It begins just above Masonville Place and stretches itself along Richmond Street, loosening its grip at the corner of Dundas. Its wide embrace hugs Western Road and wraps itself around Waterloo Street, tightly clasping its hold. It hovers above its limitations and what cascades down the outer bounds is a shield, protecting all that is nestled inside its expansive territory. It is the Western bubble. It is the net in which students often get caught. It is the island which we dare not swim away from. It is, after all, what makes us feel at home here in London. “Students often feel like there is a great effort to make students feel like they are a part of Western,” Alysha Li, vice-president university affairs for the University Students’ Council, explains. “But, currently, I don’t think there’s that strong connection for students to their city. Students often feel like they’re a Western student first, and a citizen of London second.” Li rightly points out that while students have no qualms with donning the Western Mustang on their chest, it’s rare you see students donning the Forest City logo proudly. Naturally, though, London would begin to grow on students, right? Wrong. The USC states 86 per cent of graduates leave London after graduation and pursue careers elsewhere. This, Li suggests, is an issue the USC wants to address. “We have to get to the bottom of why students are leaving, and I think retention rates can indicate whether students enjoyed their time here in London while they were at Western,” Li explains. “They can indicate that quality of life could have been improved while [students] were at Western.” Peter Mokrycke, a recent HBA graduate, didn’t con-
sider staying in London after graduation. “London just doesn’t seem like a place that would be appealing for a long-term career,” he says. “Especially as a business student, you see the brands and the companies you’d want to work for around, but they don’t seem to have the same presence that they do in other cities, like Toronto.” “If I were to look for something entry-level to start a career, even as a bridge to something else, London seems distant and remote from the GTA where a lot of business students, like me, want to be—at least eventually,” he continues. Mokrycke is likely not alone in his sentiments. And while it’s hard to deny the tune is catchy, it’s much harder to confirm London is the ‘City of Opportunity’. However, some local groups are looking to change that perception. Sean Quiqley is the executive director of Emerging Leaders, an incorporated non-profit organization that focuses on the retention, development and engagement of students to create a better London community. “Student retention here in London, and the area, would be a fantastic thing, and I’m all for that,” he says. “It’s actually critical to how this city grows, and how we grow business and new business opportunities in the city.” However, he suggests London isn’t perceived as a progressive city—one that has a youthful culture. “The only way we’re going to break that is not by shaking our fingers at students—which we should never do—but by saying, ‘We need you. Your involvement in our city while you’re here […] is critical to our city’s success,’” he says. >> see 86% pg.3
Mike Laine Gazette
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
Caught on Camera
Crossword By Eugene Sheffer Cameron Wilson GAZETTE
COUCH SURFING. Members of AEPi Lambda Omega Chapter at Western braved Concrete Beach for 36 hours straight in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
News Briefs
Junking junk food On October 23, the Ontario Medical Association announced a campaign that will urge the government to tax junk food and add warning labels on its packaging to combat obesity. The campaign urges the implementation of several provincial policies, including a decreased tax on healthier options, placing graphic warning labels on the packaging of foods that have low nutritional value and restricting the marketing of junk food to children. The suggested policies have produced some skepticism on whether these strategies can change the behaviours of Ontarians. “I’m not sure if it’ll actually change behaviour,” Anita Cramp, a health sciences professor at West-
ern, said. “Obviously, we hope there will be some impact on behaviour, but that is something that will need to be further researched and studied.” The OMA has compared these policies to the increased tax and graphic images on cigarette boxes that have deterred smokers from purchasing cigarettes, in hopes of using similar strategies to deter customers from buying junk food. Although they both provide a source of education and awareness of the health repercussions of those who eat junk food, Cramp said these two behaviours cannot be compared. “You’re using the same strategy to target two very different behaviours,” she said. “To say that it’s been effective with smoking doesn’t mean it’s going to be effective with treating the obesity epi-
CORRECTION NOTICE Solution to puzzle on page 8
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demic. I don’t know if it’s actually comparable.” —Jacqueline Ting
MLHU fights the flu The Middlesex-London Health Unit wants to remind residents the best way to protect themselves, and those around them, from getting the flu is to get the free annual flu shot. Tuesday was the first of 14 community flu shot clinics being performed by the MLHU. Flu clinics will be held in London, Lucan, Strathroy, Ailsa Craig, Dorchester and Glencoe. “This year, it’s easier than ever to get your flu shot. Whether it’s at one of our clinics, a local pharmacy, doctor’s office or workplace, the most important thing is to get vaccinated against influenza,” Marlene Price, manager of vaccine preventable diseases at the MLHU, said. Even though only one in three Ontario residents receive the flu shot, Price says it’s important for everyone, including students, to get vaccinated. “When you get the flu shot, you’re also protecting those around you, because if you don’t get sick, you can’t infect others,” Price added. This year’s vaccine protects people from the three strains identified by the World Health Organization as the most likely to cause seasonal infections. The Health Unit’s clinics will continue until November 29, and are offered Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, no clinics will be located on Western’s campus. If students wish to get a flu shot on campus, they should make an appointment with Student Health Services, which is holding its own flu clinic over the next month. —Iain Boekhoff
Follow us on Twitter! @uwogazette
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.
