Imprint_2010-11-19_v33_18 by Editor Imprint

Impr int The university of Waterloo’s official student newspaper

Friday, November 19, 2010

Vol 33, No

imprint . uwaterloo . ca

UW releases apology for author cancellation Christie Blatchford does not take stage after protest, but may return to UW

News New UW buildings to open in March

Protesters demonstrate prior to Christie Blatchford’s scheduled speech last friday at the Humanities Theatre. Eleonora Meszaros imprint intern

fter cancelling her appearance due to vocal protests, the University of Waterloo has apologized to an author and the audience that had gathered to hear her speak in the Humanities Theatre last Friday. Journalist and columnist Christie Blatchford cancelled her scheduled appearance on Friday night,

where she had planned to discuss her new book Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear and Anarchy and How the Law Failed All of Us by vocal protests. She had been invited to speak on campus by the university bookstore. Blatchford’s book chronicles government action during 2006 protests in Caledonia, Ontario. First Nation protesters had demonstrated against efforts by a corporate land developer to build on land that the protestors claimed they are entitled to

Gina Racine

due to rights laid out in treaties with government. Members of KW Anti-Racist Action (ARA) took the stage following a teach-in that was held regarding the topics surrounding the book. The demonstrators were critical about the lack of historical context in Blatchford’s book, and were concerned that she was presenting a one-sided view of the Caledonia issue.

Arts & Entertainment Second Box Art show at the Breithaupt Block

See DISSIDENTS, page 3

Chan is Champ: Vincent Chan places first in men’s tennis sports editor

e went in the Number 1 seed, and came out the Number 1 seed. Warriors rookie tennis star Vincent Chan won the OUA individual title last weekend. The tournament was hosted by York and took place at the Rexall Tennis Centre. “The key to a good tournament was preparation. Continuously finding time to practise with my team was critical for my ongoing high level performance over the entire season,” said Chan.

Warrior’s head coach Marlon Coelho said he could not explain how proud the team is of Vincent. “It is great to have a rookie enter our system and achieve what he achieved. It is something that very few players in the past have achieved,” he said.. Chan was the Number 1 seed going into the tournament, but did not succumb to the pressure. “I have been playing competitive tennis before coming t the University of Waterloo, so I did not succumb to the pressure of being the Number 1 seed,” Chan added. “ I favoured my chances knowing

Day one

that I was undefeated in the regular season and having good teammates cheering me on gave me a boost of confidence as well.” “I told him that he is a great player and has a chance to win it all and he did,” Coelho said. Chan defeated Toronto’s Varsity Stefan Smic in the final by a score of 6–3, 6–3. He did not lose a match all season, and was named OUA top all star. Waterloo finished fifth as a team, while the gold medal went to the Montreal Carabins. Toronto took home silver while Western received the bronze.

“I think we lacked the finishing touch that we needed to win the championships. We have a great group of guys, however some of them did not rise to the occasion and that is what cost us the most,” said Coelho. Four out of the other five members of the Warriors’ team lost in their first round matches. Alex Sahu, Robert Vincent, Pete Szapkowski, and Nachiket Yardi all bowed out after one match. Zubair Virjee won his first round match before getting eliminated in his second. The team with the most individual wins was deemed OUA champions.

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Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010 news@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Dissidents shout down author’s speech Book talk rescheduled after activists take to stage with bike locks around their necks, shouting “racist”

Photos by Gina Racine

Three demonstrators, including UW PhD student Dan Kellar (rear right), put bike locks around their necks to prevent UW police from easily removing them from the stage on Friday. As a result of their actions, UW was forced to cancel the scheduled presentation from author Christie Blatchford. Continued from front page

Students and activists dispersed amongst the audience to await Blatchford’s arrival. Members of ARA took the stage with a banner reading “Anti-Racist Action” while protesters at the back of the room set up similarly, bearing a sign with a Martin Luther King quote. Others set up on stage, and accused Blatchford of being a racist and Nazi sympathizer. Charged debates ensued between protesters and the audience, with mixed reactions throughout the theatre. The event was eventually cancelled by the university after both UW police and local police arrived on scene. They later cited safety issues for cancelling the event. Blatchford said she was unaware of the protest before arriving, but had expected mild activism because of the nature of the book. Blatchford said that when she arrived on campus for the event, she was surprised that protesters had taken over the stage, but she remained eager to provide the presentation on her book. “I meant it when I said I wanted to go out there and speak. I was willing to do it even if the protesters remained,” she said. According to Blatchford, UW officials did not feel they could adequately protect her from the protesters.

After the incident, Blatchford defended her work. “It’s not an opinion book, it’s a reporting book. It is about the defamation of the rule of law during the occupation, not about the occupation or the natives,” Blatchford explained. “The rule of law means we are equal and bound by the same group of laws, and that didn’t happen in Caledonia.” With many remarks throughout the night calling Blatchford a racist and a neo-Nazi, she said there is no way for her to respond to the accusations. “I’m not a racist, my book is not racist, and I’m certainly not a neo-Nazi. I don’t know what to say to such ludicrous accusations, particularly by people who have never read the book,” she said. “The protesters certainly did win, but you’re supposed to be at a university — [a] defender of free speech, freedom of expression — and you’re supposed to believe in that. I’m extremely disappointed I didn’t get to speak, especially at a university,” she said. Protesters working with ARA did not share these same views about silencing Blatchford. Dan Kellar, University of Waterloo doctoral student and one of three protesters involved in the on-stage demonstration, felt the group had been extremely successful in blocking Blatchford’s

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Protesters from a group calling themselves “AntiRacist Action” took to the stage carrying this banner while calling Blatchford a “racist” and “Nazi.”

appearance. “We were there to prevent her from speaking,” Kellar said. “She neglects to include historical context [in her writing] and it leads to misinformation. As settlers we have to take into consideration the history of our land, which Blatchford fails to do in her writing.” Kellar said he took a role in protesting against Blatchford’s appearance in the academic setting of UW, as he feels she is a non-academic figure. “This is an academic setting and she has no place coming here to talk in an un-academic fashion,” he said. Concerns about Blatchford’s legitimacy were echoed by other protesters on Friday night. Kellar said he felt the protest was a success that would be repeated. “If she comes again, she’ll be blocked again,” he said. The University of Waterloo has released an official apology to Blatchford and all attendees for the disruption. “The university considers Friday’s events as an attack on its presence as a place where issues are explored, discussed and at times debated,” it said. According to Michael Strickland, UW’s assistant director of media relations, the university plans to reschedule the event. “It was very disappointing to have to reschedule the event because of the behaviour of a limited number of people.

We hope to have her back as soon as possible,” he said. Blatchford said she hopes the university will reschedule the event so she can express the importance of the ideas in her book. Strickland said that Friday night’s protest was unanticipated, and hopes that UW will be better prepared to handle similar situations in the future. “The surprise was the cancellation. A small minority believed they knew better than everybody else and felt it appropriate and in their right to shut her down,” Strickland said. Undeterred, the university has begun preparing emergency measures for a future event featuring Blatchford. “The task of UW security between now and the event is to figure out the best approach for providing a safe forum. We now have to worry about people coming in purely to disrupt, we’ll have to have more security procedures than we would like and it will be up to UW police to determine how that will be best handled,” Strickland said. “There are people specifically coming to disrupt this and that’s unusual for us because most of the time we have peaceful debates and discussion. Something will be prepared.” emeszaros@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

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Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

New buildings take shape on main campus

Above: Engineering 6, on the west side of the main campus near the newly opened Engineering 5 building, is still under construction. Chemical engineering will be the primary beneficiary of the new building, which broke ground in September 2009. It is set to be completed in March 2011. Ryan Webb news editor

onstruction crews have been working fiercely on campus over the last year, and the latest results of their labour are expected to be revealed this winter. Four large academic buildings have been slated for completion by March 2011. Math 3 is being built north of Math and Computing. The 90,000 square feet of new space will house the math faculty’s department of statistics and actuarial science. The expansion will allow the other departments to take space in MC and DC. Environment 3 is a 40,000 square-foot building that will face the west side of Ring Road. It will be adjoined to EV2 and will provide space for the growing faculty.

Engineering 6 is set to join the newly opened Engineering 5 on the east side of campus. Its labs will provide safer and more efficient labs for chemical engineering research groups in plastics and polymer science engineering, biochemical and biomedical engineering, green reaction engineering, and advanced materials engineering. The $160 million Quantum-Nano Centre, as its name suggests, will be focused primarily on nano-scale research. Its initial labs will specialize in nano-scale metrology, nano-fabrication, nano-instruments, and nano-biosystems. With their completion expected in the next couple of months, the buildings are set to begin full operations by September 2011.

