W ESTER NGA ZET TE.CA • @ UWOGA ZET TE
thegazette Beating the London Free Press since 1906
TODAY high 16 low 3
TOMORROW high 9 low 0
Chakma controversy shows systemic discrepancies >> pg. 3
WESTERN UNIVERSITY • CANADA’S ONLY DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED 1906
THURSDAY, APRIL 02, 2015
VOLUME 108, ISSUE 97
Chakma refunds ‘double payment’ PRESIDENT RETURNS $440K FORMER JUDGE WILL REVIEW CONTRACT MPP INTRODUCING BILL TO PROHIBIT SIMILAR DEALS Mike Laine • GAZETTE
Hamza Tariq NEWS EDITOR @HamzaAtGazette
Western University President Amit Chakma is returning $440,000 he received for not taking a year of administrative leave after sustained public backlash to the “double payment.” In a letter to the University community sent yesterday evening, Chakma said he was voluntarily refunding the money and will also not exercise his right to another cash payout at the end of his second term. “As a demonstration of my commitment to Western and to address the concerns that many have expressed, I have decided voluntarily to refund the in lieu payment to the University,” he said. Chakma’s compensation last year, which was double his usual
AMIT CHAKMA
Taylor Lasota • GAZETTE
annual salary, made him the fourth highest paid public sector employee in Ontario. His salary has been frozen at $440,000 since his first year at Western in 2009 and remains frozen for the duration of his second term, ending in 2019. Chakma added that in hindsight, he should have carried over his yearlong administrative leave to the end of second term. Western’s board of governors simultaneously announced they have appointed former Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Stephen Goudge to review presidential compensation at the University. “I am confident that Justice Goudge will complete a full and fair examination and I will whole heartedly cooperate. I look forward to his findings and intend to abide by his recommendations,” Chakma said. The board of governors acknowledged the significant attention that the disclosure of president’s salary has garnered. “In this time of fiscal uncertainty and restraint in the post-secondary education sector, Western’s board of governors is highly sensitive to the concerns expressed by members of the Western community and the wider public,” Chirag Shah, chair of the board, said. Chakma’s substantial salary had caused outrage across London and the province. A petition started on Monday garnered 5,500 signatures from students, faculty, alumni and community members calling for a non-confidence vote of both Chakma and Shah. A number of
Western professors were vocal in their opposition to the president’s salary. “I’m not surprised, it’s very clear the that the board of governors and president Chakma were forced to acknowledge the fact that they exercised an egregious lack of judgement in signing this contract for president Chakma,” Eric Lohman, a lecturer in the faculty of information and media studies, said. “I mean they were made clearly aware that contracts like that don’t exist in the public sector at any of the other major universities in Canada.” Alison Hearn, president of the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association, said while Chakma’s initiative was a positive step, the problem is more deeply rooted. “It’s nice that he is giving the money back but it’s never been about the money per se but what the money represents. There just seems to be a whole skewed set of values and a skewed set of priorities about where money should be spent on campus,” she said. Western students also expressed their disappointment in the president’s salary and a graduate student camped outside Chakma’s office in protest on Wednesday morning. Tyler Turek, a fifth-year PhD student, said it was absurd that Chakma made twice his salary while food bank use amongst students is on the rise. “I’m not trying to make a massive statement, I just want to protest the double pay that our president has received at the same time that
students, graduate students and sessional faculty are getting fewer and fewer opportunities and benefits,” he said. The issue was brought to Queen’s Park this week, where London-West MPP Peggy Sattler asked the premier several times to prohibit similar deals at other universities. After hearing the news of Chakma returning his double pay, Sattler said the issue was wider than just his compensation package. “For me, this was not an issue about Dr. Chakma or about Western University,” Sattler said. “It was an issue about the systemic problem within the sector that university boards of governors feel that they have carte blanche to negotiate these kinds of compensation packages for university presidents.” Sattler said she will be introducing a private members bill today to “prohibit” this type of deal being negotiated in the future. “The university gets half of its revenue from the province but a big chunk of their revenues comes from students’ tuition feeds,” Sattler said. “And so for the board of governors to be using that funding — those public dollars and those revenues from student tuition — and negotiating this kind of compensation package is just totally unacceptable at a time when budgets are being cut, when university students in Ontario are paying the highest fees in Canada and we have more students using food banks than ever before. This is not acceptable.” • With files from Iain Boekhoff, Olivia Zollino, Katie Lear and Amy O’Kruk
A
SA DEMONSTRATION OF MY COMMITMENT TO WESTERN AND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT MANY HAVE EXPRESSED, I HAVE DECIDED VOLUNTARILY TO REFUND THE IN LIEU PAYMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY.
AMIT CHAKMA
WESTERN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
I
T’S VERY CLEAR THAT THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND PRESIDENT CHAKMA WERE FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THEY EXERCISED AN EGREGIOUS LACK OF JUDGMENT IN SIGNING THIS CONTRACT FOR PRESIDENT CHAKMA.
