Ultra Vires Vol 8 Issue 1: 2006 September

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF LAW

ULTRA VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1

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VIRES

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SEPTEMBER 12~,

2006 0 • t • . rien atlon Smooth Sailing, Mostly

SINCE 1999

~~~~~~~R~E~ boat cruise only hiccup in otherwise awesome week ~

little bit of fun, a little btt of class, and a httle btt of controversy. Welcome to law school Orientation week festivtties were an ~~credible success, marred only by a phystcal altercation between law students and bouncers on Friday night's boat crmse.

On September 5th, 2006, the law school welco~ed its largest ever first-year class, com~nsed of nearly 200 students. The orientatiOn week festivities, whtch lasted from Monday through Saturday, gave first ~ear students a wtndow tnto life inside falconer and Flavcllc and a chance to meet their classmates and future colleagues. , Ac~ording to executive member Jordan Nahmtas, this year's orientation had a number of objectives with regards to ~hangcs from prc\ious years. The goals ~ncluded making the week "more interestt~g and more fun, while making an cffictcnt usc of monies raised:' Tme to form Nahmias and co-fundraising chief Yaci Boglcr succeeded in raising a record amount of funds. Other notub\e departures from the: past included the absence of a keynote. ~pcakcr, a move de igncd to rn:untam student antercst throughout the week. Ncvcnhclcss, one of the hrghhghts of the week for many students wus a

lunchtime speech by the chansmatic Justice Kofi Barnes.

Orientation Co-Chairs Khalid Janmohammed and Iladiya NeddRoderiquc and their team of executives, were commended for their eftorts in planning the week's events. Second year student and group leader Daniel Naymark praised the leaders for their work, saying,

"The week went quite smoothly and the first years and upper yea; volunteers really enjoyed all the activities. Hadiya and Khalid did a great job organi7tng everythmg." Perhaps not attributable to the work of the orientation leaders themselves, and more to the credit of application-screencr in-chief Professor Arnold Weinrib, Naymark added "There arc definitely a lot of ho~ies this year."

The new additions to this year's Orientation week were a h~ge success. Monday's bowling mght was a major improvement on ~ast year's opening night mustcal event.

Similarly, Thursday night at the Bedford gave students an opportunity to converse in an informal setting, at what will no doubt become a familiar haunt during their \av. school careers. Unfortunately, \he preccdmg scavenger hunt lucked the excitement of last ycnr's Jack layton srghrmg. and lnte mghr sw rm "rth Mayor Miller that hrghlightcd lusr year's

event. The small group dmncrs enjoyed n strong tumour The Friday excursions proved Jess enticing to the newcomers, and

"f heard they got the bouncers from Altamont"

"What?"

O·WEEK _CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

UV Staffer Goes Looking for Socioeconomic Diversity at tile acuity, pg. 12 UV Staffer Missing, pg.37

Assistant Registrar Files Grievance Against Law School

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN As we prepared for exams last March, our La\\ School's administrators faced their own examination with no summaries or classmates to rely upon. Following allegations of religiously msensitive comments in the Admissions Ollice, Assistant Registrar Judy Finlay has left her position and is currently grieving an unknown

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Administration decision, following the conclusion of an investigation headed by the University's Manager of Human Resources.

The allegations were made by Famh Yameen, a 25 year old, part-time worker in the Admissions and Financial Aid Office.

On January lith, 2006, Ms. Yamcen

returned from her holidays wearing an Islamic headscarf (or hijab). Ncar the end of the day, M!>. Finlay was asked by a coworker for her thoughts on Ms. Yamecn's hcadscarf. According to M Yameen.

"Judy snid I look scary, she said that you should leave your religion behind when GRIEVANCE- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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2

NEWS

First Annual Alumni Golf Tournament a Big Success

BY STEVEN WERIER What if instead of a cncket ball from the park, Bolton had htt Stone with an errant tee shot from the tir;t hole at Angus Glen'?'! Well, we could be pretty sure Bolton wasn't a member of the team from Torys ..... .

On a calm and slightly overcast Friday, August 25. the law school held tts first annual Alumni Golf Tournament at the Angus Glen Golf Club, site of the upcoming 2007 Canadian Open PGA tournament. Over forty students and alumni turned out for the event. Players joined in four-person teams and played a best-ball scramble.

First place went to the team from Torys.

The team. which included student Josh Van Deurzenm (2L). shot a remarkably

low score of twelve under par 60. Other highlights included Law.- MBA Richard Luft (2L) sinking a 70 foot putt on the difficult 18th green to help his team of fellow U of T students Jordan Nahmias (2L).

Davtd Maldoff (2L). and Steven Wericr (2L) finish the day with a rare birdie.

Numerous other students and alumni also came out to take part m Dean Mayo Moran 's inaugural "Mayo Clime" on the driving range. While there is no official word yet on whether the dean will be JOining the LPGA tour in the near future. she was overheard lamentmg the fact that there was no award for the person who took "the most swings for the fewest yards."

The golf was followed by a barbeque and awards presentation on the patio of the clubhouse.

The awards were sponsored by the law firm Paliare.

Roland, Rosenberg and Rothstein. Overall. partiCIpants and organizers were pleased with the success of the event. and the tournament will surely become a staple of the law school calendar for years to come.

While there is no official word yet on whether the dean will be joining the LPGA tour in the near future, she was overheard lamenting the fact that there was no award for the person who took "the most swings for the fewest yards."

ultra vires

0-IH.·ek continued from page I ended up being cancelled on Thursday afternoon.

The most talked about addition to this year's onentation week will undoubtedly be Friday night's boat cruise. The event yteldcd an extremely strong student turnout. First year students and upper year group leaders boarded the boat in the Cherry Street harbour. and set sail in Lake Ontario with the majestic downtown skyline serving as the backdrop. Students ended their orientation week, enjoying the spacious deck, large ba, dance floor an.d OJ. It would be difficult to have envisioned a better ending to the week. One would be hard-pressed to script the events that took place ncar the end of the cruise.

At around midnight, a second year student became involved in an altercation with one o f the boat's bouncers on the deck. Witnesses saw the bouncer say something to the student. Soon after, the bouncer was seen running after the student, who was now inside. The bouncer allegedly thrust his nightstick at the student, at which time an orientation leader stepped between the two. The first student then escaped, and proceeded to run upstatrs and sit down at one of the tables.

The bouncer allegedly followed the student upstatrs, and attempted to handcuff him. A number of students attempted to intervene, including Orientation Chair Khalid Janmohammcd, who was rewarded with a nightstick to the mouth. The captain and boat officers then emerged from their cabin, announcing that the boat would be returning to the dock prematurely and that

police officers would be present upon arrival.

Many upper-year students used the altercation wtth authorities as a chance to break out their legal analysis skills. Some quoted the Constitution, whtle others invoked the Criminal Code. Josh Lavine (2L), was qutck to note that things might be different under the circumstances because "we arc on a vessel." Second year student and group leader Kaz Nejatian (2L) suggested that "the incoming class learned the first thing about the law: question authority and stand your ground."

When the boat docked, a number of second year students, including the student mvolved in the imttal altercation wtth the bouncer, were stopped and questioned by the police. "lumerous other students waited nearby m a show of support for their colleagues. "I was totally impressed by the fact that people stuck around and were concerned about everybody involved," said Jordan Nahmias.

Asststant Dean Bonnie Goldberg was alerted by a phone call from worried students. As well, some of the actors involved have voiced their desire to take legal act ton.

Overall, the events provided only a minor blemish on what was otherwise a well-run, and much enjoyed week of events. As first year student Mira De\\ji exclaimed, "Orientation week was great! I met tons of people and the food was really tasty Good food and good company what could be better?" Not April exams. that's for sure.

12

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5 Years Ago in Ultra Vires Student and Dean Battle at the Ontario Supertor Court A legal case pitting first year student Roxanne Shan!..: and Dean Ronald Daniels was heard nt the Divisional Court of the Ontario Superior Court. Lawyers for Shank and the Dean debated the definition of"'acadcmic record" and whether Shank had misrepresented her grades, among other issues. Shank was one of I 7 first year students suspended from the law school for misrepresenting first year December test results in summer job applications to Bay St. finns.

20 Transfer Students Admitted to Second-Year Class An unprecedented number of tran:.fer :;tuc.lents joined the faculty this fall. 1\vcntythrcc transfer~ were accepted to the faculty. Some speculated that the mflux was due to the loss of 17 students who were su pended for mtsrepresenting grades in the infamous 'grade:; scandal. •

Corporate E'xposure Reduced at Orientation Bar Ads Course Revamped In May 2001, the bar ad system \V'.JS overhauled. It used to be that students attended bar ads in May or June for "phase one," articled for 12 months and then finished up with "phase three,'' consisting of four months of courses and exams. The new course brings students into the bar ads course the day after law school and shortens the proces!> from 21 months to at most 17. The cour·c runs through the summer - from May until the end of August - combining the previous phase one and phase three components.

GRIEVANCE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

you come to Canada. She thought I was in mourning," continued Yamecn, "She satd at least change the color of your headscarf.

She asked me why I was wearing tt and said, 'You arc scaring people."'

Ms. Finlay has a different perspective on the comments. In a letter to the Varsity dated Friday, March 12, 2006, she said,"it is important to note that Farah said her mother was very unhappy with her deci~ton to wear a headscarf. Farah also indicated that she wanted to hear my thoughts un the subject when I made the otlcr."

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

NEWS

September 2006

The next day Ms. Yameen returned to work devastated. According to Yameen 's supervisor Mai-Anh Giap who overheard parts of the conversation, it was cle?r something was wrong, "Farah came m with tears in her eyes that day. She had talked to her father about the incident, and she was very upset."

Ms. Giap left an immediate voice mail for her Supervisor, the Assistant Dean of Students Bonnie Goldberg. Ms. Goldberg called Ms. Giap at home that night to discuss the incident.

The next day, Friday the 13th, Ms. Goldberg conducted at least two fact-finding interviews. The first was wit~ Ms. Yamcen and Ms. Giap, and accordmg to Ms. Giap, was followed by an interview with Ms. Fmlay.

Ms. Goldberg then told Ms. Yamcen that Ms. Finlay would apologize on Monday. However, Monday came and went without an apology. Ms. Yameen says "I was told by Bonnie that Judy ~an­ celled the meeting and had been gtven legal advice to not meet me."

According to Ms. Goldberg, "the exchange was substantiated and obviously (Judy's comments) were very troubling, because they do not reflect values that I subscribe to or that I would want the admissions office's subscription to or the University."

However, even after the exchange was substantiated, there was little that changed m the AdmissiOns Office. Yamccn says of the weeks that followed, "the sttuation was awful, Judy's door was always locked, and we were just like two feet apart. Evcryon~ knew this office was a mess, we used to stt

back and joke and be very open. I was unattached, I wanted to leave, I didn't want to work there anymore."

Approximately one month after the inctdent, Ms. Finlay took Ms. Yameen as1de to make the apology that Ms. Yameen had expected earlier. Ms Finlay remarked m her letter to the Varsity, "We met and I told her I was very sorry l had hurt her feelings. I thought she had accepted my apology and we shook hands on it."

For Ms. Yamcen the apology was too little too late: "I satd to Ms. Goldberg, '\Vhat i., that goin~ ro do'> \Vh.tt', ~oing to change'! What's an apology non I' I 11lso knew nothmg was going to happen; I had

lost hope in Bonnie. I firmly believe this administration failed to defend me. Many higher administration staff knew what happened and not once did any of them try to meet with me."

Ms. Giap sensed that things were not improving: "Farah didn't want to be there by herself with Judy, 1 had to be there. I sensed her sprit was not there and she was not motivated. She dtdn 't have the same sort of attitude." .

By late March, Ms. Yamecn gave nottce of her resignation. On, Friday, March 24 • her last day of work, she claims that Ms. Finlay again made offensi~e comments.

"On my last day. I was saymg my goodbyes and 1 approached Judy and told ~er that I was leaving. I said, Judy, I am gomg to be honest, I have approached Varsity, because I was much at unease and felt that the administration didn't do anything. She asked me why I was doing this. Why I .was causing so much havoc? She com~lamed that I almost got her fired. I told her tt was, n 't me, it was her words.

Ms. Yamecn reported the exchange to Ms. Goldberg in a four page letter released to Ultra Vires. In the letter Ms. Yameen S "I have concluded from my last say, . reception with Ms Finla~ that whatever _It is you disciplined her wtth was a slap m

Law finn presence at Orientation was vastly reduced in the wake oflast year's grade scandal. For the tirst time, individual e\'cnts were not connected to individual finns. In previous years, :;tudents complained about being bombarded by downtown Jaw tirms nt the expense of exposure to public interest groups and government agencies. Law finns continued to support orientation; this year their contnbution~ were put into a pot and recognized on the Orientation Program via u tiered system.

the face to me. Had she been warned cal- good to have a story like that in one sense, lously that such conduct is intolerable she but l feel we dealt with a difficult situation would not have even dared to utter what in a good way." she said to me."

On May \ 8, Ms. Giap says she was to\d Ms. Finlay says in her statement to the that Ms. Finlay would be \caving the next Varsity that the March 24 conversation day for an indefinite vacation. Ms. Fin\ay began' with Ms. Yameen tel\ing me, "l was has not returned. ignorant and a rac1st. Let me <:.ay l grew up The investigation into the March inciin a fami\y where the custom is to face dent is now comp\ete a.nd Dean Moran issues opcn\y and where free discussion of say~ the a.dmi.mstrat1on is fo\\owing up. questions that affect us is permitted and Dean Moran says it i.s unknown whether encouraged. My concern for her rather the rcsu\ts w\\\ be made public . however, sudden change to wearing a hij ab wao; whHe on \cave. Ms. Fin\ay remains based on n senuinc <.'Otl•:crn for 11cr nell \VlJS n()t U dr.:prc..-caticliJ of her

being und

religion."

An investigation into the March incidenl followed, however this time Ms. Goldberg turned to the University's Manager of Human Resources Susan Anderson to investigate, because "I didn't think that I was the right person to re-investigate what happened. This was my employee, my unit, my department and I thought we needed more assistance" said Goldberg.

Ms. Goldberg also organized two workshops in diversity and sensitivity ,trainin.g with Nouman Ashraf, U of T s AntiRacism and Cultural Diversity Officer.

Ms. Finlay was present at one of the sessions.

On May 15, 2005, the Varsity Newspaper published the story. that had been initiated by Ms. Yameen m .March.

Ms. Yamecn says she was and contmucs to "stand up for those people who may have, or will in the future, come to the front counter, because you can 't hold those views and speak to the public such as the Faculty of Law." Dean Moran says she would have preferred to solve the crisis internally, "It would have been nice if we would have had an opportunity to resolve it. . I .guess what I would say to you is that tt IS not

"I have concluded from my last reception with Ms Finlay that whatever it is you disciplined her with was a slap in the face to me"

employee nt the lnw school. 77ie l>c:Jn did not n1/c out tbe posstbillty \1s. I lni.Cf.' rL.·tunun.l.! to her J?<l.-..t thi.4oi >,..Dr Ms. Finlay could not co1nmcnt lhr th1s

••I'

story. She sent us an email revealing that. "a dec1sion was made by the law school administration on my situation and I am now grieving it through the USW Union of which I am a member."

In her Jetter to the Varsity, Ms. Finlay referred to her co-worker Aladdin Mohaghegh as a character refer~nce .. Mr. Mohaghegh was not present dunng etthcr the January II or March 24 incidents but did talk to both Ms. Finlay and Ms. Yamcen after the January inctdent. He considers the January II exchange "ou~ of character" based on eight years ofworktng with Ms. Ftnlay, whom he considers a friend. Mr. Mohaghegh also said that Ms. Yameen was a friend and a great person to work with.

Mr. Mohaghegh urges students to get all of the facts before reaching conclusio~s because of the sensitive nature of thts story. He believes faculty and students can benefit from this discussion. "It's good that this is out, I mean these things you cannot just sweep under the carpet," says Mohaghegh. .

Eight months after the tnitial inctdent the book on this story remains open. Ms. Yamcen has moved on to a new job but hasn't forgotten her old one, while Ms. Finlay grieves and the administration contemplates where things went ';:on~.

Looking back, Ms. Yameen reflects, I sull wonder how a piece of fabric on my head would receive such a distasteful reception."

4

NEWS

ultra vires

Dean Candid about Plans for Upcoming Year

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN

La.~t January: Mayo Moran was appointed

a\ the Faculty uf Laws jil:\1 female D!!an.

Thi., jill/, 1/w embark., on herfirst fit!/ year at the 1clwo/ ~ helm. She sal down with Ultra I ires to cJi.,cuu her experience.\ thus fw; a\ well a1· her plum for the upcoming yew: lJ\: ()o how do you feel having completed your first tcnn and summer as Dean'?

whole range of different things involved. It i~ a matter of gra\c concern to us and the uni\ crsity. The university has a series of protocols involved. I think we arc all hoping it can be resolved.

U\": What is the status of the investigation into Judy Finlay's comments'?

J\1'1: Probably. it's an important office and we arc going to ha,·e to look at that. Of course we have to make sure (the staffing is appropriate} as that office IS our future.

U\': Upon accepting the Deanship. you said that "diversity was a concern" and stated that you hope to usc your position to increase diversity at the school. What docs diversity mean to Mayo Moran?

I would like students to be

able to enjoy (first year). I think it's a wonderful and intense experience and I would like you to go to movies, read novels, play sports. It can be overwhelming, it is fairly intense but it's much healthier not to work all the time

MM: I love it. it's been fun. This is more MM: An invesnbout the tcnn than the summer- it's hec- tigation was tic. and you arc doing a lot of ditlcrcnt held. It is comkinds of things. It's a real people JOb, bcmg pleted, (and) we out there talking to thousands of alumni. arc following The mo~t challenging part IS the volume of up.

I don't work, trying to set up systems; the chal- know if the lenge is the day to day management role. results witt ever be made public.

UV: What arc your goals for the upcoming school year?

UV: Will Judy Finlay be MM: There arc a couple of goals: first is returning to the the building project. We made the decision school? to stay on the site. and we w11l now be working on developing the concrete needs MM: Well, she is still an employee. I can't that we have in tenns of the building pro- say. I don't know. ject. I am startmg to put together a fundraising committee of adv1sors. We arc UV: Is there a chance she will be returning planning on doing some kind of a des1gn this school year? competition: once we have a basic idea, a sense of the number of classrooms, then MM: There IS always a possibility. (we will} call for design proposals. I hope to have that happen in the spring. 1 am try- UV: How do you think the story reflects ing to generate enthusiasm about the on the school'? On your Deanship in parbuilding project. Alumni and the commu- ticular'? nl\y are thrilled we arc staying on the site.

1 am hoping that the design competition MM: Nobody likes seeing that kind of will generate some excitement. Also. one thing Any situation like this is a delicate of the things we will be doing is connect- situation. involving two unionized ing with other mstitutions. employees. and we arc sorry the situation arose - I am sorry the situation arose.

U\': When you say "connecting v; ith other institutions" do you have something like UV: Did you know the story was coming the combined o~goodc/NYU program in out in the Varsity'? mind for U ofT? ;\1:\1: I want you to know the university MM: I don't think that program would has undertaken an investigation It would work for us. I don't t~ink that would be have been nice if we attmctivc to our students with a J.D. I am would have had an talking to NYU about other things (like} opportunity to intensive tcnns and specialized studying. resolve it. I guess NYU is known for having a great tax pro- what I would say to gram. I am also talking with Yale; I visited you is that it is not Oxford and have been in discussion with good to have a story the University of Singapore. like that in one sense. but I feel we dealt UV: Witt returning student notice any with a difficult situamajor differences at the beginning of year? tion in a good way.

Everything done has MM: I hope they have seen a difference. to be done fairly with 2 well apart from Mayo's Muffin Madness. due attention to I think (there arc differences} in tenns of process and privacy and most people the curriculum capstone program; I am understand that. doing a capstone on gender and diversity, and also (they wi ll see} a broader intensive UV: Why did Judy Finlay leave the same program. week the story was published?

MM: Wett, it's not only what it means to me but it's also what I hear from people.

It's a diverse concept that means different things. I think it means the institution should be as inclusive as it can be.

UV: In October, 2005 a UV survey found that 31% of minority students gave the school a failing grade in terms of building raciatty diverse body of professors (compared with l0°1o of white students). Also, the same survey found that 46°/o of students who consider themselves visible minonties felt that they "did not fit in here" (compared to 25% of white students). I low do you respond to those statistics?

MM: Regardless of how empirically sound that may be. I think 'that we arc operating in an institution where a significant amount of people have a concern about hO\v they feel they belong and that IS a concern. There is a constant attempt to move forward and a lot of that is figuring out how to be inclusive. I think this would be a concern for any Dean who wants everyone to feel t h c y belong.

We won't be doing a five year plan as we are off cycle.

The University has told us that we should update the five year plan; they are trying to get everyone on the same timeline so that would be for years.

UV: A lot of students were shocked by the story about Judy Finlay that appeared in the Varsity Newspaper this past May. What was your 1mtial reaction?

MM: It's an ongoing matter. I think there arc only a couple things I can say about that as there arc very serious privacy and personal infonnation concerns. Any event like that is a great concern; there are a

MM: I can't say - it IS personal infonnation. You know I would not say anything in any event about why anyone was not here; it is personal and private (and} I would not want to expose that.

UV: Well, with Farrah gone and Judy away, at least temporarily, is the admissions office understaffed? How long can it hold up with only two employees?

UV: Do you think there arc ways m wh1ch the admissions policies could be changed in order to encourage more diversity at the law school?

MM: The admissions policies arc very focused on academic merit and personal experience. I think when you look at our school you (already) see an increase in visible minorities. (The current) policies are fine.

UV: What is being done to encourage diversity among the faculty both in terms of recruitment and also in terms of encouraging sensitivity on diversity issues among existing faculty?

Ml\1: Th1s IS a constant subject of discussion among the faculty I think there arc a lot of issues here People are committed and have different ways of thinking about them; if you look at our faculty hiring we arc sccmg more of a trend (to hiring visible mmoritics).This is in some ways JUSt demographics. as the pool (of candidates} is becoming more diverse. it's showing up in our hiring. We always look for the best people.

UV: What should a student do if they feet a professor is not sufficiently sensitive to diversity issues?

MM: I was the Associate Dean for many years. There arc many different ways. it depends on the situation, sometimes people can say something to the professor and they often do. Somc!Jmes talk to the Associate Dean or the Dean; it depends on the nature of the incident.

UV: Also, you told us last year that you would be re-writing the 5 year plan that was established under the Deanship of Ron Daniels. Is that going to be completed in the near tcnn future? Will faculty counsel vote on a new plan this year?

MM: That is another one of the thmgs we will be doing in the fall. We won't be doing a five year plan as we are off cycle.

The University has told us that we should update the five year plan; they arc trying to get everyone on the s an\<: llm..:lon" "'' tbut would be for 2 year~. I will put together a committee in September. I don't knov. if faculty counsel did vote on it (last time). I don't know if that will be required or not.

I witt put together a committee with student representatives. faculty etc. I hope this witt be completed within the academic year.

UV: This new plan witt consider tuition'?

MM: We have a regulated environment now and the prudent thing is to anticipate that.

UV: As Associate Dean you toyed with the idea of a mental health counsellor for students who struggle to adjust to the stresses and rigors of law schools. As Dean IS this something you arc still considering?

MM: This is something of concern to Lianne Krakauer and I do think that it would be helpful to think about how we can give students the tools to deal with this (issue}. Lianne has been thinking about this and I \\.'ant a better sense of what would be useful. I think I would want a sense of what would be appropriate. We arc doing more programming around this and that is a constructive first step.

UV: What would you say to a student in first year who is seriously struggling to deal with expense of law school, the rigors of the study, and adjusting to a new city, new friends, etc.?

MM: Go to the Associate Dean. It's also about who people know, I think all of us often talk to students. also talk to professors.

I MORANCONTlNUED ON PAGE 5

12

September 2006

NEWS

Law building to stay put

BY ALEXIS ALYEA AND STEVEN WERIER If you don't build it. will they still come?

Prior to the end of exams last term, Dean Moran met with an Advisory Comm1ttec of students, faculty and alumni representatives to decide whether the Faculty of Law would be moving to another location on campus. The two hour debate saw open discussion with participatiOn from all attendees, as well as a presentation by Elizabeth Sisam, Assistant VP (Space and Facilities Planning).

The meeting ended with an overwhelming vote in favour of keeping the Faculty of Law at its present location at 84 Queen's Park. The debate started with a comparison between the current site and the alternative ( known as "site 12'') located at 315 Bloor Street West across from Vars1ty Stadium. Site 12 currently houses campus Awards and Admissions. Dean Moran carried the final decision and agreed with the Advisory Committee's reccomendation.