Above: The four-storey Math 3, located north of MC, will primarily host the department of statistics and actuarial science. Below: Environment 2, on the west side on Ring Road, will host laboratory, teaching and study spaces, and offices. It is also set to be the controversial home of the first Starbucks on campus.

news@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Celebrate Tobacco-Free Sport & Recreation in Waterloo Region Photos by Eleonora Meszaros

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News

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

Flower power kills cancer cells Julia Peters and Eleonora Meszaros imprint interns

Researches trap antimatter

A team of researchers from the University of Calgary and institutions across Canada have recently discovered how to trap atomic antimatter. It is the conclusion of five years of research to gain a better understanding of our universe. Conducting experiments in the quarters of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Dr. Rob Thompson, head of physics and astronomy at U of C, hopes that the experiments will result in dramatic changes to the current view of fundamental physics. The goal of the experiments were to trap and store antihydrogen, the simplest of all antimatter atoms, with the purpose of studying them. Scientists and students alike have played

leading roles in the experiment. “It’s been a rare privilege and a tremendous learning experience taking part in this ground-breaking international endeavour,” said Richard Hydomako, PhD student at U of C. Currently the team is working on developing tools to further their study of antimatter. Extract kills cancer cell

Pamela Ovadje and Sudipa Chatterjee, graduate students at the University of Windsor, have created a dandelion root extract that they believe has the ability to kill some types of cancer cells. From their biochemistry lab, the two experimented on commercially available human leukemia cells. The extract contains components that attack these leukemia cells and cause them to effectively commit suicide within 24 hours. “It started cell death activity in leukemia cells very quickly,” said Chatterjee.

“They were almost all dead within 24 hours, in fact, they even continued to die after the extract was removed.” The students used a water-based formula and an extraction method they developed themselves. Cancer cells were then treated with the extract and analyzed. The students are excited about their results but understand that seeing them transformed into actual leukemia treatment is a long way off. “What you see in vitro doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see it in animals or humans,” cautioned Ovadje. Quidditch at McMaster

Quidditch, the game played by wizards in Harry Potter, has arrived at McMaster University.Crystal Ramchandani and Kishish Nathwani, two students, have organized the university’s first ever Quidditch team. The International Quidditch Association has created rules for real life play, adapted from the books.

“We try to keep it as close to the original game as possible so things like the goal rings, which are supposed to float, are put on a pole, replicating the basic idea,” said Ramchandani, who originally heard about the game from a friend at Ryerson University. Looking to create an atmosphere where people can have fun, Ramchandani said, “We’re planning to sell butter beer to raise funds, host a marathon movie night, and organize a Yule Ball, just like in the book.” The International Quidditch Association counts hundreds of teams already active or forming at university, college, and high school levels. Pro-life group banned at Carleton

On Monday, the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) decertified Carleton Lifeline for holding antiabortion views. The club’s views against abortion violated the anti-discrimination policy of CUSA. “It’s very ironic

that they have a discrimination policy that allows them to discriminate against pro-life groups,” president of Carleton Lifeline, Ruth Lobo said. She also said that CUSA assumes that all students are pro-choice, which is not the case. “CUSA claims to be representative of all students, but as a pro-life student, I am not represented by an organization that I am forced to pay dues to in my tuition,” she said. Lobo feels that CUSA should create a policy through which students can opt out of fees or get rid of the discrimination policy. Because of the anti-abortion position, Carleton Lifeline can no longer promote its views on campus, lobby in any way that would oppose CUSA’s position, book space for advocacy or events, or be eligible for any funding. — With files from Journal of Ethnopaharmacology, University of Calgary, University of Windsor, McMaster University and National Post.

Newly freed Burmese Nobel laureate calls for non-violent revolution Riaz Nathu staff reporter

Pirates release British couple

After 388 days, hostages Paul and Rachel Chandler were safely returned back to the United Kingdom this past weekend. While vacationing on their yacht from Seychelles to Tanzania the British nationals were hijacked by Somali pirates and captured Oct. 23, 2009. The couple was forced to sail towards Somalia. Paul Chandler spoke briefly to the BBC reassuring their condition: “We’re fine, we’re rather skinny and bony, but we’re fine.” The couple has refrained from giving any interviews for the time being as they settle back into their lives and reconnect with family members. The ransom paid, reportedly 600,000 GBP ($972,000 CAD), was partly raised by the Somali community in the U.K. Members of the community were also able to aid in the release effort by using local contacts in the region. Pirating off the coast of Somali

continues to be a serious problem, however, attacks are more frequent with commercial vessels than privately owned. Compensation for ex-Guantanamo detainees

The U.K. government will give compensation to around 12 men accused by British security forces. The men, all British citizens or residents, were detained years ago and tortured at the infamous Guantanamo prison in Cuba. While debates about the amount of compensation are still ongoing, it is expected to be in the millions. The charge by the former detainees is that U.K. officials were “Complicit in their transfer and should have prevented it and their ill-treatment.” Shami Chakrabarti, a detainee’s lawyer, commented on the payments. “It’s not very palatable but there is a

price to be paid for lawlessness and torture in freedom’s name. There are torture victims who were entitled to expect protection from their country,” he said. Settlement amounts will likely never be publicized. Peacekeeper kills Haitian protester

A demonstrator was shot and killed by a United Nation peacekeeper during a recent clash in Quarter Morin, on the outskirts of Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city. “There was a demonstrator who had a weapon and fired at a soldier, and the soldier returned fire in legitimate self-defence,” said Minustah (UN mission in Haiti) spokesman Vicenzo Pugliese. Some Haitians have blamed peacekeepers from Nepal for the recent outbreak of cholera. Representatives from the UN mission have confirmed that tests have been carried out, and no cases were found

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among the peacekeepers. Protests come at a tense time with increased cases among the public and nearly 900 people dead as a result of the epidemic. Haiti was hit by a severe earthquake earlier this year, which largely destroyed vital infrastructure in the capital city region of Port-au-Prince. Burma’s junta releases Suu Kyi

After spending 15 of the past 21 years under political house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of assassinated Gen. Aung San, was released by the Burmese government. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) addressed her supporters on Monday of this week. Suu Kyi called for a “non-violent revolution,” which she described as a radical shift in thinking and process. Her release comes after last week’s elections which solidified the junta’s

rule and has been seriously questioned by democracy activists and Western leaders. Suu Kyi said that she bore her captors no “antagonism.” Continuing with her campaign for democracy and human rights, she plans on listening to the people before her next move. Sanctions against Burma have significantly crippled the economy, where one-third of the population lives in poverty. “If the people really want sanctions to be lifted, I will consider it,” said Suu Kyi. “This is the time that Burma needs help. Western nations, eastern nations, the whole world ― everything starts with dialogue.” President Barack Obama has called Suu Kyi a personal “hero” and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon said that she was an inspiration. — With files from BBC, Macleans, Vancouver Sun, and the Guardian

Opinion

From book discussion to protest

IMPRINT The University of Waterloo’s official student newspaper

Friday, November 19, 2010 Vol. 33, No. 18 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, Gina Racine editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Advertising & Production Manager, Laurie Tigert-Dumas ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca General Manager, Catherine Bolger cbolger@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Co-op placements, Annie Laufer, David Lehto, Eleonora Meszaros, Julia Peters Intern, Anthony Smyth Sales Assistant, Lana Fell Systems Admin., Ben Waismark Distribution, Abdul Asmat Distribution, Ali Saeed Volunteer co-ordinator, Michael To Board of Directors board@imprint.uwaterloo.ca President, Angela Gaetano president@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Vice-president, vacant vp@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Treasurer, Howard Leung treasurer@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Secretary, Erin Thompson secretary@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Staff liaison, Keriece Harris liaison@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editorial Staff Assistant Editor, Brent Golem Head Reporter, vacant Lead Proofreader, Divyesh Mistry Cover Editor, Steve Cutler News Editor, Ryan Webb News Assistant, Luna Wei Opinion Editor, Clara Shin Opinion Assistant, Lindsay Simmons Features Editor, Dinh Nguyen Features Assistant, Zoe Kim Arts & Entertainment, Michael Chung Arts Assistant, Marta Borowska Science & Tech Editor, Jordan Campbell Science & Tech Assistant, Jennifer Nguyen Sports & Living Editor, Namish Modi Sports & Living Assistant, vacant Photo Editor, Ethan Oblak Photo Assistant, Sophie Côté Graphics Editor, Alcina Wong Graphics Assistant, Majuratan Sadagopan Web administrator, Marta Borowska Production Staff Stephen Kearse, Chantal Jandard, Mika Ilic, Chester Yang, Michelle Sterba, Winona So, Brittany Nychka, Jacqueline McKoy Lambert, Rebecca Clyburn, Emily Richardson, Komal Sandhu, Anui Vasishta, Gabriela Grant Imprint is the official student newspaper of the University of Waterloo. It is an editorially independent newspaper published by Imprint Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. Imprint is a member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA). Editorial submissions may be considered for publication in any edition of Imprint. Imprint may also reproduce the material commercially in any format or medium as part of the newspaper database, Web site or any other product derived from the newspaper. Those submitting editorial content, including articles, letters, photos and graphics, will grant Imprint first publication rights of their submitted material, and as such, agree not to submit the same work to any other publication or group until such time as the material has been distributed in an issue of Imprint, or Imprint declares their intent not to publish the material. The full text of this agreement is available upon request. Imprint does not guarantee to publish articles, photographs, letters or advertising. Material may not be published, at the discretion of Imprint, if that material is deemed to be libelous or in contravention with Imprint’s policies with reference to our code of ethics and journalistic standards. Imprint is published every Friday during fall and winter terms, and every second Friday during the spring term. Imprint reserves the right to screen, edit and refuse advertising. One copy per customer. Imprint ISSN 0706-7380. Imprint CDN Pub Mail Product Sales Agreement no. 40065122. Next staff meeting: Monday, November 22 12:30 p.m. Next board of directors meeting: Friday, November 19 2:30 p.m.

