Friday, October 24, 2014

Friday October 24, 2014

VOLUME 108, ISSUE 30

voting It’s

time!

NEWS

Tinder for votes Pg. 3

ARTS & LIFE

Dr. Carlen talks sex Pg. 9

ARTS & LIFE

Comicon in London Pg. 9

SPORTS

Football fights for home field Pg. 7

Graphic by Jennifer Feldman • GAZETTE

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thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

Caught on Camera

Iain Boekhoff • GAZETTE

HONOURING WARRANT OFFICER PATRICE VINCENT AND CPL. NATHAN FRANK CIRILLO. The flag on Western’s UC Tower flies at half mast on Thursday to honour the two soldiers who were killed in Quebec and Ottawa this week.

Y! A D 30

TO

@

CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer

HAVE YOUR SAY

:

12

Chiropractic Career Talk

The Gazette asked students if they were going to vote in Monday’s municipal elections. Why or why not?

Are you looking for a career that makes a difference?

Interested in studying abroad?

Chiropractic is a fast-growing wellness profession with great earning potential and work-life balance. What’s more, you’ll make a difference to others every day of your career.

The New Zealand College of Chiropractic (NZCC) is a world-renowned chiropractic college based in beautiful Auckland, New Zealand. With our onsite Chiropractic Centre and highly qualified faculty, we have the highest practice requirements of any college around the world, which means our graduates are highly sought-after.

Join us to find out more at Western University on Friday October 24.

Abhishek Sroya

Software Engineering II No. I don’t know, I don’t really know much about it.

Gain insight into the philosophy, art and science of chiropractic. You’ll also learn more about the student experience and world-class curriculum we offer at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, and will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

WHEN: LOCATION: CONTACT:

Friday 24 October 2014 at 12.30pm Room 3134, Western Student Services Building (WSS) Please RSVP to NZCC by emailing recruitment@nzchiro.co.nz

We hope to see you there!

Your Weekly Horoscope

The week of Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 This horoscope is intended for entertainment purposes only.

ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You’re at the brink of starting something new and impressive, Aries. Start acting like the star that you are and embrace the spotlight. It won’t take you long.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, your communication skills come in handy this week when you prove capable of making a serious difference at work. Let that success carry through at home.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, be mindful of how well others treat you this week. Your friends and family will be there for you when you need them, so show how much you appreciate their support.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, maintain a handle on reality this week.

Even though you’re energized by big plans and dreams, you have to keep your feet on the ground for the time being.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you’re accustomed to companionship, and this week will be no different. People are impressed with the way you innovate and explore new possibilities.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, you are happy this week and others will look to you as an inpsiration. Share your good mood with others and your happiness will only grow.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Cancer, take care of yourself this week if you start to Capricorn, all you have to do is focus this week and you feel a bit under the weather. Nip it in the bud early can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Come so it does not impact your long-term plans. up with a challenge that has bested you in the past.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, passion and energy find you moving in new directions this week. Enjoy this exciting time and document it through photos and notes to those sharing your journey.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 You may not even realize you need a break and a helping hand until someone steps up and provides just that, Aquarius. Accept any and all help graciously.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, if you feel stuck in a rut, now is the ideal the time to try something new. In another month or two your efforts will begin to bear fruit.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, your energy levels are off the charts this week. Use this abundance of energy to tackle a difficult project.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS OCT. 26 – Keith Urban, Singer (47) OCT. 27 – Stephan Elshaarawy, Athlete (22) OCT. 28 – Lauren Holly, Actress (51)

OCT. 29 – Winona Ryder, Actress (43) OCT. 30 – Eva Marcille, Model (30)) OCT. 31 – Dermot Mulroney, Actor (51) NOV. 1 – Coco Crisp, Athlete (35)

Nia Silgardl

Biology IV Yes. I guess my parents have always encouraged me to vote which is why I’m doing it, and I do think it’s important to use the opportunity we have to influence politics.

Connell Miller

Engineering IV Yes. It’s really important to vote because I feel if you want student issues to be heard in the election students need to get out and vote.

The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. © 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.

Thomas Gibson

Health Science IV No. I’m not from the area so I don’t know that much about the candidates and what they have to offer.

•3

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

Western student uses Tinder to talk politics

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Amy O’Kruk NEWS EDITOR @AmyAtGazette

The smartphone app Tinder is usually synonymous with online dating and questionable pick-up lines. But for third-year Western student, Madelene Lauris, her messages to matches aren’t meant to woo.

Instead, when Lauris swipes right, her goal is to gauge local youth’s interest in London’s upcoming civic election.

Lauris’s blog, maddyvoteslondon.tumblr.com, showcases her experiences talking politics on the dating app. When she asks potential suitors about their electoral plans, many of them aren’t afraid to admit their disinterest — among other things. In an interview with Lauris, she explains the thought behind the social experiment and hopes it will ultimately motivate a few more students to hit the polls.

Gazette: What inspired you to create the blog?

Lauris: Well actually, it’s for a school project, it’s for an alternative media class. I always vote, I wouldn’t call myself an activist towards that, but I was sitting with two of my friends and they were talking about the upcoming elections and I was

like ‘okay, I know I’m going to vote, but I don’t know who to vote for.’ As I started doing more research I found all of these different resources for people voting and I was wondering why people weren’t talking about all of these different resources that are available for students to learn about elections. I thought I’d go on tinder and ask people about it.

G: Why use Tinder?

L: I think it’s hilarious. I’ve never used Tinder before in my life. Just seeing the responses other people get, I thought it’d be the way to go.

G: Were you surprised by the responses you got on Tinder?

L: I was hoping that more people would actually engage in conversation with me. I didn’t post the ones on Tumblr of actual people talking because there’s so little of them. I probably had one or two conversation with people about who to vote for and the rest are what you see on [the blog]. It was surprising for me when I saw how people reacted to the Tumblr … because most guys on Tinder would ignore me, so I thought it was kind of just a bust.

Now that people are starting to see [the blog], hopefully it will gain a bit more traction.

G: Have you received a lot of feedback from people who’ve seen

the Tumblr?

L: I thought it would just be my friends, I’ve been telling people about it and they’ve been giving me really positive feedback, but I think the biggest thing is when Jen Carter [University Students’ Council VP External] tweeted at me and said ‘I want to hear more about it.’ Then I realized that people actually like this idea and care about it. I think even just generating a conversation is going to be beneficial for people to become more aware about the elections.

G: How long are you planning on continuing the experiment?

L: I’m definitely going to continue until the elections and then probably a bit after that as well, it’s really fun so I want to keep doing it as long as possible.

G: Do you think the blog showcases young voter apathy? Is there a way to motivate students?

L: I wish there was a way that students could get more involved because like I said, the resources are there for us to take and not a lot of people are using them. I think, hopefully … people will look at these Tinder conversations … and realize how dumb they look. Then maybe they’ll be more motivated [to become informed]. That’s the

Cheng refuses to license properties Katie Lear NEWS EDITOR @KatieAtGazette

Mayoral candidate Paul Cheng continues to refuse to license his rental properties in London.

According to Cheng, he refuses to register his properties not because of the cost — $25 — but due to the unfairness of how the process is applied to all London landlords.

“I am aware that there are a lot of rental houses in London that are not registered,” Cheng said.

“We should all register at the same time. We’ll all pay the fee – that’s not a problem, so we treat everybody equally,” he elaborated.

Why the difference in [that] some are not registered and they’re not being penalized, [but] I have to register?”

According to the executive director of Neighbourhood Legal Services, Jeff Schlemmer, the goal of the license is to promote safety in rental housing.

“When you are licensed there’s a form that you fill out. You tell the city that the place is safe and it complies with building and property standards, with health standards and

so on,” Schlemmer said.

“So what happens then is that the city has this listing of all the rental housing in town and part of the idea is that it makes it easier for tenants to access the list and know whether the landlord has certified the place as being safe,” he continued.

One of the main concerns raised is that the city cannot provide inspections to avoid dangers such as fire hazards and mould if the property is unregistered.