Dean Moran said, "We made the decision to stay on the site, and we witt now be working on developing the concrete needs that we have in tenns of the buildmg project. I am starting to put together a fundraising committee of advisors." Dean Moran also expressed excitement about the upcoming design proposals, saying "[that the] alumni and the community are thrilled we are staying on the site. I am hoping that the design competition will (also} generate some excitement."

Student representatives were Similarly excited about the decision. SLS student caucus member Alex KcnJcev (2L) approved ofthc decision, "It's a good decision. This is an amazing address. The big reason we wanted to move was because there was this notion that if we stay here, we would not be allowed to build up the current site. That was what they told Dean Daniels. But now, we are hoping for a change in city policy... that would g1ve us the best of both worlds. We're going to expand the current site significantly...

When all of the factors were considered, the actors involved concluded that staying at Queen's Park was a better choice than moving to "site l 2".'

The lack of development options was what originally made relocation attractive.

Pursuant to current zoning laws, any additions to existing facilities, as well as the constructon of new buildings, are prohibited. The current space restrictions pose problems for students, who often find themselves out of luck in therr search for club space or a place to hold a conference.

Site 12 would have provided more spacious and updated facilities, while still offering the cache of a heritage building through the incorporation of the observatory. Furthermore, the law school would be able to move into it en masse, minimizing disruption to the curriculum and student body. With the collapse of the ROM's

plans for the condo tower on the planetarium lands. new options for development on the Queen's Park location opened up.

Through the public meeting process for that building proposal, mcludmg discussions with local community groups and the C1ty of Toronto, it became clear that redevelopment of the planetarium lands needed a comprehensive plan that would allow for the harmonious relationship with that site and its surrounding tenants; namely, the Faculty of Music and the Faculty of Law. This put the possibility for increased density of the school's lands back on the table, along with the potential for a holistic development in partnership with the ROM and the Faculty of Mus1c, which arc facing space constramts of the1r own. This also created the potential for a comprehensive buildmg proJect that would allow the law school to address concerns related to space while maintaining a unique and cnnching environment.

Redevelopment of the present site witt require a move to a new location during construction. Past construction of the Bora Laskin Library demonstrated that relocation can have serious negative impltcations for student life.

The transition to the new building, fundra1smg and other concerns will be addressed in the months to come.

5 MORAN CONT1NUED FROM PAGE 4 w o u I d like students to be able to enjoy (first year}. I think it's a wonderful and intense experience and I would like you to go to movies, read novels. play sports. It can be overwhelming. it is fairly intense but it's much healthier not to work att the time UV: Have you had any contact with former Dean Ron Daniels to seck advice'?

MM: Yes I have. but over the summer no.

He knows a lot, so when I am pcrple:-..cd I talk to him and the other Deans including Martin Fncdland and Frank Iacobbucci.

Prichard and Sharpe. I talk to att of them.

They are all w1sc. supportive, and generous.

UV: On the hiring of Michael Code many students were very happy about this decision to hire Code; some students arc curious to know 1f he is back as a tenured professor? [s he here permanently?

MM: We have so many uses for Michael and I am very excited about a ll of them and about att four of our new professors. I don't discuss status. He is here full time. I think it's mcredibly important; that ability to be a ngorous intellectual and that one can communicate (well), that is very important in the appointments process.

The glowing reports (he received) from students were important.

UV~

Thank you Dean, we \ook forward the u-pcommg year.

\0

NEWS

6

ultra vires

Problems with Law Society Licensing Process BYSAADAHMAD This year, the La\\ Soc1ety of Upper the materials were "poorly written and out ate Melissa Kluger for the online magazine Canada ("LSUC") mtroduccd a new of date." Students also stated that the Law and Style licensing program for law graduates hop- exams did not test their knowledge of the (http '~ww.lawandstyle.ca), Diana Miles, ing to be called to the bar. law, but rather tested their ability to flip the l SUC's Director, Professional Many students, however. emerged from through materials and find answers. Development & Competence defended the process with bitter feelings towards the Rehman noted that "it was more JUSt a these measures saying, "The efficacy and legal profession's governing body. In par- matter of knowing where things were m integrity of the examination bank depends ticular, they took issue with their treatment the materials and then looking them up on on students not takmg questions out of the at the hands of LSUC officials, as well as the exam." Wilmut concurred. "Because examination room. We wouldn't want both the course matcnals and the organiza- the exams were open-book and multiple them writing stuff down and then removtion of the Toronto examinations. choice, there was no need to learn the ing it from the room."

Student dissatisfaction was so high that material. The quesStudents most student:; contacted for this article tions focused on were required to were unwilling to go on record with their obscure legal rules, register before criticisms, for fear of retribution by the and it was simply a each exam, but LSUC. matter of using the start of the The nC\\ licensing process conSISts of someone else ·s first exam was three separate components: the Sk1lls and index and looking delayed considProfessional Responsibility Program. up the answer." erably due to the Licensing Examinations, and 10 months of In addition to the of inability articles. The revamp discards the old Bar narrow focus of the LSUC staff to Admissions Course, which consisted of an questions, students process students 18-wcck academic phase, comprised of 8 broached more trouquickly enough separate courses on vanous aspects of law, bling concerns. In to start on time. each with its own exam. These courses. on particular, the comWhile interv1etopics such as public lav..·• family law, bination of profeswees were estate planning. and business law, were sional responsibility uncertain about poorly attended, and have now been and substantive precise numscrapped in favour of self-study materials. questions raised the bers, they estiStudents first completed the Skills and poss1bility that examinees could get all mated that there were roughly 6 or 7 ProfessiOnal Responsibility Program, qucstwns on ethics and professional LSUC staff to check-in approximately 900 dcs1gned to prov1de the skills needed for responsibility wrong and still pass. All students, and several were adamant that the practice of law. This stage conststed of criticisms about the nature of the materials the examination was understaffed.

5 weeks of classes, running from May 8 to and questions paled beside those related to Although the exam got underway at least June 9. These classes, which did not the examination process. an hour late, no extra time was allotted for ~~:;=:::;"?7'~~~~·d:e education in substantive legal topInterviewees complained about under- lunch, which had originally been slated to tcs, were followed by two 7-hour, self- staffing, delays, strict security measures. run from I 2:30 to 2:00. study, open-book, multiple-choice breaks. access to bathrooms, and a comAt the end of the examination. there was Liccnsmg Examinations: a Solicitor bative tone set by the Law Society. a rush for the restrooms. Some students Examination on June 26 and a Barrister Examinees were required to conform with had delayed a trip dunng the exam to Examination on July 6 a lengthy set of "security" measures, avoid losing t1me, while others had not However, these study materials, as well which, among other things, forced stu- been permitted to go to the bathrooms out as the nature of the examinations them- dents to leave all materials brought into the of a concern that too many people would selves, proved contentious. There was a exam hall behind, reqUired that students be there at the same time. However, LSUC consensus among the students interviewed bring permitted items in clear plastic bags, staff did not want students to rise before all for this article that the materials were not and required that those same clear plastic examinations were collected, and made of acceptable quality. Yousef Rehman bags be checked before students could announcements accordingly. Upon the coldescribed the materials as "too dense to leave. lection of materials, which Youscf estimatread." Keir Wilmut concurred. He felt that In an interview with U ofT Law gradu- ed took approximately 15 to 20 minutes,

Student dissatisfaction was so high that most students contacted for this article were unwilling to go on record with their criticisms, for fear of retribution by the LSUC.

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As we eagerly awaited grades our grades, the law school prepared for its own performance appraisal otherwise known as the "External Review."

The External Review of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law was delivered to Vivck Gocl. Vice President and Provost at the University of Toronto this past June.

The I 4-pagc review speaks glowingly about the law school, faculty and students with har~her word~ directed at the state of the current building and facilities. The review was conducted from January 9

cxammecs had to line up at one exit to have thc1r clear plastic bags checked before they could leave.

Many of the check-in issues were resolved on the Barrister Examination.

However, before examinees could begin the exam, they were addressed by Diana Miles. Many students had expected this to be an apology for the poor organization. and were surprised to receive a stem 10 minute lecture on how they had behaved poorly at the last exam. Ms. Miles threatened the examinees with the poss1b1lity of not being adm1ttcd to the bar, a comment that Wilmut described as "inappropriate."

Another student noted that making this announcement immediately prior to writing the exam may have affected her performance.

In the interview with Law and Style's Online Magazme. Ms. Miles claims that "The students were reminded of their professional obligations and they were set out in their exam rules and protocols. And they were reminded of the consequences of misconduct or the breach of those rules because that type of activity is. of course, disruptive to the other students and their colleagues in the room."

It should be noted that not all interviewees were as upset. Doug Robertson felt that LSlC merely needed to "iron out some kmks" on the first exam, and that the second exam was much better organized.

Similarly, Yousef emphasized that this was the first time the Law Soc1cty nm '"" ""w process. However, these views were clearly in the minority.

Students were particularly angered by the Law Soc1cty's attitude towards them, particularly Ms. Miles' speech and the exit checks. One student said it was "pitiful ho\\ little courtesy and respect we were shown," she closed by saymg "I am very disappointed in (the LSUC] and will be very cautious in any dealings I have with them".

External Review ''Reviewed''

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN through January II by Harold Hogju Koh. Dean and Latrobe Smith Professor of Ia~ at Yale Universtty and Jeffrey Scan Lehman. a former president at Cornell University and former Dean of Michigan Law School.

Overview The reviewers were high on praise in assessing the Faculty. They exclaimed that "what has been accomplished at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law over the past two decades almost defies description." and commended the Faculty for developing an "unusual degree of institutional throw-weight, rare outside of the United States and unique in Canada. that could dramatically extend the reach of the University into global conversations about the most pressing concerns facing humanity in the twenty-first century."

Praise and hyperbole aside, the review-

ers suggested that a significant amount of progress remains to be fulfilled, stating they "do not believe that the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law has realized its full potential (and) the stage is set for the Faculty to take on a new role in legal education." They suggested that the faculty has not yet "reached the degree of intellectual influence that characterizes the very finest law schools in. the world."

Overall, the tenor of the review was optimistic, with the reviewers predicting that within a few decades there wtll be "perhaps twenty or twenty-five universally recognized global law schools" and that alone among Canadian law schools, U ofT

has the potential to emerge as a "critical backbone institution. a true peer of the very best law schools in the world."

"these improvements appear to have been neither harmed nor caused by tuition increases during some but not all of the past five years."

Background

The review was based on documents received by the reviewers prior to their January 2006 visit to the Faculty Included was a January 15. 200 I report of a previous external re" 1cw committee headed by former Dean and Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci an August 2005 "Report on Research at the Faculty of Law," a col-

REV/8¥0FREV/8¥CONTINUEDONPAGE7

12

September 2006

REV/8¥ REVI8¥ED FURTHER PAGE 6 lection offacult) CV's, and the 2005-2006 Academic Handbook. The reviewers also met with faculty. students of the J.D. and graduate programs, and administrative support staff.

NEWS

necessary repairs have been put on hold, ex1sting students arc demoralized and the "disparity between the resources and essential need has reached a point where it is not hyperbole to invoke the word 'crisis."'

The rev1cwers were concerned that the Highlights of the Report: school's excellent professor retentiOn might be at risk because of anomalies that The Good have been created in the salary structure of fhc Law School was praised for hiring professors. This concern was rarsed by faculty members of "exceptional talent," Ultra Vires last October in a feature story, evidenced by the growing number of fac- which examined the trend of tying profesulty who have sor raises to offers either accepted or a professor is able declined overtures to solicit from US from top-her U.S. institutions. The law-schools over reviewers recogthe past decade. nized that this The reviewers reward structure noted the student has "the potential body has mirrored to create new the improvement in morale problems." the quality of faculThe reviewers also ty, at least by called it "starthng meanumerical to sec Toronto sures. Without citremain something ing evidence, they of an outher in the "these said overall budget for improvements faculty salaries," appear to have been and were unconneither harmed nor vinced this trend will continue, callcaused by tuition increases dunng some but not all of the ing the school fortunate to identify top past five years." Still, they found that the quality talent with "special reasons" to be faculty's students are "not yet of the same in Toronto.

Alumni contributions were lamented as scale and depth as the pools applying to being "disturbingly low, both m terms of and ultimately attending, the very best participation rates and aggregate contribuU.S. law schools."

Rased on conversations with !acuity, tion." the reviewers found that the selection of Recommendations For Mayo Murun as Dean was met with ..umTuition Structure vcrsal enthusiasm.'" While noting that past The reviewers recommended a shitl events have left some professors alienated away from a flat tuition structure to a more from the leadership at the faculty. the progressive differential structure through a reviewers felt that "a change in Deanship combination of bursaries and back-end will lead to a certain amount of reshuffling debt relief. They were adamant for making on the deck of dissatisfaction." The a case to government leaders on both reviewers applauded former Dean Ron fronts. caHing for: Daniels who "helped the Law Faculty to (a) Increased public investment in the recalibratc its aspirations to an internationFaculty, and, al standard of excellence," and urged Dean (b) The freedom to shift from an effectiveMoran to continue the charge forward and ly undifferentiated "low-tuition for all" not limit her Deanship to a "consolidation"' policy, to a differential tuition pohcy of past gains. wherein the net costs to students reflect both the ability to pay and the extent to The Bad which graduates translate thc1r education When the reviewers were cntical they into private benefit. often blamed weaknesses on a lack of The reviewers said "true tuition should resources and institutional investment, reflect a student's family resources. with shortfalls that arc not seen at the "finest wealthy students paying more than lowlaw schools"'. These institutions ensure income students" and urged the University their professors are participating in. and Provost to usc the ·'full persuasive force of able to influence. the most important legal the Provost's Office," to fight the "antidebates progressive tuition restraint."

In their analysis of the Faculty's facilities. the reviewers were critical, to say the Final Thought least. The current facilities were labelled Overall, the reviewers were optimistic "completely inadequate for the Faculty of that the Faculty is charting a course that Law's current needs, not to mention those will culminate in its establishment as one nec~s which arc on the horizon." On of the world's elite Jaw schools. The tipissues of amenity and office sizes the fac- ping point. in their eyes, lies in the "kinds ulty has already "absorbed compromises of investments that the taxpayers, the in those areas that few would tolemtc on provincial government, the university, the many other campuses." The number of students, and the alumni are ready to make classrooms, the lack of academic confer- in an institution that is already an estabence space. and fundamental structural lished jewel in the university's crown." features that inhibit the intellectual community, "make the Faculty inhospitable to disabled students, staff, faculty and visitors." The reviewers were highly critical of the current building facility, noting that

The number of classrooms, the lack of acadernie conference space, and fundamental structural features that inhibit the intellectual community, "make the Faculty inhospitable to disabled students, staff, faculty and visitors."

8

LEGAL ISSUES

ultra vires

In support of Israel

In defence of Lebanon

BY DANIEL ENGEL

BY MUEED PEER BHOY

I have often hl!en asked how I can still goal is the destruction of Israel. It would support Israel in light of all of the blood- be naive to think that this was a conflict shed and death that has taken place over about two kidnapped sold1ers. Hezbollah's the past few months. I must admit, it has aggression gave Israel the pretence it been difficult at times. I do not blindly needed to go mto Lebanon to cripple an support Israeli actions or pohcy. And I enemy that was growmg increasingly cannot even begin to understand the pain stronger. How docs a country deal with an that the people of Lebanon have endured enemy whose primary goal is to destroy it? this summer, especially that of the family How can you negotiate with people who members and friends of civilians who do not accept your very existence? In the died. These tragedies raise a flood of ques- short term, diplomacy might have solved tions in my mind about the conflict while the justness of the war allowing Hezbollah to gam and the proportionality of Israel's actions. But as I strength to seek felt more and more out its ultimate uneasy with the number goal in the not-soof casualties that have distant future.

So Israel took fallen victim to this war, actwn. Was this a friend reminded me of two very important the best course of points .that often get foraction? Maybe it gotten. was, maybe it was The first point, pernot. It is very easy haps a little ofT topic, is for us to sit here in that the Jewish people Canada and pass need a Jewish State. This is something that judgment on Israel for the number of r have understood on an intellectual level civilian casualties in Lebanon, but I ask my entire life. But it was something that I once again. how does a country deal with never truly understood until I walked an enemy - one that is embedded within through the halls of the Holocaust the civilian population - that seeks to Memorial Museum in Jerusalem; reliving destroy it? a time when the entire world turned its So of course there were civilian casualback on six million people, a tlme when lies mcluding many women and children. the Jews of Europe desperately needed a But these arc the realities of war. What place to run. So what docs this have to do needs to be rejected is the idea that Israel with the war in Lebanon? Well, throughout IS this great persecutor that is interested in its short history, Israel has unfortunately gammg control of its neighbour's land been involved in more than its fair share of through either intentional or reckless maswars. But any time Israel has engaged in sacres of innocent people. In 1944, when an armed conflict, the basic goal has the R.A.F. tried to bomb the Gestapo always been the same - to live as a free Headquarters in Copenhagen, some of the nation within ib borders. Israel is not a bombs missed their targets and fell on a nation that seeks to destroy or oppress, nor Danish childrens hospital, killing 83 chilis Israel a nation that seeks to conquer the dren. It would be absurd to paint the lands of other peoples. And when it has R.A.F. as murderers or war criminals.

Of course this conflict is much more annexed land, it has done so for the security of its own people. complex than I can communicate in one Furthermore, Israel has always been short opinion. Even if Ultra Vires were to willing to return the land in exchange for dedicate an entire issue to the conflict. it peace. As cliche as it may be, if Israel's could only skim the surface of debate. And enemies laid down thc1r arms, there would I do not believe that Israel has clean hands be no more wars; if Israel laid down its in its dealings w1th Hczbollah. I simply arms, there would be no more Israel. wanted to bring to light a couple of points This leads me to my second point: that often get lost in the death tolls and Israel was dealing with a~ enemy whose pictures of rubble.

How does a country deal with an enemy whose primary goal is to destroy it? How can you negotiate with people who do not accept your very existence?

Do Payoffs ever pay off?

BY TRAVIS ALlA.N After I 0 minutes of platitudes I am startmg to wonder what this guy wants. He has told me that he attends the Customs Institute, that he loves it, and that he very desperately wants to become a customs officer. But there is quite obviously more to the issue; he wants something. What he wants, specifically, is more than 50,000 Central African Francs, which by Camcrooman standards is quite a lot (circa $110 CON) My pleading interlocutor wants me to g1ve him the money because he needs to pay a medium-sized bribe to work as a customs officer. His customs exam results arc com-pletely irrelevant in the hiring process: the only things that matter here are who you know and who follows up your application

12 September 2oo6

LEGAL ISSUES

9

Maple Leaf Beyond the Khyber

BY JONATHAN SONG

When Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, Israel responded with an extended bombing campaign across Lebanon, followed by a military invasion of the southern region. It is this conflict that J have been asked to address in this short column. The Middle East is an incredibly sensitive topic that flares emotions and stokes controversy. But Mr. Engel's respectful reflection on his personal support for Israel serves as an important reminder that there is still room for reasonable discussion on this contentious issue. There is also room for further discussion on the points that he raised - some of which I will attempt to address in this column.

Israel's military response m Lebanon has attracted widespread criticism for its disproportionate use of force. In planning its response, Israel had several choices; a limited military engagement in southern Lebanon was, perhaps, the most reasonable option under the circumstances- this course would have achieved the dual objectives of damaging Hezbollah 's mfrastructure while limitmg Lebanese casualties. Instead, as the UN and several human rights organizations have noted, lsrael's strategy hinged on causing as much damage to Lebanon as possible. I low else would one explain the destruction of bridges. Beirut's internatiOnal a1rport, the targeting of fuel depots, and the Jiyeh power station, which resulted m the leakage of 20,000 tonnes of oil into the Mediterranean Sea? It seems that the Israeli obJective was to extract a heavy price from the Lebanese people for any moral support for Hezbollah. Such tactics reduce civilians to military tools and arc m clear contravention of international law.

Mr. Engel argues that civilian casualties arc an unavoidable fact of war, citing the 1944 R.A.F. bombmg in Copenhagen.

Without context, historical precedents cannot be used to justifY present-day actions.

This conflict was between Hezbollah and Israel. Given that Hezbollah is an armed militant group, its actions cannot engender an equivalent response by a state. That is

to say, if Hezbollah hides within civilian populations, it does not mean that Israel can target those areas; likewise, if Hezbollah targets civilian populations, Israel is not justified in doing the same.

Otherwise there would be no way to differentiate between the two.

Over millennia our understanding of what is permissible in warfare has narrowed, such that what was permissible even 30 years ago may not be anymore.

We recognize today that the ends do not always justify the means. Mr. Engel mentions the accidental bombing of a hospital in Copenhagen in WW2. The Atomic bomb was also used in WW2, Dresden was fire bombed, but it would be almost impossible to countenance their use today.

Additionally, the context was different: the Nazi war machine was very much equivalent to its Allied counterparts, and the Second World War was a war between nation states. None of those factors were present in this conflict.

Finally, Israel did not achieve its aim of neutralizing Hczbollah. As many commentators have pointed out, the only thing this military operation did was cement

It seems that the Israeli objective was to extract a heavy price from the Lebanese people for any moral support for Hezbollah.

tion is always a bad thing. It means a broken law and a huge breach of the public trust. But from an economic perspective. some types of corruption can legitimately in the capital Yaounde. Is the bribe worth be seen as posit1vc forces for econom1c It? My Cameroonian friend tells me that development (and customs agents arc some of the richest even more could be civil servants in the country. The reason classified as "neufor this surprising fact? Corruption. tral" with regard to Corruption is one of the most important development). If factors hindering development in many corruption is precountries. While we arc still on the lookout dictable, as it often for corruption in Canada, our problems are IS in developing miniscule, at least in terms of their effect nations, then it can function a lot like on every-day life.

At its simplest level, corruption can be the GST, except defined as the unethical exploitation of that it applies to government serv1ccs. Jn power for personal gain, and can include practice, the locals all know the standard the taking of bribes, nepotism, and favour- bribes for various common types of govtrading. From a legal perspective, corrup- • ernment mteraction (such as getting pulled

llcJ'.bollah's lcgili m ncy in the eyes ofArnb people. It also caused much death and

destruction to Israelis who suffered from dally rocket attacks launched indiscriminately into their city centres. Israel's use of ovenvhclming military force where limited military objectives and diplomacy would have sufficed has won Israel few friends and served to strengthen the radical forces that seek to harm it.

Radical elements on both sides of the d1vidc must be neutralized if the cycle of violence is to be broken and if a lasting peace is to be achieved. But peace can only cx1st once Israel and its Arab neighbours arnvc at a just and equitable resolution that addresses the needs of the everyday people caught up in this long-standing dispute.

over without a license or avoiding the tax collector). Like any consumption tax, corruption adds a transaction cost every time you buy something.

This, by definition, is bad for efficiency. but the effect can be outweighed by other gains so long as the rates arc predictable and affordable.

Interestingly. the market for government services works toward predictability because if one bureaucrat is a tyrant, savvy serviceusers can generally find another who will be willing to perform a service at a lower

If corruption is predictable, as it often is in developing nations, then it can function a lot like the GST

PAYOFFS CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

It has been five years since Canadian troops joined the Amencan-led attack on AI-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

By most accounts our soldiers arc fighting commendably. Yet the irregulars in the region have once again proven stubbornly difficult to subdue. The last few months even saw a Taliban summer ofTensivc.

Though the enemy suffered heavy losses. they retain considerable fighting power. In light of these events, many of our politicians have been calling for renewed parliamentary debate about Canada's role in the Afghan war: in some cases to shore up public support, in many more to advocate withdrawal. and perhaps in even more cases as thinly-disguised efforts to avenge political setbacks from the last Federal election ...

Which brings to m1nd the question, just what arc Canada's constitutional reguirements for going to war? The first thing I noticed was that this was much less of an issue here than in the United States, where war-making powers are vested in the Congress. According to most scholarly opinion, the President, of his own authority, may only deploy troops into battle to repel immediate invasion of the US or on relatively small ventures like fightmg pirates. Canada, however, has inherited the much more streamlined British system where the representatives of the Monarch, in practice, the Prime Minister and hts

Cabinet, have full powers of foreign policy, especially when they head a maJonty government. For a country that prides itself on being less bellicose than the United States, having a less constitutionally demanding criteria for gomg to war might seem odd.

After all, the American system has in practice, with the rise of political partics, adopted many parliamentary characteristics. Either party in Congress becomes Party when one of their own resides in the White House, thus rendering Congressional control of the purse less meaningful than it once was. Given how we so self-righteously criticize the Americans for murky policymaking, docs our legal framework for expeditionary wars not seem inadequate as well?