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010 opinion@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Christie Blatchford made headlines across the tri-cities and Imprint had front row seats

oy was I surprised Friday evening, when what I thought would be a simple book discussion turned into a full-fledged protest. I guess I was being naive to think that such a controversial topic would not spark the interest of several educated students, protesters, and local residents. Regardless, I asked one of our interns to take on the task of covering the event — one of her very first — that I would be helping her with, of course. Both of us assumed that some variation of the following would occur: we would meet Christie Blatchford as scheduled before her talk, ask her a few questions about her book and why she was at the University of Waterloo, snap a picture of her with the book, and then be on our merry way. Needless to say, that’s definitely not how it went down. Let me begin by saying that I am not against peaceful protest in any way, shape, or form. When the police get called, however, it’s no longer peaceful. Most of the protesters did raise the valid point that only Blatchford was invited to speak — no one from the other side was invited to speak alongside her.

If Blatchford was merely coming to speak about her book Helpless, then why should UW’s public relations team assume that a controversial debate would ensue? “We’re here to see Christie!” and “Rent your own stage!” were some of the comments coming from those who perhaps also shared this assumption and were there to hear about Blatchford’s book. I agree that every person has the right to free speech, but it appears in this instance Christie Blatchford may not have been given this right without her safety potentially being compromised. UW campus police arrived first, followed by the local police, which I believe was probably necessary. I read afterwards (and heard during the protest) that one or more of the involved had been arrested during previous protests, including the G20. So, while someone could potentially be getting assaulted or have their house broken into, our police were spending their time at what was supposed to be an author talking about a book. What a shame. Do I think it was also a shame that Blatchford did not appear on stage that evening? Absolutely. But can you blame her?

If we want to see a change in this world, we need to protest. We need to ask our governments tough questions and urge people to actively seek change. If we stand still and do nothing, the outcome will be just that — nothing. I’m just questioning if silencing someone before they are given the chance to speak is the right way to accomplish change. Whether Blatchford is a neo-Nazi or a racistsupporter is for you to decide. Good or bad, though, giving someone a great amount of attention is only good for their book sales. I even overheard a few people at the event say that, despite the fact that they don’t agree with Blatchford’s views, they will buy her book out of interest and curiosity. You know what they say, no press is bad press, at least when it comes to the media. I doubt that this was the ultimate goal of the protesters — to help increase Blatchford’s book sales, that is. Hopefully, Christie Blatchford will consider returning to the University of Waterloo despite the negative reception she had on Friday evening. If she does, I would love to hear, now more than ever, what she has to say.

Community Editorials Pandora’s box cracked open Matt Colphon 4a math and business

oo many Asian students are clogging up universities ... or something like that. On the surface that’s what Maclean’s article “Too Asian” seems to be saying. Some anonymous students are choosing not to go to certain schools — including Waterloo — because the racial demographic doesn’t suit their style of learning. At the risk of sounding like a bigot, I think they have a point. When Waterloo redefined its brand, it chose words like “collaborative” and “intellectual” over “rounded” and “communal.” We recruit

the smartest students. Waterloo is a school of incredible academic rigour, where by the third week of term, there are more suits than sweatpants on campus and the average Wednesday night population of the DC dwarfs the attendance of an entire month at Bomber. This doesn’t mean that as a school we aren’t capable of attracting socially adept students. We just don’t make a point of asking for them. We aren’t renowned for putting the same emphasis on creating a well rounded experience as we do on maintaining a brilliant scholarly reputation. This article affirmed something I already knew. Some cultural groups — particularly East Asian parents —

have a tendency to push their children, and have a tendency to expect children to study to be doctors, engineers, accountants, and any other degree that ends with a job. As the family of one of my friends put it, “Go and get a degree in something useful.” And don’t forget to study hard. I won’t comment on whether their methods are better or worse, but they certainly are different than “Canadian” standards and produce a different persona entirely. The result is that the colours of our blessed cultural tapestry tend to clash from time to time. No one should be surprised when higher learning is filled with students pushed to have this drive, and when the programs above have enrolments biased to one racial group.

While I don’t think that a school being too Asian, too white, or too any other ethnicity, is valid selection criteria; in my eyes viewing a school as too academic, too frivolous, or too segregated is a perfectly logical reason to choose somewhere more to your liking. These anonymous high-schoolers might be using the words “too Asian” as a synonym for too academic. Maybe it’s time we looked at ourselves and asked if all that academic rigour is really creating the best experience for the country’s best students. Or maybe it’s time we just asked “Are our students truly happy?” Either way, we’ve brought up a topic that we can’t shy away from now.

UW student protestors force Blatchford away Aracy Selvakumar political science

hat was supposed to be a “meet-theauthor” event with Christie Blatchford, author and columnist for the Globe and Mail, quickly turned into a shouting match between a group of protesters and select members of the audience on Friday night in the Humanities Theatre here at UW. Blatchford’s recently released book, Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear and Anarchy, and How the Law Failed All of Us, was the intended topic for the nights’ event. The book is about the experiences of residents in Caledonia, Ontario beginning in 2006 and the ensuing conflict between the Native peoples of the region and the OPP. The protest to Blatchford’s talk was partly due to the view held by many of the attendees that Blatchford is racist and promotes racist views, as well as opposition to her book which protesters are against since she blatantly disregards the history of the land claim issue and focuses solely on the experience of non-Native Caledonian residents. Their primary opposition appeared to be her statement that her book “Is not about Aboriginal

land claims,” which brings the entire contents of her book out of context as the dispute is inextricably entrenched in the history of land claim. In the end, due to the protest and lockdown, Blatchford never made it to the stage and instead opted to reschedule the event. So, in short, the protesters won. How did they win? Well the mantra of “racist, racist, racist” was essentially the backbone to the protest and the default response by the protesters. The protesters were representatives of the Six Nations Solidarity Network and their goal Friday night, to shut down the event and force Blatchford to cancel the talk, was certainly achieved. The protest did not start off entirely disruptive, but quickly became so, fuelled by the angry shouting of community members who opposed the protesters’ presence on the stage. The “intelligent, informed, and spirited debate” that event co-ordinator Michael Strickland hoped for was nowhere to be seen, at least, not in the theatre anyway. If it was intellectual debate that Strickland was hoping for, the teach-in organized by the protesters that took place before the scheduled talk was precisely that. The teach-in allowed for interested participants to engage in civilized, respectful, and

critical debate on the topics of both the book and the author. It should be noted, however, that not all the protesters who were against Blatchford wanted to shut down the event. In fact, many were interested in hearing her speak and having her respond to their questions. Strickland said that he was quite prepared for a spirited question and answer and that after receiving notification that there were people coming from an organization on campus he was prepared to welcome them. The talk that was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. was delayed as Blatchford was caught in traffic. The protest actually started out very quietly; large banners in support of anti-racism were silently displayed on the stage and at the back of the room. When the banner on the stage was removed, it revealed three people sitting down and locked together in protest. As time passed, and our expected speaker was still missing, a community member from the audience who was interested in presenting some facts about the situation approached the podium and expressed an interest in reading from a fact booklet. See BLATCHFORD, page 7

