Tuesday, January 12, 2016 by Western Gazette

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westerngazette.ca TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 • WESTERN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER • VOLUME 109 ISSUE 29 being dumb since 1906

Women’s hockey hitting their stride

Sunday’s win sees them in second place halfway through the season, five points off of first place and with a game in hand. Forward Brittany Clapham comes into her own as leader on the team. Goalie Katie Jacobs makes the most of her starts, getting her second shutout of the year.  Stories on Page 7 MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

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PROFILE BENNY WONG

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TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

There are two types of Western students: the undergrad who goes to class and then retreats home day after day; or students like Benny Wong, who, when he gets to campus, stick around.

plate because although he finds economics interesting, studying can be boring and the Tea Club, LAMP and Purple Bikes help him “find balance” between recreation and academic duties. At times, though, he says the pressure to keep that balance can be overwhelming. “My biggest challenge so far … was getting back a bad grade for one of my midterms,” he says. “I heard people say your grades don’t define you, and I understand that, but it’s very difficult sometimes. … Sometimes you really need the grade for a certain program or your parents have very high expectations of you.”

Since coming to Western, the second-year economics student and London native decided to dive into campus life beyond the classroom. Before he knew it, he had dipped his toes in everything from Western’s club scene to a bike co-op. Benny says although he knows friends who will only visit campus for class, he realized he wanted to be a part of Western’s bigger picture.

Benny’s parents fall under that category. He chuckled when he recounted that they wanted him to be a doctor.

“I kind of feel like I’m doing something at university which is really nice,” Benny says. “I’m just trying to give back.” GAZETTE ADVERTISING & COMPOSING IAN GREAVES ADVERTISING DIANA WATSON

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To date, he’s an executive member of Western’s Tea Club, regular volunteer at the university’s Purple Bikes, a mentor for the Western’s Leadership & Academic Mentorship Program and plays piano for fun. In addition, of course, to the rigours of an economics degree. While Benny says he still lives at home with his family, his campus involvement was the key to introducing him to the friends that helped show him the ropes last year and juggle the swelling workload. “I have a couple of friends I knew beforehand … but there are people I met in university that are basically my best friends,” he says. “They help mentor me and … they show me about university life.” Benny added he doesn’t mind juggling a lot on his

“I definitely feel pressure from my parents,” Benny says. “They really want me to do very well, … but I know they mean well.” Benny says that’s the great thing about the Tea Club: it mainly strives to be “fun and relaxing” and offers Benny a chance to take a breather. If you catch him at an event, he’ll be sipping Oolong tea, winding down and perhaps contemplating the future — and where he’s come from. “I don’t know actually know what I want to do with my life,” Benny says. “I just want to make my parents proud and get a well-paying job that I like, which is the end dream for everybody. I want to make sure all the time and effort my parents put into me, that they’re happy with what I’ve done.” ■■AMY O’KRUK

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New reporting structure for Western athletics

Where do you draw the line?

For the kids

A Western student tells her story in the hopes that others will speak up even though she didn’t.

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New reporting structure for athletics SHANE ROBERTS SPORTS EDITOR @SHANEATGAZETTE Varsity coaches can no longer also be professors after a shift in the reporting structure of Western’s athletics programs. As of the start of 2016, Sports and Recreation Services, which is responsible for all varsity teams, intramurals and recreational sports, are now reporting to Jana Luker, the associate vice-president of student experience. Previously, SRS reported to the dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences through the School of Kinesiology. The change will see any future salaried coaches hired only to coach and not to teach at Western. The four coaches who are also currently professors will not be affected by the change, but their replacements will be coaches only. The current coaches are: Vickie Croley, track and field head coach; Ray Takahashi, wrestling head coach; Volker Nolte, rowing head coach; and Clarke Singer, men’s hockey head coach. Professors who volunteer to coach on their own time will not be affected. Luker believes the reporting change can be attributed to the pan-university focus of both SRS and the new student experience portfolio. “Student athletes and participants are drawn from across all faculties and the three colleges and not exclusively a kin background or Faculty of Health Sciences,” she said in an interview. Western’s director of sports and recreation, Thérèse Quigley, likewise justified the necessity of the change in the reporting structure. She added the change is in response to comparable changes in sports and recreation services at many other Canadian universities.

Quigley herself was part of a similar change at McMaster University back in 1990. The structural change was also heavily influenced by a 2011 report made by external reviewers entitled, “Setting A Place At the Table for SRS: Report of the Review of UWO Sports and Recreation Services.” According to both Quigley and Luker, there will not be an effect on the athletes and current coaches because it’s just an administrative change. “I think on the ground as far as the sports I don’t anticipate people even know unless they’re really into the administration of the whole thing,” said Luker. Moving forward Quigley said it is very unlikely that a coach would be hired with a contract that included teaching at the University as a fulltime split position. She explained this has been a gradual change over many years at Western. In the past, most varsity coaches had a full-time split position with teaching, but today only four such positions remain. Peter Lemon, a kinesiology professor and volunteer softball coach at Western, agreed with the decision to keep the professor and coaching jobs separate in the future. “If a coach no longer coaches they won’t revert back to being a professor, they’ll go elsewhere,” he said. “It reflects the specialized nature of society today where people tend to focus on one thing as opposed to several things. I think it’s good — I don’t think it’s really going to change anything.” In terms of response to the changes, Quigley said most of the questions have come from Western alumni. “Our alumni came to school here at Western in a day where the professor did coach,” said Quigley. “Over time many of those faculty members moved away from coaching and

USC signs collaboration agreement with London KATIE LEAR NEWS EDITOR @KATIEATGAZETTE University Students’ Council president Sophie Helpard and vice-president external Lindsee Perkins reaffirmed the USC’s commitment to collaborate with the City of London last month with a principles of collaboration and commitment document. The executives signed the document along with Mayor Matt Brown and city manager Art Zuidema on Dec. 17. “What it reflects is a commitment from both organizations to work together,” said Kate Graham, London’s director of community and economic innovation. “It clarifies the relationship so that both partners are clear on what the other has committed to.” According to the document, both London and the USC will commit to two meetings biannually to review the state of the city-USC relationship, assess progress of ongoing projects and set new goals for the expansion of the relationship. “The USC will have access to staff, resources and information from the city to better inform the organization’s advocacy and programming work,” Perkins said in an email. “We’ll get an ‘on the ground’ understanding for the challenges

and pressures facing the city and a more nuanced understanding of pragmatic improvements for both students and the city as a whole.” The document said both London and the USC will appoint appropriate individuals to joint project teams that may be established to pursue common goals. “The joint project teams can be made of anyone the USC and city see fit,” Perkins said. “The point of the teams is to establish a group of people that have voices from both parties so the initiative is carried out in a manner that is satisfactory to both the city and the USC.” The document also stated the “unique and legitimate role the University Students’ Council plays as an advocate for Western students in the community,” and a commitment to seek to include the USC in discussions on matters that would affect Western students. The agreement was initially drafted by Graham and last year’s USC vice-president external Jen Carter, and has no current expiry date. “The PoC is intended to be a lasting commitment with the city,” Perkins said. “In years to come, if the USC and the city see fit to amend the document, so be it, but overall the PoC is in effect as long as there is a USC.” n

