Imprint_2008-11-28_v31_i20 by Editor Imprint

Impr int The university of Waterloo’s official student newspaper

Friday, November 28, 2008

vol 31,

imprint . uwaterloo . ca

UW hosts Sumo Robotics Competition page 25

DRIVEN OUT

Proposed Ontario legislation targets, restricts young drivers in hope of curbing fatalities — but will Facebook save the day? David Texeria reporter

Maggie Clark editor-in-chief

outh all across Ontario are in an uproar about the proposed provincial legislation to amend the graduated licensing system in Ontario — and Facebook might just be their salvation. Bill 126, tabled Tuesday, November 18 by transportation minister Jim Bradley, has three main amendments that will affect young drivers: first is a change in the restrictions on the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver; next is passenger restrictions for young G2 drivers; and the final mandates harsher speeding sanctions for novice drivers. Conservative Party leader John Tory told the Ottawa Citizen that present backlash to Bill 126, the Road Safety Act, arises from not enough public consultation, stating that “If they had gone and asked even a small sample of people, they would have had some of the issues to chew on, and they might have taken a bit longer to do the bill a bit more thoughtfully.” Thousands of youth members have expressed similar concerns through protest groups on Facebook, feeling especially that the new proposed system is extremely ageist towards them. As of press time, 122,892 Facebook users had joined the group “Young Drivers Against New Ontario Laws.” As this legislation targets the university age group, Bill 126 will greatly affect many UW students, who should be abridged of how these changes will affect them, and the arguments for their necessity.

The first proposed change would require zero tolerance BAC for drivers aged 21 and under. Right now the legal limit with a full G license is .08 per cent and age does not apply. The reasoning for this is because the peak ages for drinking and driving collisions are 19 to 21. This new proposition is not uncommon, having already been implemented in jurisdictions of New Brunswick and all 50 U.S. states. Similar legislation in these regions is often cited as one of the single most important reasons for a drop in young driver collisions in the U.S.. Furthermore, drinking and driving deaths count for approximately one quarter of all road deaths in Ontario. Just this weekend in Oakville this reporter (Texeria) came across a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) program. Because Texeria had four other teenagers in his vehicle, and was one himself, he was stopped under suspicion of impaired driving. (He then complied with a breathalyser test and passed.) The new legislation would make even this scenario impossible, as proposed restrictions extend to stating that G2 drivers and passengers aged 19 or younger would be restricted to carrying no more than one teenaged passenger who is not a sibling during the first year of having a G2 licence. This restriction has perhaps stirred the most protest among youth and youth advocates. Special Constable Dunsford of UW Police Services, for instance, believes that “the graduated licence system introduced in the ‘90s was a great idea because automobile collisions went down approximately 39 per cent and it applied to people of all ages.” Of the new legislation, however, he stated that he felt it “infringes on young drivers and is leading back to the old system.” The current

graduated licence system for G2 drivers is not as harsh, instead restricting passengers for the first six months between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 p.m.. The proposed changes are greatly controversial, as they will make it harder for students to carpool to school or to sports, social, and work events. These changes could possibly also diminish the use of a designated driver, which is another very important factor in making sure there is a safe way home for intoxicated persons. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government told the Canadian Press that this legislation is being instituted because motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teens, and distractions [presumably other teens] should be avoided. They believe that with more people in the car teens are more likely to give into peer pressure to break the law. In fact, statistics show that teen drivers carrying 2 passengers are 17 times more likely to be involved in a collision than drivers aged 30-59, and carrying 3 or more passengers they are 33.6 times more likely. A proposed three-strike system for speeding offences also has concerned citizens confused about the details: Drivers need to be convicted of speeding over 20 kilometers per hour, resulting in demerit points or a court-ordered suspension, to receive their first instance of a 30-day suspension. The second suspension is 90 days, and with the third instance drivers must return to the start of the graduated licensing program. This three-strike rule only affects novice drivers, and is in place to teach these new drivers to abide by the speed limit. If this proposed legislation reduces fatalities by another 30 per cent then it will be here to stay. Charles Sousa, the Liberal MPP of Mississauga South, believes that the new legislation would

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indeed affect the youth positively; he has two teenagers who drive frequently. However, he appreciates the guiding force behind these changes is the desire for better and safer drivers, regardless of age, on the roads. On the other side, Elizabeth Witmer, MPP of the Progressive Conservative Party for the Kitchener-Waterloo region believes this proposed legislation is “ageist to all young drivers and will affect them greatly. It must go to public hearing.” She says this affects students, and to her, it does not make any sense that an adolescent can sign up for the military, go to war, and drive other military personnel in a different country but cannot carpool here. Witmer is for the zero tolerance BAC but not for the passenger restrictions, while John Tory and the whole Conservative Party are against the current proposed bill. For students despairing of not being heard, however, there is a glimmer of hope; the Ottawa Citizen reported that McGuinty responded positively to news of the Facebook groups, stating that “I think we need to find a way to get onto Facebook ... I think we need to find a way to engage them in a dialogue in a social network where they are.” According to the London Free Press, McGuinty went on Facebook himself on Tuesday, November 25 to read some of items posted by students opposed to his government’s legislation. Ontario government employees are not allowed to access Facebook on their work computers, but the London Free Press also reported that McGuinty was willing to lighten restrictions on this bill if it can help the government “reach out to young people.” Other road safety legislation being tabled in Ontario includes a ban on the use of hand-held devices, including cell phones, while driving in Ontario.

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Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 news@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Political quagmires 101: UW club, Students for Palestinian Rights, hosts Middle East awareness event in SLC

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Palestinian scarf displayed at the UW awareness campaign, “Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine,” an event hosted by the Students for Palestinian Rights Club. The event contained much information on the human rights situation in Palestine, pro-Palestine paraphernalia, as well as screenings of movies regarding the Israel-Palestine situation. E Aboyeji staff reporter

midst huge political controversies surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East, the human rights of civilians embroiled in the conflict often get little or no mention. On Monday, November 24, the Students for Palestinian Rights (SFPR) sought to give a voice to some of these concerns during their UW awareness campaign event, titled the “Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine,” held in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre. According to the spokesperson of the organising group, Jennifer Tabar, the group hopes to educate students and staff about the “huge discrimination and sickening indignities,” they say the Palestinian people are subjected on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as a result of the conflict embroiling the region. The event featured two documentaries; Promises and Betrayals, and Dispatches: the Killing Zone; both of which argue through historical analysis for how the Palestinian people have suffered numerous human rights violations as a result of the conflict since the period of “the Nakbah Catastrophe.” The event also featured poster stands where one

could find quality material on the nature of the conflict and the proposed solutions to the bitter, decades-old conflict. It also displayed collage posters which cited several incidences of blatant discrimination against Palestinians who live in the conflict ridden zone. Particularly onerous among these was evidence from Israeli law which forbids Jews and Palestinians from inter-marrying, as well as data claiming that Palestinian schools were deeply underfunded when compared to their

Jimmy Carter, John Quigley, Nur Masalha, and Ilan Pappe. The group maintains that present conditions in the region provide for blatant discrimination against Palestinians, as the Palestinian government is not well-funded by the international community and this makes it difficult for a credible Palestinian economy to grow. They also decry the construction of the Separation Wall between Israel and Palestine which cuts off Palestinian people from

According to group members, SFPR “totally abhors the use of violence” in achieving these objectives and notes that violence by extremist Palestinian militias have been a setback to their cause. Isreali counterparts. The posters also displayed various United Nations resolutions and conventions condemning the violations of the human rights of Palestinians within the region, especially regarding the Separation Wall between Israel and Palestine. The group sold pro-Palestinian shirts, scarves, and books authored by the most knowledgeable minds on the subject, including

their sources of livelihood, including jobs, food, and water and has also facilitated the mass displacement of many Palestinian and Israeli people in the effort to create space for the wall. In response to the growing unpopularity that follows the Palestinian rights cause, Tabar claims that the media has often been quick to dismiss or denounce them without listening to what

they have to say. According to UW student and member of the SFPR, Mayar El Khatib, while news organisations are quick to report Jewish civilian casualties in these conflicts, they neglect to report the majority of Palestinian casualties. However, the group “totally abhors the use of violence,” in achieving these objectives and notes that violence by extremist Palestinian militias have been a setback to their cause. According to spokesperson Jennifer Tabar, the organisation is “neither Anti-Semitic nor Anti-Israel, but pro-Palestine.” According to the organisation, the international community — the state of Israel in particular — needs to recognize the suffering of the Palestinian people and address i t by discontinuing attacks on civilians, repealing laws that promote discrimination against Palestinians, and allocating more foreign humanitarian aid and funding to the state of Palestine to stimulate economic growth and improve living conditions among the civilians. For more information on SFPR visit their website at http://www.sfpr.ca/. seaboyeji@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

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Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

’s Satellite campuses

Gender neutral Tifa Han

Ashley Csanady staff reporter

he Arts Student Union (ASU) implemented a policy onWednesday, November 26 that requires all departmental societies under their banner strive to implement gender-neutral terminology in policies, bylaws, and constitutions. The decision is a follow-up to a policy implemented earlier this term that saw all of the ASU’s policies, constitution, and bylaws revised under the same standards. The process began at the start of Fall 2008, when the issue of changing the standard pronoun “he” to “he/she” was raised at the first council meeting of the term. At that time, the discussion was too varied to reach a consensus, so the executive continued the discussion in their meeting throughout the year. By the start of this term, the executive once again brought the issue to the council, this time with the expressed desire that all terminology be entirely gender neutral, as opposed to following just the “he/she” standard typically deployed. Gender-neutral terminology is a step beyond the he/she standard applied by most student organizations, including the Federation of Students, and requires that organizations avoid all gendered terminology, including singular normative pronouns (i.e. he and she). ASU President Allan Babor explained the reasoning behind the change: ‘He/She’, it’s exclusive, it’s one step up from ‘he’ but that doesn’t mean it’s far enough. From my understanding from undergoing ally training and just societal common sense, there’s a

potential for alienation for people who don’t identify with either group.” “Gender neutral language is more inclusive when you’re dealing with diverse groups of people,” echoed Ashley Kelly, media relations representative for the Women’s Centre. “If you say he/she, and someone doesn’t identify as either, then you’re excluding that person.” The initial vote to revise the ASU constitution and bylaws in September was passed unanimously. From there, ASU executive, led by Catherine Johns Ruta, revisited their own policies, and reworked them to be gender neutral. They wanted to lead by example, so they waited until after the executive process was complete before proposing the same changes be implemented union-wide. Once the process of revising the ASU policies was complete, the proposed policy had to be passed in two separate votes. The first was by a regular majority and passed unanimously at the November 12 council meeting. The second vote required a two thirds majority, and it also passed unanimously. “We will be working closely with our societies over the next few months to help them with this process,” said Babor. He also said that the ASU is in the process of drafting an open letter “with room for support” addressed to the Federation of Students encouraging them to do the same. “We’ve done what’s in our capacity as ASU, and now we’re encouraging the Feds to take the next step and to lead by example and make sure they help influence their constituents (societies, clubs, and services) to take the right steps, because you can’t obligate

someone,” said Babor. “And then the next step would be the University,” he later added. “If you involve the right people in that process, then we are not only setting an example as students but as a university.” Although some grammarians will cringe at the decision, Babor explained that all efforts were made to maintaining grammatical integrity; however, for instances where gendered pronouns were inevitable, a caveat was made at the start of all ASU documents that explained the pronoun “they” could potentially be used as a singular and not just a plural pronoun. This may run contrary to conventional grammar, but with our current vocabulary it seemed to be the only option. Kelly explained some online communities have started using “ze” as a gender-neutral singular pronoun. When asked about this as a future possibility, Babor replied: “We are open to evolving it as appropriate.” “A lot of people will criticize these kinds of things as ‘it’s only language,’” explained Kelly. But as a Master’s of Rhetoric and Communication Design student, she added that “language is a very persuasive and effective tool for shaping people’s thoughts and how they feel.” The Federation of Students was not available for comment by Imprint’s press time. As for what’s next, for Babor that’s up to students: “It’s in your hands, these decisions are things that we as individuals can influence. It’s up to students now, today, to take the positive steps forward.” acsanady@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Part 1 of 2: UW has several satellite schools outside of Waterloo limits Danielle Whittemore intern

solation, funding, and student services are three milestones to overcome in any satellite campus. The Cambridge School of Architecture was the guinea pig of UW’s satellite campus experiment. Now UW is prepared to forge ahead on another four satellite campuses: a School of Pharmacy in Kitchener, the new Balsillie School of International Affairs right here in Waterloo, and the Stratford Institute, which will specialize in digital media. That is not to mention the ever-controversial campus that is set to move forward in the UAE. The University of Waterloo is expanding rapidly all across the world. With all of these prospects looming on the horizon, the question of how well Cambridge is doing must be asked — it stands to reason though, that without a relative measure of suceess UW would not be going ahead with their other projects. Cambridge School of Architecture There has been some confusion over the level of Cambridge’s success, however. At a Board of Governor’s meeting two weeks ago, Amit Chakma, Vice President, Academic and Provost, stated that: “students and faculty are isolated from the main campus and operating costs have been much higher than what was anticipated.” In addition, Craig Sloss, GSA president and graduate student senator on the UW Senate, said that “the overarching concern is that students on the Cambridge campus pay the same fees as the students on main campus, and though efforts are made to offer comparable levels of service in Cambridge, students do not always feel they have

access to services at the same level as main campus students.” Rick Haldenby, however said these statements make the situation sound worse than it actually is. “We had predicted what operational costs would be…[we are] still in the range of what we thought it would cost,” he said. In response to comments on isolation from the main campus, Haldenby said that there has always been independence in the architecture program, even when it was held in Waterloo. The distance plays a big role. “Public transit has improved radically. It takes half as long to get [from Waterloo to Cambridge],” Haldenby said. But the miles in between are still there, and there is nothing that can be done about that. Despite this, Cambridge has many facilities of its own to offer students. The students have full access to the facilities in Cambridge, including a workout room and other athletic services, and the Park Hills arena is used for sports games. Haldenby also said that student services are not a big issue, as students have taken to organizing them themselves. Activities include intramural sports teams and a play, among others. Back in 2004 when the school opened, students petitioned for four main services that they wanted to see offered at the school: a workout room, medical services, counselling services and transportation. “The university gave them everything they asked for,” Haldenby said. Of course, student demands may have changed since then; this proposal is set to be reviewed at the five year mark-in 2009 — and “if students come up with other prorities, that can be discussed,” Haldenby said. see satellite campus, page 5

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Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

’s Satellite Campuses Continued from page 5

Andrew Falcao, VP internal of Feds, said that one of the biggest problems with the Cambridge campus was “culture shock.” “Where Kitchener and Stratford are offering brand new programs at their satellite campuses, architecture existed while it was still at UW. So to just up and move all of the students in this program would of course create some ripples.” However, Falcao said that “despite the struggles, we’ve been doing quite well.” One way that Cambridge tries to strengthen ties with Waterloo is through “archeneering” and “engitechture.” This is a program that allows students in Cambridge to switch places with engineering students in Waterloo, enabling them to attend events on the other campus. This initiative is a great way to keep campuses involved and diminish the isolation of the Cambridge school. All in all, the Cambridge campus is proceeding as planned. The only thing that surprised Haldenby was the school’s success, which he said “is way beyond what anyone anticipated.” Kitchener School of Pharmacy Isolation is not a problem where the School of Pharmacy is concerned. This is because all the students enrolled in the program are still on campus at UW. Construction on the campus in downtown Kitchener has been delayed due to a workers’ strike. It was supposed to be open to students this year, but now the opening has been delayed until September 2009. Laura Manning, who deals with external relations for the School of Pharmacy, said that Building A will be done by this Christmas, allowing some current students to start taking classes on the Kitchener campus in the new year. She also reassured that “Building B, which will house the UW Integrated Primary Care Clinic, the McMaster medical program, a satellite of Optometry’s teaching clinic, and the Centre for

Contact Lens Research, is progressing on schedule. It is due for completion in September 2009.” So even though the campus is back on track, there are still students in the program on main campus without all of the benefits that the Kitchener campus offers. However, Manning said that students are being provided with all of the classes and labs they need here on campus. “Nothing in the program was reduced or changed due to the utilization of this space,” she said. One of the best parts of the new pharmacy campus is the inclusion of a co-op program. According to Manning, the Vanguard pharmacy students are on their first co-op term right now, and everything is running smoothly. The Kitchener School of Pharmacy, when finished, will have stellar impacts on the community. It is already attracting other businesses to Kitchener’s downtown core. After completion, the university will hold public lectures, and students will be involved in community outreach. A School of Pharmacy also has the potential of bringing more family doctors into town — something the Waterloo Region definitely needs right now. Funding is being provided by UW and the city of Kitchener, and has not run into problems yet. In fact, if everything goes as planned, the economic benefits should far outweigh the costs. As far as isolation is concerned, Falcao said that Kitchener will be easier to keep connected because it is closer and smaller than Cambridge. Kitchener students will also have the benefit of the student bus pass; GRT may be the ultimate solution. dwhittemore@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Look for to Part 2 on UW’s satellite campuses in the January 9, 2009 edition of Imprint. Featuring: Balsillie School, Stratford, Beijing, and UW exchanges

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UW CUPE strike still possible Veronika Zaretski reporter

he possibility of an impending strike for plant operations and food services workers, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) may mean that students will not be benefiting from what we have come to take for granted. That includes clean washrooms, lecture halls, and cooked meals for students living in residence. The possibility of a strike arises as union workers and UW administration are unable to come to an agreement over issues of benefit, wage increase, and job security, according to Jill Smith, national representative of CUPE 793 local. If the strike goes through, when students come back from their winter vacation they may end up finding that life on campus will drastically change. In a recent interview, Smith states that CUPE “came to a tentative settlement.” CUPE will be meeting with members of University of Waterloo administration and food services representatives this Friday at 2 p.m. Smith has confirmed that her office will be recommending acceptance of an impending strike. Martin Van Nierop, director of communications and public affairs at the University of Waterloo has also stated that the “union will vote as soon as possible on a tentative agreement.” The decision which may impact student life will be made this Friday, after plant

operations and food services workers will cast their vote to strike or not. Several key issues were at the heart of the tensions between plant operations and food services employees and UW administration. According to members of the union, CUPE workers did not benefit from the last general pay raise exercise at the university. General faculty staff (CUPE members) received a 3.9 per cent wage increase, compared to the faculty staff increases of 4.5 per cent wage raise. There have also been complaints about pay disparity issues between workers in the food services department who have been doing the same job for different wages. Another concern of union members is what they call the “layoff language,” which is used in the newly proposed collective agreement. This includes provisions that allow authorities to lay off workers when services are shut down, during holiday periods. Workers contend that it is especially unfair to lay off workers who have worked at the university for nearly 20 years, particularly at the time of the holidays, and given recent economic conditions. When Imprint last talked to media spokesperson Michael Strickland, he explained that strike situations are best dealt with case-by-case. In this case, even within group of union workers there is some disagreement. Full-time workers, for example, are unhappy that the hours of part-time workers will increase (from 22 to 25 hours per

week), taking away hours from full-time workers. As it stands, only some of the union workers are allowed to work the 40 hour week of full-time employees. Those who work less than the 40 hour week requirement may be considered part-time, which means they may be ineligible for a benefit package. With the mediation of the Ministry of Labour, contacted by the union, both sides hope to come to a compromise. Meanwhile, union members are encouraged to operate on work-to-rule guidelines, which essentially advise not doing more than is absolutely required — as with the adoption of extra work hours or tasks above and beyond primary job descriptions. Work-to-rule is not an officially-imposed bargaining strategy yet, though it could escalate prior to a strike. After this Friday, students will have a good idea if they need to start preparing their own meals to bring to campus, with the start of the New Year.

