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EMILY VAN EERD

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Emily Van Eerd’s name is called over the speaker.

Under dim lights at Bay City Music Hall in Hamilton, over a hundred people watch. Emily takes the stage beside a silver pole. For four minutes, she tells a story through spins, dancing and flips — she’s pole dancing.

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So far she hasn’t had a negative reaction from anyone.

It helps that the pole community is made up of mostly young people and students. She says the odd time a reallife exotic dancer will join a class to learn new skills, but everyone is welcome.

Only 10 months before, the third-year criminology and women studies student walked into a pole studio for the first time. Her passion sparked after a friend asked her to try a few free classes at London’s Studio Chic. When the five free classes were up, she bought a membership.

“At first it was about exercise,” Emily says. “My grades improved because I was out of the house, I was awake and I had so much energy. I just wanted to get my school stuff done, so that I could go and do pole.”

But months into it, pole started to mean more to Emily than honing her athleticism. She played sports in high school, but her studio friends started to become a

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“When you’re all doing something like that together, it makes for a very tight-knit family,” She says.

“My mom came to my first competition and cried. She loved it, and she’s super accepting,” Emily says. “My dad just jokes that he could do it better,” she adds, laughing.

In beginner classes, Emily says the first half is spent doing a workout to warm up your muscles activate your core strength. The second half is where participants get to try tricks, like spins; the kind of stuff you imagine when you think of pole dancing. The class ends with more strength exercises. For example, studio goers can practice holding their body weight up on the pole.

second family. Emily points out that anyone can have a conversation with you if you’re a ballet dancer, but it’s easier to talk about pole to people who already get it.

“You realize there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing and nothing wrong with what you’re doing,” Emily said. “It’s super disorientating because it’s the opposite of what you’ve learned.”

While Emily only has one competition under her belt right now, this year she plans to dance at four competitions — the next one is the North American Pole Dance Championships in Chicago in June.

For friends and other students who may be curious, she always says pole is worth trying once.

“I tell everyone you have to try it once because you definitely have expectations when you hear the word pole dancing, but it’s not what actually happens in class,” she says.

But for Emily, she has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“The more I do it, the more I want to do it,” she said. “I can’t see pole not being a part of my life at any point.”

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Over 35 Western academics boycott U.S. conferences over ‘Muslim Ban’ SABRINA FRACASSI NEWS EDITOR @SABFRACASSI LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

Naomi Klein talks Trudeau, Trump and the environment at King’s MOSES MONTERROZA NEWS EDITOR @MOSESMONTZ Crowds of people appeared at King’s Kenny Theatre last Thursday to see Naomi Klein speak about environmental issues, Trudeau and Trump’s rise to power.

Klein, a journalist, acclaimed author and the inspiration for the film This Changes Everything, approached the topic of environmentalism by speaking on how sociology and politics often intersect with government action and the environment.

Using the case of Hurricane Katrina, Klein explained that people suffered not only the brunt of a big storm, but also a government failure to take action.

“As a journalist, as somebody who has been on the ground, I can tell you that it’s not just about things getting hotter, wetter, stormier and dryer,” said Klein. “It’s also about things getting meaner, it’s also about things getting uglier.”

Through political narratives perpetuated by media, Klein explained how politicians like Trump or Canada’s Kevin O’Leary came to

gain such popularity.

“As we have denigrated the role of politics, the role of collective action, we have simultaneously elevated the role of the CEO to this status of superman or savior,” said Klein.

Klein argued that it was partly the left that perpetuated this perception of the billionaire. Figures like Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg were seen as not only possessing wealth but also the means to fix poverty, the school system and whatever else.

Consequently, figures like Trump and O’Leary have risen to popularity with this vision that with their wealth they can make change politicians simply cannot.

Klein also discussed in detail Canada’s role in reducing its environmental impact.

“Our prime minister put his hand on his heart and said we would cut annual emissions by 200 megatons and then went and unveiled a plan to increase annual emissions by 231 megatons.

“This is not a picture of a country leaning itself off fossil fuels, it is not a picture of a country turning a supertanker around, it is the picture

of a country slamming its foot on the accelerator exactly the moment we need to be pulling back,” continued Klein.

Klein also briefly mentioned her support for the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement and King’s student council’s proposed referendum to lobby the administration to support divesting from companies supporting “oppression of Palestinians.”

“Young people are saying to their leaders, ‘Look, you’re betting against our future. You can’t at the same time prepare us for the future and spend our universities’ endowments on companies that have five times more carbon that is more compatible than the planet.’”

“Here at King’s University [College], students are actively campaigning on a referendum on whether King’s should divest its holding on [the] fossil fuel industry as well as industries that support the suppression of Palestinians,” continued Klein.

The event ended with Klein opening up the floor for students and members of the public to ask questions.

American President Donald Trump’s executive orders have sparked protests around the world.

Academics, in particular, have been taking a stand of their own — and some are close to home.

Over 35 of these academics are Western and affiliate colleges’ professors and graduate students.

They have signed onto an online petition calling on academics to boycott international academic conferences held in the U.S. in light of the so-called ‘Muslim Ban’.

The petition had over 6,400 signatures from around the world, as of Feb. 14.

Marianne Larsen, an associate professor of education at Western, saw the petition through Facebook.

“I’m absolutely appalled by a number of the policies that Trump is bringing in the U.S. and what really did it for me was the latest executive order banning individuals from the seven Muslim majority countries,” said Larsen. “The petition specifically refers to that executive order.”

However, some are skeptical of the boycott having an impact.

Tina Beynen, an administrative assistant with the Faculty of Education, noted that there may be unforeseen consequences of this boycott, including the lack of employment for part-time workers, the tightening of opportunity for young academics and the decline the academic discourse.

Fall Reading Week up for approval at Western Senate AMY O’KRUK FEATURES AND GRAPHICS EDITOR @AMYOKRUK Western’s Senate will be debating a motion next Friday on whether or not the University will introduce a fall Reading Week for the 2017–18 school year.

According to the agenda, the week-long break would be introduced in conjunction with Thanksgiving for a two-year trial period. It will begin at 6 p.m. on the Friday prior to Thanksgiving Monday and end at midnight on the following Sunday.

This means that the new break will officially start on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and end on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017.

But essentially, students will be off

from Saturday, Oct. 7 to Sunday, Oct. 15.

Jamie Cleary, vice-president of the University Students’ Council, said the break was one of Team Avila’s major platform points and one of the USC’s key initiatives over the last summer. In October, Cleary sat on a Senate ad hoc subcommittee that was formed to look at the logistics of an extended fall break.

“It’s not something we did alone,” said Cleary. “It really was a collaborative effort and that’s why we’re here, hopefully heading into a successful vote on Friday.”

