Issue 1 volume 50

The Peterborough and Trent University

Independent Press

Volume 50 | Issue 1 | September 14, 2015

INside:

Photo by Kai Masaoka

All about watershed Hour

disorientation schedule inside!

A word on free press

StreetStyle is back!

Contents

Page 16-18: Opinion Pages

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Cover Photo by Kai Masoka Note: Credits for Samantha Moss, the talented photographer behind Issue 0’s cover, did not appear as clearly as we’d hoped. Apologies, we’re new! Thanks again Samantha Moss Street Style is back ! *G ZPV SF TQPUUFE PO UIF 4USFFU CZ Arthur MPPLJOH TUZMJTI ZPV NJHIU KVTU FOE VQ PO 4USFFU 4UZMF -FGU /PU POMZ JT +PTI #VDIPMU[ TQPSUJOH B HSFBU DPMPVS DPNCJOB UJPO CVU B OJGUZ DBM DVMBUPS XBUDI 3FUBJM 1SJDF 3JHIU " GBCVMPVT $BJUMJO +PIOFT JT TQPUUFE BU 4BEMFJS )PVTF XJUI B CVSHVOEZ UPRVF B TQMBTI PG DP MPVS BNJETU UIF CMBDL PO CMBDL BOE B XJDLFE DPPM BOUMFS OFDLMBDF

Letters to the Editor

Arthur fanmail through the ages Over the years, Arthur has received bountiful messages of love from its ever adoring readers. Here are some examples of the beaming reviews of our beloved paper, ranging between 1966-1969 in this selection of letters to the editors. Arthur has always been about transperency, it is our philosophy. After all, how can one have a healthy relationship if we’re not honest with one another? This partnership has lasted a vast 50 years, and we plan on staying with you, readers, for as long as it is feasable.

Call us romantics, but we believe in a full, lush, and flowering bed of conversation. We welcome you, dear Arthureaders, to follow suit. This is the beginning of a lovely, and candid relationship that we are looking forward to. We enjoy long, wrinkly swims in the Otonabee, sunset bike rides up the Dublin Street hill, burritos, and hefty sips of Wilde Olde ale. Let’s get caught in the freezing rain together.

Sincerely.

Y&Z

A letter to the editors Dear Editors, Another year has come for us all, and with it the promise of another chapter in Arthur’s colourful history of eccentric publication standards. As is true of all Issue 0s, readers can find dozens of inconsistencies in 2015’s Issue 0 – Including the misspelling of “B!KE” as “B!ike” in its article’s title, grievous misuse of font kerning compression to make up for poor layout geometry, and seemingly random changes in font face even on the same page. All of these could be forgiven if there were only some consistency in the presentation of the material – namely, in the formatting of titles and the size of the indent of each paragraph. Here is a helpful guide to help any new editors get the hang of the materials and software at hand, and hopefully help anyone wanting to start a professional-looking student paper get started on the right foot.

Capitalization of titles is a topic of heated debate, which is why it’s best for students to ask their professors for guidance on acceptable title capitalization. Each department, and in fact each professor may have different expectations. But what remains true of these expectations is that they are consistent for each and every paper that the professor grades. The same is true when publishing articles in a newspaper. There is no right way to capitalize titles, there is only your way – but there must be a standard way. Consider including this in your publication’s style guide so that anyone working on the paper knows what to

do. Consistency creates a reliable brand for the paper and ensures that readers and not left wondering about the arbitrary choices to capitalize and emphasize certain words, while leaving other words subdued in lower case.

Some potential title standards include: t First word and proper nouns are capitalized t All Words Are Capitalized t First and Last Words as Well as Important Words like Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, and Adverbs Are Capitalized For helpful guidance with the last option, head on over to titlecapitalization. com where you can paste in your title and have it automatically capitalized like a professional publication until you’re comfortable with the style.

When it comes to paragraph indentation, there are countless student papers where there is no manner of consistency in the space before the first word. It conjures the image of a child furiously mashing the spacebar until it the space appears to be good enough to call an indent.

Luckily, we live in a modern age of advanced text editing software and we have a number of ways of getting rid of leading spaces from even the most inconsistent of authors. The easiest method is done using Microsoft Word. Simply align all text to center and then to the left, and all leading spaces will have disappeared. For more advanced users, this process can be completed using InDesign’s Find/Change dialogue. In

InDesign, press Ctrl-F to open the dialogue, then hit the GREP button to switch the search method.

In the Find box, type “^ +” without the quotation marks, then change the scope of the Search to Document, and finally hit Change All. This will remove all leading spaces from all paragraphs in the entire document, leaving you free to precisely and consistently set the paragraph indent in each text box.

While it may save space to have no indentation what-so-ever in articles, it’s much easier on the eyes to have even a tiny indent at the start of each paragraph. Luckily, InDesign has an easy was to set the indentation of each paragraph in a text box. Simply select the text boxes that you wish to manipulate, then select Paragraph from the Type menu. You should see an option to increase the indent on the first line. Set it to whatever makes you happy, but keep it consistent to keep it professional. Another way to control indentation of paragraphs is by modifying the base style of the paragraph. Select Paragraph Styles from the Type menu, then double click on the Basic Paragraph style to edit its settings.

From here, you can control the First Line Indent from the Indents and Spacing page.

Changes made here will instantly apply to all paragraphs of the same style throughout the document.

We all want to see Arthur at its peak form as a highly-regarded publication we can be proud of and be proud to contribute to. It would be a shame to lose readers or writers because they didn’t feel their stories were being represented well. Trent students and community members regularly turn to Arthur first for information about the school and the community, and I hope now we can turn to the paper a bastion of professionalism in its use of consistent paragraph indentation and capitalization of titles.

From Jeffrey Moore

Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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Campus pages

Trent men’s hockey tryouts

By Anthony Moniz Ned Stark from the hit T.V. show Game of Thrones famously said, “Winter is coming.”

Winter is indeed quickly approaching us and that can only mean one thing for most Canadians.

The beginning of HOCKEY SEASON! If you are a Trent male looking to get in on the Excalibur hockey team please feel free to attend tryouts starting Tuesday, September 22nd and everyday until Friday, September 25th from 12PM-1PM at the Kinsmen Arena in Peterborough.

The Trent Excalibur Men’s Hockey team won Gold at the Challenge Cup last year and would like to build on the success of previous years.

Head Coach Gavin McKnight would like those considering trying out to know, “It doesn’t matter what level of Hockey you played, we are always looking to have new players to the program and continue to build on our team’s success.”

So there you have it fellas. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 5 star skilled player like Sidney Crosby or a super pest like Sean Avery.

The Trent Excalibur Men’s Hockey team might just have a role for you! So why not give it a try and don’t be shy. Feel free to contact coach Gavin McKnight with any questions or concerns via telephone at (705) 868-9443.

Community and Race Relations Committee

by CRRC In resp ons e to raci a l ly mot ivate d hate cr imes towards Inter nat iona l students at Trent Univers it y and F lem ing C ol l ege in t he 1980s, t he C ommunit y and R ace R el at ions C ommitte e of Peterb oroug h (CRRC) emerge d as a non-prof it, communit y-b as e d organizat ion w it h a commit ment to promot ing p o sit ive and e quit able ra c e rel at ions in t he Cit y of Peterb oroug h.

CRRC supp or ts t he b asic pr inciple t hat a l l indiv idu a ls in C anad a are e qu a l i n di g nit y and r ig hts.

CRRC ’s st rateg ies are aime d at ident if y ing and eliminat ing a l l for ms of inst itut iona l and systemic dis cr iminat ion, w it h re cog nit ion to t he ways in w hich a l l for ms of oppression inters e c t w it h racism.

CRRC is avai l able to assist p ers ons or g roups on matters rel at ing to racism. CRRC prov ides advo c ac y, consu lt at ion, c ap acit y bui lding and

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publ ic e duc at ion s er v ices for t he pu r p os e of promot i ng g re ater underst anding of race rel ate d issues.

Students are a lways welcome to j oin us, and c an get involve d as genera l volunte ers, by j oi ni ng t he B o ard of Di re c tors and / or C RRC committe es, and by p ar t icip at ing in our communit y e vents.

We a ls o of fer f re e workshop and t raining opp or tunit ies to student clubs and g roups in t he are as of ant i-oppression, ant i-racism, a l lyship and much more!

For more infor mat ion ab out our s er v ices or how to get involve d, ple as e cont ac t t he CRRC C o ordinator at racerel at ion@g mai l.com, by phone at 705-304-4318, or by v isit ing us in R o om 204 at Sad leir Hous e (751 G e orge St re et Nor t h ) .

Trent awards excellence

There is s omet hing students shou ld k now up on enter ing Trent , and t hat is, you c an ma ke an imp ac t at your University!

This p ast June, The Rob er t W.F. Stephens on for E xcel lence for Student G over nance, was awarde d to B etel hem Wondimu for her t remen dous work in ac t iv ism at Trent .

Wondimu is a champion of Human R ig hts, w it h involvement in numerous organizat ions.

As Trent C ent ra l Student Ass o ci at ion’s p ast Women’s Issues C ommissioner, Wondimu was sp e cif ic a l ly s ele c te d by t he C ana di an Fe derat ion of Students (CFS) to repres ent not on ly Trent , but a l l sma l l universit ies in Ont ar io in a round-t able dis c ussion t hat was organiz e d by b ot h t he Ont ar io G over nment and t he C FS. It was here w here she s at on a p anel w it h student le aders f rom 21 ot her s cho ols to sp e a k on b eha lf of t he 350,000 students t hat ma ke up t he l argest student union in Ont ar io.

Wondimu met Premier Kat h le en Wy nne at t he p anel to dis c uss t he issue of s exu a l ass au lt , and s exu a l harassment on c ol lege and u niversity c ampus es in Ont ar io. She pl aye d an integ ra l p ar t in t he convers at ion sur rounding t he

change in t he re ce nt s e x- e d c ur r ic u lum.

She has a ls o b e e n a memb e r of var ious organizat ions such as t he Trent Af r ic an and C ar ibb e an Student Union (TACSU), The C ent re for Human R ig hts and E quity and Acce ss ibi lity, w here she sp e arhe ade d a v ide o s er ies on t he var ious e quity and accessibi lity s er v ices of fere d at Trent .