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE SINGING. Men’s hockey head coach Clarke Singer is one of just a handful of varsity coaches who are also professors at Western. His cohort will be the last teacher coaches at Western after a shift in the reporting structure of the athletics program.

everyone in the faculty that’s been hired within the past 10 or 20 years is very focused on the research and teaching.” The diminishing numbers have been justified by the need for professors to focus on their research without spreading themselves too thin. On the other hand, demands for coaches have changed as it has transformed from a seasonal position to a 12-month job. Quigley said she understands people might be disappointed, but it’s just the reality of a research-focused university like Western. “It’s the specialization and the direction both [coaching and teaching] have gone has not really made [coaching] a career path that very many people would recommend because you’re going to be

limited in your career growth and development as a faculty person,” said Quigley. The reporting structure change also reflects a shift in the focus of the field of kinesiology away from sport and physical education towards research in human movement and health, and in recent administrative changes. “This responds to the change of leadership and the background of the new dean of the Faculty of Health Science [Jayne Garland],” said Luker. “We anticipate future deans in the Faculty of Health Science as well who don’t necessarily come from the School of Kinesiology.” Quigley added she doesn’t think the budget for varsity athletics will change despite now being overseen

by the student experience portfolio. Both Quigley and Luker stated the funding might flow differently, but there won’t be a significant increase or decrease in the size of the budget. n

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Two alumni receive Order of Canada RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITAATGAZETTE

Don Diablo brings summer back MOSES MONTERROZA ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @MOSESATGAZETTE Rating: GGGFF Don Diablo kicked off 2016 in style at the Mustang Lounge on Friday, proving his DJ status with dance inducing songs and heart-stopping drops. The crowd, occasionally covered in confetti, transformed into an energetic mob of students. The Dutch DJ and producer – and an up-and-coming EDM powerhouse – has collaborated with notable stars like Madonna, Ed Sheeran and Tiesto. He is somewhat of a prodigy, signing his first record deal at the young age of 15. Known for espousing an eclectic style, Diablo’s brand of music is difficult to pinpoint. It suffers from sounding generic and formulaic like most EDM music, however, there are moments where the songs hit home, changing even the most timid person into a dancing machine. Despite not bringing anything new to the genre, Diablo really shines in his ability to work the crowd and keep energies high. As far as presence goes, Diablo immediately made his loud and clear when he stole the stage in a dramatic and electrifying introduction. The

crowd roared as he made his way up to the DJ booth and subsequently screamed inaudible words into the microphone. Surrounding him were flashing laser lights that flicked around and went from purple to blue. Silhouettes of palm trees danced about the walls as the music gradually became faster and louder. In keeping with the Purple Frost Beach Party theme, the Mustang Lounge was set up wall to wall with surfboards, Caribbean-themed drinking booths and monitors showing random beach-themed videos set on loop. From left to right, people were dressed in Hawaiian shirts, sandals and shorts. For a second, it was like summer had made an early return. What makes Don Diablo really special is his remixes; he’s able to turn nearly any song into an EDM Frankenstein monster equipped with the ability to bob heads and make bodies move. It’s interesting to hear what different interpretations DJs have of popular songs, and Diablo really makes his mark with heavy drops and carefully crafted build-ups. Prior to making it up on stage, the preliminary acts were pretty mediocre. The event itself did not

hit the ground running and it only really started to pick up when Diablo finally got up on stage. As the night progressed, however, droves of students eventually came swarming in with flashy necklaces, tank tops and neon sunglasses. Towards the middle of the performance Diablo began playing funny covers of classics like Queen’s We Will Rock You and The Imperial March theme. People responded with enthusiasm as the music flowed from one song to the next. The crowd seldom held back. People quickly started forming separate little dance circles; all throughout the place people were cutting shapes, shuffling and in some cases just jumping emphatically on the dance floor. The crowd itself was small – the room was never close to being full – but that had no effect on the level of positivity and energy. It was definitely a great time but it was a familiar scene. The laser lights, confetti canons and bursts of smoke were all too familiar in these kinds of events. The concert offered little in progressing the genre and its various performance aspects. But for the average concert-goer, it was a night of non-stop dancing and cheering. n

Two Western alumni will be receiving the Order of Canada, the second-highest honour in the nation, for their contributions to Canadian society. One of the main goals in selecting Order of Canada recipients this year was decreasing gender disparity, according to the CBC. Forty-six per cent of recipients this year were female, an increase from 31 per cent between 2010 and 2014. Western alumni Richard McLaren and P. Kim Sturgess received the award, along with 69 other recipients. McLaren, a current professor in the Faculty of Law, was recognized for his contributions to sports law and arbitration, and for being a renowned lawyer and professor. He received his HBA and LLB from Western. Sturgess, who got her MBA at Western, was recognized for her water stewardship and advancement of women in engineering. Sturgess founded Alberta WaterSMART, a company that improves water management in Alberta and identifies significant issues in the management of water. In an interview, Sturgess said she was surprised to receive the award. One of her first thoughts was her father and hoping to have him attend the ceremony; he will indeed

be there with her on the special day. In addition to her WaterSMART work, Sturgess is receiving the award for advancing women in the engineering field. She said she always thought she would study engineering, which she did at Queen’s, and never felt it was atypical to be a woman in that field. “Frankly, it was a shock to walk on Queen’s campus the first day of orientation and see how few girls there were — it never even occurred to me,” Sturgess said. Another recipient with a Western connection is Barbara Byers. She is receiving the award for her “contributions as an important voice in the Canadian labour movement.” Byers currently works with Western on important initiatives to help fix the handling of individuals with domestic violence in the workplace. Byers is the secretary-treasurer at the Canadian Labour Congress and is focusing on domestic violence in the workplace. Byers works with Barbara MacQuarrie, who is at Western’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children. Byers said many notable people are not always recognized for their work. “Some of us have the privilege of being recognized, but there’s a lot of people that do a lot of this work and unfortunately they’re not all going to be recognized,” Byers said. n

