Wednesday, November 26, 2014

We stand en garde for thee Western’s fencing team won three medals at their first annual open tournament this past Saturday.

>> Pg. 8

thegazette

TODAY high 2 low -2

Appreciating our space since 1906

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

TOMORROW high 1 low -3

WESTERN UNIVERSITY • CANADA’S ONLY DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED 1906

University chaplains resign in protest of Muslim prayer space

VOLUME 108, ISSUE 46

Change Camp addresses student issues Kevin Hurren NEWS EDITOR-AT-LARGE @KevinAtGazette

M

Y PROBLEM, QUITE SIMPLY, IS THAT I BELIEVE THE UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION IS ACTING IN A WAY THAT IS BOTH UNJUST AND DISCRIMINATORY. MICHAEL BECHARD

FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN FOR WESTERN

Taylor Lasota • GAZETTE

Decision-making process called into question; University says student needs were their priority Iain Boekhoff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @IainAtGazette

Western’s longest-serving chaplain, along with four of his colleagues, has resigned in protest over the recently announced move of the Chaplains’ Services offices and a dedicated Muslim prayer space in the University Community Centre.

Rev. Michael Bechard, Western’s Roman Catholic chaplain, submitted his resignation and those of Janet Loo, Annette Donovan Panchaud,

Melissa Page Nichols and Maija Wilson from the UWO Chaplains’ Association, to University President Amit Chakma on Friday.

The University announced last week that the current Muslim prayer room in University College would be moved along with the Chaplains’ Services offices to one space in the basement of the UCC. In addition, the current multi-faith space in the UCC will no longer be used.

Bechard’s concerns are twofold. He explained that the principle behind having a dedicated

space exclusively for one faith group is contrary to how the UWO Chaplains’ Association advocates for faith space on campus. Additionally, he claimed that the decision-making process was flawed and only included certain groups.

“My problem, quite simply, is that I believe the university administration is acting in a way that is both unjust and discriminatory.”

He explained the Chaplains’ Association advocates for space on campus for all faiths and this move was an opportunity to re-evaluate

and discuss what space there is on campus for the various faiths.

“I am uneasy with the fact that the university is providing a dedicated space to the Muslim community when such privileges are not being granted to any other body,” he said.

Susan Grindrod, who is the University administration’s contact with the chaplains, said the move was a change necessitated by the renovation of UC. >> see CHAPLAINS pg.3

Change may not happen overnight, but soliciting ideas for change certainly can take place in a single evening.

That’s exactly what happened Tuesday as students, faculty and administrative representatives attended the University Students’ Council Change Camp.

The event, held in the Mustang Lounge, is a feedback-based event designed as a forum to hear student concerns. Running multiple times a year since 2011, Change Camps are quickly becoming a Western student government tradition.

Feedback gathered at such events are then compiled in a report and presented to attendants and other interested parties.

This year, however, student feedback coordinator and primary organizer for the event Simi Solebo hopes to accomplish more than just a document.

“People read reports like textbooks – you think you internalize it but you don’t,” said Solebo, who, in addition to the report, plans to make presentations to USC executive on what was discussed. >> see CHANGE pg.3

Inside

USC Composition Vote Today

• P2

Multiple Choice Tests Gaining Popularity

• P3

Western grads enter fashion industry

• P4

Nudge Coach health app

• P5

Men’s Basketball Team wins

• P7

Western hosts fencing tournament

• P8

live in style. ✓ UWO's #1 rated off campus housing ✓ Massive rooms and closets ✓ Best locations around campus ✓ In suite laundry and dishwashers ✓ Built with energy efficient technology in every unit ✓ Secure and safe living environment

Contact now to book a tour before we fill up! www.londonprop.com

@LPCRedbricks

•••

www.facebook.com/WesternHousing

2•

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Iain Boekhoff • GAZETTE

USC preview: councillors prepare for busy meeting Katie Lear NEWS EDITOR @KatieAtGazette

Efficiency and restructuring will be the themes of tonight’s USC meeting.

The biggest item on the agenda has the council voting to approve the changes to the USC’s structure that were laid out in an examination of the effectiveness of council, the Presidential Commission on Council Composition.

“Our bylaw says that every four years we have to conduct a review of our council composition,” Jacob Kriszenfeld, USC governance officer, said.

“This year, Matt [Helfand] appointed a presidential commissioner, Jonathan English, to oversee this review and to work in consultation with the governance portfolio. … He’s been working with various resource members throughout the USC to get a lot of consultation … [from] different members throughout the Western community.”

The Presidential Commission on Council Composition proposes a hard cap of 46 members who have

Undergraduate DRUG Plan Covers 80% You pay ONLY 20% Covers a fee of $8.55 NO ADDITIONAL FEES ARE CHARGED to the STUDENT at

Western Pharmacy Lower Level, UCC BLDG

Solution to puzzle on page 7

westerngazette.ca

voting capabilities, decreased from the current number of 74. Senators, Board of Governors representatives and residence councillors will lose their voting seat on council, and the faculties of Arts and Humanities, FIMS and Health Sciences will each lose one voting member while Social Science will lose two.

Kriszenfeld hopes that these changes will help to bring in three new principles for council to aim for.

“Council shall have fair and equal representation of students; all the voting members shall be elected in a similar democratic process; and members of council shall be proportionally representative of Western University,” he said.

As senators and BOG representatives lose their vote, the hope is that it will make for a stronger democratic process.

