w w w .w e sterngazette.c a • @uw ogazette
Fun at the Fringe Fest The Fringe Festival is showcasing a variety of performances until June 15. >> pg. 4
thegazette Commencing the two-month weekend since 1906
Friday, June 7, 2013
today high 19 low 12
tomorrow high 21 low 11
canada’s only Daily Student Newspaper • founded 1906
Volume 107, Issue 2
Canadian grads average $10k in debt Richard Raycraft News Editor If you feel overwhelmed by debt from student loans, you’re not alone. Research undertaken by Western’s CIBC Centre for Human Capital and Productivity has found that, on average, student borrowers face more than $10,000 in debt in the Canada Student Loans Program following graduation. “The costs of post-secondary schooling have risen dramatically over the past 10 to 20 years, with students now borrowing substantial sums from government student loan programs, and sometimes, private student lenders or banks,” Lance Lochner, a co-author of the study, explained. “While many onlookers are concerned about the inability of lower income students to finance their education, others are concerned about high debt levels accumulated by some students, and their ability to repay those loans.” Some disturbing numbers are to be found in the study, including the fact that 14 per cent of borrowers who entered the CSLP’s Repayment Assistance Program defaulted on their debt within the first three years after finishing school. In addition, half of Canadian loan recipients are earning less than $10,000 annually at the time they default. “Our results strongly point to the fact that student loan repayment
problems are largely due to a lack of resources,” Lochner said. “Low income and a lack of parental financial support are the main drivers of student loan repayment problems in Canada.” Utku Suleymanoglu, one of Lochner’s collaborators in the research project and a PhD candidate at Western, agreed with this assessment, pointing out there is evidence to suggest even more factors are at play. “Indeed, in our study we find that post-schooling income is the most important factor determining a student’s ability to repay his or her loan, and this is in agreement with previous literature on this topic,” he said. “However, this is not the only factor—we see borrowers with relatively high levels of incomes also experiencing repayment problems,” Lochner added. The study suggests that one of these other factors could simply be a matter of priorities—namely, the belief about the importance of student loan repayment among debtors. It reports that repayment problems are 10 per cent higher among those who say they would stop paying their CSLP loan first if faced with debt from other sources. Unsurprisingly, numerous studies show that many students who default on their student debt face difficulties with other payments, such as credit card debt. A biology student entering his
Logan Ly GAZETTE
HAPPY GRADUATION! A recent study by Western researchers has found that the average Canadian student graduates with over $10,000 in debt due to student loans—bad news for new grads on the job hunt in a sluggish economy.
fifth year at Western, who wished to remain anonymous, commented that student debt repayment would be his top priority. “I owe just under $10,000 in OSAP, and I have a student line of credit as well but I’ve managed to pay off what I use each year,” he said. “I assume it will be my top priority to pay it off and be debt-free as soon as possible once I find a stable career.” Unfortunately, difficult economic circumstances are making the search for a stable, long-term career difficult for many with student debt. Indeed, the study highlights that two-thirds
of student respondents reported that a lack of income was the most important reason for missing payments. This is also one of the primary factors leading students with debt to seek assistance from their family, which in turn has an important role in determining ability to pay off debt. According to the study, students whose parents are willing and able to assist them in making payments are much less likely to experience repayment problems. “I would avoid asking my parents for assistance, though I’m sure they would help me if I asked and they
had the ability to,” the student said. “I feel like my parents have given me more than enough as it is.” Regardless of its cause, it’s becoming clear that the issue of rising student debt, and an inability to repay it, needs a solution. “I would argue that we need to think more creatively about how we deal with students facing financial hardship,” Lochner said. “As the costs of higher education rise in Canada, there will be growing pressure to shift some of those increases onto students and their families.”
City council to consider adding student advisors Julian Uzielli Editor-in-Chief
Students from Western and Fanshawe College may soon have a place on city hall committees, if city council passes a motion from the mayor at their next meeting on June 11. The idea was brought to city hall last week by outgoing University Students’ Council president Adam Fearnall and incoming Fanshawe Student Union president Adam Gourlay. Under the proposal, one student each would sit for a one-year term as a non-voting member on eight citizen advisory committees at city hall, with the duties split between four students from Western and four from Fanshawe. If the motion is adopted at council, students would have a hand in
the decision-making processes for municipal issues like transportation, housing and accessibility. “When you look at a lot of the decisions that are made on a dayto-day basis that affect citizens of London, they’re made on a municipal level, and those decisions affect students,” Fearnall said. “Things like transit, things like social services, all those sort of things really—they’re administered on a city level, and there’s a lot of impact that students could have on the direction the city goes in. I think it’s perfectly valid for us to be involved at the provincial and federal level, but the municipal level is where you can sometimes really change your experience.” The presentation was made to city council’s corporate services committee, which is chaired by Mayor Joe Fontana. Among other
“When you look at a lot of the decisions that are made on a day-to-day basis that affect citizens of London, they’re made on a municipal level, and those decisions affect students.” —Adam Fearnall
Outgoing USC president
recommendations, the USC and FSU also suggested expanding internship opportunities for students at city hall and engaging the USC and FSU in London’s economic development strategy.
Fearnall said the presentation was “shockingly” well-received— several councilors in attendance voiced their approval, and the mayor agreed to bring a motion to “operationalize” the recommendations to the next city council meeting. Fontana suggested the City hire two students immediately to set the plan in motion—meaning if it’s passed, the recommendations may be in place by September. “I was very impressed with the presentation and they reflected my previous discussions with both the Western and Fanshawe student councils,” Fontana said in an e-mail. “I believe their full involvement in the decision making process of our city can help us achieve our collective goal to make our city the most attractive to students.” Joe Swan, councillor for Ward
3, also praised the presenters, saying they “hit all the right notes.” He noted, however, that when student representation in city politics has been tried in the past, it was abandoned due to poor attendance. The difference this time, he said, is the student representatives will be chosen by the USC and FSU. Last time the city chose them. “Students will know students better than we can. That’s the improvement that has to take place if that recommendation is to be successful,” Swan said. Harold Usher, ward 13 councillor, said he was “delighted” by the presentation. “They reached out to us, so it’s up to us to accept the reach, and reach back out to them,” Usher said. “I think they have a lot to offer, so why not utilize it?”