Students part of federal budget consultation RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITAATGAZETTE As part of his pre-budget talks, Finance Minister Bill Morneau took part in a Google Hangout with students at eight universities, including Western. The event was Morneau’s first Google Hangout and was an opportunity to consult students about the 2016 budget. “We really do need to focus on a plan to grow the economy, create jobs, and to help those in our society who need it the most,” Morneau said. “In particular, I really understand how important a growing

economy and good jobs are to young people who are completing or looking forward to finishing their education.” Questions covered indigenous peoples’ health issues, environmental concerns, the economy and student debt. Gurpreet Sandhu, a fourth-year HBA student, asked Western’s question about budget deficits. “I thought it was really interesting to be able to get so many people to ask questions and get input from the minister of finance himself directly,” Sandhu said afterwards. A replay of the Google Hangout can be viewed on the Ministry of Finance’s website. n

INTERN APPLICANTS WANTED Interested in getting writing experience? Apply for our internship program online at westerngazette.ca or drop by the office, UCC room 263 for more info. Interns will learn the basics of news writing, editing, social media and other journalism practices. No experience needed. Applications are due Jan 20.

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Jacobs making most of her limited starts DAVID PIVRNEC CONTRIBUTOR @SPORTSATGAZETTE

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE EYES ON THE PRIZE. Mustang rookie Catherine O’Connor carries the puck during OUA action on Sunday, Jan. 10 against UOIT. Head coach Dave Barrett said he’s counting on more from his rookies going forward.

Mustangs get over slow start SERENA QUINN SPORTS EDITOR @SERENAATGAZETTE After clinching both a provincial and national title for the first time in program history last season, the Mustangs women’s hockey team returned to the ice in October with high expectations. But the Mustangs got off to a rocky start this season. They fell 3–0 to the Guelph Gryphons in their first regular season matchup and only won half of their first six games. Since then the Mustangs have proven they are once again one of the best teams in the league, as they have won six of their last seven games – including Sunday’s shutout win over UOIT. The ’Stangs now have 29 points in the Ontario University Athletic standings, tied for second place with Nipissing and five points behind the leading Guelph Gryphons, with a game in hand. “I think one of the wonderful things about this group we have is we tend not to just rely on individuals,” said head coach Dave Barrett after Sunday’s win. “Our mindset is that by not focusing on

any particular players to rely on all the time, our opponents can’t really match up against us.” One of the most noticeable accomplishments for the team in the first half of the season has been their ability to overcome some of their toughest opponents. Guelph leads the OUA standings with 34 points, but the Mustangs proved right before the winter break that they could outplay the league leaders. After falling to the Gryphons in their first contest, the Mustangs made their mark in late November as they edged out the visiting Gryphons 3–2. In addition to overpowering their toughest OUA competitor, the Mustangs have also fared well against the fourth-place Queen’s Gaels as they split back-to-back games before the break, winning 4–1 on the road before falling 2–0 at home. While downing tough opponents in the first part of the season puts the Mustangs in good shape for the remainder of the season and upcoming playoff action, the Mustangs will need to remain disciplined and focused if they plan to defend their provincial and national titles.

“One of the best parts of hockey is that any night any team can win, so you have to stay focused,” Mustangs goaltender Kelly Campbell said. “Our league is so close and talented there really aren’t any weak teams anymore. As a team, we just need to come out and play as well as we’re capable of playing regardless of who we are playing against.” Barrett noted that in order for the team to have a strong second half, he’s looking for his younger players to chip in more. Just four of the team’s 39 goals this season have come from rookies. “I think some of our first-year players need to start to develop a little bit more of an offensive touch,” he said. “We just need to continue to develop our players during practices and hopefully through repetitions they start to feel a little bit more confident.” Barrett has a specific target in mind for the second half of the season: three goals per game. “I just think collectively, in this league, if you score three goals a game, you should probably win every game you play,” he said. “There’s just not a lot of scoring that goes on.” n

The backup goalie, often an afterthought in the minds of hockey fans, can be a crucially important position. But the Mustangs can sleep soundly knowing they have one of the best. Katie Jacobs started just her second game this season against the UOIT Ridgebacks on Sunday, but she turned aside all 24 shots for a comfortable 3–0 win. It was her second shutout of the season and has kept her perfect through 120 minutes and 52 shots. “It feels pretty good to get the win,” she said after Sunday’s game. “It was a team effort though honestly.” Mustangs head coach Dave Barrett was very pleased with Jacobs’ performance. “She was very calm and solid today,” he said. “The team is very confident when she goes in [the net].” Unfortunately for Jacobs, she hasn’t been able to see the crease very much, with only five games – and five wins – to her name over her fouryear career. She does not dwell on it though, and according to Barrett she has been “an incredible teammate.” Ask anyone about the women’s hockey team and most people will bring up all-star goaltender Kelly Campbell – she’s become a household name, and for good reason. Campbell has started 87 per cent of the team’s games over the past two seasons, so there hasn’t been much room for Jacobs. It can’t be easy playing in a limited backup role and under Campbell’s shadow, but Jacobs doesn’t feel that way. She says she has learned to embrace it. “I don’t feel overshadowed [in] any way,” said Jacobs. “[Campbell’s] a great goaltender – she’s amazing – and I’m honestly lucky to be able to play under her. She’s phenomenal. I can’t say enough good things about her.” Although they are both senior players, Jacobs has taken the opportunity to learn from the all-star netminder

and considers her a mentor. “Yeah in a way, definitely, [she is a mentor]” she said, “I get the chance to learn and play off of her.” Barrett admires how Jacobs handles herself in a reduced role. “If I was in [her] position I don’t know how I could behave in the same way [she does],” he said. “Both Katie and Peyton Parker – our third string goaltender – have been incredible teammates the past two years – since I’ve been here.” While the Mustangs’ goaltending depth will be a major strength for the rest of the season, the future of the Mustangs crease is less certain. Campbell is in her fifth and final year of eligibility and will not return to the blue paint next year – a spot she has occupied since 2011. Jacobs, on the other hand, although in her fourth year at Western, still has one more year of eligibility. “I have thought about [coming back, but] I have not made a decision yet. That’s still in the works right now,” she said. “We’ll figure it out shortly, hopefully this month.” The cruelty of university athletic programs is the short turnover of talent, and next year that might become a reality if Jacobs doesn’t return. The future is now for the women’s hockey team, with all eyes on a potential return to the nationals to defend their title. Whether or not these Mustangs will have what it takes depends on them. Jacobs certainly thinks they can do it. “Hard work and a lot of heart,” she said, on what it’s going to take to repeat as national champions. “All the teams are really even this year. [It’s going to come down to] whoever wants it the most and I think we really want it.” The backup role might not be glamorous, but Jacobs seizes every opportunity and makes it count. She already has one championship ring to her name, with another potentially on the way, and as of Sunday, she still holds a perfect record. n

