Thursday, March 7, 2013

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A taste of salt Study reveals salt content in Canadian restaurant meals is shockingly high. >> pg. 5

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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Campus > Affiliates

King’s gets new Queen

Volume 106, Issue 80

BrockU to play host to OUSA general assembly Jacqueline Ting Gazette Staff

Courtesy of Jen Carter

QUEEN OF THE CASTLE. Third-year criminology student Jen Carter was elected King’s University College Students’ Council president Tuesday night, narrowly beating her opponent, Joe Harris, by seven votes.

Cam Smith News Editor It may be a boys’ club on main campus, but women are thriving at the affiliates.

On Tuesday night, King’s University College Students’ Council elected Jen Carter as their new president. The election was incredibly close, with only seven votes separating the third-year criminology student from her running mate, Joe Harris.

For Carter, the presidential race was all about connecting the council with the students.

“The disconnect between the students’ council and our student body is what inspired me to run for KUCSC president. I didn’t think that our council was doing all that it could to reach our students and to be relevant in their daily lives,” Carter explained. “I ran with a platform that I thought could improve

our relationship with the students while enhancing the student experience at King’s at the same time.”

With the election results so close, Carter intends to take note of her opponents platform points that obviously appealed to a large selection of Kings’ students.

“Joe ran a great campaign, and the results were unbelievably close,” she said. “What I learned from this campaign is that Joe’s message really resonated with a lot of students.”

For Harris, the close results mean there is an opportunity for the King’s community to come together and work towards common goals.

“We both had amazing people on our teams. Obviously, both our messages were communicated well by those teams,” he explained.

“Now it’s time for both sides to come together and continue to work to benefit the King’s community.”

David Ennett, current president

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of KUCSC, noted both candidates were qualified, and he had full confidence in Carter.

“I think the election was very close because we had two candidates who really resonated with the student body. Both Joe Harris and Jen Carter had been involved on council since first year, and are actively engaged with the student body,” he said. “I have no doubt Jen will be a great president—she will be a strong advocate for our students and will represent King’s well in the city of London, and at the University Students’ Council.”

Carter is still acclimatizing to the victory while she gets ready to prepare for next year.

“I think that it is going to take a while to sink in, and for me to get used to the idea of having such an important role in the King’s and Western communities,” Carter explained. “I am excited for what next year is going to bring.”

The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance is giving students the opportunity to have their voices heard on education policies.

On March 15, Brock University will play host to OUSA’s general assembly, a weekend-long meeting that discusses various issues in the education system to produce new policies, renew policies close to expiry or update already existing policies.

Initially, the meeting was to be hosted by Western, but the World Figure Skating Championships forced OUSA to change venues.

The spring general assembly is the second of two general assembly meetings every academic year.

The general assembly is the highest governing body of OUSA, comprised of delegates from the nine Ontario member universities of OUSA. OUSA has been hosting general assembly meetings since the start of OUSA in 1992.

“General assembly meetings are an opportunity for each member university to send student representatives to really direct our organization to what student priorities are, and what students would like to focus on, both in our research and advocacy efforts,” Alysha Li, OUSA president and vice-president university affairs for Western’s University Students’ Council, said.

“The general goal is [to ensure] everything we do is taken directly from students.”

The upcoming meeting will draft, edit and hopefully pass three brand new policy papers on three different topics—student employment, online learning and the private sector’s role in universities.

More specifically, the discussion on student employment will focus on students’ concerns and priorities for summer employment, postgraduate employment, in-study

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employment and the advances of experiential learning when looking for employment in the future.

“The policy papers will be looking at how the government can play a role in supporting students, making sure they have all the resources needed to support their education and creating experiences outside the classroom,” Li said.

Once the policy papers are passed, the papers are formatted for government submission and cited in the press so other campuses can participate in OUSA initiatives and adopt students’ opinions on these issues as well.

I’m really excited to get down to the policymaking process. It is something that OUSA is really proud of, and a big part of that is the role that students play.

—Alysha Li

Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance president

Drafts of policy papers have already been handed to all delegates of member associations, including 10 delegates from Western.

“If students would like to contribute to these three topics, [they can] email me at usc.university. affairs@uwo.ca and I’d be more than happy to put them in contact with representatives we have going to the conference,” Li said. “That way we can really bring a Western voice and bring up Western students’ concerns.”

“I’m really excited to get down to the policy-making process. It is something that OUSA is really proud of, and a big part of that is the role that students play.”

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thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

Caught on Camera

Crossword By Eugene Sheffer

Ritchie Sham GAZETTE

IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS. Students gathered at booths in the University Community Centre atrium yesterday to provide students with information about their religion for Islam Awareness Week.

Department of Earth Sciences SCUGOG Lecture Dr. Stephen T. Johnston University of Victoria

“THE GREAT ALASKAN TERRANE WRECK” Thursday, March 7TH @ 7PM :: 3M Centre Room 3250

Interested in sports writing?

