Tuesday, December 1, 2015

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SINCE 1906

westerngazette.ca TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • WESTERN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER • VOLUME 109 ISSUE 23 rip winston since 1906

The liberation of food trucks

The city of London has not always been receptive to the idea of food trucks. But since launching on eight-truck pilot project this year, Londoners can expect to see a booming food truck industry in the future.

ELLIS KOIFMAN GAZETTE STAFF @GAZETTECULTURE Edward Manuel spent many years working at a car dealership, selling cars to residents of London. But when the company he was working for went under five years ago, he began searching for a new career. His son, Ziad, was just finishing school at Fanshawe College for interior design and would soon be looking for work as well. With little idea of what to do with his future, Edward and his son decided to invest in a family-run food truck. “It was a way to get my dad working again because he’s always been the kind of guy to keep moving,” Ziad says. The two of them scouted out several locations and built their stationary food truck from the ground up. With his knowledge of interior design, Ziad helped design the truck. Edward and his wife, Maha, often accompanied by their son, now run Eddie’s Fresh Grill on Queens Ave. “My dad has a passion for food,” Ziad says. “My parents are unbelievable cooks. For them, when it comes to food, it’s a no-brainer.” KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

The passion for food that led to the opening of Eddie’s Fresh Grill was only recently made possible, as London city council has had a strong opposition allowing food trucks in past years. Jesse Helmer, Ward 4 city councillor for London, says previous city councils have been worried that food trucks would detract from local restaurants. As a result, they remained banned for the most part until fairly recently. “It took a long time for [city council] to do anything in London,” Helmer says. The reluctance towards food trucks took a turn when city council decided to examine the issue following the 2014 municipal election. “I’ve been a supporter of food trucks for a long time and in fact organized a petition to get support that got over 1,000 signatures,” Helmer says. “Everyone was pretty into changing the regulatory regime to allow for food trucks and that was just a matter of what exactly we were going to do.” On Feb. 24, following a 15-0 unanimous vote, the City of London agreed to lift the outright ban on food trucks. The win for food truck owners allowed them to begin

operating on certain streets as part of a pilot program. The program has only made eight licenses available so far, which require paying a fee and submitting an operation plan. Drivers are also required to keep a logbook, operate within the limited number of permitted parking areas and keep minimum distance separation from restaurants, residences, schools and special events. There are plans for city council to reconvene later this year to decide on improvements and changes in response to feedback from the food truck owners and the London community. Today, London’s food truck owners have been inspired by the success that other big cities have had with the industry as a whole. It is a city that is starting to grasp the exciting and unique food offered by this food service. Food trucks are a stark contrast from the typical brick and mortar restaurants that seat dozens of people every day for meals, and are a trendy way to enjoy good food at low costs with all the convenience of the restaurant coming to you. SEE FOOD TRUCKS PAGE 7


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2 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

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PROFILE WINSTON

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Winston began today like most others — Snowball led the farm in the morning rendition of Beasts of England and then he had a quick power breakfast consisting of a small portion of cornmeal. It was when Winston spotted Mr. Jones speaking on his cellphone and eyeing the pigs that he thought something was up. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at me,” squealed Winston. “He had talked to me about going to the Spoke before but I was always hesitant. I’ve read the Yelp reviews.” Despite this, Mr. Jones told all the pigs they were heading away to various locations; Winston would be going to the Spoke. “I thought, ‘well the soybean paste is going to be in our trough for dinner so this place can’t be that bad.’ ” The big adventure began around noon. Winston explained that all the pigs were instructed to walk into a truck. Through metal holes, he watched as the truck rolled down the 401. Winston described the moment as a very reflective time for him. He always dreamed of being a show pig and gaining widespread fame. “Everyone knows Miss Piggy, why couldn’t I be like her?” Alas, the path of the famous Muppet character was not in the cards for Winston.

STAFF MOHAMMAD ABRAR ABDUL HANAN, ERIC BAJZERT, JENNIFER BALL, MAAILAH BLACKWOOD, SARAH BOTELHO, DAMON BURTT, SHACHAR DAHAN, SAM FRANKEL, DEVIN GOLETS, BRITTANY HAMBLETON, JULIE HAMBLETON, JIMMY HUYNH, ELLIS KOIFMAN, SARA MAI CHITTY, MACKENZIE MORRISON, AMY O’SHEA, OWEN PARKER, TOM RUESS, LAUREN SAYERS, RUI SHI, OREN WEISFELD, TRISTAN WU

At age three, he attempted to complete a degree in political science but couldn’t finish due to family obligations that brought him back to the farm. During his short time at university, Winston got involved in student government; an experience that Winston said had him face lots of discrimination. “It was really an unsafe space for me, despite the stickers to the contrary,” Winston said with tears in his eyes.

When asked to point to specific instances, Winston had some trouble. “It was just general looks, people were looking through me because I was a pig and not recognizing my identity. Humans — typical from them.” Winston said he hasn’t grown to view all humans with scepticism but he did have some harsh words for the university administration at his alma mater. “They were very quick to dismiss legitimate concerns,” he squawked. “Sometimes they would monitor what people said as we were rolling the mud; if they didn’t like something, they’d ask us to stop.” Despite it all, Winston enjoyed his educational experience. “It was a great time, we really made my residence a zoo,” Winston said as he chuckled while reminiscing. As the truck pulled into London, Winston said he finally realized what was about to happen. Mr. Jones had misled him about the Spoke. “I overheard at the front that I would be spit roasted. At first I was excited because I’ve heard humans whisper about it and seem very excited, but Sparkle informed me it means something very different for pigs.” Did Winston think this visit to the Spoke could be retaliation for his rabble-rousing ways? “I think universities should embrace a doctrine that everybody is equal. Not some warped idea that some are more equal than others.” Winston at least hoped he was enjoyed and that the coleslaw didn’t outshine his natural flavours. ■■BRADLEY METLIN

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Changes to elections bylaw approved by USC