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Caught on Camera
Julian Uzielli GAZETTE
The Puzzle Panel
I AM A LEAF ON THE WIND. The University Community Centre atrium got unexpectedly chirpy earlier this week when a bird flew inside and got stuck under the skylight.
News Briefs
Amir Eftekharpour elected president of OUSA For the second year in a row, a University Students’ Council vicepresident has been elected president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. Amir Eftekharpour, who will serve as OUSA president for the 2013-14 year, said one of his first commitments was to arrange a meeting with Brad Duguid, the minister of training, colleges and universities, to make sure students’ concerns were well represented. “What [students] expect of me is what I expect of myself,” he said. “To be a strong advocate.” One of Eftekharpour’s priorities is making it easier for students to change schools. One way to do this, he said, would be letting students transfer at least their first- or second-year credits if they left one university to attend another, so that they “wouldn’t have to pay all over
again” for the same courses. Another goal was to create a “good neighbour” campaign that encourages Western students to not only build a better relationship with long-term residents in London but also with schools like Fanshawe College. Alysha Li, outgoing vice-president university affairs for the USC, also served as OUSA president for the past year. Li said she felt great about the work she and her team had accomplished while holding both titles, such as advocating for a $295 million investment for youth employment as well as a $21 million mental health service investment for post-secondary students in Ontario. Li’s advice to Eftekharpour was to continue to serve students the best way he could. “He has really good ideas—keep implementing them,” she said. “Just always listen to students. They always know what they’re talking about.” Your Weekly Horoscope The week of June 7 – 13
This horoscope is intended for entertainment purposes only.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Don’t make assumptions this week. You just can’t You may feel more emotionally charged this week but trust your gut instincts too much right now. It’s bet- you still have to think with your head and not your ter to get all of the facts and act accordingly. heart. A financial decision may need to reassessed. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Playing matchmaker isn’t so easy. You have to Look at a situation with a practical eye. Is this really understand when people are compatible and when the best answer for the time being? Although you may there just isn’t a spark. Let this one go. be leaning one way, you might want to reconsider. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 You may have to pull back your focus on a problem in You need to get work done this week and that can’t order to see it in a new light. Take some time away to happen when you are continually distracted. You regroup and then you can come back at full strength. might have to nip this one in the bud — quickly. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 A romantic relationship can be a balancing act. You A friend needs your support more than ever. Go to will learn this first hand this week when you have to great lengths to give this person what they need, come to a compromise with your partner. even if it means rearranging your schedule. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Don’t apologize if you feel like you have to go your own way this week. Even when everyone seems to be going in another direction, sometimes you just have to set your own course.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 An email or other correspondence from a past friend could stir up feelings you weren’t ready to deal with right now. Put this on the back burner until you are ready.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 While others may not be able to handle the con- You are more interested in independence this week fusion this week, you are fully capable of multi- than hanging out in large groups. This includes tasking and making it through unscathed. hanging out with your spouse or partner. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS JUNE 9 – Michael J. Fox, Actor (52) JUNE 11 – Gene Wilder, Comic Actor (80) JUNE 13 – Ally Sheedy, Actress (51)
JUNE 10 – Kate Upton, Model (21) JUNE 12 – Dave Franco, Actor (28)
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When asked about holding two high positions on two important councils, Eftekharpour was confident everyone on each council would work together and delegate the work accordingly. “I’m very much looking forward to working with students to identify how I can best serve them in this role,” he said. —Alley Wilson
Margaret Trudeau to receive honourary degree Margaret Trudeau is receiving an honorary doctor of laws degree from Western on June 19. Trudeau was nominated for the honour by a committee of Western’s senate for her work to change the way Canadians understand mental illness by speaking from her personal experiences, specifically about Bipolar Disease. Dr. David S. Goldbloom, senior medical advisor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, commented via e-mail about the degree to be bestowed upon Trudeau. Trudeau is representative of one in five Canadians who has experienced a mental illness—however, she has lived her life under the microscope of public scrutiny unlike the millions of Canadians who suffer in silence, Goldbloom said. “Her long journey and recovery are something she has courageously chosen to share with people, fighting stigma and opening the door for others to be more candid and more supported by their friends, families and communities.” Barbara Crook, an Ottawa-based writer, philanthropist and Western alum, said Trudeau is a great candidate to receive this honour from Western University. “To have someone of her profile come forward and talk with great candor is absolutely outstanding,” Crook said, adding Trudeau is effective because she is honest and has revealed so many details of her own life. Crook was diagnosed with clinical depression in her late thirties, but said prior to her diagnosis she dismissed her symptoms as “bad times.” “There was a time I didn’t talk about it. Now I can be public about it,” Crook said. Trudeau had experienced signs >> see BRIEFS pg.3
CLUES ACROSS 1. Hiking path 6. Swiss river 10. Amorphous mass 14. Eastern spindle tree 15. A cheap rundown hotel 17. Oath of office day 19. The bill in a restaurant 20. Religious transgression 21. More lucid 22. Vietnamese offensive 23. Chief magistrate of Venice 24. Turfs 26. Copyread 29. Game using 32 cards 31. Largest society for technology advancement 32. Mrs. Nixon 34. Drunken bum (slang) 35. Times assigned to serve 37. Labor organizer Eugene
38. Come into the possession of 39. Carbamide 40. Affirmative! (slang) 41. Feudal bondman 43. Without (French) 45. Emits a continuous droning sound 46. Use diligently 47. A moving crowd 49. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 50. Sirius Satellite Radio (abbr.) 53. Mailing packet 57. Female shopping assistant 58. Dog & wolf genus 59. Opposite of beginnings 60. South by east 61. This language died with Tevfik Esenc CLUES DOWN 1. Foolishly annoying person 2. Type of genus of the Ranidae 3. Whale ship captain
4. An informal debt instrument 5. Piece of a felled tree 6. Arabic demon (var. sp.) 7. Actor Ladd 8. Decay 9. Programmes 10. Hat tied under the chin 11. Methaqualone pill (slang) 12. Ocean Search and Rescue 13. Turkish title of respect 16. Submarine sandwich 18. An objects functions 22. Touchdown 23. Judge or consider 24. __ Claus 25. Word element meaning ear 27. Fencing swords 28. Song: Aba __ Honeymoon 29. Standard wire gauge 30. Capital of Ukraine
31. George Gershwin’s brother 33. Thyroid-stimulating hormone 35. Horse trainer’s shackle 36. Soft-finned fishes 37. Internet infrastructure 39. Sieze without right 42. Dishonors 43. Speaks a slavonic language 44. Egyptian pharaoh 46. Small breed of horse 47. “__ the Man” Musical 48. Forest land (British) 49. Italian municipality 50. Japanese entertainment firm 51. Slovenian mountain 52. 20th Hebrew letter 53. Point midway between S and SE 54. Tap gently 55. European money 56. Research workplace
Put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
For solutions see page 7
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Popular Toronto burrito chain to Universities need more funding: AUCC open location on Richmond Row Jeremiah Rodriguez News Editor Over the past couple of decades, universities have been scrambling to do more with less. As convocation season rolls around, a scathing op-ed says the time for simply talking about post-secondary funding fixes is long past over. The argument needs to change to an economic one, according to Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, who reframed the argument for a Canadian market looking for competent graduates for a stable economic future.
