Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - Homecoming

SINCE 1906 TUESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2018 VOLUME 112 ISSUE 7

Western University’s Student Newspaper USC BACKS PURPLE FEST PG3

HOCO PULL-OUT PG5

LEGAL CANNABIS PREVIEW PG13 crushing laurier spirits since 1906

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

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GABRIELLE DROLET GAZETTE

Stuart A. Thompson is young. Wearing a plaid shirt and faded jeans with a sticker-clad laptop tucked under his arm, he looks like he might own a hip startup or be a PhD student. But in the bright, open newsroom of the New York Times, Stuart leads a team of approximately 30 people.

Through the use of charts, maps and interactive elements, they find new ways to make readers feel connected to stories.

Rather than relying on words, Stuart’s articles are driven by graphics. His approach to visual storytelling has propelled him far during his decade-long career. Since working at the Gazette during his undergrad, Stuart worked at both the Globe and Mail and the Wall Street Journal before joining the New York Times as the graphics director of the opinions section.

people couldn’t do.”

From there, his focus shifted to web design. He started reading American newspapers and quickly realized that journalism was heading in a new direction: one that favoured digital content as much as print. With the knowledge that well-developed websites were becoming an important part of newspapers, Stuart became the Gazette’s first ever web editor.

“I pitched the incoming editors a new role that I could do that focused on web content, and they were really excited about it,” he says. From there, he coded an entirely new Gazette website.

Stuart’s work has evolved since he was first involved in website design. Now, he writes alongside opinions editors to craft stories that are dependent on visual elements.

Whether he’s writing about voting rights or unfair sentencing, his articles place graphics at the forefront.

“A regular reporter would interview people and then write a story. But we interview people, then look at data sets and maps and charts, and then we write a story,” Stuart explains. “So it’s kind of non-traditional journalism, and I lead the department that creates most of that work.”

He emphasizes that his work is about more than adding visuals to stories — it’s about telling stories that couldn’t exist without them. Beyond evoking emotional responses from readers, the visuals and graphics that Stuart creates are integral to sharing information that text alone can’t.

Stuart’s involvement with visual journalism started during his time at the Gazette. He volunteered in the news section in 2008, creating visual elements for his articles to set himself apart from other young journalists.

“There are untold stories that you wouldn’t even think of reporting or telling if you didn’t have the tools to engage with things other than just text,” Stuart says. “It’s more than just finding neat visuals for your story. It’s finding stories that couldn’t exist if you didn’t think about it in a different way.”

“I could only get so far with my reporting and writing ability, so I would add charts and add visuals that no one else did,” he says. “Journalism is sort of competitive, so it was good to find something that I could do that other

■■GABRIELLE DROLET

Western by the Numbers

152 points for women's rugby 10,557 fans at the 1963 Homecoming over the last two games

SISSI CHEN GAZETTE

football game against the Toronto Varsity Blues

1926 as the first year “Mustangs” was used to identify a team in print

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news

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

USC backs Purple Fest amid police blame MARTIN ALLEN NEWS EDITOR @MTRALLEN The University Students’ Council defended their on-campus concert after the London Police Service said it stoked the off-campus party that flourished this September.

In an interview, USC president Mitchell Pratt did not say the Fake-Homecoming celebrations on Broughdale Avenue were a problem but instead emphasized how effective he believed the USC’s concert, Purple Fest, was.

“We do consider Purple Fest to have been an immense success,” he said. “I believe in alternative programming and providing students with this alternative choice…. We need to work toward providing them with these other opportunities to express their purple pride.”

In a press conference, London chief of police John Pare said

Purple Fest made the situation worse. Police released video of the event showing FOCO thriving with between 15,000 and 20,000 people, while only blocks away the concert was at times nearly deserted.

Though FOCO has grown slightly every year, this September’s attendance doubled and police figures from warnings to charges increased twofold or more. Police said they spent over $100,000 on the event, more than double last year.

Pratt disagreed with the chief’s assessment and said Purple Fest should take place again next year.

Since Western University’s Homecoming date was changed in 2016, the USC has changed its playbook each year on their tightrope to let students enjoy the weekend while simultaneously ensuring their safety. Last year’s USC did little to provide alternative

programming for the weekend, and Pratt’s administration swung in the opposite direction — hosting one of the largest university concerts in Canada, which sold out its 11,000 tickets.

Pratt said before FOCO that the concert was an attempt to shift a student culture epitomized by illegal antics on Broughdale.

Pratt defended Purple Fest’s success at this goal by citing its only one hospitalization after non-critical injuries. He also said it was well-attended, as attendance peaked at 2:30 p.m. and remained high until 5:30 p.m.

Police released drone footage of Broughdale and Purple Fest at noon and 1 p.m. At those times, the off-campus party saw its peaks of 15,000 and 20,000 people respectively. At noon, the concert area was nearly empty, and at 1 p.m., was still dramatically smaller

Women’s rugby wins, men lose big MIKE DEBOER MANAGING EDITOR @MIKEDBOER The Western Mustangs women’s rugby team defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 74–17 in Ontario University Athletics playoff action on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Mustangs, who won their playoff opener 78–10 over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Oct. 5, were led on Saturday by rookie Kate Ram and fourth-year Veronica Harrigan, who combined for six tries to send the Golden Hawks packing in the convincing rout.

Alongside Ram and Harrigan, a number of Mustangs also contributed to the win, as six different players scored tries. Third-year Lexi Smith added two tries and seven conversions.

“I think we did an awesome job

of sticking to the game plan today,” said Mustangs head coach John Weller. “Laurier is a really competitive team and they kept on playing until the end, but I think the performances we got from everyone on the roster really put us over the edge.”

The Mustangs struck early against the Golden Hawks, with Ram running in a try to put Western up 7–0. However, Laurier would quickly respond by breaking through the Western line to tie the game up 7–7. But the talented Mustangs would regain the lead halfway through the first half after fifth-year Bronwyn Corrigan scored to give the Mustangs a 12–7 lead. Harrigan would add two tries in the half while Smith ran in one try, giving the Mustangs an insurmountable 31–7 lead.

Ram continued her outstanding

performance in the second half, adding another try to put Western up 34–12 early in the half. Firstyear Cailyn McKay then broke through the Laurier line for a try, extending the Mustangs lead to 41–12. The Mustangs would keep up their stout defensive effort while continuing to score finishing off the game with a 74–17 victory.

“We came into today with a lot of confidence after our last win, so today just boosted that confidence even further,” said Ram on the convincing win. “The team always hypes each other up and brings the energy, so we always come into each game with a lot of intensity.”

After a challenging regular season that saw the Mustangs fail to register a victory, their post-season success exhibits a penchant for stepping up in must-win

than the Broughdale crowd.

By this point, officers on Broughdale switched from enforcement to crowd management, reportedly fearing for their safety. They issued 3,140 warnings and 134 notices that day, even as enforcement lessened.

Students could enter the concert throughout its 11 a.m to 5 p.m. duration, meaning attendees could

begin their day on Broughdale before going to the concert to see its main act, Lil Uzi Vert, who only began toward the end, near when Purple Fest attendance peaked.

Later in the interview, Pratt added that it may be too early to tell what exactly caused this FOCO’s upsurge. He said the situation has no quick fix and that no solution can work in only a year.

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

situations.

