Mommy Issues French-Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan creates an emotional powerhouse of a film with Mommy. >> Pg. 5
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WESTERN UNIVERSITY • CANADA’S ONLY DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED 1906
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>> WOMEN’S HOCKEY
VOLUME 108, ISSUE 45
Western to help ease carbon footprint Kevin Hurren NEWS EDITOR-AT-LARGE @KevinAtGazette
Kyle Porter • GAZETTE CAN’T BE BEAT. The Mustangs women’s hockey team is flying high with wins over Brock and Guelph this past weekend, meaning they remain undefeated in regulation and have won 10 straight games. > SEE PAGE 7 FOR MORE
Lack of students abroad might hurt Canada Study reveals only 3 % of Canadian students involved in international study or exchange programs
Hamza Tariq NEWS EDITOR @HamzaAtGazette
While international students are increasingly opting for Canada as their preferred educational destination, Canadian students are choosing to stay put at home. According to a report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, only three per cent of Canadian students are going abroad on international study or exchange programs. This low rate of students choosing to go overseas for education can hurt Canada’s role in global markets and initiatives. “I think one of the challenges that Canada faces is that our education system isn’t the responsibility of the federal government,” said Lise Laporte, director of International Learning at Western International.
“It’s a provincial system, so being able to pull together all of the provinces and territories to agree on a national initiative has been challenging.” According to Laporte, Western is doing better than the national average with five per cent of the students involved in international study or exchange programs. The university’s goal is to double that number in the next five years. Studying abroad gives students a chance to get out of their comfort zones and helps them develop problem-solving and transferrable skills that increase their employability, she said. However, the cost of international study programs might deter students from going overseas. According to a report by the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, the majority of the students choosing to
go abroad came from families with household incomes of over $80,000. Although the tuition fees of international exchange programs are paid to the student’s own university, the travel and living expenses, along with the loss of part–time or summer employment can have a negative effect on the student’s decision to go abroad. “Cost can absolutely be a barrier for students and we fully recognize the amount of student debt that is out there,” Laporte said. “But we would really like to turn that conversation around and encourage students to think of this as an investment, that can translate into some amazing opportunities and a kind of transformative life experience, but also really be linked to achievements down the road in terms of their career.”
A new competition at Western is encouraging students to put their best foot forward — by erasing their carbon footprint that is. Western’s Ideas for Sustainability and the Environment, or WISE, competition plans to reward ideas and innovations aimed at today’s environmental concerns. “We really just want to hone in on people’s research and interest in sustainability,” said Beverley Ayeni, energy and environment manager for the university. The competition is facilitated by the President’s Advisory Committee on Environment and Sustainability, on which Ayeni sits as member. Hoping to foster more engagement with these issues, one-page proposals are being accepted until early January offering ideas. These proposals can be based on research projects, thesis papers or just rough concepts, explained Ayeni. “We want to see some well thought-out ideas on how to solve an issue or make an impact,” she said. >> see WISE pg.3
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Victor Garber visits Western • P3 Kira Isabella coming to London • P4 TV for Tuesday: The Mindy Project
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thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
New app helps develop better eating Olivia Zollino NEWS EDITOR @OliviaAtGazette
Taylor Lasota • GAZETTE
Solution to puzzle on page 7
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KNOW WHEN I WAS FIRST A UNIVERSITY STUDENT, I LOOKED FOR TIPS ON WHERE TO GO AND HOW TO COOK. SO IT WILL BE USEFUL TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LESS EXPERIENCED AT PREPARING THEIR OWN MEALS OR ARE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY. JASON GILLILAND