She a ls o had a l e ade rship rol e in organizing a march on c ampus to end R ap e Cu lture, p ar t nere d w it h t he Trent Feminist S o ciety. By work ing w it hin t he ac t iv ist f rame work at Trent , her work was re cog niz e d by Trent for her outst anding e f for t .

Nominate d by Br itteny Bl a ke, t he award was unexp e c te d, and prompte d Wondimu to once again b e ac t ive in gett ing t he mess age out t here to Trent students. The amount of exp er ience

Campus pages

and opp or tunit ie s avai l able at Tre nt is inva lu able.

Wond imu had t his to s ay ab out her exp er iences- “G et involve d, pursue your p assions, despite t he cha l lenges!”

“When you get involve d, you do it b e c aus e you are p assionate ab out s omet hing, and t his is a community r ich w it h p assion. B efore you k now it , you accomplish s o much more t han you s e t out to d o.”

Wondimu ack now le dge d t hat it is on ly in l ater ye ars, and at award ceremonies t hat students are made aware t hat such awards e ven exist , and t hat t he y are applic able for t hem.

Wit h a l l t hat she has accomplishe d, her name w i l l b e one to lo ok out for as she go es on to repres ent Trent , a lre ady hav ing made a t r ue imp ac t in ac t iv ism and e duc at ion.

Wondimu pictured next to Wynne at the CFS Panel

The Trent Temagami colloquium

By Nicholas Weissflog Ever y fa l l since 1973 a g roup of students and fac u lty, a long w it h a mél ange of a lumni and community memb ers, have t ravel le d to Temagami to dis c uss and examine t he human exp er ience of t he L and, p ar t ic u l arly t hroug h t he lens es of indigenous, C anadi an and env iron ment a l issues.

In addit ion to t he intel le c tu a l dis c ussion, it includes d ai ly c ano eing and hi k ing t hroug h an ext remely b e aut if u l p ar t of nor t her n Ont ar io.

The col lo quium is sp ons ore d by a numb er of ac ademic dep ar t ments on c ampus and a l l students are inv ite d.

The ide a of pl ace, and our conne c t ion to t he l and, is emphasiz e d on t his t r ip, Temagami has a r ich histor y of Indigenous and env ironment a l issues f rom w hich to s e e t hes e ide as in ac t ion.

E arly in t he twent iet h centur y, Gre y O w l live d in Temagami.

A wel l k now n env ironment a l w r iter, Gre y O w l was ac tu a l ly an Eng lishman name d Archie B el ane y, w hos e w r it ing nonet heless had g re at inf luence on env ironment a l t houg ht .

More re ce nt ly, in t he l ate 1980s, log g ing con f l i c t s and l and cl aims by t he Teme-Augama An ishinaab e (TAA) made Temagami a fo c a l p oint for env ironment a l prote c t ion and Indigenous r ig hts.

B ot h t he TAA and env ironment a l g roups s et up blo ckades at var ious t imes to stop ro ads f rom b eing bui lt into t he Temagami w i lder ness.

Many Tre nt students and fac u lty were involve d in t hes e blo ckades and C amp Wanapitei, w here t he Temagami C ol lo quium t a kes pl ace, was tur ne d over to t he TAA as a blo ckade he adqu ar ters.

Problems st i l l exist in t his are a as issues of indigenous s overeig nty have not b e en res olve d

and, despite an attempt to est ablish a sust ain able res ource co-management b o ard, var ious p ar t ies cont inue to have dif f ic u lty to f ind mutu a l ly accept able s olut ions.

The col lo quium of fers a chance to step away f rom t he rout ines of s cho ol life and engage in intel le c tu a l dis c ussion among e qu a ls. Firstye ar students, g radu ate students, profess ors, and a lumni a l l br ing t heir exp er ience and ide as.

E qu a l ly, it cre ates st rong b onds b etwe en p ar t icip ants, w ho mig ht ot her w is e ne ver have k now n e ach-ot her, t hroug h t he s ens e of com munity w hich p er me ates t his t r ip ab out for ty f ive minutes into t he bus r ide up to Temagami (t ime enoug h for a l l t he students to dr in k t heir cof fe e and have t heir circ adi an rhyt hm go into d ayt ime mo de).

For mys elf, t he C ol lo quium adde d much to my exp er ience as an underg radu ate, and now masters, student at Trent .

In t hat f irst t r ip to Temagami, I cre ate d f r iendships t hat endure to t his d ay w it h b ot h profess ors and students. Thos e rel at ionships have nur ture d many convers at ions, enr iche d

t he way in w hich I s e e t he world, and a ls o broug ht ab out opp or tunit ies for res e arch proje c ts w it h profess ors I had b ef r iende d on t his t r ip.

I a ls o met and t a l ke d w it h Jos eph B oyden; you ne ve r k now w ho shows up !

This ye ars’ C ol lo quium t a kes pl ace f rom Thurs d ay t he 24t h of S eptemb er t i l l Sund ay t he 27t h. The cost of for students is $150 for t he ent ire t r ip, including a bus r ide t here and b ack (you a ls o s ave on fo o d w hi le you are up t here as it is a l l prov ide d!).

There w i l l b e a bus le av ing f rom Trent Uni versity on t he mor ning of t he 24t h, howe ver you are welcome to d r ive and we w i l l b e orga nizing a c ar p o ol if you c annot ma ke t he Thursd ay mor ning le ave t ime but st i l l want to go!

If you want more infor mat ion on t he t r ip you c an have a lo ok at t he Tre nt Te magami C ol lo quium website (w w w.t renttemagami.c a), t he faceb o ok p age or you c an cont ac t me (nichol asweissf log@t rentu.c a) w it h any quest ions.

Volume 50 | Issue 1 | september 14, 2015

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theatre and dance

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Opinion: National

The Harper Government; a buisness or a democracy?

By Collin Chepeka

I’ve always been full of enthusiasm when it comes to election time. The array of candidate signage strewn across usually empty lawns makes my blood brew with excitement.

Federal elections are supposed to come every five years, like clockwork. The rigorous rigmarole of campaigning seems to be never ending in a normal election, which has traditionally spanned over a thirty-five day period. Attack advertisements flood cable television, and I absolutely love it.

This year, I’m predicting a Federal election that will go down in record books as one of the most memorable elections in the past 100 years. Thanks to two previous instances of spending laws being broken during elections, our Conservative government dissolved parliament on August 3rd and kicked off the 2015 election.

This 75 day election will be the longest election in recent Canadian history. Why are we having an election that’s double the traditional length?

This question intrigued me, so naturally I went seeking the answers through various articles and opinion pieces surrounding the dissolution of parliament and the calling of the election. I am not only shocked, but I am blatantly disturbed to find out the conduct of our Federal government.

Thanks to two previous instances of breaking spending laws during elections, the Conservative government has been found guilty of breaking election spending laws. This time around, under the guise of the Fair Elections Act, our opaque democratic government subtly rewrote the election spending laws in their favour.

Traditionally, in a 35 day election, a political party is allowed (as legislated by Elections Canada) to spend $25 million, with half the total expenses to be compensated back to the party by Elections Canada. With the latest turn of laws, the Conservative party, traditionally an extremely well-funded party, now has the ability of spending a total of $50 million, with half of all those expenses returned to the party.

By the end of this 75 day election, the Conservatives will have enough money to fund another 35 day campaign.

Let’s assume the Conservatives win a minority in October.

Let us also assume that the new Conservative budget will be voted against in the new-year, forcing another election less than 6 months after the last one wrapped up. The Conservative party, thanks to the re-writing of the spending laws, and the upcoming 75 day election, will have enough money to fund a full-fledged campaign without having to fundraise. Those sound like stacked-odds to me.

The other shocking part of the early-calling of the Federal election has everything to do with our Senate. One can’t think of the Senate without thinking of the far-too-

frequent counts of scandal, and theft of tax-payers money for vacations, personal travel and $13 orange juice. Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy, and Patrick Brazeau were all Senators who were found guilty of abusing their powers and stealing tax-payers money for their own personal benefit.

Once these issues came to light, these Senators were duly revoked of their powers.

Since the court system in Canada draws out cases like these over the course of years, we can see another truly disturbing rationale for calling an early election. On the premise of “innocent until proven guilty,” the above listed scandal-causing Senators will now be able to collect their cheques, in full. These people who are guilty of the highest form of treason, stealing from tax-payers to line their own pockets, will now be treated like nothing ever happened.

I said at the beginning of this article that the elections fill me with joy.

I’m not sure that is the case for this one. I am scared to witness our Great Canadian Democracy turn into nothing more than another way to make money. I am sick of promises of a brighter economy; if the parties really had that in mind, the gross misspending of tax-payers money on both election campaigns and orange juice would not happen.

Being a politician in Canada is no longer about promoting the growth and pride of our incredible country; it is all about trying to guarantee your job security. That my friends is a business, not a democracy.

Let’s talk about Canada

By Ugyen Wangmo

Trent University is to embark on an interactive journey that will allow the entire nation to discuss Canada as a country, critically.

The Canadian Studies Department, along with Ontariobased executives William A. Macdonald and William R.K. Innes, are leading a conversation.

This conversation is set out to engage Canadians about the nation in light of the 150th anniversary of the Canadian confederation.

Thomas H.B. Symons, Trent University’s founding president, is in consultation for the project’s vision.

Symons has played a huge role in fostering Canadian Studies programs across the country, including our own Canadian Studies Department.

“By initialing this project we are formalizing the very process of being Canadian- which is to have that conversation,” says Dr. Christopher Dummitt, Chair of Canadian Studies at Trent University.

“We want to both teach as well as learn what other people across the country think about what matters, and what works for Canada … About what people think that the country could change into.”

“The project will provide a venue for people to have that conversation, and expects that it will trickle outward and have wider effects.”“Further, the project aims to narrowly recommit the idea that Trent is a great home to sponsor this initiative. Trent is one of the first places in the country to focus on Canadian Studies, and still continues to play a very prominent role.”

What makes Canada work and what could make Canada work? These are the two main questions the dialogue will be based on, according to Dr. Dummit.

“As a unified country, Canada has achieved a certain kind of longevity, and in certain areas it has also been successful in accommodating differences within the country, so they want to figure out what is it that it made

it work,” reasoned Dr. Dummit.

It is not to say that they don’t have the answers, but the project is to allow outreach to people from all across the country, for diverse voice.

On the other hand they also think that there are many things that could be improved. “We don’t think we have monopoly on knowing what those are, so the anniversary is a great moment to gasp on that question,” he said.