“It also makes it easier if the city decided at some point to inspect a place to make sure it’s safe, then they know it exists. Whereas right now, and certainly before they had this bylaw, nobody knew what rental housing was – anybody could just rent out their basement or their attic or their full house,” Schlemmer continued. “It could be a fire hazard and there would be no way of knowing that, and tenants moving in would have no way of having assurance that it is a safe, healthy place to live.”

Cheng stated that he paid the penalty cost to the city and submitted a scanned cancelled check for $95 to be reviewed by The London Free Press after their investigation, reiterating that he has nothing to

hide.

“I am a very good landlord. I’m very proud of my properties – those are all my retirement projects. I don’t have a pension from anyone, so it’s in my interest to look after my properties,” Schlemmer, however, is doubtful that the conflict is quite that simple.

“I think the main reason that would suggest itself [for Cheng’s refusal to register] is that the city is somewhat limited in its enforcement resources. They don’t necessarily know that particular houses are getting rented out so there’s a good chance he won’t get caught.”

Solution to puzzle on page 12

end goal of what I’ll be getting out of this. I’m not at school for political science, but I’m still aware of elections and I still want to vote. I think other people should do it as well because it matters.

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4 •

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

arts&life

badwriting:songlyrics “First thing’s first, I’m the realest.”

Iggy Azaela, Fancy

>> IN THEATRES > FURY

A well-executed war film worth watching

Where to get it Belt: This belt was found at a thrift store — many of which are dispersed around London. You could find similar items at your closed Value Village, Goodwill or independent thrift stores around the city.

White Peasant Top: Storvold found this top in her sister’s closet. No, not a cute boutique called her sister’s closet, but literally from her little sister. Similar tops can be found at vintage shops or smaller independent boutiques.

Black Tights: This pair was found in Target, but can also be found in shops such as Ardene or American Apparel.

Red Plaid Skirt: Storvold’s only piece from a retail store would be her skirt — found at Garage. Although not from a thrift store, similar styles could be found at both second hand stores, to places such as Urban Outfitters or Walmart, for a low-budget price.

Boots:

Kelly Samuel • GAZETTE

M

addie Storvold is a second-year student in honours specialization English language, and knows how to put together a thrifty but cute outfit. With students having the never-ending problem of a low budget, Storvold uses this fact to her advantage to find pieces that are unique to her style.

still looks to find interesting pieces that she can mix and match with when picking an outfit. As with almost all of her elements of her outfit, each piece holds a level of mystery as to their origins and the stories they have seen — adding a whole new level of what it means for an outfit to have character.

“I really don’t shop retail anymore — I’m a student and I’m broke, so I mostly shop vintage and thrift stores,” Storvold said.

Her vintage looking belt combines well with the peasant-style shirt, but comes together beautifully with Storvold’s favourite part of her outfit: her necklace.

However, even though her pieces have been worn with love, she

These boots were found in a vintage store in Nelson, BC. Those looking to shop similar need not head over to the West Coast — instead, look to the worn with love stores down on Dundas, for thrift shops that holds such styles. from the gold and silver Souk from there,” Storvold said.

For students trying to recreate this style, Storvold said to mix it up.

“Select random pieces, just go through your wardrobe and select random pieces,” she said.

With pieces that Storvold found in British Columbia and Dubai, she has managed to mix exciting pieces both new and old, together to create an outfit that stands out from the crowd in the fall weather.

• Jenny Jay

“I grew up in Dubai, so this is

Kelly Samuel • GAZETTE

Kevin Jacobs GAZETTE STAFF GGGHF Director: David Ayer Starring: Brad Pitt, Shia LeBouef, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal and Jason Isaacs David Ayers’ Fury, a war film about a tank journeying into the heart of Nazi Germany during the final days of the Second World War, is a solid genre film that is technically proficient, but slightly lacking in narrative.

The film takes place in 1945, as US Army Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) and his similarly nicknamed tankmates, Bible (Shia LeBeouf), Gordo (Michael Peña), and Coon-Ass (Jon Bernthal), return from a mission in which they lost their fifth member. Private Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman), a recently enlisted typist, joins the tank to fill the void. The audience goes on a journey with Norman, as he loses his innocence on a final-push into Nazi Germany.

Ayers’ film is technically spectacular. It feels like you are inside the tank, affectionately named Fury, with the quintet. The direction creates a claustrophobic effect that is successful in making the audience feel like the sixth member of Fury’s crew. Much of the film takes place in the interior of the tank, creating a home-like sentiment around the enclosed space.

The violence of WWII is on display in alarming fashion and the film addresses this with Norman learning to deal with the violence.

The battle scenes are beautifully rendered, with tactical precision that is rare in a war movie.

When Pitt’s Wardaddy shouts orders, the battlefield comes alive.

The crew’s dialogue is funny, emotional and outrageous, which creates the centre of the film in the relationship between Fury’s five main characters. The actors perform

well, although it seems like a cliché at times for five distinctly different characters to be brought together in the small space of the tank. It works though, especially with LeBeouf as a deeply religious technician and Bernthal as a foul-mouthed, larger-than-life character from the American south. Lerman is the standout, as Norman’s transformation from Hemingway-reading, piano-playing innocent into aggressive soldier is remarkably believable.

Norman is the only main character who shows significant development though, other than a brief glimpse of growth from Coon-Ass. Fury is quite a fun film, despite the dark nature of the material.

Ayers also wrote the film, and the Training Day writer knows how to write action adorned with witty dialogue. The drama can be extremely dark at times, but occasional comic release, likely from Bernthal, has an amusing quality. A scene where Wardaddy and Norman make a makeshift family with two German women, whose town they just destroyed, is a touching reminder of the need for human interaction during times of great strife.

What the film lacks is a significant plot. It is set within one of the most profound historical narratives of all time, but much of the middle of the movie follows a formula of travelling in the tank, getting interrupted by a battle, and then repeating, without a goal other than getting further and further into Germany and taking more and more towns.

Ayer’s Fury is a good war film.

Unfortunately, it does not add anything new about WWII that hasn’t already been said before. As a result, it will not likely be considered one of the best war films. But with its well-executed battle scenes and its core five characters, Fury is definitely worth seeing.

Fury will be playing at Rainbow Cinemas from Friday, October 24 to Thursday, October 30 with screenings at 1:00, 3:45, 7:00 and 9:40

•5

thegazette • election • Friday, October 24, 2014

>> Gazette Guide to Municipal Elections 2014

How to vote What do they do?

To be able to vote in the municipal elections, there are a few important details you should keep in mind.

In order to be eligible to vote on Monday, you must either live in London or own property here, as well as being a Canadian citizen of at least 18 years of age who is not prohibited from voting due to a criminal record.

Voters are required to bring a piece of valid identification to the voting booth such as an Ontario Driver’s License or an Ontario Health Card (photo card), as well as a proof of address. If you don’t have a letter sent to your address to use as a proof of address, students can log onto www.westernvotes.uwo. ca with their student number to generate a letter sent by the university to bring to the voting booth.

If you haven’t received a voter card in the mail, you will not be considered a registered voter and will be required to fill out a form when at the voting booth.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in various locations across London. You must vote at a location in your ward to be able to elect your ward representative. To determine what ward you’re located in, use the map included below.

• Katie Lear

Mayor

The mayor is the chief officer of city council. He or she is high profile, but has little power outside of the council.

The mayor is elected as a citizen-atlarge. Unlike councillors, mayors are not tied to a specific region or ward and are elected at large. A mayor does not run as part of a political party but instead as an individual.

City Councillor

City councillors are voting individuals that make decisions for a municipality.

Canadian municipalities are responsible for garbage pick-up, public transit, fire services, community centres, libraries, pools and in some cases police departments.

Councillors also sit on standing committees, which address specific areas of city policy.

What are the issues?

School trustees are the community’s advocates for public education.

They work as a team to set goals for student achievement, establish a vision for strong public education, measure progress and allocate resources throughout the board.

Trustees are elected separately for the public school board, the catholic school board, the public French board, and the French catholic board.

• Megan Devlin

The London Transit Commission is the main source of transportation for many who live and study in the city of London.

Having a full bus drive past you, however, is a reality many students and citizens have become all too familiar with.

One of the main challenges the LTC faces is that it is notoriously underfunded in comparison to other municipal transit systems. As a result, quality of service has suffered in the process.