“We played our brand of rugby until the end of the match, and I think that says a lot about our resiliency,” said Weller. “These playoff games are obviously higher-stakes than the regular season, but we’ve been approaching them all with a consistent game plan.

We just hope it continues to result in wins.”

With the win, the Mustangs continue their playoff run on Oct. 20 in Toronto as they take on the York Lions.

On the men’s rugby side, Western suffered a tough 60–15 loss to their archrivals, the Queen’s Gaels, on Saturday.

The loss dropped the Mustangs to 6–4–3 on the season, good for fourth place in the OUA West. The Gaels improved to 7–5–1 on the season as they remain in fourth place in the OUA East.

The Gaels dug Western into a hole early on Saturday, scoring three quick tries to lead 15–0 early in the first half. Mustangs second-year Samuel Kahn scored a try to put the Mustangs on the board to cut the Gaels lead to 15–7.

However, Queen’s continued to dominate for the rest of the half as they headed into the second stanza of play with a 27–10 lead.

The second half saw more of the same, as Queen’s quickly scored two more tries to add to their lead 39–10. While Western scored to cut the deficit to 39–15 midway through the second half, the Gaels went on to finish with a 26–0 run to end the game and leave Western with the 60–15 win.

Despite the loss, the Mustangs were satisfied with their performance on Saturday. Playing against one of the strongest teams in the province, Western showed the potential to finish the regular season off strong and make a deep playoff push.

“Our goals are to build phases, minimize mistakes and keep it simple when we’re going against such a competitive team like Queen’s,” said Mustangs head coach Tom Dolezel. “We were playing a really quality Queen’s team full of veterans, so, as such a young team having to go against that, I think this was some of the best rugby we played all year.”

What to do if (like most) you’re not partying on HOCO LIAM AFONSO NEWS EDITOR @LIAMAFONSO So you’ve decided not to party this Saturday on Homecoming — unfortunately, you’re certainly not alone.

Ever since Western University’s administration decided to move Homecoming’s date from late-September to mid-October — midterm season — student attendance at Homecoming events has steadily dropped off. So, excluding FakeHomecoming, president Chakma won; he really did get students off the streets.

In his honour, let’s see what you

can do to keep yourself responsibly occupied on this hauntingly quiet day of school spirit and celebrations.

Feeling primal? Or maybe you just want to watch people slam into each other for a couple hours? The annual Homecoming football game will certainly satisfy that itch. Expect to see the Laurier Golden Hawks shed tears starting at 1 p.m. at TD Stadium.

For those who still find themselves in the partying mood but don’t want to venture into the lands of drunken splendour, the Alumni Tailgate and BBQ has you covered. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m and is located in the Huron Flats Parking Lot, right

outside the stadium.

Or perhaps the Homecoming atmosphere has filled you with long-lost Western spirit and a desire to showcase it through your wardrobe. If so, The Book Store, located in the University Community Centre basement, has you covered. The cost of your purchase will likely rival your future salary, giving you the added bonus of questioning your degree choice in the first place!

University College is having its official re-opening at 11 a.m., offering those with an appreciation for architecture a wonderful way to spend an hour.

But if all else fails, you could

always do what parents like to think every student loves doing — study.

According to Chakma, students are at Western “not to party, but to study,” and it’s certainly the responsibility of the student body to make him proud.

After all, no one comes to university to both learn and have a good time.

Those craving a venture into academia could either try brawling for a seat at the D.B. Weldon Library or try some of the lesser known study spots around campus, like the Law Library.

But what if one needs a caffeine boost to mitigate their Friday-night hangover or just to make it through the day? London’s numerous

coffee shops have you covered. Just remember to really savour that $6 latte you know your parents would frown at you for buying.

If you really need a breath of fresh air, take a stroll down Broughdale Avenue. There’s no doubt that it will be peaceful and empty this Saturday, and thus, offer you a nice and relaxing getaway.

There’s really no reason to worry if you’re not partying this HOCO. After all, chances are you partied hard enough on FOCO anyway.

Now it’s time to enjoy a night of responsible programming, even if it involves countless hours rotting away in Weldon.

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opinions

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

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The Gazette benefits from community engagement Con of the Dead MICHAEL CONLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @MIKECONLEY4 As Western’s predominant independent news source, our job is to present an accurate reflection of life at Western University. We do this in a variety ways — from news briefs to long-form multimedia articles to streeter videos — across a variety of mediums, including print, social media, our website and public events.

As a distinct institution within the campus community, made entirely of students and recent graduates, we cannot separate ourselves from the community we serve. Providing a reflection of everyday life is, at least in some small part, a duty to reflect ourselves.

Given this, I believe we are most effective when there are diverse voices participating in the creation

and distribution of our content, and we remain open to constructive feedback. We must be adaptive and responsive to engagement from students who are interested in bettering our campus community. A dedicated, receptive media source is important for democratic society, and as largely young, educated individuals, engaging with the importance of media now will serve our society well in the future.

However you decide to contribute — whether it’s entering our newsroom (University Community Centre Room 263), emailing a letter (editor@westerngazette.ca; opinions@westerngazette.ca) based on something you’re experiencing or simply messaging us on Facebook — know that your engagement is meaningful. It broadens our scope on campus life, and it allows us to more effectively reflect Western students’ shared story.

Of course, such a notion may have Walter Lippmann, a pioneer of objective approaches to journalism, rolling in his grave. An arms-length, impartial approach to journalism is the supposed foundation of most

mainstream media outlets. But recognition that we, like all media sources, are limited by our inherent participation in the communities we cover shouldn’t deter from the crucial role our organization and others play in mediating day-to-day life.

This approach, loosely defined as participatory journalism, involves engaging the community that a news source covers in the production of that coverage. Sometimes this looks like the ethically ambiguous industry of citizen journalism proctoring information. But it also looks like budding news sources, such as the Correspondent, which aspire to report inclusively, unbreaking news to show the trends that connect singular events to community life.

Now, this doesn’t mean we won’t strive for impartiality, nor does it mean we’re changing our organizational structure. It means being open to the idea that we, tucked away in the UCC, don’t know everything. And as for what we do know, it will only ever be reported through the lens of those reporting on it.

For example, I am proud of the diversity in our newsroom. But no

one individual among our staff can represent an entire community. As for our front office — three straight white males — we are a small part of the organization’s whole, but our lived experiences cannot be drawn away from our oversight of the organization. This isn’t rare in today’s media. White males consistently achieve status-holding positions, from newsrooms to prime-time talk shows. I don’t state this to discourage participation but rather to highlight the importance of a confluence of perspectives within the media’s reflection of everyday life.

As for engagement in the form of feedback, we receive a healthy amount in Facebook comments. But campus is large, and we know there are people who tune us out because they don’t care about campus media or perhaps even media as a whole.

We won’t try to convince you that local media is a prime location for community engagement, nor will we highlight the mental and physical benefits that social connection brings. Though, we appreciate when individuals take the time to tell us what we’re missing or how we can be

better. It improves our product and our origination and provides helpful feedback to our contributors.

However, it’s worth noting that this is a two-way street. We shouldn’t advantageously expect folks to share their time and energy with us, whether through participation or feedback, only to improve our product without receiving anything in return. Of course, a sense of community engagement is invaluable to the human experience, but not everyone is buying that. This means we need to engage with groups and individuals throughout campus, particularly those who identify as part of a minority, well before we need a scoop or an interview.