“Senators and BOG reps don’t become ordinary members of council in a typical way … senators get voted to the senate and from there they get voted from their senate caucus to the USC. It’s not the same democratic process as the voters are not directly electing them to that body,” Kriszenfeld commented.

CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer

Additionally, council presidents will have the option to decline their voting seat on council and instead allow for a by-election to replace their seat for the year.

Other motions include asking students to vote during the USC elections to approve two increases to student fees; $0.50 per undergraduate student for the Western Student’s Marching Band and $90 per first-year student for participation in O-week events.

“Council cannot vote yes or no to the question [of increasing student fees] without the student body hearing it. … It has to be approved by council to be put on the ballot.

Once it’s put on the ballot, it is voted by the student body as a yes or no question,” Kriszenfeld added.

The $90 fee will replace the purchase of O-Kits and would allow for first-year students to opt out of the fee if they so choose.

“It’s going to be a really long meeting [and] it’s going to be a really, really meaningful one. The results of the meeting are really going to set the foundation for the future of this organization and the entire council.”

Kriszenfeld concluded.

News Briefs

No severance pay for city councillors

Some London city councillors have been left wishing they could leave their term at city hall on a sweeter note.

Ward 9 councillor Dale Henderson requested that outgoing city councillors get severance pay. The desired compensation would be equal to one month’s wages per every term served.

Henderson and 10 other city councillors’ terms will be up on December 1 but not one other councillor supported him, meaning the suggestion could not become a formal motion.

While there was a lack of support for Henderson’s request, Ward 13 councillor Judy Bryant moved another motion to potentially investigate giving a month’s pay of severance to departing politicians, regardless of their length of service.

Four councillors supported the motion: Bryant, Henderson, Bud Polhill and Harold Usher. The other nine politicians present opposed it.

Eleven out of the present 15 are set to leave city council next week, but it looks like all will be taking off without any take-home.

• Amy O’Kruk

Weather pounds London

Temperatures in London may have been mild Monday, but torrential rain and strong winds terrorized the city.

Thousands of Londoners lost power yesterday afternoon after gusting winds close to 100 km/h knocked over hydro poles, AM 980 reported.

The outages were mostly south of the university, but some student areas near Oxford Street were affected.

Early Monday morning, The London Free Press reported a 19 Oakridge LTC bus was stuck in a flooded ditch on Hyde Park road.

There were only three passengers on the bus plus the driver, and no injuries were reported.

Hyde Park road was closed until about 11 a.m. when the bus was removed.

AM 980 also reported that upwards of 30mm of rain fell on the city in a 24-hour period, which is why the road caved in.

The London Transit Commission could not be reached for comment.

• Megan Devlin

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. © 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.

Luxury Student Housing 519-858-2525 • themarq.ca • 75 Ann St.

•3

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Muslim students pleased with outcome >> CHAPLAINS continued from pg.1

Winnie Lu • GAZETTE

Students talk support, transit >> CHANGE continued from pg.1

The topics this year included peer support on campus, housing and residence life, budget priorities, and USC elected representation. All the executive council members were present at tables tied to their portfolios, fielding questions and hearing concerns.

Aside from these preplanned topics, there was an opportunity for attendants to design their own discussion prompts. Issues such as the sophing selection process, the role of campus media and frustrations with transportation were brought the floor.

Second-year science student Shalini Clarke came to the event for the purpose of venting frustrations around mobility.

“I’ve never really done anything political, but if you don’t give input things aren’t going to change,” said Clarke, who suggested direct LTC

shuttles between Masonville and campus in addition to an improved parking appeals process.

But not everyone had the same foresight as Clarke. Solebo notes that for the next Change Camp, scheduled to take place in March, better pre-emptive explanations of topics may enrich discussion.

Campus programming, for instance, is an issue she wishes more attendants had engaged with.

“I feel like there wasn’t enough conversation about it because there weren’t enough people educated on it. They didn’t get clarification on that topic so they couldn’t come with pre-established ideas.”

Tuesday night’s event comes on the heels of a number of other Change Camps, such as the ones run through the Huron and Social Science Students’ Councils.

This increased number of Change Camp programming is part

of a healthy system of representation, said Kevin Chao, associate vice-president public affairs for the USC. “For student governments to work certain democratic practices really have to be emphasized by both student leaders and the students themselves – student feedback is the key to that,” he said.

Solebo also hopes to better coordinate with these other Change Camp events, not only to ensure organized scheduling but also to learn from each other and better share resources.

As these events go on, Solebo encourages students to continue attending and sharing their perspectives.

“This is your forum – this is on you. I can plan the event, but if students don’t come to actually speak then how can we truly know what students want?”

New testing method proving to be effective Mohammad Abrar Abdul Hanan GAZETTE STAFF @uwogazette

Two-stage multiple choice exams could be the new norm across all Canadian universities.

Brett Gilley, instructor at the department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences at the University of British Columbia has developed a new variation of the multiple choice test which can have profound effects on how exams are conducted in universities.

“In a two-stage exam, students complete the individual portion just like in a regular exam. This individual portion is worth the majority of the mark, for us 85 per cent,” Gilley said.

“After they hand in the individual portion, students immediately get into groups of four and they are given the exact same exam again. The students have to agree on the answers for the group portion, which is worth 15 per cent of their mark. If students beat their group (rare) we allow them to keep 100 per cent of their individual mark, but we ask them where they think they went wrong.”

Gilley believes that this formalizes the process of students discussing their exams after class and gives them a proper chance to review their answers.

