October 12, 2023

OCTOBER 12, 2023 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 3

since 1906

From ‘transformation’ to Brescia-Western merger: What we know so far

SOPHIE BOUQUILLON GAZETTE Students gather at the intersection of Brescia Drive and Western Road to protest the Western-Brescia merger, Sept. 27, 2023.

VERONICA MACLEAN NEWS EDITOR JESSICA KIM NEWS EDITOR SOPHIA SCHIEFLER NEWS EDITOR OM SHANBHAG STAFF REPORTER

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hile the Brescia-Western merger announcement last month came as a surprise to the community, Brescia president Lauretta Frederking said she had already been thinking about the affiliate’s “transformation” for more than a year.

But it wasn’t until early September when Brescia University College and Western University’s leadership teams met to negotiate the affiliation agreement set to expire in 2024 that the discussions led to talks of a merger.

A few weeks later, Brescia’s Board of Trustees and Western’s Board of Governors approved a memorandum of understanding that outlined plans for the wind-down of the all-women college’s operations.

“This is an initiative launched by Brescia, by the leadership team, its president and also its Board of

Trustees,” Western president Alan Shepard told the Gazette in an interview.

“They’ve been thinking for a while about how they’re going to solve a declining enrollment with rising costs and the government funding frozen, so this puts them in a squeeze.”

The number of full-time undergraduate students at Brescia has decreased by 293 over the past five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The affiliate college has also seen deficits in financial statements each of the past three years, peaking at $4,230,528 in the 2023 fiscal year.

Frederking wrote in a statement there has been a decline across North America in the number of women’s universities and their enrolment — “which presents other unique considerations.”

“With that said, this integration goes far beyond financial considerations,” said Frederking. “I proposed this strategy to Western based on a desire to respond to overarching trends in education and to build upon our Ursuline legacy, which has at its heart equitable access to education.”

In an interview with the Gazette, Frederking noted there have been different attempts for “transformation” by faculty and staff before talks of a merger.

“We’ve tried new recruitment markets, we embarked in the last couple of years on new revenue streams,” she said. “That has all been with the community in terms of looking for ways to change.”

Shepard said Brescia explored several different options of what they could do and ultimately chose to approach Western about an integration as they believed it “best served the interests” of the affiliate college’s community.

But when the news broke on Sept. 21 that Brescia would integrate with Western in May 2024, it was met with backlash from affiliate students as well as criticism from the Brescia Faculty Association questioning why faculty were not involved in the consultation process.

Many Brescia students have expressed shock and disappointment since they view the affiliate college as a safe educational space for women and

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gender-nonconforming individuals.

“Brescia has been a safe space for everyone, regardless of gender identity, background, ability, financial situation,” said Olivia Irons, a second-year English and history student at Brescia. “We still need these spaces and they’re still important.”

An online petition called “Help the Students of Canada’s Last Women’s University” was created in response to the merger and has over 10,000 signatures at the time of publication.

First-year Brescia students Alex Wild and Emma McBean were among the group of Brescia students who were concerned by the news and organized two rallies to protest the upcoming merger on Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 at the intersection of Brescia Drive and Western Road.

The Sept. 27 rally saw over 200 attendees dressed in blue and yellow on Brescia Drive, holding signs that read “Save Brescia” and chanting phrases such as “lead not leave” and “go, Brescia, go.”

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Federal government announces $200K for London Muslim resource centre HANNAH ALPER REPORTER

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VOLUME 117, ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 12, 2023 University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial editor@westerngazette.ca

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HANNAH ALPER GAZETTE The federal Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities announcing over $200K funding to Muslim community centre in London, Sept. 29, 2023.

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he federal government announced over $200,000 to London’s Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration to fund victim support services and counselling.

The funding aims to provide support to deal with the increased Islamophobia and trauma experienced by the Muslim community following the Afzaal family tragedy over two years ago. The non-profit organization will receive an additional $60,000 from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

Kamal Khera, Canada’s Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, visited London on Sept. 29, saying the funding will ensure Muslim community members have access to culturally-appropriate counselling services, therapeutic groups and awareness initiatives that are “essential in this journey of healing.”

Mayor Josh Morgan and representatives from the MRCSSI joined Khera at the announcement.

They agreed the ongoing trial of Nathaniel Veltman accused of killing the Afzaal family — also known as Our London Family — continues to inflict deep trauma on the community.

“I can feel the going trial of the accused is having a significant impact on your lives, as more troubling details continue to be released,” Khera told attendees at the funding announcement. “I know what may be reopening wounds or increasing feelings of fear and anxiety and from the Government of Canada, I want to make sure that I want you to know that we are all here for you.”

The federal government is finalizing the new national anti-racism strategy to combat stereotypes and increase public awareness around Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination.

Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s first special representative on combating Islamophobia, also spoke during the announcement.

Elghawaby explained when she went to London one year after the attack on the Afzaal family, she heard the need for culturally-responsive support from community members themselves. Following the memorial, donations for victim support services had run out at a time when the community needed it most.

“Those who needed counselling were left with few options,” Elghawaby said. “Grief, sadness and fear are feelings that do not follow a timetable.”

Muslim students at Western University have expressed they feel insecure and unsafe where they live due to their identity.