Our special issues, including our February collaboration with the Black Students’ Association and last March’s inaugural Pride issue, are a good start. But we will continue finding new ways to engage with all Western students, in hopes that you find us worth engaging with.

We recognize your resources are valuable. But from here, improving campus media to the benefit of our community looks like good value.

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Much like hating country music, old white men and Kanye West, a disdain for Barstool Sports seems to have become a core part of the “woke” aesthetic. If you’re not regularly retweeting Deadspin articles “exposing” Dan “Big Cat” Katz, Eric “PFT Commenter” Sollenberger or Dave “El Pres” Portnoy as [insert buzzword here] or stealing people’s “Saturdays Are For The Boys” flags at frat parties as a show of protest, someone might be coming to take your progressive credentials away very soon.

In all seriousness, some of the past criticisms of Barstool are fair.

For a brand build on challenging sports media’s long-established status quo, being accused of misogyny and racial insensitivity makes for a precarious situation in our increasingly politically correct, socially sensitive climate. And when ESPN cancelled their new show, Barstool Van Talk, last fall amid a firestorm of social media outrage, it appeared that Barstool would never emerge into the mainstream.

However, it was their potential relationship with ESPN in the first place, along with the Barstool Rundown program that ran on Comedy Central during Super Bowl week in 2017, that speaks to Barstool’s transcendence in our killor-be-killed sports media era. With newspapers cutting sports sections and ESPN losing cable subscribers by the thousands, Barstool has found a way to not only survive, but actually thrive, in a shrinking and tumultuous market. Perhaps more importantly, they found a way to force their old-money, corporate

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competitors to adapt to the everchanging needs of sports media consumers.

Barstool draws millions of unique visitors to its site through a variety of platforms, including its app, its YouTube channel, its extensive podcast network and its vast social media presence. Through their targeted blog posts and self-produced video shorts, relationships with high-profile athletes and media personalities, and foray into documentaries (including an acclaimed doc about the notorious Buffalo Bills tailgate culture), Barstool has established a robust and impressive portfolio of content.

In 2017, the company announced its acquisition of a concept called Rough N’ Rowdy, a backwoods fightclub of sorts, under which Barstool promotes and sells premium payper-view boxing brawls. Less than a week later, founder Portnoy announced that Barstool would partner with SiriusXM to launch its own 24-hour satellite radio channel, thus capitalizing on the remarkable success of Barstool Radio, its daily radio show on the satellite radio platform. Their network of Instagram pages pushing viral content to high school and college-aged consumers on a daily basis, plus the popular Twitter accounts of the outlet and its personalities, exhibit Barstool’s uncanny ability to understand what sports media’s

core consumer demographic cares about.

Barstool has stayed authentic to its brand and its core group of followers, while capitalizing on trends much faster than its larger and richer competitors. Put simply, Barstool is generating seemingly profitable content with DIY production quality, delivered in bite-sized mobile packages, at a relatively low cost per click. Meanwhile, the company’s much larger competitors — with their enormous budgets and legions of staff — spend a lot more money and take a lot more time to produce content that consistently misses the mark. Barstool knows what the average sports viewer cares about. It seems like their larger competitors often don’t.

In short, the current name of the media game is searching for relevance among a generation of eyeballs that consume content in rapidly evolving ways. This is what Barstool has captured, while staying true to themselves. No matter how much you might dislike it, they’ve proved that their irreverent, bro-centric, everyman aesthetic appeals to millions of devoted fans.

So whether you think they’re crass, problematic or outright dangerous, they’re probably the future of sports media, for better or worse. And, with the content going out and the revenue streaming in, they probably don’t care what you think.

Homecoming 2018

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

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ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

CHARLIE MARSHALL SPORTS EDITOR @CWMARSHALL98 Homecoming is a time for students and alumni to celebrate Western University’s history. From its strong academic tradition to its successful sports programs, Western has much to celebrate. In the annals of Mustangs athletics history, no team in any age was as successful as Western football in the 1940s and ’50s. In the shadow of the Second World War, with the game of Canadian university football celebrating its greatest era, the Western Mustangs emerged as the preeminent program in the nation.

And with their Vanier Cup title in 2017 that saw the Mustangs post one of the most impressive seasons in school history, the current success of the football program can thank those teams from over half a

century ago for laying a championship foundation.

The mid-1940s and 1950s are often referred to as the “golden age” of Canadian university football. With revolutionary rule changes creating a more viewer-friendly game, huge crowds flocked to college football stadiums to cheer on their teams.

And with some of the game’s most legendary figures honing their trade during this period, the quality of play around the country was at its apex. However, with eight Western championships in 14 years, this period may be better termed as the “purple age,” as the Mustangs built a program that would dominate the era unlike any team in the history of the sport.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union suspended all intercollegiate athletic

activities. The CIAU believed that any university-aged men should direct their efforts to the war.

However, the Mustangs football team, perturbed by the suspension, continued to play under the title of the Canadian Officers Training Corps Mustangs.

Between 1940 and 1945, Western played games in London against Canadian service teams and some college teams from the United States.

Immediately following the Second World War, the CIAU lifted their suspension of athletic activities.

The extra playing time served the team well, as they went on to have a perfect season in 1946. Ten Mustangs on the ’46 championship team were voted to the Canadian Press all-star team — including Doug McFarlane, who led the nation in scoring that year with 29 points.

The Mustangs followed up their perfect season with another undefeated year and a championship in ’47. However, their winning streak was halted by the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the ’48 season.

Nov. 13, 1948 brought the death of Western’s remarkable 26–0 run.

The Varsity Blues, led by head coach and former NFL tight end Bob Masterson, defeated the powerhouse ponies 23–8 in front of an overflow crowd in Toronto. As well, just a week later, Western would fall to Toronto in a sudden death playoff to decide the champion of the league.

The 1950 season brought more golden age prosperity to London, though. The remarkable year was capped with a Yates Cup win after a 14–2 destruction of the McGill Redmen.

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MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE

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HOCO

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

FILE PHOTO GAZETTE ARCHIVES

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After the championship game, head coach John Metras had high praise for his impressive unit, calling them his best team.

Asked to explain why he thought this Mustangs team was better than the rest, Metras noted that “the league is a lot tougher than it ever was.”

Metras went on to say, “In all the years I’ve been around, there never was a team as tough to beat as this year’s McGill squad.”

Despite a puzzlingly poor 2–3 record in 1951 after their Yates Cup victory in 1950, Western regained supremacy in 1952 and ’53.

On Nov. 15, 1952 the Mustangs conquered their demons with an 8–1 win over the Varsity Blues for their second championship in three years.

In fact, Jack Park of the London Free Press wrote after the game that “the Blues were outplayed much more than the score would indicate.”

Western entered the 1953 season eyeing another championship, but they wouldn’t make it easy on themselves. The championship game eventually came down to what many now refer to as “the pass.” It was a

play so remarkable that Ron Laplante of the Gazette argued it was “the play of the year.”

Western set the date for a championship game against the Varsity Blues in Nov. 1953.

After playing a tight game, the Mustangs were set up at their opponents 51-yard line with just under a minute left in regulation.

Quarterback Don Getty called a simple hook pass to Murray Henderson. Henderson protested, arguing for a shot down the field.

