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2 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

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CARLA RAWSON

Volume 111, Issue 4 WWW.WESTERNGAZETTE.CA University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial 519.661.3580 Advertising 519.661.3579

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AMY O’KRUK @AMYOKRUK MANAGING EDITOR OF DESIGN JORDAN MCGAVIN @JMCGAVIN13 MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT RITA RAHMATI @RITARAHMATI

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“I’ve taken the summer off from playing competitive ultimate ... so I’m anxious to get back out there,” said Rawson. “I’ve been resting because burnout is real, but the team looks so promising this year.”

During a late-night Med-Syd frosh-week socializing event, Rawson was approached by two of her frosh, and the topic of relationships came up. Rawson casually mentioned that she had a girlfriend in the past, but before she could elaborate, she was whisked away by another frosh. When she returned, the two girls were still there. Their eyes lit up, and one of them quickly asked, “ [Rawson], how do you meet girls?”

Coaching over the summer was a welcome rest for Rawson. Prior to that, Rawson spent the majority of the past couple years playing competitively at both the international and university level.

“That was kind of like this very funny, very cute moment where I realized that me being myself had made an impact,” said Rawson. “Just seeing that is just such a pleasure.”

Two years ago, Rawson was in Warsaw, Poland, at the top of the junior ultimate frisbee world, clutching the gold medal she’d won as a member of the Canadian U20 Women’s team, the first women’s team to beat the Americans in almost half a decade.

Taking the summer off and resting up was ultimately the right choice for Rawson, who has been committed to this sport since she first gave it a try on a whim back in her Grade 9 gym class.

“It was kind of the perfect storm,” said Rawson. “It was probably one of the greatest ultimate experiences I’ll ever have. It was the first time that I had really committed to ultimate and committed to being the best I could be.”

In line with being the best she can be, Rawson is also a dedicated member of the FIMS soph team going into her third year at Western. Despite the exhaustion that comes with balancing sophing, a full course load and

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“The day I scored my first point, I knew that I loved this sport, and I wanted to get better at this as much as I could,” said Rawson. “That summer, I toured with a competitive travel team in Toronto, and then the rest is history.”

Despite the busy schedule, the compromises and the lack of sleep, Rawson wouldn’t trade either of her experiences for the world. In the end, the pros always outweigh the cons.

■■CLAIRE PALMER

Blast from om the past

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Rawson recalls a moment during her first year sophing, back when she was a residence soph in MedwaySydenham Hall. There, she first became aware of the impact she had on those around her.

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CLAIRE PALMER

INTERACTIVE MEDIA CONNOR CLARK

Running across campus, she reaches the practice fields where she quickly “cleats-up.” She’s ready to take the field for try-outs with the nationally-ranked Western Mustangs varsity ultimate frisbee team. Going into her third year on the team, this season is a homecoming of sorts for her, as she returns to the sport for the first time in almost a year.

competitive sports, Rawson isn’t about to quit. The positive impact she has on her frosh far outweighs the challenges of her busy schedule.

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CHARLIE O’CONNOR CLARKE

VIDEO LAUREN COLES JOSH MERIFIELD

Carla Rawson dons her thrifted jean jacket with an iron-on FIMS patch. With her American Apparel shirt and her dip-dyed hair, she is the epitome of a FIMS soph during O-Week.

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September 1964: Western’s fishing team takes the top prize RITA RAHMATI MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT

All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives.

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

The year was 1964, the location was New Brunswick and the catch was 703 pounds.

Western University’s fishing team was victorious at the inter-collegiate fishing competition against Canadian and American universities.

Western’s team won the Crandall Cup — the prize for catching the largest fish — for the 703-pound tuna fish. The monstrous tuna was the largest fish ever caught in the competition’s history up to that point. It took over one hour to drag it onto the boat.

The Western team came second in the overall competition, with the University of New Brunswick’s two fish weighing more than Western’s.

Western’s team also won the R.J. Schaefer International Trophy along with the other Canadian schools for accumulating the highest total point score. The Canadian schools beat out notable American schools including Yale University, Harvard University and Princeton University.

Although Western University has over 40 varsity teams today, the fishing team’s now a relic of the past.

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 • 3

news

Western alumnus donates school supplies to Toronto kids MARTIN ALLEN NEWS EDITOR @_MARTINALLEN

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

London’s low household incomes disincentive for students to stay post grad GRACE TO NEWS EDITOR @GRACEKTOE London’s recent census data may provide clues as to why many students leave London after graduation.

Statistics Canada released census data on Sept. 13 that revealed London’s median total household income is in the bottom third of all census metropolitan areas in Canada.

“Back in 2005, we ranked 12 out of the 35 census metropolitan areas in terms of household income,” said Don Kerr, a Western University professor of sociology and a demographer. “We’re now 27 out of 35.”

With a median total household income of about $62,000, London is below the national and provincial averages and is the second-­ lowest among large Ontario cities.

The census data also shows that the number of children in London who live in low-income households has also increased significantly and has now risen higher than the national average.

Kerr said although the national

census reflects that Canada’s economy is growing, London isn’t experiencing the same growth.

While the census takes students living on their own in London into account, Kerr said that those students do not make up a majority of the data and should not have affected London’s standings. It also doesn’t explain why neighbouring cities with large universities didn’t experience the dip that London did.

Citing the recession in 2009, Kerr said that it hit southwestern Ontario very hard and, as a result, cities like London lost many jobs, especially in the manufacturing and food-processing industries. For example, in 2014, London’s Kellogg’s cereal factory closed, causing over 500 people to lose their jobs. Kerr stated that the London region has not seen the same employment growth that other parts of Canada have seen.

This employment stagnation, along with other factors, may contribute to London’s trouble hanging onto Western alumni.

Ward 6 councillor, Phil Squire, acknowledged that the city has

It has everything to do with employment and jobs. I think it’s reasonable for young adults to go to where the jobs are.

DON KERR PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, DEMOGRAPHER

difficulties retaining students after they graduate. He also said that students in his ward had concerns about the availability of entry level, high-paying jobs in London.

“I think this is a wake-up call for our economical development people at the city,” said Squire.

In terms of London’s potential areas for employment, both Kerr and Squire believe that the tech and healthcare industries are the strongest. Squire expressed that he wants to continue creating jobs in those sectors.

“It has everything to do with employment and jobs,” said Kerr.

“I think it’s reasonable for young adults to go to where the jobs are.”

Western study finds negative effects of teen marijuana use may be reversible AMY O’KRUK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @AMYOKRUK Western University researchers might have found a way to reverse the harmful effects marijuana can have on teenagers’ brains.

Specifically, a recent study used pharmaceuticals to combat the negative psychiatric effects of THC, the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana.

Long-term adolescent marijuana use has previously been linked to the development of psychiatric diseases later in adulthood, like schizophrenia. Justine Renard, post-doctoral fellow and one of the study’s team leads, also pointed to other negative effects like cognitive deficits, anxiety, lack of motivation and depression-like symptoms.

Researchers weren’t sure what

the link was between marijuana and psychiatric disorders until now. However, the study identified a specific mechanism.

Using adolescent rats, the researchers found that THC exposure regulates the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain’s prefrontal cortex region. The team looked at GABA because of its clinical association with schizophrenia.

The study found that adolescent THC exposure resulted in a reduction of GABA, causing the neurons in adulthood to be out of sync with each other. The loss of GABA in the cortex also led to a hyperactive state in the brain’s dopamine system — as commonly observed with schizophrenia.