One example which is currently on everyone’s’ mind is the conversation with the Indigenous population.

Recent UN human rights report shows that Canada is failing Indigenous people.

Although Canada is home to over one million Indigenous people, representing dozens of unique histories, languages, and cultural traditions, the indigenous still continue to suffer significant challenges at various fronts.

The rights of Indigenous people has increasingly become an international issue. Disportionately high levels of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is among many others issues seeking justice.

The Indigenous of Canada still continue to suffer unequal access to health care, political autonomy, or control and use of natural resources. The rate of poverty is very high in the face of poor education, and high rates of unemployment.

Following the release of the latest report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, the Federal government is to now follow lead of the report’s recommendations, recognizing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation.

Further, Canada in it itself is to establish an independent public inquiry to address the root causes of the disproportionate levels of violence facing Indigenous women and girls.

An initiative such as this organized by Trent will open up the opportunity to involve the public in a discourse.

Those who have experienced injustice first hand will be able to help formulate appropriate measures to tackle the plight of Indigenous people.

“As we celebrate there is also a sense of how can we make Canada a better country,” stated Dr. Dummit.

As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary of confederation it is a relevant time to talk about the nation. The discussion of Canada as a collective nation has dropped off a bit in the last number of years.

“Increasingly, the universities have stopped supporting their Canadian studies programs, even the government of Canada,” says Dummit.

For example, couple of years ago government cancelled a funding for the study of canada, internationally-a program which was once used to be ‘Understanding Canada’, lamented Dr. Dummitt. And there is a sense that people are backing away from supporting the study of Canada, or have national discussion.

“We feel that it really matters that we talk about it and put a lot of resources into it,” he stressed. “ Canada itself is a conversation amongst the different people across this vast space, to talk about what it means to live collectively, and how one deals with the many difference across the country is essential to the canadian experience,” says Dr. Dummitt.

According to the news release, an interactive website ‘Canadian Difference’ is the launch pad for the conversation. However the project itself will be very interactive and dynamic with voices from many people.

The bilingual conversation will take place mostly online through podcasts and discussion forums, moderated by Trent graduate students, stated the news release.

But it will move beyond technical and traditional borders.

Formally, the project which will bring the ‘Nation together as one to talk about Canada’ is due to start this fall of 2015.

Want to get to know Arthur on a more intimate level?

Come to our Story Meeting!

Tuesday Sept. 15 at The Trend (located at Traill College on Dublin Hill) Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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National

Canada’s dark secret, and the path to peace

By Yumna Leghari On Sunday, August 9th, Peterborough locals gathered on the T-Wharf at Little Lake to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings in 1945.

Among the organizers was Carol Winter, who contacted Arthur about the event. She explained the significance of the vigil in a candid letter.

The sun was setting in the hazy evening, and quiet understanding permeated the air. Lantern boats with multicolour sails were placed gently into the river and seen off to commemorate the lives lost on Hiroshima Day. The event was intended to promote peace and show solidarity with the Japanese, who are also currently fighting to maintain their constitution of pacifism, and prevent war. Their current constitution is under threat by groups who wish to amend it.

The discourse throughout the evening circled around Canada’s international involvement in war-torn countries currently, and in the past. Canada’s reputation as a peacekeeping nation has significantly diminished.

Outside countries no longer see Canada as a peaceful entity. Rather, Canada is recognized as a strong American ally that has sent troops into several locations over the last decade.

The Hiroshima commemoration was also a space for discussion. Speakers engaged the audience in a dialogue concerning Canada’s future, and what could be learned from the past.

The event was an emotional, educational, and included people of many ages, even children. Several groups were in attendance to show support, including Dave Nichols of the New Democratic Party. When asked about his reflections on the evening, he said:

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“I think this is incredibly moving. My Grandfather fought in the second World War, he was gone for five years.You know, Canada, when we need to, will defend ourselves. I would prefer our country to go back to being a peacekeeping nation that was well respected.

When you talk to veterans, when you talk to survivors, they’re the biggest pacifists in the world.

It’s really unfortunate that we have to go through wars for people to realize that you shouldn’t be waging war. I liked the phrase that was used earlier, that we should be waging peace, and we should not only be waging peace on each other, but waging peace on the Earth. when you talk to.”

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki disasters were a tragic blow to the global consciousness. Still, why should Canadians commemorate the date, and hold vigil? What did Canada have to do with this event? After all, it was the United States who were solely responsible for the bombings … right?

War Into Cold War, King learned that what the British wanted from Canada “was the acquisition of some property in Canada, so as to prevent competition in price on a mineral much needed in the manufacture of explosives.” Perrin told the Canadian leader that uranium was a “military weapon of immense destructive force,” based on intra-atomic energy. Perrin recalled in later years that “a look of absolute horror and panic” took over King’s face as the meeting continued. “The first country to possess a military weapon of this kind would win the war,” King was told.

Uranium, a necessary oar for the creation of the A-bomb, was secretly mined on the shores of Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories. The ore was mined by a semi-nomadic indigenous group in the area called the Sahtu Dene.

Fourty-five kilogram bags of ore were hauled to large boats on the Mackenzie River to be processed in what may as well be Peterborough’s backyard, Port Hope. This went on in the peripherals of the Canadian public, who were immersed in the happenings of the War overseas. Meanwhile, the Sahtu Dene people were generating sixty tonnes of uranium oxide, and coating themselves in layers of radium dust that violated the entirety of their body.

Children were playing in the waste,

All photos by Kai Masaoka A majority of Canadians are unaware of Canada’s involvement in aiding the United States with the Manhattan Project, which was the codename for the research, and development of the Atomic bomb.

This project would ultimately lead to the bombs that were used in Japan during World War II. The year was 1942, and William Lyon Mackenzie King was Prime Minister. He sat in his office in a confidential meeting as the concept of mining in the Northwest was first proposed to Parliament.

Malcolm Macdonald, the British high commissioner at the time, introduced himself and his companions Professor G.P. Thompson, and Michael Perrin, who were both scientists. According to former Prime Minister King’s book

and fathers were bringing home residue to the household. No one in Deline, the home of the Sahtu Dene, knew what uranium was or the dangers of the rock.

The bags would leak often, as the oar was like fine sand. Men would bring home the sacs used to carry the oar to patch up their tent roofs. The rain would leak through the cloth and into their homes. Francis Tatti, a deckhand and river pilot, stated in an interview in the documentary, Village of Widows, “We always wondered what this oar was and why we were haling it.” This statement particularly reveals how the Sahtu Dene did not know why they were mining, which further portrays the atrociousness of the situation. It wasn’t just humans and the land that was affected; the migrating caribou population also suffered from the devastating effects of the mined radium.

The river supply routes of the Northwest were the travel hot spots for exporting the radium. The term “uranium widow” exists because most women lost their husbands to cancer; leaving an entire group of women with-

out their partners. Village of Widows recounts the struggle of the Sahtu Dene people, and explores the aftermath of the mining in the village of Deline. The one hour documentary was filmed by a Peterborough resident, and aired on Canada’s Vision TV network in 1999. It is a timeless piece that has won several awards and is available for free online.

Interestingly, an ancient Native legend had always urged people to, “leave the yellow metal in the ground.”

Unfortunately, Sathu Dene workers in the Northwest territories were desperate for employment, and as previously mentioned, unaware of what the metal would be used for. The metal literature of the day did reveal that uranium mining came with hazards, and scientists knew of the health consequences; particularly from the European experience of miners who died from lung cancer mining the very same metal. In the early 1930’s, blood tests were conducted and revealed that the blood counts of these men had been altered. The Canadian government was well aware of the lethal properties of uranium, and yet the workers hired to extract the metal were not given any warnings of protective clothing.

King would later write in his book, “How strange it is that I should find myself at the very centre of the problem, through Canada possessing uranium, having contributed to the production of the bomb, being recognized as one of the three countries to hold most of the secrets.”

When the Sahtu Dene people learned what the uranium they had been extracting and shipping had been used for, they were devastated and riddled with guilt. Despite the poverty of the workers, the Sahtu Dene gathered a group to travel all the way to Japan to issue a formal apology for their involvement in the tragedy that had befallen the two cities.

The knowledge of their part in the disaster, as well as the years of illnesses and poisoning that has followed since the uranium mining has saturated their existence. The Sahtu Dene in the Northwest Territories in Deline are still suffering. To this day,the government has yet to acknowledge the injustice committed against Canada’s Indigenous people, for the sake of waging war.

National

By Zara Syed With election time upon us, the political atmosphere in Canada has never seemed more charged. The last election had an air of apathy, lacking the excitement in the last couple of years with party politics.

From ridiculous attack advertisements featuring Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau, to counterads going viral on social media, the political discourse is vastly different from the last election.

Recently, the counter attack- ads mirroring the changing atmosphere of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) gained traction on the airwaves.

The ads are humorous, parodying dictatorships and censorship in the media.

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, a watchdog association, released the ads to raise awareness of what is happening to our oldest existing broadcasting network.

Arthur interviewed Kady Denton, an active member of Peterborough’s local chapter, as to why Friends started the campaign “We Vote CBC.” Who are the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting?

We are a relatively small, Not- for Profit national organization that started up in 1985.

In the past, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting has been critical of the CBC. In this case, the campaign “We Vote CBC” is in support of the CBC. This campaign was launched last year in light of all the changes happening to the broadcasting station.

It also set out to inform the public of these changes, though anyone who was watching TV or listening to the radio probably had a pretty good idea of how things were deteriorating.

As a watchdog organization, Friends ensures there is public representation at hearings and Senate Committees that look at changing conditions for broadcasting in Canada, for example. Whether it be public, or private, broadcasting these watchdogs are needed. In Canada, these watchdogs are now especially needed, for our policies and our environment.

What sort of changes implemented in the CBC gave rise to this campaign?

In 2012, the Harper Government promised in public to maintain and increase support to the CBC. Since then, they have cut $115 million.

The $115 million cuts were also made with no adjustment to inflation, and money that could have been put into public broadcasting and the CBC to boost it up was not used. They weren’t put in, and during the Harper Government the money has been dribbled out from the budget year to year.

Well, if you’re doing a budget, such as programming, shows take a couple of weeks to whip up. Investing in a series, in some quality shows, that takes forward thinking, and the CBC hasn’t been able to do that. On every front, financially, they have been battered.