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A new app aims to improve healthy eating habits while improving the strength of the local economy for southwestern Ontario. The app, entitled SmartAPPetite is a collaborative effort by the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) at Western University, Brescia University College, London Training Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Old East Village Business Improvement area. With the use of a GPS, the app tracks local food vendors in your surrounding area, in addition to tailoring customized food tips and giving the user healthy recipes based on their food preferences. Jason Gilliland, Western associate professor in the department of geography and director of SmartAPPetite, said the app developed out of a variety of his interests. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Partially, I was looking for an intervention on combatting a lot of diet related health issues,â&#x20AC;? Gilliland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But not only being an intervention to promote healthy eating, but also Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been a gadget guy, a geographer.â&#x20AC;? The app works on three levels. In addition to promoting healthy eating and exercising better food choices, the app is intended to promote local food vendors. As a result, the local economy benefits and the impact on the environment is limited. An inspiration of Gilliland comes from the Ontario Table challenge. Ontario Table challenged every Ontario household to spend $10 on local food. If this were to happen, 10,000 jobs would be created and $2.4 billion dollars would be invested into the environment. Though intended for people of all ages, students and those new to southwestern Ontario can particularly benefit from the app. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know when I was first a university student, I looked for tips on where to go and how to cook. So it will be useful to people who are less experienced at preparing their own meals or are new to the community,â&#x20AC;? Gilliland said. In a pilot study that ran last year, Gilliland found those who engaged with the app more had actually purchased more vegetables and ate less junk food by the end. In comparison, those who did not use the app had no change in their eating pattern. The app, which is currently available only to iPhone users, is currently only focused geographically on southwestern Ontario. Gilliland said that him and his team hope to expand across Ontario and eventually Canada in the future. Additionally, they are looking into expanding to Android and Blackberry phones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it will be of great use to Western students,â&#x20AC;? Gilliland said.
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CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer
The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. Š 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.
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thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Finding a resonating image
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THIS IS YOUR BRAIN. Actor Victor Garber came to Western to speak at the 2014 Leaders in Innovation Dinner. Beforehand, Garber was given a tour of the MRI facilities at Robart’s Research Institute, which are being used to find ways to detect early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. He’s seen here with Dr. Ravi Menon, who is explaining his research to Garber.
Brent Holmes DEPUTY EDITOR @BrentAtGazette
Last Thursday, Western hosted the man who built the Titanic, taught Reese Witherspoon how to be a lawyer and got American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. That’s right, Canadian actor Victor Garber came to Western to speak as the special guest at the 2014 Leaders in Innovation Dinner. Garber was given a tour of the MRI facilities at Robart’s Research Institute, which are being used to help find ways to detect early onset of Alzheimer’s. Garber had a personal connection to Alzheimer’s research — both of his parents had Alzheimer’s. “Everyone asks me, ‘Aren’t you worried about it?’ I actually don’t think about it very much,” Garber said. “I do think it’s one of the most frightening and inexplicable diseases that I want to see an end to as we all do.” Garber has done a lot of work with the Alzheimer’s Association
WISE wants student ideas >> WISE continued from pg.1
The best ideas, however, will go beyond just the environmental effects. Applicants are prompted to think of societal and economic impacts as well. Ayeni gives the example of recycling. Recycling will positively affect the environment but how to get people engaged with recycling or how to make the recycling process cheaper are the social and economic dimensions of that topic. “While the issue doesn’t have to be specific to Western, it does have to cover these pillars of sustainability,” she said. After succeeding in the initial proposal submission, 20 finalists will be chosen to complete a longform plan. From there, the 10 best entries will be invited to make oral presentations to the selections committee, which consists of Ayeni alongside representatives from Housing, Ivey, Biology and Engineering. To recognize varying levels of experience in the field of sustainability, there are different prizes for undergraduate and graduate entries, with first place set at $1,500 for both.