It’s really awkward because at this point, universities are receiving so much private funding from tuition, it’s dubious to still call them publicly funded universities. —Amir Eftekharpour
OUSA president
“Our competitive advantage is eroding because we are not ensuring the financial sustainability of universities so that they can continue growing at global rates,” Davidson wrote in the National Post last month. “While universities have opened their doors wider, ensuring greater opportunities for more people, per-student funding has dropped to a historic low.” 1.2 million full and part-time students are now served in degree programs each year. In the past 30 years, universities have doubled full-time enrollment, with parttime enrolment jumping 16 per cent. But Davidson says this hasn’t been met with tandem increases for per-student funding for each
province. According to the Canadian Association of University Teachers, as of 2010, Ontario spent only $10,222 per full-time student, ranking last out of ten provinces. Over the next four years, projections from the 2013 Ontario budget show that adjusting for inflation, per-student funding will drop by at least seven per cent, and overall government spending on universities will decrease 2.5 per cent in that same time. Statistics Canada found on average, Ontarian students paid 23 per cent higher tuition fees than the national average. The 2013 Ontario budget only added a cap of three per cent on tuition hikes, which is not a huge comfort to student leaders. “It’s really awkward because at this point, universities are receiving so much private funding from tuition, it’s dubious to still call them publicly funded universities,” said Amir Eftekharpour, president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development saw that since 2010, university attainment rates—meaning the number of students who attain degrees—for the 25–34 age group put Canada’s rank at 15th among OECD countries. Eftekharpour echoed Davidson’s sentiments by saying that during an anticipated Ontario by-election, the USC and OUSA will start campaigns geared to galvanize Ontarians with an aim to put education back onto the table as a purely economic issue. “It’s absolutely ridiculous because when you see attainments going low, that hampers [students’] ability to enter the workforce,” Eftekharpour said. “240,000 new jobs since 2008 have been created. 200,000 of those require a university degree. So if they can’t get them because university is too expensive, it’s not okay.”
News Briefs >> continued from pg.2
of bipolar disease during her twenties, and had received a lot of negativity surrounding mental illness. The media was especially hard on her, and nobody understood, Crook explained, adding she is “very inspiring.” “We honour people who use the experience of adversity in this way to help others,” Goldbloom said. Western University’s highest honour will be presented to Margaret Trudeau on June 19 at 3 p.m. at Alumni Hall. —Janice Dickson
Feminist scholars meet at Western Leading scholars from across the globe met at Western last week to participate in an interdisciplinary conference on the future of feminist phenomenology. Organized by Helen Fielding, chair of the women’s studies and feminist research department, the three-day “Future Directions in Feminist Phenomenology” conference was the largest of its kind and the first in Canada. The event attracted experts from across the
country, the US, Israel and Europe. “Feminist phenomenology is about attending to the lived experiences of women,” Fielding said. She explained that while “feminism” is still a controversial word, feminist ideologies can help us understand contemporary issues, such as sexual assault and cyber bullying, and bring about new policies and change. For Rachel Bath, a fourth-year philosophy and women’s studies student, the conference was an “intellectually stimulating” opportunity to see “academic politics in play, first-hand.” Feminist phenomenology can be useful for scholars interested in demonstrating how gender, race, class, disability and illness intersect in meaningful ways, Bath said in an e-mail. Fielding recently announced the women’s studies and feminist research department will soon be hosting a one-day forum, titled “Twenty-First Century Feminism and the Academy,” at Western on October 19, 2013. The conference will explore the challenges of addressing feminist issues and diversity within the academy. —Chantal Da Silva
Julian Uzielli GAZETTE
SOON YOU WILL BE COVERED IN DELICIOUS BURRITOS. The finishing touches were being put on the shiny new kitchen at Burrito Boyz last week. Richmond Row’s latest late-night pit stop is set to open this Monday.
Megan Devlin News Editor Starting next week, Western students will have a new option for lunch, dinner, and post-bar munchies on Richmond Row. Burrito Boyz, the Toronto-based burrito chain, is slated to open Monday near the intersection of Richmond St. and Central Ave. The walk-in restaurant is located at 206 Central Ave., across the street from Starbucks. Dave Strano, owner and operator of the new location, explained he and his partner had waited on the Richmond Row location because of proximity to local bars like Jim Bob Ray’s. Burrito Boyz will be open until 4:00 a.m. on weekends, and will also offer delivery with a minimum order of five burritos, Strano said. In addition, it will have online and phone-in ordering options
for students in a hurry who want to pick up their burritos. Burrito Boyz has many fans in the Greater Toronto Area, and Strano hopes followers will recognize the brand in London. “It’s pretty massive in London— my guy friends are obsessed with it,” Joanna Wong, a recent Richard Ivey School of Business grad, said. “If I had to give it a rating out of five stars I’d reach into the heavens so I could grasp five more. 10 out of 10,” Dakota Vine, a third-year criminology student, said. However, Sebastian Simon, who graduated from Ivey in 2012, was not so obsessed. “It was a very long wait for drunk food. It kind of gets old after a few times, and that’s coming from a person who really likes Mexican food,” he said. You can make it Burrito Boyz as good or bad as you want to,” Strano said, referring to the made-to-order
toppings on each burrito. Strano elaborated on his franchise’s menu, and revealed the restaurant offers chicken, steak, halibut, haddock, veggie, soy, shrimp, sweet potato and bean burritos. Burritos Boyz also offers vegan and gluten-free toppings, making it a slightly more healthconscious late night choice. Burrito Boyz London is also trying to make a social media presence to get students and the community involved by offering deals and specials through their Twitter account. Burrito Boyz is a Canadian chain, which opened in 2004 with its Peter St. location in Toronto, and has now expanded all over Southern Ontario. “London was just a natural progression. [Burrito Boyz] had gotten into Waterloo and then Hamilton, and London just seemed like the next destination,” Strano said.