ERIC LOHMAN
I
FIMS LECTURER
T’S NICE THAT HE IS GIVING BACK THE MONEY BACK BUT IT’S NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE MONEY PER SE BUT WHAT THE MONEY REPRESENTS.
ALISON HEARN
FACULTY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
2•
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
Caught on Camera
CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer Taylor Lasota • GAZETTE
WE TOLD YOU SO. Thieves have struck once again taking USC president Matt Helfand’s bike. While The Gazette wrote in our April Fool’s Day issue that Helfand had started using a pair of roller skates to get to campus as a joke if you see Helfand with a pair it is likely because we have become clairvoyant.
Travel Vaccine Clinic
News Briefs
Ivey and Engineering expand partnership
Solution to puzzle on page 7
Coming in APRIL: IMMUNIZATIONS & VACCINATIONS are among the most important and effective ways to prevent travel related infections. Call Us Now To Book Your Appointment
Western Pharmacy
Books Plus • 1153 Western Rd. (corner of Sarnia/Western Rd.)
519.661.3193 • universitypharmacy.ca 150402
2PIZZAS SMALL
17
$
99
3 TOPPINGS ON EACH 2 CANS OF POP 1 SMALL CEASAR SALAD CHEESY BREAD 1 FREE DIPPING SAUCE
For Delivery CALL
5 19•438•9999 Delivery hours from 11am daily
www.pierospizza.ca
3-169 Wharncliffe Rd. South
The Richard Ivey School of Business is expanding its partnership with the faculty of engineering by offering a Certificate in Engineering Leadership and Innovation. The program is geared towards undergraduate engineering students who are not enrolled in a dual degree but are still looking to improve their business knowledge. The partnership contributes to growing efforts to provide more collaborative learning between faculties. “Where I see the students in the Certificate in Engineering Leadership and Innovation developing careers are those that are engineering-focused with a keen eye towards leading their organizations through waves of innovation and technological change,” Darren Meister, John M. Thompson chair in engineering leadership and innovation, said. Meister expressed interest in further collaboration with the faculty of engineering beyond the undergraduate level as well as growing partnerships with other faculties such as law, arts and science. “The growth of the partnership is a good idea because the integration of business and engineering problem-solving has never been greater,” he said. “Short development times, technology ubiquity and rapid international change means that both business and engineering grads must have a mastery of their own domain and an appreciation for the others.” • Samuel Leese
T
HE GROWTH OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THE INTEGRATION OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING PROBLEMSOLVING HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. DARREN MEISTER
JOHN M. THOMPSON CHAIR IN ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION
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.
•3
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
USC: Move out, clean up
Program promotes turning in items when vacating Rita Rahmati GAZETTE STAFF @uwogazette
The University Students’ Council will be hosting a move-out clean-up program at Ceeps on April 28 and 29. Students are encouraged to bring items they no longer want to Ceeps. Acceptable items include non-perishable foods, clothing, shoes, small appliances and e-waste items. April 28 and 29 have been selected as they will coincide with the end of leases for many students. “I think what happens at this time of year is that student practices unfortunately do begin to fall apart a little bit because they’re very anxious to leave their location,” said Jay Stanford, director of environment, fleet and solid waste for London. With the influx of students moving out of rental homes, the streets of London get covered with items students no longer want, USC president Matt Helfand noted. “A whole bunch of stuff ends up in the garbage that shouldn’t be garbage: food items, electronics recycling, even clothing that just gets thrown out,” Helfand said. Facilitated by the USC, this event will see a number of partners working in unison. Western, the City of London, Goodwill, the London food bank, Ceeps and Textbooks for
I
THINK WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS THAT STUDENT PRACTICES UNFORTUNATELY DO BEGIN TO FALL APART A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY’RE VERY ANXIOUS TO LEAVE THEIR LOCATION. JAY STANFORD
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT, FLEET AND SOLID WASTE FOR LONDON
Change will be working together for this project. In the weeks leading up to the event the USC will be reaching to bring awareness to both the issue of student waste and the event itself. Helfand describes these efforts as including advertisements, canvassing strategies and getting information out to student groups on campus. Helfand explained some of the benefits of donating used items. “There’s also the economic benefit associated with the fact that these things will go to their proper homes,” Helfand said. “The food
Review of Chakma’s earnings a cautious step in the right direction King Lear
Katie Lear NEWS EDITOR @KateAtGazette
In what many initially believed to be an April Fool’s Day prank, Western University President Amit Chakma released a statement last night saying he would “voluntarily refund the in-lieu payment to the University.” In the days following the Sunshine List’s release, Chakma received national attention for his exorbitant salary. While his base earnings were frozen at $440,000, Chakma was able to take advantage of an option in his salary to take a cash payment over an administrative leave that increased his earnings (including taxable benefits) to $967,244.92. This spurred reactions from students and faculty alike. Most notably, over 5,500 supporters signed a petition calling for a non-confidence vote, a one-man protest camped outside of Chakma’s officer early Wednesday morning and The Gazette’s spoof issue was centred on the issue. But one question still hasn’t been answered: should Chakma have returned his salary? This was an entirely legal transaction. The board of governors sat down and drew up the contract that Chakma was well within his rights to sign. Nothing illegal occurred, and everyone went into it knowing what was going to come of it. The public backlash has been