Clapham making her last season count CLAIRE PALMER CONTRIBUTOR @SPORTSATGAZETTE Following a 43-day break for the holidays, the Western Mustangs women’s hockey team is looking to continue their campaign for back-to-back championships in the second half of the season. Aided by fifth-year veteran Brittany Clapham’s two goals, the Mustangs cruised to a 3–0 victory over the UOIT Ridgebacks on Sunday in their first regular season game back from the holidays. “It’s always hard after a long break,” said Clapham after the game. “There’s a bit of rust. We need to work on getting our legs back, conditioning, working as a group.” Whatever rust Clapham spoke of wasn’t evident on her part, as she was clearly the biggest offensive threat on Sunday, notching her fourth and fifth goals of the season, a new career high for her. The first of her two goals was a highlight reel play halfway through the second. Clapham received a pass from her linemate Megan Taylor, skillfully beat the defence and then squeaked one by the Ridgebacks goalie with an impressive toe drag,

giving the Mustangs a 2–0 lead. Her second goal of the game was a blast from the slot during the third period, giving her team a 3–0 cushion, which would stand as the final score. “The [first] shot wasn’t a very good one,” Clapham said. “I got kind of lucky that it went in. I had a wide open net. It was a nice play by both [of my line mates].” Clapham’s two goals on Sunday are proof of how she is maturing as a player and understanding the game more, according to head coach Dave Barrett. “Her play has steadily improved in the two years I’ve been here,” said Barrett. “I remember talking to her a few years ago and she was struggling.” As a result, she’s been seeing the rewards on the scoresheet. “I feel confident putting her in any forward position,” he added. “She’s reliable and solid, which is what you expect out of your fifthyear players.” Clapham’s improved play has been enough to earn her an assistant captain role this season, putting her in a leadership role for younger, newer players. Clapham isn’t

worried about the added pressure this responsibility has brought her. “There’s always a little bit of pressure being an older player, even in second, third and fourth year,” said Clapham. “So this year doesn’t really change anything.” Clapham’s recent offensive surge, with three of her five goals coming in her last five games, has come at a time when the team needs to begin coming together as a unit in preparation for a championship run. “Coming off a championship season last year, some of the newer players don’t feel comfortable getting involved,” said Barrett. “We’re becoming more this year’s team as opposed to remnants of last year’s plus new players. The cohesion is starting to come together.” “The main goal this season is to have fun,” said Clapham. “It’s hard not to have fun with this team.” n

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

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5 reasons we need a new indoor track SHANE ROBERTS SPORTS EDITOR @SHANEATGAZETTE The indoor track facility located around Thompson Arena is extremely outdated and in need of repairs – trust me, I’m a varsity track athlete. Here are five reasons it’s about time something is done about it. 1. Other athletic facilities at Western have been upgraded recently, including renovations to the football field, a new swimming pool and the addition of two new artificial turfs for the rugby, soccer and lacrosse teams. It’s time that updates at the very least be made to the indoor track too. 2. The indoor track is located around a hockey rink and is only 200 metres, not the typical 400 metres. This makes the track area much colder and smaller than other track facilities and leads to interference from hockey players walking to and from the dressing room. Many universities such as York, Guelph and McGill have an indoor track facility that is solely used for track and field. Other facilities, such as Windsor’s, are located around a basketball court, which does not cause nearly as much trouble as a hockey rink.

3. The quality of the track surface is of major concern. It is in awful shape and hasn’t been resurfaced in over 20 years. It appears to be falling apart and has had to undergo many repairs. 4. With diminishing entries at the annual Don Wright track meet hosted at Thompson Arena, a new track facility could bring more teams to this meet. Last year only Waterloo, McMaster and Laurier sent athletes. A new facility could also lead to opportunities to host the Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships, which are being hosted by Windsor and York respectively this season. 5. The track and field team has been one of the most successful teams at Western over the last 15 years. The women won the CIS championship in 2002 and the men won in 2012. The athletes who have worked so hard to win these titles deserve a better training facility. It is embarrassing that the Western Mustangs have such a lacklustre indoor track facility and it would make sense for more efforts to be made to resurface the track or to construct a new indoor track facility. n

5 must-see Mustang games this semester

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

SERENA QUINN SPORTS EDITOR @SERENAATGAZETTE It’s common knowledge to most Western students that football is our most attended sport at Western. But what might not be common knowledge is that Western has 46 different sports teams, many of which are highly competitive in Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. So for those of you looking to attend a game this semester, here are some of the most anticipated and exciting games you might want to consider. 1. Women’s Hockey vs. Nipissing January 23 at 7 p.m. While the Nipissing Lakers do not seem like an obvious rival to the CIS defending champions, there are a number of exciting

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

BOARD AND SENATE ELECTIONS - 2016 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS The Board of Governors will hold elections during February 2016 to elect members in accordance with the provisions of The University of Western Ontario Act (1982). For this election the following members are required: ONE undergraduate student ONE graduate student

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from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018

Nominations open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016 and close at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2016. The names of nominees will be posted on the Board’s election website on Monday, January 25, 2016. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE SENATE The Senate will hold elections during February 2016 to elect members in accordance with the provisions of The University of Western Ontario Act (1982). For this election the following members are required: 28 members of faculty ONE member of administrative staff FOUR graduate students 14 undergraduate students