and Alzheimer’s Society to help raise awareness and money for research into the disease. “I just see that look in people’s eyes that just chills my spirit and my soul and I just want more to be done,” he said. “It’s rampant. It’s going to affect [everyone] at some point … and we need to all galvanize our energy and do something about it.” During his tour, Garber’s questions for the doctors focused around how their work and Robart’s facilities could be used to help Alzheimer’s patients. The facilities at Robart’s, however, mostly focus on research taking on volunteers who are willing to be part of tests. “I dropped out of high school,” Garber joked as researchers explained the science behind their work. When asked how his work as a celebrity could help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s during his interview with the press, Garber laughed and thanked the reporter, not identifying himself as part of the celebrity culture. “The fact is if you see someone
on television, you sort of pay more attention to them then these brilliant doctors that I’ve been talking to all day and that’s just the sad part of it,” Garber admitted. “The good part of it is that if somebody’s watching and says, “‘Oh, maybe I could do something to help or maybe I need to think about this in more detail.’” For Garber, the tour was an incredible experience. “It’s astonishing. This is the first time I’ve ever witnessed anything like this,” he said. “The dedication, the brilliance — it’s so beyond my comprehension. That’s why I’m an actor because I could play a doctor — that’s why I find it all so overwhelming and that it is right here in my hometown. I’m from here. I had no idea what was going on here.” Garber noted that wherever research is done it is important, but was especially proud that it is happening in his hometown of London. “Coming from this town — both my parents are from here — and I wish they were around still to take advantage of what’s going on,” he said.
Chinese delegation to visit Western U Cooperation to address China’s doctor shortage Christian Bot CONTRIBUTOR @uwogazette
A delegation of two doctors from Nanjing Medical University in China will be visiting Western University over the next three months in an effort to address China’s doctor shortage. The doctors, Yayun Wang and Lingxia Wu, plan to learn from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry’s family medicine program and apply their findings back home while creating solutions to China’s shortage of family doctors. John Denstedt, special advisor to the dean of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, explained that the goal of the delegation is to observe the structure, rather than the methods, of Schulich’s family medicine program. “The goal of the program is for them to understand the programmatic aspects of our family medicine training program here,”
Denstedt said. Currently, only three per cent of doctors in China are practicing family medicine, far behind Canada’s 50 per cent. Many of them practice in rural areas and lack sufficient qualifications. The Chinese delegation is at Schulich thanks to Western’s partnership with Nanjing Medical University. Denstedt noted that a shortage of family practitioners is affecting many parts of the world and that even in rural Canada, accessing a family doctor can be a challenge. Denstedt further said the presence of Drs. Wang and Wu will benefit the Western community because it helps the university enhance its international profile and promotes cultural diversity. Denstedt said Schulich is open to bringing over more overseas delegations in the future. “[We need to] see how it develops. That assessment would be done before we contemplate expanding,” Denstedt said.
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thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
arts&life
funwithpuns They should make a Minecraft movie. It would be a great blockbuster!
Striking a chord with Western students Jennafer Freeman ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR Caffeine and Big Dreams are two important aspects of the university experience, but it is also the title of Kira Isabella’s most recent album. The country music performer will be playing in London this Thursday at Cowboys Ranch, returning once again to connect with fans at Western. “I’m always really excited to go to Western because it’s a huge party crowd and you guys know how to have fun,” says Isabella. A venue full of students isn’t a rare sight for Isabella. She explains that a lot of the people that connect, enjoy and listen to her music area close to her age — something she
is very thankful for. “Starting out, a lot of younger girls used to come to my shows and that’s amazing too, but it’s another thing to see girls that are your age that are liking what you’re doing and really making a connection with you,” says Isabella. Isabella believes that being the same age as many of her fans is part of the reason why they feel connected to her music, seeing as they have shared similar experiences. “I think it might strike a chord with students because I could be one,” she says. Her most recent album, Caffeine and Big Dreams, was released last month. Isabella describes it as sounding a little more grown up as well as a little edgier than her last.
Coke Can, Make a Sinner Out of Me and Shake It If Ya Got It are three of Isabella’s favourite songs on the album. “I have definitely grown as a vocalist, and as a writer as well and I’m really excited about this one,” she explains. “I’m closer to it because I was a little older this time around and understood a bit more.” While Isabella is a songwriter in addition to being a vocalist, she admits that she actually had more of a hand in co-writing the first album. “I wrote every song except for one on the first record and I wrote about three-quarters of this one,” she says. Due to the positive reception to her first album, Isabella ended up meeting many more writers. Isabella had the opportunity to work with some of these people in order to create her new album, making it very special to her. “I worked with some really incredible writers this time around, I was very blessed,” she says. When it comes to the future of Isabella’s career, she explains that she hopes to continue growing as a writer, an artist and a musician. “I think all I can really ask for five or 10 years down the road is to have people who still want to buy my music and come to my shows and to make a connection with it,” says Isabella. Her advice to any Western students hoping to pursue a career in music is to get their stage legs and perform as much as possible. “I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and I’m 21 now and I just now think that I’m coming into my own as a performer – so perform wherever you can whenever you can,” advises Isabella.