Finally, the team was able to reverse THC’s adverse psychiatric effects by using drugs to activate

GABA in a rat model of schizophrenia and eliminating symptoms.

Renard said adolescents’ brains are particularly vulnerable to THC’s harmful effects because the brain is maturing.

“There’s a lot of things taking place,” she said. “The neurotransmitters are changing. If you use cannabis, the THC is going to act on specific receptors and mess up organization.”

Going forward, the research team will look at how combinations of cannabinoid chemicals and GABA-boosting compounds could create more effective treatments for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

“Our findings help us to … find out what’s going on in the brain and why it’s important to keep marijuana out of adolescents’ hands,” said Renard.

A Western alumnus is donating school supplies to Toronto kids in need — enough to fill 80 backpacks.

The school supplies will go to two Toronto schools: Crescent Town Elementary and Queen Alexandra Middle School. John Vuong, Western University alumnus and the son of Vietnamese parents who came to Canada as refugees in 1980, is leading the initiative.

School board officials suggested the schools to Vuong, and the school principals indicated what items would be most useful. The elementary students will receive school supplies like geometry sets, books and binders, while the middle-school students will receive personal hygiene items like toothpaste and deodorant. Vuong shopped for the items himself, filling 40 backpacks for each school to help children of immigrant and low-income families.

The administrations will distribute the backpacks to those most in need.

Vuong said he was lucky to attend university at Western and to become CEO of Local SEO Search Inc., a digital marketing firm. He wants other students to have the same opportunities he was given.

“Canada was good to my family,” he said. “Other new immigrants and children deserve to have a helping hand as they start school this year.”

This is the first year Vuong’s launched the initiative, and he plans to distribute school supplies to a dozen schools next year.

However, he wants to retain the grass-roots feel of the operation to remain flexible to specific needs in the community. To reach more schools, he wants to work with his business clients to support the initiative and local business near the schools.

“Big brands are not as personal,” he said. “you go to a local barber to talk to them — you don’t talk to the people at Staples.”

Collaboration with the schools also provides valuable insight into what actually benefits kids. Vuong raised the example of toy drives, which are a more glamorous process for the donator who would rather choose a toy for a child than toothpaste, but kids will benefit more from essential items than toys.

“I’m just trying to be as honest as possible,” he said. “I’m not just trying to grow my company. I’m trying to do good.”

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9 a.m. - Mass with contemplative chant (led by cantor) in ‘The Chapel’ at 1486 Richmond Street 11 a.m. - Mass with traditional and contemporary music (with choir) in ‘The Chapel’ at 1486 Richmond Street 5 p.m. - Mass with mainly contemporary music (with choir) in Elizabeth A. “Bessie” Labatt Hall at King’s University College * Note: All Masses will be located at Labatt Hall as of January 1, 2018

Other programs/prayers: Sacraments, Daily Eucharist, Adoration, Taizé prayer, Pastoral counselling, Social justice and outreach, Lectures, Retreats, Choirs, and more

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4 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

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Federal government invests over $20 million in Western researchers GRACE TO NEWS EDITOR @GRACEKTOE Western University’s researchers and scientists will receive over $20 million to support long-term research.

Kate Young, London West MP and parliamentary secretary for science, and Peter Fragiskatos, London North Centre MP, unveiled the announcement last Friday, Sept.

15 at the university.

“Research does take a long time, so we have to be prepared to wait and to fund researchers in the longterm,” Young said.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council will distribute the money, funding Canada’s 2017 competition for Discovery Grants Program, scholarships and fellowships at the university. According to the news release, this will be the largest annual NSERC investment.

Young said the funding allows students to be more aware of the available opportunities in research, emphasizing the potential for jobs in the future. She also added that the grant will hopefully attract more student researchers and push young females to get more involved in the STEM field.

According to Fragiskatos, this grant will have significant economic implications for everyday Londoners. He also believes that the city is a vital research centre and that the university is an important part of it.

GRACE TO GAZETTE BIRD IS THE WORD. Scholarship recipient Beth MacDougall-Shackleton gives a tour of her avian research facility.

“When we think about our researchers, we want to make sure that they continue to carry out groundbreaking work and cutting-edge research,” said Fragiskatos.

Young and Fragiskatos announced that researchers at Western will receive $600,000 as Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipients. Beth MacDougall-Shackleton, Western biology professor and researcher, studies ecoimmunology and behavioural ecology of migratory birds, and was one of the recipients of the grant.

In her lab, she works with birds to study the interaction between

evolutionary processes and ecological processes. Specifically, she studies how parasites affect the health of songbirds, such as their migration, mate choice and genetics.

“This research is becoming increasingly timely in the face of a challenging climate,” stated MacDougall-Shackleton. “I’m delighted that the government — through NSERC — supported it.”

She said that the funding will make a huge difference in her ability to attract the best students, supporting both graduate and undergraduate students.

“That’s the importance of fundamental research,” explained

Fragiskatos. “Perhaps you don’t see the outcomes in the immediate future, but you will see them in the long-term. You need a government in place that recognizes that.”

That’s the importance of fundamental research. Perhaps you don’t see the outcomes in the immediate future, but you will see them in the long-term.

You need a government in place that recognizes that.

PETER FRAGISKATOS LONDON NORTH CENTRE MP

•

BRIEFS KING’S FRIENDSHIP BENCH EMPHASIZES MENTAL WELLNESS King’s University College’s campus is welcoming a permanent reminder about the importance of suicide prevention — a bright yellow bench.

Dubbed the Friendship Bench, Sam Fiorella, co-founder and director of the Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench campaign, unveiled the bench alongside Violette Khammad, president of King’s University College Students’ Council, and Joe Henry, dean of students at King’s, on Tuesday Sept. 12.

The Friendship Bench campaign’s official hashtag, #yellowisforhello, emphasizes the importance of opening up dialogues of mental health and wellness on campus.

“When you say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ to someone, it kind of reminds them that ‘Hey, someone cares about me’ or ‘Hey, I’m not alone,’” explained Khammad. “The colour yellow is visible and it reminds you to take care of yourself and the people around you.”

Although some may not know it’s part of a mental health initiative, the bench does have a plaque with a URL that allows students to look up mental health resources within the community.

Sponsored by both the KUCSC and King’s, the bench is the first to be installed on a London campus and the 40th bench to be installed in Canada. It can be found near the King’s Student Life Centre.

■■GRACE TO

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 • 5

news

Taylor Library reno to finish this month MARTIN ALLEN NEWS EDITOR @_MARTINALLEN The multi-year, multi-floor renovation of Allyn and Betty Taylor Library will finish later this month.

The library’s most significant changes came with the reconstruction of its main floor, which finished in the fall of last year. The floor is now brightly lit and sprawling with cubicles, large tables and more comfortable seats.

Outside of the seating changes, media rooms were added along the edges of the floor as a means for students to meet and practice presentations. And following requests from student groups, a large counter by the front entrance of the floor can be booked by student groups who wish to self-promote their organization.

Similar changes were made to Taylor’s ground floor. But the floor also features the new Collaborative Learning Centre — a sequestered room with several usable TVs. The room has a higher acceptable volume level than the rest of the otherwise silent floor.

Once ground-lower is finished being retiled later this month, the renovations will be complete.

According to Harriet Rykse, Western University’s associate chief librarian, the changes were inspired by student requests.