Karima Kaiyum, a fourth-year social work student at King’s University College, echoed the sentiment in an interview with the Gazette, saying as a

London native, hatred and Islamophobia have negatively impacted the community their entire lives.

“We’ve heard comments from when we were very little with people not wanting to be friends with us, or saying weird things in the parking lot or at grocery stores. So these are things that we’ve dealt with for a very long time,” Kaiyum said.

“But especially now with … a lot of us reading the transcripts for the trial and getting together with our friends and talking about it, it feels like there’s a very heavy burden on us.”

Kaiyum is “really grateful” for the funding and to the government for recognizing the severity of this issue.

“Honestly, there continues to be a lack of support for victim services in London, let alone culturally-appropriate services that the Muslim community and other diverse populations require when it comes to hate crimes and other issues,” Kaiyum said.

“This funding will really allow community members who are struggling with fear and anxiety to kind of reach out for the help and support that they need.”

Kaiyum emphasized the importance of the Western community coming together in stressful times like these and standing against hatred when they see it.

“It’s important for us as a community to stand up for each other. That’s not just like us being the Muslim community. That’s us, as students, as Western students, to stick up for each other,” Kaiyum said.

“When people are doing things that are hateful, make sure you’re there, you’re supporting your Muslim community, and you’re following the right steps to get it fixed.”

Ontario expands pharmacists’ prescription powers KAMRAAN AHMAD NEWS INTERN

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he Ontario government has added six more common ailments to the list of conditions pharmacists can diagnose and prescribe.

The added ailments include acne, yeast infections, canker sores, diaper rash, parasitic worms as well as pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, expanding the list of 13 common ailments for which government-authorized pharmacists can prescribe medicines starting on Jan. 1.

The changes apply to all Ontario pharmacies and are designed to increase access to health care.

According to Shafeek Roberts, a pharmacist who works at Western University’s On Campus Pharmacy, the process of getting a prescription includes “a series of detailed questions, taking about 10 to 15 minutes to correctly diagnose.” Consultations can be done in person or over the phone.

“But I am the only one [in the pharmacy] so it makes it challenging sometimes because I won’t have the full 15 minutes,” said Roberts.

For Ontario residents, the prescription and consultation are accessible with an Ontario health card and covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

But Roberts said, for non-Ontario residents, out-of-province or international students, there is a $20 charge for the consultation, and prescription fees are based on insurance coverage.

The list of ailments that pharmacists can prescribe at the pharmacy are “real basic, easy-to-identify,” explained Roberts.

Expanding the pharmacists’ power will improve access to health care and reduce waiting times at local clinics and hospitals, he added.

Ella Johnson, a second-year social work student and an international student from Trinidad and Tobago, supports the changes, saying it’s quicker to get a perscription at a pharmacy compared to

NOA ELFASSY GAZETTE Pharmacy in basement of UCC, Oct. 18, 2022.

other health care providers.

“I can’t spend four hours at an urgent care or make an appointment, you can’t get one for the same day,” said Johnson. “This is much quicker and accessible, the other places just don’t work.”

But second-year Science student Manaal Hashmi, who is from Halifax, said she will continue to book appointments with the on-campus clinic for prescriptions as they were covered by insurance.

Hashmi expressed concern about the limitation of ailments pharmacists can prescribe and fear of misdiagnosis.

“It’s just comfortable and confidential to speak to a doctor about my health needs,” explained Hashmi. “I can get a wider range of care.”

Expanding the role of Ontario pharmacists is part of “Pillar One: The Right Care in the Right Place” in the provincial government’s decade-long plan to expand the capacity, convenience and qual-

ity of healthcare access.

At the start of the year, pharmacists were only able to prescribe for 13 common ailments — including hay fever, oral thrush, pink eye, dermatitis, menstrual cramps, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, cold sores, impetigo, insect bites and hives, tick bites, urinary tract infections and sprains.

According to the Ministry of Health, 89 per cent of pharmacies in the province have been treating common ailments — providing over 400,000 assessments so far.

The province also recently amended legislation so pharmacists can administer certain injection and inhalation treatments, such as insulin, vitamin B12 or osteoporosis treatments. Ontario residents can access this service at a local pharmacy at an additional fee.

NEWS | P3

What you need to know about COVID-19 this fall SOPHIA SCHIEFLER NEWS EDITOR

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ith COVID-19 cases on the rise over the last few months, experts have noticed a more transmissible coronavirus variant coming into circulation and are recommending booster vaccines.

Since the World Health Organization declared an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency in May, this fall does look different than the past few years. But the virus is still prevalent around the world, including in London.

Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7, there were 109 laboratory confirmed cases and one COVID-19-related death in London according to data from the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Throughout that week, 18.5 per cent of COVID-19 tests taken by people in London were positive.

Dr. Alex Summers, medical officer of health at the MLHU, attributes the recent increase in COVID-19 cases to people’s changing behaviours due to the colder temperatures.

“We know that as things get colder, and people spend more time indoors together, we’ll see more respiratory illnesses circulate, including COVID-19, influenza, RSV and all those other viruses that cause the common cold,” said Summers.

As COVID-19 cases rise, new variants have come into circulation.

According to Dr. Nitin Mohan, an assistant professor at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, the newer variants will present similarly to common variants over the past two years. This

ARISIA QARRI GAZETTE

includes symptoms like a runny nose, fatigue, sore throat and some stomach-related issues.

