Thursday, February 25, 2016

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experience

SINCE 1906

westerngazette.ca THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • WESTERN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER • VOLUME 109 ISSUE 40 standing room only since 1906

Dear Western,

T

his is a letter of affirmation.

Affirmation of our politicized existence, locally — on this campus and city — and globally. Affirmation of the multiplicities of blackness. Affirmation of our beauty. Affirmation of our contributions and value. Affirmation of our humanity that is so often denied.

This is a letter of love. Freely given, political, transformative love. Love for ourselves, our communities and our diaspora, and recognizing that loving one another in the context of oppression is a political act. To love lost to police brutality, love lost to incarceration and love lost in the exploitation of our lands.

This is a letter of resistance. Resistance to the racist systems that destroy, demean and dehumanize black people and communities.

Resistance to the divisive heteropatriarchy that attempts to position women’s voices second, both in our histories and in our present day movements. Resistance to the heterosexism

that pushes our racialized LGBT peoples further into the margins. Resistance to the classism that teaches us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps without acknowledging that we have been historically overexploited; our lands, wealth and richness looted. Resistance to a colonized mindset where we give ourselves less (less time, less love, less care) and others more while wearing ourselves down to prove our value. Resistance to the supremacist structures that threaten and undermine a unified resistance.

This is a letter of solidarity. Solidarity with the other racialized students on this campus.

Solidarity with the countless cultural clubs that seek to celebrate and affirm the identities, histories and presence of the communities they represent. Solidarity with the people of colour who experience racism, but attempt to challenge anti-black racism.

This is a letter of acknowledgement.

Acknowledgment to the indigenous peoples,

whose land we occupy, the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabe Nation), the Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations) and the Munsee Delaware Nation (part of the LeniLunaape Nation).

This is a letter of challenge. Challenge to black students to confront, deconstruct and resist oppressive power structures. To make our politics more substantial. To constantly practice self-reflexivity. A challenge to increase black presence.

Our politics, values, and ethics should strive for more than the survival of black people, they should provide pathways for us to thrive.

This is a letter of commitment to black personhood and black humanity. Commitment to black art, black culture, black love, black liberation.

Commitment to a black present and black future.

Our future is our own.

SEE THE BLACK STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION SPECIAL INSERT ON PAGES 5, 6 & 7.

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2 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

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PROFILE MELISSA BAREHAM

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When looking at possible universities in high school, Ivey student Melissa Bareham had her eyes set on studying business at Stanford University.

and for women like Melissa, it is hard to overcome the stereotypes placed upon women in business.

But the price of education in America was too much and Melissa settled on going to her mother’s alma matter.

In her first two years before starting at Ivey, Melissa took an unusual route for business students. Instead of taking the social science route that most Ivey students do, she decided to study visual arts.

“I was always in [art] and my biggest strength that I would tell anyone is my creativity and being able to think beyond the way other people think,” says Melissa.

“Although it doesn’t look like a match for business, I’m actually doing a dual degree in it now because I’m finding a lot of people in business find it an interesting combo because I’m not conventional.”

Melissa also explained that she wanted to go into business because she has always been a leader.

“I’ve always been someone to want to take control, not for the sake of having power but for the sake of leading people to do greater things and actually achieve their potential, so leadership for me is massive,” she said.

In the future, Melissa hopes to merge her creative passion with business. In particular, she would be interested in owning a design firm as she has always been interested in interior design.

Even though Melissa is very ambitious, she is aware that there are road blocks for women in business.

For the most part, business is a male dominated field

“[In business] a women tries really hard and goes above and beyond and she’s thought of as aggressive,” says Melissa. “But if a man is standing up there telling everyone what to do he’s assertive.... Our work is actually harder to do because everyone puts the stigma on you that you’re aggressive and on top of your work, you are trying to prove that you’re just doing your work and also trying to be rewarded for that financially in the same way that men are.”

Despite the challenges faced by women in business, Melissa thinks the gender stereotypes are slowly changing for the better.

On a personal level she believes she has gained leadership skills for herself to help her overcome these stereotypes by joining the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at Western. She is the president of the sorority and has found that the sorority’s motto, “leading women,” helps develop confidence in her sorority sisters. She also encourages other women in business to find this inner confidence that she has found and to stand up to overcome gender inequality in business.

“It’s still a difficult problem but I think that a lot of women are being more open about it and standing up for themselves in a business sense,” says Melissa. “Saying ‘This is what I deserve, this is what I’m capable of’ and demanding it almost is something that needs to happen more because I think women are just not confident enough to speak up and especially in business.”

■■ SHANE ROBERTS

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Petitions seek to cut down wait times for mental health services

Does Crossfit do more harm than good?

Pride Library offers knowledge and comfort

Two independently started petitions are gaining traction amongst Western and Huron students after long wait times force student to see psychiatrist out of pocket.  PG 4

Professor and Crossfitter says rumours that Crossfit is actually more damaging than beneficial claims simply not true — if you exercise properly.  PG 10

Dating back to the 90’s, Western’s Pride Library is the only of its kind in Canada and offers a plethora of resources, from queer graphica to rare material.  PG 11

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

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • 3

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Wharncliffe/Oxford intersection amongst London’s most dangerous last year DRISTHI KATARIA NEWS EDITOR @DRISHTATGAZETTE

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

hit there by cars. There’s a problem with people not looking before they’re turning,” she said.

Campus police Sgt. Ryan Austin believes the number one challenge to road safety is speed.

“Pedestrian survivability at 30-40 km/hr is fairly high. Once you get up to 50-60 km/hr, the survivability drops down significantly,” he said.

He considers the placement of lights, the traffic pattern and how the intersection is built as ways to mitigate the number of collisions.

According to Pfeffer, busy intersections in particular are difficult for officers to conduct enforcement because the traffic moves quickly and it’s difficult for them to move through the intersection safely when they’re moving against the traffic

light.

“It’s important for pedestrians to recognize that they’re vulnerable,” he said. “Our pedestrians are also distracted, you see students walking with head down, doing something on phone and walking right across the road oblivious to what’s going on around them.”

In conjunction with special enforcement, London police will be doing education campaigns throughout the year to promote road safety.

“Londoners need to be less in a hurry, they need to be less distracted and in particular at intersections, not be so aggressive,” said London city councillor Paul Hubert. n

You don’t have to sit in school to stand among greatness.

Academic policy revised to include mental illness accommodation KATIE LEAR NEWS EDITOR @KATIEATGAZETTE Senate has voted to update the policy concerning academic accommodation to include mental illness as grounds for accommodation as opposed to the previous terminology of medical illness.

“It used to be ‘accommodation for medical illness’ was the title of the policy, so it was thought that students just might assume that was a physical illness,” said John Doerksen, vice-provost academic programs.

“Instead of saying accommodation for physical and mental illness, we simply changed the title of the policy to ‘accommodation for illness,’ and in the policy itself there’s a statement that identifies both physical and mental illness.”