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from from from from

July July July July

1, 1, 1, 1,

2016 2016 2016 2016

to to to to

June June June June

30, 30, 30, 30,

2018 2018 2017 2017

Nominations open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016 for all constituencies. The deadline for nominations will close at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2016. Nominations for the undergraduate student “At Large” constituency will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2016. The names of nominees will be posted on the election website on Monday, January 25, 2016. Full information on the Board and Senate elections (including the election procedures and schedule, the nomination form and voting procedures for each constituency) can be found at: Board elections: www.uwo.ca/univsec/board/elections.html Senate elections: www.uwo.ca/univsec/senate/elections.html

reasons why Mustangs fans should attend this game. First, the Mustangs have a target on their backs after they put a stop to Nipissing’s playoff run last season. The Mustangs downed the Lakers 3–1 and 3–2 in the OUA quarterfinal best-of-three series. The next meeting came earlier this season when the Lakers edged out the Mustangs 1–0 in late October. But it isn’t just the Mustangs that the Lakers have been performing well against, as the team is making a run for top spot in the entire OUA. With a strong start to their season, the Lakers are now tied with the Mustangs for the second place in the OUA standings with 29 points on the season so far. As an added bonus, Katelyn Gosling and Brianna Iazzolino both stated their dismay for the Lakers earlier in the year on the Purple Pipe Podcast, saying the Lakers are easily the dirtiest team in the league. Simply put: these teams don’t like each other so it’s sure to be a dandy. 2. Men’s Volleyball vs. McMaster Marauders - January 30 at 8 p.m. For the second time this season, the Mustangs will be across the court from the league leading McMaster Marauders. The Marauders won in straight sets over the Mustangs in early October (11-25, 21-25, 14-25) against the home team, but the Mustangs aren’t the only team to be swept by the volleyball powerhouse. The Marauders hold an undefeated 11–0 record, which puts them comfortably seated atop the OUA standings. The Marauders have a history of having the best men’s volleyball team in the province as they have clinched the provincial title four times in the last five years. Despite closing out the first half of the season with a pair of losses to Toronto and Ryerson, the 5–5 Mustangs will be aiming to pick up their game in the New Year. A win against the best team in the province would certainly put the Mustangs back on track, so this game is sure to see the Mustangs leave everything they have out on the court. 3. Women’s Volleyball vs. McMaster Marauders - January 30 at 6 p.m. The Mustangs women’s volleyball team will host the Marauders on January 30 for their second regular season game this season. The Marauders currently sit in first place in the OUA west with an 8–1 record

while the Mustangs trail just behind in second place with a 7–2 record. When the Mustangs traveled to Hamilton before the break, the Marauders got some revenge on the Mustangs for knocking them out of the playoffs last year in quarterfinal action as they downed the visiting team in four sets. With the Mustangs trailing slightly behind the Marauders in the standings, the Mustangs will be looking to reclaim a victory on home court and edge the Marauders out of the top spot in the league. 4. Men’s Hockey vs. Windsor (Charity Game) - February 6 at 4 p.m. The Mustangs men’s hockey team will be taking on their division rivals on February 6 at Thompson Arena. The Mustangs finished off 2015 on a rough note with four consecutive losses, one of which was a 4–1 loss to the Lancers at the beginning of December. But despite the string of defeats, the Mustangs have come into the second half of the year determined to gain some ground in the standings. They downed the Laurier Golden Hawks last weekend to put themselves in a three-way tie with Guelph and Windsor for second place in the west division. This year’s annual charity game will have two of the best teams in the OUA going head-to-head to try to get ahead in the standings. 5. Women’s Basketball vs. Lakehead (Jam the Gym) - February 26 at 6 p.m. Even though the Lakehead Thunderswolves sit at the bottom of the OUA central division standings with a 3-5 record, this game is sure to entertain. Last season it was the Thunderwolves who led the Mustangs in the standings and cut Western’s playoff season short as they downed the Mustangs 71–45 in the OUA preliminary rounds. This February matchup will mark the first time the Mustangs and the Thunderwolves meet on the court since last year’s playoffs and the 5–3 Mustangs will certainly be looking to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with this time around. Unfortunately for the Thunderwolves, Western will have home court advantage and a high attendance turnout is expected for the game as it is being promoted as the annual “Jam the Gym” event. n

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 • 7

insight

What is sexual assault? Where do you draw the line?

This is FOR THE OTHERS.

BY: A WESTERN STUDENT

I will never forget it.

I will also never fully remember it. I was sober and I introduced myself. He introduced himself — we will call him Tom — and I asked him if he would be coming out with us; I was going out with his roommate who was also my “friend.” Tom said he wasn’t drinking that night and staying home. That was the end of our conversation. That night I got absolutely wasted. I was with a large group of my friends, there were a lot of beers consumed and I had a great time. Then we got back to my friend’s house and by this time there are significant holes in my memory of the evening. I’m not saying that getting blackout is a good idea, but truly it had never been an issue for me before. I remember Tom sitting down next to me and I put my head on his shoulder and told him I was tired. The next part my friends told me after the fact. Tom got up, I followed and when my friends asked me where I was going, I said “to bed.” You’re probably wondering, why would you go to someone’s bed? The simple answer is trust. I trusted him, I had slept at that house many times and what was the real difference between the bed and the couch? Not much, especially when you’re that drunk. I felt safe. I remember being dizzy and drunk, but again, I felt safe. I vaguely remember having an extremely drunk conversation. I can’t remember what it was about. That’s all I remember. Then nothing. I opened my eyes because I felt pain and wet and a weight on top of me. Sweat. There was sweat dripping into my eyes. The pain was Tom

having sex with me. I froze and told him to stop. Stop, stop you’re so sweaty, please stop. He stopped. I felt frozen. Did I ask for this? How is this happening? Please get off me. He rolled off me and I got up off the bed onto my feet. I’m drunk. I am dizzy, I’m confused. Did I say yes? Did I initiate this? Why am I here? The questions swirled in my mind. He led me to the bathroom. Fuck, I’m drunk... “I can’t handle this” was all I could think. He turns on the shower and gets in and brings me in with him. I feel confused. Am I supposed to be sexy? Did I want this and I just forgot about it? I feel terrible and in that moment I feel shame, but I don’t want him to see that. I put body soap on my hands and then put some on him. I have no idea why I did this but for some reason I felt like I was supposed to, to keep up my image of “not caring,” when on the inside, I felt like I got punched in the stomach. At the time, I blamed it on the booze. He pushed away my hand and said “that’s not mine” with a laugh. He gets out after an eight-second shower and hands me a towel and I see myself in the mirror. Naked. Hair everywhere. I’m uncomfortable and scared because I know what just happened isn’t right, but I don’t say anything

because he isn’t being mean or aggressive. He is acting like nothing is wrong. Maybe it’s all in my head? I went to get my clothes so I could leave but I could hardly make it to his room without falling over. He puts me in one of his T-shirts and I pass out. The next morning I feel hungover. For the briefest of moments I forget. Then I remember. I feel dirty. I see two condoms on the floor. Twice. I don’t even remember the first. I don’t even put on my own clothes because I can’t find them. My body hurts walking home. He hurt me. I have never felt like this after sex. I have never been uptight but I have never slept with someone I didn’t know. I have never felt like I didn’t have control. I blame it on the alcohol again as I walk home. I see my friends. I’m embarrassed. I laugh about it, I make a joke about him. I laugh because I’m uncomfortable. I laugh because I don’t know what to do. I laugh because I don’t want to lose my friends or stir the pot. I’m confused. It’s my fault, isn’t it? Laughing makes the pain better. I make jokes about him, constantly. He hurt me. I’m funny, I like to make people laugh. It’s my thing. I’m incredibly embarrassed so this makes me feel like I’m in control of at least part of the situation. As time goes on, the worse I feel. I don’t let men touch me. I stop