Harry Orbach-Miller, the chair of the Western student senators and also a member of the Senate’s fall reading week subcommittee, echoed Cleary’s statements. He pointed out

that the Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Council’s (FHSSC) advocacy was essential. Back in October, FHSSC’s president, Riley Garno, started a petition to support a fall reading week for 2017 that ended up with close to 6,000 online signatures.

“In general, the Faculty of Health Science Students’ Council has been so tremendous in pushing for this,” he said. “It just shows that when students come to the table and say ‘this is important to us’ year after year, something will get done.”

In the motion, it proposes that the “Structure of the Academic Year” and policies on “Evaluation of Academic Performance” and “Adding and Dropping Courses” will also be revised. Orbach-Miller mentioned a benefit of the fall Reading Week

is that it will push back Western’s deadline to drop courses by a week.

The committee found that 75 per cent of universities in Ontario and 61 per cent of the universities nationwide “scheduled four or more study days during the fall.” To accommodate the 62 required lecture days in the term, classes may end two days later in the fall term.

Orbach-Miller said there’s no better way for Western to support students than for the Senate to show its support the fall Reading Week.

“At the end of the day, a lot of students feel like their voices aren’t heard on this campus, or they aren’t valued, and I can’t think of any better way for faculty and administration to say ‘we value your voices and we’re listening’ than passing this.”

“Ultimately, unless it was a sort of across the board, all disciplines, I don’t think it would make a dent in the American economy and in fact I think, quite frankly, Trump doesn’t care,” said Beynen. “I don’t think he’d be the slightest bit bothered.”

Debra Jared, a psychology professor, who signed the petition says discriminating against researchers of different countries goes against her beliefs.

“The reason that I signed is that I do not think that it is acceptable to bar researchers from international scientific conferences based on their country of origin,” Jared said.

For many of those who have decided to boycott, the ban being temporarily overturned does not change their decision.

The reason that I signed is that I do not think that it is acceptable to bar researchers from international scientific conferences based on their country of origin DEBRA JARED A WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR

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MOSES MONTERROZA GAZETTE

HAMZA TARIQ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @HAMZATARIQ_ The USC presidency could change hands on Tuesday.

The ‘Team DiBrina v. Elections Committee’ hearing will be held on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. in UCC conference room 377.

The committee will hear six appeals filed by Team DiBrina against the winning slate, Team Tobi. Team Tobi received a total of 26 demerit points during the elections season, just five under the amount allowed before a slate is disqualified for demerits. Should Team Tobi be disqualified, Team DiBrina would assume the USC presidency as the runners-up of the election.

APPEAL 1 DATE FILED: Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.

ALLEGED VIOLATION: A Facebook post targeting Team DiBrina in a USC club group.

BYLAW CITED: “Candidates shall campaign in accordance with the rules of fair play. Breaking the rules of fair play include, but are not limited to, libel, slander, general sabotage of the campaigns of other candidates, misrepresentation of fact, and malicious or intentional breach of this By-law or applicable regulations.”

CRO RESPONSE: “In consultation with members from the EGC we have come to the conclusion that this isn›t a violation of section 11.1.

This maintains the spirit of elections, it is a post that does not directly slander or libel another team, though they are being critical of opponents they are not being offensive.”

APPEAL SUMMARY: Team DiBrina claims that a campaign volunteer of Team Tobi posted in the Dumbledore’s Army Facebook group (a USC club) which has 254 members. The appeal claims issues of libel, defamation and misrepresentation of facts targeted towards Team DiBrina in this post.

The post uses the phrase, “... long time student politicians. They are going to keep doing things the way they have been.” The appeal says this phrase is directed towards Team DiBrina because of David DiBrina and Harry Orbach-Miller’s prior involvement with the USC and gives a negative impression of them while not being a fact.

The Facebook post mentions the recent CHRW debate at council as an indication of things continuing as they have if the same student politicians are allowed to win. The appeal considers this a significant misrepresentation of fact and of creating a “false divide” between Team DiBrina and Team Tobi when both slates were on the same side of the issue.

The de-ratification of the

Explaining the six appeals facing Team Tobi Indigenous Students’ Club is mentioned. The appeal claims that Team DiBrina is blamed for this by implication as “long time student politicians.” The decision was actually made by the Clubs Governance Committee (CGC) with no involvement from Team DiBrina. Instead, Landon Tulk, Team Tobi’s vice-president candidate, was actually on the CGC and had influence on the de-ratification decision, according to the appeal.

The Facebook post stated, “[ Team DiBrina] entered into negotiations with outside businesses BEFORE getting elected, before consulting with students.”

This is a reference to Team DiBrina’s platform pledge to close down the Purple Store and potentially replace it with a Freshii. During the campaign period a tweet from Freshii implied that they would prefer coming to campus. The appeal claims that no negotiations were conducted beyond the extent of the tweet and students were consulted before this proposal was put forward.

As a result, the phrase was a false claim mounting to defamation and misrepresentation of fact, according to the appeal.

Because of how this post portrayed Team DiBrina, the appeal wants the Appeals Board to overturn the EGC’s original decision and sanction Team Tobi for the offence.

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Major violation, up to eight demerit points.

APPEAL 2 DATE FILED: Monday, Jan. 30, 2017.

ALLEGED VIOLATION: Team Tobi’s vice-president candidate and supporters campaigned during the prohibited voting period by sporting team shirts.

BYLAW: “Candidates and their volunteer(s) shall not campaign at any location, on or off of the University’s campus. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the distribution of physical campaign materials, campaign rallies, and approaching students to solicit votes.”

CRO RESPONSE: “Existing physical campaign materials are allowed to still exist, similarly to leaving bag tags on backpacks. T-shirts and campaign material that have been previously distributed by candidates during the campaign period are not a violation of post-campaigning.”

APPEAL SUMMARY: Team DiBrina’s appeal claims that Landon Tulk and Team Tobi supporters wearing their team shirts on polling days should be considered campaigning. As proof, they cite a photo of Tulk’s girlfriend wearing the team shirt in Weldon Library as well as eyewitnesses who saw Tulk himself and a number of

other volunteers wearing Team Tobi shirts.

The appeal argues that while a plain red shirt would’ve been fine, the Team Tobi shirt had their campaign logo as well as their web address. The appeals rebuts the CRO’s reference to bag tags by stating it is reasonable to have the bag tags left on as they are given to several supporters and someone will actively have to remove the tags.

However, shirts are handed out to fewer people and someone can reasonably decide not to wear them on polling days. The appeal also adds that the other two teams refrained from wearing campaign colours on voting days while Tulk wore his campaign shirt with reasonable expectation of “promotion and influence.”

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Minor violation, up to four demerit points.