The existing policy allowed for accommodation for mental health concerns, however, the inclusion of mental illness as a medical illness may have been unclear, according to USC vice-president internal Alex Benac.

“If the details of a policy aren’t clear about what is covered and what is not, then it can’t be reasonably assumed that it is working effectively,” Benac said in an email.

“The new illness policy will be much more adept at highlighting

the grounds for academic accommodation and funnelling students in need of accommodation to the appropriate authority.”

Other updates to the policy have been implemented to reflect current practices, including specifying that students should seek accommodation “no later than two business days after the date specified for resuming responsibilities” and clarifying the dates that students can receive accommodation for.

“Current practice would be if a student comes with a medical documentation that the accommodation is only granted for the period indicated by the doctor or the professional — that was never spelled out before,” said senator Sheila Macfie.

“Now they require that the document that students must produce says ‘when did this start and when will the student reasonably be expected to resume normal duties.’

You can’t be sick two weeks ago and get accommodation for next week.”

Macfie emphasized that students should know that Senate has not changed the policy but clarified the existing practices.

The process for receiving accommodation has not changed, as students still must present documentation of their illness to their dean’s office. The student medical certificate, updated in June 2015,

uses a five-point scale to denote severity as well as start date and anticipated end date and must be filled out by a licensed practitioner.

According to student senator Emily Addison, the updated policy reflects that Western administration is committed to improving mental health services on campus.

“Overall this, along with numerous other changes around campus including the recent opening of the Student Wellness Centre in the UCC, demonstrates that Western does care about the mental health of its students,” Addison said.

“While sometimes there are legitimate constraints, restrictions and general slowness to improving the systems in place, the administration at Western wants to listen and address student concerns.” n

Solution to puzzle on page 11

› Thomas Edison: The world’s most extraordinary failure never gave up.

Thank goodness.

open. online. everywhere. go.athabascau.ca/online-courses

By Levin C. Handy (per http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.04326) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Students should be extra vigilant getting that Starbucks before class at the Wharncliffe/Oxford intersection as it has the fourth-highest collision rate in London.

The intersection saw 72 collisions in 2015, one collision less than the Highbury/Oxford intersection in a list of high collision intersections.

With over 10,000 collisions last year, London Police Service found Wellington/Exeter had the highest collision rate in London with 91 collisions.

While Sgt. Amanda Pfeffer, an officer with the traffic management unit, cannot pinpoint an exact reason why, she’s not surprised with the intersections that topped the list, noting they all see a high volume of traffic.

Alana Kitely, a University Students’ Council councillor, crosses Wharncliffe/Oxford every morning and despite it being a densely populated area, she was surprised that it made it so high on the list. She hadn’t witnessed any collisions or near misses at that intersection and thought that Western/Sarnia would be higher on the list.

“I frequently have seen lots of traffic and also collisions a number of times, and my bus has been rerouted quite a few times because of that,” she said.

Kitely thinks examining the speed limit and incorporating a pedestrian scramble at the intersection may decrease the number of collisions.

Asha Singh, second-year BMOS student, believes the Platt’s Lane/ Oxford intersection is the most dangerous for pedestrians.

“Two of my friends were almost

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4 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

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Petitions call for more mental health support AMY O’KRUK NEWS EDITOR @AMYATGAZETTE First-year Western student Julia Smith needed help. During her second semester away from her family in Calgary, Alta., Smith found herself in the waiting room of Western’s Student Health Services.

“I had already seen a psychiatrist at home for two years before university. Basically, … it was midterm season, and I realized I couldn’t deal with my depression on my own while away from home,” said the now second-year Social Science student.

After seeing a SHS general practitioner later in the week, though, Smith was told it would be two months before she could see a psychiatrist. Frustrated and at an all time low, Smith started searching for a therapist outside of school — and eventually started paying out of pocket.

One year later, Smith is determined to give Western “a wakeup call.” Two weeks ago, Smith started an online petition to end long wait times for psychiatrists at UWO and, to date, it’s attracted over 1,000 supporters. Further, Huron University College students are speaking out, too. Unaffiliated with Smith, second-year student Nicola Williams launched her own petition, which is asking Huron’s Executive Board for better mental health resources. Over 200 students — more than 15 per cent of Huron’s student population — have signed on.

While Smith and Williams’ asks

HAIDA LIU GAZETTE

have rallied students, the director of SHS, Cynthia Gibney, said there’s no quick or easy fix. In fact, it’s a province-wide problem. Student demand for mental health resources skyrocketed at SHS between 2013 and last November, with the clinic seeing a 26 per cent increase in students accessing mental health services.

“We know it’s a problem,” said Gibney, who met with Smith to discuss the petition last week. “We’re working hard … that’s why we exist, to help students. I know it’s

frustrating the second you say you need help you don’t get it, but never do we turn away someone in crisis.”

Currently, the self-funded clinic has maxed out its space, using every available office and exam room for its team of 30 physicians.

The clinic sees an average of 350 students per day, with 30 per cent of those visits having mental health components.

At Western, however, Gibney said there could be another factor straining the system. While students tend to be the most

familiar with SHS, there are other campus resources that are being overlooked and underutilized.

Gibney pointed out the Student Development Centre offers drop-in counselling, and there’s the Peer Support Network, affiliate resources, residence councillors and USC student benefits that cover some of the cost of off-campus psychological treatment. Notably, she hopes the UCC’s newly established Wellness Education Centre can act as a point place for the University’s campus-wide support network.

Still, both Smith and Williams think there’s a problematic and widening gap between students’ demand for mental health support and what they’re getting.

"Mental health is a big issue and especially in university because of stress and the amount of pressure [students] have on themselves,” Smith said. “Everyone was having the same problem, and no one was saying anything about it.”

"The change doesn’t have to be immediate, but it does have to happen,” added Williams. n

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • 5

Black History Month

Black artists on campus

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

Black Mustangs SAMAH ALI ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR @SAMAHATGAZETTE Ever notice the coded racism in sports media? No? Although the coverage may not appear racialized, the language sports broadcasters and reporters use often emphasize the ‘brute strength,’ ‘power’ and ‘natural physical abilities’ black athletes have compared to the ‘calculated,’ ‘intelligent’ and ‘precision to detail’ other athletes have – hint: these athletes are also white.

Looking into the dynamics of our own Western teams, it’s important to highlight the academic and athletic successes black varsity athletes have here at home.

Here are three student athletes you should get to know better.

AISHA HUSSEINI

Aisha Husseini can be seen front and centre on the Women’s rugby team. Playing prop at Western, Husseini started her career in rugby in grade 10 and played various positions before landing herself in the front row as a prop.

She started playing for her high school team and was encouraged to join a club rugby team during the summer months. Coming to Western as a London local, her team offers her the home-awayfrom-home experience most students get when they travel for university. Group bonding parties and off-season tournaments keep her close with her teammates while she pursues her degree in psychology and thanatology.