Emergency care and counselling Sexual Assault Centre London 24-hour crisis and support line. 519-438-2272. London Crisis Response: A 24-hour crisis & support line is available to men and women. 519-433-2023.

London Police Services. 911 for emergencies. 519-661-5670.

drinking so much — obviously a good decision. I get an STD test, I get a pregnancy test, both negative. I message him on Facebook to get my clothes back. I take back my friend request I had sent him earlier that night. Was my friend request what made him think I wanted to have sex with him? Is that what makes it okay? I may not be pregnant or full of diseases but I still feel dirty and sad and most of all disappointed in myself. Months go by and I try to forget. My friend tells me that she has been hanging out with him. I feel like I can trust her so I tell her about that night. She is silent. She says, “He is really aggressive with me as well, he doesn’t like to take no for an answer,” but she is sober when he does this and she is firm when she says no so he stops... eventually. My friend stops hanging out with him. He finds out I have said something, approaches me and tells me that I shouldn’t be accusing him of “rape.” I never said that. I never thought it, actually. Now I’m wondering, is it rape? I told my friends that he took advantage of me. I was drunk and he was sober. I was vulnerable and he took that chance to have sex with me. I don’t remember the details. I don’t remember saying yes, but I also don’t remember saying no. I just don’t remember.

Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, located at St. Joseph’s Hospital. 519-646-6100, press “0” for the nurse on call. Western’s Campus Community Police Services. 911 on campus phones, 519-661-3300 on off-campus phones. If in residence, call the front desk of your residence and/ or seek out the residence manager or the residence manager on call.

He tells me he doesn’t want his reputation ruined. I don’t show it, but I’m scared. I tell him what he did isn’t OK. He says he just didn’t know I was that drunk. How did he not know? How did he not see? He tells me I wanted it and I said yes. I want to cry. I tell him I’ll drop it and he says he is “sorry I felt that way.” My friend and his roommate tells me that it was my fault because I was so drunk. Yes, I was drunk, but does that mean I “wanted it”? Where is the line? Where do we draw it? I blamed myself, the alcohol, my friends for months. Looking back I see that he was wrong. Was it sexual assault? I was so drunk that I can’t remember if I gave consent. Is it my fault? I put myself in that situation, in his bed. These questions still stir in my head years later. I did not want to have sex that night. I did not want to have sex with him. I know these two things for sure. I should have reported him, but I didn’t — something I don’t have the balls to do. Instead I am writing this years later, as a reminder to the others out there that they are not alone. A reminder that everyone deals in their own way. I still don’t know how to feel about what happened to me. I can only hope that someone reading this will have more courage than I did and speak out for all of us who could not. n

Secondary support, information and counselling Western’s Student Health Services. 519-661-3380. Equity & Human Rights Services. 519-661-2133.

Student Development Centre (Psychological Services). 519-661-3031. The Sexual Assault Centre London provides individual & group counselling and accompaniment and advocacy for women. 519-439-9931.

www.westerngazette.ca

8 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

insightopinions

•

A message for the notorious seat taker Stop! Samah Time! SAMAH ALI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @SAMAHATGAZETTE It’ s the first two weeks of class and you don’t want to be here. Yet, alas, we are still doing this. Before the next semester of sleep deprivation, you wake up a little bit earlier, eat a little bit faster and make your way to class 10 minutes earlier than expected. Realistically speaking, the first two weeks are just fluff material but you still attend because territory must be claimed. You walk into your class and there is a sea of possibilities in front of you. Maybe you’ll choose a seat in the front. Maybe a solid corner seat for a quick escape after lecture. Or perhaps the back row where you can creep people in front of you for the next few weeks. As you make your way to find your throne for the semester, you come upon the seat. This seat screams your name – you have just the view you wanted and your butt fits a little too perfectly in the chair. This seat was made for you. The stars align, your sinuses clear up and you know that is seat where you will reside for the coming weeks. It is at this moment where you stake your claim for the next semester. For the next few weeks you return to your seat time and time again, imprinting basic identifying characteristics on it so others know it’s yours — food particles, drawings, what have you. You become familiar with the people around you. The professor learns your name. You can see perfectly. Everything goes according to plan and your life becomes a blissful moment in your

high-paced school week. And then, the unspeakable happens. Someone sits in your seat. Flushed with heat, rage, embarrassment, annoyance and surprise, you become displaced. Suddenly you don’t know where to sit. The class is unfamiliar; your angles are all off; everything starts to fall apart. How dare they, that was your seat. This moment of sheer panic and confusion is the most irritating experience in a classroom environment. The seat that you have sought out from the beginning of the semester is one of your five second homes and taking that from someone is just foul. Multiple factors are impacted when one’s seat is taken: the professor, who knew your name all semester, is now confused when you are no longer sitting there; your proximity has changed meaning you may have to wear your glasses; you take someone else’s seat and a chain reaction occurs; your small bladder issue will suddenly become a disturbance to several students blocking you off from the nearest exit. The stars fall apart; your sinuses clog up. The despicable happens, all from a simple action. The first two weeks of school are essential when choosing where to sit for the rest of the semester. Being that person who changes seats a month in not only makes you a class annoyance, but a naïve human being. A seat is more than just a seat. Seats are another home where meticulous planning and consideration go for the next 12 weeks. It becomes a class constant, a regular phenomenon. And I would encourage notorious seat takers to consider this the next time they come to class feeling zesty. It’s that time of year again when we choose where we sit, so with this in mind, choose wisely. Everyone’s future is at stake. Don’t be that person. n