Courtesy of Samantha Taus
ESPRESSING HERSELF. Kira Isabella will be performing on Thursday night at Cowboys as part of her tour for her new album, Caffeine and Big Dreams. Tickets can be purchased online from Ticketmaster for $30 and cannot be picked up or purchased at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.
LAST DAY TODAY! The Mindy Project “Diary of a Mad Indian Woman”
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She’s sassy, she’s sexy, she’s smart and she’s no longer single. The release of season three brings to air the relationship we all had been waiting anxiously to see the shipping of Mindy Castellano. While season three may have had a slow start, the latest episode, “Diaries of a Mad Indian Woman,” brings to the table all of the things that fans have come to love about the show with Danny (Chris Messina) being in the hot seat at the very top of the list. The episode begins with Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and Danny arguing over which side of the bed they want to sleep on, which everyone knows is a very serious argument that completely defines the nature of a relationship. Obviously, the only way the cute interracial couple
solves this issue is by sleeping in the smelly feet rendition of the 69 position. This of course leads to Danny kicking Mindy in the face, meaning that Mindy has no choice but to don a pink-sequined eye patch, obviously for the purpose of blackmailing Danny into spending the night at her place. Mindy’s lack of teaching doctors in residency, however, leads to her being forced to take on her mentorship duties. As per Mindy’s chaotic life, this means leaving Danny alone in her apartment to entertain himself, while she tries to change the world one arrogant student at a time. It is then, just like in every teenager’s (or 30-year-old, chick-flickobsessed, brown girl’s) nightmares, that Danny finds Mindy’s precious diary and gets a chance to read it. Of course, as he reads over her innermost personal rantings of how hot
of a man Danny is, (which we can all agree with) he spills red wine all over her journal. Viewers spend the rest of the episode watching Danny frantically running around and trying to get the beautiful British Jeremy Reed (Ed Weeks) to use his forgery skills to recreate the perfect copy of Mindy’s diary before she finds out. While the episode maintains the classic Mindy humour that we all have grown to love, there are a few secrets that Mindy has been hiding from Danny regarding her expectations in the relationship. Like maybe the fact that she’s becoming an old maid and wants a proposal — like, now. For die-hard fans that want the name Mindy Castellano to be the real deal, this episode speaks to the possibility of an overly colourful Indian wedding in the episodes to come. • Jenny Jay
•5
thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
>> IN THEATRES > MOMMY
Mommy knows best Robert Crocco CONTRIBUTOR
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE
GGGGG Director: Xavier Dolan Starring: Anne Dorval, AntoineOlivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément Xavier Dolan is a French-Canadian filmmaker and a young auteur in the making. His fifth film in five years, Mommy is a daring and provocative look into the relationship between a recently widowed mother, Dianne (Anne Dorval), and her mentally ill teenager, Steven (Antoine Olivier Pilon). Like Dolan’s previous works, Mommy challenges preconceived notions of sex, culture and identity in a world that is evocative and real. Mommy is one of those films that polarize the audience with its realism and characters. The film raises more questions than it attempts to answer, which results in an authentic depiction of human reality. Life is unpredictable and at times volatile — much like relationships in Mommy. Nothing is conclusive: the motivations behind Dolan’s characters are ambiguous and unexplained. There is an endearing aspect to Dianne’s plight as she struggles to find work in order to support Steven, who suffers from Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder with unpredictable outbursts of violence and sexual behaviour. Steven does not merely love his mother, he is in love with her, and cannot contain his desire to kiss, fondle and at times, beat her. With the help of of their speech-impaired neighbour, Kyla (Suzanne Clément), they attempt subdue Steven’s impulsive tendencies through music, food and homeschooling. In their collective attempt to coax Steven into acceptable behaviour, Dianne and Kyla develop a bond that functions therapeutically: Dianne begins to experience joy and Kyla learns to overcome her speech impediment. Together, they share the burden of Steven’s pathology.