APPEAL 3 DATE FILED: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

ALLEGED VIOLATION: Precampaigning by sharing a Gazette article announcing Team Tobi’s candidacy for USC presidency.

BYLAW CITED: “Candidates and prospective candidates are not permitted to influence or attempt to influence voters prior to the campaign period, including, for example, through the posting of material designed and/or likely to influence voters. Candidates and prospective candidates may engage in activities related to planning a campaign or assembling a campaign team and may answer questions from the media with regard to election plans.

The Committee reserves the right to find a candidate or prospective candidate in violation of this By-law if the actions taken by the candidate or prospective candidate in preparing for the campaign are adjudged to be designed/likely to influence voters.”

CRO RESPONSE: “After further investigation I have deemed this to not be a violation. None of the individuals who shared the post were part of the core campaign team. It is extremely common for students to share the Gazette articles, this occurred for all slates, including Team DiBrina.”

APPEAL SUMMARY: Team DiBrina’s appeal is regarding a Gazette article announcing Team Tobi’s candidacy — similar to articles about the other two slates as well which were released before.

The appeal argues the CRO’s decision by stating that the bylaw doesn’t say pre-campaigning is limited to “core” campaign volunteers.

While the issue isn’t with people sharing the article, the problem is cited with people who are alleged supporters of Team Tobi talking

about the slate’s suitability and experience and asking others to vote for Team Tobi — which the appeal claims is pre-campaigning.

The appeal also states that as the article was published within a week of the campaign period (as opposed to Team DiBrina’s which was before the winter break), it had the potential to influence more people.

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Major or minor violation, up to eight demerit points.

APPEAL 4 DATE FILED: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

ALLEGED VIOLATION: The social science head soph posting in support of Team Tobi in her team’s Facebook group.

BYLAW CITED: “Candidates and campaign volunteers are not entitled to use in their campaign any service or tangible benefits conferred on them by virtue of any position in any organization on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, mailing lists, office space, office supplies, equipment, advertising space, and secretarial services.”

CRO RESPONSE: “The EGC has come to the conclusion that the posts made by sophs in their respectful groups do not warrant further investigation. It is the EGC’s findings that neither [redacted] nor [redacted] are volunteers of Team Tobi, and thus Team Tobi cannot be held responsible for their actions.

The EGC believes that Team Tobi could not have reasonably foreseen that these individuals would post in their soph Facebook group. Due to the fact that these individuals are not campaign volunteers, section 11.4 can not be applied.”

APPEAL SUMMARY: This appeal argues that the head soph posted in her team’s Facebook group in support of Team Tobi as a campaign volunteer and is thus using her position to influence voters in the group.

The appeal cites various instances where the soph shared or posted favourably for Team Tobi on social media, including twice updating her Facebook cover photo to the “I’m Voting Team Tobi” banner. The soph also allegedly publicly endorsed Team Tobi and her endorsement was up on their campaign website until the site was taken down.

The appeal argues that the soph’s encouragement to her peers and frosh to vote for Team Tobi could have had a significant impact on the election as there are over 1,500 first years in the social science faculty.

Team DiBrina’s appeal wants the Appeals Board to declare the soph a campaign volunteer and as a result find Team Tobi to be in violation of the “benefits acquired by virtue of office” rule.

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Major violation, up to eight demerit points.

APPEAL 6 DATE FILED: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.

Alleged violation: The EGC did not give Team Tobi an appropriate amount of demerit points for breaking campaigning rules in residence buildings.

BYLAW CITED: “Door-to-door campaigning may take place from Monday to Friday door campaigning may take place from Monday

NATALIE TREFFRY GAZETTE

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to Friday, from Monday to Friday, between any, between 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. only.”

CRO RESPONSE: The EGC responded to the Team Tobi violating campaigning rules in Delaware Hall and Essex Hall residences by sanctioning Team Tobi with one major violation for eight points.

APPEAL SUMMARY: In this appeal, Team DiBrina agrees with the EGC’s decision to sanction Team Tobi for violating campaign rules in residence. However, they argue that the precedent shows that campaigning in two residences should count for two separate violations.

The example provided is of Team Litchfield’s campaign in 2015, which was sanctioned twice for violations in two separate off-campus buildings.

The appeal also argues that both instances should be considered major violations because of the number of voters potentially reached.

“Presumably they knocked on every door of each residence, as they claim to have done with Perth Hall, meaning they had access to the 465 residents of Delaware Hall and the 508 residents of Essex Hall,” the appeal states.

“Overall, this violation allowed them to potentially reach and influence 973 students or over 10 per cent of the total voter turnout in this year’s election.”

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Two major violations, up to 16 demerit points.

APPEAL 7 DATE FILED: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.

ALLEGED VIOLATION: While the EGC docked Solebo and Tulk for posting in residence Facebook groups, it did not account for campaign volunteers posting in other groups.

BYLAW CITED: “Candidates and campaign volunteers are not permitted to post on residence-managed social media platforms (e.g., building Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, etc.).”

CRO RESPONSE: Solebo and Tulk were collectively awarded a minor violation with four demerit points for posting in the Ontario Hall and Hellmuth (Huron) residence groups.

APPEAL SUMMARY: This appeal focuses on two posts by two different people in the Saugeen-Maitland Hall 2016-17 and Medway-Sydenham 2015-16 Facebook groups.

Team DiBrina allege that the person posting in the Saugeen group is involved with a club who endorsed Team Tobi and her Facebook photos show her associating with a member of Team Tobi’s fraternity. Because of these associations the student is not at arm’s length and Team Tobi should be held responsible for her actions.

The person who posted in the Med-Syd group is part of a Western sorority that endorsed Team Tobi and cannot be considered at arm’s length and Team Tobi should be held responsible for her actions.

Similar to the sanctions handed out to Team Tobi for the two candidates posting in residence groups, Team DiBrina wants the posts in the Saugeen and Med-Syd groups to be treated the same way.

TEAM DIBRINA RECOMMENDATION: Minor violation, up to four demerit points.

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JENNY JAY GAZETTE

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sex issue

Abstinence as a liberatory practice Stop!

Samah Time

SAMAH ALI CULTURE EDITOR @SISTERSAMAH Sex was never spoken about in my family. It was something that happened in closed quarters and was never brought up.

My culture and religion viewed it as a taboo topic; I read it as an element in a relationship that was there, but not a necessity. There were more pressing matters to care about when you were involved with someone.

Now as a grown woman, I find it incredible that sex is all around me — my Instagram feed, my lecture slides and even in my day-to-day conversations. I’m comfortable talking about sex with my peers because it’s a product of our culture. We are comfortable sharing the intimate details of our love or sex lives, since it is often sans-love in our hookup culture. But what amazes me every time is the look of sheer shock people get when I tell them I’m abstinent — and also a virgin.