Athletes benefit with changes in structure BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD After a change in the reporting structure of Western Athletics, professors will not be able to also coach a varsity team, unless it’s on a volunteer basis, officially ending a tradition at Western. In theory, this sounds like a big shift in philosophy of the athletic program but in reality, it’s not. Only four professors remain as hired coaches of Western’s 46 athletic teams. It’s a change that’s happened at many universities in Canada, including at our neighbours McMaster as far back as 1990. This change makes sense for the most part and should benefit both athletes and professors. For one, many varsity coaches teach “on the side” – they may lecture once or twice a week, but that’s all. They can’t focus fully on coaching because it’s not their sole responsibility but they also can’t focus on teaching because it’s not really what they were hired to do. The change eliminates this issue. Now, coaches will be able to devote all their time to coaching and professors will have more time to pursue research and their students. Specialization is seen everywhere in education these days, with increasing emphasis on professors to produce a depth of research. There’s

no escaping it and Western has finally realized that, for better or for worse. Some may be worried that full time coaches won’t have any sympathy for student-athletes’ school schedules. While it is true that coaches who teach may have a better understanding of athletes’ academic workload, let’s remember this isn’t the NCAA where athletes are pushed to the brink and don’t have time for anything other than practices and games. In Canada, there is a certain understanding that academics matter more they do in the United States. Coaches will respect this and if they don’t, the new student experience portfolio should enforce their mandate and prioritize the student over the game. And what about professors who enjoy coaching? How can Western strip them of that opportunity? Professors can still volunteer to coach, as softball coach Pete Lemon and many others have done for years at Western, and that won’t change. Overall, this change reflects a long-term shift in athletics programs at universities in Canada and doesn’t affect anyone on the ground. It’s better for athletes and for coaches, so why not?

DEARLIFE YOUR ANONYMOUS LETTERS DEAR LIFE,

@SAMAHATGAZETTE TWITTER

Why is frost week a thing? Because it’s really not. It’s just a week of too-long lines and drunken stupors, nobody goes to the overkill number of events the university puts on.

DEAR LIFE,

Are you passionate about student journalism? Then apply for the Gazette’s internship program! Applications can be found on the website, or you can email volunteer@westerngazette.ca for one. All applications due January 20.

Winter is coming. Then going. Then coming. Then going?

DEAR LIFE,

How the fuck is The Martian considered a comedy?

DEAR LIFE,

Who picks the music in the UCC? They pick some weird shit.

DEAR LIFE,

RIP David Bowie.

DEAR LIFE,

Why can’t I move on?

New Year’s resolutioners need to get out of the Rec Centre. Can’t be said too many times.

DEAR LIFE,

Can Man U hire Mourinho already?

Why isn’t The Gazette interviewing drug lords in the woods?

Why are some watch faces so huge? Are you blind?!

DEAR LIFE,

Why do men have such terrible taste in shoes?

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.”

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 • 9

experience

Star Wars comes to life for London’s underprivileged youth

The Best

AMAL MATAN GAZETTE STAFF @CULTUREATGAZETTE

Eva Longoria and America Ferrara: The two Latinas elegantly presented an award, but the only thing to remember was their parody on the racism against Hispanic women in Hollywood. The takeaway: they should host next year’s show.

Taraji P. Henson: Winning for her role as Cookie Lyon in Empire, the actress handed out cookies on her way to the stage to treat audience members. She proceeded to tell the teleprompter to wait for her to finish her speech — after all, she did wait 20 years for this moment. #YouBetterWait

Jamie Foxx: Presenting the award for Best Score, Foxx decided to pull a Steve Harvey and announce Straight Outta Compton as the winner. He eventually awarded the Globe to Quentin Tarantino, in the place of Ennio Morricone, and proceeded to side eye Tarantino for his random reference of “ghetto.” He also gave a cute shout out to his daughter who helped present awards.

The Washington Family: Denzel Washington received the Cecil B. DeMille Award and brought his family on stage with him. Unfortunately, he didn’t have his glasses to read his speech but his exchanges with his family were absolutely adorable. He really has become Uncle Denzel.

Leo DiCaprio: From his awkward giggle as Lady Gaga received her Golden Globe to his acceptance speech for The Revenant emphasizing the rights about indigenous stories, DiCaprio was a fan favourite. Let’s hope this momentum continues to the Academy Awards.

It’s a quiet Saturday morning in downtown London. The traffic flows with ease and the buses run on time. Within the hush of the grey cloudy day resides Citi Plaza, where the sound of empty escalators and runners at Goodlife whir, holds a hidden gem of festivity. Up on the top floor, Rainbow Cinema hosts a screening of the newest Star Wars Movie for London’s underprivileged children. Flashing toy light sabers, tiny Sith Lords and Jedi bounced about in an excited frenzy before the film with their grinning parents in tow and before the families entered the world of The Force Awakens, the children had a chance to interact with colourful cosplayers. In front of the backdrop of corporate logos, the eager moviegoers pose with the cosplaying likes of Han Solo and Darth Vader. At first sight, Janet Cox, a member of the London Rogues Star Wars club, appears to be Ahsoka Tano. However, this Jedi was invited to the event as a cosplayer to help entertain the children. She’s been a Star Wars fan as long as she can remember. On a personal level she “loves sharing Star Wars with other people and seeing how happy [the kids] are when they interact with us [cosplayers].” Cox isn’t the only person delighted to see their generosity come to fruition in such a joyful way. Shawn Adamsson, chief culture officer at Ellipsis Digital, one of the event organizers, was pleased to bring the wonder of this film to these kids. Although he wasn’t in costume, he exuded a type of well-natured tired content that only comes after the hard work of giving. He describes how his business partner came to him before the Christmas break and said, “You know, there’s probably a lot of kids who can’t afford to see [Star Wars].” And…Star Wars is about a poor farmer who saves the universe…and I would argue that it’s most important for these kids to see this movie.” The spur of the moment idea came to fruition with a single Facebook post. Adamsson attributes