One way out was to expect our soldiers to be peacekeepers ... rather than soldiers.

And when they were sent to fight, we looked to the overriding authority of the United Nations Security Council to authorize military expeditions besides those undertaken for singular or collective selfdefense.

Yet this rule, too, is apparently flexible, and increasingly so, as hostility to

PAYOFFS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

create environmental and labour standards. What's more, you can't depend on 11

p n cc.

Better yet,

in countries like

Cameroon, which arc workin g on fighting

corruption, they might even be able to go to a superior and talk their way out of a bribe entirely.

One major gain is that bribes can compensate government workers who are underpa1d relative to their true worth m the labour market. This is often the case when a lot of money gets siphoned ofT by bureaucrats and politicians higher up the political food-chain, leaving . less f~r lower-level salaries. Theoretically, 1t would be possible for the government to be economically indifferent between paymg for h1gher salaries by charging higher service fees (or raising taxes), and keepmg fees and taxes the same and allowing bribes. In reality, because of inefficient (and potentially corrupt) government finances, the bribery option makes more sense if your only concern is making sure that lower-level government employees arc pa1d thetr due.

Corruption can also help people get around bad laws. In many cases, these countries do not have well developed democratic systems. Laws and regulations can involve endless amounts of unnecessary paperwork, spirit-crushing taxes, and regulatory hurdles that do not achieve any recognizable social or environmental benefit. Greasing the wheels can lower transaction costs (such as waiting times) and uncertainty by reducing them into one or two quantifiable bribes. This, in tum, leads to increased investment, growth and employment.

Of course, just as you can bribe your way around bad laws, you can also use bribes to escape legitimate attempts to

Russian influence bu1lds among Western political and media elites. Despite all the later huffing and puffing about the legal controversy over the 2003 Iraq war, our country had joined NATO campaigns in the former Yugoslavia without the UN's blessing, so long as the obJectives were putatively humanitarian and the Amcncan President leading the war was · rhetorically palatable.

Though there was a fair degree of public controversy about our involvement in those wars, there was little parliamentary debate about the decisions.

Indeed, the idea that armed humanitarian intervention has 11s own legal basis has become more popular in substantial clements of both the Liberal and Conservative part1es.

What explains our political need for supra-national legitimacy in all things military? Jn large part, it would have to be that unique characteristic of contemporary Canadian political culture: a cosmopolitan nationalism rooted in, well ... cosmopolitanism. The historical memory of Canadians does not make much room for martial traditions. The First World War is reduced to poppies, the Second Wor\d War is remembered \ess for the war and more

for the politic • and the Korean War seems all but forgotten. Rather, our pre\ ious governments clutched at our reputation a<; reliable gendarmes of the UN. like pearls of alabaster, bragging about having boots on the ground in dozens of hot spots worldwide. More recently, that many of these interventions arc inadequate has begun to sink in ... that many might also be confused may be taking more time.

Both the prior Liberal and the prc~ent Conscrvativegovernments spoke strongly of rebuilding the Canadian military into a compact but powerful expeditionary force, so as to re-invigorate our alliance with the United States and to help give teeth to the UN's much maligned collective security mandate. All \\CII and good, but Canada invariably joins major foreign C.\pedition:. as a junior partner. and playing the sepoy or even the Gurkha to the Raj in New York or Washington, will have its costs as well as its benefits. After all, regarding the conduct of war. especially irregular war, adherence to legality is often little more than an honorable fiction.

Like those of many countries, our constitutional requirements for going to war arc loose, and perhaps inevitably so. But what is not inevitable is the notorious vagueness with which Canadians have long approached their criteria for armed intervention. As our television screens light up with more images of atrocities abroad and the "CNN effect" continues to work its black magic, it wou\d behoove us to consider just what we are after, \est our so\dien. end up getting shot at in God know~ where, b)' God knows whom, and

bureaucrat bothering with moral distinc-

tions when he is concerned with topping up his Mercedes fund.

This brings us to the unequivocally negative examples of corruption. Consider the misuse of legitimately discretionary official authority like that involvmg my friend's application to work as a customs officer. Any hopes for a meritocratic customs service arc dashed by the bribery requirements, since hiring is based on factors totally unrelated to competence and integrity. Even worse, people who take bribes arc, by definition. picking people who pay bribes, and the people who pay bribes will certainly want their money back. They will take a cut of whatever is 1mported into the country (that's why customs workers are among the richest civil servants), and so the cycle of corruption IS perpetuated. This cycle means that illiberal class structures are perpetuated, and superbly qualified poor applicants ar: ~hut out from the service. Much needed InJeCtion of talent into the bureaucracy is lost, and the resulting governmental incompetence can dramatically hinder a country's econom1c development.

These distinctions matter for lawyers who want to work in development and human rights. Resources for helping countries create just legal systems are not plentiful, and that means that you have to pick your battles carefully. If you understand corruption and take it into account, you can make sure that it doesn't stop your project, and if your project is to fight corruption, then you can make sure that you go after the right types.

~

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There will always be members of the law school population who are distinct from others in their class. Academic superiority, business sense and confidence set them apart, yet these aren't the only qualities that define them. It's not so much who they are, but where they want to go that separates them from the crowd. These are the students who w\\\ ach\eve their goals with Goodman and Carr UP. Goodman and Carr welcomes U of T graduates Natalia Bitton and Paul Franclosa as Artlcllng Students and congratul.tes A/on Elzen,.,.

and Derek Frueh on a successful summer.

o r s ccess starts wit o r stu ents . www. fmc-law .com/careers

FRASER MILNER CASGRAIN LLP MONTREAL· OTTAWA· TORONTO· EDMONTON· CALGARY· VANCOUVER. NEW YORK

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parental income of at least 32°/o of the first The status quo in socioeconomic diveryear class was over $100,000 and at least sity also docs not represent any material 12% over $200,000. Both figures are like- improvement over the situation several BYRANGOEL ly much higher, because 28% of the stu- years ago. For example, the number of Diver:.ity ha:. long been an issue at the ite, Notwithstanding these difficulties, two dent body did not apply for financial aid reported parental incomes over $100,000 Faculty of La~. A glance at the class com- facts arc clear. First, the present socioeco- and accordingly did not disclose parental has risen from 24% of the student body in posites that line our hallways illustrates nomic profile of the JD student body is income. However, most of the unreported I 999 to 32%, and those above $200,000 why. When the Law wholly unrepresenta- category is likely made up of students that has quadrupled to 12% On the other hand, Society finally rective of any reasonable either did not require or did not expect to those students reporting parental income ognized this law sample of the general receive financial aid due to high parental of $60,000 or less increased from I 8% to school's program of income. population. Second, 19%. This is certainly to be welcomed. study in 1958, only Assuming that two-thirds of the unresocioeconomic diverHowever, this apparent improvement one woman graduatsity has not improved ported category are of parents With over should attract a measure of skepticism It ed out of a class of and may have even $I 00,000 in income means that 5 I% of the stands to reason that in 1999/00, with thirty-three. Visible stagnated in certain first-year student body was m that group. tuition fees at $8,000, relatively more of minorities were simirespects over the last Comparing this percentage to a general the below $60,000 income group were listlarly underrepresentincome distribution pattern is a sobering few years. ed as unreported because they either did ed. In 1968, a few cxerc1se.

In Toronto for 200 I, only 18% of The first observanot require financial aid or did not expect years after Professor tion should be unsur- households had a median income of over to receive it since only $694,000 in finanArnold Weinrib prising. In relative $I 00,000. This comparator group under- cial assistance was available compared to states the began teaching at the terms, the JD student $1.98 million last Faculty, only ten problem body is a socioecoyear. Thus, the women graduated out of a class of 132. In nomically privileged group. Many are the s i n c c low-income the decades that have followed, truly progeny of lawyers, politicians, doctors, Toronto's group may have breathtaking progress has been made. academics, scmor civil servants, corporate median even shrunk in According to the Faculty's figures, almost executives, diplomats and so forth. While household the past few half the class of 2007 are women and a law school specific mformation is not income is years. In any third are visible minority or Aboriginal available, 75% of fathers and 68% of higher than event, it is fairly students. Although important questions mothers of the University's professional in any other uncontroversial remain, it is incontrovertible that the law students have completed a post-secondary Canadian that fewer stuschool is more diverse than ever before m and degree. A 2005 UV survey indicated that city dents from midterms of students' gender, cultural, relialmost one-third of the student body had over a quardle income backgious, sexual orientation and physical or attended a private elementary or secondary ter higher grounds enter the learning disability backgrounds. than the school, compared to approximately 5% of Faculty today as The same cannot be said for socioeco- the current Canadian student population. national level. In Canada as a whole in compared to 1999. nomic diversity. To be sure, the socioecoThe data collected by administration 2001, 20°/o of families earned over The lack of socioeconomic diversity at nomic makeup of the class is much harder from financial aid applications buttresses $92,000 compared to 56% (under the the Faculty is deeply concerning. To borto gauge and cannot be determined these rough indications. In 2004/05, the above assumption) of the incoming class through a mere glance at a class compos- latest year for which data is available, the of 2004/05 with parental income over row from Rawls, if we take seriously the I $90,000.

WHO CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

the present socioeconomic profile of the JD student body is wholly unrepresentative of any reasonable sample of the general . population

there was never a 'golden age' for socioeconomic diversity that this Faculty should aspire to maintain

Diversity Brings New Face to the Law School

BY BRYN GRAY In 1899, Clara Brett Martin became the first woma~ to graduate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.

Having moved from a school to a profession largely dominated by white men from affiuent families, she later became the first female barrister in Canada and in the British Empire. With the passing of more than a century, the face of the law school has certainly changed. Headed by the Faculty's first female Dean, the law school prides itself on its diverse student bodymade up of individuals of various ethnic, cultural, racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as those of different ages, gender, and sexual orientation.

This focus on diversity is not an exception to U ofT- it has become a buzzword at law schools and law firms across Canada. Diversity is seen as enhancing the educational experience by bringing together and promoting different perspectives. In so doing, it encourages robust debate that broadens our viewpoints and challenges our preconceived notions and stereotypes.

Over the years, the Faculty has made significant progress in promoting diversity. Approximately 50 per cent of the student body are women and 30 per cent are Aboriginal and visible minorities. Almost 30 percent of students have come from outside Ontario and attended over 40 undergraduate institutions. Many have also obtained graduate degrees, worked full-time prior to law school, and been

actively involved in various extracurricular activities.

While at law school, students have an increasingly diverse range of courses, workshops. and clinical opportunities available to them. Outside the classroom, students can also get engaged m public interest work at Downtown Legal Scrv1ces and involved in the gamut of student groups promoting diversity issues.

Looking beyond graduation, students can also learn about diversity in the workplace and careers in public interest work through · seminars and other information provided by the Career Development Office Despite this progress, there inevitably remains work to be done. For example, it appears that more visible minority students may feel less comfortable at the law school. In a February 2006 survey

by Ultra Vires, 37 per cent of visible minority students opposed the statement "I feel like I fit in here," in comparison to only 15 per cent of non-minority students.

While the empirical soundness may be

questiOnable, the large gap raises an issue as to whether the faculty and students are doing enough to foster a community that all individuals feel they can belong to.

Additionally, students appear divided on whether the school's faculty is sufficiently d1verse. In a 2005 student poll, 52 per cent of students gave a B grade or higher on the schools' efforts to promote a racially diverse faculty, whereas 48 per cent indicated that not enough was bemg done, with grades of C t- or lower. While the numbers have been improving, less than 20 per cent of the faculty are visible minorities.

Dean Moran has indicated that the focus remains on finding the best professors; however, the issue has been frequently discussed and more visible minorities have been hired in recent years.

Beyond the law school itself, we should also be looking at why so many diverse law school graduates seem to be choosing similar career paths. Of the 2006 articling

Beyond the law school itself, we should also be looking at why so many diverse law school graduates seem to be choosing similar career paths

students, 82 per cent of those who reported jobs were at private firms. Admittedly, this is consistent with the national average and there is great diversity among the type of firms, pmct1ce areas, size, and location.

The fact remains, however, that only 8 per cent opted for a job in government or at an agency, board, commission, or legal clinic.

Undoubtedly, there are several factors behind these numbers and the COO has made great efforts to promote diverse career choices through initiatives like its Guide to Careers in Public Interest Law, its annual Public Interest Day, and the upcoming Public Interest Career Workshop. However, these numbers suggest the Faculty should be looking at whether there are other obstacles preventing students from pursuing less traditional career paths. The COO will be implementing a survey this fall that includes questions about salary, debt, and diversity which will hopefully provide for an enlightened discussion on this matter.

Despite these issues, the Faculty has come a long way in promoting diversity. It is an ongoing task that we can all be part of and benefit from. It is indeed through this diversity that we can each broaden our own perspectives, question our prejudices, and promote tolerance and acceptance both within and beyond the walls of the law school.

BY JORDAN NAHMIAS Everyone knows him. Whether 11 IS from the random calls of "YES YES YES!" in front of Hemingway's on a Friday mght, or seeing him doing push-ups in the dead of winter at Bay and Bloor, you can't pretend not to know who the guy is; he docsn 't wear a shirt, ever, and always sports a Santa Claus cap.

Yes, it 1s Zanta. Although some of you may simply dismiss him as the ''insane guy" who was banned from most of the downtown core, he is a real person with a real story.

I spoke with h1m recently, and found out more about him and his life. Zanta (a.k.a. Dav1d Zancai) used to be a contractor and construction worker.

However, he injured himself badly when he plummeted 25 feet to the ground on-site, and was temporarily paralyzed and in a coma. After rehabilitation, he suffered another Joss that of his daughter to his wife in a heated custody battle. It was then that he decided he would become Zanta. When I spoke

WHO - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 tdea of individuals as free and equal - as any political society purporting to be democratic should - it cannot be that socioeconomic background plays such a decisive role m who ultimately ends up at law school. f<nsuring such divcrsily here is more important than perhaps at any other institution in the country. From lhts Faculty have emerged some of the leading agenda setters of today, notably mcludmg the first Jewish female Supreme Court judge, the mayor of Toronto, the federal health minister, the last Prime Minister and both the interim leader and frontrunner leadership contender of the federal Liberal Party. The status quo shortchanges both those who should be here but are not and those that are here but do not have more opportunities to be shaped by colleagues from all walks of life.

This is not to discount the Faculty's admirable efforts to address socioeconomic diversity. The problem is not the result of any 'legacy' criteria used by the law school such as those that exist at some private US umvcrsities for children of alumni or donors. Both front-end and back-end financial assistance are being continually expanded and fine-tuned. The LAWS pilot program attempts to address the broader issue by directly targeting high school students whom might not otherwise reach their potential through a law-focused education program. This past summer LAWS secured three-week legal placements for 24 students from inner-c1ty high schools.

The Faculty endeavors to fulfill all speaking requests from high schools and is lo~k­ ing at better ways to target rccrUJtmg efforts at students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Dean Moran _w1ll _be leading a capstone course on d1vcrs1ty (presumably addressing the _socioc~ono~­ ic dimension) in the profession wh1ch w1ll culminate in a summit for the legal community.

Notwithstanding these efforts, the pre-

with him, he said plays when he is Zanta disappears, back to life.

Aside from his

that it is a character he out. Once he is home, and Mr. Zancai comes

the positive, you must say "Yes, Yes, Yes!" (I didn't find out what he wants you to say when you want to say "No").

Unfortunately, you won't get to sec bio, Zanta is generally Zanta as often as you might like, as he is banned from a large part of Toronto. He was often spotted on TV m the windows of Much Music.

The people at our beloved Canadian-MTV got a little tired of it. and eventually filed for a ban on his presence in the vicinity of the MuchMusic building. Luckily for us, he hasn't been banned from the area around our school (hopefully, we will sec him around with the creepy guy m the trenchcoat) So, next time you sec Zanta, don't give him the cold shoulder Instead, applaud him for being out there in the cold without a shirt on, and entertaining us with his ranjust a nice guy. Now that he and I know dom yelps and push-ups. He is an essential each other, he always says hi. He never part of Toronto, and one that l would never , ,.lt!rt; un.IIJI&ik,_, .&.t~i~aa. asks for money from anyone either. He just want to do without. wants to entertain the Toronto masses, and ~IJIItl'*' u..,AIIJaJ.MJUispread his Zanta-brand of love. He also For more info on Zanta, go to www.toron insists that if you are to respond to him in tozanta.ca fi.e,lllliit:la,!Jt.fllflllll;.&..i!au.e&

cedmg discussion brings into question the improvement in socioeconomic diversity ta\\y, further down the pipe\me. the administration's prevailing view that falls outside the realm of the Faculty's Faculty must foster and nurture much diversity has improved or remained the tuition fee or financial aid po\ici.es. lt i.s more scholarship and policy inputs on same over the last few years. For example, largely a pipeline issue: in relative terms, socioeconomic 1ssues. in a February 2006 report to the not as many students from \ower socioecoThere arc many avenues to consider and Umverstty's Governing Council - issued nomic backgrounds graduate from high potcntia\\y pursue. ln the case of equally shortly before members voted to approve school .1nd not enough enter and graduate qunlificd candidates. should the Faculty tuilion hikes the admimstmtion conclud- unn·crstty to c~·cn be in a position to upply the one.• that llltcncl<·d ll high scluml ed: "[Ajs tuition levels for the entering to law school. Even if they do groduatc, tnc:lt<msc u lon·-tncornc: arr:a or the c.·andtcf,uc class have increased ... the student body particularly with rising undergraduate from a region wbere few go on to uniH:rhas become tuition levels over sity? Should the orientation session of the stronger, as meathe last decade, adm1ss1ons committee be revamped to sured by GPA and many students provide members further instruction on LSAT scores, and from such back- Identifying capable candidates of /ower more diverse." grounds work socioeconomic background? Should the The recent considerable law school set up a free LSAT course External Rcv1ew hours which may taught by volunteer law students for

by Yale Dean compromise their undergraduate students with good grades Harold Koh and potential to and parents who have not completed a Cornell Professor achieve sufficient post-secondary degree? How about a Jeffrey Lehman GPA and LSAT $5,000 prize for the best student proposal agreed with this scores and to to tackling the soc1occonomic diversity assessment: remain involved problem? Should the Faculty hire scholars "[N]umcrical in extracurricular w1th the legal, as well as social science measures of stuactivities. background. that addressing this problem dent body diversiExistmg debt lev- may reqUJre? ty also improve."

Recognition and internalization of the els may dissuade application to law problem is essential for the formulat ion of However. unless school because of an appropriate response by administration construed in an overly narrow uncertainty and to stimulate an intensified discussion sense, this is simregarding future amongst the tremendously talented mdiply not the case. assis- viduals that makeup this Faculty. Without financial Indeed, contance and of ulti- such a conversation, it is doubtful whether tentions that nsmately securing a the law school community can effectively position after address the complex issues that socioecomg tuition levels ·. . . have not adversely affected d1vers1ty m1ss graduation. nomic diversity brings into play. The Although the Faculty's efforts to date Faculty's most recent recruitment guide the more important point: there was never a 'golden age' for socioeconomic di~crs~ty must be applauded, further initiatives must lists three adjectives m describing its instithat this Faculty should aspire to mamtam. be informed by an institutional internaliza- tutional history: 'Defiance, Risk, The query is not whether such diversity is tion and explicit recognition of the very InnovatiOn.' Are we rcmainmg true to this worse or the same as it was before the serious socioeconomic diversity problem spmt w1th regards to socioeconomic divertuition hikes, the question is why it has not at the Faculty and in legal education in sity? Keeping with the institutional fabric, improved. The wisdom of continually geneml. A sense of urgency must b~ su_m- the t1mc IS ripe to defy. to risk. to innovate increasing tuition fees at rates f~r o~tpa~­ moncd to address both ends of the p1pehnc and, like the 1953 march on the Law ing inflation \Yhile socioeconomic d1~ers1- predicament. On the closest end. the Society in which the Faculty demanded ty has remained the same or suffered IS not Faculty must rc-conceptualizc its recruit- formal recognition. even to protest. ment efforts and application process to immediately apparent.

That said, the reality is that significant reduce barriers to entry. More fundamcn-

if we take seriously the idea of individuals as free and equal- as any political society purporting to be democratic should - it cannot be that socioeconomic background plays such a decisive role in who ultimately ends up at law school

FEATURES

Talking about your Student Caucus ...

BY DAVID DEGROOT Student Caucus is composed of the Prcstdcnt, the Vtcc-Prestdent Academic, and approxtmatcly fifteen Student Representatives Student Representatives arc elected by students from each year of law school to sit on Faculty Council and tts various committees. This year's Student Representatives are Saad Ahmad (3L), Kathryn Bird (3L), David de Groot (3L), Laura Hage (3L), Tanya Thompson (3L), Khalid Janmohamed (2L), Alex Kcnjcev (2L), Daniel Naymark (2L), Todd Orvitz (2L), and Hadiya Roderique (2L).

I!lecttons for fir.:;t year representatives occur m September. The President is also entitled to sit on Faculty 'council and its committees. and acts as a liaison between Student Caucus and the Faculty. The VP Academic is a member of Student Caucus but is not guaranteed a scat on Faculty Council. The VP Academic, a new posttion approved by a referendum last year, tS designed to facilitate student policy inittatives and should result in more student concerns being raised at Faculty Council.

Hey UofT! Nothing beats a good student caucus!

All Representatives arc required to sit on Faculty Council committees. The committees include: Accesstbility, Academic Appeals, Admissions, Diversil), Financial

Aid, Library and Information Technology, Short and Long Term Curriculum, and Student Affairs. Work loads vary between commtttees and fluctuate each year, though some committees have more standard work loads or should have increased work loads this upcoming year.

The Admtsstons Committee is responsible for asststing the administratton m determming which students are admitted to the law school. Thts committee ts composed solely of thtrd year students and meets very frequently in the second term.

Last year the Diversity Committee was relatively quiet, but hopefully with the addition of the VP Academic, the Student Representatives on this committee can raise issues as these issues continue to dominate the student body's agenda. The biggest challenge facing this committee will be getting the faculty to call committee meetings, as last year thts committee met infrequently.

The Financial Aid Committee ts responsible for deciding student financial appeals and reviewing the Faculty's financial aid policies. This committee is composed of an equal number of facull) and students, as well as the Associate Dean (Students) CAUC-ASS CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

•••

ultra vires

And Student Affairs

BY BRENT VALLIS

Roundmg out the second half of the SLS, we have the Student Affairs branch.

Whereas the great folks in Caucus bring you things such as back-friendly chairs, heated classrooms and sensible exam schedules, we're pleased to focus more on what's happening OUTSIDE the classroom. Because believe it or not, there is actually more to Law school than all-night cram sessions, 'bridge to nowhere' weeks, and learning that a tort is not just a delicious dessert. There's also the mad dash for fat Bay Street jobs! Just kiddmg. Sort of. Anyways, what I'm referring to is the plethora of student-run clubs and societies that make U ofT Law such an interesting and vibrant place to be. It's the mandate of Student Affairs to make sure that these organizations have a voice in student government, and that they get the funding they need to bring us special events such as guest speakers, the Law Follies, and showcases of Aboriginal culture & dance, to name a few. We also make sure they' re able to entice you to attend their meetings wtth free lunch! Because great ideas aren't conceived on an empty stomach. The best part is, all clubs sponsored by the SLS arc open to everyone in the school. So find some that interest you! You'll enJOY the opportunity to make new friends. build your resume (for the kccners). and contribute something back to the school bl.!sidcs shitty bridge week papers. And

heck, a little free pizza never hurt anyone.

Can't find a club that interests you? Start one! Just pick up an application at the SLS office, or talk to one of your friendly SA reps to get the ball rolling. In the same spirit of getting our collective noses out of the books, we here at Student Affairs also take great joy in bringing you a wide range of social activities throughout the school year This means pancake breakfasts, Pub Nites (every Thursday night don't miss it!}, and student talent shows, to name but a few. And of course some of the best freakin' PARTIES you've ever seen!

Believe it. Keep your eyes open around the school, and check Headnotcs for updates on the many great events in store for this year.

The most important things we need at Student AfTairs arc your ideas and feedback. Be sure to share with us anything we can do to make U of T Law a more fun interesting and inclusive experience. Yo~ can drop by the SLS office, send us an email, or just chat with us in the hall. For first years, your reps will be elected soon.

The upper year SA reps are Melissa Serbin, Andrew Anthony, Brent Vallis, Stephen Shore, and Gabt Szcrze. Or you can go dtrcctly to the head honcho, VP of Student Affairs Hadiya Rodcrique Here's to a great year!