Photography?

Editor positions available!

Visit The Gazette, UCC 263, for more information.

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.

Theatre Western presents

March 6, 7, 8, 9 Mustang Lounge Doors 7:30 PM Curtain 8:00 PM

Tickets $15 available at Western Connection and at the door

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thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

OUSA tackles summer jobs Survey shows students struggling to find work Brent Holmes Arts & Life Editor Summer is coming, and with it comes the quest for summer employment for many students.

A survey from the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance revealed 23 per cent of students surveyed were unemployed during the summer, and 54 per cent of students would have worked more if given the opportunity.

A blog series on OUSA’s website titled “What Students Want” also noted while the average income for a student in summer 2011 was $3,500, this number was skewed upward by a few big earners. In reality, 60 per cent of students earned less than $3,000 during that summer.

Alysha Li, president of OUSA and vice-president university affairs for Western’s University Students’ Council, noted OUSA would be lobbying the provincial government to provide more opportunities for student employment, and to stop raising tuition, especially considering the rising unemployment rate among students.

“One of the ways that OUSA traditionally has been able to push priority forward is by writing a

well-researched policy document on the subject,” Li said. “Currently, OUSA is writing a student employment paper that’s going to be going in front of the general assembly next weekend from March 15 to 17.”

We try to get the word out because to get the best summer jobs you often have to start searching early.

February and March are a prime time to find a summer job.

—Katrina McIntosh

Resource coordinator for Western’s Student Success Centre

Li also noted student employment is a policy OUSA has never had before, and it will be tasked by the general assembly next weekend.

“In [the policy] are very specific examples of how we would like to see the government play a role in [adding incentives for] more student employment in the summer,

Student protesters renew battle over Quebec tuition

and how we can help students gain summer employment, and also ways to reduce the need for summer employment.”

Over the past two months, Western’s Student Success Centre has had many students coming in to get help with finding summer employment.

“We definitely try to offer as many programs as possible— workshops and events. We have drop-in counselling, career counseling [and] résumé and cover letter drop-in Monday to Friday,” Katrina McIntosh, resource coordinator for the SSC, said. “We try to get the word out because to get the best summer jobs, you often have to start searching early. February and March are a prime time to find a summer job.”

The SSC hosts a job fair in February and continues to offer services throughout March for students who may have missed the event.

McIntosh noted many students don’t think of accessing Western’s career centre or SSC for help finding a summer job.

“Summer jobs and part-time jobs are a popular request. We try to get the word out that we are available for that, as well as […] internships.”

Solution to puzzle on page 7

News Brief

Brescia turns to Weibo for recruitment Brescia University College has launched a new initiative to connect with international students.

With most social networking sites blocked in China, Dan Bashaw, a web developer for Brescia, tried a different approach to reach students by engaging with the Chinese microblogging website Weibo.

Over 400 million users are registered on the FacebookTwitter hybrid site, 80 per cent of which belong to the university demographic.

“Our Brescia Facebook page is a great way to connect with students and provide current information in a forum that is familiar to them,” Marianne Simm, director of student affairs at Brescia, said in a media

release. “The launch of Weibo is a way to provide our Chinese students with this same opportunity.”

Bashaw also explained Weibo had been a great tool for connecting with current Chinese students at Brescia, as they are more comfortable in asking questions on that platform regarding campus events.

Bashaw believes this will be an effective instrument in providing information about the university in the students’ native language, thereby fostering more comfort.

Currently, the Brescia Weibo account has 175 followers. Brescia staff are optimistic about the opportunities this will present in terms of student satisfaction, retention and recruitment.

—Nusaiba Al-Azem

AT TENTION STUDENTS USING SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES We would like to remind you that you must meet with a counsellor at Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in the Student Development Centre, to arrange academic accommodation for your 2012/2013 winter courses.

If you have not yet requested accommodation for your courses, and you wish to use accommodation for April 2013 exams, you must meet with a counsellor by Wednesday, March 20th.

Accommodation for April 2013 exams cannot be arranged by SSD if requested after this date.

519-661-2147

Courtesy of Victor Tangermann

RIOTING IN THE STREETS. Students gather in Montreal to protest tuition hikes in March 2012

Herb Richardson Gazette Staff Tuesday night saw a continued resurgence of the tuition protests that have plagued Quebec since last year. Seventy-two people were arrested, a significant escalation from the 13 arrested after last week’s similar protest.

Tuesday’s march was organized

by Mouvement étudiant, and was planned to take place at 8 p.m. at Place Émilie-Gamelin.

While the protest began peacefully, it eventually devolved into violence in Montreal’s Chinatown district. Police stormed the crowd, leaving few students still marching by the end. Arrests were made even late into the night.

According to Anie Lemieux, media relations officer for the Montreal Police, 62 people were detained for unlawful assembly, and 10 more were detained for criminal acts, such as vandalism and assault. All were released with promises to appear in court at a later date.