“The intention and the goal of the Taylor renovations has been very much focused on the student experience in the library,” she said.

The requests came from formal consultation between Taylor’s head librarian and student groups, like the Science Students’ Council, and from responses by individuals through channels like Western’s LibQUAL survey and feedback forms on the Western Libraries’ website.

The most common requests are reflected by recent changes: students asked for more study space, for a greater variety of seating arrangements and for better lighting throughout the floors.

Alex Xiao, a fifth-year medical sciences student, prefers Taylor to

The intention and the goal of the Taylor renovations has been very much focused on the student experience in the library.

HARRIET RYKSE ASSOCIATE CHIEF LIBRARIAN, WESTERN UNIVERSITY

the D. B. Weldon Library due to its atmosphere.

“I usually come here because it’s a lot more focused,” he said. “It’s just rows and rows of cubicles, and people only come here to study.”

He said even on Taylor’s new main floor, where talking is allowed, the environment is more focused than most floors in Weldon. He was studying in the learning centre so that he could make phone calls.

Megha Verma, another fifth-year medical sciences student, usually visits Taylor since it’s the library closest to her classes. Verma was indifferent towards the recent renovations at Taylor and cared more for the resources already at Taylor.

“If I’m writing an essay, I’ll go to Weldon because they have the right resources for that,” she said. “If I’m working on science, then I’ll go [to Taylor] because of their textbooks on loan.”

Both students said they were aware of the renovations while they were ongoing, but were not seriously inconvenienced by the subsequent closures, which often shut down entire floors.

Currently, the bottom floor remains closed, but there are no other major renovations or shutdowns in any other campus libraries.

Rykse said that library officials are in the process of completing a “space master plan”: a roadmap that summarizes the high-level development goals for all library facilities on campus.

“We’re hoping to have something to share with the wider community fairly soon. We’re getting close to completing it,” she said.

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE

Western wins first Michigan sporting bid competition KAROLINA JALOWSKA NEWS EDITOR @KJALOWSK A team of four Western University students came in first place at the University of Michigan’s inaugural Sporting Event Bid Competition on Sept.8..

UM professors created the competition to get students to think about the process and obstacles of hosting major sporting events.

During the competition, participants sent in proposals planning a hypothetical major sporting event in a city of their choice. The event would have to accommodate over 20 sports teams, thousands of athletes and hundreds of thousands of attendees. Further, teams had to create a detailed budget and administrative plan too.

Of the 12 North American schools competing, three teams contestants made it to the final round — the University of Texas at Austin, Ohio University and

Western University.

Western’s team consisted of two undergraduate students, Nicole Baranowski and Aryan Eftekhari and two masters students, Swarali Patil and Kerri Bodin. Laura Misener, associate professor in Western’s school of kinesiology at Western, was the team’s supervisor.

As proud Canadians, the Western team chose Toronto as the host city in their proposal.

“It wasn’t a big surprise, but we were worried that because this is a [U.S.] competition that we would have a political disadvantage,” said Baranowski. “But when they called up our names, we very happy to hear that we had won.”

For their efforts, the Western team snagged the $5,000 grand prize.

Stefan Szymanski, a UM professor of sport management, created the competition along with other UM professors from the Faculty of Sports Management

who study the economic impact of sporting events.

Szymanski pointed out the academic discussions about major sporting events don’t tend to support these events’ economic benefits. Without discouraging the continuation of major sporting events, they look for a realistic impact assessment and find better ways to make them happen.

“All of the competing bids had a great vision for the city of their choice but what was really striking about the Ontario bid was the detail to which they’ve gone in analyzing the administrative cost and budget required to do it,” said Szymanski. “They [also] got the endorsement of city officials in Toronto which was a nice touch.”

Going forward, UM is reviewing the competition for future continuation. Szymanski said the response to the competition was positive and that they hope that this will be an ongoing event.

King’s to offer ‘adulting’ event SABRINA FRACASSI NEWS EDTIOR @SABFRACASSI Students love to throw around the word “adulting”: it describes grown-up responsibilities, like writing to-do lists and packing your own lunch. On Sept. 30, it will also describe a King’s event catered to young adults who are “just trying to figure it out.”

Carolyn Martyn, founder of Bring It Impact, is organizing the inaugural half-day event The Adulting Journey at King’s University College.

She said the event will feature a number of short talks from guest speakers who are experts on topics like mental health, personal branding and confidence. Chantelle Diachina, founder of London’s Prana Yoga Wellness, will speak about stress and anxiety management.

The event is catered to young adults who want to learn about tools to face the challenges in their daily lives, but it isn’t restricted to students. Instead, the event is open to all young adults in the London community who fall in the 18–26 age group. The Adulting Journey

can accommodate up to 400 people.

“I know there are a lot of events out there, especially during Frosh Week, that are geared towards [students], but I just wanted to create something along similar lines for young adults,” Martyn said.

Martyn said the event has two major goals: create a community for those who struggle with confidence and mental health and start a lasting conversation between the under-30 crowd.

The Adulting Journey is organized by Martyn’s organization, Bring It Impact: an organization that delivers leadership and self-esteem events to young adults as a prevention strategy for mental and physical health.

“I’m big into getting people together to understand through conversation and learning that they are not alone in their struggles,” Martyn said.

The event takes place on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Students can register and purchase tickets for $9.50 online. Light snacks are included.

www.westerngazette.ca

6 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

opinions

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It’s time to challenge arts and humanities students Filthy Rich RICHARD JOSEPH CULTURE EDITOR @RJATGAZETTE I wish the humanities would slap you around a little, you know? Get all Fifty Shades up in this.

Kidding — kind of. But liberal arts as a discipline does desperately need more aggressive teaching in the classroom: teaching that engages students, puts them on the spot and holds them to a particular standard, as opposed to the passive there-are-no-wrong-answers approach. Many of my friends seem to think arts courses are flakier, less rigorous, than their hard-science equivalents. And as much as it pains my ego to admit it, they’re right.

As an English and writing major, I’ve observed the unfortunate truth: most humanities courses mollycoddle their students, especially when it comes to classroom discussion.

Outside of essay-marking, English professors rarely turn the critical academic lens upon their own classrooms: in a field so intimately connected with rhetoric and communication, this is unacceptable.

Part of this has to do with the medium, of course. Many answers in the humanities aren’t qualifiably right or wrong the way they might be in STEM fields, and they are often coloured with personal philosophy.

But it has a lot more to do with hurt feelings. Precisely because personal philosophy is at play in classroom discussions, any criticism is seen as an ad hominem attack. So when a student puts forth a meandering, directionless response, riddled with inconsistencies or outright misinformation, they’re not even asked to qualify their words.

Instead, they get the dreaded yes-but response from the lecturer.

We’ve all seen it: the prof blinks in confusion, trying to digest the sheer

stupidity of the answer and then smooths it over with “Yes, but we have to consider…”

This is dangerous. Not only does this validate the response, it signals that inarticulacy is an accepted norm in the arts. I’m not saying to point and laugh and throw fruit at the student in question, but why not ask them what they mean, or explain how they missed the point or do anything except let them stew in complacency?

In fact, why not hold arts students to the same critical standard as their science-minded peers? If an engineering student proposed the incorrect equation for modelling a bridge, would the teacher say “yes, but”?

Hold students to account for what they say — help them know what they mean, because that’s the only way they’re going to get better.

