Impr int The university of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
Friday, July 11, 2008
imprint . uwaterloo . ca
vol 31, no 6
Part 5 of 6, page 11
How green is my campus?
Are Canadian universities underfunded? Jamie Damaskinos assistant news editor
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report released by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) revealed that funding per student at Canadian universities is falling significantly behind funding per student at American universities, with universities in the U.K. and Australia quickly catching up. The funding disadvantage could have serious effects on the quality of education at the University of Waterloo and across Canada. The report, released on June 25 is the third installsment in the series Trends in Higher Education, compares per-student-funding at universities in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. According to the AUCC’s findings, per-student-funding at Canadian universities has been falling since the 1980s. At the beginning of the 1980s, Canadian universities had a per student advantage of $2,000 CAD over American universities. However, in the 2006—2007 year Canadian universities had $8,000 CAD less per student than American universities. The funding advantage Canadian universities have over universities in the U.K. and Australia is also dissipating, according to the report. Funding at universities in the U.K. has been on the rise since 1994, having all but caught up to funding at Canadian universities. Per student funding has grown from $17,000 CAD in 1994-1995 to $20,600 CAD in 2007, which compares to $21,000 CAD in Canada. “Based on recent policy changes, it is likely that U.K. universities will continue to close some of the funding gap with their American public peers and move further ahead of Canadian universities over the next few years,” the report stated. Furthermore, since 2002, an increase in per-student-funding at
Australian universities has left them standing at $20,000 CAD per student, just shy of Canada. One of the reasons for this fundamental shift may be a lack of government support for post-secondary education, said the report. Per student funding from the government (primarily provincial) has dropped from $17,900 in 1980-1981 to $9,900 in 2006-2007. Greg Flood, a media relations agent for the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities, told Imprint that the Ontario government is dedicated to helping ensure students have access to education. “The plan is working and we are seeing the results. There are about 100,000 additional students in Ontario colleges and universities, representing an increase of almost 25 per cent over 2002-03.” Flood also noted that the Ontario government has pledged to increase financial support for universities in the face of rising enrolment numbers.
and research funding in Canada since 2000 have failed to produce any change in the level of funding per student largely because of rapid growth in student enrolment. The number of students enrolled in Canadian universities has increased by 56 per cent since 1980 and by 31 per cent since 2000,” stated the AUCC in a press release. Jeffrey Simpson, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, believes that the problem lies in the fact that the Canada’s priorities lie elsewhere at the moment. “A few years ago, Canada began spending more on health care than on all levels of education,” Simpson wrote in a July 1, 2008 column entitled, “Why
“This funding disadvantage is a potential quality disadvantage for Canadian university students,”
— Claire Morris, President and CEO of the AUCC
“The Ontario government recognizes that with increased enrolment there may be additional pressures on universities. In response to this, we have provided universities with $235.3 million for enrolment growth to support both undergraduate enrolment and graduate expansion initiatives,” Flood said. However, attempts on behalf of the government to reverse the downward trend have been ultimately fruitless, according to the report. Recent increases in operating subsidies from the government and other sources are still being dwarfed by rising enrolment numbers. “Increases in both operating
Undergrads are Getting a Raw Deal.” “As the population ages, the trend lines will widen between health care and education. There isn’t a politician in the land who will say anything about this state of affairs. And there’s next to nothing about this competition for public resources in the AUCC report.” Simpson wrote. Additionally, Canadian universities are not matching faculty growth with sky-rocketing enrolment numbers while American universities have maintained a steady balance between the two. “Between 1987 and 2006, full-time equivalent enrolment in Canada grew
rhythms of the city Gearing up for the UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival >> page 16
by 56 per cent while growth in fulltime faculty increased by only 18 per cent. During the same period, full-time equivalent enrolment in U.S. four-year public universities and colleges grew by an estimated 33 per cent, matching the 33 per cent increase in full-time faculty,” the report contends. A growth in universities’ capital spending since 1999 may also be draining funds away from the operational costs of teaching and research. “The major increase in capital spending was financed by a combination of government grants, private fundraising and, in some provinces, increasing reliance on borrowing,” stated the report. “In some cases, the annual cost of servicing the debt comes out of university operating budgets, reducing the amount of money available to cover teaching and related expenditures.” “This funding disadvantage is a potential quality disadvantage for Canadian university students,” said Claire Morris, president and CEO of AUCC, in a press release. “It also has implications for the competitiveness of Canada’s universities and their ability to attract and retain faculty and to produce graduates capable of competing in a global knowledge economy.” Amit Chakma, the University of Waterloo’s vice-president academic and provost, echoed Morris’ statements about the potential quality dis-
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advantage for students. “The funding gap shows up in our student-faculty ratios. We are at 26 student per faculty member, and comparable U.S. schools will be at 10-12. This clearly impacts quality,” states Chakma. “Our goal is to reduce our studentfaculty ratio over the next decade. Of course we need incremented resources to achieve our goals. We need more government funding, more tuition fee revenues and donations from friends of the university.” The report indicates that unless reform takes place Canada is at risk of falling behind in a global context. “Universities also face a range of increasing cost pressures resulting from global competition for faculty, the changing mix of students, the need to reach out to non-traditional students, and campus maintenance and renewal challenges,” the report states. “Any initiative to limit tuition increases will translate into funding problems for universities unless there is growth in government operating grants.” jdamaskinos@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
MUSIC LABELS
Solutions needed
Stereotyping people by the music they enjoy
Columnist Andrew Dodds weighs in on the Liberal’s “Green Shift” >> page 7
>> page 21
News
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 news@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
ELPP helps students write Applied Health Sciences Grade: 60 (marked pass/fail) Time Limits: Must write the ELPE by 1A, must pass ELPE or ELPP by 2B Alternatives: One of ENGL 109, 129R, 140R, 209, any ENGL 210, ENGL 240R, or ESL 102R with a grade of 60%, or pass the ELPP
Arts & Computing and Financial Management Grade: 65 (marked pass/fail) Time Limits: Must write ELPE by 1A and pass ELPE by 2B Alternatives: Pass ELPP or get a grade of 65% or higher or more in ARTS 101
Engineering & Software Engineering Grade: 60 (grade numerically) Time Limits: Must pass ELPE or the ELPP to go past 2A Alternatives: One of ENGL 109, 129R, 210E or 210F with a grade of 60% or higher, or pass the ELPP
Engineering (Architecture) Grade: 65 (graded numerically) Time Limits: Must pass ELPE or ELPP to go past 2A Alternatives: Pass the ELPP (a Writing Centre tutor will offer the ELPE program in Cambridge). Daniel Lewis
Above, a tutor at the Writing Centre in PAS assists a graduate student with her writing as part of their extensive services. Andrew Abela news editor
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he 70 per cent of students who pass the compulsory English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE) on their first try might consider it forgettable. For others, the ELPE can be a very daunting and difficult roadblock to graduation, or can even prevent one from continuing school at UW. The ELPE is administered three times per year at the beginning of each
July 4. The program aims to teach the skills required to pass the written test, such as the structure of essays, paragraphs, sentences, and proper grammar. Basically, the ELPP is designed to help students who have failed the ELPE learn how to write in a clear and effective manner about a specific topic — but the students have a limited amount of time to learn this and put this newly learned skill into successful practice. There is a strict two-term limit
to continue studying at UW, but requirements vary by faculty. For example, the Faculty of Environmental Studies only allows passing of the ELPP instead of passing the ELPE, whereas failing students in the Faculty of Arts can either take the ELPP or receive a grade of 65 per cent or greater in ARTS 101, Foundations for Writing. On average, 70 per cent of students pass the ELPP. This fact, coupled with the number of students who pass the ELPE on the first try, leaves
On average, 70 per cent of students pass the ELPP. This fact, coupled with the number of students who pass the ELPE on the first try, leaves approximately nine per cent of UW students who do not pass the ELPE or the ELPP. term. The test lasts 50 minutes, and asks all students to write a 300-500 word impromptu essay in response to one of three proposed topical issues. Most faculties require only a 60 out of 90 to pass, whereas faculties like arts, environmental studies and engineering require a mark of 65. Located in the PAS, the Writing Centre Office offers the English Language Proficiency Program (ELPP) three times a year, once per term. The spring 2008 term’s eight-week ELPP came to an end last Friday,
for the ELPP, meaning that each UW student has two separate opportunities to pass the ELPE through the program. According to managing director of the ELPP Ann Barrett, “if a student is not successful after two terms, we ask that the student take a credit course, since the writing program is a no charge service provided by the university.” These courses include ESL 102R, ENGL 109, 129R, 210E, 210F and require an average of 60 per cent or better
approximately nine per cent of UW students who do not pass the ELPE or the ELPP. As a result, these students must either choose a suitable replacement course in lieu of one of their term electives, or alternatively could potentially pay $500 for an extra course on a co-op or summer term. For international students, the tuition expenses for a supplementary course are even higher. See ELPP, page 5
Environmental Studies Grade: 65 (marked pass/fail) Time Limits: Must write ELPE by 1A; allowed two more chances by end of first year. Must pass ELPP to continue in second year. Alternatives: Pass the ELPP
Math
Wonk works his way up Rick Theis to leave Feds for CASA Maggie Clark editor-in-chief
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eep in the recesses of the SLC, bastioned by a tower of university archives and a stockpile of procedural materials, Feds executive researcher Rick Theis has made a living of invisibility. You may know him by his Superman ringtone, his esoteric knowledge of university policy, or his more public hand in Feds elections. But new students this fall might know Theis only — and distantly — as the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations’ (CASA) new government relations officer. Theis is moving on, and up, to seek out “crosspollination” opportunities between the policy strategies of student leaders and government organizations. Having worked both as Feds executive researcher and clubs director, on top of his time at UW as both undergraduate and masters student, Theis leaves his post on July 18, 2008 with as many questions as he has answers to the trends noted during his time on campus. Of particular interest to him is the friction between university expectations and student realities: The deregulation of engineering student fees, increased pressure on UW’s writing centre [see left], consequences of high studentto-teacher ratios, and ramifications of a changing cultural landscape are among the many dialogues Theis deems crucial to improving overall student success. “It’s important that students know how issues evolving in the ether affect them. How do student leaders, or UW administration, think about these issues? And just what kind of people are we responsible for producing anyway?” Feds president Justin Williams said that Theis’s “knowledge and experience will be greatly missed,” but emphasized how Theis will still “continue to serve students in [his] new capacity,” and that Feds is proud to see him move into this new role. As for Theis, he still lights up when asked what he loves about being a “policy wonk” for Feds: “I’m paid to learn things, to help other people understand what I’ve learned, and then to learn new things from them in turn. No day is ever the same, and you don’t leave without feeling you’ve accomplished something. The work of wonks like me goes almost wholly unrecognized, but that just doesn’t seem to matter.” editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Grade: 60 (marked pass/fail) Time Limits: Must pass ELPE or ELPP to continue past 2A Alternatives: ESL 102R, ENGL 109, 129R, 210E,210F, with a grade of 60% or higher, or pass the ELPP
Science Grade: 60 (marked pass/fail) Time Limits: Must pass ELPE or ELPP by end of second year to continue Alternatives: ESL 102R, ENGL 109, 129R, 210C,E,F,G, or H with a grade of 60% or higher; pass the ELPP
tifa han
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News
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
G8 gas, student murder, and mutilated German rabbits Casey Song staff reporter
G8 pledges over greenhouse gas In a session organized by U.S. President George W. Bush, which took place on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, leaders of the world’s richest nations pledged to halve greenhouse gas by 2050, according to the New York Times. This meeting brought together 16 nations and the European Union: the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Britain, and Russia; the G5 emerging economies: China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa; and three other major trading nations: Australia, South Korea, and Indonesia. Leaders of the G8 pledged to cut emission of heat-trapping gasses in half by 2050, to “move toward a low-carbon society.” However, the G5 emerging countries refused to join in on this goal. According to BBC News, the G8 and eight developing countries issued a statement calling global warming “one of the great global challenges of our time.”
Rabbit serial killer in Germany terrorizes pets More than 30 pet rabbits were killed in the towns of Witten and Dortmund, in Germany. Rabbits were found decapitated and blood-drained in their hutches, and in sandpits of schools around the towns. After owners reported similar rabbit deaths, a pattern emerged. Some Germans in the area started hiding their rabbits. According to BBC News, the scene is always the same: “Detectives find the rabbit lying dead in a hutch.
An unknown person has cut off the head and drained off the blood in a box or a bottle. So we find no blood and no head.” Police fear that the attacker will eventually victimize people. Rabbit torsos were all carefully examined for traces of DNA and evidence of any kind. It is unknown who the culprit is, and the why rabbits are targeted. It is suspected that the attacker uses satellite images on the internet to locate rabbit owners’ homes.
Two french students brutally murdered Nigel Edwards Farmer, 33, was charged with the murders of two French exchange students in a region in New Cross, London on June 29. Laurent Bonomo, one of the two student victims found dead, was stabbed nearly 200 times with up to 80 wounds inflicted after death. The other victim, Gabriel Ferez, also had nearly 50 knife wounds. After their death, the property was set on fire, which caused an explosion. Farmer was arrested after he walked into Lewisham police station on Monday, July 7. He was immediately brought into the hospital to be treated for serious burns to his hands and arms. Both students, in the second year of their three year masters’ programs, were working on biochemistry research projects at Polytech Clermont-Ferrand. Police suspect they may have been tortured for their PINs. —With files from BBC News, Asia-Pacific and The New York Times csong@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
News
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
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GLOW rocks Pride Parade
Courtesy of Alan Shonfield
Members of (and in support of) UW’s Queer and Questioning Community Centre, GLOW, demonstrated their solidarity at Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade on June 29, 2008. Feds executives were also in prominent attendance.
Campus events Engineering Jazz Band Charity Gig
Tuesday July, 22 p.m. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. @ Hagey Hall Humanities Theatre The Engineering Jazz Band will be holding an end-of- term charity concert. All proceeds will go to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Tickets are available in advance at the Engineering Society office (CPH 1327)
or on the night of performance at the Hagey Hall box office.
Truth-Compassion-Tolerance Art Exhibition
Tuesday July, 14 to 16 @ SLC main hall The opening ceremony will take place on July 14, with speeches from the Dean of Arts, Dr. Ken Coates, and Waterloo Mayor, Brenda Halloran
ELPP: pass or fail Continued from page 3
Additionally, some students must attain the ELPE requirement as early as the end of their 2A term or as late as the end of their second year. For international students struggling to grasp the English language and Canadian culture, this could prove to be a difficult time limit to follow. If a student fails to pass this requirement in time, they could be disallowed to continue their studies at UW. Barrett assures that out of the 250 students registered in the ELPP for fall and winter and the 150 for the spring term, “only 18 per cent of these students are international students. The rest are all Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have all failed the ELPE.” Specific details regarding pass rates per department or faculty were unavailable since it would “not be fair to the faculties and departments,” Barrett confessed. Along with the ELPP, The Writing Centre provides another useful service to students. Within six months of taking the ELPE, any student is able to sit down with a professional tutor for 45 minutes to “explore the areas on your exam that need development,” according to their website, http://elpp.uwaterloo.ca. This service is available to all students, not just ones who have failed the ELPE.