Vice-President (External) One of Canada’s leading universities in both research and teaching, Western is a diverse and collaborative community of nationally and internationally celebrated scholars. Located in London, Canada, Western’s twelve Faculties and Schools and three affiliated University Colleges offer more than 200 undergraduate, 69 master’s and 45 doctoral programs including 13 interdisciplinary or collaborative programs, with a total enrolment of more than 33,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. For additional information, please visit: www.uwo.ca With a school spirit that is the envy of the country and a legacy of excellence in teaching and discovery, Western has embarked on a $750M campaign to develop the next generation of extraordinary leaders. As part of the senior executive team of the university reporting to the President & Vice-Chancellor, and working in concert particularly with the Provost & Vice-President (Academic) and Vice-President (Resources & Operations), the Vice President (External) will play a pivotal leadership role in achieving the campaign’s goal. As a key ambassador for this outstanding institution, the Vice President (External) will work with Western’s leadership team to advance and enhance the University’s reputation as an academic leader on the local, provincial, national and international stages. Building deep relationships with all of the University’s stakeholders, the Vice President (External) champions issues related to advancement, fundraising, alumni relations, communications and public affairs. The preferred candidate for this position will be a collaborative relationship builder, who will work with the academic leadership, and build effective teams and partnerships sustaining and enhancing Western’s advancement success. The ideal candidate will have an outstanding record of senior strategic leadership, fundraising and advancement experience; with knowledge of best practice in capital campaigns, planned giving, major donor development, public affairs, and corporate and alumni relations. The individual will bring a track record of success in a senior leadership role within a large, complex, multi-stakeholder organization. Western is committed to Employment Equity, welcomes diversity in the workplace, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, members of visible minorities, aboriginal persons, and persons with disabilities. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To explore this opportunity further, please send your resume in confidence to Gerri Woodford or Amanda Bugatto at westvp@odgersberndtson.ca
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Arts&Life
badwriting Page 476 Twilight: New Moon: Aro started to laugh. “Ha, ha, ha,” he chuckled.
—Stephanie Meyer
Fringe Fest brings unique, frugal theatre Mary Ann Ciosk Arts & Life Editor Over 14 years since its inception, the London Fringe Festival is revving up again for its summertime festivities. The Fringe has grown significantly over the past decade and a half, with 80 companies competing for the 43 available performance slots and a predicted sale of 18,000 tickets this year. The festival also boasts a wide variety of performing, musical and visual arts from diverse backgrounds. “The beauty and magic of the Fringe Festival is that there is an audience for everything that we have, and there’s a performer for whatever you’re looking for,” says Kathy Navackas, the executive producer of the festival. “We get a real mix every year. There’s one group from Windsor who are all high school students, [performing] a show written by Lucy Williams, a woman well into her 70s.” The festival is also unique in its completely random selection process for artists. “We literally pull the names out of a hat,” Navackas says. “It’s really important that we have an accessible process so that it isn’t an artistic director or producer who decides
who is in, since performers keep 100 per cent of the box office. With this format all artists have an equal opportunity. It’s as much fun for us as it is for the audience, figuring out what we’ve got this year.” The festival is new and unpredictable each year, but the lack of screening also comes with some risks. “It could go terribly, terribly wrong,” Navackas laughingly concedes. “But the neat part about it is that it’s the audience that decides whether a show is good or not. If the show is good then a buzz will start. The audience will let people know whether it’s good, bad, something to go see or not. I find out what some of the shows are really going to be like at the same time as the audience.” This year’s schedule promises to be as varied and exciting as ever, with some new twists. “We have opera, three dance companies, two magicians, we have comedy, drama. This year there seems to be a lot of sword fighting happening,” Navackas says. “There’s a show about stage fighting, another called ‘Iago vs. Hamlet’—I guess they’re going to have their own sword fight. There’s another called ‘Headshots and Healing Potions.’ I’m not sure what they’re doing, but they do
Bill Wang GAZETTE
THE FRINGE FEST FLIES IN. London’s Fringe Festival opened on June 5, featuring a variety of performers showcasing unique acts, including “Cover Song” (seen above) a musical revue including songs spanning generations.
have swords. We have a theme but there’s also often a sub theme–this year, pointy objects might be one of them.” Costs are kept low to keep the Fringe Festival accessible for everyone, with no ticket price
Stirring Summer Reads
exceeding $10. There will even be discounts provided to those who arrive in super hero costumes, to draw a crowd and add some flavour to the audience. With the diversity of the arts exhibited and the low cost, this spectacle is not
Arrested Development “blue it” for fans Bradley Metlin Arts & Life Editor
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness Susannah Cahalan Released: November 13, 2012 Free Press
Who Owns the Future? Jaron Lanier Released: May 7, 2013 Simon & Schuster
Gulp Mary Roach Released: April 2, 2013 WW Norton
Can you imagine waking one morning in a hospital room, and not having any recollection of why you were there or what had happened in the month prior? It’s a terrifying scenario. But that’s what Susannah Cahalan, a journalist at the New York Post, experienced in 2009, and she retells her nightmare in her recently released novel, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. Putting the month together piece by piece by looking at medical records and interviewing friends and professionals, Cahalan writes a memoir about her experience with an autoimmune disorder, and how one neurologist saved her life with the unexpected diagnosis. While the subject matter is dark, this may be just the motivation you need to accomplish your summer goals.