As a part of the Carl Wieman

Kelly Samuel • GAZETTE

Science Education Initiative, Gilley was asked to improve teaching in his department. This gave him the motivation to try this new exam procedure which was inspired from similar methods developed in the ’80s such as “cooperative exams.”

In 2007, Gilley tried this with small groups and it was a success; he then used it in a midterm in 2009 with 100 students and the results were incredible. Boosted by the positive results, he then extended this to a class of 500 and finally tried it in a final exam with 1,200 students.

“The result was amazing — watching 100 students passionately and articulately argue about your material is pretty awesome and we were hooked. After that we did some research that showed it really helped retention. So there was no turning back,” he said.

According to Gilley, the key benefit of this method is greater retention

of course material.

“In our study on questions students discussed as a group, there was more than 10 per cent improvement in retention compared to ones that were discussed as individuals.

This may not sound like much, but consider this is a grade. That’s a two letter grade improvement for a very short intervention,” he said.

Some other benefits highlighted

by Gilley are instant feedback, a chance to compare performance with classmates, the challenge and the development of negotiation skills and lower exam anxiety.

Despite the success, Gilley is still unsure if other universities will adopt this model. Currently, over 50 classes at UBC and some faculties at Guelph and York use this approach.

“Professors who hear about them are usually intrigued, but professors who see them in action want to try them,” he said.

“From the university perspective, this is not new,” Grindrod said.

“There’s been dedicated prayer space [for Muslims] for as long as I can remember in University College.”

She went on to say that the space was, “not large enough to accommodate the number of students who use it — in fact those students book space all over campus to use for prayer and so we thought this space, along with more space for the chaplains … was good for students.”

Kado Zimmo, president of the Muslim Students’ Association, said in an email that the Muslim community was thankful for the new space.

“There is a great need for it on campus, as over 1,000 Muslim students, staff and faculty members need this space to pray in,” he said. “We are glad to hear the University is accommodating its students to help enhance the student experience on campus.”

Bechard said the new space could be used in-between Muslim prayer times for students of other faiths to use. Grindrod responded by saying that the possibility was there to use the space for other faiths, but that the current space was not used by anyone other than Muslims.

“I guess if they can work that out with the Muslim students [they can share the space] — we certainly know that the space over in UC that they’ve used for years and years is very well used and I don’t think anybody else uses that space. So those were the principles that we were using,” she said.

Zimmo said the needs of the Muslim community mean they need a space specifically for them.

“It is difficult to share the space because there are certain regulations that need to be upheld within the prayer space,” Zimmo said. “For the Muslim prayer room, we require it to remain clean and quiet at all times so people are able to drop in and pray. Most people don’t know that no shoes are allowed to be worn inside the room or that we have designated

W

E ARE GLAD TO HEAR THE UNIVERSITY IS ACCOMMODATING ITS STUDENTS TO HELP ENHANCE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE ON CAMPUS. KADO ZIMMO

PRESIDENT MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

areas for women and men within the room to respect the privacy of each gender during prayer.”

Bechard was also critical of the way the decision was reached. He said the only people at the table were the Muslim chaplain, another two chaplains, the Muslim Students’ Association and the University.

“Many of these meetings took place without the rest of the chaplains being drawn into the conversation or even informed of the meetings,” Bechard said. “And to be told [after the fact] by administration that there is no room for negotiation and there will be no more further conversation, I think, is nonsense.”

“All the chaplains were not at the table but several of them were at the table at the beginning of this discussion,” Grindrod said. “The chaplain’s group as a whole have asked for increased space every year that I can remember.”

Grindrod said she hoped the chaplains would reconsider their decision to resign.

“I regret the decision the chaplains from the Catholic faith have taken and I hope they reconsider.

I know this has been very difficult on the chaplains but I think this is a practical solution to several different issues … from our perspective it was done in the best interests of the students to provide more space to many groups.”

Project Printing Colour or B&W Binding Services

Room 267, 2nd Floor UCC

4 •

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

arts&life

saywhat?

“My body is like breakfast, lunch and dinner. I don’t think about it, I just have it.”

• Arnold Schwarzenegger

Western grads find authentic fashion Jessica McDonald CONTRIBUTOR @uwogazette

Fadesola Adedayo graduated from Western only this year, but he’s already co-founded his own company with his cofounders, Pelumi Adedayo, and another Western grad, Aaron Gray.

Based out of Toronto, Ade Fashion has been focused around selling authentic African clothing out of their website, which launched this year. Adedayo seeks to bring a message of global awareness and a sense of cultural authenticity and relevance to the North American market.

“Everyone gets inspiration from somewhere else, but there’s a fine line between inspiration and just full blown copying,” says Adedayo. “Real African fashion, it looks amazing, and you’ve probably never seen it before.”

The idea for the company came out of a lunch meeting at the Spoke last year. Adedayo and his co-founders noticed that students were wearing the ‘tribal’ trend, but that none of it was in any way authentic to the African culture it purported to come from.

After graduating, they decided to create Ade to serve as a platform for people to see authentic African design. North American ‘tribal’ wear is “kinda corny,” to Adedayo.

For Ade, there’s a big difference between being inspired by African fashion, and wholesale copying it, stripping its authenticity from it in the process.

According to Adedayo, African fashions are most often defined by the idea of a tribal print, but they are about more than just these homogenous prints, typically comprising bright, tropical colours and breezy

silhouettes to match the often hot, tropical weather of various African countries.