Opinion: Board of Governors shrug off report

Make applying for graduate school a breeze

Motion to allow post-campaigning on social media passed with little debate but prompted some councillors to request reopening debate on the motion.  PG 4

The board barely acknowledged a report calling for changes to their policies and practices, confirming what the cynic in all of us was thinking.  PG 9

Getting into graduate school is hard, but applying shouldn’t be. We have some tips to help you ace your applications and get you into your dream program.  PG 11

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• www.westerngazette.ca BRIEFS WESTERN FOOD DRIVE KICKS OFF ON TUESDAY The 16th annual Business Cares Food Drive kick-off event will take place at London Hall on Tuesday. The food drive will be on campus for two weeks beginning Dec. 1. Students can contribute by dropping off food items or money. All monetary contributions will be used to purchase food items. Wayne Dunn, Business Cares campaign chair, will be hosting the launch event. “Personally, I like doing it up at Western because Western is part of our London community and I think it’s important for both the university and the city to know that we work together,” said Dunn. “It’s not all about how many pounds of food we receive from Western, it’s more the collaboration and awareness.” All donations will be going to the London and Area Food Bank, which will distribute the contributions to various agencies and those in need. According to Dunn, the goal each year is to collect one more pound of food than the previous year. In 2014, Business Cares collected 290,870 pounds of donations. Western will be accepting donations for the food drive Dec. 1 through Dec. 15, but Business Cares will be running the event until Dec. 21. The kick-off event will start at 10 a.m. ■■JULIE KIM

NEW CENTRE STUDIES EFFECTS OF INEQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATION A new organization that studies the effects of inequality and discrimination in health policy has launched in London. The Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion aims to rethink the way health equity is looked at and discussed, and is dedicated to finding new knowledge to spark social and political change. “I think the primary factors that shape the health of Canadians are not medical treatments or individualized choices, but are really more about the living conditions,” said Helene Berman, associate dean of research in Faculty of Health Sciences and co-director for the centre. According to the centre, 17 per cent of London residents live at the poverty level, which has significant effects on their health and denies them health quality. Berman said important factors in health quality include education, good environment and healthy food, which are shaped by racism, discrimination and gender issues. Berman notes, issues with healthy equity are avoidable as they are not natural — they are systematic. The centre is open to anyone interested in health equity and works with a large network of Western staff, students and community members. Students can connect and meet others committed to working around these issues and potentially gain placement with community members. ■■RITA RAHMATI

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • 3

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Code of conduct violations show underreporting of sexual violence AMY O’KRUK NEWS EDITOR @AMYATGAZETTE Code of student conduct violations spiked during the 2014-15 school year, according to the annual report on the incidents and sanctions under the code. Notably, of the 32 total incidents, there was only one reported instance of sexual assault, making Western’s report rate of campus sexual violence one of the lowest in the country. SEXUAL VIOLENCE UNDERREPORTED Jana Luker, Western’s associate vice-president student experience said it’s not unusual to see underreporting of sexual violence on campuses and it’s a problem that affects Western too. “[Low sexual violence report rates] are the same across Canada and North America.… We know what statistics are around sexual violence and we know what the reporting [statistics are].” The single reported sexual assault resulted in one year of probation for the student perpetrator along with an educational sanction — the student was required to write a reflection letter. As a result, Luker said this year Western is focused on strengthening the university’s sexual violence support programs and creating a system where victims will have better opportunities to report sexual assault and harassment. With the Ontario government’s recent anti-sexual violence initiatives, the university has received funding for a sexual violence prevention/education coordinator who will be based out of the University Community Centre’s new Wellness Education Centre. The WEC is set to open this January and it will serve as a central hub for sexual assault and mental health support. “You don’t have to know everything about what all the different options are, you just need to know where [the coordinator] is,” Luker said. “We’re working to get students to understand all of the different options that [come with filing] a

report. It doesn’t mean it’s going to go to the police, necessarily. It doesn’t mean you’ll be cross-examined, necessarily … the victim/survivor controls what happens.” In addition, Luker said Western will be expanding its counselling availability in Student Health Services and psychological services within the Student Development Centre. With increased student awareness, Western predicts there will be a “significant increase” in sexual violence reports this year. CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS AND SANCTIONS Overall, there were 32 incidents from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, an increase of nine from the 23 transgressions in 2013-14. Last school year’s violations also involved 16 more students than the year prior, with 45 sanctions doled out, up from 29 in 2013-14. The 2014-15 report’s types of violations were diverse, ranging from a student who discharged an Airsoft BB gun rifle in a residence hallway and was suspended for two years to a group of eight students who were caught “engaging or participating in conduct that is, or is reasonably seen to be, humiliating, or demeaning to another person” — all of whom received educational sanctions, such as mandatory letters of apology. The most prevalent of Western’s student code of conduct breaches were related to assault, with seven of the 32 violations attributed to assault or assault-related incidents. PROCESS FOR VIOLATIONS Luker said Western’s administration determines code of student conduct sanctions based on restorative justice practices and the idea that students’ sanctions have to have something to do with the initial transgression. “We’re trying to educate people so that the behaviour stops,” Luker said. “When it’s a safety issue, it’s usually suspension. When it’s not deemed as a safety issue to the

Hassan named new chair of Board of Governors DRISHTI KATARIA NEWS EDITOR @DRISHTATGAZETTE Western University announced Hanny Hassan will be the new chair of the Board of Governors starting in January 2016. Hassan, a member of the board since 2009 and currently the vicechair of the board, will replace Chirag Shah, who has served as chair since 2013. Paul Jenkins, a board member since 2010, was named the new vice-chair. “Coming at this time when Western is going through some transition, there is some trepidation. I hope I can do the job,” Hassan said in an interview. “I’m looking forward to perhaps going through some healing and moving us forward so that we’re all in sync.” He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1964 from Western and currently manages an independent consulting engineering practice in London. He is known for his

extensive work in the community and is a frequent speaker at universities, church groups and service organizations. He was named to the Order of Canada in 2011. Hassan was appointed as new chair by being nominated by the senior operations committee and winning an election that was held in a closed meeting of the board on November 26. Hassan was a member of the governance review task force, which released a report highlighting concerns regarding the board’s practices and their communication with the external community. “We are also very much engaged in looking at governance at other universities not only in Ontario but much more broadly,” he said. He explained they’re also looking into a governance practice review, since the last time it was undertaken was in 1997. According to him, this kind of review should be done every five to 10 years instead of 20 years. n