“A lot of objects were thrown— pieces of cement, snowballs, pieces of ice. There were also fireworks that were being thrown to the sidewalk,” Lemieux said.

“There were businesses that were vandalized, and windows broken. There were hotels, [and] banks that were vandalized, two police officers were injured […] and one person that was either in, or close to, the demonstration was injured.”

The protests were illegal because the protesters had not given their plans and itineraries to police so they could arrange to protest in an area lawfully, Lemieux said.

The primary cause of the protests was an announcement by the Parti Québécois of a three per cent per year tuition hike that was determined at a summit for education last week. Immediately after the summit, student protesters boycotted classes and did nightly marches around Montreal. Demonstrators called for a total tuition freeze, and even the abolition of tuition for students.

Students also called out Pauline Marois, the current premier of Quebec. During last year’s protests over the tuition hikes, Marois had stood with the protesters and participated in demonstrations. With her help, the government voted to freeze tuition last September, which quelled the protests—until the new plan for smaller tuition increases sparked them once more.

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thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

Arts&Life

thespianthursday Be nice to people on the way up, because you may meet them on the way down.

—Jimmy Durante, American actor and singer.

Reaching new heights Phone companies Western student to climb for diabetes

can go to cell Holmes is on the Case

Brent Holmes Arts & Life Editor

file photo

Kaitlyn McGrath Associate Editor Kayla Brown, a third-year King’s University College student, has added a new goal to her bucket list— climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s a tall order, but lucky for her, she’ll be able to cross it off later this year.

The reason why Brown aims to climb Africa’s highest peak is because she was recruited to be part of the World Diabetes Tour, an organization that brings together young people with Type 1 diabetes to participate in adventurous endeavours and showcase the camaraderie present amongst all diabetics.

As a Type 1 diabetic, as well as an avid blogger and advocate, Brown was the perfect candidate to participate in the event. That’s why her pen pal from Barbados, Krystal Boyea, who had previously been selected for the team, asked Brown to be the Canadian representative.

Though apprehensive at first, Brown quickly realized this wasn’t an opportunity she should pass up.

“I didn’t say no at first, but I was like, ‘Let me sleep on it,’” she recalls.

“Then the next day, I was thinking ‘Okay, I’ll never be given this opportunity again,’ so I just decided to take it.”

The climb will take place over seven days in late August. The group—consisting of young,

Type 1 diabetics from around the globe including France, Brazil and Australia—will take the Machame route, which calls for a five-day ascent in order to reach the 5,895 metre-peak, followed by a twoday decline. Along with blogging throughout her climb, Brown says a film crew will also accompany the group to document the event.

It will be a positive message for people living with Type 1, but also just for everyone— even people who don’t really have any medical issues that might feel held back from doing certain things.

—Kayla Brown

Third-year King’s University College student.

The purpose of the World Diabetes Tour is to promote awareness and a positive attitude toward Type 1 diabetics and to prove a diagnosis isn’t a setback. Brown adds it might inspire more than just diabetics.

“It will be a positive message for people living with Type 1, but also just for everyone—even people who don’t really have any medical issues that might feel held back from doing certain things,” she says.

However, the climb does pose significant health problems, especially for diabetics. Brown explains, because of the altitude, insulin pumps may not function properly, which is why a two-person medical staff will accompany the group. But even with potential risks, Brown says most of her fears don’t even concern her diabetes.

“I’m afraid of getting altitude sickness. I have a fear of not making it up the hill, or just a fear of camping in Africa in general,” she says.

But in order to combat her anxieties, Brown has been adamantly training and researching in order to prepare for the event. Working out several times a week, as well as hiking when she can, Brown is confident she’ll be ready when the time comes.

Along with her rigorous physical regime, Brown is also preparing herself mentally for what she describes as “the biggest challenge [she’s] ever taken.”

While the animals she may encounter still manage to freak her out, Brown adds travelling with a group of Type 1 diabetics puts her at ease, since they’ll all be travelling with a common companion—diabetes.

“For me, it’s more of the social aspect that I’m excited for,” she says.

“That, and the very end when I’m done and can say that I did it.”

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a cellphone bill horror story from one of my classmates, I’d have enough to pay my own cellphone bill.

It seems many Canadians are dialing PG for price-gouging. Over the past month, the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission has been working on establishing much needed regulations for cellphone companies— including caps on monthly bills and offering ways to notify customers when they’re at risk of incurring extra fees.

The problem of Canadian cellphone fees is one that needs to be resolved. It’s well known we pay double what Americans pay for essentially the same services, and there is little in the way of competition between the big three—Rogers, Bell and Telus.

The three-year contracts students can sign are essentially all the same—unlimited text messages, 1GB of data, 100 anytime minutes with unlimited nights and weekends for the price of about $55 before hidden fees enter the mix.

However, the issue is more complicated than just misleading contracts and hidden fees.

Cellphone companies have started placing locks on cellular devices and charging a massive fee to remove the lock if one wants to switch to another company.