“If the inauthentic [product] is the first one [North American consumers] have, like the first taste, they just get used to it,” Adedayo explains. “It’s sort of like how people below the poverty line, if you feed them real meat, it tastes weird to them because they’re used to McDonalds. They’re so used to being fed rubbish that they forget what the authentic stuff is.”

If the fashion industry’s appropriation is the McBurger, Ade is hoping to get back to the filet mignon. To maintain their quality and deliver an authentic product, Ade sources from Nigerian designers who complete all production in Nigeria. In contrast to the mass production of many North American fashion chains, their clothing pieces come in small runs, and are often one-of-a-kind.

“Even if you didn’t care about [where the clothes come from, Ade’s clothing] is some of the most unique pieces of clothing you’re going to find in North America,” Adedoya comments. “What we’re doing isn’t mass fashion … people are unique and should start dressing like it.”

Adedoya encourages customers to be aware of where their clothing is coming from, paying attention to fair trade products by looking into specific commitments by companies.

“If it’s instantly recognizable, then it’s usually inauthentic,” he comments.

Starting a business right out of school was no easy feat, Adedoya notes that while start-up culture is popular, it isn’t always the best way to run a business.

T

HERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN … BEING STYLISH AND TRENDY. TRENDY IS JUST FOLLOWING WHATEVER EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING. BUT STYLE COMES FROM A DEEPER PLACE … KNOWLEDGE OF SELF IS THE KEY TO STYLE. FADESOLA ADEDAYO

ADE COFOUNDER AND WESTERN GRAD

“It’s important to know … who your target audience is … what your consumer wants, and to put in enough time to make sure the product is great … you’ll know when it’s ready,” Adedoya says. “Follow your intuition. Don’t start a company just because you think that’s what everybody else is doing. We’re living a start up culture right now, but that’s not for everyone.”

Adedoya encourages Western students to take an interest in fashion and learn about the different styles that are popular in the industry.

“There’s a difference between … being stylish and trendy. Trendy is just following whatever everyone else is doing. But style comes from a deeper place … Knowledge of self is the key to style,” Adedoya says.

Ade’s products can be purchased at adefashion.com.

Courtesy of Ade Fashion

The Essentials > Best Breakfast Cereal

RICE KRISPIES

VECTOR

REESE’S PUFFS

CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH

BACON AND EGGS

I love the wailing of Rice Krispies in the morning.

According to Robert Duvall, napalm smells like victory, but the “Snap, Crackle and Pop” that Rice Krispies make before they are unceremoniously devoured sounds like it.

Listening to those little rice shaped cereals cry out with their adorable little sounds is a childlike pleasure and a perfect way to start out one’s day.

By putting fresh fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries on your cereal, you can also give yourself the illusion of being healthy. But if you’re like me and have given up all hope of ever rocking a decent bod, they also make great marshmallow squares.

Sports! Eat Vector and you’ll be good at sports! So goes the marketing ploy, but aside from that Vector is just plain delicious.

Those crunchy flakes and clusters make for a tasty snack any time of day, and combined with skim milk you’ll be on your way to an athlete body in no time.

Vector is also loaded with stuff.

Nutritional stuff. Healthy stuff —y’know, like zinc and magnesium and other stuff too.

Okay, I’ll admit it — Vector isn’t the best tasting cereal ever and I totally fell for the obvious falsehood that it’s the healthiest cereal out there. But I still like to “fuel up” with Vector before a long run — sports!

All cereal sucks. It’s not healthy and the milk makes it soggy and gross.

Considering this is a food that’s supposed to be eaten for breakfast, it really fails to serve its purpose.

In general, cereal is more comparable to a crappy snack-food than a real, hearty breakfast food like bacon and eggs. It doesn’t even deserve a bowl — this is Ziploc bag food.

So if you’re looking for a sugary snack to keep on hand, Reese’s Puffs are the way to go. With absolutely no nutritional benefits, this cereal is good for just about nothing except satisfying your craving for a chocolately peanut butter snack. They’re crunchy and sweet, but a far cry from a breakfast of champions.

Forget health food — you deserve a reward for waking up early enough for breakfast. That’s impressive.

The gentle and continuous crackling of those sweet, sweet squares sounds like they’re applauding your go-getter attitude.

The cinnamon swirls are mesmerizing, hypnotizing, begging to be eaten. Plus, look at all those nebulous health claims on the box: “more whole-grain! A good source of calcium and vitamin D!” Do you really think they would just lie about that?

So grab a bowl of sugar, sprinkle it liberally with some Cinnamon Toast Crunch, add milk and enjoy!

The best kind of cereal is no cereal at all. In fact, if you want a recommendation, here’s one — bacon and eggs. You can even forget the eggs and just have bacon —piles and piles of bacon.

Cereal itself is a disgusting invention, created to turn people into mindless, soulless entities. In fact, cornflakes were invented by Harvey Kellog to curb masturbation and sexual desire, because he thought that plain foods would stop a sexual appetite. He was obviously right, because eating cereal has never been — and will never be — orgasmic.

Sure, Rebecca Black says she’s gotta have her bowl, gotta have cereal, but I say screw her. Screw cereal. No, instead, have bacon and simply screw.

• Brent Holmes

• Richard Raycraft

• Jennafer Freeman

• Richard Joseph

• Jenny Jay

•5

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

>> IN THEATRES > MOCKINGJAY PART I

A movie not to be mocked Jenny Jay ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR @JennyAtGazette

GGGGH Director: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Donald Sutherland and Natalie Dormer Courtesy of Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk

NUDGING YOU ON. A new app, Nudge Coach allows users to be able to see their daily average of activity, water intake and hours of sleep, encouraging them to continue on their fitness journey.