Widened eyes and gawking faces react as they wonder how I can be so sex positive but not active. How I can cheer on my friends for their escapades and exhibitionism but be so conservative myself? Time and again I laugh at how naïve most are to people like me: those who are supportive and not judgmental but choose not to participate for personal reasons.

I’m not a unicorn, nor am I an anomaly. I’m just a human who has decided to wait until marriage, and there’s nothing wrong with that decision.

I’m abstinent because of my religion, a choice I made wholeheartedly. What’s interesting are the replies I get because of my choice.

Most think I’m waiting for nothing, that God doesn’t exist and I’m missing out on exciting sexual

Mourning the death of the date in hookup culture

Being a virgin is typically seen as an odd thing at my age in our society, but I’m comfortable because it strengthens my relationship with my culture and religion. experiences. Some think I’m a prude and will eventually give it up to the person I decide to see seriously.

But this underlying mentality that it’s weird, or even taboo, to not be sexually active as a young adult is what has me confused. When we’re practicing sex in a sexually liberal culture, why do we think virgins are sexually frustrated moralists that can’t possibly support or exist without bending over backwards to preach their beliefs?

Abstaining from sex is one of the most secure life decisions I have made as a woman. I can decipher through people’s intentions and avoid the sexcrazed hookup apps because that is not something that appeals to me. I can dedicate the time I would waste on platonic situation-ships and use it on bettering myself with my religion or personal goals.

I can do all of this and still encourage those who are sexually active to keep safe and do them — or do others.

This is all to say that I do not see my virginity as a gift I will reward my future partner, or an act of defiance against our sexually-saturated western culture or a strategic move to not be labeled as a slut or tease.

It’s a decision that I’m happy with despite the half-naked Instagram photos and suggestive comments I interact with on a daily basis.

Being a virgin is typically seen as an odd thing at my age in our society, but I’m comfortable because it strengthens my relationship with my culture and religion. Staying abstinent is a personal choice and liberating in its own regard, and keeping my body to myself is what I see as a personal contract of selflove — the most important relationship we can ever have in life.

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JENNY JAY GAZETTE

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AMY SKODAK CULTURE EDITOR @AMYSKODAK I’m riding the bus back from the mall when I meet this guy. He’s cute, talkative and doesn’t give a terrible response when I ask what his favourite quote is.

He also goes to Western, so he’s scoring pretty well in my books. He asks for my number before I leave and I float home already checking my phone more often than usual.

Two days go by and there’s still no text from my mystery man. Then 2 a.m. rolls around.

“Hey, guess who?” I read, the words glowing in my darkened room. “Wanna meet up?”

Ah, hookup culture.

I r-bomb his text, roll my eyes and fall back asleep.

There was a time I would have jumped out of bed and excitedly picked out something to wear with the naïve impression that this was a date. But I know how this narrative really goes — and it’s not my thing.

I should clarify: seeing someone casually and hooking up is popular for a reason. Some people enjoy one night stands as a carefree alternative to dating and that’s a-okay.

What I can’t wrap my head around is why people become so cowardly when it comes to romantic or sexual encounters. If you’re only interested in hooking up, make that clear; if you’re interested in something more, make that clear and invest in a real date.

But this doesn’t happen. With hookup culture, dates are a rarity and flirting has evolved into vague messages with little to no commitment.

There’s a party tonight and the person you’ve been ‘talking to’ says “Maybe I’ll see you there ;).” Why are you only ‘talking,’ why ‘maybe?’ Why can’t we be explicit with what we mean instead of hiding behind open-ended, empty words? At the end of the day, if you want something positive to come out of talking to someone — be it sex or a date or a relationship — you need to make a confident move in that direction.

If I sound bitter, it’s because I am.

I left high school with the impression that relationships were respectful and monogamous. That when people took the time to get to know you it meant they were genuinely interested in you.

Was I sheltered? Yes, very. Is it still bad to want these things in a relationship and hope for a real date? I don’t think so.

When I say “real date” I don’t mean an elaborate dinner, but something a little more creative than hanging out at your place would make for a thoughtful gesture. Dates don’t need to mean you’re ready for some big commitment either. They show that you’re interested in getting to know the person with or without getting lucky later that night.

And if you ask me, London’s got a lot of untapped potential for dating.

Between ice skating, cafés, art galleries and hiking trails, it’s a rom-com waiting to happen. You could pull a Barney and Robin at laser tag or plan a Dutchthemed picnic in Victoria Park if John Green’s The Fault in your Stars is more your style.

I miss the excitement of getting to know someone, building up the courage to ask someone out and letting a relationship naturally unfold — or not.

Upon move-in day in first year, we trade in this process in favour of gaining fast satisfaction on a Saturday night on Richmond Row. We get swept up; we play along because it’s what everyone else is doing and then spend weeks deciphering vague texts from a onenight stand we thought was something more.

Dating could use some reviving lately. But if the real thing is what your searching for, don’t settle for anything less. Be assertive with what and who you want, pull up your big girl pants (or big boy pants) and make your move.

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 • 7

sex issue

Palms sweaty, knees weak, Eddy’s spaghetti Each year, The Gazette sends an editor on a blind date to get out of the office once in a while. These are their stories.

MOSES MONTERROZA THE EDITOR Honestly, I get why people use Tinder because blind dates are stressful as hell.

Admittedly, I’ve spent the past few years completely focused on school so it’s been a while since I’ve ventured into the dating scene.

Through this experience, however, I learned two important things about myself: one, that I have zero game, and two, that I’ll probably die alone.

Okay, obviously I’m exaggerating a bit, but it was pretty eye opening.

The date began at the Works, a burger joint on Kings St., downtown.

I showed up at around 6 p.m. and the place was completely packed.

The waitress told me that it would be at least 25 to 30 minutes. “Fuuuuck,” I replied.

Suddenly, I felt my phone buzz: a text from an unknown number.

“Hey! I’m almost there!”

“Shit. It’s her,” I thought. A few minutes passed and I got another text saying she was inside the restaurant. Looking up, I began scanning the large crowd of people, looking for someone on their phone waiting by the doors.

Then suddenly, and I swear at that exact moment a chorus of angels began to sing, I spotted her.

She was absolutely gorgeous. She had long black hair, porcelain skin and a smile that could probably (most definitely) make lions purr.

I felt myself melt a little but I had to stay strong.

On the flip side, there I was, standing with my black coat, black pants and slicked-back hair, looking like a Latino Steven Seagal. God help me.

I probably should’ve hugged her when we first met, but instead I opted for an awkward handshake.

Somehow, I was able to turn a beautiful moment into what felt like the beginning of job interview. My talents are boundless.