If nobody’s answering the questions, or if it’s the same three smug asshats reiterating their points over and over again, start picking students at random. The quiet ones often have better points than the outspoken ones, but they’re too shy to talk unprompted.

I understand why teachers rarely do this in university — nobody wants to scare off the students from talking. But I would argue that improving the standard for discussion and fostering some academic rigour would perk up the whole class, getting some real discussion started. At the very least, it would get people off Facebook — it’s hard to lose yourself in hurricane memes when you might be asked to speak — which is a baseline for a more involved classroom.

Humanities classes are downright stagnant with apathy, and arts enrolment is dropping. It’s time to revitalize the field. Letting students waffle on with impunity will only increase the stagnancy; challenging them to express their ideas well, on the other hand, could light a fire.

So come on, arts. Grow a backbone. Get the whips and chains out.

Punish me.

we get letters

Arts and humanities faculty thrives on open discussion Re: It’s time to challenge arts and humanities students Richard Joseph’s voice is one we have become accustomed to in popular journalism — that of the ‘well-informed’ pseudo-intellectual fighting the blind ignorances of Western University culture with skilful rhetoric and carefully crafted critical language.

What I will not do in this letterto-the-editor is attempt to defend my slandered faculty in the recently published “It’s time to challenge arts and humanities students” article; however, I of course do not agree with the way he has ignorantly represented Arts and Humanities to the readers of the Gazette.

This article imagines a binaric view for the Arts and Humanities.

By writing of the “meandering, directionless [responses … without … qualification],” the “sheer stupidity of the answers” and the “inarticulacy” found in Arts and Humanities classrooms, the writer uses his elitist

narrative as self-masturbatory compensation for a seemingly bruised ego. It lacks nuance, critiquing the faculty without the critical intellectual foundation that the Arts faculty breeds. The writer’s “self-awareness” in speaking up against his own faculty is a manipulative, self-serving device.

The Arts and Humanities faculty thrives on open discussion because, to reference the writer’s favourite book, things are not black and white — they are fifty shades of grey. What journalism needs, and especially student journalism, is a lecture on the fluid concept of criticality.

Perhaps that may be a better use of time than, as I am quoting in another similarly phrased article entitled “Why I can’t stand O-Week’s pomp and circumstance,” “hiding in the Gazette office and writing bitter, self-righteous columns.”

Camille Intson Third-year English literature and theatre studies student; arts and humanities head soph

JORDAN MCGAVIN GAZETTE

London’s low median household incomes not attractive to Western grads

BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD After graduation, Western University students have many doors open to them — unfortunately, not many of them are in London.

Recent census data from Statistics Canada revealed that London’s median total household income is about $62,000, the second lowest among large Ontario cities, behind only St. Catharines.

For some students, these stats may come as a surprise. Students tend to spend most of their time on campus, downtown and in the Masonville area — relatively prosperous areas. But outside the Western bubble, the numbers are easier to believe.

The London’s east end features many shuttered shops and rough spots downtown, like the area surrounding the Dundas Street and Richmond Street intersection, are clues that London’s economy has been struggling for a while.

Unfortunately, the city’s median household income dip doesn’t leave students with much incentive to stick around post grad. While some may look to Western to step in, the university’s already one of the city’s biggest employers. Further, Western’s primary responsibility is to provide top-notch educations to students — not to find or create jobs for them. The sluggish local economy is very much a civic problem.

And to be fair, the city is making strides. London

leaders point to the health and technology sectors as ways forward. Organizations like the London Economic Development Corporation, an economic development agency, targets the technology community for growth. The agency even hosts networking events throughout the year, connecting talent and industry. These are the type of entrylevel jobs students may stick around for after convocation.

But if London really wants to rebound, the city will have to create opportunities for workers on both sides of the spectrum. The closure of London’s Kellogg’s factory in 2014 is a reminder that London still feels the sting from the loss of traditional manufacturing jobs. While the digital sector is flourishing, many displaced workers haven’t received the training needed to make a transition. Until this problem is addressed, Londoners’ incomes, as a whole, are likely to stay down.

Overall, no matter what shape London’s in, some students will high-tail it out of the city regardless; they may be hell-bent on a coastal or big-city lifestyle, neither of which London can offer. But for many students fresh out of school, their primary concern is making money, paying off their debts and moving on and up from ramen noodles to occasional smashed avocados on toast. Western grads will go where the high-paying jobs are, and right now, that’s not London.

Learning to like my science degree Viva la Viv

VIVIAN CHANG CULTURE EDITOR @VIVIANCHENG20 I once resented my degree. I found the course material especially dry and pointless. Every time I opened my textbook to memorize yet another chemical reaction, I felt like a character in The Hunger Games being roped into my death.

But that changed.

One day, I had a contentious debate with a friend about politics, and I found myself defending my position using evidence-based claims and cause-effect logic — skills that I got from my science education.

Suddenly, I saw everything in a

new light. I realized that my science background had fostered my ability to reason logically, and this ability was both valuable and applicable to many STEM and non-STEM professions. If I focused on my learning skills, then my abilities to think critically and offer innovative solutions would be transferrable to many different careers.

So what if I didn’t like the content as much as I had imagined? I was being challenged. I was becoming a more intelligent, rational person because I was forced to memorize details and draw connections between them.

This growth was the true objective of attending a world-class academic institution. A school should help you develop the necessary skills to understand anything that they throw at you.

The resentment I harboured towards my degree wasn’t unique.

No matter what you’re studying,

many of the same challenges exist, but it’s OK to be bored with course material.

Maybe you’ll find solving math equations dreary, writing essays monotonous or memorizing physiological concepts pointless.

Obviously retaining basic concepts is important, but ultimately, what you’re learning doesn’t matter; how you’re learning it does.

Although I once resented my degree, I no longer do because it’s taught me how to learn.

So even if you think your course material is boring, try and look at alternate routes. Reframe your mindset to focus more on the character development that your degree offers.

No matter where you end up, learning doesn’t stop in university.

To thrive in a profession that interests you, you need to use the skills that you gain in university — even if you hate your degree.

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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Weekend recap: four teams keep undefeated streak alive CLAIRE PALMER SPORTS EDITOR @CLAIREPALMSTER Eleven Mustangs teams were in action between Sept. 15–17, playing a total 30 games in those three days.

WOMEN’S RUGBY The Mustangs were dealt a tough 31–10 loss at the hands of McMaster University in their home opener this Friday. The team is now 0–2 on the season and will continue to face tough competition as they head off to Guelph this Saturday to play the defending OUA champions.

MEN’S RUGBY The men’s rugby team earned their second win of the season, defeating the University of Waterloo 29–8 at home this Friday. The Mustangs are now 2–1 on the season and have won two consecutive games.

FOOTBALL The Mustangs football team has extended their winning streak to four games this weekend, trouncing the University of Windsor 59–7. The undefeated Mustangs are poised to finish at the top of the OUA once again and are looking to keep the momentum rolling into this weekend’s home game against the visiting Queen’s University.

WOMEN’S SOCCER Women’s soccer kept their early season winning streak alive, defeating both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University 1–0.

The Mustangs are now on a fivegame win streak and are 6–1 on the season, which is good enough for first in the Western Conference of the OUA and second overall.

MEN’S SOCCER The Men’s soccer team continued their impressive undefeated streak this weekend, going 1-0-1 in their games. After tying the Waterloo Warriors 0–0, the Mustangs thrashed the Laurier Golden Hawks 3–0, and are now 5-0-2 on the season, making them second in the West.