FEATURES

12 September 2006

Prescriptions from the love doctor

dreaded cxe". He t advice is not to let it and end up married and you look like the bother you. Take the positive pin on ja~:ku s (but that ha,n't happened to me or things. She make~ plans "ith more than anything, I :.wear). one dude which means that thi:. isn't a ca e 71te bad news is that the Umi/,o\'C Doctor of using my new boyfriend for leverage to doe.s twt make house call\ (to gire ad..,ice). get the old one back. Also. if she is still 711e good news is that any tfii£'Stimhlcon"DR." RUT! liE WAHL friendly with all of her exes, it probably cermlcummcnt' can be ,,·ent to Law students and play the "older and wiser" card - means that she docsn 't go all psycho-chick ,......:.;:.:..:.:.;~.:.:.!.;~.!!!!.:!.!!.~:.:!.!:~-----­ arc inquis1ttvc you've been through first year and can at breakup time. This may come in handy CAUC-ASS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 beings, as any help with nerves and guidance, or at least for you down the lmc. who acts as Chair. Last year the Financial one who has give a wicked back massage. Make sure Aid Committee's student members borne witness she goes to law school bar nights: liquid What:,· up Doc? several issue~ on the table after placed to the "kcencr- courage always helps with getting phone My best frwnd has this girlfriend who I dmfting a report of student opinions on itis" which infects a number of first years numbers. Besides, she'll need someone to just can't stand. They im·ite me out all the financial aid. This publication should each fall can attest. In the spirit of these MSN when she's deathly bored in legal time and I am always looking for excuses result in renewed policy discussions. inquiring mind~. to gtve them a forum, and process. Become that guy. Good luck! not to go. I think he is starting to wonder Last year's Short-Term Curriculum to help them steer their course, I will chanwl~~· I am not going out with them, but I Committee was responsible for instituting nel a seventy-eight year old, short, Dear Doctor, don't want to tell him what everybody else some changes to the first year bridge week adorable, psychosexual therapist. Instead I have this girlfriend, we hw·e a good sees. This girl is just plain out annoying curriculum.

Reviewing these changes and of Dr. Ruth or Dear Abby, welcome to the relatwnsh1p but she maintains fnend~hips and notflm. What do I do? making further suggestions to the first Law/Love Doctor! with a couple of her ex-boyfriend~. By Losing my Buddy to the Dark Side year curriculum will likely continue to Doctor, friend~hips, I mean they will go for dinner dominate this committee's agenda.

There is this new first year girl who is or a movie together every 2 months or so Dear Losing my Buddy to the Dark Side, After much debate, Faculty Council really hot and she seems really cool, but (one on one). I am kind ofbothered by this, If your buddy is happy, there is not approved Alex Kenjeev's environmental she hasn't noticed me because I haven't because at least one of the guys is single much you can do. It would be extraordiin principle and sent it to the proposal had too much time to flirt because of the and, I am sure he still has feelings for her. narily selfish if you said something to tank Student AfTatrs Committee for debate. hell that are OC!s. What should I do to get How do I tell her not to go out with these the relationship just because she's not Thts will occupy much of the time of this in with this girl? guys without looking over-possessive and cool, when knowing that this girl means a committee.

Thanks, Wanting-to-tap-it. controlling? lot to him. You could do things with them Other issues that will dominate Student llelpt Incredible Hulk-Sized Jealousy that require minimal effort and talking Caucus' agenda this year, and that will Dear Wanting-to-tap-it, movies, playing sports, going to concerts.

Complex. likely affect several of the committees, First, some self-reflection is in order. Is Then her annoying-ness is minimized and include the building proposal and potenthis gul hot and cool in an "It has been a Dear Incredible Hulk-Sized Jealousy your friend won't suspect a thing. But if tial tuition increases under the new legisyou see cracks in the relationship, and he long, dry summer" kind of way? Or in an Complex, lation. Additionally, if you have any con"Oh my god, mother of my children" kind Bottom line is that you are totally starts saying that things aren't going very cerns that you want brought before of way? The answer will affect how you screwed. If you say something, girlfriend well, it is OK for you to exploit the situaFacu\ty Counci\ you shou\d contact one of proceed. No matter what you think this girl will accuse you of not trusting her and if tion and tell him how you fee\. This \':> de\your Student Representatives. could be, I recommend you increase face you don't, steam will come out of your icate territory though. Sometimes they stay time immediately. Hang around at lunch cars every time she makes plans with the together anyway despite what you've said

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FEATURES

16

ultra vires

Filllling Under the Radar in

Profile: Downtown Legal Services stay on top of all my deadlines (Note: my major phobia this summer was that I would completely forget a court date and leave a client stranded, which knock on wood hasn't happened yet!).

But it wasn't all intake lines and set dates by working on so many files over an extended period of time. most summer students got to do some prctt)' exciting work. I had one case go to trial, and two refugee education to help people and make a dif- hearings over the summer It's an incredible feeling - you're up there, presenting ference. made this JOb incredible. arguments like a "real lawyer" before a A typical day at DLS this summer might court or an administrative hearing, and have involved going to court for a set date. working on the intake phone lines (which hoping for the best.

Those experiences were scary, because anyone who volunteered at DLS in first year will remember fondly!), and case it felt like something significant was in my work. Although court dates and intake hands, but I never felt like I wasn't supshifts (four hours per week) are beyond ported. Not only did I have excellent your control, you are free to set your own review lawyers. but I also had the support schedule in other matters. This felt very of the other summer students. I'm remindindependent, but also made it crucial to ed of one last-minute-binding-emergency What did that mean in real life?

Because it'll no doubt be incredibly obvious. I'll just come out and say it - I absolutely adored my summer at DLS. The people I worked wi th, the work itself, and the feeling of actually using your legal

I'll just come out and say it - I absolutely adored my summer at DLS

and mad-dash to the Immigration Refugee Board for a 4pm deadline, and the invaluable help of some fellow DLSers. (Thanks again guys!)

The clinic's atmosphere was another summer highlight for me, we had two official "Fun Days" (to Wonderland, and High Park) but there were many more unofficial ones (lunches, a surprise party. charades ... ) The long and the short of it is that working at DLS over the summer is an amazing experience in so many ways - you get amazing client contact, meaningful work experiences, and you get to work with some terrific people. Everyone comes out of the summer with their share of stories about wacky clients, heartbreaking cases. awful judges or Crowns. However, even 1f a student docs not want to work at DLS full time over the summer, they can still experience many of the excellent experiences of clinic work by volunteering at the clime, or working there as a credit student.

Profile: Advocates for Injured Workers

February welcom e day, an upper year student who I never met again

told me all about his work at AIW. I was thus convinced that U ofT was all about social justice and fighting for the little guy. It was obviously the law school where I belonged.

At the time of my recruitment to both U ofT and AIW. 1 was working evening shifts at a plastic auto parts factory.

That job was not as glamorous as it may sound, though it was slightly safer than my previous job at a yam factory. These jobs provided me with the motivation to go to law school, hopefully one day make more than I 0 dol\ars an hour and to ultimately seck justice for people who had been injured on the job. A number of my co-workers, people I considered my friends, had been injured during my time with both employers. One sixty year old

woman collapsed with heat stroke wh1\e working beside me. Another woman was hit in the head by a falling crate of yam. A young man who had gone to high school with me got his hand mangled m a tow motor. After their respective injuries, I saw these workers lied to. lied about, and gen-

erally treated as expendable resources. As

workers' compensation system in Ontario, able position of depending on the WSIB claims by injured workers are handled by for their financial survival. the WSIB which co\lccts premiums from The day to day work of the clinic employers within the province and pays involves struggling with bureaucracy, out benefits to workers who are injured writing letters. making phone calls and through the course of their employment. cajoling claims adjudicators into domg the These benefits may take the form of com- right thing. Perseverance is a virtue when pensation for lost wages or medical dealing with workers compensation. expenses or re-training for Remaining calm when facing the caustic those workers who cannot indifference of power-wielding, low-level return to their pre-injury decision makers is another valuable skil\ employment. The WSIB you can learn at the clinic. We appeal deciis therefore a creature of sions at all levels, and as student volunthe exciting world of teers, we have the chance to prepare for and appear at these hearings. They can be admmistrative law.

As caseworkers at i,ncredibly satisfymg if your client wins AIW, we work with and devastating when you lose. Through clients who have been working atAIW I now have the knowledge denied entitlements or that I was able to help and I can be genparticular benefits. We arc uinely useful to people in need of assisa student-run clinic, funded by Legal Aid tance.

Of a11 the expectations I had when I first Ontario, and our clients arc low income workers who often come from disadvan- started law school, AIW is the one I stil\ taged communities. They may have com- believe in. I think this could possibly be plicated medical conditions or novel legal true of any chmc t;xpcricncc, but the plight ISsues that have placed them in conflict of injured workers was the issue that reswith the WSIB. Many of my clients have onated with me. It is where I've met great been the sole income earner for thc1r fam- people, made close friends and learned Ilies. When injured and unable to work, more about the practice of law than I could they have found themselves in the uncnvi- have hoped to inside the classroom.

Of all the expectations I had when I first started law school, AIW is the one I still believe in.

just another worker with a nondescript arts degree, I couldn't really do much to help my co-workers. They told me their stories of conflict with management and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. I listened and o!Tcrcd my sympathetic outrage but was unable to help in any real way. I saw AIW as my chance to seck justice.

For those of you unfamiliar with the

BY ALYSSA BORENSTEIN

At U ofT, PBSC's foundation program is still the Community Placement Program, through which we match law students with public interest and community organi7.ations, government agencies, courts, tribunals and lawyers doing pro bono work. PBSC U ofT also has a thrivmg Family Law Project where students help in-court counsel at the family law courts in assisting unrepresented litigants.

We have also recently expanded our programs to include a Wills Clinic for low

mcome individuals w1th HIV/AIDS and a Not-for-Profit Corporate Law Project through which students help organizations with incorporation. charitable status applications, and more. From the beginning, our goal has been to instill the pro bono ethic in al\ Jaw students from their first year of Jaw school Our diversified programs allow us to do just that.

This year, PBSC is launching a number of new and exciting initiatives at U ofT. First, we have partnered with the Health

it always cold'!" - then wished me well.

No one asked why I was visiting Zim. There wasn't even a tourism or business box to check. Just $65. some friendly chatter, and I was out the door. Perhaps they didn't sec the tripod I carried openly on my shoulder, or the camera bag that clung to my side. Or perhaps the) didn't care'!

The police were to be my next hurdle. and I doubted I could avoid them. I would be too obvious. llere was my plan: I came to Zim to film a documental) for The LIFT Project, a group at the law school.

My subject matter was the "girl child", the rcc1pient of all kinds of horrific treatment in Zim. Her story is known to some. but seldom tully. At age 11. she is forced into marriage to avenge evil spirih. her breasts arc the fodder of a family's fondling hands, and if her husband dies, her uncle can claim her as chattel. Her story is not merely one of rape and abuse, though that may be 1ts theme. but it is one of the rural countryside where harmful cultural practices rule her life and her only recourse is

jcct will involve the development of agcpractical hands-on experience, a chance to appropnate materials to be used in the varinteract with members of the legal com- ious sessions the organization conducts at munity and an opportunity to help develop high schools throughout the c1ty. public policy. Second. PBSC and the Interested students wi\1 also have the Canadian Civi l Liberties Association chance to learn how to conduct these ses(CCLA) have been working together to sions. Finally. PBSC wit\ be expanding its develop a new project for students inter- Public Interest Speaker Series. Once per ested in Public Lc~a l Fducation. This pro- semester, PBS<- will ho!>l an informal

event. around public interest law. Other mented that her PBSC placement "reinstudent groups and clubs will co-host these forced my belief that individually and colspeakers to ensure that we bring in indi- lectively we can make a difference in this viduals who are appealing to a wide range world." If you would \ike to get involved with a PBSC initiative this year. or have an of students.

PBSC 1s once again the place to get 1dea about a new initiatiVe that llBSC can involved in public interest opportunities support, p\ca.,c contact Al'ys~ Borenstein on campus. This is perhaps best cxprcs::.cd or Roopa Rangaswami at t~\ 6) 9~6-0 \~1 by one of our students who rcccnt\y com- or probono ..,tudcnt.,~utoronto.ca.

PLI E

RYCBA-OB

the male sheriff \\ho frequently doc n't know how the law relates to her. Mothers and fathers barter their daughters for a mattress nnd a few dollars. The girl child has no one.

Betti Makoni was to be my heromc.

Herself a :.urvivor, Betti has undertaken the seeming!) impos... ible to bring the Jav.· to the rc cue of young g1rls across Zimbabwe. Imagine the \erbal barrage of Stephen Lewis transfonned into act10n; fearlc~s, resolute and relentless, she i the name whispered in dark comers "what if Betti comes'!" J'o a girl, Betti may be her greatest hope of salvation. or her only hope. She is n hero in sunglasses and a denim jacket, too real to be real, and too valuable to be lost. I was to accompany her. film her daily work. and sec Z1mbabwe and the girl child through her eyes. Now in Zimbabwe, I was eager to begin.

To he continued. The LIFT documentary will premiere at the Glad~tone on No1·emher 14th.

EMBERSHIP

ONTARIO LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS

Get involved and get noticed!

Let CBA-OBA membership help you make a confident transiti·Jn from law s.:hool tot he law office. Learn the nUts and boks of your chosen field and •.vhat the reai •Norld of practice is like before leaving Ia\'-' school . Take the cppJrt unity to meet leaders in the profession and ne'-v la~'ry·ers .,,,•he· have faced your challenges. Build a netv.•ork that will prove invaluable dun ng y·our career.

Success real I·¥· is •,vhat you kno1N and who you knu•'•' - CBA.OBA can give you that opportunity and more! B·~ completing a quick and eaSy' online application, you recei~·e all oft he valuable benefits that membership offers.

can

Profile: Pro Bono Students Canada Smce its inception I 0 years ago at the U of T Faculty of Law, Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) has grown and changed immensely thanks to dedicated organizations, lawyers. alumni and students. like you. PBSC began with only a handful of students at one law school. This year, we are celebrating our IOth anniversary as a national movement with offices at every law school in Canada and over 2,000 student volunteers engaged in enhancmg access to justice for commumties in need.

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Imm1grahon was the first hurdle. The Expn:ss-type scenarios as a real likeliexpulsion of objective media, whites from hood. Would I share a cell.wlth other pristheir farms. and any semblance of democ- oners (grisly ones of course). or would I racy had made Robert Mugabc a pariah of get a single cell with daily linen turnover'! international diplomacy. It was the Ignorance would be my friend. I decidunknown facts that really concerned me ed. "Really. I can't film in Zimbabwe though. As it is a punishable otrence to without a penn it? Oh. You sec. I just wantutter disapprovingly of the man, critical ed to film lions. giraflc ... we don't have reporting rarely originates from within these in Canada." No matter how many Zimbabwe. I knew I was stepping into a times I cycled through plau:.ible explanaweb of uncertainty. tions, I decided on two plans: make no As I flew into Harare. Zimbabwe, I was mention of my intended subject matter looking out the window thinkmg of vari- the lion plan - or tell them I intended to ous scenarios that could arise upon land- film an NGO the rapist plan. I settled on ing. My mind cycled endlessly through letting it be a game-time decision at the possible tactics I could employ, should I border - lions or rapists - and would usc encounter any trouble entering the country advanced analytical psychology to read with a video camera. tripod. and two pack- their body language and decide on the corages of blank tapes. Reason dictated that rect path. the absolute worst s1tuat10n I could face I was the only tourist at immigmtion. would be some harsh questioning menac- They were pleasantly surprised to sec me. ing scowls, and an immediate deportation. Two of them attended to me. with one of Fear has a way of distorting rat1onal them chatting on her cell phone to a friend, thought though, skewing probabilities so and the other filling out the compulsory that one begins to 1maginc Midnight visa form. They asked about Canada - "is PBSC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

BY EMILY SINCLAIR

Advocates for Injured Workers (AIW) is the reason that I came to the University of Toronto. I suspect that I might be the only person for whom this is true. We are not exactly a high-profile clinic at the Faculty of Law. Amidst the excessive flattery, free booze and catered food of a

17

BY JARED KELLY

BY BRm BRAATEN

This past summer. I was lucky enough to be one of the students h1rcd at Downtown Legal Services (DLS). DLS has a summer programme. whereby members of the DLS executive as well as some first and second year law students arc h1rcd to keep the clinic running when school is out. I will try to give you a sense of what a summer at DLS IS like.

The basics: Just like during the school year. all summer caseworkers at DLS arc assigned to a particular civil division. although it is not necessarily the civil division that the students volunteered in previously. Each caseworker divides hislher time evenly between civil and criminal files Students arc expected to carry approximately 20-25 files, although it is not uncommon to have more. Students arc also expected to work in one of the DLS satellite clinics. and to make a Public Legal Education presentatiOn over the summer.

FEATURES

_!2 September 2oo6

Law Group to create a number of volunteer placements with the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board (HPARB). The HPARB is an adjudicative bod)' which oversees the regulation of health professiOnals in Ontano. Our partnership wil\ involve a multi-phase project including research and development of HPARB administrative Jaw resources and public education materials. Like many PBSC placements, this placement will give students CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

OBA·ABO

For more information} please caii416.S69-1 047 or 1-800-668-Ssal or e-mai llm-vschcois tudentsgo...~.org.

ultra vires

12 September 2006

Scavenger Hunt; t;eam; speakers Alexis Archbold and Kofi Barnes; Scavenger Hunt; tieam; Bowling Nigro; First; years and leaders

help tihemse\ves t;o lunch in title Orientamon \:ient;; Q-week Exec Comm\\:itiee Chairs Kha\\d

Janmohammed and Hadiya Nedd-

RoderiqJ.Ie; First; year st;udent;s on t;he back lawn; Boat; cruise.

,..

ultra vires

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

20

Editorial

What does diversity mean?

•

Diwrsity remains an amorphous conAh September! Fresh school supplies, new classc-.., a clean slate and a chance to re- cept. When asked to define diversity, Dean adopt good v.ork habits. At Ultra Vires. Momn commented that it was less importhis mean a chance to address issues for tant "hat diversity meant to her personalthe fir-..t time. or to readdress old issues in ly, and more important for her to undera ne\\ way. Specifically, you will find in stand how the student body conceives of it. this issue, many articles that touch on the Unsurprisingly, diversity means various things to different students. As the episode idea of diversity. \\'hat docs di,·ersity mean'? between Judy Finlay and Farah Yameen Traditionally, di.,.ersity at the law faculty illustrates, the school should still be has been looked at under the lens of a cul- focussed on racial and cultural diversity tural or racial basis. In 2005. students and cohesiOn. I Iowcvcr, other visions of prok-stcd the Jack of diversity at the facul- diversity arc emerging: creative diversity. ty. Specifically, students were upset that financial or class diversity, regional diverthere \\ere few visible minonty professors. sity, and employment diversity.

Is the concept of diversity becoming so Last year, the appointment of a female Dean for the first time in the school's his- broad. as to render it meaningless? Arc we tory, along with the hiring of professors at the high watermark of political correctAnvcr Emon and Mohammad Fadel. ness? Do we really need to consider diverresulted in an incremental change in the sity in all of its forn1s?

"Diversity" is at risk of becoming an demographic of the faculty.

This year, we must remember that the overused buzzword; must we ensure, for school can always strive for greater inclu- example, that the SLS has equal numbers sion and acceptance of people and ideas of coffee and tea drinkers? What about and sharing your perspectives in Ultra those who shun caffeine altogether? All joking aside, as future leaders and disVires is one step in the dialogue.

pensers ofjusticc, we need to be aware of this dialogue and have the patience to excavate as many sides of it as \Ve can. We need to keep asking ourselves what "diversity" means, what objectives remain unfulfilled and hov,: we can best pursue them As long as there remain student~ who do not feel they lit in at this school, for whatever reasons, it is our rcsponstbthty to understand their perspectives. Doing so will make us better classmates. better lawyers and better people.

If diversity means anything. it means understanding each other. respecting our differences and working towards the greatest amount of inclusion at this institution and beyond. We welcome submissions from all students who wish to share their perspectives regarding the ongoing "diversity" discussion.

NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE FOUND AT OLD WEBSITE ADDRESS!! www.ultravires.ca

Now you can read UV on your whimsical travels!

Welcome Back from SLS President, Kim Haviv BYKIMKAVIV

I still buy new school supplies every year. this year.

Our newly-minted structure, approved Some pens and binders. Maybe a few m last spring's referendum, wil\ make the sticky tabs if I'm feeling rea\\y festive.

That's right, l go back-to-school supply SLS a better policy making machine. We lwpe to develop our methods of putting .~hopping. And yc.<;, l know that's a bit nerdy and no, there arcn 't a lot ofpeople in student views forward, to improve the Business Depot this time of year who SLS's mstitutional memory (a tricky thing aren't there with someone in grade school tor any student organization), and to find and yes, sometimes r even look at the cat- more opportunities for non-SLS members alog. Come on, you at least p1ckcd up a to contribute to Caucus commtttccs and policy. high lighter or something.

With Rose Park in the new Director of I like the back-to-school rituals because they remind me that being in school means Communications slot, we hope to better two kicks at the 'it's a new year' can. publicize the goings-on of the SLS. We will be having more meetings of the While the rest of the world waits until January, we can thmk of this year's larger SLS (Student Caucus and Student promise right here m Scptcrmber (more Affairs together), whtch we hope will sleep, less coffee, greener vegetables, bet- function as an open forum where students ter summaries, learn to crochet, etc.). can drop in to share their perspectives.

This breed of ambition fmds 1ts way We'll continue to hold town halls as well. into the collective goa!s of the Students' A schedule will be out shortly.

Some Caucus issues to watch for in the Law Soc1cty. Yasuda, Hadiya, and I have high hopes for what we can accomplish early going:

Building plan The law school wtll be staymg at its current site, and the work of planning the transition will be considerable. The Faculty of Law Project Committee (which

contains student representatives) will be meeting through the term.

Tuition and Financial Aid Now that the tuition freeze has been lifted, we will be working on the short and long term plans for the tuition financ1al aid breakdown.

Pedagog} An initiative spearheaded by Andrew Pilliar last year continues to be a priority.

The SLS will continue to seck student views on their educational experience at the school, and to ensure that the faculty is considering best practices in developing curriculum.

Diversity We hope to enhance the Faculty Council committee's mandate and to ensure its responsiveness to student concerns.

Throughout all this we ask, as always, for your ongoing feedback. We hope you will share your views with us. Drop b)' a meeting or town hall, talk to your SLS representatives, write to UV. Push us to represent you. We have a great m1x of experience and new vo1ccs on the SLS this year. and we arc all eager to serve the student body well.

And do feel free to seck me out on these issues this fall. I'll be the one with the super cool Five-Star notebook.

Kim l!avi1•, 3L is serving as SLS president.for the 2006-2007 academtc year

Contrihutors

ULTRA VIRES Ultra Vires IS the mdcpcndcnt student newspaper of the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.

Editor-in-Chief News Editors Opinion and Editorial Legal Issues Features Diversions Production/Creative Directors Business Manager IT/Website Managers

Stephen Birman Amy Smeltzer, Steve \Verier Mcghan R1ley Jonathan Song Yael Boglcr, Jordan Nahmias Dave Seevaratnam Britt Braaten, Kate McGrann Josh Lavine Austin Acton, Sam Ault

Saad Ahmad, Travis Allan, Alexis Alyea, Andy Anthony, Kathryn Bird. Alyssa Borenstein, Claudia Brabazon. Bradley Bullock, Nafisah Chowdhury, David Degroot, Jonathan Ellison, Daniel Engel, Ran Gocl, Joanna Goldenberg, Bryn Gray, Laura Huge, Kim Haviv, Jared Kelly, Jonathan Khne, Yvanna Mycyk, Jordan Nahmias, Jessica Norman, Muccd Pecrbhoy, Stephen Shore, Emily Sinclair, Sayran Sulcvani, Brent Vallis, Ruthie Wahl, Rob Wakalut, Steven We1rer

Ultra Vires is an editorially autonomous newspaper. We are open to contributions which reflect diverse points of view, and our contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Faculty of Law, the Students' Law Society (SLS), or the editorial board.

We welcome contributions from students, faculty, and other interested persons.

Ultra Vires reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content.

Advertising inquiries should be sent to the attention of the business manager at ultra. vires@utoronto.ca.

Communications Centre, Falconer Hall 84 Queen's Park Crescent, Toronto ON M5S 2C5 ultra.vires@utoronto.ca (416) 946-7684

The next issue Will be published on October 17th.

The deadline for submissions is October II th.

Submission limit: 850 words.

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

12 September 2oo6

21

Sweating the Small Stuff for Everybody

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN

Well, it is a new year and while changes have taken place under the Moran Deansh1p, a lot of our peeves from last year will be prominent once again. This year Ultra Vires has purchased a complaint's box. This will be your forum to whine; bitch, moan, and groan about clements of the faculty and school that arc annoying, frustrating or downright piss you off. So here goes nothing for our September line-up.