Wink wink push-up push-up nudge nudge Conrad Floryan ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR @ConradAtGazette

“You can do it buddy! Harder!

HARDER!” Maintaining good health is a challenge and it’s nice to have a coach for extra motivation. Nudge Coach is a app that helps users maximize wellness.

Nudge Coach is an extension of the Nudge Health Snapshot app, which gathers information on an individual’s lifestyle and formulates a score from 0-110. Every day users type in nutritional data, i.e. how many servings of protein they consumed. People sport a wearable device that sends information into the app concerning exercise and sleep. There’s an algorithm that calculates their lifestyle score called the nudge factor.

“It’s basically a healthy balance between dietary intake, physical activity, sleep and water intake,” explained Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk, chief science officer for Nudge.

There are thousands of people using Nudge. People can friend other users to encourage each other and arrange a leaderboard on their phone.

“Some people use it as competition, some as encouragement,” Melk said.

Melk indicates that so far users have often been surprised by their Nudge factors. People don’t sleep as much as they think they do, an oft-overlooked component of wellness that is especially neglected by university students. Even doctors employing the app were astounded by how little servings of fruit they ate. It’s not all bad news though.

“The nice thing is that when people use these devices they find out they’re a lot more active than they thought,” Melk said.

The wearable device keeps track of quotidian physical demands like walking steps that seem insignificant but collectively can contribute significantly to an active lifestyle.

It’s important to monitor as many lifestyle elements as possible in order to make adjustments to maintain wellness.

“When I see that my score went down this morning because I was up late last night working on a project I know that I have to take action today,” Melk said.

The Nudge score is a 30-day composite. Even staunchly health-conscious individuals have lax days when they don’t meet their wellness plans. The scoring system emphasizes users to stay persistent despite

the inevitable bumps on the road to fitness.

“Sometimes it can be a negative cycle that’s hard to stop,” Melk commented. “Some of us are tough on ourselves and we use that as an excuse.”

To assist with their data from Nudge, users can access a Nudge Coach, a health professional who monitors their data and provides feedback a dew days a week.

Coaches include professionals involved in medical practices, PhDs in exercise and advanced health coaches.

“The issue is people need guidance when they’re not with their medical professional and they need to know that somebody’s watching over them and giving them valuable information,” Melk said.

Currently Nudge Coach is in use in doctors’ offices and it’s in the process of being implemented into YMCAs, health clubs and different health facilities. The Nudge team is formulating a team of coaches so that any user on Nudge could send a request for a coach.

Staying fit is time-consuming and Nudge Coach allows people to monitor their health without requiring a doctor’s visit or meeting a personal trainer at the gym. Nudge Coach is not a replacement for health professionals but it’s useful to assist in forming healthy habits.

“The earlier you start learning these healthy behaviours the stronger they will be engrained in your lifestyle and the healthier you will be,” Melk said.

Melk insists that people have control over their wellness and although there are health issues outside of our control, a large component of health is lifestyle and individuals are able to regulate their lifestyle.

Nudge Health Snapshot is available for free on iTunes Store on Google Play.

• With files from Jennifer Freeman

While the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movie series may be renowned as two of the best film adaptations, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I secures a spot right next to these two, in a way unlike any other.

Francis Lawrence directs a movie that plays to the best of Jennifer Lawrence’s stellar acting. While she shares the stage with Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, it is clear from the very beginning that she’s the star that brings the movie together. Lawrence, who plays an emotionally unstable Katniss Everdeen, pulls the audience into the movie from the very first scene, where Katniss wakes having night terrors after being

rescued by District 13 at the end of the last movie.

The first two movies, The Hunger Games, and Catching Fire, set up the premise of the alternate world of Panem, but Mockingjay Part I sets up the story to leave room for viewers to expect a powerful finale.

Although very little seems to happen in the first half of the story, viewers get a chance to engage with the emotions and understand some of the greater themes, such as war crimes and propaganda, that might otherwise get lost. In one scene where their shelter in District 13 is getting bombed, there is a very clear display of the human condition and what it means to have fear and uncertainty in a time of war.

The scene itself is a work of cinematography excellence, with a variety of point of view shots and long shots that allow for different perspective, while simultaneously reflecting the state of uneasiness.

With something that hits so close to home with the statement it makes about our world, it makes it both an emotional and hard to watch moment at the same time.

Despite the fact that readers of the series already know the events

that take place in the story, the movie still manages to stay fresh and keep viewers at the edge of their seat. A highlight of the movies is the heart-wrenching and terrifying moment that Katniss gets to see her love Peeta, for the first time since his capture.

While Lawrence’s acting in this film is spectacular, Liam Hemsworth, who plays the role of Gale, leaves much to be desired.

For such a major role in the movie, he barely has any lines and does very little to move the story along — rather he prances around in a character that embodies an arrogant Miley Cyrus ex-boyfriend, instead of the boy that is in a hopeless love triangle that viewers should expect.

The lack of the acting capacity is made up for with the great production of the film, with elements such as the juxtaposition of comedic relief and haunting melodic music.

Mockingjay Part I is an emotionally intense film. For soft-hearted viewers, a box of tissues may be required.