Getty, recounting the story to the press after the game, said that Henderson proclaimed “I can beat him [Toronto defender Pater Maik]. I’m faster than him.”

Trusting his receiver, Getty switched out the short route for a longer pass.

True to his word, Henderson burned Maik on a fly route, notching the game’s winning score. The Toronto defender was so badly outclassed that he only managed to graze the receivers heel as Henderson landed a front flip into the end zone to cap off the dramatic play.

The 1957-58 championship team was led largely part by John Meads, a medical school transfer from the University of Michigan.

Meads, a former captain of the Michigan Wolverines, played both centre and linebacker for the Mustangs before his coach, John Metras, warned him to leave football after sustaining a severe concussion.

Meads described the discussion with his head coach.

“I wanted to play another season, but John [Metras] insisted I stop playing because I had a wife and a child and I had medical school.”

Clearly Meads made the right choice, as he went on to be a surgeon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London.

The “golden age” of Mustangs football was fittingly capped with a Western championship in Metras’ 25th year at the helm.

The 1960s would prove much less successful for the Mustangs, as the once dominant men in purple and white would go through a decade of struggles marked by three winning seasons in 10 years. Western alumni began grumbling about the direction of the program, especially as many perceived Metras wasn’t keeping up with the game’s rule changes. Amid the fan outcry, Metras

stepped down in June 1969 after 34 years at the helm.

At the press conference to announce his retirement, Western’s president, David Carlton Williams, praised Metras’ lasting legacy as the architect of Canada’s university football program.

“John Metras has become a legend in his own lifetime. His record is absolutely unmatched in Canadian football,” said Williams.

Mustangs football would return to the top in the 1970s behind new head coach Frank Cosentino. They captured the program’s first Vanier Cup in 1971, and they would go on to capture five more national championships over the next 23 years.

The current iteration of Mustangs football has racked up 19 consecutive victories, looking to inch closer to the “golden age” 26-straight win record with its contest against Laurier on Saturday afternoon at TD Stadium. But, for all their success, they have their forebearers to thank for building a championship tradition over half a century ago.

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HOCO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

• 8

THE BIRTH AND RISE OF

Western foot

BY MIKE DEBOER

F

rom their seven national titles to the hundreds of former Mustangs who have gone on to CFL and NFL glory, Western has left an indelible mark on the game of football. And it all started 113 years ago, when student interest in the sport, then known as rugby, was first recorded in the Gazette.

“Never before in the history of athletics at Western have the students taken such an interest in rugby as they are this year, and never before were the prospects brighter for winning teams,” wrote the Gazette in 1915. “The reason for this great pigskin enthusiasm is easily explained. For it is the direct result of a much-needed revision in our time tables.”

Befor 1915 students at Western University had little time for recreation with their busy schedules. But through the efforts of Professor Mel Brock, Western’s athletic director at the time, medical students’ school days were shortened to 4 p.m., giving them two hours to play football.

The first organized game of rugby football at Western was played in 1908, with Gib Bice acting as the Mustangs coach and John Cameron Wilson — who would go on to become London’s mayor in 1921 — acting as captain. The team played in a local junior league in a 14-a-side version of the game that featured four backfielders, a quarterback, two insides, two middles, two outside wings and three players on the line of scrimmage. The ball was kicked to the backfield, rather than snapped to the quarterback.

9 •

HOCO

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

tball The ball was round, and running and kicking dominated the game. With the forward pass yet to be added, today’s gunslinging, pass-centric ethos did not yet exist.

Although the initial years of Western rugby saw medical students and arts and humanities students field their own separate teams, calls were be made to combine their talents into one unified Western squad.

“Union of all faculties into one athletic association and the adopting of some system of awarding university colours for university distinction, these are two things which I believe are essential if Western U is ever to be recognized as a great athletic institution,” wrote Huron College professor J.A. Shirley, according to Bob Gage in Mustangs Tales.

So, in 1912, medical students and arts and humanities students joined together, along with local players from the City of London, to enter a team in the Junior Ontario Rugby Football Union. With Western students and non-students playing alongside each other, the team saw success under the university’s colours, which were purple, old gold and crimson at the time. They won the JORFU title, along with the junior championship of the Dominion of Canada. Their coach was Harry “Cap” Stevens and the team’s star was Art Smith.

Smith, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., was also a Western basketball star and, by many accounts, the “big man on campus.” The Gazette sang his praises in 1912.

“The Big Four and the Senior Intercollegiate may have its stars, but we’ll back Art Smith on any gridiron with the best of them. Western owes many of her present laurels to him.”

The 1919 season saw the end of the arrangement that had students and non-students play alongside each other.

The team soon joined the Intermediate Intercollegiate football league in 1920.

The game also saw dramatic rules changes in the ‘20s. Teams could only field 12 players, down from the original 14. The scrum, which originally consisted of three players, was abolished and replaced by a “snap,” who was responsible for snapping the ball back to the quarterback. The rules changes opened up the game and made it faster and more exciting for spectators.

Western’s first season in the Intermediate Intercollegiate league saw them compete alongside St. Michael’s College, the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Toronto Seconds. They lost all but one game, with their lone victory coming from a St. Michael’s College forfeit.

The Gazette reported that Western students, outraged at their team’s abysmal performance, met to formulate their demands for a successful football program and pledge their support. The school’s athletic administration sent out a questionnaire in order to gauge how many students would be willing to train and tryout for the team. Lt.-Col. Eric “Buster” Reid and George Little laid plans to build what would become the nation’s preeminent university football program.

However, success was slow to come. In 1922, Gord McKillop scored Western’s first touchdown in three years in a win over the Ontario Agricultural College. In 1924, Western won four of its six games to finish second in the league. A 7–5 win over St. Michael’s College led to a wild celebration by Western fans.

In 1925, the school opened a new rugby football field.

Referred to as The Oval, the stadium would eventually be equipped with 3,000-seat bleachers. Without adequate dressing rooms, players had to dress in a nearby boiler house; Mustangs football would use such make-do arrangements until the opening of J.W. Little Memorial Stadium in 1929.

The 1926 season saw Western capture its first Intercollegiate Intermediate title. In 1927, they repeated as champions. With their success on the gridiron, plus a rising academic reputation, Western officially entered the pantheon of Ontario’s top post-secondary institutions.

A year later, Western was dethroned by St. Michael’s College. However, their heartbreaking 12–9 loss was overshadowed by the news that Western was to be accepted into the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Union. Pending improvements to J.W. Little Stadium and an ability to field a competitive team, Western was soon to join the highest level of Canadian university football. The move brought football fever to London and its surrounding areas.

“The entrance of Western to senior rugby has given the game itself a great impetus not only in London but to all of Western Ontario,” proclaimed the London Free Press in 1929. “It has placed the university on the map. It has advertised the institution all over Canada. Thousands of people who never heard of Western now know where and what it is.”

Although Western struggled in the nascent stages of its life in the CIRU, it began building the foundations of a dominant future on the gridiron.

1931 was arguably the biggest year in the history of football, as the forward pass was introduced to the game. With the move set to revolutionize the sport, many associated with football at Western approved of the rule change.

“The old game is gone,” said Roy Brown, Western’s halfback at the time. “Long live the new.

The old tediousness of two bucks and a kick has disappeared forever from Canadian rugby. The forward pass adds an element of excitement to the game which was woefully lacking.”