Switching service providers has become increasingly harder in past years with many Canadians chained to a three-year contract and older, less technologically advanced phones.

The reason these traps exist is because there has been a shift in society from honouring clients who stay with a service provider to focusing the sweetest deals on bringing in new users.

During September, cellphone and Internet service providers roll out all of the sweetest deals to lure students into contracts—promises of unlimited phone minutes for specific friends, or automatic solutions for overusing data or minutes are made but never fulfilled. Once you’ve signed on the dotted line, it’s impossible to get a better deal.

Threatening to switch users used to be a way to get a better deal, but nowadays, the charge for switching providers can be ridiculously high.

The problem lies in how this all started. Businesses have become focused on signing on new subscribers rather than providing a better service, thus consumers will threaten to switch companies to get the same quality deals that are offered elsewhere. As a result, our service providers have started putting locks on cellphones that prevent people from threatening to switch to a different provider.

Businesses need to recognize what keeps people coming back for a renewed contract is good service, and well-defined and unchanging contracts.

The reason consumers are less loyal and less content with their cellphone service providers is because the service being provided is lacklustre—and the CRTC shouldn’t have to step into make companies recognize this reality.

westerngazette.ca

/arts-life

>> Gazette tested > The perfect hummus

✁ “Bones”—MS MR As soon as “Bones” was played over the latest Game of Thrones trailer, many people were digging up MS MR’s music online. The opening track from last year’s EP, Candy Bar Creep Show, is a haunting, gothic song with notable pop influences.

The alternative duo from New York keeps an interesting air of mystery, calling themselves Ms. and Mr. Ms.’s vocals are reminiscent of other great singers like Florence Welch and Adele, with great harmonies backing the chorus and Mr.’s music features distinctive drum beats, keyboards and strings that complement Ms.’s vocal presence.

The gothic grandeur of the music is accompanied well by lyrics focusing on dark fantasies and the soul.

“Bones” is an addictive and catchy song that buries itself in one’s head.

—Brent Holmes

“Waitress”—Boy Swiss-German indie pop duo Boy has an impressive debut album, and the catchy track “Waitress” will leave you wanting more.

Boy’s album, Mutual Friends, was initially released in 2011, but was just released in North America on February 26. “Waitress” is an upbeat, dainty song that makes good use of drums, guitar and repetitive lyrics.

Although they are from Switzerland and Germany, Boy’s entire album is in English. The duo has a classic, indie-pop sound reminiscent of artists like Canadian

singer Leslie Feist and Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. While “Waitress” is one of the singles off the album, the duo is known for other tracks like “Little Numbers,” which was featured in Lufthansa Airline’s Business Class advertisement in mid-2012.

—Nicole Gibillini

The perfect hummus A classic Middle Eastern staple

Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Ingredients

• 1 can of chickpeas • 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil • ½ cup Tahina (sesame seed

paste that can be purchased at your local grocery store in the International section) • 1 lemon, squeezed • Garlic and salt to taste Directions 1. Boil the chickpeas until extremely tender. This usually takes 15 minutes.

file photo

2. Blend the chickpeas, oil olive, Tahina and lemon juice

in a food processor or blender until extremely pasty. Texture should be extremely smooth and homogenous.

3. Add garlic and salt to taste.

4. Garnish with parsley and olive oil.

This can be served as a dip with pita bread, celery or crackers.

It’s versatile—hence the classic staple!

—Nusaiba Al-Azem

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thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

Restaurants a-salting health of Ontario Sodium levels at restaurants dangerous, study finds Bradley Metlin Gazette Staff When thinking of the stereotypical university student’s diet, many quickly conjure images of ramen noodles and microwavable macaroni and cheese. Foods like these, while quite economical, are chalk full of sodium, and might be endangering our health.

“Close to 80 per cent of the sodium in Canadians’ diets come from processed foods,” Brescia University College nutritional sciences professor Len Piché says of the composition of most Canadians diets. “A small percent comes from natural foods—foods straight out of the grocery store.”

What’s more troubling is Canadians, particularly busy students, don’t get their food out of grocery stores. Instead, it seems more and more are turning to sit-down and fast-food restaurants. A study recently published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health by Mary L’Abbé of the University of Toronto warns of the high levels of sodium on the menus at restaurants.

The study found the average meal from a fast-food restaurant, including a side, contained around 1,700 milligrams of sodium. A number seemingly meaningless until one realizes the average healthy adult should only be getting 1,500 milligrams of sodium every day. In line with this are statistics that say the average Canadian reaches or exceeds the upper tolerable intake level of 2,300 milligrams.

Kelly Samuel Gazette

Piché says people need to be active in what they’re eating and make decisions that have positive effects on their health. One easy step is preparing your own food.

“If people are going to prepare more food themselves, they control a heck of a lot of what’s in their diet in terms of sodium,” he says.

Also noting some foods unnecessarily increase your sodium levels, Piché explains there’s easy ways to curb these too.