The Writing Centre also offers a wide variety of workshops geared towards improving writing abillity as well as critical thinking skills as applied to English writing. Previous titles of sessions include “Essay Components,” “Critique Writing “and two new workshops entitled “Application of Grammar” and the “ELPE Strategy Session.” In preparation for taking the ELPE, sample essays broken down by faculty, along with their respective numerical grades, are available for students to read at the ELPP website. There, a comprehensive marking scheme as well as a list of common sentence errors in students’ exams are also available. Ostensibly, the ELPE is an accurate tool for ensuring that the literacy standards of UW are met. However, as the numbers suggest, the nine per cent of students who are falling through the ELPE and ELPP cracks are clearly not receiving the attention they need to pass the ELPE and meet UW’s English writing standard. But with proper preparation by making use of the tools and information provided by the ELPP and the Writing Centre, any student comfortable in English writing should be capable of passing the ELPE without too much trouble. aabela@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
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Opinion
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 opinion@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Hanging by a thread Comment systems in the internet age
Friday, July 11, 2008 Vol. 31, No. 6 Student Life Centre, Room 1116 University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 P: 519.888.4048 F: 519.884.7800 http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editor-in-chief, Maggie Clark editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Advertising & Production Manager, Laurie Tigert-Dumas ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca General Manager, Catherine Bolger cbolger@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Sales Associate, Laura McQuinn Systems Admin. vacant Distribution, Christy Ogley Board of Directors board@imprint.uwaterloo.ca President, Jacqueline McKoy president@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Vice-president, Sherif Soliman vp@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Treasurer, Lu Jiang treasurer@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Secretary, vacant secretary@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Staff liaison, Peter Trinh liaison@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editorial Staff Assistant Editor, Dinh Nguyen Lead Proofreader, Ashley Csanady Cover Editor, Michael Gregory News Editor, Andrew Abela News Assistant, Jamie Damaskinos Opinion Editor, Guy Halpern Features Editor, Tina Ironstone Arts & Entertainment Editor, Emma Tarswell Science & Tech Editor, Adrienne Raw Sports & Living Editor, vacant Photo Editor, Daniel Lewis Graphics Editor, Joyce Hsu Web Administrator, Sonia Lee Systems Administrator, vacant
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pray paint on a Westmount Road gas station reads: “NO OIL WAR.” But graffiti is a rare mode of communication in this city, though dissenting opinions certainly abound. Is the lack of graffiti based solely on our university being more “establishmentarian” than most — more directly keyed into business and technological growth? Or could it be that technology itself offers an answer: that telecommunications, and especially the internet, have created new, more immediate, and ultimately more engaging forms of community awareness? If so, online news media is an especially strong indicator of such changes. Long before newspapers really started making use of new media, I’d find myself itching to finish the news section so I could read editorials and letters to the editor. I found newspapers really came alive in the opinion section — engaging their readerships and opening themselves to being challenged in turn. However, the very format of print media put serious limits on the extent of such conversations, with comments and letters separated by time and page space from the stories being remarked upon. But, oh, did the internet ever fix things. From its humble beginnings on bulletin boards to the more diverse and ubiquitous forms it manifests in today, the comment thread has changed how readers react to the information others share — and in so doing, changed the shape of community conversations and news dissemination as a whole. On many news sites, it’s even possible to see the comment count for an article before you’ve read past the headline, allowing you to be guided by more than the words when
Production Staff Rosalind Gunn, Susie Roma, Mohammad Jangda, Roman Cezar, Andrew Dodds, Wael Elsweisi, Janice Wong, Paul Collier, Kaitlan Huckabone, Samantha Eisleb-Taylor, Angela Gaetano, Brian Jansen
Next staff meeting: Monday, July 14 12:30 p.m. Next board of directors meeting: Tuesday, July 15 10:15 a.m.
away from the overall integrity of the pieces: each reads as a little less fair and insightful without those direct responses from Russian citizens themselves. And in the case of the Globe & Mail, which was recently rocked with a slew of heated, polemic responses in relation to Morgentaler and the Order of Canada, hiding comment threads had the effect of sweeping aside the massive community controversy that prompted further newspaper response. All media organizations have a responsibility to uphold certain principles in their reporting — defending against discrimination and hate especially. Some add profanity to that list, too. And while media organizations aren’t under legal imperative to moderate their forums, in the interests of maintaining an open, inclusive environment it behooves these giants to eliminate non-productive, inflammatory comments. But news organizations also serve as “living histories” of the communities they report on — and those histories are increasingly about the way readers respond to the information they’re receiving. Amusingly, a Globe & Mail technology article about moderating policies across the internet yielded many critical responses from readers about the Globe & Mail’s own moderating methodology. I look forward to seeing just how long those responses stay up. editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Days since Kambakhsh’s arrest, as of the dateline: 230 Days since Kambakhsh’s sentencing: 143
Sometimes, acting is a necessary art
Graphics Team Joanna Sevilla, Armel Chesnis, Tifa Han, Sonia Lee, Emran Mahbub Imprint is the official student newspaper of the University of Waterloo. It is an editorially independent newspaper published by Imprint Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. Imprint is a member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA). Editorial submissions may be considered for publication in any edition of Imprint. Imprint may also reproduce the material commercially in any format or medium as part of the newspaper database, Web site or any other product derived from the newspaper. Those submitting editorial content, including articles, letters, photos and graphics, will grant Imprint first publication rights of their submitted material, and as such, agree not to submit the same work to any other publication or group until such time as the material has been distributed in an issue of Imprint, or Imprint declares their intent not to publish the material. The full text of this agreement is available upon request. Imprint does not guarantee to publish articles, photographs, letters or advertising. Material may not be published, at the discretion of Imprint, if that material is deemed to be libelous or in contravention with Imprint’s policies with reference to our code of ethics and journalistic standards. Imprint is published every Friday during fall and winter terms, and every second Friday during the spring term. Imprint reserves the right to screen, edit and refuse advertising. One copy per customer. Imprint ISSN 0706-7380. Imprint CDN Pub Mail Product Sales Agreement no. 40065122.
deciding whether or not to read on. We can’t help it; we’re curious creatures, and we want to know what the buzz is all about. And what, exactly, do comment threads give us? At their best, they provide counterarguments and an alternative structuring of the facts — in other words, a measure of immediate accountability for articles that are struggling to describe complex issues (or articles that aren’t struggling at all: ones oversimplifying matters their writers have no right to paint in broad strokes). Comments might also provide a sense of fairness that the article itself, no matter how well written, cannot. The New York Times, for instance, once used a Russian LiveJournal community to solicit feedback from Russian citizens for a series pertaining to the country’s political environment; the best of those comments were then transferred over to the comment threads for each article on the New York Times website, allowing North American readers to get a sense for what Russians thought of the reports they were reading. The inclusion of such comments offered more insight than that, though; what also emerged were very distinct views about the role of (and expectations for) the media — a truly unique firsthand insight into this aspect of contemporary Russian culture. Unfortunately, the New York Times, much like the Globe & Mail, has a vague policy regarding comment threads. Which comments won’t pass a moderator’s notice? Which threads will be shut down preemptively? But most of all, why are all comment threads locked from view in time? In the case of the New York Times, locking the comment threads for its Russian politics series took
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art of the mysterious nature of homosexuals is that our straight counterparts, despite any amount of speculation and guessing, can never truly know for sure if we’re gay short of asking outright. For some it comes easier than others; “passing” as a straight guy might not be a challenge if you naturally fit the straight guy jock stereotype, whereas passing as a straight guy becomes a bit more difficult for gay professional dancers, gay male hairdressers, and others whose sexuality would be in question due to flamboyancy and social preconceptions. Let’s back up the tape a bit. The tradition of passing began (like many other restrictions of personal freedoms) in the cotton fields of southern United States as known by John C. Calhoun. Back in those days, slaves who happened to be on the lighter end of black skin, whether by chance, heritage, or through the use of makeup, would pass as white people to escape from slavery, some living out the rest of their lives incognito in the South, others applying makeup just long enough to make their passage to the North and freedom. The tradition has made its way to the modern day through the gay community. Although superficially similar, passing and being in the closet are two very different things. The big difference between passing and being in the closet is that those who are in the closet have told no one or very few people about their gayness, while those who are passing are adopting a straight persona in a new situation
after having previously come out. Why bother passing in the first place? Although I am a front line cheerleader for being open and proud of yourself, I also have the capacity to understand that there is a time and a place where being yourself may not be the best or safest option. For those whose life dream involves the iron closet of professional sports or the American military, sharing and being open about your sexuality, despite what it could do for the greater good, stands to be a personal detriment first and foremost. Some more common examples of situations where you may feel the need to pass are new jobs, where you are unsure of the social leanings of your employers, or while on trips to more conservative regions. Passing as straight comes with its price. As previously noted, for some, the simple absence of an outright announcement of orientation could be enough to pass, but for others it may require constant vigilance: making sure not to stare to long at muscled biceps, replacing the stack of Madonna CDs in the car with Journey and Finger Eleven, and being sure not to give recaps of last night’s Gossip Girl to anyone so as to not rouse suspicion. There is one more piece to your perfect disguise. Enter the beard. Whatever your reasoning may be for deciding to pass, the key prop for fooling your homophobic peers is a pretend girlfriend. Known as a “beard” from the concept of growing a beard adding to one’s masculinity,
these fake girlfriends are more often than not drawn from the pool of ready-and-waiting “flame dames” who are willing to give up their own chances at straight availability to protect their fag. The beard is a tool also used by those in the closet, although more often than not without her own knowledge of the arrangement. A beard’s purpose is to deflect suspicion from the homo by prompting thoughts like “Well, he may act like a flipping faggot, but he landed that hot girlfriend, so he’s gotta be straight,” from those who question. Passing is a last ditch resort, but something I won’t disagree with based on merit in most situations. If you feel like your boss might fire you if he finds out the truth, or if you feel like your physical safety might be in danger while your freaky biker drug dealer measures out your rocks, then you’ll probably want to snuggle up to the nearest hag — although neither of those situations are ones I would suggest staying in for long. Conversely, if you feel that your flamboyancy will have you refused service at a restaurant, I’d say screw it and eat somewhere else. Although I’ve drawn criticism in the past for my staunch views on being out and proud for the betterment of everyone else in your shoes, passing is a practice that, much like the slaves of the South learned, can grant you limited freedom until things begin to change on a larger scale. tmyers@imrpint.uwaterloo.ca
Opinion 7 Greenshift or not, change is needed
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
The debate that never ends
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commentary
he abortion debate is a lot like that really annoying song from Lambchop’s Play Along — it just never ends. When Dr. Morgentaler was awarded the Order of Canada last week for his commitment to ensuring women safe access to abortion even when the procedure was illegal — which resulted in the Supreme Court of Canada striking down anti-abortion laws in 1988 — it sparked a seemingly inevitable maelstrom of religious-right and social-conservative dissention. According to a recent piece by National Post columnist Kelly McParland, awarding a doctor who was imprisoned countless times to ensure his female patients got all the medical care he deemed necessary equates to awarding Osama Bin Laden for sparking social change following 9/11. Meanwhile, with a federal election on the horizon, the issue has become politicized. The Conservative government has chosen to distance themselves from the selection, the Liberals have heartily supported it, and countless other premiers, MPs, and MPPs have cast their ballot to a one side of this endless debate. Several Catholic priests have even returned their previously awarded Orders in protest of the appointment, which raises the question: showing a 14-year-old rape victim some compassion is worth returning a prestigious award, but the molestation of little boys isn’t worth your cloth? These comparisons are extreme, but when the pro-life arguments range from equating abortion with the Holocaust, and Morgentaler in turn with Hitler, the extreme becomes the argument with regards to abortion. While going through online comments on the innumerable news articles, editorials, and letters published since the announcement, I realized that once you get past the crazy or just plain offensive ones they all circle the same point: life. When does life begin? Whose life is more valuable: a woman with a life, family and attachments, or an unborn fetus? If life begins at conception, then is birth control akin to genocide? From the extreme to the poetic, the debate goes on for pages, but it perpetually circles back to life. If the issue boils down to a religious and moral debate regarding the origins of life, what place does that discussion have in determining whether someone had a positive impact on Canadian legislation? If that were the case, other recipients of the award who lived less-than-kosher lives should fall under the same scrutiny as Morgentaler. Trudeau could be seen as too lascivious, Mulroney as a peddler of Canadian industry, and Tommy Douglas as a communist radical. Everything can be spun to fit a certain framework for contention, but for some reason abortion is one topic that no one can ever let be. Moral and religious debates, much the same as judicial, have been used in the past to denounce abolitionist, civil, and women’s rights movements; however, the difference lies in that the judicial process functions under the assumption that it perpetually interprets the law, which, as part of the state, is autonomous of the church and should be committed to freedom and equality for all. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a woman has complete and utter control over her body — meaning that until a fetus is entirely evacuated from the birth canal, it is a part of her body, and she has the freedom to do as
she wishes. Many people balk at the fact that in Canada, unlike the U.S., third term abortions are legal; however, it should be noted that most doctors refuse to perform the procedure outside of medical emergencies, including Morgentaler himself. And, regardless of my own feelings toward third term abortions, I am proud to say I live in a country where a woman is so free to control her own reproductive system. Again, I may morally oppose third term abortions much like I morally oppose organized religion, but I don’t believe either should be banned. The 1988 Morgentaler ruling was about freedom, and extending the same freedoms to all citizens regardless of sex, age, race, or religion. What he did was stand up for the freedom to perform a medically necessary or warranted procedure — be it for an immediate physical need or a justified mental reason. I believe that Canada represents freedom. The freedom to choose to believe in what you want, marry whom you want, say what you want, watch what you want, and even the freedom to have children when you want. Morgentaler fought for these freedoms, and no matter your view on abortion, you should respect his contribution to ensuring the freedom for all Canadians to control their own bodies. And, while some would argue that fetuses have rights as well, rights are tied to life, and in turn when it begins, and the argument becomes circular, moral, and religious, as opposed to the secular logic that the judicial system is supposed to represent. It’s interesting that Morgentaler is the only non-unanimously appointed member of the Order in history, while other controversial appointments, like Sue Johansen from the Sunday Night Sex Show, ensure your freedom to find the best cock ring or encourage such morally apprehensible acts as — gasp! — sodomy! No one turned in their Order in 2001 when she was given the award, despite the fact that her queerpositive, GGG outlook must ruffle at least a few feathers. But, for some reason, her wares aren’t quite controversial enough to incite anyone into giving up such a prestigious award. Maybe religious morality is more subjective than it seems — when you’re sure to grab a headline, turn that sucker in, otherwise, turn a blind eye. Morgentaler was not given the Order because he made abortion legal; he was awarded it because he furthered the rights and freedoms of half our population by standing up for what he believed in. He gave us the freedom to decide when life begins for ourselves, but some people are unfortunately not content with allowing people to come to their own conclusions. Even more unfortunate is the fact that these are often the same people who argue for the freedom to preach creationism, but then want to restrict the personal freedom to decide when life begins. And as I slide back into the “us” and “them” debates, trying to draw black and white lines through a field of grey, I realize that no matter what the reason, they will continue singing it forever just because this is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends. Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, and they’ll continue singing it forever just because this is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on…. — Ashley Csanady With files from CBC.ca