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Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Thai political turmoil, cholera outbreak, and Iran’s female drivers Danielle Whittemore intern

Political turmoil causes shutdown of Thailand’s largest airport BANGKOK, Thailand The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has recently shut down Thailand’s major airport in an attempt to get Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down from his position. Dissent began when Wongsawat’s army chief asked him to hold elections to end the political turmoil currently facing Thailand. Wongsawat declined, declaring that his government is “a democracy under constitutional monarchy,” according to CBC. Wongsawat has heard the rumours that he has been asked to step down, but maintains that he will keep working for “the good for his country,” reported CBC. Thailand’s most recent Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was expelled in a military coup in 2006, but the problem was not solved because the new government is comprised of many of Shinawatra’s allies. PAD suspects that Wongsawat is merely one of Shinawatra’s puppets, but there has been no coup as of yet. PAD’s lockdown of the Bangkok International airport was initially planned to prevent Wongsawat from returning from an overseas summit. However, Wongsawat’s plane simply landed at an airport further north. PAD is not surrendering quite so easily. Due to their lockdown, all outgoing flights

from the airport have been cancelled, and PAD has resolved to stay there until the current government steps down. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Department’s website has warned Canadians to “exercise caution, avoid any areas affected by demonstrations, follow advice of local authorities, and monitor local media.” — With files from BBC, CBC, and Reuters Crumbling Zimbabwean health infrastructure leads to major chloera outbreak HARARE, Zimbabwe A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed 360 people since August, and the numbers are expected to rise as the rainy season begins. Cholera is a water-born disease that stems from polluted and otherwise unclean water. Zimbabweans are often short on food, health care, clean water, and sanitation, allowing many places for the disease to fester. Zimbabwe’s health system has recently crumbled, along with their economy, leaving them unable to fight the disease on their own. Many are travelling across the border to South Africa, where they are dedicated to helping their neighbours fight cholera. “Under no conditions would we want to stop entry of any person who is ill crossing from Zimbabwe to South Africa,” Health Minister Barbara Hogan told BBC. “These people need our help.” Indeed, Zimbabwe cannot handle this crisis on their own. The World Health Organiza-

The recent cholera outbreak is perhaps the worst crisis Zimbabwe has ever faced. tion said the lack of medical supplies, health professionals, and a limited supply of drugs, would make stamping out an outbreak virtually impossible, according to Reuters. And as December approaches, the numbers of people this disease will infect will likely rise. The South African government is planning a relief mission this Tuesday, in which they will bring water purification tablets, tanks of clean water, as well as blankets and tents into Zimbabwe. The recent cholera outbreak is perhaps the worst crisis Zimbabwe has ever faced. In addition to the disease, there is also a humanitarian situation that must be dealt with. — With files from BBC and Reuters Female taxi drivers now available for hire in Iran’s capital city TEHRAN, Iran A taxi company by women, for women, is providing choice and independence in Tehran. The company was started to allow women — mostly widows or divorcees to obtain employment and earn a living. Women are now able to drive taxis around the city in order to make money. One of the benefits of this privatized

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company, which started in 2006 and now has over 700 cabs in service, is that women are better drivers than men. They are more careful, and statistically better at navigating the congested streets of Tehran, according to BBC. “I feel safer in a woman’s taxi, from all points of view,” Roqaya Khalili, a customer of the women’s taxi service, told BBC. The women who work driving taxis are also trained in basic car maintenance, like how to change a tire. Another great thing about this company is that it only caters to women. This means that women who are uncomfortable riding in a car with men now have other options. The taxis used by this women’s company are all painted bright green and easily spotted on the streets. Despite the fact that this company centres entirely around women, it was, in fact, created by a man. Mohsen Uruji started the company in 2006 because he thought Tehran’s transport system was “missing a role for women,” he told BBC. He plans to spread his company even further, adding more cars and expanding into surrounding cities. — With files from BBC and CNN dwhittemore@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

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Opinion

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 opinion@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Realms of criticism Friday, November 28, 2008 Vol. 31, No. 20 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 Ad Assistant, vacant Sales Assisstant, Lawrence Wang Systems Admin. vacant Distribution, Rob Blom, Ash Mukadda Interns, Matthew Lee, Brandon Rampelt, Holly Sage, Danielle Whittemore Board of Directors board@imprint.uwaterloo.ca President, Sherif Soliman president@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Vice-president, Vacant ssoliman@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Treasurer, Lu Jiang treasurer@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Secretary, Vanessa Pinelli secretary@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Staff liaison, Peter Trinh liaison@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editorial Staff Assistant Editor, Dinh Nguyen Head Reporter, Vacant Lead Proofreader, Paul Collier Cover Editor, Kevin Shahbazi News Editor, Yang Liu News Assistant, Nokyoung Xayasane Opinion Editor, Travis Myers Opinion Assistant, Keith McManamen Features Editor, Duncan Ramsay Features Assistant, Caitlin McIntyre Arts & Entertainment Editor, Mark Kimmich Arts & Entertainment Assistant, Marco Baldasaro Science & Tech Editor, Anya Lomako Science & Tech Assistant, Eric Gassner Sports & Living Editor, Adrienne Raw Assistant Sports & Living, Tina Ironstone Photo Editor, Mackenzie Keast Photo Editor Assistant, Ethan Oblak Graphics Editor, Tifa Han Graphics Assistant, Jacqueline To Web Administrator, Sonia Lee Systems Administrator, vacant

Why forgiveness is for people, not institutions

“H

uman frailty forms a system, and faults in the past have their endlessly spreading network of results. We are not good people ... All we can do is constantly notice when we begin to act badly, to check ourselves, to go back, to coax our weakness and inspire our strength, to call upon the names of virtues of which we know perhaps only the names. We are not good people, and the best we can hope for is to be gentle, to forgive each other and to forgive the past, to be forgiven ourselves and to accept this forgiveness, and to return again to the beautiful unexpected strangeness of the world.” I was never one to start essays with quotations, but this week I think the humility of first deferring to another’s wisdom plays well into what I want to say about reconciling work ethics with the ethics of life. The above is an excerpt from The Nice and the Good, a novel by late British writer and philosopher, Iris Murdoch. I turned to the chapter this excerpt is pulled from while deliberating upon a personal dilemma; I emerged with the realization that while there are some overarching absolutes in any ethical code, they necessarily manifest differently in work and personal environments. Journalism, for instance (and you should know by now that journalism is always my “for instance”), is a field that strives for openness, transparency, and accountability above all else — with the public acknowledgment and correction of mistakes requisite to the integrity of media organizations. It is not acceptable to sit on information like conflicts of interest or legitimate alternate opinions; and failure to disclose missteps amounts to a breach of the organization’s social contract with the society it serves. For journalists, the only road to strong work ethics runs through full disclosure. Not so in the personal sphere. This is an on-going lesson for me, too: ever the unhappy outsider growing up, I recall that the first of many attempts to apologize publicly for all the defects I perceived

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do this because of what those positions mean: it’s their symbolism that has engendered public ethics often strikingly removed from how we conduct ourselves on a personal level. And after all, a company cannot break down and cry; a principle will never find itself on the roof of an office building, ready to jump because of the unending criticism it’s faced. As targets go, institutions are pretty tough to hurt. And though real, flesh-and-blood people do factor into this realm of criticism, they emerge in those vulnerable positions mostly by choice, since they elected to pursue work that would make them accountable to the general public in the first place. As overwhelming as criticism can sometimes be, in such workplaces it’s part of the unwritten contract we sign into, so complaints from us about public criticism aren’t much different than, say, a firefighter complaining that he has to enter a burning building. Choice becomes a little more convoluted on a personal level, though, as to the best of my knowledge, not a single one of my fellow humans specifically asked to be here on this earth, living out our lives as best we are able (though the great majority of us are, I’d wager, rather happy they are anyway). And therein lies the reason for more compassion and forgiveness here: We’re all just learning as we go. It’s been a long term. We look homeward, whatever that term means to each of us, perhaps a little run down from all our recent failings, though hopefully also bolstered by our successes. Exacting personal standards is a common feature for students at UW, but if I could suggest one thing this exam and holiday season, it’s that you all take the time to reflect on which of those standards are better suited to institutions than to real flesh and blood. We are not always the best we can be — but we strive for it. Oh, how we strive for it. And that should always matter more. editor@imrpint.uwaterloo.ca

Those damn dirty hippies

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in my character and behaviour began at the age of nine. And who knows? Maybe those pushes for personal accountability contributed to my later pursuit of journalism. But this overzealous self-criticism was also, obviously, unhealthy and self-destructive. And it’s not the only instance in which too much accountability can be a bad thing; common wisdom also holds that many of the offences we commit against loved ones should not be confessed, because while confession alleviates personal guilt it often has more potential to harm the affected friends, family, and partners further (by breaking bonds of trust and seeding more self-doubt and insecurity) than to promote goodness in the world. Instead, in such cases the aim is to apply the lessons learned from personal failure to future behaviours — to strive to treat others better, to be humble, and especially to extend the lessons learned from your own “human frailties” into compassion and acceptance for similar failings in others. And yet the very fact that we often need to learn compassion and forgiveness (for ourselves as much as for others) highlights just how regularly we fall to thinking in terms of the higher standards better applied to public, workplace ethics than individual human lives. And that’s a problem, because when we hold our personal lives to the same stringent standards we apply to public institutions, we make the implicit argument that what people have already done is more important than what they might eventually do. For some this argument isn’t so implicit, either: The death penalty, for one, wouldn’t be so prevalent throughout the world if many people didn’t feel that the worth of a human life could be so bindingly measured by prior action, and not by future potential. I’m not one of those advocates, so here’s where my argument becomes fairly emphatic: We hold the media, the government, other public institutions, and the people who occupy roles therein to exacting standards, yes — but we

o, I was watching Princess Mononoke the other night for class (yes, I am in your RS 270R class, good for you) and although I love that movie, I was being far too ADD to just sit there. You know how it is: how during your exam crunch period how you feel like you should be just getting everything done and nothing feels productive enough? That was me, so I was drawing little sketches and trying to make myself concentrate, in vain. This wasn’t working and I was thinking about this weekend where my boyfriend and I watched WALL-E for the fifth time together (it’s kinda our movie, we’re dorks). I started seeing a link between Mononoke and WALL-E. They’re both really about guys who fall in love with this ass-kicking girl and in the quest to be with them, end up saving humans and the natural world in a way that would make David Suzuki extremely proud. Now, let’s look at the moral of this thing. If you save the environment, you get the girl. I kinda like this. I mean, this is why I fell in love with WALL-E, it’s a dystopian environmentalist romance film for children. That’s freaking awesome. Princess Mononoke, if you strip away all the Shintoism which the vast majority of you probably have no understanding off, is essentially a love story. The prince sees this wild woman and instead of wanting to tame her, loves her for who she is. Really, both movies have this beautiful concept of love. You should love someone for all that they are and do anything in your power to take care of them. Wall-E crosses the universe to try to protect Eve and the Prince gets beaten up pretty badly in his quest to spend his life with San. What I find interesting is this pairing of environmentalism and romance, because this isn’t really that new an idea. There have been spiritualities for thousands of years that have worshipped the land and vowed to protect it. Even the big World Religions have advocated for a greener planet. Recently

in Chapters I saw a copy of “The Green Bible” in which all the passages that say to protect the Earth are highlighted in green. Buddhism’s concept of inter-being preaches this in a way that would make Al Gore drool. In fact, it’s really hard to think of a faith that says “Go take whatever you want from the Earth, and Global Warming is cool.” There is a lot of scriptural love for our planet, and even in our pop culture, it is present as well. In Gone With The Wind, Scarlett’s father tells her that land is the most important thing, and really if you stopped the movie after the first tape, it is a bit of an environmentalist movie. The woman goes through the war to return to her land and does everything to protect her farm and her family. I think this is why the pairing happens so often. If we don’t protect the world, what sort of world will our loved ones live in? It’s interesting the conditions we’ll allow ourselves to live in, but not the ones we love. Maybe this is why in these films the heroes will do anything for their loves, including saving the planet from ecological crisis. Which is pretty romantic. Honestly, WALL-E is one of the most romantic movies I’ve ever seen; I put it right beside Casablanca. That’s right. On the same level. Take that, Bogey. It’s loving someone unconditionally to a new level. Loving the planet they live on too. So maybe the next time you want to show a romantic gesture to your loved one, make it a green one. Start recycling. Start carpooling. Take long walks together instead of making out in a parked car. Share a bath together (saves water and is sexy). It’s showing that you care about your planet and your love, you care about your future together. You want your loved one to have a safe, beautiful place to live your life together. Honestly, what’s more romantic than that? nhutton@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Tifa Han

Opinion

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

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Re: Impending pool closure As the WLU pool enters the final five weeks before its December 31 closure date, the situation for Laurier’s varsity swim team, intramural participants, lifeguards and the large number of community groups using the facility is beginning to look grim. Wilfrid Laurier University’s decision to close the only 50-metre competition pool in the Region of Waterloo calls for serious discussions regarding the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities of community infrastructure providers. There is solid support and a willingness to work together from WLU, current user groups, and philanthropically-minded members of the business community. This is a worthwhile facility and a valuable resource to the community. People are strongly motivated by the possibility of losing the sole 50-metre competition pool in the region and are looking to employ new approaches to financial and environmental sustainability. Historically, WLU pool has been home to Olympians Victor Davis, Laura Nicholls, and most recently, Keith Beavers. Currently, the pool is used by many groups including the area High Schools, ROW Swim Club, KW Syncro Team, Regional Syncro Team, KW Water Polo, the Triathlete Club and many others. We thus urge all levels of government in co-operation with the governing body of WLU to commit to a sustainable operational plan that incorporates a community-based strategy for the necessary repairs. Properly implemented, a well-executed plan to work together for the good of our aquatic-sports community can be achieved and the quality level of aquatic sport currently existing in Waterloo Region will continue to thrive. To show your support, sign our on-line petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/WLUpool/ Joline McKnight-Drayton Arts grad ‘94 Re: UAE campus It was deeply touching to read about our student leaders’ concern for the welfare of all those potential students in a campus half a world a way. I understand that some student senators believe we must uphold basic principles such as human rights and employment standards in our Dubai operations. However, we have to realize that we are entering into uncharted territory. We will essentially become a microcosm within a larger society that holds distinct economic, cultural and religious values. None of us are completely certain how prevalent and pervasive violations of human rights and employment standards are going to be in the proposed campus. For example, there are reports isolated incidents of raids on gay night clubs or unfair treatment of rape victims. So there must be some level of discrimination in the UAE. At the same time, we know that the discrimination is not as extreme as what the reputation of Sharia law suggests — there is no systematic arrest homosexuals or crackdowns on females attending co-educational institutions. Because there is so much uncertainty surrounding the proposed operational model, I believe it is premature to be making demands of the university administration for plans to deal with discrimination issues. I am sure there is a multitude of news reports, every one of them

heart-wrenching, describing incidents of discrimnation taking place in the UAE. While we can sit down with the administration and agree on which types of incidents the university would be morally obligated to take action on, I do not believe this is the proper way to build a framework. Our proposed campus in Dubai is unique, as are the potential discrimination issues that may arise. As we enter into uncharted territory, we have to make a mistake first, before we establish rules or plans to prevent the mistake. In Canada, high-school proms have been around for decades. Yet, you and I did not have the right to take a same-sex date to prom until 2002, when a student named, Marc Hall, having been denied this right, took the Durham Catholic School Board to court. In 1914, a Chinese-Canadian man was fined for employing a Caucasian woman in his restaurant. It was his refusal to comply that forced the Supreme Court to address gender and racial equality in employment practices for the first time. I believe we should let go of all the “what-ifs” and look to the future. I trust that our student body leaders will be there to advocate with administration, if there are specific instances human rights or employment standard violations, just as they have always done for us. We have an opportunity, to not only establish a truly global prescence, but also to set a standard for other institutions to follow in maintaining moral principles in a foreign country. Youfei Xiao Mathematics Editor’s Note: The issue of Marc Hall (who is now a Waterloo student) taking his same-sex date to prom wasn’t an issue with public schools, but rather an issue with Ontario’s Catholic School Board and was focused mainly around the public funding of the religious school board and the ability of a student to bring a same-sex date to the prom of a religious school that officially denounces homosexuality. Re: Media matters I would like to commend and echo Maggie Clark’s comments in her article last week “Nobody Speaks, Nobody Wins” regarding the UW Senate Meeting and the need of staff to speak their minds on issues affecting the University and themselves. As President of 100.3 Sound FM, the campus and community radio station for the university of Waterloo I would like to invite any faculty or administration member to come on air and talk about the issues that are important to them and their colleagues. We have always welcomed anyone onto our programs to discuss whatever topic might be at hand, and as always anyone is invited to start their own show at Sound FM revolving around whatever topic they would like. I’d love to see a faculty driven talk show on our airwaves, discussing issues relevant to faculty as well as students. What we need is members of faculty to volunteer their valuable time to make that a reality. If faculty members would come forward and offer to be on a weekly faculty focused radio program, or write for a column in the Imprint, we could seriously start discussing and tackling the “various ramifications of more widespread academic and social issues” as Maggie so aptly put it.