But Mohan has observed a distinct difference with the newest variants — they are getting increasingly transmissible.

“While outdoor settings and good airflow definitely help improve the likelihood that individuals will not get [COVID-19], we are finding that these variants are still quite transmissible in outdoor

settings, much more so than initial variants.”

Summers believes this fall marks a new baseline for COVID-19, now that many members of the population have some kind of immunity either from exposure to the virus or vaccination.

“We’re going to start to see more of the seasonal outbreaks and seasonal waves associated with winter,” said Summers.

The Ontario government recommended indi-

viduals aged five years and older to consider taking their COVID-19 booster in the fall to “maximize protection against COVID-19 outcomes when peak circulation of the virus is expected along with other respiratory viruses.”

“If you do get infected, it’ll limit the chance that you have a severe illness and end up in a hospital,” said Summers. “The severity of this round of [COVID-19] is going to be influenced by how many people get a vaccine.”

The MLHU will began administering the Moderna Omnicron XBB 1.5 subvariant COVID-19 booster to high-risk individuals starting Oct. 6. In a statement to the Gazette, Western said they expect the vaccine to become available in November at Health and Wellness Services on campus.

Campus community members can currently get their primary series — two doses — of the COVID-19 vaccine at Health and Wellness Services. Influenza vaccines are also expected to become available in late October or early November.

London hospitals including the London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s revised their masking policy on Oct. 4. Doctors are required to wear a mask when interacting directly with patients and hospital visitors are recommended to wear a mask.

Campus community members can pick up masks at dispensing stations across campus and residence front desks.

74 electric vehicle charging sta- Western appoints first-ever tions to be installed on campus chief AI officer THEA EAST NEWS INTERN

JESSICA KIM NEWS EDITOR

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estern is set to install 74 electric vehicle charging stations across campus by mid2025 with joint funding from Natural Resources Canada.

The new EV charging stations will help Western University achieve its pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030.

The infrastructure upgrade cost $1.45 million, including $995,400 from Western and $460,000 from Natural Resources Canada through its Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

According to Heather Hyde, Western’s director of sustainability, Western will install 72 level two and two level three charging stations in campus parking lots and all Western community members can access them. Level two charging stations can take multiple hours to charge, and level three charging stations take only 15 to 30 minutes.

Before the funding was announced in May, Hyde said there were six EV charging stations across campus — at the Visual Arts, Alumni/Thompson and Elborn College parking lots.

Hyde said the university has installed four of the 74 EV charging stations since May and will install the remainder by mid-2025.

Community members with a valid Western parking permit can use the EV charging stations at no additional charge, as long as they obtain an EV hang tag from the parking support services building on Western Road.

But Hyde said this system is temporary — the charging stations will eventually come at an extra cost.

The new chargers on campus have encouraged students, like first-year health sciences Hamza Gandhi, to drive their EVs to school.

Gandhi, who drives a Tesla Model S, started using the EV charging stations on Western’s campus to charge his car in a designated spot while he’s in class.

“Charging parking spots near the charger will be reserved for electric vehicles only,” said Gandhi.

“That will allow more parking spots to be freed up

estern has appointed Mark Daley as its first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer — the first role of its kind at any Canadian university.

ADSHAYAH SATHIASEELAN GAZETTE Electric vehicle charging station at the Alumni Thompson lot, Oct. 11, 2023.

for people like me who use electric vehicles.”

Charging stations have a four-hour time limit for each use — the typical amount of time a vehicle needs to be fully charged. Hyde explained Western Parking Services will enforce this limit which will allow more EVs to charge at the stations.

The implementation of EV charging stations on campus will also support London’s Climate Emergency Action Plan by increasing public EV charging capacity within the city, added Hyde.

Western is currently in the process of transitioning their own facility vans from diesel to electric vehicles.

“I think Western is taking a step in the right direction by getting the ball rolling by taking these initiatives,” said Gandhi.

Daley begins his five-year term as Western University’s chief AI officer on Oct. 15, having previously served as the university’s chief digital information officer leading Western Technology Services. He has been a professor at the university for over 19 years, with research focusing primarily in artificial intelligence.

When asked about his first priority stepping into the new role, Daley expressed a desire to start by listening to the community in order to gauge where Western is broadly at with AI. He believes this will be done alongside “encouraging people to embrace and experiment with this technology” — something Daley believes will require a level of education.

Ultimately, Daley sees his role as a guide and resource that will support individual staff, students and the larger community to understand AI and its applications.

“What I want to stay away from is something like creating a policy specific to AI,” said Daley.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”

He explained there are existing policies that govern human behaviour — preventing issues like academic dishonesty and community harm — and doesn’t feel new technologies change that.

Although Western president Alan Shepard told the Gazette in an interview last spring he opposed students using AI in their studies, Daley shared that Shepard was key in the creation of his new role, along with Florentine Strzelczyk, Western’s provost and vice president academic.

SOPHIE BOUQUILLON GAZETTE Chief AI officer Mark Daley at Student Services Building, Oct. 6, 2023.

In an emailed statement to the Gazette, Shepard said he feels the university is “fortunate” to have Daley.

“Professor Daley is one of Canada’s top thought leaders in the rapidly evolving field of AI,” said Shepard.