Recently, 2000 more people have had to leave the CBC. These are the most creative journalists, performers and writers in Canada. The CBC creates a pool of creative journalism and writing that affects this whole country.

The reality is that the CBC’s funding has been cut so much and there is political interference from the CBC in the Board of Directors and the situation is quite desperate. The CBC has had to cut back so much it has become a shadow of what it used to be.

What sort of internal changes has the CBC faced?

Last year, the government sold off parts of the public spectrum of the airwaves. A number of broadcasters were shifting to digital transmitting, so these particular airwaves became free.

The government sold these off for $7 billion. That money was not re-invested in the CBC, the public broadcaster, or into public airwaves.

It’s been channeled into what is known as the

Consolidated Revenue Fund. This is the account into which taxes and revenue are deposited, and from which funds are withdrawn in order to defray the costs of public services.

The polls show that people support the CBC, and that what is happening is not in the taxpayer’s interest.

The Consolidated Revenue Fund is a lot of taxpayer money. The amount of what goes on with that money is unknown to most Canadians.

For example, if someone contributes to the Conservative Party, they are given a tax benefit that is paid for by everybody. I’ve heard Mr. Harper say, “It’s not taxpayer money” but it is very much taxpayers money.

The one thing that has clearly had an impact on the CBC is the newly appointed board members.

The CBC has a Board of Directors, just like any organization. Since the 1930’s, the Prime Minister has appointed the board members, President, and CEO. In the past, these people have met the criteria of having an interest in public broadcasting.

Currently, 9 of the 11 board members are financial contributors to the Conservative Party of Canada.

Hubert Lacroix, for example, is the current CEO and President of the CBC, who has no experience running a broadcasting organization, nor any radio or television experience when he was appointed by Mr. Harper in 2007. It’s like having a fifth column inside the CBC. The CBC is dear to many Canadians, how can we get involved and have our voices heard?

There are hundreds of thousands of members of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting across Canada.

In Peterborough alone, I think there are about 6,000 members.

Recently there was a report being drafted by a committee of Senators, and Friends asked if I would speak on the committee. Now, I’m just an ordinary citizen, how much could I say? However, I went and spoke to how people value the CBC, the polls show that etc.

At the end the co- chair of the committee turned to me and asked, “Kady, don’t you agree that the CBC is an arm of the government?” All I had a chance to say before the chairman rang the bell was, “No, it belongs to the public.”

Publically- owned does not mean state- owned.

State- owned is giving out messages for the Prime Minister’s office, it is controlling news. It’s making announcements that are supposed to be transparent but really they’re thick as mud.Iit’s propaganda, that’s what state- controlled means.

The CBC is not supposed to be state- controlled, it’s for the people. It’s a Canadian, public organizationjust like a library or a public park and it matters.

How do you think this has impacted journalism in Canada?

We have a Prime Minister who doesn’t talk to the press! There aren’t any media scrums anymore.

When emerging from the House of Commons, usually the Press gathered around the PM and so on.

That does not happen with this Prime Minister. He never appears unless he’s got 3 dozen flags around him and he’s standing at a podium and the questions are pre- approved. My heart goes out to journalists right now.”

Truth is important, the CBC is important. The campaign isn’t telling people how to vote. Now, more than ever, we need a member of Parliament who will champion the CBC. When the candidates come knocking at your door and they ask for lawn signs, tell them- support for the CBC matters.

We live in a scripted world. It needs to open, to loosen. The mandate of the CBC is to inform, enlighten and entertain.

The Senate Report Time for a Change: The CBC/ Radio Canada in the Twenty First Century and the Minority Report by Senator Art Eggleton: A Plan for a Vibrant and Sustainable CBC/ Radio Canada are available to the public online.

Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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disorientation schedule

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disorientation schedule

Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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Local: Cafes

A fresh face in town: Amusé Coffee Company

by Zara Syed

For those who remember The Ritz Deli North, an exciting new café has opened up at 641 George Street North.

Joe Hay and Lindsay Brock, a beautiful married couple, have taken the cozy little space and turned it into a French- inspired affair.

With chandeliers that brighten up the intimate, open space, it has quite a different vibe from the establishments that have previously resided at the location. Framed photographs Lindsay took on a trip to Paris add to the quaint parisian decor, offering a unique atmosphere in Peterborough’s concentrated cafe selection.

Lindsay, with her extensive background in coffees and teas, and Joe with his culinary background, have put together a menu that reflects the café’s motif.

“We are a coffee shop built on European

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Coffee Culture,” Brock tells Arthur.

“Finding out about this location was somewhat of a happy accident,” says Brock, who heard the space had become available through a tenant in the building in June. “Everything that has started here, such as The Ritz and Food Forest, have been great successes. That is something we hope to accomplish.”

Brock had taken a couple of years off and began experimenting with baking, and is now the talented baker who provides the fresh pastries every day. A

rare thing to find in Peterborough, artful gluten- free macaroons and perfect madeleines, sit at the counter where you can place your order. Buttery croissants and delicious paninis are also made fresh on the premises. At Amusé, butter tarts are provided exclusively by Pies by Melissa.

Amusé takes their beverages seriously, with a large variety of Fair Trade Organic teas and coffees. Lindsay has created a draft- brew coffee (coffee brewed in a Keg) served iced that has become popular during the specially hot summer we have

had in Peterborough.

One of their seasonal specials right now, a Pumpkin Spice Latte, is the subject of this editor’s adoration. A drink that is sure to warm you up on a cold Fall day, the latte is topped with a cream cheese icing and a pastry crumble topping provided by Pies by Melissa.

Coffee is a hard thing to come by in the George and Parkhill area. One has to trek downtown to find a good brew to satisfy that pretentious pallette. However, now one can get anything from a strong cappuccino to an americano, to a creme brulee coffee and many more on upper George Street.

There is also Pumpkin Spice Chai, and if you’re a tea- lover, this cafe has you covered with a wide assortment of teas.

Though newly opened, this quiet and intimate French- inspired fare is sure to become the talk of the town.

Photos by Keila MacPherson

Local: Arts

Key terms of Trent Radio

By James Kerr

Get to know your student radio with these helpful terms!

Trent Radio: We’re a not-for-profit community based organisation that broadcasts radio waves that you can listen to by tuning in to 92.7 fm or if you go online to trentradio.ca. Listen with frequency! But that’s not the important part - the important part is you getting involved. Most of us are students and also volunteers pursuing our own selfish artistic goals and shamelessly exploiting Trent Radio’s time and equipment to make it happen. That’s what it’s here for. If you think radio is pretty cool, it’s super easy to get involved by becoming a “programmer” or an “operator”.

Programmer: Someone who has a show broadcast through Trent Radio about his or her or their own topic. (You can have a bunch of co-hosts, too.) This is what most people are at Trent Radio.

If you’re interested in having a show, just fill out a programme proposal and drop it off at Trent Radio House, 715 George St. North, by Friday September 18th at noon.

The show could be about your cat, it could be about roots music, it could be about politics, jazz, opera, philosophy, or your pet rock. What really matters is that you’re passionate about it and that you show up.

Programme Proposal: This is the form you fill out to apply for a radio show. You can get it at Trent Radio House or online at trentradio.ca. We just want to know Who you are, What you want to do, and When you want to do it. If you’re having trouble filling it out, attend any one of our pro-

comic by Ad Astra comix

gramme proposal workshops, or just stop

by Trent Radio House with a confused look on your face; I’m sure someone will help you.

Programme Proposal Workshops: If you want to get into radio but you’re unsure, or you’re uncertain if your idea for a show is going to fly, attend any one of these handy-dandy workshops: t Tuesday September 15th at 1900 hours (7:00pm) at the Peterborough Public Library t Wednesday September 16th at 1900 hours (7:00pm) at Bata Library Room 402 t Thursday September 17th at 1130 hours (11:30am) at Sadleir House, 751 George St. N. t Thursday September 17th at 1500 hours (3:00pm) at Trent Radio House, 715 George St. N. Trent Radio House: 715 George St. North. We’re easy to get to; don’t fret. Just get off at the Sadleir House bus stop and walk about 30

steps south - depending on the length of your legs. Sadleir House is 751 George St. North, we’re at 715, at the corners of George and Parkhill. Come by any time. There’s coffee.

Operator: Want to be involved at Trent Radio but don’t want to have a show per se?

Step it up a notch! An Operator is someone who supervises the station and is here in case programmers need help. Generally an operator sits, drinks coffee, listens to the radio, does their homework, is responsible, and by their presence supports the larger radio community. If this floats your boat, or you think it might, attend the Operator’s meeting Friday September 18th at noon at Sadleir House, 751 George St. North.

Broadcast Schedule: Right now, we have no schedule. It’s totally blank. If you turn into 92.7 fm right now, you’ll probably just hear some local Peterborough music on rotation. The schedule is only created once the programme porposals are in. We do it this way because it means that someone new actually has a chance to get a show at

a reasonable time, rather than having to fit around people entrenched into the schedule who have been there a million years.

You, a student in first year, has just as much opportunity to get on the air as anyone.

It’s only just after the deadline on Friday September 18th at noon that we make our schedule from now untili April.

What We Want: People ask me: “What do you play on Trent Radio?” and I say to them: “No, what do YOU play on Trent Radio?”. They usually don’t get it. The point is - we are only what people bring us to play.

Trent Radio has no slant or agenda. Our shows are made up of volunteer programmers (like maybe yourself?) who come to us because they want to have a show on this cool thing or what cool thing, and we get them on the air. Our schedule is you. If you’re passionate about it, so are we.

Deadline: Friday September 18th at noon. If you want to have a show, or if you want to otherwise volunteer, the deadline is Friday September 18th at noon. Bring your programme proposals in to Trent Radio House, 715 George St. North before that time. This deadline is super-firm because we’re literally taking them up the street to Sadleir House, and from that pile assemble the broadcast schedule that will go into effect the following Monday September 21st.

This is a lot of information, but if radio is something that captures your interest or your imagination, don’t let the fact that it’s a new thing hold you back. Dive right in.

Questions, comments, ideas, notions, and rants of a radio nature can all be directed to me, the Programme Director James Kerr at jkerr@trentradio.ca. Happy broadcasting.

Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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Local: Arts

Meet the team!

What is your major and year at Trent?

I’m in my fifth year, majoring in Biology and Psychology, and also specializing in Conservation Biology.

What is your position in Trent Fashion Show and have long have you be involved?

