Tuesday, March 12, 2019

SINCE 1906 TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2019 VOLUME 112 ISSUE 23

Western University’s Student Newspaper Research on refugee resettlement PG 3

Women’s volleyball OUAs PG 9

CAISA’s Aria production PG 10 WEARING A SPRING JACKET WHEN WE SHOULDN’T BE SINCE 1906

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 •

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april clark

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LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

April Clark’s stat line this hockey season was eye-popping. Her 20 goals and 33 points in 24 games led Ontario University Athletics, as did her five game-winning goals and five powerplay tallies. As the face of a Mustangs women’s hockey team that finished second in the province with a record of 14–5–1–4, April established herself as one of Canadian university women’s hockey’s best players in the process — even though her team didn’t reach the lofty goals they set before the season.

For all her personal accolades, that’s what’s striking about April — she only speaks in terms of her team. Her OUA Player of the Year and Forward of the Year awards were shining achievements, particularly for an athlete with a year of university eligibility left. But her Mustangs team, which won an OUA championship last year and expected to compete for a second straight this season, fell in an upset to the Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA semifinals. For April, that counts as a failure.

“Well, the goal was to win the OUA championships and go to nationals this season, and we obviously didn’t hit that goal, so that will be our goal going into next year.”

April has seen a steady rise throughout her U Sports hockey career, growing from a role player within the program to its marquee piece. She attributes her rapid improvement throughout her university career to her teammates, coaches and a second-year 20-pound muscle gain that made her faster and stronger on the ice.

April also underwent a significant change in her playing style, allowing her to become the Mustangs go-to scorer.

“If you asked me a couple years ago, I’d definitely say I was a pass-first player,” she says. “But this year, I’ve just

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.

SISSI CHEN GAZETTE

been in situations where the puck is on my stick and the net is right there, so I’m going to shoot, and they’ve been going in for me.”

The St. Mary’s, Ont. native and nursing student came to Western University from the Bluewater Hawks and London Devilettes programs, deciding to stay close to home to play her university hockey. This choice paid dividends at last year’s U Sports Women’s Hockey Championships, where young female hockey players from the Devilettes program were able to watch the host Mustangs make a run all the way to the gold medal game. For April, this was especially meaningful.

“It was really big for us that we made it to the finals,” says April. “We just had so much support from Western and local Londoners, and the stands were packed so that really meant a lot. It helped grow the game too, to help all those London Devilettes know that they wanted to be like us at that level someday.”

April didn’t come from a heavily hockey-centric family.

Her mother was a runner, and while her father did play hockey, April concedes he “wasn’t the best at it.”

“My dad used to try to give me tips on my game,” April jokes. “But when I got older I eventually just told him ‘no.’ ” While the heartbreak of this year’s OUA playoffs loss, which came at the hands of a Varsity Blues team that overcame Western’s speed and skill with a gritty, tough effort will sting for a while, April will use it to motivate herself and her teammates throughout the offseason.

“Next year, we want to get back to the McCaw Cup and win it, and then go as far as we can at nationals,” she says. “Our season was cut short this season, which sucks, but next year we want to go all the way.”

■ MIKE DEBOER

3 •

news

• TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

Researchers look at Syrian refugee resettlement JUDY BASMAJI NEWS EDITOR @JUDYBASMAJI Just over a year ago, Sara Calvert had to admit a critically ill child to Victoria Hospital’s paediatric critical care unit, where she worked as a nurse. The child’s family had recently moved to Canada as refugees, and nobody in the family spoke English, explained Calvert.

The child was in critical condition and required significant medical intervention, including mechanical ventilation. Thankfully, a translator was available onsite to communicate the details of the child’s condition to the family. When the translator was unavailable, Calvert would resort to using gestures and Google Translate to communicate with the family. The experience left Calvert quite unsettled.

“I could see the fear in the parents’ eyes, and I wished more than anything that I could have been able to personally communicate with the family, since I was the one spending 12 hours at the bedside with them,” she said. “Having a critically ill child is stressful enough. I can’t imagine not being able to understand what was happening.”

A Western University graduate nursing student at the time, the experience instilled a sense of curiosity in Calvert to better understand the state of refugees in Canada, especially considering the recent influx of refugees into the country.

“I was particularly interested in learning about resettlement experiences, because I was sure that the language barrier was only one of many challenges that these individuals may be facing,” she said. “I realized I had a potential thesis topic on my hands.”

Calvert recalled that one of her nursing professors, Abe Oudshoorn, had previously sent out an email looking for research assistants for a study on the experiences of newly settled Syrian refugees. After reaching out to Oudshoorn, Calvert was thrilled to learn she could use the study data for a master’s thesis on Syrian refugees’ experiences of social cohesion.

Oudshoorn and colleagues began research into Syrian refugees’ resettlement conditions in 2017.

Concluding in 2018, the year-long initial study examined the resettlement experiences of 17 Syrian refugee families located in London. The study is currently being reviewed for publication.

Last January, the researchers received a $95,000 grant in federal funding to follow 51 families in London, Fredericton and Calgary for another four years, after the preliminary results provided new insights and prompted further questions.

The families surveyed were government-assisted refugees, receiving federal support for the first year before becoming more independent. The study looked at the families’ conditions throughout this first year of independence, revealing significant concerns. Calvert carried out secondary analyses of the results to take a closer look at the families’ state of social cohesion.

The researchers explained families were placed in two-bedroom apartments regardless of the number of members, which came up to eight in certain cases. Some expressed safety concerns related to letting their children outside due to issues of crime or drug use, while

others reported issues with landlords who were making unfair or illegal demands. Some families also reported being placed in apartments with wheelchair inaccessibility, poor repairs or insect infestations, such as bedbugs and cockroaches.

While most were still looking for better long-term housing, Oudshoorn explained all the families expressed significant thanks and gratitude to be in Canada. Many had left their homes six to seven years ago and had been on long journeys of displacement within Syria or other countries before finding a new home. Most participants expressed that Canada did or would someday feel like home, mainly attributing this to a sense of safety and kindness they had experienced since their arrival.

“We found quite a diversity of experiences, but one of the things that was really common amongst all the families was that there were some housing concerns, but simultaneously, they had hopes and dreams for the future.”

ABE OUDSHOORN NURSING PROFESSOR

“We found quite a diversity of experiences, but one of the things that was really common amongst all the families was that there were some housing concerns, but simultaneously, they had hopes and dreams for the future,” said Oudshoorn.

Calvert explained the families were able to learn about Canadian culture through newcomer workshops and could access most health care services in a timely manner, excepting mental health care. All children were enrolled in school, and parents were provided with the opportunity to attend English language classes.