Daley previously spent two years as the vice president research of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and completed a master’s in neuroscience — exploring neural computation — during his sabbatical.

Despite being a researcher in the field for 20 years, he said the current technological advancement “feels fast.”

“We’re beyond where I thought I would get to see.”

As Daley looks to the future, he anticipates the creation of artificial general intelligence — AI that is “indistinguishable from a human in its capacity.”

“I think it’s going to happen in my lifetime.

We’re gonna have robots, like Star Wars,” Daley laughed.

NEWS | P4

SOPHIE BOUQUILLON GAZETTE Protestors hold protest sign with a Barbie film reference outside of University Main Gates, across from the Brescia hill, Sept.

27, 2023.

KAI WILSON GAZETTE Brescia protesters hold signs that protest the merger between Western and Brescia while crossing Western Road, Oct. 10, 2023.

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Wild noted the rally’s goal was to emphasize the importance of having affiliate voices heard in decisions that will affect their future educational experiences.

“The decision that was made for us was not something that our student body represents,” said Leona Horvat, a second-year psychology student at Brescia who attended the rally.

“We stand out here today just to get what we deserve back, get our education back, get what we were promised back and support women in education.”

BFA vice-president Heather Kirk — a Brescia alumna — also attended the rally on Sept. 27. She told the Gazette she feels for the students who have to face the loss of this institution that she loved as a student.

Kirk said the BFA hopes to have a seat at the table during future discussions as Western did not have any consultations with the faculty union and they were not informed of the merger until 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 — shortly before Western announced it to the public.

Despite the outcry, Frederking said the integration is about meeting the needs of students.

“This agreement will better position us to enhance educational outcomes for students with the greatest needs,” Frederking told the Gazette following the announcement.

As part of the integration process, Western is implementing a $25 million Brescia Legacy Fund to support access to education through scholarships, bursaries and programs.

Frederking said these scholarships will exist to support women “as well as new underrepresented populations that haven’t been a part of our precious community up until this time.”

Western responded to the protest in a statement to the Gazette, saying “we understand that the news of Brescia’s integration with Western was surprising to many members of our community.”

The university is committed to ensuring the programs and opportunities offered to current Brescia students “within the context of a safe, inclusive and empowering community will continue throughout their degree programs.”

Besides Western and Brescia’s faculty associations questioning the decision, two organizations that represent national and provincial faculty associations have issued statements opposing the planned merger.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers issued a letter to Shepard and Frederking on Sept. 29 criticizing the lack of consultations and transparency between the university and the academic community.

“This failure violates principles of transparency, openness and the duty to consult in labour relations,” wrote CAUT executive director David Robinson.

SOPHIE BOUQUILLON GAZETTE Student sitting on main gates holds sign that reads “Save Our School,” Sept. 27, 2023.

SOPHIE BOUQUILLON GAZETTE Supporters of all ages attend rally, Sept. 27, 2023.

In the letter, Robinson added the merger contradicts Western’s own governance principles, that decisions affecting academic programs must be made by academic staff through the University Senate. He said the Senate and faculty unions should have been involved from the beginning of this decision.

“The serious concerns raised by this matter beg the question of whether the integration as it is currently being planned should even proceed,” the letter read.

According to Robinson, CAUT is ready to provide representation and legal support on behalf of the faculty associations if necessary and will continue to monitor the situation.

The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations also released a statement criticizing the management style of the university and the absence of consultation with faculty associations.

“Public universities are not designed to be run like corporations,” wrote the OCUFA. The union noted the decision is reflective of a “top-down non-consultative” approach from the university administration.

Since the announcement, Frederking said, “multiple discussions have taken place” with students, staff, and faculty — as well as with faculty associations and Western’s Senate.

Western told the Gazette in an email on Oct. 3 the university will create a steering committee to help with the transition.

The Provost’s Office will also create another committee, consisting of Provost-appointed and Senate-elected members, set to “advise on academic matters and bring feedback forward for the Provost’s and steering committee’s consideration.”

In an interview with the Gazette, Robinson said “I think people are concerned about whether they’re going to have a job, whether certain programs are going to exist as they have” and if the programs — such as the foods and nutrition program — continue, how they will fit into Western.

According to Frederking, all full-time faculty, full-time staff and permanent part time staff at Brescia will be offered employment at Western.

Brescia has been seen as a leader in women’s education for over a century — a goal that faculty members hope to continue after the merger.

“Even though Brescia is closing, we promise that we are going to continue to deliver the quality education that we have always given and that we will support our students until the day the doors close,” said Kirk.

— With files from Adshayah Sathiaseelan and Hannah Alper

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Look what you made me do: Inside the pursuit of Taylor Swift concert tickets PANIZ VEDAVARZ CULTURE EDITOR

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arshita Padharia’s pursuit of Taylor Swift concert tickets began with high hopes and a budget of $700.

“People took time off work to purchase tickets,” the third-year biology student recalled.

Tickets were set to go on sale at 10 a.m. on Aug. 16 — Padharia had been “sitting there on the edge” since 7 a.m..

But as she anxiously joined the online Ticketmaster queue, an online ticket-purchasing platform that has recently been under fire for failing to meet user demands, her excitement was met with disappointment. When the line opened, Padharia found herself in the 12,000th place for tickets.

