTOR

Laurier Brantford women’s crosscountry placed second as a team in their first meet of the season on Saturday.

Tied for second with Humber College, Laurier Brantford was given the finalist credit after winning the tiebreaker. The host, Fanshawe College, took first.

This is the best the female team has ever done since the sport came to Laurier Brantford in 2016.

First year Vanessa Brown finished fourth in the race. Laurier’s second, third and fourth runners -- Kara Hughes, Chiara Carinci and Jessa Braun, respectively -- finished in the Top 25.

“Racing among the Golden Hawks seems like a dream, as I

never thought I’d be privileged enough to run with a university team,” said Brown.

Hughes and Carinci are also first years while veteran Braun is back for her third year with the team and fourth year as a Laurier student.

The fifth and sixth runners on the women’s team were second year Anne McDermott and fifth year Maizee Bodman.

“We have a lot of new runners [this season] and they are all showing up to practice and trying their best, as well as setting personal goals,” said Brown.

Laurier Brantford did not have a men’s team compete, as there are currently only two male runners on the cross-country team.

This year they have to compete

SOCCER

JESSA BRAUN SPORTS EDITOR

The defending National Women’s Soccer League champions, the Portland Thorns, are headed back to the league final for the third time in franchise history.

The Thorns, who had the

individually.

Second year Ahad Naim placed 10th. Rookie Ian Linton was the other male runner for Laurier Brantford.

“I’m hoping for a good season and I’m pretty satisfied with the start, but I am very aware that it’s a long season and there is a lot more to go before it’s over,” said Naim, who is aiming for a Top 7 finish at Ontario championships.

The Golden Hawks are set to appear September 29 at Seneca College and October 13 at Centennial College.

Provincials are October 27 at Centennial College and Nationals are held November 9 & 10 at Seneca College.

SAI GNANAHARAN/CONTRIBUTOR

First year Kara Hughes runs for the finish line at Fanshawe race.

The Thorns are headed back to the finals ADRIENNE HOE/CONTRIBUTER

league’s second-best regular season record, won Saturday’s semifinal game with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Reign (who finished the regular season in third).

The Reign scored the first goal of the match, but the Thorns came back with two of their own goals

later on in front of their own crowd at Providence Park in Portland.

Some well-known players on the Thorns include Christine Sinclair of the Canadian women’s national team, and Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath of the American women’s national team.

It was Heath and Horan who scored the two goals that gave the Thorns their golden ticket to the finals. Jasmyne Spencer scored the Reign’s lone goal.

Horan was presented the season’s last Player of the Week recognition for her two-goal performances in the Thorns’ last two games of the season. One of those games was a 3-1 win over Seattle,

which helped the Thorns move into second place and bump Seattle to third. The win also gave the Thorns the home field advantage in the semi-final.

The Thorns have the luxury of home field advantage yet again at the championship match on Saturday, September 22.

The Thorns will face the winner of Tuesday’s semi-final match that features the Chicago Red Stars and the North Carolina Courage, who only lost one game all season and are the 2018 NWSL Shield winners (the title for the team with the best regular season record).

Game Highlights: 27:59 – Jasmyne Spencer scores the first goal of the game after capitalizing on the rebound from Megan Rapinoe’s free kick.

42:53 – Tobin Heath ties it up with a goal shot from just inside the 18-yard box, assisted by Lindsey Horan.

68:07 – Heath scores again but the goal is disallowed due to offside.

75:59 – Christine Sinclair sends a cross into the Reign’s box and it’s headed into the net by Horan. 2-1 for Portland.

THE SPUTNIK

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 201

HOCKEY

HANNAH KASTEIN STAFF WRITER

The 2018-2019 NHL season is fast approaching and it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs are in for a very exciting season. There has been a lot of change during the off-season for the Leafs, which will have a huge impact on the team this year.

The biggest story around the NHL this summer was when John Tavares, who was an un-restricted free agent after last season, decid-

SPORTS

11

Tavares brings more potential for the Leafs

ANUJ KAPHI/GRAPHICS CONTRIBUTOR

ed to leave the New York Islanders and come play for his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This was one of the biggest free agent signings in the history of the NHL. Tavares signed for 77 million dollars over seven years, which is actually a hometown discount and humbling, considering he is one of the best centers in the league and could have been paid more somewhere else. The main reason why he decided to come to Toronto was not only because he was a Leafs fan growing up, but also because

of all the young talent already on the team, which gives him a great opportunity to win the Stanley Cup in Toronto.