However, the participants reported experiences of homesickness,

discriminatory attitudes from landlords and language barriers, all of which prevented a sense of social belonging. Further, they reported housing and financial assistance was insufficient for the families’ needs.

Above all else, the language barrier formed the greatest obstacle to integration. Participants who could not speak English struggled to find employment, form social relationships, change housing and access services. Transportation issues, such as inaccessibility to bus routes, made the situation worse.

“Related to their housing situation, their poor apartment locations combined with their inability to afford a car not only made it difficult to attend English classes, but other events and services as well,” said Calvert.

The recent grant is for a second five-year study; four years of data collection and one year of analysis that will allow Oudshoorn and colleagues to look at how the refugee families continue to adjust over time. Oudshoorn hopes the study will provide an in-depth understanding of why some families do better or worse than others in the long-term. The money will support the local research teams in London, Fredericton and Calgary, and compensate the families for their participation.

“Housing is one of the primary long-term concerns in terms of people’s well-being,” said Oudshoorn. “It’s best for everyone if people have positive settlement experiences, whether we’re talking about families themselves [or] about the general Canadian population.”

Calvert, who completed her thesis in December, further emphasized the importance of understanding how resettlement needs and government policies and programs improve over time.

“Given that we are experiencing a larger influx of refugees into the country, it’s important to make sure that we’re following up with their resettlement experiences and really helping to promote their successful integration,” she said.

Number of Syrian refugees between Nov. 4, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2018

JUDY BASMAJI GAZETTE

ASHLEY YOUNG GAZETTE

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Self-reported community belonging status

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news

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 •

USC launches free menstrual product pilot project NOJOUD AL MALLEES NEWS INTERN @NOJOUDALMALLEES Last week, t he Universit y Students’ Council launched a free menstrual product pilot project that provides students with access to feminine hygiene products in all University Community Centre washrooms.

To fund this pilot project, the USC secured a sponsorship from Tampax to provide 13,000 pads and tampons. All other costs of the project have been incurred by the USC.

Carina Gabriele, USC student programs officer, explained that this project is not the fi rst of its kind, as similar initiatives have been implemented at campuses across the country and within Western University itself.

“We k now t hat K i ng’s University College Students’ Council is working with their administration to implement this in their bathrooms. Brescia [University College]’s doing it with their administration right now,” said Gabriele. “People are recognizing how much of a

gender-based issue this is and how important it is to be implementing it on post-secondary campuses.”

In deciding on the future of this initiative, the USC will be looking to assess the usage in various washrooms of the UCC, as well as any feedback from students.

“This [project] is solely to produce data and to get information about usage statistics. We’ve got a number of ways we’re doing this.

We’ve got QR codes on all of the baskets and additionally all of the posters,” explained Gabriele.

• 4

NOJOUD AL MALLEES GAZETTE One of the USC’s free menstrual product boxes, March 6, 2019.

“We are keeping track of how frequently we’re stocking, where we’re stocking and, additionally, how are students feeling about it.”

Gabriele expressed no concern with regard to overuse of the products provided, highlighting the importance of ensuring access to necessities such as feminine hygiene products.

“I see this as necessary as toilet paper,” said Gabriele. “Do we have that kind of question when it comes to toilet paper? I don’t think that necessarily matters, and for the people that need it, they have

it. And I think that’s the most important part of the project.”

According to Gabriele, the USC hopes to expand the service into a university-wide initiative that offers menstrual products throughout campus.

In addition to the newly launched project, tampons and pads are provided by Food Support Services — the USC’s food bank — in UCC Room 258.

To support this initiative, donation boxes are placed in the UCC atrium as well as in the USC office, located in UCC Room 340.

Sharing London heritage one coffee at a time ASHLEY GOVEAS NEWS INTERN @UWOGAZETTE

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE One of Pour Over London’s history-inspiring coffee cups, March 1, 2019.

Western students have been working with the London Heritage Council to help a local coffeehouse share London’s heritage with its community.

Katie Anderson, public history student at Western University, is involved with Pour Over London — a pilot project that collaborated with LondonFuse to print facts about London’s history on the sleeves of coffee cups at Edgar and Joe’s Café.

The project, which launched during Heritage Week in February, hoped to share stories of London’s history to the community in an exciting and accessible way. There are a total of 20 facts, two of which Anderson wrote herself.

The facts were approved by the City of London’s Culture Office.

Anderson became involved with

the project through her placement with the London Heritage Council.

Along with their coffee, visitors at both cafe locations on Horton Street and King Street can learn about the Crystal Palace, which burned down in 1936; the fi rst cancer treatment with cobalt-60 radiation, which occurred in London; and the Richmond Tavern, one of the oldest bars in Canada.

Western alumni Ryan Hunt, a former employee of the London Heritage Council, and Nicki Borland, an employee at LondonFuse, were also involved in writing some of the facts. The project encourages guests at Edgar and Joe’s Café to share their own stories on social media using the hashtag #PourOverLDN. According to Anderson, the project has been well-received.

“I think it has really been a

better response than we thought.

A lot of people are really interested in this. I think that says something that people are really engaged,” she said.

Anderson became a part of Pour Over London after her involvement with Hear, Here, a world history project for the South of Horton area that will launch in April. The project encourages visitors in the area to phone in numbers displayed on plaques to learn about the area’s history.

According to Anderson, Pour Over London was a step toward furthering London’s engagement with its history. She hopes to continue to see positive responses and to encourage the community to uncover its heritage.

“I just hope people enjoy and continue to respond to it, and maybe keep having conversations and stay excited about it,” Anderson said.

University Drive bridge reopens ALEXANDER SH LEE NEWS CONTRIBUTOR @UWOGAZETTE University Drive bridge reopened to motorized vehicles on Friday after an almost five-month closure.

The 95-year-old bridge closed on Oct. 18 in order to have its bearings replaced, after two inspections conducted by a structural engineering

firm in September found them to be unfit.

According to Facilities Management, the $400,000 repairs will add five more years of life to University Drive bridge. During that time, Western University will make further long-term decisions for the bridge.

The London Transit Commission

will return to its regular routing for Routes 6, 13 and 106 through campus.

Shuttles that use the bridge between Western and Brescia University College, Huron University College and King’s University College will also return to regular routing.

MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE Reopened University Drive bridge, March 8, 2019.

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MICHAEL CONLEY GAZETTE University Drive bridge undergoing construction, Feb. 21, 2019.

5 •

opinions

• TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

we get letters

A call to celebrate womxn leaders The use of x denotes gender fluidity and inclusivity. We use womxn as it allows space for individuals who identify as genderfluid, genderqueer, gender non-conforming or non-binary and is inclusive of trans women.