Let’s face it—despite the gorgeous summer weather we’re experiencing the majority of us spend a portion of our day browsing through others’ updates and photos. But do the majority of us understand how our increasingly digital lives impact our economy and benefit certain companies? In Jaron Lanier’s new book Who Owns the Future?, the computer scientist and best-selling author takes a look at how our new obsession with the digital has created various challenges for employment and personal wealth, and how we as users could potentially be rewarded for our contributions on the Web. Maybe understanding the ramifications of our endless browsing will help us to actually get outside.
One of the best parts of the summer months is the copious amount of food we all inevitably consume. Yet, do any of us have an idea of what actually happens inside us when we eat? In science writer Mary Roach’s new book Gulp, she takes readers on a humourous journey through the alimentary canal—otherwise known as the digestive tract—to explain what happens in your body after you take a bite of food. Gulp is filled with fun facts about the human body, provides answers to the questions you may have been too afraid or embarrassed to ask and brings readers around the world to meet several different people who have had interesting experiences with their own digestive tracts. —Jesica Hurst
to be missed. The Fringe Festival began June 5 and concludes on the evening of June 15 with Nuit Blanche on Dundas St. 50 per cent of tickets are reserved for door sales, or to buy advance online visit londonfringe.ca
The misadventures of Arrested Development’s dysfunctional Bluth family created a firestorm as the new season premiered two weeks ago. The show became a mainstay on the Twitter trending topics list the day of its premiere on May 26 and Facebook timelines were clogged with updates about the show. When it was first announced that Netflix was producing a fourth season of the cult favorite, cancelled since 2006, expectations were high. Yet, early reports from fans indicate their expectations were not met. Fans like second-year social science student Alana Kiteley “loved the first three seasons.” Continuing, she says, “the humour is witty, clever and subtle. All the characters are unique and definitely add something to the show,” she says. The first episode, “Flight of the Phoenix,” fails to succeed in the way the original 53 did. A new decision that has each episode centre around a specific character within the show’s universe, seems to be the likely culprit of this decline in quality. The premiere focused on Michael ( Jason Bateman). The series’ everyman is in a downward spiral and forced to move into his son’s dorm room, upsetting George Michael’s (Michael Cera) placid life. This outlandish situation is classic Arrested Development, yet the whole episode meanders through the plot.
The performances remain strong, and the ensemble cast that we do see, as well as the prominently featured Jason Bateman and Michael Cera, are impressive. Even guest star Kristen Wiig, who appears as a young version of family matriarch, Lucille, manages to knock it out of the park. The performances aren’t the source of a decline in quality, but it appears the new episode structures and the writing are at fault. What made the original three seasons so excellent was the mix between different characters and a rapid-fire narrative. With one character to focus on, the show drags at times, and the jokes don’t hit as often as they used to. The first episode of the new season might not be outstanding but there is a ray of hope for fans. Online, the consensus appears to be that the season gets stronger with each episode. The more you watched the more the plot starts to make sense, and thus, the funnier the new episodes reportedly get. Perhaps loyal Arrested Development fans know this and will push past the clunky season opening. “I was expecting big things after such a long break but was sadly disappointed,” Kiteley says. “I will still finish the season, though.” Perhaps all is not lost on Arrested Development. Getting passed the first few hiccups, the show will seemingly hook you in. So, if someone shouts “no touching” as you click to move to the next episode, it seems the best thing to do is ignore them.
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Life spans leaping Problems with pornography? forward in Canada Study shows porn may be a factor in misogyny Jesica Hurst Online Editor According to the World Health Organization, global life expectancy has shown dramatic increases, and doesn’t look like it will be slowing down any time soon. In their annual report World Health Statistics, which was released last month, the WHO reported the global life expectancy increased to 70 in 2011—an increase of six years since 1990. In 2011, the global male life expectancy was 68 years, whereas the global female life expectancy was 72 years. However, the WHO also reported Canada’s numbers were much higher than the global average. In 2011, the life expectancy of both men and women was 82—that’s 12 years more than the global life expectancy, and five years higher than the Canadian life expectancy in 1990. Don Kerr, a sociology professor at King’s University College at Western, explained some of these long-term changes could be attributed to higher standards of living, improvements in sanitation and advances in medicine. “We have witnessed remarkable changes in longevity and health care over the course of Canadian history,” Kerr said. “At the time of Confederation, the average life expectancy at birth was 42 years, and the leading causes of death, especially among infants and children, were infectious diseases. But in 2009, life expectancy surpassed 81 years, while the leading causes of death had become the chronic diseases that mainly affect older people.” Even though having a longer life may seem like a good thing, Kerr also explained these extra years are
not necessarily spent in good health. “With longer life comes longer average periods of poor health and disability. Even though many or most older people are healthy, the fact is that almost one-third of people aged 85 and above are living in institutions, and only about one in four report good health,” he said. “While there are clearly average improvements in the health of individuals at any given age, an older population will still result a greater prevalence of poor health and disability in the population.” But according to a book called The Longevity Project, which was based on an eight-decade study started by Louis Terman, a Stanford University psychologist, there are a few ways to live a long and healthy life. Even though good genes play a significant role in how long a person will live, authors Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin explain that being conscientious, connecting socially and worrying just a little bit could also extend your years.
Mike Laine Gazette
Brent Holmes Arts & Life Editor Whether it’s being thought of as a “series of tubes” or a place where trolls hide in chat rooms, the Internet has often been thought of as a dangerous technology. This notion is being reinforced by a recent study which found that the expanded access to pornography via the Internet is having an effect on young people. Published by Maggie Atkinson, the Children’s Commissioner for England, the report has found a link between viewing extreme sexual images and “risky behaviours.” Children and young people who regularly watched pornography were more likely to develop unhealthy attitudes, experiment with drugs and engage in sexting. The study found that among young boys that view pornography, repeated exposure results in the treating of women as sex objects and contributes to a rise in sexual aggression. However, some critics of the study have say it prevents a simplified binary between good and bad images. “[In the study] ‘pornography’ is used to describe a huge range of images and it’s assumed they are all bad,” comments Helen Fielding, an associate professor in the women’s studies department at Western. “Of course, pornography is produced out of the culture it also feeds. Attitudes towards women that promote seeing them as objects, subject to violence, [and] in positions of vulnerability are not isolated to pornography.” The study has also been questioned for whether or not the link between pornography and sexual aggression is guaranteed.