fierce. It’s no surprise – news of Chakma’s salary comes as a stark contrast to a university dialogue that has recently been all about cutting. In light of Chakma’s decision to refund his salary, Western’s board of governors has also appointed former Justice Stephen Goudge “to conduct an independent and impartial review of my compensation,” according to Chakma’s announcement. But why order this review now? Not only has Chakma already decided to return his salary, but the damage has been done to the administration’s reputation. And while we’re all conscious of the dollar tag attached to Chakma’s name, how much is hiring a former Court of Appeals judge going to cost the administration? Unless this review is going to offer some binding change to the way that Chakma’s salary is issued, having an independent review isn’t going to be much more than a positive media stunt. When demonstrations are focused on raising money for food banks frequented by TAs, it speaks to how far removed our upper administration is from the reality faced by the university’s lowest earners. This isn’t unique to Western either – it’s a systemic issue that is showing up all over the country, with York University and the University of Toronto’s TAs recently striking for better treatment. While these demonstrations raise attention to the issue, we need to do more to ensure less disparity between our lowest-paid staff and our highest administration. And Chakma’s recent time in the spotlight may only prove to be the beginning of a long process.
bank is always looking for more food.” Furthermore, donating items will help the image of student neighbourhoods as they will not be covered in garbage during move outs. “The role of the USC is to make sure that students are viewed in a very positive light, one of the ways we can do that is preventing this sort of issue,” Helfand said. Even if students cannot make it to this event there are a number of locations in London they may go to all year-round. In London there are four city-operated disposal depots, as well as Goodwill Donation Centres, a Salvation Army Thrift Store and Value Village. While Stanford encourages students to donate their used furniture, he also notes that everything can not be salvaged. “Some furniture needs to be discarded because it’s just gone through its life and that has to be placed at the curb on its appropriate day,” Stanford said. Helfand explains that end-ofthe-year garbage issues are a community problem because students have not been adequately educated about proper disposal or donation. “It’s about incentivizing students by making it easier on them and I really think people will be willing to do the right thing if [they] just make the effort,” Helfand said.
Taylor Lasota • GAZETTE
UGG Boot Cleaning
Grace’s Dry Cleaning & Alterations
519.204.9232 • 25 Oxford St W (next to Alibi Roadhouse)
Ph: 519.601.1322 Cell: 519.495.7372
Bobby Bryanton
porsche of london
Fluent in French Speaks some Mandarin
bobby@porschelondon.com
Your University Porsche Specialist
Porsche of London - Where Excellence Comes Standard.
Better Price, Greater Value On Shipping
Greyhound Package Express knows the importance of delivering more value when it comes to shipping. It’s why we’ve invested in new trailers and upgraded buses, a dedicated shipping fleet, and scanning technology that allows customers to track shipments in real-time. We’re providing a better service at prices that are still lower than other national carriers. And we continue to offer a suite of shipping options to meet your needs, from Next Bus Out to Quicklane, all at affordable rates. Greyhound Package Express always delivers greater value for a better price. Guaranteed.
Fast. Reliable. Convenient. Always Affordable.
shipgreyhound.ca • 888.463.6446
4 •
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
arts&life
saywhat? “Last year you were ranked the fifth most hated person of all time. Kim Jong-un didn’t even score that low, and he uses your music to fucking torture people.”
• Shaquille O’Neal at the Roast of Justin Bieber
>> IN THEATRES > ELEPHANT SONG
Shachar Dahan GAZETTE STAFF @uwogazette
Microsoft is back with a brand new Surface 3 tablet — a thinner, smaller and less expensive version of the successful Surface Pro 3 PC-tablet. The Surface fills a gadget gap between laptops and tablets. Today’s tablets are great for portability, reading and watching video, but they’re not ideal for doing work. Laptops are designed for getting stuff done, but you wouldn’t want to read a book on them. The Surface is a laptop that looks and acts like a tablet. But the Surface Pro 3 costs $799 and that’s without a keyboard. Throw in a keyboard and Bluetooth pen, and you’re looking at a machine that costs close to $1,000. With the Surface 3, Microsoft set out to make a similar tablet priced more attractively for students, parents and on-the-go professionals. The Surface 3 costs $499. That’s a pretty good price for a PC that comes with two GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. The Surface 3 weighs 1.4 pounds, and is extremely thin at just 0.34 inches. It also has a 10.8inch screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This makes it way better for reading and writing when you hold it vertically. The Surface 3 forgoes the magnetic charger that other Surfaces
sported in favour of the familiar micro-USB port that every nonApple mobile device uses for charging. Disappointingly, the Surface 3 doesn’t borrow the same adjustable kickstand from the bigger Surface Pro 3, but it does introduce a threestage kickstand. It’s not quite as useful as the Surface Pro 3’s pickany-angle “continuous hinge,” but it’s more versatile than the one or two positions you got from previous Surfaces. The likeable Surface Pen is back, and now provides full functionality on both Surface Pro 3 and the Surface 3. The Surface 3 has an eight-megapixel rear camera and a 3.5 megapixel front camera. Since battery is critical to a device like this, Microsoft has assured customers that the Surface’s battery should be able to get you through a day of normal use. Microsoft claims the battery is large enough to let you watch 10 hours of video on a single charge. While it may seem far away, it is never too early to start thinking about back to school shopping for next year. Based on all the available information, there is no reason to believe the Surface 3 won’t be a success. With this announcement, Microsoft is going to make it hard for consumers to choose between laptops and tablets.