March 8 is a special day for us. As three of the five executives of the University Students’ Council, we are the first female dominated executive in over 10 years. International Womxn’s Day provides us with an opportunity to appreciate incredible womxn everywhere and to proudly celebrate the amazing leadership from womxn we’ve seen across campus.

“Our democracy benefits from a greater diversity of voices in decision-making positions,” writes Kristyn Wong-Tam for Now. “If women and people of colour don’t run for political office, they don’t get elected. If they don’t get elected, progress will not be made and democracy suffers.”

We know that womxn in leadership positions make a positive difference. But research also shows that despite the fact that many Canadians recognize that there aren’t enough womxn in politics, few would recommend a woman they know well to run for public office.

There is no consensus as to why womxn are not being widely elected to public office in Canada. Evidence indicates, however, that the point of discrimination tends to occur at the nomination phase. Once womxn are nominated, there is little evidence to indicate that voters discriminate at the polls. The Canadian advocacy organization Equal Voice estimates that if current trends hold, it will take about 90 years before gender parity is reached in the House of Commons.

Our campus, much like other university campuses across the country, have conversations about the disparities of student election candidates in relation to marginalized identities during and directly after the nomination period. This means these conversations happen too late. Let’s continue the conversations that start today year-round and let’s have them often.

To make meaningful change, make politics more accessible and see our student governments truly

reflect our campus populations, we need to address systemic barriers that limit or inhibit student involvement. When our student leadership reflects the diversity of our campus, only then are we able to improve campus life for everyone through the lived experiences each student leader brings.

From projects like the Orientation Week consent buttons, the Women Who Lead: Our Stories video series and the #AskHer campaign, to the free menstrual product pilot project and the first-ever USC Women in House, we spent our time at the USC listening to womxn’s experiences across campus and attempting to address issues like persistent gender gaps.

A necessary precondition to gender parity at any top level of leadership is gender parity at the everyday levels of student leadership. We know that there’s plenty of amazing work being done by womxn leaders in our campus community. From frequent community fundraisers through our clubs to the integration and elevation of womxn in STEM fields from womxn in our faculties, female senators demanding improved safety on campus, our Indigenous community raising awareness about vital social issues, womxn elevating other womxn by providing professional development, affiliate councils spearheading important initiatives that reduce gendered barriers and incredible womxn being recognized for their outstanding work — Western’s womxn are leading the way.

When womxn’s voices are represented at every level, we accelerate and create real change. As the Maclean’s editorial board writes, “Simply bringing gender issues into the full light of day can deliver tangible results, provided society is ready to change.” So, today, let’s celebrate the womxn in our lives, and tomorrow, let’s commit to supporting womxn’s leadership in our communities.

ANDREEA BEJAN, USC SECRETARY-TREASURER; CARINA GABRIELE, USC STUDENT PROGRAMS OFFICER; MIKAELA HARRISON, USC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

On gaining influence through research Most students are probably familiar with Fyre Festival.

One of the ways the event was publicized was to pay influencers to advertise on various social media platforms. In essence, a transaction was made to buy the trust between influencers and their followers.

Similar to social media marketing, the trust of the public can be purchased by academics. The authors argue in this piece that purchasing this trust comes at the expense of the author’s credibility and the consumers of the research.

As researchers, we are tasked with being advocates of truth, a task that has become more challenging in the past few decades with the increase of subpar, dishonest research. One choice that researchers and aspiring academics must make is to either

earn trust by working through the challenges that come with publishing in quality peer-reviewed journals or purchase trust by paying to publish in predatory journals. These journals are most often characterized by directly soliciting researchers for submissions, charging for publishing and, most importantly, inadequate editorial and peer review processes.

For many, the choice is an easy one. Most aspiring researchers have goals to produce exceptional work and publish in high-quality journals. Nevertheless, the allure of predatory journals, with their lack of peer-review and quick turnaround on publishing submitted work, can be particularly appealing to researchers who are looking to pad their CVs prior to important

COURTESY OF SNC-LAVALIN | FACEBOOK A London, England office of SNC-Lavalin, Jan. 2, 2019.

Trudeau’s SNC-Lavalin controversy is nuanced

BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD

After four relatively uneventful years in office, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the face of international controversy. Some are asking him to resign, others are begging him not to run again and some are saying Canada’s Golden Boy has finally lost his shine.

But is the scandal really worth the level of scrutiny it has received?

Trudeau is accused of pressuring former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould against prosecuting SNC-Lavalin, a construction and procurement company, for allegedly bribing Libyan officials and defrauding Libyan companies. It appears that when Wilson-Raybould refused to sway under pressure, she was moved to Veterans Affairs — a position with less power and recognition.

Corruption and bribery on this scale are always surprising. But this case seems to have blown up because Trudeau was allegedly the one behind it.

As a leader who built his platform on honesty and transparency, this scandal has called Trudeau’s core values into question. And given that Wilson-Raybould is the only Indigenous woman on his cabinet (and the first in any Canadian cabinet), his actions look even worse.

It’s understandable if some feel Trudeau’s mistreatment of Wilson-Raybould proves that he used progressive ideas for political gain. As a politician who prides himself on being a feminist and on supporting Indigenous equality, turning around and coercing an Indigenous woman seems like

a breach of his own values. That being said, this whole scandal seems to have been blown out of proportion. As a politician with a clear motivation to protect SNC-Lavalin’s Canadian jobs, odds are that Trudeau would have pressured the attorney general regardless of who they were.

This isn’t to dismiss the severity of Trudeau’s actions, but rather to say that this isn’t the first time Trudeau has sidestepped his own values and platform. Between the Wet’suwet’en pipelines and bypassing calls to continue inquiries into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Trudeau has been fraught with controversy when it comes to keeping his promises to Canada’s Indigenous communities. This particular case was ignited by widespread media coverage, but Trudeau’s relationship with Indigenous Canadians goes well beyond his treatment of Wilson-Raybould.

As voters, we have a responsibility to stay informed about the politicians we’re voting into — or out of — office. While the SNC-Lavalin controversy is worth paying attention to, as it reflects poorly on the Prime Minister, it shouldn’t be the only factor considered when contemplating whether or not to vote for Trudeau. Because while some Canadians are arguing that Trudeau should resign and others are saying that it isn’t so bad, the reality is that this situation is more nuanced than either of those conclusions suggest.

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.”

applications. This mentality is misguided, as publishing in these journals may result in red flags rather than academic praise. Similar red flags can be drawn from academic nepotism — receiving unwarranted academic credit from close personal connections.

A large assumption made by researchers who decide to publish in predatory journals is that a greater number of published articles is assumed to strengthen one’s credibility as a researcher. While the number of publications is one component used to evaluate the work of a researcher, two other key components are quality and contribution.

First, authorship in high-impact journals is the hallmark of academic achievement. One publication in a high-impact journal can outweigh a dozen publications in low-impact journals or 100 publications in predatory journals.