Mockingjay Part I is playing at the Rainbow Cinemas daily at 1:00, 3:45, 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. Mockingjay Part II will be released next year.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

NOV. 27-29

6 •

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

opinions Chaplains should have been consulted about office move Last week, it was announced that the chaplains’ offices and Muslim prayer room were being consolidated into the Peer Support Centre space in the basement of the University Community Centre. Controversy is brewing beneath the surface as the Roman Catholic chaplain and four of his colleagues have since resigned, citing a lack of consultation regarding the move and questioning the philosophy behind an exclusive space for one group.

The designation of spaces specifically for religious groups has often been contentious. Meeting the needs of students of many different faiths within a secular institution and with limited physical space is an issue administrators have dealt with for many years and continue to grapple with.

There are chaplains on campus representing a variety of different faiths, and the chaplains operate on a one-forall basis in advocating for religious needs on campus. The negotiations over the move included only three chaplains, the USC and the University administration, excluding the rest of the chaplains and faith-based student groups from the discussions.

There should be a space provided for Muslim students to pray and it needs to be recognized that they require more consideration in how this space is provided since they have more requirements for their daily prayers. Their faith requires that they pray five times a day in a clean space and thus, need a space to allow for practicing their religion. The current space provided for them is increasingly becoming inadequate given the number of students who need to pray.

Ultimately, the university had the opportunity to consult with the Chaplains’ Association to see what they needed in terms of spatial consideration, but instead they elected to move the space without talking to chaplains of other faiths, creating a sense of alienation and appearing to favour one religious group over another. While it is unlikely that this was the intention, the decision is regrettable. While students of other faiths have not been very vocal for a space of their own, and thus perhaps there is no need for a separate space, the chaplains still should have been consulted considering how the moves will affect them and that they are the experts in the needs of the people they serve on a daily basis.

Space reallocations have the potential to serve students, faculty and staff better here at Western — that’s clear. But the process is as important as the product, and in order to ensure that everyone’s needs our met to the best of our ability, all stakeholders should have the chance to speak up.

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

• Elie Wiesel

Privilege and possessions take priority over people Abracadabra Al-Azem

Nusaiba Al-Azem OPINIONS EDITOR @NusAtGazette

On Aug. 9, 2014, African-American teenager Michael Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. This action sparked protests for months in Ferguson. It brought with it a militarized presence, forced curfews and a discussion of longstanding racial tension in the area.

People began talking about race and police brutality — about the fact that according to a report by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, in 2012 an AfricanAmerican was killed by law enforcement, security or vigilantes in America every 28 hours. About the fact that according to a study by the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, white people are 250 per cent more likely to be found justified in killing a black person than in killing a white person in non-Stand Your Ground states – and that number rises to 354 per cent in Stand Your Ground states. About the fact that according to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, 92 per cent of people arrested in Ferguson in 2013 were black people. The statistics keep emerging in a seemingly endless fashion and Ferguson is just the tip of the iceberg.

That iceberg revealed a little more of itself two days ago. Michael Brown was murdered all over again on Nov. 24, 2014, when a St. Louis county grand jury released its decision that Wilson would not be indicted.

But what strikes me most about the verdict in the Ferguson case is the overwhelming response against protesters.

Within the past two days I’ve been witness to many heated arguments, in person and on social media, about whether or not this situation is even race-related and, more commonly, about the rioting that followed the decision.

Firstly, it’s pretty clear that this case was race-related. But I can understand why some people have a difficult time coming to that realization. Yesterday my friend and I were discussing the intricacies of the intersectionality of oppression – for example, I am in many ways a privileged person (my socioeconomic status, my education, my mobility).

Simultaneously, I experience a lot of oppression as a result of other aspects of my identity (mainly belonging to a visible minority). The reason I am able to be slightly more compassionate towards others who may be less privileged than I am is because of my own oppression.

It’s unfortunate that the only way we can understand others is through our own experiences, but it also kind of makes sense.

And that’s why I can understand that people with copious privilege have a harder time identifying oppression — it would just never make sense to a lot

of us that somebody, because of their perceptions of the world, would shoot us ifwe didn’t deserve it. In psychology, this is called the Just-World Fallacy – consequences are inherently morally fitting their actions. But that’s not actually the case in real life. So if you’re thinking this couldn’t be race-related because you couldn’t fathom that kind of world, do us all a favour and check your privilege.

The second problematic part of the dialogue surrounding this verdict is the disproportionate focus on the rioters rather than the reasons for the riots. I’ve heard people claim that the protesters are simply “de-legitimatizing” their cause by looting televisions or engaging in violence. If you use this claim and pretend you’re an ally, allow me to tell you clearly that you are not. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

It’s irrelevant that some protesters are violent or looting possessions. Perhaps they’re causing new, other problems that are not conducive to safe environments, but it does not de-legitimize the original cause of the riots at all. I’m tired of the burden of civil expectations consistently falling on the oppressed to behave in specific ways rather than the other party.

My friend told me that she questions a society that always sees the product of provocation and never the provocation itself. I’m inclined to agree.

In the words of one of the greatest civil rights advocates, Mr. Martin Luther King Jr., something we often forget is that “a riot is the language of the unheard.”

The USC and the University should be ashamed of their disrespect to the Canadian Armed Forces and issue an apology.

• Terry Dooner

work together stops here — the need for blood is constant. We look forward to welcoming regular donors back again soon.

If you’re a new donor, we hope you will consider making blood donation a regular part of your life.

We want donors to have the best experience possible. We’ve heard your suggestions and will continue to improve.

To begin, we’ve introduced Wi-Fi in our permanent clinics, created a new website that is mobile friendly, introduced a mobile app called GiveBlood and started publishing our weekly inventory online so it’s even easier for you to take action.