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new tax can never be a good thing, right? Even as Dion labels his Green Shift plan a tax on things we want less of – pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste – the result is far from a cut and dry green utopia. A recent Canadian Press poll of Canadians found that 61 per cent support aggressive action to reduce our country’s dependence on oil, as opposed to a more cautious approach. However, Canwest News Service’s survey found that, across the country, only in Quebec was there less than 50 per cent opposition to Dion’s Green Shift. In Alberta, a high of 79 per cent were opposed to the plan’s implementation. Such nuances point to the difficulties that the Liberals may face in trying to implement such an ambitious tax shit. The goal of the tax, which would add taxes to fuels based on a price of $10 per tonne of carbon emissions they create in year one and escalate to $40 per tonne in year four, is to help the environment by punishing Canadian individuals and companies for the pollution they cause. Before you worry, the Liberals figure that gas taxes price your car’s emissions at over $40 per tonne,
so the tax would have no effect on your fill-up. The Liberals name Sweden and the U.K. as examples of nations where carbon taxes have helped the environment, but, depending on how you view the Green Shift, Canada’s efforts might not shine so brightly for you. Carbon taxes are a surefire way to make pollutants begin to cost more, approaching the higher cost of green energy, and, as opposed to a market-based cap and trade system, all companies can easily plot out the precise cost of their pollution. Perhaps the biggest issue is what is done with the carbon taxes collected, estimated at $15-16 billion. Aimed at being revenue neutral, the notion itself is laughable. What would be the point of taxing something if all the tax collected was funnelled directly back to the taxpayer? No matter the venue for the funnelling, if my $45 in carbon taxes and John’s $88 ended back up in our wallets, it would not be a tax at all. The biggest question remains what to do with the money. As is, a carbon tax is surely going to hurt residents living in those provinces with polluting oil sands and those who buy electricity generated at coal-fired power plant more than
fortunate residents of hydroelectricityfilled Quebec, and others will experience boons and burdens of circumstance. The money funnelled back to taxpayers comes in part in the form of broadbased personal and corporate tax cuts, but by the Liberals’ own accounting, over $4.5 billion (29 per cent) is accessible only to specific Canadians, based once again on circumstance. Only $1 billion (6.5 per cent) goes towards any initiatives aimed at ‘greening’ the country. Countless columnists have argued that the tax funnels money from Conservative voting blocks across the nation into more Liberal friendly locales, and it’s hard to ignore their chorus. Green solutions are needed — solutions that are as available and affordable as pollutant-filled options. Perhaps all the taxes should be funnelled to green initiatives or to a neutral topic such as debt repayment. Still, it’s nice to know that solutions are being proposed, rather than just targets with no roadmap to get there. It’s time for the endless dithering and studies to end, and for real planning and action to start saving our planet’s future. adodds@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
The Golden Rule
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here is a Buddhist parable of a man who was shown hell and heaven. When he entered hell he saw a great hall with a giant, round table and a bowl of rice in the middle. Looking around, he saw that all the people in the hall were solemn and famished and wandered around the great hall, emotionless. A bell rang, and they slowly made their way to the round table. Beside each chair was a long pair of chopsticks. They began to take from the bowl of rice in the centre with the long chopsticks, but when they tried to put the rice to their mouths, the chopsticks were too long and the rice was flung over their shoulders. This went on for several minutes as the man watched the starving people desperately trying to get the rice to their mouths. A second bell rang, and all the people put their chopsticks down and got up from the table more solemn than ever. “Truly this is hell,” the man thought to himself. The man was then brought to heaven. To his surprise the great hall of heaven was very similar to hell. The same table, the same rice, and the same chopsticks — the only difference was the people. Everyone was talking to each other and happy and all very plump-looking. When the dinner bell rang they all sat down, as in hell, but with their long chopsticks they fed their neighbours. When the second bell rang they had all had enough to eat and left the table full and content. In many religions, heaven and hell are the possible afterlives that you are
promised or condemned to depending on how well you follow the rules that define the religion. However, sometimes following a moral code, which can be found in most religions, can lead to a happy and fulfilling life, which can be a heaven too. While this may be difficult to imagine, you have to stretch your imagination to appreciate a world where we all did good things all the time. A common theme in many religions is to love and respect other people and living things. This is sometimes called the “golden rule.” The Bible states that you should “…love your neighbour as yourself ”; Imam Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths states, “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself;” and the Buddhist text Udana-Varga advises to “hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” While it is possible to live a seemingly happy life by hurting other people to get what you want, chances are that you are not going to have many healthy relationships. Relationships are what can help you when you are facing adversity or personal struggles, and they can be the difference between overcoming your problems or living in your own personal hell. At the same time helping other people can make you feel good. Therefore, loving and helping other people makes you feel like you’re in heaven while also creating a heaven around you. Another common theme among many religions is that if you don’t follow
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that particular path, you will never get into heaven. This may be true if you consider that many religions consider the golden rule significant. So in a sense they are all right; if you follow that religion you will live in heaven and if you don’t you won’t. If it doesn’t matter which one you follow because they all say you will get into heaven, and if they all follow the golden rule then you will. The temptation to be selfish will always be there because it’s easier than the alternative. However, not only do you harm yourself and the people around you with this mentality, but you eliminate the possibility of a world where we are all live in harmony. Not following the golden rule is what has made this world the place it is today. A place where there is fighting, hatred, fear, and atrocity. This world could be heaven where we all get enough to eat and take care of each other, but instead we live in hell. mharvey@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
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Features
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 features@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Eyeful of testing Test subject chronicles the ins and outs of the optometry testing experience. He describes what occurs on the day of the big test and what to expect. Steven R. McEvoy staff reporter
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his past month, about 200 people descended upon the UW campus — specifically, the Optometry building. The people came for a number of reasons, all tied to the Optometry Board exams. UW is one of two schools in Canada where the (Canadian Examiners in Optmetr y / Examinateurs Canadiens en Optometrie CEO/ ECO) r un by the
a loss financially for them. They also receive an honorarium for their aid in the process. There are 24 examiners per day to make this event successful. The chief examiner this year was Dr. Jonathan Arnel, who lead the weekend with strict attention to details. The second category is the subjects, these are people who meet specific requirements for the practical eye exam or who have normal eyes and are part of the basic eye exam assessment. Subjects may come for a half day, full day, or both days. They are paid $60 per half day plus parking, if they drive and park at UW. I met subjects that had been doing this for a dozen year now with no plans to stop volunteering in this way. There are 30 subjects needed each day, and at least 24 each session. Subjects are needed who meet requirements of each of the four sections of the practical exam, on clinical skills assessment. Also, they need spares for each test type in case of a conflict of interest, or a subject needing a break. Subjects arrive early on their first day and are tested by two examiners who create the baseline the candidates will be judged against.
etry in Canada must write these board exams. I met candidates from around the world, and many from home. This session had many students from UW. I met three cousins from Calgary who had all studied in different schools in the states, had written their U.S. boards the week before and were all hoping to practise close to home in Alberta. I met others who also planned on writing the U.K. boards to keep future options open. As mentioned each subject has a baseline created for what the candidates’ answers will be compared to. The clinical skills assessment consists of four exams: binocular vision, ocular health, refraction/case history, and contact lenses/glasses. If a candidate fails a section they can reattempt that it during the next set of exams, the same for a second failure. If however they misses a section a third time, they must do a remedial year, apply to a committee to redo the boards, and they must redo all four sections. The candidates have 40 minutes for each section, with a break in between. They move from station to station until they have completed all four sections. Yet, even when they finish these practical exams their week is only beginning.
There were 91 candidates this past month and 59 the weekend in April. They come from all over Canada, the U.S. and from abroad. Anyone wishing to practise optometry in Canada must write these board exams.
Joyce Hsu
Canadian Standards association in Optometry ( C S AO ) t a k e place. Usually an annual event, but this year so many applicants applied for the board that the exams were split over two weekends — one in April and one this past month. There are a number of different characters in this event, the examiners, the candidates, test subjects, and volunteers or support staff. Each character type comes for different reasons, and plays a different role. The examiners are members of the optometry profession, they come for a few reasons. First as part of their profession they must take continuing education courses to keep up their own certification to practice. Coming and helping with this weekend, meets some of their requirements in this field. Their travel costs and accommodations are covered, therefore the event is not
I had to spare one session because the student was from UW and knew the subject, creating a conflict of interest. Subjects are approached and recruited by UW’s own Nancy Yowski. Yowski also co-ordinates the support staff and volunteers who help make the event successful. Without these people what needs to happen, would not happen, or at least not in such a timely fashion. On their walkie talkies they make sure that every session every examinee, candidate and examiner are where they should be, when they should be. They also look after the needs in the facilities, signage, set up, take down, and other support roles.Yowski helps to run a tight ship that stays efficient. The candidates come next, for all the other people are there to test them to see if they have learned enough in six or seven years of school to become optometrists. There were 91 candidates this past month and 59 the weekend in April. They come from all over Canada, the U.S. and from abroad. Anyone wishing to practice Optom-
After practical exams, they move on to writing written exams. This is composes of three exams spread over five sitting. The three exams are optometric knowledge, ocular therapeutics, and clinical judgments. The exam on optometric knowledge is written in three-three hour sessions over two days and is comprised of 280 multiple choice questions. The ocular therapeutics is 120 multiple choice questions over the span of three hours. The final exam in clinical judgement is 100 multiple choice questions in one sitting. Yet even after passing those five written exams and the clinical exams from the CSAO Candidates are still not yet licensed to practise. They still have to write a Jurisprudence exam for each province, in which they wish to practice. Even though 200 people descended upon UW this week, 91 of the 200 were candidates, who knows how many will be practicing optometry soon. smcevoy@imprint.uwaterloo.ca with Information from Official C.E.O: Canadian Examiners in Optometry website
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Features
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
Through foreign eyes staff reporter
It’s 5:30p.m. but the light is dim inside Paradise Coffee Shop. In Canada this sort of lighting would come across as dingy, but it’s a different atmosphere here. The service is excellent and the vibe is carefree. “Welcome home Frank!” shouts an elderly English man as he rolls a joint amongst a group of his grey-haired mates. I can’t help but smile as we grab our things and exit onto the street. Amsterdam certainly moves at a different pace, but it’s about to get a little more restrictive. As of July 1, 2008 Amsterdam, along with the rest of The Netherlands, is going smoke free in an attempt to protect the safety of Dutch workers. As a result, neither bars nor restaurants will permit smoking tobacco indoors. This change will create a complicated scenario for so-called “coffee shops” which offer marijuana and tobacco mixed products. While it seems as if government in the Netherlands has taken a lenient approach to cannabis since establishing the basic laws of the Opium Act in 1976, there has been a subtle movement to further restrict the substance. In 1995 The Netherlands underwent a major drug policy study, from which new constraints were imposed. Coffee shops were told they could not serve both alcohol and marijuana, in April 2007. Most opted to serve the latter, but the laws are mounting and the latest, that came into affect just days ago of days, is the most devastating yet. As of July 1 no tobacco rolled joints may be lit inside a coffee shop in The Netherlands. This means that only pure cannabis, or resin, may be smoked inside coffee shops, while popular tobacco blends must be taken outside. For many people, the draw to coffee shops is the smoke-in atmosphere. However, because of space restrictions the majority of shops simply do not have the outdoor facilities, like patios, to accommodate the new law. As a result, government efforts to go tobacco free are going to significantly impact business for Dutch coffee shops. One solution being embraced by the Bulldog Coffee
ktremblay@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Alexandra Sleghel reporter
Keegan Tremblay
Paradise Coffee Shop on Damstraat, in Amsterdam.
Alexandra Sleghel
12 Apostoles, great ocean road Vistoria, Australia.
Alexandra Sleghel
Blue mountains in Sydney, Australia scaled by hand.
Alexandra Sleghel
Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Alexandra Sleghel
An aerial view of Surfer’s paradise in Australia.
I have always loved travelling and experiencing new food, cultures — and people; I think it has something to do with the goose bumps you get when you finally see with your own eyes something fantastic that you’ve only ever seen in travel documentaries. My journey to Australia started over a year ago, when I decided to do an exchange abroad. Everyone always says that it changes your life but I particularly wanted to go abroad so I could finally take some time off school and see more of the world. Initially Europe sounded like a fantastic idea, but eventually, my best friend. convinced me to visit Australia. Australia had never been on my “places to see before you die” list, and I never thought of it as a potential study location. But, after much paperwork, waiting, more paperwork, and spending a ridiculous amount of money on airplane tickets, and visas, I was able to go. The plane for my flight to Melbourne was 30 hours. Before landing in Australia, my completely ridiculous conceptions were that it was much the same as Canada ways in terms of culture. I figured that everyone lived on a beach, had a perfect tan, and carried a surfboard to class. I also assumed that kangaroos and koalas hopped around everywhere and that palm trees grew in everyone’s backyard like rose bushes. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I knew that I had been wrong in judging, and the longer I live here, the more I realize the huge differences between this island and what I like to call home. A few common fashion styles I recognized were the beach-like hair and incredibly athletic men; there are also some men who are rather fashionable and some who enjoyed wearing Vnecked shirts and skinny jeans. Melbourne is to Australia what Paris and Milan are for Europe, women are very fashion forward and (it seems that the ‘80s are coming back in style). Melbourne-style includes leggings with just a shirt on top, no pants or a skirt — and winter boots in 20 degree weather. A unisex fashion I have also gasped at is bare feet — yes, people actually walk around campus, and the city, without any shoes on. Clearly, not everyone dresses this way, these are just some things I’ve noticed during my time in Australia. The things I love most about it, especially Melbourne are the coffee culture, how fanatic they get about footy (Australia football), how people are usually very generous, especially at
the bar, and the awesome accent. University life is very different here than in Canada: the campus is tiny, full of little coffee shops, and a tiny library, with nothing else in the vicinity besides a grocery store and a fried chicken joint. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, it’s just that I live in a tiny suburb an hour away from the city by train. The student bar closes at 12:30 on student nights . School is just as hard as back home, except a full course load is only four subjects, which makes it way less difficult. But when you go abroad you don’t go for the schooling, you go for everything else that comes with it: the parties, the exploring, the traveling and all the cool people you meet. The highlights of my visit include: volunteering for the Melbourne Fashion Festival, Burlesque show at the Sydney Opera house, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, camping and hiking in World Biosphere, river cruises, tours of reserves and national parks in Tasmania and witnessing people surfing alongside dolphins in Surfer’s Paradise. The Fashion Festival was where I got to work backstage at major fashion shows and dress incredibly good looking — but vain, male models. Advice for students wanting to study abroad in Australia: First Save lots of money before you come, apply for travel scholarships and bursaries, and consider getting a job once here. It is a great way to meet people and enjoy the experience more. Secondly, don’t take really difficult courses, because you don’t want to be spending much of your time in the library. Thirdly, come here with an open mind and ready to explore and meet many different types of people. Fourthly, do your research: make sure the university you apply to has transferable courses, that its location is where you want it to be, and it is the right size for you. Finally please remember that Australia does have winter, it just doesn’t get as cold. But sometimes, it snows in the south. Overall, Australia has treated me well, and I plan on doing more travelling after exams finish, go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, hop alongside kangaroos, walk on top of Ayer’s rock, go to the second largest sandisland in the world and go sand-tobogganing. The main things I have learned since I got off that plane three months ago is that I am much more adaptable than I thought I would be, and I miss home, my parents and friends far more than I thought I would. When you come abroad, pack a few pictures of your mom, dog and best friend, and leave plenty of room in your suitcase for the knick-knacks you’ll pick up along the way. For all those planning an exchange or a trip, Australia is a great place to explore.