Last year the Leafs were already the sixth best team in the NHL and were third in the Eastern Conference, finishing with 105 points.

After adding Tavares to an already potent offence with players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, the Leafs will have arguably the best offence in the NHL. The Leafs did lose some key forwards in free agency, such as winger JVR, center Tyler Bozak, and winger Leo Komarov, but Tavares and other prospects will be able to fill those missing holes this season.

Tavares wasn’t the only addition to the team over the off-season.

Lou Lamoriello stepped down as the general manager and Kyle Dubas, who was assistant general manager, took his place. Less than two months after Dubas was named general manager (GM), he landed Tavares. Not bad for one of the youngest GMs in the NHL. The Leafs start training camp

in Niagara Falls on September 14 with the first pre-season game against Ottawa on September 18.

Going into camp, there are a couple big questions that have sparked conversation in the media and among the fans. One is that one of the Leafs best wingers, William Nylander, still does not have a contract.

Nylander is currently a restricted free agent and will not be able to play with the Leafs until he and Leafs’ office agree on a new contract.

It is expected that Nylander is asking for around eight million dollars a year, but the Leafs will need him to take a discount if they want to keep all their star players.

This is because Matthews’ and Marner’s contracts are also up next season, and both players are also expected to get paid a lot of money, so it will be hard for the Leafs to pay all of their stars and stay under the NHL salary cap.

The other big question heading into this year’s season is who will be named the Maple Leafs’ captain. The Leafs haven’t had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was

traded to Ottawa in 2016. It was assumed by many that Matthews would eventually be the captain for the Leafs but when Tavares signed with the Leafs that was called into question.

Tavares was captain for the New York Islanders for five years and is a well-respected leader in the NHL. Dubas stated when they signed Tavares that they will wait and see who naturally becomes the leader and not rush the decision.

Personally, I believe that Matthews will still be the Leafs’ captain because he is the rising young star on this team, even if it is not this year.

There are a lot of leaders in the Leafs dressing room and there is no need to rush the decision.

The expectation for the Leafs’ season this year is very high, not only among fans but around the league as well.

However, there are still some holes in their defensive line-up, particularly on the right side.

This holds them back from being the favourite this year to win the Stanley Cup but I would say they can easily be top five in the league this year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

A bright season ahead for the Raptors

JOSEPH MARINUCCI POSITION

2017-18 SEASON RECAP Last season was the best season in franchise history for the Toronto Raptors: They finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 59-23 record.

Along with team success, individual accolades were also present, both on the coaching staff and team roster. Dwane Casey received the Coach of the Year award and DeMar DeRozan was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

However, to go along with all the regular season and individual successes, the playoffs brought on a completely different story.

After a hard fought series against the Washington Wizards, which the Raptors won in six games, the Toronto team had the pleasure of attempting to finally dethrone LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After a four-game series, the Raptors were swept, losing to LeBron James for the third straight

ANUJ KAPHI/GRAPHICS CONTRIBUTOR

year.

2018 OFFSEASON The Raptors entered summer 2018 with many questions regarding their roster, front office and coaching staff.

Without a draft pick in the 2018 NBA draft, the Raptors had a tough dilemma to face: rebuild or go allin for success?

The first move was firing reigning Coach of the Year Dwane Casey and eventually replacing him with former assistant coach Nick Nurse.

The changes continued later into the summer with a controversial trade with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Raptors received Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Pöltl and a 2019 first round pick.

The trade was received with mixed opinions at the time, as DeRozan was viewed as the best player on the roster and a fan favourite who proved his loyalty to the organization.

But a change was needed, and Kawhi Leonard is, when healthy, one of the best players in the NBA

and the best two-way player in the league.

In addition, Fred VanVleet was re-signed. He inked a two-year deal worth $18,110,010, and Greg Monroe was signed, inking a oneyear deal worth $2,165,481.