We have also introduced a new eligibility quiz to help you determine whether you can donate which you can find online.

Once again, thank you for your recent support and for helping to save or improve the life of a fellow Canadian.

• Mark Donnison

We Get Letters!

Die-in shouldn’t have happened Re: “USC [pro]testing my patience for policy,” Wednesday, November 19, 2014 To the editor: The recent die-in at the University Community Centre to protest the presence of the Canadian Armed Forces’ recruitment booth should have been broken up immediately and the students sent packing.

The Gazette reported that the disruption was in violation of Western’s building usage policy, yet security — at the commission of the University Students’ Council — would not remove the students from the protest. It is shameful that Western allowed these students to disrupt an approved event without consequences — and all this, less than two weeks after Remembrance Day.

Retired Consultant

Blood services thanks Western To the editor: On behalf of Canadian Blood Services, I’d like to sincerely thank residents of this community who responded to our recent urgent appeal for blood.

When it really counted, you stepped up and helped ensure we could continue to meet patient needs across the country. We are fortunate to have such dedicated donors, some of whom experienced longer donation times during this critical period.

Thanks to you we are no longer in a critical situation. That doesn’t mean our

Vice-President Donor Relations at Canadian Blood Services

Send us your opinions! We love them! opinions@westerngazette.ca thegazette

Volume 108, Issue 46 www.westerngazette.ca

Iain Boekhoff Editor-In-Chief Brent Holmes Deputy Editor Richard Raycraft Managing Editor

Contact: www.westerngazette.ca University Community Centre Rm. 263 The University of Western Ontario London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial Offices: (519) 661-3580 Advertising Dept.: (519) 661-3579

The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

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.

Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Маја Анјоли-Билић

Diana Watson

Gazette Staff 2014-2015 Mohammad Abrar Abdul Hanan, Suhaib Al-Azem, Eric Bajzert, Sarah Botelho, Damon Burtt, Tabitha Chan, Jonathan Dunn, Spencer Fairweather, Sam Frankel, Kevin Heslop, Richard Joseph, Drishti Kataria, Sara Mai Chitty, Soheil Milani, Mackenzie Morrison, Amy O’Shea, Vidhant Pal, Kyle Porter, Lily Robinson, Alex Seger, Tiffany Shepherd, Tristan Wu

News Amy O’Kruk Hamza Tariq Katie Lear Olivia Zollino News-at-large Kevin Hurren Opinions Nusaiba Al-Azem Arts & Life Conrad Floryan Jennafer Freeman Jenny Jay Sports Bradley Metlin Nathan Kanter Robert Nanni Jr.

Online Megan Devlin Photography Kelly Samuel Taylor Lasota Winnie Lu Graphics Jennifer Feldman Illustrations Christopher Miszczak Kirstyn Culbert-Kviring Graphics/Video Mike Laine Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator Vivian Liu

• Please recycle this newspaper •

•7

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

sports

saywhat?

“Even the Olympic team, the World Cup team, he walked in that room and the superstars of the game were eyes wide open and wanted to be a sponge because this guy has so much hockey knowledge.”

• Reid Mitchell, Toronto Maple Leafs director of hockey and scouting administration, speaking about late coach Pat Quinn’s influence.

Rundown >> It was a tough weekend for the men’s squash team at an invitational at Cornell University > They lost all three of their games to American schools.

Men’s basketball pushes win streak to three Aaron Fisch CONTRIBUTOR @SportsAtGazette

The Western Mustangs men’s basketball team won their third consecutive game on Saturday night, defeating the Algoma Thunderbirds on the road 87–56. With the win the Mustangs now improves to 4–2 in the regular season, putting them just a half game back of the first place Windsor Lancers.

The difference in the game was the third quarter. Western posted 30 points while giving up just nine, sealing the win with their increased effort and focus.

“Our game plan was to get defensive stops and push the ball in transition on offence,” Mustangs coach Brad Campbell said.

Although the Mustangs won both the first and second half, the first two quarters involved feeling out the opponent and game.

The quick pace and tempo from both teams was evident in the early going, as the Mustangs used every opportunity to press their opponent. Algoma only trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter, and by nine at the end of the first half, 37–28. But a 50-point second half outburst was too much for the Thunderbirds to handle.

The Western win came on a backto-back against the same Algoma team, leaving no doubt by the end of the weekend which team was superior.

Six-foot-three forward Greg Morrow and six-four guard Quinn Henderson, two key components to the Western offence all season, shined once again, both demonstrating veteran leadership in the win. Morrow contributed with 28 points, while Henderson added 22.

The inside punch of Morrow, along with the outside shooting touch of Henderson has proved to be a stellar offensive duo for the Mustangs so far this year.

Morrow also made 10 free throws, while Henderson contributed with four three-pointers.

“Greg is our best player and leader,” Campbell said. “Usually how Greg goes our team goes. Quinn is our fifth-year captain and most experienced player. Both supply leadership on and off the court.”

In the fourth quarter the Mustangs were able to ride their younger players and cruise to the finish.

Last year the team posted a record of 4–8 away from home. So far this season, the Mustangs are 3–1 on the road.

Coach Campbell attributes the positive start away from home to their preseason play.

“Having played six games on the road in October, in Vancouver and Quebec City, I think it has prepared [us] well for OUA road play,” he said.

Look for the Mustangs to continue their winning streak on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. when they host a tough McMaster Marauders team at Alumni Hall.