Feeling a little under the weather? Look in your Westernizer in the London Guide for a list of doctors, pharmacies, and walk-in clinics who are there to help you feel better.
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
86 per cent of students leave London post-grad >> continued from pg.1
But it’s a two-way street, he says, and it’s the responsibility of students to heighten their curiosity and break through the campus bubble. It’s obvious why London would encourage students to settle down locally—a growing, young workforce is never a bad thing. Thus, the USC has taken particular interest in student retention this year. In November, the USC will release a survey asking students what they’d like to see from London. Whether it’s improved transportation, more job prospects or improved arts and culture, Li believes feedback from students may lead to higher student retention. “If students enjoy their experience while they’re at Western, there’s a higher possibility that they’ll stay after university, or consider coming back to London in the future to look for jobs and settle down,” she says. However, retention, too, should be looked at with a grain of salt. Many students come to Western from the GTA, other provinces
or even other countries. Leaving London may simply be a personal choice. Robert Collins, director of workforce development at the London Economic Development Corporation, explains while increasing retention and meeting current and future labour needs is a goal, in reality, many students have existing ties elsewhere.
There’s basically nothing outside of the bubble that I associate with. — Peter Mokrycke
A recent Ivey graduate
“We believe that local employers will benefit from the energy and ideas of students, and we would like some to stay,” he says. “But we have to be realistic as well—many students are attracted to other areas, or their families or
other pressures.” Pat Whelan, student senator-atlarge, agrees student retention may not be the most appropriate metric to determine whether students were satisfied with their Western experience. “The main goal of the USC should be constantly thinking about student experience while they’re still a student. The USC can’t be taking care of you for the rest of your life—people leave cities for different reasons,” he says. Mokrycke is currently interviewing for several jobs in Toronto. London didn’t make a lasting impression on him. “There’s basically nothing outside of the bubble that I associate with,” he says. It’s unrealistic for the city to believe every student is going to stay here. Realistically, Quigley explains, even a five or 10 per cent increase in retention would be acceptable. But more than that, it’s changing the perception of London. “[It’s about] creating in students’ minds that London is an outstanding place […] to be.”
Dominance of English, French dwindling across the nation
Cameron Wilson Gazette
Cam Smith News Editor Tongues are wagging after a recent census revealed a decline in the dominance of Canada’s official languages. This is, in large part, due to an influx of immigrant languages. Among them is Tagalog—the fastest growing language with a 64 per cent increase since 2006, according to Statistics Canada. “In terms of international languages, we’ve seen quite a growth,” Jeff Tennant, associate professor in the department of French studies at Western, explained. “Immigration seems to be a main factor, but we have to look at English and French separately—they’re both quite entrenched.” While both English and French have seen a decline in their respective proportion of speakers, French has seen the greatest decline across Canada.
“French, outside Quebec, is a continuing story of gradual decline—decline in proportion,” Tennant said. “The actual number of French speakers is increasing, but because the speakers of other languages, including English speakers, are increasing at a greater rate, the overall proportion goes down.” Despite this, Quebec has maintained a largely dominant Francophone community. This is largely due to political efforts to preserve the French language. “The language laws lead to immigrants adopting French as their dominant official language,” Tennant said. “Those laws have been successful attaining the goals they had set.” Though the frequency of immigrant languages is growing rapidly, it appears unlikely they will ever come close to displacing Canada’s official languages. “I am sure that as long as the government and society […] wish
to [maintain the official languages], yes [those languages will remain dominant],” Michiya Kawai, associate professor of international and comparative studies, asserted. Yet, some individuals still fear the influx of immigrant languages will have a negative impact on Canadian culture. “As a fact, it will change Canadian culture, but [that’s] Canadian culture today, which is different from the Canadian culture yesterday,” Kawai said. “Some will see it as positive or negative. Either way, I do not see it as something new and surprising. It’s been like that here.” According to Tennant, the increased variety of languages should be viewed as an entirely positive development. “Other populations speaking other languages contribute a positive contribution to the diversity of Canadian identity,” he explained. “We have to view that linguistic diversity as a positive.”