ROSI and getting our grades: Am I the only one who fails to get any satisfaction out of using ROSI and receiving my grades every January and June? To be sure, the strange looking letters besides my name may be playing some role in my dismay, but I actually think that there is more to it. First, I can never remember my password because I usc the scrv1cc so sparingly. Second, I never know what these grades mean. Don't get me wrong it is not like I don't understand the law school's grade distribution - C . (you arc a failure) - B (you are very average and mediocre) 8 + (you arc a better performer than your average and mediocre classmates) A (While in truth you are all very average and mediocre someone has to get an A so let's make it you). My bicker is that I don't know what my grade means relative to the rest of the class. Would it really be so difficult to give students a breakdown of mark distribution and post the class aver-

age'? I don't think this would encourage competitiveness; if anythmg it would allow students to put their grades in perspective relative to their peers and not be consumed by rumours about certam class averages and grade distributions.

Library Fines: Don't get me wrong, I like the librarians (despite the fact John Pappadopolous, everybody's favonte librarian, twice turned down a personal interview request). What I don't like arc their extraordmary finmg polic1cs. Firstly, I do not understand why it would be difficult to notity us when our books reach a certain level of overdue status. You know, perhaps if a book reaches $10 in fines, the system could be programmed to send us a warning or rcmmdcr email. Another thing that bothers me is the lack of lenience; trust me, I have tried every excuse in the book (no pun intended) and nothmg works. I remember in undergrad and even way back in high school there was always some sort of diversions program (like the one you got for your DLS client on his/her marijuana charge). You know, if you bring in canned food or make a charitable donation, your fine could be reduced or erased.

Why can't we do that here? Do they need our overdue fine money? If they do need that money, then why do I get the feeling there is some library back-roomer just laughing at our delinquencies?

Awards: Apparently if you do really well

in a course or in an academic year you get un award. Most of wouldn't know this because we have never won any awards.

As it stands, the purpose of award distribution is not to congratulate the winners but to protect the losers from the unbearable distress of finding out that they didn't win an award. Seriously, these awards arc big time - in some cases you receive books written and maybe even autographed by the professors themselves. While my bookcase hasn't expanded substantially over the past 2 academic years, I am sure that some of my classmates ha'ic noticed more s1gnificant dust pile-ups. I doubt that any of us arc so insecure that we could not handle finding out which of our classmates have won awards. If anything we should be able to congratulate awards winners, get a glimpse of their prize and motivate ourselves to shoot for a new book our-;elvcs.

Coffee Prices: Ok, I know, the joke has already been made. It is made at Law Follies every year; it has reached the state of common parlance and barely passes as a legitimate complaint anymore. But despite the fact everybody knows we are "getting a Jobidon type assault" every time we purchase a Grounds of Appeal brew, nothing has been done about it. I do not even think this is funny anymore. There is a monopoly on coffee prices at the law school; it's not like we even have the option of choos-

ing between the lower end Tim Hortons brew and the elitist Starbucks Grande. It is seriously time for change - I call on the SLS to find us some reasonably priced coffee and to do it now.

Footnotes: This one is for the first years.

You have entered an academic institution where footnotes arc very important. not just referencing your sources but every comma, shape of bracket, font, and underline matters. Personally, I don't like it - I don't like it one bit. My proposal is that we all stop doing it, if we all stop using McGill style footnoting then our professors and the legal community will understand that proper footnoting is much lc. :. important then the substance of our arguments and that the McGill style is archaic and should be made a thing of the past.

Like I said, I will start if you do. We can only solve our problems and manage our complaints by working together.

Do y ou lzm·e a complaint '~ Or something to get ofyour chest? Please email it UV at ultra.vires@utoronto.ca

COMPLAINTS?

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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

22

ultra vires

XVIth International AIDS Conference

Uncovering the Veil and the Prejudices Beneath

BY ClAUDIA BRABAZON

The theme of the XV!th International tial medicines. refugees. and debt cancel- including the suggestion 'that male cirAIDS Conference, which brought over lation as means of combating the pandem- cumcision might be a strategy to reduce 20,000 people to Toronto for a week tn~t ic in Africa. Darcy Gibb and Jasmine HIV transmission rates in resource-poor month, \\as "time to deliver." According to Gill's co-authored paper on debt relief. and settings like Africa, a suggestion endorsed Conference Co-Chair. Dr. Mark Wainbcrg, Aadil Mangalji's work on refugees living by Bill Clinton and others. This new "off a leading Canadian researcher and pioneer with Ill V. were given poster oral presenta- with their heads" prevention strategy in the fight against the deadly disease, the tions and attracted considerable attention stunned many p10ncers in the AIDS pretheme signified a time to deliver lite-sav- from attendees. vention movement, including my friend ing medication and support to the millions The conference delivered both excite- Dr. Rick Marchand, of the Communitydying from the disease in resource-poor ment and controversy. Excitement came Based Research Centre in Vancouver. settings like Africa. from the promise of microbicidcs, now in "Why stop there," chided Marchand, For me. this was not my first AIDS con- clinical trials. Microb1c1des arc physical "when you can cut the whole thing off and ference, but the first l had attended since barriers to viral entry that can be used by really solve the problem." I am likewise the Xllth Conference in Geneva in 1998. women as an alternative to condoms unconvinccd that cultures that cannot ln the intervening years, not only has the (although several institutional and regula- embrace covering the penis with a condom size of the conference grown, but the focus tory bamers have yet to be overcome). A will jump on the bandwagon to start sniphas broadened, from a scientific confer- new class of drugs called integrase ping off the foreskm en masse. ence attracting leading academics, to a inhibitors have shown excellent results in The movement to endorse mandatory large world summit testing for Africa drawing cclebnties, is also gaining like R1chard Gere, support.

The titans of industry, question is I like Bill Gates, and whether it is ethiworld leaders, like cal to require peoformer President ple to be tested for Clinton (although far a fatal disease lesser men like our when you can't own Prime Minister offer them any chose to give 11 a treatment. When miss). the idea of Several students mandatory testing who took the AIDS in Africa Capstone human trials and w111 likely be approved for gay men was proposed early in the epiCourse, taught by Professor Novogrodsy and ava1lable in western countries in the demic m North America, AIDS activists and Stephen Lewis, and advisors Gerry near future. Because they work at a differ- took to the streets to fight for the right to Caplan and Anurita Bains, submitted ent stage of viral replication, integrase make an informed decision about whether abstracts to the conference. Students inhibitors are important for patients who or not to be tested based on such factors as Melanic deWit, Michele Diseepola, Darcy have become resistant to other classes of mental state and readiness to accept a posGibbs. Jasmmc Gill, Jennifer King. Aadil AIDS drugs such as protease inhibitors itive diagnosis which meant a death senMung<Jlji .md mysciF/wd abstracts accept ami rwclc:o:;ide anulog!;. tence. Proponents of mandatory testing c:d on topic., mnging fi-om access to essenControvc:r.;y came from several fronts, reminded conference attendees that times

am likewise unconvinced that cultures that cannot embrace covering the penis with a condom will jump on the bandwagon to start snipping off the foreskin en masse.

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

12 September 2oo6

have changed since the early 1980s, and that so many millions have died in Africa that mandatory testing may be the only way to save lives. Comparing the stigma and violence faced by HIV-positive persons, particularly women, in Sub-Saharan Afnca today to that faced by gay men 20 years ago, shows that times do not really seem to have changed that much, nor have treatment prospects improved. Without a means of ensuring the safety of newly diagnosed women, even in their own homes, nor the ability to guarantee antirctroviral treatment to those who test positive, nor any proof that knowing one's HIV status reduces transmission rates in Africa, I am not ready to jump on the bandwagon.

At the end of an exhausting week of endless rhetoric, meetings, scientific presentations, and wasted media attention on Stephen Harper, I left the conference believing that finally enough global Willpower may exist to get enough lifesaving medication to Africa, but not eonvmced that prevention eiTorts arc having suflicicnt impact m Canada or elsewhere.

BY NAF1SAH CHOWDHURY I have never felt unwelcome at the Law School. But when news of alleged racism in the Registrar's office was reported, l was shocked and deeply troubled · do people at the Law School actually harbour these kinds of sentiments I wondered?

If there is any silver lining to these unfortunate events, it is that it gives us the opportunity to confront ignorance with education.

Given the misconceptions about the headscarf, l have been asked to explain why Muslim women choose to wear it. Because there are a plethora of opinions on the issue, explaining its significance is no easy task. As someone who wears the headscarf, all I can fairly do is provide a little background and my own personal motivations for including it in my life.

The Islamic hcadscarf commonly known as "Hijab" is actually only one part of Hijab, which is the act of covering the entire body. Muslim women who cover their hair generally believe 1t to be a religious obligation of the Islamic faith.

Covering the hair signifies dedicatiOn to our creator, rather than dedication to the latest fashions, personal vanity, or the fan

The legal community is notorious for ah\ays choo~ing the same one. Even when engaging in ADR, we tend to take a legalistic approach to our problems. This often leads to inadequate results.

processes were predictably useless at solving the conflict between the two employees. The administration may have done exactly what you would expect it to do, but . that could never have been enough; the administration was limited to administrative remedies.

The administratton 's response shows how the administratiOn qua administration cannot understand the messier, more emotional problems that it is sometimes expected to solve. Take Assistant Dean of Students Bonnie Goldberg's premature beltef that the conflict had been resolved.

Until Yamcen 's resignation, she believed that the matter had "resolution and closure". Whatever solution Goldberg thought had worked obviously did not address the roots of the problem. Similarly, Dtrcctor of Admissions and Financial Aid Mai-Anh Giap, was "stumped" by "hoV.: such an incident could happen at a faculty that prizes diversity". Like Goldberg, Giap missed the point. The "incident" was not the problem. The festering interpersonal dynamic between the two colleagues was the problem; the failure of the administration to help them fix it made things worse.

A long time ago. when the world was new. there was a vel}-' thirstyfrog. The frog hegan to drink up the world~· ri~·ers, lakes, She Did What? What Did They Do and oceans. The frog blew up like a giant About That? balloon as he consumed every last drop of Last winter, Faculty of Law Assistant the world:~ water. The other animals ached Registrar Judy Finlay made some culturalfrom thirst and dehydration. and pleaded ly insensitive comments to Assistant with the frog to release some of the water Financial Aid Officer Farah Yameen. to ease their suffering. Though he could Those comments and the administration's bare(v keep the water in his enormous response to the situation led to Yarneen 's belly, the frog stubbornly refused to relin- eventual resignation. When the adrntmsquish a single drop. tration found out about the comments, it launched an "immediate" investigation, The test subjects were then asked how recommended that both staff members they would solve the problem. The study meet with U of T's "Anti-racism and showed that the first solution that most Cultural Diversity Officer", and scheduled North Americans offered involved poking sensitivity training. At first, Finlay agreed or skewering the frog until it burst. In con- to apologize. She soon changed her mind, trast, the responses from one region in the citing legal concerns. In the end, Finlay South Pacific revolved around a totally read a written apology that Yamcen different theme. Many of their solutions described as "fake". had the animals host a great feast or celebration. Their goal was to perform for the What Could They Have Done? frog and entertain it. By doing so, they By the end of the process, Yameen 's What Do Lawyers Do? hoped to make him laugh until he could no main complaint was not that Finlay made What happens if the animals take the longer hold the water in. the comments, but that the administra- frog to Court? The frog is served with a Any given problem has a number of tion's response was inadequate. Its Claim and files a Defense. After months of

letters, Affidavits of Documents arc exchanged. Procedural motions arc brought. adjourned, brought again, adjourned again, eventually heard. eventually resolved. Examinations for Discovery take place, followed by more Motions to deal with the R~fusals and Undertakings.

The animals get a Trial date in 2009. Half of the animals have died of dehydration.

Those remaining reach a settlement. They probably should have stuck with trying to make the frog laugh.

What Should We Do? Our school has a dtvcrsity problem, but not the one that we talk about. How we dealt with the FmlayfYameen problem shows us that we think of diversity in the wrong way. We cannot treat cultural, religious or sexual diversity as if they were proxies for diversity of thought. The taw school community and the legal profession are so good at limiting who gets to be a ~art of this world, and are so good at tummg the people it admits into lawyers, that we must use the word "diverse" with great care. If there is no difference in the way a Black lawyer, a Queer lawyer, a Sikh lawyer, or a Deaf lawyer approaches a problem, then our "diversity" gets us nowhere. Lawyers will be lawyers. Be more than that.

Quran, states "let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256).

Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of Hijab is not to tmprison, but rather to liberate. The edict to veil women had an emancipating effect in medieval Arabia, where women had few rights and were often used for little more than their bodies.

Covering the body allowed women to participate in society while forcing men to

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second Hand SIDoke

BY JONATHAN ELLISON

BY JONATHAN KLINE solution~. and those solutions can be reached by a number of different path~.

treat them with dignity and respect. From medieval Arabia until today, llijab has served as a reminder that a woman's body is her own property, and that true beauty tics within.

In terms of spirituality, the outer llijab serves as a continuation of an internal veiling of our faults, desires and vices - our inner Hijab. As Muslims. we try to keep our inner vices in control by keeping them hidden and to striving replace them better with qualities. This means making the conscientious effort to treat everyone with respect. The Hijab is a spiritual statement and not a fashion statement - ignorant comments like the ones directed at Ms. Yamcen go against everything the Hijab stands for.

Judy Finlay's reported comments arc also troubling because they echo growing prejudices against Islam - it is becoming more acceptable to display hate in the cl~ mate of fear and suspicion surrounding the Muslim community. Personally, I believe that the vast majority of people at the law school arc tolerant and open-minded. It is truly unfortunate that my school's good

The Hijab is a spiritual statement and not a fashion statement - ignorant comments like the ones directed at Ms. Yameen go against everything the Hijab stands for.

Why We Need Diversity At the Faculty of Law What Would You Do? While I v. as researching a paper last year, I came across a study on conflict resolution. The researchers presented their test subjects with this dilemma:

cies of men, women and Registrars. A Muslim woman docs not necessarily have to cover her hair to be an observant Muslim - rcltgion is very much a personal endeavor and everyone is entitled to thctr own level of practice. A well quoted (but sadly sometimes 1gnorcd) verse of the

Like my foxhat?

You may be wondering: ok, what's the deal with that fox hat in the picture? That's exactly what the folks at Proskaucr Rose LLP were asking when l wore it to the firm's farewell party at Ramscale Loft in the West Village, Manhattan And I'll tell you what l told them: My uncle Morrie made me wear it. Ah, allow me to explain...

Morrie Main (nee Mandelbaum) came over from the Old Like My Foxhat?

Country sometime between Lenin and Kruschev. He moved in with some d1stant relatives (my second cousms twice removed, as it happens), in an old tenement on Orchard St. in the Lower East S1de, and has been there ever since. My relatives grew up, died, moved away, but not Morrie.

When he fmally got married in h1s late 40s, his wife Stella moved in with him.

Now that she's gone, Morrie's all alone in a 3 bedroom apartment, for which he pays $275 per month. Well, not all alone; Morrie has, at last count, thirteen cats living with him. Well, I should say that he lives with the cats - they have completely taken over the apartment, leaving Morrie a dusty old armchair in the comer of the kitchen, where he contentedly sits from 6am-l 0:30am and I pm-7pm, eating beans out of a can, drinking vodka and smoking

wretched $1.99 cigars. lf you ever go to Katz's Delicatessen between II am and I pm on any day except Shabbcs, go to the back, around the counter, to the right, and look over at the table in the comer. You'll sec a shrivdlcd, smelly old man wearing a moth-eaten cardigan and slurping matzo ball soup with a side of rye and pickles. That's my uncle Morrie. And tell you what, you go on a Friday and you'll probably sec me sitting right across from h1m You see, now that Stella's gone and Morrie has insulted, sptt on or cursed every one of his surviving friends and family, I'm all that he's got left. I'm not even sure if we're related, but I like him.

So every rriday, I take Morrie out to lunch. It so happened that on this particular Fnday, l knew that I was going to be hung over from the firm's farewell party the night before.

So Thursday morning before work, I stopped by Morrie's apartment to cancel.

Morrie was m his usual spot, fartmg and peering luridly at some old yellowed porn mag. I very politely explained that I would not be able to make lunch the next day, for wh1ch I was rewarded with a barrage of cat sh*t and the other contents of Morrie's ashtray. "Vot do you meen you gotta kancel? Vere you goink? Vot's zo imm-portant?" shrieked the old man.

Now you have to understand, Morrie hasn't left the Lower East Side since my cousin Sheldon got married in Rochester in 1997; he wouldn't know the West Village from the West Bank. But there's no avoiding Morrie's questions, so I answered with a sigh, "Ramscale Loft, Uncle Morrie''. Morrie screwed up his eyes, and shouted back, "Ramskayl Lovvt? VERE DA F.. K'S ZAT?" Now, what else could I do? l wore the fox hat.

We'll help you grow.

name has been tarnished by these incidents.

Representatives from the Muslim Law Students' Association met with the Administration to find out how Ms. Finlay's reported comments were being addressed. The Administration did not provide details, but did express a willingness to work with the student body to develop a policy for dealing with future incidcnb of racism. In addition to the policy initiative, we call on the Administration to ensure that Ms. Finlay be appropriately disciplined for her actions. Victims of racism, such as Farah Yamcen, need to know that institutions like the Faculty of Law exist as a source of support in the fight against discrimination.

While racism can be a problem in a multicultural society, comments like those made by Judy Finlay should not be tolerated by our law school. We can stop racism in our generation, but only if we arc willmg to uncover our ignorance by finding our mncr Hijab.

We need to demonstrate that our law school has the same commitment to social justice at home as it docs internationally, by making it clear that racist behaviour is not welcome within our walls. Only then can we begin to reclaim our good name by demonstrating that the Law Faculty is indeed an institution of tolerance - a place where people from all walks of life converge to form the foundation of something great.

We have what you need to excel as a student and to become a great lawyer-a broad and flexible learning experience, a solid professional support network, and state-of-the-art resources to facilitate your transition from law student to lawyer.

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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

24

Dream Date Gone Sour

drdn 't/don 't find a job through OCis, then you might find some of what I have to say useful. Use as directed, but results arc not

BY ROB WAKUlAT guaranteed! I made the following adjustAs I woke up bleary eyed and completely demonstrated a greater interest. Why did ments in my approach: Focus: The COO advises using the shotdrained, I dejectedly realized that the pre- she not call yesterday? What had I done gun approach by applying everywhere for vious evening had not simply been a bad wrong? Had she found someone else? dream. I had stayed up waiting all night for As fate would have it, she cmalled me OCis, which is basically the method I her to call, but she never later that day and informed relied on. If you have the time and don't did. We had last seen me that she had found three know what interests you, then this might each other on Monday other people. I was told I was actually be a good idea. However, I found and she told me that next on the list and that is being able to honestly convey my enthusishe'd give me a shout why she had waited so long to asm for a parllcular employer made my on Wednesday night. let me know. And with that, second application process a little easier to I'm not usually one to my On-Campus Interview endure and saved time pursuing dead ends. get too ~orkcd up over Adventurent had come to a In the end, it contributed to actually findthese things. but this screeching halt. Forty appli- ing a job.

Reference Letters: I had the good forwas one of those rare cations, multiple firm visits, moments where I had waiting for the phone to countless hours and two COO tunc to have had a small group professor ring really gotten my hopes up sessions later I was no further who was quite willing to provide reference and was looking forward to hearing her along in my summer job hunt than I was letters. For OCis, I only took advantage of voice again. when I started the process three months her generosity once, but that one time did We'd originally met about a month and ago. \Jow there was no clearly defined produce an interview. So this llmc around a half ago and hit it off right away. We had path for me to follow in reaching that I tried dipping into that well more frea brief, but highly energetic and intercstrng goai.Oid I mention I can speak two lan- quently and it actually resulted in a few conversation. I gave her my number and guages???!!! more interviews. This may be the time to she gave me a call about a week later letDespite this pretty significant setback, I send that thank-you card for that first-year ting me know that she'd like to get togeth- was strll hopeful I would find something small group dinner you always meant to er again. This past Monday she had actual- for the upcoming summer; but not at all send but never got around to. It might tum ly introduced me to a few folks in her inner looking forward to the ensuing insecurity out to be helpful when requesting three circle and it seemed as though things were or further effort required to find it. With different reference letters for government, going really well. another set of exams on the horizon I also corporate and litigation employers.

I started thinking this had the potential was not prepared to put much thought into Networking: Talk to friends who find to tum into a pretty nice relationship. So it before the Christmas holidays. themselves in a similar position. They will when she told me she was busy and would Fortunately, it seemed that most employers provide support, ideas, and contacts that get in touch on Wednesday, I did not call were not either. will help you get through this rough patch. or ematl or text, because l didn't want to However, once I got over my post-exam Talk to some upper years. Find out where come across as needy or pushy. Now I was drunken stupor, I fmally turned my mind they spent their summer and if they would beginmng to wonder if l should have towards The Job Search -Part Il. lf you not mind putting in a good word for you.

Small firms rely heavily on personal stamps of approval because they cannot afford to make as many mistakes as the big boys.

Other Options: Having a desire to get some legal experience before articling I started looking to ideas other that simple summer employment. This led me to consider the Work in Japan program, which facilitates students spending one year working in Tokyo. l managed to find my summer position when I sent a very simple email to a corporate/commercial firm that happened to have a website in English and German. I had spent my youth studying German at Saturday school, at the expense of watchrng Transformers and Thundcrcats. Later I took German undcrgrad courses and went on exchange. I thought I might as well give it a shot. How many other firms have an international focus in the one other language l feel comfortable reading, writing and speaking in? Prost!

I received an email the next day saying that they had just completed their summer interview process but would be happy to meet me as soon as possible. I was on the phone faster than Suzanne Bambrick could say "Two minutes remaining". By the end of the week I had myself a shiny new job.

I realize this approach won't work out in every case, but the important thing is to know that OCis don 't do the job for everyone. While it seems everyone and their pet turtle gets a job through OCis, there are others like me who took a more circuitous route to summer employment.

12 September 2oo6

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

Calling All Conservatives

BY STEPHEN SHORE

It is difficult to pinpoint the moment I first when I realized that I was in the great the separation of governmental power:. is knew... Perhaps it was the look on minority on this campus: a dyed in the central to our Constitution, and that it h Professor Choudhry's face when, at my wool conservative. I was sure it was not emphatically the province and duty of the first I L small group class, he asked me supposed to be this way, but where l saw myself m ten years, and I most of my classmates were responded with great foresight, "Working elitist, liberal, lefty, pmko on Stephen Harper's re-election cam- commies, and, not surpris· paign". I would learn months later that ingly, they could argue Professor Choudhry was a policy advisor much better than my to Paul Martin during his 2003 leadership Golden-Boy drinking buddies at Oat. I soon realized campaign.

Or perhaps I knew when I walked into that if I was gomg to make the Bora Laskin Library and was greeted anything of myself here, I by a larger than life portrait the man who would have to do two put Bora on the Court, the "Jrd Greatest things; (I) Learn how to get Pierre Elliot Trudeau. I fig- along with people who want to the terror- judiciary to say what the law is, and not Canadian ured it a fitting dedication; In the past ten ists to win, and (2) Create an outlet, or a what the law should be."

While clearly formed to react to the shelter, for conservative years, law school tuitions American experience, the Socrcty's princithinkers to meet and interact on may have been the only ples arc easily translatable to the Canadian campus. thing to rise faster than our I still haven't quite mastered landscape. And the project could not come national debt under the the first goal (I have a very to Canada at a more important time. It is guidance of the Charter's open social calendar, ladies), qurte apparent that conservatives in this daddy. At this point, I fully but as for the second, you'll be country have yet to form a coherent theory expected that after relievhappy to know that launching of judicial review. Indeed, it seems there ing myself in the downthis fall at the law school is the arc few, if any, engaged in the task. When stairs' washroom, Fidel first intcmattonal chapter of the I made some inquiries as to potential would be on hand waiting Federalist Society for Law and Faculty Advisors for the Federalist to supply me with a sheet Society, I learned that there arc no faculty Public Policy. of paper-towel and a spray king t . .

1 1 00 Taken from the website, "The members on campus who would self-idenof Esccntia (but, would he was 0 JOID take the tip?). Indeed, it was a club on campus... Federalist Society is a group of tify as conservative, and few, if any, who conservatives and libertarians would call themselves libertarians. Clearly mere days into my first term of law school and I already felt my own interested in the current state of the legal we face an uphill battle, but one I invite order. It is founded on the principle that any conservatives or libertarians out there October Crisis coming on.

Yes, it was early into my law schooling the state exists to preserve freedom, that to fight with me.