In five years, Husseini sees herself finishing up her master’s degree in counselling. She hopes to continue playing rugby for as long as she can in a club league.

“I definitely want younger women who are black to want to be a part of a sport, not necessarily just rugby but anything! I definitely think it’s important that they get out there not just as a black person but as anyone – a young adult who wants to be active,” says Husseini.

CEDRIC JOSEPH

First-year psychology student Cedric Joseph can be seen in his element playing football. The running back has played the sport for 14 years through middle school, high school, college and now at Western. Originally from Montreal, Joseph follows in his father’s footsteps and dreams of going pro after his time as a Mustang. He also wishes to meet

more people outside of the varsity bubble by encouraging non-varsity students to break the gap.

Joseph also cherishes academics, knowing that football won’t last forever. Recognizing that there seems to be two branches for the successful black person – athletics or entertainment – he stresses the need to break this binary by remembering that intelligence is all we have at the end of the day.

Football may be his passion, but education is an essential in his life.

“I think we’re overlooking the fact that black athletes are in school getting a degree and also playing their sport,” Joseph says.

JACQUELINE OWENS

Playing midfield for the women’s lacrosse team is Jacqueline Owens.

Pursuing a degree in criminology and minoring in psychology, Owens has faced adversities in her athletic career by being the only black female in two predominantly white sports: lacrosse and hockey. She played sports throughout her childhood but turned towards lacrosse, steering away from her family’s heavy involvement in hockey. Upon coming to Western, Owens started off on defence and moved up to midfield in her second season. She has even travelled to San Diego for a tournament during the off-season.

Although she doesn’t see herself pursuing lacrosse beyond university, Owens knows the reality and logistics behind women in sports at the professional level and hopes the situation will change in the coming years.

Owens also hopes to be a representational figure to young black females looking to get into sports like lacrosse and hockey. She avidly encourages young women like herself to be trailblazers in the sports they want to participate in and to not let spaces affect their interests. Success will prevent certain players from feeling isolated and Owens looks forward to a future like this in both lacrosse and hockey.

“It kind of puts a target on your back because, you being the black girl, you stand out more just because of the colour of your skin,” Owens says. “I’m always called the black girl because my skin is darker and that’s just something that I’ve overcome and accepted.

I love my skin and I’m so happy to be here, but it was something that I definitely overcame and am proud of.” n

RONNIE CLARKE Third-year fine arts with a minor in art history and criticism WHAT TYPE OF ART DO YOU CREATE: I primarily work in performance, media and installation. I find they tend to mix into each other and become multimedia projects. I still really enjoy and continue to work in painting and drawing.

WHY THIS MEDIUM: I like using media and performance as a way to introduce a concept or idea in a way that’s interactive and engaging. A lot of my work right now likes to acknowledge it’s own process or is activated by an audience. I like to perform inside environments. I use media devices to mediate my ideas or to perform in alternative ways. When you work in media art you can sort of do things you can’t always do in real life. The possibilities are endless.

WHAT DOES ART MEAN TO YOU: For me, working in art means I am always learning. I make art because there’s always going to be something new or something I’ve never seen. I get really excited in galleries or when I see a new painting I like and that reminds me I’m in the right place.

WHY DO YOU CREATE ART: I make art because it allows me to express myself in ways I can’t really do anywhere else. I can be a serious performer while being a funny painter and vice versa. When I’m working I can really be myself. At the same time I can take any of my interests and push them in a number of areas.

I don’t have to be stuck in one spot.

WHERE TO FIND THEIR WORK: You can find my work online at ronnieclarke. com. I like to perform and participate in screenings in Toronto when I get the chance, as well as student shows on and off campus.

FAVOURITE PIECE: My favourite

COURTESY OF CARINA WHARTON

artwork is a performance and video piece called Self-Control (2014).

TARA MAGLOIRE Third-year media, information and technoculture with a minor in visual arts WHAT TYPE OF ART DO YOU CREATE: I make whatever I feel like when the materials are in front of me, doesn’t matter if it’s a camera, paint brush or pile of fabric. I don’t choose a medium per se, it finds its way to present itself based on what I observe and resonate with. I create simply as a stress reliever — it’s my preferred way to zone out.

WHERE TO FIND THEIR WORK: You can find bits and pieces of my work on my Instagram @taramagloire.

FAVOURITE PIECE: It would have to be my painting I later titled after the screenplay Wanted I currently have hung over my bed.

CARINA WHARTON Third-year fine arts WHAT TYPE OF ART DO YOU CREATE: I create figurative and abstract paintings based on female sexuality. I question contemporary ideologies of body image depicted in mass media in relation to stereotypes of minorities. The concepts of my

work focus on trends made popular by celebrities such as cologne injections to achieve plump lips, in contrast to racist mentalities and caricatures, which deemed black people ugly for possessing the same feature naturally.

WHY THIS MEDIUM: I work in oil paints because the medium can produce shades and soft textures similar to the appearance of skin.

What does art mean to you: Art means having a creative outlet to express anything and inviting the viewer into your reality. The work can be political, religious, fanatical, obscure or realistic — the limits are endless.

WHY DO YOU CREATE ART: I create art to convey my perspective on topics in popular culture that influence the self-esteem of young adults.

Through my work I often try to depict life as a celebration while, acknowledging harmful psychologically and physically aspects.

WHERE TO FIND THEIR WORK: You can find my work on Instagram @ carina_ricia.w. My favorite piece is Tormented by the Weight on my Shoulders, 2015 oil paint on canvas.

Full article online at westerngazette.ca n

Black and queer: Finding acceptance in the LGBTQ and black communities AZIZA MILLER CONTRIBUTOR On Jan. 8, Hunger Games actress Amanda Stenberg came out as bisexual.

“It’s a really, really hard thing to be silenced and it’s deeply bruising to fight against your identity and to mold yourself into shapes that you just shouldn’t be in,” she said.

Everyone in the LGBTQ community has or is currently struggling with accepting themselves and the added pressure of feeling like you need to fit into a certain category and/or stereotype doesn’t make life easier. There is a struggle for people who are both black and queer to deal with two identities that tend to conflict with one another. Homophobia in the black community and racism in the queer community make it difficult for queer black people to feel accepted in groups that also experience marginalization.

Many people believe that racism doesn’t exist within the LGBTQ community simply because by being a member of an oppressed group, they don’t/can’t oppress others. Yet homophobia exists in the black community. Racial preference doesn’t just exist in the straight community; in fact, it is quite prevalent in the LGBTQ community. Blackness is often categorized as an undesirable trait as if being black automatically makes a person unattractive and a bad partner. These prejudices lead to acts of discrimination resulting in marginalization of blacks within the queer community.

For decades, gay bars have been discriminating against minorities

by either refusing employment, asking for multiple forms of ID or refusing entrance all together.