Right now, I am currently the model manager for the fashion show, but ever since my first year at Trent four years ago, I have been a model for the show.

Peterborough Fashion Week

By Ugyen Wangmo

You don’t have to t ravel ab o ard for a Fashion We ek , b e c aus e Peterb oroug h Fash ion We ek (PTB O FW ) retur ns again for its s e cond s e as on i n Novemb er 2015, at a con venient t ime to g l amour ize your C hr ist mas and Ne w Ye ar’s w ardrob e.

PTB O FW is a lo c a l char it y e vent to rais e f unds for Five C ount ies C hi ldren’s C ent re w hi le faci lit at ing a cre at ive avenue for lo c a l ar t ists, and business es to t hr ive. It extends to Toronto, t hroug h bui lding st rong col l aborat ions lo c a l ly, nat iona l ly and g lob a l ly.

“Peter b oroug h Fashion we ek is a c elebrat ion of Peterb oroug h’s fashion s cene, t a lent and it’s imp ac t on t he diversit y, c u lture and e conomic de velopment of our communit y,” s ays C hr ist ina Abb ott of STRUT T C ent ra l Agenc y, one of t he organizing committe e memb er.

“It is a s ou lf u l we ek, a char it able init i at ive w here g roup of p assionate volunte ers are t irelessly work ing toget her purely out of t he go o dness of t heir he ar t,” s ays Abb ott.

It is an imp or t ant e vent b e c aus e it s e ws t he communit y toget her and re ve asl w hat t he communit y lo oks li ke to t he world.

PTB O FW 2015 w i l l celebrate “Inclusivit y”, br ing for ward p e ople of a l l dif ferent shap es and sizes, dif ferent t yp es of abi li t ies, and et hnicit y, and includes mo dels of a l l ages.

“Even t houg h we are a lot sma l ler we have a pro ac t ive appro ach to fashion, and t he way we t hin k ab out fashion is prog ressive,” s aid Abb ott, and are in it to ma ke a dif ference and imp ac t in chi lden of t he f ive count ies as wel l as t he g lob a l fashion world.

C le arly t he e vent is incomp arable in e v er y s ens e to t he l arge cit y fashion we eks, but b eing sma l l g ives Peterb oroug h an e dge to b e unique and ma ke a dif ference in t he fashion indust r y.

Abb ott s aid t he y are in exclusive cont rol to ste er t he ent ire asp e c t of t he e vent and de cide its fate. S o, PTB O FW has t a ken a prog ressv ie appro ach by b eing “Inclusive, and Not E xclusive!”

The indust y is b e coming more accept ing , t here are mo dels w it h di as abi lit ies, or sk in dis orders, and mo dels one wou ldn’t t ypic a lly s e e in adver t isments and market ing ten ye ars ago are now b eing re vere d and c ele brate d, p ointe d out Abb ott.

There is a shif t happ ening in t he world, it is gett ing re cog nize d as it b e comes ref le c te d in fashion, s o t he y want to b e a p ar t of t he change, she s aid. B esides, we are de a ling w it h t he Five C ount ies C hi ldren’s C ent re, a char it y t hat helps chi ldren w ho are eit her dis able d or, have a ler ning dis abi lit y and t hier w hole mand ate is to b e inclusive, and is b asic a l ly mir ror ing t he char it y t hat t he y repres ent as wel l, share d Abb ott.

The y want to tel l p e ople t hat fashion is inclusive, not exclusive, and to get as many divers e p e ople involve d as p ossible. There are s o many r u les to t he fashion world,

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and it has b e en an exclusive ent it y for s o long t hat p e ople fe el int imid ate d. This st y l ish char it y e vent of t he ye ar w i l l t a ke of f t he exp e c t aions t hat one mig ht dre ad f rom fashion we eks. PTB O FW is here to ma ke fashion f un, br ing t he communit y toget her, conne c t p e ople and ma ke p e ople fe el li ke t he y c an us e fashion to express t hems elves.

Sp e a k ing to Ar thur, Abb ot expl aine d w hy such an e vent cel ebr at ing f ash ion is imp ort ant. According to her, Peterb oroug h is a communit y of ar ts a live w it h amazing ar tists. Fashion we ek promis es to br ing toget h er avenues for t hem to g row and t hr ive. B e sides, fashion has b e en a p ar t of c u ltures for ye ars, br ing ing p e ople toget her, and Peterb or ug h communit y has cle arly show c as e d t hat, s ays Abb ott.

Touch ing on t he h istor y of PTB O FW, Art hur found out t hat it a l l st ar te d w it h a litt le show c a l l e d STRUT T for k ids. It was a f ashion show fe atur ing lo c a l fashion ret ai lers in dow ntow ncore as a f undrais er for chi ldren of Five C ount y. As it got big ger and gaine d more exp osure e ach ye ar, t he y re a lize d how cre at ive t he communit y was. Inspire d by t he success es t he y had had e ach ye ar, t he founding memeb ers re a lize d t hat t he com munit y had t he abi lit y, res ources, cre at iv it y, and t a lent to b e able to pu l l of f a fashion we ek, as told by Abb ott.

It was a ls o found out t hat no one was ma k ing mone y of f of it, s o it was understo o d t hat it is a g roup of p assionate indiv idu a ls w ho de dic ate t hier he ar ts to t his init i at ive. “ There is no p ayche que b eing c ut, except for Five C ount ies C hi ldren’s C ent re, and it is in t hat we f ind a pur p os e,” s ays Abb ott.

C hr ist ina Abb ott quote d Margaret Me ad, “Ne ver doubt t hat a sma l l g roup of t houg ht f u l, committe d, cit izens c an change t he world. Inde e d, it is t he on ly t hing t hat e ver has.”

Why are you a member of the Trent Fashion Show?

I am a member of the Trent Fashion Show, as it entails everything I wanted out of my University experience; making connections with amazing people, raising awareness, and money for shelters and charities around Peterborough, having fun, and being comfortable in my own skin!

What is your favourite memory or favourite part of the Trent Fashion Show group?

My favourite part of the Trent Fashion Show group is the connectedness we all share. I have never felt out of place, or not good enough. Instead we are all a family, and I love that about everyone involved. There’s absolutely no judging!

What are your long-term goals after you graduate Trent University?

My long-term goals after Trent are to make a change in the world; more specifically, be the change in the world! I want to impact people and ensure that this world we live in is protected and taken care of, as it should be! We only have one planet, and I strongly believe that science has the potential to produce a sustainable planet, as long as people are educated to understand its value.

Melissa Salvadori

Photos by Tracey Nguyen

EP Release Saturday September 19th Live at The Spill

Local: TUnes

By Sara Ostrowska

Watershed Hour is Laura and Natalie.

Originally from Whitby, they have become a household name in Peterborough and a staple in the Trent music scene. We are sitting outside by Bata, on the steps near the water.

How was the summer for Watershed?

We recorded our new EP in her boyfriend’s grandmother’s’ garage in the backyard of Peterborough suburbia.

Do you have a name for it yet?

From Your Best Friend. It’s going to be released October 22. [stay tuned for part 2 of this interview for more details] Favourite band you played with this summer?

N: Garbageface’s birthday show. Everyone there was just buzzed. It was like we were playing a house show but it was at the Garnet. Everyone just kind of went crazy, and Karol was amazing. And there was also his other project Hush Money, who I’d never seen before, and I thought they were the funniest band that I’ve ever seen in my life.

L: I’ll just say Slut Island Fest in Montreal.

N: A strategic answer.

L: Yes, I don’t know. It was my first time in Montreal.

N: That’s not a band!

L: I don’t know, playing with Television Rd on the lawn (at Sadleir House) and then having Natalie show up after the fact.

N: ‘Cause Matt was driving me!

So you write the lyrics, Natalie. Would you say that most songs are about your love life?

Natalie: *laughs* Laura: yes!

Natalie: Recently?

Laura: No Natalie: I don’t even know what songs I’ve written recently... uh Laura: The new song...

It seems like most of Yacht Club.

L: Fun fact! I arranged the songs for Yacht Club and I actually arranged them to tell a story... and I arranged them backwards. So the story is “oh she fell in love� and then it’s like oh fuck you, and then oh she broke up ... but it’s actually backwards.

N: But then eventually it became that way.

Yacht Club was when I was dating a person in Germany.

Oh, so that explains the “jet lag.�

[Line: I want you to fuck me through my jet lag] N: It’s a classic line. I want to get it printed on t-shirts.

Okay what about lines like “a woman’s empowered when she’s on her knees� and...

N: Well that’s because my mom called me a slut... Oh wait, no that’s a different song.

I think that’s “Poles Are For Stripping On, Not For Crashing Cars Into�

N: Oh yeah, I was living in rez and was kind of seeing this guy from another Trent band, Revolver. [fake name fyi] He was like, I’m not ready to date and I was like whatever, I’m not ready for sex.

So we’ll just do whatever. But then this other girl was dating some other guy and he broke up with her and so she was just trying to hook up with everyone. And so then she hooked up with him and I wrote that song.

It’s taken him like four years and he hasn’t found out so I hope he reads this and is like “oh cool.�

L: Natalie lived in the same rez building with the band in first year.

N: They were my buds and we just lived together. And then I slept with them all.

What song was about your mom calling you a slut?

Guitar Song. Okay, I didn’t sleep with them all. It’s just funny to say that.

So Laura, it’s my understanding that you title all of the songs?

L: Yeah, not all of them though because as of recently, Natalie got mad with me and said I wasn’t allowed to title anything. True story.

N: What songs have you not titled recently?

That was like a year ago.

L: Manic Pixie Dream Boy N: I think it’s clever!

L: Romance B-sides N: We don’t even call it that! We call it Guitar song. Because you hate me. Laura just doesn’t get my sense of humour.

Laura: nobody does...

What about the title of your last EP? N: Yacht Club is a good story.

L: No, it’s not really.

N: It’s funny! The person who recorded our album was in a band called Yacht Club...

But then Fucked Up’s guitarist started a band called Yacht Club after and he messaged the guy who recorded our album and was like “Ok, look, we’re called Yacht Club and if it comes down to it and you decide to keep your name, we will overshadow you because we’re way bigger. So how about you just change your name?�

L: They also threatened a lawsuit. Or a cease-and-desist, I swear.

N: So the person who recorded our album had to change their band’s name and we thought it was so funny so we decided to call our album Yacht Club.