I told her about the 30-minute wait and on a whim I asked, “Want to go to Spageddy Eddy’s instead?”

She was cool about it and basically told me she’d be down to go anywhere. I thought for a second about just straight up going to McDonald’s but I resisted the urge.

As we walked through the sketchy downtown London streets, we started talking about ourselves.

The usual topics came up, what we studied, what our interests were, etc. Of course, she asked me about The Gazette. I felt a little dweebish explaining to her how I spend the majority of my time writing articles about Western.

Spageddy Eddy’s ended up being the perfect spot for a date, despite that the entrance is located in a dark alleyway on Richmond.

Though once you actually enter, it’s like walking into the inside of a pirate ship — the walls are all wooden and decorated with lifesavers, ropes and paintings.

At first I was kind of weirded

out sitting with a stranger, eating fettuccine and talking about my future aspirations. But as the night went on it was kind of nice just sitting with another human being, talking about literally whatever came to mind. Our topics ranged from philosophy, Trump (of course), and psychology, to memes and a little bit about dating in general.

Though, I’ll be honest: there wasn’t much chemistry. I felt like I was forcing myself to seem more interesting.

I didn’t really make any moves, but that’s always how I’ve operated.

I take things stupidly slow. So the whole night I was really just getting a feel for who she was more than anything else.

After an hour or so of talking, I paid the bill, we left the restaurant and parted ways. An anticlimactic end to an otherwise highly anticipated date.

Final thoughts? The blind dating scene is not for me I guess. Even when the person sitting in front of me is an absolute dime, it just feels odd. I usually take my time with people; only after really getting to know someone do I start opening up. So it felt a little weird laying out all my cards on the table.

Would I recommend it? If you’re super outgoing and you move fast, definitely. But if you’re an awkward soul like myself, I’d recommend a different route.

SALLY ZHENG THE DATE When my friend approached me with the idea of going on a blind date for the amusement of The Gazette, I was hesitant to say the least. I mean, the last time I went on a date (thanks Tinder!) I ended up looking for a million ways to escape.

But with mention of free food and drinks, I accepted. I called an Uber, stepped inside with sweaty palms and weak knees, and was off to Spageddy Eddy’s.

If you thought finding that person who is buying or selling your textbook was awkward, I assure you this is probably worse. After some awkward “are you here” texts and me staring down every male in the place, we managed to find each other. It was awkward. There was silence. I felt my fists clench like the Arthur memes.

But after we sat down and started talking, it wasn’t that bad at all!

I think I am a pretty awkward person, bat even with my shy date it wasn’t awkward at all. We talked about everything from our favourite memes to some weird Greek mythology. Did you know Zeus wheeled women as a swan? Me neither.

My verdict: blind dates are cool.

You meet new people, get food (double win if it’s free) and get to break out of your shell for a night.

Although there is potential for disaster, just hope for the best.

You could meet some pretty cool

people out of it, even if they aren’t bae. I mean, I have the worst luck and I ended up meeting a pretty cool guy whose brother is a rapper.

Not only did I get a food coma and some freedom of speech from this, but I also got a new playlist — I will definitely be bumping some Classik this week.

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

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8 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

sex issue

FIRST LAST GAZETTE

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•

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 • 9

sex issue

Have you ever hooked up with a professor or TA?

How often do you masturbate?

Have you ever had sex on campus?

92.6% No

29%

No

40.8% Once or twice a week

7.4%

71%

Yes

21.9% Every other day

Yes

12.2% Every day 5.3%

Multiple times a day

19.8% Never

Top five longest distances travelled for sex What is your sexual orientation?

What is your romantic orientation?

81%

Straight

76.5%

Gay Bisexual/romantic Pansexual/romantic Asexual/romantic

0

2

4

Hours

6

8

Other

6.1% 8.9% 3.2% 1.1% 4.2%

10

6.3% 6.9% 3.4% 2.3%

Most common ideal date activities How many sexual partners have you had?

Netflix

None

1-2

3-5

6-9

10-15 16-24

25+

12.1%

30.1%

23.6%

12.1%

10.9%

6.5%

4.7%

Most popular

Go out to eat Stay in to eat Common

Do you believe in monogamy?

How old were you when you lost your virginity?

Physical activity

74.8% Yes

Drink alcohol

11.2% Unsure

Never

Conversation

5.6% Other

Least popular

3.3% Yes, but not for me 2.7%

No

2.5% No, but maybe for others

Does size matter?

YES - 49%

Funniest sex positions “Butter churner”

NO - 51%

Top celebrity crushes

“The communist” “Bang gliding”

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Gosling

Zac Efron

“Rusty trombone” “Japanese helicopter”

How do you keep your pubic hair maintained?

Funniest place you’ve had sex Scarlett Johansson Emma Watson

Mila Kunis

“London, Onatrio. This place is pretty fucking weird.”

“McDonald’s PlayPlace.”

“Behind a projector in a lecture hall.”

“Cemetery, in a bush.”

“The garbage dump.”

Shaved/bare

Maintained/trimmed

All natural

The Gazette's sex survey gathered results form 825 participating students for these results.

JORDAN MCGAVIN/DANIEL BODDEN/AMY O’KRUK/SUZANNE LOCKHART/SISSI CHEN GAZETTE

www.westerngazette.ca

10 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

sex issue

•

When true love becomes toxic

VIVIAN CHENG GAZETTE STAFF @GAZETTECULTURE

It’s February, the month of love and passion, and what’s more passionate than Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet — the infamous play about two star-crossed lovers? But people often forget that Shakespeare’s play is a tragedy — a cautionary tale that warns its audience about the dangers of obsessive and unhealthy behaviours in a relationship.

Love in real life can become toxic too, even to the point of abuse.

There is a broad spectrum of relationship abuse, ranging from physical, emotional or psychological abuse — all of which exploit the partner in a relationship and create a harmful imbalance. Heather Wharram, program manager of the London Abused Women’s Shelter, explains that, “abuse occurs when someone has power and control over an individual.”

Often, people question why individuals stay in these relationships.

Western health studies professor Treena Orchard says this mentality disregards the intricate nature and dynamic of abusive relationships.

Regardless of the type of abuse, those exploited in these relationships fall into debilitating patterns.

“In these relationships, there are often longstanding things in the past that prevent you from leaving,” Orchard explains. “You can lose all

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

aspects of who you used to be.”

Wenna Deng, third-year medical sciences student and residence don at Perth Hall, echoes this sentiment.

“At the beginning of a relationship, the honeymoon phase, you may both be respectful of each other. Then you develop an intimate, close bond with your significant other that can make you hold on to

the past,” Deng says.

This can make it difficult to leave a relationship when things go south.