With an operating budget of around $68 million, Larry Ducharme, general manager of the LTC, stated that the fundamental problem with the LTC is that they have a 200,000-service hour deficit.

With Western University welcoming its largest incoming freshman class this year, ridership is only going to grow from here, which means a greater strain on an already strained and underfunded system.

Jen Carter, vice-president external to the USC, stated that

other municipal transit systems in Canadian cities comparable to London receive three times the amount of funding.

“Ridership over the past several years has increased, but investment into the LTC has not followed,” Carter said. “All of these things have resulted in crowded buses and students left on the side of the road.”

Addressing this pressing and difficult issue will clearly be essentially for London’s prospective mayor.

• Olivia Zollino

For many first-year university students, the decision of where to live is easy: residence. But for students further along in their academic careers, the hunt for off-campus housing can become an annual headache.

While London offers off-campus dwellings near both Fanshawe College and Western, growing undergraduate populations are forcing students to consider more cramped or distant options.

In 2008, the city’s full-time student population was approximately 45,000, making up almost 15 per

cent of London’s total population, 60 per cent of whom live off-campus. The student population is also growing.

The result is some city homeowners who don’t want the peace and quiet of their residential neighbourhoods disturbed by potentially rowdy university students.

The issue came to a head this spring when the London Neighbourhood Community Association gave a presentation to the city’s town and gown committee that asked London to put a

three person cap on the number of unrelated renters living together.

Alasdair Beaton, a Ward 6 candidate, said he supported the proposed limit to three unrelated people under one roof, while another candidate, Marie Blosh, said another bylaw isn’t the answer to student housing issues. Clearly, our new Ward 6 councillor will have to have quickly find a way to accommodate both the student population and London residents.

• Amy O’Kruk

While Western University is above Ontario’s average for having graduates with jobs two years after graduation — 93.9 per cent versus 92.2 per cent for the average Ontario university — the jobs these graduates are finding are, for the most part, not in London. Approximately 86 per cent of graduates find career opportunities outside of the Forest City.

“To begin with, jobs are hard enough to find as it is, and a student’s choice to leave London will

very well depend on where their job prospects are best,” Jen Carter, USC vice-president external, said.

Furthermore, London seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis.

The city built upon manufacturing has lost many companies that were valuable to the job market, such as Kellogg’s.

Carter noted that London has identified retaining graduates as an issue. Jobs pose a large obstacle when students are deciding where

School Trustees

•••

•••

to ground themselves.

“There will have to be jobs to fill in order to retain graduates,” Carter said.

If London wants to retain graduates and grow as a population, the city must distinguish itself from other communities. That is an issue the elected mayor and councillors will have to address. It may make or break not only their campaign, but London, too.

• Olivia Zollino

Londoners voting for big changes Hamza Tariq NEWS EDITOR Come Monday October 27, Londoners are set to elect their new mayor and a new city council for the next four years.

The 2014 municipal elections have generated a substantial interest in London’s politics from the local population. The advance polls have shown 40.5 per cent higher voter turnout than in the previous elections. The two front-runners for the mayor’s position, Matt Brown and Paul Cheng, are involved in a close race and are placed at 35 per cent and 27 per cent respectively in recent polls.

According to Dr. Martin Horak,

director of Western’s local government program, there are a number of issues at stake in this election that could have caused the increased interest in the city.

“We have had some really serious issues with public trust in office holders,” he said.

The conviction of former mayor Joe Fontana on charges of fraud and breach of trust and a consistently divided council on important issues has instilled a desire for change among the people of the city.

According to Horak, Londoners’ desire for change is reflected in how experienced candidates for mayor have failed to generate much traction for their campaigns while Brown and Cheng — both relatively

new to municipal politics are — leading the race.

The new London Plan has also been a topic of serious debate among the candidates in these elections. Matt Brown, who served as a councillor on the incumbent city council has been involved with and is particularly supportive of the plan.

“In addition to sort of perennial municipal issues concerning economic development and the local economy, we have a new draft land use plan [London Plan],” Horak said. “[It] only comes around once every 25 years and one of the first things the new council is going to do is either approve or disapprove it.”

According to Horak, interest

in student voters has, with some exceptions, remained relatively low amongst most council candidates.

One of the main reasons for this is students’ apathy to local politics.

“They [students] often feel that they are passing through for a few years and don’t have a stake and I think that’s unfortunate,” he said.

“Local government does have a really big impact on the quality of the student experience.”

The 2014 elections will also see a big turnover in the city government.

Alongside a new mayor, only eight out of 14 wards have incumbent councillors running for council.

Municipal elections differ from provincial and federal elections, as they do not allow party politics.

Candidates run for council and mayor positions on individual platforms. This often gives incumbent candidates an edge, as people tend to vote for familiar faces, Horak said.

“On the one hand it gives voters more choice among different platforms,” he said. “On the other hand it can make it much more difficult for the voters to decide who to vote for because they can’t attach candidates to particular slates and familiar partisan labels.”

The city’s lively election campaigns culminate this Monday.

The anticipation to see whom the city elects as their new representatives is high and it is positive to see Londoners being proactively involved in local politics.

6 •

thegazette • election • Friday, October 24, 2014

While 15 people registered to run for mayor of London, three have established themselves as frontrunners. Combined, Matt Brown, Paul Cheng and Joe Swan, according to the latest opinion poll, have the support of roughly 84 per cent of Londoners. The Gazette sat down with each of them to ask them about their vision for London and their plan for the city.

These interviews have been condensed and edited for print.

For extended length video interviews with Brown, Cheng and Swan, visit our website or Youtube channel.

Matt Brown What, in your experience, such as education, volunteering, and former jobs, make you the best person for the job?

I attended the University of Waterloo. Out of university, I worked in corporate sales in the golden horseshoe area before being recruited by the YMCA to hold a number of positions here in London. Eight years ago I had the opportunity to go back to school and chase a dream. I became a high school teacher and I worked with students at risk of not graduating, students who don’t attend their regular high school … So I’ve worked in the private sector, I’ve worked in the public sector and I’ve worked in the not-forprofit sector. Over the past four years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as an elected official as well, so outside of that, I’ve been a very active volunteer in this London community.

If elected mayor, what will London look like in four years?

In four years, we’ve turned the corner on negativity.

We’re working together to get things done. We are thinking not just about ourselves but we’re thinking about building a community for our children and our grandchild. From an economic standpoint, we have more jobs. We have more prosperity. From a quality of life perspective, we’re making decisions about how to make our neighborhood strong. We have a more vibrant downtown. We have more young people staying in this community because they have jobs that can keep them here. We’re better together.

STEVEN GARDNER

Paul Cheng

How do you plan on addressing issues with the LTC?

The buses will be much improved, starting with a rapid transit program that will take 16 years to come to full implementation. But we’re going to start on our priority routes right away. There’s no question we can make improvements in our transit.

What, in your experience, such as education, volunteering, and former jobs, make you the best person for the job?

Local governments don’t create jobs. But we can set up the environment that foster’s economic growth.

It’s our small and medium size businesses primarily. There are 20,000 of those here in London that create those jobs. So when they want to open and grow, we need to be with them every step of the way.

We need to make strategic investment scenarios that help us differentiate from other communities, including things like medical innovation or agrifoods business, based on our geography in southwestern Ontario.

I look after multi-million dollar projects around the world. I work for the biggest company in the world right now — well I did. I resigned [from] my job. I started with a smaller company. I’ve seen different economic models of how companies work.

Right now I look after projects involving about 130 people in some of the most exciting, highest pressure, longest reach stuff in the world. I see the world in different scales of environments, committees and organizations compared to our current candidates.

They’ve played in one sandlot their whole lives and that’s all they know… I’m trying to say they know jack... That’s not to be too unkind but it’s a fact of life.

I’ve worked all over Canada so I’ve seen a few different models. I’ve done okay through intelligent investments and working with people.

Why should students vote for you?

If elected mayor, what will London look like in four years?

What is your job plan strategy?