So there it is, an open call to all administrative and faculty members, Sound FM welcomes you on its airwaves. Steve Krysak President, Radio Waterloo Inc Editor’s note: In keeping with Imprint policy, as a student organization we can only accept column submissions from undergraduate students, or graduate students who have paid their Imprint fees. However, community members at large are welcome to submit letters to the editors and community editorials. Many at Imprint ultimately hope to see faculty published in their own, broadly distributed media outlet again — just as they did until 2003, when the Gazette printed its last issue. . Re: Stairwell etiquette Have you ever had a very important conversation with your friend? Moreover, have you continued to discuss the pressing issue(s) on your way down the stairs, right beside your friend? If you’ve answered “yes” to both questions, rest assured that your face may accidentally meet my elbows while you continue to mindlessly flop all over the stairs, shuffling left and right as if you’ve just had a few too many shots of vodka. Others shouldn’t need to hug the wall so you can conveniently “squeeze” through. If you’re in a hurry, consider this: the 10 seconds you’ll save by engaging in your record-setting stair descent isn’t worth the risk of getting leveled by me or someone who feels the same way I do. Of course, there’s also the risk of you slipping on the now slushcovered concrete, in which case I will point and laugh (apologies to those who slip legitimately). Konrad Pawlak 4B Accounting

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I just wanted to write you a quick note. Let me first start by saying that I love Imprint. Great newspaper, and you guys are all awesome. I did, however, have a problem with something I saw in the “missed connections” section this week. Although I am all for freedom of speech, I think that cruel and hurtful things should be omitted (considering this is a student newspaper), especially when targeted a specific person who lives in residence. The comment made by, for lack of better words, a total and complete bitch this week referred to someone on her floor as “the fat ginger gremlin” who is “hogging the lounge with [her] creepy lonesome self.” Now, this may be some sort of inside joke that I’m unaware of, but from where I’m sitting I just plain feel bad for this girl. This poor girl has to live in residence with those bitches for the next four months, and Imprint let her be publicly singled out and humiliated by said bitches. It’s a form of bullying, and I really think that as a student newspaper you should be trying to create an atmosphere of respect and tolerance, and not one in which it is okay to make people feel like that. Don’t you think you’d know if you were the fat ginger gremlin who spends a lot of time in the lounge? I think you would. Kathleen Standring Psychology

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Opinion

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official now: the policies of the government will be fiscal responsibility and an effort to use non-systemic deficits to spurn the economy through stimulus packages. In the House, Mr. Harper has asked his MPs to act more cordially; to lay down their swords as much as they can for the good of the country. At their recent policy convention, he asked the crowds to push rightwing conservative ideologies to the back burner, so the country can focus on the compelling task at hand. The dangers of the slowing economy have been pushed to the forefront of every discussion into the minds of all Canadians. As plans are unfurled and get underway, the calm that has swept over old debates should be taken advantage of, so that this country can take a look at where it is headed. Instead of thinking of politics, of bills and the like, think instead of what is most important to almost every Canadian: family. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t escape that I am who and what my parents raised and nurtured me to be, and it affects every aspect of my life. My parents always taught me to respect each and every other person, to try to understand them and their differences, and to live in harmony with them, even if I did not agree with everything they believed. Seeking the common ground, looking to the spirit of friendship and co-operation as opposed to subservience and coercion, was always the goal. No matter the beliefs, if someone could accept me in their world, I could do the same. Even the anthem we live under, â&#x20AC;&#x153;O Canada,â&#x20AC;? sounds out â&#x20AC;&#x153;true patriot love, in all thy sons command,â&#x20AC;? a love and respect for everyone who loves and respects Canada and its citizens. In life, my parents taught me that not everyone is given equal opportunities, but that they should be. I have diabetes, a disease that challenges me every day of my life, and costs thousands of dollars a year to treat, but I was never put below my sister because of that. Similarly, even if one of us was succeeding where the other one wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, we were still both encouraged, given love, rewarded, and the doors to lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opportunities were always held open to us. Even now, as I have co-op to help pay for my education, and she does not

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Family; future have the same time and opportunity to support herself, my parents make sure that she is not punished or held back because of it. They ensure that I am not overly rewarded or spoiled, but that we can both get what we need to succeed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just blank cheques to squander on frivolities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and with work we can attain the higher goals, aspirations, and rewards in life. I know I am not alone in this upbringing, not the only one who feels so proud of the values my family instilled in me. That is why I find it so strange when this country starts tacking its course to the right, getting rid of the safety nets and equalizers that catch those who fall through the cracks, and trying to lay down the country under one system of belief. I cannot believe that anyone raised as I have been could believe that such a course is the right one to set, and I cannot believe that I alone have been raised this way. My Canada is one where everyone is ensured the ability to succeed, even as success and rewards are not guaranteed or gift wrapped without any effort put in. Is that such a strange Canada to believe in? It is important to remember the values we have instilled and appreciate within ourselves; the values we preach to our families and friends. As the focus and efforts narrow to stimulate our economy in this time of need, it grants us a pause for reflection, a pause to look at what we want our future to bring, to start a conversation about what Canada, still just 141 years young, can grow up to be. Start the conversation with family and friends, or seek out causes or political discussions to take part in. Look into Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next Great Prime Minister on CBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and on television, to see individuals from your very school and across the country, and find out what tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential leaders envision Canada to be. This is our country â&#x20AC;&#x201D; our life â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and we need to look deep within ourselves and each other to ensure that Canada is always â&#x20AC;&#x153;glorious and free,â&#x20AC;? and that we will always, proudly and with conviction, â&#x20AC;&#x153;stand on guard for thee.â&#x20AC;? adodds@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

community editorials

A tale of two streets

ince romance is off limits for geeks such as I, white snowflakes and the soft music that plays in the head have proven more critical to reasoning than they have for romance. I experienced the more likely of the two scenarios on this walk home. So even though it is by far past midnight and the weather is more suited for freezing turkeys, I opted to walk â&#x20AC;&#x153;RIM-litteredâ&#x20AC;? Phillip Street â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the street that most probably defines the end point for many Waterloo students being the Wall Street of technology. I looked down at my worn-out hood and carefully brushed off the accumulation of snowflakes that had comfortably settled there. My clearing act revealed the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;warriorâ&#x20AC;? proudly emblazoned on my jumper and suddenly, I had myself a highly relevant but little discussed question that would dominate my thoughts as I walked through this street that is symbolic of the Waterloo studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expected end: Whose Warrior am I? In response to that profound question, my mind transports more than 3000 miles away to relive a street that held for me another specific significance. This street, buried in the core rural north of

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city, was so impoverished it had no name that could compare to one as grand and simple as Phillip Street, so we called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;the streets of the village of Gidan- Mangoroâ&#x20AC;?(Gidan Mangoro means â&#x20AC;&#x153;home of mangoesâ&#x20AC;?in Hausa Language). The name was probably well deserved â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the village had plenty of mango trees. Though, I doubt it was deserving enough a name for the street that hosted the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intellectual gems. But the issue at hand is not the street or its name but what it represented. To those of us who were in the highly prestigious college, we viewed the street as exactly what we were there to fix- endemic poverty, disease, lack of economic development, lack of basic social amenities we took for granted and â&#x20AC;&#x201D; though we were only allowed to step out of the college once a week to jog its streets, for every time we jogged, we were reminded again of the huge concerns that mandated our scholarly sacrifice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the people whose daily wars mandated our warrior boot camp. Now I hope that I have not come across to you as another â&#x20AC;&#x153;socialistâ&#x20AC;? whiner of sorts who idealistically advocates that UW move from

its more pristine surroundings to poverty stricken and violence ridden banana republics. However, I really wish that UW students gave more thought to things other than bottom lines and corporate policy. For the past three months that I have been a student of University of Waterloo, I have come to realise that the school has a corporate mindset to it; students who measure costs and benefits solely with a dollar sign, an administration that can only sell ideas as beneficial when they are high-yielding investments from across the shores, professors that appeal to the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sense of self interest and responsibility rather than a seemingly simplistic sense of duty, vocabulary consistently riddled with corporate-sounding terms like schedules, deadlines, business proposals, presentations, policies, entrepreneur and yes, that much revered â&#x20AC;&#x153;co-op term.â&#x20AC;? I have grown weary of being reminded by professors in every class that I am training to be a business executive and by friends and family at home that my destiny is one of those techno-savvy corporate edifices that adorn my road to the main campus. See SNOWFLAKES, page 11

DJs, discrimination and Dubai

have a bit of an addiction to celebrity gossipâ&#x20AC;ŚI know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m embarrassed. A while ago news broke of new private islands opening off the coast of Dubai, The World Islands: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This world map-like shaped group of islands comprises of 300 private islands.â&#x20AC;? This news broke in the world of celebrity gossip because of the inevitable interest in the islands for too-rich-for-theirown-good celebrities. The opening party for the new World Islands was held recently and pictures of celebrities at the event were in all the magazines. My issue here is that these islands are located off the coast of Dubai, and as UW students, these days we are all too familiar with the concerns surrounding Dubai. With the U.S. election still fresh in our brains, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m

sure we are all aware of Proposition 8 passing in California, banning same-sex marriage. This of course caused a great uprising in California, especially with celebrities who are able to use their celeb-status to speak out for what they believe in. With the opening of the World Islands many celebs turned up for the party, many who also spoke up against the passing of Proposition 8. Specifically, Lindsay Lohan and girlfriend Samantha Ronson showed up to the party. Interestingly Ronson gave a statement to People Magazine after the election calling the defeat of gay marriage â&#x20AC;&#x153;frightening.â&#x20AC;? My point in writing this is that maybe someone should tell Lindsay and Samatha how â&#x20AC;&#x153;frighteningâ&#x20AC;? it will be to visit Dubai and the World

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Islands, being openly gay women, because they will be killed! As we learned from earlier issues of Imprint and the detailed info that all students have been given about Dubai â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is not gay friendly. Look back at Imprint online to the October 31 issue. There are extensive examples of discrimination, hatred and laws against homosexuality in Dubai. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure no one has told any of these lavish-loving celebrities this; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just excited to vacation at their new private, deluxe island. Also Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that if you gave this particular Dubai-homophobic/gay hating information to certain celebs theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d still carry around their anti-Proposition 8 banner in one hand and the deed to their new private luxury island in the other. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alicia Boers

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Opinion

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

9/11: Do we know the whole truth? community editorial

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Get the career you want – apply now. business.humber.ca

he advent of alternative theories explaining what happened on September 11, 2001 has stirred great debate within many public circles. But before one jumps into the world of 9/11, one must investigate the hidden history of U.S. government elites planning terrorist attacks. Does the idea of elements within the U.S. government planning to kill innocent people and commit acts of terrorism in U.S. cities to create public support for war sound difficult to digest? Operation Northwoods was devised in 1962 by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. armed forces. It took over 40 years to declassify this document and it is now available online. The operation included plans for hijacking and bombing followed by the use of constructed evidence that would be used to blame Cuba. Here are a few interesting things they were thinking of: start rumours (many) using clandestine radio, land Cubans “over-the-fence” to stage attack on base, burn aircraft inside and on air base (sabotage), sabotage ship in harbour, and conduct funerals for mock victims. The document also delves into specifics. For example, “an aircraft at Eglin AFB would be painted and numbered as a civil registered aircraft belonging to a CIA proprietary organization in the Miami area. At a designated time, a duplicate would be substituted for the actual civil aircraft and would be loaded with selected passengers, all boarded under carefully prepared aliases. The actual

registered aircraft would be converted to a drone.” Let’s fast forward now. The New York Times discussed aspects of the highly sensitive 2003 Bush-Blair Memo in which Bush suggested to Blair that “The U.S. was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in U.N. colours… If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach.” As we can see, painting planes dates back to the 1962 Northwoods documents. We’re not done yet. In a video on YouTube and Think Progress posted in July this year, Seymour Hersh, who is often said to be the greatest investigative journalist of our time, said that U.S. military chiefs were meeting with Cheney in his office. They discussed 12 ways of provoking a war with Iran. Hersh said, “The one that interested me the most was why don’t we build — we in our shipyard — build four or five boats that look like Iranian PT boats. Put Navy seals on them with a lot of arms. And next time one of our boats goes to the Straits of Hormuz, start a shoot-up.” These documents are merely an ounce of all the information that has been collected about such things. Those that believe the U.S. government was incompetent on 9/11 are encouraged to study the above documents. If you believe that the official theory of 9/11 is correct, the UW 9/11 Research Group challenges you to debate it in public. — Adnan Zuberi

snowflakes: what it means to be a warrior Continued from page 10

This attitude is so endemic that students tend to think of decisions in terms of how it affects them and their interests rather than how it affects the common good. Often, this leads to a convoluted approach to social issues, so that in one breath UW students curse poverty whilst actively promoting the corporate practises that cause it. In spite of this concerns, I find it a remarkably pleasant surprise that a few students still break away from the school’s corporate-ridden agenda to apply their skills to noble and charitable work. Strong community oriented organisations like the WPIRG and Engineers Without Borders have done much to break the stereotype that this university is just another uppity corporate finishing school. Despite these modest achievements, certain recent events have made me question whether Waterloo students truly understand what it means to be a Warrior. Does being a Warrior only extend to the cheers of black and gold school spirit events or is it more? More importantly, they must answer the pressing and personal question— Whose Warrior am I? Hopefully, Waterloo is more than Warrior boot camp for Phillip Street. — E. Aboyeji

Features

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 features@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Your winter well-being

Michelle Bellefontaine reporter

t’s a difficult time for students, when the first round of cold weather hits and temperatures hover around the zero mark and precipitation can’t decide whether it wants to snow or rain or do both. It’s easy, in the grey weather to become depressed and want to hibernate in the warmth of a cozy blanket and plug in heater instead of attending class and being social. But five months is a long time to isolate yourself from the rest of the world and the term will soon be over so it’s time to warm up to winter. To avoid depression during the winter months keep lots of bright lights on. Bright light is a natural stimulant and will remind you of the sun in summer time. If it’s the warm weather you miss, drop in at the local tanning salon and catch some rays. On nicer winter days, the sun often reflects off of the snow giving you a good excuse to pull out your shades. But it’s not all about longing for summer. Winter is long enough without spending all of it waiting for spring. Still in hibernation mode? It’s time to get active and enjoy the athletic activities that are only available to us in the winter months. We are in Canada after all. We must appreciate what those to the south are unable to experience. Sports such as public skating, skiing, snowboarding or hockey are inexpensive for use students and don’t require a major time commitment. And you may just find a sport that you can enjoy for

a lifetime. So I suggest, this winter try something new and have something to look forward to each winter. Public skating is available at the university in the Columbia Ice Fields gym at the north end of campus Monday to Friday between 11:30 to 12:50 beginning in the new year. Take advantage of the services that CIF offers. There are lots of programs that teach skating from basic learning to skate classes to figure skating and power skating. Public skating is also available in downtown Kitchener at City Hall or Victoria Park if you prefer the outdoor atmosphere. A list of all the local Kitchener arenas is available on the City of Kitchener Community Programs and Services website. If you don’t have skates, there are places in town that you can rent skates or buy an inexpensive used pair that you can use again in the future. CIF offers classes that teach hockey skills for men and women and skills specific to goal keeping. Once you feel confident with the basics you can join an intramural team at the level that suits you best. If you are looking to socialize while enjoying what winter has to offer then you should join a recreational club where there are lots of people to share their interest with you and teach you how to enjoy different winter sports. Campus Recreation allows you to join any club at any point in the term so it’s not too late. Broomball and curling are two winter sports that are easy to learn and a ton of fun.

Peter Trinh

To truly experience what the Canadian outdoors has to offer you should take up skiing or snowboarding. The sport offers magnificent views from mountain top height and an exhilarating experience. If you have never been before, no worries, grab a group of friends and take a GRT bus to the local hill, Chicopee. You can purchase warm clothing and rentals at the hill pro shop. For your first time out you should take a lesson from the ski school and they will help you get started. Campus Recreation

offers discounted ticket at the PAC office. There are various costs to the experience but it’s worth every penny for the potential of lifelong enjoyment. Join the ski and snowboard club if you want to enjoy the sport amongst new friends, get a lift to the hill or get away for a vacation. That’s right. The ski and snowboard club organises a group trip to either Blue Mountain or Tremblant. Winter has lots to offer so don’t get caught up in winter hibernation. Gear up

for enjoyable winter by getting involved in a new sport or activity. They are full of life long enjoyment and they make the winter pass much quicker. For more information on the various winter services that Campus Recreation provides visit their website at www.campusrec.uwaterloo.ca and click on clubs or ice activities to inquire about the various programs. For information on skating and rentals in the Kitchener Waterloo area visit either www.kitchener.ca and click on community services.

Winter S.A.D.ness:

Supplemental, my dear Watson:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (or S.A.D.) is a mood disorder causing depression each year during the winter months. The cause of this disorder is not fully understood, but is thought to be linked to the decreased amounts of sunlight of the winter months causing hormone imbalances. Mild S.A.D. can be counteracted through the use of sun therapy lamps (available at most department stores) and supplementing vitamin D intake.

Proper vitamin intake can be critical throughout the winter months, both to keep your immune system in top shape and to help stave off S.A.D. Among the vitamins you should consider taking:

· · ·

Vitamin A, for respiratory strength and a healthy immune system Vitamin C, for a strong immune system Vitamin D, for improved mood and bone growth

Adieu, and bon-snobbery

must bid farewell, snobs. The term has reached its culmination, and the Beer Snob must be left for history to judge now. Since this is my last column, it would be appropriate to have some sort of epic conclusionary summation that would finalize the mortality of The Beer Snob. However, I did not have time to write this masterpiece, and was forced instead to write my column while studying. Instead of a masterpiece, I got a scrawled diary of my evening written across old class notes. 7:38 p.m. – Boris I have cracked this one open with a box of Frosted Flakes. Boris seems over-marketed, and tries to appeal to some sort of young, rebellious demographic that fights for the freedom of the Alsace province of France. Surprisingly enough, Alsace actually is a very independently-spirited region with its own

language and sense of nationalistic pride. I wonder if the Québécois would enjoy this beer as well? It is light and near-flat, but seems to have a hint of a frosted-flake type taste — this is the best part of the beer. Currently playing Zelda, and have not yet started reviewing my notes. My sword hates shadow creatures. 9:24 p.m. - Bass Pale Ale I am finally typing out notes now while listening to Joy Division. I have gotten as far as two lectures, and the interesting facts just keep piling up. Did you know that most of Paris has been entirely rebuilt since 1870? It’s true — after Haussman’s redesign of the Parisian streets and the Franco-Prussian war that damaged most of the city, the buildings we now see in Paris are relatively quite new. I’ve opened the Bass Pale Ale, a light British ale. It’s very flavourful, with notes of currants and oranges.