Although this discrimination isn’t as prevalent as it used to be, it still exists. A prime example of this is the 10-month long investigation in 2005 by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission into the owner of the gay bar Badlands for racial discrimination. Black customers were required to show multiple forms of ID and adhere to a dress code that wasn’t necessary for their white counterparts.

I want to briefly switch the focus onto homophobia in the black community. Homosexuality is often thought of as being detrimental to the ideal within the black community. The church and its influence is a major source of homophobia, with many ministers preaching about the sins of being anything other than cis and straight. Homosexuality is often taught as immoral and going against the teachings of religious texts. The general attitude towards the LGBTQ community is that sexuality is a choice and can change if so desired.

Many don’t think of homosexuals as family people, as having children, which has nothing to do with sexuality. Being queer seems to disrupt the traditional roles, expectations and ideal of black family, community and religious life resulting in queer black people being labeled as rebellious or white-acting once they come out.

A person is a second-class citizen if they’re black or if they’re queer. So what does that make someone who is both black and

queer? Marginalization is amplified for queer black people resulting in being ambiguous third-class citizens. Neither the colour of a person’s skin nor their sexuality is a choice yet, blackness and LGBTQ identities are often viewed as being mutually exclusive. Because of this, many queer black people struggle with feeling the need to identify with one part of their identity more than the other.

I can’t add much in terms of my own personal experiences since luckily there haven’t been any instances where I’ve been blatantly discriminated against by a PoC for being gay or by a queer person for being biracial. My circumstances are due in part to my light skin and colourism and the fact that I don’t “look like a lesbian.” I’m more likely to be fetishized by my ascribed status of a biracial woman. However, the criticism of my race whenever I’m interacting with the LGBTQ community doesn’t go unnoticed. I often hear, “You don’t look (half) black!” which some mean as a backhanded compliment. It’s apparent that quite a few people only consider my marginalization due to either race or sexuality, not both.

A person can be a member of multiple minorities simultaneously.

What people need to realize is that being oppressed doesn’t give you the right to oppress. It’s naïve to think that just because queer whites are marginalized and deal with their own challenges that they are welcoming to visibly queer or even straight person of colour. n

www.westerngazette.ca

6 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Black History Month

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Anecdotes As black students on campus, our experiences are vastly different than those around us. Navigating our daily lives is an exhausting perpetual reality. As said by black poet Nayyirah Waheed in her poem, The Difference, “I am a black wave in a white sea. Always seen and unseen.” Our hypervisibility makes it impossible to be invisible, yet we are continually consumed with emotions that contribute to feeling so; the devaluing of our feelings, the complete disregard of subtle racial comments, as well as the ever present microagressions, to name a few. People think overt racism is the only kind, but it isn’t always that obvious. It’s also the “it’s-just-a-joke” and “we’refriends-so-it’s-okay” kind. But, it’s still racist. It’s still painful.

And it’s still unacceptable. The following experiences explore the realities of being black at Western; an exhausting truth faced by these marginalized students.

••••• Being black is being aware of my individuality and humanity constantly. The words and actions of others can impact my day significantly. This includes the use of racist rhetoric and the propagation of anti-blackness, both of which are prominent in the Western community. At times, students are not thoughtful and thus spew words like “nigger, ghetto and ratchet.” And other times, students objectify black people.

I think it’s important for the Western community to realize that being diverse and inclusive doesn’t only imply the presence of a multicultural campus.

Multiculturalism comes with great responsibility; it involves making active and genuine attempts to understand one’s privilege. It encompasses self-reflection in order to eliminate racist and prejudiced views. And importantly, it includes supporting initiatives that liberate marginalized people. n LOLADE SHIPEOLU HONOURS SPECIALIZATION IN NEUROSCIENCE, SECOND YEAR I arrived at Western with all of my belongings and anxiety filled my entire body. Starting school is difficult for anyone, but I quickly realized there would be more for me to overcome than most students. ​I don’t know what I thought university was going to be like as a naïve, little 18 year-old. But it was only through moving to London and attending Western that I realized racism would be a large part of my experience. I was in my third year living at The Marq when I was set up with two new roommates. They were both from a small town and to them, moving to London was expanding their horizons. We had always been awkward around each other, but I assumed it was just differences in personality and interests. One night, I was making some dinner when my roommate on speakerphone with a friend said, “You’re dating a black guy?” to which her friend responded, “I know… and he’s actually nice.” My roommate laughed and replied, “If your dad found out, he would kill you.” I said nothing. As second semester commenced, things only got worse. In fact, my two roommates

stopped talking to me altogether.

They did not even acknowledge my presence when I entered a room. I frequently posted about it on my social media, laughing at their ignorance and small-mindedness. But I hid my pain. This went on for four agonizing months.

I never thought being of mixed race would be a problem at school.

After all, there are so many clubs and societies to join here at Western. But the issue remains: Western students like to talk diversity, but they certainly don’t walk it. n VANESSA YARD BACHELOR OF MUSIC, FOURTH YEAR Being a black student at Western means I knew only four black people in first year and was in a residence that did little to accommodate me. It meant being afraid to join BSA and identify loudly with my culture because I was afraid to call even more attention to my Blackness. It meant people constantly remarking about how I was “everywhere” and “omnipresent” even though I rarely left my room, because a black body is hyper visible. It meant me being told it’ll be easy to apply to a certain club executive because they’re looking for “diversity.”

It means being told that I’m too sensitive and I bring up race too often from people who insist they understand my lived experiences because they’re of another minority. It means you have to always be a good sport about how you love watermelon and fried chicken but explaining the racist slave origins of those insults is taking it too seriously. Being a black student at Western means being myself. n ZAKARIYA AHMED MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES, SECOND YEAR

Colloqu

MARCIE

When wallflowers with their ears in line caught “I hate brown girls” spilling out too soon I must have just misunderstood My English misplaced its use I wrote my thank you cards in advance for the second my skin was pardoned but you peeled off your smiles, reserved for coloured sweaters, and hung them up For next day wear

At the end of my first year in MedSyd Hall, there was an awards ceremony in which my f loormates were given awards based on endearing personality attributes, funny memories or their most quotable moments. Some examples of awards given to my peers include: “social butterfly,” “best laugh,” “teddy bear,” etc.

However, the presenter proceeded to announce my name, followed by what I assumed to be “the dark knight.” My first initial thought process was, “Wait… did I ever mention that I really enjoyed that instalment of the Batman series?