My platform is focused on four key areas: first is better government — there’s no question this community deserves better local government. Second is economic development, and providing the jobs that our young people need so they can stay in this community and contribute to our economy. Third is that I’m focused on creating affordable, sustainable, attractive neighborhoods right across the city to make sure this is the place where we all want to be. Where we can celebrate. And finally, my commitment is to restore the public’s trust to lead this change.

ARNON KAPLANSKY

Gardner frames himself as the people’s fighter.

Pledging to ensure City Hall works for the best interest of Londoners, Gardner in an advocate of transparency – promising that hidden agendas and back-room deals won’t influence his time in office.

Part of his platform also includes a point where he, upon winning, will sit down with the other mayoral candidates after the race to review the best points of their platforms.

Additionally, Gardner hopes to create “transparency ratings” for companies, non-profits, and councils that are working with the city.

These ratings would be based on a combination of factors – including financial clarity, honest communication, and monthly updates.

With the slogan of “cutting the red tape,” Kaplansky is best known for the creation of what have been called the Towers of Spite – the unattractive buildings at the corner of Huron Street and Audrey Avenue.

Due to uncompromising regulations from the city, Kaplansky was unable to develop the property the way he had initially planned and put these structures there as a reminder of that frustration. Now, he runs for mayor with the goal of eliminating such conflicts between city hall and business owners.

He believes licenses and permits should be issued without delay in order to stimulate growth and the economy. After Kaplansky’s own struggle, support for London business should be significantly improved.

KEYWORDS: Change, Transparency, Public Service

KEYWORDS: Business, Jobs, Economy, Development

Running city hall is not black magic. It’s an organization like any other organization in the world… What they need is leadership... For the last four years, everyone had his or her own agenda… I think that’s wrong. The first priority is what is best for London.

And my priority is getting jobs back to London first.”

My model cities in the world are London, England and Singapore. I like London, England with their modern looking buildings — world-class.

Singapore has old historical buildings mixed in with world-class finance buildings…

I want London to work. I want the lights

DONNA KELLY

Born and raised in the Forest City, Kelly has gone to school, worked, and retired in London.

Kelly’s campaigning has been focused on unbiased and honest leadership. Recognizing the diversity of London, this candidate has made a conscious effort to integrate themes of cultural community and inclusivity into her municipal presence.

One of Kelly’s largest platform points focuses on supporting childhood development. Whether it’s breakfast programs or afterschool initiatives, Kelly sees the value in fostering healthy youth environments.

The candidate also plans to map community gardens across the city. She believes that youth can be engaged through such programs – learning how food is grown and harvested – as well as a greener, more organic culture being developed in the city.

KEYWORDS: Honesty, Youth Development, Health, Environment

JIM KOGELHEIDE

For those looking for a mayoral candidate with more of an environmental focus, Jim Kogelheide may be the option.

In order to reduce his own carbon footprint, the mayoral candidate has been reusing provincial election signs that were abandoned on the streets.

Additionally, Kogelheide believes that London should be a leader in the creation of sustainable energy – specifically referencing Western University’s own weather simulator centre as an example of the kind of technology the city should be engaging with.

But Kogelheide’s platform isn’t green only for the environment but also the economy. He suggests that the city expand projects to grow food in London’s many parks – something that would not only contribute to the city’s organic culture but also create local work opportunities.

KEYWORDS: Environment, Responsibility, Health

coordinated. I want the roads repaired sewers repaired… I want us to build f I don’t want us to build for the past a

How do you plan on add issues with the LTC

These are strictly basic decisions tha need more buses? How many? How ma How is the overcrowding? What is the w And I say, instead of setting up more and plans … talk to the transportati Talk to the executive of the LTC. How What is the excess cost? Then lets get willing to accept at an incremental c because I think people are willing to better service.

What is your job plan st

First is job retention… it’s easier to kee are in your surrounding areas instea hustle new business. Make sure the peo factories here are happy first… Then, w our City Hall is business friendly. Set up so it’s in place and then we can companies around the world.

Why should students v you?

Jobs are number one. Getting city h friendly is [also] a primary pathway to What I want are decision-makers. I w am an action-oriented guy.

DAN LENART

Having run for mayor in 2010, Lenart returns to once again throw his hat into the mayoral race.

With a platform that emphasizes accountable and transparent leadership, Lenart says he can get London’s city hall to a place of fiscal responsibility.

Part of the reason that city hall is currently financially irresponsible, he explains, is due to the unaffordable state of our police, fire, and ambulance budgets.

If elected, Lenart hopes to hire an outside budget inspector similar to Canada’s Auditor General – an individual free from political influence who can better gauge the budgeting habits of city hall.

Lenart also hopes to solve conflicts arising from housing and transit tensions, specifically ones relating to students.

KEYWORDS: Leadership, Transparency, Financial Responsibility

•7

thegazette • election • Friday, October 24, 2014

Joe Swan

ed... I want the for the future, all the time.”

dressing C?

at says, ‘do we many students? waiting time?’ e committees ion engineer. w many buses? it done… I’m cost increase, pay more for

trategy?

ep people who ad of trying to ople that have we make sure the structure talk to other

vote for

hall business o better jobs... want action. I

What, in your experience, such as education, volunteering, and former jobs, make you the best person for the job?

I’ve been serving on London City Council since 1988. My educational background is from Western.

I have an honors degree in political science and I have a specialty diploma in urban and regional government. Prior to me graduating, my master’s thesis was going to be how to run and win a municipal election. I actually went out there and tried it and won. And I’m still looking forward to writing that final paper.

If elected mayor, what will London look like in four years?

Well there’s definitely going to be more jobs and lower taxes and better services. I think my experiences will put Londoners back to work. I think we will be able to improve the way we deliver our services.

I think also, you will see that by holding taxes to one per cent on an annual basis, what small business tells me is that will create more jobs for London.

How do you plan on addressing issues with the LTC? Other candidates are promising spending something like $300 million dollars for bus rapid transit.

That really won’t take effect for the better part of 10 or 15 years. I have a much simpler solution: the city of London needs to invest in London transit to just simply put more buses on the road. The students I

ALEX MAIN

With a small budget and intimate supporting team, Main has been running a small campaign. He’s spent the last ten years in London working several jobs and owning a glass and mirror etching company.

Focusing on this working-man status, Main has opted not to invest funds towards campaigning in the traditional manner of signs and advertisements. Instead, he’s dedicated the past few weeks to participating in and hosting various charity events.

When it comes to these different types of leaders, Main promises to be an approachable one if elected.

Part of this will be by establishing an interactive government. In addition to encouraging the city centre to conduct programming attracting participation, Main hopes to use online polls and social media to further connect city residents with the council.

KEYWORDS: Approachability, Community, Public Service

talk to say LTC stands for ‘Long Time Coming’ and I think they’re really frustrated. They’ve paid for their bus pass and they expect better quality of service.

It’s very simple and very practical. Put more buses on the road at high peak periods and reduce them in areas they’re not being used. And really, understand who your customer is and serve them better.

What is your job plan strategy?

London is under duress, a lot of our manufacturing plants are being recruited to other communities … and we really have to show that city hall wants businesses to come here to create jobs for all Londoners, but in particular, people graduating from Fanshawe and Western. I know they like London, I know they want to stay here but employment is their primary concern.

Why should students vote for you?

I think I’ve separated myself from every other candidate. It’s about experience… When it comes to the mayor — the mayor of a billion dollar corporation — I think it’s absolutely critical that they have the knowledge and the experience… It’s a big job…

Having spent 20 years in city hall I think I’ve got that knowledge and experience to offer. I’ve served six different mayors; I’ve represented two different wards. I’ve served on a committee that serves citywide. So I’m hoping my education, experience and knowledge makes it’s a good choice for the young people of London to vote for Joe Swan.

• Olivia Zollino

MARIE MISZCZAK

Lifelong Londoner and a graduate of Western, Marie Miszczak brings her experience in business and finance to the race.

When it comes to the citizens of London, Miszczak has a special focus on two specific demographics.

The first is women. Inspired by the work of long-time Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, the candidate hopes to see more women engaged in leadership positions.

The second is students.

Miszczak, hoping to jumpstart the London economy, plans to facilitate post-graduation job opportunities.