Australia
Shop on Leidesplein, in the Amsterdam’s centre, is to install a separate “smoking room” that remains free of staff. In this room, a glass wall and special filters keep tobacco smoke out of the remainder of the coffee shop and away from staff, thus protecting workers as the law intends. However, this high tech solution is neither cheap nor does it coincide with the laid back soul of Amsterdam. On the way out of town a few days later we are stopped by a man with Amsterdam tourism questionnaires. He figures we’re not locals on account of our oversized rucksacks and exposed sleeping bags; I figure he’ll have some interesting opinions on the new law because he works in the Amsterdam tourist industry. We’re both guessing accurately. He says that Holland’s newest law “won’t fit here.” While he admits that the antismoking law shouldn’t affect Amsterdam tourism as a whole — citing a recent smoke free Scotland that actually saw an increase in tourist revenues three months after new antismoking laws came into affect — he explains that because of coffee shops “accepting the new law will be difficult [for Amsterdam].” But when it comes down to it, individuals puffing tobacco in Holland simply won’t have a choice. Regulating tobacco smoking has become a European trend with the U.K., Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Malta imposing regulations since 2002, and the trend is not solely led by government. A European Commission Report published in 2006 entitled, Attitudes of Europeans toward tobacco, says that “the proportion of respondents who have stopped smoking has increased since autumn 2002.” Across the pond, Canada is seen as leading the world in the protection of non smokers with smoking bans in the cities of Toronto and Ottawa dating back to 2001. By 2008, smoke free business has become the norm in Canada. To get to this point, however, businesses have suffered and some have disappeared. In turn, from a business perspective, it’s an age-old scenario. Despite the smoke-in, laid-back, Amsterdam style, Holland is going smoke free and coffee shops all across the country must adapt and innovate if they want to survive.
Amsterdam
Keegan Tremblay
How green is my campus? A six-part series on environmental sustainability at UW
Part 1: The Way We Eat
Part 2: Spaces We Inhabit May 30, 2008
Part 3: Stewardship and You
May 16, 2008
June 13, 2008 Part 4: Human Communities June 27, 2008 Joanna Sevilla
Part 5: High Tech, Low Impact July 11, 2008 Part 6: Growth for the Future July 25, 2008
Sustainability is... 1. The measure of how and what we consume, and the impact those choices have on our ability to maintain present practices indefinitely. 2. How we inhabit buildings and similar surroundings — are we building for today and tomorrow? 3. How we share communal spaces — are we protecting the longevity of natural resources, flora, and fauna as well? 4. How we interact and build social networks together, to spread awareness and to entrench more environmentally-friendly living habits. 5.How we develop and treat new technologies,as well as other consumer goods — are we enhancing our society in ways that reduce waste and promote habits that can be sustained over time? 6. How we plan for tomorrow — are we learning from the past and leaving a better mark for generations to come?
HOW GREEN IS MY CAMPUS? Part 5 of 6: High tech, low impact
Passe or Pragmatic? Guy Halpern staff reporter
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or whatever reason, it seems strange when someone has a cell phone without a colour screen. How often do you see someone using a portable CD player? Even computers older than five years seem like a rare sight. As high-technology continues to develop at an incredible rate, things slip from bleeding to leading edge, to state of the art to obsolete at an incredible pace. The result of this is a massive amount electronic waste, or as it is more commonly known, e-waste. In proportion compared to the whole of the solid waste that the West produces, e-waste is still quite small. The danger, however, stems from its contents: high-tech devices often contain hazardous substances like mercury, barium, lead, and cadmium, as well as other heavy metals and non-biodegradable plastics, and because of associated costs, are rarely disposed of properly. In Waterloo, there are a number of options available. Although it no longer does curb-side pickup of e-waste items, the Region of Waterloo does provide recycling services at its Waste Transfer Stations. Although small items, like cell phones, keyboards, mice, and Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), can be recycled free of charge, larger items, such as computers, monitors or televisions come with $10 fees on a per-item basis. Increasingly, manufacturers themselves are offering programs to help cope with e-waste. Toshiba has taken the lead in this endeavour, offering to “recycle any manufacturer’s notebook computer, projector, LCD monitor, or pocket PC free of charge.” Dell and Sony also have programs, albeit only covering their own products, and have more restrictions attached. Rather than recycle, an even more environmentally friendly (as well as altruistic) option is to donate computers and electronics to schools, libraries, and organizations that can distribute electronics to people both inside and outside of Canada. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the West’s ewaste is shipped to the developing world for disposal, despite international agreements, like the Basal Convention that restrict or outright ban this practice. The waste
Campus shops go green
continues to be sent to countries like China, India, and Kenya, because of lower wages, lax safety standards, and unrestrictive or un-enforced environmental laws. Although China alone produces 1.1 billion tonnes of e-waste annually, it also imports a huge amount through the black market. Officially, since 2000 China has banned the import of e-waste, but is widely considered to still be receiving significant quantities. In a sense, China and other e-waste importers to benefit from their role as recyclers: gold, copper, silver, and aluminum, among other materials, can all be harvested from obsolete electronics. However, according to the Toronto Star, extraction is often performed using methods such as fires and acid baths, exposing workers to extremely hazardous working conditions. The plastics that are burned in the “recycling” process can convert to carcinogenic dioxins and furans, according to an article by Glen Blouin in the Ottawa Citizen, which are then inhaled by those working and living in the area. A fact-finding mission by Greenpeace observed that many of the acid baths used for extracting lead and silver from circuitry are simply dumped into nearby bodies of water, polluting entire watersheds with heavy metals and other persistent organic pollutants. The amount at stake here is frightening. As Blouin points out, old CRT monitors contain between one and two kilograms of lead each, and each of our new LCD monitors have up to 50 grams of mercury in them. By 2010, Canadians will be throwing out upwards of 200, 000 tonnes of e-waste annually. In a sense, however, the wider debate should be about the wound, rather than the bleeding. The planned obsolescence of high-tech products and the continuous drive to have the next best thing ha created a culture prone to producing more rather than less waste. Perhaps, in order to tackle the problems of e-waste, we should look not just at better ways to dispose of it, but ways to prevent it from being disposed of in the first place. Although it’s hard to imagine going back to the days when people kept stereos and television for decades, perhaps, we should at least give it a try. ghalpern@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Maggie Segounis intern
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he green movement has taken over and there are many people involved. The request for green life on campus is surprising as well as the amount of products that aren’t being reduced, reused or recycled. Some students urge their friends to recycle old class notes and reuse their shopping bags, while others “don’t bother” using recycled goods and products. One student recommended the shopping bags used to carry books from the bookstore and the UW Shop be made lighter because “the ones they have now are like garbage bags.” Nonetheless, UW Bookstore gives out 10,000 reusable bags that are made from recyclable materials, and are recyclable, during their rush week. Vendor Alley has been promised greener water bottles, as well as lunch kits — which are easy to clean Tupperware containers that can fit your whole lunch — as opposed to throwing out your lunch storage, but there hasn’t been any more information on that so far. There has also been quite a bit of requests for fair trade goods, which can be found at UW Farm Market. Departments on campus are changing their lifestyle to appeal to the green community. UW Shop, UW bookstore, Campus Tech and Graphics all use recycled paper and duplex printing when they can to preserve paper. Setting the computers on campus to an energy saving setting is done to conserve electricity. One of the Graphic department’s major suppliers is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which is an organization that uses paper from trees grown specifically for paper use. It does not disturb the tranquility of the rest of the trees and nature. Due to many complaints, the Graphics department has switched from
paper to plastic once again and will be using new biodegradable bags in hopes of saving the environment. UW Shop’s infamous yellow shopping bags are also biodegradable and decompose within 60 days. To get rid of products that don’t sell, the UW Shop will basically liquidate them; they reduce the prices as far as it will go to get rid of them instead of wasting them in the dumpster out back. Campus Tech’s rare standing merchandise is usually given away. Old technology gets shipped off to surplus sales at Central Stores. To further increase the green movement, UW started a contest where students design a “green T-shirt” that is now sold at the UW Shop. The T-shirt, designed by first year student Cindy Lee, is made from 50 per cent organic cotton and 50 per cent recycled polyester. As well, 50 per cent of the profit from the shirt, goes to Free the Children, a network helping children through education. The handmade blank note cards as well as jewelry and handmade purses that can be found at the UW Shop are all made from fair trade organization, Hope for Women, which helps women take control of their lives. Fair trade coffee and chocolate can also be purchased at the Fair Trade column by the register at the UW Shop. UW has a lot of green alternatives; offering recycled paper, sold at the same price as normal paper, giving students the option of whether or not they want to use it. From greeting cards to jewelry, to soap, to corn starch pens, UW Shop does offer green alternative selections. With the inspiration and good example the University of Waterloo models, we can hope other schools, towns, and cities will take up the green initiative. msegounis@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Joanna Sevilla
Green thoughts from students and staff in...
Engineering
Talking “Green” with Dr. Leo Rothenburg, Acting Dean of Engineering
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n his third day as Acting Dean of Engineering, Dr. Leo Rothenburg sat down with Imprint to discuss the Engineering faculty’s efforts in sustainability, on campus and off. Dr. Rothenburg was the Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering for five years. As Rothenburg noted, engineering in many ways, is responsible for our quality of life; our health and happiness can be dependent on this very important profession. Within engineering, are there courses that cover topics of sustainability and environmental concerns? Those courses are a little broader than [Imprint’s] emphasis is; when we look at environmentalism from [an] engineering point of view, we look at sustainability, because sustainability has three pillars: environmental, economic, and social. What we always try to do is the best we can do under the constraints that exist to deal with this within reason of what we can do; a lot of it relates to the way we perceive the world. The way it’s addressed within economic, environmental, and social — there is a lot of latitude. Environmental concerns become overriding in many instances. [As] engineering is a regulated profession, the approach to sustainability issues is standard to all engineers. All engineers have complementary study electives; six [of their courses] will be outside of the area of engineering. While outside the topic of engineering they will cover issues concerning society and technology. These [courses] include the sustainability and technology topics that [Imprint is] covering. First of all, [for] all engineering in all departments, it starts [with] concepts. The first time students are introduced to the concept of sustainability, it’s [in] first year, [that] it’s addressed in a very general form. Depending on the program of study there will be [more] or less emphasis on sustainability. In [the case of] environmental engineering, water is a large part: how to use it, how to save it, where can we live without it. Courses in that particular program [include] Introduction to Environmental Assessment (ERS 241), for some it is an elective, for others it is compulsory. Environmental Resource Management (ENV 320) [is a] specialized course that deal with water recycling, waste management; students will take over 20 courses [concerning sustainability]. The course engineering and Sustainable Development (CIVE 240) is […] an elective in the management Engineering curriculum, while it’s a core course in the civil engineering program. CIVE 240 was introduced just before the United Nations […] declared the years 2005 to 2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. When it was initially given, it didn’t go well. They did not know how to approach this complex topic in [the engineers’] second year. With time it became a popular course; students like it, this course puts a lot of emphasis on transportation, where sustainability principles must be used. We found the right balance between qualitative and quantitative concepts. Life cycle analysis — where [one is] designing a structure or facility, you don’t just design it for now, you project for its life, and consider its future maintenance, and impacts. Cradle to the grave design. This approach to design reflects concepts of sustainability, including all aspects of sustainability, social, environmental, with a lot of advanced research happening on this campus. When it comes to resources, energy, the physical resources of the faculty, are there initiatives or future plans encouraging or enforcing UW’s dedication to sustainability? What are you currently doing to manage your resources and waste effectively? [There has been] recycling within the faculty for a long period of time. Since early to mid-’80s, if you look at UW overall, we’re doing well with energy efficiency and energy use. In energy use, per square meter we’re substantially below average in Ontario, and dropping. The UW current energy consumption overall is 1.27 GJ per square meter (2004/05) while it used to be 2.55 GJ/m2 in the early 1970s. We [have] managed to reduce our energy consumption by about half since 1970. [Many] maintenance projects that we do, there will always be more efficient lighting used, [… we] introduced a more efficient ventilation system in one of the laboratories. Also there are programs and incentives offered by the federal government — grants — and UW as a whole makes use of those. Very soon UW students will get a new design centre, which will be the heart of the new six-story Engineering V building. We want to make this the best undergraduate design facility in the world. The new building itself will be environmentally friendly and will have many energy saving features. There will be abundance of natural light, but fritted glass will reflect heat and reduce cooling requirements. The windows could be opened, allowing natural ventilation rather than cranking AC. There will be a dedicated space for green roof and a balcony garden above the front door. The storm water retention basin will be surrounded by natural growth and there will be indigenous garden plantings of the entire landscape. Energy efficient lighting will be used throughout the building and there will be occupancy sensors in offices, storage rooms, as well as a centralized lighting control system. A courtyard will have tree canopies offering a working area for students. Electrical and mechanical systems in the building will be of high efficiency and low carbon emissions. Even the lighting fixtures voltage will be unusual — 347V — to reduce the amount of copper required for lighting distribution. cdavidson@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
On a scale of one to ten, with “ten” being very important, how important do you feel environmental sustainability should be to your faculty? And are you willing to see more of your faculty’s financial resources dedicated to environmental sustainability? Number of respondents, by willingness to support environmental initiatives (Yes, No, or Indifferent) in their faculty financially.
Cait Davidson Head Reporter
Cait Davidson
Where “ten” means students think environmental sustainability should be very important to their faculty.
Innovation, technology, and education are of the highest standards at the University of Waterloo but we must recognize that we are a part of the environment around us and must make an effort to keep it intact for future generations. As a leader in all other fields and a role model for the community, Waterloo has a responsibility to promote environmental sustainability as well. — Daniel Lewis [I am] unsure about what [environmental sustainability] is, what the university is doing about it and whether it is effective. — Spencer McEwan Engineering is involved with sustainability, and so it should support that where it can. — Joel Nielsen I don’t believe that sufficient environmental changes can be made at an institutional level. We need to switch to a lot of wind energy and start making products out of recyclable material, all of which is out of UW’s hands. — Jordan Grant
For more from Dr. Rothenburg, and sustainability initiatives within the engineering faculty, see page 19
Photo Feature
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
Albino goose
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Gregory Mayer
Training wheels
Jonathan Aycan
Campus licks C
“Standing out from the crowd�
Cowboys
Daniel Lewis
Photo Feature Development This section is a work in progress and Imprint is considering alternatives to the current format. If you have suggestions for photojournalism/ photoessay themes, or other possible directions for this section to take, please submit them to photos@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Sidewalk performance
Jonathan Aycan
Send your photos, along with the names of consenting individuals in the photos and a brief description, to photos@imprint.uwaterloo.ca.