No… So why do people think I’m obsessed with Batman?” When I read the award it spelt, “Dark Night,” with no “k”. All I remember is that everyone proceeded to laugh, which made me feel increasingly more uncomfortable about expressing my anger for fear of people dismissing my feelings, or better being perceived as the “angry black girl.” So, naturally I awkwardly laughed along with everyone else. It’s important to note that I was the only black person on my floor and learning how to navigate such a predominately white space at Western was already burdensome. This is an example of how feelings of alienation and marginalization amongst racialized students manifest. I lived on that floor for eight months and I was given an award for being black. Cool. n SARAH METEKE SCIENCE GRADUATE, 2015

And there were only three seconds before political correctness meandered in with a briefcase and an apt: “Can’t say that – it’s racist”

PHOTOS BY: MAAILAH BLACKWOOD, MARIE KAMUKUNY, TARA MAGLOIRE

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • 7

Black History Month

Thinking out loud: A black girl’s night out on Richmond Row SHEBA BIRHANU CONTRIBUTOR

uialism

EL HOPE

Why not “can’t think that – it’s hateful?” but I dare not colour beyond the lines with my foreign opinion So I close the door on my way out Sealing off your box of Commitment to diversity And scuttle west to write apology notes For making you share space with the black girl And though wallflowers with their ears in line picked up “I hate brown girls,” Like the time before, all the ones be-four, I think we all Misunderstood.

It’s 9:30 p.m. and I should have been ready a half hour ago.

Tonight, I’m heading to Richmond Row to listen to music I hate with friends I love. It’s going to be great.

I sprint through the rest of my beauty routine and fly out the door.

I arrive at the pre-drink and see my friend, the hostess, and greet her with a warm hug.

“Did you just get here?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’m so sorry for being late,” I respond.

“Oh no worries, you can’t help it!”

I blink at her, unsure of what she means.

“What do you mean I can’t help it?” I ask.

“Oh you know, aren’t black people always late for things? You have a name for it, right! PTC!” I roll my eyes.

“CPT — coloured people time,” I say.

“That’s it! I knew that!” she proudly exclaims.

Before I can tell her that I’m late because I have awful time management skills and not because I’m black, she disappears into the party.

I make my way across the room and spot a boy from a class earlier in the day. We greet each other and begin mocking our professor’s hideous PowerPoint slides.

“Can I ask you a question?” he says.

“Alright,” I hesitantly respond.

“Your hair wasn’t like that this morning, right?” he says as he digs his hands so deep into my hair that I feel him graze my scalp. I watch his face fall as the oil transfers from my hair to his fingers. He laughs.

“Ha! It’s like a trap, right?” he says.

I search for words to describe how violated I feel. I stare at him, open-mouthed. I give up three seconds in and walk away.

Thankfully, it is time to head to the bar.

OK, act extra sober, I tell myself as we wait in line to enter. I try my best to stand still as people impatiently shove one another.

“Stop fucking pushing me!” screams the girl next to me.

“Sorry, I’m just standing here…”

I tell her.

Another ripple passes through the line and jolts everyone forward.

“Why are you being so fucking aggressive?” she shrieks at me.

In an effort to escape her, I ask my friends to rearrange our huddle. Ripples continue to move through the crowd. I think I have successfully avoided conflict until I hear another cry beside me.

“Girl. GIRL. RELAX.” Eventually, we enter the bar.

We immediately spot the bar photographer. I already know the edited photo will give my friends a bronzed tan and make me and all my melanin look orange. I make a mental note to change my Facebook settings so that I cannot be tagged.

Before I know it, I’m dancing to Yo Gottis’ My Ni**a. I casually glance around the dance floor, shocked by what I see. I watch the crowd loudly singing along to every word. The few people who censor themselves make eye contact with

me and throw me a nod, begging for acknowledgement. I scan the crowd for another black face.

I hate this place, I think to myself.

Thankfully, the song changes and my friends and I continue dancing, but not before a dance circle forms around us, and by us, I mean me. People begin cheering me on.

“Yaaaaas!”

“Slay queen, SLAY!” “Twerk!!! Twerk!!!”

My dancing skills are on par with Taylor Swift at an awards show, but this crowd thinks I’m Beyonce. They shove me towards the centre of the circle. I feel waves of fear wash over me. Why is everyone yelling? Who are these people?

Why do they think I can dance? I head to the bathroom to escape the mob.

On my way to the bathroom I feel someone put an arm around me.

“Hey, chocolate,” the stranger says.

Not today, Satan.

“Listen, let me buy you a drink,” he shouts.

“No, thank you,” I reply, throwing his arm away.

“What? You don’t like me? Why? Is it because I’m white?”

Well… if he wants to play.

“You know what, sure. Yup. That’s it,” I respond.

“That’s racist. I normally don’t even talk to black girls. I thought you were special.”

I stare at him, in awe at the number of offensive things coming out of his mouth. He doesn’t stop there.

“I just wanted to buy you a drink. So what, you like black guys? Because they’ve got more down there?”

I raise the palms of my hands to the temples of my head and recite every insult I know. He raises his eyebrows.

“Well you don’t have to be so angry,” he says.

At this point I am exhausted and ready to end the night. I make one last stop to the bathroom before I leave.

On my way out, I replay the night in my head. I recall the moments I wish I had said something, suddenly formulating the passionate and articulate arguments that escaped me in the moment. Just as quickly, I hear the defence: “Don’t be so sensitive.”

“It was just a joke.”

“They’re just words.”

Why are we always so ready to defend casual racism, but never racism itself? Language is coded with meaning, this meaning acts as a direct reflection of the way we view and value one another.

If they’re just words, why can’t we find new ones? I don’t expect to turn Richmond Row into a safe space, but I can’t seem to escape my race. All for the sake of a joke.

The jokes aren’t funny. They’re cheap. And easy.

This night, like most nights, has been a series of insulting questions and comments that act as a subtle reminder that I am other, that I do not belong. It’s nights like this where I have to make the conscious decision to love myself and call it a night. And I do just that — after grabbing some sushi, of course. n

www.westerngazette.ca

8 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

knowsports

•

Swim team headed to Quebec SHANE ROBERTS SPORTS EDITOR @SHANEATGAZETTE The Ontario University Athletics swimming championships at the Western Rec Centre from Feb. 11-13 was a special occasion for the Mustangs this year. It was the first time they had hosted the OUAs since getting a new swimming facility in 2009.

The Mustangs and the other schools competing in the OUAs were excited beforehand because everyone knew how fast the new pool would be. The speed of the Rec Centre pool is partly due to new gutter systems, something that certainly showed at the OUAs. “Our pool is a very fast pool. It had the fastest OUAs on record,” said Mustang swimmer Peter Serles. “[There were the] most number of Canadian records, CIS records, OUA records and the fastest finals in [OUA] history so that’s pretty cool for us to host something like that. It’s also the closest we’ve ever been to [the University of Toronto] — they’re national reigning champions.”

The Mustangs will have another chance at taking down U of T at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships this weekend.

The CIS tournament will be hosted by Laval University in Quebec City from Friday to Sunday.

For the Mustangs, it’s going to be hard to beat schools like Toronto, the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia at the CIS because all three schools facilities are also national training centres for swimming. This means their programs have had a lot of success because they receive more funding.