The Western football program also reached new heights in 1931, as it captured the first Yates Cup title in school history. Now awarded to the champion of Ontario University Athletics, up until 1971 the cup was given to the champion of the Senior Intercollegiate Football League. With the championship, football gained even more popularity on campus.

However, the program was unable to sustain their success after 1931. From 1933 to ’35 the Mustangs won a total of three games, leading some to consider dropping the program. The outcry would force, Arthur Ford of the London Free Press to vehemently defend the continued existence of varsity football at Western.

“The greatest advertising Western ever got was when the university entered senior rugby and two years later won the intercollegiate championship.

Western was, for the first time, looked upon not as a second-rate college but as an institution on par with the great universities.”

It wasn’t until 1939 that the Mustangs would return to the top of university football, when they won their second Yates Cup of the decade. The Mustangs went undefeated that year; their first time doing so as a member of the SIFL. After the years of the Second World War, university football in Canada would reach its golden era.

Large crowds and an elite calibre of football marked the 1940s and ‘50s, while the Mustangs themselves experienced dynastic success with eight championships and a remarkable 26-game win streak. From this time onwards, Western football would continue a successful tradition of winning.

But it was all thanks to those who started the program from the grassroots level — near the turn of the 20th century — whose love for the game of football and their university gave birth to one of Western’s crown jewels.

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

HOCO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

• 10

Fall Frenzy

Hiking your way through the Forest City

By Emily Tayler

THAMES VALLEY PARKWAY This 40 km trail follows the Thames River and runs right through campus! Look for the entrance on either side of the bridge’s south end, with its western entrance leading you all the day downtown. With an asphalt path for the majority of the walk, this parkway makes for an easy outdoor stroll. The path also connects with many of the cities other hiking trails and parks such as Gibbons Park and Ann Street Park, making it a great starting point. The Parkway is the perfect casual hike, as the flat walk is not too difficult for novice hikers and the connection to other hiking trails allows for an easy transition to more intense hikes.

MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST Located near the Masonville area, there are entrances to 22 trails along Wonderland Road N., Windermere Road and Fanshawe Park Road W. The main entrance on Wonderland, next to the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, leads to the primary path along Snake Creek. With some marshy areas and a denser forest, this is a step up from your basic hiking trail. Medway Valley’s creeks and lush trees create a serene atmosphere — you can’t even hear the city around you.

WESTMINSTER PONDS Only a half-hour bus ride on southbound 13 from campus, Westminster Ponds is a little farther downtown than Richmond Row. The main entrance is on Wellington Street, with access to 10 trails and six ponds from there. Westminster Ponds is one of London’s largest Environmentally Significant Areas at over 200 hectares.

That’s larger than 200 football fields.

Fair warning: with some marshy areas and clay trails, this path can get pretty muddy.

KILALLY MEADOWS Getting a little bit farther away from campus, Kilally Meadows is in the northeast end of London but are still accessible by bus. With entrances just off of Windermere, the main trail follows the North Thames River for 10 km. Kilally is a mostly flat trail, meaning the paths are easy to walk for novice hikers.

The extra travel time is worth it for Kilally’s rolling meadows and ponds.

FANSHAWE CONSERVATION AREA TRAIL Find a friend with a car (as this trail is unfortunately not available by bus) and head over to the Fanshawe Conservation Area Trail. For a $7 entrance fee, you’re free to hike or bike down the 20 km of trails. Fanshawe Lake also has a campsite available if you want to make your study break a weekend trip. With fishing equipment and canoe rentals, this lake has everything you need to spend a full day exploring the great outdoors.

Not sure where to start? The Thames Valley Trail Association leads at least five walks or hikes around London trails per week. Check out their community page for hikes in your area. Be sure to take a break from studying and walk your local hiking trails while the leaves begin to change colour.

Halloween-ing:

Inventive costumes on a budget.

KATRINA MCCALLUM NEWS EDITOR @KATRINAGAZETTE Halloween may not be everyone’s favourite holiday, but it sure is a good excuse to party. For those who love this spooky time of year, costumes are an integral part of the celebration, sometimes taking weeks to plan. As your costume defines your Halloween, there’s no time to slack on it. Since making a memorable outfit is both easy and affordable, there are no excuses for bad costumes.

However, every year at the Ceeps, there’s always someone with a plaid shirt claiming to be a “Canadian.” Something I do know about Canadians is that they aren’t lazy enough to settle for that excuse of a costume. But this year is no time for costume cop-outs; it’s simply too easy to make a quick and creative Halloween costume with a few household items.

Simply take that plaid shirt, roll up the sleeves, give yourself a face wound with some fake blood and you’re a lumberjack who has lost a battle with a tree. This twist is spooky, creative and will be received much better than before.

The key to a memorable Halloween costume is showing that there was effort put into making it.

The first aspect to think about is what you already have. Are there any parts of your costume you can repurpose from previous years?

Last year, you were Belle from Beauty and the Beast. This year, with some tweaks to that yellow dress, you could be a mustard bottle, a sunflower or even Big Bird.

Use food supplies that you already have to spice up your costumes. Ketchup or hot sauce can make for great blood splatters to put on an old white T-shirt, and it’s cheaper than fake blood. Used tea bags or coffee grounds can make shirts look old or dirty. Combine a dirty-looking shirt with some fake blood stains, and voila: zombie.

Halloween makeup is a complete rip-off. Black face paint can be replaced by two-dollar eyeliner from the beauty makeup section. In fact, any face paint can be replaced by eyeshadow mixed with some water.

Fake blood is expensive as well, but there is a homemade recipe that is just as good as store-bought.

Simply mix one part corn syrup, two parts chocolate sauce, two parts

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE With a little effort, students can make cheap costumes without falling into the same clichéd costumes, Oct. 15, 2018.

cornstarch and red food colouring as desired. This is cheap and edible.

The discount store is your best friend for Halloween items. Pick one item and build your costume around that. A decorative bag of Thanksgiving leaves typically meant for tables can be glued

to a shirt to turn you into a tree.

Collect some acorns from outside or carry a stuffed bird to add some authenticity.

When it comes down to it, anything can be a Halloween costume if you give it a chance. A detailed backstory adds wonders to an outfit

and can make a person wearing old newspapers and a red baseball cap into fake news.

No matter what costume you make, the important part is to have a fun Halloween. Happy haunting!

11 •

HOCO

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

THE MUSTANGS ARE READY FOR THE

HOMECOMING SPOTLIGHT

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

CHARLIE MARSHALL SPORTS EDITOR @CWMARSHALL98 The Western Mustangs will finish their season on Saturday against the Laurier Golden Hawks at TD Stadium. An annual special matchup, the game will give the Mustangs a chance to finish their second consecutive undefeated regular season on Homecoming.

The Mustangs are currently 7–0 on the season. They’ve been ranked first in the U Sports national ranking all season long and currently lead the Ontario University Athletics in points per game, total yardage and points allowed per game. They’ve been dominant on both sides of the ball and look poised to make a run at a second straight Vanier Cup, which would be the school’s first back-toback Vanier Cup run since 1977.

With all their success, quarterback Chris Merchant admitted that, while it may not be paramount at the moment, the chance for another perfect season has definitely crossed his mind.

“We try not to focus on that,” explained Merchant. “But it’s always in the back of your mind. To go undefeated again is always our goal. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that happens.”