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
Arts&Life
saywhat? All Hallow’s Eve has become a night of frolic, where children wear costumes and run amok!
—Winifred Sanderson, Hocus Pocus
Allens come home and take to the streets Local band talks about name changes, touring and more Bradley Metlin Contributor Last week, The Allens took their instruments to the streets of Richmond and Dundas and started performing on the corner. While most would assume this kind of busking must be a different experience from performing a show, it’s not, according to lead singer Mack Edwards. “At the base level, it’s kind of the same thing. We’re just trying to create a bright spot in someone’s day and have a good connection with the people on the street,” Edwards says. He adds performing spontaneously helps the band prepare for more traditional settings. The Allens can be described as indie-folk, but play around with a variety of different styles. “There’s definitely a rootsy element and having a guy/girl dynamic with the harmonies kind of gets back to a Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash vibe,” Edwards says. “I think some rockabilly elements came into fruition like that.” The Allens have gone through some changes since their start in high school. The current lineup has been around for about two years, but the name is relatively fresh. Previously known as The Woody Allens, the band changed their name as they refined their sound. “I know it’s cliché, but we said a woody can get you into more trouble than it’s worth,” Edwards explains. “At the same time, we didn’t want to forfeit whatever amount of notoriety we had as The Woody Allens.”
Gazette Tested > Cream Cheese Chocolate Cake Chocolate cake doesn’t have to be the standard, traditional delicacy it usually is. This recipe uses cream cheese icing to make the chocolate base a bit more special. A birthday favourite in my family, but one I welcome you to test yourself—special occasion or not. Cake Ingredients 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar ½ cup cocoa 2 tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt 1 cup oil 1 cup buttermilk 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla
• • • • • • • • • Courtesy of Denise Baker
Since the name change, the band has been busy travelling throughout Canada and performing in a variety of venues, from a small cottage country town called Magnetawan—which was pointed out as a favourite—to bigger cities like Toronto and Montreal, all the while working on their debut album. “I think the timing’s right, everything fell into place and it’s been the best possible scenario,” Edwards says. Their new album was produced by Derek Downham of The Beauties and features Juno Award-winning musician Ron Sexsmith, who has said that it was “a treat to perform alongside such fine voices, and on such a lovely song.” Despite the fact the band released an EP in 2010, there are clear differences in their new album. While their first effort was very doit-yourself, taking only three days to put together, their self-titled full-length is much more profes-
sional, taking 10 to 11 months to put together. The songs created by The Allens all strive to speak to their audiences in some way.
We’re just trying to create a bright spot in someone’s day and have a good connection with the people on the street. — Mack Edwards
Lead singer of The Allens
“The songs we write are about that day to day b.s. that everybody kind of deals with—with relationships and work—and I think that relatable subject matter is just trying to create that connection,” Edwards says. While most popular music nowadays seems to focus on love
and the pains of romantic relationships, The Allens is unique in that they have a male and female singing in unison. “I think it definitely lets us show both sides of the coin, right? And have a little more dynamic, and a little more interplay in the narrative of the songs, and musically it’s great to just have that blend.” Now that they’re back in their hometown, Edwards notes, “It’s always a lot of fun to play for people who you know at home.” However, while excited to be back at home, they still enjoy their time on the road. “Going out on the road and trying to win over a new audience is the same kind of thing as opening the guitar case on the street and hoping for the best,” Edward says. The Allens will be playing Aeolian Hall Saturday, October 27. Tickets are $10 for students. Doors Open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Directions 1. Mix ingredients well. 2. Add 1 cup boiling water and mix. 3. Bake at 375 °C for 40-50 minutes. Icing Ingredients ½ butter 2 ½ cups icing sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 8 oz. cream cheese ½ cup cocoa
• • • • •
Directions 1. Combine all ingredients with an electric mixer. 2. Spread evenly over cake once it’s cooled. —Nicole Gibillini
File Photo
Forgettable time travel film doesn’t say much Brent Holmes Arts & Life Editor GGGFF Safety Not Guaranteed Director: Colin Trevorrow Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Basil Harris, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni Safety Not Guaranteed is a cutesy independent film that’s endearing in the blandest most Juno or Up in the Air knockoff way possible. The film is well-written and the characters are likable and funny, but like a cake with too much icing, it’s all sugar with no substance. Kenneth (Mark Duplass) is a grocery store worker who plans to travel back in time—like any possibly insane time traveller, he seeks a companion to travel with him. When a group of journalists gets their hands on the classified ad he puts in the paper, Jeff (Jake Johnson) joins with interns Darius (Aubrey Plaza), fresh-out-of-college with a bad wolf streak, and Arnau (Karan Soni), a quiet foreign exchange student, to write a story about Kenneth. Jeff thinks the story will be a