Kelly Samuel Gazette
“Overall, I am not certain that the assertion that children ‘raised on a steady diet of porn’ engage in more sexual risky behavior or more sexual aggression is sound,” William Fisher, distinguished professor in the department of psychology at Western, comments. “During the past 15 years there has been an explosive increase in access to all forms of Internet pornography,” Fisher explains. “During this time, the average age of first sexual intercourse in Canada has remained pretty much the same— safer sexual behavior among Canadian teenagers and young adults has increased substantially, rates of teenage pregnancy and abortion in Canada have declined substantially and rates of sexual assault victimization, assessed in a number of ways in a number of studies in a number of countries, have also declined.” For young people, however, the perception remains that pornography is something that everyone is watching but nobody discusses. “I think that students in university, not everyone, but a good majority watch pornography,
On Disc GGFFF The National Trouble Will Find Me 4AD Like an ice cream sundae without the toppings or like Tostitos without the dip, The National’s new album Trouble Will Find Me is pleasant— but undoubtedly lacking something. The National have thus far kept a good thing going. With frontman Matt Berninger’s deep, loinstirring vocals and the musically adept Dessner brothers powering the project, The National has only grown in acclaim. Their last two albums, Boxer and High Violet, both showed an intense evolution in sound. From the majestic and composed to the passionate and ethereal, the previous albums continued to compound fan expectations. Unfortunately, not only did Trouble Will Find Me fail to drive this evolution, it fell short of even meeting basic expectations. It starts fairly strong with the soaring “I Should Live In Salt,” which
sets a decent tone. However, the album’s single “Demons” is utterly forgettable, and half way through Trouble, it becomes hard to tell if you’re listening to a new album, or just the unreleased outtakes of previous efforts. “Sea of Love” and “Graceless” sound as if they were performed by a cover band trying to emulate what they think The National sounds like—maudlin lyrics and simple melodies combined with a pounding drum beat. The second half is a bit stronger, with songs like “I Need My Girl” and “Pink Rabbits,” both of which have lyrics that listeners will undoubtedly relate to, and a catchy, driving melody, which possesses soupcons of originality that other songs on the album lack. Yet, the stinker “Hard To Find” concludes the album on a note of disappointing banality, one that unfortunately defines The National’s latest output. The response from fans has thus far been lukewarm. Those who whet their teeth on High Violet shouldn’t be too upset—not much has changed. But therein lies the rub. For the rest of the fans, especially those who’ve been invested since Alligator, the stagnancy reeks. Overall, Trouble Will Find Me sounds a bit too homogenized and rehashed. Perhaps The National have set expectations for themselves that they’ll never again be able to reach. But they can still do better than this. —Cameron Smith
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but there’s no discussion about it,” says Bailey Atkinson, a fourth year women’s studies student at Western and V-Day co-ordinator for the University Students’ Council. “There’s different sources of it—I think women read more erotica. I mean, we criticize young men for watching violent pornography, but then women are reading 50 Shades of Grey.” “Both [sexes] are guilty of watching pornography that may be violent and degrading, because our culture has allowed it to become normalized, but there are more sex-positive options and variety in porn,” she adds. Many agree that education and discussion are incredibly important with regards to pornography. The report from the Children’s Commissioner in England calls for compulsory education on relationship, sex and pornography. “I think there needs to be dialogue. People need to not be so shy about it,” Atkinson says. It’s almost like everyone assumes that everyone else is doing it but when people bring it up, it’s like ‘Really? You watch it too?’”
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Opinions Non-voting students at city hall better than nothing Western and Fanshawe students may soon be able to contribute their voices to municipal politics in London, but the question remains—what exactly is this going to achieve? On the surface, it seems like a wholly positive proposal. Students will sit on the advisory committees and represent the interests and perspectives of the youthful and the academically-minded of London, allowing for student interests to receive more attention—at least, that’s what it should be in theory. Yet, the students sitting on city hall advisory committees will only possess speaking rights—not a vote. This means that despite the appearance of importance, the opinions of the students on these committees will carry little to no real weight, and can be easily overlooked. Furthermore, the students sitting on the advisory committees will only have one-year terms, hardly long enough to enact serious change. Combined with evermorphing class schedules that may make it difficult for some to attend these meetings—which operate on a professional schedule, not an academic one—it seems like permitting a student to participate may be a purely token gesture. So what’s the point? There are lots of municipal issues facing students residing in London—issues that are currently going unaddressed. These include a lack of exposure to London culture outside the Western bubble, frustrating bus schedules, and, perhaps most importantly, the inability to find gainful employment. While these issues might seem obvious to the average student, it’s unlikely they are being discussed with much vehemence amongst municipal politicians. Also, the city is concerned with ways to keep students in London. Perhaps allowing them to participate in the political goings-on of the city is the perfect way to foster a serious investment in London from not only the students sitting on the committee, but also those they represent. Thus, a student voice may prove important in conveying the oft-overlooked interests of students to municipal politicians, albeit without the voting power to enact change themselves. While the actual impact these student advisors will have is likely going to be negligible, it’s still better than nothing, and may serve to enact some measurable and positive change. —The Gazette Editorial Board
“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.”