Understand that research is slow

by design. Research has real world implications, and the peer-review process is designed to ensure thorough evaluation of the work prior to its release. The importance of peer-review cannot be overstated.

Know that the research community is passionate and transgressions will not go unnoticed.

We encourage students to be critical of the journals they are applying to. Is there information on how the journal performs peer-review? Does the journal have an impact factor? Who is citing articles in this journal?

Who are the researchers publishing in these journals? We strongly encourage readers to be critical of those purporting to be productive researchers while publishing in predatory journals. Ask yourself: Does this person seem to publish more articles than is reasonable in a given amount of time? Are the works they publish of scientific value? Are

those works properly designed and analyzed? If the person collaborates with other authors, who are those co-authors, and what relationship do they have to the main author?

And finally, does this person have anything to gain by appearing to be a researcher?

The organizers of Fyre Festival abused the trust they purchased.

The result was irreparable damage to their reputations and financial harm to those whom were deceived.

Research is not a music festival; it is an institution in which people trust that those involved will act with integrity and transparency.

Purchasing and abusing that trust is antithetical to being an advocate of truth.

JORDAN EDWARDS, THIRD-YEAR PH.D CANDIDATE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS

DEMETRI PANANOS,

SECOND-YEAR PH.D CANDIDATE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS

feature

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 •

• 6

London ho

With the JUNOs coming to London, the city is ready to sho By Nousherwan Siddique

I

t’s been a cold winter, but things are heating up in London. Presented annually to Canada’s finest musical artists, the JUNO Awards — and accompanying JUNOfest — are being hosted for the first time in the Forest City from March 15 to 17. With a burgeoning arts scene and big plans for growth, the city’s preparing for its international spotlight.

NEW YEAR, NEW JUNOS

Named in honour of Pierre Juneau, the first president of the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission, the JUNO Awards started off as the RPM Gold Leaf Awards in 1964 before becoming known as the JUNO Awards in 1971. Each year, the awards are presented annually to talented Canadian musicians and bands to acknowledge their achievements in music, and new members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the ceremonies. This year, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame will be inducting Corey Hart, the man behind gems such as “Sunglasses at Night” and “Never Surrender,” a song which won Single of the Year at the 1985 JUNO Awards. The 2019 edition of the awards are hosted by Sarah McLachlan, the singer-songwriter best known for hits like “I Will Remember You” and “Angel.”

And that’s not all: this year, there’s serious competition. Shawn Mendes is going head to head against The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar to see who wins Single of the Year, with Loud Luxury, Alessia Cara and bülow in competition as well. It’s a veritable free-for-all for International Album of the Year, with Maroon 5’s album, Red Pill Blues, being nominated alongside Post Malone’s beerbongs & bentleys, Travis Scott’s ASTROWORLD, Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy and Camila Cabello’s Camila. NAV, Tory Lanez, KILLY, Belly and 88Glam are all in consideration for Rap Recording of the Year.

If you’re already excited, good — there’s way more where that came from.

LONDON RISING

As Canada’s 11th largest city, London’s ambitious developments — including its downtown core, Bus Rapid Transit and southwest residential plans — are ready for a melodic injection of JUNOs. According to Chris Campbell, chair of the JUNO host committee, hosting’s been a long time coming. “The bid process started a few years ago in trying to get the opportunity to bid,” he said in a phone interview. “We were given the opportunity to bid in January 2017; then I worked on the bid and developed it in my role for Tourism London, and that probably took six or seven months.... Then it was announced in January 2018 that we were successful and we would be hosting.”

VIA THE JUNO AWARDS FACEBOOK PAGE Daniel Caesar performs during last year’s JUNO Awards, April 8, 2018.

The JUNOs may be Canada’s biggest cultural event, and that means a pilgrimage of bands, executives, industry leaders and artists to London.

“It’s a large celebration,” Campbell explains. “But it’s also an opportunity for development for a lot of emerging artists as well through JUNOfest.”

And as far as JUNOfest goes, it’s gearing up to be a good one. JUNOfest, which has approximately 15 different venues with over 100 artists performing, will be happening from March 15 to 16. Events include Doin’ it For the Gram, which is directed at a younger audience at Masonville Place, a JUNO Cup hockey game at the Western Fair Sports Centre and a Songwriters Circle on Sunday afternoon at Centennial Hall.

Music-related events, while of course the majority of weekend happenings, clearly aren’t all. “There’s a comedy showcase on Friday because comedy is a category at the JUNOs,” Campbell says, before relating that there would be four different exhibits at Museum London as well — including an exhibit called Women to the Front, curated locally by Savanah Sewell.

And don’t be worried about missing a show. Campbell says some JUNOfest events will be occuring past midnight.

It’s worth noting that London is smaller than some of the cities — like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary — that have already hosted the JUNOs. However, its focus on building a thriving downtown core through developments such as Dundas Place, London’s first flex street and attention to transit needs through the BRT commuting plan, have prepared it to capitalize on a potential economic boon through the JUNOs. And with a relatively stagnant population accompanying a poverty rate above average, this boon can’t come soon enough.

“Medium sized markets are integral to the Canadian music industry,” Campbell explains, relating that it’s especially so for artists travelling along the 401 corridor and playing in cities like Windsor, London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Guelph. “They’re critical to the music industry — it’s not just centred on the major centres and I think it’s an interesting opportunity to showcase the opportunity of a medium-sized market.”

MUSTANG PRESENCE

Of course, it’s only reasonable to think that the JUNOs would hold a different sort of importance for a performing Western University alumni. Anna Grigg graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music and an honours specialization on the cello — and she’s performing with Marty Kolls in JUNOfest on Saturday night.

7 •

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• TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

osts JUNOs

owcase its potential as a city worth international attention Music is in her blood; her mother is a pianist working at Western, and she grew up playing string instruments with her sisters. She says her mom was tired of hearing her two elder sisters’ violin playing, so Grigg took up the cello around age four. She says the chance to perform in a massive production is a huge opportunity for everyone involved.

“There’s just so much opportunity for young artists and for local artists to perform and kind of get their name out there,” Grigg says. “So it’s really awesome that I could be a part of such a huge celebration and such a huge night in Canadian music as well.” Grigg’s performance will be different than what she’s used to: instead of playing classical sounds, she’s going to be playing songs that are more folk and pop.

Performing as a part of JUNOfest is a major accomplishment for Grigg, who has big plans for her future. She hopes to eventually get a master’s degree so she can gain one-on-one experience with a teacher and learn in a school environment. Currently, she substitutes with orchestras in the area to gain experience in hopes of auditioning w and landing a bigger orchestra job. It’s highly competitive — Grigg’s biggest goal is to land a permanent job with a mainstream orchestra, including symphonies in Toronto and Vancouver, which means steady work and a variety of music to play. But getting in means hard work. “It’s all about networking,” Grigg explains. “Be as professional as possible in presenting yourself, being easy to work with, or volunteer or work in a venue that will help you meet more people.”