“My heart just broke,” she said. “I can’t imagine not going.”

For Swift’s fans, obtaining concert tickets is more than just attending a show — it’s a matter of identity.

Swift’s Eras Tour has evolved into a cultural and economic phenomenon. Each show spans over three hours, capturing the different “Eras” of her 17-year musical career. According to Forbes, the tour has the potential to generate $4.6 billion in consumer spending in the United States alone.

Over the summer, Canadian fans eagerly awaited Swift to announce the dates of her Canadian shows. When Swift eventually announced her six Toronto shows — her only Canadian tour dates — demand exceeded supply with over 30 million people signing up for the verified fan sale. The chances of getting tickets were about one in 400.

Despite the low odds, fans like Padharia remained committed to the idea of obtaining tickets.

But what’s all the hype?

Norma Coates, Western media and music professor and former president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music’s United States chapter, explained Swift’s unique appeal.

“She knows that she has this large audience, and

ARISIA QARRI GAZETTE

she is providing something that’s very rare,” said Coates.

Coates highlighted the exceptional three-anda-half-hour duration of Swift’s concerts and elaborate costume changes, including a Versace bodysuit and a ballgown.

“I think it’s just being in her presence. That’s why watching someone on TV will never suffice,” she said. “There’s some real kind of art to it. When you’re a Swiftie, it’s a commitment.”

Leanne Kwong, a second-year Ivey Business

School student, embodied that commitment when she purchased plane tickets to San Francisco before securing tickets.

Despite encountering several dubious sellers, Kwong saw Swift for $400 USD in Santa Clara.

“You hear about Taylor and see her on social media, but actually seeing her in real life is ‘woah,’” Kwong said. “It doesn’t feel like ‘woah, huge celebrity’ — it feels like mother.”

Fans’ commitment to buying tickets mirrors a broader shift within the Swifties’ demographic

— primarily composed of young women — from ridicule to enthusiasm, exemplifying the empowerment created within female fandoms.

“The thing that I find interesting about Taylor Swift — especially in the last few years because people were making fun of her 10 years ago — is she has a maturity that I think is appealing,” said Coates.

Coates said Swift has taken the reins of her own career and music, especially in re-recording her music, establishing a sense of independence.

For fans, this sense of freedom mixed with commercial success leads to a sense of pride — in other words, it’s trendy to be a Swiftie.

Victoria Hammill, a fourth-year criminology student, will be attending the Toronto Eras Tour show next November, marking her second time attending Swift’s live performance, the last being on the Fearless Tour in 2010.

But the meaning behind the “Swiftie” label has changed for Hammill — it’s no longer something to be embarrassed about.

“Like my friends used to tease me for liking Taylor Swift, now they’re all eager to try to buy $5,000 resale tickets,” said Hammill.

Kwong will also be attending a show in Toronto. While she tries to keep the fact that she’s going twice a secret, mindful of not upsetting fans who haven’t had the opportunity to attend even once, she proudly identifies as a Swiftie, finding a strong sense of community within the fandom.

“I feel like that’s something in the Taylor fandom that many people know: how nice everyone is,” she said.

While fans like Padharia who have still not obtained tickets might not be able to experience this sense of community in person at the concert, they can still find comfort in each other.

“I’m happy for everyone who survived that and was able to get tickets,” said Padharia.

Western professor sheds light on London’s forgotten filmmaker RYAN GOODISON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

W

hen Mark Kearney came across one of the first Hollywood filmmakers while browsing Weldon Library, he was surprised to learn the filmmaker was from London.

Al Christie was a producer, director and screenwriter of some of the earliest films in the art’s history — such as Rowdy Ann, Charley’s Aunt and Half a Sinner. Christie was born in 1881 and passed away in 1951.

Kearney, a Faculty of Information and Media Studies professor, then started a 20-year research process on Christie across North America — which ended with the publication of his book, Al Christie: Hollywood’s Forgotten Film Pioneer, earlier this summer.

“I’m glad that this book is out and that I got to tell his story. Because it really hasn’t been told before,” Kearney said.

Christie was one of the first artists to go to Hollywood with the intention of making films, marking the start of a new chapter in history, according to Kearney.

Before he set off for the United States, Christie attended plays at the Grand Theatre in downtown London as a young man and often gave tips to the actors and production staff on how to improve the performance.

Christie was mostly known for his situational

comedies — comedy produced around a plot — in an era of filmmakers creating slapstick style comedies, which are based around movement.

The silent filmmaker was also a big supporter of short films. He thought 10 to 20 minutes was enough for a film and didn’t believe in having an audience sit in a theatre for upwards of two hours.

Kearney believes this aspect of Christie’s film style could be appealing to Western students, who mostly make short films when starting out.

Although Christie is from London, Kearney often ran into roadblocks when researching the filmmaker. The most difficult part for him was finding information about Christie’s private life.

“The papers that he’d left behind were a lot of studio notes,” said Kearney. “A lot of that kind of stuff about the business, but very little about his personal life.”

Kearney was able to track down a couple of Christie’s descendants, but only great-nieces and -nephews, since the filmmaker’s daughter and only child died at the age of 10.

“They didn’t have any letters from him, or diaries or anything like that. So it’s really a question of going through whatever documents I had,” Kearney said.