“The top three teams have funding from Swim Canada and it’s a very lofty next step to start breaking into the the top three,” said Serles. “For us to be the top school that doesn’t receive federal funding from Swim Canada puts us in a good position in showing that we are able to stand on our own two feet and I think this year we have a good shot at being fourth [at the CIS].”

On the women’s side of things there is also a good chance for the Mustangs to finish in the top four at the CIS meet. In particular, they are going to have to rely on swimmers like Keira Brazeau to repeat strong performances from the OUAs. Brazeau was particularly impressive because she won the rookie of the year award as the top first-year swimmer in the OUA. “At first I didn’t even know I was going to get [rookie of the year] until my coach came up to me [on Saturday] and said there was a chance,” said Brazeau.

The Mustangs will also hope to have some big performances from veteran swimmer Sophie Cieplucha.

Cieplucha won the 200-metre breast stroke at the OUAs and is excited to travel to Quebec City for CIS. “Personally, I like going to other pools. I feel like it’s more of a competition atmosphere [because] sometimes I feel too comfortable in my own pool so I’m excited to go away for this competition,” said Cieplucha.

Cieplucha also finds that everyone on the Mustangs can find an extra gear at CIS and she hopes to see many of her teammates make the finals in their events.

“Everybody always does extraordinary things at CIS. The atmosphere of the meet gets everybody really in the zone. I’m excited to see what will come,” said Cieplucha.

Cieplucha and the rest of the Mustangs are going to need to find this extra energy because many are racing in multiple events throughout the weekend. For example, Cieplucha is racing the 50-metre breast stroke, 100-metre breast stroke, 200-metre breast stroke and the individual medley 200-metre at CIS. “Everyday I have a different event so it’s kind of easier to just do it dayby-day rather than look at the whole weekend as a whole. Focus one day

KYLE PORTER GAZETTE

at a time,” said Cieplucha.

Cieplucha added that she may be racing in some relays during the CIS meet as well. She is excited for this because she finds relays easier than individual events.

“I think it’s personal pressure that I put on myself to do a personal best whereas relays you don’t have a personal best time going in, you just see what you can do as an overall

whole,” said Cieplucha.

After the CIS, some of the Mustangs will continue to train in preparation for a summer season. The next big swim meet after the university season will be the Canadian Olympic trials in Toronto in April where Mustang swimmer Gamal Assaad will be trying to make the Canadian Olympic team. n

Western wrestling sending 7 to Brock for CIS finals SHANE ROBERTS SPORTS EDITOR @SHANEATGAZETTE If a team found out one of their best athletes was not going to compete right before the championship, it might be hard for them to bounce back. But when Madi Parks of the Western wrestling team decided not to compete at the Ontario University Athletics championship two weeks ago, it did not faze the team.

Her decision to quit actually gave a spot to a rookie on the team at the OUAs on Feb. 12 – 13 at Algoma University in Sault Saint Marie. There are a limited amount of spots for wrestlers at the OUAs because they are only allowed to send one wrestler for each weight class. Raeggan Bressette filled in for Parks in the 51kg weight class and ended up winning a bronze medal and qualifying for the

Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship.

Despite the strong performance from Bressette, head coach Ray Takahashi was disappointed that Parks decided not to compete.

“It’s too bad because [Parks] was eligible to compete for us and it’s unfortunate that she didn’t represent us at the [OUA] championships,” said Takahashi.

In the absence of Parks, another rookie Mustang stepped up at the OUAs as well.

Rookie Ligrit Sadiku got the cast on his arm taken off two days before the tournament and was still able to win a silver medal while wearing a brace. His second-place finish was also enough to qualify him for the CIS tournament this weekend in St. Catharines. Takahashi thinks Sadiku could do even better at CIS because his hand will be better healed.

EVERY THURSDAY ADVER TISING FEATURE

“[Sadiku] actually didn’t wrestle the final because once he made it to the finals he already qualified [for CIS] and that’s what the goal was,” explained Takahashi. “We didn’t risk wrestling the final and now he doesn’t need the cast and it’s healed up more.”

Other impressive performances were had at the OUAs by some veteran Mustangs. Kyle Bonk-Dann and Caleb Rutner both claimed silver medals as well in their weight classes. Both of them also had a good chance to win as they only lost in their respective finals by one point each.

“A one or two point swing could’ve changed the fate of the match and I could’ve won. I could’ve finished some moves better and capitalized more on opportunities,” said Bonk-Dann. “My defence was pretty good but I definitely had some chances to score even on the ground and if I got some more turns

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I could’ve probably won the match.”

In total, the Mustangs have seven wrestlers that will be competing in the CIS tournament at Brock this weekend. Last year, Western had more wrestlers make CIS but this year Takahashi said they experienced a bit of bad luck at the OUAs that cost them a couple spots at the CIS. For example, Kevin Marshall of the Mustangs missed out on making CIS by just one spot, finishing fourth at OUAs. "One call and one move right at the last part of the match and he would’ve been in the finals,” said Takahashi in reference to Marshall’s semifinal match. “The referees overturned the call on a video review — he could’ve been [at CIS] easily.”

Due to close performances by Mustang wrestlers like Marshall, only three women and four men made CIS. On the women’s squad, Bressette will be joined by second-year Julie

Steffler in the 55kg weight class and fourth-year Alyssa Medeiros in the 59kg weight class. Takahashi has high hopes for Medeiros to make the podium at CIS because she did so last year when she claimed a bronze at the CIS tournament.

On the men’s side, the two lighter wrestlers, Sadiku and Rutner, will compete in the 57kg and 68kg weight classes respectively. In two of the heavier weight classes the Mustangs will be represented by Nolan Deinum, in the 72kg weight class, and Bonk-Dann, in the 120kg weight class.

After this CIS tournament, the season will not be done for all the Mustang wrestlers. Some of the top Mustangs wrestlers will be back on the mats in a few more weeks at the Junior-Senior National Wrestling Championships from Mar. 18-20 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. n

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • 9

knowsports

’Stangs set to host Warriors in playoffs SERENA QUINN SPORTS EDITOR @SERENAATGAZETTE It’s been an up-and-down season for the Mustangs women’s hockey team this year.

They entered 2015-16 with high expectations after coming off of the best season in program history. The Mustangs dominated the standings and brought home both the Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship banners for the first time ever last season.

But a 3-0 loss to the Guelph Gryphons in the Mustangs first regular season game this year gave the team a small reality check.

If they were planning on defending their OUA and CIS titles, they would have to work just as hard as they had in the past, if not harder.

The Mustangs picked up their game after that first loss and racked up nine wins while only incurring four losses before the mid-season break in late November.

The last game before the break was a testament to how the team had improved since that first regular season game as the Mustangs edged out the league-leading Gryphons 3–2.

Despite ending the first part of the regular season on a high note, the Mustangs found themselves struggling again in the second half against teams they had beaten before.