But her campaign gets more specific than economic development. In addition to more parking for the downtown core, Miszczak envisions better infrastructure for the roads and additional traffic lights in specific spots.

KEYWORDS: Business, Economy, Leadership, Social Issues

DENNIS PERRY

Perry, a graduate from Medix’s Massage Therapy program, has worked at an auto shop for the last six years. Now, he turns his sights on city hall due to a belief that the council should get back to focusing on what’s best for London.

Perry’s working man experience gives him a unique perspective for municipal affairs. He sees council as employees of the city’s residents, and as such should be performing at levels that the people dictate.

Platform points include fixing the infrastructure for London’s bike lanes, improving points in the sewer system, and fostering a better relationship with the London Transit Committee.

That said, Perry also touches on larger goals. Technology, for instance, is a priority for the candidate, who hopes to attract a new wave of modern business to London.

KEYWORDS: Public Service, Approachability, Technology

Candidates spread wings on Twitter Kevin Hurren NEWS EDITOR-AT-LARGE @KevinAtGazette

Low voter turnout is often used as evidence that democratic engagement, especially amongst youth, is declining.

Many argue, however, that the form is changing – not the interest.

There may no longer be rallies in Victoria Park or buttons on chests of loyal Londoners, that’s not to say people aren’t paying attention to the election.

More and more are just doing so online, using candidates’ social media platforms to stay updated.

Recognizing this trend, many of the city’s mayoral candidates have taken to Twitter in an attempt to connect with the masses.

But not every social media campaign is successful, and the ways a candidate uses these outlets can make the difference between a Tweet and a twat.

So what are the ways candidates are using social media like Twitter?

How are these methods effecting their campaigns?

To answer these questions, The Gazette looked at how London’s mayoral candidates are embracing – and in some cases abandoning – a Twitter presence.

Beyond the Gatekeeper: Getting past media A major benefit of social media is that it allows political actors, particularly lesser-known candidates, to bypass major media filters.

Connecting directly with voters, candidates rely less on media coverage.

That seems to be how candidates like Alex Main (@amain0418), Steve Gardner (@GardnerForMayor), and Dan Lenart (@dannyformayor) use their Twitter accounts. Relatively ignored by mainstream media, these candidates rely on self-promotion and anecdotal campaigning. Main and Gardner, for instance, insert personal tweets among election-centered ones. Lenart’s entire Twitter account is personal musings.

This method may allow candidates to control their message, but without a large and pre-existing following many of the tweets will be read only by a small few.

Two Thumbs Up: Reputation through association Another common trend in election tweeting relies heavily on retweeting. Unable to highlight positives of oneself without sounding conceited, a number of candidates have left that work to other people. When a person or organization tweets good things about

a candidate, one simply needs to spread those words.

This is most noticeable with Paul Cheng (@PaulChengLdn) and Dennis Perry (@DennisforLondon).

After events like his Open House, a number of Londoner’s tweet affirmations of Cheng’s good character and he’s more than happy to hit the “retweet” button. Perry, as well, is quick to share any reference to him and his campaign.

While this method makes a candidate appear to have a basis of support, it’s important not to let it drown out one’s own words. Positive tweets that are too frequent also have the risk of appearing staged.

Spreading The Good Word: Disseminating thoughts Many candidates treat Twitter exactly as it was intended to be –an onslaught of thoughts, news and other updates. Such active Twitter accounts aim at casting the net wide, frequently sharing news stories, blog posts and any mention of the campaign.

This strategy is usually reserved for more developed candidates, such as Joe Swan (@SwanforMayor), Matt Brown (@Matt_Brown_) and Arnon Kaplansky (@ArnonKaplansky). All three presented a frequent stream information, with the exception of Kaplansky who seemed to drop off the social media map recently.

Having the most thorough accounts can legitimize a campaign, but constant updates can get tedious. Followers interested in keeping up with a number of campaigns may not appreciate their feed swamped with municipal promotions.

What’s A Twitter: Leaving social media behind Social media platforms like Twitter may seem like the best way to engage a community largely online, but not every candidate created an account for the race.

Preferring to rely on more traditional modes of campaigning, such as lawn signs and interviews, some of the mayor hopefuls decided not to tweet this election season.

This includes Marie Miszczak and Jim Kogelheide. Both have websites, but little back-and-forth dialogue is attempted. As for candidate Donna Kelly, she seems to have created a Twitter account (@VoteDonnaKelley), but as of Thursday night not a single tweet has been made.

Not having a Twitter campaigning account may be a way to focus resources on other strategies, which is a good plan, but with so many other voices in the arena there’s a good chance those without a little blue bird will be left in the nest.

8 •

thegazette • election • Friday, October 24, 2014

>> Ward 6 Candidates

Alasdair Beaton

Beaton’s platform rests on his belief in civic engagement, civil dialogue at city council and making London a safe and enjoyable city for everyone. In order to improve London, Beaton will support neighbourhoods through effective interaction between citizens and the municipal government and enforce existing by-laws. He will support businesses by creating a supportive environment, making it easier to start new businesses and encourage locally owned growth of businesses. Finally, he will revitalize public spaces, including making a pedestrian-friendly core with opportune parking.

Phil Squire

Squire’s platform contains six key points. For starters, he wants to improve accessibility to Ward 6 residents, including with regular town hall meetings. Squire wants to revive the London Transit system he calls out-dated and inefficient, along with restoring faith in City Hall through cooperative approaches, such as the “Moving People Smartly” transit strategy he helped draft. Additionally, he wants responsible, sustainable housing and neighbourhood development – a cause close to his heart since being a board member of Habitat for Humanity. Squire wants to support and keep local schools open, something he calls an epidemic through Ward 6. Finally, he aims to market London to entrepreneurs and businesses, creating growth and jobs.

Marie Blosh

Blosh’s platform stretches across a variety of issues. One of major concern to Blosh is student housing and residential planning. She maintains that London can be safe and attractive with appropriate housing and policies that address community needs. Blosh calls for value of tax dollars, stating that London residents should be provided high quality services and benefits for all age groups. Additionally, she wants planned growth in the city, historic buildings integrated with urban landscape development plans and animal welfare.

Amir Farahi

Farahi’s platform revolves around building London’s identity.

He plans on doing so through making the city functional, attractive and connected. Some highlights include a transit plan that would have the buses run until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Additionally, he wants city hall to be accessible with plain language documents and open-data. Farahi wants to bridge gaps and unite the community, such as the relationship between students and their near-campus neighbours.

Mike Bloxam

Bloxam’s platform rests on three pillars: integrity, prosperity and sustainability.

Integrity — He maintains that Londoners have lost faith in city officials and aims to be open, accountable and accessible, including hiring an integrity commissioner.

Prosperity — Bloxam wants to encourage economic growth through such avenues as research and innovation, business and workers, arts and culture and mobility. Highlights include improving the city’s collaboration with Western and Fanshawe.

Sustainability — Bloxam strive for decisions to equally take into account economic, community and environmental issues.

Cynthia Etheridge

Etheridge’s platform focuses on six points · Ensure safe municipal water by removing fluoride · Improve and maintain infrastructure, including transportation, communication systems, power plants and schools · Foster healthy balance of growth and development while preserving our natural resources · Creating a budget with the view to retiring debt · Fight for the right of the people to be heard and participate fully in decision making · Take responsibility for the failures of past councils and fix what they broke

School board trustees want your vote too This Monday students have the opportunity to vote for London’s next mayor and for their ward’s next councilor.

But an often-overlooked candidate students can also cast a ballot for is their school board trustee.

The school board trustee represents their constituency’s interest on publicly funded school boards.

“A trustee’s role is to maintain a focus on student achievement and well-being and to participate in making decisions that benefit the entire board district while representing the interests of his or her constituents,” the 2014 Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections website states.

There are four types of school boards in Ontario: English language public school board, English language separate school boards (Catholic boards), French language public school board and French language separate school board.

Most students will be voting for their representative on the English language public school board, because one needs to be a Roman Catholic or a French-language rights holder to vote for the others.

London has a total of 12 school board trustee seats up for grabs this election.

Ward 6, where most students live,

will be electing two of the five registered candidates.