—Nikita Khrushchev
Ontario blows job strategy for youth Seven Minutes in Kevin Kevin Hurren Opinions Editor During the summer months, there are a few complaints sure to make their way into every casual party or backyard barbecue conversation. “I totally got burned, look at how red my skin is,” or, “I have to go to my grandmother’s house for a week and she doesn’t even have Wi-Fi!” But no complaint is as frequent or pervasive for our age group as the well rehearsed, “Why can’t I find a summer job?” Hearing students lament their lack of summer employment seems as natural as the warmer weather. The problem comes when very few are actually successful in their job hunt, and students who just want to lighten their financial load are left without a way to do so. In an attempt to combat such a frustrating job market, Ontario has devised the Youth Job Strategy—an initiative that will see the province invest approximately $280 million over the next two years in helping young people find jobs. But before we, as youth, take to the streets in celebration and offer to pay for our grandmother’s Wi-Fi, a critical look at the Youth Job Strategy may yield less than exciting results. While it’s great that the government is addressing youth unemployment, the strategy isn’t addressing the right kind of work the majority of students want, which is short-term. Take, for instance, the $45 million portion of the investment going directly to support entrepreneurial projects
from youth. Our generation has been taught for so long that the key to a promising future is a process of paying one’s dues. You work hard in high school to get into a good university to get into a good company or workplace—not much room for innovation, is there? After all, consider how you felt when your friend—and we all have that friend—told you they were dropping out of school to start their own company. You cringed, thinking that by staying in school you were on the right path. And there is the problem. We’re all stuck on our path of “higher education.” Though I’m not going to judge the potential benefits or pitfalls of intensive learning, the fact is we can’t just create our own jobs. At the end of the summer we have to go back to school, a school that we’ve put thousands of dollars into. So where does that leave the Youth Job Strategy? In addition to the entrepreneurial support, the strategy also plans to dump $195 million into making opportunities for youth by offering employers incentives to hire young people. However, the same problem arises. Employers don’t want to take on and train students, recovering from their mistakes along the way, if these students are only going to quit at the end of the summer—students often can’t continue working because school and education take precedent. So moving forward, instead of just throwing cash at an employer, the Ontario government might want to address the education system rather than the employment one. You can’t spend years conditioning an entire generation to value long-term education, only to then throw them into a workforce that values specific experience and long-term commitment.
summerpoll Do you think the City of London’s new “Smoking Near Recreation Amenities and Entrances” bylaw will be effective? No—it will be too difficult to enforce. (55%) Yes—it will help protect people from second-hand smoke. (36%)
Dear Life
Your anonymous letters to life.
Dear Life, “Ponytail” makes a lot of sense as a name for the hairstyle—but “pig tails”? Dear Life, Nothing starts a day right like waking up to the most annoying sound on Earth coming from your roommate’s alarm clock. Dear Life, Why are there no drivethrough pizza places? Dear Life, Thank you for remembering that summer is hot. We hope you don’t forget again. Dear Life, I’ve been breaking in my loafers and now I understand a woman’s pain. Dear Life, I wonder who is more famous, Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn? Dear Life, It’s a sad day for gay TV when both Smash and The New Normal get cancelled. Dear Life, There aren’t many people on campus over the summer, but when there are, everyone’s in the UCC Tim Hortons line. Dear Life, There aren’t enough issues of the Gazette over the summer. Where am I going to get my “Dear Life” fix from?
I don’t know. (9%) Submit your letters to life at www.westerngazette.ca /dearlife.
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Volume 107, Issue 2 www.westerngazette.ca
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Editorials are decided by a majority of the editorial board and are written by a member of the editorial board but are not necessarily the expressed opinion of each editorial board member. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USC, The Gazette, its editors or staff. To submit a letter, go to westerngazette.ca and click on “Contact.” All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives.
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Rowing teams win gold, silver at Dad Vail Mustangs topped list of over 30 universities at largest regatta in USA Nusaiba Al-Azem Sports Editor
Western rowing impressed at the 75th annual Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the largest regular intercollegiate rowing event in the United States. On May 10, with over 30 universities in attendance, Western proved its mettle to take home some hardware. Two female crews were sent to compete this year—the varsity heavyweight 4+ and the freshman/ novice 8+, coached by heavyweight women’s varsity coach Bob Ward and lightweight women’s varsity Coach Matt Waddell. The varsity heavyweight 4+ team knew they had their work cut out for them. “Our expectations going down to the regatta are to be faced with some tough competition and close races,” Kathleen Morrison, a rower on the team, explained. “The racing season for the American colleges is in the spring, whereas ours takes place in the fall, so coming into the prime of their season, having only been back on the water for a month is always a challenge.” Despite this obstacle, the crew placed first with a time of 7:29:618. “I think that planning and commitment really contributed to this boat working out,” Natasha Caminsky, team captain and coxswain, said. Celebrating with a
coxswain toss, the team earned the Margaret McNiff Trophy. The freshman/novice crew also made it to the podium this year, coming in second after Michigan’s Grand Valley University. With four members having just been introduced to rowing this year, the team’s result was impressive.
Being able to achieve competitive athletic performances during a stressful time academically really demonstrated that they take their responsibilities as studentathletes seriously. —Mike Waddell
Lightweight women’s varsity coach
“Of course we train to win, so coming in second was disappointing at the time, but looking back now I couldn’t have asked anyone to push any harder. Grand Valley just pushed a few strokes more than us,” Leah Taylor said of her team’s second-place finish. Waddell said the team’s success was because of the athletes’ commitment. “Since Dad Vail falls outside of our competitive season, they had to pay for most of the trip out of
Courtesy of Bob Ward
JUST OUT FOR A LEISURELY STROLL. The Western Mustangs dominated the competition once again at this year’s annual Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. The Mustangs walked away from Philly with a gold and a silver medal—a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that Western only sent two crews to the event.
pocket. Additionally, because the regatta is in early May, they had to commit to attending early morning on-water practices all throughout the April exam period,” he said. “Being able to achieve competitive athletic performances during a stressful time academically really demonstrated that they take their responsibilities as
student-athletes seriously.” Caminsky was optimistic about what these medals mean for Western’s rowing future. “I think that sending boats to Dad Vail and being successful shows the rest of the team, rowing community and recruits the caliber of our program and hopefully gets everyone motivated for the upcoming summer
and fall season,” she said. “This success shows that not only is Western a premier rowing program in Canada, but in North America as well,” Waddell said. “We have some great coaches, great athletes, and enjoy great support from the university. When all these things come together, results like these become possible.”