10: 38pm - Fullers London Porter I have stopped writing notes thanks to msn. I was sent this link: youtube.com/ watch?v=rhfiiGGy7Ls, and have been YouTubing ever since. The nostalgia of it all makes me tear up a little — time for a beer! Fuller’s Porter is another Brit import, but the opposite of Bass. It is as thick as a Siberian goulash, and tastes like old chocolate and coffee mixed in with a Guinness. This porter is to beers what cigars are to cigarettes — if the cigars that you buy are moldy and so thick you need a straw, milkshakestyle, to smoke them. I am very unhappy after drinking this beer, the good mood I was put into after the video is gone. Nevermind – just got sent this: youtube. com/watch?v=0wtGbJa0k7k

studying, but I couldn’t do it. I am currently watching Me, Myself, and Irene, and have poured a glass of Hockley Stout. Like the porter, it has an overpowering chocolate and coffee taste. I haven’t had much luck with beer or studying since the Bass Ale — maybe my procrastination has something to do with good beer? I propose Mackenzie’s Law — when drinking beer while studying, the beer must be sufficiently delicious as to not distract from the studying itself. Where a beer is so bad it forces one to think about the foul taste, the studier shall not get much work done. However, if one is to drink a beer so abnormally enjoyable above and beyond what he or she normally enjoys, the same effect will occur. One’s study beer must be a beer delicious yet plain.

11:20 p.m. - Hockley Stout I tried so hard to get back to

Present Day By the end of the night, I had

finished a full two lectures worth of notes, 3.3 cans of beer, one hour and 12 minutes of a movie, received one new heart piece in Zelda, viewed 16 Youtube videos, and invented a scientific law. All in all, a successful night and a sufficient end to what has been a long and tiresome term. All the weeks of drinking beer has culminated into this one defining moment of achievement. The column may die here, but beer heaven awaits, and I hope the beer gods are nice to her. The Beer Snob: Price for 12: Priceless Wit: Humour: Knowledge of beer: Overall: mkeast@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Features

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

One Christmas, two worlds

Duncan Ramsay features editor

s the Christmas season begins to descend on the university campus, it’s not uncommon to see signs of the holidays – garlands, snowmen – starting to appear. This Wednesday, November 26, the UW World Vision Club sought to begin their holidays with a reminder to all of us that not everyone’s Christmas is so gentle. The exhibit, called “Two Worlds, One Planet,” took the form of two simple models that stood in harsh contrast to one another. Entering the first of these, one was greeted by a number of classic Christmas scenes; presents under a tree, toys strewn across the floor, an incongruously tall Santa. A gigantic wish list hung on one wall, covered with the requests and signatures of the various guests before me. I dutifully added my own. There was a certain predictability to many of the requests — iPods, cell phones, alcohol — it was a student event, after all. The next room was meant to show a Third World child’s Christmas, and if it was apparent that the staff had had to improvise a bit with the materials, they still got their point across. A path formed of straw and stones wound around foreign aid parcels and a small hut, while a projector showed harsh landscapes on the wall. Two things stuck with me from that room. The first was a large bucket, mostly filled with dirty water, meant to show about half of what many children hauled dozens of miles each day. Looking at the pail, it hit me that it isn’t really about a difference in scale between our holidays, but the fact that we have a

Mackenzie Keast

Santa, a.k.a Ittiphol “Bob” Piromnam, awaits his next visitors to the “Two Worlds, One Planet” exhibit holiday at all. For many of these children, a holiday is so impractical it may as well not exist. If you stop, you don’t eat. If you stop, you don’t drink. The second took the form of another wish list, hung on the wall like the first, this time filled with the wishes of third world children. Almost every single request was for livestock or food.

Chatting afterward with Jane Wong, president of the UW World Vision Club, I learned that the exhibit showcased local charity in more ways than one. “We didn’t have an operational budget [for this],” said Wong. “A lot of it is from local farmers and local businesses who were willing to help us out.” The event was inspired by a similar event called “One Life,” held two years

previously in the Air Canada Centre and designed to allow people to experience something of what life is like in Third World countries. The event took three weeks to put together from conception to execution, culminating in a 24-hour stretch making buttons to sell and setting up the exhibit overnight. Wong was enthused about the success of the event, saying: “In terms of button sales,

we did a lot better than we expected.” The “Two Worlds” event represents the last of the UW World Vision Club’s efforts for this term, but they will be starting again strong in January. If you are interested in participating or learning more, visit worldvision. clubs.feds.ca for more details.

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Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 arts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Imprint’s X-mas festive film guide Mark Kimmich arts editor

las, the final fall term issue of Imprint, and Imprint’s Arts section, is upon us. However, you may eschew your tearful farewells, because there is light to lead you along the darkened tunnel that is four weeks without Imprint. The light

is twofold: first, its X-mas holidays, obviously; second, the Winter blockbuster film season is here. Clearly, a guide to the holiday season’s moving pictures is a necessary one. From those that are sold on a purely “Christmas” or whimsical basis, to the startling amount of films completely unrelated to the jolliest of seasons, the barrage of fare that attacks

us annually in this season is almost too much for anyone to bear — at least it is when you’ve heard the “Little Drummer Boy” for the 500th time around December 2. While the list is somewhat arbitrary, these are some of the films that are bound-to-be blockbusters, along with some films that will no doubt be lesser known. With that in mind, the guide’s film selection will hopefully

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button David Fincher

The Punisher: War Zone Lexi Alexander

Paramount Pictures

Lionsgate

oosely based on the 1920 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald (celebrated American author of The Great Gatsby) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Set in New Orleans at the end of World War I, the film tells the story of a man who is born in his 80s and ages backwards, gradually growing younger as the years pass. Written and adapted for the screen by Eric Roth (the Insider, Munich, Ali), and directed by David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club, Se7en), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has the distinct potential of being the Forrest Gump of this decade. If the existing trailers are any indication of the quality of this film, this one’s worth the trip. Debuts Christmas day. Verdict: Unmissable.

hile fortunately not a third reimagining of the story of Marvel vigilante Punisher, Punisher: War Zone, the sequel to 2004’s Punisher starring Thomas Jane, still seems bound for the failures of the first. Directed by a native German and former world karate and kickboxing champion Lexi Alexander, the film is sure to have fantastic fight scenes with one so adept at fighting at the helm. Unfortunately, the 1989 version of Punisher starring Dolph Lundgren was about as good as all of Dolph Lundgren’s movies, which isn’t saying much. The 2004 version starring Thomas Jane was very disappointing, considering the quality of some of the superhero movies that had come out around that time. All of that leaves little hope for this latest installment. I, as much as anyone, believe in the old adage “forgive and forget,” but unfortunately, while I forgive the old Punishers, I certainly haven’t forgotten them. Verdict: Wait ‘til January.

— Marco Baldasaro

Valkyrie Bryan Singer MGM

his upcoming movie is based on true events that took place during the peak of World War II and follows a group of high-ranking German officers who plan to assassinate Hitler. The name of the movie stems from the code name for the assassination plot, which became Valkyrie. In the film, Tom Cruise portrays a leader of the group working toward the assassination deadline of July 20, 1944. The plan was unsuccessful and the film portrays the drama and the urgency of this assassination plot. Tom Cruise’s presence in the movie, his association with Scientology, and the Nazi theme caused problems in the post-production of this movie, with advertisers and marketers raising concerns. This aside, the movie looks to be incredibly dramatic. Verdict: Go see the movie, if only for Tom Cruise in an eye patch.

— Mark Kimmich

Bedtime Stories Adam Shankman Walt Disney

dam Sandler, seemingly since Big Daddy, has made a string of family-friendly comedies. While some deride this trend as being a step down from Sandler’s earlier work — a la Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison — I see it rather as being a step up from Little Nicky. Certainly a different brand than his earlier work, Sandler’s recent films, notably Spanglish, have been family-friendly. Bedtime Stories is certainly in this vein. Released by Walt Disney, the film will undoubtedly be a fantastic romp through the imaginations of not only Sandler’s character, but also his character’s nephews, bringing a childlike innocence that is sure to make this movie a hit with the ankle-biters who are around you at Christmas. Verdict: Bring your own nieces and nephews to this one.

— Alicia Boers

Four Christmases Seth Gordon Warner Bros. Films

— Mark Kimmich

Frost/Nixon Ron Howard Universal Pictures

ased on Peter Morgan’s play of the same name and featuring the original two stars of the London and Broadway dramatic productions Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon tells the story of the 1977 interview series between David Frost and the former US President Richard Nixon three years after his impeachment. Frost/Nixon debuted in October at the London Film Festival to positive reviews. Look for it in the Americas after December 5. Verdict: Unmissable. — Marco Baldasaro

bring the necessary variety, while not straying — too far! — from the mainstream. So to help you navigate this festive film season, Imprint has put together a short list of some of the films that you are bound to encounter this holiday season, along with an accompanying synopsis and a humble opinion on whether each film is either absolutely unmissable or can wait until January.

See Pyjamas, page 20

his coming weekend, the typical holiday “I don’t want to spend time with my crazy family or my boyfriend’s crazy family” movie is coming out starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. The storyline seems to be predictable: a happily un-married couple escapes from their family every Christmas and takes a trip to the tropics. Of course, this Christmas their trip is cancelled due to blizzards. The movie looks funny from the previews. I’m sure it will be completely predictable and end in a lovely family Christmas or a wedding, but the trials that the couple encounters while visiting parents, step-parents, siblings, and other family members will cause awesome problems and hilarity. The “in-your-face” comedy Vince Vaughn usually brings to the plate will mesh in a hilarious way with the ditzy blonde type of humour from Reese Witherspoon. Verdict: I’d say this movie is a must watch and I hope Reese Witherspoon doesn’t ruin a perfectly good Vince Vaughn comedy. — Alicia Boers

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Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Film festivity T

he season of relaxation is almost upon us. After months of midterms, essays, and seemingly pointless assignments, we have almost reached the end. I have to say that I am extremely excited for a vacation this year — excited enough to be in the “Christmas spirit.” As such, I have started thinking about what holiday movies I will be watching. I realize that many students on campus don’t celebrate Christmas, and I do apologize for this rather one-holiday themed column. Just indulge me, and try to think of the cinematic aspects of the films I am about to discuss and their feel-good qualities, rather than the religious connotations that can come from them. Basically, holiday movies follow a simple plot: there is a family, something goes wrong, and everything is pretty much resolved by the end of the film. This is why people like them. It’s like children’s movies – you know that everything is going to be O.K. in the end so you can just sit back and relax. One of the major holiday movies that follows this plot is It’s a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart and Lionel Barrymore. As I’m sure everyone knows, George Bailey (Stewart) is having some trouble: his bank is in trouble and his only option is a bail out from the money hungry Mr. Potter (Barrymore). Things are not going well for George so he decides that he is going to jump off a bridge. Luckily, an angel named Clarence appears and shows him what the world would be like had he never been born. Through this, George realizes that he has had a huge effect on the lives of those in the town and on the town itself. The film’s narration is what is really interesting throughout the film. We learn right off the bat, from God’s

conversation with Clarence, that George sing and talk about where they are from. The is going to kill himself and that Clarence family, however, is going to be taken out of must stop him. Their conversation guides us their comfortable city when the father gets a through George’s life in short vignettes; we job opportunity in New York City. The movie see that he did not want to stay in Bedford Falls for his life, that he saved his little brother’s life, and we see his courtship of his wife. We are given everything an audience needs to care about a character: we are given his history and are therefore given a person. It’s a Wonderful Life has also influenced thousands of television Christmas specials and given us some of the most famous lines in cinematic history. It even inspired Sesame Street folklore, with many people (incorrectly) believing Bert and Ernie to be named for two characters in this film. Meet Me in St. Louis and White Christmas are probably my two favourite holiday films, and shockingly, they are both musicals. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, both have characters’ dealing with a major problem. In Meet Me in St. Louis, Ester (Judy Garland) and her family are quite courtesy RKO Radio Films content in their home and in their city, which can be It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, is a classic seen through the way they Christmas tale.

deals with one year of the family’s life, from Halloween to the St Louis State Fair that the whole town is excited for. As the film chronicles a year, Christmas does enter into the mix, and is really at the climax of the film. Christmas eve is the night before the family is to move, and the night that Ester finally dances with the boy she likes. After the Christmas ball, Ester returns home and sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which is possibly the most heart breaking rendition of the tune you will ever hear. The song itself brings the idea of the importance of family to the forefront, which I suppose is the whole point of Christmas. In White Christmas, we are given another crisis. This time it’s up to Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye to save their old army sergeant’s hotel from closing down. Along with a sister duet team, the four travel to Vermont and attempt to put on a concert, all the while singing songs about Christmas. It’s really a lovely movie that gets people in the giving mood, showing that the season is all about sharing and helping one another in whatever way we can. There are hundreds more of these films, all preaching the same message of family and giving. The films are created for one reason and one reason alone: people like to see themselves on screen or at least like to see an idealized version of their holidays on screen. During the holidays, people need to be given something so that they can make it through, whether that be an insane family dinner or a lonely Christmas Eve: either way people like the comfort that these films bring. etarswell@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Over and out

ark: Sadly, Marco, this is our last Art Attack. We have decided tentatively that the column has to be put on the backburner for the sake of family, friendships, and last, and certainly least, academic performance. And here is the thing, in retrospect, that we really must consider an important question to address with the benefit of one term’s hindsight: what has made us qualified to discuss art at all? Marco: It’s a fair question. In case it hasn’t been made implicitly clear in our musings over the course of the term, I’ve no major in fine arts, no minor in art history. As far as I know, neither do you. So where does this put us? Do we have any business laying into the areas of art we selected in the last few months? Mark: Well, we certainly aren’t fine arts majors, but an English degree carries with it some sort of merit, I would argue. Regardless, it seems to me that we rarely judge our favourite critics on the merits of academic achievement. I don’t even know what type of degree someone like Roger Ebert has and Tony Kornheiser from ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption is a sports commentator with an English degree, so clearly there are no rules when it comes to who is in a sort commentating power. And anyways, why should I trust a fine arts major more than I should trust anyone else? Marco: Well, I’m not about to discredit my English degree, a degree in fine arts or any other discipline for that matter. I certainly like to believe that the majority of them have a merit or two. I think the point that we’ve consistantly tried to argue this term is that we’re dealing with a subjective discipline in Art Attack, and while there’s certainly plenty of room for serious critique and appraisal,

art’s safe for general evaluation, too — with or without a degree. Mark: Once again, we agree; or at least we agree that art is certainly safe for general evaluation. Having said that, as a columnist in a paper – granted, a completely volunteer, student newspaper — we have a voice that most don’t have. Imprint has before been referred to as the voice of the students here at Waterloo, a moniker that I confess makes me slightly uncomfortable. Nonetheless, we have a function in the public sphere. So what makes us, Mark and Marco, qualified to speak through the voice of the people? I almost feel as though newspeople should be elected or something. Marco: You would. Kimmich, we have a hard enough time filling the section as it stands. Frankly, whether or not Imprint is the official newspaper of the student body, we’re by no means obligated to put in words the general sentiment of the population in our column. Really, is that what we signed up for? Is that the proper function of a columnist? In this capacity, I don’t claim to speak on behalf of anyone. Mark: I certainly agree that we by no means should speak for the population, but that’s like Vincent Van Gogh cutting his ear off, causing a bunch of arts kids to cuts their ears off, and then Van Gogh claiming that he isn’t a role model. He’s a role model, whether he likes it or not. Eschewing the responsibility doesn’t help anyone, but ultimately, I agree, we are responsible only to our own consciences. And my conscience is clear. Transmission ends. arts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Film Review Twilight Catherine Hardwicke Summit Entertainment

wilight deals with an ancient plot – that of unattainable love, situated between a young girl, Bella Swan, and her irresistible vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen. The two meet when Bella moves to a small rainy town of Forks, the only thing standing between their affection for each other is Edward’s overwhelming desire to dine on Bella’s blood. As such, the task set for director Catherine Hardwicke, appears simple: to create a believable chemistry between the two protagonists, since million-dollar book sales have taken care of a barely palpable plot. Much to the disappointment of tween girls and I, the director fails to get under the skin of the audience, despite her past, moderately-successful direction of Nativity Story, Lords of Dogtown and Thirteen. Don’t get me wrong, the audience still squealed in unison every time Robert Pattinson, playing Edward, clambered into the shot, and even more so when Taylor Lautner, playing Jacob Black, first emerged onto the screen in all his long-haired glory. However, an hour into the movie – somewhere in between the squealing subsiding, and Bella’s nervous eye twitch beginning to get annoying – disappointment sank in. After all, Edward did not move with

the fluidity we had all imagined from reading Stephanie Meyer’s book, nor did his speech resemble the infatuating English fellow he should have sounded like had Robert become a vampire in 16th Century England at the age of 17, as Edward did. If only for the sake of cross-generational female adoration Robert Pattinson should have made an effort to be a more believable vampire and perfect boyfriend. Bella isn’t off the hook, either. She pirouetted herself around on swift wings while wearing a leg brace to pro, and didn’t trip half as much as she should have. Clearly, the director did not pick up the proper cues from the book. Bella also displayed passive-aggressive traits in communicating with Edward appearing distant in some shots, while spewing out cold-faced love confessions in the next. Somewhere in the background are the jewels of the movie — Billy Burke playing Charlie Swan, Bella’s father, and Cam Gigandet playing James, a vampire on a hunt to turn Bella into grub. Both of these actors possessed gravity when in the shot, with little other actors following their example. The beauty of Twilight was that Stephanie Meyer filled the book with more influential, weighty characters than most plots are willing to accept, and it appears Hardwicke dealt with this situation by narrowing down the spotlight cast to a highlighted two: Bella Swan

Kristen Bell and Robert Pattinson heat up the screen as Bella and Edward in Twilight. and Edward Cullen. Pity, since her portfolio may have been spared had the inapplicability of the two actors been made more subtle by a more engaging backup cast. Another bone to pick must be addressed, this one to the makeup crew of Twilight. My suggestion is, if cast humans to play the role of

vampires, and then layer them with white stuff to make their skin look pale, buy enough to cover their necks. More than once during the movie I caught vampires looking white on the face in combinations with an orange neck, the makeup effort most noticeably lacking at the collar line. Yes, of course I will see the movie

again, as will many others; with such a broad fan base rooted from the literary series, the movie’s budget surely will be spared. But my advice to Stephanie Meyer is this: get over your pride and get on with completing Midnight Sun, because Twilight is dampen future revenues.

here). The rest of the movie has Bond going on a killing spree, traveling all over the world by land, sea, or air, trying to track the activities of this mysterious organization. Unfortunately, the main villain of this particular chapter isn’t really that intriguing or devilish, his diabolical plan quite lame and small-scale, and the conclusion very unsatisfying. To sum things up, it pretty much has all the characteristics of the second movie in a trilogy. The action has definitely taken a different route from the previous installments. Instead of high-tech gadgetry, we get a lot more Bourne-esque hand-to-hand combat and close-range gunfights. Sure, there are still explosions, but those come from good ol’ fashioned gas (and alternative fuel) power sources, as opposed to missiles or ball-point pens. Whether the change is good or

bad depends on your own tastes, but I definitely consider it a step up. One thing that just didn’t sit well with me was the lack of emotion portrayed by Bond. Throughout most of the movie (and even as he kills), he is completely straight-faced, revealing not the tiniest smirk or grimace. We get that he is desensitized to killing, what with that handy License to Kill and all, but there is still the motivation behind each kill that could be shown. Were he glaring, we would recognize his hatred; were he laughing, his joy in vengeance; but as it stands, all I saw was a bored man doing his job, as if

he’s doing a desk job just waiting for the clock to hit five. All the emotions were there for him to play with; it just seems that the movie paid too much attention to the action and lost track of the internal struggles. I’m tempted to blame director Marc Forster who, although he has done some really good movies, hasn’t really taken on action flicks before this, and may have been confused as to where he should focus his attention. Either way, all I can say is: the Hold’em tournament was in the last movie, Bond, you can lose the poker-face now.