“We have our most success when we are playing as a team,” fifth-year forward Stacey Scott said. “The period of the year where we had a few losses I think we drifted from that style of play.”

In the final weeks of action, however, the team has come together.

“We’ve grown and matured as a team all year long and I think we’re just hitting our stride right now so I’m feeling very confident about the playoffs,” Mustangs head coach Dave Barrett said.

The Mustangs toughest competitors this year have been the Nipissing Lakers and the Toronto Varsity Blues as Western has fallen to both teams twice.

But the final game of the season against Waterloo was the game that counted the most, as it was the difference between third and sixth place in the OUA standings.

The Mustangs overpowered the Warriors 3–2 to hold a 15–8–1 record, which tied them for third in the standings with Queen’s. To determine the Mustang’s opponent for the first round of the playoffs, it came down to multiple tie breakers.

Western came out on top in the playoff seeding after coming down to goal differential in the two head-to-head contests between the Mustangs and Queen’s, where the Mustangs outscored the Gaels 4–3.

A third place standing means the Mustangs will now host Waterloo tonight at Thompson Arena in game

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

one of a best two-of-three series. The Gaels will take on Nipissing.

For geographical reasons, the Mustangs are glad to have dodged playing the Lakers for now.

“The challenge when you play Nipissing is you usually have to go there and play your first game because of the rules in the OUA as far as travelling,” Barrett said. “So last year, we had to go play our first game in North Bay, which was a challenge. It puts a little more pressure on you.”

Instead of taking on the Lakers, the Mustangs now face a team that they defeated recently. The Mustangs and the Warriors met earlier in the season as well when the Mustangs edged out the Warriors

1–0 on home ice in October.

Despite having success against the team during both encounters, the Mustangs will not be expecting an easy win.

“Playoffs are a different animal,” Barrett said. “Having success in the regular season doesn’t guarantee success in the playoffs.”

Scott agrees.

“We know we can’t go in just expecting that we will win based on regular season results,” she said.

“Both games were decided by one goal and Waterloo is a gritty team that will give us a good battle.”

The Warriors will enter Thursday’s playoff contest with a sixth place seeding and a 14–9–1 regular season record.

The Warriors have also had and some highs and lows this season as they downed some of the top competitors in the league while enduring some tough losses too.

But like the Mustangs, the Warriors ended their regular season on a positive note with a 2–1 win over the Ryerson Rams last Saturday.

The team will be looking to maintain that momentum when they roll into London on Thursday night to take on the Mustangs, and the home team will be looking to shut that momentum down.

Both teams will be bringing everything they have to the ice and will be looking to take control of the series in the first game of the OUA playoffs. n

www.westerngazette.ca

10 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

insight

•

KNIGHTlife

SAMAH ALI GAZETTE

SAMAH ALI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @SAMAHATGAZETTE The departure of a staple photographer in the Ceeps staff roster has finally come. Often seen running through the bar with a camera held above the crowd, Nicole De Khors is a freelance photographer known for her whip-like technique while taking bar photography. She’s worked her way to the top and is recognized by many Ceeps frequenters asking for selfies with the female photographer. De Khors also books events outside of nightlife, like private parties, look books and fashion shoots.

The fourth-year student is finishing her final year in the media, theory and production television program.

De Khors began her bar

photography career after partnering with CDN Entertainment for two nights a week in her second year. Jumping from bar to bar for the rest of that year and the following summer, she then became the resident Ceeps photographer from her third year until now. Even though she has parted ways with both, De Khors maintains her connections with the people she has worked with in the past while boosting her profile with her NDK Images Facebook page and a website.

A night in De Khors shoes is high paced and lively. Flashing lights and loud music paired with attendees screaming her name justifies her grandeur in the local nightlife scene.

Beyond the lights, De Khors looks forward to pursuing something in

television and film, but for now she’s enjoying her last few months as a normal fourth-year student.

HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU NEED IN A REGULAR NIGHT? Usually 200 pictures — and when I say 200 pictures I don’t mean 200 pictures. I need 100 post-able photos and 200 photos that I can have wiggle room with, you know?

No one is going to look through a 350-photo album. Even when I used to work for different entertainment companies, they would say 100150 photos — that’s the sweet spot where people are willing to look through the photos. With concert events I could easily take 500 photos; I think for Block Party I took 2,000 photos in two days.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?

I use a Canon 7D, sometimes I use my Tokina 11-16 mm 2.8 when I’m at the bar. Sometimes I’ll use my 17-70 Sigma F2.8-4 because I don’t like the distortion I get with my Tokina. Especially with big Ceeps size photos on Thursday nights, I use to use the 11-16 mm to get it really wide. Whenever I do fashion stuff — so this year I’m shooting the CAISA lookbook — or when I shoot Volta, I’ll use my Canon 17-200 Ultrasonic 2.8. It’s definitely my most “look at me and how big my camera is” kind of lens.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ASPIRING PHOTOGRAPHERS? Regardless of what photography you’re interested in doing, definitely for students in London, the bar photography is really big here

because we have so many bars and entertainment companies, and every company needs a photographer. I feel like there are a lot of opportunities that people don’t realize and I feel like bar photography is a good place to learn because you’re basically working in darkness and it’s quick. You need to learn how to work quickly and with light and that’s pretty much the fundamentals of working in photography. Also working in that environment and learning to perfect that and make it beautiful is really great for anyone!

You can read the full interview with Nicole De Khors online at westerngazette.ca Find our more about Nicole De Khors through her Facebook Page or website. n

workout habits.

“I can understand where the criticism comes from, but I think the problem is people do too much at once,” says Thompson. “Everyone wants to throw as much weight as they can over their head and they don’t really take the steps or learn the movements properly.”

It’s just like any other form of fitness. He compares it to running — if you go out and do 10 km on the first day, you’ll likely end up with shin splints. Thompson had a great coach who taught him proper form as well as understanding his limits.

“A lot of people go into Crossfit because they see the brand,” says Fung. “It’s exciting, and there’s camaraderie with exercise. But if

[you’re starting out] and you see a beginner class, you take that beginner class! You’re going to need some guidance.”

Crossfit is half fitness program, half lifestyle. Thompson follows other Crossfitters on Instagram and tries to beat their workout times. He started eating better and his entire mentality towards exercise changed once he started on it. You have to try it before you criticize it, he says.

“It’s an up and coming, emerging fitness phenomenon and it has great benefits,” Fung explains. “As with everything else there are risks to it, so make sure you get clearance from a doctor. If it’s something you enjoy, that gets you active, then I’d say — go for it. n

Do you even lift, bro?

RICHARD JOSEPH ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @RJATGAZETTE Crossfit is a contentious issue these days. Some people ridicule it, others endorse it wholeheartedly — but whatever you think of it, it’s hard to ignore.

The fitness program was founded in 2000 by Greg Glassman and Lauren Jenai. It involves high-intensity interval training, gymnastics, powerlifting and more, with over 13,000 affiliated gyms.