Western heads East Three Western track athletes to represent Canada at international university games Daniel Weryha Sports Editor Three Mustangs will represent Canada at the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. Three Western track and field athletes have been named to Team Canada. Taylor Stewart, Robin Bone and Matt Brisson will travel to Kazan for this year’s competition that will run from July 6–17. Being the only Canadian to surpass the 14.00 qualifying standard, Matt Brisson qualified for the 110metre hurdles with a 13.94 time. The qualification puts the third-year King’s student one step closer to achieving his ultimate goal of competing in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. The Universiade will be Brisson’s first major event. After a superb season, he will look to close out the year with a strong finish. “I’m going there for a podium finish,” Brisson said. “I have looked at previous times for medalists and I know it is something I am capable of.” At the 2011 Universiade, Jamaica’s Hansie Parchment won the gold medal in the 110-metre hurdles with a time of 13.24. American Ronald Brookings secured the lowest podium spot with a time of 13.56—0.38 seconds faster than Brisson’s qualification time. If Brisson is to win a medal, he’ll have
to come close to those times. Having already competed with the World Youth Team in 2011, Bone is now moving through to the next stage of her athletic career. Qualifying with a 4.22-metre vault, the first year BMOS student will look to best her Ontario University Athletics gold and Canadian Interuniversity Sport silver with a medal at the Universiade. “My coaches, Dave Collins and Vickie Croley, are preparing me so that I will be prepared to jump the best I can during the competition,” Bone said. “That is all any athlete can do—his or her best.” In the 2011 Universiade, Aikaterini Stefanidi of Greece secured her bronze medal with a 4.45-metre leap—one that left an impressive standard for athletes looking for a podium finish in this year’s games. Taylor Stewart, a second-year social science student, posted a 7.72-metre long jump to qualify only to best his effort three days later with a 7.83-metre leap. The sophomore finished a record setting season with two OUA gold medals, one each in long jump and triple jump, and a CIS gold in long jump to go along with it. Stewart is the only Canadian that will compete in the long jump at the Universiade. Having already won a bronze medal in the world juniors, Stewart is the most experienced and is expected to perform well in the
event, according to Vickie Croley, Mustangs track and field head coach. “Taylor just thrives on this sort of competition,” Croley said. “I have no doubt that he will do very well. For these athletes, the Summer Universiade in Kazan will be their biggest test yet. According to its website, the event is second in size only to the Olympics. An average of 160 countries participate regularly in the competition, which promotes international athletics at the university level. For Western, the nominations will serve as an effective recruiting tool for athletes who wish to represent Canada internationally. “Having athletes at Western making the national teams shows other athletes that they can come to Western because we have a system in place that supports athletes moving forward onto a national team,” Croley said. As Western continues to produce international-level athletes, the program will continue to attract athletes of that caliber—an outcome Western hopes to relish in.
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Puzzle solutions (from pg. 2)
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thegazette • Friday, June 7, 2013
Sports
factattack The remaining teams in the semifinals of the NHL playoffs are also the last four teams to hoist the Stanley Cup. This is the first time this has happened since 1945.
Rundown >> Ade Ojo and Justin Chan of the Mustangs rugby team were named to the CIS men’s rugby sevens roster for the 2013 Summer Universiade being held in Kazan, Russia from July 14–17 > Ojo and Chan are part of a very selective 12-person crew that will represent Canada in the games.
Formula team beats top-20 goal in Barrie Western’s engineers place 11th overall at international auto competition Caitlin Martin Newnham Sports Editor BARRIE — The wind was bitterly cold outside Barrie’s Molson Centre, which housed this year’s Formula North competition from May 23–26. Thirty five teams from universities across Canada and the USA, and one from Estonia, huddled around their cars in the rink-turned-auto shop. Tucked away in a corner was Western’s team of engineers making last-minute adjustments to their car before the autocross event. Despite first impressions, the competition was not simply a test of speed, but an entire business conference to attract potential employers and sponsors for the engineers and their car designs.
A bunch of other schools have [formula racing] as an engineering class, which takes off a lot of time for them. For us we have to do it on top of everything […] If you introduced it as a course then you would have people who would come in and half-ass it. —Bennett Heidenreich
Steering and suspension engineer for Western’s formula racing team
Formula North was the second conference the team attended in May, after traveling to Michigan for the Society of Automotive Engineers’ annual international meet earlier that month. “The majority of the teams that beat us in Michigan this year were teams that came over from Europe that were sponsored by really big name brands like Red Bull, Mercedes and Porsche,” Meg French, a spokesperson for the Western team, explained. However, what Western’s team lacked in sponsorship they made up for in commitment and ambition. “A bunch of other schools have
[formula racing] as an engineering class, which takes off a lot of time for them. For us we have to do it on top of everything,” Bennett Heidenreich, the steering and suspension engineer, said. “We could probably get it [as a course] if we wanted, but we don’t want to because we’re all volunteers, so everyone who’s here wants to be here. If you introduced it as a course then you would have people who would come in and half-ass it.” On May 24 the team competed in Formula North’s static events, including marketing, cost, and engineering design. Western placed 12th overall in the static events. Next, they competed in the dynamic events over May 25 and 26, which included skid-pad, acceleration, autocross, endurance, and fuel economy. The competition was a level system, meaning each team had to achieve a certain score in each dynamic event to compete in the next one. Unfortunately for Adam Bezzina, one of two drivers for the Western team, the corner of the side panel of the car fell off during his first lap of the autocross track. “The body is from last year because they modified it to work with the new radiator that they put in that is huge, and it’s not fit super snug to the frame like the other one, so what happened is this little corner popped off in Adam’s first run, and they had to duct tape it back on,” French explained. “[Ryan Alexander, another driver with the team, and Bezzina] are both kind of annoyed because they knew they could go faster, but it was a slow track and not really the right distance they wanted.” Despite the autocross mishap, Western advanced to the endurance event and achieved an overall ranking of 12th in the dynamic events. Western’s final ranking was 11th overall for the Formula North competition, which surpassed their goal of top 20, according to French. With a team mantra of ‘excellence, endurance and enthusiasm,’ and full-time hours of commitment on top of engineering courses, it’s no wonder they beat Queen’s and McGill.
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STAY ON TARGET... Ryan Alexander of Western Engineering’s formula racing team drives the Mustang-mobile in the Formula North competition in Barrie. Teams from Canada, the US and Europe attended the event from May 23–26.
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