BASEBALL

The baseball team won 3–1 this weekend, cleaning up their double header against the McMaster Marauders and going 1–1 in their home double header against the University of Toronto. The defeat was only the team’s second loss of the season, and they are currently sitting in first place in the OUA, two points ahead of their rivals, the Brock Badgers.

SOFTBALL The Mustangs had a clean sweep this weekend, going 6–0 through three days of play, improving to 10–0 on the season. The team posted five shutouts and outscored their opponents 54–4. The team is at the midway point of their season, and it hopes to continue their dominance into their provincial and national tournaments next month.

FIELD HOCKEY Field hockey split their weekend games 1–1, claiming a 2–1 victory over McGill University, rebounding from a tough 5–0 loss in their season-opener against York University the day before. The team will be looking to improve on their bronze medal finish at last year’s OUAs and avoid sliding back into a losing record.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE The women’s lacrosse team split their weekend games 1–1, dropping a one-goal nail-biter to the Laurier Golden Hawks 10–9 before going on to beat the University of Guelph 10–3. The loss was their first of the season, with the team now sitting on a 3–1 record.

MEN’S LACROSSE The men’s lacrosse team continued with their undefeated season, steamrolling Laurentian University 20–3 on Saturday night, before defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks 16–2 on Sunday. The team’s looking to continue the momentum into this weekend, where they’ll face the Toronto Varsity Blues as well their Western Converence rivals, the Brock Badgers.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 • 7

sports

WEEKEND SCOREBOARD: SEPT. 15–17

HOME

GUEST

7

FOOTBALL Windsor vs. Western

59

1 0

WOMEN’S SOCCER Western vs. Waterloo Laurier vs. Western

0 1

0 0

MEN’S SOCCER Western vs. Waterloo Laurier vs. Western

0 3

9 11

WOMEN’S LACROSS Western vs. Laurier Western vs. Guelph

10 3

0 2

FIELD HOCKEY Western vs. York Western vs. McGill

5 1

20 2

MEN’S LACROSS Western vs. Laurentian Laurier vs. Western

3 16

5 3

WOMEN’S TENNIS Western vs. Toronto Western vs. York

2 4

2 7

MEN’S TENNIS Western vs. Toronto Western vs. York

5 0

0 0 8 10 8 7

SOFTBALL Laurier vs. Western Laurier vs. Western Western vs. Brock Western vs. Brock Western vs. Brampton Western vs. Brampton

15 6 0 0 0 4

4 11 9 5

BASEBALL Western vs. Toronto Western vs. Toronto McMaster vs. Western McMaster vs. Western

11 1 11 7

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MEN’S HOCKEY (EXHIBITION) Western vs. Lethbridge Western vs. Lethbridge

5 2

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WOMEN’S RUGBY Western vs. McMaster

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MEN’S RUGBY Western vs. Waterloo

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Not included: Rowing, Cross Country and Golf KIIJA GARGARELLO GAZETTE

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LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE Midfielder Kendra Marlatt chases down the ball with pressure from Waterloo’s Gabriella Zepeda-Ayala.

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VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES JORDAN MCGAVIN GAZETTE Mustangs rookie Amber Jolly battles for possession against Montana Merante of the York Lions

CF Masonville Place | 1680 Richmond St, London, ON | (519) 679-4166 *Valid at participating location(s) above and subject to change without notice. Only applicable to new data plan activations with the sign-up of pre-authorized payments with auto-pay. Taxes are extra. In-store credit cannot be applied to top-ups, bill payments or redeemed for cash and has no cash value. TM Trademarks used under license. (C) 2017.

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sports

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4 changes that would improve athletics at Western MIKE DEBOER & CHARLIE O’CONNOR CLARKE SPORTS EDITORS @SPORTSATGAZETTE Now that the Canadian university sports seasons are underway, the Gazette sports editors compiled four key improvements and changes for the next era of Mustangs athletics.

INCREASE FAN ATTENDANCE There is a general feeling of apathy surrounding varsity sports at Western University. Watch a basketball game at Alumni Hall or a hockey game at Thompson Arena, and you’ll see empty seats galore.

Contrast the troubling attendance numbers at non-football Mustangs games with basketball games at Ryerson University or hockey games at Brock University: it’s clear that there’s plenty of room to increase fan participation.

Maybe a hockey game against Queen’s University at Budweiser Gardens, with buses available to transport thousands of students from campus to the downtown arena, could be an interesting way to gain exposure for the program.

The 2016 edition of the

Crowchild Classic — a series of U Sports showdowns between the Calgary Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars for university athletics supremacy in Calgary — brought in a remarkable number of fans.

When the Dinos and Cougars men’s hockey teams met at the Scotiabank Saddledome, just shy of 13,000 fans showed up — setting an attendance record for U Sports (then called Canadian Interuniversity Sports).

RENOVATE THE INDOOR RUNNING TRACK A number of athletic facilities on campus have seen renovations or improvements over the last few years, including the football field, the installation of a new swimming pool and the addition of two new artificial turfs. However, the indoor running track around Thompson Arena remains dilapidated and in serious need of resurfacing. Having a running track going around a rink, as opposed to being a stand-alone venue, is bad enough.

Western’s track and field programs have produced several individual champions at both the OUA and the U Sports level recently, winning 11 medals at last year’s national

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

championship. For a school with the size and reputation of Western, a better indoor track will do nothing but improve the overall athletic and training environment on campus.

IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL-LEVEL TEAMS Some Mustangs varsity teams have been incredibly successful recently — take rowing, squash or lacrosse, for example. Something Western athletics can take pride in is the consistency with which less prominent teams win championships.

Slightly more problematic, though, is the top-level teams that compete at the U Sports level. For a school with one of the premier athletic programs in the country, there aren’t a lot of national title banners coming to Western at the moment.

Interim athletic director Jim

Weese, who filled in before Stapleton took over, produced an extensive review of the intercollegiate sports program in July. He agreed that the lack of Mustangs national success was an issue as well, pointing out that Western is well behind several competitor schools.

Securing more sponsorships would help, too, since it could help some teams with better training, equipment or resources. For teams like basketball, a stronger recruitment program would also make a difference.

HIRE A MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIP MANAGER Weese’s report also suggested that a manager of marketing and sponsorship be appointed to oversee fundraising and promotions for Mustangs athletics. Weese

suggested that this manager be tasked with raising at least $400,000 per year, which would improve the program’s budget. Athletics, under the umbrella of Sport and Recreation Services, operated on about $6.3 million last year, but it would benefit from additional sponsorship.

We’re already well into the fall seasons for many OUA teams, all of which could’ve benefited from some marketing help. That would be an immediate way to help with the fan attendance issue, and increased fundraising could improve Western’s performance at the U Sports level.

Overall, these four key improvements would do a lot to strengthen Mustangs athletics for years to come.

Intramurals kicking off on campus MIKE DEBOER SPORTS EDITOR @MIKEDBOER

KIIJA GARGARELLO GAZETTE

For thousands of students on Western University’s campus, the greatest sporting glory they could experience is winning a purple shirt. Many will never receive one (including myself), but for the select few who experience the final triumph of their intramural sports season, wearing a purple shirt around campus is the pinnacle of their college sports career.

With the start of another school year comes another intramural season here at Western, starting the week of Sept. 24. The Sport and Recreation Department offers 18 intramural sports with men’s, women’s, competitive and recreational divisions.