cakewalk and uses it to provide a cover to hook up with an old fling. However, when Kenneth rejects Jeff, and Darius manages to convince Kenneth to take her on as his companion, Darius eventually discovers his plan to go back in time may be more legitimate than anyone expected. The story is humourous, and the characters are interesting and sweet. Kenneth’s combination of vulnerability with a Dwight Schrute-style seriousness is nice. Darius is a cynical hipster-style narrator who is a good anchor to Kenneth’s bizarre nature. Jeff and Arnau take the backseat in this DeLorean once the plot gets moving. Safety Not Guaranteed smartly avoids most of the paradoxes of time travel—there are no phone boxes, killing machines or predictable paradoxes. It is much more of a character-driven film than a science fiction film. To that end, the film is fairly successful. It is impossible not to feel somehow for Kenneth, Darius, Jeff and Arnau who are all lovable losers, but this also creates the central problem. While Safety Not Guaranteed is
file photo
cute and a genuinely sweet film— that’s all it is. Like a romantic comedy, the characters are all cuddly with their few flaws being presented in such a way as to make them appear more appealing, rather than actual character flaws. Despite these flaws in characterization, the writing is actually quite good. Darius’ conversations with Kenneth get the correct balance between her disbelief of Ken-
neth’s time travel plan with her gradual opening up to him. Writer Derek Connolly is very effective at writing dialogue—however, his characters and themes need a bit of work. As a result of the cuddly characters, there isn’t really anything being said in Safety Not Guaranteed. The characters don’t really seem to grow or progress along any type of arc. The film has the
token kind of ‘love-the-moment’ theme that is superficial, despite its potential to offer a serious examination of this idea through the ideas of time travel. Safety Not Guaranteed is a satisfactory film. It will exterminate any hunger for a sweet and entertaining story, but it doesn’t do anything fantastic with its possibilities—one is liable to forget one even saw it once it’s over.
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
Zedd delivers A plus performance Ryan Hurlbut Opinions Editor
Performance Openers Setlist Crowd Worth the $$
GGGGH GGGGF GGGGF GGFFF GGGHF
The mark of a truly great electrohouse performance is the ability for a DJ to give the crowd something they can’t experience while listening to the music at home, and Zedd, a Russian-born German electronic dance music producer, managed to deliver this flawlessly at London Music Hall Monday night. Interspersed within his sets were samples from artists that varied from Knife Party to Korean rapper PSY. The true crux of Zedd’s mixing showed when he managed to seamlessly blend M83’s “Midnight City” into a heavy electronic set. While the samples were nice, Zedd also had the foresight to sprinkle all of his classic jams throughout the set, and add a little something extra to them to create an environment that fully appeased the crowd.
Logan Ly GAZETTE
ZEDD PLUS MIXING. German DJ Zedd kept the vibrant crowd at London Music Hall energized Monday night with an unforgettable performance.
Zedd controlled the crowd by timing his drops perfectly, and practically making the crowd beg for his most popular song “Spectrum.” Although he didn’t play this song until the finale of the show, he led up to it with a superb mix of tracks by other artists from both the past and present, and let the song play in its entirety to end things off. The openers provided ample
entertainment while the audience waited for Zedd, as Kill Paris cranked out a strong set that was a pleasant surprise, and Alex Metric provided his usual, floor-thumping self to fully gear up the crowd. When a show’s openers use intricate mixing, it usually means you can expect high quality performances the entire night. The crowd may have even been too hyped up, as it was primarily
composed of rude ravers who felt entitled enough to push and elbow their way to the front of the crowd with the vigor of a Spartan warrior. While a few annoying characters are tolerable, the sheer number of them really took away from the five-star potential of the show. While a few people attempted to jump on stage and get intimate with Zedd, they were quickly and easily dispatched by the security
staff, who also kept a good lookout for audience members who may have been too drunk. The stage was constantly backlit by an impressive array of animations that highlighted each of the artists who were performing. Along with this, lights shot out into the audience, just out of the reach of outstretched hands, creating a multicoloured, strobe experience not easily replicated. The crowd was so into the show that any worries of the London Music Hall’s bending floor were quickly erased by the energy in the room, and the fact that a broken floor would be a much bigger problem for the girls who were perched on the shoulders of someone else. Overall, Zedd was able to create an environment where he followed strong openers, and encapsulated the audience with an extended set that lasted well into the early morning—and had the crowd chanting for more. If you happen to like electronic music, and Zedd is playing somewhere near you, he is definitely a ticket you do not want to pass up. As an overall experience, Zedd’s Monday night performance was an A to Zedd.