Kearney’s research even took him to Christie’s old home in Beverly Hills, purchased by the rock musician Phil Collins in the 1980s. Kearney was able to get a tour of the house from Collins’ ex-wife Jill Tavelman.

“I got to talk to [Tavelman], and then I interviewed her as she has a business in Beverly Hills,” Kearney said. “At the end of it, she said, ‘You know, I think you should come to the house.’”

Tavelman gave Kearney a tour of the first floor of the house and let him take some photos of the property as part of his research.

“That was kind of cool that it has this sort of weird rock star connection. Just totally random,” Kearney said.

Kearney explains Christie’s films were at times incredibly difficult to access. More often than not, he had to travel to different universities across the continent just to be able to watch a reel — which might explain why the filmmaker has been lost to time.

Christie and his brother went broke during the Great Depression in the 1930s, and the director had to move to New York to work on other filmmakers’ short comedy films.

Kearney hopes his book will bring about greater recognition for the artist. Even though Christie has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there is nothing in London or Canada recognizing his filmmaking achievements.

He believes Christie’s story is important not just for Londoners but for the history of filmmaking.

“The fact that [his films] are the foundation of what became the movie industry, I think, should be of interest to anybody who’s kind of interested in movies,” Kearney said.

COURTESY OF MARK KEARNEY The cover of Mark Kearney’s book ===Hollywood’s Forgotten Film Pioneer.

OPINIONS | P6

EDITORIAL

Bill C-18 is a well-intentioned, yet devastating attempt to save Canadian journalism

H

ave you been able to see the Western Gazette Instagram recently? Don’t worry, we haven’t either.

This is an action by Meta in response to Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act. The government passed legislation on June 22 requiring digital giants Google and Meta to compensate news outlets for the news content shared on their platforms. As a result, Meta blocked all Canadian news on their platforms. Google is set to do the same.

In theory, Bill C-18 appears to be a noble attempt to help Canadian news outlets stay afloat and financially viable. However, as the real-world effects of this legislation unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that the bill is causing more harm than good.

While it may have been designed with the best intentions, its impact on both major and smaller news outlets, from the Globe and Mail to the Western Gazette, has been devastating.

Now the only way for Canadians to get news is by going on the sites themselves. But let’s be honest — as students, how often do you really take the time to go on news sites to check what’s happening in your communities every day? Bill C-18 completely disrupts how people access news and information in an age when we are on social media more than ever. By getting rid of news sources that care about journalistic integrity, people are still going to get their news from somewhere — and it’s not going to be a good place.

Bill C-18 and its consequences have also been extremely concerning when it comes to misinformation. Social media’s ability to allow anyone to share any piece of information, whether it’s true or not, has presented dangers for years.

With the absence of credible news on social

JESSICA COUNTI GAZETTE

media, people will be much more susceptible to biased and false information from uncredible accounts.

Yes, it is no secret that journalism has not been a financially thriving industry for years. Struggling publications have pleaded with the government for financial support to prevent layoffs and closures. While news content brings traffic to Meta’s social media platforms and its advertising, it’s difficult to argue that news companies don’t benefit more from sharing their content on social media.

The news links often lead to companies’ websites, which increases their visibility. Now with the “link tax”, it’s like trying to get money from the lamppost by putting a sign up on it.

Bill C-18 could not have happened at a worse time. In anticipation of Bill C-18 in June, Bell Media laid off over 1,300 positions and slashed six per cent of its media arm. Nine local news radio shows were sold or closed, meaning that people won’t be able to get diverse and local news.

This homogenization of news won’t stop as Bill C-18’s reign continues, it is going to harm

smaller publications more than massive corporations. This is a dangerous road to go down, as people will not be able to access local news specific to their community.

Think of the Gazette. Without picking up a print copy of the Gazette, signing up for our newsletter or checking our website, students like you won’t know about the BB-gun shooting on Broughdale, voices on the Brescia-Western merger or the latest events happening in London.

But there might be a silver lining. Looking forward, we must consider what will happen when we no longer have access to the largest bulletin board in history — social media. As we’ve let Meta control more of our lives, it’s time for companies to innovate and explore alternative avenues to deliver news.

This was a high-risk and high-reward act to save Canadian journalism, but the clear risk falls on the industry they are trying to save. Bill C-18 has completely compromised the ability of millions of Canadians to see news on the apps they use everyday. The bill is not benefitting Canadian media companies, but handicapping them.

Bill C-18, though well-intentioned, has serious flaws that are hurting Canadian journalism, the people who read it, and the people who aspire to be a part of this industry — like us. It’s essential for the government to reevaluate its impact on smaller publications, the democracy it seeks to protect and the broader media landscape to ensure a brighter future for journalism in Canada.

To stay connected with the Western Gazette, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter where you can be informed and entertained about anything and everything you need to know!

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 strcitly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Gazette, its editors, or staff. To submit a letter to the editor, send an email to opinions@westerngazette.ca

Opinion: London’s public libraries are totally rad and you should use them VERONICA MACLEAN NEWS EDITOR

I

n a city with subpar public transit, an absurd cost of living and not a single Applebee’s location, a light shines through the darkness — the London Public Library.

I’m being a bit facetious — a word which I learned by going to the library — but London’s public libraries genuinely bring me so much joy.