Zac Thompson, fourth-year media, theory and production

When you go to a Crossfit gym, you’re surrounded be people who all have the common goal of getting better. It’s completely different from going to the Western gym and throwing some weights around by yourself.

It’s that inner community and everyone’s feeling the same amount of pain that you are.

ZAC THOMPSON CROSS FITTER & FOURTH YEAR MEDIA THEORY & PRODUCTION STUDENT

student, is an avid Crossfitter. He first got interested in the rising trend of Crossfit in grade 10, though he was already working out when he started. He prefers Crossfit to a regular workout, he explains, because of the community.

“When you go to a Crossfit gym, you’re surrounded be people who all have the common goal of getting better,” he explains. “It’s completely different from going to the Western gym and throwing some weights around by yourself. It’s that inner community and everyone’s feeling the same amount of pain that you are.”

In 2011, Crossfit introduced the “world wide open.” Crossfitters all over the world attempt the same workouts, whether they’re professional athletes or they started a week ago, and film it. They then submit their scores to an online database where they can compare their scores to the best of the best, or just their friends. With $20 and a video camera, anyone can take part.

There are criticisms that the high-intensity exercises and sometimes Olympic-level manoeuvers of Crossfit can lead to injury or exertional rhabdomyolysis — the breakdown of muscle fibres. But Vincent Fung, physiotherapist

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

and athletic therapist at the Fowler Sports Medicine Clinic, says safety is an issue in any exercise program.

“If you go to a gym with reputable coaches and certified staff, in a controlled environment, it’s actually fairly safe,” he says. “That being said, not all Crossfit gyms are alike… if a gym is group-based and they don’t give a lot of instructions, that’s where injuries can occur. It’s not to say that Crossfit is dangerous in itself, it’s just dangerous without proper instruction.”

The exercises might look impressive, but beginners shouldn’t immediately jump into the most intense ones. Working one-on-one with a coach is a good way to get started and instill effective, safe

• www.westerngazette.ca

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 • 11

experience

Western home to unique Pride Library ROBERT NANNI ARTS & LIFE EDITOR @ROBERTATGAZETTE Located in the back of Weldon Library’s main floor, the Pride Library is a space on campus for students, queer or otherwise, who are looking for a safe space.

As the only library of its kind at a Canadian university, this unique room hosts a variety of queer literature including fiction, non-fiction and graphica. Started in 1997 by comparative literature associate professor James Miller, the library has been building its varied collection ever since.

“It initially started when Dr. Miller was studying some queer studies courses,” says Rebecca Kasperavicius, a master’s student in library and information science and Pride Library volunteer. “He went to go get some literature from the library but they didn’t have those resources, so he started building his own collection.”

Material located on the shelves is open to circulation for the public and is registered with Weldon’s call number system. A majority of this literature comes from public donation, providing a wide array of subjects within queer topics.

Some of the donated material is rare, or simply could not be restored if it were damaged or lost. This literature is kept encased at the back of the Pride Library and can be accessed in-house with permission and assistance.

“The back material was a local gentleman’s personal collection of his own queer library,” explains Kasperavicius. “It’s such a unique thing to have someone’s complete collection. It’s a document of what they were interested in and what they valued.”

This material is overseen by the volunteers who work the front desk and manage various projects within the space. With a group of over 50 volunteers and a large waiting list, there is a clear need to contribute to such a unique location.

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

While the Pride Library provides many academic resources, they are open to much more than that.

Pride Library volunteer coordinator Svitlana Maluzynsky, a master’s student in library and information science, says the space also functions as a safe space for patrons.

“We are sealed off, which is nice if someone needs a safe space or just a space away from all the commotion of campus,” says Maluzynsky. “You don’t need to be queer to come and you don’t need to have a specific reason for being there.”

Whether a patron wants to do personal research, get connected with support or just needs a space for safe dialogue, the Pride Library offers all these things.

Fifth-year psychology and sexuality studies student Meghan Mann would definitely agree. She has used the library space for a variety of reasons.

“I’ve come in the past to browse

through the zines and the archives, to check out queer literature, to hang out or do homework with friends or solo reading,” says Mann.

“It’s a nice place to exist and catch up with friends or readings free of judgement.”

This objective space is more than just an academic setting — it’s a place of history and meaning.

“I can let my guard down, I can exist unapologetically, I can enter this space and see years of queer rebellion, queer revolution and queer existence,” says Mann.

Mann acknowledges the Pride Library as a space of both education

Think back to 2008 — a simpler time, when the iPhone 3G was all the rave, Android was the new kid on the block and Microsoft’s Photosynth had just hit the app store.

For those who don’t remember Photosynth, it was an app that allowed you to take pictures of your surroundings and have them magically stitched together, creating an immersive 360-degree experience.

But that was eight years ago. After eight years and millions of dollars in R&D, consumers can now get their hands on the next major development — 360-degree video. This technology has actually been around for a few years, but it’s starting to become more mainstream.

Samsung is the latest to enter the nascent 360-degree imaging market with a new camera called the Gear 360. The spherical device features two 180-degree lenses known as fisheye lenses, which produce images that can be combined to create a 360-degree image or film.

The bottom of the camera is flat so it can rest on most surfaces and it features a standard tripod mount.

There’s also a slot for the microSD

card supporting up to 128GB and a swappable battery. The camera is only splash proof and dust resistant, though, so don’t expect it to take a beating.

If you want to see some 360-degree video cameras in action then I suggest you check out YouTube. The YouTube channel “TechnoBuffalo” has a great 360-degree video of the Consumer Electronics Show from 2016. The video will seem like nothing special at first glance, so make sure you pan around the video to change the point of view and experience all 360 degrees.

Recently, news outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post have used 360-degree video to broadcast presidential campaign events.

YouTube videos featuring 360-degree video work with virtual reality devices, smartphones, tablets and Google Chrome. If you try to load a 360-degree video in an unsupported medium, such as Safari, the video will appear as a flat panoramic video.

While 360-degree video has great potential, don’t expect it to become widely adopted among consumers until it is somehow introduced into smartphones. n

with the whole rainbow of LGBTQ represented in the space.”

The Pride Library is funded by grants through the University, which are applied for whenever projects arise. This lack of steady funding prevents endeavours like seeking a larger space. Despite this, the library is making do with what they have.

“We’re happy the University gives us this space so we can do our thing,” says Maluzynsky. “It’s valuable experience for our volunteers and even more important for the community — we can never have enough safe spaces on campus.” n

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and as one of the only spaces in which she feels completely at ease with herself on Western’s campus.

Maluzynsky expresses a desire to have more people engaged from the campus community, encouraging the Pride Library as a space for those of all needs and interests.

While she would love for the Pride Library to expand, space poses a major concern.

“We’re so donation-focused and we don’t have a budget for purchasing materials, so that limits us,” Maluzynsky says. “If we had more space and more money to purchase materials, we could fill the space

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