— Anya Lomako

Film Review

Quantum of Solace Marc Forster Columbia Pictures

an Fleming’s iconic spy James Bond is back in Quantum of Solace, the 22nd film in this hugely success-

ful franchise. After a summer full of intriguing movies that had me going to the theatres almost once every two weeks, there was a long period of time during which no new releases were worth watching. My only solace, so to speak, was knowing that the new Bond movie was coming soon; a direct sequel to the highly popular Casino Royale, which gave the franchise a much-needed reboot. Maybe it was the high expectations caused by the prequel, or the need for something great after two and a half months of mediocrity, but Quantum simply didn’t live up to the hype surrounding it. Quantum picks up an hour after where Casino Royale left off, with Bond (Daniel Craig) having recently lost his lover and discovering a new organization that’s behind it all (vague, yes, I know, but I’m trying to avoid spoilers “KEVIN SMITH HAS OFFICIALLY RECLAIMED THE TITLE AS THE REIGNING KING OF ROMANTIC RAUNCH” - ATLANTIC CITY WEEKLY

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Photo Feature

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Photo Feature

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

UW volleyball serves up at home Tina Ironstone mackenzie keast

mackenzie keast

staff reporter

he women’s volleyball team met rivaling neighbour, Wilfrid Laurier’s Hawks, on home grounds for a suspenseful battle of ball and net, on Wednesday November 26. Both teams played with so much passion that spectators near and far had no choice but to constantly stay on guard for flying balls hurling their way. Some audience members even managed to take part in the suspense by deflecting the ball with their hands when it came their way. During the first part of the game, the Warrior fortified a defence of iron, driving most attacks back to the Laurier’s court, leaving Waterloo in the lead, with a score of 23 – 13. Laurier on the other hand, though their offence was crafted with team support, and sportsmenship, it was no match for the Warriors solid defence as the Hawks continues to miss key plays. As a result, with Waterloo in the lead, the stadium echoed with cheers for the Warriors: “go Waterloo” “keep it coming Warriors” Boyana Josipovic, a member of the UW team was one of the strong voices of encouragement from within the cheers. Her voice was heard loud and clear by both teams and served as a mental strategy to boost moral, as it was much needed on the next set, where the the UW women’s volleyball team seemed to falter. As the set progressed the girls began to fall behind the many powerful plays carried out by the Hawks. They trailed behind by four points as the score became, 09-13 with Laurier in the lead. However, the Warriors did not let this affect their enthusiasm, whereas the opposing team seemed to get louder as they got better, and the Warriors got quieter as they fell behind.

The Hawks soared with confidence as they won the second set. In the previous set, they behaved with less energy, constantly scrambling to get organized. Each team had a different betweenset activity. Waterloo practised volleying and throwing the ball around, whereas Laurier danced to the break time music. As the third and fourth sets began the stadium’s atmosphere begins to tense as both sides tried to claim victory. The two sets followed a pattern much like the previous two, with UW wining the third, and Laurier wining the fourth set. The final set showed the true victors as Laurier won the game. The fans cheered loudly as their team won. Waterloo lost gracefully. The men’s volleyball game was played earlier in the evening. The energy for the game was high as the two cross town rivals played against one another. It was as if the fans could feel their energy and were able to tap into it. The fans for both sides proudly cheered with enthusiasm. Maybe it was the energy or maybe it was the skill or more likely a bit of both, that lead to the Warriors first set victory with a score of 25-19. Laurier dominated the next set and won with a score of 25-18. Both teams showed great defensive and offensive moments throughout the sets. The third and fourth set held a score reverse pattern with Waterloo leading 23-25 and then Laurier leading the fourth set with 25-23. The final set was where the game was decided and it was a tiebreaker that ended in Waterloo’s favour with a score of 3-2. The top scorers of the evening were Aaron Dam 18 (UW), Derek Lapp 16(WLU) Cameron Wheelan 16(WLU), Tyler Vivian 15(UW). tironstone@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

ETHAN OBLAK

From top right and then counterclockwise:Laura Klein, Tyler Vivian, Kate Flanagan, Bojana Josipovic, Andrew Throrpe, Matthew Weibenga and Andrew Thorpe again.

mackenzie keast

ETHAN OBLAK

Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

One god in comics M

onotheism. It’s everywhere! It’s knocking down doors of neighbours and getting to your children.

Okay, so maybe it’s not that intense — or maybe it is — but it’s been a big thing in the western world for years. I mean, despite the increase of cultures and religious communities in North America,

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there’s still that influence of Christianorigin stat holidays. Since Christmas is around the corner, I’ll mention some comics that relate themselves to the three main Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Of course, there’s this paradox that these comics can make great Christmas gifts. Unless you call them holiday gifts, of course. As a disclaimer, I’ll admit that I am what you would call a “cultural Catholic,” a man, though grown up from Catholic roots, who has stepped away from the organization aspect of the Church — almost like George Carlin and Kevin Smith, but less atheistic in comparison to the former. While some may argue about the proportions of the given comics, be aware that the number is not because I disrespect one religion more than another. Rather, these are all the comics I’ve actually read. I find all of these comics as important examinations of faiths, and I encourage any of my readers to recommend to me other comics related to such a theme (like I always do). I finally had the chance to read Art Spiegelman’s Maus I and II last month,

an endeavour I’ve been meaning to accomplish for the longest time. The story is the memoirs of his father Vladek as recorded by Art on his memories during the Holocaust during the Second World War. What makes the comic unique is that each group involved in the story is represented by different animals which represent Spiegelman’s image of the events. Cats represent the Germans, and mice represent the Jews. It’s a very intense and almost postmodern look at the world through the eyes of one Holocaust Jew. I’d also recommend Will Eisner’s The Contract With God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue. The late Eisner (The Spirit) is known worldwide for his ability to narrate and illustrate really involving storylines, and this collection of stories about a fictional Bronx tenement during the early 1900s expresses his most intense beliefs about how Jews have changed after immigration into the US. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis was one of my favourites for a long time. A tale of her childhood during the Iranian Revolution, it’s definitely an intriguing

story. And fortunately for you, if you know someone who’s not so literary-inclined, you can always buy the animated film directed by Satrapi and fellow artist Vincent Paronnaud. Of course, if you’re that cheap (and I mean extremely cheap), you can always suggest them the webcomic, Sinfest (Ishida: www.sinfest.net), one of the best and slightly controversial commentaries on the western world of politics and religion. And with the recent electing of U.S. president-elect, Barack Obama, a hot topic of Abrahamic-faith circles, there’s been a major spark in Ishida’s creative mind. To end it off, I wish you all a great holiday break. I hope that I might have helped you with some really smart buys. Ah, wait. There’s also the Christian comic I need to suggest. Well, knowing me, you can all probably guess what it is. For those that don’t know, I wish you the best. Make sure to enjoy the nostalgia of the winter, get together with friends, and wrap yourself up with a nice set of... Blankets (Craig Thompson).

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Pyjamas: recession looming, save your cash The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Mark Herman Miramax Films

ased on Irish novelist John Boyne’s book touting the same name, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas traces the story of Bruno, an eight-yearold son of a high ranking Nazi officer during the Second World War. When his father is posted to a nearby concentration camp, his life quickly changes. The story not only follows Bruno’s coming of age as he begins to explore freedom outside the rules of his parents, it also traces his coming to terms with the terrible events of the Holocaust through a young Jewish boy that he befriends on the other side of the fence of the concentration camp. Clearly, this is a story that, while likely uplifting, contains subject matter that may force some children out of their Christmas comfort zone. While certainly an idea that seems worth watching, it might be better to wait until after Christmas. Verdict: Wait ‘til January. — Marco Baldasaro

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Campus Bulletin Classified CHURCH SERVICE 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. Parkminster United is an affirming, liberal congregation open to all, regardless of race, sexual orientation, age, ability, economic or family status. 275 Erb Street, E., Waterloo. Sunday services at 10 a.m. For more info www.parkuc.ca.

UPCOMING Sunday, November 30, 2008 Jan Guenther Braun, UW and Imprint alumni, will be doing a reading from her book “Somewhere Else” at Erb Street Mennonite Church library, Erb Street, Waterloo from 4 to 5 p.m. For more info jan@janguentherbraun.ca or www. janguentherbraun.ca. Monday, December 1, 2008 Rotunda Gallery presents “Jefferson Campbell-Cooper.” Artist reception Tuesday, December 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., downtown Kitchener, City Hall. Saturday, December 6, 2008 Canadian singer and songwriter will appear in concert at Emmanuel United Church at 7:30 p.m. For tickets/info call 519-886-1471. Trinity Village Christmas Craft and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2727 Kingsway Drive, Kitchener. Admission. For info call 519-893-6320. Sunday, December 7, 2008 Experience “Country Christmas” at Doon Heritage Crossroads, 10 Huron Road, Kitchener, on December 7, 14, 21 and Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. For admission info 519-748-1914 or cwendy@ region.waterloo.on.ca/doon. Thursday, December 11-13, 2008 “A Lost & Found Christmas” at 8 p.m. at Emmanuel United Church, Waterloo and December 18-19 at UW School of Architecture, Cambridge. Door prizes with food bank donation. For info/

tickets, lostandfoundtheatre.ca. Saturday, December 13, 2008 Graduate Student Semi-Formal – dinner, live music, dancing, beginning at 6 p.m. in South Campus Hall. Tickets on sale December 1 at Grad House. For info www.gsa.uwaterloo.ca/semi. Thursday, December 18, 2008 BlueWorks Erotic Literature – come and read your own erotic short stories and poetry. Proceeds to Masai for Africa Campaign. blueworksevent@gmail. com. Tuesday, January 6, 2009 Delight the senses, touch the heart, move the soul – “Divine Performing Arts” will be at Centre In The Square January 6 and 7, beginning at 7:30 p.m. For tickets/info 519-578-1570. www.DivineArts.org. Wednesday, April 1, 2009 2009 Autonomous Racing Challenge – build autonomous robots – race for first prize of $500 to $1,000. Early registration deadline April 1, 2009. For details www.RobotRacing.org.

VOLUNTEERING City of Waterloo needs volunteers for summer 2009 events: Uptown Country Festival on Saturday, June 20 – volunteer co-ordinator position ; entrance security/programs ; runners/site patrol ; information/volunteer/CD and t-shirt sales tent ; festival operations. Busker Festival needs new talent for interesting Board positions such as Director of Corporate Sponsorship ; Director of Marketing and Media Co-ordinator. 55+ Urban Poling Club needs indoor walk leaders on Friday mornings. Email volunteer@waterloo.ca or 519-8886488 for more info. Volunteers needed – the English tutor program is in constant need of volunteers to tutor international students. Volunteering is an essential part of student life at UW. Apply online at www. iso.uwaterloo.ca. June Volunteer with a child at their school and help improve their self-esteem and confidence. One to three hours a week commitment. Canadian Mental Health at 519-744-7645, ext 229.

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. Summer of your life! Camp Wayne for Girls – children’s sleep-away camp, Northeast Pennsylvania, June 20 to August 16, 2009. If you love children and want a caring, fun environment we need counselors and instructors for tennis, swimming, golf, gymnastics, cheerleading, drama, high and low ropes, camping/nature, team sports, waterskiing, sailing, painting/drawing, ceramics, silkscreen, printmaking, batik, jewellery, calligraphy, photography, sculpture, guitar, aerobics, self-defense, video, piano. Other staff: administration, CDL Driver (21+), nurses (RN’s and nursing students), Bookkeeper, mothers’ helper. On campus interviews January 28. Select the camp that selects the best staff! Call 215-944-3069 or apply online at www. campwaynegirls.com. Applied behavioural therapist needed for autistic boy. Ten minutes from University. Two afternoons per week plus monthly meetings. Training provided. Good hourly wage plus frequent raises. Must commit two eyars. Email resume to steffen.darla@rogers.com. We’ve got what you’re looking for – let’s make 2008 your best summer yet – Camp Wayne, northeast Pennsylvania, USA. Counselor-specialists for all land and water sports including tennis, golf, basketball, baseball, football, martial arts, soccer, outdoor adventure, camping, mountain biking, climbing/ropes, roller hockey, archery, rocketry, water-ski, wakeboard, sailing, canoe/kayaking, fine arts theatre, ceramics, woodworking, drawing, painting, CDL drivers. RN’s for our Health Centre. June 20 to August 15. Let’s get the ball rolling now! Online application www.campwayne.com or info@ campwayne.com or 1-888-549-2963. Two great outdoor lifeguard summer positions in Waterloo – pool manager: responsibilities include assisting

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with hiring swim instructors/guards, running summer activities, facility maintenance, etc. NLS and instructor certification required. Life guard/swim instructors needed full-time and parttime. Responsibilities include working with guard team to run summer programs, example, crafts, family activities, facilitiy maintenance, etc. NLS required and instructor certification preferred. Submit resume to angelastark@rogers.com by January 10, 2009.

HOUSING Only $399 – four bedroom housing – 34 Bridgeport Road, E., starting May 01/09. Excellent location, on bus route, close to everything, downtown at WLU, near UW, new, immaculate, open concept kitchen, all appliances, dishwasher, dining room and living room open onto a private balcony, central air conditioning, huge rooftop garden patio, complete laundry facilities, dryers free, free parking, gas heat, gas water heater, cheap utilities, on bus route, perfect for students. Rents fast – a must see. Only $399 per room, per month. Call 519741-7724 or www.acdev.ca. For more info and pictures email info@acdev.ca. 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. Only $389 – five bedroom house. Must see – goes fast – excellent location. 147 B Weber Street, N., starting May 1/09. Close to everything, very clean, free washer/dryer, gas heated, cheap utilities, two full bathrooms, two full size fridges, hardwood floors and ceramic tile throughout, large private yard and large deck, free parking for five cars, on bus route. $389 per room, per month. Call 519-741-7724. Only $389 – five bedroom house. Must see – goes fast – excellent location. 121 B Noecker Street, starting May 1/09. Close to everything, very clean, free washer/dryer, gas heated, cheap utilities, two full bathrooms, two full size fridges, hardwood floors and ceramic tile throughout, large private yard and large deck, free parking for five cars, on bus route. $389 per room, per month. Call 519-741-7724.

SERVICES Professional Go-For Service – don’t have time? Need a second pair of hands? Dog walking, picking up dry-cleaning, groceries, Senior Services, are just a few of the many helpful services that is offered. Call Sheila at 519-590-4103 or progo-forservice@hotmail.com.

LOST & FOUND Whomever found lost credit card and turned it in September 19 please email proudy1717@yahoo.ca to receive “thanks.” $100 REWARD – for lost gold ring, has three cubic zirconia stones, black, yellow and orange. If found please contact s_grieco@hotmail.com or 519-2270795. Cash reward up front, no questions asked. CASH REWARD – iPod Touch lost since beginning of October. Engraved on back, “Trust in the Lord and He will make your paths straight.” E-mail cheta3327@hotmail.com or call 519572-9680.

IMPRINT RETURNS JANUARY 9/09 GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EXAMS HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

DON’T BE SHY! GIVE IT A TRY! Join Imprint’s Board of Directors to meet new people, learn how to oversee a corporation, gain a voice at your student newspaper and have some fun! E-mail president@imprint. uwaterloo.ca

Happy Trails

... and seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greetings from Imprint The next issue of Imprint comes out on Friday, January 9, 2009 Our new, Winter 2008 editorial board is elected on Monday, January 12 at 12:30 p.m. Want to make a difference through Imprint? Drop in at our first general staff meeting (date above) to run for editorial positions. Want to be our next great columnist or comic artist?? Submit a letter of intent and three sample columns (500 words apiece) or comics to editor@ imprint.uwaterloo.ca by Sunday, January 11 (Columns get voted in at the Monday meeting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; drop by to add an in-person pitch!)

Got questions? Interested in proofreading, reporting, photography, or graphic design? Email editor@imprint. uwaterloo.ca, or check out www.imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Science & Technology

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 science@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

The chemical world we live in photos by Mackenzie Keast graphics by eric gassner

vs.