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Despite the emotional gravity of the film’s content, there are sequences in the film that are euphoric and blissful. Dolan juxtaposes his stunning style of filmmaking against the ambiguity and ambivalence of his characters. For example, Mommy is shot in an unconventional high definition 1:1 aspect ratio, but does go wide-angle during one sequence in the film: Dianne and Kyla are cycling on the sidewalk as Steven rides the back of a shopping cart down the middle of the street. In a state of utter happiness, Steven uses his hands to ‘stretch’ open the confines of his world, and the film suddenly switches to a 2.39 aspect ratio, but returns to the square format following this brilliantly filmed sequence. Although slightly contrived, this is a magical moment in the film where the emotional depth is enriched by the film’s style, sharpening Dolan’s writing, directing and editing skills masterfully. Dolan’s use of music and cinematography are woven seamlessly
together; in fact, the lyrics of the songs in the film actually enhance the film’s narrative. Céline Dion, Oasis, Andrea Bocelli, and Lana Del Rey are invoked in such a harmonious and complimentary way to the film’s storyline, and act as a soundtrack to the lives of its characters. Rarely do films succeed with so many pop references, including allusions to Home Alone, Rocky and Scarface. Much like the works of Denys Arcand (The Decline of the American Empire, Jesus of Montreal, The Barbarian Invasion), Dolan’s Mommy is a window into the controversial lives of characters that really exist. His films do not mimic real life, they are real life — uncompromising with complete conviction — and embody an authenticity of realness that many films strive for but rarely achieve. Mommy will be playing at this week at the Hyland. Showtimes are available at hylandcinema.com.
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>> Gazette Recipes > Pecan Tarts This recipe is fantastic as it is simple and great for those who love cream based desserts. The dates add a very unique flavouring to these tarts which set them apart from the rest. The pastry and tarts combine together perfectly, while the pastry comes out nice and flaky.
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Ingredients:
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•• 125 ml (½ cup) butter (room temp) •• 500 ml (2 cups) brown sugar •• 1 large egg •• 14 ml (1 tbsp) vanilla extract •• 250 ml (1 cup) packed and cut dates •• 250 ml (1 cup) chopped and roasted pecans
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Directions: 1.
Place chopped pecans on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F. 2. Cream together butter, egg and brown sugar until fully combined together. 3. Add vanilla extract and re-cream mixture until combined. Mix packed date together with creamed butter. 4. Place batter in premade cupcake pie shells, till about ¾ filled. 5. Cover tops with baked pecans and place in oven at 350°F for about 35 minutes. 6. Remove from oven when visible part of pastry is brown, let cool for about 20 minutes.
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thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
opinions Cosby shows how celebrity skewers our perception World of Raycraft
People like controversy because that’s what sells.