Matthew Reid and Peter Jaffe, the incumbent trustees, are running for re-election this fall.

Reid is a Western alumnus who went on to receive his law degree for the University of Ottawa.

Jaffe has been on London’s board of education since 1980.

The challengers are Michael Dawthorne, Darlene Snyders and Eric Southern.

Dawthorne is parent to a special needs child, and is campaigning to mitigate barriers parents of special needs children experience in the education system.

Snyders has been active on various parent committees and has two children who have progressed through the TVDSB. Southern has worked at the hospitals in London for the past 12 years and he has been a member of the LTC for the past four. Southern has a 4-year old son and hopes for a high quality educated population. Since most students don’t have children attending public school at home, they sometimes feel disinclined to vote for a candidate.

But school board trustees craft their own budget, and this budget has an impact on the rest of the municipality.

Matthew Reid

Darlene Snyders

Michael Dawthorne Peter Jaffe

Eric Southern

•9

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

Cool costumes not just for Halloween

Megan Devlin • GAZETTE

Like sex ed but just the tips “Dr. Carlen” talks sex, toys and consent Megan Devlin ONLINE EDITOR @MegAtGazette

Courtesy of Joshua Docterell

Conrad Floryan ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR @ConradAtGazette

Cosplay, short for costume play, is a performance art in which participants dress up as a character from anime, video games, comic books or other media. Cosplay has permeated pop culture over the last two decades and it has developed a prominent community in London. This past Sunday Forest City Comicon featured cosplay at Centennial Hall — with exceptional turnout.

“The event exceeded our expectations in every conceivable way, whether it was the quality of displays and the quality of the vendors that were there, or the number and quality of the costumes of the cosplayers,” enthused organizing committee member John Houghton.

Attendance numbered 2,300 fans, more than double what organizers had projected. The remarkable success is partly explained by the lack of conventions close to London featuring cosplaying.

Usually enthusiasts have to drive to Toronto, Windsor and beyond to find noteworthy conventions.

“There hasn’t been anything in London before to that size, that scale, that scope of using all three floors of Centennial Hall to provide that nerdy geek culture environment,” explained Emmanuel Guerrero, founder of the Forest City Anime and Culture Club and organizing committee member.

Forest City Anime and Culture Club is a testament to the booming London cosplaying scene. The society just turned a year old and it already has more than 400 members.

“We have at least five or six comic book stores I can name off the top of my head. London’s got a lot of geeks that want to do their thing,” said Stephen Donovan, who performed as Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII at Comicon.

Forest City Comicon ran a cosplaying competition in a series of categories based on age and

quality of construction. The novice category featured popular characters in attractive costumes rated by audience applause. The advanced grouping featured jaw-dropping costumes that stood up to the depicted characters under close scrutiny. There was even a category for babies.

“The authenticity that has been brought to these costumes in nothing short of amazing,” said Houghton.

A fetching outfit, however, is only one element of a great cosplay performance. Donovan believed confidence is essential and performers with charming personalities can easily compensate for mediocre costumes.

“You’ll have people who are normally very shy and reserved but as soon as they put on the costumes it’s like an alter-ego, like a different person,” explained Donovan.

Guerrero believed many cosplayers are drawn to the art form because they’re shy and having the opportunity to dress up as a character with more courage offers them the nudge to interact with others and express themselves. Some enthusiasts just enjoy the challenge of representing an otherworldly character since many of the costumes are elaborate and a refreshing contrast to quotidian garb.

Cosplayers are primarily united be a shared enthusiasm, no matter what characters they are portraying.

“When they get to express something they love with people who appreciate what they do, I think it ignites something in them,” Guerrero said.

Although cosplay has been derided as a nerdy activity, it has a wide appeal to all demographics and it now stands at the forefront of the mainstream. There are several reality shows that spotlight the culture, such as Heroes of Cosplay.

“There’s just a general rise of public awareness, acceptance and appreciation. That whole rise is causing the fandom of cosplay to explode,” concluded Guerrero.

Dr. Carlen Costa came to Western on Tuesday for her Sex-U: The Sex Show, a 90-minute presentation featuring sex toys, lube and condoms. The sexologist is a Western alumna, and she reminisced about her time at Western with references to Saugeen stoplight parties and nights out at Jim Bob Ray’s throughout the show.

“I love being a sexologist because I get to talk about the one thing that everyone is scared to talk about — sex!” Costa said after the show.

The presentation explored sexuality in a playful way, but also spent significant time going over safety basics such as consent and proper condom use. She started by outlining the nine different types of female orgasm. According to Costa, it takes the average woman four minutes to climax on her own, but usually 10–20 minutes to climax via

penetrative sex. Men, on the other hand, generally take 4–8 minutes either way.

Costa’s show was punctuated by games with participants from the audience. One asked students to put on a condom as fast as they could blindfolded — the winner received a sex-themed toy. Attendees received free sex goodies just for showing up, and bigger prizes were up for grabs by audience participation either on Twitter or in-person.

While Costa incorporated audience tweets into her presentation, she also talked about the negative impact mobile phones and social media are having on our relationships. Apparently, daily Twitter users are more likely to masturbate daily and they are also more likely to have short relationships. She says constantly checking social media reduces our attention span when it comes to our partners and friends.

“You might have a great selfie but you won’t have any friends to like

that shit,” Costa joked.

The condom and dental dam presentation felt a little too much like high-school sex education class but Costa did have some more obscure safety tips. When it comes anal play, she says, remember to use toys that have a handle or flared ending because, “they will get lost.”

Another seldom-taught tip is that latex male condoms wear out after 20 minutes of penetrative sex.

Along with presentations, Costa also works in private practice counselling both individuals and couples.

She says Sue Johanson of Sex with Sue and Tracey Cox in the United Kingdom were her inspiration for entering the field.

“They were diverse women who totally spoke their mind. That was the woman I wanted to be,” Costa said.

Dr. Carlen Costa will be holding another Sex U show, previously known as TLC: Toys Lube and Condoms, at Saugeen-Maitland hall on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

More than just veggies Jennafer Freeman ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR @JennaAtGazette

For Western students who enjoy diving into a big, greasy cheeseburger every once and a while, it may be difficult to understand the appeal of veganism. For all those who picture vegans as strictly tofu-eating animal-lovers, attending VegFest is a great opportunity to learn more about veganism.

This Saturday, VegFest will be coming to London for the first time.

The London community will have the opportunity to sample vegan foods, participate in activities and ultimately learn what it means to be vegan.

Krista Kankula is the creator of VegFest, as well as the co-creator of a local meet-up group called VegUp London. After becoming vegan herself, Kankula attended different VegFests in Toronto and Niagara and became inspired.

“It was just a really cool experience that I wanted to bring to London,” she said.

Several vendors will be attending VegFest, all of which come from community groups with varying objectives. While some are focused on the environment, others are focused on animal advocacy and compassion.

Although all Londoners likely won’t leave VegFest as converted diehard vegans, Kankula explained that providing this kind of event will help change and prevent misconceptions about what it means to be vegan and what vegan food is.

“Putting on an event where people can sample the food, hear from speakers and just really

Courtesy of Margaret Coons

experience it, gives them a different perspective,” said Kankula.

Each person is likely to get something different out of VegFest.

Someone might attend VegFest and learn that a first step for them is incorporating more vegetables into their diet and figuring out where their food comes from.

“It might then evolve from there,” Kankula said. “So I think VegFest is a really great stepping stone who may be curious.”

In addition to the many venders at the festival, adults and kids can take part in drop-in yoga, and a cooking demo. Vegfest will also feature a great line up of speakers including Marty the Health Guy, two bloggers from the popular food blog, Hot for Food, and Jo-an MacArthur, an award winning photojournalist.

Kankula explained that she is most looking forward to seeing the community come out, especially those people who aren’t necessarily

vegetarian or vegan but are curious about eating healthier and helping animals and the environment.

“I’m just really excited to see how the community embraces it,” she said.

Kankula believes that VegFest is a great opportunity for students looking to eat healthier and more plant based, they will have the opportunity to see the different food options that are available and get some ideas of how to incorporate those foods into their diet “It’s free so it fits great into a student budget,” Kankula added.