What’s it like coming to a Watershed Hour show?

L: I dare you to come to a show and try not watch us.

How would you describe your infamous weird dynamic on stage?

N: We’ve been friends for a long time...

Well when you go to a Watershed Hour show, there is like this palpable, weird dynamic‌ N: I once heard someone say that the tension between Laura and I was too uncomfortable so they didn’t want to watch us.

I like Laura. We argue but we’re friends.

Maybe more like sisters than friends.

L: There are no sexual tensions on my part... It’s like a mother-daughter thing.

N: No. It’s like we’re dating each other, but we also hate each other, but we have to stick together for the kids. But then we’re also friends, on the side.

N: We’re each other’s bottom line. At the end of the day, no matter what I did, Laura would still be there. And vice versa.

L: I can’t hold grudges.

Are you as bad of a person as you describe yourself in your songs?

N: Maybe not anymore but I’d like to be.

L: When she’s drunk.

N: No, that’s not true! I’m nicer when I’m drunk! Here’s the thing, Laura is one of the harshest people I’ve ever met in my whole life.

L: I said I was going to throw up in Ottawa, and then Natalie said I was a drama queen, and then I threw up on the streets of Ottawa. Just to prove her wrong. Four times. I think it was the fourth time that made her realize I was serious.

N: I never saw her throw up before!

L: I haven’t thrown up since first year when I ate too much chocolate. Someone gave me free chocolate.

N: A lot of the songs I have about being mean are back when I was being mean.

Laura’s actually the harsh one, she calls me a dumbass or an idiot at least once a day.

L: I’m not harsh, I’m to-the-point.

Why should anyone give a fuck about Watershed Hour? What’s the point?

L: To throw off the conservative government!

N: Neither of us want to work. Our plan is to become huge rockstars and everyone should come to our shows to fund our life of sin and deceit.

L: I don’t like that.

N: Well that’s the truth!

L: The West created that. The West destroyed everything. I’m a former IDS [International Development Studies] major, what do you want from me?!

N: emphasis on “former�

L: I couldn’t take it!

N: Don’t remind Laura about problems in the world. Numbers are all she knows now.

[Laura is a math major] What about you, Natalie?

L: Vegan issues.

1 1R ODZV WKDW VWLĂ H SURWHVW DQG JLYH SROLFH VSHFLDO SRZHUV / 5XVVLD LV WDNLQJ RYHU 8NUDLQH ,W¡V EHHQ KDSSHQLQJ IRU D ZKLOH ULJKW QRZ 0\ JUDQGIDWKHU WROG PH WR QHYHU UHWXUQ WR WKH 8NUDLQH DQG , KDYH IROORZHG KLV ZLVKHV 1 :DV WKDW KLV G\LQJ ZLVK" / 1R VWD\ LQ VFKRRO What do you think about Pride? / 6DG WR VD\ , GRQ¡W KDYH SULGH ,¡P DQ LQQHU KRPRSKREH 1 <RX FDQ¡W MRNH DERXW WKDW VWXII / ,¡P QRW MRNLQJ WKLV LV VHULRXV , GRQ¡W KDYH SULGH 1 <RX¡UH KRPRSKRELF" / $JDLQVW P\VHOI \HDK ,QWHUQDOL]HG KRPRSKRELD WKDW¡V ZKDW , PHDQ :KHQ \RX KDWH \RXUVHOI For liking women? / \HDK Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so sad. / :HOO WKHQ GRQ¡W DVN PH DERXW 3ULGH But you were just talking about queer issues, and the time of Peterborough Pride is upon us! / , GRQ¡W NQRZ 3ULGH LV QRZ FDSLWDOLVW ZKLWH LW¡V W\SLFDOO\ IRU D ZKLWH JD\ PDQ ,W¡V D ULFK SULGH ,W¡V QRW LQWHUVHFWLRQDO %XW WKHUH DUH RWKHU DOWHUQDWLYH HYHQWV WKDW DUH WU\LQJ WR UHFODLP 3ULGH 1 :HOO , GRQ¡W NQRZ DERXW ULFK / :HOO LW¡V D SDUDGH QRW D SURWHVW Are you glad it exists as a concept?

1 , DP 1RZ WKDW LW¡V HVWDEOLVKHG , IHHO RND\ SURWHVWLQJ LW IRU GLIIHUHQW UHDVRQV ,¡P JODG DW OHDVW WKDW WKH PDMRULW\ RI SHRSOH VXSSRUW 3ULGH DQG ZKDWHYHU KDOI EDNHG ZD\ WKDW WKH\ VXSSRUW LW ,I , OLYHG LQ D ULGLQJ ZKHUH WKH 1'3 ZDV FHUWDLQO\ JRLQJ WR ZLQ , ZRXOG IHHO FRPIRUWDEOH QRW YRWLQJ RU SURWHVWLQJ WKH YRWH RU UHIXWLQJ P\ EDOORW RU ZKDWHYHU 6R ,¡P JODG WKDW 3ULGH H[LVWV DQG WKDW LW¡V PDLQVWUHDP EHFDXVH QRZ , FDQ JR DJDLQVW LW ² QRW DV VRPHRQH ZKR LV KRPRSKRELF EXW DV VRPHRQH ZKR WKLQNV WKDW LW LV QRW UHSUHVHQWDWLYH

What do you think is the biggest political issue right now? What do you care about?

L: Heteronormativity, queer issues, lack of queer visibility in the music scene, poverty.

N: World Hunger.

Volume 50 | Issue 1 | september 14, 2015

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Opinion Page

By Troy Michael Bordun

Dylan Cree’s work comes to Traill

On Wednesday, September 30th, I am curating a video installation by filmmaking and PhD candidate Dylan Cree (Communication Studies, Simon Fraser University) at Traill College. The aim of To Conference: Faux Pas in Perpetuity and Of Pornology is to internally critique both the institutional and social processes of knowledge-production within the Humanities.

Cree’s main target is late-20th century philosophy and the constantly shifting terrains of cultural theory: postmodernism, post-structuralism, hermeneutics, semiotics, and deconstruction. His characters engage in lively, heated, and nonsensical debates and employ theorists’ and philosophers’ names and their concepts to ends that only contain meanings internal to the participants.

Of Pornology is a short film documenting a fictional conversation amongst a group of intellectuals about pornography, taste, beauty, and the genre’s aesthetics. To Conference is the longer companion piece. The film is in multiple parts and will be installed in several different classroom settings.

Two of the “theorists” cited in Of Pornology, the filmmaker himself and his co-conspirator Violetta Sera, are interviewed by theorist and publisher of Semiotext(e) Sylvère Lotringer (fictionally portrayed by Reg Johanson).

Lotringer attempts to systematize Cree and Sera’s diatribes against contemporary philosophy despite the theorists’

wishy-washy remarks, and disruptive behavior, and incomprehensible speculations.

In these two works, Cree highlights the potential separation between ordinary language and academic discourse – the latter is pushed to hyperbole. Characters speak over and atop one another, ramble theoretically in the midst of a nap, derail conversation with sidebars about Nietzsche and Hegel, and mistake personal taste for philosophical argumentation. Of Pornology goes as far as presenting onscreen citations from fictional and real-life sources, bringing the tactics of self-reflexivity, not unlike Mark Danielewski’s House of Leaves (2000), to comment on the usefulness of over-citation.

Cree, the filmmaker, turns humor into a weapon with To Conference and Of Pornology. Part Monty Python, part academic discourse gone awry, part Shakespearean drama, Cree abstains from direct criticism of the university and of academia, but nevertheless make the problems internal to these institutions apparent. To Conference, as indicated by the title, particularly wants its spectators to reflect on the nature of the academic conference. This is an institutional critique Cree has been pursuing since his MFA at SFU. His MFA thesis, “The Conference on the Conference,” involved the conceptualization of a conference and an actual conference that, according to Cree, “involved a staging of the rules, procedures and the standard format for hosting a commonly conducted academic forum for exchange….

The Conference participants’ addressed what is often assumed, overlooked or purposefully omitted but nonetheless has become integral to the very form of an academic conference.” Cree’s thesis thus became a collection of the conference materials into an eight volume “brutish art-object.” He states, “The practice and gesture of these various institutional bindings led me to further reflect, not only on the terms of the repository destined to ‘contain’ the narrative of one’s scholarly investments but, on what may or may not be containable in the formation of and ordering of one’s thinking and presentations.”

Cree’s video works continue to reflect on institutional practices and knowledge-production. To Conference and Of Pornology operate in the satirical mode to (sometimes un-)critically evaluate the rules of academia, academic publishing, and the so-called authorities of cultural theory.

In To Conference, to note the Shakespearean “plot” of the film, the characters go as far as killing Derrida as part of a larger book project for Semiotext(e).

Come see Dylan Cree’s video works at Traill College (Scott House, Wallis Hall, and Bagnani Hall) on Wednesday September 30th from 7pm to 10pm. There will be a Q&A with Cree and actor Dimitrios Otis at 8:30pm in the Trend. Food and beverage will be provided by The Trend.

This event is supported by Traill College, Cultural Studies Undergraduate Program, and Trent Film Society.

Summer films 2015: the great, the good, and the gaudy

By Keith Hodder

Since the debut of Star Wars in 1977, summer has been the season for blockbusters. 2015 is no different, offering up a slew of flashy superheroes and spies, franchises that harken throughout the decades and the ever-dwindling presence of original concepts. There were successes and failures, pleasant surprises and predictable passes. Here’s what this summer had to offer.

The Great: Mad Max: Fury Road: Pioneer of the post-apocalyptic George Miller brings his title character back to the big screen after a 30-year absence. Though Tom Hardy is mediocre in his moody and barbaric take on Max, Charlize Theron picks up the slack. The contrasting colour palette is beautiful, the stunts awe-inspiring, and the production design like nothing you’ve seen before.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation: All hail the return of the fantastical spy film. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, almost 20 years after the first Mission: Impossible installment and seemingly just as youthful – perhaps the power of Scientology? Religious controversy aside, Rogue Nation offers some of the best action seen on film. It’s evident how committed Cruise is to his audience, performing his own stunts and pushing himself to improve their daring cleverness.

Straight Outta Compton: Whether you’re a fan of N.W.A. or a newcomer to their music, Straight Outta Compton is an expertly crafted biopic and introduction the group’s gangbanging roots. Invoking both sympathy and loathing for its characters, Compton helps viewers identify with the rappers’ cause and provides a portrait of the time’s racial turmoil, one that is sadly mirrored in today’s headlines.