Opinion

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

Community Editorials

UW student protestors force Blatchford away Continued from page 6

This book, entitled Land Rights, A Global Solution for the Six Nations of the Grand River, is a publication by the Six Nations Lands and Resources Department which is a department of the Six Nations Council, which to be clear, is a distinct organization from the group the protesters represented. This community member’s wish to read from a fact booklet was faced with a shockingly vocal opposition from other community members who had attended the event to hear Blatchford speak. This strong opposition led to an equally vocal objection from the organizers of the protest. So as one side chanted “rent your own stage” the other side began to chant “no racists in KW.” By 7:50 p.m., nearly one hour past the intended start time for the event, Blatchford still had not approached the stage, but had apparently

arrived at the university. By 8pm, Strickland announced that the event would be rescheduled and that Blatchford would return at another time under more respectful conditions. In the end, the protestors achieved their goal without being arrested or dragged out by the police. When asked after the event if any of this kind of protest was anticipated, Strickland replied saying that he was “fully aware that the book was going to be controversial but in all the time that I’ve been here, we’ve never seen that level of disrespect.” He admitted to being surprised since “the university is generally capable of having an intelligent, informed, and spirited debate without digressing into name-calling and calling people racist.” Strickland also said that “we’ve had controversial speakers before and in the time that I’ve been here, I can’t think of anything where a small group of people so thoroughly disrespected a speaker that we didn’t even

have her come out and say anything.” Strickland expressed his disappointment that the protesters “Were incapable of showing a modicum of respect towards a speaker they disagreed with.” Personally, I am inclined to agree. While I admit I am no authority on the issue and frankly have very little exposure to Blatchford’s work, I cannot help but feel that the manner in which the protest took shape was inappropriate in a university setting. To be clear, I sympathize with the protesters’ desire to criticize Blatchford and ask critical questions of her, however, it is the manner in which they chose to conduct this protest that I disagree with. To refuse to hear her arguments is to refuse to discuss the issues. Refusing her the right to share her views is the same as what the protesters are accusing Blatchford of: ignoring one side of the argument. If anything, the protests antagonized community members who

may have otherwise been receptive to criticism if presented in a more respectful manner. While it is tempting to lay all of the blame on the protesters, it should also be noted that the audience in support of Blatchford were equally disrespectful and resistant to engaging in intelligent debate. Screaming at the protesters to “get off the stage” or to “rent their own stage” is both ineffectual and disruptive. While it is true that the protest would have occurred regardless of the audience’s reaction, perhaps it might not have been as explosive if the audience was more receptive to the opposing side’s arguments. In short, the night turned out not to be the event we expected, but Blatchford does intend to return to UW at a later time and in a different environment. So will there be a repeat of Friday night’s protest when Blatchford returns? Probably, but will they be successful again? I guess I’ll find out.

Imagination > intellect: a cultural perpetuity The influence of the cinematic spectacle on popular culture Stephen Kearse 2a

classical studies/political science

ast week, I posited that pop music is a potent lens into the current status of popular culture. This week, I delve into the realm of movies to illustrate that popular culture’s foundation was set decades ago. When aural cinema was in its infancy (late ‘20s to early ‘30s), movies were nothing more than single productions of a play that could be replayed many times over. With the absence of colour, they were driven by lighting, sets, actions, sounds, costumes (clothing and make-up), and the actors’ abilities to convey emotion and thought through body language and dialogue. With such limitations, there were two objectives which every film aimed to accomplish. In a film’s basic execution, perfect balance of all of the aforementioned elements was critical. Shadows had to fall in the right places, emotions had to be appropriate, and actions had to be believable in context and character; these were just three of the many things for which directors had to take into account. Certain elements, though, could be reasonably exaggerated or understated if it served the purpose of the director. Films also sought to achieve a necessary degree of subtlety; a blatant approach could have been overwhelming or patronizing to the audience, while a convoluted approach could have been woefully abstruse or depressingly dull for the audience.

Together, these two aims — elemental balance and directive subtlety — placed equal emphasis on imagination (suspension of disbelief) and intellect (comprehension of theme). It is this equality of emphasis which produced masterpieces like Casablanca and Dr. Strangelove, the latter being particularly significant because it was released after the advent of colour. But then Star Wars came along. Star Wars was truly groundbreaking. It produced or influenced a number of technological innovations in filmmaking; it cemented the status of science fiction as a mainstream genre; and with just 10 words and a booming orchestra, it introduced a brave new world for people to exalt, extol, and explore. These are merely trivial, however, when compared to its greatest feat: it introduced the concept of the awesome spectacle. This had a tremendous effect on the primary objectives of a film by producing a worrisome disparity between the emphasis on imagination and intellect. Instead of puzzling out the theme of a story with visual and auditory clues, the audience was swamped by a deluge of sensory input which presented the theme in a plain, easily digestible format. Beleaguered, the audience could only sit back and revel in the sensation — and being an inherently lazy creature, that is exactly what the audience did. Star Wars went on to change the standards of cinema and became a marketing leviathan. Since Return of the Jedi left theatres, the audience has been clamouring for grander and more immersive spectacles. This has influenced every genre of film;

genres which were predisposed to the spectacle became hyper-charged with fantastical plots and explosive action (i.e. adventure, horror, science fiction, etc.), while others neutered the intellectual aspect to lend credence to less dazzling productions (i.e. romance, comedy, drama, etc.). The foxiness of Megan Fox aside, the success of mindless extravaganzas like Transformers would not have been conceivable or feasible without the contributions of Star Wars. Altogether, the popular desire for intelligent reprieve was swallowed long ago by the titanic and insatiable desire for escape. Unlike pop music, though, this desire was engendered entirely by the industry itself. To broaden its

artistic and economic scope, cinema quietly jettisoned its principles and moved from a disciplined art to mass entertainment. I believe this transformation was recently rendered irrevocable by the decision to increase the number of nominees for the Best Picture Academy Award from five to 10 in 2009. Nominees for Best Picture are generally movies which carry a powerful, original, and well-executed message. To preserve this ideal, the pool of nominees was limited to five to ensure that only those which completely fulfilled these criteria would be included. Many of them, however, have tended to be unfamiliar to the popu-

lace at large, generating much dismay and disconcertion. For example, four of the five nominees for 2005 — including the eventual winner, Crash — were lost in the hype surrounding the controversial and compelling Brokeback Mountain. Four years later, I doubt most people even remember Crash, Capote, Munich, or Good Night, and Good Luck. Last year, this problem was seemingly remedied, with seven of the nominees, led by James Cameron’s Avatar, being widely popular. And what is the consensus on Avatar? It’s mind-numbingly trite, preaching a cause already championed to glory by Dances with Wolves. But it’s also really pretty.

Opinion

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

Letters to the Editor Blatchford “bullies” deserve expulsion Dear Editor, I am writing to express my distress over the rescheduling of a University of Waterloo BookStore–sponsored speech by Christie Blatchford. A columnist for the Globe and Mail, Blatchford was scheduled to speak last Friday about her new book, Helpless: Caledonia’s Nightmare of Fear and Anarchy. However, members of KW Anti-Racist Action took over the stage, refused to leave, and insisted that she not address the audience. The disrupters included Dan Keller, a PhD candidate. KW Anti-Racist Action’s members have a history of showing no respect for the rule of law. For instance, Kat Wombwell was jailed last summer for her participation in illegal G20 demonstrations in Toronto. (According to WLU’sThe Cord, she believes that the dam-

age rioters caused was a manifestation of a peaceful protest.) In fact, she is a supporter of anarchism, and her “protest” was publicized in anarchist circles. The mission of these “protesters” was not to inform the audience of an alternative viewpoint, or to ask Blatchford challenging questions after her speech. They bragged that “[Our] goal was to not let her speak, we accomplished that.” That there are people who attempt to silence others is of no surprise to me. What did shock me was that security officers merely attempted to negotiate with them; they feared that forcing them to leave would lead to physical harm, especially since they had themselves chained using bike locks. However, security officials should not be liable for any physical harm that is inflicted following physical resistance from lawbreakers. Furthermore,

one does not negotiate with bullies. What is there to negotiate? Michael Strickland, the university’s assistant director of media relations, stated that “[Ms. Blatchford] wasn’t going to get a word in, [so] there would be no point in bringing her out.” However, she could have gotten a word in if security personnel had performed the simple task of kicking out these disruptors. That a bunch of — putting it mildly — bullies would forcefully dictate to others what they can and cannot hear on a university campus amounts to sacrilege to me. As I write this letter, President Hamdullahpur has apologized to Blatchford, and the university published a statement on the Daily Bulletin that condemns the incident. I commend Hamdullahpur, and I hope that he can take further steps in order to send a clear message that such

Like Mom always said, “Don’t spend money you don’t have.” Dear Editor, Although I have only been a student at the University of Waterloo for two months, I have had the pleasure of riding Grand River Transit (GRT) on several occasions. Despite several of the uncomfortable positions I’ve had to endure on the GRT, I found the service to be more than satisfactory. The only reason I was in these positions was due to the massive amounts of university students riding the same bus. We all know that Waterloo is a university town, so this congestion on GRT buses is to be expected. One of the hot topic issues in

this year’s municipal elections was how to improve the transit system in the City of Waterloo. The biggest proposal being discussed is building a light rail transit (LRT) line between Conestoga Mall and Fairview Park Mall. Although I see this LRT line as being a great addition to the transportation system in Waterloo, the sheer cost of the project makes it unrealistic at this point in time. I share mayoral candidate Franklin Ramsoomair’s opinion that the City of Waterloo should not invest in the LRT line when the city is already in a deficit spending situation. An additional $235 million, which was to be the