“Students can participate in the yoga, listen to the speakers and enjoy the festival — it’s something different to experience.”

VegFest will be taking place at the Canada Building in the Western Fair District. Admission is free and the festival will be beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 6 p.m.

10 •

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

opinions

I would caution all of us or I would remind all of us that any candidate that we support, they are going to be flawed.

• J. C. Watts

Fringe candidates deserve a voice too Seven Minutes in Kevin Kevin Hurren NEWS EDITOR-AT-LARGE @KevinAtGazette

Paul Cheng is a risky but rewarding bet This Monday, Londoners will vote for the next mayor of London. After Joe Fontana’s turbulent tenure as mayor, Londoners are looking for improvements in our city’s next leader and the council.

We are looking for a softer approach than what we’ve seen the past four years. Transparency and a willingness to work with city stakeholders are seen as necessary requisites for our next mayor.

A focus on economic stimulation is also important — residents of London, particularly students, need more jobs, and higher quality jobs, than are currently available.

Most importantly, though, London is at a crossroads. This city is desperately in need of a direction.

The way forward is through definitive leadership. A mayor is needed who can swiftly execute a collective vision that will move London forward.

There are two clear frontrunners that have emerged during this election — first-term councillor Matt Brown and business executive Paul Cheng.

Each offers their own strengths and weaknesses but whose strengths eclipse the other’s?

Brown’s positivity is unwavering and his charisma certainly could take control of a room. He’s gained a reputation for his willingness to find consensus, work with others and overall pleasantness.

Brown would usher in a new era of transparency at city hall. His term as a councillor gives him a degree of legitimacy and further strengthens his aptitude as a community builder.

Conversely, Cheng is not as charismatic and lacks Brown’s energy. Still, his business background is very appealing — particularly given the recent trend that has seen companies flee from London.

Indeed, Cheng is not a politician but rather a businessperson who has found success at the negotiation table — something that is important given the budgetary constraints of the provincial government. He’s a political outsider who could breathe fresh air into the city.

While noting that Brown would make a good mayor, The Gazette is endorsing Paul Cheng.

It’s seldom that voters take a risk when marking

thegazette

Volume 108, Issue 30 www.westerngazette.ca

Iain Boekhoff Editor-In-Chief Brent Holmes Deputy Editor Richard Raycraft Managing Editor

Contact: www.westerngazette.ca University Community Centre Rm. 263 The University of Western Ontario London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial Offices: (519) 661-3580 Advertising Dept.: (519) 661-3579

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their ballots but Cheng would be a calculated risk that could pay off for Londoners. At worst, we’ll have four years of someone who looks to tackle the bureaucratic red tape at city hall unsuccessfully. At best, we’ll see the city prosper under a businessperson who ushers corporations big and small back to London, bringing jobs with them.

Furthermore, Cheng would work with Western and Fanshawe in creating more job opportunities for graduates. He also wants the city government to be more proactive in engaging with the provincial government about education. This is not only good for students, but the city as well.

Cheng’s mindset is one of spending but also accounting for that spending. He wants the city to move in a new direction, but he knows that any new investments need to be paid for somehow. It’s this financial prudence that also makes Cheng a strong candidate.

Adding to the appeal is Cheng’s seemingly simplistic, yet commonsense approach. For example, if London’s unemployment rate rises above the provincial rate at any point during a calendar year of his tenure, Cheng has committed to slashing his annual salary in half. While showy, it accomplishes the point that makes Cheng so accessible to many — he’s willing to get serious about tackling London’s waning economic circumstances.

Cheng is rough around the edges and is not a perfect candidate by any means. Among other concerns, protesting the varied oversight of rental properties in the city by not paying his license fees is undoubtedly questionable. That said, no candidate for mayor will be perfect.

London needs to be revitalized; we need to discover what our city’s spirit is. Our editorial board concluded that Cheng would be a fresh voice leading our city. His business background would serve as an incredible asset when looking to lure companies back to our city. Overall, he’s a departure from politics as usual and perhaps that’s what London could use.

• Gazette Editorial Board

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.”

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.

For the past two weeks, I’ve been publishing mayoral candidate profiles in The Gazette to prepare for municipal elections.

Lacking analysis or critical engagement, these profiles were just meant to raise awareness about who is vying for the role of mayor. In a way, they acted as municipal elections playing cards — some quick stats on who the candidate is, what the platform represents and how to follow the campaign.

Though I thought it was important to share this kind of information, not every media outlet shared my perspective.

While writing the profiles, it became increasingly difficult to find information on all thirteen of the candidates. While publications like the London Free Press and Metro had a diverse range of articles revolving around election frontrunners like Matt Brown, Paul Cheng and Joe Swan, little reference to any other candidate was ever made.

From an outsider perspective, it would appear that London only has three, maybe four, candidates for mayor.

I’m not necessarily surprised at the lack of coverage for the other mayor hopefuls. Rather, I’m disappointed.

I understand that these other candidates are running “fringe” campaigns.

With little experience, small budgets and issue-specific platform points, these campaigns are often framed as unrealistic.

But does that mean they don’t deserve a voice? After all, there’s a reason these individuals are running in the first place — they have a unique perspective to

Dear Life Your anonymous letters to life

Dear Life, For once, I became informed on the London poltical race.

Candidates shouldn’t try to hide which party they’re in, it really ticks off the voter.

Dear Life, I know PhD students who have never stepped foot on Western campus, how sad.

Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Maja Anjoli-Bilic

share with London.

Whether it’s dissatisfaction with the city’s environmental practices, frustration over road infrastructure or a desire for more accurate representation on council, these candidates have something to say about the way our city is being run. Many of these individuals even acknowledge they won’t win, but are passionate about a cause.

They aren’t able to share these perspectives, however, if media outlets refuse to give them an audience.

I’m not advocating for complete equity in elections. It would be ludicrous, for instance, if every single candidate had to answer every question in a debate. The nature of campaigning means that there will always be frontrunners.

When it comes to media, however, it’s often the fringe candidates that need the most help. Without large funds or donor support, fringe candidates are left to raise awareness through social media in place of print ads, signage and TV commercials.

Social media platforms, though, have limited reach — informing only those who already follow the candidate.

So what’s the consequence of media outlets not even tangentially covering fringe issues? Well, it further delegitimizes these concerns — framing a vote for a fringe candidate as a “wasted vote.”

I urge voters to resist falling into this rhetoric. Voting for a candidate with no chance of winning may seem like a waste, but it’s not. It’s a declaration of support for a certain idea or outlook.

Then, when the numbers are released, those candidates will know people out there believed in them. Such reinforcement can often encourage fringe candidates to advocate beyond elections, gaining the experience they lacked and potentially becoming a leader in the community.

So when voting polls open on October 27, don’t be afraid to support a candidate that won’t win. Your one vote gives them power.

Diana Watson

Gazette Staff 2014-2015 Christine Bonk, Sarah Botelho, Tabitha Chan, Jonathan Dunn, Spencer Fairweather, Conrad Floryan, Sam Frankel, Jennafer Freeman, Janice Fung, Stephanie Grella, Dorothy Kessler, Kevin Heslop, Jenny Jay, Nathan Kanter, Katie Lear, Emory Liu, Haida Liu, Winnie Lu, Cheryl Madliger, Sara Mai Chitty, Soheil Milani, Mackenzie Morrison, Robert Nanni Jr., Amy O’Kruk, Vidhant Pal, Lily Robinson, Morgann Sampson, Alex Seger, Tiffany Shepherd, Tristan Wu, Olivia Zollino

Dear Life, Wore sweat pants and had a stop in Bridgeport today.

SSC 2050 just ruined my next four years.

Dear Life, I give people previously used gift cards. $1.16 is better than nothing.

Dear Life, I flew a flag once. wgaz.ca/dearlife

News Amy O’Kruk Hamza Tariq Katie Lear Olivia Zollino

Sports Bradley Metlin Nathan Kanter Robert Nanni Jr.