Sanctions on students taken under the code of student conduct Sexual assault

One year probation, reflection letter

Inappropriate online comments

Forgery

One year probation, reflection letter

Hazing (3 students)

F*CK YOU One year probation, reflection letter

Accessed Campus Rec computer and Twitter account, posting racist comment Student voluntarily withdrawn from Western on a permanent basis

Discharging BB rifle in residence hallway

Suspended for two years Discharged contents of fire extinguisher into a hallway

One year probation, required to pay restitution for damages and reflection letter.

Hazing

One year probation, 20 hours of educational workshop on hazing, public address of wrong doing and admission/reflection Assault causing bodily harm

Suspended for eight months

Theft over $5,000

One year probation, reflection letter Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking

Suspended for one year

Source: 2014–15 annual report on code of student conduct sanctions by the associate vice-president student experience

JORDAN MCGAVIN GAZETTE

community but we don’t want the behaviour to continue, it’s probation.… The educational piece takes a lot more research and a lot more time because it’s individualized.” Luker added Western is working to improve consistency between the different campus groups that adhere to different conduct codes. She’s working with King’s, Huron, Brescia, Western Housing, undergraduate and graduate students to look at how Western can streamline the different codes to determine best practices. As for who determines student code of conduct sanctions at

present, Luker said it’s mainly overseen by her portfolio. She added the sanctions process will probably be further developed this year too. Further, Luker stressed every violation is unique, so determining students’ repercussions is handled on a case-by-case basis, although precedent is always considered. “The idea is to tie [the sanction] to the transgression.… I prefer something more individualized because I’ve never run across a case that doesn’t have a unique aspect to it.... We’re aiming for consistency and fairness.” n


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USC approves changes to elections bylaw Motion to have candidates face a vote of confidence sent back to committee KATIE LEAR NEWS EDITOR @KATIEATGAZETTE The University Students’ Council referred a motion to committee at last Wednesday night’s council meeting that would require USC candidates running unopposed to face a vote of confidence, while passing the other five proposed amendments to the bylaw governing elections. The most fervent discussion came after council voted in favour of allowing campaigning over social media during the voting period and requiring the chief returning officer to approve of campaign events and materials before they are distributed. The motion passed with 78 per cent of councillors present in favour, three per cent against and 18 per cent abstaining. When the motion first came up in council it was passed with little debate, but after council’s 15-minute recess, Huron councillor Drew Sussman requested re-opening debate on the motion after several councillors raised concerns over how quickly it passed. To revisit the issue, council would have to agree to forego the rules in which the USC

meetings are conducted, as debate on the motion had ended. “Common sense really would tell we have not debated it sufficiently,” Sussman explained during the meeting. He expressed concern that councillors present had not thoroughly reviewed the changes the motion proposed and had not come to sufficient and democratic conclusions. A number of the councillors had personal disagreements during the debate on whether or not to reopen the discussion, as Sussman addressed Mark Farfan and Courtney Hardy directly. “When we don’t reach consensus, we typically agree that this is something we should let council debate and decide on,” said Sussman. “By not debating on it and apathetically deciding that we’ll take it how it is, we’re neglecting our duty. And frankly, Mr. Farfan and Ms. Hardy, you are neglecting your duty as members of the seniors ops committee by voting in favour of not debating.” Hardy argued that by voting previously on the motion, council had already shown that they approved the motion as it stood.

“I don’t want to see this brought back because I’m happy with how it stands,” Hardy said.”If no one actually has anything to debate on and we’re just bringing it back to have debate, but everyone is satisfied with how it stands, then why are we wasting our time?” Adam Pillon, science councillor, also spoke against reconsidering the motion. “As another chair, I do believe at the senior operations committee we do talk about things that council might have problems with and things council should talk about,” Pillon said. “We found flaws that council might see and so we gave council the chance to talk about that and they did have the chance to talk about that and no one decided to have that conversation.” Ultimately, the motion to reconsider the motion failed with 14 votes in favour, 14 against and nine abstentions. Other amendments to the elections bylaw that included edits for clarity and reducing the size of the elections committee were approved by council without significant discussion. n

Universities should monitor accessibility AMY O’KRUK NEWS EDITOR @AMYATGAZETTE Marginalized student populations were the focus of a recent report that examined how accessible Ontario universities are to underrepresented student groups. The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario found while universities recognize the need

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to improve their accessibility to underrepresented groups, it’s crucial they ensure they’re monitoring the outcomes of their accessibility and participation efforts. Vice-president communications of Western’s First Nations Student Association Stevie Jonathan said it’s important Western makes the broader student population aware of the significance of underrepresented populations. “I think it’s the responsibility of the university to educate its students about underrepresented populations,” Jonathan said in an email. “We attend one of the best schools in Canada, a place where higher education should facilitate real knowledge and yet there are so many students who don’t know about indigenous peoples at all.” In addition to indigenous students, HEQCO identified first-generation students, students with disabilities, students from rural

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areas and/or from families with income below $50,000 as underrepresented student populations. The council defined underrepresented populations as groups that exist in lower proportions at university than in the general population. The report determined that the barriers to determining the success or failure of accessibility initiatives was that outreach activities typically encourages students to attend university, not a specific institution. Notably, the report found children of immigrants had a greater likelihood of attending university than children of non-immigrants. “Because of Indigenous Services, I felt supported and had a very enjoyable [undergraduate] experience,” Jonathan said. “But there were times when I didn’t always feel this way. Western (outside of Indigenous Services) is not always culturally sensitive and could definitely improve on this.” n