It won’t be an easy victory at home, though, as the Laurier Golden Hawks are a talented team in their own right. Currently, the Golden Hawks are tied for fourth in standings with the McMaster Marauders, Waterloo Warriors and Guelph Gryphons, who all have 4–3 records.

The Golden Hawks and Mustangs have been the two most consistent programs in the province over the last half-decade. Laurier stunned Western to win the Yates Cup in 2016 before the Mustangs got revenge last season.

Playing at home in front of a packed Homecoming crowd adds

excitement for the team, eager to impress current students, fans, family and alumni. amazing,” running “It’s back Cedric Joseph said of the Homecoming crowd. “Homecoming here is always a great time; lots of fans and families and students come out to the game, come out and show their support for the boys.”

Merchant added that, while the game will not affect their position in the standings, these games will always be a special memory.

“When you get to play in front of the students and alumni and stuff like that, it’s something to be proud of and it’s something special,” said Merchant. “Those are always the events that you remember when you look back at your experience at Western. So it’s gonna be fun.”

More than just a good memory, big Homecoming crowds can often be a good practice session for the team gearing up for a brutal postseason schedule that will draw similar crowds.

“Being that close to playoffs, I think it does prepare us,” explained Merchant. “Going into a big crowd — it’s probably not hostile — but it’s definitely huge, if we have homefield advantage, it helps us and gets us used to what we’re gonna play with. We’re really excited for it, obviously. Hopefully the fans come out and support us.”

Discussions of heritage and history are never far from the Homecoming football game. Western has developed a reputation as a powerhouse of Canadian university football through the years, compiling 31 Yates Cups and seven Vanier Cups.

The chance to play in front of former champions and legends of Western football is not an opportunity that the current team takes lightly.

“It’s a pretty surreal moment,” said running back Cedric Joseph on the chance to play in front of former

Mustangs players. “The heritage of the university, you really get to see it and live it at Homecoming. I’m super excited to be able to play for all the people who’ve played Western football before. Super grateful to be able to be part of the tradition and hopefully to be able to continue the winning tradition that we have at Western.”

With a win at Ottawa last weekend, the Mustangs have secured a first round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they can get past the Golden Hawks, Western can extend their win streak to 20 games.

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THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE BOOK: An Academic Panel. Wed, Oct 24, 2018, D.B. Weldon Library, FREE 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. Keep a regular check on your accounts Regularly log into your online accounts, and check your statements. Report any suspicous transactions to your bank or credit card provider.

3. 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 4

13 •

weed preview

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

10 nugs to know about weed KRSTIN LEE CULTURE EDITOR @KRIIISLEE Calling all Canadians! Please crawl out of your hot-boxed rooms because it’s finally here: Cannabis has (legally) made its way to our home and native land. Some might celebrate with bong tokes, while others may be not-so-silently judging the person casually smoking a joint at the bus stop.

As of Oct. 17, buying, using, possessing and growing recreational marijuana will be legal for those over the age of 18. Since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election in 2015, the Canadian government has been setting rules in place for the sale of nature’s most popular green plant, making him a hero to those who have always stayed in stealth mode.

But there’s a whole lot you may not know about pot, so before you take that celebratory toke, here are some compelling nugs of information.

1. IT WOULD TAKE 240 JOINTS TO KILL YOU. Unless you’re planning on smoking over four ounces of marijuana in under 15 minutes, it’s impossible to die of an overdose. Even if you did, the cause of death would not be directly related to an overdose, but rather other related factors, such as impaired judgement, which could put you in the way of risk and harm.

The closest thing would be “greening out,” where you feel nauseous, which can induce vomiting.

But, the worst thing is likely feeling sick after downing an entire pizza because of the munchies.

2. CANNABIS IS THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST CONSUMED DRUG ON THE PLANET. According to Statistics Canada, fourteen per cent of Canadians (roughly five million people) and around 183 million people around the world use cannabis, which amounts to over 3.8 per cent of the world’s population, according to the 2017 United Nations’ World Drug Report. If you’re a cannabis consumer, you’re in the company of millions of others as you spark up a blunt when 4/20 rolls around, including the prime minister himself, who admitted he puffed a joint at a dinner party as an MP.

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

3. CHOCOLATE AND MARIJUANA PRODUCE SOME IDENTICAL EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN. This explains the “high” most people experience while eating chocolate — although it would take several pounds of the sweet, delectable treat to feel the equivalent high marijuana gives. Chocolate contains chemicals that bind directly to cannabinoid receptors, suggesting that these compounds affect the brain the same way THC does in cannabis. We owe our thanks to the intellectual who combined the two and made weed brownies. Now there’s an excuse for another pot-themed national holiday.

“Dying to Get High,” note that cannabis may effectively treat a number of physical and mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and depression, which may explain why there are lower suicide rates in states that have legalized marijuana. After legalization, a 10.8 per cent drop was reported among males aged 20 to 29.

The drop for females under 40 was not as significant but nonetheless a downward trend.

Please note that these statistics are not true for everyone. Selfmedication can do more harm than good. Check with your doctor before using marijuana.

4. CANNABIS IS NOT AS ADDICTIVE AS YOU “MAY” THINK. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about nine per cent of marijuana users who are dependent on the drug, compared to 17 per cent of cocaine users, 23 per cent of heroin users, and 32 per cent of nicotine users. Studies also indicate that marijuana dependence may have genetic correlation, meaning that not all those who try marijuana will be hooked immediately.

7. THE FIRST RECORDED USE OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA OCCURRED IN 2727 B.C. Chinese emperor Shen Nung supposedly discovered the substance and used it medicinally to treat his pains of rheumatism and gout. He documented the results of the drug’s effectiveness. The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum in Arlington, Va., states that this is the oldest written reference to cannabis. Thousands of years later, it’s commonly used medicinally.

After Tupac Shakur’s murder, members of his hip-hop group Outlawz mixed Tupac’s ashes with marijuana and smoked the concoction.

Perhaps they were simply relieving their grief.

5. THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 WORDS FOR MARIJUANA AND OVER 779 DIFFERENT STRAINS. Canadians have more than 200 names for marijuana: bud, dank, dope, herb, ganja, grass, Mary Jane, pot, Kush, chronic, nug, reefer, bush and so on. Interestingly, different strains have a distinct smell or taste. Pot connoisseurs can choose between hundreds of strains like “Green Crack,” “Strawberry Cough” and “Purple Urkle.” Why these bizarre names? It could be due to how Amsterdam’s DNA Genetics, a cannabis seed bank, brainstorms these names; as they told LA Times, “We sit there, and we call all our friends and smoke. That’s a brainstorm session.”

6. SUICIDE RATES DECREASED IN SOME STATES SINCE LAWS WERE PASSED. Since the passing of a medical marijuana law in several American states, there has been an almost five per cent reduction in the total suicide rate according to a study by the Institute for the Study of Labour. Sociologist, Wendy Chapkis and Richard J. Webb, who co-wrote

8. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE MAY HAVE DABBLED. He was a genius playwright whose plays we all enthusiastically — but mostly reluctantly — recited in our high school English classes, and a poet who literature professors have looked up to in awe for decades. Perhaps his brilliant talent was due to the devil’s grass. In 2001, an anthropologist reported the discovery of cannabis residue on the fragments of a pipe found in Shakespeare’s garden in England. No wonder he was so poetic.