• Miley Cyrus
Centre central to support Seven Minutes in Kevin Kevin Hurren NEWS-EDITOR-AT-LARGE @KevinAtGazette
Richard Raycraft MANAGING EDITOR @RichAtGazette
When I was seven or eight years-old, one of my most cherished traditions was coming home from school, flicking on the TV and watching The Cosby Show with my (much) older sister. It was a rare moment where we could bond, laugh and chat. It never ceased to entertain, and Cosby’s charisma was obvious to anyone who watched the program. Cosby was the first African American to star in a sitcom, and even at that age it struck me that, like Jackie Robinson before him, his broader cultural significance stretched beyond his profession. Ten years later my high school friends and I saw Cosby perform stand up in Hamilton. I hadn’t seen an episode of The Cosby Show in years, but I couldn’t resist the chance to relive the laughs and joys of my childhood, and apparently neither could they. He was flat-out hilarious and, unlike most popular comedians among my peers at the time, he managed it without being vulgar or juvenile. He looked old, unsurprisingly, but his energy and timing were as good as ever. I was astounded — unlike the celebrities of today, here was somebody with real talent, somebody who had made a profound and meaningful impact. Things are very different now, as 16 women have spoken publicly accusing Cosby of sexually abusing them. Looking back, I think I recognized I was putting the man on a pedestal. There were meanderings of Cosby’s sexual misconduct back then as well, but I never thought too much about them. I don’t want to dwell on whether Cosby is guilty of every allegation leveled against him, but it’s becoming apparent, even to a former die-hard fan such as myself, that something is very amiss. Public figures are strange things. Thrust into prominence for some special talent or achievement, we often blind ourselves to their flaws willfully. We are all fallible, imperfect beings and sometimes, in the case of Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi and others, dangerously so. But modern popular culture doesn’t lend itself to a cautionary approach and thus the disappointment we feel when our heroes turn out to be monsters, even when all the red flags were there from the start. Politics isn’t immune, and leaders who start their terms with a media-generated messianic aura turn out to be more products of our projections — who we wish they were — removed from who we fear they might be. One of the perks of working at The Gazette is the occasional opportunity to interview people one admires. I talked to a coworker who remarked that she actually doesn’t enjoy the experience so much, more often than not discovering that they weren’t who she thought they were. This sounded silly to me at the time, but thanks to Bill Cosby, I believe I understand.
Last week, The Gazette reported on the repurposing of several University Community Centre spaces. The plan, formed by the University Students’ Council in conjunction with Western’s administration, is to move the Chaplain’s Group offices, Muslim Prayer Space and other reflection spaces to the building’s basement while the Peer Support Centre moves to the second floor. While talk about the move is mostly focused on the new religious spaces, I’d like to take a moment to discuss the implications for the Peer Support Centre, or PSC. Under the USC internal portfolio, the PSC is a multipurpose room meant as a base of operations for the Peer Support Network — a coalition of student services that cultivate inclusivity and support on campus. Services include Ethnocultural Support, PrideWestern, AllyWestern, the Women’s Issues Network, Health and Wellness services and so on.
In addition to scheduled programming, the PSC is understood as a place to go for safe-space help or relaxation. When the USC began plans to create more prayer space, vice-president internal Emily Addison suggested the PSC. Addison, in addition to USC president Matt Helfand, mentioned the space was “under-performing,” referencing the fact that only a handful of students are going to the PSC’s current location. Addison said this problem stemmed from “visibility,” with not enough students knowing where to find the room. She hopes that by moving to the second floor, more students will be able to utilize the services. After the story was published, I continued to question if this was true. After all, members of the PSN often set up tables in the UCC atrium commonly directing students to the basement. Besides, after the move the PSC will be neighbours with The Gazette office and if our number of visitors indicates anything, the PSC won’t be seeing that much more traffic. But is this such a bad thing? Are guest numbers the only measure of success we have for spaces like the PSC? Last week, I attended an event hosted by Western’s Equity and Human Rights Services. Titled “What I Love About Being Queer,” the event screened a new documentary by producer, artist and human rights advocate Vivek Shraya. In the question period following the
screening, an attendant asked Shraya how to better engage students with services and events such as that one. The query felt especially pertinent considering the McKellar Theatre, where the event took place, only saw about 40 seats filled. But Shraya’s answer surprised me. Instead of advising better marketing campaigns, increased use of social media, more engaging programming or visibility of services, he concluded that by existing a service is already fulfilling its role. By being there, students know they can — if they ever need to — use that service. This can create an enormous amount of comfort and ease for members of a campus community, he explained. I reflected on my own experiences with services that Western and the USC offer. When I was applying to postsecondary schools, I consciously researched the LGBT services each university boasted. Though I wouldn’t be able to attend an event or meeting for another year, knowing they were happening made me feel as though there was a place for me on campus. So that’s how I decide to view the PSC. I don’t care if the space is empty. I don’t care if only a handful of students frequently visit the room. I care that it exists — that these services are there even if we don’t necessarily need them right now.