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Sumedha Arya Arts & Life Editor Western alumni Jamie Q completed a BFA from the Alberta College of Art & Design. After living in Montreal for six years, she came to Western to complete her master of fine arts. Western provided Q with opportunities to improve her skills, and build upon new ideas. “The things I most value are the connections I made, and the kind of progress I made with my work,” says Q, who goes by her first name and last initial. “I feel like I really worked through a lot of ideas, and my work came out much stronger in the end.” Recently, Q created a book titled The Possibilities are Endless. Published by the McIntosh Gallery Curatorial Study Centre at Western, this is Q’s first book produced in collaboration with a publisher. Q describes the book, which is being launched at Forest City Gallery today, as an abstract compilation of images of her artwork.
“It’s mostly painting,” Q elaborates. “There isn’t text. The images are really colourful, and some of them are cartoony because they have a black outline around solid, colourful shapes.” Interestingly, Q didn’t plan the content of her first book well in advance. Instead, she intuitively began creating visions, allowing the end product of her work to be a surprise. “The [images] are all made through a process that is openended. I don’t plan the results of what the images are going to be. I would say the theme of the book is an openended creative process—that’s the common thing that holds the book together.” Q emphasizes the book is accessible to everybody. While artists may be drawn to the book because it is being launched at a gallery, The Possibilities are Endless is not just for artists. “Anybody who is interested is welcome to pick it up,” Q says. Within the London community, Jamie Q is involved with the London Arts Council. Recently, she completed a mural under Wharncliffe Bridge near London Children’s Museum. Q was excited to be able to create a mural near her community garden and her neighbourhood. One of her specific goals while creating this mural was to brighten an area in the community. “I picked really bright colours
like yellow, red and green because the space was dark, concrete and cold before,” Q says. “I intentionally picked colours that would brighten the place up.” Ultimately, Q is pursuing interests that she herself began to develop as a child. “I’ve always been creative,” Q divulges. “I think all kids like art, though. At some point, people think they need to do things that are more practical. After I finished high school, I thought I’d be happiest if I pursued art.” Q is happy with her decision to pursue further education in art— but acknowledges creating artwork is not all fun and games. “I’m really inspired by cartoonist Lynda Barry,” Q says. “She says play always includes anxiety. I think art is like that—it’s not always easy. It takes you on a journey.” Regardless of any challenges she may face, Q says she’s motivated to pursue artwork because she wants her creations to have an effect on the world. Currently, Q is hoping to influence Western students when she teaches Introduction to Print Media in the visual arts department this January. “When you’re in that role of teaching something, it gives you influence on the way that people are developing their ideas and the things that they are passionate about.”
Your Weekly Horoscope
The week of Oct 26 – Nov 1 This horoscope is intended for entertainment purposes only.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 You may have to put a little more effort into your relationship to really reap the rewards. It doesn’t matter if you just met or have been together for years. Amp up your efforts.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 The choices you are making may temporarily sever a few of your relationships. While this may hurt now, there’s a good chance you will mend fences in the long run.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 There is turmoil in your financial sector. But all it takes is some discipline and budgeting and you can be right back on track in no time at all.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 No matter how hard you try, it is not in the stars for you to make a fortune on any get-rich-quick scheme. Focus your energy on different ideas.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 It’s time to get creative. Maybe you are planning a party that can use an interesting theme or thinking ahead to holiday shopping. Think outside of the box.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Although you may be anxious about some presentation you need to make, it is necessary for advancement at your job. It will be over before you know it.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Embrace your childish side and let loose. Sometimes it can feel great to shake off responsibility for the time being and just act like a kid with no worries.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Get together with Leo and develop a plan that will get your finances in order. Until you sit down and view everything in black and white, things will be in flux.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Err on the side of caution this week; otherwise you may see too much money flying out of your wallet. Get into a saving mode instead of a spending one for the time being.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Although work may be giving you headaches, stick with it for the time being because there could be some major changes on the horizon that work to your advantage.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Now is not the time to make any big changes that could rock the boat. Enjoy the solid foundation that you have built for a few more weeks.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Spend the early part of the week really buckling down to get things done and the latter part can be enjoyed any way you want.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER 28 – Joaquin Phoenix, Actor (38) OCTOBER 30 – Matthew Morrison, Actor (34) NOVEMBER 1 – Jenny McCarthy, Author (40)
OCTOBER 29 – Rufus Sewell, Actor (45) OCTOBER 31 – Willow Smith, Singer (12)
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
Opinions
I want to be the very best.