There are a variety of behaviours that create a destructive power imbalance. Wharram reveals that any tactics to control a person constitute as abusive behaviour, including: humiliation, isolation from friends, family or colleagues,

intimidation, threats and more.

When voicing an issue in a relationship, a characteristic response in an abusive relationship is often one that is reactive, defensive and dismissive of the other person’s feelings. This can result in an individual blaming themselves instead of their partners.

Gender roles in relationship

abuse is one of many misconceptions outlined by Wharram. It’s important to note that these behaviours are not exclusive to men in heterosexual relationships. While men are more statistically likely to be perpetrators of abuse against women, anyone can be a perpetrator of abuse, explains Wharram.

Deng says, “The more obvious signs are physical injuries. But the less obvious signs are feeling defensive and more closed off than usual.”

Deng admits it can be a difficult concern to voice if you notice signs of relationship abuse. To approach the difficult conversation with her frosh, Deng says that she would ensure awareness of the resources available, like support from St. John’s Hospital.

However, Orchard says no matter how many resources are available, they need to be mindful of all cultures and need to be 24/7 instead of weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to be more accessible.

As a society, we need to deepen our understanding and rethink what it means to be in an abusive relationship. In order to unpack the belittlement of relationship abuse and create a deeper sense of community with our peers, we need to recognize that relationship abuse can be diverse and can happen to anyone.

Good sex is all about context GRACE TO NEWS EDITOR @GRACE_KTO The university years are a great time to learn about relationships, love and sex.

These are the years of exploring our likes and dislikes by meeting new people and going on dates. If you’re fortunate enough to meet the right person and the dates are going well, you might just get lucky.

Getting laid with that special someone can be the cherry on top of a good week. For some, having sex is their solution of relieving some stress.

But how exactly does sex affect mood?

According to William Fisher, distinguished professor in psychology and obstetrics and gynaecology at Western, sex and mood have a complicated relationship.

“It would be a mistake to think simplistically about a direct arrow emanating from a sexual interaction to a change in mood,” says Fisher.

“Context makes all the difference.”

A positive mood from good sex varies depending on different elements. New romantic partners can elicit feelings of high arousal and excitement while serious long-term couples focus more on bonding and intimacy. As couples gradually learn more about each other’s turn-ons, this can lead to more pleasure.

Willingness and consent also come into play — if one partner only agrees to sex to help relieve the other sexually, there may be less of a positive outcome. Sex can be frustrating or anxiety-ridden when it starts feeling like work. Great sex has nothing to do with quantity but everything to do with quality.

Without a romantic partner, students may opt for hookups. Hooking up is not a new thing to hit university campuses. According to Fisher, hookup culture has been prevalent in nearly every generation of students. However, he warns that those

one-night flings may not always result in bliss.

“If you’re originally kind of blue, depressed or lonely, and you hook up [with someone], you feel a lot better afterwards,” explains Fisher.

“On the other hand, if you’re not blue or lonely, sometimes hooking up makes you feel a little depressed.”

What hookups lack is that special emotional connection that can separate good sex with really good sex.

As Fisher continues to emphasize, partners should have a close emotional connection and that romance must also be involved.

Sometimes, sex involving confused emotions may lead to even more stress and confusion, as exhibited by the struggles of keeping a ‘friends with benefits’ status quo.

Although having sex with someone who you trust and mutually respect seems like a good idea, best friends may not always make the ideal sex partner.

“The question of floorcest or having sex with a person with whom you ordinarily had a non-sexual relationship is largely one of roles,” says Fisher. “When you reconnect with a non-romantic partner with whom you had sexual relations with, the nature of the relationship is suddenly uncertain.”

With a positive mood and less stress, students may also find that they focus on their studies better. Again, context is everything — some people may be able to channel the positivity from a new love or sex relationship to be more productive in other aspects of their life while others may be more distracted by it.

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

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• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 • 11

sex issue

The science behind why sparks fly when you kiss ANNIE RUETER CULTURE EDITOR @ANNIERUETER1 Kissing: It’s something we do with family and romantic partners, often daily. But what’s the science behind this act of affection in the romantic context? And is it the same for all genders?

On Valentine’s Day in 2011, CBC radio hosted Sheril Kirshenbaum, a researcher from the University of Texas who has written the book entitled The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips are Telling Us. Her research suggests that kissing can’t be boiled down to just sexual arousal.

For women especially, kissing serves the function of assessing genetic compatibility and romantic suitability. Women are naturally more selective of their partner because their fertility is comparatively time-limited and they may bear the reproductive burden that is pregnancy.

A study from Oxford researchers Rafael Wlodarski and Robin Dunbar confirms that women value kissing more than men, especially when they are at more fertile stages of their menstrual cycle. They are more

selective about who they kiss and use kissing to determine the level of commitment to the relationship.

For men, kissing is more sexually driven. Men can even increase the libido of their partner through slobbery kisses that pass on testosterone — the male sex hormone — to their partner through their saliva. This is especially applicable to long-term romantic relationships where small amounts of testosterone are regularly passed on to their partner.

But something that men and women do share is the survival instincts that impact our lip sensitivity and whose lips we are attracted to.

Kirshenbaum explains that lips are an erogenous zone of the body, meaning they are packed with nerve endings that are highly sensitive — even more so than genitals. She refers to lips as “a genital echo” and attributes lip sensitivity to the oral stimulation we experienced as infants during breastfeeding.

Like breastfeeding, colour identification as a means of survival also connects to kissing today. Attraction to red lips may have evolved from the ability to spot red fruit in the

wild, meaning humans could feed themselves and pass on their genes.

So, assessing genetic compatibility and survival play a role in kissing, but what about the part of kissing that just feels good?

Wlodarski and Dunbar explain that the brain’s reward and motivational systems kick into high gear during a kiss. Chemicals like dopamine and serotonin are released, which have the effect of making us long for our partners until we are rewarded by seeing them again.

Until then, that chemical and hormonal concoction can have us in a daydream phase.

And of course, kissing does play a role in sexual arousal. But overall, Wlodarski and Dunbar found that kissing’s primary role in relationships — be it long term or short term — was not sexual arousal.

Sex itself didn’t even impact overall relationship satisfaction as much as kissing. Rather, they found that kissing mainly functions to assess mate compatibility and sense of romantic attachment.

So the next time you have a good foot-poppin’ kiss, there’s likely a lot more involved in it than you think.

Dating your high school sweetheart in university SABRINA FRACASSI NEWS EDITOR @SABFRACASSI When I came to university in September of 2014 I had only started dating my boyfriend four months earlier.

Originally from Vaughan, the two of us spent the summer together.

But, as it happens, summer flew by and by the time I was supposed to leave, I genuinely cared for a person who I would have to leave behind.

He is three years older than me and goes to school in Toronto, so not only were we a “new” couple but we were parting ways for the first time.