FOREST CITY PREPARES

With the JUNO weekend moving closer, London business are ready for some company.

Venues and casual establishments alike hope to capitalize on the energy seeming to permeate the city.

“There’s definitely a buzz

going on,” says Vanessa Willis, owner of The Church Key Bistro-Pub, a local upscale establishment that opened almost 10 years ago. “I’m really excited about the JUNOs coming just because I think it is a really, really good thing for London and downtown London in particular,” she elaborates, mentioning it’s a good chance for London to show off all of the changes that have occurred downtown. “I’m really excited. I think it’s a real win for us.”

With the JUNOs on their way, The Church Key is sticking to what works — they’re keeping the usual menu and won’t be running past midnight on the weekends. March Break is typically quite slow, so Willis hopes an influx of people will make things busier.

“I’m hoping for lots of extra people in town who are going to want to come out to restaurants on a regular basis,” she says with a laugh.

The Church Key isn’t the only establishment looking forward to the JUNOs. London Music Hall, one of the staples of London’s music scene, has been getting itself ready as well. Jacky El-Chaer, venue manager at London Music Hall, is excited. Having worked there since September 2011, she rose through the ranks to go from a door atendee to a venue manager. According to El-Chaer, the arrival of the JUNOs mean good things: people are looking for events and learning about music already present in London.

“I’m very excited that the London community is kind of opening their eyes with the growth that London has in their music industry,” El-Chaer says, adding that she’s seeing a lot of people taking a real interest in seeing London’s touring bands. “Canada music is one thing, but London music is another thing. It keeps growing and I love being a part of that.”

In short, London’s ready to shine. The Forest City is rising to the opportunity, and with the work of everyone involved, this year’s JUNOs are sure to be one hell of a time. The only thing left to do: go out and experience it for yourself!

OK PAGE Friday.

VIA JUNOFEST’S FACEBO e Aeolian Hall this is performing at Th , ch un La e Th V’s Saveria, of CT

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• 8

Sarah Villani is Western’s “do it all” girl HANNAH DIEBOLD GAZETTE STAFF @SPORTSATGAZETTE She has the finesse of a gymnast, the versatility of a pentathlete, the strength of a shot putter, the muscular endurance of a rower and the explosiveness of a bobsledder. The jack of all trades and the master of many, fifth-year Western Mustang Sara Villani perfectly exemplifies what it means to be an all-around athlete.

Villani has a long history competing in high-level athletics — not just in one sport, but across a variety of seemingly dissimilar activities.

Coming off a stellar season with the varsity track and field team, Villani is now Western’s record holder in the women’s shot put. She is a former multi-event athlete who, in the last couple years, has transitioned to specializing in throwing. From March 7-9, Villani competed at the U Sports national championships and, indicative of her success over the season, performed incredibly.

Not only did she break the Western record with an impressive throw of 15.45 metres, but she also brought home a silver medal, only bested by Canadian Olympian and national record holder, Brittany Crew.

Though the competition got off to a rocky start as Villani faulted on her first throw, she kept an open mindset. “It was a test of mental strength,” said Villani. “All it takes is one good throw, and had I let myself be self-deprecating, I would not have thrown the 15.45 metres throw.”

It is this exact mental strength that aided Villani’s success when she competed at the RBC Training Ground program in June of 2018.

The RBC-sponsored competition

involved high intensity athletic skills testing that was compiled and ranked. The purpose of the program was to identify athletic talent that could translate into Olympic potential. Part of the process was being scouted at the competition by various national teams that were in partnership with the program.

With her highly developed and wide ranging skill set, Villani not only broke a record in the strength testing division, but was crowned the overall winner of the Ontario regional final.

The overall winner was ranked among the combined top 100 male and female participants that competed at the finals and she decisively came out on top. Needless to say, a variety of national teams were interested in pursuing her as a potential athlete.

Of these teams, Villani chose to commence preliminary training with coaches from the national rowing and bobsled teams.

Throughout fall of 2018, Villani tested the waters with her rowing abilities and practiced both in the gym and on the water.

With a full course load, a hectic training schedule for track and field and the added task of learning to row, Villani demonstrated true eloquence in time management and discipline.

She attributed her high level of discipline to her early days as a competitive gymnast.

“Having that time discipline and conditioning from a young age has been extremely beneficial,” Villani explained.

Though her rowing schedule slowed into the winter, her time obligations to sport only grew.

From Dec. 16-22 of 2018, Villani was invited to a bobsled piloting school hosted in Calgary at the Winsport

COURTESY OF KEVIN LIGHT

facility. Villani described her experience at the piloting school with much enthusiasm. She is hopeful that, with a few more training camps under her belt and continued practice, she has the potential to make Team Canada in the future.

Interestingly, it is not uncommon to see elite throwers transition to bobsled. Former Western shot-putter and Canadian Olympic gold medalist in bobsled, Alexander Kopacz, pursued bobsledding after his throwing career. Throwing and bobsledding involve a lot of the same focus on having reactionary explosiveness, which is a highly transferable skill between the two.

Evidently, it would seem that Villani already possesses many of the necessary athletic attributes needed to actively pursue bobsledding.

Whether it be track and field, bobsled, rowing or all of the aforementioned, it is clear that Villani’s pure athleticism speaks for itself.

With such widespread success over

COURTESY OF PETER DRAUGALIS

a number of disciplines, one would wonder, what is her key to success?

When prompted with this question, Villani answered, “Just have fun and enjoy what you are doing. When you stop enjoying yourself, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate things; don’t be afraid to take that

step back.”

Villani’s approach to athletics resonates because sports were originally created for enjoyment. As demonstrated by Villani, finding enjoyment in and having a love for one’s sport is an undeniable factor in finding a high level of success.

Western students host Laurie honoured for fifth annual Hockey Helps community service the Homeless event MIKE DEBOER MANAGING EDITOR @UWOGAZETTE

CHARLIE MARSHALL SPORTS EDITOR @CWMARSHALL98 On Saturday, students gathered for Western’s fifth annual Hockey Helps the Homeless event. A oneday hockey tournament, the contest drew 80 participants across eight teams this year.

As of Sunday afternoon, the organization raised $28,429.97 for Youth Opportunities Unlimited — a London-based charity designed to help homeless youth aged 16 to 30.

YOU provides a place to stay for those who don’t have a home, offers employment in their local cafe and even provides health and dental care, among many other benefits.