—Ash Ketchum, Pokémon trainer
London not Relating Pokémon to enticing enough life isn’t Farfetch’d for students Odds are that if you’re reading this, you’re a university student here at Western. Odds are also that as soon as you’re done getting your degree in history, science, anthropology or comparative Marxist poetry in late 19th century Venezuela, you’re going to high tail it out of here as quickly as your undergraduate education can take you. It turns out 86 per cent of Western students leave London after graduation. While the most obvious answer to that number may simply be the fact the vast majority of Western students aren’t native Londoners, it’s definitely more complicated than that, and not in any way that makes London look good. London has not fared well in the great recession. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the province, recent graduates are perfectly justified in heading to the big cities in search of greener economic pastures. But this, of course, leads to a problem akin to the chicken and the egg—does almost everyone leave because there are no opportunities, or are there no opportunities because everyone leaves? It’s common knowledge influxes of talent are a major contributor of economic growth, meaning more and better jobs for graduates who might like the Forest City enough to stay. But that can’t be the only reason London is struggling when it comes to retention. Let’s be honest. Outside the Western bubble, large parts of London are, if not necessarily a wasteland, at the very least wasteland-esque. London’s downtown also isn’t pulling its weight, which is admittedly why the city is spending so much time and effort in its ‘revitalization’ campaigns. Our recommendation would be to remove the counter-productive bylaw that maxes out building height—higher buildings mean more development, and hopefully the expansion of the business sector providing more actual careers for those considering staying in London. This obviously wouldn’t be enough to entirely fix the problem, but it would hopefully get the ball rolling and provide more careers for students in London, rather than just jobs. Sure, there are openings at Masonville, but you didn’t blow a zillion dollars on your Ivey degree to spend your life as an assistant manager. So when it comes to keeping graduates around, London needs to learn that they need to go big or else watch as everyone else goes home. —The Gazette Editorial Board
Seven minutes in Kevin Kevin Hurren Arts & Life Editor It’s the holy trinity. The perfect trifecta. The veritable Sophie’s Choice of gamers. It’s the three starters in any Pokémon game. With the recent release of Black 2 and White 2, I spent some time pondering which starter type is ‘the best.’ While factors like the order of gym leaders will affect the performance of the starter you pick, each of the fire, water and grass Pokémon have a few trends that carry throughout all the installations. For instance, a fire starter will blast trainers through the early stages of any game. Though the pesky bug and grass Pokémon infesting the tall grass will try to slow your quest, your new fiery companion will clear the path and set fire to the plains. It also doesn’t hurt that most fire starters have epic evolutions, and by the end of the game you could have quite the warrior on your hands. The water starter, though dependable, offers a slower start. Since the most threatening attack of a weaker water starter is a stream of bubbles, these cute little Pokémon are more for cuddling than battling. Don’t be fooled, however, for water starters will always become an asset later on in the game. In a precarious position outside a volcano? No problem. Navigating a pitch-black cave with ground-types assaulting you from all sides? So what? Just slip and slide to the Elite Four with your pool buddy.
Finally, you’ve got the grass-types. While these starters are often the butt of the joke, don’t completely count them out. The leafy lovers that are the grass starters may be vulnerable to the bug and flying type attacks that frequent battles in the early phases of any Pokémon game, grass-types are key players in longer battles. Grasstypes wield an array of absorption attacks which siphon off health points and powdered attacks that can cast a bought of sleep, poison and paralysis. Grass-types won’t always live to see the battle’s end, but they put the rest of the team in a position to come out on top. So after taking all this into account, which element is the best type? Well, the answer is that they’re all good. You see, much like any group project at Western, you’ll have many types of people to work with. You’ll have the go-getter—the individual who takes lead and starts delegating so the group can get through the planning stages with speed and efficiency. You’ll have the quiet one, who doesn’t contribute much at first, but after a few get-togethers will submit a significant amount of high-quality work. Lastly, you’ll have the glue that holds the group together—that one student who is nice to everyone. Though this individual may not be able to take on a bigger role, he or she will be more than cooperative, willing to help anyone else develop the project—the ultimate team player. So the next time you find yourself loading a new Pokémon game, or being assigned a new group project, think about what type you are and what types you’d like to surround yourself with. The right combination can lead to a spot in the Pokémon League, or, at the very least, a good grade.