Region of Waterloo’s portion of the total cost of the project, to the existing deficit situation, makes no sense to me. Instead of investing in the LRT line, I strongly believe that Waterloo should focus on improving the existing transit system in a much cheaper way. Perhaps adding a few more buses to the busiest routes would help decrease those uncomfortable, cozy, and congested rides on the GRT. To all the advocates of the LRT line, didn’t your mom ever tell you not to spend money you don’t have? -Ben Hannam 1a planning

incidents are intolerable: I believe any Waterloo students who took part in the disruption needs to face severe disciplinary action for violating Waterloo’s ethical behaviour policy. I emphasize “severe” because a mere suspension would be considered a “trophy” they would brag about; personally, I suggest expulsion because bullies only understand such unequivocal messages. Furthermore, I hope campus police can issue a permanent ban on those non-Waterloo students that participated. Once Blatchford’s new speech date is confirmed, I encourage everyone to attend — to support freedom of speech, express support for her views, and convey opposition to her ideas in a civil manner. -Mohammed Shouman masters of management sciences

Blood diamonds part II Dear Editor, It may come as a shock to many that our love of electronics could quite possibly be helping to fuel a bloody war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Coltan, also known as Columbite-Tantalum, is a black tar-like mineral used primarily as a capacitor for electronic devices. The demand for tantalum has been increasing steadily since 1992 due to growing interests for electronics such as cell phones and computer chips, which has helped rebel groups fund a bloody civil war in the DRC. While there are numerous factors contributing to the crisis faced in the DRC, such as historical ethnic rivalries and power and wealth imbalances, exploitation of key resources such as coltan have become a serious concern. Among this issue are several others, such as the plight of refugees, rape as an intimidation tactic, forced labour, child soldiers, and sexual slaves. Foreign multi-national corporations, although not directly involved in the conflict, play an important role as purchasers and manufacturers of

products containing coltan, which were mined by rebel groups. The United Nations reports that these companies serve as “the engine of the conflict in the DRC.” Once the processing of the mineral is complete, it is then sold to major electronics companies such as Sony, Nokia, Motorola, Compaq, Dell, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard. Although companies’ usage of coltan has never been major headline news, it is important that we as consumers are aware and understand the implications of buying and using these products. Of course as students, it would be nearly impossible to cut out the use of electronics such as computers and cell phones. However, urging companies to use conflict-free minerals is integral to freeing people of the injustices of forced labour and human rights violations. If progress has been made with blood diamonds, surely something can be done about other illegitimate mining as well. -Jane Tran 2a arts

Bill C-510: Roxanne’s law

Dear Editor,

In 2007, Roxanne Fernando’s boyfriend murdered her when she refused to give in to his threats and pressure to end her pregnancy — a pregnancy that made him want to get out of their relationship. After a Valentine’s date, she was beaten by her boyfriend and his friends, bound, then left to die in a ditch. “Roxanne’s Law” is the nickname for the private member’s Bill C-510 that is currently being debated in the Canadian House of Commons. It is an act to amend the Criminal Code in order to protect pregnant women from being coerced into having an abortion. This bill, being put forward by Winnipeg MP Rod Bruinooge, sends a message to all Canadians that the rights of women are important to us, and that we do not stand for coercion from boyfriends, husbands or even doctors who try to take advantage of women and their rights.

Letter Policy

This act would make it possible for women to press charges and protect their own life, as well as that of their unborn children. I really do not believe this is an issue solely for feminists or pro-lifers. This is about showing Canadians that we believe in protecting women. I believe this bill is a statement that we need to make, especially after recent events in our community involving violence toward women. I know we don’t stand for this, but perhaps we didn’t know what to do about it until now. This is a tangible way to take a stand, to send a message — to uphold the rights of threatened pregnant women in our nation. Please consider what is really important to you — and speak up. I encourage everyone to support Bill C-510 by emailing or calling your local MP, or by contacting Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice. -Ryan Mann 3a electrical engineering

Letters must not exceed 300 words. Please include your full name, program, and year. Letters must be received by 12 p.m. Tuesday to letters@ imprint.uwaterloo.ca. Imprint reserves the right to edit for length and clarity or to reject any letter.

Campus Bulletin UPCOMING EVENTS November 2010 ACCKWA’s Online Charity Auction from November 1 to 9 on ebay.ca or ebay.com – search “acckwa”. Great items just in time for the holidays! For more info call Colleen at 519-5703687, ext 334. rare Charitable Research Reserve presents “November Community Events” at the rare Administration Centre, 1679 Blair Road, Cambridge. For information and registry, contact info@ raresites.org or 519-650-9336 ext. 125 or visit www.raresites.org. Shape and Spirit: A Season Finale Exhibition - Join us November 13 December 19, 2010, for the exhibit of three original and highly gifted artists. Gallery hours Tuesday - Sunday 12:00 - 4:30 pm. For tickets and additional information, please visit homerwatson. on.ca. Saturday, November 20, 2010 Beyond Borders presents “Music with a Mission @ Bomber” – featuring acts and performances by Kevin Rodrigues, I Got The Girl, Jesse Maranger, and Elsa Jayne. 9 p.m. at UW Bombshelter Pub. Tickets available at the door. Homer Watson House & Gallery Presents: Annual Holiday Party - Join us for artwork and live entertainment, 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission. For more info, visit homerwatson.on.ca. Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Do You I3? That’s the question the UW community is asking, and next week you have a chance to answer. At 4 p.m. in the Bombshelter the Faculty of Environment will officially launch the I3 Challenge. This university wide student engagement exercise is your opportunity to quite literally shape the future of our campus. The I3 Challenge is simple. Step 1: Put together a 3-6 member team that intergrates students from at least two different faculties. Step 2: Develop a new vision for UW’s south campus entrance that is more fitting of Canada’s most innovative university Step 3: Compete against other teams, win and then have UW pay $100, 000 to implement your idea. Whether you already have a team, are looking to recruit team members from another faculty, or are just interested in hearing more about the I3 Challenge, we encourage you to join us next Tuesday. In addition to food, refreshments and a head start on other teams, those in attendance will have the chance to win an Apple iPad. See you there! Thursday, November 25, 2010 Film Society is showing films from countries whose films are rarely seen in Canada. Final screening, “Farewell Home, Sweet Home,” (1999), 118 mins, directed by Otar Iosseliani, is at 7 p.m., East Campus Hall Auditorium, room 1220. Free admission.

LSAT MCAT GMAT GRE Preparation Seminars

Friday, November 26, 2010 UW A Cappella Club Presents: End of Term Concert – 8 p.m. at the Theatre of the Arts in Modern Languages. For more information and tickets, please visit uwacc.com. “Lessons Learned”, the 2nd Annual Dinner/Silent Auction Fundraiser will be hosted by Beyond Borders from 7 - 10 p.m. at the Huether Hotel in Uptown Waterloo. Tickets: $10 students, $20 non-students (includes dinner). Monday, November 29, 2010 “The High Cost of Intellectual Poverty: How Myths About Intelligence and Talent are Slowing Human Progress” with mathematician, best-selling author Dr. John Mighton. Public lecture is free admission at 8 p.m., Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall. Thursday, December 9, 2010 Bereaved Families of Ontario Presents: Anything But Merry – Join us to learn coping strategies to help get you through this holiday season. 7 to 8 p.m., Ratz Bechtel Family Centre, 621 King Street West, Kitchener. For more info and registration, please email admin@bfomidwest.org or call 519-6030196. Friday, December 10, 2010 The Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies department presents the Second Annual SMF Symposium at St. Jerome’s University. Proposal for papers or poster presentations addressing this year’s theme, “Ethical Intersections: Research, Theory, and Practice,” accepted now. For further info, visit www. smfsymposium.ca or email Jenn Wunder at jenn@smfsymposium.ca.

2 WEEKS REMAINING IN FALL 2010 TERM!

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010 ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

VOLUNTEERING

ONGOING

Volunteer with a child at their school and help improve their self-esteem and confidence. Call Canadian Mental Health at 519-744-7645, ext. 229. City of Waterloo has volunteer opportunities. For info call 519-8886478 or www.waterloo.ca/volunteer. The Distress Centre needs volunteers to provide confidential, supportive listening on our crisis and distress lines. Complete training provided. Call 519-744-7645, ext. 300. Volunteer Action Centre, 519-7428610 / volunteer@volunteerkw.ca, for all your volunteering needs! 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. Volunteer required to rebuild website for Kitchener International Children’s Games Chapter. Call 519-886-6918 and leave message or respond to icgkitchener@hotmail.com.

Mondays Gambling can ruin your life. Gamblers Anonymous, 7 p.m. at St Marks, 825 King Street, W, basement. Tuesdays CNIB Lions Low Vision Clinic - conducted to provide an opportunity for CNIB services and support, and access scheduled appointments with a CNIB Specialist. 9 am - 4 pm, 180 King St. S., Waterloo. For more info, visit www. cnib.ca. Thursdays UW Toastmasters – improve your confidence and communication for a successful career. 5:30 to 6:30 pm, SLC 2105B. For more info, contact uwtoastmaster@gmail.com. Saturdays Not your average garage sale - LP’s, CD’s - Every Saturday in November. 1081 Church Street, St. Clements - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact at webuytunes77@rogers.com.