According to the company website, the non-profit organization regularly services over 3,600 people from the London and Strathroy area.

In order to play in the tournament, each participant is required to make a minimum $250 donation for which they receive a full day of hockey, a team jersey and socks.

Vikita Patel, one of the chairs of the event, explained that players in the past have gone above and beyond the minimum donation — sometimes donating over $1000.

The day provides a fun way to give back to the community and get on the ice. An added bonus for

the participants is the ability to construct their own teams and pick colours beforehand. According to Patel, participants are usually quite excited to see the team uniforms waiting for them at the rink.

“They’re really nice jerseys, they look identical to like the NHL ones, which the players love,” said Patel.

Of course, the focus of the day is still to aid the charity. Patel and the two other chairs of the event, Katie Kechum and Mathanky Jeyakumar, do their best to integrate youth from the YOU program.

In fact, the YOU program assists the event by catering lunch for all of the players.

Members of the YOU community also have a chance to meet the players during the day as a locker room speech is integrated into the tournament.

“We bring a few youth from YOU and they come around locker rooms and they give a little talk about their experience at the charity and how that’s helped them,” explained Patel.

“They thank the players for coming out, just so the players can see the impact of the donations that they’re making. It really helps them realize the difference they’re making in the community, so that’s nice.”

Since its inception in 2015, the event has continued to grow in size.

VIA HOCKEY HELPS THE HOMELESS’ FACEBOOK PAGE

For Patel, who has volunteered at the event every year, it has been remarkable to see the growth.

“During the years I’ve been continuing [to volunteer] and it was nice to see the way that the tournament has progressed so far,” said Patel.

“I’ve seen a lot of variety of students participating. We’re trying to expand and get graduate students to come out. A lot of our previous players were in undergrad and then they are now in graduate studies so they want to continue on so we have a nice pool of players to come out to play.”

Progression can also be seen in the amount of donations the organizers have managed to collect. In total, including this year’s donations, Western’s Hockey Helps the Homeless has raised just under $110,000 for YOU in five years.

Fourth-year Western Mustang’s high jumper Shaelyn Laurie was named as the winner of the U Sports Student Athlete Community Service Award.

Laurie, who has earned Academic All-Canadian and Dean’s Honour List distinctions in each of her four university years, was a part of the United Way Young Leaders program and a youth board member for the Learning Disabilities Association of London. She also raised funds and awareness for Autism Ontario and volunteered annually at Indigenous track and field days.

She has also served as a valuable resource for her teammates

on Western’s track and field team and for students around campus.

According to her head coach, Vickie Croley, Laurie is the perfect recipient for this award.

“Shaelyn has set the standard for what it means to be a complete champion in all areas represented by this award – in training and competition, in the classroom, in the community as well as during life issues with her teammates and in volunteer situations,” said Croley. “She strives for excellence in so many areas of her life — from sport to academics to service — all without fanfare and with a genuine smile.

She makes our team environment better because of the example she sets and what she contributes while at the track and off.”

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Mustangs volleyball finishes fourth at OUAs MIKE DEBOER MANAGING EDITOR @UWOGAZETTE The Western Mustangs women’s volleyball team travelled to Waterloo this weekend for the 2019 Ontario University Athletics Final Four, looking for their first provincial title since 2011.

However, the Mustangs the fell short, losing to the Ryerson Rams in their semifinal match before missing out on a bronze medal with a loss to the hometown Waterloo Warriors.

The Mustangs lost to the Rams in four sets, marking their second OUA semifinal loss to Ryerson in as many years. The 3–1 defeat came despite strong performances from a number of Mustangs, including fifthyear middle Kelsey Veltman, rookie Brooklyn Bere and third-year middle and right side Kristina Curcin.

Veltman recorded a game-high 18 points in the semifinal loss, while Bere added 29 assists and six digs and Curcin tallied seven kills.

The Mustangs struggled to counter Ryerson’s momentum early in the opening set, as they fell behind thanks largely to the Rams’ strong play at the net. After 14 kills in the first frame, the Mustangs were unable to complete the comeback as they lost the first set 25–17.

The second set saw the Mustangs come out stronger before again falling behind as the Ryerson attack overwhelmed them. While the two teams battled closely for much of the frame, it was Ryerson that eventually closed out the frame with another win, again by a score of 25–17, to take a commanding 2–0 lead in the match heading into the third set.

Western stepped up its game in the

third set to avoid the sweep and keep their season alive. Veltman took over the frame, and the Mustangs were able to sneak out a 25–21 victory to keep their championship hopes alive.

However, their dreams were dashed in the third set, as they fought neck-and-neck with the Rams before dropping the set 25–23.

With the 3–1 loss, the Mustangs were eliminated from OUA championship contention and booked a ticket to the bronze medal match against the Warriors.

Veltman opened in the bronze medal match firing on all cylinders once again, tallying 25 kills and 32 points in the final match of her illustrious university volleyball career. Third-year left side Melissa Langegger also had a strong showing in the loss with 13 kills and 11 digs.

Third-year right side Carly Kimmett also contributed significantly with 12 digs.

“In the back of my head I always knew I could be playing in my last OUA game, so I really just played my heart out,” said Veltman on her impressive performance against Waterloo. “I’m happy I got to finish my career knowing I left it all on the court.”

The Mustangs played with a purpose at the outset of the first set, with Langegger leading her team to a narrow 25–23 win to take the opening frame.

The second set saw another back-and-forth affair between the two teams, until a series of unfortunate Mustang errors led to a 6–0 run for the Warriors, who ultimately took the set 25–19 to tie the match up at one set apiece.

Veltman led the Mustangs to an

empathic performance in the third set, controlling the frame from start to finish to take the 2–1 lead with a 24–18 set victory.

The Warriors found their way in the fourth set, as the two teams battled and exchanged points until Waterloo took advantage of a number of Mustang errors to take the set 25–23 and force a fifth and final set.

The final set went Western’s way at the start, as Veltman controlled the play and the Mustangs jumped out to the lead. But a 9–3 stretch

by Waterloo gave the Warriors the 15–9 set victory and the OUA bronze medal.

According to Veltman, the season was a positive despite the difficult way it ended.

“Obviously with every loss comes some disappointment, and this weekend was a tough pill to swallow, but that’s how sport works,” said Veltman. “A run for the OUA title would have been amazing, but we were able to get this young team a Final Four experience and that’s always important and something most teams don’t get to experience.”

With the loss, the Mustangs, who finished in second in the OUA West during the regular season, miss out on an OUA medal for the first time since 2014. And they’ll lose one of the greatest Mustangs of all time when Veltman leaves the program after five incredible seasons.