9. THE FIRST ITEM SOLD OVER THE INTERNET WAS A BAG OF MARIJUANA. It was hardly a private meet with a dealer in the school’s washroom stalls. In 1972, before the age of texting, Stanford students made their first online transaction to buy weed from their peers at MIT. Silk Road, an online black market, paved the way for drug sales, but with legalization, it’s an easy couple clicks away for a package of weed to show up at your front door. For all we know, Silk Road 2.0 could certainly well be on its way.

10. ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS ARE DIFFERENT — BUT NOT THAT DIFFERENT. Unlike alcohol, high amounts of marijuana won’t always send you to the ER. But when it comes to driving, any amount of both can be deadly.

The short-term effects of both cannabis and alcohol are similar and can include increased sociability, euphoria, distorted perception, loss of motor coordination, anxiety, problems with memory and learning, and an increased heart rate.

With that said, the lesson is that no matter who you are, impaired driving kills. The high may be short, but the consequences can last a lifetime.

Now that you’re more aquainted with nature’s friend, Mary Jane, you can seem like the smartest person in the hazy, smoke-filled room as you puff out these random facts, with all those red pairs of eyes focused — partially — on you.

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE

When weed was cool MICHAEL CONLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @MIKECONLEY4 Wash the Dorito dust off your fingers. Turn off the Xbox 360. Take your lighter off the nightstand and turn out the lights.

On Oct. 17, the fun’s over. This fateful Wednesday brings widespread legalization of cannabis to Canada and, with it, the final nail in weed’s coolness coffin.

Weed culture, from its hippie roots in mid-20th century America — described by Time in 1967 as a symbol of revolution — to its ghastly tie-dyed posters sprawled across dorm room walls the world over, has been supported by the same cause it rejects: the status quo. Weed’s illegality, its symbolic disdain for authority was, until now, a driving force for its users.

But this illegality also made it cool. It wasn’t enough for parents, teachers, politicians and religious figures to denounce getting high.

The knowingness came from its illegality. Folks needed to know it was wrong, and the law gave this reassurance. From pounding around elementary school playgrounds past dark to sneaking out the side door post-parental sleep, deviance was in the fabric of getting stoned.

If weed wasn’t cool, then Pineapple Express becomes a disparate look into the lives of two likely uninsured males, self-medicating for possible behavioural issues and general anxiety as their loved ones reap the consequences of their static development.

But weed was cool back then.

California, with its notoriously loose marijuana laws, was seen as a mecca of social progress. The same consumers that supported Seth Rogen and James Franco’s stoned shenanigans likely packed their iPods with Mac Miller’s “KIDS” and Wiz Khalifa’s “Kush & Orange Juice”. They smoked weed out of juice boxes. Life was good.

Or so it seemed.

Few in this period, or the years that followed, seemed to question weed’s essentiality. From school to work to parties to leisure, youthful weed tokers balanced mundane experiences with a commitment to fine greenery. Nobody, and certainly not a group of teenagers packed into a smokey shed, was discussing a normative dependency on weed or its long-term effects on yet-developing brains.

Most didn’t know (or care) that individuals with baseline major depression are 4.5 times more likely to develop a co-occurring dependency on weed and alcohol; the heightened possibility of dependency for those with late-developing antisocial behaviour was a non-factor; and the risk of dependence nearly doubling upon adolescent use (from nine per cent to 16 per cent) didn’t cross most minds.

After all, folks weren’t coping; they were being cool.

Presumably, this research crossed the minds of those on the forefront of developing Canada’s Cannabis Act, set to be officially enacted on Wednesday. As weed hits the mainstream like never before, it’s not going to be cool anymore. Without Hollywood hijinks and rainbow coloured apparel to shroud it, people will be left to face the rationale of their weed use head on.

Whether this will increase or decrease use is uncertain.

Legalization in Colorado sharply decreased adolescent use; Oregon saw an increase among college students (with adolescent rates varying). Canadians will need to reconcile the cost of smoking weed in a society where dominate health beliefs largely tout its benefits. But they’ll be doing it without the counter-cultural auras of Seth Rogen and Wiz Khalifa.

Though, perhaps as Canadian society evolves, this is best. Because cool can’t last forever. And if it could, well, that wouldn’t be very cool at all.

Sativa A type of cannabis plant, it's known for eliciting an energetic high. Maybe not for right before bed.

Indica A type of cannabis plant, it's known for producing a relaxed, drowsy high — next-day grogginess included.

Hybrid A blend of Sativa and Indica. Best of both worlds? Maybe, maybe not.

Cannabinoids Chemical compounds in marijuana, such as THC, that effect our body after ingesting. Best to know what you're taking before you venture on.

Dime bag The small, often plastic bags that weed is frequently stored in. Though, with an impending climate catastrophe on the horizon, perhaps we should stick to paper.

KYRA KARAKATSANIS GAZETTE

culture

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

• 14

Guzzo’s gusto: Mustang turns Dragon

KYRA KARAKATSANIS GAZETTE

CARMEN MALLIA CULTURE EDITOR @CARMMALLIA For Western alumnus and the newest business mogul on Dragons’ Den, Vincenzo Guzzo, being an entrepreneur is like running an extreme marathon: you’ve got to test the limits to reap the rewards.

Guzzo — the president and CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, the largest movie operator in Quebec and third largest in Canada — believes that the difference between a successful and non-successful entrepreneur is their ability to handle unease through adrenaline.

“You know that butterfly feeling, that not

sleeping at night? That’s actually fuel for me and not necessarily a negative,” says Guzzo.

The entrepreneur has used this adrenaline to expand his father’s cinema business into an empire. He’s also created a construction contracting business, two fine-dining establishments and a chain of Italian pork restaurants called Porchetta.

Guzzo’s cutthroat perspective shines through on Dragon’s Den. It’s especially evident in the second episode of season 13, when a heedless Vancouver-based fitness trainer asks the Dragons for a $200,000 jumpstart for a rhythm rowing app. Guzzo is quick to tell him off.

“You sound like some guy who’s built a 20 million dollar company or something.…

You haven’t built squat,” Guzzo tells them unsympathetically. The newest Dragon is quick to interrupt those entering the Den in order to share his thoughts, even if that means shoving a sullen opinion down their throats.

“While I can be blunt sometimes, very Kevin O’Leary-ish, the difference is that unlike Kevin — who will just throw an insult at you — I will say, ‘Look, what you’re proposing to me is just stupid, and I’ll tell you why it’s stupid,’ ” says Guzzo, who is brutally honest in his business approach. “I have enough empathy to tell you why you’re stupid.”

His frank attitude and no-nonsense demeanour are the reasons why some call him Mr. Sunshine; warm some days but overbearing on others.

“There’s this duality with Mr. Sunshine: I can be super nice, but I can be a real prick.

It’s the same sun: the one that you loved two days ago just gave you a burn. Now you hate it.”

Things weren’t always this glamorous for Guzzo though.

Graduating from Western with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1991, the business mogul spent his two-and-a-half year stay in London grinding day and night with an overloaded course schedule each year — even through the summer.

“When I left to go to Western, it was like

the end of the world for my mother. She thought I would fall in love with some girl and never come back. So I had to basically do what I could to appease her sadness,… I took summer classes so that I didn’t have to do three years here. I could do two-and-a-half.”