STUDENT AWARDS & FINANCIAL AID

UPTOWN WATERLOO BIA EVENTS

Go to safa.uwaterloo.ca for a full listing of scholarships and awards, as well as important deadlines.

November 2010: UpTown Waterloo BIA Annual General Meeting Saturday, November 20: Santa Claus Parade November 2010: Holiday Open House December 2010: FREE Horse Drawn Trolley Rides December 2010: Victorian Carolers 2011 February 19: UpTown Waterloo Ice Dogs Festival March 10-12: UpTown Comedy Festival May: UpTown Waterloo Jazz Fundraiser June 18: UpTown Country July 15-17: UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival August 25-28: Waterloo Busker Carnival September 11: UpTown Dining October 9: 29th Annual Pancake Breakfast October 9: 32nd Annual Great Oktoberfest Barrel Race October 11: Thanksgiving Day Parade For more information about the above events call 519-885-1921 or email uptownwaterloobia@waterloo.ca or www. uptownwaterloobia.com.

UW RECREATION EVENTS Wednesday, November 24: Feng Shui Discussion Group, MC 5136, 12 noon – all welcome. Sunday, November 28: “Peter Pan Pantomime” at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. UWRC Book Club, Wednesdays at 12 noon in LIB 407 - all welcome! October 20: “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert ; November 17: “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee ; December 21: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Shaffer and Barrows. Movie ticket discounts available from Empire Theatre, Galaxy, Princess. For more info for all the above email schatten@uwaterloo.ca or uwrc@uwaterloo. ca.

CAREER SERVICES WORKSHOPS For a complete list of workshops and events, please visit careerservices.uwaterloo.ca.

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Science & Technology

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010 science@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

2.0 all photos michael davenport

(Above) UW Science alumni and Xerox product developer/researcher Adrien Côté (BSc ‘99) speaks with a student. (Left) A group of students question a science alumnus.

he Faculty of Science Foundation (FSF) hosted its second speed networking event on November 16. Current science students had the chance to mingle with University of Waterloo science alumni, and learn about future career options in science. Both undergraduates and graduate students were afforded the opportunity to mingle with 29 alumni, some of which were recent graduates while others had graduated as far back as 1975. Among the notable participants in the event were Trish Bolton, who is a senior policy ad-

visor with the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation; Don Shilton, the president of St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener; Peter Gray, vice-president and senior hydrogeologist at MTE Consultants Inc.; and Mike Cassidy, the co-ordinator of the Food Safety Science Unit at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. The FSF is very active in helping round out the science student experience. They plan many events on a monthly basis. Check out their website for more information on upcoming events.

Placentas and antiparticles ilui@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Ivan Lui staff reporter

Garlic for the heart

A new study confirms that garlic may be helpful for those who have high blood pressure. The study enlisted 50 patients, some of which were given garlic supplements while others received placebos. The report came out in the journal Maturitas, which said that those who received the garlic supplements had lower blood pressure than those who had received placebos. Despite this study, the British Heart Foundation says that more research should be done before making any large claims. Garlic, regardless of scientific inquiry, had been long thought of as good for the heart. Not only does garlic lower high blood pressure, but it also has the ability to lower cholesterol as well. The practice of eating garlic to reduce high blood pressure goes back thousands of years. Many in the medical field believe that they can fine tune the effects that garlic has on the body, amplifying them to the point where taking only one capsule would be effective for a period of time. The study, which was conducted at the University of Adelaide, Australia, handed out the supplements simply known as “aged garlic” for 12 weeks.

Blood pressure, for those who had received the actual garlic supplements, lowered by 10mmHg. “Garlic supplements have been associated with a blood pressure lowering effect of clinical significance in patients with untreated hypertension,” researcher Karin Ried said. “Our trial, however, is the first to assess the effect, tolerability and acceptability of aged garlic extract as an additional treatment to existing antihypertensive medication in patients with treated, but uncontrolled, hypertension.” Even though the supplement was given to those with high blood pressure, those who are considering this route should first consult medical advice. Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said that “this study demonstrated a slight blood pressure reduction after using aged garlic supplements but it’s not significant enough or in a large enough group of people to currently recommend it instead of medication.” Antimatter atom attained

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) researchers have been able to hold 38 antihydrogen atoms in place for fractions of a second. Antihydrogen was created but only existed for a few moments before it was destroyed when it came into con-

tact with matter. The report in Nature released by the team suggests that, if they were able to capture and study antimatter further, it would change the impossible tests of fundamental principles of physics. The current “standard model” of physics holds that each particle — protons, electrons, neutrons, and a zoo of more exotic particles — has a mirror image antiparticle. One of these mirroring images would be the positron, the opposite of the electron, used in an imaging technique of growing popularity known as positron emission tomography. The question that still plagues scientists is why the universe currently holds such a large amount of matter in comparison to antimatter. It is believed that there was, at one time, an equal amount of both. Creating positrons and antiprotons is done rapidly within laboratories. The real problem is assembling these particles so that actual antimatter can be produced. These particles were first created in 2002 by two groups, but handling the antihydrogen, which comprises antiproton and a positron like a normal hydrogen, was proving to be much more difficult. Holding normal matter could be done through electric fields, but antimatter requires a very particular type of field.

“Atoms are neutral — they have no net charge — but they have a little magnetic character,” explained Jeff Hangst of Aarhus University in Denmark, one of the collaborators on the Alpha antihydrogen trapping project. “You can think of them as small compass needles, so they can be deflected using magnetic fields. We build a strong ‘magnetic bottle’ around where we produce the antihydrogen and, if they’re not moving too quickly, they are trapped,” said Hangst. Placenta and pregnancy length

The placenta, an organ which connects the fetus with the mother’s uterine wall allowing nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange, could affect the length of pregnancy, according to a recent study done by the Durham and Reading universities, published in the journal American Naturalist. The intimacy of the connection between the mother and the fetus affects the growth of the baby and length of pregnancy. The human placenta does not form the complex web-like structure seen in animals such as dogs and leopards that have relatively long pregnancies. An example of this would be a human being, which gives birth after nine months, while a meadow mouse could give birth simply after three weeks.

Analyzing 109 mammal species, the folding and complexity of the placenta of the animal affected the mother’s pregnancy time. The more folded and complex the placenta was, the shorter the time in gestation. With increased folding within the placenta, there are more nutrients transferred to the fetus, causing more growth in a shorter period of time. “In humans, the placenta has simple finger-like branches with a relatively limited connection between the mother’s tissues and those of the fetus,” said Dr Isabella Capellini of Durham University, the lead author on the study. “Whereas in leopards, the placenta forms a complex web of interconnections that create a larger surface area for the exchange of nutrients.” Of course, the placenta is not the only factor affecting the development of the fetus. Another major contributor to the length of fetal development is the size of the mammal; the larger the subject, the longer it will take for it to be born. This organ is also a battleground for the survival between the mother and child. Where a pregnant mouse loses a battle to its offspring, a human mother will be in more balanced contest against its child. —With files from BBC and Science Daily.

Science & Technology

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

The baby daddy of quantum mechanics LUKE BOVARD

lbovard@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

jnguyen@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Jennifer Nguyen assistant science & technology editor Facebook to launch e-mail service

alcina wong

With 500 million users worldwide and still going strong, the largest social networking site is set to conquer another Internet service: e-mail. On Monday, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a set of communication services to add to the Facebook platform. The new feature integrates e-mail, text messages, and online chat that is accessible by computers or cell phones. The project was developed by 15 Facebook engineers over 15 months, and will take advantage of Facebook contact data to prioritize and sort messages from friends and close acquaintances. As a result, this will see Facebook users receiving an e-mail address with an “@facebook.com” address. “This is not an e-mail-killer,” Zuckerberg said, but admits e-mail is past its prime. Recent studies show that e-mail is mostly used by older adults, whereas teenagers tend to use text messaging as their primary form of communication because it is simpler and more fun to use. In fact, it has surpassed physical face-to-face time according, to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. “If we do a good job, some people will say this is the way that the future will work,” Zuckerberg said. The service will be gradually implemented in the coming months during an initial testing phase, but won’t be available in Canada for immediate use. Internet community braces for sweeping changes

uickly, if I ask you about quantum mechanics, what do you think of? Most likely, you think of concepts like wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle, and Schrödinger’s cat. Most people have heard about Schrödinger’s cat. If they haven’t, just mention a cat, dead and alive, and quantum mechanics, and they will probably be vaguely familiar with the experiment. The basic idea of this thought experiment is a cat is placed in a closed box with a vial of poison that is activated by nuclear decay. If the nuclear decay occurs, the poison is released and the cat dies; if not, the cat remains alive. Quantum mechanics tells us that, to describe the cat, we must state the cat is in a superposition of being alive and being dead. An absurd conclusion. To most physicists, however, Schrödinger’s cat is not the first thing that comes to mind with the name Erwin Schrödinger. That honour belongs to Schrödinger’s wave equation. His wave equation is the cornerstone of quantum mechanics, and entire courses are dedicated to solving and understanding the results of his equation. Additionally, it provides the foundation for more advanced theories such as quantum field theory. For his work in quantum mechanics, Schrödinger won the Nobel Prize in 1933. Schrödinger was a long-time friend and colleague of Einstein. Over the years, the two exchanged many letters on the subject of the interpretation of quantum mechanics. In these letters, Schrödinger and Einstein expressed discontent with the ideas of other physicists, such as Bohr and Heisenberg, over what quantum mechanics actually tells us about the world. It was in one of these letters that Einstein mentioned to Schrödinger a thought experiment involving a box of gunpowder being in a state of exploded and not exploded. Schrödinger developed the argument further and published his famous paper describing the thought experiment. What is not so well known is that the point of the thought experiment was to point out the absurdity of certain interpretations of quantum mechanics being put forth by others. Okay, so I have told you why Schrödinger is famous. The real reason