Arts & Entertainment
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 arts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Andrew Dilts staff reporter
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Sonia Lee
his year marks the 16th return of the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, which runs from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13. Featuring prominent local jazz musicians from a variety of styles, the entire event (save the Thursday night opening gala), is completely free of charge. It’s an event that all students are welcome to attend, likely giving exposure to a musical style — jazz — that most students do not normally encounter in their community. The Jazz Festival is just one of many summer community attractions in Waterloo, with other key events including the Kitchener Blues Festival (sometimes dubbed “Blues, Brews and Barbecues”) in early August, and the King St. closing Waterloo Busker festival in late August. Such events seem to be a standard of Waterloo life, helping to tie the community together. The festival’s sponsorship also reflects their deeper community connections, with 2008 supporters ranging from the Trillium Foundation and the ministry of Canadian Heritage to Brick Brewery, the Marsland Centre, and Sherwood Systems. “When we first started 16 years ago, the Jazz Festival was little more than pockets of musicians performing around King St.,” said Patti Brooks, the festival’s chair. Since the early ’90s, the festival has outgrown its “pockets” of King St. format. It first moved to the Regina St. parking lot and then to its current location at the Waterloo City Hall lot. “It’s really amazing how it has grown,” said Brooks, who has been with the event for the last 11 years. “[This year,] we’ve got all genres of jazz covered – traditional, Latin jazz, funky jazz, ragtime. We’ve got the gamut covered for sure. “Even if someone isn’t a jazz fan, they’re sure to find something they like. They’re also sure to run into someone they know; the festival is very well attended.” Referring to the festival’s focus on highlighting local and Toronto-based musicians, Brooks noted, “We’re really very lucky that we have such talented people here. That was part of our mandate from 10 years ago when we took the show off the street, that we would
Sonia Lee
use local talent as the jazz festival grows.” There seems to be no shortage of such talent at this year’s event, as the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival will feature, among others, the Friday night headliner Molly Johnson. “We’re very, very fortunate to have Molly Johnson perform[…] she is perhaps the premiere female jazz artist in Canada. We’re very lucky to have her, she will draw a huge crowd.” Other headliners include Saturday night’s Manteca, and Kellylee Evans on late Sunday afternoon, rounding out more than a dozen acts to croon to the audience over the three days of the festival.
The festival runs rain or shine, so if the weather looks questionable (as it has for these past few weeks) be sure to bring an umbrella. Thousands of chairs are provided, though as Brooks notes, referring to the popularity of the festival, “there are never enough.” Thus, patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs. For those interested in helping out with the completely volunteer-run festival, it’s not too late. Information and sign-ups forms, as well as other information about the festival, are available at waterloojazzfestival.ca adilts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Whatever it is, keep it funky
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ypothetically, if you could live in any decade “soul-y” based on musical production and music history, which decade would you choose? Well, granted that time travel was possible, I would choose the years 1965 to 1975. I know this is a loaded and subjective question based on musical taste and preference, but for me, these 10 years were the most musically exciting, innovative, and accomplished. Additionally, these epic years were responsible for the two most rhythmically oriented genres of music, those being soul and funk. There is no better music to dance or shake your ass to than funk and soul. For those of you who would argue that hip hop and the sounds and beats of Kanye are better to mash up the dance floor, just look at the linear notes and see the list of samples. I can guarantee that 9 out of every 10 samples were original Motown or Stax productions. But truthfully, what makes funk music so brilliant is that no matter what mood or frame of mind you have, it is impossible to not tap a foot or bob a head when listening. If you don’t believe me, just listen to the music of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and his classic “Get Up (Sex Machine)” and you will understand what I mean. At first glance, it is very easy to amalgamate both funk and soul music into the same genre. This is no coincidence; quite often we associate certain styles of music under a
broad category when, in fact, most often than not they are unique to a certain degree. For instance, house, jungle, and trance is often situated under the umbrella of electronica but each genre champions its own musical style. Granted that both funk and soul possess several common musical traits and properties, however, it should be recognized that funk was a direct result and progeny of soul music. It is no surprise that soul music is deeply rooted and influenced by religious conviction and gospel music. While soul is secular in nature, its music transmits many gospel themes such as heightened vocal ornamentation, call and response, and an open-ended structure. Similarly, some of the most prominent soul and funk artists were born and raised in religious environments and were often involved in gospel choirs and church bands. For instance, James Brown’s legendary backup band “the Famous Flames” were a religious group called the “Gospel Starlighters,” while Diana Ross was the daughter of a Baptist minister in Detroit. Basically, funk and soul can be geographically sorted into two sub genres based on the two most prominent record labels. Northern funk and soul is often conveyed through the songs and sounds of the popular Motown label while southern funk and soul conversely are the product of Memphis label Stax. Between these two labels, 43 singles reached number
one during 1965 to 1975. More importantly, it was during these years in which “ The Motown Sound” came to be. This particular sound has often been characterized by the extensive and overtly perceptible sounds of tambourines to accent the back beat, rhythmically cohesive intonation through the melodic bass lines and chord structures of bassist James Jamerson, and the prominent use of orchestral string and horn sections. During these years, the evolution and production of music was at the apex of creativity and ingenuity. While I could discuss how monumental funk and soul music respectively played in terms of the re-Africanization of African American music, the dynamic push for racial equity, or the integration of black and white Americans within the United States, I have decided to compile a list of 10 influential soul and funk artists and tracks that one should know for their own good.. Please note, these songs will make you shake your ass and dance at some point or another. 10) Al Green — “Let’s Stay Together” This track is responsible for more one-night stands than alcohol, drugs, and birth control combined. Between Green’s high falsetto vocals, the properly placed horns during the chorus, and it’s continuous grooving rhythm, this song could truly challenge Marvin Gaye’s “Lets Get It On” as the most sexually charged song of our generation.
9) Ray Charles — “ What I’d Say Part 1 & 2” Before Kanye sampled the shit out of him and the Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for portraying him, Ray Charles temporarily slipped under the radar as an influential soul musician. While some argue that Charles was musically more R&B than soul, all you have to do is listen the vocal timbre and the strength of voice to dismiss those idiot naysayers. 8) Otis Day and the Knights — “Shout!” While Otis Day is a fictional character and the Knights are a fictional band in the popular film Animal House, this track highlights the power and energy of soul music. With fluctuating dynamics, and an epic breakdown, followed by a climatic ending, this song and scene made John Belushi’s career and Animals House a classic film. 7) The Jackson 5 — “ I Want You Back” This song encompasses every ingredient required for a great soul song. A catchy hook, a thumping bass riff, and heartfelt lyrics. That in combination with the soft and once innocent vocals of a young Michael Jackson warms our hearts and allows us to sympathize for the current state and direction that his career has gone since the mid-’90s. See FUNK, page 18
Arts & Entertainment
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
WALL-E Andrew Stanton
movie reviews
Pixar
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Young People Fucking Martin Gero Copper Heart Productions
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ith a title like Young People Fucking, I wasn’t expecting much. I assumed that any film that needed such a provocative title would be lacking in content, and would rely on the title in order to draw people to the theatre. I was surprised to find a film that was more than the title suggested; that is, it was actually about more than fucking. The movie explores five separate relationships, following the couples (and other arrangements) from the first teasing moments right through to the inevitable afterglow. There’s a couple that’s lost their spark, the “exes” revisiting their past, the coworkers on their first date, and the friends just looking to fuck (or are they?). And let’s not forget the fifth couple: a guy, his girlfriend, and the roommate they’ve asked to have sex with her while the boyfriend watches.
courtesy of imdb.com
The storylines definitely lean towards the hilarious, making most scenes outrageous. Purple strap-ons are used, cookie dough is brought out, and we hear one of the worst replies ever to the phrase “talk dirty to me.” The film rides the humour, making scenes that would be somewhat awkward much more enjoyable. The “player,” rejected by his intended one night stand, walks to the elevator about to cry and finds there exactly what he was looking for in the first place.
The film’s standout moments lie in the “roommates” and “friends” stories. Each arrangement is just looking for a good time but they all find much more. The first couple comes to a post-coital realization that they are both “pervs” as the roommate who was asked to have sex with the girlfriend sits awkwardly in the middle. The “friends” realize that they have been in love with each other off and on throughout their entire relationship and end up making love to a sappy song. These two arrangements are also the representation of the most awkward sex possible: with the person that knows you better than anyone else and has seen you through past breakups; and the sex with someone else’s girlfriend... while the boyfriend watches. With a relatively unknown cast, the film is able to create what feels like an intimate look into the private lives of strangers we pass on the street, making us as voyeuristic as some of the characters themselves. Although there were some somewhat heartfelt moments and it was more than just sex, I still felt the urge to run home from the theatre with my boyfriend.
ith a track record like Pixar’s, including such brilliant movies as Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille (just my personal favourites from a much longer list), their latest animated feature had huge expectations to live up to. I remember when I first finished viewing the full-length trailer for WALL-E, I worried that it would turn out to be a love story between two robots, of all things. Well, WALL-E turned out to be exactly that — a love story. And I friggin’ loved it! WALL-E is the last functional robot of the thousands left to clean up Earth while the humans take a “vacation” in space. In the centuries that have passed since, he has developed something akin to emotions. He spends his days compacting trash, piling them into giant skyscrapers, collecting objects that interest him, and watching Hello, Dolly! One day, a spacecraft unexpectedly lands in his backyard, and out comes EVE, one of many robots sent to find any sign of plant-life left on the planet. EVE — whose design happens to be
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Subtle, yet vulgar t’s gotten pretty hot in the last week or so, and what better topic to write about than adult cartoons and comics? Such an idea is a lot more apparent in the West with cartoons like Robot Chicken and South Park, as well as the loads of adult anime and hentai flying and torrenting across the Pacific. These animations are definitely not directed towards the kids of today, but towards the kids of “yesteryear” — specifically, us. I remember my first exposure to mature themes in comics and cartoons. The first time I ever watched John Kricfalusi’s The Ren and Stimpy Show, I realized I had never seen humour in cartoons so vividly. It was so grotesque, so crude, and so disgusting, but I loved it. While Kricfalusi admits that the inspiration for his characters comes from Golden Age of cartoons, there’s an emotion of absurdity and lust in how he animates. Flash forward to his animated music videos for Weird Al Yankovic and Tenacious D, and you can see his sex and violence gags to full effect. If you think about it, cartoons that emerged from the Golden Age didn’t always have children as the main audience. Take a look at animation studios like Warner Bros. Cartoons and Fleischer Studios. With the Looney Tunes characters, there are more jokes for adults than for kids, like the imagery of Bugs Bunny as Groucho Marx and dressing in drag
influenced by Jonathan Ive, designer of the iPod and iMac — quickly becomes the apple of WALL-E’s cybernetic eye. He tries to woo her by showing all the neat junk he has collected over the centuries, which, luckily for her, happens to include a plant he had recently found and kept alive. This results in a chain of events that takes him to the Axiom, the galactic spaceship in which the descendants of the human population live, where his actions determine the fate of mankind. There are too many good things about WALL-E to mention here, but what struck me as the greatest is its ability to remain, first and foremost, a love story. It has themes similar to dystopian novels, sci-fi movies, and even Charlie Chaplin classics, but none of these ever convolute the plot or distract from the main idea. While other movies all-toooften get caught up in the gimmick and lose sight of their story (think Vantage Point’s horrible flashbacking), WALL-E manages to use all these as effective tools to tell a wonderful tale. In the end, it’s not his small stature or his drooping eyes that makes the audience fall in love with him, but his giant heart.
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courtesy of imdb.com
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~ same day eye exam ~ to seduce and manipulate. As well, the Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons covered both ends of the “not for children” category: sex and violence. While kids loved these cartoons back then, so did the grown-ups at the time, mostly because the studios were clever enough to sneak in jokes that kids would both not get and shrug off. In regards to our generation, the Looney Tunes movie Space Jam had a reference to Tarrantino’s Pulp Fiction which I only got because I was exposed to that movie at a horribly young age. Pulp Fiction, I mean. Not Space Jam. Although that’s arguable now, isn’t it? Many of you who are constantsly on YouTube have probably seen some of the more controversial animations during that time. Fleischer Studios’ most controversial in my mind would have to be the 1942 Superman cartoon episode, “Japoteurs.” As a form of propaganda, it involved Japanese spies hijacking a U.S. bomber plane and bringing it to Tokyo. The stereotype was played out hilariously: the spies were short, had heavy Japanese accents, and had an extreme hate for everything American. The line from Superman, “Okay, little man. You asked for it!” still rings in my ear to this day. In comics, there’s more to reference especially after the explosion of the webcomics scene. Webcom-
ics with sexual themes that come into mind include Girls with Slingshots (Corsetto; www.girlswithslingshots. com), Least I Could Do (Sohmer, De Souza; http://www.leasticoulddo. com), Sexy Losers (Clay; www.sexylosers.com), and some of the comics by T Campbell and Canadian artist Gisèle Lagacé such as Cool Cat Studio (www.coolcatstudio.com) and Ménage à 3 (www.menagea3.net). With the exception of Sexy Losers, however, these other webcomics tend to censor out certain items such as vulgar language and hardcore nudity, possibly as a way to keep things subtle so the comics can be exposed to a larger age demographic. There is so much more I can explain to you about mature cartoons. Hell, if I could, I would write a thesis on this topic alone. However, I only wanted to expose what I find the most relevant of the subject. I’ll leave you with one of my favourite set of lines from Freakazoid’s “Dance of Doom,” where Steph, her friend Val, and the rest of Harry Connick High School are held hostage by Cave Guy: Val: Find out what he wants! You’re are on the student council. Steph: But you get along better with older guys!