The public library is crucial social infrastructure that has benefitted the London community for over 125 years.

I frequented the public library when I was younger, and I fell back in love with it this past summer. As an avid reader, I find it much more financially feasible to rent War and Peace for free than to roll the dice on buying a 1,400 page book that I don’t even know if I’ll enjoy.

But you don’t need to be a big reader to visit the library — there are numerous events and resources for people of all ages, such as homework help, board game nights and seniors gatherings. There really is something for everyone.

Another resource is the community volunteer

tax clinic which helps people — individuals with income less than $35,000 and also couples with a combined income of less than $45,000 — complete their income tax and benefit returns during tax season in March and April each year.

There are also many resources for newcomers to Canada, like free settlement services, English language resources and citizenship practice tests.

The London Public Library also has a stellar volunteer program designed to support the services and programs offered there — it’s a great way to get involved in the London community.

The library is definitely not just for books, and a library card is an asset whether or not you’re a student.

London Public Library cards are free to all residents of London and people from neighbouring Indigenous communities. And guess what — all Western University and Fanshawe College students who live in London are eligible for a free library card too.

The library has an immense catalogue of books and audiobooks to rent. Getting a free library card has saved me so much money I otherwise would have spent at Indigo.

VERONICA MACLEAN GAZETTE Outside view of the London Public Library Central Branch, Sept. 28, 2023.

While there’s nothing wrong with buying books from time to time, I’m admittedly a bit of a penny pincher, so I prefer to use the library as much as I can.

Aside from having a variety of resources, the public library is a great place to read, do schoolwork or just hang out.

After all this, do you really need more convincing?

When I need some time away from school or work, the public library is my go-to third space.

The librarians are welcoming and always willing to help — making the library feel like an inclusive and

calming place.

The D.B. Weldon Library, on the other hand, sometimes feels like entering a fever dream that reminds me of the many impending assignments I have yet to complete.

Whether you’re looking for a new book to read, a place to volunteer or a space to relax, there’s a good chance your local public library will have what you’re looking for.

I want to end with the following quote from my personal hero, Arthur the Aardvark: “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.”

SPORTS | P7

Sara Nathanson’s golden seasons with the Mustangs RYAN GOODISON SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

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f you told Sara Nathanson before she began her university soccer career that she would one day hold Western’s career scoring record, she wouldn’t have believed it.

After tearing her ACL in grade 11 and not playing for the remainder of high school, all she wanted was the opportunity to play again.

When it came to picking a university, she knew three things: she wanted to go to a different school than her siblings, to go to a place where the university was “at the heart of the city” and to try out for the soccer team.

She decided to go to Western University in 1994 to study English literature and play for the soccer team. But before she could begin with the Mustangs, she had to make the team.

“I remember picturing: look, if you don’t try out, you’re gonna go watch one of the games and go, ‘oh, I’m as good as they are. And that’s gonna make you mad. So, go try out. So that you’ll know,’” Sara recalls.

To her surprise, she made the team — it was the beginning of a 53-goal career.

She won three Golden Boots as the season’s top scorer and an F.W.P. Jones Trophy — given to the Western female student-athlete who contributed the most in her sport — in the 1997-98 season.

After graduating from Western, Sara worked for Aritzia, a popular Canadian women’s fashion brand, and is now the company’s vice-president of talent acquisition.

While she achieved success in both worlds, she doesn’t think her individual skills are better than most people in soccer and business.

“I always feel that the effort I put forward, and the tenacity with which I approach what I’m doing, is going to be my differentiator and going to allow me to be successful,” Sara says.

During her first year, on Sept. 17, 1994, Sara led the Mustangs to a 6–1 win over the Brock University Badgers with a four-goal performance for the first time in school history.

“I was just so excited to be on the field, and so that just translated well in that game,” Sara recounts. “I remember not feeling surprised then, not because I thought I was so good, but because I just did what I always did.”

GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Sara Nathanson during a 1994 game.

Sara continued to build upon her early performances and, as a rookie, led the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union — now known as U Sports — in scoring, which gave her more confidence in her abilities.

The Mustangs would go on to win the Ontario Women’s Interuniversity Athletic Association — now known as Ontario University Athletics — West title that year but only placed fifth in the CIAU championships.

In the years following, Sara would take on more of a leadership role on the team.

Despite the Mustangs’ 5–2 win over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Sept. 10, 1995 in which she had a hat-trick, Sara was unsatisfied

with their play and thought, despite the win, the team played sloppy.

After the game, she told the Gazette the team would by no means win at provincials and nationals if they played the way that they did — for Sara, there was always room for improvement.

“I think that I’ve just always had that mentality, and I feel that way at work,” Sara says.

“Nothing makes me happier than my team collectively achieving a result, celebrating them and boasting about them and seeing them excited by their achievements.”

This drive for success was seen just a week later when, after a 1–0 loss to Brock, Sara led the Mustangs to a 6–0 victory over the University of Wind-

sor Lancers — another four-goal performance for the striker.

“I think I have a good ability to see what needs to be done. And, you know, never say die,” Sara says.

“Keep at it until the end and really do everything you can in your control to achieve the goal.”

A part of what kept Sara such a threat throughout her university career was a drive to impress — particularly that of her three older brothers.