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www.trentarthur.ca

The Good: Ted 2: Say what you will about sequels, but Ted 2’s raunchy and cruel humour can reduce even the most pretentious into fits of laughter. As always with Seth Farlane’s brand of comedy no pop culture icon is safe. It’s hard to say whether this film would earn a solo viewer’s praise, as comedy is often enjoyed in groups, but Ted’s dependence on references new, old, and sometimes obscure can definitely alienate and confuse.

Ant-Man: It’s hard to watch Ant-Man without thinking what could have been. Originally Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) was slated to write and direct, but ended up stepping down midway through the process. While Paul Rudd is charming and the film’s pace a welcome departure from Marvel’s other titles, it would have been interesting to see a more down-to-earth approach. Would Rudd’s everyday man really brandish a chiseled six-pack?

The Gaudy: Avengers: Age of Ultron: This superhero extravaganza heralds the beginning of the genre’s downfall. Age of Ultron sells scale rather than spectacle, forcing viewers to endure repetitive action scenes wherein countless henchmen and robots are blasted and smashed into oblivion. The second installment places its focus on Hawkeye and Black Widow two characters deserving of the attempt - but fails to make you care.

Jurassic World: How this film earned its place as the third highest-grossing film in cinema history is baffling. Not only is the film an overt mutation of all that the original concept stood for, saturated with unbelievable and flashy computer

generated creations, but the story’s warning should have forced its creators to ask themselves: just because we can, should we?

Terminator: Genisys: The first two Terminator films are cinematic masterpieces, totting both thrills and richly developed characters – something that is so rare in today’s blockbuster climate. Though it’s a pleasure seeing Arnold return, Terminator: Genisys proves in its poor impersonation of the first film’s cast and 1984 setting that some concepts can’t be topped.

The Surprises: Tomorrowland: Its trailers were unimpressive, but maybe that was the plan. After all, movie trailers of recent have been rife with spoilers and a film’s top-notch moments.

Helmed by Brad Bird (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Incredibles) Tomorrowland is an inspiring film for both children and adults alike. Despite failing to meet its budget, this original concept is filled with inventive moments and gizmos, not to mention a slew of nostalgic winks to when spectacle cinema was at its finest.

No Escape: This film quietly snuck into the summer roster with an incognito Wednesday release. Starring Owen Wilson and featuring a brilliant change of pace for Pierce Brosnan, No Escape finds a businessman and his family embroiled in a violent political revolution. Wilson brings levity in small doses to an otherwise serious and gritty role, but Brosnan is the real star here, taking a departure from his usual rom-com fare and letting his rougher side surface.

Though some Hollywood moments detract from an otherwise well-plotted film, No Escape is a properly foreign and fresh breath of air.

Opinion Page The year of spies and the return to spectacle

By Keith Hodder

Recent blockbusters have been saturated by mediocrity.

They’ve lost their magic, have failed to suspend our disbelief, and have championed scale rather than vision. For some time it seemed these films had met their match, that they would perish at the hands of the ultimate cinematic doomsday scenario; boredom. Leave it to filmic spies new and old to save the day.

Back in 2006, and after the self-parody Die Another Day, James Bond returned to the big screen in Casino Royale, a film that brought the character back to the drawing board.

Gadgets were replaced with brawn and wit with bloodied knuckles. The franchise was revitalized. The gritty trend that followed on the coat tails of Jason Bourne continued for Daniel Craig’s past outings as Bond, but this year’s newest installment, Spectre, is totting another disguise altogether.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol lit the fuse that set these events into motion. Helmed by Brad Bird (Tomorrowland) the film reminded movie-goers what the genre was all about; gadgets, international intrigue, practical stunts, and a tongue-in-cheek group dynamic. The film was inventive, fun, and harkened back to the 1960s, a time when spy films ruled the world.

2015 offers the most populated spy film roster in recent memory. The year opened with Kingsman: The Secret Service, an unexpected box-office hit and modern day Pygmalion. The quirky film reintroduced the trope of a villain vy-

ing for world domination and the well-dressed gentleman, all while leaving its own mark with a brutal fight scene that will go down as one of the best in film. If you haven’t seen it, avoid the YouTube spoilers and experience it via its recent home release.

Melissa McCarthy’s Spy contributed to the trend by poking fun at the genre, offering up her typical dose of crass and accident-prone comedy. The film received favourable reviews from critics and proved that imitation is the truest form of flattery – especially at the right time with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation joining the chase. The fifth installment in Tom Cruise’s cinematic running career is a franchise worthy of the praise. It’s an absolute thrill to watch Cruise push himself in death defying stunts worthy of his fictional moniker. Rogue Nation continues in the path blazed by Ghost Protocol with its use of memorable gadgets and some of the most tightly orchestrated action seen in cinema. The editing during the film’s multi-faceted opera scene is a marvel to behold.

One of the last contenders is The Man from U.N.C.L.E., based on the MGM television program that debuted in the 60s and was created in part by Ian Fleming, the man behind Bond. Early reviews are varied, but judging from trailers its looks to be an inspired and stylish outing.

With Spectre, James Bond returns to the cinema landscape that he pioneered. Craig dons the tuxedo once more to tackle SPECTRE, the evil organization that has haunted Bond since some of the franchise’s earliest films. From the promotional materials shown thus far it looks like Craig’s

tenure is heading in the opposite direction from which it started. Gadget laden cars are making their return assumedly with a few other techno tools for Bond to use once the audience has forgotten about them and when he must escape his death. These films, the ones that defined the genre, seem to be following the trend, hop on the nostalgia bandwagon.

This year of spies is not the product of coincidence. In an action film climate that is dominated by computer generated superhero flicks, audiences are looking for a new escape, a forged passport to a simpler time when the enemies weren’t space monsters or robots, but our fellow man. In some ways our world resembles that of the Cold War in which these spy films were born. Our enemies can’t be defeated on the front. They lurk in the shadows like the spies of decades past. Like James Bond and Ethan Hunt we aren’t fighting countries, but organizations that threaten our safety and our way of life. Summer blockbusters have been made to distract us from our villains. They’re meant to be fun, exciting, to make us laugh and revel at the feats accomplished on screen, but they needn’t be dumb, simplified, and devoid of heart and vision.

Spy films and their fantastical tropes have the potential to do all of these things and provide us with something memorable in the process. 2015 may be the best year for the genre both in quantity and quality. And who knows, maybe Hollywood will exploit the genre in the coming years, but until then these missions, should you choose to accept them, are worth the price of admission.

The Trent Film Society presents: American Graffiti has some rebellious trait, without actually rebelling.

From the very beginning, you are waiting for something big to happen. Other than a humorous scene when a Henry Kissinger lookalike shopkeeper shoots at a customer, demonstrating Director George Lucas’ taste for the abstract, there is little to be pondered about the world from the plot. Curt’s teacher hints at the possibility of some greater meaning; he dropped out of college because it was ‘too competitive’ for him, arousing the thought that maybe, just maybe, this film might actually get exciting.

Its silence on the topics it is billed as evoking is deafening. Director George Lucas may have shied away from critiquing the American society because of the experience of his first film.

Lucas’ first film THZ 1138, an abstract and dystopian science fiction film, was not a success, and he was encouraged to do something more mainstream. By not developing any of the film’s themes or storyline, one is left thinking that there is something missing.

The plot works around several dichotomies. Clashes between tradition and authority with youth, ‘going steady’ and sleeping around, staying in town, and leaving occur throughout the film. Curt and Steve’s differing attitudes to leaving, and Steve and Laurie’s views on their relationship, are good examples of these clashes.

These clashes don’t seem to evolve into anything any greater.

Steve ends up a taking a year out and Curt goes instead, but one of them goes to college anyway.

Steve and Laurie, for all their arguing, end up right where they started.

Potentially, Lucas could be suggesting that despite our yearning for meaning, our hopes and dreams, we have very little control over how things actually turn out. We can’t mess with father time. When John Milner wins the race having been behind at the time of the

By Dan Morrison

Fundamentally, American Graffiti is an underwhelming yet pleasant film. It promises a lot, but delivers little. Why this film would be described as a classic, why David Kehr would say this film ‘is almost beyond criticism’ is beyond me. Let’s delve a little deeper.

American graffiti follows a group of young Americans in a small Californian town, with some desperate to leave and others staying put. Friends Curt and Steve are to go to college, leaving their friends John Milner, a street racer, and Terry ‘Toad’ Fields, an innocent, clumsy character, back home. Steve also leaves behind his high school sweetheart Laurie.

After Steve proposes an open relationship, their relationship descends from a classic American romance into an annoying dissonance with love, hate, and all things in between. This includes a highly non-consentual love scene, which has the desired effect of making the audience feel very uncomfortable. Steve lends Toad his car, giving him a new confidence to impress Debbie, a girl more experienced than him. John rides around town, picking up a very young Carol, with whom he bickers constantly, and finishes by beating arch rival Bob Falfa in a street race, but only after Falfa crashes.

Curt has doubts about leaving, whereas Steve is set on staying. As the film progresses, these positions change, as Curt gets involved with a gang called ‘The Pharaohs’ and Steve’s weird relationship with Laurie rises like a phoenix from the flames. Rather than regenerating from the ashes of its predecessor, this phoenix just didn’t really fancy all those flames and ashes.

This film could have followed the path of Beat writers, challenging the status quo, looking for meaning in a world of consumption and accumulation. It could have looked to the Berkeley students protesting the draft and civil rights abuses, acting on beliefs and with compassion and a definite idea of justice, of how the world should be.

This film threatens to, but ultimately fails. Each character shows some rebellion. For example, Steve answers back to the principal at the dance, and young Carol rides around with John, yet naturally enjoys the safety net of living with Mum and Dad, for example. Each character

crash, he laments his demise over a hollow victory. We might change how we get to the future, but not what that future is.

The film’s ending reinforces this. We are told John Milner is killed by a drink driver, while Toad goes missing in action in An Loc, victims to circumstance beyond their control. Curt and Steve both experience relative success in life, despite slightly differing paths.

The nature of the film for me can be captured in the aesthetics. It is very well shot and the driving scenes are an excellent backdrop for the different storylines. Beyond this though, there is little substance, and as a so called coming of age movie, this metaphor runs through the heart of the film. Lucas created a very watchable, enjoyable film, but I think it is a shame that the plotlines were not developed further.