The man in charge of the vast network of intramurals on campus is Guy Schultz, the head coach of the Mustangs cross country program and the intramural program director.

Schultz believes intramurals provide students both with the opportunity to be physically and mentally healthy and also for friendships and relationships to be forged.

“We all know that if you’re physically healthy, then it helps with the mental health as well,” said Schultz. “Obviously, it also gives you a chance to live a healthy lifestyle, and you also get to meet new people.”

Tanner Martin, a third-year health studies student, has competed in intramural ice hockey for the past three seasons. He enjoys the fact that the intramural game is still competitive while less of a time commitment than the minor league hockey he grew up playing.

“I have enjoyed it a ton. I can still look forward to hockey games just as I did in my youth while not committing a lot of time or effort to it,” said Martin.

The team fees vary drastically

from sport to sport. Badminton has the lowest team fees, with a cost of $99.33 per team. On the other hand, ice hockey has the highest fees at $2,078.06 per team. However, Schultz points out that the costs of Western intramurals are more reasonable than other recreational leagues around London.

“For ice hockey, we offer 12 or 13 games, whereas anywhere else in the city you’re paying two or three times more than that for the same amount of games,” said Schultz. “And when you actually break down the cost per student, it comes out to about $5 per person per game. The rest of our sports come down to about $2 per person per game.”

Soccer leads the way as the most popular fall intramural sport on campus, with over 160 teams registered to participate. According to Schultz, around 99 per cent of the spots for fall outdoor intramurals are sold out, while in the winter the indoor sports sell out between 98 and 99 per cent of available spots.

However, with such large participation numbers comes the challenge of scheduling venues for play.

With the varsity Mustangs teams usually using the outdoor fields from 4 to 7 p.m. each day, the challenge for Schultz is sharing spaces at venues like TD Stadium, Alumni Field, Mustang Field and the soccer field across from the Health Sciences Building. However, Schultz credits Chuck Mathies, the manager of intercollegiate athletics, with efficiently avoiding conflicts between varsity teams and the intramural leagues.

So with the school year underway, students across campus are set to compete for one of those coveted purple shirts and all the glory that comes with them. From basketball to inner-tube water polo to (for the first time ever) flag rugby sevens, it’s time for intramurals to get underway.

Let the games begin!

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 • 9

culture

Coffee craze AMY SKODAK CULTURE EDITOR @AMYSKODAK

P

ietro Pirani sits down to enjoy his coffee: maybe he’s catching up with a friend, but he would never take his java to go. He sips his espresso from a glass cup to preserve flavour, and he only drinks cappuccinos in the morning – never in the afternoon. Drinking coffee is an important part of this Italian assistant professor’s culture.

For the average Western student, Pirani’s routine is unfamiliar.

Coffee is a quick fix for students’ busy, sleep-deprived lives: you walk to your morning class with a Tim Hortons cup in hand, you end lecture and you study at your favourite café with a double-double or it’s 3 a.m. and you’re drinking espresso to finish an essay.

However, that venti pumpkin spice latte you grab on your way to class could be emptying your wallet more than you expect and fuelling an inauthentic notion of identity.

“People here, they go around and sip their coffee the entire day.

In Italy they would find that very funny and strange and very amusing,” says Pirani.

When Aaron Seres came to Western on exchange from the U.K. last year, he was surprised to see so many students walking around campus with a coffee in hand.

“In Canada, it seems people wake up and one of their first thoughts is grabbing a coffee, whereas from my experience in the U.K., coffee is often a social thing,” he says. “I can’t speak for Europe as a whole, but you

guys drink a lot more than most Brits do, for sure.”

Seres also observes that coffee at university seems to be a fashion statement, saying that a Starbucks cup in your hand completes the “student look.”

In a Scientific American article, the coffee industry is described as capitalizing on the “me” generation wherein companies appeal to our society’s want for a product that helps identify who we are or who we want to be.

Will students buy a coffee from Starbucks rather than Tim Hortons because the cup looks prettier or because it makes them feel trendier? Do millennials care about “fair trade”, “organic” identifiers enough to buy a specific brew? It might just be about image.

According to the idea of the “me” generation, if the product acts as a symbol for the type of lifestyle or personality you want, then all of the above may be true.

Fourth-year psychology student, Carolyn Taras acknowledges that her caffeine consumption is excessive, but she accepts it as a part of who she is.

“I kind of don’t feel whole if I don’t have a coffee with me,” she says, holding a Spoke coffee she waited half an hour in line for. “I’d probably say I drink about four standard cups of coffee a day.”

Taras thinks that the heavy workload students receive and the pressures associated with university contribute to the “need” for coffee at all times.

“Everything here is very fast paced,” Taras says. “We have to

look for something to help us out because it’s almost too much.”

However, students aren’t just drinking coffee because it’s a stimulant. As Taras points out, she’ll drink coffee even when she doesn’t need it.

“It doesn’t matter what time of day it is. I’ll want to drink a coffee … like last night at seven o’clock.”

Accessibility to specific coffee chains on campus play a role in campus coffee culture as well. The Spoke, Starbucks and Tim Hortons triad has weaved its way into the student experience at Western.

Currently, there are 22 coffee shops on campus, including three Tim Hortons locations, the Spoke and Starbucks in the University Community Centre alone.

If caffeine consumption is steeped in marketing goals, then the social construct of coffee as an everyday, on-the-go necessity makes for an ideal foundation. It’s worth considering what the price of convenience and personal branding is worth to you.

Seres and Pirani show that North American student coffee dependance isn’t universal. Students don’t need to rely on a substance to keep up with university demands. It’s something students have come to accept as a celebrated norm.

The culture of coffee among students may point to deeper issues of time-management and the need to feel constantly productive.

Maybe we should take a tip from Pirani, take a break and enjoy our coffee slowly and sparingly.

But who has time for that?

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10 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

culture

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London Comic Con to feature actors from ‘6Teen’, ‘Total Drama’ and ‘Uh Oh’ RITA RAHMATI MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT @RITARAHMATI Life is sweet.

When you’re growing up so fast, You gotta make the good times last.

- Lyrics to “6Teen” by Phil Naro

COURTESY OF HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

LGBTQ advocate Ivan Coyote coming to Huron AMY SKODAK CULTURE EDITOR @AMYSKODAK Students can expect ample opportunity for discussion in the coming months about contemporary issues and LGBTQ progress on campus.

Ivan Coyote, co-author of this year’s Huron1Read featured book, Gender Failure, is set to speak at Huron University College on Sept.

28. Coyote is an award-winning writer, spoken word performer and LGBTQ advocate who will share their personal challenges as a transgender person.

Sean Yauk, Huron University College Students’ Council’s vice-president of student affairs, explains that the Huron1Read program is a community reading opportunity meant to help students engage with work that evokes thought around a contemporary issue. The book was distributed among Huron students and faculty over the summer to elicit early discussion.

“Gender Failure is a novel that myself and a few of my colleagues

had on our radar … simply because it’s a very different piece of work itself,” Yauk says. “The work is not a novel, but rather a collection of stories and lyrics and poetry and images that all relate to the topic of gender and encapsulate what gender means in a contemporary landscape,” he adds.

Not only will Coyote’s visit be timely for students who’ve engaged in the reading, it coincides with University Students’ Council initiatives to improve inclusivity on campus as well.

USC vice-president, Landon Tulk, says the USC has identified the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms as a priority on campus.