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Platinum cards for USC councillors rejected KATIE LEAR NEWS EDITOR @KATIEATGAZETTE A motion to reward USC councillors with new USC platinum cards was shot down and ruled out of order at Wednesday night’s council meeting. USC councillor Mark Farfan proposed presenting these cards to councillors on the grounds that “USC councillors do not receive any compensation for their ‘noble work’ ” and because they “are integral components in the running of the USC,” according to the motion. The cards, introduced on Nov. 24, give holders and one guest benefits such as line bypass to the Spoke on Wednesday nights, line bypass for any USC concerts and 10 per cent off of purchases at the Purple Store. According to a media release issued by the USC, these cards were made to encourage student participation in USC campaigns. Isaac Jacobi, chair of the board of directors, expressed his concern that voting on whether or not to receive the cards constituted a conflict of interest given the financial benefit associated with the cards. USC speaker Andrew Lalka admitted there probably were grounds for a conflict of interest but allowed discussion to proceed. “This can be included as a budget amendment as part of a broader series of things in the actual budget with a broader strategy,” he said

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during the meeting. “It may be some sort of conflict, but on a stand alone I’m going to say this is perhaps just a little smidgen inappropriate.” Farfan argued that voting on whether or not to receive the cards was no different from city councillors voting on whether or not to increase their salaries, but Lalka responded that would only be the case if the policies for city councillors were written similarly to the ones governing the USC. USC communications officer Kevin Hurren spoke against the motion, citing that if the USC were to distribute the cards amongst themselves there would be none to give to students-at-large, as there were only 50 made for circulation. “The reason it was capped at 50 was that it seems like a small sidething but we actually have consulted a lot of the USC’s corporate stakeholders ... and they are very adamant on not flooding things like Rick’s Wednesdays ... and I would personally feel very uncomfortable not giving students-at-large that opportunity.” Despite council’s amusement, Lalka ruled the motion out of order, but thanked Farfan for bringing it to council. “Given the clear ridiculousness of this motion I’m going to go ahead and rule it out of order, but thank you, thank you for bringing a smile to my face,” he said. n


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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • 5

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Women outshine men on volleyball court SHANE ROBERTS SPORTS EDITOR @SHANEATGAZETTE There has been a changing of the guard in Western volleyball over the past two seasons. The women have taken over as the top team on campus from the men after a third place finish in Ontario University Athletics last season and a 7–2 start to this season. This was showcased on the weekend when the women cruised to two easy victories and the men suffered two more losses to continue their slump. On the women’s side, head coach Melissa Bartlett outlined the distinct advantage they have over the other teams in the OUA. “Definitely one of our strengths is the depth that we have over some other teams,” Bartlett said. “A lot of the teams that we play have six or seven players who see the court and right now we have 10 to 12 girls that are in a solid court rotation.” Despite their depth, Bartlett noted the team has still had to overcome some early season challenges. “Due to injury we have only had one setter the entire season,” said Bartlett. “So [Katherine Tsiofas] has played every single point of every single match since October. That’s very tough physically and mentally. She has handled that challenge really well.” Western’s men coach Jim Sage noted how injuries have affected his team as well. Specifically, the recent injury to outside hitter Zeid Hamadeh has hampered the team. He recently broke his small finger on his hitting hand and missed both of the games on the weekend. The absence of Hamadeh was not a factor on Friday night as the Mustangs played well in a four-set loss to one of the best teams in the OUA. “That was the first set we had won in quite a while,” said co-captain Mike Choja, in reference to the Ryerson game on Friday. “It gave us a confidence boost to know we

could hang with teams like that.” However, the confidence from the Ryerson game did not last very long. “We had a crazy battle with Ryerson and then carried an almost hangover low energy into the match versus Toronto the next night,” said Western’s other co-captain Doug Austrom over Facebook. In the midst of a five-game losing streak it has been difficult to pinpoint what the team needs to improve on. Sage commented that the early season top-10 ranking in Canadian Interuniversty Sport may have affected the team.

She has played every single point of every single match since October. That’s very tough physically and mentally. MELISSA BARTLETT WESTERN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH ON WESTERN SETTER KATHERINE TSIOFAS

“It might have been a little bit of a false sense of confidence,” said Sage. “It really gears up other teams to come at you hard when they know you’ve been ranked earlier.” Now both teams will have a break from volleyball in December. Neither team will play again until January. This gives both of them some time to rest and step away from the game. When they return to the court in January, both teams are looking forward to their long stretch of home games at Alumni Hall. “The support so far from the student body has been great,” said Bartlett. “We’ve had more fans out in the last couple matches than we have in the last couple years.” Both teams will resume their season with matches against the Waterloo Warriors on Jan.16 at Alumni Hall. n

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ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE BRING IT IN. Western’s women’s volleyball team celebrates a point during the first set of OUA volleyball action on Friday, Nov. 27 against Brock. Western won in four sets.

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6 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

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BRIEFS

BRIEFS

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

The women’s hockey team hosted two of the best in Ontario University Athletics this past weekend: the Queen’s Gaels and Guelph Gryphons. Western came away with mixed results, dropping Friday’s game in regulation and winning Saturday in a shootout. Queen’s came into Friday’s contest looking for revenge after a 4–1 loss to Western last week. They made a statement, outshooting the Mustangs 41–29 en route to a 2–0 shutout victory. Both goals came from Gael Courtenay Jacklin, her second and third goals of the year. Part of Western’s inability to score on Friday was due to a lack of execution on the power play, which saw them go 0-for-5 on the evening. They even had a brief 5-on-3 that they were unable to capitalize on. Saturday’s game against Guelph saw Western’s performance on special teams turn around. They netted two goals on the man advantage, both from defenceman Anthea Lasis – her first and second goals of the season. Lasis currently sits tied for second in the OUA in defencemen scoring with seven points. The power play goals weren’t quite enough to get Western past the Guelph Gryphons, as the teams remained tied at two after regulation. Two overtime periods solved nothing, thanks to Mustang goaltender Kelly Campbell. She stopped all 11 shots she faced in the overtime periods, bringing her game total to 43 saves on 45 shots. The teams then went to a shootout where Campbell stopped both shots she faced before Katelyn Gosling and Stacey Scott each found the back of the net to give Western the win. The women’s team is now 8–1–4–0 this year, good for third in the OUA with 26 points. Guelph is first with 29 points and Queen’s is second with 27. Western will not play their next game until after the Christmas break, when they host the UOIT Ridgebacks on Jan. 10.