The core operation of Society chapters is to organize speaking engagements and public debate:. on campus. Becau c of it size and history

I was sure it was not supposed to be this way, but most of my classmates were elitist, liberal, lefty, pinko commies, and, not surprisingly, they could argue much better than my Golden-Boy drinking buddies at Dal

™",

( o v c r

3 5 0 0 0 member~)

the Society ha:. an extensive network to draw upon ~ h e n putting such events together. While you should not expect to see Ann Coulter on campus (yet), if you keep your eyes and cars open you should find that there is a federalist Socrcty event that will interest you at some t1me this year. With the utmost sincerity, the Society is non-partisan, taking no positions on matters of policy or law. Instead, its main purpose is to sponsor fair, serious, and open debate about the need to enhance individual freedom and the role of the courts in saying what the law is rather than what they wish it to be. I believe the presence of the Federalist Society will make a strong contribution to our campus life.

For more information on the Federalist Society, including membership inquiries, contact stephen.shore@utoronto.ca

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my Property class in I L who decided to chime in about h1s Polish uncle, wh1lc we're talking about adverse possession, estates, and lord what else. Then there are those guys with the fancy sunglasses whose perceived deep, philosophical analyses bear no application to anything. Does anyone else besides me see a problem with this? Why should we all be subjected to the continuous flow of verbal feces spews from the mouths of a few?

1;:,<1mt~or1e get his mother and a bar of a soap Now, I'm not trying to detract from the comments made in class that really contribute helpfu l ideas to the discusion. That is all good and fine, and I those students on coming forto try and understand what is going and to help me shed some light on scs that I basically don't understand. owever, when that guy sitting in the ro~ decides to go on again about o;ome profound, truth-seeking issue ~ hich has nothing to do with what we're learning. that is where I have a problem (along

most my So. why is it that these people feel the need to waste our time? Do they actually believe their uwn b.s.? I'm not sure. l think that it comes down to one thing: insecurity. I mean, isn't it true that many of us have felt compelled to look smart and to convince our peers that there is nothing we don't know? Thus far. has there not been pressure to show the world just how ''good'' we can be at school'! I think there has. We have all been nrshing ut the same proverbial brass rings.

Lucktly, there is a solutiOn to this problem. The answer can best be summed up in these wise words. "relax. dude". We all got here. We all arc going to be okay. I know this advice might not get to some people, probably because they arc busy in the hbrary studying for April exams already and can't get to a copy of Ultra Vires. But just so you know, you don't need to try so hard anymore. You're here, you've made it.

Trying to impress the people in your classes is not going to change anything (fyi: pro(-; can't reward your brilliant participation from class since they only grade pseudo-identities anyway), except to maybe make you a few enemies. For the greater good, I implore you: Please shut the •%$# up and stop saymg the dumbest shit in class. We could all stand to chtll out a little this year.

L

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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

28

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12

OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS

September 2006

2006 Faculty of Law External Review: International Inspirations and Financial IInplications

Celebrity gossip tastes great

BYDAVID DEGROOT

BY JESSICA NORMAN

In the Spnng 2006 External Rcv1cw, Dean only perpetuate the status quo rather than Koh and Professor Lehman ISsued an allowing the Faculty to attain further inspirational challenge to the Faculty of excellence.

In a regime of capped increases. the La\',.·. The reviewers challenged the Faculty to develop into a "centre of excellence," Faculty will have the mccntivc to increase and to achieve international prominence in tuition by the maximum allowable amount legal education. Such a challenge should each year in order to offset future be welcomed by students \\-hO will benefit resources from the increased recognition that our demands which degrees would hold - perhaps even com- could potentialpeting with our Ivy League neighbours to ly exceed the These cap. · the south.

As part of this challenge, Koh and increases will even Lehman emphasized the need to retain come the competitive faculty salaries, to expand the when existing building facilities and to hire Faculty docs more administrative support staff. These not rcqUJrc recommendations come with a price. funds, and will likely be spent less effecTherefore, it is suggested that the Faculty tively than if the increases corresponded to increase tuition, a suggestion that is demands on the Faculty's resources. This always unpopular among students. result is in no one's interest. The Faculty However, Koh and Lehman are right in should pressure the government to allow recognizing that the cure of a tuition freeze universities to operate within a full market is worse than the disease of high tuition. economy that will provide the flexibility Educational objectives suffer severe set- necessary to compete globally. A full marbacks when governments institute tuition ket economy on tuition does not necessarfreezes and fail to provide adequate fund- ily mean tuition increases. A responsible ing. Starved of salary and research grants, faculty will use the tuition flexibility as a faculty move to institutions with more tool to ensure continued competitiveness, enlightened funding policies. Dean Moran, while hopefully maintaining tuition levels in her response to the review, correctly when no need is present. notes that the Province of Ontario has With tuition increases, however, the removed the absolute tuition freeze. Faculty must be cognizant of the conseHowever, the Faculty should not be con- quences of these increases. Koh and tent with these token amendments that Lehman recommend that the Faculty adopt

a "progressive" tuition structure, including bursaries and back-end debt relief. designed to attract and educate the top Canadian and foreign minds. While the inclusion ofth1s pnnciplc is to be applauded, there is nothing progressive about bursaries. Instead, the Faculty should make a concerted effort to aileviate concerns about occupational ch01ce by strengthening 1ts backend debt relief program at the expense of bursaries.

If we accept. as Koh and Lehman do, that students can use their legal education for "private benefit" why should we distinguish between low income students who eventually obtain high paying jobs and middle income students who obtain similar jobs? For both groups tu1tion is not within their immediate financial reach, but providing bursaries to the former group forces middle income students to subsidize the educational endeavors of other students who achieve similar long-term earnings, and a similar ability to service their debt. While the Faculty has a legitimate interest in promoting its reputation by placing intelligent individuals in all fields of law, the Faculty has no legitimate interest in acting as a mechanism of wealth redistribution, particularly where students can choose high

A full market economy on tuition does not neeessarily mean tuition .Increases.

income careers. Any mechanism for income redistribution is better dealt with at a societal level with its corresponding democratic protections.

As last spring's financial aid survey indicated, most students do not support back-end debt relief. This outcome is probably more the consequence of a lack of familiarity with back-end debt relief than with a complete lack of support.

While it is to be expected that some students will exhibit "rcnt-scekmg" behaviours, it is likely that most students arc empathetic to the status quo only because of its familiarity. The Faculty should deal with this issue by beginning to transfer assets to its back-end debt relief program, while only providing bursaries to those individuals who arc in the direst of economic circumstances. For example, if the Faculty made its goal to change the number of students receiving free tuition from twenty to five percent over ten years, students would gradually become more accustomed to the program. Furthermore, such a program would foster legitimate educational principles rather than general social rcdistnbution.

Overall, Koh and Lehman have issued a challenge that the Faculty should embrace because it is in all students' interests.

However, in responding to this challcn~c the Faculty should rccons1der its financial policies to ensure fairness for students of all socio-economic backgrounds.

My Thoughts on the 2006 Faculty of Law External Review

BY BRADLEY BULLOCK How wonderful of the administration to ensure that both of our external reviewers are from the model we seek to pattern ourselves after: leading American Law Schools.

Would it really have been so bad to have a Canadian reviewer? We are in fact a Canad1an law school.

Before someone misinterprets what I am about to write, I want to be clear that I believe our external reviewers when they say that in the past two decades we have gone from being an excellent national law school to an excellent international law school. However, have we moved from one to the other or do we now fit both bills of excellence?

I believe that the Faculty of Law has become the greatest law school in Canada in terms of the international accla1m that accrues to its graduates and faculty. I believe that the University of Toronto, in this same fashion, is the greatest ~umping-off-point' for highly prominent private practice positions. However,

neither of these was ever my aim.

My journey to law school took me from a small rural Canadian town and a family of modest small town means to Toronto, the largest and most influential city in Canada. This could be seen as the perfect introductory chapter in the Canadian version of the "American dream." Yet the American dream was not my goal. · I did not come here to gain the proper stepping stones and prestige that would

fortable living.

I read the 2006 Law Faculty External Review. Below, is my assessment of how well this law school prepares my brand of lawyer for a career.

Faculty and Research: The reviewers feel that we arc gaining more and more prominent researchers among our faculty, but what about faculty members who are good teachers for legal education, rather than astute legal scholars?

T he Student Body: Maybe it is not as international as it could be, but in our quest to foster an mternational reputation, have we forgotten to reserve spots for Canadian students who want to practise in Canada?

Facilities: The reviewers acknowledge that our facihhes are demoralizing, inadequate, and in a crisis state. You know that is not good.

Mor ale: Apparently the faculty morale is high, as evidenced by the lack of exodus of our professors. And also student morale is

The reviewers feel that we are gaining more and more prominent researchers among our faculty, but what about faculty members who are good teachers for legal education? enable me to become a rich and powerful figure in Canada. I came to this faculty because I wanted to gain a great legal education, at a great institution, and then return home to be a small town lawyer who helps people out and makes a com-

high for those who are enjoying their abilIty to make it internationally or in lucrative private practise. However, how high is the morale of those attempting to enter public service, either formally, or through serving the needs of rural Canada?

Diversity and Equity: The faculty is ensuring spots for indigenous Canadians, and the student body is increasingly diverse, but is it enough?

All in all, this external review says to me that we are doing great at becoming a leading American law school. Certainly tuition is going there. Dean Moran notes in response that 8% is a modest tuition increase. Heck, it 'modestly' represents 3 times the annual cost of living increase, and a doubling tuition every 11 years.

I don't feel that this law school is meeting the needs of students of my stripe. But nonetheless, this review will be viewed outside of the talk on facilities, as ~ resounding approval to the path we are taking. As a former co-worker of mine used to note, the only parts of Canada that matter are the urban money-makers and, of course, Alberta (with its oil). Who needs farmers, indigenous people, rural towns, or small time lawyers?

Telling it like it IS!

BY ANDY ANTHONY

Orlando Bloom and Kate Bosworth arc going on the world that demand our attenbreaking up. This is one of the rumours tion, they say. How about reading a ncwsspreading about the blogosphcrc these papcr?Brangchna: Someone give Norman her daily dose of Brangclma days.

Slow down Poindexter. First ofT, Much as I pray that the rumour is just nobody reads newspapers anymore. It's a that, a rumour (they make such a cute, statistically proven fact. Nobody. In fact, if albeit skeletal couple after all), it's probayou arc reading this column, you arc such bly true. Celebrities break up every day. I know because I follow celebrity gossip or a statistical anomaly that you're lucky to have a heartbeat. "news" as I like to Seriously. call it. No tidbit is That's where celebritoo small, no detail ties come in. Celebrities is too tri vial. arc very good at alerting Perhaps it would the masses (that's us) to be more apt to say important trends. that I devour Jessica Simpson and celebrity gossip.

Nick Lachcy visited And you know Iraq (where there is a what? It tastes war). Then they broke pretty good. Ellen up.

Angelina Jolie and DeGenercs was in Brad Pitt have visited a car crash today? numerous African counAnd her live-in tries (where many peolover Portia De ple arc poor and starvRossi was there ing).

Even Matt Damon, too? Delicious. who is almost not a I have discovcelebrity, told us recentered, as you might ly about a disease that is too. that feeding this celebrity hunger IS surprisingly causing major problems around the world rewarding. Some might prefer to spend (AIDS).

Furthermore, studies have shown that their hours debating the ins-and-outs of gosstp plays an important role in society. nono~luu v. Sre~'enson or the clements of negligent misrepresentation. Personally, I Indeed, it is in our genetic make-up to goswould rather lick the metal end of a 9 volt stp. This dates all the way back to the time hattcry. That tripe holds little currency in that aliens first discovered Earth. If you my world. There arc those people who don ' t belt eve me, ask Tom Cru1se. So put argue that celebrity infatuation is a sick down th1s newspaper and go find out what ness. Feeding at the trough of American a celcbnty has done today. You might pop-culture excess. one might say. Wc\1, learn something. and feel good doing it. it's not. Celebrities merely fill out those And as legendary journalist Edward R. empty corners of our own lives. Did you Murrow famously know that P. Diddy is expecting twins? said in that really Are you expecting twins? I didn't think so. excellent movie As P. Diddy said in a video posted on his with George myspacc page. "Your boy Diddy is a Clooney. "Anyone champion." I bet you don't even have a who isn't confused really doesn't myspacc page.

Many people try vainly to argue that understand the sitcelebrity gossip hardly qualities as news. uation."

There are so many more important things

Some might prefer to spend their hours debating the ins-andouts of Donoghue v.

Stevenson or the elements of negligent misrepresentation.

Personally, I would rather lick the metal end of a 9 volt battery.

PDaddy?

As an orientation leader, I was thrilled that in court unless it is meritorious and theremy group members were looking for me. by worthy of attention. I am not intere~tcd Not one of the other two leaden.. but me. in Ia\.,. bccau~c I want to save the world or It felt great to be missed, to be wanted. But because I necessarily care about global when I finally asked my group why they'd issues. I just love money. Love it. I go to missed me so much. they replied, sleep thinking about it. spend all night "Because you tell us how shitty everything dreaming about it. then wake up and cat a money sandwich with my Starbucks cofreally 1s."

I must admit, I have never been one to fee.

I prefaced that paragraph with. "like hold back my true feelings or pretentiousmany of you," bccau~c ly falstfy delight just to it's true. We arc not that impress. When the studifferent. We drink beer, dents m my group asked, "So, are the kids here or whiskey. or whatc.,er really competitive?" I • is put in front of u~. We had no choice but to truthwatch television shows about fame, fortune, and fully respond with anechot people doing hot dotes from first year: how things in California. We one of my closest friends drive cars, or we take refused to compare precethe bus or ride a bike dents for our torts papers; while wishing we were how an unnamed lady driving cars. We've all talked my ear off every tried smoking marijuatime I sat beside her m na. We all inhaled. We legal process then refused all got hungry. We arc to share notes when I twenty-something chilmissed a class; or how the dren of the I 980's (most library is so full during of us). Smart, sophistiexams that I had no cated, complicated. and choice but to study in the sometimes motivated.

VIP room at the Brass We come to school Rail. and discuss our interests Way back when I was a first year student, I was never informed of in global issues because that's what we're these inevitable truths. Rather, my group meant to do. you and 1, the future leaders leaders acted like rich, old, white men. of tomorrow. We might sneak off with a pleased to have me in their much clo!ie friend and talk about gossip or talk acclaimed academy of legal education. I about how screwed up we got on Friday, sat in the tent during onentation and lis- but when we're surrounded by people outtened to the interim Dean pomplcment my side our close circle, we will make sure to accomplishments and successes. J listened bring up the atrocities m Zanthia. the t!J the Chief Justice. Roy McMurtry, tell hunger and str1fc in Polisen1a. or our frusme about how l can make a difference. I trations with the faculty for continuing to listened to the pro bono woman talk for usc bleached paper instead of that brown two hours about the joys of giving yourself crap that's hard to read.

So look to your left. look to your right. to a cause.

In case I was not your orientation Bcs1dc you there is someone who will . leader, allow me to share my feelings on solve the world's problems. On the other these perspectives. Like many of you. I s1de there is someone who will buy the want to practice law at a firm. A big firm. s1ckest Benz, with huge chrome wheels I am interested in the law because it is a and a mint sounding custom audio system. structured system of rules and precedents, And somewhere in the middle is you: A it makes sense, and no idiot in the world real pcr~on . has a shot at successfully arguing anything

I am not Interested in law because I

want to save the world or because I necessarily care about global issues. I just love money.

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30

DIVERSIONS

ultra vires

Celebrity sightings soured; seek solace in Starbucks DIY: "I'll probably see [obscure noun] before I spot [celebrity]"

BY DAVE SEEVARATNAM

One of the great things about going to Apparently, you can't throw a bronzed school in downtown Toronto is that the Sun Cruise droppmg (consult Googlc beginning of classes coincides w1th the before asking questions) without hitting a Toronto International Film Festival. When celebrity in early September. we're agonizmg over whether we can JUSWhy, then, have I never seen a bona fide tify dropping Secured Transactions for cclcbnty up-close-and-personal? I have Law & Film, we can distract ourselves stopped by fabled "Celebrity Starbucks" with all the buzz, ghtz, and glamour that (at Avenue and Yorkville) for a mid-mornTIFF brings to town. ing cappuccino without any luck. On my Th1s year, some of the talked-up films way home from classes, I gaze into the include Sarah Polley's directorial debut, window of celebrated TIFF hot-spot, Aw~~ from Her, and Death of a President, Bistro 990, a faux-documentary about the fictional only to be assassination of George Bush. Tickets for stared down films like these arc hot commodities, and by one star or involve inevitable, interminable queues. another's Another annoyance: TIFF fare can be a lit- imposing tle hit-and-miss. Last year 1 sat through a security muddled film about life in Sri Lanka, g u a r d . which was followed by a Q & A with the Stephen director. Even he seemed confused about Birman's artiwhether or not his film had anything to do cle on the with the country's civil war. This part of Roger's Cup the evening was less painful than the film's reminds me opening fifteen minutes, whtch were com- of the closest pletely dialogue- (and excitement-) free.

I've come to They say that the only sure thing about spotting TIFF is the celebrity sightings. Last year, a cclebntics. Unlike our fearless editor, who friend of mine spotted Hilary Swank out- banters with the brightest stars of the tenside Isabel Bader Theatre. Others have nis world, I have been a mere speck in the seen Russell Crowe, Matthew throngs of spectators waiting for athletes McConnaughey, and Drew Barrymore, a\\ with such household names as Anke Huber at locations minutes from F\ave\\c. and Wayne Ferreira. Not exactly star-

sightings to write home about.

I guess the first question that springs to mind IS, why do I care? Answering it involves delving into the psychology of celebrity worship. Any behavioural science that investigates why l would look at baby Suri's birth certificate online is clearly not a field to be entered into lightly. So, I chalk up my behaviour to growing up in the MuchMusic generation, and continue to focus on finding ways to envelop myself in the world of the stars.

While I still haven't experienced a real celebrity sighting, the celeb-cosmos threw me a bone recently. I should preface this with a little background into my life. (Yes, you are getting a whiff of the narcissism that led me to grant myself a Carrie Bradshaw/Leah MeLarenstylc, "write anything" column). The year was 1991. The soundtrack to my final days living m Saskatchewan was the stellar Rod Ste~mrt ~ Greatest Hits. It contains familiar favcs hkc "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and

Why, then, have I never seen a bona fide celebrity upclose-and-personal? I have stopped by fabled "Celebrity Starbucks" (at Avenue and Yorkville) for a mid-morning cappuccino without any luck

"Magg1e May", as well as the lesser known but soul-wrcnchingly-poignant "I Don't Want To Talk About It", "You're in my Heart", and "Sailing". At that time, there was a new kid in my class, Jarrct, who was a hockey-playing jock of the rare, non-jerky variety. In fact, Jarret was so nice that I invited him to my super-cool mini-go lf/ A&W send-off party, even though I had known him only for a few weeks.

Fast-forward fifteen years. I heard through the grapevine that Jarret Stoll parlayed his Yorkton Terriers AAA's involvement into a full-fledged NHL career. At first, this fact meant little to me, outside of its utility when I encountered rabid hockey fans. However, while responsibly using research time to Google people I know, I discovered that Mr. Stoll keeps interesting company. His Wikipcdia page tells me that he is currently dating Rachel Hunter, the super-model most famous for being - Rod Stewart's ex-wife! This positions me a mere three degrees of separation from Rod Stewart (Rod-Rachei-Jarret-Dave), whose mus1c soothed my emotional wounds while I was leaving Saskatchewan and friends like Jarrct.

Now, if I could only meet Rod Stewart and tell him about our fateful connection . .. if you need me, I'll be at Celebrity Starbucks.

Just Roger and Me: A Week at the Rogers Cup

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN

When J started \vriting for Ultra Vires, l always thought it would be fun to find out what it was like covering a 'real event' (outside of the school. that is) like a member of the 'real media.· With that goal in mind. I chose one of the events most important to me the Rogers Cup Men's Tennis Tournament at York University to cover for this year's opening issue. You have to understand that I have been going to this event since I was a kid. In the past I remember waiting for the autographs of tennis legends Stcffi Graf and Pete Sampras. I had even once asked Martma l imgis out on a date. I remember wondering what went on beyond the ropes: you know, in the area reserved for the players, the media, and the VlPs. So I went to the tournament website and I applied for media credentials. For about two months, I corresponded with Tennis Canada's media people; they wanted to know who I was and why I needed media credentials. l explained that we were a 'real' newspaper and that we sometimes covered social and cultural events. I left out the part about me being a tennis fanatic for whom a week as media at Canada's premiere tennis event would be akin to a week at Disncyworld for anybody's little brother.

When the day before the tournament arrived, I found myself getting random cmails about media events for the tournament. I realized that I had been approved.

When I arrived at the tournament on the first day, I introduced myself to Tom

Tebbutt, the tennis writer for the Globe was slightly embarrassed. Not because he and Mail. We had previously corresponded looked at me like I was an idiot, but through email. l had thrown out the idea of because he IS my favourite player. I like trying to put a tennis show on the radio and Federer as a tenms player as much as I like offered him the role as my co-host, and he Natalie Portman as an actress. had expcctcdly laugned. Over the week we The next day I found myself in a press spoke often and. at one point, he even told conference with the number 2 player, me that he had some ideas for our show.

Rafael Nadal. Apparently he is some sort When I got to the media room, I truly of heartthrob (I wouldn' t know, the only was in Disncyworld. I don't know what it heartthrob I know of is writing this story.) was; it must have been the free Diet Coke, I asked him a long question and it turned Evian and cheese. There is something out his English was less than spectacular. about free cheese that He had no clue what I was really excites me. saying, and the press conference was brought to a I struck gold when I halt. Rafael, his interpreter, found out that I had access to all of the playand 1 spent a couple miner's press conferences. utcs workil'lg it out and, in After a match, the playthe end, we got a pretty ers would come into the good answer. By now I was having fun: a couple mcmroom, and my media cohorts and I would ask bcrs of the local press even questions. We could ask told me my question was them anything we wanthilarious. The next day cd . I quickly realized there was a story in the that most of the people National Post about a 'jourcovering this event did nalistic scribe" asking a not know a lick about I have a trophy. complex question and tennis. So I dCCJdcd I Do YOU have a trophy?

Rafael's interpreter stepshould ask the questions and once I got ping in to save the day. I knew I was havstarted there was no turning back. The next ing too much fun when, one night, 1 waitthing I knew the other writers were asking cd hours with one lonely member of the me for story ideas.

Finish Press to talk to a Finish player that A couple of funny stories st1ck out. none of you would have ever heard of.

After Roger Federer, the number one playOnce in a while someone would look at cr in the world, finished his first match, I my name tag and ask me what Ultra Vires mistakenly misstated his winning streak. was. I was quick to tell them we were an He looked at me like I was an idiot, and I international sporting magazine nobody

had ever heard of. When I got a stat wrong or snoozed during a press conference, Tom would say, "pay attention, The U ofT students want good informat1on." Little did he know that 'good information' is of minor importance in the Ultra ~7res mandate.

I have to say all week, I feared the fun could end at any moment. Perhaps they would realize I wasn't 'real media.' But nobody said anything - although Tom did JOke about turning me m on a few occasions. There arc many more stories I could pass on. On Sunday, after the tournament was over, I ran into Roger Federer, who remembered me from the week. I congratulated h1m on winning the tournament, and told him what a great week I had. I also happened to be wearing the same headband he wore during his matches -- I bought if for 16 dollars. My credibility was shot. There I was. glowing to the number I player and wearing his headband too!

What a great week it was: I made new friends, saw tennis for free, met the players, got a cool headband. I guess you can say I had my week in Disneyland and now - back to my day job.

Ytm too could try and cm·er a 'real' news event and write a story for UV. If there is an event you want to con!r and need help getting proper credentials, email us at ultra.vires@utoronto.ca

12 September 2oo6

DIVERSIONS

31

Restaurants: Burrito Boyz and Hernando's Downtown This issue's restaurant review features two 'quasi-Mexican' basement eateries.

Recently, there has been a movement in Toronto tov.:ards authentic Mexican cuisine; these restaurants arc anything but quick and cheap.

Burrito Boyz. 120 Peter Street, 416- 5939191 , Tab for dinner for tv.o: $16.52 This subterranean fast food joint has attained cult status for late night munchies in the entertainment district. Located in the heart of clubland, the cheap cats arc beyond filling. feature just enough grease and arc cheap - from $3.99 for a bean and cheese burrito to $6.25 for a halibut one (all prices arc for servings small enough for a substantial lunch).

This is a pretty low-key place, with the menu written on blackboards, a small counter at which to order, and no seating.