you are reading this column is because you enjoy gossip, especially gossip about physicists. Most especially about the sex lives of physicists. Fortunately, Schrödinger did not disappoint. His married life began in 1920 when he became engaged to a secretary working in Vienna. The monthly income of his soon-to-be wife, Anne, was more than Schrödinger made in an entire year and was not enough to provide a stable household. Schrödinger soon accepted a job in Jena that would allow the couple to be financially stable. Unfortunately, the position did not last long, and the Schrödingers moved around for a few months before settling into Zurich. The Schrödingers would continue jumping around Europe for many years until finally settling in Dublin in 1939. In addition to travelling around from job to job, his marriage to Anne was very much out of the ordinary. Anne had no formal education and admired her husband for his great intellect. Schrödinger, however, considered her just above a domestic servant who was to provide him with a comfortable home and food. Soon, Schrödinger no longer expressed any sexual interest in her and, instead of divorcing, they helped each other find other sexual partners. Among the many partners that Anne had was the great mathematician Hermann Weyl, a student of David Hilbert and an influential mathematician of the first half of the 20th century. Despite his wife sleeping with Weyl, Schrödinger and Weyl remained good friends. In 1933, Schrödinger’s own escapades eventually produced his first daughter. He wanted to raise the daughter with the mother and invited the mother to live with him as his mistress. His affairs did not stop there. After he moved to Ireland, Schrödinger produced two more children

with two different women. This very open marriage was looked upon very negatively by the general population. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb and the director of the Advanced Institute in Princeton, was asked why Schrödinger had never been invited to lecture at Princeton. Oppenheimer replied that he had, but Schrödinger was concerned that people would look negatively upon his open marriage. Later, Schrödinger was offered a job at the Advanced Institute but turned it down because he was unable to receive guarantees that living with a wife and mistress would not be looked upon negatively. He was also offered a job at the University of Oxford but eventually left due to all the negative attention he received for walking down the street with his wife and mistress. Fortunately, he found a more open attitude in Dublin where he remained for the rest of his life. Schrödinger’s own views on his love life were very open, and he believed in the wonders of sex. His very open love life proved to be a very important catalyst in his own research. In 1925, during a low point in his marriage to Anne and his career, he escaped to a cabin in the woods with an old girlfriend for two months. After he returned, he published a series of papers which introduced the equation that bears his name and derived many important results from it. Of this, his friend Weyl wrote that “Schrödinger did his great work during a late erotic outburst in his life.” At the time Schrödinger was nearly 40. Nowadays, Schrödinger would be considered a male chauvinist, as displayed by a quotation about his mistresses: “Poor things, they have provided my life’s happiness and their own distress. Such is life.” Amazingly, despite all their affairs and lovers, both Schrödinger and Anne remained married till his death in 1961. You might be wondering how Schrödinger was able to get so many women in his life. Fortunately, there do exist records of one of his successful pick-up lines he used during his time in Ireland. He was trying to seduce a younger woman and told her, “If you can’t love me as a lover because I am a married man, just love me as a father.”

Experts predict that the Internet could soon be facing years of instability. Currently, the Internet is home to approximately 4 billion web pages. All of these web pages are indexed by a unique web address using the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addressing scheme. IPv4, however, only allows up to 4.3 billion unique addresses and these addresses are due to run out by 2012. There has been work by governments and businesses to migrate to the new addressing scheme which allows for more addresses, IPv6, but the progress has been slow. Vint Cerf, considered one of the fathers of the Internet who now works for Google, is urging businesses and governments to switch to the new addressing system soon because the work can take years. Google, for example, took three years to switch over to IPv6. “This has to happen or the internet will stop growing or will not be growable,” he said. “The business community needs to understand that this is an infrastructure they are relying on and it needs to change for them to continue to grow and to rely on it.” An issue related to the migration to IPv6 from IPv4 is that the two protocols are not compatible. Users who are using the new system may not be able to access certain links that are still on the old addressing system and have yet to make the switch. Certain links will become unreliable, causing major instability in the Internet infrastructure that will take years to completely fix. iTunes and the Beatles unite

Apple announced this past week that they have obtained the rights to sell the Beatles music on iTunes. Those who use iTunes and Beatles’ fansalike will finally be able to purchase their music after several years of speculation and rumours. Since its release in January 2001, iTunes has sold over 10 billion tracks, but none of them were tracks by the Beatles. The reason why it has taken this long for Apple to acquire selling rights is in part due to a feud with the band. In the 1960s, the Beatles named their holding and record company Apple Records. This sparked a feud with Apple over the Apple trademark and has prevented both sides from reaching an agreement. The Beatles and their record label, EMI, were also afraid that by granting Apple exclusive digital rights, they would alienate other music retailers, like Wal-Mart and Amazon. Now customers can buy individual tracks from 13 Beatles studio albums for $1.29 or an entire album for $12.99 and $19.99 for a double album. Apple is also selling a digital box set containing a movie of the Beatles first U.S. concert back in 1964 for $149. “I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes,” Ringo Starr said in a press release. Currently, Apple is working on getting the licenses needed to stream media from their servers. This would allow iTunes users to upload their media to a digital “locker” stored on the Internet that can be accessed from anywhere using an Internet enabled device. —With files from the Globe and Mail, the New York Times, and CNET.

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Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010 arts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca

Boots, buckle, and strings Canadian blues singer David Essig at Princess Cinema Carla Valerio staff reporter

Ted fleming

Local community members attending the second annual Box Art Show at the Breithaupt Block in Kitchener. The Box Art Show unites local artists with potential buyers to promote art in the region.

Thinking inside the Box

The second annual Box Art Show launched at the Breithaupt Block Carla Valerio staff reporter

reativity, talent, and art in a nutshell. The Breithaupt Block once again offers the chance for artists, critics, buyers, and the general public to come together in this historic Waterloo building to share experiences, and the joys of bohemian art. The second annual Box Art Show launched this weekend. The show, named after its original venue, the former Boehmer Box Factory, is held annually during the first weekend after Remembrance Day. The organizers of this event realized that artists were not finding opportunities to develop their career close to home. They also realized that the local public went out of town to purchase artworks. In an effort to respond to these needs and to establish mutually beneficial partnerships that allowed for regional art, this group of professional artists decided to offer a unique solution while introducing an innovative business venture. Hence, the birth of The Box Art Show. Different associates, individual partners, and group sponsors support the event each year. The Box also partners with different charitable organizations, with a portion of the art sales being turned to them in gratitude. As for evaluation criteria, artists submit a sample of their work to an initial jury. After the final participants are selected, they submit other pieces they want to include in the show to a second panel of curators. The result? Each year, the public gets la crème de la crème of local talent.

This past weekend, the Box offered a memorable sight for those who love and cherish art. A range of activities were held throughout the weekend in an effort to let the general public be as close to art as possible. A more memorable part of the weekend was a guide of the Breithaupt Block, presented by the CEO of the Kitchener Public Library, available to the general public. A presentation of a series of old photographs was made of the Block’s original layout and what this factory represented to Kitchener during its functioning. This historic factory has changed ownership multiple times, altering the role it played on industrial production. From Merchants Rubber Co in 1903, to its recent purchase by the Perimeter Development Corporation which has plans to turn the block into a research and working environment, this building has been a key player in Kitchener-Waterloo’s industrial history. Following this historic analysis, the owner of Perimeter Development Corp guided the public through the installations of the factory, explaining not only its original purpose but the project that has been designed for it under the new name of The Breithaupt Block. Following the tour, the staff launched of the art sale itself, providing the first opportunity to interact with the artists. UW fine arts Prof. Doug Kirton also offered a critique of the artworks presented in the event, explaining, in detail, their characteristics, themes, and traits. Discussing technical aspects of the works such as the composition, use of color, implementation of media in the work, etc., Kirton shared

the “science behind art.” In doing so, he highlighted the amazing talent showcased by the artists. Senior fine arts students and arts professors were special guests for this activity, learning aspects of art conceptualization, the process of art-making, and proper ways of evaluating a work of art. To UW’s pride and satisfaction, a great number of artists at the Box Art Show were UW fine arts graduates. Fatima Garzan, Cathy Farwell, and Soheila Esfahani were among many others who enhanced the reputation of the fine arts department by showcasing their amazing talent. They shared their experiences at UW and how the perspective they gained in its classrooms helped build their identity as professionals. It is also fair to note that our graduates were the most popular artists at the exhibition, gaining much praise for their work and talent. With an environment of family, friends, and fans, the Box Art Show ran in a smooth, yet amusing fashion. The show is held every year, this being its second edition. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in art to go to next year’s show and exuberant creativity. Artists and students alike are also encouraged to consider their work to submission for next year’s edition of the show. A team of curators receives all candidates’ submissions and evaluates them to make the most of the event. This is a great chance for talented artists to not only gain publicity and build important networks, but also sell their pieces and reach a public that is truly admiring of their work.