Courtesy of Microsoft
Courtesy of Melenny Productions
Canadian film a slow burner Maddy Richard CONTRIBUTOR @uwogazette
GGGGF Elephant Song Director: Charles Biname Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener, CarrieAnn Moss and Colm Feore Focusing heavily on dialogue, Charles Biname’s Elephant Song is a Canadian film that feels like overhearing conversations. Luckily, these conversations are intriguing to listen in on. Low on action and slowly building momentum, Elephant Song is a triumph of story lines featuring a unique assortment of characters. Dr. Toby Green (Bruce Greenwood) is investigating the disappearance of a colleague from the psychiatric ward. The last person to see the doctor was patient Michael (Xavier Dolan). Green tries to get answers, but Michael prefers mind games and manipulation. Green and a nurse at the ward, Nurse Peterson (Catherine Keener), are questioned by a sergeant about
what happened that day through flashbacks. This fills in the plot, but it takes a while for the movie to gain momentum. Greenwood is a strong figure in his role. His character is smart, but too trusting. His relationship with his niece is wonderful, but his wife (Carrie-Ann Moss) is at times infuriating. Although it somewhat humanizes Green, the extent of his personal life is unnecessary to drive the movie forward. Dolan’s portrayal makes Michael the most interesting to watch. He often goes back on his word, making everything he says questionable. All the doctors and nurses praise his intelligence, but he can be vulnerable like a child. He is known to be a liar, which makes it difficult to trust him. When his lies are revealed, it’s not surprising, making the film feel repetitive and like the plot isn’t going anywhere. The female characters are never fully developed. Moss’ character is needy and selfish. Keener is collected and assertive, but she didn’t get enough backstory to feel fleshed out. As a result, both women seem like extensions to Green’s character
rather than being their own. The most beautiful scenes are the flashbacks to Michael’s childhood. They show how his relationship with his parents has brought him to the hospital. Michael’s fascination with elephants is also revealed through them, but the sheer number of times elephants are mentioned can feel overused and unneeded. Elephant Song is about parenting, showing the incompetency people can have when taking care of another life. Each character goes through different relationships where they are figuratively either the child or the parent, showing how people can harm the vulnerable. This is a good film, but it is not a mind-blowing production. The characters and the story are engaging, but the first half of the movie is slow. When a character is known for deceiving others, his lies lack tension. Once the movie starts picking up speed it gets better and the climax pays off. Elephant Song is playing this week at the Hyland Cinema. Showtimes are available at www. hylandcinema.com.
Rebel Heart is a slow and meditative dance album. It’s more about catching cool vibes than breaking your neck raving out. It’s like the soundtrack to the morning after following Madonna’s 30-year rager of a career. While the liner notes are stacked with contemporary trendsetters like Diplo, Kanye and Avicii, they’re at the service of making beats that sound like Madonna and not the other way around. Unapologetic Bitch, produced by Diplo, is a standout. Its easy reggae bounce contrasts with a tracklist peppered with icy club joints. Madonna’s voice has never been anything special, but no one really cares. She stretches her pipes as far as she can muster on ballads Heart Break City and Joan of Arc. She’s never sounded better. Nowadays auto-tune is a fact of life and Madonna was one of the pioneering champions of hyperedited vocals. Although for most of the album Madonna’s vocals are veneered with some type of editing, her singing is given centre stage
instead of being veiled by blaring beats. Madonna is a pop robot and she’s proud of it. At 56 years old, Madonna’s career is at a crossroads. Does she slide gently into the sunset or should she continue to duke it out with her descendants Katy Perry and Rihanna for chart dominance? Her relaxed, cohesive album exudes a confidence that spills out no matter where her career is heading. Her current musical approach is vintage Madge — she makes whatever she feels like. While rock and roll allows its aging stars like U2 and The Stones a platform to flourish into their golden years, the pop world Madonna has shaped is defined by fleeting cultural relevancy and youth appeal. The fact that Madonna is still dancing around and making songs with Nicki Minaj is a punch line to critics, but her passion to continue making sexy dance music is daring and emblematic of a post-feminist western society. This rebel heart beats on. • Conrad Floryan
>> ON DISC > REBEL HEART
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
PUBLIC RELATIONS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Graduate Certificate Start your new career in less than a year!
fanshawec.ca/COR3
GGGGF Rebel Heart Artist: Madonna Label: Boy Toy, Live Nation, Interscope The Queen of Pop has been struggling in recent years to stay relevant. BBC Radio relegated Rebel Heart’s first single, Living For Love, to Radio Two among more middle-aged tunes. Her previous two albums smacked of desperation to copy whatever’s hot in the pop world. Now with her 13th album, Madge is coming more into her own.