“In the next few weeks, we hope to see students engaging with the topic by talking to their student leaders,” says Tulk. “Whether that’s through faculty council presidents, USC councillors or the USC executive, we want to hear student feedback about the steps to creating inclusive space here at Western.”

Tulk also notes the raising of the Transgender Pride Flag, which

will take place on Concrete Beach Nov. 20, the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Yauk hopes that students who attend Coyote’s talk will come to have a deeper understanding of what gender means to them and other individuals. He notes that this has already proven successful at a roundtable discussion held during O-Week.

When students have described what the book means to them, Yauk said one takeaway is that gender does not always assign itself to the simple binary that we assume.

“Gender Failure in and of itself has evoked so much thought and emotion among students simply because some individuals assume that it is people who fall outside of the gender binary who are failing gender,” he says. “But rather it might be those individuals who are being failed by gender as a whole.”

Coyote will speak at 2 p.m. in the Kingsmill Room at Huron. Students are encouraged to visit the Huron website for more information.

Some theme songs, like those of popular ‘90s cartoons 6Teen, Flying Rhino Junior High and Mona the Vampire, are eternally ingrained into the minds of millennials. For Western University students feeling particularly nostalgic, 2017’s London Comic Con’s got you covered, featuring the host of Uh Oh! and voice actors from 6Teen and Total Drama.

Voice actors Christian Potenza (Jude Lizowski on 6Teen and Chris McLean on Total Drama) and Megan Fahlenbock (Jen Masterson on 6Teen and Gwen on Total Drama) were added to the lineup on Sept. 13.

“Every year, we try to add a voice actor or two to our lineup,” says Andrew Kitt, president of London Comic Con. “The voice actors are always a ton of fun.”

Both 6Teen and Total Drama were Canadian shows that aired on Teletoon, and later on Cartoon Network in the U.S. Kitt notes that

most of the actors on both TV shows are Canadian and that the shows were produced in Toronto.

“Being Canada 150, we made an extra effort to get a lot of Canadian content,” Kitt says.

While most comic convention guests sign autographs and pose for photos, voice actors do something that Kitt considers far more special: they record voice messages. Kitt recalls that Charles Martinet, the iconic voice actor behind Mario of the Super Mario series, attended 2015’s Comic Con and left voice recordings on fans’ phones.

“Nothing’s better than having a voice message on your cellphone from Mario or one of the guys from Total Drama,” Kitt says.

While voice actors typically read scripts in their characters voices, for the first time in London, fans can enter a contest to read scripts with the actors live on stage.

Scott Yaphe (aka Wink Yahoo) of the YTV game show Uh Oh! is also joining the three-day event. Sticking to his game show host roots, Yaphe’s co-hosting a London Comic Conthemed trivia game at the event.

London Comic Con goes from Oct. 13 to 15 and tickets can be purchased online, starting at $20.

KIIJA GARGARELLO GAZETTE/COURTESY OF CORUS ENTERTAINMENT

Revamping Wikipedia in the name of Art+Feminism AMY SKODAK CULTURE EDITOR @AMYSKODAK Female representation in the arts has historically been bleak, and Wikipedia is partly to blame, according to the Art+Feminism organization.

Art+Feminism claims that less than 10 per cent of Wikipedia contributors identify as female. Why would this gender bias matter in an arts context? It speaks to the larger issue of marginalized voices being silenced in arts education and arts research.

Art history curricula have predominantly featured male artists.

But as society shifts towards wider gender equality, it has become necessary for online resource material to reflect this.

One way to do this is through Wikipedia Edit-A-Thons — an event coming to Western University on Sept. 23.

Western MA in art history alumna Siân Evans, helped found Art+Feminism in 2014. The organization began as a group of friends wanting to improve accessibility to information about feminism. Today, Art+Feminism is known for hosting

COURTESY OF ART+FEMINISM

Edit-A-Thons around the world.

Evans is hosting Western’s EditA-Thon at the Artlab Gallery. The event encourages students and faculty to edit and make insertions into Wikipedia for artists or feminist art movements that are under-represented.

“If it’s largely men and largely white men who are writing

[Wikipedia], then a lot of people’s voices are left out,” says Evans.

ArtLab Gallery director, Susan Edelstein, explains that the event welcomes newcomers interested in learning more. There will be tables set up in the gallery, and Evans will be hosting an Edit-A-Thon “how-to” as well.

To Evans, feminism is always intersectional and the Edit-A-Thons (held

around the world) attract individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

“To me, Art+Feminsim has never been just about women,” she says.

“We see feminism as a framework for thinking about how to dismantle structures of oppression generally.”

As stated in a press release, the event “invite[s] people of all gender identities and expressions,

particularly transgender and cisgender women, to address this absence by inserting Wikipedia entries on art and feminism.”

This idea of eradicating oppression via wiki reference material creates fertile ground from which feminist representation in the arts can grow.

Evans feels that university students in the arts — as well as across other disciplines — can demand more from their faculty to “collect works outside of the mainstream and focus coursework outside of traditional art history.”

In March 2017, Art+Feminism’s third annual Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon attracted 2,500 people participating at more than 175 events worldwide.

Evans hopes that Western’s Edit-AThon will inspire students and faculty to further work towards closing the gender gap in the arts and to become regular contributors.

Western’s Edit-A-Thon will take place on Sept. 23 from 12 to 5 p.m. in the ArtLab Gallery located in the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre. Students interested in getting involved are encouraged to visit the event page for more information on how to prepare.

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 • 11

culture

Randal Graham’s ‘Beforelife’ NICK SOKIC CULTURE EDITOR @NICKATGAZETTE

SISSI CHEN GAZETTE

Peeking behind the mask of impostor syndrome VIVIAN CHENG CULTURE EDITOR @VIVIANCHENG20 Panic ensues after leaving your study group for the night; your heart sinks and insecurity takes over, convincing you that you don’t belong. Your irrational thoughts tell you that they came up with more intelligent answers than you. Worst of all, you feel like you are deceiving your peers into thinking you’re intelligent. This self-doubt has a name: impostor syndrome.

According to Western University psychology professor Daniel Ansari, impostor syndrome is an experience in which you feel like you’re viewed as something you’re not.

“You feel as if you don’t have the necessary qualifications or merits to be in a situation,” elaborates Ansari.

Because of the rigorous demands of university, many students feel this way at one point or another in their academic career.

First-years, especially, may endure the discomfort of impostor syndrome because of the transition to a new environment.

Fourth-year media, information and technoculture student Gabriella Learn thinks that impostor syndrome is an inherent part of university life due to the competitive environment.

“If you’re in the same program as your friends, you’ll probably be going after similar job prospects and you’ll probably compare yourself to them,” Learn says.

“Everyone around me seems so brilliant and sometimes I feel as if I can’t keep up.”

Learn adds that one of her friends feels this way, despite making the Dean’s List — a list of full-time students who earned an 80 per cent average or more with no failed courses.

Ansari confirms this sentiment, “A lot of people in high stress professions experience impostor syndrome because there’s lots of expectations or peer comparison.”

Although reccurring feelings of impostor syndrome are

Even people who may seem well-adjusted to a situation may be suffering from impostor syndrome.

DANIEL ANSARI WESTERN UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR

common, they can strain a student’s self-confidence, well-being and motivation to do work.