remarkable blues singer returns to Ontario to “make the younger ones tremble and the old boys weep,” (Tremble and Weep). Last Thursday, right at the heart of Waterloo, a small group of fans got to enjoy an evening together with friends, bliss, and music. David Essig came back to town for a night of blues, folk, and old friends. The prodigy of the guitar, singer, songwriter and musical producer spent a night at the Princess Cinema with his fans of all ages, sharing story after story and warming every heart with music. The agenda for the night kept the audience all on the edge of our seats, deeply enjoying each song and having such a connection with Essig that it felt like we all were with him right on stage. From deeply sentimental songs about loss, grief, and melancholy (to which he humorously referred as “the tough stuff ”) to light, passionate, and fun chants for everyone in the audience to sing along to, the smooth flow of music kept an amusing environment throughout the night. Even for a person who hasn’t heard of Essig before, the concert felt more like spending time with an old friend, hearing cherished stories of a past we all felt like we knew. Essig shared his tips and tricks with the guitar, old anecdotes both in his personal life and his career as a musician, and his experiences working with other artists that perform at the Princess Cinema. David’s appearance was part of Princess Cinema’s “Live on Stage” series, a catalogue of concerts starring musicians of different genres that perform in an intimate, bohemian space. Singer-songwriters from Ontario and all around Canada will be showing performances on acoustic, folk, indie and country, inviting audiences to come join this community for the first time. Admission to these concerts is very accessible and if you want to make the most out of what the season has to offer, the cinema offers membership specials for frequent visitors as well. As for the show on Thursday, Essig truly offered a night to remember the good old times, and a night to forget about stress and just have some fun, folk style. So when you are thinking of going back to Canadian roots, going back to the ease of a six-string and enjoying the heart and soul of traditional Canadian music, go try Live on Stage at the Princess Cinemas. For more information, visit www.princesscinemas.com.

INSIDE THIS SECTION: Band Feature - Long Range Hustle P14 Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager and Intriguer’s Crowded House Review P15

Arts & Entertainment

Imprint, Friday, November 19, 2010

ARTS FEATURE: A Long Range Hustle into your playlist Long Range Hustle (LRH), a three piece band based in the University of Waterloo, grew from humble beginnings in a basement in Stirling, Ontario to become a professional band. The band rocked the Bombshelter last weekend and will be in Maxwell’s on December 4.

imprint intern

aving listened to many students trying to jam together in a band, I got a pleasant surprise when I was given the album In Case of fire to review. I assumed, quite wrongly, that they were just a group of people bashing away, trying to sound like other bands. As soon as I heard the first minute of the album, however, I realized that this was different. There is no doubt that Long Range Hustle take their music seriously. Originally a three-piece band formed in Stirling, Ontario, Long Range Hustle grew from humble beginnings in a basement to becoming a fully-fledged professional band. The original line-up reformed when members Paul Brogee (lead singer) and Jay Foster (piano, organ, synth and glockenspiel) moved to the University of Waterloo. They met Mike Duboff (drummer) by coincidence, discussing music in the chemistry labs. Then through a mutual friend they met Josh Weiss, a guitarist, and Ben Ridder, a bassist, and so LRH was born. In the past, the band has been likened to Hey Rosetta and the Arkells. Early influences included The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Brogee and Foster claim to have been once obsessed with Wintersleep. Brogee says he also knows every lyric and sound The Tragically Hip has ever done. Curious about the name, I asked the guys where it originated from. “It started as a kind of saying or joke from before university, effectively, the idea was that if you keep losing at something over and over again, your justification is to keep doing it. You are thinking way in advance of the long term goals not the short term losses, so it’s been and is a long range hustle.” says Brogee. When asked why they decided to start the band, Josh summed it up saying: “Music is the best. It’s our life. It makes you feel like nothing else can.” Any music lover would agree with this statement. Among the depth and range of sounds on the album, it’s difficult to categorize what genre of music LRH are. The band explained they would classify themselves as alternative/indie rock but this is such a broad genre. Brogee, “It’s tough and awkward to pigeon hole ourselves within a label, some bands would claim they don’t have a genre and are transcendent, LRH hates these bands.” According to Ridder, other bands just have one sound and their songs all sound the same, but LRH has a wide variety of songs and can

cover many different genres if they want.” With the countless number of alternative bands on the market today, LRH is surely a breath of fresh air. It is evident that this debut album is a culmination of years of hard work and refinement. The opening track “Freedom of Distance” comprises of indie rock guitar with a luscious piano arrangement complemented by Brogee’s rich, soulful voice. As the album progresses, they experiment with different themes, “Phineas” is reminiscent of Kings of Leon but with a funkier depth. This song is based on the famous psychological case study of Phineas Gage, who survived a horrific accident in which an iron rod punctured and went straight through his skull; but had a drastic change in his personality. Other historical influences include the fall of the Berlin Wall and the explorer Cortés. The album proves these boys can play hard yet still have the ability to create a warm, delicious ambience. I got the impression that certain tracks would fit nicely on a film soundtrack as each song seems to have been composed with genuine emotion and real life experience. The lyrics are intelligent and have depth. The electronic effects have a Pink Floyd/Coldplay vibe in the background but isn’t a predominant sound that overshadows the dreamy guitar riffs. Another interesting feature on the album is the classical instruments that complement the standard guitar, bass and drums. Each song is accompanied by a chorus of trumpets, violin, organ, and the glockenspiel. “Even though the music we play is far from being classical, it’s always good to have that kind of background and mind set while making music,” Brogee said of where the band gets their inspiration from. Last week the band performed at The BombShelter, which has been one of their favourite places so far on their journey. They caused such a storm that the audience offered their shoes to them on stage. Surreal for the boys with so many shoes on the stage, but definitely rock and roll. When asked about releasing a single into the mainstream market, the band had a definitive first choice. “From the record we would choose maybe ‘Unremarkable’ because it’s the easiest song to play and the most accessible,” the band said. “It’s quick, simple and catchy. The other songs are a little more complicated and in-depth, but that’s a song you can quickly latch on to.” “Unremarkable” includes the lyrics “Every day we put in the hours;” from first sampling of the album, this is obvious, even a monkey

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courtesy Tori Chamberlain

If you keep losing at something over and over again, your justification is to keep doing it. You are thinking way in advance of the long term goals not the short term losses, so it’s been and is a long range hustle.

would recognise their talent and effort. From their inception in their early days, the band explains how their music has evolved. “Paul wrote a lot of songs in high school and when I joined, the sound changed a bit. But now that we all live in the same house, we have changed again,” Foster said. “Now it’s more collaborative. Before we all had different visions of where we wanted to go but now we all have a similar unified vision of what direction we want the band to go, and to party like rock stars.” Their debut album is quite an achievement, but they believe they have went beyond the songs on the album. They are very optimistic as to what songs they will be releasing in the future. “It’s more of a record that needed to be made so we could move on and become what we’re going to be,” Brogee said. But is it all fun and rock and roll for LRH? Not quite. Being a student band brings its hardships. Other professional bands tend to travel from city to city playing different venues but LRH can’t do that because they have to get

— Lead singer Paul Brogee

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Antony Smyth

back for classes. They tend to do modular gigs, sometimes driving for hours, performing and, instead of staying, would travel back for class. “Sometimes you just have to say fuck it,” Ridder said. “School is definitely the main reason why we don’t have enough time.” Bands like LRH are proof just how much the music industry has changed. The band believe that signing a record deal no longer matters and is a fickle process. They love to play music and that’s obvious from their record. Behind the scenes it appears that they have received a lot of support and encouragement along the way. Their parents and roommates especially for putting up with the loud and late rehearsals; and also their engineering producer, Eric Duerrstein, who worked with the boys for five months in the studio perfecting In Case of Fire. So what’s next for LRH? Apart from studying hard, the band can be found playing next Friday in Peterborough, and at Maxwell’s Music House in Waterloo on Dec. 4. Their music can be found on their website www.longrangehustle.com.

Long Range Hustle’s debut album, In Case of Fire LRH is surely a breath of fresh air. The culmination of years of hard work and refinement provides the listener with nearly an hour of indie rock injected with classical instruments.

courtesy Tori Chamberlain and Jess Brown

Freedom of Distance