•5
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
WEALTH
MEDIA
WHAT’S HOT
WELLNESS
LOVE
Healthy Breakfast
Zayn Malik
Creme Egg McFlurry
Trivia Crack
Have a Comedy Roast
Sometimes when the young and greedy mull over their schemes for making it rich, they get too far ahead of themselves. Mutual funds are great, and planning a dependable career couldn’t hurt, but unless you start your day off with a balanced breakfast, you might as well buy a season pass to the poor house. For the fledgling mogul on the go, cereal is always a great option. Anything with an animal on the box will do the trick. Frosted Flakes is a solid place to start — it’s packed with delicious nutrients like pyridoxine hydrochloride and malt flavouring. Now if only the butler could wake up on time to pour the milk.
Zayn Malik was the talk of Twitter when he decided to quit One Direction in order to pursue a more normal life as a 22-year-old. While he may have supposedly decided to “drop the mic,” the young musician released an indieinfluenced solo song two days later. Upset fans tweeted, posted and blogged how upset they were about the band splitting up. In fact at least 220 troubled employees requested compassionate leave upon Zayn leaving the band. He has also lost an estimated 50,000 followers on Twitter since making the announcement. Females everywhere wept and whined, so if you haven’t angrily posted a status yet about Zayn you’re missing out on some quality cultural capital.
The Creme Egg McFlurry is one of McDonalds’ best limited-time treats. Unlike the repulsively minty Shamrock Shake, which is featured for St. Patrick’s Day, the Creme Egg McFlurry is something to actually look forward to. All the Western girls who profess their love for froyo are kidding themselves. There’s nothing better than fully fattening ice cream. This McFlurry is worth every single one of those 500 calories. For all those who have resisted thus far, it’s time to indulge. Everyone knows that as soon as exams begin next week, any remaining willpower to stick with your diet will be diminished. Consider it a post-school year treat and dig in.
If you’re still playing Clash of Clans or Candy Crush, you need to move on to Trivia Crack. It was popular last year and it has made a comeback this year. Trivia Crack is the Magic School Bus of iPhone games – fun, educational and addicting. Right before exams is the best possible time to get into Trivia Crack. Whenever you need a study break, don’t click on Instagram. Rather than looking at endless pictures of textbooks, labeled #exams #onemoretogo #senioritis, you can use your study break to practice your multiple choice skills. With six different categories, no matter what your program, Trivia Crack has something to offer you.
The world hates Justin Bieber. On March 30, Comedy Central aired the Roast of Justin Bieber, where choice celebrities skewered the Stratford songbird. The result? People like him more. The jokes hit the spot — Bieber haters respect that he had the balls to put himself in the line of fire. Haters love when people are comfortable enough to laugh about themselves. Organizing a proper comedy roast is a stretch, but all it takes is being brave enough to poke fun at the people around you and accepting the returning barbs in good spirits. Humour is a weapon you can employ to turn a negative into a positive, hate into love and Internet trolls into Beliebers.
• Conrad Floryan
Maddy Richard CONTRIBUTOR @uwogazette
If you’ve ever wondered why people seem happier in the summer, there’s a reason for that — the “winter blues” are more than just from the cold weather. Fortunately warm weather and longer days are on their way. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression people can have during the winter. Usually starting in the late fall, SAD is induced by low lighting. It differs from other forms of depression because SAD occurs during specific times of the year. “Low mood, lack of energy, lack of motivation, poor concentration,” are symptoms that Dr. Richard Owen, GAAMHS psychiatrist at the Schulich
• Jenny Jay
• Jennafer Freeman
School of Medicine and Dentistry, uses when describing SAD. “It tends to come on in the fall and then tends to improve in the spring.” What occurs in the brain is a lack of chemicals usually induced by light. The levels of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine struggle when they do not receive proper lighting. Owen says he currently has no patients who suffer SAD during summer. It is possible to have symptoms of SAD as late as March or starting as early as fall, although these are technically times when it’s brighter outside. The climate can also drastically change how prominent SAD is. This and how long the depression lasts are factors to consider when looking into diagnoses.
Treatments include using a special lamp. “These lamps have to be ... a unit of power that [has to] exceed ... 10,000 lux,” Owen says. Owen stresses the power these lamps have to be beneficial. They must meet these specific requirements to help treat SAD. “Generally patients need to have the light bathe over them for between 20 and 30 minutes a day,” Owen says. “It’s a little bit like starting a medication, really. It’s not an instant hit.” SAD is coming to an end for this year. For those who suffer from it, the changing of the seasons will lessen their symptoms. Looking into SAD symptoms and treatments can help those suffering to improve for next year.