My feelings that year were rocky. It was hard for me living in residence, my first time away from home, yet tied down in a long-distance relationship.

And it was hard for him too, because he recognized that I was surrounded by a bunch of college boys who counted each girl they had sex with as a “kill.”

But we made it through and now I am in third year and comfortable with my relationship status.

Many people in university may believe that being in a long-term relationship can ruin their university experience — these are the years for having fun! But, the more I talked to others in long-term relationships, the more I realized that it’s not so bad after all.

Bethany Yam is a second-year health science student who has been dating her boyfriend since grade nine. Being in a similar situation as me, with her boyfriend attending university at McGill instead of Western, Yam notes that things were difficult at the beginning.

“It was such a big change because we grew up together in high school and I was just so used to him being there all the time, physically, but when we got into first year it was hard to see each other because we’re both busy and we’re trying to adapt to a new life,” said Yam. “It was hard, but I guess it just made me realize

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

how much we have.”

Marlee Kosir, a current student in teacher’s college, is one of the few who dated her high school sweetheart through her entire undergrad at Western. However, they were both London locals and did not have to go through the separation that comes with a long distance relationship.

“I think the biggest change is just that the times that we did spend together were valued more because we had to spend so much time on the school work that we were doing,” said Kosir.

My story also seems to be a “success” by these standards. My boyfriend and I made it through first year and are still together now, three years later. Yet I must admit, I sometimes find myself wondering what this experience would be like single.

But then I listen to some of the horror stories that my single friends tell me, ranging from bar hookups gone wrong to girls literally getting catfished.

As my one friend eloquently told me, “Cherish your boyfriend; he will never catfish you.”

And I am thankful. Thankful that I have someone I can trust, thankful that I know someone cares about me and thankful that I have my best friend by my side.

My final verdict: being in a long-distance relationship in university can be tough. However, that doesn’t mean your experience is worse than your single peers. You can have fun and work towards your goals while having your significant other by your side.

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

12 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

sex issue

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

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• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 • 13

opinions

OP-ED

Make your voices heard on Fall Reading Week This Friday, the University Senate will be debating a motion which directly impacts the upcoming academic year for all undergraduate students on our campus.

This year, student leaders from across this campus have worked together and advocated on behalf of students to our university administration to implement a week-long reading break in first semester. The work of the University Students’ Council and the Western student senators is continual, and it is now time for Western administration to make the ultimate decision.

In light of recent tragedies that have and continue to shake our community, it is a core role of student leaders to ensure that students health and well-being remain a priority not just in regards to student support services, but into the structure of the academic experience as well.

A petition administered by the Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Council that asked students to support a full Reading Week following the Thanksgiving weekend garnered signatures of over 5,625 respondents.

Many students and their families provided powerful testimonials highlighting the need to introduce a break where students can prioritize their health for a full week amidst the hectic midterm examination season. The data and testimonials showcase that providing an additional two days off from the academic year to recharge is essential to the betterment of the mental, physical and emotional health of students at this worldclass institution.

In 2013, The Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors stated that the number of students with significant psychological problems is a growing concern, with 46.2 per cent of students listing anxiety as an issue for them. Students deserve a university that encourages academic prosperity in a way that doesn’t undermine health and well-being, but supports and encourages it.

Friday is thus an important day for Western students. If a Fall Reading Break is approved, this decision will signify not only the power of collective student voices and the effectiveness of collaboration in student advocacy, but it will also signify that the health and well-being of students is and will continue to be a priority for Western administration. It will mark a change in the academic sphere at Western and hopefully an ongoing trend to integrate health and well-being into the core of academics at Western.

Students have acted. Students have researched. Students have lobbied. Students have made their voice on this issue loud and clear. It is time for Western administration to take students needs and opinions on what is best for their own well-being into consideration.

There’s a reason that 75 per cent of Ontario universities have fall breaks that are four days or longer.

It’s because it positively affects students at those institutions. It helps international and out-of-province students who can’t afford to go home for only three days. It helps first years who are adjusting to university life. It helps students who feel overwhelmed. It helps students with their mental health, and it helps all students who just need a break.

We ask that in these days you continue to express your support in advance of Friday’s meeting. Reach out to your faculty and affiliate councils, reach out to your faculty administrators, reach out to your student senators and your USC executives.

Support this issue and make your voice heard. The power of the students’ voices and our strength in numbers means that if we all make our voices heard it will eventually be too loud for administration to ignore.

We need #FiveFullDays — Jamie Cleary USC vice-president — Harry Orbach-Miller, Chair of the Western student senators

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

London city council needs to cool their jets about Uber

BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD

Uber is a modern company and many students and city residents use it to get around. London’s city council doesn’t seem to understand that.

After approving a bylaw months ago that would not have required Uber drivers to have cameras in their vehicle, council has pulled a 180 and passed a motion that now actually requires them. Uber has been pretty unequivocal: if they need cameras, they’re packing up and leaving London.

Of course, the taxi industry would love this. Uber would shrug — the London market is nothing in the grand schemes of things. But students who use the service for a more affordable and convenient option would suffer. Drivers who use Uber to supplement their income will also bear the brunt of the decision.

It’s another decision from London’s city council that can’t seem decide if we’re living in a world akin to The Jetsons or The Flintstones.

When debating rapid transit months ago, many councillors noted that autonomous vehicles were the way of the future. They mused about the potential for self-driving buses! Then some of those same councillors turned around and opposed Uber.

than taking a cab. They point out that they can rate their experience, easily report any problems and their route is being tracked. A camera would only capture a bad or criminal experience after it has already occurred.

Logistically speaking, the implementation of cameras in Uber cars is also tricky. Many drivers use these cars privately. Can you turn the cameras on and off? Couldn’t someone just turn a camera off? Who is monitoring this footage? The questions that are spurred from this decision don’t have answers yet.

This decision by the council isn’t just a giant middle finger to students — although it is — it’s also dismissive of large swaths of London in general. The market for Uber seems to be expanding; it’s not just a service for tech-savvy millennial students.

In 2014, many incumbents from city council were turfed and replaced with younger politicians who were seemingly more forward thinking. London needs to embrace this mentality more than an attitude where the city should just “settle.”

And for what reason?

Uber is a forward-looking company and the city could learn a lot by embracing it. We shouldn’t have to just embrace cabs because that’s the way things have always been.

Many students feel that riding in an Uber is safer

London, settle for more.

OP-ED

City needs to let Uber and taxi markets regulate themselves Last year, London city council began a review and amendment of our current taxi and limousine bylaw.

Under the current bylaw, the only vehicles for hire allowed are taxis and limos that have a city plate allowing them to operate in London. Until a new bylaw is passed, ride-sharing companies are illegal in the city of London and subject to fines.