Our visit. on a Sunday evening, featured a 15 minute plus wait from the time we entered to the moment of burritos in hand.

The setup is similar to a sub shop · you order at the counter, they make the burrito according to your likes, and it's placed on the grill to heat through, givmg nice crunch to the tortilla shell and properly warmed toppings. Topping choices arc rice, beans, cheese. burrito sauce, tomatoes, salsa, lettuce, jalapenos, green peppers, sour cream, and guacamole ($0.50 extra).

We ordered two small burritos (steak and fried hali but) and two drinks, and the total was under $20. and we were com-

plctely stuffed. Both burritos were tasty, but nothing out-of-this world - chewy steak strips, messy wraps, and piping hot.

C11ven the lack of seating, we had to wandc:r around to find a spot to cat, and the food was still scaringly hot by the time we sat down. Good selection of drinks (tropical juices like guava, esoteric soft drinks).

Verdict: perfect after-bar food when \\.'aiting is fine; make sun.: you grab lots of napkins and find somewhere to sit. For lunch, make sure you have more than 30 minutes.

haps verging on the overly familiar zone (one group member thought our server's beard could use a haimct). Dinner :.tarted with complimentary nachos and saba (served with a spoon, maybe to avoid double-dipping?). We each had one of their signature "dinners", featuring your typical Mexican entrees along with beans, rice and salad. The taco dinner, for $8.99. was a pretty good value (two tacos with side:.), but the enchiladas, at $11.49, \\ere on the small side (the tacos were the best value for money), but the kitchen followed the " light on the cheese" instructions.

Hernando's The fajita shrimp DowntO\\>n, 545 qucsadilla ($13. 99) Yongc Street, 416featured some good929-3629 - Tab for sized shrimp, and dmner for four: the chicken burrito $76.98 11.49) wasn't ($ Th1s restaurant is quite as substantial part of the Mcxicali as Burrito Boyz' but Rosa's cham, servwas still quite filling "California ing. All entrees had style Mexican real meat (substanfood". familiar to tial chunks of chickthose from eastern en, real ground Ontario. The chain beef) and most arc seems to be known available in vegetarMy sontrErois aggEr than ywrs pnmarily for marian options as well . garitas with food A word of warning coming as a second for those who don't consideration. We tried them out for dinner as a group of four like heat: all the dishes were quite spicy, as was the rice. The salad wa!i better than early on a Friday night.

T h e scrv1cc was beyond attentive, per- many, a decent mix of veggics and lettuce

with a nice dressing. The beans were stan· dard-i:.sul!, with some melted cheese on top.

While .... e were all pretty full from the main eour c~, the dessert card enticed us to order the brownie fie~ta and apple fi1jita, which fell short of expectation . The brownie fiesta, a brownie with chocolate sauce and whipped cream o;cf\ed in a hca\y duty martini glass. with nut:. und an enigmatic white layer (we couldn't figure it out marshmallow-like consi.,tency but ta ting only like sweet cream) was tasty, and at $4.67 adequately priced. The apple fajita ($6.95) was another story. Served in a hot frying pan. the "fajita'' is a (:.mall-i h) square of apple crumble surrounded by sizzling butterscotch sauce. topped with a scoop of vanilla icc cream. llow this is a fajita, I'm not quite sure, and while tasty, it didn't exactly resemble the p1cturc on the menu. No free refills on soft drinks disappointed the group.

Verdict: good atmosphere, tasty food, nothing too challenging for picky caters, skip dessert.

If you are looking for other Mexican venues around town, you could try checking out Bandidos, who cla1m "authentic" Mexican (371 King Street West, across from MEC, closed when we tried it); other options arc Hernando's Hideaway location (52 A Wellington Street East), or Margarita's Fiesta Room ( 14 Ba\dwin St )

I ScreaiD, you ScreaiD, we all Screa1n

BY KATHRYN BIRD AND lAURA HAGE Charged with the laudable goal of determining the greatest icc cream shop in Toronto, we hit the streets to consume as much lactose as physically possible and, for the benefit of our fellow students, gain between I 0-15 pounds. Martyrdom at its sweetest! In our travels we reviewed Greg's Icc Cream, Sweet Fantasies and Dolce. Here's the "scoop":Bird and Hagc took this one for the team

Greg's (SW of Bloor a n d Spadin a) After lugging the empties from I !age's apartment to the Beer Store in various wheeled suitcases and backpacks. on a rainy. dreary and rather cold August afternoon, we descended upon Greg's Icc Cream.

Greg's is owned by Greg. It opened 22 years ago near campus and recently relocated to its current home to better meet demand.

Flavours: Hage: Coffee Toffee and Whipped Cream Bird: Mint Chocolate Chip and Orco Kid size cone approximately $3.00 Did you know: Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's final requested meal consisted of Ben and Jerry's mint chocolate icc cream. I'm just saying .. .

l"erdict: Del ish!! Just the correct mix of cream, sugar flavour and general good-

ness. However, the atmosphere is decidedly lacking. Having scouted for an appropriate bench to 'sit and hck' on, we had to settle for the slightly less b1rd-shit-covcred cement block with a clear view of the subway grate and lots of pigeons; not exactly prime seating. However, the ice cream was good enough to overcome the lack of atmosphere - definitely a prime take out choice.

Sweet Fantasies Ice C rea m (NE of Bloor a nd Brunswick) After going for a rather pathetic run/jog/walk/gasp for breath/curse smokes and alcohol, and a lovely meal prepared by a carefully manipulated roommate, the intrepid two set out to assess another icc creamery. Sweet Fantasies Icc Crl!am is run out of the side of a house and is open m the summer months only. They used to offer a free cone on your birthday, w hie h really u p s c t Hage given that she's a February child.

The operation no longer discriminates seasonally and the promotion ha:. been scrapped. We're still fond of this Annex location.

Flavours:

Bird Orco - in a small cup Hage: Strawberry - cone K1d stze cone approximately $3.00

Verdict· Sub standard icc cream. Icc crystals lmger on the tongue - general lack of flavour and unfortunately small portions.

However, if you are searching for a place to take that special someone to, this is it.

Prime seating is offered; narrow tables, perfect for rcachmg across and hand-holding, with a prime people watching view of the frat boys coming out of the Brunny pub and the folks that fancy themselves as artistes flowmg in and out of Future's bakery. Lovely subdued lighting and music playing at just the right level. So romantic!

Dolce (SE of College a nd Crawfor d) Walking home from what was possibly the most uninspired Ultimate game of our short-lived careers. we stopped in for gelato (wh1ch 1s apparently not icc cream. though it is frozen and flavoured like icc cream but made with milk and not cream).

Dolce is clearly the place to get Gelato tilled with trendy couples and young families, none of whom were too pleased with the athletic attire we were sporting (or was it the scent we were emitting?), the counter is manned by attractive 20 somcthings, and the interior decorator has been well compensated for the "miniminalist" look that has been created.

Flawmrs: Bird: Mango Ilagc: Noccicola (hazelnut) - unpronounceable, but think frozen Nutella in a

cup.

Worth every one of the four dollars!

Verdict A taste of heaven in a cup. Enjoy the stroll west down College; check out the shops. bars and cafes of Toronto's Little Italy. The mileage will be well compensated. Don't be shy: taste many flavours before making your final decision. You will inevitably want to return. And feel free to invite us!

Ice Cream tastes better when you are eating it while writing for Ultra Vires*. *Ultra

Virc~

v.ill not be held rc pons1blc for

any sticky keyboards and or squ1shy wositlincs resultmg from th1s lick-and-type plan.

30

DIVERSIONS

ultra vires

Celebrity sightings soured; seek solace in Starbucks DIY: "I'll probably see [obscure noun] before I spot [celebrity]"

BY DAVE SEEVARATNAM

r

One of the great things about going to Apparently. you can't throw a bronzed school in downtown Toronto is that the Sun Cruise dropping (consult Google beginning of classes coincides with the before asking questions) without hitting a Toronto International Film Festival. When celebrity in early September.

Why, then. have I never seen a bona fide we're agonizmg over whether we can justify dropping Secured Transactions for celebrity up-close-and-personal? I have Law & Film, we can distract ourselves stopped by fabled "Celebrity Starbucks" with all the buzz, glitz, and glamour that (at Avenue and Yorkville) for a mid-mornTIFF brings to town. ing cappuccino without any luck. On my Th1s year. some of the talked-up films way home from classes, I gaze into the include Sarah Polley's directorial debut, window of celebrated TIFF hot-spot.

Away from Her, and Death ofa President. Bistro 990, a faux-documentary about the fictional only to be assassination of George Bush. Tickets for stared down films like these arc hot commodities, and by one star or involve inevitable, interminable queues. another's Another annoyance: TIFF fare can be a lit- imposing tle hit-and-miss. Last year I sat through a security muddled film about life in Sri Lanka, g u a r d . which was followed by a Q & A with the Stephen director. Even he seemed confused about Birman's artiwhether or not his film had anything to do cle on the with the country's civil war. This part of Roger's Cup the evening was less painful than the film's reminds me opening fifteen mmutes, which were com- of the closest pletely dialogue- (and excitement-) free.

I've come to They say that the only sure thing about spotting TIFF is the celebrity sightings. Last year, a celebrities. Unlike our fearless editor, who friend of mine spotted Hilary Swank out- banters with the brightest stars of the tenside Isabel Bader Theatre. Others have nis world, I have been a mere speck in the seen Russell Crowe, Matthew throngs of spectators waiting for athletes McConnaughey, and Drew Barrymore, all with such household names as Ankc Huber at locations minutes from F\avel\e. and Wayne Ferreira. Not exactly star-

sightings to write home about. r guess the first question that springs to mind is. why do I care? Answering it involves delving into the psychology of celcbnty worship. Any behavioural science that investigates why I would look at baby Suri's birth certificate online is clearly not a field to be entered into lightly. So, I chalk up my behaviour to growing up in the MuchMusic generation, and continue to focus on finding ways to envelop myself in the world of the stars.

While I still I haven't experienced a real celebrity sighting, the celeb-cosmos threw me a bone recently. I should preface this with a little background into my life. (Yes, you arc getting a whiff of the narcissism that led me to grant myself a Came Bradshaw/Leah McLarcnstylc. "write anythmg" column). The year was 1991. The soundtrack to my final days living in Saskatchewan was the stellar Rod Stewarts Greatest Hits. Tt contains familiar favcs like "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and

Why, then, have never seen a bona fide celebrity upclose-and-personal? I have stopped by fabled "Celebrity Starbucks" (at Avenue and Yorkville) for a mid-morning cappuccino without any luck

"Maggie May", as well as the lesser known but soul-wrenchingly-poignant " I Don't Want To Talk About It", "You're in my Heart", and "Sailing". At that time, there was a new kid in my class, Jarret, who was a hockcy-playingjock of the rare, non-jerky variety. In fact, Jarret was so nice that I invited him to my super-cool mini-golf/A&W send-off party, even though I had known him only for a few weeks.

Fast-forward fifteen years. I heard through the grapevine that Jarret Stoll parlayed his Yorkton Terriers AAA's involvement into a full-fledged NHL career. At first, this fact meant little to me, outside of its utility when I encountered rabid hockey fans. However, while responsibly using research time to Google people I know, I discovered that Mr. Stoll keeps interesting company. His Wikipedia page tells me that he is currently dating Rachel Hunter, the super-model most famous for being - Rod Stewart's ex-wife! This positions me a mere three degrees of separation from Rod Stewart (Rod-Rachel-Jarret-Dave), whose music soothed my emotional wounds while I was leaving Saskatchewan and fnends like Jarret.

Now, 1f I could only meet Rod Stewart and tell him about our fateful connection . .. if you need me, I'll be at Celebrity Starbucks.

Just Roger and Me: A Week at the Rogers Cup

BY STEPHEN BIRMAN

When I started writing for Ultra Vires, I always thought it would be fun to find out what it was like covering a 'real event' (outside of the school. that is) like a member of the 'real media.'

With that goal in mind, I chose one of the events most important to me the Rogers Cup Men's Tennis Tournament at York University - to cover for this year's opening issue. You have to understand that I have been going to this event since I was a kid. In the past I remember waiting for the autographs of tennis legends Stcffi Graf and Pete Sampras. I had even once asked Martma Htng1s out on a date. I remember wondering what went on beyond the ropes: you know, in the area reserved for the players, the media, and the VIPs So I went to the tournament website and I applied for media credentials. For about two months, I corresponded with Tennis Canada's media people; they wanted to know who I was and why I needed media credentials. I explained that we were a 'real' newspaper and that we sometimes covered social and cultural events. I left out the part about me being a tennis fanatic for whom a week as media at Canada's premiere tennis event would be akin to a week at Disneyworld for anybody's little brother.

When the day before the tournament arrived, I found myself getting random emails about media events for the tournament. I realized that I had been approved.

When I arrived at the tournament on the first day, I introduced myself to Tom

Tcbbutt, the tennis writer for the Globe was slightly embarrassed. Not because he and Mail. We had previously corresponded looked at me like I was an idiot, but through email. I had thrown out the idea of because he is my favourite player. I like trying to put a tennis show on the radio and Federer as a tennis player as much as I like offered him the role as my co-host, and he Natalie Portman as an actress.

The next day I found myself in a press had cxpcctcdly laugned. Over the week we spoke often and, at one point. he even told conference with the number 2 player, Rafael Nadal. Apparently he is some sort me that he had some ideas for our show.

When I got to the media room, I truly of heartthrob (I wouldn't know, the only was m D1sne)'World. I don't know what it heartthrob I know of is writing this story.) was; it must have been the free Diet Coke, I asked h1m a long question and it turned Evian and cheese. There IS something out his English was less than spectacular. about free cheese that He had no clue what I was really excites me. saying, and the press conI struck gold when I ference was brought to a found out that I had halt. Rafael, his interpreter, access to all of the playand I spent a couple minutes working it out and, in er's press conferences. the end, we got a pretty After a match, the playgood answer. By now I was ers would come into the having fun: a couple memroom, and my media bers of the local press even cohorts and I would ask questions. We could ask told me my question was them anything we wanthilarious. The next day ed. I quickly realized there was a story in the that most of the people National Post about a "jourcovering this event did nalistic scribe" asking a I have a trophy. not know a lick about complex question and Do YOU have a trophy? tcnms. So I decided I Rafael's interpreter stepshould ask the questions and once I got ping in to save the day. I knew I was havstarted there was no turning back. The next ing too much fun when, one night, 1 waitthing I knew the other writers were asking ed hours with one lonely member of the me for story ideas.

Finish Press to talk to a Finish player that A couple of funny stories st1ck out. none of you would have ever heard of.

After Roger Federer, the number one playOnce in a while someone would look at er in the world, finished his first match, I my name tag and ask me what Ultra Vires mistakenly misstated his winning streak. was. I was qu1ck to tell them we were an He looked at me like I was an idiot, and I international sporting magazine nobody

had ever heard of. When I got a stat wrong or snoozed dunng a press conference, Tom would say, "pay attentiOn, The U ofT students want good information." Little did he know that 'good information' is of minor importance in the Ultra Vires mandate.

I have to say all week, I feared the fun could end at any moment. Perhaps they would realize I wasn't 'real media.· But nobody sa1d anything - although Tom did JOke about turning me in on a few occasions. There arc many more stories I could pass on. On Sunday. after the tournament was over, I ran mto Roger Federer, who remembered me from the week. I congratulated him on winning the tournament, and told him what a great week I had. I also happened to be wearing the same headband he wore during h1s matches -- I bought if for 16 dollars. My credibility was shot. There I was. glowing to the number I player and wearing his headband too!

What a great week it was I made new friends. saw tennis for free, met the players, got a cool headband. I guess you can s.ty I had my week in Disneyland and now - back to my day job.

Ycm too could tty and cover a 'real" news event and write a story for U~~ If there is an event you want to cow?r and need help gelling proper credentials, email us at ultra. vires@utoronto.ca

DIVERSIONS

12 September 2oo6

31

Restaurants: Burrito Boyz and Hernando's Downtown This issue's restaurant review features two 'quasi-Mexican' basement eateries .

Recently, there has been a movement in Toronto towards authentic Mexican cuisine; these restaurants arc anything but quick and cheap.

Burrito Boyz, 120 Peter Street, 416- 5939191, Tab for dmner for two: $16.52 This subterranean fast food joint has attained cult status for late night munchies in the entertainment district. Located in the heart of clubland, the cheap cats arc beyond filling. feature just enough grease and arc cheap from $3.99 for a bean and cheese burrito to $6.25 for a halibut one (all prices arc for servings small enough for a substantial lunch).

This is a pretty low-key place, with the menu written on blackboards, a small counter at which to order, and no seating.

Our visit, on a Sunday evening, featured a I 5 minute plus wait from the time we entered to the moment of burritos in hand.

The setup is similar to a sub shop - you order at the counter, they make the burrito according to your likes, and it's placed on the grill to heat through, giving nice crunch to the tortilla shell and properly warmed toppings. Topping choices arc rice, beans. cheese. burrito sauce, tomatoes, salsa, lettuce. jalapenos. green peppers. sour cream, and guacamole ($0.50 extra).

We ordered two small burritos (steak and fried halibut) and two drinks, and the total was under $20. and we were com-

pletely stuffed. Both burritos were ta-.ty, but nothing out-of-this world - chewy steak strips, messy wrap'>, and piping hot.

(JIVen the lack of seating. we had to wander around to find a spot to cat, and the food was still searingly hot by the time we sat down. Good selection of drinks (tropical juices like guava. esoteric soft drinks).

Verdict: perfect after-bar food when waiting is fine; make sure you grab lots of napkins and find somewhere to sit. Por lunch, make sure you have more than 30 minutes.

haps verging on the overly familiar zone (one group member thought our server's beard could usc a hairnct). Dinner '>lartcd with complimentary nacho~ and saba (served with a spoon. maybe to avoid double-dipping?). We each had one of their signature "dinners", featuring your typical Mexican entrees along with bean . rice and salad. The taco dinner. for $8.99, was a pretty good value (two tacos with sides). but the enchiladas. at $11.49, \\-ere on the small side (the tacos were the best ,·aluc for money). but the kitchen followed the •·tight on the cheese" Hernando's instructions.

The fajita shrimp Downtown. 545 qucsadilla ($13.99) Yongc Street, 416featured some good929-3629 - Tab for sized shrimp, and dmncr for four: the chicken burrito $76.98 ($1 1.49) wasn't This restaurant is quite as substantial part of the Mcxicali as Burrito Boyz' but Rosa's chain, servwas still quite fill"Cahforma ing style Mexican ing. All entrees had real meat (substanfood". familiar to tial chunks of chickthose from eastern en, real ground Ontario. The cham beef) and most arc seems to be known My santre-ois liggethan yrurs in vegetaravailable primarily for marian options as well. garitas with food A word of warning coming as a second for those who don't consideration. We tried them out for dinner as a group of four like heat: all the dishes were quite spicy, as was the rice. The salad was better than early on a Friday night.

The service was beyond attentive, per- many, a decent mix of veggtcs and lettuce

\\-ith a nice drc.. sing. The bean~ were tandard-bsuc, with some melted cheese on top.

While we were all pretty full from the main courses, the dessert card enticed u~ to order the brownie fiesta and apple fajita, which fell short of expectations. The brownie fiesta. a brownie with chocolate sauce and whipped crcurn o;crved in 11 hea') duty martini glass, with nuts and an enigmatic white layer (\\-e couldn't figure it out marshmallow-like consistency but ta ting only like S\\ect cream) was ta~ty, and at $4.67 adequately priced. The apple fajita ($6.95) was another story. Served in a hot frying pan, the ··fajita'' is a (small-i~h) square of apple crumble surrounded by sizzling butterscotch sauce, topped with a scoop of vanilla icc cream.

How this is a fajita, I'm not quite sure, and while tasty, it didn't exactly resemble the picture on the menu. No free refills on sotl drinks disappomtcd the group.

Verdict: good atmosphere, tasty food, nothing too challenging for picky caters. skip dessert.

If you are looking for other Mexican venues around town. you could try checking out Bandidos, who claim "authentic" Mexican (371 King Street West, across from MEC, closed when we tried it); other options are Hernando's Hideaway location (52 A Wellington Street East), or Margarita's Fiesta Room (l4 Baldwm St)

I ScreaiD, you Screa01, we all ScreaiD

BY KATHRYN BIRD AND lAURA HAGE Charged with the laudable goal of determining the greatest icc cream shop in Toronto, we hit the streets to consume as much lactose as physically possible and, for the benefit of our fellow students. gain between I 0-15 pounds. Martyrdom at its sweetest! In our travels we reviewed Greg's Icc Cream, Sweet Fantasies and Dolce. Here's the "scoop":Bird and Hagc took this one for the team

Greg's (SW of Bloor and Spadina) After lugging the empties from Hagc 's apartment to the Beer Store in vanous wheeled suitcases and backpacks, on a rainy. dreary and rather cold August afternoon. we descended upon Greg's Icc Cream.

Greg's is owned by Greg It opened 22 years ago near campus and recently relocated to its current home to better meet demand.

Flavours:

llagc: Coffee Toffee and Whipped Cream Bird: Mint Chocolate Chip and Oreo Kid size cone approximately $3.00 Did you know: Oklahoma City bomber limothy McVeigh's final requested meal consisted of Ben and Jerry's mint chocolate ice cream. I'm just saying ...

Verdict: Del ish!! Just the correct mix of cream, sugar flavour and general good-

ness. However, the atmosphere is decidedly lacking. Having scouted for an appropriate bench to 'sit and lick' on, we had to settle for the slightly less bird-shit-covered cement block with a clear view of the subway grate and lots of pigeons; not exactly prime seating. However, the icc cream was good enough to overcome the lack of atmosphere - definitely a prime take out choice.

Sweet Fantasies Ice Cream (NE of Bloor and Brunswick) After going for a rather pathcttc run/jog/walk/gasp for breath/curse smokes and alcohol, and a lovely meal prepared by a carefully manipulated roommate, the intrepid two set out to assess another icc creamery Sweet Fantasies Icc Cream is run out of the side of a house and is open in the summer months only. They to used offer a free cone on your birthday, which rca I I y u p s e 1 Hagc given that she's a Fcbnmry child.

The operation no longer discriminates seasonally and the promotion has been scrapped. We're still fond of this Annex location.

Flam urs:

Bird Orco - in a small cup Hagc. Strawberry - cone K1d sue cone approximately $3.00

cup.

Worth every one of the four dollars!

Verdict Sub standard icc cream. Icc crys-

A taste of heaven in a cup. Enjoy the stroll west down College; check out the shops, bars and cafes of Toronto's Little Italy. The mileage will be well compensated. Don't be shy: taste many flavours before making your final decision. You will inevitably want to return. And feel free to invite us!

~'erdict

tals linger on the tongue - general lack of flavour and unfortunately small portions.

However, if you are searching for a place to take that special someone to, this is it.

Prime seating is offered; narrow tables, perfect for reaching across and hand-holding, with a prime people watching view of the frat boys coming out of the Brunny pub and the folks that fancy themselves as artistes flowing in and out of Future's bakery. Lovely subdued lighttnl! and music playing at just the right level So romantic!

Dolce (SE of College and Cral\oford) Walking home from what was possibly the most uninspired Ultimate game of our short-lived careers. we stopped in for gelato (which is apparently not icc cream, though it is frozen and flavoured like icc cream but made with milk and not cream).

Dolce is clearly the place to get Gelato filled with trendy couples and young families, none of whom were too pleased with the athletic attire we were sporting (or wus it the scent we were emitting?). the counter is manned by attractive 20 !'Omcthings, and the interior decorator has been well compensated for the "miniminalist" look that has been created.

Fluwmrs:

Bird: Mango Ilage: Noccicola (hazelnut) unpronounceable, but think frozen Nutella m a

Ice Cream tastes better when you are eating it while writing for Ultra Vires*.

•t, llra Vires will not be held responsible for any st1cky keyboards and or ~>quishy wn

It-

lines rc~ulting from this Ji(;k-and-typc plan.

DIVERSIONS

32

ultra vires

TELEVISION: Dissecting the Fall Lineup

DIVERSIONS

September 2006

CASE BRIEFS

BYJOANNA GOLDENBERG

Back to school also means back to work. House and beyond the island. and we'll sec how Or. in many cases. back to procrastination.

So, Jt looks like House's body is cured long it takes the new season to answer Which is why it's nice that back to school (poss1blc non-permanently), but he's still some of the questions the finale posed also coincides with a new season of televi- going to be the same old crank and addict. (Will Michael and Walt get away? How sion. TV is a great procrastmator's tool - dealing with crazy cases and catching are Penny and Desmond connected to there 's always something on, and you can things that no one else docs. everything? What happened in the hatch tell yourself that you \\ill do work while The challenge: Keeping the show mter- and what and who will survive?) you watch. With that in mind, there's defi- esting, when every single one has the same The challenge: Not falling into a slump nitely a few shows I've been looking for- plot outline.