Brent Scott, a counsellor at the Student Development Centre, says that an individual may feel as if they can’t do their assigned work or feel unworthy of their romantic partner due to impostor syndrome.

To overcome these feelings of inadequacy, Scott advises individuals to talk to trusted family members or friends and remind themselves of their accomplishments.

“If you’re at university, you were a good student in high school because bad students don’t get to university,” says Scott. Scott explains that students feel like they may not succeed in a new environment, but they have to remind themselves that they’ve already built strong study habits and will continue to do so in university.

Undergraduate students aren’t alone in experiencing this feeling of inferiority. Ansari adds that even professors suffer from it occasionally.

“Even people who may seem well-adjusted to a situation may be suffering from impostor syndrome,” says Ansari.

As the new school year rolls around, students may feel overwhelmed and unprepared to meet the year’s challenges.

Feeling fraudulent amongst peers is normal, but it’s imperative to realize that not everyone meets the demands of university immediately.

Individuals should give themselves time to acknowledge their feelings and adjust to the new year. With time, students will learn to navigate and even thrive in stressful environments.

One-time Western “Professor of the Year” and full-time legal ethicist Randal Graham has made the transition into fiction writing. Over the five years he took to write his first fictional work, Beforelife, he drew on legal writing for inspiration.

Published by ECW Press, Beforelife arrived in stores this month. It concerns the postmortem journey of widower Ian Brown as he tries to reunite with his wife Penelope in an afterlife that has no memory of their previous earthly existence.

The logline reads, “It’s OK if you don’t believe in the afterlife, the people there don’t believe in you, either.”

Graham’s works in legal ethics and statutory interpretation are widely acclaimed. Graham’s legal philosophy often led him to the concept of microeconomics, of scarcity and of scarce resources affecting human decision-making: the ability to make one choice precludes making certain others.

“I wanted to unpack this notion of scarcity and explain it to an audience that might not be familiar with it,” says Graham. “I started to tease out that hypothetical world and realized that, from a mortal’s perspective, the ultimate source of scarcity is that we’re going to die.”

Graham goes on to explain the reality of his fictional afterlife and how the endless resources would change you and your decision-making.

“One of the things I often ask people is: how important to your

NICK SOKIC GAZETTE

personality are the first three years of your life?” Graham says. “Now project yourself 10,000 years into the future.”

He elaborates that, even in a world of infinite possibility, some avenues remain closed. For example, anyone who takes joy in any form of helping would be at a loss in an afterlife where no one needs help.

Having set the novel in the afterlife, satirical fantasy was used to translate his legal arguments into a more palatable form.

“Satire gives you the freedom

to examine real-world issues in a slightly less painful way,” says Graham.

In real, mortal life, Graham says that reception to the book has been encouraging. The professor spoke of many students and former students who took selfies of themselves purchasing the book as well as the faculty of law at Western who hosted a book launch.

Any satisfied reader of Beforelife can look forward to more from Graham as a three-book arc is in the works.

To place your classifed ad, please contact us at 519-661-3579 or adoffice@uwo.ca

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INTERESTED IN WOODWORKING? London senior looking for volunteer helper to assist him with woodworking course. At Saunders Secondary School. One night a week. Course costs for assistant will be covered. For more information call Alan 519-660-1442

UPCOMING EVENTS REFORMATION 500 CELEBRATION 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Germany. To celebrate Martin Luther’s legacy, Lutheran Social Services (London) is hosting an afternoon of music and fellowship at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 472 Richmond St. in London. Everyone is invited and welcome to join in this community event. Attendance is totally free - no additional charge, no offering and free parking at London Life. Put the date on your calendar: Oct. 22, 3:30-5:00pm at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

SERVICES STRESSED? ANXIOUS? BOOK your Reiki session now to help you unwind and relax. PH: 519-4948545 Web: https://radiantreiki.ca Western students receive 15% off all services.

ANNOUNCEMENTS LEARN TO PLAY the guitar and earn an elective credit! Join 3862B Beginner Guitar this winter! little/no musical experience required. Final group performance, no final exam. Contact:pfeely@uwo.ca

New Varsity Sport Opportunity for People With Disabilities We are looking for individuals who: • Are interested in trying a new sport • Enjoy training and competing • Have either a visual impairment or physical disability, including but not limited to: mobility/strength impairments; amputation; neurological impairments or movement disorders.

Please Contact: Dan Bechard (dbechar5@uwo) and Matthew Waddell (camwaddel2@uwo.ca) University of Western Ontario Rowing TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING PHISHED 1. Never respond to emails that request personal financial information. Reputable companies don't ask for passwords or account details in an email.

2. Visit banks' websites by typing the URL into the address bar. Phishers use links within emails to direct victims to a fake site. If you suspect an email is bogus, do not follow any embedded links within it.

PUT YOUR SUDOKU SAVVY TO THE TEST! To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

For solution, turn to page 3

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12 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

games

PHOTO OF THE DAY

GAZETTE CROSSWORD

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE AMIT AND GREET. Gazette news editor Hill Du interviews Western president Amit Chakma.

WORD SEARCH

RENOVATE CONSTRUCTION WORD SEARCH CONTRACTOR DOWNSPOUT AMPERAGE DRYWALL APPLIANCE ENERGY ARCHITECT FITTING ASBESTOS FLOORING BACKFILL FURNACE BEAM IMPROVE BONDING LOAD-BEARING CAULKING PERMIT CODE PLUMBING

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POWER REBAR REMOVE

REPLACE RESTORATION RETROFIT

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SEPTIC SEWER STUDS

TECHNOLOGY TILE WALLS

WINDOWS WIRING WOOD

For solution go to westerngazette.ca/solution

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

1. Spanish city 7. Middle ear bone 13. Satisfy to the fullest 14. Able to be consumed 16. US island territory (abbr.)

17. Predatory reptile 19. Beachwear manufacturer 20. European space program 22. Alias 23. Metrical feet 25. Large integers 26. Matrilineality 28. Snouts 29. Giants’ signal caller Manning 30. Pacific Time 31. Electronic countermeasures 33. “Anna Karenina” author 34. Snare 36. Sleeveless garment 38. More arctic 40. Clean off 41. Signs 43. Common Japanese surname 44. Allow 45. A way to mark 47. Ballplayers need one 48. __ and cheese 51. KGB mole 53. Indicating silence 55. Capital of Yemen 56. A woman of refinement 58. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 59. Belonging to a bottom layer 60. Stephen King novel 61. Fire obstacle 64. Lumen 65. Loud insects 67. Energetic persons 69. Confession (archaic) 70. Witnessing

1. Whiskey receptacle 2. Western State 3. Cereal grasses 4. Needlefishes 5. Relating to the ears 6. Mathematical ratio 7. Dignified 8. Pacific sea bream 9. One of Thor’s names 10. Song of praise 11. Equal to one quintillion (abbr.)

12. Drools 13. Cluster 15. One in a series 18. Egyptian unit of weight 21. Broached 24. Skin cancers 26. Second sight 27. Shock treatment 30. Whittled 32. Murdered in his bathtub 35. A way to soak 37. Small piece 38. Relating to Islam 39. Climbing plant 42. Drunkard 43. Test for high schoolers 46. Least exciting 47. Amanda and James are two 49. Something comparable to another 50. Soothes 52. Month in the Islamic calendar 54. White gull having a black back and wings 55. Japanese seaport 57. The south of France 59. Batman villain 62. British air aces 63. Body part 66. Clearinghouse 68. Manganese