“You could ask for your fries without salt. They’ll give them to you, they’ll make them for you.”

He also warns of the illusion that

salads are healthy.

“Salads are certainly going to be low [in sodium] if they’re made with natural ingredients—it’s the sauces that you’re putting on. So, if you ask for the sauce on the side, you can control how much sauce you put on, and thus the amount of sodium.”

With obesity rates rising, there’s becoming an ever-growing call to tackle the issue, particularly among children. A recent report from the Ontario Ministry of Health rejects calls from organization such as the Ontario Medical Association to initiate a fat tax. Instead, it’s

recommended to stop advertising unhealthy and fast-foods to children under 12.

It’s all about education and staying informed, Piché says. “Parents should take a strong interest in what they’re feeding their children. If they made more meals at home, it would go a long way in controlling the amount of salt and calories in their children.”

For others, including students, Piché notes some major restaurants—there are about 25 or 30 of them—will provide the nutritional value of their food.

“There’s an app for that,” he says.

Naira Ahmed Gazette

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thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

Opinions

The word ‘racism’ is like ketchup. It can be put on practically anything—and demanding evidence makes you a ‘racist.’

—Thomas Sowell, American social theorist

What makes Western the best of the best?

Wrath of McGrath

Letter to the Editor

Rebrand causes us to lose image White under fire over racial slur Hit ‘em where it Hurst

Kaitlyn McGrath Associate Editor

With the University Students’ Council elections just off in the sunset, March Preview Day just around the corner and soph results trickling in during the next few days, I’ve now heard the infamous phrase “the best student experience” a countless number of times. That’s fine—it is, after all, how Western promotes itself. And it seems to be working.

But after years of being taught to critically think— thank you, Western academia—I’ve come to question just what exactly is this best student experience?

Well, if I’m going to take a cynical approach, I’d say it’s purely marketing. It’s a kind of rewording of our reputation as a party school and many have bought into it. Now, it seems our entire intuition’s identity hinges on it.

But at its core, the phrase seems to be rather empty, and by that I mean, experience could encompass plenty of meanings. It could speak to Western’s academics, or its variety of clubs and organizations one can become involved with. It could speak to our lovely campus and the joys one might feel just traversing our grounds.

Really, this student experience that seems so pivotal to Western’s very idea of itself is rather elusive.

It doesn’t seem to have a point of reference, or a characteristic that I can pinpoint and say with confidence, “Yes, that is exactly why Western is the best student experience.”

And I’m not writing this somewhat convoluted column for the sake of argument, but instead for my own understanding. There’s no denying I have greatly enjoyed my time at Western. And at the end of my tenure, if someone were to ask me what made my experience enjoyable, I could certainly list reasons.

But my point is that my experience may greatly differ from a fellow peer. In fact, if we were to trade places, another student here at Western may have hated my experience and would hesitate to call it “the best.”

Perhaps, then, what is best about Western is the multitude of experience one may come into contact with. There is not one central experience we’re all meant to live, but instead it’s a much more fluid concept.

Western, it seems, is what you make of it.

On the other hand, don’t most major universities promote themselves as providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Maybe we’re just so immersed by our own self-promotion that we’re convinced we’re the only school that offers this.

thegazette

Volume 106, Issue 80 www.westerngazette.ca

Gloria Dickie Editor-In-Chief Nicole Gibillini Deputy Editor Cam Parkes 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

The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

Verbal Azalt

Jesica Hurst News Editor

Aaron Zaltzman News Editor

At a council meeting on Tuesday evening, Sandy White, Ward 14 councillor for London, gave the city something to talk about after using the “N-word” in a speech that outlined her reasons for resigning from the London Transit Commission.

White’s disapproval of a Virgin Radio advertisement, which was located on the side of an LTC bus, was the reason she resigned, as she felt the advertisment was a demeaning depiction of women. She then brought the N-word into the conversation, explaining if the advertisment had included a word like this, everyone would have agreed it was offensive.

Although I understand White was trying to give her colleagues an example of what she believed was an accurate comparison to the advertisment she found offensive, I do not believe sensitive language like this should be thrown around in such a loose way to only prove a point.

After using the word, White even admitted she did it for shock value what I believe is the complete opposite of how people should be using the word. I’m not saying we should shy away from using language like this, and we shouldn’t be upset with people for using this kind of language for, say, educational purposes, but we also shouldn’t be using it as an easy way to catch people’s attention.

I mean, if your argument is lacking so much that you truly need to rely on something so sensitive to make people listen to you, you probably shouldn’t even be arguing it anyways.

White had every right to express her concerns regarding the advertisement LTC approved, but it honestly frightens me we have people working on city council who feel the need to stoop to this level and bring words like that into their dialogue for the sole purpose of getting people talking. Anyone who uses sensitive language such as the N-word can certainly assume it could potentially offend or catch someone off guard, yet White chose to use it anyway.