“Looking back, it really has been the best five years of my life,” said Veltman. “The amount of amazing people I’ve had the privilege to play with and be coached by is a real blessing. I’ve learned so much about this sport and myself here and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

COURTESY OF MUSTANG ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF MUSTANG ATHLETICS

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Western tennis hosts annual alumni event STEPHANIE ORLANDO SPORTS EDITOR @SPORTSATGAZETTE On Saturday, the Western tennis courts were visited by several familiar faces. The current Western Mustang men’s tennis team came face-to-face with several alumni for the programs second annual alumni tournament.

The event brought about 30 alumni back to their old stomping grounds — some from teams as far back as 1990.

The event was founded last year by Peter Akew, who went on to organize it again, this time with team member Alden Eakins by his side. The event was started in an effort to highlight the success of the team under the direction of coach Anthony Glavanic.

“Our coach has been coaching here for about 30 years and we’ve won 13 [Ontario University Athletics] titles with him,” said Eakins. “We just really wanted to highlight the successful career he’s had, and have all the alumni come back into town.”

Akew and Eakins reached out to various alumni who have played on the team over the last 30 years. The

response was phenomenal, helping them get a great turnout.

The day consisted of four hours of doubles pitting alumni against members of the current Mustangs team. After the matches were completed, the current team fell to the alumni, further proving how deserving of 13 OUA championships Western tennis really has been.

“It was really great,” said Eakins.

“I think for a lot of the first-year kids that are both in first year of university and first year on the team, it was great for them to meet other players so they could see that there’s a really good culture on the team.”

The day brought together several generations of Mustang tennis players, giving them the opportunity to connect with and learn from one another. The event was a great way to honour the success of coach Glavanic but also to bring together players to harvest the high spirits and great culture that marks Western tennis.

With the success and enjoyment brought from the previous two years, the team hopes to continue to host the event for many more years to come.

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SERVICES

MASC and Mustangs Care Executive Council applications are now open!

Deadline for submission is Sunday, March 17th at 11:59pm.

You must have attended a MINIMUM of 2 general meeting throughout the year (which could include this Sunday and March 31st) to apply. Any questions, please contact any MASC/Mustangs Care exec.

westernmustangs.ca for more information.

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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.

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culture

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 •

• 10

Aria: CAISA’s Fashion Show reaches new heights

BETSY LUO GAZETTE CAISA raised nearly $35,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation through this year’s campaign, March 9, 2019.

NOUSHERWAN SIDDIQUE CULTURE INTERN @UWOGAZETTE On Saturday, the Canadian Asian International Students Association hosted its fashion show, Aria, at Centennial Hall. Over 1,400 attendees experienced visually captivating videos, a majestic venue and models capable of both walking down a runway and tearing it up moments later with dance. Once again, the annual staple exceeded all expectations.

Kimberly Wang and Natalie Chow, two fourth-year students in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies and Medical Sciences, respectively, spent nearly nine months planning the show and working alongside talented

students to bring it to life. “We’re really blessed to be working with our entire exec team and the models,” Wang says. “And on the whole, it’s been such a pleasure. Everyone’s super nice to work with.”

Aria, a term used in music to denote a long piece for a solo voice, was the theme that CAISA went with this year. “It’s like a melody,” Wang said, stating that they wanted to use it because of how the term tied in with the story line of the show. “But not all melodies are happy, and some melodies do have their sorrows.”

“It’s definitely a focus on the story of an individual, as well,” Chow adds.

Coming up with the theme was a long process. Both Wang and Chow desired to make this year’s show a

stunning one, and wanted to give it a unique aesthetic: old Hong Kong romance movies.

“It’s just an idea that kind of evolved on its own, and different pieces were added along the way,” Wang elaborates.

CAISA has always prided itself on its philanthropic efforts, and this year was no different; during the opening ceremonies, CAISA execs announced they raised nearly $35,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation’s research for congenital heart defects.

The first half of the evening saw three performances. Each performance was structured to allow the models to individually walk the runway and show off their clothing, before letting the models come together on stage and perform

striking dances. A quick prelude saw the establishing of the Aria story on the stage, as a model laid on the ground while pianist Vanessa-An Tran played a haunting melody.

The first half of the evening saw three performances take place — Grave, Allegretto and Vivace. Grave saw models clad in predominantly dark clothing taking the stage, showing off leather jackets, suits and urban accessories before they danced with explosive energy to a series of hard-hitting rap tracks.

Allegretto saw models take the stage dressed in predominantly urban-style clothes, wearing things such as down jackets, band T-shirts and overalls. Explained by a magazine given out at the event that Allegretto was meant to represent a “bustling city life filled with youth,” the audience was blown away by the sheer talent on stage. Particular crowd-favourites were models J.P. Chua, who jumped up and landed in a perfect split onstage, and Onaope Egbedeyi-Emmanuel, who led herself by a collar from one end of the runway to another.

Vivace was a classy and formal performance, centred on ballroom dancing. Models wore suits and dresses and danced with each other to classics, with Fred Astaire of Fred Astaire Dance Studio wowing the audience with a beautiful dance set to Frank Sinatra’s iconic “Fly Me to the Moon.”

After a short intermission came the Furioso, Da Capo and Dolce

pieces. Both the Furioso and Dolce pieces saw the models take to the stage in amazing clothing — or rather, a lack of clothing. Male models and female models alike came out in pants, fitness gear, undergarments and lingerie, setting the audience aroar with amazing shows of athleticism in their dances; whether it was throwing models up to catch them again or dancing to the hard-hitting EDM tracks, both pieces were well-received.

Between these two performances, however, was a smaller one: Da Capo. Short and sweet, vocalist Alexandria Asaad hushed the crowd into silence with her beautiful, full voice, helped by pianist Tran and cellist Isaac Lee. After the Dolce piece came to an end, it was time for closing ceremonies. Models, execs and the team that made Aria happen came on stage to rake in well-deserved applause and cheers, with Wang and Chow being given bouquets to thank them for their efforts.

Perhaps the success and the energy of the show can be best described by Emma Good, a second-year sociology student, and Chua, a fourth-year psychology student. “This has honestly been the best part of my whole year,” Good says, recommending that other people get involved with the show in the future. “This is such an amazing group of people, and it’s such an amazing show.”

“We’re like family at the end of the day,” Chua adds with a smile.

‘Forms of Narrative’ exhibit bridges art and language AIDAN CURRAN CULTURE CONTRIBUTOR @UWOGAZETTE Nino Ricci, Western University’s Alice Munro Chair in Creativity, opened his first exhibition in collaboration with the department of visual arts.

His exhibit, Forms of Narrative, was put together by the students of his special topics class of the same name. The students were tasked with using a narrative they wrote to create complementary pieces of art to be displayed in the Cohen Commons at the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre.