in empathy being valued above all else. But a university education is expensive. I am not proud to be part of a system that devalues education by turning it into a debt sentence — a debt sentence to be resented as something that limits an individual’s ability to pursue other avenues of experiential growth. A university degree becomes just a piece of paper that proves you did your time. University should open up opportunities of exploration, it should not be the reason I must make choices that confine me to one geographic place or to a job I might hate. While I was laying on the floor of the atrium in the UCC last Tuesday, I overheard a student tell the recruitment officer how perfect the military would be for him — he’s always wanted to backpack, but, well, here he is at school. The CF offers an alternative to the restrictions our neo-liberal society imposes on us. Education, travel and service; the best part being you don’t have to pick just one. An organization that asks us to enlist so that abominable acts of violence can be committed, while eluding justification,
tells us education is nothing more than a means to an end, and that we are of no value to society beyond being a body. Recruiting officers aren’t going to emphasize my likelihood of developing PTSD, the strained and stressful relationships with my loved ones, or my 3x increased risk of suicide. A recruitment officer is not going to situate me as being an extension of a larger ideological, capitalist agenda that may in fact be contributing more harm than good to the world. If we allowed the CF to have a presence on our university campus without any opposition, the value of our academic space would be undermined by not participating in critical debate. Military combat should be questioned, the consequences seriously considered. Your right to choose to enlist should not override your questioning of war itself. I ask that Western University be more than a corporation. However, if a military presence persists on our campus, we should continue to resist or risk being disempowered individuals who only dream of social change. • Katharine Dos Santos
We Get Letters!
Die-in protestor speaks up Re: Protest of Armed Forces in UCC, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2014 To the editor: I am proud to be Canadian. I am proud to share an identity with individuals whose reasons for enlisting in the military are full of good intention; I respect those who are dedicated in their desire to improve our world. Some individuals who enlist have the privilege of choosing their career path without economic pressure dictating their decision. Other individuals, however, might be in a position that would greatly benefit from the financial security and the opportunities that the Canadian Forces offers. Travelling is one of the most rewarding and expansive experiences. A university education is also expansive. It has led me to think about incredibly challenging ideas, and to consider the experiences of others who have lived lives very different from my own. My university education has led me to confirm my belief
English III
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Volume 108, Issue 45 www.westerngazette.ca
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•7
thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
sports
factattack Chris Bosh had a second 30-point game this past weekend — that’s already the same number he had during the entire of last season.
Rundown >> This past Saturday, the Nipissing Lakers defeated the Western Mustangs’ men’s volleyball team • They were defeated in four sets, bringing their season record to 4–3.
Women sweep weekend, move to 11–0–1 Nathan Kanter and Chris Miszczak SPORTS EDITOR AND ILLUSTRATIONS EDITORS @NathanAtGazette
The women’s hockey team solidified their top spot in the hockey world this past weekend thanks to backto-back wins at home over Brock and Guelph. Although it wasn’t easy, the women brought their winning streak to double digits and are still undefeated in regulation with a first-place record of 11–0–1. They haven’t lost since October 12, a span of six weeks, winning 10 straight during that span. The scores from the games were the opposite of what you might expect, given the stark contrast in their opponents’ records – Brock was winless and Guelph had only lost one game, yet on Friday Brock proved more challenging than the following night against Guelph. It took extra time for Western to defeat the Brock Badgers, but thanks to a solid performance in goal from Katie Jacobs and an overtime goal from Sydney Kidd, the Mustangs were able to sneak by 2–1. “We talked before the game that teams like Brock are 0–7 [and] they’re coming here with a purpose. They want to beat us. They don’t want to go 0–8,” Mustangs assistant coach Dave Edwards said after Friday’s game. “It wasn’t the best display of hockey for our team but two points is two points [and] give Brock credit, I thought they played very well.” According to Badgers coach Jim Denham, the