Even though White didn’t use the word in a derogatory or offensive way, relying on this kind of language was only ever going to be a disservice to her argument. Unless there was absolutely no other way to get her point across, I do not believe the use of a sensitive word like this could ever truly be necessary.

NOTE: It may be hypocritical to only use the phrase “N-word” here, but we don’t feel like dealing with your misplaced outrage.

Let’s get this out of the way first—the only thing Sandy White is guilty of is making a mediocre argument. All other accusations range from incorrect to ridiculous.

For some reason, everybody seems to enjoy high-minded denouncements about White’s use of the N-word, but nobody seems to be interested in the context in which she did so. While this can somewhat be blamed on The London Free Press burying the quote at the bottom of their own outraged article, it still seems fairly idiotic to not consider exactly what White said.

White used the N-word as an example of an offensive word or image that she would not want to see on the side of an LTC bus. That’s it. She also used the example of a man’s penis. And just so I don’t seem insensitive, as a Jew, I wouldn’t give a damn if she had used the “K-word” as one of her examples.

In fairness, saying the N-word for shock value is wrong, but only in the sense that it weakens her argument.

She’s not Howard Stern looking for ratings—she was trying to emphasize a point about offensive words and images by citing specific examples. Who or what does her word choice harm aside from her argument—and apparently vitriolic Twitter-users? I can only imagine the people outraged by White’s oratory will also be horrified to find the actual N-word listed in the dictionary.

Maybe shock value is a bad motivation for using the N-word, but White doesn’t have to defend her choice of examples. No word can be so outrageous that its use has to be deemed “necessary” for it to be uttered.

White’s use of the N-word isn’t the problem—the problem is her “shocking” word actually inspired a shocked and appalled reaction. There is simply no reason why the simple utterance of this word as—and I can’t stress this enough— an example of an offensive word—should inspire such histrionics. She didn’t use it against anybody, or to describe anybody, and saying the N-word doesn’t conjure dark spirits from the underworld. So isn’t it time we stop being so afraid of a simple word?

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.

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Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Robert Armstrong

Karen Savino Diana Watson

Gazette Staff 2012-2013

Iain Boekhoff, Danielle Bozinoff, Jaclyn Carbone, Mary Ann Ciosk, David Czosniak, Megan Devlin, Jonathan Dunn, Andrew Evans, Chelsey Gauthier, Ross Hamilton, Danny Huang, Amanda Law, Logan Ly, Jared MacAdam, Sarah Mai Chitty, Sarah Manning, Bradley Metlin, Kaitlyn Oh, John Petrella, Sarah Prince, Chen Rao, Herb Richardson, Nathan Robbins-Kanter, Lily Robinson, Jeremiah Rodriguez, Katie Roseman, Jasleen Sembhi, Nathan TeBokkel, Jacqueline Ting, Caroline Wang, Kate Wilkinson, Zoe Woods, Kartikeya Vishal, Usman Zahid, Mason Zimmer

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

To the Editor: When I applied to Western back in 2005 it would have been preposterous for anyone to consider changing the university’s name, and I had considered my choices carefully, as both my parents had attended UWO as students, at Huron and Brescia respectively.

I made my decision based upon their experiences, and the university’s reputation and prestige. I chose to attend King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario, not “Western University.”

My point being, when attending conferences at other schools, either representing UWO or King’s, everyone had heard of the University of Western Ontario. Our image had been cultivated abroad. However, when I attended a conference in Montreal earlier this year, it was after UWO’s rebranding and we were announced as “Western University.”

No one knew who we were—not one.

Our name recognition was gone.

Officially, I was there with the King’s Debate Society, and since they were the newcomers this year, I had to explain to the other attendees that King’s is an affiliated campus of UWO, as they also were announced as King’s University College, Western University. Again, no one knew the connection.

This rebranding has damaged our link with our past, and altered the way we are perceived beyond the borders of the university.

All the alumni and professors I have spoken to about this matter have considered this to be an outrageous waste of money, and I feel it has hurt our connections with other universities and potential students who now do not know who we are.

The University of Western Ontario had prestige and respect, but “Western University” is empty. It is time to dispose of this failed brand—and the sooner the better.

—Matthew Gillies History IV

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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

• Please recycle this newspaper •

•7

thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013

Sports

tweet of the week I think a good ass whoopin cures a lot of diseases and deficiencies that scientist and doctors have not found yet what do you think?

Recently retired linebacker Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) shares his thoughts on modern medicine to his followers.

Rundown >> The men’s basketball team and the Mustangs Backcourt Club have announced the 2013 class of inductees into the Mustangs Backcourt Club Hall of Honour > The inductees include former Mustangs player Ron Hodgins and former coach Craig Boydell.

‘Stangs spike medal hopes despite early lead Kaitlyn McGrath Associate Editor The Mustangs men’s volleyball team placed fourth at this past weekend’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships held at Université Laval in Quebec City. And despite two disappointing losses to McMaster University and Brandon University, fourth place is the best result for a men’s volleyball team at the national tournament.