MEN’S HOCKEY

NATHAN KANTER GAZETTE

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

NATHAN KANTER GAZETTE

The men’s hockey team split their games this weekend against the Royal Military College of Ontario and the Carleton Ravens. On Friday evening, the Mustangs took home a lopsided 6–3 victory over RMC. A pair of goals from first-year forward Andrew Goldberg helped cement Western’s win as he opened the scoring and also added a third period insurance marker. Ray Huether also had another impressive game, posting a three-point night to put him over a point-per-game this season with 16 points in 15 games. On Saturday, the Mustangs were edged out 4–3 by the Ravens. The Ravens put themselves on the scoresheet first and left the Mustangs playing catch-up for the remainder of the game. Mustangs goaltender Peter Delmas tried hard to hold off a strong Ravens offence as he turned away 44 shots in total, but he wasn’t able to defend the goal line against Carleton’s Michael McNamee who notched three of the Ravens’ four goals. Despite heading into the weekend in first place in Ontario University Athletics west division standings, the Mustangs now move to second place below York with a 10–5–0 record.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

NATHAN KANTER GAZETTE

WATER POLO

Western’s water polo team traveled to Hamilton to compete in the six-team OUA championships this weekend. They lost in the semifinals to the Ottawa Gee-Gees 18–12 but rallied to defeat the Queen’s Gaels in the fifth-place game on Sunday 12–5.

NATHAN KANTER GAZETTE

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

The men’s volleyball team was unable to break their threegame losing streak this weekend as they were defeated at home by the Ryerson Rams on Friday night before enduring another loss at the hands of the Toronto Varsity Blues on Saturday. On the first night, the Rams defeated the Mustangs in four sets. Despite losing the first set 22–25, the Mustangs were able to regroup in the second set to pull out a 33–31 victory. Both the Mustangs and the Rams battled hard in the third set but it was Ryerson that finished on top with a 27–25 victory, which they followed up with a 25–15 win in the fourth. Gavin Taylor led the Mustangs with 17.5 points throughout the four sets. On the second night, the Mustangs shared the court with another strong opponent – the Varsity Blues. Right from the start, the Blues took control of the game as they rolled over the Mustangs in only three sets. While the Mustangs struggled to put points on the board in the first two sets, they were determined to make a comeback in the third. The Mustangs tied the set at 18 and the intensity rose as both teams continued to put points on the board. But it was the Blues who maintained their momentum and left the court with the victory after edging out the Mustangs 25-22 in the third set. The final score of the game was (15-25, 16-25, 22-25). Mike Choja led with Mustangs with 10 points coming from nine kills and one solo kill on the night. With the pair of losses the Mustangs now hold a 4-6 record in the OUA standings.


• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • 7

insight

Food truck owners inspired by other cities  FOOD TRUCKS CONTINUED FROM PG.1 They are either stationary outlets or on-wheels trucks, repurposed with kitchen appliances in order to cook up delicious meals for the masses. This growing trend has been met with success in several Canadian cities. “You go to Kitchener, Toronto, Waterloo — there are a lot of food trucks and they do well,” says Omar Hamam, owner of Richmond Street’s Barakat restaurant and Tahini’s Mediterranean Fusion food truck on Dufferin Avenue. “They’re like wolves,” Hamam adds. Tahini’s Mediterranean Fusion food truck operates in the same general downtown area as several others. “People know that this area has six food trucks, it creates a buzz, it creates a market for it and people want to go where there’s a lot of food trucks,” Hamam says. In contrast to Edward Manuel, whose passion for food led him to opening a food truck, other food truck owners saw food trucks as a possible business venture to expand their already existing restaurants and attract more people to try out food from their kitchens. “I thought it would be a good opportunity to work here in the city of London,” says Hamam. “I thought I’d seize the opportunity.” With food trucks presenting new business investments for London’s community, there is excitement amongst restaurant owners and entrepreneurs. However, this excitement isn’t as great as it could be due to the regulations the city has placed on the trucks. Currently, trucks have to keep a minimum distance separation from all restaurants, even if the restaurant owns them. “That’s just bizarre,” Helmer says. Helmer wants more food trucks to be allowed in addition to fewer limitations put on them. There is also a cap on the number of licenses available for food trucks that does not allow as many as Helmer had initially hoped for, which makes the initial investment even scarier. Those in favour of food trucks are very likely to benefit from a future decrease in limitations, but for now, London is facing a slow and rather conservative reaction to food trucks.

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

Like any food service business, food trucks require a lot of work to maintain. They may be more accessible and quicker for customers compared to restaurants, but being a new type of business in London doesn’t make things easy. Food truck owners have learned to persevere with hard work, long hours and a ton of passion.The owners of these food trucks love interacting with their customers and seeing the smiles on their faces. “I love working with food, I love

People know that this area has six food trucks, it creates a buzz, it creates a market for it and people want to go where there’s a lot of food trucks.” OMAR HAMAM

OWNER OF BARAKAT RESTAURANT AND TAHINI’S MEDITERRANEAN FUSION FOOD TRUCK cooking and I love to see the reaction of the customers when they eat my food,” Hamam says. It really is a people business and food trucks ensure a good face-toface relationship with the people behind each meal. “It’s not about the quantity of customers, it’s about quality of customers as well [as] your food,” says Ziad. He says online marketing can have a lot of challenges in itself, but what really seems to work is word of mouth advertising through loyal customers or even a random passer-by who tried the food and loved it. “The people come back. And it’s what puts a smile on my parents’ faces,” says Ziad. “It’s the biggest factor of why they’re still in the business they’re in. London is awesome for that. It’s for the people. And you can’t get that in Toronto, you can’t get that in any of the bigger cities.” Food truck owners have faced their own fair shares of personal struggles in the new-to-London industry. Hamam notes customers have been slow to accept the new businesses. “London is a little old-fashioned,” he says. “They like to know where they’re going.”