• Jennafer Freeman
• Conrad Floryan
Haida Lu • GAZETTE
6 •
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
opinions Case Closed
As I often say, we have come a long way from the days of slavery, but in 2014, discrimination and inequality still saturate our society in modern ways.
• Al Sharpton
Picture-perfect… discrimination Devlin’s Advocate
Holmes is on the Case
Megan Devlin ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Brent Holmes DEPUTY EDITOR
@MegAtGazette
@BrentAtGazette
What makes an ending? They are a constant — every film, book or story must end. They can take the form of departures or returns home. They can be final, permanent or, as is more likely in this day and age, setting things up for Hollywood to make another sequel. They are a chance for reflection and an opportunity to take stock. After three years as an Arts and Life editor and a year as Deputy Editor, my time at The Gazette is now ending. What feels like ages ago, I entered The Gazette office. Much like any terrified first-year, I put my name on the Arts and Life email list and then promptly left not to return for the entire first semester and only turning in one measly CD review during the term. The office environment seemed enormous, fast-paced — for professionals only. I felt woefully inexperienced and like I wouldn’t fit in. My real involvement with the paper began that January. Over that Christmas break I had written five movie reviews, on a whim I sent them to The Gazette and was surprised to find my name in the next five issues. Within the next week, internship applications came out for the Arts and Life section, I applied and got it. By the end of the year I was an Arts and Life Editor. Four years, hundreds of stories, an office renovation and many cups of tea later, it’s almost over. I’ve had so many amazing experiences in my time here and I owe so much to the people — many of whom have already moved on — who had faith in me and gave me my start. To them, I can only say thanks. I got to have one of the most amazing experiences of my life because of their grace and quality. If I’ve learned anything while working here, it’s to give it all for the stuff you care about — one of the best years of my life was spent working as Arts and Life editor last year. My work in the Arts and Life section earned me Editor of the Year and I got to interview amazing people including TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey and David Peterson, the conlanger who designed the languages in HBO’s Game of Thrones. When I entered The Gazette, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I came to Huron with an interest in studying political science but promptly switched over to film and English — because I liked them better and I felt like giving up on any prospect on having a career. Thanks to The Gazette, I know what I want to do and will attend journalism school at UBC in September. I entered The Gazette with the intention to write a few movie reviews, but I ended up getting a lot more out of it. To anyone coming as a volunteer or editor now, I say pursue this — take your own initiative, approach your work with humbleness and determination. Make The Gazette a priority because it is totally worth it. Case closed.
thegazette
Volume 108, Issue 97 www.westerngazette.ca
Iain Boekhoff Cornwall Editor Brent Holmes Brent-in-Chief Richard Raycraft Just Richard
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.
A couple of weeks ago I applied to be a lifeguard at one of Toronto’s popular “day life” entertainment spots. I recently heard back. Instead of offering me an interview, the establishment asked for me to “please forward some pictures along with your resume.” Um, excuse me? I was taken aback. Isn’t submitting photos with a job application one of the biggest no-nos in the book? I was first told never to do it in my 10th grade civics class. To start, submitting a photo opens up the question of whether an employer is hiring for good looks rather than experience or skill. The Toronto Sun found this was a rampant practice in downtown Toronto restaurants such as Moxie’s and Earl’s. Managers in the Toronto Sun story argued that attractive servers would entice men to enter the establishment and drink — and alcohol is how restaurants make money. In my eyes, this argument only serves to prove how men and capitalism exploit women’s bodies. But let’s just follow it for a second. Would having attractive lifeguards at an establishment improve business? First of all, the pool is at the back of the establishment and patrons pay an extra $20 cover to access it. No Baywatch-esque guards are visible from the entrance. Sure, I can see how a pool populated with beautiful bodies is preferable, but aren’t the oiled bodies of patrons enough? Does that $20 entitle men to Pamela Anderson look-alike lifeguards too? When it comes to a job like lifeguarding, I should hope the only thing my body is responsible for is performing
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.
my lifesaving skills to National Lifeguard Service standard. But beauty discrimination is just the beginning. The real concern with asking applicants to submit a photo is racial discrimination. The Ontario Human Rights Commission sums it up pretty succinctly. “It has long been the Commission’s position that employers should not request photos of potential employees, since they may provide information related to a number of Code-related grounds, such as race, colour, sex or age,” it reads. “Photos are not reliable sources of such information. Employers attempting to put a special program in place to increase the diversity of their workforce would be better served by asking employees to self-identify.” I like that the Commission assumes organizations are pro-actively trying to hire from disadvantaged populations — when, in fact, the opposite has generally been found to be true. In the United States, white men with a criminal record are more likely to be hired than black men without one. In Canada, a study out of the University of Toronto found that having an AngloSaxon name was the single biggest factor determining whether an applicant got a call back after submitting a resume. “Asking for a headshot is not necessarily illegal by itself,” professor Michael Lynk, an employment law specialist with Western’s law school, says. “But it might support an argument, assuming there was other persuasive evidence available, that the employer discriminated against an employee based on race, age, gender or other grounds.” Lynk, however, has never heard of a case where an employer’s hiring of an attractive applicant constituted a breach of human rights. In the end, I decided I wanted the job — I submitted the headshot from my Twitter profile. I might decide later to tweet this column too. I guess I’ll be on the job hunt again soon.