STRENGTHS Kawhi Leonard presents a huge advantage for the team. The Raptors have never had a superstar on the same level of Kawhi Leonard, who, when healthy, is arguably the third best player in the league, behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant respectively.

His defensive ability will only improve an already strong defensive team, and his versatility in doing almost anything on offense will improve an already great line.

The addition of Danny Green has been overlooked, as he is not a flashy player by any means.

But his ability to defend multiple positions and his reliable three-

point shot will help.

The Raptors’ potential defensive and offensive versatility in any position could rise to new heights, as the team finished in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

The Raptors also gained advantage through changes on other teams: LeBron James left Cleveland for Los Angeles and opened a pathway for the Raptors to solidify themselves as the best team in the Eastern Conference.

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers got better and older, but the best team in the East got better and added to an already impressive roster.

WEAKNESSES Kawhi Leonard is coming off an injury-plagued season, which limited him to only nine games.

The injury concern is still there, and his commitment to playing for Toronto has been questioned. New

coach Nick Nurse has yet to have any head coaching experience, serving as an assistant to the Raptors since 2013.

Although he is credited with many of the changes the Raptors made during the previous season, the question remains as to whether he can continue to implement positive changes. Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka have experienced slight declines in their stats and on-court ability from previous seasons, and the Raptors cannot afford to have more setbacks.

The pressure to finally prove once and for all they are not playoff pretenders will only be taken away by appearing in the NBA Finals, but the team must go through very talented teams to get to that point.

2018-19 PREDICTION - 61-21 record - First in the Eastern Conference - First in the Atlantic Division.

- NBA Finals appearance.

THE SPUTNIK

12

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 OPINION EDITOR AVERY MCISSAC opinion@thesputnik.ca

Who gets to use the word ‘survivor’?

Christie Blatchford, columunist at the National Post, “despairs” over who gets to use the word survivor AVERY MCISSAC OPINION EDITOR

In a YouTube video uploaded by the National Post on September 6, writer Christie Blatchford discussed the idea of who should and shouldn’t be allowed to call themselves a survivor of assault.

In the video Blatchford references the case of Mandi Gray, who claims she was sexually assaulted by fellow PhD student Mustafa Ururyar. Ururyar was convicted at the provincial level, however, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice overturned the decision.

For those unfamiliar with the case, the provincial judge released a 179-page decision, which, according to Blatchford ,failed to explain why he believed Gray over Ururyar. This is what led the Superior Court to overturn his decision.

Blatchford then explained she’s offended that despite Ururyar being found innocent, Mandi Gray continues to refer to herself as a survivor of sexual assault.

To quote Blatchford directly, “This is a trend that makes me despair actually, because, what’s the point of the criminal court if the purported victims who have been deemed not to be credible in that case continue to describe themselves as survivors of a sexual assault? I mean how do you recover your reputation if the people continue to say that you did, what a court found you didn’t do?”

I get the point Blatchford is trying to make, however, to be frank, it is problematic.

The first thing I want to point out is that survivors of sexual assault get dragged through the news

cycle as much as the accused.

Regardless of the outcome in court, survivors are often seen as either just wanting attention or being liars. They don’t get to detach themselves from the situation either.

I understand where Blatchford is trying to come from. She clearly has faith in the criminal justice system.

I mean how do you recover your reputation if the people continue to say what you did, what a court found you didn’t do?

-Christie Blatchford, Coloumnist at the National Post

However, her viewpoint completely disregards how difficult it can be to get any sort of justice in Canada’s -- and many other countries’-- criminal justice systems.

Stats Canada data collected from 2009-2014 found “overall, one in five (21%) sexual assaults reported by police led to a completed court case within the six-year reference period”. Stats Canada also found "about 1 in 10 (12%) sexual assaults reported by police led to a criminal conviction, and 7% resulted in a custody sentence”.

In 2014, Stats Canada found there were approximately 636,000 selfreported cases of sexual assault

ANUJ KAPAHI/GRAPHICS CONTRIBUTOR

or 22 incidents per every 1000 Canadians.

To summarize all of that, approximately 636,000 incidents of sexual assault are reported, but only about 12% will lead to a criminal conviction.