Tom’s Natural Whitening toothpaste ingredients list: Glycerin, Water, Calcium Carbonate, Hydrated Silica, Apricot, Calendula Glycerite, Carrageenan, Xylitol, Sodium lauryl Sulfate Crest Extra Whitening toothpaste active ingredients list: Sodium Fluoride (0.243 per cent) (0.16 per cent W/V Fluoride Ion).

vs.

Attitude All Purpose Cleaner Ingredients list: Water, Coco glucoside, Lauryl glucoside, Alcohol, Essential oils.

Inactive Ingredients: Hydrated Silica, Water, Sorbitol, Glycerin, PEG-6, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Poloxamer 407, Flavor, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Saccharin, Carnauba Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1, Yellow 5.

Fantastic All Purpose Cleaner ingredients list: n-Alkyl Dimenthyl Benzyl Ammonium Chlorides .11 per cent; n-Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chlorides .11 per cent

Lana Sheridan

imprint reporter

ave you ever been mystified by the long list of ingredients on the packaging of the food you eat or the products you use? A cursory inspection turns up a list of unpronounceable terms that leaves you feeling like the decision to drop chemistry last term was a mistake. Industrially produced additives are introduced into consumer products for a variety of reasons: some are preservatives, some colourants, some alter texture, and others alter scent or flavour. Trying to discern the effects of all the chemicals in every product you are putting in your cart is not a practical way to get your shopping done in a reasonable amount of time,

but knowing the effects of certain classes of chemicals and which ones you want to avoid could be beneficial to your health. Chemicals used in consumer products are regulated by Health Canada and for the most part are very safe. However, a few of these substances break down into products that are dangerous, cause irritation in susceptible individuals, have unwanted side effects, or even modify behaviour. It can be hard to know what to avoid, but there are certainly some things you should be aware of when you notice them in the products you purchase. In your food, you may want to watch out for artificial colours and food additives, such as “FD&C” (Food, Drug and Cosmetic) colour numbers or “E numbers” and sodium benzoate, a preservative. Cocktails of these additives have been shown to cause an exacerbation of hyperactiv-

Curb your

ity in children, both in those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and those not, in a double-blind study undertaken primarily by Dr. Donna McCann and published in the Lancet. The amounts of additives given to the children in these studies were chosen to reflect realistic daily intake of food, drinks, and candy. Artificial colours can be in a surprising range of foods, including meats, wine, and on the surfaces of fruit. More than simply to attract customer attention, they also serve to mask natural colour variations, or disguise the brutalities of modern industrial food manufacturing. Another place you are likely to find artificial colourants is in mouthwashes. Since mouthwash is not designed to be ingested, the effects are presumably less serious, but they can also contain propylene glycol, which for some is an irritant. Propylene glycol crops up in a wide range of places including artificial fog for theatrical

Rethink, relearn and render The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki involves the human body, mind and spirit in reclaiming a harmonious balance between natural resources and mankind. Written with a mix of poetry and zen, this book effectively communicates the importance of reclaiming the natural connection that has been hushed by consumerism, globalism and natural exploitation.

vs.

MillCreek Botanicals Shampoo ingredients list: Deionized Water, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamphoacetate, Lauramide, Aloe Vera Gel, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Hydrolyzed Keratin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate, (Vitamin A), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), PABA, Nettle Extract, Cysteine HCI, Copper Disodium-EDTA, Hydrolyzed RNA, Hydrolyzed DNA, Corn Oil, Organic Essential Oil, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Fragrance. Panteve Pro-V Always Smooth Shampoo ingredients list: Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide MEA, Dimethicone, Ammonium Xylenesulfonate, Fragrance, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, PEG-7M, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

use, tobacco products, and personal lubricants, despite the fact that cases of irritation are increased when the substance is inhaled as a mist or when used by women suffering from yeast infections. In shampoos and soaps a common ingredient is sodium lauryl sulphate or SLS. SLS helps to create a lather and removes oils by binding with them with the long “tail” of the molecule, while the negatively charged “head” allows it to integrate into water. This same property allows SLS to denature proteins by binding with them and can thus cause skin and eye irritation. Several studies have also linked SLS in toothpaste with canker sores. A more worrying ingredient in shampoos and cosmetics is Diethanolamine (DEA), which reacts with amines, another kind of chemical found in cosmetic products, to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. In very high doses DEA itself has also been associated with miscarriages

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Down Under Naturals Fruit Kicks Shampoo ingredient list: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MEA, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-10, Cucurbito Pepo Seedcake, Punica Granatum, Citrus Grandis, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Benzophenone-4, Ethykhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Polyquaternium10, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid.

when applied to the skin of pregnant mice. In your deodorant, you may wish to avoid aluminum chloride, which can be absorbed through the skin. Aluminum works as an antiperspirant by forming a gel that seals pores, thus not permitting the release of sweat. Aluminum is a neurotoxin and can cause damage to DNA, according to a 2006 paper published in Toxicology Letters. The more commonly used aluminum compound aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is not as easily absorbed, but on the downside, it does combine with sweat to produce the yellow stains often associated with aging undershirts. Parabens, which serve as preservatives, can also be found in deodorants and other cosmetics. The effects of parabens are not entirely known. Some researchers, such as Dr. Phillipa Darbre, suggest

a link with breast cancer, but the National Cancer Institute’s position is that the studies do not show a conclusive relationship. It is difficult to know whether many of these substances will have a negative effect on a given individual, and in many cases they are not easy to avoid. Studies on these chemicals are ongoing and Health Canada and other regulatory bodies exist to protect consumers from substances that are known to be dangerous. Nevertheless, it can be beneficial to be aware of recent research and follow developments in the understanding of the interplay between our bodies and the products we use every day. lsheridan@imprint. uwaterloo.ca

consumption your consumer behaviour

tifa han

Ecoholic by Adrian Vasil is a Canadian edition of environmentally-friendly living. Covering everything from hair colour, jewlery, snowboarding to house insulation, this book is a staple in every eco-conscious household. This book also has the advantage of directing its suppliers to local and Canadian producers of green products.

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter is an amazingly useful shopping tool. It provides an A-Z listing of cosmetic ingredients and additives, explaining their source and evaluating its interaction with the body. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, is also availiable by the same author. – Book list by Anya Lomako

Science & Technology

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

This just in: UW robotics = fun2 Photos courtesy UW Robotics Team graphics by eric gassner

Lana Sheridan staff reporter

he UW Robotics Team held their annual Mini Sumo Robots Competition with over 130 participants on 27 teams — more than ever before, on Saturday, November 22,. The competition has been running since 2005 and aims to get younger UW students interested and involved in robotics as well as learn about constructing and programming robots via a small pedagogical project. The autonomous robots must successfully perform a number of sophisticated tasks. The goal of each robot is to push its opponent out of a sumo ring, while keeping itself inside. This requires that it reliably find the edge of the ring, steer itself, find its opponent, and attack it successfully while still surviving. Danzhao Liu, a mechatronics engineering student, lead the organisation of this year’s competition. The victorious team was the “PowerPuff Boys of BC” lead by Anthony Chuang, with a stiff challenge put up by all the teams. The Judges’ Choice Award was given to “Circle of Current” lead by Frank Zhao for excellence in design and manufacturing. Judging the competition was Prof. Jan Huissoon, Dave Kroetsch from Aeryon Labs and Vecheslav Silagadze from Miovision. The UW Robotics Team hopes that the record involvement in this

competition will translate into more participation in the team’s other projects. From its origins in 2003, as the union of two separate UW student robotics groups, the team has become a fixture at UW, with its own lab space in E3 and support from the Waterloo Engineering Endowment Fund, the Mathematics Endowment Fund, the Mechatronics Department and other departments, and a wide range corporate sponsorship, including companies such as GM and Texas Instruments. The Team has participated in a number of international competitions and has plans to enter three more in the upcoming term. Bryan Webb, UW Robotics Team Executive, said “the next eight months will be quite busy for us. We will be travelling to San Francisco again this year for RoboGames 2009. We placed fourth out of 14 teams in RoboGames 2008 and we are hoping to place in the top three in this year’s competition.” He added: “The purpose of our team is to encourage education and innovation in robotics. We would love to see more students get involved in the team.” Among the many other projects the UW Robotics Team is pursuing is the ALARM (Autonomous LAndmine Removal Mechanism), which is a system of four mine-removal robots. This has been a focus of the team since September and two of the robots are currently operational. Also, the Team is working on converting a Toyota Camry into a remotelyoperated vehicle. There are many other projects they wish to pursue if students show interest in leading them. Webb encourages anyone who is interested to visit the UW Robotics team website at http://uwrobotics. uwaterloo.ca or send an email to robotics@engmail.uwaterloo.ca.

Winniefred Kuang

Members of Team 17 show off their pride and joy, “The Great BS,” before the Sumo Robotics Competition, on Saturday, November 22 in the Student Life Centre.

lsheridan@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

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Winniefred Kuang

Science & Technology

ecently a research project called the College Sustainability Report Card, run by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, graded colleges and universities in North America based on how sustainable they are. The Sustainable Endowments Institute is a nonprofit organization aimed at research and education to improve sustainability of university and college campuses. They surveyed 300 schools, 290 of which responded to at least one of the surveys. In Canada, out of 17 universities across the country, the University of Waterloo ranked second last with a grade of D+, just beating Carleton University (D-) and way behind the University of British Columbia, who ranked first with an A-. Our neighbours, the University of Guelph (Wilfrid Laurier wasn’t ranked) had a C. You can check out the entire list in a map at http://greenreportcard. org/mapcanada. It was pretty surprising to see our university, with such great programs in the Environmental Studies — wait, sorry — Faculty of the Environment, near the bottom of the sustainability ladder. One of the required courses is even called “Greening the Campus and Community” and involves a project aimed at just that. Not to mention the work of other student groups, such as the Sustainable Technology Education Program (who in 2003 installed solar panels on top of Fed Hall) and the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project. So how did we get a D+?

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

UW comes second-last in sustainability Before I dig into the details, let me note the methods the Sustainability Report Card used to get their information. First, data was collected from publicly available documentation,

transparency (how accessible endowment investment information is to the public). The aforementioned solar cells on top of Fed Hall were noted, as well as our 42 per cent decrease in

I don’t see any reason why we should be so behind other universities when it comes to sustainability. Looking at the breakdowns of other schools in Canada, there are

In Canada, out of 17 universities across the country, the University of Waterloo ranked second last with a grade of D+ which was from university websites and other agencies. Then, the presidents of the schools, as well as other designated sustainability professionals within the schools, were contacted in the form of surveys to confirm and add to the data collected. Dining services were sent a separate survey, as dining services are normally independent of the school in terms of policies and regulations. In our report card, it seemed that UW did not respond to all the College Sustainability Report Card surveys, but only the “Dining Survey” (the other two being an endowment survey and campus survey, which were likely given to the president). However, the results did mention the currently under-construction Quantum-Nano building and various other things that one wouldn’t relate to dining services, so it is assumed that this data was from the Report Card’s own research and was not confirmed by President Johnston. In the report, they looked at everything from administration (sustainable policies and commitments), and green buildings to endowment

fuel and electricity consumption per square metre and the construction of the new Quantum-Nano Centre, which will have some green features like a partial green roof, a small courtyard, and landscaping along the sides. The entire grading of our university, as well as methodology and comparisons to other universities, can be found at www.greenreportcard.org. Overall, there is a lot of room for improvement, albeit there is some optimism, such as the Eco-Café — serving local, organic and fair trade products — being planned for the new accounting building. This new Eco-Café is also planning to sell no bottled water, but instead have a filtered tap where students can refill their water bottles. I’m wondering why is this not implemented everywhere on campus? As well, we can boast about a partial green roof on a single building or a small array of solar cells, and as wonderful as these initiatives are, how long is it going to take for them to be implemented as standards? As a university with a reputation for innovation, initiative, and all-around intelligence,

many lessons we can take from them to improve our sustainable credentials. For example, our Food Services recently implemented biodegradable take-out containers (yet I still don’t see many composts around), but the University of British Columbia dining services include many organic and local foods as well as a “comprehensive composting and recycling program.” We have the Farmer’s Market come to the SLC regularly every season; let’s implement it more into the dining services. The Waterloo Region is surrounded by farms, after all. When it comes to investment, University of Toronto is invested in renewable energy funds as well as assessing each of their manager’s approaches to environmental, social, and governance factors when it comes to investment.

Sustainability should be the concern of the entire campus. Every faculty can do their part in terms of making this campus sustainable. All of our faculties have buildings and services that can be improved, and all of us students are intelligent and innovative, so coming up with sustainable solutions should not be so farfetched. The College Sustainability Report Card will be coming around again, and next time we should be an example of how to live sustainably, not an example of what not to do. thelferty@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

graphic by sonia lee

Science & Technology

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

For Your PC When brute force with a keyboard just doesn’t cut it Steven R. McEvoy staff reporter

orking as an IT professional who constantly receives requests for help from friends and family, I thought some of the tools, tricks, and tips I use would be of value to my fellow students. What I hope to do is outline and provide information that will help Windows users keep their machines clean, healthy, and functioning efficiently. Some of these tools I have been using for years and some are new to me, thanks to experience in the field or through friends and colleagues. Most of these software programs have a free trial version or scaled-down version for home/personal use, but also have a more advanced version you can buy if you want the extra features. AVG www.avg.com First and foremost, it is important to have good virus software and to keep it up to date. Most software on the market will automatically update and let you know if it has not. AVG is great software and I have been using it for years. I was a huge Norton fan but it became too expensive and resource heavy. AVG has always had a free homeuse version and it is good software that runs efficiently without eating your system resources. The free version is good — the full version is great. AVG also has the ability to scan from the context menu: you can right-click an item or file you downloaded and scan it before opening it. RegCure www.regcure.com You can run this utility for free for a limited time, but will have to buy it eventually. It is fantastic. It will clean up stuff you are not even aware of. The system registry on a Windows-based machine keeps track of many systemwide settings. This is a component of the OS that almost every program you install writes to. What Regcure does is remove the stuff not needed such as lost paths, empty registry fields, uninstalled program information, and more. I know IT guys who run this every day to keep their machines running faster. Now, on a side note, you will hardly ever get zero entries in this software. Because the registry is dynamic and always being updated, it will almost always find a few items to remove.

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AdAware & A-Squared www.lavasoft.com www.emsisoft.com AdAware and A-Squared are very similar, but do their jobs in slightly different ways. They check for tracking cookies, malware, and spyware. Both have free versions and are easy to install, update, and use. I usually load both, update each, and set both to run — then walk away from the computer, go have supper and when I get back both scans are done and my machine is healthier. I always run a deep scan; it takes longer but checks everything on your computer, not just the common items. AdAware has a paid version but it uses more system resources and runs all the time in the background. A-Squared has a convenient feature which allows you to right click any file and scan with it before opening or installing. MalwareBytes www.malwarebytes.org This program has come to be invaluable. It will remove almost any known virus either at work or on systems for friends or family. It is free to download and try; you can pay to upgrade to a pro version. A tip for this one is to update it twice after you install it. The first time it updates the software; the second time it updates the definitions it uses to scan. MalwareBytes has removed the UPS Virus, the XP Antivirus 2008/09, Antivirus Vundoo, and many others. This is an excellent product. If by chance you exposed your system to a malicious program or know it is infected, this is the tool for you. This tool is essential for any student who uses Bit Torrent or downloads a lot from the web. So hopefully if you use a few of these tools you will notice a performance increase from your machine, and it will stay cleaner and healthier for you — because there’s nothing worse than a machine dying the night before an essay or project is due. Note: These applications have been tested on XP Home Edition, XProfessional, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business and Vista Ultimate. If you have any Mac tips to add to this list — or think we’re missing some important PC ones — feel free to write us at science@imprint.uwaterloo.ca.

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Calling all straights

hinking “outside the box” isn’t easy; it takes strength to go against the grain. Now think about trying to lead a lifestyle that, by conventional standards, is “out of the box.” Despite social and historical progress, this is what the LGBT community faces in all aspects of its existence. This is precisely why in this article I would like to focus on the difficulties faced by transsexual persons while attempting to function in society in a way that is satisfying, healthy, and validating to their identity. For a transsexual individual to consider eliciting their transsexual identity in public or in private, gender dysphoria has to be present. This means that an individual is afflicted with his or her sexual identity due to disagreement between physical sex and gender identity. For instance, an anatomical female may be suffering because she feels her anatomy does not match the male gender she identifies with. An individual may also identify with neither gender — which would classify them as gender androgynous. In Canada in particular, the importance of mental health of transgender individuals is stressed, and understandably so. Although research on the topic is only beginning to be conducted, it is evident that chronic depression among

transgender individuals is disturbingly high. The reasons for the high depression rates aren’t difficult to guess — public alienation of transgender individuals, as well as individual gender dysphoria, make it difficult to fit in in a society obsessed with gender conventions. Therefore, transgender people turn to LGBT and support groups to feel validated, revolutionizing society through strength in numbers. Unfortunately, this engagement will be fruitless until the straight population joins the battle for LGBT acceptance.

Earlier this month in Florida, ballot proposition “Proposition 8” allowed Constitutional amendment in terms of same-sex marriage. Radically, the fundamental right to marriage was declared invalid for same-sex couples under law in the state of Florida. The new section now reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The deterioration of gay marriage means that, for the LGBT community, social liberation is an uphill battle even in the 21st century. It is difficult for

My one hope for my generation is that, in the future, straight people will be the ones waving the rainbow flag, because that is the only way to give the LGBT community its rightful validation in society. I believe that in order for gender rights to flourish, both sides of the argument should internalize two things, the first being: flesh is only flesh, and excess or lack thereof does not encompass and individual’s identity, and the second is that if an individual is willing to undergo expensive, life-threatening surgery to alter their anatomical sex, it is reason enough for the procedure to be valid and necessary.

me to witness the same group being alienated, repressed, and then judged on its coping methods all at the same time. My one hope for my generation is that that in the future, straight people will be the ones waving the rainbow flag, because that is the only way to give the LGBT community its rightful validation in society. alomako@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Science & Technology

Taylor Helferty

New camera grenade in development

staff writer

U.K. troops could have a new kind of grenade to help prevent ambushes. The aptly named IBall is a small “grenade” that doesn’t so much as explode as wirelessly transmits a 360 degree view of where it lands. This will really help protect troops when they are rounding corners or entering rooms, preventing an ambush by letting them see the new surroundings before actually entering the area. The I-Ball is also strong enough to withstand being thrown — or shot from a grenade launcher — into its target area. Although the device is still in its early stages of development, Dreampact, the Scottish firm developing the device — is optimistic about it being used in the battlefield of the future, especially urban scenarios.