News-at-large Kevin Hurren

Photography Kelly Samuel Taylor Lasota Winnie Lu

Opinions Nusaiba Al-Azem Arts & Life Conrad Floryan Jennafer Freeman Jenny Jay

Online Megan Devlin

Graphics Jennifer Feldman Illustrations Christopher Miszczak Graphics/Video Mike Laine

• Please recycle this newspaper •

• 11

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

sports

gameday The Mustangs men’s hockey team will face off against Queen’s on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Kingston. With the season beginning quite recently, both teams hope to break away into the top of OUA standings.

Rundown >> It’s been a rough week for the Western Mustang’s football team as they continue to drop down the CIS Top 10 list, this week finishing at #6 • At the beginning of the season, they were ranked first and have slowly fallen ever since.

Mustangs fight for home field advantage Final match this Saturday against Windsor has big implications Richard Raycraft MANAGING EDITOR @RichAtGazette

There will be a lot of pressure on the Western Mustangs when they step onto the field at TD Stadium this Saturday.

Following a crushing 49–46 loss to the Guelph Gryphons this past Saturday, which saw them lose a thrilling match by a last-minute field goal, the Mustangs blew their chance to secure a bye for the first round of the playoffs. Now, at a record of 5–2, the team that was widely expected to top the Ontario University Athletics division will have to prove that they can still beat the best when they face off against the Lancers, a team with an identical record.

Both teams are coming off close loses, as the Lancers fell to the Carleton Ravens 21–18 this past Saturday.

The match will determine who will get home field advantage heading into the OUA playoffs, which will also be between Windsor and Western. The game has big implications, as the Mustangs will definitely want to play in front of a sympathetic crowd on home turf in their first playoff match.

Despite being upset in a match they were expected to win, the

Andrei Calinescu • GAZETTE

Mustangs remain one of Canada’s top teams. Ranked sixth in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the ‘Stangs have multiple options on offence, including quarterback Will Finch.

Despite bouts of inconsistency so far this year, Finch remains formidable having thrown 1,632 yards on the season with 13 touchdowns

Mustangs win

through the air and five rushing.

The Lancers will also have to stonewall a threatening Mustangs rushing game. While Finch can be threatening from the ground, the main sources of rushing offence will be running backs Garret Sanvido and Yannick Harou, who have rushed for 584 and 471 yards this

season, respectively.

It will be a difficult path to victory, however, as the Lancers are also strong offensively. Following the Guelph contest, which saw them picked apart by quarterback Jazz Lindsey, ‘Stangs will once again face a top-tier slinger in Austin Kennedy.

The fifth-year veteran has passed for

1,958 yards so far this season, averaging 280 yards per game — good for fourth in the OUA. He’ll look to link up with Evan Pszczonak, the Lancers top receiver.

Pszczonak is seventh in the CIS in receiving yards with 628.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. this Saturday at TD Stadium.

in final minutes

File Photo

Suhaib Al-Azem GAZETTE STAFF @SportsAtGazette

On Wednesday, the Mustangs men’s soccer team prevailed over the Windsor Lancers in the Ontario University Athletics first round playoff game. When the Lancers stepped onto Mustang Field, it may have looked similar to last year’s West Division first round game, but the end result was the exact opposite.

With a spot in the OUA quarter-finals on the line, both teams seemed hesitant to play aggressively.

At the beginning of the first half, there was a lack of action and no goals were scored by the end of the half.

Although hesitant, the Mustangs were not afraid to be the first to shoot on net. Western had the only three shots of the half; two of which were saved and the other flew wide.

It was during the second half that the game really began to pick up speed. In the first 10 minutes of the period, there were three shots on net from Western and two corner kicks for Western and this increase of pressure on the Lancers from Western led to multiple substitutions and an offside. Nonetheless, the score refused to change as these evenly matched teams faced off. The game was looking more and more like a tie until the last minutes of additional time when Western

defenceman Alex Lewis scored with a header off of a corner. The Mustangs then held on for the last few minutes of time to defeat the Lancers and move into their first quarter–final game since 2012.

During the entirety of the game, the Lancers couldn’t get a single shot in. Western on the other hand had a modest total of five shots on net and eight shots in total.

By virtue of the win, the Western Mustangs have obtained a place in the OUA quarter-finals and will play against the McMaster Marauders in Hamilton this Sunday. The last time these two teams met at Mustang Field, they played to a 1–1 draw.

Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Jennifer Feldman • GAZETTE

12 •

thegazette • Friday, October 24, 2014

>> SPORTS BRIEFS

Men’s golf

The Mustang men’s golf team placed fourth this Tuesday in the Ontario University Athletics Championship at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club.

Overall, the Mustangs finished at a score of plus-27, four strokes behind the Brock Badgers’ score of plus-23.

The Waterloo Warriors came first in the championship with two-day scores of plus-293 and plus-298, making them the only team to break plus-300 on both days. This score was four strokes ahead of the Ottawa GeeGees’ plus-595, who were four strokes ahead of the Brock Badgers’ plus-599.

Concerning individual players, Mustang Harris Bundy impressed the field with a tie for second place, scoring plus-two overall, and earning the title of First-Team All-Star. Bundy tied with Brock’s Brett Mitchell and Toronto’s Ryan Tsang for this spot, finishing plus-146 overall. However, Western’s high performance ended there, as there were no players to receive Second Team All-Stars.

With the Mustangs being twotime consecutive championships, their fourth-place finish was a shock to the field. From the very first round, the Warriors grabbed a four-stroke lead and stuck with it for the remainder of the game.

Despite the Mustangs expectation to defend their previous title, it was the Warriors whose playing brought home the gold – and the individual title of double gold, in the case of Warrior Gajan Sivabalasingham.

This fourth place finish qualifies the Western Mustangs for the Canadian University/College Championships, which will be held in spring 2014.

Women’s golf

The Mustang women’s golf team took bronze this Tuesday in the Ontario University Athletics Championship at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club.

As a team, the Mustangs finished at a score of plus-53, a mere one shot behind the Waterloo Warriors’ score of plus-52 in three rounds.

However, neither was any match to the Toronto Varsity Blues, who came first overall for the women.

Toronto shot a two-day total of plus-461, rising above Waterloo by a whole 23 strokes. Although Western trailed behind by one stroke, they could not catch up to their opponents.

Concerning individual players, Mustang Jesse Mercer tied with Toronto’s Ana Peric for second place with a three-round total of plus-8.

This score earned Mercer the title of OUA First-Team All-Star, and was three strokes short of Toronto’s firstplace Sarah Dunning.

Grabbing the title of Second Team All-Star and earning All-Star honours was Sara Holland, finishing in a tie for ninth overall with a score of plus-21.

The Varsity Blues claimed their third straight OUA golf title, beating the Warriors and the Mustangs in that order for the second year in a row.

This third place finish allows the Western Mustangs to qualify for the Canadian University/College Championships, held this upcoming spring.

• Robert Nanni

Class_3x105_141024_GZ 10/23/14 3:47 PM Page 1

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

thegazette EMPLOYMENT

classifieds

COACHES/INSTRUCTORS NEEDED FOR hockey and Learn To Skate programs. Email resume to: universityskate@rogers.com or call 519-645-1136. Winter session (October to March).

VOLUNTEERS WANTED ROMANTIC COUPLES NEEDED for a 1.5-hour study on perceptions of romantic relationships. Partners will receive $15.00 each ($30.00 per couple) for participating. If interested, email uwocouples@gmail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jennifer Feldman • GAZETTE

STARTS AT

FREE PARKI N G

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

For solution, turn to page 3

ST. LUKE’S CHURCH, 1204 Richmond at Bernard (just north of the University Gates), will be holding their annual Ham and Scalloped Potato Supper plus dessert and beverage on Friday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 7pm. Cost: adults $12, children 6-12 $6, children under 6 free.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• • • •

Makeup Demonstrations Daily Decorations • Wigs Masks • Make-up Props • Accessories

Extended Hours: Effective Oct. 17th Mon. - Fri. 9 - 9; Sat. 9 - 5:30; Sun. 12 - 5 1140 DUNDAS STREET

www.mccullochs.on.ca

519-659-3787

111014

London’s LARGEST selection of costumes for sale or rent

Across from Kelloggs

8.5x11 B&W prints only 4¢/page for all of October!

• ROOM 265, UCC • CREATIVESERVICES-USC.CA