Many people are reluctant to try out a food truck, simply because it is a food truck. It is something they’re not used to seeing around the city and the idea of a random person in a truck making you food isn’t always as comforting as walking into a wellknown local diner for some grub. “London is very specific,” Ziad explains. “People expect that local feeling when they come in. They want to meet the owner. They want to know who you are. You’re feeding somebody food, you’re putting this stuff inside of you, you want to trust that person.” He emphasizes how a lot of food trucks are family-owned and this trust goes into making them successful. “If you don’t have that trust and if you don’t feel like this place is going to fulfill that local ‘Mom and Pa’ feeling, you’re going to have a tough time,” he says. Hamam has closed his food truck for the winter with plans of reopening it next summer. Yazan El-Shahabi, owner of Shelby’s Food Express food truck and restaurant, says as of right now he is not facing any of the struggles he faced when he first started and was learning to operate it properly. However, with winter steadily approaching and fewer people spending time outside, the cold weather might make business difficult. “Hopefully there’s no struggles when the wintertime hits,” El-Shahabi adds. With Helmer’s desire for future improvements to food truck regulations and the city of London slowly becoming more and more willing to try out food trucks, things seem hopeful for others looking to enter the industry. Hamam believes those interested and passionate in the restaurant-on-wheels industry should try their hand in the business. “I encourage everybody [to enter the food trucks industry],” he says. “I think it’s just going to take some time to pick up like the other cities.” n

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

ELIZABETH ZEPPA GAZETTE

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

Omar Hamam, owner of Tahini’s Mediterranean Fusion food truck


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8 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

#fairdealforTAs

•

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Extraordinary health stress

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Samantha Skinner, PhD 2019 Inadequate Extended Health Plan funding creates instability for TAs with health concerns

Be Extraordinarily Unhealthy. The campaign for a fair deal for Teaching Assistants

PSAC 610 supports Post-Doctoral Fellows' extraordinary efforts to organize for Health and Dental Benefits.

Teaching Assistants suffer from health issues, both mental and physical. However, due to the precarious nature of their employment and the lack of extended health care funding, many cannot afford to take time off and end up delaying or foregoing treatment completely. Why are TAs considered second-tier by the university and offered inadequate extended health care? TAs have Extraordinary stress about Health Issues


• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • 9

insightopinions

Board of Governors, November 26, 2015

Report says it’s time for the board to change. Board says: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Cool Story Boekhoff

IAIN BOEKHOFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @IAINATGAZETTE Presented with the opportunity to debate the way forward for governance at Western, the members of Western’s Board of Governors looked at one another like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and went into a closed door session. That was essentially the response at the board’s meeting on November 26 to a 10-page report, prepared by a committee of board members, on how the board can evolve to better govern Western and better communicate with the community. It presented board members with a perfect opportunity to debate and define their role as board members and show the Western community that it was prepared to do some painful but necessary soul searching. But it was not meant to be. The cynic in all of us was right, again. There was so little interest in even commenting on this pivotal document that the chair was halfway through closing debate on it before a board member raised their hand to say something. While the debate extended past her comments, just a handful bothered commenting at all, with one proposing an amendment to the motion that was unanimously accepted. Only two members expressed concern with having a timeline for changes and communicating them to the public, which was one of the central recommendations of the report. When the fact that this motion would be referred to the bylaws committee and that committee meets only once a year, it was suggested that the committee might, ya know, want to meet within the next couple weeks to review the recommendations and make revisions to current bylaws. Chair Chirag Shah responded by saying that decision

should probably be left until after they elected a new chair, as it was his last meeting with the board. Then the board promptly went into its closed meeting session to hold the election for its next chair and no one thought that was ironic in any way. By the end of it, you had to look around and wonder — what was the point of it all? If the people tasked with having a serious discussion on the future of governance at Western refuse to have it, then this was just merely an exercise in public relations from an out of touch elite group who are unwilling to entertain the thought they should strive for more than just the status quo.

There was so little interest in even commenting on this pivotal document that the chair was halfway through closing debate on it before a board member raised their hand to say something. It’s not that Western has poor governance or is not in line with similar institutions — for the most part, it is, and in some cases, it’s leagues ahead. But that doesn’t mean universities as a whole are models of good, open governance. While they are usually at the forefront of innovation and progress, how they’re run is one area that escapes this trend. It’s also no one person’s fault either. Meetings are run in accordance with the long established rules and practices of the board and is naturally resistant to change. The board should rightfully be wary of too much change too quickly — that could potentially result in making them less effective. It doesn’t, however, excuse on a mass scale the level of public indifference the members have to discussion and debate, and even to making small simple gestures to get with the times, like allowing audio and video recording of their meetings. This meeting showed change will be a slow, painful process and will not go far enough, that is, until the next major scandal hits Western. n

Appendix III, Annex 1

Student Experience July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015

This is the 14th report of actions taken under the terms of the Code of Student Conduct since the Code was enacted by the Board of Governors. The office of the Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) continues to work closely with the University’s Legal Counsel, Deans’ offices and Campus Community Police Service to ensure all matters involving the Code are handled according to the established procedures for record-keeping, communication and follow-up. The information presented spans from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. As shown in the table below, there were 32 incidents resulting in 45 formal code proceedings (sanctions) that were either dealt with by the Acting Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) or Associate Vice-President (Student Experience). You will notice a significant rise in incidents in comparison to 2013/14. The 2014/15 Academic Year had 9 more incidents, involving 16 more students than the year prior. It is important to note that amongst these Code of Conduct offences, nationally speaking Western has a very low report rate of sexual violence. The University is committed to providing and maintaining an environment in which sexual violence is not tolerated. Newly proposed legislation introduced by the Province of Ontario will require universities to offer stronger support programs aimed at eradicating sexual violence and harassment. In Student Experience, we want to ensure that victims are given the opportunity to report sexual violence. With Western increasingly offering stronger programming around sexual violence prevention, we believe there will be a significant increase in reports around sexual violence for next year. INCIDENT

SANCTION

Forgery

Acting Associate Vice-President (Student Experience)

Educational Sanctions. (Research and read story of Kitty Genovese and write a reflection letter. Written apology addressed to victim.)