Interplanetary internet on its way

NASA has recently used software known as Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN) in its first test of deep space communications based on the internet. This first test consisted of sending dozens of images to and from a spacecraft 32.4 million kilometers from Earth. The test was a success, and the software that made it possible was designed with the help of Google’s Vice President Vint Cerf. DTN is able to withstand disruptions and delays, which can be frequent due to the data’s long journey through space and obstacles such as planets or solar storms. As an example, delays in transfers to and from Mars can be between 3 and 20 minutes. Unlike the usual TCP/IP protocol, on which most of the internet runs, DTN does not assume that the connection will be continuous and unbroken. This is a pretty fair step forward towards deep space internet, and can help enhance future space missions. DTN will be loaded onto the International Space Station for testing next summer. USB 3.0 almost here

The specifications for USB 3.0 — which will be known as USB SuperSpeed on the market — have just been released to developers to start implementing into their hardware. Version 1.0 of the specifications provides a maximum bandwidth of 5.0 Gb/s, compared to 480 Mb/s with USB 2.0 (the current common version). While the technology of the new USB is very different, the connector will remain backwards compatible with USB 2.0. The technology boasts simultaneous bi-directional data flow with the bus transitions, whereas 2.0 was uni-directional. USB 3.0 is expected to reach commercial controllers later in 2009, with a customer release scheduled for 2010.

New weapon against cancer cells: a light saber?

British scientists have recently developed a new technology that could fight cancer cells, and it is very much like a light saber from Star Wars. The new technology, which could be in frequent use within five years, is only a couple of millimeters square and can produce a laser beam so small and accurate it can puncture an individual cell. This is a huge breakthrough, as it allows drugs, like ones used in chemotherapy, to enter the cell and do their job much more effectively. Although it isn’t big enough for doctors to spend any down time dueling each other, it can be mounted on fibre optics and is great for getting to hardto-reach places in the body, like the pancreas. The rod of light produced can even maneuver around objects. thelferty@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

— With files from TG Daily, BBC News, Mail Online, and The Daily Telegraph

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Wael Elsweisi staff writer

Forward-facing strollers are bad for your baby’s development

A recent British study, the first of its kind, has found that forward-facing strollers make babies less likely to talk, laugh, and interact, a combination that could cause babies to suffer emotional and language problems throughout their developmental stages. The study analyzed the social behaviour of 2,722 parents and babies, with an experiment where babies were wheeled in strollers for a mile in a way that had them face their parents for half the journey and face away for the other half. Those parents who were facing their babies were twice as likely to talk to their children. Also, the babies’ heart rates fell and were twice as likely to fall sleep, which is taken as a sign of comfort. In sharp contrast, only one baby laughed when wheeled in a non-parent-facing stroller. Other findings of concern include that 62 per cent of all children observed travelled in away-facing strollers, rising to 86 per cent between the ages of one and two. “Our data suggests that for many babies today, life in a buggy is emotionally impoverished and possibly stressful...Stressed babies grow into anxious adults,” developmental psychologist Suzanne Zeedyk of Dundee University in Scotland told CBC. Mother’s exposure to hairspray could lead to son’s genital defects

A recent study concluded that the sons of hairdressers frequently exposed to hairspray products were 2.3 times more likely to be born with hypospadias than the sons of hairdressers not exposed to the products. Hypospadias is a genital defect where the male’s urinary opening appears on the underside of the penis.

The study was based on interviews with 471 mothers with sons born with the defect and 490 mothers with sons free of the defect. Alarmingly, of the 74 mothers who reported regular exposure to hairspray in their first three months of pregnancy, 50 of them had sons with the defect. In contrast, only 294 out of 618 were born with the defect to mothers not regularly exposed to hairspray products. Taking the blame is a group of chemicals found in hairspray called phthalates, which are known to interfere with hormones involved in reproductive systems. The study was performed at Imperial College London and is published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal. Two cancer drugs seem to cure Type I diabetes

A recent study looking into two cancer drugs has found them to be effective against Type I diabetes in mice. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own pancreas in a way that limits its insulin production. The first of the drugs is called imatinib, a drug typically given to leukemia patients to stop their cancer cells from multiplying. The other is called sunitinib, which targets cancerous cells of the kidneys. The joint study between the University of California and Berkeley-based drug maker Plexxikon initially involved the manipulation of mice in a way that led to Type I diabetes. The study found that the mice no longer had diabetes after being treated with either of the two drugs for just a few weeks. Additionally, daily imatinib treatment delayed the onset of the disease in mine, if manifested at all. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. welsweisi@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

— With files from Scientific American, CBC News and Newscientist.com

Day one ©2008 Ernst & Young llp. Ernst & Young refers to a global organization of member ﬁrms of Ernst & Young global limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young llp is a client-serving member ﬁrm located in Canada.

and your world matters Day one. It’s not just about work. It’s about the chance to make a difference to the wider community, to connect with a diverse range of people and places around the world. Bring your passion and interests and we’ll help find a way for you to contribute to the things that matter to you. From your very first day, we’re committed to helping you achieve your potential. so, whether your career lies in assurance, tax, transaction or advisory services, shouldn’t your day one be at Ernst & Young?

What’s next for your future? Visit ey.com/ca/careers and our Facebook page.

Sports & Living

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 sports@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

When athletes are being dishonest by using drugs to increase physical and mental performance it shatters the integrity and honesty of the sport.

tifa han

Drugged and dishonest Scott Chonghar reporter

lthough it may sound obvious to many of us, drug enhancement serves only one purpose: to enhance the performance of bodily functions in many different ways, such as enlarging certain muscle groups or increasing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity, the latter of which is also known as “doping.” Drug enhancement is common among athletes and body builders during competition. In the Journal of Internal Medicine, D.H. Catlin and her colleagues stated that, during an earlier era, blood doping was very common among professional cyclists as officials were passive and not fully aware of the dangerous side effects of these drugs. Then, in the 1960 Rome Olympics, when a Danish cyclist collapsed and died as result of doping, tighter regulations about blood doping were instated. In 1967, the Union Cyclist International (UCI) introduced a set of strict rules, and later the International Olympic Committee (IOC) created the Medical Commission (MC-IOC) to protect the health of the athletes and to ensure equal conditions for all competition. Nevertheless, the desire to win causes athletes to abuse many of the enhancement drugs. Many of these athletes make headlines due to doping on some sort of steroids — for example Canadian cyclist Genevievre Jeanson, who recently admitted to using Erythropoietin (EPO) throughout her career. The biological roles of each hormone differ, though they follow the same pattern of expression in the body. Let’s use EPO as an example, since it is commonly used among athletes. “EPO is hormone that is mainly produced by the kidneys,” UW physiology Prof. Vivian Dayeh explained. “Our

bodies always produce EPO to regulate the production of red blood cells also known as erythrocytes.” The body must maintain an equilibrium in order to function properly. “It’s a cycle,” Dayeh said. “When red blood cells decrease in numbers, specialized cells in the kidneys detect this change and release EPO to increase the production of red blood cells from the bone marrow.” Recently in the journal Sports Medicine Osquel Barroso and his colleagues mentioned that EPO is a hormone commonly used to treat people with anemia, which is a condition where red blood cells are present in insufficient numbers. This commonly results in symptoms such as dizziness and pale skin due to a lack of oxygen supply to the body. However, because it increases the number of red blood cells, it in turn increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to the body tissues and musclues. EPO is used extensively as a performance-enhancing aid in sports — particularly those that require intense physical endurance such as cycling and marathons. One might think these facts are positive aspects of EPO; however, there are many negative side effects as well, including hypertension, headaches, cardiac arrest, and — ultimately — death, according to the Journal of Internal Medicine. Furthermore, being able to increase EPO levels in the body does not mean a decrease to the level of red blood cells can be achieved whenever needed. “When the number of red blood cell increases,” said Dayeh, “so does the viscosity of the blood. [At this point] it will become difficult for the body to pump blood to all tissues of the body, causing clotting wherever vessels cannot compensate for this increased density.” There are many methods of detection of abuse of EPO in the body, according to the Journal of Internal Medicine, including gas chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and

anabolic steroid detection by immunoassay. These methods of detection are fairly similar, but they target different characteristics of the molecule, which may include its melting point, boiling point, or affinity towards certain substrates. Furthermore, the list of enhancement drugs keeps growing. There are some common hormones used frequently, including: Human Growth Hormone (hGH), selective androgen receptor modulator, immunoglobulins factor-1, beta-2 agonists, and diuretic hormones. Aside from the physiological affects of these performance-enhancing drugs, there are also ethical issues, which must be taken into consideration as well. Sports bring athletes from all over the world together to compare their ability, strength, and training in competition under equal conditions and reward those who perform better than others. However, when athletes are being dishonest by using drugs to increase physical and mental performance it shatters the integrity and honesty of the sport. Athletes should be aware of their personal responsibility to the integrity of their sport; this is why the discovery of any prohibited substances in their bodies, whether or not knowingly ingested. means the athletes are considered to have committed a doping offence. Thus the athlete is held accountable drug’s presence. However, there are exceptions: if prohibited drugs are taken for medical purposes, the athlete may apply to be exempt for therapeutic use. These committees (MC-IOC, UCI) have very important roles in keeping the games fair for all the athletes, punishing those who are dishonest, and more importantly, rewarding those athletes who work hard to win with honesty and integrity in the spirit of good sportsmanship. schonghar@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Sports & Living

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

When in Rome — sports of the past

tifa han

Amna Iqbal staff reporter

any of the sports that are played today trace their existence to medieval times. That era was known for its richness of sports and for inculcating the need to win. Everyone wants to win, and many societies worked to promote this instinct. In particular, the ancient Greek and Roman empires have ample sports history. Additionally, there have always been attempts to align sports with the world’s changing circumstances. As such, sports developed associations with religion, climate, class, and warfare.

Sports and climate

Throughout history, sports have linked themselves to climatic and geographical elements. In doing so, they also helped to shape society. Akraurak Akraurak was highly visible among the Inuit people of the far north. The sport was inclusive in that it had no age restrictions. Rules included two captains, an evenly divided team, and marked goals. The positions were not defined, but rather dependent on the individual’s abilities. The main object of the game appears to be driving the ball across the opposing goal line. With some modifications in the rules, akraurak has some similarities to modern-day football. Ndashdilka’l Termed Shinny by the Europeans, this sport was possibly named so because of the curved ended shinny sticks used. Playing grounds included grass and ice, though the area was restricted in terms of size. Team numbers were variable and could reach up to 100. In this sport, passing would occur over the heads of the players. This sport can be seen as the medieval equivalent of today’s field hockey. Sports, sticks, and pebbles

Skiing Skiing is among the most beloved sports of today. The shiny and sophisticated blades used now, however, were not employed in the past. According to The Encyclopedia of Sports, earliest ski

runners were bones from large animals strapped to shoes with leather thongs. The skis were first used in warfare in the Battle of Oslo in Norway in 1200 A.D., but they were not as widely used then. Popularity grew over time. The ski pole traces its roots to the walking stick and the spear or bow used in hunting. Familiarity with snow led men to find ways of manoeuvering in it. Skiing has been an Olympic sport since 1924 and currently includes five disciplines: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined. Curling An early form of curling was rolling a round pebble at a target. The origin of this game is often debated, but it was a game of antiquity and consequence. In ancient days, river bottoms tended to provide a source for these stones. Scott Allen, part of the Warrior curling coaching staff, speculated that “the medieval sport of bowls (better known today as lawn bowling) would be the closest that compares to modern day curling.” Economic and military-oriented sports

In past times, sports served several other functions including economic and military roles. Archery Archery was used for the purposes of livelihood, hunting and defence. It was also used to kill in the course of warfare. Dr. Robert P. Elmer, U.S. Archery Champion and writer of American Archery, concluded that the Aurignacians — a race which existed about 15, 000 years ago — might have the honour of being the first to become skilled with the bow and arrow. These weapons were next employed in Egypt and were initially used for hunting but quickly incorporated into warfare. The sport of modern archery derives from the archery contests of the Olympic games and maintains the precision aspect of earlier combat applications. It first made an appearance in Olympic games in the year 1990. Wrestling Wrestling caters to the instinctive battle instincts of mankind and hones the skill and alertness of the player. In some cases, preparation and practice was initially done on family and neighbours. Ancient wrestling had several risks associated

with it and there was a lack of modern-day rules to limit injuries. The Greeks regarded wrestling highly on the esteem ladder and prehistoric man used these techniques in encounters with wild beasts. SumeroAkkadian civilization has had occurrences of cave drawings of wrestlers from as early as 3000 B.C. Similar wall paintings exist from ancient Egyptian civilizations circa 2400 B.C. In Ancient Greece, wrestling was popularized by art — mostly vase paintings and sculptures. Wrestling has been seen as a military exercise sans weapons. The Greco-Roman wrestling in Greece was a significant part of everyday life. The Greeks also acknowledged wrestling as enhancing grace and symmetry; the sport was used in literature and displayed at festivals. FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame traces the history of wrestling as a sport to the ancient Olympics in 708 B.C., soon after the games’ recorded history began in 776 B.C. The Greco-Roman style has some similarities with freestyle wrestling; it also requires that the legs may not lead to a fall and that there can be no holds taken below the waist, and that tripping and tackling to attain a hold are prohibited. Also known as “catch as catch can,” freestyle wrestling permits the wrestler to use his entire body. As such, he has more options in the holds that he can achieve. The most recent Olympic games, Beijing 2008, had both the Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. Canoe races Canoes and kayaks have been used for economic and military purposes throughout history. They were used for fishing and employed in battles, mostly by Eskimos as well as North and South American Natives. The earliest canoes were built from whalebones and logs with sea lion skin stretched tautly over them and waterproofed with whale fat. The close-topped kayak was developed as prevention against the cold Arctic waters to keep the water from seeping into the canoe. Since these early origins, canoe racing has developed into a world-wide sport. 1936 saw canoes and kayaks — through flatwater racing — make an appearance in the Olympic games. Whitewater slalom canoe had gained popularity

before World War II, but slalom racing was only included in 1972. Foot races Foot races were historically used to enhance strength and endurance — usually done by running through various landscapes. Foot races also served the purpose of delivering messages over large distances. The Greeks had a race in which athletes would run in armour. This increased stamina required in military work. The marathon, a long-distance foot race, is named after the famous Greek story of the soldier Pheidippides who ran about 150 miles from the battlefield of Marathon to Sparta to request help against invading Persians. The Ancient foot races paved way for an immensely popular Olympic sport. Today, foot race athletics are seen to represent the Olympic motto of “Citius, Altius, Fortius” — meaning “faster, higher, stronger” — and include several prolific competitions. The role of sports has evolved over the years, but it still continues to be something that people identify with and enjoy. However, many sports are being played less and less. As Bilal Ahmed, a student of science-biotechnology, pointed out, “While certainly not too ancient, cricket seems to be more time-consuming and patience-oriented than baseball, the latter being better adapted to current fast-paced youth, seeking to have quick fun.” Sports of today still require a lot of hard work and dedication. Hours of practice are rewarding for the players and coaches as well as the spectators. We have certainly come a long way on the sporting front. Sure, there have been differences in rules, the type of equipment, and access to play, but the feeling of enjoyment and the quest to win has not changed. If you’re interested in learning more about sports of the past, check out these resources: • Sports and Games of Medieval Cultures by Sally Wilkins • Sports and Pastimes of the Middle Ages by John Marshall Carter • Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present by David Levinson and Karen Christensen aiqbal@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Social stratification in the sporting world

ports permeates all levels of general society. It touches upon and deeply influences elements such as status, business life, race relations, sex relations, language, and ethical values. Social class division, not surprisingly, is also a part of the sporting landscape. A landmark study conducted by Andrew Yiannakis found that social class divisions are often stark in sports. Class divisions influenced whether one participated in contact or non-contact sports, individual or team sports, how frequent one was a sports spectator, and of course the individual sports they played. Those brought up in a lower class environment were found to be far more likely to engage in combative or hard contact sports such as boxing, wrestling, and football, whereas Yiannakis found that the upper class preferred non-contact, solo or paired sports such as tennis, swimming, fencing, equestrian, golf, and gymnastics.