“I was constantly pushing to be accepted by them as being a good enough athlete, or whatever it was,” Sara said. “Because they were just typical older brothers and obviously became my biggest fans, but at a young age, it definitely helped me.”

Throughout her four-year career in the purple and white, Sara was a four-time OWIAA all-star and four-time CIAU All-Canadian.

But a regret for Sara was she never won a national championship at Western. Even so, she still appreciated the Mustangs’ joy even through hard work, and the camaraderie between her and her teammates.

“I just think that wasn’t in the cards for what we were doing and for the team that we had at the time,” Sara says.

Sara no longer plays soccer but hopes one day, she can invest time into coaching her son, who is currently three years old and just had his first soccer practice at the University of British Columbia.

It’s safe to say she hopes the lessons she learned playing will rub off on him.

“There’s a sense of confidence from achievement,” Sara says. “Regardless of how you get that.

But I think what is so great about sport is you have people who are relying upon you, you’re accountable to others, and whether or not you show up affects everybody.”

Sara still looks back fondly on her time at Western, and sometimes it feels like fate brought her to London, where she was inducted into the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

“It’s just such good fortune that I landed where I did,” Sara says. “It seems like a bit of a random choice, but it ended up being such a wonderful experience that created lifelong friends, memories and achievements that I’m proud of.”

Science behind: Concussions in sports EMILY BARLOW CONTRIBUTOR

F

or most professional athletes, sustaining a concussion at some point in their career has become a norm.

The Brain Injury Research Institute reported that 10 per cent of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly, and that brain injuries account for 65 to 95 per cent of all fatalities in professional football.

Concussion symptoms include headaches, fatigue and poor concentration. The University of Cambridge also found that after sustaining a concussion, patients had abnormalities in a sensory processing region of the brain known as the thalamus.

Kyle Ervine, a fourth-year kinesiology student and varsity lacrosse player, understands these experiences all too well.

During a game last September, Ervine suffered a concussion after an opponent kneed him in the back of the head.

“It wasn’t terrible at first. I was trying to rehab to get back so I pushed it a little too much and I tried to go back three weeks after [but] I literally just felt drunk on the field,” said Ervine. “I practiced and played for 10 days then I just called it and had to drop a semester.”

Concussion awareness has been steadily rising throughout the last decade. In 2018, the Ontario government enacted Ronans Law, requiring the Coaches Association of Ontario and other amateur sports associations to follow strict guidelines regarding concussion symptoms, management and awareness as well as returning athletes to play.

Michael Cinelli, an associate professor of kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University’s research has

revealed that “balance impairments were pretty prominent following a concussion” and had not been properly assessed before.

Cinelli pointed out various “sideline assessments,” or assessments of athletes directly following an injury often involved some subjective tests which were not objective enough.

Instead, the researchers then aimed to assess concussed athletes’ balance control at time points — the most recent time symptoms occurred and the time they could return to play. The results indicated that despite returning to play, athletes still had balance control impairments.

Cinelli coined the term “motor learning reset” throughout his research to encompass the fact that when high-calibre athletes sustain a concussion, they’re expected to return to the same calibre of play, but are just not able to.

“When they return they’re not at the same level that they would’ve been had they not been concussed, so there’s this period of time where they have to relearn how to do things,” said Cinelli.

Ervine said he often wishes he did not return to play as quickly as he did.

He only stopped having headaches a couple of months ago, but will still get them if he is doing too much. He is sensitive to light and his vision is off — which he described as “a constant state of fogginess.”

“Take a step back and look at your life from a different approach. Realize that whatever sport you’re playing is a portion of our life,” said Ervine. “There’s much bigger things than trying to rush through a recovery so you can go back and play again.”

P8

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ACROSS 1. North American country 4. Santa ___ (California region) 7. ___ card (phone insert) 10. Male descendant 11. Complete scam 13. Tool used to spread margarine on bread 15. What a tour guide does 16. Income tax review 17. Check, as a box 19. “I’m gonna go out ___ limb here...”

20. Healthy offering that’s quite colourful 25. Charged particle 26. ___ Dhabi 27. Patron of Ireland, briefly 30. “Dang it” 33. Temporary roommates 36. Unpredictable 37. Olive ___ (Popeye’s companion) 38. Direction located at the bottom-left of a compass 39. Is, in France 40. Soar... or what can follow the starts of 13-, 20-, and 33-across

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1. Portable storage device 2. Essence 3. See the river, in poker-speak 4. Did incredibly well 5. Neither’s partner 6. Canadian singer Paul with the hit “Puppy Love” 7. Gave the green light 8. “Everything’s good” 9. Get together by 12. Wildebeest

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JEFFREY MARTINOVIC GAZETTE

14. Uber or Lyft alternative 18. League with the Jazz and Spurs 20. Uses a lure, rod, and bait 21. Helicoptor parts 22. Contaminated 23. What aliens are said to do 24. “I suppose”

28. “Free ___ bird” 29. Head of Montreal?

31. Since 32. Texter’s sendoff 34. Some soldiers 35. What foxes are fabled to be

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A N A S I M C O N G A M E T E R K N I F E A D A U D I T X I N O N A I T B A S K E T A B U A T D R A T S E G U E S T S A T I C O Y L E S T F L Y