saywhat?! On Monday afternoon, those who frequented the San Juan Hills Golf Club in southern California were treated to more hazards than usual. A two-foot long leopard shark reportedly fell from the sky near the 12th tee of the course. Likely dropped by a predatory bird, the shark was discovered by a course marshal, who quickly whisked it back to sea in a golf cart. The shark survived the incident.
thegazette
Volume 106, Issue 30 www.westerngazette.ca
Gloria Dickie Editor-In-Chief Nicole Gibillini Deputy Editor Cam Parkes Managing Editor
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Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Robert Armstrong
Karen Savino Diana Watson
Gazette Staff 2012-2013
Greg Colgan, David Czosniak, Megan Devlin, Kevin Estakhri, Connor Hill, Elton Hobson, Kelly Hobson, Katherine Horodnyk, Sarah Mai Chitty, Victoria Marroccoli, Megan McPhaden, John Petrella, Megan Puterman, Chen Rao, Pat Robinson, Taylor Rodrigues, Nathan TeBokkel, Amy Wang, Hillete Warner, Kate Wilkinson, Kartikeya Vishal, Usman Zahid, Mason Zimmer, Katie Roseman
News Alex Carmona Jesica Hurst Cam Smith Aaron Zaltzman Arts & Life Sumedha Arya Brent Holmes Kevin Hurren Sports Richard Raycraft Jason Sinukoff Ryan Stern Opinions Ryan Hurlbut Associate Kaitlyn McGrath
Dear Life
Your anonymous letters to life.
Dear Life, If it takes you five minutes to get off the bus, you really shouldn’t be surprised when you miss your stop. Dear Life, Why do exams seem so much closer this side of Thanksgiving? Dear Life, Never ever take classics expecting it to be a bird course. Dear Life, There is a difference between “silent zone,” “quiet zone,” and “conversation-friendly zone” in Weldon. It would be awesome if people learned where they were and acted appropriately. Dear Life, Why aren’t the libraries open 24/7 during midterms? My midterms are worth just as much as my finals! Dear Life, How did Cinderella lose her shoe? I thought it was a perfect fit. Perfect fitting shoes don’t just fall off for no reason. Dear Life, Why do people at the Rec Centre wear baseball caps while working out? Smelliest. Hats. Ever. Dear Life, Why do the tallest girls wear the tallest heels? Submit your letters to life at www.westerngazette.ca /dearlife.
Photography Andrei Calinescu Ritchie Sham Cameron Wilson Graphics Naira Ahmed Mike Laine Illustrations Christopher Miszczak Liwei Zhou Online Julian Uzielli Web Cameron Wilson Video Chris Kay
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
Sports
factattack Pablo Sandoval became the fourth player ever to hit three home runs in a World Series game. He is only the second player amongst the four to come to the plate with an opportunity to hit a fourth home run.
Rundown >> The Laurier Golden Hawks stunned the Mustangs men’s soccer team on Wednesday night—beating them 3–2 in the Ontario University Athletics quarter-finals > This was a surprising early exit for the Mustangs, as they finished the regular season with six more points than the Laurier squad.