It’s probably intuitive to most that sports have different cost barriers of participation. Soccer is the most widely played sport in the world for a good reason: it requires nothing more than a makeshift ball and net. Many of the world’s top long distance runners come from some of the world’s poorest countries. The top IBF middle and heavyweight boxers come from mostly humble beginnings. Sports that require expensive equipment and facilities such as golf, gymnastics, swimming, equestrian, and so on are overwhelmingly the domain of the wealthy and upper-middle class. Many theories have been floating about why the preferences of sports vary across social classes, setting aside cost barriers. There is no particular reason why sports such as football, boxing, and soccer should not appeal to the aesthetic values of the upper-class. Various theories have also been presented about why those in the lower class prefer contact sports,

and those in the upper class prefer non-contact sports. Yiannakis hypothesized that those of the lower class have been raised with values that stress toughness, bravery, and aggression as virtuous and this is reflected in the types of sports to which they are attracted. However, the upper-class tend to come from systems which spurned violence and emphasized “academics,” thus leading to their under-representation in contact sports. Yiannakis’s assertions were very controversial; many critics denounced what they saw as perpetuations of class stereotypes. The idea of the lower class as “brutish” and the upper class as “refined” did not sit well with the egalitarians, especially in a post-civil rights enlightenment era. However, some recent studies have lent credence to Yiannakis. A 2002 study by Thomas C. Wilson of Florida Atlantic University, found a large disparity in the participation rates between upper and lower classes, as well as the types of

sports they played. By and large, the wealthy were willing to be spectators to so called “prole” sports such as baseball, basketball, football, and soccer, but in terms of participation stuck to the individual “patrician” sports such as skiing, tennis, golf, and sailing. In the bigger picture, the gap in sport preferences between the different classes is analogous to the differences in taste and aesthetics between upper and lower classes in things such as movies, food, theatre, comedy, and clothes. The upper class has its own distinct tendencies with regards to sporting recreation, while many sports pundits and announcers like to talk about how sports are the “great equalizer.” The truth is that social stratification spills over to the sporting world — perhaps so much so that sports can be seen as a microcosm of the world at large. yliu@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Sports & Living

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Warrior Wrap-up

Think Pink

o think or to think pink, that is the question. A question with a simple answer — think pink! The Record sponsors the annual event happening this weekend, November 28 to 30. It will involve eight varsity games of basketball, volleyball, and hockey, which means there is just about something for everyone to enjoy, and if sports doesn’t tickle your fancy, don’t despair. There will be some fun games and activities Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at the “We Are Warriors” Party Zone (Blue Activity Area, PAC). Another exciting reason to come is the “Waterloo’s Got Talent” dance show, where Waterloo students will be performing. These activities are part of a fundraising initiative in which all the proceeds are going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in Ontario. The goal is to raise $2,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. There will be lots of ways to get involved in the Think Pink weekend, like through in-game promotions — chucka-puck, return of mascot basketball, and shoot for your tuition — and through the activities to help fundraise. There is something for everyone here: sports, entertainment, games, prizes, and a chance to be altruistic. It will be a funfilled weekend. Bring a friend or two. Have lots of fun and go and support your local Warrior. Schedule of Events:

Friday November 28 Women’s basketball vs. Ottawa at 6:00 p.m. (PAC) Men’s basketball vs. Ottawa at 8:00 p.m. (PAC) Men’s hockey vs. UOIT at 7:30 p.m. (CIF) — Chuck-a-Puck for Breast Cancer

Saturday November 29 Women’s volleyball vs. Brock at 1:30 p.m. (PAC) We Are Warriors. Party Zone at 5:00 p.m. (Blue Activity Area, PAC) — Lots of games and activities Women’s basketball vs. Carleton at 6:00 p.m. (PAC) Men’s basketball vs. Carleton at 8:00 p.m. (PAC) — Mascot basketball returns for half time

Sunday November 30 Men’s hockey vs. York at 2:00 p.m. (CIF) — “Shoot for Tuition” and the Varsity Shooting Competition

Upcoming games

Game recaps Women’s volleyball

Women’s hockey

Saturday, November 22 Waterloo 3 RMC 0

Saturday, November 22 York 7 Waterloo 1

Sunday, November 23 Queen’s 3 Waterloo 0

Men’s hockey Thursday, November 20 York 5 Waterloo 4

Wednesday, November 26 Laurier 3 Waterloo 2

Men’s volleyball Saturday, November 22 Waterloo 3 RMC 0

Friday, November 28 vs. Ottawa, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 29 vs. Carleton, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 7 At Brock, 6:00 p.m.

Women’s hockey Saturday, November 29 At Toronto, 4:00 p.m. Sunday, November 30 vs. York, 7:30 p.m.

Men’s hockey

Friday, November 21 Waterloo 3 UOIT 2

Men’s basketball

Men’s squash

Friday, November 28 vs. Ottawa, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 30 vs. York, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 29 vs. Carleton, 8:00 p.m.

Women’s volleyball

Saturday, November 22 Western 5 Waterloo 1 Waterloo 5 Brock 1

Wednesday, November 26 Waterloo 3 Laurier 2

Women’s basketball

Friday, November 28 vs. UOIT, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 21 McMaster 4 Waterloo 2

Sunday, November 23 Queen’s 3 Waterloo 0

Women’s basketball

Men’s basketball

Friday, November 21 Waterloo 79 Ryerson 64

Friday, November 21 Waterloo 59 Ryerson 54

Saturday, November 22 Toronto 69 Waterloo 68

Saturday, November 22 Waterloo 64 Toronto 61

Wednesday, January 7 At Brock, 8:00 p.m.

swimming Friday, November 28 to Saturday, November 29 At Eastern Michagan

Saturday, November 29 vs. Brock, 1:00 p.m.

Track and field Saturday, November 29 UWO Season Opener

Men’s hockey OUA standings

Far East Division GP W L T OTL 15 14 1 0 0 UQTR 13 8 4 0 1 Carleton 1 Concordia 13 7 5 0 12 5 4 0 3 Ottawa 12 5 6 0 1 McGill

PTS 28 17 15 13 11

Far West Division GP W L T OTL 13 10 2 0 1 Laurier 2 Lakehead 14 9 3 0 2 Waterloo 14 8 4 0 13 7 5 0 1 Windsor 12 6 5 0 1 Western

PTS 21 20 18 15 13

Mid East Division GP W L T OTL PTS 14 13 7 6 0 0 Toronto 12 15 5 8 0 2 Queen’s 8 14 4 10 0 0 RMC 7 12 3 8 0 1 Ryerson

Guelph York Brock UOIT

Mid West Division GP W L T OTL 17 7 9 0 1 13 7 5 0 1 14 6 5 0 3 11 2 7 0 2

PTS 15 15 15 6

Women’s hockey OUA standings Laurier Guelph Toronto Brock Queen’s York Waterloo Western Windsor UOIT

GP 13 13 12 13 13 14 12 13 13 14

W 13 9 8 7 7 6 5 3 5 2

L 0 2 4 4 5 8 6 5 8 12

T OTL PTS 26 0 0 20 0 2 16 0 0 16 2 0 15 0 1 12 0 0 11 0 1 11 0 5 10 0 0 4 0 0

michelle bellefontaine

Warriors men’s hockey hones their skills on the ice at Wednesday’s practice. The team has had a successful season so far, winning 8 of 14 games. There are still 14 games left to be played in the season. The next game is today, November 28.

Campus Recreation “Waterloo’s Got Talent” dance show at 6:00 p.m. (PAC) Women’s hockey vs. York at 7:30 p.m. (CIF) — Chuck-a-Puck for Breast Cancer Foundation

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Sponsored by the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and the Graduate Studies Office Need further information? Contact CTE at Ext. 33857

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Sports & Living

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Remember the Warriors Men’s football (left) The Waterloo Warriors lost a valiantly fought match to Laurier — final score: 38 – 23 — at Homecoming on September 27. The team put up a great defense and played a great game. Of the season’s eight games, the Warriors won two and the rest were hard-fought losses.

Women’s hockey (right)

Homecoming — September 27

The Warriors lost their first game of the season 5 – 0 to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. The team has fared well in the season, winning 5 of the 12 games they’ve played so far.

Versus WLU — October 4

courtesy Chris Gilbert

courtesy Wen Zang

Cross country (far left)

Queen’s Open — October 4 Versus Laurier — October 10

The Warriors cross country team won sixth (men) and fifth (women) at the Queen’s Open. The success marks a consistent pattern for the two teams all season.

Men’s rugby (left) The Warriors won 29 – 7 against the Wilfrid Laurier Gold Golden Hawks, one of the four wins the team secured this season. Their greatests success was as 72 – 0 victory against Trent on September 20. courtesy Chris Gilbert

courtesy Tom Mandich

...and Warriors Fans

Women’s soccer (left) The women’s team triumphed over Guelph 2 – 0, one of two wins this season for the team. Their other win was also against Guelph, with a final score of 3 – 1, on September 21.

Figure skating (right)

Versus Guelph — October 11

The Warriors figure skating team competed at the Fall Invitational hosted at Queen’s on November 22, finishing fifth overall. Skaters Adrienne Corbett and Tosha Medeiros placed first in Ladies Intermediate Pairs. The season continues in January with the Winter Invitational, hosted at Western.

Fall Invitational — November 22 courtesy michael selishe

courtesy Chris Gilbert

graphics byTifa Han courtesy Chris Gilbert

Athletes of the Week

got

Dance Show

November 30 6:00 pm | UW PAC Gym

Kim Lee Basketball 4th year, Actuarial Science Ajax, ON

This is a free event. Donations to the CBCF will be accepted at the door. Proudly presented by...

Cam McIntyre

* Limited Quantities

Basketball Registered trademarks of Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership, used under license. © Boston Pizza International Inc. 2005

IMPRINT | NOVEMBER 28

In support of:

2nd year, Rec & Leisure Waterloo, ON

Comics & Distractions

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

Holiday Hullaballoo

by Maggie Clark

33 By Alicia Boers

What would you do to be exempt from exams?

Across 1. Winged 6. Cyrillic alphabet user

“Eat so much food beforehand, that I throw up during the exam.” Simone Palombi

10. Cuzco’s country 14. “Calm down”

2A science/business

15. Close by

“Pee my pants.“ Katie Widmeyer

16. Dentist’s directive

4A ERS

17. No Clue “Poop my pants.” Eric Cameron

18. With the bow, in music 19. Thrown at weddings

4A ERS

20. You might tell celebrators of this African heritage holiday to have this (2 words)

“I’d just write it, exams are easy.“

Nathaniel Stevens

4A mathematical sciences

23. Lend a hand 26. Show ___

“I’d volunteer myself as a lab rat for any sketchy experiment.” Danna Sulaiman

27. Kind of cutlery

1A knowledge integration

28. Quebec party

“I’d pull the fire alarm.” Kristen Deumer

30. Short-sightedness 33. Devoured 34. Top dog

Down

35. Concurs

36. Makes accustomed to

1. Dadaist Jean

37. Flabbergast

38. Hannukah spans this “crazy” time period, according to Adam Sandler

2. Regulus’s constellation

39. Hammer, for one

3. Ring king

40. Demolition stuff

4. After-bath powder

41. Sign of healing

5. Commuter town

44. Garage contents

6. Fashionably

45. Item in a collection

7. Mysterious: Var.

46. Row of arches

8. Torture device

47. Fix, as a pump

9. As in a bookstore

48. Sign up

10. Smutty film

50. Give confidence to

11. External, parasitic organisms

51. Quiche, e.g.

42. Construction site sight 43. New Mexico’s state flower 46. “We ___ the World” 49. Catch 52. Indian bread 53. Let 55. Canine command 57. Lingerie item 58. The night Santa comes 62. Long, long time

12. Take back 13. Apprehension

64. Circus prop 68. No Clue

22. Voters’ problem

60. “Excuse me ...”

69. ___ and terminer (criminal court)

23. Father, in Hebrew

61. Volcano in Sicily

24. Feverish

65. B & B

25. Fool

66. Car nut

29. All the rage

67. “___ the season to be jolly”

71. Corner pieces 72. Poor, as excuses go 73. Zippy flavors

2A AHS

“I don’t know, but I’d really like to.” Bravem Mistry 4A economics

Photos by Ethan Oblak

November 21 Crossword solutions editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

It’s elementary, dear Watson!

Rhetoric rumble

56. The tube, two words 59. This civilization’s calendar apparently predicts the end of the world in 2012

70. Lassitude

“Shoot myself in the foot.” Alan Chalil

54. Points at the dinner table

21. Order between “ready” and “fire”

63. Hawaiian island

3B ACSci

32. Luau fare

31. Dog tag datum

IMPRESSION, BY JIM & LAN

BY PETER N. TRINH

Note: This week’s crossword, cryptogram, and Sudoku solutions will be published in the first issue of Imprint in 2009 and on the internet over the next couple of weeks.

Comics & Distractions

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008

POSTSCRIPT

BY GRAHAM MOOGK-SOULIS

LOOSE SCREWS

RUNAWAY RINGTOSS

BY GEOFFREY LEE & SONIA LEE

IN THE WEEDS BY KURTIS ELTON

BY MATT FIG, BRANDON FORLER, AND KEEGAN TREMBLAY

fp_thinkpink:Layout 1

11/25/08

11:59 AM

Page 1

Proudly presented by...

In support of:

Friday, November 28 LI S T

LI V EN E

100.3

Warrior Basketball vs Ottawa Gee Gees

UND SO F

[W] 6:00 pm, [M] 8:00 pm, PAC Gym

Warrior [M] Hockey vs UOIT Ridgebacks 7:30 PM, UW CIF Arena Your chance to win with the Warrior Chuck-A-Puck

Saturday, November 29

Sunday, November 30

Warrior [W] Volleyball vs Brock Badgers

Warrior [M] Hockey vs York Lions

1:30 pm, PAC Gym Don’t miss the Warrior Party Zone!

2:00 pm CIF Arena One lucky student will shoot for tuition!

Waterloo’s Got Talent Dance Show

LI V EN E

100.3

UND SO F

Warrior Basketball vs Carleton Ravens

LI S T

Doors open @ 5:00 PM in the Blue Activity Area

6:00 pm, UW PAC Gym

[W] 6:00 pm, [M] 8:00 pm, PAC Gym

Warrior [W] Hockey vs York Lions

Mascot Basketball at halftime at the Men’s game.

7:30 pm CIF Arena

Registered trademarks of Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership, used under license. © Boston Pizza International Inc. 2005

* Limited Quantities

Comics & Distractions Watch out, peers!

Nov. 21 @ 9:00 PM On the iXpress somewhere in the depths of Kitchener

: Want to do a pyramid with me? : How much do you weigh?

: A book. What are you getting me for my birthday?

:You don’t ask a lady how much she weighs!

: Crack and anal sex.

: If a lady’s going to get on top of me, I need to know how much she weighs.

CORRECTION

: 130 pounds–and I’m not a lady... Now I feel uncomfortable with this conversation.

Nov 7. @ 3:00 PM At the UW Plaza : (on cellphone) But it’s so huge. Even when it’s tied down.

Dear romeo, you’re a major distraction to me from the first time we rolled in the snow together last year, to our recent cuddling session.You’re the fire of my life which is a good thing because I love the heat of your body.You’re hard to resist like chocolate to a girl’s mouth. I don’t want to resist anymore. I love you I just wanted to let you know.Your Juliet Dear ENGL 408B Hottie:Your ads get me so horny that all I can think about is YOU dripping some vanilla extract all over my nipples and lathering mushed banana peels across my ass. Stop resisting my hunky tunnels of love. Baby cakes, embrace chaos, come to Hollywood. Dear Prudence, I saw you standing there in the middle of an octopus’ garden and I would’ve been happy just to dance with you. I knew it won’t be long till I get you into my life. Because my life meant nothing till there was you. I would drive my car through a long and winding road or travel across the

Nov. 26 @ 6:15 PM SLC Atrium

: What are you getting me for my birthday?

: Oh. That’s what you meant by pyramid.

universe until we come together. I would give you all my loving any time at all. And I hope that in the end, there is something that will make you act naturally and hold me tight. -The Walrus P.S. I love you To the girl who felt the need to write into last week’s Missed Connections about “that fat ginger gremlin in our residence”: you fucking suck. While it confuses me in itself that the majority think it’s OK to discriminate against “ginger kids,” being cruel and insulting to some poor kid using a common lounge is definitely not OK. Lounges are meant for everyone in the residence, so why not employ that age old kindergarten philosophy we call “sharing?” One can only assume the “gremlin” in question has far more to offer to this planet than cruel-spirited individuals like you ever will. Sincerely, Hoping you die sad and alone.

Cryptograms

Imprint, Friday, November 28, 2008 The walls have ears.

Nov. 20 @ 2:30 PM Arts Quad

Your hopes and fears

…Campus Creep hears.

Nov. 25 @ 4:00 PM ESC by Chem Stores

Nov. 21 @ 2:15 PM DWE 1501 : Typical situation. He thinks it’s our first time but it’s not. It’s my second time!

: Those God damned Catholics, always trying to make me have their babies.

: You guys look cold. : Yeah.

: It’s my third time.

: ...

: Yeah.

: Oh, that’s good! The first time is always the best.

: But, whatever. If I got pregnant, I’d just have an abortion anyways.

: You know, I could show you a part of my body too, it gets cold sometimes. I can’t show you now. I have to show you later.

: The first time, I was kind of confused but now I get it. : Yeah. I didn’t know what to do and it kind of hurt.

Nov. 26 @ 5:30 PM SLC

Nov. 24 @ noon Feds office : Yes. you should.

: Why would it hurt you?

: Swaziland has a 40 per cent AIDS rate.

: Yes. you should!

: Only in quantum mechanics...

: Not for long!

Dear Coco(puff) Princess, You were a no-show in 273 this summer; what happened? A guy can only hold on for so long... I’d really like to see your pretty face and that red sweater a few times. I would really like to get to know you, I’m a lot closer to you than you think. Here’s hoping, your future man. Funny when I first met you, I didn’t even notice you were there! But the 2ndtime around we danced like the wind! And sparks flew everywhere. I wish Icould boogie with you all night long wink wink nudge nudge. Want to go out for a walk to remember the night Pat Murphy died? It’s a night I know I’ll never forget. When we get back, I can bake you cookies and you can give me a nice scalp massage. If I wasn’t in a bind,I’d be all over you.Take me I’m almost yours. –Kisskiss We have always been good friends. Remember that time we hooked up on the couch when we were drunk? Or that time

Maggie Clark

: No, you shouldn’t!

: Because it was in two places at once.

Sudoku

in the office at work when we had some fun? We have had some crazy times including several in your car. I just want you to know I love you more than ever and find you extremely sexy. Dear Bus Boy, every morning that I see you initiates a fantasy day dream on the bus. I envision your arm around me; I see us walking to class together, engrossed in conversation. I see us laughing and annoying others on the bus with our happiness... We lock eyes. And I wonder. I pray you sit next to me.You do. Do you feel it too? I see you working at Wasabi and Curry up! on Tuesdays and Fridays.You are always working with two guys, are any of them your boyfriend? You are beautiful. Not only do you push the buttons on the curry till but the buttons to my heart.The smell of curry reminds me of your face. I like dancing... to video game music. However, it is hard with only one leg and no arms. But by now, I can tell that you want to hang out with me. I’ll drop my number off on

: But it’s so wrong!

tuesday and we can partay down. Sincerely, stumpy. Hey funnyman, I’ve definitely noticed you looking my way but I thought it was too good to be true. You seem like an awesome person too! I look forward to you making me laugh... in or out of class! Maybe we could go out sometime and you could do your best at making me giggle all night long...Make your move sexy and we’ll see if we can make the holidays a little hotter. From the girl who laughs out loud in class.

Thanks for a great term, readers. Keep sending your holiday hysteria to:

distractions@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

and we’ll make your New Year’s resolutions our New Year’s publications.

Maggie Clark

jwp-dcx-nr-jwp-zcfp-cf-enj-jn-

Nov. 21 Sudoku solutions editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

fpioap-tspdfoap,-goj-jn-dvncl-tdce. — dacfjnjsp rjlpxuluxsf-xo-fsu-jeovsfoxnyeksj-vesvye-kly yxfr-xf-yspe

— ly n e j u e x f o u e x f • • • • • • • • • •

Monster Hoops Toonie/Quarter Toss Ring Toss Spin the Wheel Gator Pong 4-Corner fireball Cotton Candy Lemonade Pizza Popcorn