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Arts & Entertainment cd review
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
The Red Album Weezer
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay
Third Portishead
Universal Music Group
Parlophone
Universal Music Group
was once told an interesting theory regarding the evolution or rather “de-evolution” of Weezer. The theory is that Weezer as a band have musically and lyrically regressed since the release of their first record, The Blue Album, in 1994. With the release of The Green Album in 2001, and now their sixth full-length release aptly titled The Red Album, Weezer is not only running out of colours for albums, but they are running out of chords, lyrics, or any other fundamental quality one needs to write a mediocre pop song. This album is tired, weak, repetitive, and boring. More importantly, this album is a waste of time and effort for both the listener and the actual environment. On track opener “Trouble Marker,” lead singer Rivers Cuomo opens with the lyrics “Put me in a special school, cause I am such a fool, and I don’t need a single book to teach me how to read.” It is apparent that Cuomo has regressed as a lyricist and can no longer write catchy yet endearing lyrics like those off The Blue Album i.e. “Buddy Holly” “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here,” or “Say It Ain’t So” just to name a few. The track, “Everybody Get Dangerous” we are exposed to uninteresting lyrics — not to mention derivative guitar riffs and song structure — with an anti-climatic bridge and severely depressing attempt at a musical breakdown preceding the final chorus. Both “Thought I Knew” and “Cold Dark World,” in contrast to most of the album, are sung by guitarist Brian Bell and bassist Scott Shriner ,who sound like a second rate Art Alexakis (lead singer of Everclear). It truly hurts me that I have no choice but to write awful things about a band who defined mid-90s power-pop to near perfection. But as a critic and an honest journalist I have no choice and write you the appalling truth to the matter. If I could compare this disc to the personality and looks a human being, this record has both the personality and looks of Kevin Federline.
remember listening to Coldplay when their first album, Parachutes, came out. It had a sombre, elegant, yet simple sound that I had never heard before, let alone their fellow U.K. associates that many critics chose to compare them to. This was a time where they just wanted to get their music into the world, to share it , with no feelings towards commercial success. Hearing their music in other media sources was never in their minds. Flash forward eight years, and we see Coldplay as a humanitarian rock band, being socially compared to U2 for obvious reasons, such as their work and widespread promotion in fundraisers and their increasing commercial success. In Viva La Vida, their latest album named after a painting from Frida Kahlo, Coldplay’s sound has grown into something more intense. All the band members have expanded their horizons in sound. The vocals are more down-toearth with less falsetto, and the guitar explores even more with patterns and distortions. The smooth orchestral and sharp piano add an almost epic touch to the songs, and the drums play with less variation but more intensity, using giant bass drums and large bells, as well as occasional help in the percussion by bassist Guy Berryman. The title track “Viva La Vida” is the best example of their new found sound, complete with storytelling lyrics of corruption after power. One feature that the album has that I found odd was the amount of hidden tracks within the playlist. The fifth track “Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love” are actually two songs, and track six “Yes” contains the song “Chinese Sleep Chant” about three minutes in. It’s an odd move, but it adds to the feeling of the album being one complete entity which it definitely is. I have to admit, I stepped away from listening to Coldplay for a good while, never even purchasing X&Y. But the band’s improved greatly in their sound, and change can be a great thing in a band.
uesday, April 29 saw the long-awaited release of Portishead’s third album, Third. The release of this album reawakens the band from an 11 year period of slumber; the last Portishead studio release was their self-titled album which occurred in 1997. Hardcore fans of Portishead’s previous two albums, Dummy and Portishead, may be in for quite a surprise. Third is far removed from the band’s typical trip-hop roots. That being said, open-minded listeners will find their new sound to be just as raw and satisfying. Lead-singer Beth Gibbons’ vocals and lyrics never fail to disappoint. “The Rip” stands as a testament to the sheer pain involved in love. “And as I take on myself / And the bitterness I felt / I realize that love flows,” Gibbons muses on this track. The track is initially set to the dulcet tones of an acoustic guitar. As the song progresses, the guitar seamlessly melds into a more electronically driven sound. “Machine Gun” is easily one of the stand-out tracks on the album. The steady and relentless militaristic beat sets the tone, leaving a strong feeling of impending aggression. The severe rhythmic beat provides an interesting environment for Gibbons’ distinctly laid-back vocals. Her harmonious voice is the knife that cuts straight through to the heart of this track. Gibbons manages to create stark tension throughout the first half of the track with her unique vocals and her lyrical meditations on faith. Expect the unexpected when it comes to listening to this album; the song “Deep Water” boasts a musical background that is carried solely by a ukulele, while the song “Plastic” alternates between an easy-listening sound and a loud, electronic symphony. The album is loaded with ear candy and electronic subtleties. Despite the fact that it is a removal from their previous efforts, it is still an undeniably solid album that’s well worth the listen.
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IMPRINT/ab.patio/rawbco© 4/30/03 4:14 PM Page 1 — Hunter Colosimo
— Peter Trinh
— Jamie Damaskinos
FUNK: the top six Continued from page 16
2) Marvin Gaye — “Gotta Give It Up”
6) The Supremes — “ You Can’t Hurry Love”
Marvin Gaye was a man of many sounds. The early years were characterized by the earnest, cheerful sounds of Motown production while his later years were filled with smooth, relaxed sentimental tones. But somewhere in the middle, Gaye produced one of the grooviest tracks of the ’70s. Upon listening to this exuberant 12-minute display of organically cohesive funk and rhythmic fury, we can instataneously appreciate how incredibly talented Gaye was and how tragic it is that his father shot him and prematurely ended his career.
Diana Ross and The Supremes were the golden girls of the Motown Sound. With 12 number hits in a decade, these girls were second only to the Beatles in number one singles. This track truly highlights the prominent Motown tambourine and pulsing rhythm section. 5) Stevie Wonder — “Superstition” I’ve probably listened to this track at least 200 times and every time I hear this song I discover something new. ‘Superstition’ in my opinion possesses the catchiest/funkiest clarinet riff ever recorded. But what makes this track even more classic is that in 72, Wonder performed this hit on Sesame Street… Just Youtube the clip and your jaw will drop harder than Enron stock post indictment. 4) George Clinton and Parliament Funk — “Give Up The Funk”
patio now open.
Whenever I’m shitface drunk, I always have an urge to play P-Funk. I don’t know if it’s the Bootsy Collin’s bass riffs or George Clinton’s diaper costum — I just can’t help but play this track and get lost in its funky sounds. With an emphasis on the rhythm section, Clinton and P-Funk paved the way for many post-funk and neo-funk sounds during the ’80s and ’90s, and new millennium.
1) James Brown — “Cold Sweat Pt1” Words cannot describe how fucking tremendous and influential James Brown was with regard to the creation, development, and production of soul and funk music. He’s got the title, the nicknames, and, most importantly, the music to back it up. Ideally, you could place any JB track at number one and not a single person would even doubt it’s hierarchical merit or status. While Brown was considered a fascist or totalitarian bandleader, it’s obvious that his passion, enthusiasm, and dedication for funk and soul carries into his music. Just listen to “Cold Sweat;” it pretty much speaks for itself. hcolosimo@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
3) Otis Redding — “Try A Little Tenderness”
open thurs- sat 9pm-2am 667 king street w kitchener 571-9032
This man has a voice of an angel. This song, like all his songs, has enough energy to power a city, possesses more compassion than the Pope, and carries more soul than all of Motown and Stax combined. It is the best-recorded version of this song, and the ultimate soul song of our time. God Bless your soul Mr. Redding.
armel chesnais
Science & Technology
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 science@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Rothenburg on student projects Continued from “How Green is My Campus?” interview With Dr. Leo Rothenburg, page 14 In the Faculty of Engineering, are there initiatives or student projects outside of the courses and faculty research that involve or encourage sustainability? Cait Davidson head reporter
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any engineering students participate in projects that address real life environmental concerns. They do it individually but most frequently in teams. As all engineers must do a fourth-year project to demonstrate their design skills in a team setting, many choose projects and form teams based on their common interests and or co-op experience. In some programs, such as chemical or civil engineering, the environmental content of projects is more frequent, and it dominates in projects done by environmental and geological engineering students. Some student teams chose their projects in order to compete in the annual international Environmental Design Contest in New Mexico, where students demonstrate their solutions to specific environmental challenges outlined by
Design Competitions Design competitions in which engineering students participate are too numerous to describe. Chemical engineering students alone may participate in a dozen different competitions with substantial focus on environmental energy and sustainability. I will only mention our recent success in the work on a not-sodistant dream of a “Hydrogen Economy” when vehicles will be operating cleanly and efficiently powered by hydrogen fuel cells. At this year’s annual contest, sponsored by the Hydrogen Education Foundation, teams of students from around the world were challenged to use a budget of $3 million to design the most effective airport hydrogen system to address airport challenges: noise and air pollution. The Waterloo’s “H2U Team” of mainly chemical engineering students received an award for their realistic design of a “Green Limousine” airport service consisting of hydrogen-powered vehicles to move passengers in and out of the airport. The key elements of this system are the hydrogen refueling stations at the airport. Fuel cell research at Waterloo is gaining momentum, particularly in automotive application where we have several student teams that have been capturing national headlines many times during the past two decades. Alternative Fuels Team The Alternative Fuels Team made its debut in the 1997 North American Propane Vehicle Challenge where the team placed first overall for their design of a vehicle with lowest emissions. For this year’s competition, the team designed a fuel cell-powered vehicle with zero
Wael Elsweisi reporter
Red wine: to benefit or not to benefit
Previous studies on a chemical called reservatrol have linked its consumption, using fish and yeast as models, with significant increases in lifespan. Reservatrol is found in some fruits and vegetables, but mainly in grapes and red wine. A recent study published in the latest issue of Cell Metabolism also implicates the chemical in protecting against heart disease, bone loss, and muscle atrophy. But it also sheds doubt on the chemical’s ability to increase lifespan. Reservatrol is known to greatly stimulate the production of SIRT1, a key protein involved in anti-aging mechanisms but, interestingly, this same protein also appears to contribute to higher brain toxicity. Studies using mice lacking or with decreased SIRT1 levels, on the other hand, show better protection against brain toxicity, but do die younger than those with normal levels.
emissions for the “Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility” competition, or “Challenge X.” This particular collegiate competition is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors Corporation. The challenge is to re-engineer the Chevrolet Equinox, a GM mid-size SUV, to increase its fuel economy and decrease emissions. Needless to say, such a project cannot be done without echanical and mechatronics engineering students, but they also need help from students in other programs. Electrical engineering and systems Design students may participate on such teams as well as students from all other programs, such as Computer and Software Engineering. Large team projects are complex and multifaceted. Apart from technical challenges, students must promote the project, find sponsors, and raise money. Managing large team projects is not easy. Our management engineering students from the newest program in the faculty will be able to contribute soon, and students from the entire campus can participate as well. All this applies to other superb automotive teams.
Midnight Sun The first solar-powered vehicle was a bike built in 1987. It was able to circle along Ring Road and even Bryan Mulroney, then Prime Minister, came to see it. The Midnight Sun Solar Race Team is now the largest student project on campus. Their seventh generation race car Midnight Sun VII captured the Guinness World Record for the “Longest Journey by a Solar Powered Car:” over 15,000 km in 40 days around North America. The team finished the World Solar Challenge last October, a 3,000 km run across Australia from Darwin
It is true that it wouldn’t hurt to drink one or two glasses of wine a day, and that resveratrol supplements are available, but researchers note that much higher doses of resveratrol are needed for real benefits as only five per cent of the chemical actually manages to reach the circulatory system. Girls and brainpower
It has long been known that Omega-3 fatty acids offer many health benefits. However, when it comes to brainpower, a recent study involving 4,000 children ranging from 6 to 16 years of age concluded that Omega-3 fats are twice as important for girls as they are for boys. The idea is that women use Omega-3 fats not only in wiring their brains but also to store them in their hips and thighs to nurture the brains of their potential babies. Common sources of Omega-3 fats include oily fish such as salmon and sardines, but flaxseed oils can be up to six times richer.
the contest sponsor Waste-Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC). This year UW had two teams competing, and two awards. One team received the Best Paper award for ecologically friendly design and technology innovation. This team included volunteers from the School of Architecture, which is a unit in the Faculty of Engineering. Their project involved implementation of green technologies to retrofit a commercial building to save energy and reduce its environmental footprint. The second team designed a comprehensive system to desalinate brackish groundwater for use by small rural communities located in the southwest U.S. This team won a United States Environmental Protection Agency Science Forum Innovative Technology Travel Award. They showcased their innovative technology to the world’s leading environmental scientists and policy makers at the seventh annual EPA Science Forum in Washington, DC, in May. in the North to Adelaide in the South. They will soon be off to start the North American Solar Challenge, racing from Dallas to Calgary. Another race car project run by the “Formula SAE Team” regularly participates in the most prestigious collegiate design, build, and race competition. It is hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The “Formula SAE” title is a parallel with the “Formula One” class of open wheeled race cars that compete in Grand Prix races like in Monaco. The UW team built an exceptional reputation in the “Formula SAE” competitions, consistently placing close to the top and ahead of other Canadian teams. Although Monaco is not on the agenda at the moment, their next step is to build a hydrogen-powered race car to compete in “Formula Zero” races for a special class of zero emission race cars. You can read a lot more about other automotive teams on the website of the Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research (WatCAR). The shared vision of these teams is to build the vehicles of the future which are lightweight, safe, intelligent, powered by alternative fuels, environmentally sustainable, and user-friendly.
Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Civil engineering students from my home department will be really upset with me if I do not talk about their annual race, the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan. The toboggan must be light and have a running surface made completely out of concrete. We placed first in this competition this year and many times before throughout the more than 30 year history of this annual race. In order to win, the sled must not only be fast
but technically innovative. What was truly impressive this year is that the concrete slab was only 25 mm thicker, much thinner than normally acceptable. This was achieved by reinforcing concrete with strong and light carbon fibres, a unique technology that allows to minimize the amount of concrete and energy required to produce it. Wide acceptance of this technology in the future will result in massive energy savings and reduced emissions from production of construction materials. This is just a cross-section of many student projects in the Faculty of Engineering that are critical for hands-on participation of students in environmentally responsible design, leading to a sustainable future for all of us.
Engineers Without Borders We live in a global world and what we do at home affects others, and the world outside of Canada affects us to greater and greater extents. There are some two billion people that live on less than $2 per day. They don’t use much energy, and they don’t worry about saving on electricity as they has none. A significant part of the world population have no access to very basic technology. The student organization Engineers Without Borders has its mission to promote human development through access to technology. Right now, as we speak, three of our engineering students are volunteering in Africa, Malawi, Zambia, and Ghana working on water, basic sanitation, and agricultural projects. These engineering students make a lot of difference in this world, and this is what engineers do in general.
Interestingly, a study led by William Lassek at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Steve Gaulin at the University of California in Santa Barbara found that girls’ cognitive performance also plummeted with an increase in consumption of Omega-6 fats, while the boys’ remained the same. What’s alarming is that the typical U.S. diet includes 10 times more Omega-6 fats than omega3s. “Brain and body can process limited amounts of fatty acids, and the Omega-6 can push out the Omega-3,” said Joseph Hibbeln at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. A new vaccine...for brain cancer?