Dear Life Your anonymous letters to life
Dear Life, It would be a real shame if Western students went all French revolution on Chakma and his ilk for their exorbitant salaries. A real crying shame.
Dear Life, Chakma makes $1-million last year and yet we should have a volunteer day to clean up campus? Pfft. Tell Amit to get off his ass.
Dear Life, I lol’d when you had a photo of Amit Chakma last week and the caption was ‘our great leader.’ Who died and made him leader? #studentsofthecampus unite [Editor’s note: That’s “Supreme Leader” to you.]
Dear Life, So I spend 30K on tuition, 5K on books, at least a grand in other crap and they STILL ask for a grad donation?
Dear Life, “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” — Albert Einstein
Dear Life, What do Western’s new sexual assault policy and the gov’t of Ontario’s new PSA have in common? Gross sexism. Sad. FILE PHOTO
Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Маја Анјоли-Билић
Robert Armstrong Diana Watson
Gazette Staff 2014-2015 Mohammad Abrar Abdul Hanan, Suhaib Al-Azem, Eric Bajzert, Sarah Botelho, Damon Burtt, Sam Frankel, Devin Golets, Kevin Heslop, Richard Joseph, Drishti Kataria, Sara Mai Chitty, Soheil Milani, Mackenzie Morrison, Amy O’Shea, Kyle Porter, Tristan Wu, Tom Ruess, Samah Ali, Claire Christopher, Rita Rahmati, Julie Hambleton, Brittany Hambleton
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.
wgaz.ca/dear-life
Associate 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 • Thursday, April 02, 2015
sports
thursdaytweet You have to admit it’s fitting that the Leafs and Sabres are playing on April 1.
• @draglikepull on a less-than-inspiring showdown on an appropriate day.
Christina Liao: Oh captain my captain Robert Nanni SPORTS EDITOR @robertnanni
When Christina Liao’s parents immigrated from China to Canada, they wanted their twin daughters to participate in Canadian culture. That was how Liao ended up in CanSkate, Canada’s flagship learnto-skate program. “I guess some coaches saw we had talent and that we liked it,” Liao recalls 18 years later as the captain of Western’s figure skating team. After leading the team to their fourth Ontario University Athletics figure skating championship in five years, the Hamilton native appreciates the team aspect of the sport more than ever before. “My whole skating career was all just myself doing single events so I was really the only person I was concerned about,” she explains. “Whereas coming to Western, the varsity team is very much a team-oriented sport, so we compete individually, in pairs, in fours, as well as synchro, which is 16 skaters.” Liao’s team leadership resulted in three individual bronze medals, one silver in synchro and gold overall for the team. The team finished with 73 points, 13 above second-place Guelph in this year’s championship. “It was pretty overwhelming because it was the end of my skating career,” Liao says. “I don’t know what I’m doing next year for sure yet ... it was definitely very emotional in that aspect.” But there is one thing that Liao knows for sure, and that is her passion for learning — specifically science and business. Liao is graduating from Western this year with a dual degree in medical science and Ivey honours business administration, completing the five-year degree in just four years. “My twin sister wanted to be a doctor so therefore I said ‘I don’t want to be a doctor,’ but I still
wanted to learn about science,” Liao says. “So I wanted to combine science and business in hopes of getting a business job that was science-oriented.” Hoping to take her education a step further, Liao has applied to various law schools across North America. “I don’t know which law school I’m going to yet,” Liao says, explaining her current struggle to choose between staying in Canada and going to the United States for her studies. Liao added that if she stays in Canada, she will look to continue her figure skating career at the school she attends. While Liao will not be returning to Western, she reminisces fondly on her time here, especially ending off her journey by serving as captain of the team. “I’ve met amazing people and I think, especially this year in the captain role, I really made it my goal to make friends with the first-years and really introduce them to Western,” Liao says. “So I feel really honoured to be that person to mentor them.” Liao hopes to take the lessons she has learned from skating here at Western — both on and off the ice — to wherever she goes next in life. “It definitely creates synergies with school, friends, relationships, anything,” says Liao. “You can learn so much from being an athlete in general and I think you really have a perspective that other people don’t have if they’re not athletes.” While Liao is sad to leave Western, she recognizes how lucky she has been to have been a Mustang figure skater. “For me, it just happened to be skating that fell upon me,” Liao explains. “Whenever I look back on these four years, I just feel so fortunate to have been part of a team and to kind of have seen changes and progression in all four years.”