I) in the middle like the ward to.

Mysterious symptoms, last season. Also, 2) diagnosis. 3) attemptthey're cxpcnmcnting Prison Break ed cure. 4) medical crisis a new format th1s seaAlready off to a flying start- getting rid 5) repeat 2 - 4 until 6) son: no repeats or of the most annoying character was a solid House has a flash of missing weeks move (seriously, did Veronica ever show insight and solves the except for one looong signs of competence?). and we've seen the case definiuvcly.

13 week hiatus in the addition of a creepily interesting new char- However, what's kept middle of the season. acter that would be, FBI agent Mahone the show interesting so What I want to sec: played by William Fichtner. At last some- far arc the interactions All the mystenous one figured out that all that crap on between the characters. stuff seems like it's Michael's body wasn't intended to build They should take cues just going to end up cred on the inside. from CSI which has being disappointing The challenge: Can this show work as managed to play that Aspiring models escape desert when the big reveal island paradise, become afflictwell without the gimmicks? They're out of game effectively. finally gets here. For ed by puzzling illness prison now, making the title an ill fit, and What I want to sec: my money, it is the although M1chael may have a few more More House and Wilson. social interactions aids to their escape tattooed into his skin Subtext or not, their interactions make for (and breakdowns) that are the most inter(gosh. you would think that he might some of the best moments on the show - esting thing about the situations these remember a few of these things without a especially when Wilson manages to hold characters arc placed in. case summary), there's a limited amount his own. that they ' ll be able to do from here on in, Lost Survivor and America's Next Top especially when the escape plans derail After a slow second season, the fmal Model and they're forced to find a new track. episodes cranked into gear with new reveTotal guilty pleasures because they're What I want to see: More ofT-Bag and lations and, what might be a total rear- so easy to watch, the reality shows this his new Frankcnhand. ranging of the situation on the island. season are lining up with "twists" aplenty.

Much remains up in the air about life on - Survivor's decision to divide the players

12

intro tribes along racial lines has prompted the most reaction, as Mark Burnett and Jeff Probst race around town attempting to justify th1s as a legitimate and well founded decision, rather than a stunt and numbers grab. Say what you like, at least it's a little more exciting than what ANTM's next "cycle" has got - twins.

The challenge: The real issue is that the core idea of the shows have not changed.

No matter what casting stunts they pull, 1t's still people competing in challenges and against each other. Both shows also dig themselves in to holes where the results become far too predictable.

What 1 want to sec: Casting stunts are just that. Genuinely interesting people arc fun to watch, which has nothing to do with race, or whether there are two of them. A decision that actually shakes up the format would go a long way to injecting both shows with new life. Hey, maybe they should combine the two - they can abandon people in desert tribes with minimal supplies and see who can rock photoshoots in addition to other challenges like that.

Palsgraf Railroad

v.

Long

Island

MRS. PALSGRAF: This really was a wondcrful1dea. A relaxing weekend at the beach will take my mind off my crippling fear of scales. (She SITS DOWN.) MAN (carrying a SUITCASe)· The Raii'Way JS the only Way to transport tireworks.

CONDUCTOR: All aboooaaaaaarrrrrrd!

Home Office v. Dorset Yacht JONFS Ah. the life of a Borstal Oflicer.

That's the only life for me!

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And what a coinc1dcnce that we. the only t\\0 narcoleptic Borstal Otlicers in the whole Home Office. were paired together to supervise this excursion.

SMITH: By Gum, Jones. you're right-it IS quite notable. Quite notable ind-

MAN That's my train! (He RUNS.) WORKER I: Leap for it, sir! I will push you and my friend there will pull you.

They fall ASLEEP.

WORKER 2: We've done this before and nothing tragic has happened.

BORSTAL BILL: 01, blimey! Thcm'vc gone asleep, they 'ave!

MAN· That's good enough for me.

BORSTAL MELVIN : Wot I call a lack of due care, innit? I say we get off this 'ere bloody island wiv a boat or sumfink!

He LEAPS; Workers I and 2 PUSII and PULL respectively. Somethmg GOES WRONG Mrs. Palsgraf (crushed by scales): The irony! • CARDOZO: Th1s JS a warning, Palsgmf!

Stay off the East Side!

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Happy Watching!

House: Tues., 9 pm FOX Pnson Break: Mon., 8 pm FOX Lost: Wed., 9 pm, ABC Sur. ivor: Thurs., 8pm, CBS America's Next Top Model: Wed., 8pm

33

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Your Monthly Mix-Tape

BY MARCUS NIDEMAEYER It seems a like g 0 0 d idea to start this column off by being perfectly honest albums arc awesome, but nothing beats the complexity of the mix tape. I could wax poetic about the intricacies of creating the perfect mix, but it seems wiser to quote "Rob" from Nick Hornby's High Fidelity: "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up. is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a k11ler. to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch.

There arc a lot of rules."

Truth: when you get a great compilation tape from someone, it is pretty much impossible not to fall m love with the tapemaker, or at least to restrain yourself from grabbing them and pulling them into a tight dark comer somewhere while the last few bars of their impeccably chosen final song are still reverberatmg in your ears.

I can see what you are thinking now, and my goal in doing this is not to send a majority of the UV-reading population into

a mix-tape-hypnotized, pop-music-fueled lustathon. but we have to remember that really, nothing is more powerful than a properly composed compilation.

What with school just starting out (read ~ it's open season, dating-wise - get in there before someone else does or November wJII find you watching movies in bed BY YOURSELF). summer job money still seeming like it will last well past December, and patio season still in swing, I felt it would be most appropnate to create a mix list to listen to while you arc all getting ready to go out. You can thank me later.

As you all know, ifyou get overexcited before you go out, you may never make it out. At the same time, if you start your evening out listening to Cat Power, I Opm will find you huddled in a giant hoodie with your journal, fully decided that deconstructing your last non-relationship JS what you should really be doing tonight. Avoid both these scenarios by starting with something soothing but pop-y.

my goal in doing this is not to send a majority of the UV-reading population into a popmusic-fueled lustathon

I. The Cure - "Just Like Heaven" 2. Lionel Ritchie - "Dancing on the

Ceiling"

3. Diplo

"Goldigger Remix"

By this point. you may be hitting arguably the most cruc1al point of the evening - the dec1dmg moment. if you wJII choice of outfit. Step it up a notch to power yourself through the dilemma of WHICH of your 17 pairs of artfully faded jeans you will be wearing.

4. Hot Chip "Over and Over" 5. Justin Timberlake "Sexy Back" 6. Manitoba (Caribou) "I've Lived on a D1rt Road all my Life" 7. Ninja lligh School "Shake it Off"

Around now it would probably be advised to slow things down Gust a bit) so you don't wear yourself out before you even make it out the door.

8. A Tribe Called Quest - "Oh My God" 9. RJD2 "Good Times Roll Pt. 2" I 0. Air- "Kelly Watch the Stars" Finally, time to ramp back up and leave you arc officially ready to go out now, after all.

11 . The Amlanches 12. The Rapture Lovers"

"Since I Left You" "House of Jealous

Outstanding Opportunities

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We're always proud to be recognized for our many awards and special achievements. But what's really important to note is what our students say about Torys: How our collegial environment - one that brings together individuals with diverse backgrounds, personalities and styles - creates an atmosphere of friendship and team spirit.

How our dedication to professional excellence and a client roster of promment Canadian and international corporations provide an exceptional platform for learning and professional growth. To find out more about what Torys can offer you, please call Deborah Dalfen, Director, Student Affairs, at 416.865.7544 or visit our website at

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DIVERSIONS

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September 2006

Summer Concert Review

DIVERSIONS

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Enduring Arts: Mozart's Don Giovanni

BY JORDAN NAHMIAS

BY YVANNA MYCYK

For tho c of you who wcrcn 't around this summer, you might not be aware of the plethora of concerts which took place in our lair city. I was lucky enough to attend a great sum of shows, including, but not limited to: Coldplay (twice). Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews Band. I also got to sec Jon Stewart (of Oa1ly Show fame), and Dave Chappelle at Massey Hall.

However, I have chosen to select six concerts which I think were worthy of review. Not all of them were amazing. so let me start with what I would easily rate as the worst concert of the summer;

..

Band: The Roots Venue:KooiHaus Rating: 115 Opening Act: Some god-awful OJ and

vocalist, who screamed like a banshee for an hour.

Let me start by g iving the Roots the credit they arc due; they are often considered as a revolutionary hip-hop band, combining awe-inspiring lyrical skills with a live band performance, creating a unique brand of hip-hop that is often imitated, but never duplicated. Sadly, nothing I just said was present that night at the Kool Haus.

Instead, The Roots I expected to see must have been held up at the border, and replaced by imposters ... who sucked. But seriously, they played their hits, and some of the newer songs as we\\. l will admit, the best part of the show was when they did an improvrsational mix of classic hiphop songs, which lasted about twenty mmutes, and was quite impressive.

Unfortunately, that was really the only part of the show I, and the people I went with, enjoyed.

Gnarls Barkley actually docs have an entire album of songs. And that is what they played (amazingly, l should add) at the Kooll Iaus on August 9th. As per usual, the band took on the persona of a selected pair of characters this time around CccLo and DangcrMouse were a pair of chefs. while the twelve-piece band they had with them were an assortment of line cooks and waitresses. Along with the full back-up voca l section, this was one of the few bands that actually sounds better live.

Overall. it was a great show, with varying renditions of their own songs including "Crazy" and "Transformer", along with some Doors covers as well. The song of the night was their "The Last Time", which got the eclectic, yet cool crowd at the Kool Haus bumping.

Band: The Tragically Hip Venue: Grand River Conservation Park, Guelph, ON Rating: 415

Band: Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, and the BeneventoRusso Duo Venue: The Hummingbird Centre Rating: 415

dio. However, I was totally taken aback when the songs they played (ranging from their earliest album Pablo Honey to the new Hail to the Thief) were all either identical, or even better, and more complicated, than what I had heard on track. These included opening with an astounding rendition of "Everything in 1ts Right Place" and hits such as "Fake Plastic Trees", " Jd iotcque", ''The Pyramid Song" and "Morning Bell". Along with the perfect acoustics of the Hummingbird Centre.

Rad10hcad awed the crowd with great stage effects (cameras built into the microphones and mstruments, a disco ball implanted mto the stage, etc.) a wonderful light show, and of course, Thorn Yorke's pained vocals. I would have to say this was the best concert of the summer.

Opening Act: The Benevento-Russo Duo As a Phish fan, people often expect that I would have camped out all night in a pair of Birkcnstocks, with a bong and some "Gooballs" in order to get tickets for this show. However, that is far from the truth.

My brother (a true Phish-head) had an extra t1ckct, so I figured it would be worthwhile to sec the former bassist and lead vocalist of Phish, with their new band at such an amazing venue. (I should note that the mght before the concert, I was privi- Band: David Gilmour leged enough to be invited to the private Venue: Massey Hall party for the band at Century Room, where they played a three song set of some of the Opening Act: None favourite songs Phish used to cover. It was a once in a lifetime experience) However, Before I begin reviewing Mr. Gilmour's the concert was no disappointment either. concert, I must let you know that Pink Having never heard Trey on his own, it Floyd is and always will be my favourite really was a great show, with a unique band. To be honest, I paid an exorbitant sound to it, combining some new age amount of money to some greedy scalper Benevento Russo stuff, with some older to see this one, and it was worth every Phish songs. Trey and Mike even did a set penny. Having the chance to see the lead break composed of Phish songs done in guitarist of Pink Floyd in action, was Bluegrass, along with some other covers. something I could not miss. Touring his They even had a light show reminiscent of new album On An Island, Gilmour und his many Ph ish shows of past. Along with the band put on quite a show. Nothing too groovy, mostly stoned crowd at the complicated in terms of lights or stage Hummingbird Centre, it was a great time effects, but the selection of songs was for all who attended. amazing. The first set was composed of the On An Island a lbum in its entirety, includBand: Radiohead ing the title track "On An Island" and Venue: The Hummingbird crowd favourite "The Blue". However, the second set was the real treat. Gilmour Centre wowed the crowd with an assortment of Ratmg: 515 Pink Floyd favou rites including "Comfortably Numb", a bunch of tracks Opening Act: None off The D1vision Bell, and even the rarity Let me start this one by stating for those "Echoes" from the album Meddle. who don't know much Radiohead that their music is ridiculously complicated, Generally described as a once in a lifetime often utilizing many tools and instruments experience by many I spoke with, this conwhich only the most technologically cert was precisely that.

Opening Acts: The Weakerthans and Buck 65 A Canadian musical staple (by most standards), The Tragically Hip took on a new tour theme this summer, playing open air stages, and local parks throughout the country. Although I was a little skeptical at first, l figured l should make the trek out to G uelph to see one of my favourite bands.

That, and I missed tickets for their Toronto shows at hrstonc Fort York. And even though I have seen them at least 5 or 6 times, 1 was still blown away. The primary reason for this was the venue itself. The H1p played their usual set list, combining favourites and rarities from their past albums including " Poets", "Courage", Band: Gnarls Barkley "Bobcaygeon", "Don't Wake Daddy" and Venue: The Kool Haus others. However, the venue only allowed Rating: 315 for about 1000 people, in a park with a lake nearby, camp grounds, grass, trees, Opening Act: Peeping Tom with Rahzel and all that stuff we expect from nature.

This new duo of renowned OJ The small amphitheatre-style stage providDangcrMousc and Dungeon Family, ATL- ed amazing acoustics as well, so that even based rap artist Cee-Lo Green, has already when it started to rain, we were all topped the charts with their debut single unfazcd. Overall, a unique concert experi- music-savvy people could figure out. As "Crazy". However, unbeknownst to most ence had by all. such, I never expected that Radiohead people who have heard of them (and many could do on stage what they do in the stuof the cougars at the concert as well)

Next Issue: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, A Tribe Called Quest and Roger Waters

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FLP Volunteers assist unrepresented clients at Family Court in filling out legal forms and navigating the court system during one shift per week in both the fall and winter terms. All volunteers participate in an intensive training session and work under the supervision of court lawyers.

All FLP volunteers will be required to attend a training session on Saturday, September 30 th from 11 :OOa.m. - 5:00p.m. at the University of Toronto.

For more information please attend a quick information session on Wednesday, September 13th from 1:15 to 2:00 in FLB. You may also contact Mireille Khoraych at flp.torontO@probonostudents.ca with any questions about the project or to get an application form. We look forward to hearing from you!

CJn·rllfrr' "What IS she doing?" you ask incredulously. spilhng your coflce on the paper and a little on your sleeves: "This is the inaugural edition of the long-awaited cultural column Enduring Arts. and the rcv1ew is of Mozart's Don Giovanni, the greatest opera ever written! Does the writer know what she's doing? She's got nowhere to go but down from here!"

You sec. the regular concert season has not kicked off yet, and I was fortunate enough to be around for the Toronto Summer Music Academy and f-estival's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. I could have just seen the show, and then found somcthmg else to write about, savmg this opera for a grand finale at the end of the year, but the opera's spirit of seduction and surrender infected my judgment and easily overcame my summer-lazy sense of self-control. I can do it justice in 800 words or less. Why not'!

.)%i I Don Giovanni, is Italian for Don Juan. which is Span1sh for Mr. John, th<.: world's greatest and most proltfic lover. Mozart's take on the story is both comedic and tragic. und it explores the troubled humanness of the characters, designating no one a clca good-guy or bad. The opera opens with dark, terror-striking chords that, soon arc re\oked by fast and cheerful melodies, which foreshadow Don Giovanni\ terrible and otherworldly fate.

The action begins with lhe alleged rape

of Donna Anna, which is allegedly taking place offstage while Leporcllo, Don Giovanni's manservant, is onstage singing about his lousy job; standing guard outside a strangers' palace while his master is ms1dc making another conquest.

Donna Anna clearly fabricated this UllJUSt allegation to preserve her marriage to the boring Don Ottavio. Later in the opera one can sec how Don Giovanni, being the world's greatest lover and all, and possessing good looks. status. charm. and a VOICe that melts bra-straps. can coax into his arms even Donna Elvira. who has traveled far and wide to exact revenge on the notorious lover.

This is not a man who needs to resort to force.

Even in the party scene where he is serving his guests drinks. he instructs Lcporello to ensure that the men get drunk. not the ladies.

Additionally. the relationships in the opera arc not black and white. The idea of the woman being just as conniving and manipulative is most ovv·tly developed through the character of /erlma, the peasant girl who Don G10vanni finds and seduces on her wedding day. She is immediately delighted with the attention she is receiving from a nobleman. The time she

spends alone with Don Giovanni infuriates her husband. Masetto, whom she then pacifies with an aria almost as simple and innocent as Mary had a Little Lamb. With the very beautiful and sweet melody and oddly submissive words, "Beat me, beat me, oh lovely Masctto" this sophisticated bumpkin succeeds by the end of the aria in persuading Masetto of her innocence.

While the opera contains m:my more complex and serious arias, my favourite is "Madamina" or "the catalogue aria," which is one of the comedic ones. It is sung by the bass Lcporello, who is trying to appease the vengeful Donna Elvira by showtng her that she is not the only one whose heart the Don has broken.

He takes out the little black book of the Don 's every conque~t and starts to recite categories of women (640 in Italy, 520 in france, and 1003 in Spain, etc.) The music alternates between a rapru patter song style (lrkc "/am a very model of a modem major genera/" from 'f11c Pirates of Pcn:rancc) and a slow and noble-yet-teasing section that better expresses the grandeur of the catalogue and the breadth of Don Giovnnnt's undi~­ criminating apprcc1ation for women. In this production, Lcporcllo, during the aria. used the alone time with Donna Eh ira and the cavalier melodies to sec if he could

Viewing this production, Zerlina really looked like a young newlywed peasant girl, and the Don and his equally horny manservant looked convincingly lean and hungry.

A Scanner Darkly and Other Laments

pcrhap~ succeed in doing what hi:. rna tcr docs. Understandably. in a :.tudent production the voice~ of the lead~ arc not as fully developed and powerful a~ those of mature singers, but this is offset by the musicality and energy of the young singer . Another benefit of ha\ ing a young cast is that, a:.

Tchaikov~ky once Jamentc.:d. opc.:ras composed about tender young lm e arc inevitably performed by fat. middle-aged stars. Viewing thb production, Zerlina really looked like a young nc\\ ly\\ cd peasant girl, and the Don and hb e<.jually horny manservant looked convincingly lean and hungry.

Any immaturity in the voices vanishes in the technically challenging ensemble pieces when the faye~ of three or more voices come together to gcnemtc enough power to be truly dynamic and satisfying.

While meaning is expressed through each character\ different words and melody, it is the way in which they all perfectly overlap or conflict that :.ublimcly expresses the drama of that moment.

(.If rlrtin '(.,a fl Tips The Toronto Symphony Orchestra otTers extreme discount tickets to anyone unucr mrrty. The price is almo.\t .rs muc/J as you pay to sec a movrc.

r.r

' ({. /IN• N'

Don't get stuck in the "choir loft scats" which seem exciting because you get to sit behind the orchestra but the sound suck , order your tickets by phone. not internet, and specify "r-iO CHOIRLOn."

Sayran Says:

BY SAYRAN SULEVANI

Sporting an intriguing, biblical title, a that draws you in and makes you feel conmust for any thought-provoking film in nected like you never have before. It may my books. A Scanner Darkly has joined or may not have something to do \\ ith the the ranks of Wakmg Life in titular titilla- giant soma-induced orgies. tion. Tit. Ltke Waking Life. the film wa I must say that r enjoyed this Richard shot in live action and then animated by a technique called 'Interpolated Linklatcr adaptation of Philip K. Dick's Rotoscoping.' This sounds made-up to me novel. Links rolled out an all-'star' cast of and, from what I can glean, includes feed- high B. B, and C-listcrs and it worked out ing the footage into a computer on the really well. The movie is set several years DcLorcan and fastening a lightmng rod to the flux capacitor to hurl that bitch into the future, where rotoscoping is as common as soylent green.

When you arrive in this rotoscape, you find, astonishingly, that everyone you meet is ready and in the future, when a highly addictive drug willing to make love in order to repopulate called substance 0 hooks much of the the Earth after the nuclear World War. adult population in Orange County and Although you promise yourself (every usually results in death by suicide because time) that you'll be true to your beloved, of the intense paranoia it inspires. The there's just something about the mutants powers that be in the not-so-futuristic

police state seem to be ob cssed with surveillance in order to track down the sources of the dntg.

Keanu Reeves docsn 't disappoint a Bob Arctor. the stiff. confused undercover narcotics officer who is coincidentally called upon to monitor himself (at the

eflccts of the drug start to 'get bad'.

I've always ltked Winona Ryder. who plays Arctor's woman, and I've even been told I look like her. Granted, that was in the Bcetlcjuicc days, but I've always held on to that compliment. Influenced by the soft bigotry of my lowered expectations, I loved her subtle but emotive performance.

"I must say that I enjoyed this Richard Linklater adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel. Links rolled out an all-'star' cast of high B, B, and C-listers and it worked out really well." office, he wears a scramble suit which obscures his identity and he's known only as Fred to his co-narcs). Arctor ha~ become addicted to substance 0 and his confusion and paranoia only grow as the

Robert Downey Jr.. Woody Harrelson and a very paranoid Rory Cochrane round out the cast, and (dis)function well as a consortium of weirdos. The movie is sort of a crime thriller but it's more about the effect of drugs on people, with the pcrvlhive themes of identity loss and subjective rl!<llity.

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Ultra News: Satire, Libel, Poor Taste, and Foliage Second Year Student Shocked to l.earn T here's No Bridge Week For Her Stephanie (2L) was hocked to learn that there arc no bridge weeb in second year. "I'm really going to mis~ the opportunity to learn from such o diverse group of legal scholars about o variety of areas of the law. in a setup that is unique to U ofT law," lamented White. She then returned to her 35 person-large MSN conver:;ation and staring at the ceiling.

Fundraising Sca ndal Rocks O rientation Week rhe law school community was rocked by scandal this week when it was revealed that onentatJOn fundra1sing co-chief Jordan (21.) had failed to raise any of the $36,000 reqUired for orientation events. Instead, he spent the summer playing online poker. "I thought it would be more fun, and more profitable, than going around visiting prctent•ou:. lawyers," said Jordan. The plan backfired when. upon reaching his $36,000 target online and attempting to cash out, Jordan realized that he had in fact been playing with a play-money account all along.

..,.

.\ lo goes Jdating Mo (3L) surprised his good friends when he revealed that in his bid to secure a date he has joined JDATE. When told by friends that JDATE was a service for Jewish singles Mo expressed indi fference. "Those girls don't know what they arc missing, a date is a date, and every girl could use a little bit of Mo in her life." When told that Mo's application had been accepted, hundreds of males and females instantly removed their profiles from the site.

Green Wins Admin G rudge Match After teaching an Administrative Law class with Profcsssor Sossin last year, Professor Green will teach the course on his own in second term. Green was pleased: "You know, it was a good fight and all, but I totally ruled fairness. Sossin tried to trip me up with that pragmatic and functional shit, but I knew that bitch was done! Now I can do up Admin Green-styles, yo:· When reached for comment, Sossin seemed to take things in stride: "Did I teach Administrative Law last year?"

Osgood e Demoted Last Tuesday the Law Soc1cty announced a new plan that will see Osgoode Hall demoted to triple-A law school status. Osgoodc will retain its position as an accredited law school, however students will no longer graduate with a major league law degree.

According to John Smithsonian of the Law Society, "Osgoodc students must now hope to get called up by a MaJor League school 1f they arc to attain a law degree, essentially this means they need to hope other law students get ill or drop out of school if they want to practtcc in Ontario " While critics have called this a major roadblock to a legal education Smithsoman disagrees· "listen if baseball can have a minor league feeder system then so can law, Osgoodc should be happy it hasn't been demoted to double AA status like Windsor or the McMaster School of Law." In unrelated news, sales of performance enhancing drugs on the Osgoodc campus arc mmourcd to be skyrocketing.

First Year Overachievers AJrcady at Work With orientation week complete, several first year students have joined their traditional cliques. This was apparent Tuesday afternoon, when a handful of the cooler first years were found cradled in the library reading Waddams on Contracts. Said Garth (IL). "I know th1s is a competitive place and I am not going to waste orientation week drinking when I could be cramming for exams." Dean Moran was pleased and was overheard glowing that this might be the strongest group of B to B+ students in the school's history.

Please submit Ultra News either on/me or by email at ultra. vires@utoronto.ca