Artlab curator Liza Eurich explains the importance of language in the exhibit and how it allows for a new form of interaction with art that makes it approachable for anyone.

“It is important to… try and bridge the gap to find a way in for non-artists,” Eurich says.

The opening reception brought an evening of artistic appreciation.

Ricci began by describing the project set for his class and introduced a select group of students that would be sharing short stories they had written. The stories mainly focus on family and heritage.

Jaclyn Bruneau, editor of C Magazine, a Toronto-based

contemporary art periodical, spoke on parafiction as an art form and its role as artist and viewer in her talk Parafiction and Other Permissible Deceptions. Bruneau discussed the roles that parody, parafiction and the assertion of fiction in the real world have in art and how falsities can produce unique works.

The works presented are diverse in medium and subject matter, which create a disjointed exhibit that is interesting nonetheless.

“Five Dimensions” by Marisa Coulton uses the versatility of language to allow the viewer to interact and alter her work. Five panes of glass contain lines of fiction and black bars. As they are rearranged and stacked, new stories form and reveal vastly different narratives.

They range from heartfelt love stories to twisted tales of violence and aggression. The piece succeeds as an intersection of art and language while easily engaging viewers.

The joining of art and language is also skillfully done in “Fables” by Ashley Griffin. Her aesthetic choices help produce an aged appearance and a feeling of stained glass. Overall, the piece conveys a feeling of medieval origin. This creates an interesting juxtaposition with other pieces in

AIDAN CURRAN GAZETTE “Five Dimensions” by Marisa Coulton featured in ‘Forms of Narrative’.

the exhibit, including one about childhood and video games.

The entire exhibit feels like pieces of art sitting on the edge of traditional visual art and English.

All of the artists took into consideration narrative and words in their presentation of ideas in a visual format. Each piece felt unique and truly created by an individual with their own story to tell.

Both narrative and visual

pieces brought their own aspect of intimacy and vulnerability to the exhibit, creating an irresistible combination that leaves a lasting impression.

As the Chair in Creativity, Ricci hopes to connect a wide range of art forms to help inspire creativity across campus. His first exhibit showcases talent that may have otherwise gone unseen. Forms of Narrative is a refreshing take on

the Artlab’s typical exhibit by using language as its medium for artistic exploration. And the course, The Forms of Narrative, is open to both students in the English department as well as those in the visual arts department.

Forms of Narrative will be on display at the Cohen Commons located in the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre until March 14.

11 •

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• TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

‘Chinese Flower and Bird Paintings’ closes at Artlab Gallery AIDAN CURRAN CULTURE CONTRIBUTOR @UWOGAZETTE Shujuan Liu, a visiting professor in the department of visual arts from the School of Fine Arts and Design of Pan Tianshou at Ningbo University in China, hosted a closing reception for her show Chinese Flower and Bird Paintings on Feb. 27 at the Artlab Gallery.

Liu began painting at the age of 10. She then went on to study arts at the Northeast Normal University in China and started her career teaching painting. She has won honorary prizes at the International Chinese

Presented by

Grand Prix in Beijing and first prize at the London Chinese Community painting competition in London earlier this year.

During the closing reception, Liu transformed the gallery space into a live demonstration of her process, creating a traditional Chinese ink and watercolour painting. In 30 minutes, she produced a stunning painting of an eagle soaring above a tree. After she had finished, Liu closed the show with a speech to commemorate her time at Western University.

She explains that she hopes, like the eagle in her painting, that the relationship between Western and

the School of Fine Arts and Design of Pan Tianshou can soar. Liu’s desire for her time in London is to have inspired students to take the time to learn about painting practices and techniques often used outside of the West.

Liu’s work acts as a form of documentation for her time on campus. Each piece draws inspiration from its scenery, whether directly visible or hinted toward.

Some pieces showcase landmark architecture, like University College or Middlesex College, whereas others display wildlife like Western’s infamous geese.

The traditional style of her work gives a unique interpretation of campus. The movement of her brushstrokes provide a liveliness to each piece that helps convey the spirit of the university.

Her work features unique elements typically not seen in Western art. Many of her pieces contain Chinese characters, blending in elements of narration and story.

Despite her work being heavily inspired by the scenery of campus, she also incorporates elements of her home through flora and fauna painted into some of the pieces. This helps echo her

role this year at Western in connecting the university to the art world at large.

Liu’s position as a visiting professor is the first step of many to help encourage other international professors to come and share their practices with students in the department of visual arts. Chinese Flower and Bird Paintings is meant to exemplify the inspiration the campus can bring to everyone.

Shujuan Liu will be returning to China to resume teaching at the School of Fine Arts and Design of Pan Tianshou at the end of the school year.

community

12 • TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019

photo of the day

gazette crossword

BETSY LUO CAISA: A model in Saturday night’s show displays the beauty of a turtleneck, March 9, 2019.

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265 & 267 – UCC BUILDING CREATIVESERVICES-USC.CA 519-661-3578

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

1. In bed 5. Project portfolio management 8. __ Bator: Mongolian capital 12. Roamed 14. Notre Dame legend Parseghian 15. Nothing (Spanish) 16. Not level 18. Self-contained aircraft unit 19. Baseball broadcaster Caray 20. __ Tomei, actress 21. “The Raven” writer 22. Bathrooms 23. Skilled inventors 26. Forcefully silence 30. Remove 31. The arrival of daylight 32. Split lentils 33. “Walking Dead” actress 34. A lazy person 39. Doctors’ group 42. Crooks 44. Fragrant essential oil 46. Conjured 47. One who predicts 49. Scarlett’s home 50. Television network 51. Something comparable to another 56. What a thespian does 57. Word element meaning life 58. Italian island 59. “King of Queens” actress Remini 60. Jogged 61. Norse gods 62. Lazily 63. Midway between northeast and east 64. Hindu queen

1. Top Rank boxing promoter 2. __ fide (Latin) 3. At all times 4. Hindu female deity 5. Tufts of hairs on plant seeds 6. Edited 7. Portuguese archipelago 8. Your parents’ brothers 9. Pakistani city 10. Farewell 11. Short sleep sessions 13. Remove salt 17. Drug officers 24. One and only 25. The Golden State 26. Fabric baby carrier (abbr.)

27. Quid pro __ 28. New England research university 29. Baseball pitcher’s stat 35. Western India island 36. __ Angeles 37. Midway between east and southeast 38. British singer Stewart 40. Suggesting the horror of death and decay 41. Riding horse 42. Where wrestlers work 43. Regions 44. Of a main artery 45. Not classy 47. Competed against 48. Biscuit-like cake 49. Large ankle bones 52. Computer company 53. “Friends” actress Kudrow 54. “Chocolat” actress Lena 55. Brain folds

For crossword solution, see page 3

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