Associate Vice-President (Student Experience)

Stronger sanctions needed for sexual violence Engaging or participating in conduct that is, or is reasonably seen to be, humiliating, or demeaning to another person (8 students)*

Educational Sanctions. (Read Associate Vice-President Dalhousie report and provide (Student Experience) BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD in writing recommendations for guidelines that can be used by future mentors around social media posts. something from them. On the other hand, the sysWith nine more incidents involving 16 moremoderating stua program tem often seems like a cop out for real, meaningful dents, Western’s code of student conduct Through viola- this, develop that can be used by school.)

punishment for their actions. Who can determine if tions spiked last year, but their accompanying Educational Sanctions. (Read Vice-President a letter of reflectionAssociate is feigned or heartfelt? sanctions failed to deliver punch or consistency. Dalhousie report and write a (Student Experience) review on how the content from Western’s The sanctions ranged from probation to athe suspenreport mayIfapply to the code administrators are insistent a Provide restorative justice system, sanctions sion of two years, with most offending students events of this about incident. in writing, recommendations should be less abstract and subjective. More receiving an educational sanction involving a for preventing reoccurance of meaningful sanction would be community service letter of reflection — a proverbial slap on the wrist. similar situations. Read story requirements of Kitty Genovese and write or victim-offender mediation, if appropriate. Lacking in context, it’s jarring to see the single a reflection letter on how the sociological reported sexual assault’s sanction that seems far theory stemming this situation may apply to In addition, while it’s true that each case is unique, less severe than one for discharging a BB from gun in events of this incident.)

residence (probation for a year and a reflection letter vs. suspension for two years).

These sanctions would offer little relief to a victim of sexual violence, especially since Western’s code of student conduct sanctions are based on principles of restorative justice. It’s a controversial jurisdictional system that proposes “a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by [illicit] behaviour.” As associate vice-president student experience Jana Luker has stated, the goal of the code’s sanctions is to either stop offensive behaviour or remove a potential safety threat from the campus community. To this effect, a reflection letter makes sense because its purpose is to force students to contemplate their actions and hopefully learn

sanctions per specific violations should be more clearly defined to ensure consistency. If a survivor of sexual violence is to go through the process of pursuing sanctions for their attacker(s) under the code of conduct, they should be assured of a fair and appropriate response for their suffering. It’s not simply a matter of punishing student offenders more harshly, but punishing them in a meaningful way that shows through both action and words that they understand the pain their actions have caused.

With Western having launched a sexual violence awareness campaign and consequently predicting an increase in sexual violence sanctions contained in next year’s report, time will tell if Western’s restorative justice methods are effective or miss the mark. n

WE GET LETTERS

IAIN BOEKHOFF GAZETTE DO YOU WANT BLANK SPACES? BECAUSE THIS IS HOW YOU GET BLANK SPACES. While a photo related to the topic would normally accompany a column, this isn’t possible in this case because visual recording, including video and photography, are banned at meetings of the Board of Governors. The author is also terrible at drawing, so you can imagine what it looked like.

DECISION BY

Probation (one year). Educational Sanction (reflection letter).

RE: Western can do better than slacktivism, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2015 To the Editor, Impaired driving is a conscious decision made by individuals; only by creating awareness can the people around us have these personal choices influenced. Using one of the most influential mediums, social media, as an outlet to share crucial information on this matter can largely create this awareness. Without it, there is no stepping stone towards action or change. Stopping impaired driving is not something that can easily be opposed upon others; it is a matter of personal principle. The writer’s points raised in regards to “slacktivism” cannot be so easily translated to this kind of issue. To this particular writer of the Western Gazette, I highly recommend fully understanding the event in which you are criticizing before writing with a strong stance about it. These photos that were

DEARLIFE taken were incorporated into a mosaic of Andrea Christidis, the Western student we lost tragically due to alleged impaired driving. This photo will be presented to her family as a sign of the unity and support of Western students during the family’s time of mourning. Video clips of the event will also be incorporated into an awareness video, which will also include a link to donate (maybe this is the “action” you are looking for?) towards programming in regards to impaired driving in London. The video is currently in production as we want it to reflect the seriousness of the issue. I, along with all of the LAMP, would have been more than happy to have answered any questions. However, we did not receive any sort of communication, and thus, this piece was unfortunately written. DANNY CHANG PHYSICS I

DEAR LIFE,

I just looooove planning Christmas parties. Not.

DEAR LIFE,

What if I like my best friend’s twin more than my best friend?

DEAR LIFE,

Is that baggie under my random hookup’s bed Epsom salts or meth?

DEAR LIFE,

Why does no work get done when a TV screen is within eyesight?

WGAZ.CA/DEARLIFE

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.”