Playoffs wipe the slate clean for Mustangs Finch looks to make first playoff appearance count vs Lancers Richard Raycraft Sports Editor Facing each other for the third time in two seasons—and the second time in the last two playoffs—the Mustangs and Windsor Lancers are no strangers to each other. As they both walk onto the field at TD Waterhouse Stadium on Saturday, they will be looking at familiar faces across the line, but don’t think there will be any love lost between the two sides. Last year, in the Ontario University Athletics semifinal, the Mustangs defeated the Lancers 33–27, ending their playoff journey. The Lancers’ fortunes versus the Mustangs did not improve in their regular season encounter with them this year, as they again fell, 43–26. Now, in the first round of the OUA playoffs, the two teams will square off again. Western finished the season with a record of 5–3, in fourth place. Windsor took fifth place with a record 3–5 after losing to Waterloo last Saturday. “I think the big thing is that we’re going to have to score early,” Joe D’Amore, Lancers coach, commented. “Last time [against Western], we didn’t get going until about the fourth quarter. We know that we’re going to have to play some good football to come away with a victory.” The Mustangs are entering the playoffs after a close contest with Ottawa, which they won 32–29. With regular starting quarterback Donnie Marshall still out with an ankle injury, Will Finch will once again get the call. Finch has performed well this season, averaging just over nine yards per attempt. In the game
I have a fantasy dilemma on my team. With Alex Green moving into the starting gig in the Packers backfield, and Steven Jackson giving up an increasing amount of carries to Darryl Richardson, I am stuck in a pickle. Alex Green versus Jacksonville, or Stephen Jackson versus New England? Paul McMartin Social Science III This is indeed a difficult decision, but due to the nature of the opponents these backs will be facing, I would have to go with Alex Green. Jackson is a workhorse back and he did hit pay dirt for the first time last weekend against the Packers, but he has been consistently scoring around five points in standard scoring leagues. Facing off against the Patriots high-powered offence, the Rams will most likely have to abandon the run early to play catch up. As for Alex Green, he should get
Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE
EAT MY DUST! Mustangs wide receiver Brian Marshall escaping several Windsor defenders. The Mustangs will once again face off against the Windsor Lancers on Saturday. However, this time the victor will earn much more than bragging rights–they will earn a berth to the OUA semi-finals.
against Ottawa, Finch proved he could move the ball with his legs as well, running for 136 yards to complement his 168 through the air. As is usually the case, Windsor will have to think about the constant threat posed by the Mustangs’ running game. ‘Stangs running back Garret Sanvido leads the OUA in touchdowns with 13, and in rushing yards with 1001. The Mustangs will have another good option in Yannick Harou, who played running back for the entirety of the game against Ottawa.
Though Sanvido did not play in last Saturday’s game, Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall says it is likely that he will start against Windsor. “Garret will most likely play, but we’re not 100 per cent sure,” Marshall said. Look for Western to mix it up on offence, as Finch has had a good deal of success connecting with receivers Matt Uren, Brian Marshall, Justin Sanvido and Matt Brazier. Windsor’s offence will be powered primarily by standout quarterback Austin Kennedy. The Windsor
his share of touches. Two weeks ago he was a fantasy stud, but last week he showed his inexperience against a stout Rams run defence. However expect more of the former from Green this week. The way the Packers offence is operating, they should grab an early lead against the shorthanded Jaguars. If they are able to grab an early lead, expect Green to get the ball a bunch as the Packers look to bleed out the clock. Neither player is ideal for anything, but an RB2 or flex spot, but if those are your choices, take the young buck over the seasoned vet.
Along with Howard, the Lakers added Steve Nash. In theory, because Nash is one of the premier passing men in the NBA, Howard should thrive playing on the same team as him. However, the Lakers are still Kobe Bryant’s team, so Howard will not be receiving as many touches as he previously did with the Orlando Magic. Luckily, point totals are only one of the many categories in a fantasy basketball league. But Howard will also see a drop in the rebounding category. The Lakers already have one of the most versatile players in the league in Pau Gasol and he and Howard are both more than capable of rebounding at both ends of the hardwood. Howard is still the best centre in the league and will continue to dominate the blocks category, but as far as fantasy value is concerned, former Laker Andrew Bynum is probably your best bet for a centre.
How will Dwight Howard joining the Lakers affect his fantasy value? Jacob Stein Kinesiology IV Although Howard will help the Lakers go far this season, playing for the purple and gold will most likely cause a dip in his fantasy value.
native leads the OUA in completions, total yards, and is second in touchdowns thrown with 18. While Kennedy is one of the league’s premier slingers, he is capable of cold streaks, demonstrated in Windsor’s showdown with Western during the regular season. Western will also have to watch out for Windsor’s top receivers in Jordan Brescacin and Evan Pszczonak, who have combined for nearly 1700 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. “We believe Windsor is a very
good football team, an explosive team that has the ability to score points,” Marshall said. “Anytime you have a quarterback that can throw the ball and move around like Austin Kennedy can, and you have receivers like they have, you’ll score points.” “It’s going to be difficult to keep their quarterback and their receivers contained for 60 minutes,” he continued. You can catch the decisive matchup at Western’s TD Waterhouse Stadium tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Mike Laine Gazette
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thegazette • Friday, October 26, 2012
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