Courtesy of Aaron Springford
To place your classifed ad, please contact us at 519-661-3579 or adoffice@uwo.ca
HOUSING
classifieds
1 & 2 PERSON apartments on Western Road. Walkbicycle-bus to campus. Specializing in affordable housing for quiet, non-smoking students with no pets. Utilities included, coinless-laundry and 8month contract possible. 519-673-1843. 3 BEDROOM BROUGHDALE behind Med/Syd front gates. Modern, open-concept, 2 full bathrooms, jacuzzi, balcony/deck. Large rooms (no basement room), 50” flat-screen, gas fireplace, dishwasher, lots of parking. $395/room. 416-8355293, enmars@hotmail.com. 3 BEDROOM LUXURY home. Western Rd. 5-minute walk to campus. Modern open-concept, large bedrooms, pool table, bar, 50” TV, over-size black marble bathroom, basketball net, massive yard/patio. $375/rm 416-835-5293. enmars@hotmail.com 4 BEDROOM TOWNHOME for Rent! Walk to school & downtown, huge kitchen, dishwasher, large bedrooms, 2.5 baths, back deck, garage. Call/text 226919-6826. Available May 1. 695 TALBOT NEWLY Renovated 1 & 2 Bedrooms Available. Steps to Richmond Row. Utilities & Parking Included. Call about our FREE MONTH today! 519-630-5646 APRIL 1ST THREE bedroom $500 per bedroom inclusive. 163 Oxford St E. Steps to Western, Richmond Row, downtown. Direct bus to Western, Fanshawe, downtown. Washer/dryer in unit, free parking, large rooms. Vern 519-872-9407 or vproperty@rogers.com. KING’S COLLEGE - HOUSES for rent. 5 bedrooms, $310+/month, May 01 2015, parking, laundry everything. Pick 1061 Patricia St. or 469 Regent St. Call Matt Kennedy 519-317-3023 or TEXT mattkennedy@rogers.com LARGE 2 BEDROOM $875 plus personal hydro. 720 Talbot St. Steps to Western, Richmond Row, direct bus to Western, Fanshawe, downtown. Secure well managed sixplex. Coin laundry, free parking. Vern 519-872-9407 or vproperty@rogers.com.
SERVICES
$1
FIRST On MONTH RENT Select Units * 24/hr Access * 7 Days A Week * * No Hidden Fees *
519-473-7867
Close To 556 Wonderland Rd. North Campus
JUST SOUTH OF OXFORD
www.canstor.com
STUDENT SPECIAL
ONLY $399
*4 months rent in a 5x10 *Free Move-In and Out *Free Disc Lock www.storageworx.ca Courtesy of Aaron Springford
519-652-2006 4474 Blakie Road London ON N6L1G6
SERVICES
UPCOMING EVENTS
EDITOR/PROOFREADER AVAILABLE. Have your papers or thesis reviewed. Extensive experience in Communications and Journalism, just retired. BA English, MA Journalism, UWO. Contact maryalderson77@gmail.com
TEAMS OF FOUR needed to participate in Boys and Girls Club of London’s Capital One Race for Kids event on 6 June 2015. For more information or to get involved, visit our website at: www.raceforkids.ca
ANNOUNCEMENTS INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY, video, or music production? 121 Studios (an initiative of unlondon.ca , a local non-profit organization) is equipped with portrait photography and audio recording facilities, video editing resources, shared desk space & more. 121studios.ca. Student discounts available. SOARING CLUB BEING ratified at Western, will be the only student run soaring club in North America, learn to fly and work towards your license, for more info email westernsoaring@gmail.com
VOLUNTEERS WANTED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR Boys and Girls Club of London’s Capital One Race for Kids event on 6 June 2015. If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please complete the volunteer form at: www.raceforkids.ca
THE 2015 VON Great Community Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll: Sun. June 28 in Lions Park in Mt. Brydges. Register 9:30am, 10:00am start. Pledged fundraiser for Middlesex-Elgin Victorian Order of Nurses. Proceeds raised locally support VON programs and services in our community. Info & Pledge sheets: www.vonmiddlesexelgin.ca
WANTED LONDON SENIOR SEEKING a volunteer helper to assist with completion of woodworking projects. On Wonderland 10 bus route. Also looking to rent space for woodworking projects in Westmount Shopping Centre area one evening a week. A garage or workshop space would be ideal. Contact Alan 519-660-1442.
LOST AND FOUND HEARING AID LOST small black plastic box. Lost Friday March 27 on Kings/main campus. If found please contact trcfbob@gmail.com
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
8 •
thegazette • Thursday, April 02, 2015
test drive your career at mac The flexible MBA program at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business offers students a variety of options for completing their studies. The accelerated option, for those with a business undergraduate degree, allows completion in as little as 8 months. The co-op program, with no work experience required, offers three fully-paid work terms in a 28-month program. Our extensive alumni network offers access to every industry and business sector in locations around the world.
DeGrooteSchool.ca/test-drive