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10 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015

experience

ALEXANDRA HAWKINS CONTRIBUTOR @GAZETTECULTURE With November drawing to a close, winter and colder weather are upon us. However, we’re still experiencing that wishy-washy London late-fall weather. It’s pleasant enough during the day to wear a lighter jacket but it turns frigid when the sun goes down. Second-year medical sciences student Kirsten Bloomfield’s outfit is a classic example of how to dress for London’s ever-changing weather. Bloomfield employs a neutral colour palate with her outfit. With the colder weather, it can be tempting to dress completely in black, but Bloomfield avoids this with her beige sweater. The colour change is an eye-catching accent that coordinates with her eyewear and her boat shoes, creating continuity in her outfit. Her boat shoes are a great alternative to heavier footwear, such as boots or sneakers, before the snow hits. Her jacket is her favourite part of her outfit. “It’s universal,” she says. “It goes with whatever.” The pea coat is a good staple piece to have moving into the colder months. The wool fabric ensures

you’ll stay warm without being as overbearing as a ski-style jacket. Bloomfield ties the outfit together with her simple black belt and her eyewear; the beige and black accents harmonize perfectly with the rest of her outfit. “Try to be comfortable putting random pieces that you wouldn’t think would match together,” Bloomfield advises. By experimenting with combinations you can create whole new looks from seemingly mismatched pieces, much like the unpredictable London weather. WHERE TO GET IT: SHOES: Most shoe stores. Boat shoes are a great alternative to boots on warmer days where you don’t want socks to overheat your feet. PANTS: Hollister. Black jeans look classier than regular jeans and can be more versatile, with the same comfy feel. SWEATER: Thrift store. This is a great place to spend an afternoon searching for hidden gems, usually at a lower price. COAT: Aritzia. Wool pea coats have been on the rise lately and are a great staple to have in your closet. n

Try to be comfortable putting random pieces that you wouldn’t think would match together. KIRSTEN BLOOMFIELD SECOND-YEAR MEDICAL SCIENCES

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

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SAMAH ALI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @SAMAHATGAZETTE PROGRAM: Master of None STARS: Aziz Ansari, Noël Wells, Lena Waithe, Eric Wareheim NETWORK: Netflix Original SEASON: 1 Season GENRE: Comedy SYNOPSIS: There’s this guy named Dev (Ansari) and he doesn’t really know what he’s doing as a 30-yearold actor. He also has friends who don’t really know what they’re doing. Might as well follow them and watch the comedy come to life. MY TAKE: Aziz Ansari is definitely an acclaimed comedian in my eyes. He refuses to act in stereotypical roles and has a stacked filmography, including his role as Tom Haverford in Parks and Recreation. You may also know him from his hilarious stand-up. But what you do not want to know him for is his mild execution in Master of None. Unfortunately I have to inform you that after watching the entire season, it’s not worth it. Despite the portrayals of life events and 30-yearold existential crises as a first-generation child, Master of None doesn’t take off as well as it should. Yes, it may look appealing and yes, it’s Aziz Ansari. But no, Master of None was not worth it. Naturally, since he is the writer of the show, the jokes are definitely witty. The execution, however, is not so great. I can only assume that Ansari was aiming for the same execution as Wet

Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp; a blatant performance of acting that adds to the satire of the show. Unfortunately, Ansari missed the mark. Some jokes fly, some jokes fall flat because of the unbearable overacting. You can’t help but grimace at the amount of jokes that died because of poor execution. I’m so sorry for your deaths, jokes, so sorry. WORTH THE NETFLIX?: Unfortunately Master of None is not worth the hype. It is cute at times and the only episode worth watching is “Indians on TV,” everything else is worth skipping. Worth the Chill? Nothing spectacular is happening on screen so you can probably chill to this. n


• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 • 11

experience

How to get away with grad school applications KAITLIN PACKER CONTRIBUTOR @GAZETTECULTURE For many, the process of applying to graduate school can be a daunting task. For undergraduate students, it can be particularly overwhelming trying to excel in your program while planning for the future. Samantha Hale, a fourth-year undergraduate student in biology and linguistics, is currently applying for grad school. “There’s a little bit more pressure because you know that the marks you are getting really, really matter,” Hale says. “The pressure and asking for references are some of the hardest things.” Michelle Lane, a master’s student in foods and nutrition, says making yourself known to your professors makes it easier to find references for applications. “It can start with something as simple as staying later after class and just discussing if you had an interesting lecture, just stopping and talking to your prof and giving your viewpoints and ideas,” Lane says. Lane recommends finding volunteer research opportunities as they are a great way to connect and gain an informed referee. The graduate administrator in the department of geography, Lori Johnson, recommends students give their referees a copy of their transcript, CV, résumé and proposal. “Just make sure you provide your referee with as much detail as you can to make writing that letter a lot

easier,” Johnson says. “Give them the deadline of when you want it back and make sure you bump up that deadline by a good week because they’re going to push it.” It was not until recently that Hale realized she wanted to apply to graduate school and she encourages students to work or volunteer closely in the field their interested in to get a good understanding of what they would like to eventually do. The more experience a student has, the clearer their direction will be. Johnson agrees, saying that undergraduates’ uncertainty about their direction can make writing statements of intent difficult, but students should be succinct anyway. She also suggests researching your interests. “Search out the website.… Maybe make an appointment, come in, talk about the program, make sure it’s something that [you are] absolutely interested in.” Johnson adds graduate administrators are usually glad to answer specific questions that students can’t find on faculty websites, while Western’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ website answers more general questions. Hale suggests faculty open houses, as well as program societies and clubs, as other helpful ways to get information. “[The clubs and societies] bring in professionals to talk to you, they help you with the application process, they have homework sessions, things like that,” adds Hale.

Just make sure you provide your referee with as much detail as you can to make writing that letter a lot easier. Give them the deadline of when you want it back and make sure you bump up that deadline by a good week because they’re going to push it. LORI JOHNSON GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT GRADUATE ADMINISTRATOR

Lane tells students to not be discouraged if they aren’t accepted. “[If] you want to apply again, go back and try to get something that’s going to boost up your résumé or make you stand out.” Hale agrees, adding the importance of maintaining circles of support throughout the process. “Talk to your parents, talk to your friends, tell them your worries and allow them to help you through it. Don’t shut down if you don’t get accepted,” says Hale. n JENNY JAY GAZETTE

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