Scientists have linked a deadly form of brain cancer with a culprit: cytomegalovirus (CMV). The virus infects 50-85 per cent of U.S. adults, and can remain dormant for long periods of time. CMV can be transmitted through sexual fluids, breast milk, and organ transplants. immunocompromised individuals are most at risk.
cdavidson@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Recent studies by Duane Mitchell of Duke University Medical Centre and colleagues have concluded that 90 per cent of patients with glioblastoma multiforme have activated CMV in their brain tumour. Mitchell’s team subsequently developed an experimental vaccine that stimulates the body’s immune cells to attack CMV, which includes the brain’s afflicted areas. As reported in the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the vaccine, along with chemotherapy and radiation, prevented tumour re-emergence for 12 months after therapy, compared to the average seven to eight months patients expect. As for expected lifespan, it increased from 14 months to more than 20. Whether CMV is actually the cause of cancer is of debate. Some studies suggest the tumour cells may simply be allowing the virus to activate and multiply. But others accuse the virus of disrupting the cells’ division pathway, allowing for cancer. Still, the vaccine offers much hope for brain cancer patients. with files from National Geographic News, Scientific American, and Newscientist.com
Science & Technology
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Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
Scent and seductability
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think I just realized why my boyfriend insistently asks for us to go to the gym together. Smart cookie, he is — even though the sight of an Arnold Schwarzenegger pumping weights wouldn’t interest me, the pheromones in the sweat running down his body sure could. The guy wouldn’t even have to be smoking hot, yet a whiff of his scent could cause physical attraction. Have you ever met someone and developed an instant crush, only to be repulsed by them the next day? Pheromones could be responsible for that too — and, I assume, for 98 per cent of annulled marriages in Hollywood. Pheromones are odourless chemical compounds emitted into the environment by insects and animals as a way of communicating with their own species. In humans, pheromones are produced mainly by the skin through apocrine and sebaceous glands. These glands develop during puberty for both genders,
and tend to be heavily concentrated in the armpit, nipple, genital, oral, eyelid, and outer ear areas. A receptor gene V1RL1 is detected mostly in the olfactory mucosa, an organ which lines the human nasal cavity. Once pheromones are detected, a signal is sent to the hypothalamus portion of the brain, triggering an internal sexual response that causes feeling of attraction and even sexual desire. But pheromone exposure causes a lot more than sexual attraction — it modulates many areas of human sexuality, including female menstruation and ovulation. Amazingly enough, Dr. Alex Comfort, medical professional and author, believes pheromones have had a role in the onset of female menstruation — especially its late onset as observed in the 21st century. Particularly, he believes the onset of menstruation has had a direct correlation with the amount of time young girls spend with members of
the opposite gender. Between the Victorian era, when gender separation was rigid, and post-Victorian eras, when co-education emerged in the public system, the average age of menstruation fell by a number of years. Although many factors, such as growth hormone presence in food, could also be at play, Comfort believes fluctuations in pheromone exposure have had a strong role in these changes. Recent studies of a more concrete nature also suggest that pheromones can speed up female ovulation or even sexual maturation, at least in lab rat testing. The function of primer pheromones, which affect the endocrine system, has been evident in human studies through the McClintock Effect, which explains the synchronization of menstrual cycles in co-inhabiting women as a result of exposure to another’s pheromones. The study suggests that a pheromone produced prior to ovulation shortens
the cycle and the second, produced at the event of ovulation, lengthens that cycle. Another interesting study indicates that pheromones present in male sweat raises the hormone levels of heterosexual women when inhaled. This study, conducted by the University of California, observed the participants’ cortisol levels increase when inhaling a compound found in male sweat. Cortisol is often called the stress hormone because exposure to stress activates cortisol secretion in the body. During the two trials of the study, 48 undergraduate females were asked to inhale the contents of a bottle containing androstadienone 20 times. Then the volunteer provided saliva samples which later determined corresponding cortisol levels. Pheromones may also direct humans towards others with the same sexual orientation, as Charles Wysocki, PhD, and Yolana Martins, PhD, found in their experiment. The
study involved 82 heterosexual and homosexual adults of both genders who had to guess the sexual orientation of an individual by smelling a sample of sweat provided by one of 24 odour donors. Results showed that homosexual men indicated preference for homosexual men and heterosexual women, whereas odours from homosexual men were least preferred by heterosexual men and women, and also by homosexual women. Although numerous pheromone studies have been done on animals, scientists are having difficulty translating their results to human studies, and much research is yet to be done. From what is known, pheromones are good news for students — for when the exam period arrives again, and there is no time for hygiene maintenance or even to look for a date, they can simply follow the smell. alomako@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
A look into male infertility Janice Wong reporter
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ale infertility is an issue that doesn’t just concern older men — it should be something that males in any age group should be aware of. Currently, male infertility accounts for as much as 40 per cent of the 2.6 million infertile married couples in the United States. Infertility, defined by scientists in the field, is the inability to conceive after a year of sexual intercourse without the use of contraceptives. Since male infertility accounts for almost half of the cases, what are the reasons behind it? There are many causes for male infertility, but sperm disorders are the most common. A low sperm count (oligospermia) or insignificant sperm
count (azoospermia) can be caused by various factors such as infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, and autoimmune disorders. Lifestyles also play an important role. Activities that expose the male genitals to heat such as using laptops or cooking for prolonged periods of time may also damage sperm. Other activities such as using mobile phones, which emit electromagnetic waves, may also affect fertility; several current studies show that consistent use of mobile phones leads to reductions in sperm motility and morphology. State of health is also important; for example, liver and kidney diseases affect the physiology of the body, not to mention the indirect influences of different drugs. Stress affects hormones in the body and indirectly influences sperm production. Anatomical abnormalities such as
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inflammation of the urogenital tract, may lead to obstructions and scarring of tissue. Lastly, our environment, workplace and homes also directly influence our health, and chemicals such as organic solvents, glues, and silicones are shown to impair normal sperm counts. Most cases of male infertility don’t happen over a short period of time, so there is no need to worry that one day you suddenly wake up with a low sperm count. However, early detection and awareness of any abnormalities with your health can help prevent anything bad from happening or help you to improve the situation if you have such an issue. Male infertility is most commonly diagnosed by analyzing and counting sperms using multiple semen analysis. Samples from a patient are analyzed under the microscope for sperm motility and morphology, and sperm count and semen pH are quantitatively measured. With this information, physicians have a good idea if it is a sperm disorder that is causing infertility. Furthermore, medi-
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cal histories of previous sickness and diseases, drugs, surgeries, STDs, etc. also provide good clues in the possible reasons for infertility, so it is important to keep track of such records. Regular physical examinations detect testicular irregularities and can help in getting the right treatments early
field are quite promising and include research on DNA damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones, and possible antioxidants that can prevent sperm damage. Finally, the big question: How can we prevent male infertility? Maintain-
Most cases of male infertility don’t happen over a short period of time, so there is no need to worry that one day you suddenly wake up with a low sperm count. on, and other factors such as sexual dysfunctions may also contribute to infertility — it’s important not to ignore such problems. The good news is that at least half of male infertility problems can be treated. There are several ways. Assisted reproduction involves methods to improve erectile dysfunctions (i.e. problems regarding ejaculations), such as induction of ejaculation or artificial insemination. Different drug therapies can treat hormonal dysfunctions, cure infections, and fight sperm antibodies. This includes administering testosterone, the hormone that is responsible for producing sperm and male sex drive, and antibiotics for urinary tract infections, such as those caused by STDs. Surgeries are useful in removing obstructions and scar tissue. Current and future studies in this
ing a healthy diet certainly helps: eating fresh vegetables with different vitamins and antioxidants, drinking plenty of water, eliminating refined foods with caffeine and alcohol, and avoiding saturated fats (fries!). Another interesting discovery is that pumpkin seeds, which are high in zinc, can help in maintaining the healthy functioning of the reproductive systems in males. There are currently different supplements in the market, which you can consult your doctor about. Most of all, lifestyle is the most critical factor in maintaining health and preventing male infertility and sickness. Smoking and drinking lead to higher levels of ROS in our bodies and it’s a good idea to quit. Cell phone use should be minimized. Finally, exercising and maintaining a healthy state of mind to effectively deal with stress can help in maximizing fertility.
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Science and Technology
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
Are you what your playlist says you are? The top four most agreed upon stereotypes show interesting similarities with each other. Both prototypical classical and religious fans were perceived similarly in terms of personality factors. Both were seen as highly conscientious, agreeable, and emotionally stable while classical hat did you see in your mind’s eye fans were seen as comparatively lower in extrawhen you read those words? Or, more version. Religious fans were also seen as more importantly, what was in your mind’s open, and, of course, religious. Conversely, both ear? If you were to create a prototypical playlist rap and rock fans were seen as highly extraverted, for each character, what songs would be on it? moderately agreeable, and not very conscienIf you asked your friends and co-workers to also tious. Rock fans were seen as less emotionally create these playlists, do you think they would stable and more open than rap fans. In terms of personal qualities, values, and drug differ significantly from your own? The answer to that last one is probably “no.” preferences, the top four stereotypes became Stereotypes of fans of specific music genres are more distinct. Stereotypical classical music fans pervasive and will have influenced you and your were seen as politically conservative, intelligent, friends’ perceptions of these terms and the people physically unattractive, unathletic, and artistic. They they describe. Research into why these stereotypes were believed to value comfort, beauty, wisdom, exist is scarce, but what we do know is they seem imagination, intellect, and love, and were expected to choose wine and cocktails over beer. They were to be important in social settings. Our impressions of others can be, in part, also viewed as unlikely to use drugs of any sort. Typical religious music fans were described constructed by the contents of their iPods. For example, consider the last time a date had access as politically conservative, and as valuing peace, to your MP3 player or car stereo. Were you hop- family security, forgiveness, love, and, to no ing they’d find that oh-so-esoteric indie recording surprise, salvation. They were seen as unlikely to or super hot club remix? Or, at least, that they use either drugs or alcohol, but were expected wouldn’t find your embarrassing stash of S-Club to drink wine if they chose to indulge. The rock fan stereotype was marked by 7 singles? It’s probably also safe to assume that, at least once, you’ve worn a band Tshirt in pub- politically liberal leanings and a lack of religion. Rock fans were perceived as valuing lic, or displayed a CD or music magazine excitement and courage, and were somewhere in plain sight. We all enexpected to prefer beer over wine gage in behaviours like this because or cocktails. They were also bewe are aware that others will judge lieved to be the most likely to use all our personalities by our music drugs, including marijuana, ecstasy, preferences. In fact, a 2006 study cocaine, and barbiturates. supported the prevalence of this Prototypical rap fans came in phenomenon by determining that second behind rock fans as likely when strangers converse, music is drug users, and shared the rock fans’ the most popular topic. political perspective. Rap aficionados When we use our music choices were also seen as athletic, and as to express things about ourselves valuing self respect and social recto others, it is important that we ognition. consider how our “music messagOnce they had determined that these es” will be warped by existing music genre stereotypes. Do you fit the stereotype graphics team stereotypes existed, Rentfrow and Gosling of the “Pop Princess” because you have “Pocket wanted to figure out if these stereotypes had any Full of Sunshine” on your playlist? Do you exhibit truth to them — if fans of specific genres actuall of the traits of an “Emo Kid” just because you ally matched up to the stereotypes that followed like a few My Chemical Romance tracks? Are you them through their social lives. Participants were asked to fill out self report measures of musical really what your playlist says you are? preference and of the content aspects of the Science says…“maybe.” A recent study by Peter Rentfrow and Samuel previous study, with the exception of drug and Gosling (2007) revealed that these stereotypes alcohol preferences, which were left out due to existed and investigated how well they applied confidentiality concerns. Again, results were mixed. Of the four top to fans of different genres. Rentfrow and Gosling consolidated a list of stereotypes, only three were shown to be at all 14 music genres that covered eight per cent of valid. There appeared to be no truth to the rap music collections — blues, classical, alterna- stereotype content at all, with no significant tive, electronic, country, heavy metal, folk, pop, correlation between any stereotypical content rap, jazz, religious, soul, rock, and soundtracks. aspects — personality factors, personal qualiGroups of undergraduates were then presented ties, or personal values — and preference for with one of the genres and asked to rate proto- rap music. Combining across content aspects, typical fans of that genre on established measures the remaining three top genre stereotypes were of the “Big Five” personality factors (openness ranked, in descending validity: religious, classical, to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and rock. Even here, though, the results can be agreeableness, and emotional stability), personal somewhat confusing, as not all content aspects qualities (artistic, athletic, intelligent, physical at- were valid for all three stereotypes. For example, tractiveness, political leanings, and religiousness), in the classical fan stereotype, only the personal and personal values (whether or not they valued values component — the expectation that they “a comfortable life, a world at peace, a world of would value love, beauty, intellect, etc. — pulled beauty, ambition, an exciting life, courage, family through as true to a significant degree. There was security, forgiveness, imagination, inner harmony, no similar level of validity for the classical fan’s intellect, love, national security, salvation, self stereotypical political leanings and other personal respect, social recognition, true friendship, and qualities, or for their perceived personality traits. There were similar results for the rock fan, and to wisdom”), and alcohol and drug preferences. Results were mixed. Generally speaking, a much lesser degree, the religious music fan. Although there were some methodological although most genres produced distinct stereotypes, some stereotypes were stronger than limitations to the Rentfrow and Gosling study, others, with wider participant agreement on including participant demographics (they were all their content. The strongest stereotypes were college students), and the effect of culture (the the ones relating to religious, classical, rock, and studies took place in Texas, and may not generalize rap fans while stereotypes about pop, blues, and well to all cultures), it does shed some light on what soundtrack fans were the least agreed upon. our music tells the world about us, or in some cases, Furthermore, the different aspects of the con- what the world will think it says about us. Now that tent of these stereotypes were agreed upon to you know how strong music stereotypes are, and different degrees. Participants were generally the varying degrees of truth that they convey about more likely to associate a music genre with a you, you may think twice before letting someone person’s personal qualities and drug preferences breeze through your MP3 collection. than they were to associate them with personality factors or personal values. agaetano@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
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“Hipster.” “Pop Princess.” “Metal Head.” “Thug.” “Emo.”
Taylor Helferty staff reporter
Solid state hard drives drain power
Flash drives for computers have always been advertised as power efficient by elongating battery life. Well, guess what: they aren’t. While conventional hard drives have moving parts and flash drives do not, flash drives actually use up as much power to run constantly from the minute they turn on. Logically, you’d think a hard drive that doesn’t move would elongate battery life, but it actually shortens it. A study showed flash-based hard drives draw about 10 times more power on average. Intel drives were not tested, but they said they can build future drives to improve battery life. Apple cuts price of MacBook Air
Now that flash hard drives have been proven as power mongrels, Apple has decided to bring down the price of their flash-based MacBook Airs by $500. All you Apple fans saving every extra penny for the sleek new Air, your waiting time has been reduced. The originally $3,100 MacBook Air SSD has been reduced to $2,598. This is thanks to two things: the 1.8GHz Intel processor inside has been dropped $100, while the solid-state drive has dropped $400. It is still a pricey total to pull out of your bank account, but it’s a sign that the laptops could very well come down even more. This is especially exciting considering the usually stubborn price of Apple products. Space robots may think for themselves
Imagine a spacecraft orbiting a distant planet. It finds an interesting site on the ground below it and deploys a smaller balloon-like ship that travels to the surface of the planet. This second airship looks for interesting features and deploys smaller rovers to collect samples to be sent back to Earth. The
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ships do all this on their own. This type of sci-fi thinking isn’t that far away from reality. Researchers are now working on such machines that can think and explore distant planets by themselves. Already orbiting spacecraft help rovers on Mars get over obstacles on the surface, or help find spots for them to land and capture photos as they do. The research being done will take humans out of the process, making it possible to have robots exploring independently on more distant moons and planets. A demonstration of this research will be taking place in 2009, during the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Anyone think Pixar Animation Studios will be on the forefront of design for these, making EVEs and Wall-Es for NASA? Telepathic ray guns coming to an advertisement near you.