“As much as we kind of lament over that loss against McMaster, and that tight loss against Brandon, we still made it to a national semi and that’s something that no one previous to us […] can say they did,”

Mustangs middle Phil James said.

Aside from their respectable finish, another highlight was their upset of two-time defending champions, the Trinity Western Spartans.

James explained they went into the game feeling like underdogs, and as a result possessed a “nothing to lose” mentality. So, when they were down two sets and faced with five match points, they felt no pressure.

And with that, the Mustangs battled back to take the third set 31–29.

From that point on, the tides turned in the Mustangs’ favour and they evened the match at 2–2.

Thanks to an early lead in the fifth, the Mustangs completed their triumphant win and earned a spot in

the semifinal versus their rivals, the McMaster Marauders.

“After that third set, we were just determined to win and it just felt great,” James explained.

Unfortunately, the Mustangs’ remarkable run was brought to a halt during their semifinal against McMaster—who previously beat the Mustangs in the Ontario University Atheltics final—when they fell 3–0 to the eventual silver medal-winning team from Hamilton.

And while the score may not suggest it, Mustangs head coach Jim Sage said the game was tight, with the Marauders narrowly edging out the Mustangs in each set.

“I thought we played well. We

neutralized the opposition of McMaster—their key outside hitters—and then they just scored in other ways.”

Even with the loss, the Mustangs had a chance at a national bronze medal. Their opponent was the University of Brandon Bobcats, the top seed, who also suffered an upset loss against Laval, the eventual national champions.

In their final game of the season, the Mustangs looked poised to take home their first national medal. Up two sets and ahead 22–20 in the third, the bronze medal seemed all but within grasp. However, the Bobcats raised their game and took the third set 25–23.

With volleyball, the game relies heavily on momentum and even a seemingly insignificant play can shift it. Earlier in the tournament, the Mustangs were recipients of a favourable momentum swing.

Unfortunately, against Brandon, the pendulum swung the other way.

“Brandon sort of woke up and started playing much better, and we just couldn’t match it,” Sage said.

Western would go on to lose 3–2.

But with many returning veterans, the Mustangs will use this experience as a foundation to build on for next year. And if this tournament taught them anything, it’s that a national medal isn’t as far away as they may have thought.

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

classifieds

thegazette HOUSING

HOUSING

3 BEDROOM MODERN townhouses close to Masonville area. Close walk to campus and steps to major bus route. Spacious bedrooms and close to all amenities. Contact Yan to book a viewing: yanl@londonproperty.ca.

**5 BDRMS, DIFFERENT styles, all steps to campus. Modern building with huge kitchens, tons of cupboards and counter space, centre island with barstools. Spacious bedrooms and huge closets.

Call Sam anytime at 519-495-7661.

2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS available. Hardwood floors, large common area, and newly renovated kitchen. Right on the #2 Dundas route; closest 2 bedroom to the heart of campus. Contact Sam today 519-495-7661.

OXFORD & RICHMOND 2 bedroom apartment 2nd floor house, hardwood floors, spacious living rm, balcony, 9ft. ceilings, heat/water, dishwasher, washer/dryer on premises, free parking, available May 1. $950.00. earlysky100-now@yahoo.ca 3-6 BDRM HOUSES and town homes for rent.

Large, modern units, and close to campus. Everything you could ask for, with 5 appliances, free parking, spacious bedrooms/common rooms and full-time maintenance. Call Sam at 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca 4 BDRM NEW Red Brick townhouses, apartments and single homes for rent. Features 5 appliances, huge rooms and closets, open concept kitchen/living room, and free parking. Located in great student areas. Call Yan: 519-495-5363.

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6 BEDROOM BROUGHDALE behind Med/Syd front Gates. Modern, open-concept, kitchen island/barstools, side-by-side stainless steel fridge.

Large rooms (no basement room), 50” flat-screen, fireplace, dishwasher, lots of parking. $385/room.

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GOOD VALUE & MANAGEMENT3 to 4 bedroom houses available. Very clean and modern. 5 appliances, spacious rooms, close to shopping, bus, parking, restaurants and fitness centre. $425.00 per student. 519-657-7000 or 519-657-6911.

1 & 2 PERSON apartments on Western Road. Seeking quiet, non-smoking, serious students with no pets. 8-month contract possible. $400-$700 per person includes utilities, coinless-washer/dryer, free parking and 24/7-management. 519-673-1843.

2 BEDROOM 2 full bath. $550/room INCLUSIVE. 5 appliances, Internet, new doors and cupboards, pretty kitchen with ceramic floor, quiet and convenient to bus route (150 ft). Ted 519-697-5746 Ken 877-582-9004. ken@soundinvestments4.com.

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Not living in your apartment in the summer? Store your items with us and keep the key! TRUCKS AVAILABLE!

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SHORT TERM ACCOMODATION 1 to 3 rooms available until August 2013. Modern, spacious, very clean house. 5 appliances, parking, bus, shopping nearby. Call Cathy 519-657-7000 or 519-657-6911.