Council’s community and protective services committee began to review the bylaw with an eye to what the future holds. We heard from an Uber representative who made us aware that Uber would like to start operating in the city.

Uber was asked to wait until our bylaw was in place, as they were not legally allowed to operate under the existing bylaw. Uber did not wait. In the summer of 2015 Uber launched, illegally, in London.

The committee has continued

to work through the bylaw review, holding public participation meetings, and consulting with our city staff, the industry and the community. Recently a draft bylaw came before committee — with only four committee members present, they did not reach a decision on the draft bylaw, and the entire draft was sent to council on Jan. 31, 2017.

Council approved the draft bylaw with a few amendments. We increased the upfront costs paid by ride-sharing companies based on the number of vehicles that will be operating, and decreased the per trip costs. Additionally, the requirement for forward and rear facing cameras was added to include ride-sharing vehicles as well. The revised bylaw goes to council on Feb. 14 for approval.

I did not support requiring cameras in ride-sharing vehicles

and here is why: these are private businesses. There are no other private businesses where city council mandates cameras. There are no other private businesses that the city regulates so closely.

We are being asked to regulate this industry under the premise of consumer protections. I would, and have, argued that there are many other businesses and services that have a much higher risk to the consumer that we don’t regulate as much as we do with the taxi industry. There are so many examples, but I will give you one.

Restaurants.

Restaurants must be inspected before opening and then annually.

This is to ensure that they are handling and preparing food safely to protect the public. It could be argued that we could protect consumers more by putting a camera in every commercial kitchen so that if someone gets food poisoning we can review what happened, but we don’t. We ensure that they have the knowledge in place and we inspect them annually. There is a very high risk to public safety in food preparation, yet our regulatory regime is a fraction of that in the taxi industry.

Personally, I would actually prefer to see the city move out of regulating the taxi industry as much as possible and allow the market to regulate itself. By

moving to a police check and vehicle inspection being the only requirements to open, we would allow the market to regulate itself.

Consumers would determine the value of the product (fare cost), demand will regulate the number of products (cars/businesses) available.

London needs to be a city that is open to new business and innovation. We need to remove barriers and allow Londoners the opportunity to choose the service they want — through their business. A novel concept will often get a warm welcome, but only a good product will have longevity in that market.

— Virginia Ridley City Councillor (Ward 10)

Editorials are decided by a majority of the editorial board and are written by a member of the editorial board but are not necessarily the expressed opinion of each editorial board member. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USC, The Gazette, its editors or staff. To submit a letter, go to westerngazette.ca and click on “Contact.”

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14 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

sports

•

Mustang alumna joins CWHL All-Star game CLAIRE PALMER SPORTS EDITOR @CLAIREATGAZETTE The Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) held their third annual all-star weekend this past Friday and Saturday in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre.

Team White, captained by Carlee Campbell, beat out Natalie Spooner and Meaghan Mikkelson’s Team Blue by a score of 9–5 in the highscoring affair.

“It was awesome, those girls in the stands there cheering us on, and they looked like they had a blast,” said Mikkelson. “Lots of dancing going on up there in the stands and it was a really fun atmosphere, so a huge thanks to all the fans that came out.”

Team White got off to a hot start, scoring three unanswered goals in the first frame. Jess Jones had the first two goals of the night, while Jill Saulnier rounded off the period with a goal and an assist. Christina Kessler persevered her shutout into the second period before the midgame goalie change saw Charline Labonté take over the duties in the crease.

“We kind of surprised ourselves, we all thought we were doing really well,” said Campbell about her team’s strong start. “It was one of those things where we were all speaking before the game about how there’s a bunch of little girls in the stands who look up to us, so let’s make this a fun and memorable experience for them.”

Katelyn Gosling, a former Western Mustang who led the team to both a provincial and national title in 2015, was drafted to Team

Blue on Friday night, captained Spooner and Mikkelson. Gosling was on the ice for Kelly Terry’s goal, breaking out of her own zone with a nice pass which generated offense, resulting in Team Blue’s first goal of the night.

“It was definitely phenomenal, we all had a great time out there and it was a lot of fun being out there with all those players,” said Gosling. “You definitely feel pretty small out there, but for sure [it’s] an experience I’m going to remember.”

Team Blue finally got on the board midway through the second period when Terry took advantage of a text book breakout play by her defense, and ruining Team White’s shutout. Team White restored their three-goal lead before the end of the second period, as Saulnier recorded her second goal of the night. Team Blue, not to be outdone, scored with 40 seconds left in the period as Brianne Jenner rifled it home, assisted by Spooner.

“This was an opportunity to show what we have,” said Mikkelson.

“There was some forechecking and some backchecking, which you don’t often see in all-star games, but I think everyone tried to bring some skill but also some effort too.”

The third period saw both team trade goals, as well as hat tricks from Jones and Saulnier. Jenelle Kohanchuk of Team Blue had two goals of her own in the period, while Haley Irwin also notched one for Team Blue. Team White saw Marie-Phillipe Poulin and Meaghan Grieves both get on the scoresheet as Team White closed out the game 9–5.

“In a game like this, it’s a lot of

JENNY JAY GAZETTE Team White, lead by Carlee Campbell, claimed a 9–5 victory over Team Blue, led by Natalie Spooner and Meaghan Mikkelson, in the 2017 CWHL All Star game at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. Katelyn Gosling, a Mustang alumna, played on Team Blue.

fun, and obviously were all very competitive — some of my best friends are on that other team,” said Saulnier after the game. “We want to score and we want to win, but it’s obviously all good fun, but it’s good to get the win for White as well.”

Attendance at the game was 8,122, an impressive number for a league that is only just celebrating its 10th season. The fans were mainly from minor hockey teams, with young female hockey players passionately cheering on their idols on the ice. The continued fastpaced growth of the CWHL shows how quickly women’s hockey is

growing, and how professional women’s hockey is becoming closer to a reality with each approaching day “I heard that sales were up 25 per cent from last year, which was huge,” said Saulnier. “You could tell from the bench and the atmosphere was pretty exciting, so I think it’d be pretty special for little girls in the stands for sure.”

The growth of the all-star game bodes well for the players as they anticipate that success will continue to grow over the next few years. Most CWHL players aspire of being as well-established and

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popular as their male counterparts in the NHL one day.

“I feel like every year over the past few years it’s getting bigger every year,” said Spooner. “We’re getting more fans out, so I think eventually we’ll be able to fill up this whole building [Air Canada Centre].”

The CWHL regular season resumes next Saturday, on Hockey Day in Canada (Feb. 18). Gosling and the Calgary Inferno will face off against the Montreal Canadiennes as they defend their Clarkson Cup championship from last season.

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