You know those science fiction death rays? Either the cheesy laser guns or the Hollywood pens that make your brain melt? They may be implemented in the US military. They are creating machines that send a ray of microwaves to a target’s head that will produce non-lethal noise inside the skull. It won’t be a death ray, although making a lethal frequency has been discussed, but it could help the military out in terms of confusing enemies. However, many people predict it will sooner end up in stores than in the military. There are health issues with beaming microwaves into a person’s head, but research is being done to eliminate those issues and send a quieter, subliminal noise that could send messages to the person’s subconscious. Think about advertisements ringing in your head, in-store promotions repeating in your subconscious, making you hungry for that Big Mac or causing you to do a double-take on that new computer accessory. Advertising may take a new, military approach to subliminal messaging. thelferty@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Sports & Living
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008 sports@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Getting actively involved UW Swing & Tango Club
Dinh Nguyen Assistant editor-in-chief
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ith midterms just passing and final exams coming up, it may be difficult for students to focus on school while staying healthy — both physically and mentally. At times like this it may be helpful to take a break to relieve stress. And while you’re at it, why not take the chance to get into shape as well? Below are a few of the many clubs at UW that can help you do just that.
HAPN club
Dan Lewis
From top to bottom, university students, Kayla Siefried and Jeff Melchin frisbeeing on B2 Green.
Founded in the Fall 2007, the Healthy Active Promotion Network(HAPN) is a student run club devoted to creating a healthier, more active environment on campus in the form of a healthy and active community. They promote healthy, personal and food choices as well as student involved sporting events, in which anyone can participate. Their website includes a section of random but helpful health facts. It includes quick blurbs — which are linked to longer articles — about nutrition, better food choices and healthy sleeping. Currently the HAPN organizes bi-weekly sport events on V1 Green 7 p.m. Their most recent event, soccer, began on June 15. The HAPN also organizes fun, non varsity sport tournaments. Recently, on July 5, they hosted an ultimate frisbee tournament with over 25 attendees. Memberships for HAPN are $5 (a one-time fee) and come with many benefits. Members of HAPN enjoy discounts from their sponsors in the University Plaza, as well as many opportunities for leadership roles. To find out more visit: www.hapn.info
You don’t have to wear a track suit or kick a ball to stay active; dancing can do the same. The UW Swing and Tango Club is open to all staff, faculty, students, and alumni. Since no partner, or dance experience is required to participate in the club, it is a great way to have fun, meet new people, and keep active. Currently the Swing and Tango Club hosts weekly events as well as lessons. They offer Swing Socials on Tuesday nights and Argentine Tango on Thursday nights. Both events start at 7:30 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays (social dancing onward) and 9 p.m. on Thursday in PAC Studios 1 and 2 respectively. There is a $4 drop-in fee for non members but is free of charge to members. The Swing and Tango Club also hosts weekly dances at Waterloo Park on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information about swing and tango dancing, or information about other events, and membership, visit: swingclub.uwaterloo.ca/events/
Falun Gong club Ever seen groups of people on a field or on campus lifting their leg, pushing their arms out — making what seems to be slow marital art like motions? Chances are you’ve seen Falun Gong (also know as Falun Dafa) in practice. Falun Gong is a spiritual and philosophical teaching that includes a five-set exercise system developed out of Taoism and Buddhism. It is a traditional practice which is said to help improve the health of the mind and body. Though it it is based in religious philosophies, not all people who practice Falun Gong are
religious. Many people do it simply for the health benefits. Here at UW ,many students and members of the K-W community are involved in the Falun Dong Club. The club offers many activities free of charge including group practices, meditation, and workshops, which intend to help release stress, and work up energy, and bring inner peace. Before enrolling in the club it is strongly recommended that students research about the group. The Falun Gong club welcomes all people from all walks of life, but may not be suitable for everyone. For more information, please visit www.falundafa. ca or contact uwfalungongclub@yahoo.ca.
UW e-Sports club Agreed, many (perhaps a large many) might argue that this doesn’t belong here, but the club name is unique, and thus difficult for me to pass up on the opportunity — and besides, don’t video games help build healthier minds? The UW e-Sports club is a competitive video gaming group. Its aim is to provide a “relaxing and enjoyable environment within the university to relieve academic stresses.” UW e-Sports focuses on popular competitive games such as Counterstrike, Warcraft and Starcraft. They often hold group as well as individual PC game tournaments. To find out more please visit: www.esports.uwaterloo.ca For a full listing of Feds clubs please visit: www. clubsandsocieties.feds.ca/full_clubs_listing.
Campus Bulletin CO-OP/CAREER SERVICES
Prerequisite Workshop Information – since the activities in some of the workshops build on the material presented in online modules from the Career Development eManual, you will need to complete the pre-work(as noted in the chart below) as a first step before registering for a face-toface workshop. If you have submitted any of these modules in PD1, COOP 101 or Co-op Fundamentals for Engineering, you have satisfied this requirement and may register for the workshop. To Register: Interview Skills: Preparing for Quetions – complete module Interview Skills. Interview Skills: Selling Your Skills – complete module Interview Skills. Networking 101 – complete module Work Search. Work Search Strategies – complete Work Search. Wednesday, July 16 – “Career Interest Assessment” – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., TC 1112. Note: there is a materials charge of $10 payable at Career Services prior to the first session. Once you have registered, you will be given info on how to complete the Strong Interest Inventory online prior to the workshop. “Business Etiquette and Professionalism” – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., TC 1208. Thursday, July 17 – “ Work Search Strategies” – 3:30 to 5 p.m., TC 1208. Note: prerequisite for this workshop, see above To Register. “Exploring Your Personality Type” – Part 1, 2:30 to 4 p.m., TC 1112. Part 2, Thursday, July 24 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., TC1112. Note: there is a materials charge of $10 payable at Career Services prior to the first session. Once you have registered, you will be given info on how to complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) online prior to the workshop. Wednesday, July 23 – “Successfully
VOLUNTEER
Negotiating Job Offers” – 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., TC 1208. Note: this workshop is geared toward graduating students. Thursday, July 24 – “Getting a U.S. Work Permit” – 4:30 to 6 p.m., TC 1208.
ANNOUNCEMENTS $25 for showering! UW master’s student seeking participants for a showerhead efficiency study being conducted at CIF on campus. If interested, go to www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/u/kelton and fill out the survey. Thank you! “Morning Drive Radio Show” – 6:30 to 9 a.m., www.ckmsfm.ca, click on webcast for the latest news, traffic, school closures, interviews and a great mix of music! To get your important events on the air, e-mail morningdrivel@yahoo.ca. If you have an interesting person that CKMS should interview call 519-884-2567 between 6:30 to 9 a.m....qualify for a prize! The Grand House Student Co-operative is a non-profit housing co-op comprised of architecture students from UW, community members and professionals. Workshops are being organized on environmental techniques, solar power, non-toxic materials and more. For info/registration visit the website at www.grandhouse. wacsa.org. Your garbage can be very worthwhile! UW Community Garden (behind Columbia Lake on north side, behind a row of tall hedges) needs any compost items that you might regularly throw away such as coffee grounds, egg shells, oatmeal, veg or fruit bits or garden waste such as dead leaves, etc. Meetings on Wednesdays, 5:50 p.m. and Sundays 4 p.m. For further info/questions, e-mail cwormsbe@ gmail.com.
City of Waterloo, 519-888-6488 or volunteer@city.waterloo.on.ca has many volunteer opportunities. Check out the website today. Volunteer Action Centre, 519-7428610 or www.volunteerkw.ca, has many opportunities available – visit the website or call today! The Kitchener Youth Action Council is currently seeking volunteers aged 14-24 who are concerned about issues facing youth and young adults across Kitchener. For more info e-mail youth@kitchener.ca. Summer volunteer opportunities with Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region. Summer buddies, reading club, special events assistants and drivers needed. Contact 519-576-1329, ext 3411 or volunteer.services@facswaterloo.org. Want to help organize the nation’s largest youth-led food drive, Trick or Eat? Begins in the fall term, five hours per week. You will be hired in August. E-mail resume to cheung@ ahsmail.uwaterloo.ca. Website www. mealexchange.com.
ONGOING
Wednesdays Terrified of speaking in front of a crowd? Want to perform better on job interviews? Check out Toastmasters: MC 4042 at 5:30 today. uwtoastmasters@gmail.com or www.toastmasters.org.
STUDENT AWARDS FINANCIAL AID 2nd floor, Needles Hall, ext 33583. Please refer to safa.uwaterloo.ca to view a full listing of scholarships and awards. Stop by the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office to see if your grant cheque has arrived. July 17 – last day to sign Confirmation of Enrollment for spring term or winter
dnguyen@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
CHURCH SERVICE and spring to ensure full OSAP funding. August 8 – recommended last submission date for Continuation of Interest Free Status forms for this term. Recommended last day to pick up loans for this term.
St. Bede’s chapel at Renison College offers worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Come and walk the labyrinth the second Thursday of each month, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more info contact Megan at 519-884-4404, ext 28604 or www.renison.uwaterloo.ca/ministry-centre.
Classified HELP WANTED
Weekend counsellors and relief staff to work in homes for individuals with developmental challenges. Minimum eight-month commitment. Paid positions. Send resume to Don Mader, KW Habilitation Services, 108 Sydney Street, Kitchener, ON, N2G 3V2. Office Manager required – contact bestfabrics@live.com for more information. Distribution workers needed for fall term at Imprint Publications to deliver the newspaper every Friday beginning August 29. Hours range from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please email ads@imprint. uwaterloo.ca or call Laurie at 519-8884048 for more info.
HOUSING
Attention Cambridge School of Architecture students! Live conveniently and comfortably right across the street from school in this beautifully renovated apartment. 4, 8 and 12-month leases
available with excellent signing bonuses and rental incentives! Call Darlene or Joanne at 519-746-1411 for more details. Room for rent for a quiet individual in a detached house near both universities. Parking and all amenities. Please call 519-725-5348. Spacious, well maintained house available to rent at 11 McDougall Road. Only five minute walk to UW campus. Utilities and internet included in rent of $395/month. Contact 519-893-2000 or rooms4students@gmail.com. 193 Albert Street, Waterloo – shared accommodations, $490/month, June to August 2008. Call Haney PM 519-7461411 for more info. Montreal work term? Roommates needed for condo in Montreal September 1. Fully furnished, TV/DVD, five minute walk to Snowdon subway, groceries, shopping. $425/month, heat, hydro, internet included. Four, eight or twelve month lease. Call 514-270-1057 or terry_higgins@sympatico.ca.
JULY 25 is the last paper of the spring term. Have all Campus Bulletin announcements and Classifieds to Imprint by noon Tuesday, July 22. Happy Summer!!
Comics & Distractions
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
Crossword
23
Maggie Clark Across
Where on campus would make the best “Bat cave”?
1. To cut, as with grass 4. Good place to keep falafel 8. To utter breathlessly 12. To beat with a rod 13. Object of worship 14. A pitcher with flaring spout
by Samantha Eisleb-Taylor
15. Hot peppers 16. To use the mind; to think 18. The Father, the Son, and the... 20. Sends forth 21. Sphere 22. Strike 23. To introduce by gradual efforts 24. A compound, with the right motivation, does this 26. At a previous time (“____while”: archaic) 28. East-Northeast 29. Two strokes under par 30. You might hold onto this while going down steep stairs
61. Stuff you need for camping, hiking, etc.
or dirt
62. Affirmative
26. Third planet from the sun
“The Imprint office.”
27. To anger or incite
31. Daring or trend-setting
Ziying Su
32. Without scent
Down
30. Destroy
35. A female prostitute
1. A postal worker’s satchel
31. To catch sight of
38. Ceremonial act
2. Just
33. As opposed to written
39. Style of abstractionism popular in the 1960s (“optical”)
3. Adjusted to reflect value or proportion, as in a mean or average
34. To put money aside for later use (slang)
43. Not DNA
4. To trim with small embroidered loops
35. Seared, then simmered
44. Hyperbolic tangent
5. The 15th day of March, May, July, or October
36. The inability to smell
45. Death’s signature prop 46. Pertaining to the largest artery in the human body
6. A civil wrong for which damages may be sought
3B Biochem
8. Bugs of the diseased variety
42. Buddies up with
49. Green, black, orange pekoe, etc
9. Long expected
44. Domesticate
50. Second-largest religion in the world
10. Physical scene
45. Sol
51. Sports room
11. The king of rock ‘n’ roll
47. Grabs
54. Firework producing smoke
12. Greek circle dance; also, involuntary movement disorder
48. Fossilized resin
15. Task
52. 1978 song by the Village People
17. Angled in a particular way
53. Herb for stuffing
19. Not hers
55. Wetland that accumulates excesses of peat
57. Irish name for Ireland 58. “Fool me ___, shame on you...” 59. Bronze, Copper, Iron, and Neolithic 60. Some families have two
Sudoku
23. A small island
“The depth of my soul.”
51. Long ____; past return
Jesse van Amerom 4A Philosophy
“Right in the centre of campus. Easy to mission to and glorious when you get there.” Natalie Hopkins, Stephanie Feeney 3A Civil Engineering
25. A lump of something, especially clay
Maggie Clark
June 27 solutions
editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca N A B O B
A M O U R
A P S E S
C R I S P
T A A L P E
3 5 1 9 6 2 8 4 7
Oh, baby. I was stalking the night for some naughty villains, and I saw you: black skirt, white blouse with an open midriff (and then some), and that long flow of platinum blonde. Girl, that body of yours is something else
2B Computer Science
40. The horns of a stag 41. Crusts in your eyes after sleep
56. Heats
Serge Bezborodko
37. Oda Nobunaga, for one
7. Ginger is one flavour of this
48. Northern seabird, web-footed, blackand-white
“The Bomber.”
too.Those glasses of yours scream “the hottest yet smartest woman in the world.” I’d chase your silhouette all the way to Ancient Japan. Samurais, ninjas, monks: they’d die from your smokin’ bod with smiles from
M S U A D N T B A A U N S E S T O F E R E S A Y I R A S H B O O A M O R E S
8 2 6 4 1 7 3 5 9
7 4 9 3 8 5 2 6 1
A V E R
B E R G
L A M A
W E R A L A S S I E L S S E A A D O A G P L T E
2 6 5 8 9 3 1 7 4
1 3 4 7 5 6 9 8 2
E A L L S L I N E E U G S E D O N A G I N E P A C W B O A I N I E D T R A
9 7 8 2 4 1 5 3 6
5 1 7 6 3 9 4 2 8
D U O D E N A L
O R E R E R T T E N O R I A
I R I S H
C A L M S
L A N O X I N C I H O E N
E G A D S
4 9 2 5 7 8 6 1 3
Heather McLaughlin 4A Economics
“The huge groundhog hole near Village One.” Rachel Small
2B Environmental Studies
6 8 3 1 2 4 7 9 5
ear to ear. Why don’t you call me sometime? I’ve got a buddy that can lend you my signal, and maybe later... I can show you my big flashlight. - B.W.
“The secret sand room in Tech Worx.”
“Definitely RCH. It’s already a dungeon.” Alex Hogeveen Rutter 1B Electrical Engineering
“The psychology building because you’d never get out.” Nabil Jalil and Abid B.
2B Actuarial Science Taha Naqvi 3B Accounting & Finances Management
24
Comics & Distractions
POSTSCRIPT
IMPRESSION, BY JIM & LAN
Imprint, Friday, July 11, 2008
BY GRAHAM MOOGK-SOULIS
BY PETER N. TRINH
GUEST COMICS BY SONIA LEE
BY KURTIS ELTON