WANTED LOVING COUPLE WHO has struggled with infertility for a long time, is in need of an angel of African descent to donate some of her eggs so that we can become a family. Serious inquiries...Please email: val@soft-infertility.com.

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

VOLUNTEERS WANTED ARE YOU SINGLE? Participate in online surveys created by UWO Psychology researchers and receive up to $45 in Amazon gift certificates in appreciation for your contribution. For more information, please contact Kristi Chin (uwosingles@gmail.com).

4 BEDROOM HOUSE available May 1/13. Two bathrooms, livingroom, rec room, dishwasher, laundry, chest freezer, parking, fenced backyard w/patio.

Close to bus. 147 Paperbirch Cres. $425/room+utilities. Call 519-289-2374 or 519-281-7174.

5 BEDROOM BROUGHDALE behind Med/Syd front Gates. Modern, open-concept, kitchen island/barstools, side-by-side stainless steel fridge.

Large rooms (no basement room), 50” flat-screen, fireplace, dishwasher, lots of parking. $450/room.

416-835-5293, enmars@hotmail.com.

LIV E RE NT F RE E - NO G IMM IC K S !

Offset the expensive cost of education by getting into the housing market in London.

Be the “head tenant” and pocket $1,000 per month after mortgage and expenses - plus you live rent free! Costs and figures are based on existing smart home owners/investors.

Located at Wonderland & Fanshawe, Foxfield Community is just minutes from campus.

Homes start at 1,830sq. ft. (plus 1,000sq. ft. basements).

CALL SHAWN : 51 9- 76 0-2 99 1

UPCOMING EVENTS 13TH ANNUAL SCUGOG Lecture in Earth Sciences; Thursday, March 7th, 7:00-8:00 pm, WESTERN 3M CENTRE, Room 3250. Dr. Stephen T. Johnston, University of Victoria, will speak on “The Great Alaskan Terrane Wreck: A Plate Tectonic Odyssey & the Origin of the Cordilleran Mountain System of North America.” The evening lecture is FREE and open to all members of the community! All are also invited for a reception to follow. Free Parking in Weldon Lot. Contact Dr. Phil McCausland 519-661-2111 x.88008 for more details.

SERVICES

5 BEDROOM HOUSES and townhouses on all sides of campus. Free parking, free maintenance and fulltime property management. Units are rented on a first come first serve basis. Call Yan at 519-495-5363.

6 BDRM. #1 student rentals. Newly built red bricks in all the best locations! Includes 5 appliances, huge, spacious rooms with massive closets. Parking and 24 hour property management included. These ones always go fast so call soon. Call Sam 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca 6 BDRM. **#1 student rentals** Newly built red bricks in all the best locations. 5 appliances included. Huge, spacious rooms with massive closets, and parking included. Call Yan anytime at 519-495-5363.

ESSAY RESEARCH WRITING HELP AVAILABLE. Editing, proofreading, essay and writing techniques, improve writing skills, construction, grammar. 10years experience with Masters degree. kbrow59@uwo.ca, 519-432-0466.

FRENCH LANGUAGE TUTOR/TEACHER available to help improve your test scores, fluency, and conversation. Available to help with projects/assignments or exam/test prep. French Teacher with over 20 years experience. www.cgwassociates.com, 519657-0347.

ANNOUNCEMENTS THE TA AND Post Doc Union’s Foodbank distributes grocery store gift cards of $50-100 to members in need. Stop by the office (1313 Sommerville Hall) or apply at psac610.ca

130307

3 BEDROOM HOUSE. 602 Middlewoods Cres.

Hardwood floors, 2 full bathrooms, 6 appliances, A/C, free parking, and more. Near UWO, mall, bus stops. $425 inclusive, flexible leases. Sama 519-5207510, srahimia@uwo.ca.

ONTARIAN CANNABIS USERS for harm reduction research needed. You have the chance to take part in our lottery. For further information and to participate in the study, visit www.camh.ca/cannabis-study

Theatre Western presents

March 6, 7, 8, 9 Mustang Lounge Doors 7:30 PM Curtain 8:00 PM

Tickets $15 available at Western Connection and at the door

University-Western-Gazette-Ad Size: 10 in x 15.75 in Insertion Date: 27 February 2013thegazette • Thursday, March 7, 2013 8T13-12905-JMSB-Western •

PRODUCT MANAGER EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER WEB ANALYTICS MANAGER MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST SPECIALTY SALES MANAGER HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC ADVISOR TRAINING SPECIALIST CLIENT RELATIONS OFFICER

Become an EXPERT in a specialized field of business.

The MSc in Administration at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business is a research-based program that trains students from all undergraduate backgrounds for a professional career in: • Finance • Management • Marketing

To learn more or to sign up for our upcoming information session in Toronto: Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m.

Visit johnmolson.concordia.ca/msc.