Following his stay at Western in 1991, his unease and adrenaline started to kick in when he returned home to Montreal to some unfortunate news.

His father — who had come to Canada from Italy in 1967, opening Cinémas Guzzos in 1974 — told him that he was thinking of closing down the family business. Feeling concerned, Guzzo told his father to hold off while he studied law at the Université de Montréal.

“Anything that had to do with competition law, civil law, anything that had to do with litigation involving private corporations, that’s what interested me. I was there to get the tools so that I could turn around and fight the big guys and get the movies,” says Guzzo, who was using his time at school to prepare to fight the Canadian cinema industry over their monopolistic practices.

After Guzzo finished his schooling in 1996, the company filed complaints with competitions bureau against Canadian cinema companies — Cineplex Odeon and Famous Players — for the right to show firstrun movie releases at Cinémas Guzzo. His abrasive attitude and wit were the reasons the company reached an agreement with the cinema titans, allowing independent movie theatres to distribute first-run films.

Ever since that victory, he has built the movie chain into a Canadian entertainment empire: 141 screens, nine IMAX theatres across 10 locations and three IMAX theatres on the horizon, creating an empire for himself and reaping the benefits of his risk-taking.

But Guzzo’s not all business. He and his wife, Maria, who serves as vice-president of philanthropic and community affairs for the company, fund cancer nanotechnology research at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal through the Guzzo Family

Foundation, which was founded in 2007.

While he might have learned the tools for business success at Western, he doesn’t think that students can be taught this entrepreneurial attitude: for him, you’re either born with it or you don’t have it.

“I’m still on the [fence] on whether or not universities should have entrepreneurial classes. Should there be a class trying to teach me how to be inspired? I don’t know if that’s possible,” says Guzzo.

Whether or not you are born with the competitive, confident and determined mindset to take on an empire or not, Guzzo believes that students should embrace those characteristics in order to feel the freedom that comes with the success of becoming an entrepreneurial tycoon.

Maintaining your mental health through the year

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE

COURTNEY MANN CULTURE EDITOR @UWOGAZETTE It’s no secret: mental health affects everyone, especially at the post-secondary level. As midterm season approaches and course workloads increase, it’s important for students to be mindful of their wellness and the wellness of those around them.

Universit y is a unique

institution that provides students with a plethora of emotional experiences. Some days are wildly enriching; students have the opportunity to pursue their passions for certain subjects and to become involved in extracurricular activities that are beneficial to their future. Other days can be supremely difficult; students sometimes stress over three midterms and have trouble finding a

home base in the sea of Mustangs on campus. Among the chaos of these highs and lows, it’s crucial to make self-care a priority.

Melanie-Anne Atkins, former wellness coordinator at Western, says that students can choose wellness on a daily basis by incorporating healthy routines into their schedules.

“A few years ago, people thought that there were only wellness events happening during wellness week,” says Atkins. “Now our Facebook page features wellness events occurring every day.

Moving forward, students can practice scheduling wellness into their weekly life.”

Though Western’s official Wellness Week is over, students can pave the route to sustainable mental well-being by developing strategies and routines that are maintainable in their busy lifestyles. It’s undeniable that some days are more stressful than others. To ease those moments, students should become familiar with the resources that are accessible on campus.

The Wellness Education Centre is overseen by a professional coordinator but staffed by Western students to better address student concerns. The diversity of the WEC’s events this semester ensures that everyone has an option when it comes to engaging in their well-being.

Some events will encourage

students to develop stress-coping strategies by attending workshops on writing multiple-choice tests, creating effective resumés and practicing for interviews. These services are in place to assist students with their studies while also preparing them for summer internship opportunities and post-graduation life.

Between classes and studying, students can also participate in events that promote a positive and balanced lifestyle, like healthy eating seminars, Zumba dance classes and meditation sessions.

For those missing home and seeking comfort, therapy dogs will also be in the University Community Centre on a weekly basis this semester.

Self-care revolutionizes one’s priorities and commitments. It requires time and effort, and it isn’t always the norm — especially in environments as competitive as university. Atkins says that making self-care a priority is a counter-cultural choice and that the only way to switch our understanding of wellness is to continue breaking down the stigmatization of mental health.

“We have to think of a reason why we matter enough to put our wellness first and to advocate for the wellness of the people around us,” she explains.

Under the supervision of new coordinator Natalie Trevino, the team of Western students at the

WEC is looking to provide safe spaces and engaging opportunities for other students who are hoping to find their way while gaining peer-oriented support.

The WEC isn’t the only resource on campus, though.

Students seeking interaction with experienced professionals — relating to their mental wellness or any experience with trauma — are able to book counselling appointments through Psychological Services and Student Health Services. There are options for single sessions, workshops and group meetings so that students are able to find a space that feels comfortable and encouraging.

However, students should note that counselling services do not replace crisis services. If a student is in need of immediate assistance, there are many crisis centres in London, some of which offer 24-hour support. These include Good2Talk, Reach Out and ConnexOntario. Staying familiar with these resources means being educated, responsible and prepared for any situation.

No matter where one is in their pursuit of mental wellness, it’s helpful to be aware of the resources and points of contact within their reach.

As this academic year continues, students are encouraged to check out the wellness calendar for events running this semester.

community

15 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018

photo of the day

gazette crossword

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE BUNDLE UP. A collaboration between Western International and Columbia Sportswear aims to educate international students on proper winter attire, Oct. 15, 2018.

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For solution go to westerngazette.ca/solution

CLUES ACROSS 1. Rhythmic patterns 7. Ethical theory 13. Nightclub 14. Upsets 16. Type of railroad 17. Home of The Beatles 19. Political organization 20. Disgraced cyclist Armstrong 22. Seven 23. Enlarges hole 25. Some are big 26. August __, German socialist 28. Unappetizing food 29. Cast out 30. Adult male 31. After uno 33. Midway between northeast and east 34. Kenyan settlement 36. Oxygen deprived 38. British writer 40. Synchronizes solar and lunar time 41. Vehemently expressed 43. Hurt 44. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.)

45. Gradually weaken 47. Cool!

48. Touch softly 51. Israeli city 53. Indicating silence 55. Protein-rich liquids 56. Tropical Asian plants 58. A very small circular shape 59. Type of wrap 60. Potato state 61. Spinning toy 64. Type of degree 65. Ornamental molding 67. Closes again 69. Verses 70. Rise up For crossword solution, see page 4

CLUES DOWN 1. Spanish seaport 2. Equal to one quintillion (abbr.)

3. Powders 4. One of the reat ones 5. Increase motor speed 6. .T. director 7. Caught sight of 8. Congressional investigative body 9. Aroma 10. Runs without moving 11. Southeast 12. About remembering 13. Slang for famous person 15. Potential criminal 18. Body part 21. All over the place 24. Conqueror 26. Actress Ling 27. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano 30. Distributes 32. Golfing legend Sam 35. Laos musical instrument 37. Open payment initiative 38. Having no fixed course 39. Type of dog 42. Digital audiotape 43. Hit lightly 46. San Diego ballplayers 47. Stop working 49. Suitable for growing crops 50. Musical groups 52. Soft 54. Lowest point of a ridge 55. Beloved late TNT broadcaster 57. Thin strip to align parts 59. Cardinal number 62. Frozen water 63. One who is incredibly special 66. Rhodium 68. Top lawyer in the land

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 •

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