The screening itself was really good. We were provided with lots of information about upcoming events and clear context to the film. Artspace was a perfect venue, easy to find, and comfortable to watch in. The next event is September 16th at the Trend at 8:00, a Nostalgia Cartoon Night with cereal being served. I recommend it highly if you are after an enjoyable Wednesday evening.

Hot dish: “beet still my beeting heart!”

By Marina WIlke Beets have got be one of the most underused root veggies. Their sweet pink flesh is often relegated to pickle jars and their versatility is ignored. Your hands will be stained redder than Lady Macbeth’s by the time you finish preparing this dish, but I assure you it is worth it. Roasting the beets will give these jewel bright beauties a caramelized sweetness which pairs well with creamy goat cheese, and

an acidic vinaigrette. My Roasted Bee Salad is deceptively simple and elegant. Perfect for lunches or as a side for roasted meats.

Ingredients: 4 large beets, washed but unpeeled ½ cup toasted walnuts ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese (feta, blue cheese; all of these pair well depending on your palate) t ½ clove garlic, finely diced t 2 Tbsp olive oil t 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar t 1 Tsp Honey t 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill or parsley depending on taste t Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: 1. Warm up the barbecue, or preheat you oven to 450 degrees Celsius. If you are doing the beets on the grill put them on the top rack and rotate them as they cook to get an even char on the exterior skin. In the oven wrap the beets individually in tin foil and place on the rack. Both metht t t

ods take about 45-60 minutes for the beets to become tender depending on their size.

2. While the beets are roasting mince your garlic and dill and combine them with your oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper (Hint: it is best to do this in a mason jar so you can shake the dressing to emulsify it). Set dressing in the fridge so the flavors can mingle.

3. When the beets are finished roasting they should be tender when poked with a knife or fork. The skin should now peel off easily leaving you with a delicious, jewel bright beet to cut into cubes. Be careful to give them a few minutes to cool down to avoid burning your fingers.

4. Allow the beet cubes to cool and add the toasted walnuts, cheese and dressing right before serving (this prevents them from becoming stained pink with beet juice).

Tip: Save your beet greens. They are great when added to soups, salads, stir fries, sautés and green smoothies. Most of the ingredients for this recipe can be found at the Peterborough Farmer’s Market. Check it out on Wednesdays at The Louis St. Lot on Charlotte and Aylmer and Saturdays at Morrow Park.

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Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015 Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

Opinion Page

The Legend of Link: an open letter to Nintendo

By Jenny Fisher

With more and more female video game players joining the nerd bandwagon, there has been a change in video games.

Tomb Raider finally created a game following a non-sexualized, and even personified female protagonist, Lara Croft.

The game is the prequel to the earlier Tomb Raider series; showing how the young Lara Croft became the tomb raider.

The game shows Lara expressing strong emotions like fear, sadness, grief, and guilt. The game also displays Lara having great courage facing the worst circumstances. Lara’s emotions, and character are vital traits in the game, because it creates a realistic character for young women to look up to.

To clarify, Lara Croft has gone from big-busted sexual object, to a realistically size busted heroine. The 2013 Tomb Raider is a game directed to female gamers.

Unfortunately for Nintendo, it is games like these that are making Nintendo look bad. The truth is, Nintendo is falling behind in this nerdy feminism movement.

Nintendo needs to make a new game for The Legend of Zelda series following a female heroine.

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most loved series. As great as the series is, it still follows the male hero, Link,

in all seventeen games. In most games Link is saving the princess Zelda. It is this exact narrative that needs to be challenged in order to reach equality. However, the basic plot is not the only problem with the series.

In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, there is a level where Link ventures into “Jabu-Jabu’s belly and rescues Ruto, Princess of the Zoras. That she is another princess to be rescued is a small point.

The fact that Ruto is arguably the most annoying characters in all of video game history is the much bigger problem. First, she declares that she does not care that her father is worried about her, and refuses to go home. In protest, she refuses to walk, causing Link to carry her throughout the rest of the level. This effort of carrying her around is actually referred by Ruto as “the honour of carrying me.”

This negative female stereotype is further shown when Link leaves her behind and comes back to her, and she gets mad.

In spite of leaving her behind, she even says,“If you’re a man, act like one,”to Link.

Why do female characters need to be represented in a way that is easy for the player to dislike them?

One might argue that Ocarina of Time is an old game, and female gamers weren’t quite as common yet. This is not an excuse for Nintendo; while Ocarina of Time

might be an older game, The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds is not.

Link Between Worlds was released in 2013, and has a very similar level to Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, as they are both frustrating levels where you have to save a female character. This level in Link Between Worlds is called Thieves Hideout! Link saves a pink haired girl. The good news is, this character is vey polite and the level is not as frustrating as Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. She doesn’t even make Link carry her. While there is some obvious improvement from Ocarina of Time, this damsel in distress trend still needs to be broken.

Link Between Worlds has other negative representations of women throughout the game. The Queen Zora is only shown in two ways: angry and fat, as well as skinny and happy. This shows the player that women can only be seen in two ways, creating two strong stereotypes for women.

In Nintendo’s defence, I feel it important to mention that The Legend of Zelda series has at least one strong representation of women. In Ocarina of Time, a mysterious gender-neutral stranger helps Link while in the future; Sheik. At the end of the game, you learn that this strong character is Princess Zelda in disguise.

This twist ending and strong portrayal of a woman was ahead of its time in 1998.

They are both strong characters with an equal opportunity of winning.

Nintendo needs to create a game following a strong female lead. It is in my opinion that Nintendo should create a game called A Legend of Link, where the game follows princess Zelda in her story as Sheik. This could be a new story line, or just Zelda’s perspective of Ocarina of Time. A female Link is a rumour in the video game community, and has been met with disappointment with the news that the new Zelda Wii game would not follow a female Link. If the series gave the player the option to choose between a female Link and a male Link, it would be a great start. Female characters need to become less annoying and more likable.

Free speech in university

By Dan Morrison

Free speech in universities is getting a battering. In my home country (the UK), in Canada, and in America, a mixture of trigger warnings, university and student union restrictions, and government fears about a few loonies is limiting free expression. Trigger warnings are fair enough, warning somebody that what they are about to hear or see is potentially distressing is no real hardship on anyone.

But limits to free speech on both sides of the Atlantic to stop idiots from spouting daft and dangerous views are a lot more worrying and insidious. Government attempts to rein in expression on university campuses are dumb politics, too.

The 2014 Campus Freedom index, a report by The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, noted that out of 208 grades awarded to 52 Canadian campuses, 24 campuses had censored student expression on campus, failing to protect free expression rights. 33 ‘F’ grades, meaning that free expression had been censored, were handed out to 14 universities and 19 student unions. However, only 5 ‘A’

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grades, which mean that unions or universities are committed and have committed to free expression, were handed out.

Trent’s Central Student Association was ranked as one of the ten worst.

The index noted among its worst cases Trent’s denial of a ‘free speech wall event’ to Trent Liberty, and University of Regina’s request that two individuals be arrested and removed from campus for ‘peacefully expressing unpopular views’.

In the UK, there is a similar trend.

Speakers like feminist Julie Bindel, and politician George Galloway have been banned. Lancaster University student union president Laura Clayson was warned by the police for having posters calling for the bombing of Gaza to stop, and to halt fracking in the local area.

In Canada and the UK, governments are putting pressure on free expression on university campuses, to reduce the proliferation of ‘extremist views.’ In the same way that governments want to stop inflammatory opinions, universities and unions are limiting views which may offend. People with dangerous or offensive views cannot say stuff, and the po-

tential for upset is being reduced. So why is this so bad?

‘For centuries before the early modern era,’ writes Peter Frankopan, “the intellectual centres of the world… were not located in Europe or the West, but in Baghdad and Balkh, Bukhara and Samarkand.” In what we now call the Middle East, these places lined the Silk Roads, the great trading routes which linked the Roman and Chinese empires. As Frankopan notes, these cities and cultures quickly progressed, at this time more advanced than the West, because “as they traded and exchanged ideas, they learned and borrowed from each other, stimulating further advances.”

The lessons learned on the Silk Roads are arguably the foundations of our civilisation. The exchange of ideas and inevitable debate helped to advance disciplines ranging from microeconomics and philosophy, to science and religion. These are the same lessons that university looks to foster.

This is why the university and student union element of repression is concerning. Exposure to discomforting or foreign opinions is vital to the development of critical minds and sound theories. It allows us to strengthen and round off our correct views, so that they are always relevant and don’t become what John Stuart Mill called ‘dead dogmas.’

Alternatively, repressing speech can allow foundation-less garbage to go unchallenged, so incorrect views can gain merit that they do not deserve. This is more dangerous than allowing them to be freely expressed, as in this instance they can be openly challenged and shown as wrong. Prohibited views can become martyrs, gaining a following in suppressed networks.

Besides teaching specific content, universities nurture active, critical minds for life after university, by cultivating an environment in which students, and staff,

can freely and safely engage with difficult topics. The essence of university life is founded in experiences like those on the Silk Roads, and in failing to expose students to discomforting opinions, universities fail to do their job properly.

As Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt recently asked in The Atlantic, “what are we doing to our students if we encourage them to develop extra-thin skin just before they leave the cocoon of adult protection?”

UK Home Secretary Theresa May has called on universities to restrict some debate and monitor potentially extremist views, but what does ‘extremist’ even mean? It is extreme to repress somebody just for saying something.

Academia also performs an important democratic function. Governments keep society in check through laws, and monitoring our behaviour.

Likewise, free expression of the press, the people and academia, is a crucial check on government action. If students and academics feel they cannot speak freely, an important part of our democracy is in danger.

In 2013, writing for New Statesman about What Makes us Human?, BBC Economics Editors Robert Peston wrote: “life is dull and poor for those with limited knowledge and a narrow outlook.

There are fewer opportunities to create wealth – material and spiritual – in the absence of challenging conversations. It is other people who help us both to see more of the world as it is, and to understand more about ourselves.”

It is vital that universities guarantee free expression and that governments don’t impede this. Otherwise, universities will be nothing more than finishing schools, rather than the crucible of knowledge and wisdom in which we are so lucky to learn.

Life is too short to be offended, and there will always be another conversation to learn from.

Community

Volume 50 | Issue 1 |September 14, 2015

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