“Mac is extremely talented and has a high-powered offence. They will be tough to stop,” Campbell said.

Jonathan Dunn • GAZETTE

To place your classifed ad, please contact us at 519-661-3579 or adoffice@uwo.ca

thegazette HOUSING

classifieds

1ST YEARS - LIVE LIKE A MUSTANG – The MARQ, 75 Ann St. Newly suites – Group rates, Full Security, Gym, near bus Routes, studyroom, live downtown. Call or text Ted: 519-858-2525 – ted@TheMARQ.ca

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.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

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

3-4BDRM – student apartments downtown – don’t sign anywhere else without seeing our buildings. Free tanning, theatre, fitness centre, studyroom, security on-site. Professionally managed. $510-560. Call or text Ted 519-858-2525.

3-5 BDRM – The MARQ – luxury student living with professional management team. Ask our satisfied Residents! Granite counters, tanning, theatre room, A/C, location to campus or downtown.

TheMARQ.ca. Call or text Ted: 519-858-2525.

5 BDRM TOWNHOUSE – off western road.

FULLY FURNISHED and only $515/student! A/C, Free Parking, Fob keys, near campus. Will go fast, sign today! Call or text Ted: 519-858-2525.

TheMARQ.ca.

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS – Live with friends in London’s Undergraduate building downtown.

Minutes to Richmond, 3-4 bdrm, $510-560.

Studyroom, theatre, free tanning, grocery service to your door. Call or text Ted 519-858-2525.

TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING PHISHED 3. Keep a regular check on your accounts Regularly log into your online accounts, and check your statements. Report any suspicous transactions to your bank or credit card provider.

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

Luxury Student Housing 519-858-2525 • themarq.ca • 75 Ann St.

8 •

thegazette • Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Western fencers score points at home Brent Holmes DEPUTY EDITOR @BrentAtGazette

Western’s fencing team held their first open tournament this past Saturday. The tournament was a huge success for the team, seeing over 160 people turn up at the Thames Hall gymnasium from all over southwestern Ontario.

Western’s fencers performed well, earning spots on the podium in multiple weapons. Third-year BMOS student Vivian Poon won gold in both senior women’s épée and senior women’s foil, and firstyear social science and BMOS student, Ali Alnakeeb took silver in senior men’s sabre.

“We have more fencers coming out then I ever expected,” fencing head coach Carol Christie said.

“The referees were terrific. People who came to help set up and all that were wonderful.”

The fencers of the team took on a big role in helping to prepare the event, setting up the gym and making sure people could get set up.

“Carol didn’t know if she wanted to do this tournament and was kind of on the edge,” Western fencer, Vivian Poon said. “To see over 160 people come and show up is crazy.

We’ve tried this before and we’ve had 10 people show up from Western.”

Part of the tournament’s success was because it was an open tournament.

“People get national points for it,” Poon said. “When we usually do [it] just for fun ... people aren’t going to drive all the way from Toronto for it.”

Poon was very excited to have won two gold medals at Western.

She defeated Marcena Lau from Ryerson’s fencing team to take first place in women’s foil and Andrea Csiba from the London Fencing Club to win in women’s épée.

“It’s pretty good especially as a home tournament so it’s the first time ever [for winning at home],” Poon said. “We had to fence a lot of each other out so that was unfortunate, [but] I think everyone did really well.”

Alnakeeb upset Ryerson team manager Kyle Foster in the sabre rounds, despite it not being his specialty.

“He’s our foil guy, and he’s fencing sabre for the first time and he’s cleaning up,” Christie said.

Defeating Foster was no easy feat for Alnakeeb. Foster, a Western alumni and member of Western’s fencing team in the 1990s, had returned from representing Canada at the Commonwealth Championships in Scotland the day before the tournament.

Foster came home with three medals — a gold medal in veteran’s team épée, a bronze medal in veteran’s individual epee and a bronze medal in veteran team sabre.

“I went into that bout thinking, ‘[Foster’s] going to destroy me,’ but then I focused and I got the best of him,” Alnakeeb said. “I did sabre six years prior to doing foil so I have a lot of experience with sabre.”

Alnakeeb lost in a hard-fought gold-medal round against Cutting Edge Fencing member Matthias Leuprecht. The duel was brutal with Alnakeeb having to stop several times due to taking several painful hits to the back of the head.

“The guy kept taking my blade and with the riposte he would slash really hard and bring my head a bit low,” Alnakeeb said, “so the blade would flick and actually enter the mask from the back.”

Western’s team is now getting ready for competitions coming up in the next few months.

“Our championships aren’t until February so we’ve still got some building to do,” Christie said. “We are going to be taking an excursion to a brand new super club that’s in Markham. In early December, just before exams start we are going to go down and check out this super-club and the coaches and resources that they have there.”

“After Christmas, we are going to Brock for another tournament,” Poon noted. “Then it’s OUAs, which is going to be the big tournament in February.”

Western Fencing Tournament Final Results Western Fencers in the Top 10 Senior Men's Epee

Connor Rollit — 6th Jonathan Kormos — 8th

Senior Men's Sabre

Ali Alnakeeb — 2nd Andrew Kennel — 5th Nigel Johnson Steeves — 6th

Senior Women's Foil Vivian Poon — 1st Mary Lee — 7th

Senior Women's Epee Vivian Poon — 1st Noura Hamade — 7th Eileen Mu — 10th

Jennifer Feldman • GAZETTE

Brent Holmes • GAZETTE