To me, it’s shocking and frustrating to see such a discrepancy between the number of reports and the number of convictions.

Obviously, sexual assault is a hard thing to prove. There are rarely witnesses. Even with biological evidence, it’s hard to prove or disprove consent in a court setting.

But there are clear biases present in courtrooms and in everyday life that lean towards the belief in and pardon of the accused that can’t be ignored.

Take the Brock Turner case for example: two students found him assaulting an unconscious woman

behind a dumpster. There were eyewitnesses, and yet somehow he was only given 6 months in jail. To top it off, he only served 3 months.

These charges came after a jury unanimously found him guilty.

These charges disregarded the two-year minimum guideline. Yes, he does have to register as a sex offender, so there’s some sort of silver lining. But the judge’s logic was a prison sentence would have “a severe impact” and “adverse collateral consequences” on Turner (The Atlantic). Even in a case with eyewitnesses the results are pathetic and biased in favour of the accused.

Although the Brock Turner case is American, Canada’s justice system has similar biases in sexual assault cases.

Even worse, now people in Ontario who are accused of sexual as-

sault can use excessive intoxication as an excuse, thanks to Superior Court Justice,Nancy Spies. I would like to think that most people agree with me when I say this is absolutely bonkers. If you can’t drink without assaulting people, maybe don’t drink. Alcohol should not be an excuse for predatory, illegal behaviour.

So to Christie Blatchford, I would ask that you reconsider.

In a society where multiple criminal justice systems give leniency to abusers – convicted or not – maybe you should be less offended by people who continue to refer themselves as survivors and more offended by our out-of-touch criminal justice systems.

Blatchford’s video has inspired me to look into this subject further and continue it as an opinion series.

Burnt out on the media’s news cycle Depressing headlines are everywhere today, and efforts to stay positive can be increasingly difficult

MADELINE MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

Today’s news headlines are often filled with tragic, saddening and disheartening information. It is not uncommon to feel exhausted, irratable, sad or anxious .

AVERY MCISSAC OPINION EDITOR

It might sound dramatic, but throughout the past year, every time I go on social media I feel exhausted.

The concept of tragedies isn’t new; horrible things happen all over the world all the time. But lately, I feel like every time I open an app another horrible thing has happened. It’s like there's no

break.

Maybe it’s because the older I get, the more informed I choose to be. Maybe it’s because the more social media I use, the more content I’m exposed to. Maybe it’s because the current political climate, especially in the United States (and debatably in Ontario right now), is a total disaster. Regardless, it’s hard to go anywhere online without becoming sad, frustrated, or completely appalled.

Symptoms of news cycle burnout, according to various sources online (and personal experience) can include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and feeling stressed. Obviously, it will vary from person to person, but these seem to be the consistent signs that I need a break from the news and social media.

Interestingly, The American Psychology Association has found that post-election stress is real in the U.S.

Even though as Canadians we don’t have to deal with Trump directly, his decisions have serious effects on Canada.

There was also a very polarizing election in Ontario just this summer in which we somehow elected ‘The Trump of Canada’ Doug Ford. I would be willing to argue post-election stress is in effect in Ontario, and in Canada as a whole.

After looking into it, I realized a lot of people are feeling the same

way I am. There seems to be this collective news cycle burnout, especially in journalists.

Alexandria Neason of the Columbia Journalism Review wrote an article entitled ‘The Burnout Year’, which I feel is incredibly fitting for how many of us feel. The quote that stuck with me most is: “Most days, even a brief step away from a laptop or television can put a casual reader of the news far behind.” To me, this is so true; it’s like every time I open Twitter something new is trending. It can be exhausting.

I feel it’s important to stay informed as a lot of the things going on in the world will affect my future.

But at what cost? Some days I will be on Facebook or Twitter for no more than five minutes and I feel emotionally drained or incredibly irritable.

The only advice I can really give is to prioritize what you feel is important to keep up with. You don’t have to know all the details about everything. Choose reliable, unbiased sources to hopefully avoid outrage culture. I personally watch The Philip DeFranco Show on YouTube because he calls out his own biases and promotes a conversation rather than a set idea.

Lastly, if nothing else, be willing to walk away from your computer or put down your phone. It will definitely help you relax.