team’s record is not indicative of its play. “I know if you look at our record we don’t have a single win yet, but we’ve been in almost every game right to the end,” he said. “It feels great to get a point — obviously we’re looking for points right now. That’s a great team we played tonight. They deserve to be in first place but we deserve to be a little higher in the standings I think.” Brock’s Emily Kelly, who stopped 39 of 41 shots, was the main reason the game was so close. She had only started once before Friday, since goalie Stephanie Loukes was given most of the goaltending duties, but showed she was glad to be given the opportunity to play against the top team in Ontario Unviersity Athletics. “If I had to say one thing that really was a big plus for us tonight, it would be our goaltender Emily Kelly,” Denham said. “She was awesome tonight.” Not to be forgotten was Western’s Katie Jacobs, who allowed just a single goal on 24 shots. “I just stood in front of it, did my best to do that,” Jacobs said while laughing. “I had a lot of help from my defence. [The shots] were easy to get the angle because they were making the puck available to see.” >> see WOMEN’S HOCKEY pg.8
Kyle Porter • GAZETTE
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UPCOMING EVENTS
IN COOPERATION WITH Western University, the Canadian Latin American Association will host a bullying awareness event to educate people about bullying and its language on November 29th (1-4pm) in the Goodwill building downtown. Performers and guest speakers will be present. Everyone is welcome to attend. SAT. DEC. 6. St. Luke's Church (Broughdale), just north of the University Gates, will be holding their annual Christmas Bazaar & Silent Auction 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Bake table, treasures, jewellery, books, silent auction. Tea Room, a chili lunch will be available for a small fee. Admission free. Wheel chair accessible.
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VOLUNTEERS WANTED
GYMWORLD-GYMNASTICS CLUB in North/West London is looking for gymnastics coaches. On bus route. Work as little as 3 hours per week or as many as 20 hours. Great pay. Please call 519-474-4960 or e-mail to info@gymworld.ca.
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS for our math tutoring club in the north core/old north neighbourhood. No experience or math skill required, as all training and resources will be provided. For more info, contact Devin Hanes d.hanes@tvdsb.on.ca
PUT YOUR SUDOKU SAVVY TO THE TEST! 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.
For solution, turn to page 2
ATTENTION YOUNG DRIVERS!
PIZZA, REFRESHMENTS AND $25 JUST AHEAD
We’re looking for licensed drivers, ages 16 to 25, to participate in a one-time, 1 hour group discussion about usage based auto insurance. Pizza, refreshments and a $25 cash incentive will be provided in appreciation for your participation. Call or email to sign up today. Jodi Morris 519.439.8080 jmorris@tmd.ca tmd.ca
8 •
thegazette • Tuesday, November 25, 2014
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE
FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO PUBLIC FINANCE, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR Kyle Porter • GAZETTE
Mustangs maintain record >> WOMEN’S HOCKEY continued from pg.7
But she also noted there was one part of practice that proved to be particularly beneficial come game time. “Odd man rushes – thank God!” she said. “Thank goodness we’ve been doing so many odd man rushes and one-on-one’s in practice because that was the whole game.” Teammate Sydney Kidd, who scored the game-winning goal, agreed that was a part of their performance the team was not very proud of. “I think we had a little bit of trouble with odd man rushes [and]
trying to force things that weren’t there,” Kidd said. “A couple of times forcing it to the point, letting them get away with the puck and turnovers at the blue line.” Edwards believes that although Brock did outwork the Mustangs, the issue wasn’t one of effort. “It’s not about, sometimes, working harder, its about working smarter,” he said. “I think that was a thing that we didn’t do well. We didn’t control the puck when we had it, we made some poor decisions, which resulted in turnovers in our zone and opportunities for Brock.” That message was received loud and clear for the Mustangs, as come
Mike Laine • GAZETTE
Saturday night they made sure they brought it against Guelph in what turned out to be a nail-biting game. The Guelph Gryphons would score an early goal but it would be all they could muster, as the Mustangs would come out victorious by a score of 4–1 thanks to a solid defence and a fierce offensive strategy. It was the first time in history that the Mustangs women’s hockey team defeated Guelph. “This was probably the best game of the season,” Mustangs head coach Chris Higgins said. “Up until now we played one to two good periods but today we played three really good periods.”
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