the success of the short notice event to the philanthropic power of over 20 local companies. “I’m a very proud Londoner ... to see all of that outpouring in literally three days,” Adamsson said. The film wasn’t the only thing that came for free, but the concession snacks as well. “A movie is an experience,” Adamsson insists. “And part of that is the snack and part of that is the film and part of it is just being with your family and friends when it happens. So if we didn’t have the concessions open and Rainbow couldn’t make that happen for us and the money didn’t come, in it wouldn’t have been full experience … and because of everyone’s support that’s happen.” After the families file into the dark halls of the cinema in a haze of anticipation, the cosplayers, corporate reps and Ellipsis volunteers ease into packing up. In a state of relaxation they gather up their ray guns and storm trooping helmets. Rainbow employees busy themselves cleaning up from the rush of a kid’s popcorn quotas and the cinema’s lights cast warm reds and pinks into the calm lobby. A few stragglers make the trek to the bathroom and ready refills. A quiet young boy beams as shows off his lego Star Wars figures as he grabs his Twizzlers and CocaCola. He hurries off back into the theatre excited to see the next scene. Like many of the children, he bounds with an extra bit of energy in his step. Martha Mattice is guiding one of these wide eyed tiny stragglers. A spoiler talking, well-versed grandmother at the screening carries the same sort of bounce in her step. “It’ll be awesome for them [and] it’ll impact them for a long time.…The fact that they got their pictures taken with the characters also helped,” Mattice said. “That’s something, a memory, that they’ll have for the rest of their lives.” A Star Wars fanatic herself, Mattice eagerly questions the origins of Rey and the plot of the movie before she makes it back into the theatre with a smile on her face and tots in tow. n

EVERY TUESDAY ADVER TISING FEATURE

Quentin Tarantino’s “ghetto” comment: We all know Tarantino is crazy, but when accepting an award on behalf of composer Ennio Morricone, we expected it to be short and sweet. But in true Tarantino fashion, he needed to be problematic in some way and make an inexplicable, intoxicated reference to composers allegedly being ghetto. Why Tarantino, why?

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum: We love this duo, but their moment on stage was uncomfortable for everyone watching. Hill came up on stage wearing a bear hat and if any of us had actually watched The Revenant we would have laughed, but it was just unbearable. The bear persona fell flat and no one thought “honey awareness” was funny so the whole thing was just awkward smiles and chuckles.

Jennifer Lawrence Winning Best Actress in a Comedy: Lawrence won this award for her role in Joy over Melissa McCarthy in Spy and Amy Schumer in Trainwreck. Yes, we’re confused too.

&ENTERTAINMENT

FOOD

Sylvester Stallone’s Nonexistent Thank Yous: Although Stallone was incredibly gracious when receiving his award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Drama for Creed, he missed two people in his speech: lead actor Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler. Twitter obviously noticed the lack of recognition and called him out but Stallone realized his oversight and acknowledged the two in his backstage acceptance speech.

The Worst

The Martian Winning Best Comedy: One of the biggest questions of the night was why The Martian was nominated as Comedy. Even director Ridley Scott was confused.

Look here on Tuesdays for special Western student deals on food and entertainment from London businesses

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10 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

experience

•

New fashion show highlights streetwear SAMAH ALI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @SAMAHATGAZETTE Amongs the sea of hackneyed and trite fashion shows clogging your social media feeds this semester, the Black Students’ Association is bringing something new to the game. Vice-president events Tomachi Onyewuchi introduces the BSA’s first fashion show showcasing black beauty, something she finds is not highlighted enough in the media and at Western. “There’s a bunch of different fashion shows happening here but I wanted one that was specifically for black people just because I think our beauty isn’t something that is always highlighted,” she says. The theme for the fashion show is streetwear chic, with hopes for attendees to incorporate the ensembles into their every day style. Onyewuchi also collaborated with brands like Jump Off Clothing and NOR Apparel to boost local businesses that are close to home. Jump Off is a London clothing

My goal is for everyone to get together, share in the beauty and share in the fun and it will be a really great time! TOMACHI ONYEWUCHI BSA’S VICE-PRESIDENT EVENTS

COURTESY OF OLA OSMAN

brand focusing on streetwear clothing. NOR Apparel is a Londonbased clothing brand bringing African apparel and acessories to Canada. Selling dashikis, backpacks, evening bags and jewelry, the line looks to incorporate their roots in Westernized styles. “The idea is not that only black people can wear these clothes but to show that black people are beautiful and these clothes are for anyone to wear,” says Onyewuchi. Onyewuchi explains that her modeling experience outside of

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school inspired the fashion show. Feeling underrepresented in her field, she gathered a group of 10 student models to kick-start her vision. She hopes the fashion show will stake a claim at Western and grow as big as other shows like CAISA and SPUR. “I model myself and I know how underrepresented I am and all black people are in the media in terms of fashion and beauty so one of my goals this year being VP events was to show people how beautiful black people are and how

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Women’s basketball vs. Algoma ALUMNI HALL

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Men’s basketball vs. Algoma ALUMNI HALL

1 PM

Women’s volleyball vs. Waterloo ALUMNI HALL

JANUARY

3 PM

JANUARY

6:15 PM Ringette vs. London PYRAMID RECREATION CENTRE

JANUARY

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diverse we are.” The fashion show will take place on Tuesday, January 12 from 7-10 p.m. in the Mustang Lounge. Onyewuchi hopes to see all fashion lovers out for a refreshing show with food and good music. “My goal is for everyone to get together, share in the beauty and share in the fun and it will be a really great time!” For more information, head to the Black Students’ Association Facebook page. n

JANUARY

Men’s volleyball vs. Waterloo ALUMNI HALL TRACK & FIELD DON WRIGHT TEAM CHALLENGE

3 PM

Men’s volleyball vs. Windsor ALUMNI HALL

www.westerngazette.ca

11 â&#x20AC;¢ TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

experiencegames

PHOTO OF THE DAY

â&#x20AC;¢

CROSSWORD BY EUGENE SHEFFER

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE SURFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S UP. Students raise their hands and cheer as Don Diablo makes his way to the DJ booth at Friday nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closing concert for frost week. See the review on page 4.

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INSTRUCTIONS RATING MAGNETS RECALL PRESENTS RETURN

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12 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

#fairdealforTAs

•

#uwopoverty

Extraordinary poverty

starts

here.

Mahnaz Rabbani, MSc 2015, MSc 2017 TA compensation does not keep pace with cost of living increases

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

PSAC 610 supports Post-Doctoral Fellows’ extraordinary efforts to gain benefits

The average student cost of living is over $14,000*, with domestic tuition and fees set at $8,400* per year.Teaching Assistants are only compensated $12,000º a year (before deductions). TA pay does not keep pace with increasing costs of living. How does the university plan to compensate TAs with a living wage? Teaching Assistants are Extraordinarily Underpaid * grad.uwo.ca/prospective_students/finances/financial_planning.html º uwo.ca/hr/form_doc/employee_agreements/gta.pdf